1392 The Pressure to Conform

Even in writing class! Modesty Zone featured Amanda in the August issue. She writes about a college class:

"Last spring I took a fiction writing class in college in which I wrote stories that portrayed romance and faithfulness as a positive thing. This evoked brutal hostility from the other students who said my work was sentimental and unrealistic and that my character's feelings qualified them as insane. While hurtful, I could deal with such criticism from my peers but thought it was completely inappropriate when the instructor decided to join them. At one point he told me to "find something to write about besides policing men's sexual desires," and he was constantly insisting that I "revise" my stories in ways that would alter their message. When I refused to alter that aspect of my work, since I felt no teacher has a right to dictate a student's moral beliefs, he docked my grade in response. It continues to baffle me as to why our beliefs invoke such extreme hatred."

Well, because our beliefs are very threatening. They show you have a moral center, and if you have that, it probably means he didn't and then he felt naked--a more embarrassing position than the one he wanted you to take.

She gets an award for bravery from the site admin.

1391 There's gotta be a pony in here somewhere!

Dig and dig. Keep working despite the odor. Isn't it just amazing that the whole world goes to hell in a handbasket when oafish, ill-mannered, poorly-spoken and illiterate war monger with a librarian-wife who never worked a day in her life gets into office with 51% of the popular vote? But now he can be credited for bringing back an obscure Shakespearean play.

"John Hurley had hoped to direct Shakespeare’s "Measure for Measure" for some time. But until recently he didn’t think the audience would be able to relate to it. "One of the biggest problems in producing it is that its morality is so archaic," Hurley said.

But, he added, because of the Bush administration and the country’s cultural changes over the last four years, the play is now timely and relevant.

"We have an administration that is not going to stop until the laws of Moses are the laws of the land," Hurley said. "We can now relate to this play. The morality in this play is our morality."

For Hurley, the play echoes fundamental changes that have occurred in the country since George W. Bush became president, like erosions of basic human rights and privacy." Swallow here.

The author didn't think to date the piece, but it appears to be Fall 2004 sometime or about 400 years after it was first performed--a better reason to dust it off than what Hurley gives.

Here's a summary, which makes it sound perfect for a confused anti-Bush producer/director:

Measure for Measure has fascinated and perplexed audiences and critics alike for centuries. Critical assessments have ranged from profound disappointment in the play's lack of consistency to assertions that Measure for Measure ranks as one of Shakespeare's greatest achievements. Scholars have in fact disagreed on virtually every aspect of the play, including its central themes and artistic unity as well as its style, genre, and characterization. Principal topics of debate have included the characterizations of the Duke, Isabella, and Angelo. Scholars have for example been divided over whether the Duke is manipulative or wise; whether Isabella is rigidly moralistic or saintly and compassionate; and whether Angelo is incomprehensibly split into two separate personalities—one respectable and the other villainous.

Now that we have NCLB, it is possible children might again study Shakespeare, although it's possible not even the President can reform our failing education system despite the millions of tax dollars he has thrown at it.

1390 I'm not saying they were bad parents. . ."

OK, then I will. They were bad parents who didn't know what to do with an evil kid. Someone on the jury that awarded the injured child's parents $10 million said that about Lane and Diane White of Indian Hills, a Cincinnati suburb. Whites had an out of control 17 year old, just weeks from becoming an adult, before he attacked a young teen-age girl. So even though White's son got a 10 year jail sentence for attacking and stabbing Casey Hilmer, the girl's parents also sued the Whites, worth in the neighborhood of 10-20 million.

"Lance and Diane White should have known their then-17-year-old son would turn violent when they drove off to dinner, leaving him alone in their Indian Hill neighborhood after he got into a violent fight with his brother two summers ago, according to psychologist's testimony in Hamilton County Common Pleas Court on Thursday.

Moments later, Benjamin White spotted 13-year-old Casey Hilmer jogging nearby, snatched her off the street, carried her into nearby woods and stabbed her four times, nearly killing her. Casey's account.

All the warning signs were there, said Charles Ewing, who was hired by Hilmer's family to evaluate White as part of their lawsuit against the Whites." Cincy Inquirer

The Whites own a sanitation service and have endowed a scholarship at Kenyon College, according to the Winter 2001 newsletter.

Update: Supreme Court of Ohio decision on the insurance payout on this case.

Update 2: From 2013, Casey is a survivor.

