3243 130,000 but who's counting

The site meter rolled over at 2:14 p.m. today to 130,000; someone from Madrid clocking in at 8:14 p.m. their time. Of course, a ping doesn't necessarily mean stopping to read. Last week my "how to unstick a car door" was really busy. . . beat out the "how to fix a broken zipper." One would hope you wouldn't have two disasters in one day.

I downloaded IE7 today, unfortunately in the middle of attempting labels and Christmas letter with my new printer. I had time to unload the dishwasher and complain to my husband while it struggled through its paces. I try to keep the Christmas letter to one page, and found some nice paper with a tree in the corner, then had to squeeze the text a bit.

I had lunch with a friend today who's recently had cataract surgery. Thinking she'd be delighted with her new found clarity, I discovered she now can see wrinkles she didn't see before, and is very upset! Cataracts don't need to "ripen" like they used to, and when you get tired of halos around the street lights and on coming headlights, then you have it done. I've always had poor night vision so I'm not sure it would help me.

3242 But is it comfortable?

The reason I always buy a Dodge/Plymouth mini-van. Well, that and I am a value shopper. I'm also confident and don't have a need for people to look at me and drool.

Giugiaro’s Mustang
automobile design

3241 Visit my new link

This blogger is in my book club, and I just found out last night that she has a blog. Life of a Domestic Disaster reports, "My blog is inspired by my niece's blog called "Life of a Domestic Goddess." At the end of the day at our house, if no one has been to the emergency room, Children's Services has not called, my sweater wasn't on inside out at work, and we have eaten something other than poptarts and donuts for at least one meal, I call it good!"

She's wonderfully talented, has a great sense of humor and is a loving, caring mother. Stop by for a visit and tell her Norma sent you. We all love to get comments.

3240 How many hours are wasted

messing with new software and technology? I should have been prepared; this is my fourth printer, more if we count the ones I had to hook up when I was working. Last week I pulled a jammed piece of paper from my HP 5550 and apparently ran the print heads off track. My daughter worked on it and couldn't get the case off to get to the belt; then my husband tried it, but managed to really break it.

I called around and discovered that labor costs are about $70 an hour to fix printers, and there was no guarantee they could fix it. So off to Staples I went to shop for a new printer. First, however, I did look for a cartridge for my old, reliable workhorse, the LaserJet 4L, gasping on it's last taste of black-only ink, but the cartridge was over $90 (it lasts forever). Now that I'm used to color with my blogs, I really needed the color.
I picked one out, an HP C3180 that will print, copy and scan. Fine, I had 2 printers and a scanner on my small desk, so I figured I'd replace them with one machine. I'm a value shopper, not a quality shopper, and it had a floor discount of $20, making it $79.99. But I did go home and look on the internet for reviews. They were pretty good. So I took back my unopened $45 print cartridge (for once in my life I found the sales receipt), and my 6 used print cartridges which are good for $3 off a new purchase. It doesn't come with a USB cord--but I already had one. "Won't do," said the salesman, "the data will travel very slowly and you'll miss the best features," so without really thinking that misinformation through, I paid another $20 for a USB 2.

When I finally got it all hooked up I discovered my computer is old enough that it won't take a faster data transfer, and the USB 2 cord is doing nothing the old one wouldn't have done. Then I spent about 10 minutes in the cold garage going through the garbage and bags of soiled cat litter looking for the USB package, finally finding it in the kitchen trash.

I didn't check ahead to see if it would take card stock, and although it will, it is very cranky, and wants to reformat to note size cards, and I'm not doing that--I'm printing my own on 8.5 x 11. Also, if you don't put the little extender out on the paper tray, it shoots the paper across the room like a paper airplane.

When I tried to scan a photograph, I could find no command to "Save" or "save as" to MyPicture file on my computer. Oh, it scanned fine--but then proceeded to create a whole new set of photo files (hundreds) already stored on my computer which I didn't want and so far the only way I can figure out how to get to them is to send them to myself with e-mail. Why do these people think we want digital scrap books everytime we hook up new equipment. I have them in my genealogy file, my digital camera file, and something else, now here's a fourth one.

Also, discovered I can't turn it off (lots of lights eating up electrical current), or it will run through its color testing when I turn it on. I'm sure if I call the 800 number I'll sit and wait for an hour.

So I hooked the old scanner back up until I can figure something out that makes sense, and am rethinking my desk arrangement. Right now I have no place to put down anything I'm copying.

So don't cross me, folks. I'm really, really crabby tonight.

Monday Memories

Have I ever told you why my mother was a Democrat (according to my father)?

