A caution for people still looking

"A fellow told me he spent twenty years looking for the perfect woman before he finally found her. The only problem was that she was looking for the perfect man." Attributed to Warren Buffet.

I've heard that before, but saw it today at Maggie's Farm, and thought it a good reminder for a certain someone waiting for 40.

3214 Dress up, dress up for Jesus

Last Sunday I wore my "little black dress" to church. It was a bit dressy, but then even pressed jeans and a holiday sweater are dressy these days. I suggested to my husband that he wear his suit--neither one of us dress up much these days, especially since everyone else is dressing down. He said he was ushering, and a suit wouldn't look right--so he wore a sport coat, slacks, dress shirt and tie. During the service, I noticed that the woman he was paired with for the offertory, was wearing blue jeans. I see why he would have felt a bit self conscious in a dark suit. Remember, we attend a traditional service, not the contemporary or rock 'n roll.

For you younger women, let me retell the old, old story of how we got here, because you may not remember when people enjoyed looking nice, when clothing enhanced women (and men) instead of ridiculing them. In the 1960s, middle class and college educated white people began showing up at civil rights marches in the South. They tried to fit in and look like they cared more than the other whites by wearing blue jeans--sort of sharecropper chic. Most of the blacks were dressed well, except for a few civil rights leaders who also wanted to fit in by wearing cover-alls.

Also in the 60s the hem lines started to rise, until by the early 70s, women couldn't cover their rears when they sat down. This started a rush by women into pants suits--in a wide variety of colors--I had yellow, green, fuschia pink, lime, navy and orange, and even my mother and mother-in-law started wearing pants suits. Really, it was the only way to be modest in those dark days of material deprivation. Feminism came in there someplace and that increased the shift to wearing pants, since the leaders thought that might be why men made more money (they were wrong). Now that was 30 years ago, but it convinced millions of women that they looked better in pants than skirts--a HUGE problem which coincided with the trend to obesity with bigger bottoms and BMIs.

Once pants suits had made their way into the doors of work and church, there was no stopping the jeans and shorts. Computer geekdom contributed to some of this, especially the baggy, rumpled look and baseball caps. Everyone wanted to look like a nerd even if they didn't know what to do with a USB. Then someone decided there needed to be a "casual Friday" and it eventually slopped all the way over through Sunday evening, and is showing up on Monday. Soon, even ministers began preaching in torn jeans and dirty t-shirts with back up from guitarists in shorts. Our pastors at UALC haven't gone that far, but I've seen them change clothes between services (we have eleven services at 3 locations) so they won't be too much dressier than the congregation (you could wear a bathrobe and still be dressier than some I've seen).

So I've composed a hymn which can be sung to the same tune as Stand Up Stand Up for Jesus.

Dress up, dress up for Jesus, ye women of the cross
Pack up designer blue jeans, it will not be a loss.
From picnic unto ball game His army you can lead,
But please for Sunday meeting, let Christ be Lord indeed.

Dress up, dress up for Jesus, don't let me be alone;
Your flesh I'm tired of seeing, you cannot trust your own.
Put on a suit or dress, each piece put on with prayer;
When playground duty calls you, then let your jeans go there.

Dress up, dress up for Jesus, each fam'ly to its post
Go forth into the conflict, and shout with all the host
You will not look so casual, from head unto your toes
Let grace and taste and beauty, give strength to trend oppose.

Dress up, dress up for Jesus, the skirt need not be long,
But please a little coverage, will be this matron's song.
You think you look so humble, I see a sloppy mess,
You're with the King of Glory? Why should we have to guess?

hymns
Worship services
women's fashion
Columbus, OH

3213 Black Friday and Black Days

This is a tradition I've never observed. If I can't find it on December 20 or 21, it doesn't get bought. Last year I was at least in a parking lot, when I went to a Panera's that was in a shopping center. This year, remembering that experience (exhausted and battle weary people coming in for coffee and a bagel), I went elsewhere. Did anyone else brave the crowds?