1389 Gotcha

Jack Stephens points out the usual Blue Stater Bush Whine of an ALA-ien who complains of Bush's poor grammar and vocabulary--in a sentence that lacks a subject and verb. Good eye, Jack.

1388 Sailing with women

Tom Purcell has a funny story about sailing with women. Now, before my husband took a week's sailing lessons (I won them with my prize winning sugar free apple pie), I wouldn't have been able to appreciate this post. But now I know all about the jib and tack, and turtle. Yes, we know all about turtling. Our neighbor (a woman) invited him to go sailing yesterday, but the water was a bit rough, so he declined (with my help). He'd floundered at sea the day before in water like that and the teen-age rescue crew had to go out and get him.

"No matter where you sit on a sailboat piloted by women, you are in the way. Your head is perpetually getting struck by ropes, pulleys and sail rods. If you attempt to do nothing, the women yell at you to pull the damn jib. If you pull the damn jib, they demand you release it. If you release it, they demand you pull it tighter."

Enjoy the story here.

1387 Why didn't you write about that?

Michael Yon replies: "The answer is simple. Often I am asked to withhold information due to the immediate sensitivty. And so, I never release the slightest hint. But then somebody in Baghdad--three steps removed from the action here in Mosul-- releases it to CNN and the rest of the world. What is seen on television and in the papers is practically always inaccurate, or is at least poorly framed. But I rarely waste a breath trying to correct the information. It's too late. Life is busy here."

He continues: “For example [a do not publish incident], our soldiers capture or kill top terror figures in Mosul routinely. Sometimes in stunning operations that display split-second timing. The "higher ups" often say, almost reflexively, that they don't want the enemy to know about these kills or captures.

Sounds reasonable. But whether soldiers sleek through dark allies with silenced weapons, slipping over walls with padded ladders, snatching sleeping terrorists from their beds before they can fully waken; or, whether they engage in a gunfight at a busy intersection and drag terrorists from behind the wheels of their cars--these are not anonymous men. Families notice when daddy's gone missing.

If we aren't keeping it secret from the enemy--and we can't keep it secret from them--who do we protect by keeping quiet? These are not illegal operations. These are examples of the effectiveness of our forces. In Mosul alone there are daily events where the Coalition gets things right, that I never write about.”

If you're not reading Michael Yon, you should be.

Happy Birthday Bro!

This is my brother's birthday (I think--all those details are residing on my home computer). He's got the most adorable, active, inquisitive grandson and has been telling me about some of his antics around animals, after reading my blog about how little girls who love horses have guardian angels. Here's some photos of the little fearless guy. His four guardian angels are just a little to the left, two are resting. Notice his little leather chaps my niece made for him.

1385 Moose tracks

Although there are women who claim they don't know why they are gaining weight, I am not them (her?). I've gained 15 lbs since visiting Florida in February, and I know every biteful. Blogging also causes weight gain, because for each minute you're in the chair, you are not moving your bones.



Compared to this.

1384 Should I cancel my trip?

"Kelly Monaco and John O'Hurley will return to the Dancing with the Stars ballroom for a so-called "dance-off" on Sept. 20, ABC announced Thursday. The results, based solely on viewer voting, will be announced in a Sept. 22 telecast."

Darn! In September I'll be touring European ancient cities and will probably not pause to locate this program. I'm guessing this rematch was planned ahead of time. We loved the show, but the voting system was really screwy.

If you've been watching the hip-hop and break dancers try to learn the swing and waltz and Latin dances at Fox's "So you think you can dance," you'll see really outstanding dancers. When Ryan Conferido lost that ridiculous hair-do and became a Latin lover, he even knocked my socks off. When those hip hop and break dancers stop that popping, jerking and crotch grabbing, they are really something else. Beautiful!

1383 The wet newspaper

A man at the coffee shop this morning took the Plain Dealer outside to the patio and laid it first on a wet table (section A) and then dropped B-E on the wet bricks. Result, one really soggy house paper by the time I saw it.

But even wet, the front page showed a photo of Kathy Wright's son Jeffrey Boskovitch with his dog Beans. Jeffrey was killed by sniper fire on August 1, but before that he had taken in a scruffy stray and sent his mom a photo, which she cherishes.

Now she's trying to bring the dog, Beans, home to Ohio. She has raised enough money, but needs a civilian to travel with the dog. Military Mascots, a group of animal lovers, is trying to help.

Moveon.org isn't interested in Kathy. I'm not expecting a candle light march.

