2899 Journalist pot calls blogger kettle black

Robert J. Samuelson writes for two well known publications, Newsweek and the Washington Post which syndicates him in other mega-cities. Millions of readers see his photo. He runs around the country speaking to big poo-bah conventions and picking up awards. I read his tirade against bloggers column in the Orange County Register.

I find it a bit disingenuous for a man who earns his living telling others what to think with the printed word with his face attached to the column to say that bloggers "scream for attention." Or that they "aim to make money." Or that they don't fear a violation of their right to privacy (he's a liberal, but I'm guessing he has little privacy). Or that they are extroverts in crass self-promotion. Or that some who claimed to be amateurs were really aspiring film makers (like no "real" journalist has ever scammed the public?). Or that only 11% of bloggers write about politics and government (how many newspaper columnists do as compared to entertainment and fashion another form of crass self-promotion?). Or that bloggers have "undiluted passion for self-publicity" (he has never signed a contract with an agent or griped to an editor about column inches?).

What a cry baby.

2898 The most powerful women

The Sept. 15 issue [I think that was the date] of Forbes features a story on the 100 most powerful women. I was somewhat dismayed to see that Katie Couric, Diane Sawyer, and Meredith Viera were listed. Shouldn't they be on the celebrities list? I mean, gosh, they read the news from teleprompters! The U.S. only got 53 slots and 3 go to celebrity news readers? They don't create anything, not even money like Oprah does (she's justifiably on the list). And Melinda Gates? She married well. Laura Bush at least helped George be a success with some tough love; I think Bill Gates made it with little help from Melinda, no matter what she thinks about malaria (and I personally think she's wrong).

So I checked Google to see who was on the list of the 100 most powerful men, or even most powerful people, but there wasn't such a list. I wanted to see if Charlie Gibson or Matt Laurer made it, or any spouses besides Kerry and McCain whose political careers would be toast if they hadn't married money.

There are 4 Israeli, 2 Indian, and 7 black women (from various countries); no Canadians. 30 are in government and 48 run corporations. I question that Hugh Hefner's daughter should be on the list--surely there are more important women in publishing.

Incidentally, all things being equal, women earn as much or more than men. Single woman without children earn more than single men without children; and any woman working 80 hour weeks, willing to travel and relocate and have absolutely no life other than work, with a supportive spouse, gets the same compensation or better. See this Forbes article It seems that women have different career goals than men. Huddathunkit.

Forbes
women
gender
economy
celebrities

2897 Who is President Tom?

While walking in the park with my radio yesterday morning I was listening to Glenn Beck talk about "President Tom." Who is that, I wondered, figuring it was a nickname and he'd clarify. I don't watch his TV show (in my opinion his radio presentation has weakened a bit since he has to devote so much time to TV). His callers seemed to know President Tom. He said he was afraid of him. So I looked it up. Google, which has been annoyingly anticipating all my questions lately, didn't throw it up on the screen. So I found the Glennpedia, which reported:

"President Tom is Glenn's name for Mahmoud Ahmadinejad, the president of Iran." Some liberals progressives don't like it that Glenn has compared President Tom's speeches to those of Howard Dean and Michael Moore. I'm just saying. . .

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You Should Weigh 141

If you weigh less than this, you either have a fast metabolism or are about to gain weight. If you weigh more than this, you may be losing a few pounds soon!

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Monday Memories

This photo is from my sewing blog, but I'll repost it here because I can't get blogger to upload the photo I wanted to use.


So I'll just list the items here that are "memories." The quilt was made by my grandmother's sister Martha who died in childbirth at age 34 in 1889 leaving a husband and two little boys; the two cloth dolls are mine, one made for me by a neighbor, Ruth Crowell, and one by my mother; next to them is a handmade by my great-grandfather, stackable spool thread holder and pin cushion, with 19th century thread; the 2 glass jars have decorative glass lids and were used for jelly and jam made by my grandmother from her grape arbor; the decorative plate belonged to my husband's grandmother, Neno; the odd shaped metal thing lying on its side was used by my great-grandmother Susan to punch down bread dough back when that activity consumed a lot of a woman's time; the blue glass insulator is from an electric pole probably replaced in the 1940s; the dark cup is actually a sterling silver engraved baby cup given to my daughter by her paternal grandparents (needed some polish); in the cup are engraved baby spoons given to our oldest son; the long flat object is a rug hooker in its original box used by my great-grandmother and I think it was used for repair, not for making rugs.

Hanging on the wall in a ca. 1930s frame is an embroidered saying about mothers, and I think it was made by my husband's mother when she was a teen-ager; the subject of my husband's watercolor on the wall is the barn hay loft on my mother's farm, originally owned by her grandfather, now owned by my brother; the scenes on the quilt over the chair are of buildings in Mt. Morris, IL where my family lived; it is folded on the chair of my husband's grandfather refinished and recaned in the 1970s; and my grandparents' lamp in the foreground was converted from a kerosene lamp to an electric lamp in the early 1900s and is now in my living room.

Along the ceiling is a wallpaper border with book patterns which covered up the cats stenciled there some years before. This room was my office in our house (sold in 2002), and I really liked it because I could look out over the trees and enjoy all the family memories. However, the realtor said we should convert it back to a bedroom in order to sell the house, so we did by packing all this away and borrowing some furniture and toys.

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2894 The high cost of living in 1913

While waiting for my luggage to be delivered (it went to Las Vegas instead of Columbus yesterday) and being put on hold by Road Runner (my internet connection was down after some big storms in the midwest), I decided to clean off my desk. My goodness! What a nest of useless scraps and bits. In addition to old phone numbers and messages from only God knows, I found an article I'd printed about a year ago called, "The waste of private housekeeping" by Mrs. Charlotte Perkins Gilman*," author of The Home: Its Work and Influence. It was published in the Annals of the American Academy of Political and Social Science, Vol. 48, 91-95, July 1913. I don't recall why I printed it--perhaps so I could make fun of it in a blog?

Her thesis is that wives and mothers do the domestic work of servants, without regard to fitness or experience, and that this is extremely inefficent. First, only incompetent people would be servants, and second, marriage keeps women in perpetual apprenticeships, because it is inefficient to have 15 out of 16 families using "mother-service." If you were around in the 1970s or 1980s, you'll recognize all this since the feminists pulled it from the archives and dressed it up a bit.

Mrs. Gillman, of course, was one of the 1/16 who paid someone else to do her wife and mother work (probably a woman) while she pointed out the waste in having the other 15/16 doing repetitive work in a single kitchen whereas "one properly constituted kitchen can provide food for 500 people, equal to one hundred families, and with space, fittings and supplies certainly not exceeding those of 10 private kitchens." She was quite specific about the savings in sinks, ranges, tables, refrigerators, pantrys, cupboards, fuel, to say nothing of breakage and repairs, and purchasing in quantity. Ten skilled experts, she estimated, using proper tools and conditions, would be cheaper than 100 clumsy beginners (newly married women in imperfect kitchens).

She concluded: "The professionalization of cooking, cleaning and laundry work should be hailed not only by the economist but by the hygienist, the eugenist, and the social psychologist as a long upward step in world progress."