And how callow is that Al Neuharth of USAToday? I noticed in yesterday's paper he commented on Bush's visit to Vietnam and wrote, "his followers forced us to cut and run 31 years ago." Well no, actually, it was our own homegrown war protesters, that built up the communists' will and encouraged them while demoralizing our troops. Read their memoirs. So when millions died after we pulled out, more deaths than the whole war period, the blood of our allies in that nasty, unpopular war became embedded in our history and on America's hands, especially those of our weak politicians and the scruffy, marching, unwashed protesters.

Newharth seems jubilant that we might do it again. The Islamic terrorists and insurgents are already celebrating the victory of the Democrats with increased violence and assassinations. Happy Killing Days, Al. Black days ahead.

Al Neuharth
war protests
Democratic congress
Black Friday

3212 Holiday Reading from the Public Library

If the adult services librarian, Wendy Bethel, had listed 10 titles instead of 9 for recommended "holiday reading" in the Nov/Dec 2006 Upper Arlington Magazine, p. 29, maybe she could have included Christians and Christmas? What a concept! Wouldn't that be trendy? But no, although her list includes Hanukkah and Kwanzaa, the suggestions of new titles at the library that include the story of a holy savior who becomes a baby, the son of God, the eternal King, are non-existent. Probably because she hasn't purchased any, or never reads a review publication that includes them.

How about the book Yule: A celebration of light and warmth, by Dorothy Morrison. Would that apply? Well, no. Here's a peek from Amazon: "Those who yearn for spiritual meaning but aren't strongly affiliated with a specific religion sometimes feel left out of winter holidays. Yule is like a hot toddy for these chilled and isolated souls. From mistletoe to gift exchanging, Yule explores and exalts the pagan and regional roots to many of our contemporary rituals and celebrations." Doesn't that just tug at the old heart strings--if they want something spiritual, don't give them the meaning of the coming of the Christ child, give them pagan myths and legends that Christians scooped up along the way to becoming a world wide religion of all nationalities and languages.

What about The Winter Solstice: the sacred traditions of Christmas by John Matthew, a folklorist, packed with cute stories of the birth of different gods, what's the significance of mistletoe, Santa's evil twin, Bob, Shamans and little green men. Isn't that just so touching?

And what Upper Arlington homemaker doesn't need another theme to decorate her home? So the library offers Christmas style by Debi Staron and Bob Pranga, where we learn of trees that look like Joan Crawford, Marilyn Monroe and 10 other "Dames of Christmas" to make this one a real hit.

Was there not even a nicely illustrated book about a Christmas hymn, or a sweet little shepherd story, or something about mean old Herod killing babies and Rachel weeping?

Shame on the Upper Arlington Public Library, and shame on the Upper Arlington Magazine for ignoring the Christmas story.

public libraries, Upper Arlington Public Library, Christmas reading, reading lists, book selection

3211 Another meme

Sure are a lot of these. I noticed this one at Jane's blog, and thought I'd try it--nothing too heavy or earth shaking.

From Monday Madness.

1. In order to protect my computer from viruses, I use _______. Mcaffee

2. I also use _______ for protection from spyware. Whatever Roadrunner provides and another program that I found on the internet.

3. I don't spend nearly enough time _______. Exercising, volunteering, checking in with friends, reading, painting, etc. Too many blogs--10.

4. The first person I usually talk to in the morning is _______. The clerk at the coffee shop--Panera’s or Caribou, depending on where I go. Except on Wed. or Thurs. I get up an hour earlier than my husband, but on those days, I wake him up because he also leaves the house early.

5. It takes me about _______ to get ready in the morning. 15-20 minutes--shower, make-up, dress, but I like to ease into the morning without anyone around and just hate to rush. I select my clothes the night before.

