They should also sue Jackson and Sharpton

The parents of Justin Barker who was beaten December 4, 2006 in Jena by the "Jena 6" plus others who were juveniles are suing the parents of the cowardly thugs who beat up their son. They should also include Jesse and Al, who decided to jump in and defend these young criminals to boost their flagging careers as so-called black leaders. These two old men are trying to get African Americans to blame others for their community problems. The criminal behavior of the kids (and their whiny moms) are increasing the danger that black Americans will be the victims. I'm just guessing, but what do you want to bet that the Jena 6 had already beaten up a few of their black peers before they took out their adolescent rage on Justin and weren't called to account for it?

And they have help from the experts. Yesterday James Alan Fox, a criminologist, reported in USAToday that there is silence about the escalating crimes committed by blacks against blacks.

"Murder statistics can be misleading. Despite a modest 1.8% increase in homicides nationally in 2006 from 2005, the situation in many cities is more dire. Police chiefs report escalating street violence, particularly involving youngsters and gangs with guns.

Some startling trends can be seen in the latest national homicide data. From 2002 to 2006, the rate of murder committed by black male teens rose 52%, with a smaller but significant increase among black male young adults and black women. In contrast, there was no increase among whites of any age.

Gang-related homicides have crept upward in recent years, virtually returning to the peak of the early 1990s. Since 2002, gun killings have climbed 13% overall — but 42% among teens and 71% among black teenage males — while non-gun homicides have essentially remained unchanged."

So who is at fault? Not the kids, not their parents, not the aging, sagging has-beens of a 50s-60s civil rights movement. No. It's the federal government. Cuts in funding for youth programs. Backing off from gun control. Even without being hit over the head with it, it's all Bush's fault, is the sub-text (given the dates he cites). Well, I don't buy it Mr. Fox. Back to the drawing board for you and the other experts. It just could be that youth programs and more regulations and marches on Washington just don't do it for this generation.

4404

Our first snowfall of the season

We don't get a lot of snow in central Ohio, so those of you from Chicago or Cleveland will laugh at this. It started snowing around 3 a.m. and these photos were about 7:30 a.m. The bus driver told me she is from California and is having a little trouble.

Scottish handwriting website

I expect to see my DH on this site any day.

The primary purpose of this site is to provide online tuition in palaeography (reading old handwriting) in the context of early modern Scottish historical documents. It is aimed mainly at those whose research involves reading Scottish historical records written in the period 1500-1750,although some assistance is given with 19th century writing too.

Take a Bite Out of Road Rage

While enjoying my morning paper and coffee at a Lane Avenue shop, I observed the long term effects of driver rudeness and bad manners, or as it is known, “road rage.”

A young man driving a forest green, late-model car slowed down to make the sharp turn into the coffee shop parking lot. Behind him, the driver of a white, older-model automobile honked, probably because the young man thought turn signals were just for sissies. The rudeness of the second driver (white car) prompted the first driver (green car) to come to a full stop while negotiating his turn just to teach the other guy a lesson. He then made a well-known gesture with his finger for emphasis. As these two immature whiners glared and made threatening motions, they were oblivious to the cars accelerating behind them from the near-by traffic light. Two other cars driven by young people, probably on their way to classes at Ohio State, collided.

Tough-guy (white car) appeared as though he was going to pull into the parking lot from the side street and pummel macho-boy (green car), but when he saw the accident, he drove off. The first driver disappeared quickly into the coffee shop absolving himself of blame to all within earshot.

I haven’t read any physical profiles of rage-roadies, but I know that dog bites are usually a guy thing, and I suspect road rage is also. A thumbnail sketch of a dog bite is: young male adult owns young male dog which bites male child. It’s not that female dogs never bite or that girls are never victims, but statistically, you need to protect your male children from guys who own male dogs. Well, little boys can mature, dogs can be neutered and children in your care can be kept away from Pit Bulls, Rottweilers or German Shepherds, the breeds that cause the most fatalities in children.**

But is there a solution for road rage? Yes. You can’t leave the testosterone at home, but men (and women) can practice good manners, empathy and common sense while driving. The next time someone cuts in front of you, instead of swearing and making obscene gestures, say “dog bite” and smile.

Fortunately, those two young adults were not injured, but they needlessly will have the burden of the rudeness of two older drivers on their driving record and check-book for a long time to come.

**JAVMA 210, no.8 (April 15, 1997):1148-1150; JAMA 279 no.1 (January 7, 1998):51-53; Pediatrics 96 no.5 (November 1995):947-950 and 97 no.6 (June 1996):891-895.

Written in 2002

Library Principles for Students, from the Old Testament

This was written by Jim Farrington, music librarian at Wesleyan (source: posted on MLA-L by the author) based on "Lamentations of the Father" by Ian Frazier. I found it today in my computer files while making a file transfer. Ah, such happy memories.

Of the beasts of the field, and of the fishes of the sea, and of all foods that are acceptable in my sight you may eat, but not in the Library.

Of the hoofed animals, broiled or ground into burgers, you may eat, but not in the Library.

Of the cloven-hoofed animal, plain or with cheese, you may eat, but not in the Library.

Of the cereal grains, of the corn and of the wheat and of the oats, and of all the cereals that are of bright color and unknown provenance you may eat, but not in the Library.

Of the round pies of baked dough, topped variously and wondrously with goodness of the Earth, especially with extra garlic and double cheese, you may eat, but not in the Library, neither may you carry such therein.

Of quiescently frozen dessert and of all frozen after-meal treats you may eat, but not in the Library.

Of the juices and other beverages, you may drink, but not in the Library, unless it is that drink of two parts hydrogen and one of oxygen and only then should the mixture be held in a container of the prescribed shape and nature that miraculously do not spill even when
up righted.

Indeed, when you reach the place where the Library carpet begins, of any food or beverage there you may not eat, neither may you drink.

Laws When at Table, in Carrel, or in Wingback And if you are seated in your comfy chair, keep your legs and feet below you as they were. Neither raise up your knees, nor place your feet upon the table, for that is an abomination to me. Yes, even though this might be something you would do in confines of your own domicile, your feet upon the table are an abomination, and worthy of rebuke.

Draw not with your pens or pencils or other implements of writing upon the table or the books before you, even in pretend, for we do not do that; that is why. Yours shall not be the last eyes to gaze understandably upon the words so written, and they should be as fresh for your followers as for you and your antecedents.

On Vocal Discourse

Do not speak loudly with thy neighbor or study mate within the Library; for it is as if you scream all the time. If you find a troubling idea foisted upon your eyes between the bindings of a book, your voice rises up even to the ceiling, while you point to the offense with the finger of your right hand; but I say to you, scream not; only remonstrate gently with a knowing nod, that you may correct the fault of the author in your own essay.

Likewise, if you find your mind wandering from the soulfulness of your studies, again I say, refrain from conversing with whoever be at hand so that others might not be so distracted.

Play not the electronic gadgets fitted to your ears at such a volume as to cause others to march to your drum machine.

Though the need will eventually arise that you must give in to your ignorance of a matter bibliographic and throw yourself prostrate to the all knowing ones behind the Great Oaken Desk in the Reference Center, wail not despairingly nor gnash the teeth loudly, for the sound carries great and far in that part of the Library, and then many of your peers will know of your misfortune; behold, I whisper myself, yet do not die.

Various Other Laws, Statutes, and Ordinances

Attempt not to repair broken word carriers with your own tape, for these are matters better left to our specialists.

Forget not that to steal is one of the original sins, and you will be punished woefully, if not now then in the fullness of time.

4400

Using a pedometer to improve your health

The other day I walked 5 miles. I know that because I was wearing a step pedometer (similar to the photo), and only one mile was "exercise" done outside. The rest was my activities at home, and going out twice to shop. Recently I read, "Using pedometers to increase physical activity and improve health" (a review article) in the Nov 21, 2007 issue of JAMA, pp 2296-2304 (many public libraries have a subscription). The researchers had reviewed 26 published studies that reported on pedometers among outpatients, 8 randomized controlled trials, and 18 observational. The conclusion was that use of a pedometer is associated with significant increases in physical activity and significant decreases in body mass index and blood pressure. This was across all ages, races, gender, and state of health.