Ah, Ms. Perkins Gilman, welcome to the progress you envisioned--of gleaming fast food kitchens, long commutes in gas guzzlers to the day care center, millions of mommies wrestling each other at the glass ceiling, coming home to a housecleaning and gardener service that employs people of questionable green cards, and a home health company that sends a Somali to take care of grandma.

[Gilman is a favorite in women's literature classes for "The Yellow Wallpaper," a short story about a woman who goes insane from domesticity.]

I love California, but. . .

it has its share of odd-balls and trouble-makers that try to set trends for the whole country.

"California attorney general Bill Lockyer has been busy sticking his nose into a host of places it doesn't belong. For example, announcing that he has evidence to indict people in connection with the spying "scandal" at HP. Now he's filed a "lawsuit against leading U.S. and Japanese auto manufacturers, alleging their vehicles’ emissions have contributed significantly to global warming, harmed the resources, infrastructure and environmental health of California, and cost the state millions of dollars to address current and future effects." The premise of the suit is that the cars are a public nuisance; i.e., "an unreasonable interference with a public right, or an action that interferes with or causes harm to life, health or property." " Professor Bainbridge

Maybe he should ask Californians to give up their cars first--just for health, of course.

2892 A beautiful wedding

Our purpose for being in California was to attend the wedding of my husband's sister who is 10 years younger. He and his brother walked her down the aisle at the beautiful Jones Victorian Estate in Orange. Friday was a bit cool and cloudy for the rehearsal, but Saturday was a bright, golden California day. It was a happy relaxed crowd with a guest list of long time friends, new friends, co-workers, in-laws and former in-laws. Both the bride and the groom's former spouses and former in-laws attended, so not only did we get a whole new bunch of relatives, but we got to see the ones we "lost in the divorce."

Deb in the ladies dressing room

A tear in my eye, but I leaned over and got this photo of the brothers with their sister bride.

Deb's daughters and grandson and her best friend Sue were her attendants. John's little great grandsons had scampered away before I could click the camera. John had his son, brother and nephew.

A new niece and nephew, Carol and Jeff, the groom's children

The wedding cake had attendants also, served in an open garden arbor with scattered rose petals, in keeping with the red rose theme.

Wedding Planning
traditions and customs
families

2891 The Gamble House

The city of Pasadena, celebrating its centennial this year, has taken good care of the the Gamble House, the winter home of the Cincinnati Gambles of Procter and Gamble. The Greene brothers, Charles and Henry, had attended MIT and were on their way to California to join their parents when they visited the Chicago World's Columbian Exposition in 1893 and were charmed by the Japanese pavilion. [Note to my family: My grandmother attended this with her parents when she was a teenager and I've always thought her home had elements of design influenced and made popular by Wright and the Greenes]. We toured this lovely home, but photos were not allowed on the inside. It had an extensive restoration, reopening two years ago.

2890 Greene and Greene, the bungalow architects

Charles Sumner Greene, 1868–1957, and Henry Mather Greene, 1870–1954 moved to Pasadena in the 1890s and developed the style known as bungalow, and were influenced by the same Japanese style as Frank Lloyd Wright. Our guide told us that they were extremely successful, especially with the old money crowd, but then the new money folks wanted something flashier and brighter, so they fell out of favor. We saw some wonderful examples of their work, as well as smaller imitations in Pasadena, and we were able to tour the Gamble House which is owned by the city of Pasadena.





These homes are in the Hillcrest/Wentworth Area of Pasadena. One of the best known is the Blacker House, but I don't think we got a photo. Much of the interior was sold off by an unscrupulous owner causing some new preservation codes for the district. It is being restored.

2889 La Miniatura and Storer House

These were drive-bys on our Frank Lloyd Wright tour of homes in LA. The first of his textile block houses was done for Alice and George Millard for whom he'd designed a Prairie Style home in Illinois in 1906. It's in really tough shape but in its day was considered a perfect backdrop for the owners' art collection.



John Storer was another Chicago client who decided to try out Hollywood. This home at 8161 Hollywood Blvd. is lived in and seems to be in good condition, but we couldn't go in. There are 11 block patterns and it is built on a steep hillside.



Original drawing of the Storer House in Library of Congress.

2888 The Jews and the Democratic Party

As several pundits have noted, the [Democratic political] blogs have become a hot bed for anti-Semitic sentiments.


"Developments in the Democratic Party bode ill for the Jewish people and for the state of Israel – home of up to 40% of the world’s remaining Jewish population. The rank and file of the Party has become increasingly anti-Semitic and support for Israel has noticeably fallen. Democratic Congressmen have reflected this trend in very visible ways: their votes and actions in Congress reveal that support for Israel has eroded in alarming ways. Furthermore, more than a few Democratic Congressman have openly made statements that are either clearly anti-Semitic or can be fairly construed to be at least, “anti-Semitic in effect, if not intent”.

These disconcerting trends can be observed by a bottom-up approach: looking at the grassroots base of the Democratic Party, how these views are expressed in Congress, and how the Democratic leadership has responded to these developments. Since the House of Representatives appears to be headed toward a Democratic majority and certain key Chairmanships will fall into the hands of Democrats with anti-Israel histories, these trends will have very serious implications for Jews and for the state of Israel." The American Thinker

Look out. Can the Blacks and Hispanics be far behind?

2887 Ennis House by Wright

Frank Lloyd Wright designed a home in the foothills of the Santa Monica Mountains for Charles and Mabel Ennis. Our photo taken from the Hollyhock House gives an idea of its size and the view. Our Ohio tour group was able to visit and tour this house a few years ago, but it has now been closed to the public and is really unsafe. The last owner made a few attempts to preserve it, but caused more deterioration. Our tour guide had been a docent here and said that the inside was in good condition. She told us it was used in a number of movies.

View from Barnsdall Park, Hollyhock House

The front side of Ennis House actually looks better than the back. The lighter colored blocks resulted from an attempt to preserve them with a glaze which actually worsened the water damage and is almost impossible to remove. It was damaged in the 1994 earthquake and the bad flooding of 2004-05 in the area.

View of reconstruction and reenforcement of Ennis House. To stabilize it will cost about $5 million; but about $15 million to restore the whole site to its former grandeur. They are looking for some deep pockets, in case you're interested!
This is a "textile block" house and for more information on this and others, go here.

NPR interview about the Ennis House, listen here.

Ennis House
Frank Lloyd Wright
California architecture

2886 Where are the demands for apologies

from the Muslims for kidnapping innocent civilians, attaching bombs to them, and then letting them get blown up when they are released. Read that AP story today, and just wondered where the outrage is for proving the Pope right? I don't know where the story was buried in your paper, but in the Orange County Register it was on page 11. The Pope stating the Obvious, the Historical and the Truth, of course, gets front page demands for an apology.

"Insurgents are now using unwitting kidnap victims as suicide bombers _ seizing them, booby-trapping their cars without their knowledge, then releasing them only to blow up the vehicles by remote control, the Defense Ministry warned Thursday."