My parents were married over 65 years. My mother died in 2000 and my father in 2002. When cleaning out Dad's desk, I found a small notebook which he used to jot down phone calls, addresses, appointments and lists (he had worked in sales into his 80s). Leafing through it, I found a "memory" written on the date of their 66th wedding anniversary, 7 months after Mother's death. So I brought it home, and came across it while cleaning my desk last week. I hardly ever had letters from Dad, so I enjoy looking at his handwriting.

He wrote about how they had met the summer after high school and he changed schools to attend Mt. Morris College so they dated during the academic year 1930-31; how he had returned in the fall of 1931, but she had gone to work as a domestic for a Jewish family in Chicago (it was the Depression and she had no money to continue, but he had a football scholarship). He wrote, "I had to stay with dad and mother during the summer of 1932, but in the fall I got a job at Kable News Co. I remember getting her (my mother) a job as a housekeeper for one of the execs, which later turned into a job also at Kable News. It had to be during the winter because Roosevelt had been elected Pres. and one of his edicts got her a raise from $8.00 weekly to $10.00. Thus, she remained a Democrat the rest of her life."

View More Monday Memories Participants
My visitors and those I'll visit this week are:Ma, Viamarie, Mrs. Lifecruiser, Debbie, Gracey, Lazy Daisy, Lady Bug, Janene, Janene in Ohio, Michelle, Anna, ChelleY. Jen, Melli Becki, Paul, Friday's Child, Irish Church Lady,Cozy Reader

3239 Dress up for Jesus, pt. 2

Over a week ago, I wrote my little hymn to women's fashion, "Dress up, dress up for Jesus," to be sung to the tune of "Stand up, stand up for Jesus." It's my social comment on the sloppy way women appear in public and at church.

In today's Columbus Dispatch (B1) there is a large photo of a marriage recommitment ceremony at Highland Baptist Church. Sixty couples renewed their vows as part of the church's Winter Wedding Spectacular.

From what I could see, it appears that the women are wearing slacks and sweaters or jackets, except for a fuzzy view of a woman in the background who is standing beside a man in a clerical robe (the pastor and his wife?).

Ladies. God is great. God is good. But he's not THAT good. He has not yet created a woman who looks more graceful and feminine and ready for true commitment in slacks than a dress or skirt. I began wearing corduroy slacks in third or fourth grade under my skirts in winter to keep warm, and have yet to find slacks that fit me. And you're kidding yourself if you think it's any different for you.

It gets worse as we get older; the waist expands which leaves baggy material in the back (which is what all the rest of us see), unless you compound the problem with a baggy sweater. This also happens with the men, who are gaining more girth and more baggy seats in their jeans. I don't know what body type the designers have in mind when the patterns are cut, but the rest of us would be out of work if we failed that miserably.

A banquet. A ceremony. The party season of the year which even pagans celebrate. A church that calls itself the Bride of Christ. And still we show up looking like we're going to an OSU tail-gate party?

3237 Dropping in on strangers

Most of the blogs I read are written by strangers. If I return often enough, there is a sense that I at least know their stories even if I wouldn't recognize them on the street. Some are very sad; some happy; some are people of deep faith; some are strange beyond belief. I almost linked to a woman whose blog came up in a search I was doing--she had two really good posts on marriage, both copied from other bloggers, and her own comments exhibited skill with words. Then I clicked to her "main" page just to see if there was a bio or something. There I was horrified to read her recounting of picking up an affair she'd had a few months ago. She wasn't unhappy; her husband was a nice guy; and she wanted to stay married. The families I know whose lives have been destroyed by this kind of idiocy spun through my mind like the dead leaves blowing around our yard this afternoon. Sometimes it involves 4 generations and goes on for decades.

But this careless airhead isn't what I wanted to talk about. You've heard the expression "Happiness shared is doubled; sadness shared is halved." I think bloggers live by that. When they are happy, they want to share and their happiness is doubled or tripled when the comments roll in--"Way to go," or "I'm so pround of you." When they are grieving--and I've read some really heavy, heavy blogs of chronic illness, death, job loss, crashing friendships, etc.--you can almost see the spirits lift on the screen when there is a kind or thoughtful response.

Now someone has written a paper on that to try to find out if it is true. "Is Happiness Shared Doubled and Sadness Shared Halved?: Social Influence on Enjoyment of Hedonic Experiences," by RAJAGOPAL RAGHUNATHAN, University of Texas at Austin and KIM CORFMAN, New York University. I'd share the authors' conclusions, except it's written in academese, and made little sense to me.