Some guidelines specifically recommend 10,000 steps a day, although I don't know that this goal would change the outcome. So, if you're like me and exercise isn't your thing, clip on that pedometer. I'm not sure why it works, but people, me included, seem to increase their activity level when using a pedometer. When I'm wearing it, I'm more likely to walk upstairs to the bathroom rather than use the one 2 ft. from my desk; I might take the laundry from the basement to the bedroom in three trips instead of one; I'll walk into a room on a different floor to ask my husband something, rather than holler; I'll pace while reheating my coffee rather than stand and stare at the microwave. It's not brain surgery. Here's some other ideas from the Walking Site.

Take a walk with your spouse, child, or friend
Walk the dog
Use the stairs instead of the elevator
Park farther from the store
Better yet, walk to the store
Get up to change the channel
Window shop
Plan a walking meeting
Walk over to visit a neighbor
Get outside to walk around

So during this high calorie Christmas season when it is cold and drippy outside, I'm setting a goal of 5,000 steps a day through January 5, 2008. If I can do more, I will, but if I set it too high, I'll get discouraged. One good walking place is the Giant Eagle store. I can never find anything I want in that store and spend a lot of time walking around.

Bone health in older men

Age, weight and COPD are the predictors of bone health in men writes Jacob Goldstein in the WSJ yesterday. One in four men over 50 will have osteoporosis related fractures. Staying fit is important because strong muscles mean better coordination, and weight bearing exercise helps bone density. Of course, being a non-smoker will help the lungs and the bones. Another predictor is weight below 175--thin men are more likely to have weaker bones, just like women.

"[Angela] Shepherd's system, published in the Annals of Family Medicine, uses three variables: age, weight (lighter men are at higher risk) and a history of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, which mainly affects smokers. Smoking and excessive drinking both increase the risk of osteoporosis."

It also helps to stay off ladders and roofs and hire someone to clean the gutters while you rake, even if you were a good athlete in high school, drank a lot of milk, and currently lead an exercise class for women that includes weights. Last week a local architect in his late 60s fell off a ladder and died from his injuries.

[Public service announcement for the other resident of this household]

4398 Ohio has dirty cars

In Ohio we're used to dirty cars. I may run my van through a car wash 4 or 5 times a year, especially if we need rain. The van is gray, the asphalt is gray, the sky is gray--you hardly even notice the dirt. In California and Florida where the weather is 50-90% better, the cars are spotless. Maybe dirt shows up more on sunny days.

On the left coast where cars are king, they're starting to notice that you can get from point A to point B in a dirty car just like we do in fly-over country. The WSJ reported that 30-40 million gallons of urban run off in Santa Monica Bay is from car washing. Now it's the eco-mites vs. the clean-car buffs. Following the carbon footprint steps, city governments and non-profits are now selling coupons to allow the owner to use a commercial carwash.

Will the car owner emit more carbon when he puts on weight from the lack of exercise he got hand washing and polishing his car?

Fabulous 50s photo from www.godblessamericana.com/2004-01-15/

Chocolate and peanut butter

Yesterday I helped in the kitchen at Advent Lutheran making "Buckeye Candy" for a Christmas fund raiser. We don't do fund raisers at our Lutheran church (UALC); each ministry applies for a portion of the budget, which is raised through tithes and offerings of the congregation. But these projects are useful also for fellowship and bonding. When we're in Lakeside in the winter, the little churches in the area are running so many fund raisers you wonder when they have time to do anything else. You could eat an ethnic style dinner at a different church all winter long. Anyway, back to the candy.

Yesterday we rolled dozens and dozens of little peanut butter/confectioner sugar/butter balls, to be refrigerated over night. Then today they will be dipped in chocolate (with paraffin to harden), placed in little candy papers, and boxed. They take orders, but don't actually have a bazaar. I'd planned to go back today and buy maybe 2 or 3 dozen to set out at a party we're having on the 30th. Here's my dilemma. I can resist chocolate; I can resist peanut butter. Together--it's a huge problem. I have a refrigerator in the garage and I could store them there. However, I do walk past that frig several times a day.

I wonder if my neighbor has room for a box of candy.

One of the ladies told me about another fabulous recipe, too. Called "Rolo Pretzels." Google it. Sort of like bite size "turtle" candy. Sounds really easy and very yummy--assuming you have great resistance and fortitude around the holidays.

And where should our confidence be?

Exactly when are we the people, the president and the congress supposed to believe the National Intelligence Estimate. Is it the 2005 report which tried to take all eyes off Iraq, or the 2007 report which appears when interest in the mideast is flagging as an election approaches? Pardon me if I find the media salivation and hysteria about this a bit transparent.

In 2005, the authors of the report "assess[ed] with high confidence that Iran currently is determined to develop nuclear weapons despite its international obligations and international pressure, but we do not assess that Iran is immovable."

In 2007, they "judge with high confidence that in fall 2003, Tehran halted its nuclear weapons program. Judge with high confidence that the halt lasted at least several years. . . . Assess with moderate confidence Tehran had not restarted its nuclear weapons program as of mid-2007, but we do not know whether it currently intends to develop nuclear weapons." Excerpt from Taranto

Does anyone have confidence that the WMD intelligence reports we heard about all during the Clinton years (including the inspections), or the Iran threat we've been hearing about and seeing results of in Iraq are in any way accurate? Well, if you are a Democrat, you discount all WMD reports even if your own Senators (Clinton, Edwards, Kerry, Kennedy, et al) preached and warned about it; if you are a Republican, you seem to hang an awful lot of our security and freedoms on agencies with very little accountability when it suits your purpose and ignore them when they don't. Hmmm. Two peas in a pod, innit?

Update: "The Wall Street Journal http://www.opinionjournal.com/editorial/feature.html?id=110010946 reports in an editorial that "the NIE's main authors include three former State Department officials with previous reputations as 'hyper-partisan anti-Bush officials,' according to an intelligence source." So it could be that when the media and Democratic politicians treat the NIE as a political document, that is exactly what its authors intended. " Best of the Web, Dec. 5, 2007

We've finished the Christmas cards!

This year my computer failed the day after the night I printed out a draft of the letter and a list of the labels. So we had to hand write the cards, and run the letter through the photocopier looking a bit squiqqly, but they are done earlier than most years. Is that the unintended consequences of technology--you tend to leave it all to the last moment because you've saved a bit of time on the front end? My husband wrote some and I wrote some, and I think some of you who were supposed to get personal notes didn't if your card was addressed by him. He paints; I write.

I suppose the day will come when no one sends cards--sort of like calling cards in days of the early 20th century. My daughter and nieces still send cards, but now most of them are 40 or over and they aren't the young generation anymore, except in my mind. Do 25 year olds send Christmas cards? But I love getting the cards and photocopied letters--all the trips, the theater, the opera, the hikes and picnics, the photographs of oodles of grandbabies, and now great-grands. And of course, at my age, many of the letters contain news of terrible losses and illnesses, or sadly come with only one name when for years there were two.

As I addressed a card to a first cousin once removed (daughter of an Illinois first cousin) who lives here in Columbus on the far east side I was reminded again that I've only seen her once, in 1993 at a family reunion. I last saw her parents at my mother's funeral in 2000. I've watched her kids grow up on Christmas cards, and learn about her brothers and sisters and their children through her once a year notes. Some years I hear from her parents, some I don't.

Almost 60 years ago

Harry Reid's tirade against Rush Limbaugh on the floor of the Senate was addressed by Margaret Chase Smith almost 60 years ago.

It is ironical that we Senators can in debate in the Senate directly or indirectly, by any form of words, impute to any American who is not a Senator any conduct or motive unworthy or unbecoming an American—and without that non-Senator American having any legal redress against us—yet if we say the same thing in the Senate about our colleagues we can be stopped on the grounds of being out of order.

It is strange that we can verbally attack anyone else without restraint and with full protection and yet we hold ourselves above the same type of criticism here on the Senate Floor. Surely the United States Senate is big enough to take self-criticism and self-appraisal. Surely we should be able to take the same kind of character attacks that we “dish out” to outsiders.