2885 Hooray for Hollywood!

Famous Hollywood sign seen from the Hollyhock House we were visiting
Although Hollywood doesn't look exactly like I thought (our guide called it a state of mind), we had a wonderful architectural tour which included the Frank Lloyd Wright designed homes and buildings, Hollyhock House, Ennis-Brown House, La Miniatura, and Storer House, some drive-bys only because they are privately owned or under reconstruction.

Wright's career was struggling from his disastrous personal failings when he was hired by Aline Barnsdall, an oil heiress, to develop her 36 acre property, called Olive Hill, as an arts community. Much of the supervision was passed along to his son because he was busy in Japan. His fascination with Asian art and elements, which most likely began at the Chicago's World Fair in 1893, is really apparent in these homes. Also, some poor choices in construction materials and building locations.

We were able to tour Hollyhock House which is in the early stages of restoration. Some furniture has been recreated by local artisans and there are pieces of Stickley furniture of the period in the house. Our docent was able to point out the various changes to the original from over the years, and it was interesting to see the models of buildings that were never built.




For awhile in the 1940s and 1950s the Barnsdall house was a memorial to Dorothy Clune Murray's son killed in WWII, and was used by the USO. Various arts organizations have also used it, changing some features to suit their needs.

Theater and pond; Wright loved elements with water, but always had a problem with leaks and materials

Note: I can't get blogger to upload the rest of my photos, so will try later.


Stylized representations of Hollyhocks are throughout the house.

The models of development that never happened.


Library with Aline Barnsdall's portrait

Frank Lloyd Wright
California architecture
Hollyhock House

Friday Family photo

This isn't the best quality because it is a scan of a photocopy, but I was so thrilled to get it last week. The handsome young man on the right is my Uncle, and I think I know why my Mom used to say my brother (and now his son) resembled him. This is the graduating class of the country, one room school, Pine View, in Lee county, Illinois. Often in these rural schools, the teacher wasn't much older than the students (which in fact is still true in some high schools where a new teacher/graduate might be 22, and some of the students 18 or 19). However, I think it is interesting that the teacher and her 3 female students are all wearing identical dresses. I'm wondering if it was a home economics project, or if the photographer had clothing on hand for the photo shoot. Is anyone an expert on studio photography, or have you seen this before? I know many photographers in those days had suit coats and ties on hand for the men, and much later when my father had his formal portrait taken in the Marines in his dress blues, he didn't really own the uniform.

1916, when this photo was taken, was a good time for farm families, and my grandparents were doing well. My uncle went on to high school, I think he had a year or two of college, and then travelled in Europe (WWI was over). However, the disaster in this country known as the Great Depression was actually affecting farmers by the early and mid-1920s because many, including my grandparents, had over extended themselves during the war because of the demand for food. When the war was over, the market for their crops stopped, but they still owed on the loans.

2883 Thursday Thirteen about health fads, habits and myths.

Like many Americans, I'm concerned about my health. After all, if I don't care, who will? So I do things now that I probably should have done many years ago, and used to do some things better than I do these days.

1. I watch my weight. I watch it go up. And then I'm really careful and I watch it go down. This is called yo-yoing, and all the ladies know this is not good, but we all do it. My reunion is next July, so it is time to start watching it go down again. I need to plan now and decide if I want to be a size 6 again, or fill out my facial wrinkles and be a 10.

2. I exercise semi-regularly, in fits and starts, with lots of good intentions. If good intentions and resolve were good for me, I'd live to be a very toned 120. I was never a good athlete and hate to get sweaty, so I don't look back with regret. Negative thoughts are bad for you, so I have none about formerly being buff. Never played tennis, golf, climbed mountains, swam competitively or tap danced like some of you other bloggers.

3. I've never smoked. This is a biggie for good health. It's #1 in our culture. Kills thousands every year and cripples many more. If I want to throw out my arm patting myself on the back, this would be the time.

4. I've never had a beer--this helps my brain cells with 8 blogs and the weight thing in #1, since beer is pretty high in calories, and most of the people I've observed don't drink just one.

5. After 2002 I began having a glass of red wine occasionally. This is supposed to help my heart and protect me from all sorts of bad things, but mainly it just makes me dizzy and fuzzy. I just can't imagine why people are fond of putting things in their bodies that cause them to feel yucky and addled. That comes with time so why speed it up? I've had conversations with people whose brains were damaged by alcohol and those who have Alzheimer's, and trust me, there's very little difference.

6. I stay out of the sun as much as possible. I'm very fair, but why would I want to be brown if it will just promote wrinkles and skin cancer? I have discovered sun screen in the last 5 years, but most of the time I forget to use it and I think it makes me smell like a swimmer. See #2.

7. I have a pet. I've read a lot of articles about this and I think the research is pretty squishy, but I'm going with the guys who say a pet helps your blood pressure and heart rate, and as long as my daughter is willing to take our kitty in while we're out of town, I'll go with it.

8. I love fruits and vegetables. My favorite breakfast is an apple, because if I eat a "healthy breakfast" I'm hungry all day. See #1. I particulary love Honey Crisp, and it is just about time for them to come on the market. (Fall)

9. I'm not o.c. about cleanliness. Keeps the resistance up and saves wear and tear on the body.

10. I get an annual check-up. My doctor usually reminds me about #1, but other than that he tells me I'm a good girl and then we talk about church, family and community matters.

11. I obey the speed limits and traffic rules, and I don't drive a lot, nor do I drive much at night when all the crazies are out there. See #4. I wear my seat belt always. I mean, if I'm in the car.

12. I chose healthy parents and grandparents, and most have lived to near 90. Now that doesn't always work if you smoke or drink, but it helps.

13. I read a lot of medical books and articles and used to work in a medical library so I know how to find all the scary stuff on paper or on-line. Even so, I like to read the current medical journals and not rely on the rehashed health scares. But basically, it boils down to: eat all the colors, in moderation, get 8 hours of sleep, don't smoke, drink lots of water and marry a nice person and stay that way. That pretty much sums it up.

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2882 Wedding preparations

We have come to California for my sister-in-law's wedding. My husband and his brother will walk her down the aisle to "give her away." We spent the day with the bride and groom, visiting their new home and the site of the wedding. It is a joyful time and we look forward to welcoming a new family member.

2881 The new poet laureate of the United States

Somewhere I read that today is the birthday of Donald Hall, the newly appointed but not yet seated poet laureate. He begins his "duties" on September 30 according to this notice from the Library of Congress.

"Librarian of Congress James H. Billington has announced the appointment of Donald Hall to be the Library’s 14th Poet Laureate Consultant in Poetry.

Hall will take up his duties in the fall, opening the Library’s annual literary series in October with a reading of his work. He will also be a featured speaker at the Library of Congress National Book Festival poetry pavilion on Saturday, Sept. 30, on the National Mall in Washington, D.C.

Hall succeeds Ted Kooser as Poet Laureate and joins a long line of distinguished poets who have served in the position, including most recently Louise Glűck, Billy Collins, Stanley Kunitz, Robert Pinsky, Robert Hass and Rita Dove." News from the Library of Congress

Since I had previously blogged about Ted Kooser, I thought it only fitting to say Happy Birthday to Mr. Hall.

