Starting on the bookshelves

Recorded here. For me, it's like drowning kittens.

Today's new word is PELLUCID

It's a synonym for transparent, another word I thought I knew. But English is such a fluid language, full of hope and change. Transparent comes from the Latin word trans meaning through, and parere, to appear, so it has the sense of "appear through." It means sheer, clear, limpid or diaphanous. There is something there, but you can see beyond. Those of you my age may remember that in the 1950s, completely transparent, sheer nylon dresses and blouses were in fashion. Yes, if your grandmother or mother complains about today's revealing short skirts or skimpy, dipping sweater tops showing cleavage created by padded, push-up bras, pull out that old photo album and take a look at what we were wearing in 1953. The idea was to wear lacy, sexy slips or camisoles underneath. Some girls didn't get the message, so instead you might see a rather dirty bra or unshaven armpits under the sheer yellow, pink or white outfit. Not a pretty sight.

And that's what Obama's transparency is--not a pretty sight. Pellucid when used figuratively, means clear to the understanding. And I think it is clear what is happening. He has promised transparency in government. In the vetting of his appointees, it was learned that his choice for Treasury was a tax cheat. He'd been caught once already, paid a fine and back taxes, and then continued with the same behavior. Seems he didn't understand the concept of filing quarterly on estimated income, something we learned how to do as soon as my husband became a sole practitioner. He'd also "misstepped" on paying a domestic servant whose visa had expired. Now transparently contrite, he still thinks he is the man to help the rest of us with our money. So does our President. That's transparency--know ahead of time you've appointed a guy with loosey-goosey ethics so you're not caught off-guard later.

Then there's Mrs. Senator Clinton. Everyone knows the problems with her husband, a type-A bored loose canon, how he still wants to be president, and how he's accepted money from some pretty shady people for his post-presidential years. But to deny her the Secretary of State position, her prize for being decent and not making a fuss, the cost of bringing the PUMAs into the party tent again, would just be silly. But it is transparent.

According to "English Vocabulary Builder" (1937), 7% of grammar school students thought "transparent" meant to conceal, just the opposite of its meaning. Obviously, they were ahead of their time and that misunderstanding caught on. 18% of adults at that time had no idea what "pellucid" meant (and I certainly have never used it), which comes from the same root as Lucifer, lucere.

Pray for the President

During George Bush's time in office, I received e-mails from a group that prayed for him. I don't know if Obama will have a similar arrangement, but I will certainly be praying for him. St. Paul tells Christians to do this, and if you remember the years immediately after the crucifixion, those were not easy times either for Jews or their off-shoot "cults." In some ways, praying for Obama will be easier; for me it's his views on the sanctity of life. If I know nothing else about what's going on in Washington or which head of state he is meeting with, or what terrorists are planning for him, this I know--he needs to respect the unborn who are the future of our country. There are times when knowing how or what to pray for are difficult, so people just don't pray. As if they should know the mind of God! I know two things for sure--all this is in God's hands, and he already knows the outcome. But we are also told to pray for our leaders. I also know from scripture, specifically Psalm 139, that God cares deeply about each little one in the womb, whether he's the product of a tryst between a rebellious 17 year old involved with a married man, or she's missing a chromosome or has a serious physical problem, or even if the parents sincerely believe they can't handle the economic impact of a third or fourth child. Killing the child is never the best choice. So that will be my prayer for President Obama--that he will become an advocate for the weakest and most helpless in our society, that he will liberate women by encouraging their mothers to give birth to them, that he will find the solutions to society's problems by raising up a generation from pre-birth to old age who will find them.

Clown or an elder past his prime?

James Taranto wasn't too upset by Joseph Lowry's imitation of a once respected pastor and civil rights leader. I thought it quite disrespectful of the occasion we were being told was beyond fabulous and historic and insulting of all races. Taranto compared him to the "All in the Family" TV show of the 70s--Lowry is a victim of his era, apparently. Isn't that infantilizing him? Did people laugh because they thought he was funny or because they were embarrassed for him?

"One of the striking things about watching "All in the Family" more than 35 years later is that Archie Bunker turns out to be the most sympathetic character. When he argues with his liberal son-in-law, he's right about half the time and wrong about half the time, but you forgive the latter because he was a product of his times. On the other hand, the earnest self-righteousness of the son-in-law is grating, even when he is right on the merits.

So if Joseph Lowery wants to spend his dotage clowning around in a bigoted way, we can afford to indulge him. There's no reason to be meatheads about it.