6. I keep all my appointments in/on _______. The kitchen calendar, and/or my purse calendar (paper). If I’m late, I’ve forgotten or not looked at the calendar. Usually, I'm early.

7. It takes me about _______ to fall asleep at night. 30 seconds.

Friday Family Photo

Our mothers, 1993
This photo was taken the day after our daughter's wedding--the best party of my life. We had all the out of town wedding guests for brunch--the bride and groom were on their honeymoon. This was perhaps the fourth time our mothers were together, and it was the last. They were 76 and 81. My husband's mother (on the left) died in 1998 and Mom died in 2000.

My mother was rather short--maybe 5'1"--medium complexion, just a bit plump, intellectual, bookish (she wanted to be a librarian), shy, sweet, iron-willed with a missionary spirit, who quietly went about making changes in her sphere of influence to make the world a better place. She was a saint, in the best meaning of the word--and most who knew her say the same. My mother-in-law was tall and fair--maybe 5'7", glamorous, outgoing, stylish, funny, spirited, loaded with charm with "Betty Davis eyes." She was a party girl--and there was never a dull moment when she was around--and most who knew her say the same. Both had grown up in the church with devout parents who were Sunday school teachers. June was a city girl and a good athlete when young; Mom grew up on a farm and preferred to curl up with a book. When I first met June (I think she was 42), she lived in shorts--she had long slender legs. I don't think my mom ever owned any. June made a spaghetti dinner that couldn't be beat, and Mom's pies were to die for.

My mother was five years older, and at the time this photo was taken, both women were about the same height, but my mother looked 10 years younger, in my opinion. Mom could still mow the lawn, work in the garden, walk briskly, and run circles around her daughters--that's a real garden tan you see. My mother-in-law in 1993 could barely hobble from the car into the house, and had a little hop like a wounded sparrow from an improperly healed broken leg. Her moments of clarity were infrequent although we still could see flashes of humor and personality.

My mother-in-law was an alcoholic, a heavy smoker and a picky eater; my mother didn't drink or smoke and was always pushing a second helping of her home grown vegetables and watching everyone's weight, including her own. However, I think it was cigarettes that really destroyed my MIL's health. Fair complexioned, thin women have a problem with osteoporosis, but if they are also smokers, the damage to their bones after menopause is just horrifying. Heavy smokers, women and men, have lower bone density and are at higher risk for fracture. She had several fractures, shoulder, arm, leg, after age 50, and the bones of smokers, women or men, do not heal well. She began smoking as a young teen which means she may have started the damage to her bones in their developmental stage. Older smokers' risk of fracturing a hip increases with age and is about a 71% increase over non-smokers by age 80. Thin men and women who smoke really have a problem. I don't think my mom ever had a broken bone or even a sprain. She hardly ever had a cold. Even photos of June in her mid-50s, show her loss of height.

By the time this photo was taken in 1993, my mother-in-law was sober--she had actually forgotten that she ever drank, and her mind recovered considerably. Although her memory wasn't great, it was possible to have a conversation and enjoy her company. I never heard her say she wanted to quit smoking--she loved it. However, she stopped smoking the last two years of her life, probably because it hurt. And by not polluting her small assisted-living apartment with smoke (she was a widow by then), she again had an improvement in alertness. But sadly, alcohol and cigarettes had stolen the last 30-40 years of her health and ravaged her body, and we grieve for that loss for her and us. We miss them both, especially now during the holiday season.

cigarettes
smokers
osteoporosis
Women's Health
ageing

3209 Fixing the slow load

This blog is so large, it's difficult to know how to get it to load faster. So I've shortened the number of days to 5 instead of 7; I've removed the link to Monday Memories because it was no longer a functioning blogroll, but valiently kept trying; I've deleted the Family Friendly blogroll (which I'm suspecting was the problem); I've deleted about half the immigration list; and some dead links. I've pulled the Victory Wing since the Democrats are going to have their way with us and will cut and run anyway, killing thousands of Iraqis who trusted us. I hope it moves better now. Any code that has an "rpc" in it seems to get stuck. I don't know who owns that service, but it doesn't work for me.