2880 The Getty Center Museum

What a special birthday treat. We visited the Getty Museum yesterday In Los Angeles (there is also one in Malibu), and although I had read many articles about it when it first began appearing in my husband's magazines, I was not prepared to fall in love with it. We both thought the design was wonderful and very human, unlike so much of modern architecture that seems to fit the whim of the designer with CAD. We started with the architectural tour with a docent, and if you care about architecture as well as paintings, drawings, sculpture, etc., I would recommend beginning there. This is a place to go back to often--as long as your brother-in-law is driving and a native Californian.

Rubens and Brueghel, a working friendship. Until seeing this exhibit I was unaware that the great masters worked together on some paintings. I'm looking a bit Rubenesque myself here, don't you think?


I wish I'd gone inside, but there was so much to see. This is the library/research institute. Oh, I just must go back!

The separation of the buildings and exhibits allows for many visitors without feeling closed in and cramped.

Getty Museum
Getty Center
Peter Paul Rubens
Los Angeles

2879 Katrina Refugees Update

These two lovely Rhodesian Ridgebacks escaped Katrina with their people in their owners' car with a few emergency supplies, but all else was left behind--home, friends, careers, and belongings. Most was lost, but some things are portable and irreplaceable, like the love of family, a good education, and a professional network. So pups and people resettled here in Huntington Beach where their people are starting over, living with his mother and her husband, our hosts. They are big--and although you don't want to be in the way when they hear the doorbell--they are loveable and friendly, and a great comfort to their owners who have lost so much. These dogs know quite a few words, so if you want to mention the beach, you have to spell it, b-e-a-c-h.

Diesel and Nola at the pool

Rhodesian ridgebacks

2878 Enjoying Huntington Beach

Yesterday we viewed a few local sights and sites. Had dinner with the happy couple at Zubie's--I think that was the name. Huge quantities of food--we split a dinner. My husband's father used to have a restaurant in the same shopping center many years ago. John, the groom, grew up in Huntington Beach and remembers the old days when much of it was farm land and oil fields.

I haven't been in the pool yet, but did enjoy some quiet time in the shade. Maybe today.
Me with my coffee by the pool



My sister-in-law and hostess with 2 of her other "guests"

Rhodesian ridgebacks

Monday Memories: The neighborhood story I missed

When I'm at Lakeside, I only read USAToday occasionally, so I missed the story September 1 about Krema Nut Co. and the Chef-O-Nette Restaurant, two local favorites of mine that were featured in a story about "down home dining."

When we moved here in 1967 we rented an apartment that was one block from the Chef-O-Nette--in fact, I think we took a short cut through a neighbor's drive-way into an alley to get to it. We bought a house in the same neighborhood and later when my daughter was in pre-school, I started stopping by with my son to get a cup of coffee for me and a treat for him just to pass the time. I became one of the regulars, dropping in when the kids were in school across the street. I can't remember how many years I spent discussing the news of the day and gossiping at the second bay--maybe 10 or 15. "Our bay" even entered a float in the 4th of July parade and had picnics and birthday parties together. Eventually, the opening time (7:30 a.m.) wasn't early enough when I worked downtown and the university and I switched to Paul's Pantry in Grandview or one of the local McDonald's. We still love the Chef's tapioca pudding.

"Tremont Chef-O-Nette, 2090 Tremont Center, Upper Arlington; 614-488-8444. There's an abundance of charm at this bright, cheery and expansive diner, not only on the menu but also on the walls, which are adorned with numerous plaques and mayoral proclamations thanking the owners for participating in various parades and charity drives. The Chef-O-Nette opened in a shopping center in 1955 in this now-upscale suburb of Columbus (Jack Nicklaus is its most famous native), and from day one, it has amply fed the locals with bedrock fare such as pancakes and waffles, burgers, ham steak with pineapple rings, red-sauced pastas and fried seafood. Most entrees are under $9. The regional touches are modest but reliable: specials such as spareribs with sauerkraut and mashed potatoes, tapioca pudding, cherry cobbler and a salad of lettuce topped with cubes of American, Swiss and provolone cheeses."

Krema Peanut Butter is a staple in my cupboard. I've used their products for about 30 years. However, I've never tried the take-out.

"About 18 months ago at its flagship retail store, a small take-out operation was added, offering about two dozen variations on the peanut butter-and-jelly theme. Sandwiches ($3 to $4) are made with white bread or whole wheat and come layered with almond, cashew or peanut butters in creamy, crunchy or hot/spicy and various fruit toppings. Typical is the PB Apple Cheesecake, made with peanut butter on one side and cheesecake cream cheese and chunky apple fruit spread on the other.

Desserts ($2.25 to $3.25) include sundaes, milkshakes and splits made with peanut-butter ice cream and fruit sauces. The PB&J Classic Old Timer Sundae is the most sinfully delightful with peanut-butter and strawberry ice creams, peanut-butter topping, whipped cream and sliced strawberries."

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We're off to California

We've got a full week planned for California, topped off on the weekend with my sister-in-law's wedding, then we'll fly back to Columbus next Sunday. I'm hoping to also see my childhood friend Tina, but if not, we'll meet at next summer's class reunion. The good Lord willing and the creek don't rise.

I'll post Monday Memories early and catch up when I can.

2874 Limosines, laundry and lofts

From time to time at this or that blog, I've written about college laundry, college dorm rooms, and the 1950 Packard my sister and I drove to Indiana when we were in college. But we couldn't imagine college life like this--actually I can't believe it now!

DePaul University in Chicago: "Known as Loft-Right, the mod-looking structure has all the amenities: expansive city views, granite countertops in the kitchen and bathrooms, modern designer furniture and satellite TV hookups. The lobby lounge - like something out of a hip hotel - has a pool table and fireplace, and soon will have a Starbucks and tanning and hair salons next door.

Living at a place like this isn't cheap.

Students at Loft-Right each pay more than $1,000 a month for a private bedroom in a two- or four-bedroom unit, with bathrooms shared by no more than two people."

Whole story at "College dorms go upscale" By Martha Irvine

HT Kept up librarian

2873 My new dress

I found a lovely dress yesterday in soft fall colors--moss green, brown and sort of a deep rose. A paisley type print, button front, body skimming with short sleeves. I had my husband take a photo so I could send it to my sister. We sort of look alike and have similar body types, but she's taller and prettier. . . but I'm younger. After looking at the photo, I decided I needed to go back to the store and buy a new. . . undergarment.

Someone out there is creating identical foam inserts for every woman smaller than Pamela Anderson. It is really odd to see acres and acres in every imaginable color, some with lace, some with bows, skinny straps and fat straps, bridal, strapless, sports, seamless, but identical foam shapes. After a great deal of searching, I found one in my size with no foam padding and no underwire and no gel (security checks, you know). While I was waiting in line at the cash register (are they still called that), I noticed that the tall skinny Japanese woman (about a size 0) had the exact same shape as the clerk, a short middle eastern woman who was about a size 16. Then a woman quite overweight and slightly disabled with a cane came up, and she too had the same shape. A Bahamian woman with two young children playing hide 'n seek among the nighties also had the same shape.