Read the whole 1950 speech. Back biting, freedom stomping senators are not just a product of our age.

One less candle

A few days ago Christians and non-religious consumers were being told to get rid of all their incandescent Christmas tree lights and buy new, low energy LED bulbs (if any at all)--you know, those same energy saving China-made-in-coal-fired plants where we can't see the smoke. Now Jews are supposed to light one less candle. This carbon footprint thing is the biggest "cry wolf" fiasco in my life time. Pretty soon, you won't be able to get people to consider picking up their own trash or giving up smoking because they won't believe it's a problem compared to their so called carbon foot print.

However, you can offset this carbon footprint made by your outside Christmas tree lights by staying married.

"A married household actually uses resources more efficiently than a divorced household," said Jianguo Liu, an ecologist at Michigan State University whose analysis of the environmental impact of divorce appears in this week's online edition of Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences. Mlive.com

Malaria is a leading cause of death and illness worldwide.

(CDC)--742,000 child malaria deaths in Africa alone were estimated for the year 2000. The U.S. has contributed to this death toll by caving in to environmentalists' hysteria about DDT. Now we hand out nets soaked with pesticide.

In the U.S., about 6,000 teen-agers die in automobile accidents each year, 4 times the adult rate, and a lot of these could be prevented just by raising the legal driving age to 18. About 7,000 people a year die in hospitals from medication errors. It appears that more people in the U.S. now die from the mostly hospital-acquired staph infection MRSA than from AIDS, according to a new report from the CDC. Simple hand washing by staff could have prevented many of these. More people die in a given year in the U.S. as a result of medical errors (estimated at between than from motor vehicle accidents (43,458), breast cancer (42,297), or AIDS (16,516). (To err is human).

Drug intervention is saving the lives of many obese Americans from cardiovascular disease, allowing them to live longer with debilitating conditions--arthritis, diabetes, stroke, cancer--because it doesn't solve the obesity problem. (JAMA, Nov. 7, 2007). But it's still most dangerous of all to be an unborn child of a mother with a choice in America--at least since the beginning of the women's movement in the late 60s. The late 70s through the early 80s were particularly dangerous for the unborn. Johnson Archive

Taxpayer bailout for subprime borrowers?

Why not? The government bails out both agribusiness and the small farmer, the corporations and the mom and pop stores, the railroads and the airlines, the state and local government officials who botch up their congressional earmarks, the auto industry, the poor public schools and the floundering charter schools, the state highways and the interstates alike, the student loan recepients and the university administrations that talked them into it, the medicaid nursing homes and the welfare moms. The USA bails out former enemies and future enemies both. We have been conditioned to think that there will be a safety net no matter what because the good times will always roll.

By the end of 2006, 61% of the subprime loans were going to people who had credit scores good enough for a conventional loan. Whether it was greed, thinking they would flip the property, or emotion, they fell for it. And all sorts of industries benefitted in spending frenzies.

We don't have a subprime loan on any of our properties, but we will certainly be affected if our neighbors in UA or Lakeside or Canal go into foreclosure. We have many friends who work in unrelated industries such as retail, or banking, or construction or service trades, or the university, or travel and leisure, to say nothing of the ones who are living on savings and pensions. Those people struggling to meet $1500-$2000 a month mortgage payments certainly won't be buying new baggy jeans for junior, or buying plane tickets to visit Grandma at Christmas, or meeting their college loans for their daughters.

I wasn't around in the 1920s--but the signs of the coming Great Depression were all around as loans were being called in on the people who bought land to support the war effort. Hoover can't be blamed for the depression and FDR didn't do anything to get us out of it that was effective in the long run.

If giving people a few more months on their mortgage, however badly they planned, will save the whole nation from a collapsing economy, how could that hurt?

The definition of rich

According to a new survey, the Republicans get it right.

Rich" to a Republican isn't quite the same thing as it is to a Democrat or independent. Only 28% of Republicans associate "rich" with having money, material goods and power, compared with 41.5% of Democrats and 51% of independents. Republicans were much more inclined to define "rich" as having family, friends, freedom, faith and peace of mind.

Click on the thumb nail to read the entire survey.

Must, may and might

When I learned grammar these were called auxiliary verbs. Used with a verb they become a verb phrase helping with an action or condition. There are twenty-three auxiliary verbs: is, am, are, was, were, be, being, been, has, have, had, do, does, did, shall, will, should, would, may, might, must, can, could. I can't imagine how confusing it must be for non-English speakers to make their way through this list of auxiliaries, and how to use them. Some speakers of English go overboard with these little crutches.

I recently read a draft report called Draft Report of the Working Group on the Future of Bibliographic Control . Control is a favorite word of librarians. But what I noticed in this draft report (they are requesting comments) is the overworked auxiliary verbs. The first part of the document is loaded with "must." In case you hadn't noticed from my blog, librarians are fond of dogmatic, strongly worded statements, and are very opinionated. So, in this draft were "must"

continue
step forward
look beyond
realize
begin
do their work
continue
be used
be a part of
analyze
work
devise
be taken
purchase
be derived
be openly arrived at (wordy too)
be created
be pursued
be considered
be usable
be able
be seen
come
achieve

Then after that powerful mandate, the writers soften up a bit and move on to "might"

take on
be shared
have participated
include
be to develop
be to engage
lend
be made
exist
be facilitated

and then finally wimp out altogether with "may"

still conclude
be operated
be forbidden
also lead
be opportunities
also be possible
change
be openly available
not be compatible
change
not provide
prove
be required
potentially be
of most interest
result
benefit
require
be unfamiliar
vary
have changing and expanding needs
be considered
arise
not be optimally applied

If you are a school teacher or a social worker or anyone working in a government agency, you probably use these helping verbs throughout your documents too. I think they mainly contribute to the time it takes to accomplish anything in publically funded agencies. These little verbs might be the reason Google, a start up 9 years ago by two grad students, is stomping out the need for librarians. Now that the Google founders are rich and going all greeny on us, we can expect them to act more like librarians, which will give my profession a chance to catch up.

Deadly winter storm

From the Dakotas to the northeast--and I'm betting it will be blamed on global warming.

Drivers in much of the Northeast navigated a treacherous mix of rain, sleet and snow Monday as a storm blamed for at least 14 deaths slid through the region after pounding the Upper Midwest.AP story

How to update your Christmas card list

I saw this at Shirley Hornbeck's Genealogy Tips, #2:

FINDING LIVING RELATIVES:

To contact a living person whom you have lost, write a letter to the person, be sure to include your address and telephone number in the letter. Send the letter in an unsealed stamped envelope, along with a cover letter to the Social Security Administration, Letter Forwarding Unit, 6401 Security Blvd., Baltimore, MD 21235. Include in your cover letter as much as you know about the person: Name, Social Security number, birthplace, birth date, name of the person's parents. You do not have to know all of the information, but the process will be quicker if you give more identifying information. If the person you are seeking is listed in the SSA files, the letter will be forwarded to them and it's up to that person to contact you.

If they owe you money, don't hold your breath.

We deserve better than Rudy

Nice guy. Did a lot for New York. Funny. Charming. But Americans can do better. His personal life is a mess--now they're dragging up the details of public funds being used to escort and protect his mistress (now his wife) during the 9/11 period. We're-so-above-being-judgemental writers and commenters really aggrevate me. Then if public money is used, then maybe they'll take a second look. The personal is political. Just ask the Clintons. If his wife and kids can't trust him, why should we?

4385 Kennedy to get 8 million for his book

How much would you pay to own it? How much would you have to be paid to read it? How many copies will Upper Arlington Public Library buy? Great cartoon, Nov. 29

4384

Hillary's handlers

may want to get Bill out of the kitchen. His remarks this week in Iowa about opposing Iraq from the beginning, were just false, and so easy to check, that it's just a reminder for the American people about how glib and prone to lying for no particular reason, he was. Even I remember his lauching air strikes to take out WMDs, "Their mission is to attack Iraq's nuclear, chemical and biological weapons programs and its military capacity to threaten its neighbors." He believed Hussein had the weapons and believed he'd use them again. Like Bush, he still believed in the cause months after we went to war in 2003. Why not just say that you used to believe in regime change and then admit being wrong or saying he would have done it differently? Is it better to lie about what you said and believed? I can't imagine that this helps his wife. He didn't help Gore, so maybe he'll stab her in the back too. Maybe it's all about Bill?