3236 Greg Oden

We finally got to see Greg Oden play, Ohio State's 7' freshman basketball player. He looks twice his age--like he's 35. Makes you wonder if when he's 35 he'll look 70. OSU won over Valparaiso 78-58.

"Shorter stature and smaller body weight appear to promote better health and longevity in the absence of malnutrition and infectious diseases." Height, body size and longevity, by TT Samaras, Acta Med Okayama. 1999 Aug;53(4):149-69. In another article the same author suggests "that the differences in longevity between the sexes is due to their height differences because men average about 8.0% taller than women and have a 7.9% lower life expectancy at birth." Life Sci. 2003 Mar 7;72(16):1781-802.

3235 Working for the Fed

"New data from the U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis confirm that the average federal civilian worker earns $106,579 a year in total compensation, or twice the $53,289 in wages and benefits for the typical private worker. This federal pay premium costs taxpayers big bucks because Uncle Sam's annual payroll is now $200 billion a year. No wonder that, with a per capita income of $46,782 a year, Washington, D.C. is the fourth richest among the nation's 360 metropolitan areas."

Full story at WSJ Career Journal.

Columbus' per capita income is $35,226. Check out your city here. It would seem to me that the DC area would be a tough place to live and keep up if you're not working for the government. Especially if you are competing with 2 income households where both might be government workers.

Some of these workers spend time doing this, and this, and this, and this.

federal employment
government workers

3234 New art show going up

If you're in central Ohio and enjoy attending art shows, please stop by and see the Winter show of the Pump House Guys, which we're hanging today at The Church at Mill Run, 3500 Mill Run Drive, Hilliard, OH 43026. The reception will be next Sunday, 2-4 p.m. If you attend church there, I know it is a mob scene on Sunday, especially if you're getting your kids from the 2nd floor classrooms, but stop for a few peaceful moments and enjoy the show.


Upper Arlington Lutheran Church
art shows
Church at Mill Run

3233 Go to Flopping Aces

for the run down on "Who is Jamil Hussein," the AP informant who apparently doesn't exist. Sort of makes you wonder how many other sources our media have been using that are frauds. The links are all listed at his site--so I'll refer you there.

Friday Family Photo

Look at these little sweethearts, all dressed up in their caps and gowns to move up to the primary Sunday School class. I'm not sure of the year--maybe 1944 or 1945. We are standing there on the steps of the Mt. Morris Church of the Brethren, squinting into the sun. I'm the one with brown shoes and no curls, sigh. It really stunted my fashion sense. It was probably the only pair of shoes I had, and Deb and Barb and Diane also in the front row, being the only girls in their families, probably had two pair of shoes. All except Dick finished grade school and high school together. His father died and his mother remarried and moved away. My family moved away too in 1946, but came back when I was in 6th grade, and this is where I was baptized when I was 12 years old.

By the mid-1950s the church was bursting; the baby boom and a talented young preacher brought in many new members, especially young families. Our Sunday School class probably tripled. So a decision was made to build a new facility with a large sanctuary and 3 floors of classroom, a chapel, special youth room for the CBYF with a fireplace, a big commercial grade kitchen, fellowship hall, a library, offices for the staff, lots of parking and so forth. My parents were in their early 40s and were involved in every stage of building the new church, from raising money to sewing drapes and picking out paint colors. The building where this photo was taken was sold to a small group just getting started in Mt. Morris, the Evan Free.

Their roles are reversed now. The Evan Free is filling the old church, and the big Church of the Brethren has many empty pews and classrooms and an aging congregation. The young people who built it are now the elderly with special needs. I'm not a member there, so I have nothing to say, but I have heard many good things about their new pastor who just started a few months ago and that is hopeful.

Church of the Brethren
Mt. Morris, Illinois
Sunday School
vintage photographs

3231 An Internet Quiz that is educational

Sure, we all like to take those quizes that say we're fascinating and look like a movie star, but here's one that's educational and fun, and one we sort of play each time we go to the grocery. It's the US FDA Food label quiz. Don't try to answer the questions without reading the labels! The whole point of it is to read the entire label before giving your answer. You might be surprised at what you're getting and why people make such poor choices even though the government has required manufacturers to put it on the label. A lot of us (I raise my hand) don't think about the total day's requirements when we make a food choice.

Thursday Thirteen

Since September 25, I have not eaten the following 13 foods. Most were part of my TT list of triggers that make me hungry. The flat out toughest to resist have been #1, #5, and #9. I think I would mug someone for a bag of Fritos. We were at a buffet luncheon [buffets were on the list, but we were invited] to celebrate a wedding anniversary at the Scioto Country Club Sunday, and there was a table of desserts to die for--which included not only pecan pie (my favorite next to apple sour cream which no one but me makes), but also cheesecake, which I love. I selected instead, the pumpkin cream cheese roll. The point isn't the calories, but the trigger, and pumpkin cake doesn't stick up my tastebuds and kill my resolve, even if it is delicious.