Also if anyone knows how to move 1/2 a blog in the blogger.com system (I don't want to change the URL because the old entries still get hits), let me know.

3208 An odd experience in church today

During the sermon this morning in the Thanksgiving service, my attention was drifting a bit (see last week's Thursday Thirteen). I'd had some upsetting news by phone right before we left the house, I had a guest with me, we were singing old familiar hymns, the scripture selections were excellent, and so forth, and all of a sudden I heard the pastor call out my name. I sort of jumped, then wondered if it had really happened or if I imagined it. You know how sometimes you think a pastor is speaking directly to you? It was a reference to Christ's work on the cross for our salvation, I think--like I say, my thoughts were drifting. But when I greeted the pastor on the way out he sort of apologized and said he had no idea why he mentioned my name. I think our congregation only has 2 or 3 women with my name, and one died a few weeks ago. I said, "Well, we go back a lot of years."

We were actually in the new members class together back in 1976. He was a school teacher then and I was a homemaker. I witnessed to him, and for some reason, everything he'd been learning over the years in church, from his parents, in Sunday school, confirmation classes, in life, sort of clicked. I'm not a particularly effective Christian witness--tend to be a little too wordy and heady about faith matters. But it made sense to him. Four of us couples from that new members class continued to meet for Bible study for several years. He eventually decided to leave teaching and go to seminary, and about 22 years ago became an ordained Lutheran pastor. After serving for some time in another state, he was called back to our church as an assistant pastor. If I never witness to another person, this was a good choice. But I suspect it wasn't my doing.

A new blog for the growing years

This year, the oldest Baby Boomers turn 60, and, as of July 2005, the U.S. Census Bureau reported that 78.2 million Americans are counted among that generation. They are still influencing styles and thought because of their sheer numbers and they are used to being catered to. Yesterday I heard on Paul Harvey that they aren't happy with the movies and have enough ticket purchasing power to influence some changes (I wish them luck, but they'll probably have to undo some other changes). Also, I answered a poll on a blog yesterday about "do you like the trend back to wearing dresses" and about 85% of the readers answered yes (I haven't seen the trend in Columbus, OH, but did notice it in Europe). I hope this catches on at church.

Anyway, I've started a new blog--Growth Industry which is for bloggers and readers over 50. Topics will focus on interests and stories for those over 50--investments, health, retirement, leisure, travel, spirituality, friendships, grandchildren, fashion, pets, hobbies, and memories. I'm linking to mature, wise, and friendly bloggers and so far they range from 50 through the 80s. I met a woman at the coffee shop on Saturday who told me about buying a second home in Florida and how she did it which will be a great topic if I can get her to write it up. My own real estate purchases tend to be a bit on the emotions side of the equation, so I thought I needed another viewpoint. And she is 49 3/4.

I hope you'll stop by for a visit, and let me know if you'd like to offer a thought or essay (use the above e-mail). I can post the whole thing, cross post, or summarize and link back to you.

I'm sticking this at the top for today, so scroll down for the rest.

Thursday Thirteen

How to become a sweet old lady instead of a grumpy old grouch is the title of a book by Marilynn Carlson Webber (Zondervan, 1996), a pastor's wife. Some of her suggestions need to be started early, or will require some practice. It's good advice for all ages. Here's a few of her chapter headings and other thoughts.

1. Create your own party; take the initiative to make your life interesting and fun

2. Accentuate the positive

3. Do your best and do what you can; you can't win if you're not in the game

4. Keep doing what is needed, but

5. Know when to quit

6. Take time to smell the roses

7. Make new friends--concern yourself more with giving than receiving

8. Give the gift of encouragement--give 10 compliments for one criticism

9. Give the gift of memories

10. Change yourself first and start with forgiving. Unforgiveness will result in sleepless nights, physical disorders, depression, stifled creativity, bitterness, resentment and will rob you of joy.