1382 Women Athletes

According to USAToday snapshot chart, in 1990 only 150 women participated in the Danskin women's triathlon, and now in its 16th year, 5,200 have entered. I'm thinking that a woman good enough to enter a triathlon (even one sponsored by a clothing concern) is strong and confident--and probably had her babies before she got into all that. Maybe she needed a hobby as an excuse to get away from the kids and needlepoint just doesn't get you out of the house. The huge increase does reflect the fact that there are just more really outstanding female athletes coming up through our school sport programs. Even my little couch potato kicked the soccer ball around for a season or two.

I googled a bit but haven't been able to come up with (I'll keep looking) research about the fertility and pregnancy rate of professional female athletes (those who really pursue a sport during their 20s and 30s). Dancers, golfers, basketball players, runners, skaters, body builders, skiers etc. Yes, there are many articles about health problems (hormones, broken bones, etc), but I'm looking for something that takes a group of 45 year old women who were (are) professional athletes and compares their family size to a comparable control group of non-competing athletic types. Why? Why not? They measure everything else about women in the marketplace. Send the reference if you know of something.

There is apparently the "female athlete triad"--not a triathlon--which is eating disorders, amenorrhea (absense of menstruation), and osteoporosis. Any of these conditions can make it difficult, if not impossible to become or remain pregnant. And let's assume a woman can find a man (let's say she wants a marriage and not just a "relationship") who is not threatened by her power, strength, size and schedule of events. Even if she has enough fat to be able to have normal periods, and can find some snuggle time with hubbie to start a new life, does she have the gumption to cut back on her training for 9+ months and to sit out the competitions that are her livelihood? She's got to be pretty darn competitive to have even become a world class ballet dancer, or an Olympian, or top seed in professional soccer. Babies, even in the womb, can be extremely demanding and unimpressed with mom's talents. They are the most selfish creatures on the earth.

Call me crazy, but morning sickness, fatigue and walking around with a 15 lb weight on your abdomen does not add to your agility. There are rumors that it may even sap a few brain cells. While you're sitting out that bundle of joy, some younger woman is eyeing your fought for position, even if you are in better shape than 99.9% of the rest of the pregnant women in America. It's got to make a woman think a bit about the value or importance of motherhood.

So, if these wonderful genes are to be passed along, who's going to do the job?

1381 Friday Feast No. 60

Appetizer
Do you get excited when the season begins to change? Which season do you most look forward to?
I love fall, but it is sort of bittersweet, knowing cold weather is coming. As child, I loved the start of school. In those days, that was September.

Soup
What day of the week is usually your busiest?
I try not to be busy. I’m usually successful.

Salad
Would you consider yourself to be strict when it comes to grammar and spelling? What's an example of the worst error you've seen?
Leaving out the word NOT can often completely change the meaning and intent. It seems to knot up quite a few things I’ve written.

Main Course
Who has a birthday coming up, and what will you give them as a gift?
I’m thinking tomorrow is my brother’s birthday, but I always get it mixed up with my parents’ anniversary. If it is, Happy Birthday, Bro. My sibs and I usually do not exchange gifts.

Dessert
If you could have any new piece of clothing for free, what would you pick?
Any pair of shoes that look good and feel good, and are not clunky athletic style.

1380 Moss covered Stones sell Monday Night Football

And anti-Bush propaganda.

"For now, they've formed a united front to make sure everyone hears about the new album and tour. That means new sponsorships to subsidize the tour and maximize exposure, including a partnership with ABC and the NFL for season-long promos on Monday Night Football, starting with footage from a Detroit show for a pregame special Sept. 8. Immune to criticism of their corporate tie-ins, a fixture since 1978, the Stones make no apologies to the purists who call the band a sell-out." USAToday

"It is not really aimed at anyone," Jagger said on the entertainment-news show's Wednesday edition. "It's not aimed, personally aimed, at President Bush. It wouldn't be called 'Sweet Neo Con' if it was." CNN Oh, Mick, you are so vain.

Football fanatic that I am, who will occasionally pass through the living room on an errand during a game, I will complain to ABC Sports.

1379 The neutrality of this article is disputed

Well, I should hope so! If it were any more biased in choice of words [invasion, officially-stated purpose, justified, fruitless missions, etc.] it would be on Moveon.org's site with Cindy Sheehan. And although I haven't read the details, I'm guessing the anti-Bush folks don't think this wikipedia article is anti-enough, and they are probably the ones disputing its neutrality.