1. Pizza, I particularly miss pepperoni with extra cheese from Rotolo's.
2. pastaoops--did have spaghetti--but not noodles or macaroni
3. Ritz crackers
4. cheddar cheese
5. pie crust or pastry, whether main dish or dessert
6. sandwich except for Friday night date Rusty Bucket's Philly Cheese, no bread or rolls
7. free sample bread and bagel snacks at Panera's
8. potato chips
9. Fritos
10. carbonated beverages (easy to give up--don't think they were on the list)
11. dip or sauce
12. gravy
13. cheesecake

I haven't had a beer either, but that's not much of a sacrifice. I've never even tasted beer. Imagine the calories I've saved for enjoying something that doesn't smell like rotting grain!

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, Amy Christopher, AnnaMary, Beth, Bubba, Carol, Caylynn, Celfyddydau Cheryl, Chickadee, Cindi, Dane Bramage, Darla, East of Oregon, JAM, Jane, Janeen, Jen, JMom,John, Katia, Kitty, KT Cat, Lady Bug, LaughingMuse, Leah, Ma, Mar, Pippajo, Skittles, Something Blue, Southern Girl, Smurf, Staci T, Susan, Terrell, Terri,

3229 Smoking bans and children

We're sure to see more laws created to protect children from their parents' smoking, both in the home and in automobiles. USAToday carried the story that a number of states already prohibit foster parents from smoking around their charges. But I'm sure it is only a matter of time before it will be considered a form of child abuse to make children breathe cigarette smoke--from your mouth to their lungs. Although I don't think smoking should be illegal, I do believe children need to be protected, both in the womb and in the room.

"Former smoker Bob Mathis, a Democratic state representative in Arkansas, sponsored a law that bars smoking in a car carrying a child young enough to require a car seat. It took effect in July. A violator can be fined $25 but can get out of it with proof of participation in a smoking-cessation program. A similar law took effect in Louisiana in August.

"We have laws on the books in every state of the union against child abuse," Mathis says. "This is a form of child abuse."

At least six states and some counties prohibit foster parents from smoking when foster children are present, says Kathleen Dachille, director of the Legal Resource Center for Tobacco Regulation, Litigation & Advocacy at the University of Maryland School of Law. "There are times when it's appropriate to regulate what people can do in their home," she says. "The state is responsible for that child."

Some courts are ordering parents in custody and visitation disputes not to smoke around their kids."

I think I noted before at this blog that my husband, who has never smoked, coughed like a smoker every morning for several years into adulthood, after living for 18 years in a home where both his parents smoked, as well as all their friends and relatives.

I had lunch with a friend today, and when I turned down a bite of brownie dessert, I compared it to some people and cigarettes. She nodded and said she had quit smoking 15 years ago, and knew if she smoked even one, she would start again, the addiction was that strong. Her husband also quit 15 years ago, but too late and has COPD.

3228 Pandering to special interests

A medical examiner, Dr. Charles Siebert, in Florida is being maligned because he determined that the cause of death of a young black man, Martin Anderson, in a military style boot camp was "complications of sickle cell trait," and the manner natural. Bill Oliver is a pathologist and writes about the medical literature that has shown for over 20 years that young black men with sickle cell trait collapse and die at a high rate in boot camp and athletic preseason workouts.

"The Attorney General, and soon to be elected Governor, Charlie Crist decided to make an example of Dr. Siebert. After all, who was this little guy who thought that practicing medicine was more important than getting him elected? It was, I suppose, a no-brainer. Pandering to racial special interests is always a win when it can be done at no cost except for ruining the life of some cog in the machine."

Part 1, Part 2.

3227 High School science way back when

Although I didn't know it until a few minutes ago, my high school science curriculum was similar to my grandmother's and was established by The Committee of Ten back in 1893. It seems I had a lot more science instruction than many students get today. Freshman: General Science; Sophomore: Biology; Junior: Physics; Senior: Chemistry. Even over 100 years ago, there was a debate on the amount of "hands-on" time and lab work a student needed for a good science education. The authors propose that biology has become so complex that it needs some understanding of physics and chemistry and needs a different spot in the sequence. However, they point out:

"The Committee of Ten report may be considered an "old document" by many contemporary players in education, but it holds an important place in science education history as a reform document that brought science teaching and learning to the forefront of education. More than 100 years after the report was issued, most of our schools still offer high school science courses in the sequence suggested by the Committee of Ten. Science education is still debating what criteria should define the coherence of our science curriculum to lead to scientific literacy for all. If there is one lesson to be learned from my argument, it is that the Committee of Ten did not anticipate that more than 100 years later its recommendations would continue to be a matter of dispute and that one of the subjects proposed to improve the learning experience of our high school students is still a subject of plasticity in the reform efforts during the twenty-first century."