2872 If it hadn't been in the paper

I wouldn't mention it. A lot more people read the Columbus Dispatch than my blog! The former pastor of our church committed adultery. That's bad. Really bad. Particularly since he was quite a finger wagger from the pulpit, and helped the church establish a position paper on sexuality. He formerly was with Missouri Synod, and I always had the feeling he didn't think our synod (ELCA) was quite "Lutheran" enough. And he was a charismatic. You know, the joyful ones who get a special word from the Lord on how to be a dynamic Christian the rest of us aren't privy to. The affair happened during the early years of his "reign" and he was with us quite a while. In 2001 we probably had kids going off to college whom he baptized as infants. Unlike Jimmy Swaggart, the televangelist who got caught, he didn't go public and tearfully confess so we could have booted him--after we forgave him, of course.

Anyway, my computer spell-check tries to change his name to weasel. And I'm not going to correct it.

2871 The difference between men and women

There are actually several, but two come to mind. I found this photograph at a clergywomen's retreat site. 1) In a Protestant denomination that ordains both men and women, the men wouldn't be allowed to have a retreat limited to only men. 2) But if they could find enough guys to pull it off (women are outnumbering men in many seminaries), chocolate wouldn't be a featured part of the programming.

2870 Go Bucks! Bucks go to the Library

The Ohio State University Department of Athletics is donating $5 million to the renovation of the main library building which is closing Sunday for four years (Columbus Dispatch, September 16, 2006). Employees, computers and materials are being moved to a number of different sites. This is the second largest donation for this renovation. About $70 million is coming from state funding, but over $30 million needed to be raised. Soliciting for libraries is tough, because they don't have a constituency (alumni) they can tap into. Changes here.

In January I wrote about the money that athletics bring in to the university here.

"Ohio State University is number one in revenue from sports teams. OSU got $89.7 million from ticket sales, royalties, advertising, broadcast agreements and other cources in 2004-05 (Columbus Dispatch, Jan. 4, 2006, version from USAToday). OSU also has the most athletes and teams in Division I NCAA--900 in 36 sports. The program receives NO money from the government or university and it paid $12 million to the university to cover athletes tuition and other expenses."

2869 Blogging at work

Some of my favorite bloggers either write from work, or write about work, or write about co-workers and supervisors, or write about clients. Not a good idea. If even one person knows your URL, or true identity, you're toast. Maybe not today or tomorrow. Eventually. I'm retired, and I know where a lot of bodies are buried, but I know I can't tell.

Sometimes it's a learning experience, teaches patience and forgiveness.

2868 How to lie with statistics, charts and quintiles

David R. Henderson at TCS Daily has an interesting thought. Read the Census Report on income, poverty and health 2006 before deciding that the gap between rich and poor is widening. It's important to note, he says, that income is not wealth (ask any retired baby-boomer). To me this is always the most glaring failing when liberals try to cram horror stories about the economy down our throats at election time. The oldest boomers are now 60; many have retired. Hello! What happens to income when you retire? It either stops, or is reduced drastically. Does that make you poor? Not if you have a home, pension and investments.

I'm guilty. I haven't read the report. But here's what I know for a fact going in.

• Married people are wealthier than unmarried;
• children of divorce are poorer than children of in tact families;
• divorced and unmarried fathers are less likely to provide a college education for their children than fathers married to the children's mother;
• people who work have more money than people who don't work;
• government programs often encourage people not to work, or at least reward them for working less, so they have the unintended consequence of creating a poor class;
• people in the bottom quintile usually don't stay there because their age, education or marital status changes;
• inexpensive leisure activities and entertainment lull people into not doing their best but create great wealth for a small number;
• millions of destitute people sneak into our country every year and are added to the poverty rolls;
• marijuana and alcohol keep a lot of people poor and dysfunctional while making a small number rich;
• for 30+ years schools have encouraged students to seek non-monetary satisfactions and rewards in life and liberals shouldn't complain if it is working.

Women (of certain types and political thought) have been leading the charge that keep families poor for over 30 years. Wake up and smell the coffee, ladies.

poverty
U.S. Census
economy

Friday Family Photo

This group of young college students, ca. 1895, were enjoying the social contacts made through their "boarding club," at Mt. Morris College in Mt. Morris, IL. I know they don't look thrilled to be there, but I think that's because photography still required the subjects to be quiet still. The older woman in the middle of the group is the "house mother," probably a local widow who opened her home and supplied the meals for a small income. Many of the student would have also roomed at homes in the community.



My maternal grandparents probably met this way, she is in the upper left, next to her future brother-in-law, and he is in the lower right. Grandma was from Ashton, about 20 miles away and probably used a train to travel back and forth, but Grandpa was from near Dayton, Ohio, (Jamton, which no longer exists) and I am told that he and his brother bicycled from the Dayton area to get to Mt. Morris. Bicycles were still fairly new then and long distance travel was not unusual, especially with clubs. Their materials and innovations and the rider's sense of freedom and independence really paved the way for the automobile, and many early bicycle makers became auto makers.

One of the things I find interesting in this photo is the clothing. It looks rather plain to us in the 21st century, but these young people were most likely members of the German Baptist Brethren (later called Church of the Brethren), but none are dressed "in order," the word "order" meaning discipline and separation. For men this might be suits without ties or lapels, and for women dresses with no adornment and prayer coverings over the hair. I would need to check with an historian of this group, but it is possible that they did not dress "in order" until they were baptised which may have been in adulthood.

After one year of college, Grandma went home to Ashton to manage her father's farm home because her mother died, but she did continue with her painting and took private lessons. Grandpa and his brother after two years of college headed west, taught school along the way in the Dakotas, worked as lumberjacks in the northwest, and tried to get into Alaska for the gold rush. Eventually the young adventurers returned to the midwest. My grandparents got together to renew a college friendship (he was probably out of money), and married in 1901.

Update: Modern view on anabaptist dress.

Church of the Brethren
Mt. Morris College
Mt. Morris, Illinois

Thursday Thirteen

13 things I just don't get (in no particular order). I do like to have certain things make sense. Call it age, but there are common every day sights and experiences that just baffle me. I come up with a blank for an explanation on these thirteen.

1) Declarative sentences that end with a question mark. (The voice rises at the end and the eyebrows go up even though there is no question.) Women do this much more than men. I would almost rather hear the word "like" 15 times in a sentence, than hear it go up at the end.

2) Why I would put on 20 lbs three years after I retired, but not the first two years. It's not the how (too many calories), but the timing.

3) Ugly art. Why bother to create it or buy it? We have friends who spent about $70,000 on their son's fine art education, and I use the term loosely. I would demand my money back.

4) The moral level and premise of popular TV shows like Sopranos (New Jersey psychopaths and their relationships), Desperate Housewives (botoxed and enhanced women as non-productive mooches sleeping with the help), Weeds (Tupperware type woman who makes ends meet by starting her own door-to-door pot dealing business), etc. If those are your favorite shows, what would you be turning off? Football and golf on TV look better to me all the time.

5) Rancorous political pundits in blogs. Left or right--are they just letting off steam or harming the nation? The left far outnumber the right and are even more outrageous and conspiratorial, I just don't link to them. I've already told you I don't read potty mouth bloggers in another "13." Nothing worse than a woman stumbling up to her blog template with a dirty mouth.