1378 Internet access and schools

You probably saw the photo story two days ago about the "riot" in Richmond VA as 5,500 people showed up to purchase phased out, used laptops from Henrico County schools. USAToday described the stampede as causing 17 injuries with 4 hospitalizations.

On the front page of that issue was a little "snapshot" chart that showed in 1995 only 3% of schools with a 50% or more minority enrollment had internet access; now 89% of those schools do. Ten years is a lifetime in cyberspace. But what about those children in the schools. Has the internet made any difference in educating them?

Do these children have fathers in the home; mothers supervising homework; are they in church on Sunday; are their neighbors watching out for their welfare?

Now, that would be a net to get excited about!

1377 Gas prices

My husband sold another painting--now we can buy gas to get home. What's it in your area? We paid $2.45 a gallon to fill up Tuesday morning [Bucyrus], but it is around $2.65 here on the peninsula. I don't have a scanner here so I can't show you any of his. But he has sold four this summer. Of course, I could get out the instruction book and fire up the digital camera.

1376 I'm good

Nathan Bierma in the Tribune writes about the expression, "I'm good."

"If you want to download Google Earth, a computer program that uses satellite images to give driving directions, Google warns that not all computers can run the application. To get past the list of the kinds of computers that won't work, you have to click on a button that says, "I'm good."

Google isn't asking visitors to flatter themselves. ("I sure am a good person!") Google is just picking up on one of the latest meanings of a very versatile adjective, "good." This sense of "I'm good" means "I'm all set," or "I'm adequately equipped to proceed." "

1375 Daughters of women

Vox Lauri noted this OSU study about daughters of women who shack up are more likely to follow mommy's model. Here.

"Research showed that young adult women whose mothers reported cohabitation were 57 percent more likely than other women to report cohabitation themselves. In addition, daughters of cohabiting mothers tended to cohabit at earlier ages than others."

This sounds like a no brainer, but I suspect there are a few other factors. For instance, at some point in the late 1970s, most girls moving in with boyfriends had mothers who didn't cohabitate. In fact, their mothers ranted and raved and told them not to do it, and the daughters blew them off. So what about them? What was their role model? To figure this out, the researchers need to be looking at the women of the 21st century who have some pride, independence and standards and find out what in society (besides parents) made the difference. Was it confidence? Education? Moral core? Religion? Allergies to his pets?

"“As more people enter into cohabiting relationships and have children, we have to recognize that this could have long-term effects on these children as they enter adulthood,” Qian said." Gee, they crucified Dan Quayle for saying that.

Oh, and guess what? "Black women were 90 percent less likely to have cohabited than their white counterparts."

1374 Good news from the back seat

In 1996 federal auto safety officials recommended that all children younger than 13 be seated in the back of automobiles to keep them from harm's way if an air bag deployed. This simple recommendation has cut the death toll in that age group by 20%. USAToday story.

Imagine the lives we could save if we would re-instate the 55 mph speed limit, stop using cell phones while driving, and apply our make-up and eat breakfast at home.

1373 Corn on the Cob tip

Susan and Jim were surprised two weeks ago to learn my husband hates corn on the cob, therefore I only serve it if we have company. Heating up water for one little ear seems, well, peculiar, for lack of a better word. She said if I dunk it in water while still in the husks then microwave it for 2 minutes, I'll have a wonderful treat. So I tried it, and thank you Susan, you are absolutely correct.

This morning I fixed an ear of corn for breakfast in the microwave. Hmmm. Scrumptious. I compared it to the corn flakes, which I bought for our house guests last week but no one opened. Here's the corn flakes:

degermed yellow corn meal, sugar, salt, malt extract, vitamins C, A, D and several Bs, and folic acid. With 1/2 cup skim milk it has 170 calories and about 25-30% of most of the major nutrients you need plus 270 mg sodium and a little protein. Not bad for processed food.

Then I looked up corn on the cob. I'm not sure I had white or yellow--seemed to be a mix, but there is a huge difference in Vitamin A. Yellow has much more. I guess it's true that the deeper the color the more dense the nutrients. I had 59 calories, + another 27 for the margarine; 1.8 g fiber, 146 IU Vit. A, 3 mlg Vit. C, 158 mlg potassium and 20 mg folate. Now I'll add some blueberries and get smarter. All this thinking is exhausting. Actually, I've just been looking for a reason to use this photo of Susan.


Susan and crew on the Scioto River