11. Look on the funny side of life.

12. Develop a vital faith.

13. Wear out, don't rust out.

Happy Thanksgiving Everyone

Get the Thursday Thirteen code here!The purpose of the meme is to get to know everyone who participates. Visiting fellow Thirteeners is encouraged! Leave a comment and I'll add your name and URL. View More Thursday Thirteen Participants

Visited and visitors today:Amber, Carol, Caylynn, Celfyddydau
Cheryl,Cindi, JAM, Jane, Janeen, Jen, John, Kitty, KT Cat, Lady Bug, Leah, Mar, Pippajo, Skittles, Something Blue, Smurf, Staci T,
Terrell, Terri,

Our Heritage

Today is Thanksgiving in the United States. I invite you to read what "American Daughter" writes:

Have we forgotten the words?

On this Thanksgiving holiday, please take time to enjoy the verses of two traditional American songs, the Thanksgiving Hymn and the Thanksgiving Prayer. They affirm the gratitude of a people for their God.

The copies we are sharing here did not come from a church hymnal. They were transcribed from a songbook distributed in our public school systems in the year 1945. This book was in every literate home in the United States at that time, and was called I Hear America Singing, or more formally Twice 55 Community Songbook.

The assertion that our nation ever intended to separate our devotion to God from our public spaces and our public life is a blatant lie. Our philosophy of reliance on divine guidance motivated the founding fathers, permeates the Declaration of Independence and the United States Constitution, and is inscribed on our original monuments and government buildings.

The worthy gentlemen who drafted the Constitution only intended that membership in a particular religious denomination must never be made a prerequisite for holding public office, and that citizens should never be forced to subscribe to a specific denomination. They were still mindful of the bitter religious strife between Catholics and Protestants in England, and wanted to ensure that the new republic got started on a more ecumenical footing.

The insidious erosion of our patriotic traditions and our national identity must not be permitted to continue. Every thinking American must stand against the revision of our historical records and the activism of judges who would destroy the ideological foundations of our liberty.

But at this time of joyful harvest and quiet prayer, just savor the words of these two beloved hymns of gratitude.

Thanksgiving Hymn
Come, ye thankful people, come, Raise the song of harvest home!
All is safely gathered in, Ere the winter storms begin;
God, our Maker, doth provide For our wants to be supplied.
Come to God's own temple, come, Raise the song of harvest home!

All the world is God's own field, Fruit unto His praise to yield;
Wheat and tares together sown, Unto joy or sorrow grown:
First the blade and then the ear, Then the full corn shall appear; --
Lord of harvest, grant that we Wholesome grain and pure may be.

For the Lord our God shall come, And shall take His harvest home;
From His field shall in that day All offences purge away;
Give His angels charge at last, In the fire the tares to cast,
But the fruitful ears to store In His garner evermore.

THE WORDS--Henry Alford, an English clergyman, writer of note, and Dean of Canterbury, was born in London in 1833 and died in Canterbury in 1871. His literary labours extended to every department of literature but he was especially well known as a writer and translator of hymns. This is his best known and most popular hymn.

THE MUSIC--George Elvey, the composer, was born at Canterbury, England. He was for forty-seven years organist at St. George's chapel, in Windsor Castle.

Thanksgiving Prayer
We gather together to ask the Lord's blessing;
He chastens and hastens His will to make known;
The wicked oppressing cease them from distressing,
Sing praises to His name, He forgets not His own.

Beside us to guide us, our God with us joining,
Ordaining, maintaining His kingdom divine;
So from the beginning the fight we were winning,
Thou, Lord, wast at our side, Let the glory be Thine!

We all do extol Thee, Thou leader in battle,
And pray that Thou still our Defender wilt be.
Let Thy congregation escape tribulation;
Thy name be ever praised! And Thy people be free.