6) Fashion trends that glorify sway backs, bellies and muffin tops. I hope the natural waist returns soon to slacks and skirts, someplace other than the L.L.Bean catalog.

7) Poker and gambling glorified on cable TV. We don't have enough addictions in our society? Just invest in stocks. Held long enough, you'll get about 10% over time.

8) Loud, thudding worship music. Do you think God is deaf? Or does your music director own stock in Peavey?

9) Crotch grabbing musicians and poets. Ode to crabs? And inseams that start below the knees. Oh please. Those guys look like men in skirts.

10) Why sex offenders on the Internet or next door is a left-right issue. Why public librarians are such wimps about it.

11) Why we blame restaurants, advertisers and food vendors for Americans being overweight (and Europeans are just a decade behind us). No one is dragging us into the store and force feeding us.

12) Why we can't build roads that will keep up with the traffic, instead of creating life time employment for state workers.

13) Men with earrings. Sissies. The whole bunch. With a pony tail and tattoo they really look dumb and driving a pick-up truck won't change it. Leave the tresses to ladies wearing dresses. Next they'll want their own scrunchies.

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2865 If your kids are fat, blame Bush

The latest report about obesity in children has some clues about who is to blame. It isn't genes; it isn't choice; it isn't TV advertising. It isn't even fast food. It's the government. And that, as we all know, means Bush.

This was in my mailbox from Rueters:

"There was a national campaign called VERB done by CDC and the federal government to increase children's awareness of being physically active," he added. "That was shown to be effective in doing those things but then it ceased to be funded."

The program ends this month."

And this from the same article:

"Many parents have complained that testing requirements, budget crunches and other factors have caused schools to drop recess and physical education -- two important opportunities for children to get exercise.

"From my perspective as a physician and public health professional ... I'd have to say we should not remove physical activity from the school day," Koplan said.

"You put a group of 8-year-olds together sitting in a chair all day and ...they, like us, will lose concentration," he said."


"Federal funding for Verb was $125 million in 2001, $68 million in 2002, $51 million in 2003, $36 million in 2004 and $59 million in 2005. At press time, the House had proposed $11.2 million for Verb in the fiscal year 2006 budget, while the U.S. Senate had proposed no funding at all. According to the 2006 budget justification released by the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, the “budget request reflects the elimination” of Verb, noting that the program was originally authorized for five years in 2001. However, Congress can reauthorize Verb funding if it desires or simply continue appropriating funds for the program." Nation's Health.

2864 Wedding Photos

In August we attended a lovely wedding (although we left before the dancing started so we could get back to Lakeside). Eric has now posted photographs of the wedding party and festivities. Eric is one of my blogging students from last summer, although with his background, it was pretty easy. We've known Eric and Sharon about 30 years and watched their two boys grow up.

2863 Fall tasks

My husband and son are painting the trim on his house today.


I'm doing laundry and getting ready for our trip to California. We will be there for a week, so blogging might be light. Every time I say that, however, I find a way. . .

2862 Blogmares

Mark Leggott says he has blogmares. That's the blogger's version of the dream that you've got an exam and can't find the classroom.

1) you create a new "cutting edge" post only to realize you made essentially the same post 12 months ago
2) you create a new post about something you just read, only to realize that you did the same thing last month and said something completely different
3) you get a message from a blogger you've never heard of asking why you copied his stuff without credit
4) you delete the best comment ever (one of the few you've ever had) when cleaning up your #@*^% blogspam
5) then of course there would have to be the you-forget-you-have-a-blog-until-the-conference-talk-on-blogs one...

See the whole post at Loomware.

2861 Terrible tragedy in Canada

I've been watching the terrifying footage of the Canadian campus where a gunman shot many students. The first thing that struck me as I watched the students running, was that they were still wearing their backpacks. If I thought I was fleeing for my life, would I weigh myself down with 20 lbs of books and computer?

2860 Matt Lauer and Debra Lafave

Why is he even giving her the time of day? Would she have been interviewed if she were ugly? Find your own link.

Rosie O'Donnell hates Christians

Why not just stop watching The View? If they are going to let a host insult 80% of the audience and call it freedom of speech or political commentary, then let's use freedom of the remote and change channels. (Disclaimer: I've never watched more than 5 min. of The View without changing channels.)

Rosie O'Donnell
The View
Debra Lafave

2859 If the election were today, Joe would win easily

According to Survey USA Election Poll #10179:

Independent Lieberman 13 Points Atop Democrat Lamont for U.S. Senate:

In an election in Connecticut today, incumbent U.S. Senator Joe Lieberman, running as an Independent, defeats Democrat Ned Lamont and Republican Alan Schlesinger, according to a SurveyUSA poll conducted exclusively for WABC-TV New York. 8 weeks to the 11/7/06 general election, it's Lieberman 51%, Lamont 38%, Schlesinger 7%.

Lieberman leads 6:1 among Republicans, 3:2 among Independents. Lamont leads 3:2 among Democrats. 83% of the Democrats who voted for Lieberman in the 08/08/06 Democratic Primary, which Lamont won by 4 points, stick with Lieberman as an Independent in the General Election. 16% of Democrats who voted for Lieberman in the Primary switch to Lamont in the General. 17% of Republicans support the Republican Party's nominee, Schlesinger.

Of those who approve of President Bush's position on Iraq, 76% vote Lieberman. Among those who disapprove of Bush on Iraq, 59% vote Lamont. Of those who say "Terrorism" is the most important issue, 75% vote Lieberman. Of those who say "Iraq" is the most important issue, 73% vote Lamont.

SurveyUSA asked voters whether they are voting "for" their candidate or "against" another candidate. 57% of those who vote Lamont say they are voting "against" another candidate. 60% of those who vote Lieberman say they are voting "for" Lieberman.

For Lamont, there is solace in this one fact: of voters who in 2000 voted for Joe Lieberman both for Vice President of the United States and for U.S. Senator from Connecticut, half now vote for Lamont, half now vote for Lieberman. But that alone is not enough to elect Lamont.

HT GOP Bloggers

2858 Get out of my way, dude

I have a hair appointment at 9:30. Need to leave the drive-way at 9:15. There is a gravel truck parked at the end of my drive-way, and a a road grader parked in front of him. I'd better get out there about 9:10 and raise hell for 5 minutes, because nothing stands between me and Melissa when the roots need attention.

2857 You just don't say this in a small town

Right Murray? Sylvia? Amy?

"Last month, New York Times Sunday Styles columnist Bob Morris aimed a finicky gaze at the upstate town where he and his partner, literary agent Ira Silverberg, keep a second home.

Mr. Morris, 48, meant to poke fun at the clash between his own metropolitan snootiness and small-town reality. “When I’m there,” he wrote, “I see a new gas station with a sign so big I’m convinced it’s illegal, a market that would be adequate only if you could eat lottery tickets, fishing camps that resemble trailer parks, a river that shouldn’t be so brown, and an unpainted gazebo off Main Street that makes a tiny park look like a cluttered lawn furniture outlet.”

“I didn’t think anyone would notice,” Mr. Morris said. “I didn’t even name the town.”

Mike Calderone, New York Observer, story about the newspaper wars that resulted from his misplaced observations.