Why John Edwards shouldn't be President of the United States

"Edwards became wealthy as a trial lawyer. His craft was therefore derivative: When something happened to someone else, Edwards filed a lawsuit. He then told his client's tale. He made millions doing so. If I were seriously injured as a result of someone else's carelessness, I would consider hiring John Edwards. These are impressive verdicts and settlements.

But I will not vote for him as president. I simply don't trust him. When his lips are moving, I am never quite sure what comes out. It often sounds like callow hyperbole, as in the stumping in New Hampshire.

Edwards' skill is attracting seriously injured clients and then forcing large cash payments from those who caused their injury. That doesn't make him a pioneer in social justice. He's just a very good lawyer who made enough money to cash out and try his hand at being a master of the universe." Norm Pattis

She didn't notice his cruelty?

I don't read a lot of blogs that discuss divorce; this one I read for other reasons, but found this an eye opener: "For example, there was the time when thinking about the future, I inquired if a family was something we might want. The response I received was that he wouldn’t be opposed to having children if he met the right person. Though I tried not to show it, I was taken aback. I was his wife. Didn’t it stand to reason that if we had committed ourselves to marriage that I was the right person? Apparently not…

And once he told me that without a job, an apparent purpose in life, my intellect was dimming and soon I would be like his mother. His mother! If I had a dime for every time he compared me in unflattering ways to his mother…"

Keith Kerr, gay activist

Is there anyone out there who thinks CNN, and particularly Anderson Cooper, didn't know that General Keith Kerr was at the debates to try to embarrass the Republicans about a Clinton presidency regulation called "Don't ask, don't tell." And isn't it a bit disingenuous when obviously, he got to the top of the heap by NOT revealing his homosexuality while he was on his way to general? Gay men must be the only minority (about 1%) who are also the wealthiest, best educated, most insured, most politically active, most mobile, most represented far beyond their numbers in every area of the arts, entertainment and literature, but who still want to be considered victims. Anderson Cooper is our next Dan Rather. Says he just had no idea.

Black sweater fashion showdown

Today's WSJ featured a story about a $99.50 black sweater from Land's End (owned by Sears) up against a $950 black sweater from Bruno Cucinelli. Both were made of cashmere from Mongolian goats in China, but the "cheap" one was made in China and the expensive one in Italy. The writer said the Land's End was a bit stiff and wrinkled easily, but the Italian sweater had to be returned to the store for repairs because something started to unravel. The $950 sweater was made in a 17th century castle by workers who get a 90 minute lunch or a free 3-course meal at work cooked by local women. So when rich, limosine liberals buy a sweater from Cucinelli, they can rest assured that the hand work was truly done by hand, and no 3rd world worker was allowed to improve himself on her dollar.

I'll have to check the label on my black mock-turtleneck bought on sale 2 years ago at Meijer's for $5.00. That leaves me a little to drop in the collection plate rather than wearing my wealth (or pension check). And it hasn't wrinkled or unraveled.

Country Music

Over at America Matters, there's a good post on country music.

I had the opportunity once again with my family to visit Branson Mo. over the Thanksgiving Holiday. Sure it's a heavily traveled tourist town. But the vibe and feel of the town is what got me. I was re-invigorated by the end of our three day stay. Every show we saw proudly spoke of God and honored our Veterans. Every shop we went to had a patriotic theme. This town wears their love of God and America on its sleeve. This invigorating vibe was every where. I loved it and I feel all is well in America because of it. There is a lot to say about our folks who make up our small towns and who make country music. They are grounded and as real as it gets.

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Biting the hands that rescued you

If there's anything more pugnacious than on-line squabbling among Christians, it's the on-line pot shots by members of the adoption triad. Yesterday I was reading an interesting article at the NYT blog Relative Choices about adoption--it was a reunion story between a birth mother (a writer/journalist) who never had another child and her PhD bi-racial daughter, who didn't have a good adoptive mother, but has been quite successful and well-adjusted. Without the birth and adoption, neither would probably be where they are today (in my opinion) and both had overcome personal adversity. Still, it's a nice reunion story--many aren't.

Also at this blog there are some writers and commenters who are the younger group of international adoptees (so their birth mothers are not represented). Some have returned to their country of origin to look around. Unlike the thoughtful responders from the 1950s and 1960s who did the best they could given the mores of the time, these adoptees are subtly militant. Others from the late 80s born or birthing in a totally different era aren't the least impressed with "openness" or "family building." Nor do any seem pro-life, assuming I suppose if they'd been scraped into a garbage pail they would have been saved the horrific fate of being a well-off American. Some are journalists by profession and have definitely benefited from the anti-Wal-Mart, anti-capitalist, anti-Western culture atmosphere of their college training. They seem so mired in ennui that their "culture" or history or language (or their birth parents) were ripped from their tiny little fists in those delivery rooms and orphanages.

Who said life was fair? I grew up with married parents, 3 siblings, 6 grandparents, a good school system that offered neither art nor foreign language with its caring teachers, and with friends who pretty much looked and acted like me. There are others who grew up with many more advantages materially, but some with less familially. Some people struggle to come to the USA, others need to flee to Canada or France while they still can and leave the rest of us alone to enjoy our miserable existence.

Wansink new director

Brian Wansink, Director of the Food and Brand Lab at Cornell, is now Executive director of the USDA Center for Nutrition Policy and Promotion. He studies environmental factors that push Americans to overeat. "No one goes to bed skinny and wakes up fat," he says. I'm not sure exactly what it means, but it sure is true!

What is the best way to mindlessly change behavior? Simply and metaphorically, we need to put the serving bowl back by the stove. Smaller plates. Taller, skinnier glasses. That's what we want to go for. Things they don't have to think about. It's not about educating people. Part of it relates to economics, I don't mean dollars and cents. I mean the economics of cognitive effort and the economics of physical effort. Here's an example. We eat a lot less of the Oreos that come in mini-packs of 2 or 3 because there's a little cognitive cost and a little physical cost to opening another little package. We have to pause and think. From a Wired interview

I've noticed that. If I leave a serving dish on the table, I'll dip in for another helping even if I'm not hungry. If I just left it on the stove, I wouldn't even think about it.

A Quiz for Idiots

I saw this in a local publication, so you can substitute "your state" for the word Ohio except for #9. Ohio is the birthplace of many presidents and movie stars, so you should try that one. You'll probably be able to do most of these even if you don't live in the United States.

Quiz for Idiots

Okay, here it is by popular demand, our first annual Quiz for Idiots. Fasten your seat belts and here we go!

1. What is the capital of the U.S.A.?

2. What is the capital of Canada?

3. What century is this?

4. Who is the governor of [your state]Ohio?

5. Who are the two U.S. senators from [your state] Ohio?

6. What county is Columbus in?

7. What planet do we live on?

8. Who is the Vice-president of the United States?

9. Name five states that abut Ohio.

10. What is the capital of Mexico?

Quiz Answers below

1. Washington, D.C.
2. Ottawa
3. Twenty-first
4. Ted Strickland, Democrat
5. Sherrod Brown (D), George Voinovich (R)
6. Franklin
7. Earth
8. Dick Cheney
9. Indiana, Michigan, Pennsylvania, Kentucky, West Virginia
10. Mexico City (in Spanish: Ciudad de México, México, D.F. or simply México)

HT Short North Gazette, before the last election.

"Fatherhood changed him"

Just not enough to marry his girlfriend of seven years, the mother of his 18 month old daughter. Yes, the intruder that shot him in the bedroom of his $900,000 home inflicting a fatal wound created a terrible tragedy for his family and his teammates, but let's not laud Sean Taylor's parenting, any more than his past scrapes with the law and fights off the football field. Although his daughter will probably not grow up in poverty, most children whose mothers don't marry the father of their children do. It's the number one cause of poverty in America. And he was a powerful role model. This tragedy has multiple threads--let's not get them tangled.