THE WORDS--Anon.

THE MUSIC--Netherlands Tune

Cross-posted from American Daughter

3204 The branch library

Today I returned my material (5 journals and 2 books) to the branch library. It's about the same distance to the main library, but I had requested a book on Indian gambling and it was being held there. When I returned my magazines I asked if it was OK, because I'd checked them out from the Main library, and the pleasant clerk assured me it was fine. Then I asked if the branch had journals that circulate, and she said, "No, we only have magazines." I asked her to clarify, and she said, only popular titles--no journals.

So I went over to the rack for a look. If you've read what I write about our public library, you know I go on and on about its hostility to the Christian faith and culture--it either ignores it completely or selects monograph titles that belittle it. This serial collection had NO Christian titles. Zip, nada, zilch. No religious titles at all. At least at the main branch there are two evangelical (they added one title since I complained a year ago), a liberal/mainline opinion title, two Jewish, and two Catholic. This community is home to three Lutheran congregations, two United Methodist, two Baptist, three Catholic, one Episcopal, two Presbyterian, two Church of Christ, one Christian/Disciples of Christ, one Congregational, one Christian Apostolic, one Assembly of God, with large numbers in the community traveling north and east to worship at Church of God, Grace Brethren, Xenos, Vineyard and various non-denominational groups with the words fellowship, Bible, community or ministry in their names.

The PL staff is alert to other needs, however. For a small branch library, the serial collection really supports the local faith in rampant consumerism and physical beauty. Allure, Body & Soul, Cosmo, Domino, Dwell, Elle, Glamor, Harper's Bazaar, Health, In Style, Lucky, More, Oprah, Shape and that title about Simple living. I think I counted 7 or 8 craft titles, maybe 9 or 10 housing/ remodeling/ decorating titles, 7 travel and leisure, and maybe 5 business and computer titles, some sports titles. Seemed to heavily cater to women's interests--unless of course, they were also believers. That part of women's lives is ignored. There was even a magazine on adoption, which I don't think I'd seen at the main library.

The book collection--at least what was on the shelves--seemed a better balance than the main library, with just a few of the hostile titles I wrote about a few days ago.

public libraries, Upper Arlington Public Library

3203 My black belt in weight loss

This morning I had to find a belt to wear with my black jeans. I rarely wear a belt--find them terribly uncomfortable, but it was the only way to tuck in my blouse. I'm one pound off from where I wanted to be by Thanksgiving Day. My husband had a touch of something for several days and I think he lost over 10 lbs. We don't really know since he rarely weighs himself, but it's really disgusting, isn't it? When we started dating in 1959, I didn't realize that I weighed more than he, which is probably good, because I might have looked elsewhere. Either I didn't know what I looked like, or he didn't look that thin. Even after we were married I remember buying a suit for him in the boy's department.

When the relationship took a serious direction, I lost 20 lbs. Then in the late 70s, he developed a heart valve problem and lost a lot of weight again, but got it back. I think it was for our 30th reunion he decided he looked a little chunky (his dimples showed), so he stopped eating his cracker and cheese snack in the evening and it fell right off.

As I noted on my Thursday Thirteen Sept. 28, I'm just not eating the things that make me want to eat more. Seems to be working.

1. potato chips or corn chips
2. saltines or Ritz
3. Anything wrapped, inserted, folded or inside pastry--could be apple pie, chicken pot pie, or taco salad
4. cheddar cheese or American cheese or cream cheese especially on #2
5. pizza any type, but especially pepperoni with double cheese
6. peanut butter anything, especially with chocolate
7. French fries
8. sour cream or gravy
9. biscuits, rolls, bread
10. butter or margarine especially on #2 or #9
11. Lots of choices, buffet, snack trays
12. Reading food blogs, recipe magazines, watching Food channel
13. Snack food aisle in grocery store

My daughter is making 3 pies for dinner tomorrow. Will be a severe test. But at least there won't be any Fritos.