2856 Bloggers and journalists

I've never confused the two--i.e. the little people like me and the alpha bloggers, especially when I listen to folks on the Popular Mechanics blog--who are both. But I thought this observation worth pointing to:

". . . blogging takes up a lot of time. Not just the time to write a post but the time spent combing the ‘net for something interesting. Or documenting episodes in your life via pictures to create a post.

And beyond that blogging takes a lot of mental energy. When you aren’t blogging, you ar thinking about it. You think about your traffic, links, comments; you wonder how to get an edge on other bloggers. You wonder why your [deleted] blog is ignored, why you toil in obscurity while someone else’s [same word] blog becomes a media darling.

Above all there’s the realization that while you can, on your best day come up with a brilliant or near brilliant post, there are others who are doing it consistently on a daily basis. Sometimes twice or three times a day."

And he goes on to say that unlike when he started [and he has to write anonymously because of his profession], now the biggest blogs are all controlled by people who are in the media by profession. Also, unlike two years ago when conservative and libertarian, well-reasoned blogs were blossoming, now it is the radical left wing bloggers and conspiracy kooks who have taken over the ranks of bloggers (I've noticed this too).

"Blogging once held out great hope that the media could be held to account for their inaccuracies, biases and blatant falsifications of the news. But modern journalism has proven to be like the old Soviet Union - you could invade and cause great damage but ultimately you would run out of steam and like punching Jell-o it would eventually bounce your fist right out."

Sad to say, I absolutely agree.

From Meatriarchy

2855 Paragraph Farmer

had this conversation with his pastor.

My pastor and I had the following exchange before Mass yesterday.

"Frankly, Father, I'm tired of praying for peace. I'd rather pray for victory."

"Well, we'll pray for Jesus to come back. That'll fix everything."

Pretty good, huh?

Paragraph Farmer blog.

2853 Middle of the night with the conspiracy theorists

As I mentioned about a week ago, I've been sleeping in the guest room with my cold and my cat. But that means I can leave the radio on all night. You know, I'd sort of forgotten how bizarre nighttime a.m. radio can be with UFOs, seances, tattoo artists, and 9/11 conspiracy theorists--much more outrageous than nighttime TV with its health scares, crystals and blind dates. How do these seriously sick people earn a living? I'm so happy that Popular Mechanics is on the job.

This morning on Glenn Beck I heard the author of the book that evolved from the article debunking the various theories. And it wasn't hard. Most of the time all they had to do was go to the original quote or sources--like the one about a cruise missile hitting the pentagon, where the first part of the sentence--"An American Airlines jet flying so low it looked like" a cruise missile with wings.

• Claims that air traffic control violated standard operating procedures by not immediately intercepting the stricken jets;
  
• That the fire caused by the crashes wasn't actually hot enough to melt steel and cause structural damage in the World Trade Center;
  
• That the holes in the Pentagon were too small to have been made by a Boeing 757;
  
• That Flight 93 was actually shot down by an Air Force plane.

Hear the interview with Jim Meigs and David Dunbar here at Popular Mechanics Radio. Don't miss the description of the radically different construction used on the WT towers--the lightest buildings in NYC. They did not have steel girder columns holding them up. And how the conspiracists thought the word "Pull-it" referred to bringing down a building, but they were discussing getting the firefighters out.

"How can we account for our present situation unless we believe that men high in this government are concerting to deliver us to disaster? This must be the product of a great conspiracy on a scale so immense as to dwarf any previous such venture in the history of man. A conspiracy of infamy so black that, which it is finally exposed, its principals shall be forever deserving of the maledictions of all honest men.…What can be made of this unbroken series of decisions and acts contributing to the strategy of defeat? They cannot be attributed to incompetence.…The laws of probability would dictate that part of…[the] decisions would serve the country’s interest." Joseph McCarthy, 1951

The Internet ignites a conspiracy faster than jet fuel in the hands of Islamofacists propped up by left wing bloggers. You have my word.

conspiracy theories
Popular Mechanics

2852 Heading back for "old math?"

Someone in the Ohio Department of Education (or whoever hands out teaching licenses) noticed I had no college math on my transcript back in the early 1970s. Apparently in the 60s, someone decided math wasn't needed for a "liberal" education. So I went over to Ohio State and signed up for Math 101 at the beginning of the push for "new math." Fortunately, the instructor was not a grad student from India or China (although we had some that subbed), but a math teacher from West High School in Columbus who was going to grad school. It wasn't too bad, and he was an excellent teacher, but I'm awfully glad I didn't learn the basics that way. I think I got a B+. I'd hate to haul out a calculator if I needed to figure out whether to buy a package of 8 rather than 12 of paper towels. I'm not sure how the "new math" of the 70s compares to TERC, the term used today for math instruction that doesn't use drill and memorization.

Today's WSJ has an article on the scores of American students in math, and how some schools are offering "Singapore Math" based on the methods used in Singapore, whose students score the highest. They memorize, don't use calculators, and work problems out in their heads. I couldn't even come close to figuring the problems presented in the article.

Here's a site comparing, Singapore, TERC and Saxon (which is probably closer to what I learned as a kid). So this war among math educators and even homeschoolers will make Iraq look like kids' play.

And all this leads to a website called The Math Worksheet. You select the type of problems (i.e. fractions), the level of difficulty, and whether you want the answer sheet. There is also a subscription option where you pay for quantity. I don't know what method this is called, but it looks like a good review for someone like me.

HT Dawn treader

Singapore math
math

2851 Congratulations, Median Sib

Carol, who writes the blog Median Sib has recently returned from a lovely trip in Alaska where she got married, to the same nice guy she married the first time.

2850 Lincoln Museum

Last night our book group discussed Team of Rivals by Doris Kearns Goodwin. Our discussion leader had recently visited the Lincoln Museum in Fort Wayne, Indiana. Most of us had never heard of this wonderful Lincoln resource so close to home (i.e., if you were going to be in northern Indiana anyway).

"In 1905, Arthur Hall and a group of business leaders from Fort Wayne, Indiana, founded The Lincoln National Life Insurance Company. Hall, a lifelong admirer of Abraham Lincoln, wrote to the president’s only surviving son, Robert Todd Lincoln, to ask for a photograph that the company might use on its letterhead. Robert replied, “I find no objection whatever to the use of a portrait of my father upon the letterhead of such a life insurance company named after him as you describe; and I take pleasure in enclosing you, for that purpose, what I regard as a very good photograph of him.”

The company prospered, and in 1928 Hall took the opportunity to repay the Lincoln family by creating the Lincoln Historical Research Foundation, dedicated to the life and legacy of Abraham Lincoln. The Foundation, under the leadership of Dr. Louis A. Warren, began to collect Lincoln-related material in 1928, published Lincoln Lore in 1929, and opened The Lincoln Museum to the public in 1931."

The very popular current exhibit (extended) is on weddings in American history which includes the story of the weddings of the three Mary Lincolns—Mary Todd Lincoln, Mary Harlan Lincoln and Mary Lincoln Isham.

Our next selection is A share in Death by Deborah Crombie. This is the first (1993) in a series, and although mysteries are my absolutely least favorite genre, I'll play along. Also, it's my turn to do dessert that night.