This is a very interesting article in a great on-line journal, CBE Life Sciences Education. Browsing the 2006 issues, I see an article on best web sites for science in each issue, as well as great book reviews.

See the article about the Committee of 10 at High School Biology Today; What the committee of ten did not anticipate

Our Christmas cards are ready!

Now I just have to get the printer fixed so I can run the labels. I pulled on a jammed sheet and apparently ran something off track.

3225 A reminder about colonoscopy

Yes, it's expensive and not pleasant, but it's the only procedure that can actually prevent cancer. Plus, if you go with one of the less intrusive tests, and they find something, you'll have to have the colonoscopy anyway. So start at the top, or the bottom, as it were. Haven't looked at this yet; it's probably at your public library.

Colorectal Cancer Risk Following a Negative Colonoscopy, Robertson and Sirovich, JAMA.2006; 296: 2437

Murray sent me this list, but it also appears on some websites and blogs, include RangelMD.com

Comments heard during a colonoscopy

1. "Take it easy, Doc, you're boldly going where no man has gone before."

2. "Find Amelia Earhart yet?"

3. "Can you hear me NOW?"

4. "Oh boy, that was sphincterrific!"

5. "Are we there yet? Are we there yet? Are we there yet?"

6. "You know, in Arkansas, we're now legally married."

7. "Any sign of the trapped miners, Chief?"

8. "You put your left hand in, you take your left hand out. You do the Hokey Pokey...."

9. "Hey! Now I know how a Muppet feels!"

10."If your hand doesn't fit, you must acquit!"

11. "Hey, Doc, let me know if you find my dignity."

12. "You used to be an executive at Enron, didn't you?"

13. "Could you write me a note for my wife, saying that my head is not, in fact, up there?"

3224 Visit and comment day

Today I visited Heretical librarian, who's writing about censorship in a Muslim country; this librarian recently joined the National Guard and has returned to duty protecting our freedoms at his library. Jack Stevens is writing about conflicting articles on President Bush's presidential library; Jack's always a good read, but because he's a conservative and gets a lot of grief from liberals, he's turned off comments (at least I think that's the reason). Shush is writing about Kinky People's needs; do you know what the QQ in LGBTQQ stands for? I didn't. Florida Cracker continues her fascination with Duane Allman, a hobby I haven't grasped. She also has an item about a cartoonist in trouble.

Blonde Librarian didn't seem to be home, or else is revising her very attractive template again. Christian Librarian ponders why she got an MLS after a conversation with a student who was printing webpages rather than bookmarking them. Several folks, librarian and teachers, put together American Presidents, and today feature advice. Through book club I've read quite a bit now about our presidents, their mothers, their times--always an interesting topic. Jane of Art seems to be working on a novel, as well as her poetry, blog, and job but real life keeps getting in the way. I try to follow along, but get confused when I'm in the novel and when I'm in her life. Tomeboy, one of my favorites ('cause he likes me), sighs that he's getting older--got his degree in the early 90s. Groan. Matthew's asleep at the switch again--hasn't updated since Yom Kippur and Ramadam. My favorite cellist/librarian, Mustang Mama, has jumped into Monday Memories, and has the same problem as my kids--a Thanksgiving birthday. Liberry Juice and his wife just got back from Thanksgiving in Missouri.

Krafty Librarian reports on a study about e-mail overload. E-mail archives have grown 10 fold in 10 years, so I'm not alone. Library Marketing has an interesting item about word-of-mouth. WOM about libraries is usually positive--unless you listen closely. Keptup Librarian seems to be reporting what he reads in USAToday. Not sure the story is researched any further, but maybe that's not the intent--to do the journalist's job, I mean. Annoyed Librarian is really getting a following, liberals and conservatives seem to read her, but says it is hard to find something to satirize because it is all so meaningless to start with. Carlos at Biblioblog actually mentions a Christian review source, Books and Culture; my public library rejected this when I requested it. Feel Good Librarian who always posted happy, interesting stories, must not feel so good--nothing since mid-October, and Paul's last post was about beer, in September! Guide to Etiquette last post was in poor taste, in my opinion. Greg is over my head and techno-level, as usual. And finally, some ideas for your book loving friends at Robin's site.