Perhaps I've watched too much Law and Order, or episodes of the Closer, but burglars don't look for people in home invasions, they try to avoid them. And there are easier places for a revenge killing if this was related to his previous problems with "bad guys."

The Night Before Christmas parodies

This week a friend sent me an up-to-date parody of the Night Before Christmas, one of the politically correct versions. As I was checking for parodies (this poem has inspired hundreds--I remember we had one for McKinley Hall at the University of Illinois for Christmas 1959), I really enjoyed this one at a site for parodies.

A more spiritual version of the famous Christmas story
By: Sister St. Thomas, B.N.D. de N

Twas the night before Christmas, and all through the town,
St. Joseph was searching, walking up roads and down;
Our Lady was waiting, so meek and so mild,
While Joseph was seeking a place for the Child.

The children were nestled, each snug in their beds,
The grown-ups wouldn't bother, there's no room they said;
When even the innkeeper sent them away,
Joseph was wondering, where they would stay.

He thought of the caves in the side of the hills,
Lets go there said Mary, it's silent and still;
The moon on the breast of the new fallen snow,
Made pathways of light for their tired feet to go.

And there in a cave, in a cradle of hay,
Our Savior was born on that first Christmas Day!
The Father was watching in heaven above,
He sent for His angels, His couriers of love.

More rapid than eagles God's bright angels came;
Rejoicing and eager as each heard his name;
Come Power, Come Cherubs, Come Virtues, Come Raphael,
Come Thrones and Dominions, come Michael and Gabriel.

Now fly to the Earth, where My poor people live,
Announce the glad tiding My Son comes to give;
The Shepherds were watching their flocks on this night,
And saw in the heavens and unearthly light.

The Angels assured them, they'd nothing to fear,
It's Christmas they said, the Savior is here!
They hastened to find Him, and stood at the door,
Till Mary invited them in to adore.

He was swaddled in bands from His head to His feet,
Never did the Shepherds see a baby so sweet!
He spoke not a word, but the shepherds all knew,
He was telling them secrets and blessing them too.

Then softly they left Him, The Babe in the hay,
And rejoiced with great joy on that first Christmas Day;
Mary heard them exclaim as they walked up the hill,
Glory to God in the Highest, Peace to men of good will!
You'll find parodies silly and serious and even in Spanglish here.

Free speech in Canada is on the way out

Is this the direction the U.S. is moving? In Canada you can not only get in trouble for "hate speech," (just like here), but you also can't call someone "an enemy of free speech." Now that's hateful! Read about it at Volokh Conspiracy.

The court is insisting that Canadians' speech not only follows the government-approved ideology on the topic of race, ethnicity, and religion (an ideology that I agree with, but that I don't think should be legally coerced). It is also insisting that Canadians' speech follows the government-approved ideology and terminology on the topic of free speech itself.

What's for dinner?

I'm about turkey'd to death. I fix myself grilled veggies for lunch (today's choice was onions, black beans, red bell peppers, turnip greens and shredded carrots), but while my husband was fixing his turkey sandwich, I snitched a few pieces. We've had either turkey or ham every day since last Thursday. Today I threw out the beef and gravy and the rice with cheese and sausage that were last week's leftovers which had been pushed to the back and forgotten. So tonight we're having Maryland style crab cakes (Trader Joe), baked sweet potatoes, green peas, tossed salad, and fresh strawberries. Have you finished up or frozen the Thanksgiving left overs at your house?

Bush's Legacy

Early this morning on CBS News I heard two women discussing Bush's desire for a legacy, thus the recent Israeli-Palestinian summit. It was innocuous and bubble-headed even for women who read others' text for a living. I couldn't see the TV, but the "expert" had an annoying voice best for print journalism. I don't think he's seeking a legacy; we'll hope he will not be as interferring as Carter and Clinton as a former president, but be a gentleman like his father.

Here's my ten suggestions for a Bush legacy, in order of importance, five positive, five negative.

1) The appointment of two outstanding judges to the Supreme Court, Roberts and Alito. This will extend many years and perhaps be able to return the Supreme Court to its original intention, moving it away from creating law. Kennedy, his father's appointment after the Bork nomination failed, was a tremendous disappointment for conservatives, so it is possible that with time, this one won't be in number one place, but for now, that's where I'd place it for long term impact.

2) The tax cuts and overseeing the most robust economy in the history of this nation I'd place second. Facing my retirement in 2000 dependent on the health of the stock market, I was watching my accounts stagnate, and then tumble after 9/11. Right now the economy is softening and Democrats are making all the wrong moves, especially for retirees (look out boomers) mainly because they use taxes to punish, not to move the country forward.

3) Getting us back on our feet after 9/11. Although I didn't dislike Al Gore and wouldn't have been upset if he'd been President (my first election as a Republican), it is still hard to imagine his taking charge after that disaster. For awhile it looked like there might even be a resurgence of patriotism and love of country, but that quickly faded as the Bush hatred over the lost election of 2000 continued to fester and eat away at the reasoning faculties of otherwise sensible people.

4) Freeing more women in Afghanistan in the 21st century than Abraham Lincoln did slaves in the USA in the 19th century. We don't know yet the full consequences of this, because women were quite advanced in this country before it was stolen from them by the Taliban, and the climb back up will require a lot of will. American feminists have ignored this achievement rather than give Bush the credit.

5) Leading the country into an unpopular, controversial war with the support and backing of both parties, including some of the same senators who later reversed their decision. That Bush held strong and refused to abandon the Iraqi people the way Nixon did the Vietnamese is a huge legacy, especially for those he saved from the blood bath had he caved into demands for pull-outs and withdrawals from his enemies.

And on the negative side of the legacy ledger.

1) Offended his supporters and party by nominating a weak Supreme Court candidate (White House counsel Harriet Miers) and by attempting to partner with the Democrats on an amnesty bill for illegal immigrants. These two actions also hurt any Republicans who supported him on other issues.

2) Not being able to corral his stampeding RINOs and missing the opportunity to reform Social Security by taking total control back from the government to allow investment in personal accounts.

3) Standing firm in his resolve that all societies deserve and desire a democracy. Perhaps only history will decide this one, but you've got to admit trying to jump start a 7th century mentality and push or drag it into the 21st century, is a tough row to hoe.

4) The biggest tax spender on education ever to enter the White House, crafting a program with Ted Kennedy's help. Did he tell us during the 2000 campaign that he wanted to be the "education president?" Earmarks (pork) and wasted foreign aid--but that's more congressional, and something we've just come to expect from our government, isn't it? This and the next one have made him an anathema to many conservatives.

5) Expanding medical care to a government drug program with Ted Kennedy, thus laying the ground work for the Democrats to make it even worse and more expensive. I think government-doled, rock-bottom health care for every household earning less than $1 million is a real possibility after 2008. Those making over a million will still be able to purchase first class care like they do in socialist countries.

We have these drivers in Ohio, too

Crazy Aunt Purl writes a humorous but "hurt-so-bad" blog, and has turned it into a book. She's divorced (the story's in her book), has lots of cats, and knits. On her way to Thanksgiving dinner with her grandmother and parents, she encounters a drunk driver trying to kill a lot of people; she called 911, but was kept on hold for 20 minutes, and finally had to exit the freeway.



Driving with your middle finger wagging is usually a pretty good breathalizer.

This is from her archives, Jan. 31, 2005. Someone should recommend this as a hymn for divorced people (I've reformated).

"When my husband left me,
and a variety of other really bad things
began to happen in succession
my landlord put the condo up for sale!
my car stolen from the subway station!
Mr. X goes to Italy without me!
moving costs me almost $1000!
clearly, I have pissed off the gods!

I finally decided to give up
on keeping up appearances.
I gained a few pounds.
I smoked in public.
I told the pizza guy that my husband had left me.
I was a little crazy
in those first few months,
I admit.

Eventually, I figured out
that my goal was
to simply live out loud.
Lie less.
"No, actually, my sex life isn't fulfilling."
"To be honest, I am not everyone and I do not love Raymond."
"Actually, I hate sushi."
"Yeah, I'm older than Sanskrit. What is your point?"