3201 Chlorhexidine Gluconate

You've probably heard all the scare stories about the number of people who get sick or die in hospitals--from an unrelated cause. Think NOSOCOMIAL (hospital-acquired)*. The stories, may be hyped a bit, but are most likely true and a quick literature search in Google will bring up articles from the mid-70s. Even architects study the problem. Also veterinary medicine has a big problem. (Which is why I think no health staff should have artificial nails--now there's a good science project for your kid.) But here's some good news.

"A team of Dutch doctors has come up with a cheap, simple, and effective way to reduce nosocomial infection after cardiac surgery using a commonly available disinfectant, chlorhexidine gluconate.

The procedure should be applicable to all forms of major surgery, the lead investigator, Dr Patrique Segers (Academic Medical Center, University of Amsterdam, the Netherlands), told heartwire. Segers and colleagues report their findings in the November 22, 2006 issue" of JAMA. Story from Medscape.com

"Prevention of Nosocomial Infection in Cardiac Surgery by Decontamination of the Nasopharynx and Oropharynx With Chlorhexidine Gluconate: A Randomized Controlled Trial," Patrique Segers; Ron G. H. Speekenbrink; Dirk T. Ubbink; Marc L. van Ogtrop; Bas A. de Mol, JAMA. 2006;296:2460-2466.

*Within hours after admission, a patient's flora begins to acquire characteristics of the surrounding bacterial pool. Most infections that become clinically evident after 48 hours of hospitalization are considered hospital-acquired. Infections that occur after the patient's discharge from the hospital can be considered to have a nosocomial origin if the organisms were acquired during the hospital stay. definition from eMedicine.

3200 Muslim Writer

Nonie Darwish was invited to speak at Brown University by a student Hillel group. Her appearance was canceled after Muslim students at Brown complained. In doing so, these students have made Ms. Darwish's case for her, according to David Durant, the Heretical Librarian.
"Speaking out for human rights, women's rights, equality or even peace with Israel is a taboo that can have serious consequences" in the Arab world, Darwish says. In part to drive home that point, she wrote a book, just out. Its title says it all: "Now They Call Me Infidel: Why I Renounced Jihad for America, Israel, and the War on Terror."

Read article by Adam Brodsky

3199 The Food Channel

One of my favorite cable channels is Home and Garden, and normally the Food Channel. However, because I'm trying to lose some weight by not snacking, not eating my food triggers, not walking through certain aisles of the grocery store, not reading recipes, I'm not watching the Food Channel shows. Also, I love a quick afternoon nap. I set the TV for 45 (HGTV) as I dropped off, but when I woke up it was Paula's Home Cooking, and her two sons were preparing this. Oh wow. I would have never thought of it! I watched in fascination and then grabbed a pencil. Someday, when I'm back at my normal weight, I shall return.

Paula Deen
Food Channel

3197 Ex Post Facto--on the demise of a giant

Mark Gauvreau Judge ponders whether the Washington Post has a future. As a former writer for the Post, he grieves, remembering his elation when he was first selected to submit some op ed pieces:

"I did wind up writing several pieces for the Post, most often the Outlook section, over the years. And as I grew more conservative, I became more and more aware of what the parameters were. Nothing pro-life, nothing too blatantly Christian, nothing arguing about natural law or homosexuality—unless, of course, it was a performance of conservative switchback, like when Laura Ingraham wrote about her love for her gay brother. Inevitably, I ran up against the liberal orthodoxy there. It most strikingly occurred in 1994, when Outlook ran, at a full page, an op-ed/essay of mine about saving the Howard Theater, one of the oldest historical black theaters in America. I went into detail about the history of the Howard, yet something strange happened to my copy when I got to the 1960s. I had referred to the "moral and cultural collapse" that had destroyed the Howard and surrounding neighborhood—the drugs, rioting, and black racism that had brought down that part of town. The night before the paper came out, I was called and told that the phrase "moral and cultural collapse" had been changed to "social upheaval." Note: this was an editorial in the editorial section." . . .

