A Century Turns: New Hopes, New Fears by William J. Bennett

A Century Turns

New Hopes, New Fears

by William J. Bennett

A Century Turns details 20 years of political history from the 1988 election of President George H.W. Bush through to the 2008 election of President Barrack Obama. The book is obviously a factual timeline of political events, but also includes a narrative of other things going on at the time, such other major events and even how the press played a role in the event. For me this was an interesting writing style and made it much more than a simple history of the 20 years.

In 1988 I was in high school and until recently had absolutely no interest in politics. Then I married a man who is a history buff and listens to nothing but talk radio, I would say following politics is his hobby! I, on the other hand, am only generally aware of events as they occur and thought this book would be a great refresher to catch up on those years. The book certainly brought me up to date, but unfortunately for my husband has not made me much more interested in history or politics. Overall the book was well written and interesting but for me it was not a page turner.

As a final note, although the author is a Republican and worked closely with Republican presidents, I found the book to be fair to both sides. In fact, many footnotes are provided that state his direct involvement, and perhaps bias opinion, in certain situations. Again, it is a well written book and I would recommend it to anyone interested in political history.



Disclosure: Thomas Nelson Publishers provided me with a complimentary copy of this book as part of their BookSneeze.com book review bloggers program.

too funny - I'm very upset

Sam is so funny when he gets mad. I was lucky enough to capture it on video because as you will see it generally does not last very long.

teaching punishment

They don't quite get the concept of punishment yet...

too funny - a wedding

I told the kids that my brother was going to get married. Here was their reaction and the following conversation. I love how kids think!

too funny - Newest Olympic Sport

At least they had their helmets on!  Here is a video of one of their slower runs.  At the end Sam states that they are racing for Canada!! Haha Daddy was not impressed!

A quick survey

I was sitting in the chair with my laptop, supposedly working.  But I guess I never seem like I am working because I get interuppted so much.  Anyways, as I was sitting there, Ben woke up from a nap and came to snuggle with me.  I decided to ask him some simple questions, and when I was done I asked Sam and Carlee the same questions.  As I was doing this I recalled another time that I had asked questions, here is the post for that. I will have to ask them those questions again! Another day though - you know when I have more time....

Here are the Ben's answers!
1. What is your favorite color?
Green

2. What is your favorite animal?
froggy

3. What is your favorite snack?
(giggles) mustard suckers with keshup on top! (me - YUCK! then he giggles some more) ok, my favorite is a rainbow one that is bery new with all kinds of rainbow ones with diffant colors on them and I really really want the bag

4. What is your favorite toy?
my stuffed kitty and my puppy from walmart that is bery special

5. What is your favortite thing to do?
umm I don't know...ahhh have my umm have my toy race car that is green with a stripe but I really like is my favorite present. (me - what is your favorite present?) mmmm, mmmm my John Deere stuff

6. Where is your favorite place to eat?
McDonalds

7. What is your favorite TV show?
Go Diego Go and the Little People one is my favorite movie to watch but it is broken so can you tape it?

8. Where do you want to go on an adventure?
hmmm the punkin patch cuz there is so much there that is fun and there is a tractor right there at the punkin patch.  I's a little scared, I was fine but I's a little scared of the big slide but I didn't like the small one.

9. What is Daddy's job?
I don't know

10. What is Mama's job?
computer

11. What do you want to be when you grow up?
a Coast Guard rescue helicokkter driver


Then I asked Sam the same questions
1. What is your favorite color?And finally, here are Carlee's answers.

umm Red and blue and black ummm black (at this point he is watching the screen as I type, so he starts to giggle as he continues) now red, blue lellow, purple, lellow, purple

2. What is your favorite animal?
ummmm ummmm a tight stiggy stuppy fish (I have no idea! He was being goofy)

3. What is your favorite snack?
apples

4. What is your favorite toy?
ummm, Ahhh! Dress Up! But I like the handcuffs too and the helmets and the firetruck too!

5. What is your favortite thing to do?
play games like hide and seek umm play outside in the snow, play outside on a sunny day and when I am done in the snow I like to have hot choclate.

 6. Where is your favorite place to eat?
(giggles) that stupid place McDonalds

7. What is your favorite TV show?
superdog

8. Where do you want to go on an adventure?
ummm, ummm, go camping, I mean go on an adventure in the forest!

9. What is Daddy's job?
go to work

10. What is Mama's job?
clean the kitchen

11. What do you want to be when you grow up?
a police man


And finally, here are Carlee's answers.
1. What is your favorite color?
purple

2. What is your favorite animal?
ummm hmmmm orange stripes and stripes that are the color white like Tigger! (the cat was sleeping on my lap while we were doing this)

3. What is your favorite snack?

crackers!

4. What is your favorite toy?
a car

5. What is your favortite thing to do?
ahhhh hmmmm with you, Sam and Ben and you and Daddy, Sam Ben and you.  What's the next quaastion?

6. Where is your favorite place to eat?
hmmmm (thinks for a long time so I have to ask again) after we eat somfing we neber eat before we are going to the store, even us, but I am gonna eat my supper.  My favorite thing to eat is (me - no your favorite PLACE to eat) OHH umm Wendy's. My favorite thing to eat is Wendy's.

7. What is your favorite TV show?
dadada Dora

8. Where do you want to go on an adventure?
ummm (thinking, thinking) goin to a store (me - what kind of store?) wait, I need to ask Daddy what kind of store we are goin to....(she comes back soon) Daddy is taking us to the grooshry store.

9. What is Daddy's job?
he likes going to work, his job is at work

10. What is Mama's job?
that computer. Every time you push buttons on the computer, that is your job.

11. What do you want to be when you grow up?
when I grow up I am gonna be a cooker (me - what are you going to cook?) MEAT!  Now, that is enough questions!!!

kitty love

too funny - who need water

who needs water - just add mud for hours of entertainment!

too funny - aprons or capes?

I had a wonderful discovery at the Dollar store.  These cute little aprons were only $1 each!!!  They were thrilled with them and wanted to be my baking and cooking helpers right away.

Then they needed "cooker hats"

And eventually the aprons became super hero capes!

And here is an explanation of what super hero's do to scare bad guys away.  sheesh boys will be boys!!!

Too funny - drink your milk

Mama - Drink your milk

Ben     - I don't want to

Mama - Drink your milk

Ben     - why?

Mama - so you can grow

Ben     - but I don't want to grow, I want to stay small

Mama - oh, well you know that you have to be bigger to be a helicopter pilot

Ben     - I know, but I'm not ready for that just yet.

Mama - (thinking Oh crap, now what do I say) well drink your milk anyways!

Ben     - why?

Mama - Because I said so!  (thinking HA argue that one!)

Ben    - (says in a voice that only a three year old can master and complete with the body language and the hanging head of someone who has lost a great battle) OOOOHHH AAAAALL RIGHT!

too funny - Not what I had in mind...

This was not what I had in mind when I told them to put their boots away! 

Oh and I don't think Ben thought me laughing at his boot was too funny!

It must be a nightmare

I have to be dreaming, there is no way I am napping beside that stinking dog!

My baking helper

Carlee is the best little helper!  She practically has the bread recipe memorized!  And for months and months now whenever you ask her what she is going to be when she grows up, her answer is always "A Cooker"

There are clips from her first cooking show...