The unintended consequences of pro-active medical care

Name the disease or condition, and early diagnosis and treatment can reduce poor outcomes. Who knows what could happen in health care if patients heeded the advice on diet, exercise and smoking? Yes, who knows. Actually, we do know. Longer life resulting in higher Medicare and Medicaid costs further down the road. Another outcome we know about because it has already happened, is fewer primary care physicians. The expanding menu of interventions, screening tests, vaccines and devices has dramatically increased the work of patient care for all medical specialties, but particularly the guy who's going to make the decision when you complain of feeling poorly, according to JAMA Commentary, November 21, Vol. 298, no. 19.

"Providing all recommended preventive services to a panel of 2500 patients could require up to 7.5 hours a day of physician time; generalists report that roughly 4 separate problems are addressed at each office visit for those older than 65, and even more for those with chronic illnesses such as diabetes," writes John D. Goodson.

The workload is overwhelming and the reimbursement levels for primary care physicians favor the interventions and more expensive care which in turn passes the patient on to specialists. Now, if you were in med school (or paying for your child to go to med school), looking down the road at even more interference by the federal government, and higher insurance costs, would you choose family medicine or pediatrics, or would you head for the safer and richer green pastures of a specialty? Goodson reports that first-year internal medicine residents who express an interest in general internal medicine are less than 20%, but only about half of those will remain committed to this area.

Goodson goes on to recommend higher compensation by the CMS (Centers for Medicare & Medicare Services), the federal agency that determines how doctors will be paid. If this problem isn't corrected, a large portion of the population will lose access to personal care (or any care). Imagine. The government creates a problem with layers of bureaucracy and regulations (low reimubursement for general care) and is then expected to fix it (with more layers, studies, panels and commissions).

The perfect storm of immigrants flooding the country needing massive social services, to mix with a growing cloud of aging baby boomers who demand only the best. Katrina anyone?

Head injuries in sports

The Columbus Dispatch recently published the winning photos in its photo contest--semifinalist photo is 2 little boys colliding in a soccer game. They had on nifty uniforms, special shoes and knee socks--and no helmets or head protection. In his book Making a good brain great, Daniel G. Amen, MD writes:

"A concussion or mild "traumatic brain injury" (TBI) is far more than just a bump on the head. According to the American Academy of Neurology, "There is no such thing as a minor concussion." A study from UCLA found that "the level of brain glucose use in people who suffered mild concussions was similar to that in comatose, severely brain-injured patients. . . Even mild head injuries result in major changes to the brain's metabolism and could make victims susceptible to more serious damage from a repeated blow."

Dr. Amen advises parents to never let their child knock the soccer ball with his head--heading drills, in which a child's head is knocked repeatedly, are of greater concern to pediatricians than is the occasional head-punt in a game. A study of adult soccer players found 81% had impairment of attention, concentration, memory, and judgment when compared to non-players of similar age and circumstances. He says football players are struck in the head 30-50 times per game and regularly endure blows similar to those experienced in car crashes.

Dr. Amen, who has seen over 30,000 brain scans, says: "I would not let my children hit a soccer ball with their heads, play tackle football, or snowboard without a helmet. I encourage my own kids to play tennis, golf, table tennis, and track. Your brain matters. Respect and protect it."

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Deer season opens today

November 26 is the first day of deer hunting season in Ohio, when approximately 400,000 hunters will kill about 120,000 deer. It will contribute $266 million to the state's economy. Toledo Blade story. Deer contribute to their own demise too--the does live twice as long as the bucks, who get in fights and kill each other (it's a guy thing). More deer are killed in accidents with fences than are taken legally by hunters, and feral dogs kill many thousands. Deer vehicle collision (DVC) will also take a lot of lives, some of them human. Three years ago I wrote about seeing 13 dead deer on the interstate medium between the west side of Columbus and the first exit at Richmond, Indiana. The 13th we saw killed by the semi truck in front of us. It was just awful. I've seen the figure half a million a year, but haven't seen the source of the statistic. Doug at Coffee Swirls writes about hitting a deer in Iowa, which has one of the highest DVC rates, with a repair estimate of $4800.

Tom Brokaw doesn't get it

Tom Brokaw's new book, Boom, examines the influence the baby boomers have had on our society and culture, and he includes a wide variety of well-known and non-celebrity persons born in that era. Listening to him being interviewed on Laura Ingraham this morning and then reading some excerpts from the web, I was left with the impression conservatives know a lot more about how liberals think and react than the other way around. (Just as a quick aside: the only way they know how to have an interesting conservative character on a TV series is to afflict him with dementia--Boston Legal.) Laura pointed out that the single most important boomer to impact our culture, love him or hate him, is Rush Limbaugh, who got a quick mention in a section about drugs and not the media (I'm assuming his prescription drug addiction). Brokaw defended himself, not by addressing Rush's influence on millions, but by decrying the influence of talk radio in general--that it isn't balanced, and Rush mocks people. The Democrats when in power, will continue to harp on that.

He doesn't get it. Rush (and Medved, and Hewitt, and Ingraham, etc.) ARE the balance. The radio airways are open to the liberals, but they haven't succeeded in drawing an audience that will hold the sponsors. People don't listen to talk radio because there is nothing else--they listen because they want to hear another view that they can't get on broadcast news and cable news, where liberals have a lock. During one of the news breaks on a conservative show, I get to hear Anderson Cooper, a Vanderbilt/Whitney descendant, go on and on about global warming (guilt?). Many conservatives interview people who disagree with them, and usually make them look weak. Laura nailed Tom on this point, and he wandered off into the swamp of "we're never going to resolve this. . . .so why belabor the point."

Here's something else he doesn't quite grasp--the women's movement. In writing about the women's movement that evolved at the same time his daughters were growing up, he says, "One of our daughters is now a physician; another is a vice president of a major entertainment company; and the third is a clinical therapist. They place no limits on their ambitions, but for them, those ambitions also have had to fit within the context of having children. For all the gains made by women, and the recognition within society of how important that is to a healthy body politic, we have not satisfactorily resolved the workplace consequences of having children."

Why not say, "We have not satisfactorily resolved the family and parenting consequences created by women going off to work 10-12 hours a day."

The clutter challenge

A friend and I are challenging each other to remove some of the clutter from our homes and lives. We both have a problem clearing books and magazines--we like to send them on to a second life away from us. The following list has now gone to the garage; they are inside boxes that I have taped shut. If I peek, I might be talked out of it. The next step is to get them into the van, then off to the Friends of the Library book sale.

In general, there are two categories: computer books that are too old to be useful, and books on the craft of or compilations of the short story. I did a lot of writing of fiction in the early 90s. It was great fun, and I enjoy going back and reading them today (especially since I don't remember how they end!). However, I never did follow the experts' instructions, and barely opened the books (all bought used). Here's my good-bye blog.

How computers work, by Ron White, 1993.
PC Novice Guide to computing basics, 1996.
PC Novice guide to the Internet, 1996.
Handbook of short story writing, 1970.
Beginning writer's answer book, rev. 1987.
Handbook of short story writing, vol. 2, 1988.
Children's writer's word book. 1992.
Ways of reading; an anthology for writers. 4th ed. 1996.
This is my best, Whit Burnett ed. 1942.
Prize stories 1983 O. Henry awards.
Short stories from the New Yorker, c. 1940.
Great expectations, by Dickens, pb 2nd ed. 1948, 1972.
Kiplinger's retire and thrive, 1995.
Testimonies, a novel. Patrick O'Brian, c 1952, pb ed. 1995.

While I was selecting the books, I also cleaned out tons of paper that I'd printed from the internet--there was a whole shopping bag, much of it over 10 years old. Over the past week I also cleaned some bathroom vanity drawers, four drawers in the kitchen, two under-cabinets in my office, cleared out and stored elsewhere my old notebooks and publications, took a load of winter clothes to church for the Hilltop Clothes Closet, and cleaned out one drawer of my desk.

So what's cluttering up your life that could go into storage?

The winning posters

Check out the winners here. I thought "Fear" was pretty classy; the one of the candidates in Hawaiian shirts, probably the funniest.