"The Post doesn't cover religion—it's buried on the last page of the B section on the Saturday paper—and it is simply out of the question that any should creep into your writing, no matter how subtly. One album I reviewed reminded me of Easter, I wrote in one piece. Rejected. When it bounced back, I simply removed the Easter reference and sent it to a different editor. It was published two days later.

And that was it. I had been canned. Once you are banished, there is no such thing as debate about your case at the Post."

Read the entire story at Books and Culture.

I wonder sometimes if journalists and librarians suckle at the same breast.

Washington Post
media bias

3196 See your Healthcare Provider if. . .

That phrase drives me crazy. Do you know who falls under that term, "healthcare provider?" Here's the definition I found at Medscape when discussing who should have the flu vaccine among health workers. The definition of healthcare provider included in the ACIP and the Healthcare Infection Control Practices Advisory Committee (HICPAC) statement, published in February 2006:

"A healthcare provider refers to all paid and unpaid persons working in healthcare settings who have the potential for exposure to infectious materials, including contaminated medical supplies. Healthcare providers might include but are not limited to: physicians, nurses, nursing assistants, therapists, technicians, emergency medical service personnel, dental personnel, pharmacists, laboratory personnel, autopsy personnel, students and trainees, contractual staff and persons, for example, clerical, dietary, housekeeping, maintenance and volunteers not directly involved in patient care but potentially exposed to infectious agents that can be transmitted to and from the healthcare provider."

According to the article, adults can shed influenza virus for up to 24 hours before they develop symptoms and for typically 4-5 days after the onset of symptoms. So staff you see at a doctor's office often are coming to work when they are shedding virus. They found that the majority of healthcare workers come to work while they still have symptoms from what might be influenza. The CDC reports that fewer than 40% of health care workers have been vaccinated.

Call me cranky, but why isn't this "recommendation" made a condition of getting their paycheck during the flu season?

influenza vaccination, healthcare providers, influenza

3195 ADA and employment screening

Sue Shellenberger's column in the WSJ a week or two ago had an interesting question. A mother wrote to ask if tests her son takes for employment which are boring and repetitive (to him) because he has attention deficit disorder and dyslexia are a legal way to discriminate against people with disabilities. He often didn't finish the tests.

Shellenberger replied that the ADA prohibits employers from using screening tests that eliminate candidates because of a disability--unless it measures qualities essential to performance.

Now think about it. If you quit the test before finishing it because it is boring, are you someone an employer would want on staff? How many jobs do you know that don't require some focus, some completion of boring tasks, or understanding what is read? How many careers start at the top with only the interesting stuff? How many jobs have you had that didn't require you to sit through boring meetings where people argued about the best place for a comma or semi-colon (I'm a retired librarian).

How would taking this exam orally (as he apparently did in school and his mother wanted for him in the real world) help him if he needed to shelve books by call number in a library, or stock shelves in an auto parts store, or read instructions on chemical cleaner bottles at a janitorial supply house?

I think this man has a mama problem, not a learning disability.

learning disabilities
Americans with Disabilities Act

3194 The Dutch sleep through the storm

A Dutch politician, Geert Wilders, has accused non-european Muslims in the Netherlands of being violent and intolerant according to Saturday's WSJ. They have responded predictably by calling for his death--by beheading. And just as predictably, the Dutch people, long suffering from lack of oxygen in their socialist bubble, are already brain dead and don't really care.

My ancestors were Anabaptists, Mennonites and Brethren, and were persecuted and chased around Europe when they weren't being killed for their stubborn belief in separation of church and state and believer's baptism. Some found refuge in Holland which was more tolerant than Germany and Switzerland before coming to America in the 18th century. It looks like the Dutch tolerance has turned to somnambulism.

Geert Wilders, Holland