Abraham Lincoln

Monday Memories: Carpenter Ants

It was our first spring in our new home. We just couldn't believe our good fortune. A gorgeous baby girl, a wonderful house in a beautiful neighborhood with old tall trees and a fresh start for my husband's career in a different city. Life was good, I thought, as I heard a light rain start. But wait. It was only raining in one room. In fact, I looked outside and it wasn't raining at all. I walked into the den and held my ear against the paneling. Sounded just like rain falling lightly--inside the walls.

The image you see on your screen is about the size of this ant and they can be more destructive than termites. The sound I heard was actually sawdust falling behind the paneling. Eventually we took the roof off the den, and found underneath a thick mat of ants, thousands, maybe millions. In those days, you could still use strong chemicals to kill ants (EPA doesn't allow it now). They really got blasted--the guys pulled the roof back and the exterminators went to work.

The next time you hear unexplained rain, put your ear on the wall.

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2848 What is your blog worth?

Why I can't imagine, but I clicked on it. And that's how web sites make money, by getting you to go there and click. So this guy is a pretty good web businessman.

My blog is worth $413,243.28.
How much is your blog worth?

Still, it's hard to get people my age to buy stuff for the sake of stuff. If we don't have it by now, we've learned how to get along without it.

2847 Would you list your birthdate on a job application?

In the USA, that is a big no-no. Your vita, or CV, or application shouldn't list any dates--not birth, graduation, honors, years of professional membership, etc. You and your wrinkles still have to face the personnel officer and/or the search committee who may be decades younger, but at least you need to get your foot in the door. Laws won't help if you're stupid. Therefore, I was surprised reading a British librarian's website with a link to his CV which just blurted all that out. He's unemployed, or underemployed, or a "consultant," and is looking for work. His birthdate and other personal information (marital status, number of children) are on his CV.

In our family my dad's employment stories were always fun. His first job was at about age 10 when he took water to men in the fields for tips. He retired the first time, I think, when he was about 55 or 57, when he sold his business. He sat around a bit staring out the window and then began a series of jobs that didn't end until his final brief illness in his late 80s. His strength was sales--never met a stranger. In the 1990s he applied for, a got, a job selling agricultural implement parts to farmers--you make the rounds of your customers, check the bolt locker and replace what's needed, send the farmer (who was probably in the field) a bill. It was one of the businesses he'd started and sold after his first retirement. But all these civil rights laws were in place by then, so they didn't now how old he was (over 80) until he filled out the post-hiring paper work. Then they saw his birth date: 1913. The next laugh was on them when he outsold all their younger salesmen.

If he'd told them upon application that he was over 80, I'm sure they would have found some reason to not hire him. And that's the way it is these days with being over 40 or over 50, depending on the job. In the library field, where you're competing with gamers and gen-xers for jobs, I'd get some botox, hair dye, and lie. . . what they know can hurt you.

2846 A 9/11 collection

"Never did I imagine that we would remain free from further attacks, and for that, I blame the Bush Administration and its courageous efforts--despite all the whining, screaming, and hysteria to the contrary--to do what it thought was right to protect America." Dr. Sanity

"It's too late to decide to attack Bin Laden, so let's attack this TV show." Althouse.

"Seeing all the attacks of the 90s laid out and dramatized (with a couple of screwed-up attempts to get Bin Laden thrown in) was kind of shocking, even for someone who is already familiar with the facts. I understand why the Clinton people do not want this to air. About the two disputed scenes: Berger does not slam down the phone but he comes of very very badly anyway. The scene with Albright doesn’t look to have changed at all (from descriptions I heard earlier). I tend to share Lileks’ (and your) view about pre-9/11 actions getting a pass, but I must say, seeing one incompetent act after another does make me angry with the Clinton Administration. I imagine it might have the same effect on other viewers." A viewer who watched the ABC movie, Path to 9/11, in New Zealand, comment on Instapundit

"Once the 9/11 attacks did occur, measures were taken that have reduced the likelihood of a recurrence. But before the attacks, it was psychologically and politically impossible to take those measures. The government knew that Al Qaeda had attacked United States facilities and would do so again. But the idea that it would do so by infiltrating operatives into this country to learn to fly commercial aircraft and then crash such aircraft into buildings was so grotesque that anyone who had proposed that we take costly measures to prevent such an event would have been considered a candidate for commitment. No terrorist had hijacked an American commercial aircraft anywhere in the world since 1986." Review of the 9/11 Commission Report in the NYT by Richard Possner.

"As wild as it may seem to Americans, especially heathens, the war against terror is a religious war. Whether the enemy chooses to conquer us by force with bombs and flaming airplanes, or by our own suicidal and weak-willed acceptance of their demands to change our way of life (swimming pools today; the legal system tomorrow) to adhere to their religious laws, he will attempt to conquer us by any means necessary." LaShawn Barber

"Ysidro came to the United States because of the promise of freedom and the ability to make his own way in the world. He died because terrorists fear and hate that about America and the West. Ysidro stood for something they could not abide: the ability to make his own decisions and live life his own way. Ysidro deserves to be remembered far more than the lunatics who took his life and all the others. Godspeed, Ysidro. I'm sorry we didn't get the chance to know you better. The terrorists stole that opportunity from us." Captain Ed, writing a remembrance about one of the 9/11 lost

2845 My score is dropping

I think it is because I just cleaned my office and don't have any food in here. Or maybe because I had to guess at all the Periodical Table questions. It's been a long, long time since chemistry class.

2844 Triple the fun

Cathy is a school teacher and she lists this as one of her pleasures this past week. It was fun, clean, and smelled good. When you're working with kids, you can't beat that!

"Placing shaving cream all over the table at school and "finger painting" with the kids. One of the kids decided to imitate what he must see and had it all over his face. We drew faces, wrote letters, made waves, and just had plain old fun. And, afterwards, had a clean table and a great smelling room (it really is an excellent cleaner)."

2843 Lessons in pie baking

After all these years of declaring myself the second best pie baker east of the Mississippi (my mother was #1), I've learned an extremely painful lesson today. I've lost my touch. I may never bake again.

I probably should have figured this one out even without high school chemistry, but apparently, if you're going to make a fresh fruit pie ahead of time, you should freeze it, not refrigerate it. You need something to stop the sugar's reaction with the fruit.

A few days ago I made a fresh peach, two crust pie. As a special treat, I actually used sugar which I rarely do. Then I covered it and put it in the garage refrigerator (which sometimes works, sometimes doesn't, but seems to be on a roll right now). When I went to get it this morning to put it in the oven, the juice had expanded (exploded?) and was everywhere the pie pan wasn't in gooey puddles. I gingerly carried it into the house and with a half a roll of paper towels attempted to clean it up.

It is now in the oven and smells wonderful; however, we all know that the juice is now below the bottom crust, burbling and bubbling, waiting to become permanently gelled to the pie pan as it bakes. The pan is nearing 50 years old (I had it before I was married), but still, I wasn't anxious to toss it. In order to eat this, we'll probably have to treat it like peach cobbler, dousing it with some vanilla ice cream. Sigh.