Mrs. Clinton's experience vs. Mr. Obama's appeal to diversity

Hillary Clinton's experience

First lady of Arkansas
First lady of the United States
Attorney who crafted the Whitewater deal
Organized party faithful to take over U.S. health care in the 1990s
Covered up her husband's assaults on women
U.S. Senator (moved from Arkansas to NY to do this) who supported the war in Iraq
Wears "Shoes and Socks," Hsu and Berger
Oldest of the Democratic front runners

Mr. Obama's appeal for white, "color-blind" progressives

White, Kansasan mother
Raised by white grandparents in Hawaii
Doesn't look or talk like Jesse and the guys
Indonesian step-father
No track record to be criticized on anything
Attended Columbia and Harvard
Member of United Church of Christ, main line liberal Protestant church
Strong, family values to match the conservatives claim to this territory
U.S. Senator from Illinois who wasn't in office for the 2003 Iraq vote, so he's clear to assume the finger pointing position
Youngest of the Democratic front runners

Ready for Christmas

My son-in-law and his father decorated the house and yard, and my daughter got out the creche and the Christmas dishes--and even managed to slip out for a little "black Friday" shopping. Then we enjoyed an evening of football and left overs. Lenox is retiring this pattern of the crèche, China Jewels, so I asked if I could buy a small item (the hen and rooster are about $30--within my price range), but she said if it wasn't in the original story, she wasn't collecting it.






The silver tea/coffee set in her cabinet was our wedding gift (1960), but it spent a lot of time in a box. Looks much nicer at her house.

Have you tried Dumpr?

It can do all sorts of interesting things to your photos. Dumpr. Puzzles. Museum. Scary monster.

This is a sketch of your photo

This is the Rubik's cube version of your photo

HT Librarian in Black

Post Thanksgiving thoughts

It's not so bad using my laptop in the kitchen--I can get up and clean a drawer or cabinet while waiting for slow pages to load.

We ate leftovers with family last night, but first watched, and watched and watched (3 overtimes) the Arkansas and LSU game. The announcers even commented that Buckeyes were watching this game closely because if Arkansas won, OSU moved up. Yes. Goodness, such screaming and yelling from the men in the family. What if it had actually been the Buckeyes playing?

Although I didn't fix the turkey, I got the carcass. It's stewing on the stove right now, releasing yummy fragrance with a few onions.

We've finally had some frost--still many trees loaded with leaves, and my husband has gone to the lake to rake leaves at our summer home. Last pick up is next week. Most summer home owners close up on Labor Day and never look back until Memorial Day. The trees in Lakeside know this, so they send their leaves to our yard.

It must be very cold somewhere. Yesterday out of 100 hits, 16 were to my post on frozen car doors. I thought global warming might take care of that. Even so, there doesn't seem to be much agreement on how to take care of this problem.

Tomorrow we celebrate our son's birthday--we'll probably go to Bob Evan's after church. He and his band are working on a CD so he'll have to hurry back to his home on the east side. I'd show you a photo of the band, but everything is on the other computer which isn't working. So here's one of us from a year ago that I've already posted. I've given up on the daughter-in-law search, so if you come across that blog (I had his permission, btw), don't submit an application.


My Memory Patterns blog continues to chug along at about 80-100 page views a week. I wrote it for only one month--November 2005--matching up old photos with old sewing patterns. Seem to be a lot of people looking for apron patterns--you know, the decent coverage-size that actually give you some protection! I was never a really good seamstress like others in my family, but you don't notice you've given something up until 10 or 15 years have gone by and you realize you'll probably never again thread a bobbin, or walk through the fabric department, touching and dreaming.

I read an interesting article on pedometers this morning in a recent issue of JAMA. When I digest it, I'll blog it, but it looks like just wearing one lowers BMI and blood pressure. Apparently, you'll eat less and move more just by knowing it's there. I'll have to look for mine--like contraceptives, they don't work in the drawer do they, no matter how committed you are to the outcome. After a big week of eating seems like a good time to strap it on, don't you think? I had to push a little flesh out of the way to read the numbers.

The computer fix-it places I called, never called back. I suppose they want a holiday too. I'll have to look a bit further for someone in the data recovery business in Columbus, Ohio. Know anyone?

We've gotten our fourth edition of the Smithsonian catalog--this one has the word Christmas right on the cover.

Another broken zipper. A favorite pair of slacks that went with everything--a warm tan-beige lined 100% wool. Sigh. I blogged about a broken zipper in a pair of khakis that were about 20 years old about 2 years ago. I suspect these are at least 10-15 years old because the Talbot's tag says "Made in the USA." When was the last time you saw that on a piece of clothing?

I think I'll invest in new tires. I notice the van is slipping on wet pavement. We don't get tons of snow around here, except maybe once a season, with a humongous storm about once a decade, but the roads can get icy and slushy making traction difficult. Nothing scarier than trying to get out of the way of an on-coming car and have your tires just buzz the pavement.

My friend AZ and I have challenged each other to unclutter our personal spaces. Today while looking for the Christmas wreath to hang in the outside entry, I found an empty file box in the basement. It's already labeled correctly, "Norma's notebooks," and I have a bulging box of used notebooks in my office cabinets, so I think I'll move them into this box. Does this meet the test for de-cluttering, since I'm just moving them? We lived for 34 years in a house with no basement--since having one, I've become quite careless.

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How to charge your iPod using an onion

I don't own an iPod, so I wouldn't trust anything I say about this one, and I couldn't try it, but I thought it was sort of interesting.



This is from the The Household Hacker.

Central Ohioans and rising gas prices

The news stories yesterday worked very hard to gin up a problem with travel and the economy, but I don't think they pulled it off. My e-mail always comes up with a news story, and it was something about the dark mood of the American consumer. The reporters in the airports couldn't seem to find anything except orderly, patient crowds, and millions were traveling despite gloom and doom stories (like the lady who was only going to fly to Atlanta once in 4 weeks). And then today the shoppers are jamming the parking lots on "black Friday" spending like there would never be another Christmas.

They took a survey in Ohio about high gas prices, and it was reported in the paper today.

73% said they were very or somewhat concerned about the rising price of gasoline for their own family.

But. . .

64% said they weren't cutting back on travel as a result of gasoline prices.

83% said they hadn't bought a new car to get better mileage.

59% said they weren't going to avoid long distance driving.

61% said NO to carpooling.

Remember when a few liberals wanted a $1/gal "patriot tax" on gasoline after 9/11? What did they think it would do? They're having a global warming conference in Bali and the private jets are jamming up the airport. Have these guys never heard of telephone conferences or I-see-U-see on the computer? I wonder if they plane-pooled?

Yesterday I saw gasoline for $2.99/gal on Rt. 33 south of Fishenger.

I wouldn't have a clue how to text message--I rarely use a cell phone--but you can go to this site, read the guidelines, and send a message. I used e-mail. Yesterday I listened to some wonderful interviews with our men and women in Iraq on the Laura Ingraham program. They were truly an inspiration--from age 21 to 42, loving their jobs and fellowmen, but looking forward to coming home soon.

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Thursday Thirteen--The menu edition

It's all about being thankful--for family, friends, country and milestones passed. So yesterday after church we drove along the river and past some woods to my daughter's home for her 40th birthday and our Thanksgiving celebration. I asked several times and offered to bring something, but she wanted to do it all, and she really did. All I did was dry the dishes after dinner.

Here's the fabulous meal that awaited us--and we're going back today for leftovers! Everything was sugar-free, and most dishes were low-fat until we got to dessert. She used her lovely Lenox wedding china and crystal and seasonal decorations.

1. A 24 lb turkey roasted to perfection--I've never seen a prettier golden brown.
2. A spiral sliced honey baked ham.
3. Cubed and roasted butternut squash, the best I've ever tasted.
4. Fresh, buttered beets.
5. Homemade, chunky applesauce.
6. Wild rice and mushroom stuffing (I think I saw one of her Martha cookbooks on the counter).
7. Sausage/corn stuffing (with a side portion without corn for my husband who hates corn)
8. cranberry relish, home made
9. Veggie platters of 4 colors of bell peppers, grape tomatoes, pickles, celery
10. hot clover leaf rolls
11. Mashed potatoes and gravy
12. red wine (2 choices), coffee
13. 2 deep dish homemade pies (apple and cherry) and one pumpkin pie, with crusts so tender and flakey she's getting very close to my mother's standard, served either with Cool Whip or vanilla ice cream

Thursday Thirteen

4352

Artificial or pseudo-twinning in adoption

Every event seems to have its own special day, week or month, and November is National Adoption Month. I was not familiar with the concept of pseudo-twinning, adopting children no more than 8 months apart in age, until I read about Nancy Segal who has done a lot of work on the nurture/nature aspects of twins raised apart. Through her research, I came across an article (from 1997) by Patricia Irwin Johnson who writes to prospective adoptive parents who have been through years of frustration with fertility issues and adoption red tape. It's worth reading the whole article because she knows she's going to be really unpopular, that adoptive parents who have "twinned" will be defensive, and she addresses that first.

The author observes, "The goal of parents who artificially twin babies is the same, no matter how these babies arrive: instant family. It is a logical, understandable goal, born out of great frustration and long term disappointment and pain. But pseudo-twinning is usually not a carefully thought through goal and it comes from self-centered thinking rather than baby-centered thinking. Most of the time it reflects parents’ nearly desperate need to regain control over their family planning and to “get” a child. . . Parents of exceptionally close-in-age babies who protest that they didn’t do this on purpose (and many take this position) are kidding themselves. Adoption doesn’t happen accidentally in the way that birth control fails."

But, knowing that adoptive parents will go ahead any way, she has the following suggestions for those raising babies close in age. Our children are 12 months apart and not the same sex, so they aren't "twins" in the sense of this research, but I often got the "are they twins?" questions. I nearly crippled my back for life by carrying one on each hip (they weighed almost the same). For years I tried to make every thing "fair," which does nothing but create jealousy and cranky kids.

I think all nine of these are important points, even if you just have children who are close in age but not "twinned." In my opinion, it is definitely easier if close together children are not the same sex, but if at all possible, I would seek out different teachers in the school system. Each of us pops out of the womb already stamped with our personality, skills, intelligence, and physical appearance in place. Don't saddle close together sibs with the teacher's expectations--yours and grandma's are enough of a burden.

"Here are nine practical strategies for parents of very close-in-age siblings who arrived as babies.

1) People are fascinated by multiple births and will expect your family to want to do “twin things” because they think twinning is neat and desirable and because they presume that lumping twins together is “easier” on parents. You will need to go to extra lengths to refuse to allow yourself or anyone else in your children’s lives–daycare providers, teachers, grandparents, etc.–to “treat” your children as twins. Dress them differently, give them individual toys (and rooms, if possible), acknowledge birthdays separately, etc. No matter how close they are in age, treat them not as a twinned pair but as you would treat children born at least a year apart.

2) Become acutely tuned in to your babies’ age-related developmental differences, particularly during their first two years of life when change and growth is rapid, and be individually responsive to these differences. As they grow older, be especially observant of and supportive about your children’s individual interests and talents while at the same time fostering their sibling interactions.

3) Remain aware that in all families parents and others have a natural tendency to “lump” close-in-age children together even when they are not twins. This is more often about accomplishing the tasks of family life as efficiently as possible than about not wanting to see children as individuals. In your family this issue becomes more important than in families whose close-in-age children are genetically related.
The common fascination with multiples also means that you will need to be particularly aware when your children are babies of the need to establish family privacy boundaries concerning who really “needs” detailed information about the unusual beginnings of your family. As your children become older, help them to develop their own scripts about how to respond to the curious.

4) Being artificially twinned is likely to be harder on same-sex siblings than on opposite sex pairs. If your children are the same sex, you’ll need to work even harder not to twin them.

5) If your children are of the same race, the assumption that they are fraternal twins will be even greater than it will be if they are of opposite sexes or racially/ethnically different. On the other hand, close sibs of differing races may draw even more questions from the curious, causing the children to feel awkward and uncomfortably “different.”

6) As your children grow, support their close friendship but discourage what could be their inclination to become “twin entwined” as exclusive friends who are frightened of separation from one another.

7) Give serious consideration to planning from pre-school forward to separate your children in school by more than just different rooms and teachers for the same grade. There are two ways to do this: you may decide to hold one back from the beginning (boys in particular often benefit from starting formal kindergarten at 6 rather than 5) or, if the cognitive development of both children makes it in their individual best interests to start school at the same time, you might consider sending them to separate schools.

8) If there was a birthparent deception involved in one or both of your babies’ arrivals, honor your child and his genetic parents by fixing the lie as soon as possible. Allowing this potential problem to exist unaddressed can and will begin to feel like a sword hanging over parents’ heads. Furthermore, the longer you wait, the more likely your child’s birthparent–and eventually your child himself–will feel betrayed. Consider engaging the help of a professional social worker or other mental health professional with mediation training to assist you in sharing this information with your child’s birthparent and establishing a more honest relationship.

9) Above all, give yourself credit for having had the best of intentions in being so eager to build a family that your children arrived close together. Be the best parent you can be to your individual children. If you acknowledge and address your family’s unique issues, allowing yourselves to reach out for support or help when you need it, your family will do very well!"

Instant Family (1997)

The stem cell miracle breakthrough

It will be interesting the see the left/right line up on the news of the new stem cell technique that doesn't require the complexity of removing an egg from a woman. I don't understand the old method or the new, except it doesn't come with the moral and ethical baggage of the old. Here's the explanation by Dr. Jonathon Lapook at CBS News.

What's so surprising is that the recipe is relatively easy to follow. I expect there will be an explosion of stem cell research all over the world.

Essentially, this new method makes the old way of destroying harvested or left over embryos the dinosaur. Researchers who have invested their careers, grants and labs in this are not going to be happy. It's like the guy who invested his fortune in buggy whips when people started buying into the idea of the automobile.

I don't think it will end the national debate peacefully, as WaPo quoted Rev. Thomas Berg. The left will never concede this victory to Bush. If he hadn't held the line on refusing to release federal money in destroying human life, this easier, simpler and cheaper method probably would not have been found.

[James] Thomson said he was surprised it didn't take longer to discover how to reprogram ordinary cells. The technique, he said, is so simple that "thousands of labs in the United States can do this, basically tomorrow." In contrast, the cloning approach is so complex and expensive that many scientists say it couldn't be used routinely to supply stem cells for therapy.

We'll just have to see. There have been promised breakthroughs before.

Creating the holiday sob story

Yesterday I heard a brief report of bad financial news on the radio (they will be on the increase until the election and then will disappear): it seems that the elderly and/or their caregivers are now dipping into their own savings to pay for their care!!!! Isn't that what you're supposed to do? Ever hear about saving for a rainy day?

Then there was this economic horror story in today's WSJ: a woman who is flying home for Christmas (Atlanta) has decided to stay home for Thanksgiving because of "soaring" travel costs. My daughter lives 5 miles down the road and I might not see her between Thanksgiving and Christmas, either. Honestly, some people just have to invent problems.

My friend Mitzi used to spend every week-end taking care of her father-in-law. She lived in Illinois and he lived in Arizona. Beat that one!

Kindergarchy

In today's WSJ, Joseph Epstein in his article "Desolate Wilderness" mentions living under the rule of children.

"For some time in America we have, of course, been living under Kindergarchy, or rule by children. If children do not precisely rule us, then certainly all efforts, in families where the smallish creatures still roam, are directed to relieving their boredom if not (hope against hope) actually pleasing them.

Let us be thankful that Thanksgiving has not yet fallen to the Kindergarchy, as has just about every other holiday on the calendar, with the possible exceptions Yom Kippur and Ramadan. Thanksgiving is not about children. It remains resolutely an adult holiday about grown-up food and drink and football."

Sam Levinson, the comedian who died in 1980, first used the word, kindergarchy, but he was referring to the older children--the college student who rules the parents, particularly their purse strings. The age of the ruling class now has dropped about 20 years.

We'll spend our Thanksgiving with adults, but come Christmas we'll be with adults, their children, their grandchildren and their great grandchildren and a variety of boyfriends and significant others and their little ones. And everyone will be expected to stand transfixed and in awe of their antics. Someone will even be showing video of the next one in the womb.