Yes, definitely infantilizing. "Oh, just pay no attention to him . . . he's old. . . used to be SOMEBODY though. Time to change his diaper."

Taranto also noticed world opinion hasn't changed much. . . "Bloomberg sends a team of reporters to places ruled by anti-American regimes--Gaza, Iran, Venezuela--and also to Pakistan, to get reaction to President Obama's inauguration. Surprise, surprise, the quotes it collects are still anti-American." I noticed also that there were riots in Seoul, a military build up in China against Tibet, an Irish tycoon committed suicide, the Japanese have downgraded their economy, someone died of bird flu, the UN is still totally ineffective no matter where it tries to intervene, and housing industry new builds are still tanking. Good Golly Miss Molly nuttin' changed.

Hope for a change in the heart of the President

WASHINGTON, January 21, 2009 (LifeSiteNews.com) - "As the country marks the 36th anniversary of the Roe v. Wade Supreme Court ruling that imposed abortion on the United States, as well as the inauguration of the most outspokenly pro-abortion president in American history, pro-life advocates in some 118 cities across 41 states - plus four Canadian provinces and even Australia - have great hope," said Shawn Carney, spring campaign director for 40 Days for Life. "They're all preparing to participate in simultaneous 40 Days for Life campaigns from February 25 through April 5."

40 Days for Life consists of 40 days of prayer and fasting for an end to abortion, 40days of constant, peaceful vigil outside abortion centers and Planned Parenthood offices and 40 days of active pro-life community outreach. The list of cities is posted online at: http://www.40daysforlife.com/location.html

According to the CDC, since 1973, the year of the Supreme Court Decision Roe vs. Wade, 13 million (13,000,000) African American lives have been lost to abortion. The CDC reports that of the approximately 4000 abortions that are performed daily in the United States, 1452 of them are performed on African American women and their pre-born children. This means that although African Americans represent only 12% of the population of the United States, they account for 35% of the abortions performed in this country. National Black Catholic Congress

President Obama, when he was an Illinois Senator, made it clear he found no problem with this late term abortion method, although many pro-choice Democrats draw the line here. This is why Christians must pray every day for this man who is turning a blind eye to the deaths of millions of American babies of all races, but especially black babies. If he'd been conceived in the 70s instead of the 60s, to be killed before birth would have also been his fate.

Dilation and extraction (also known as D&X or partial-birth abortion): Used well into the third trimester (as late as 32 weeks old).

The abortionist reaches into the mother's womb, grabs the baby's feet with a forceps and pulls the baby out of the mother, except for the head. The abortionist then jams a pair of scissors into the back of the baby's head and spreads the scissors apart to make a hole in the baby's skull. The abortionist removes the scissors and sticks a suction tube into the skull to suck the baby's brain out. The baby's head is crushed and the abortionist pulls the baby's body out the rest of the way.

When you voted for pro-choice candidates at any level, but especially at the powerful executive level where he is not only a world leader but an example and mentor to young people, this is what you are voted for.

Three Word Wednesday

Today's words are Cadence, Humble, Resolve.

He was full of resolve
To be ever so humble;
then facing the truth
his cadence did stumble.

When Obama releases the terrorists and jihadists along with the innocent

Where will they go? They've become accustomed to all the free food, outstanding medical care, free legal assistance, all the sports, TV and entertainment they want, clean rooms and laundry, access to education. So where will they go? Already we know they can be put in the front lines to become martyrs back home or "volunteer" to be suicide bombers. Scary stuff--for them, and for us. And also for all those liberal/marxist lawyers who rushed down there to warmer climes to do that difficult pro-bono work for them instead of our own poor and disadvantaged who may have been falsely accused of a crime. What if they don't want to be liberated? Will Obama force them to go home, or offer them sanctuary in the United States where they can turn against him? And us.

Did you ever think on September 12, 2001, that we'd get to 2009 without another terrorist attack within our borders? (I mean one from the outside.)

Thanks, but no thanks

I'm not joining Facebook, Smackaroony dot org or Huggme dot inc or any other social networking group. (Two of those I made up.) I'm all techno'd out. I've forgotten more passwords than I remember. I just got an invite from Helen who has more friends than any one person I know. She can walk through a strange city, in a country where she doesn't speak the language, and the next summer, people she met in a restaurant or bookstore are flying to the USA for a 2 week visit! The woman is amazing. She's never met a stranger. And now she invites me to be her Facebook friend! Well, I'm her friend in "for-real life," when I can get an appointment to see her, and even then there will be 4 or 5 others waiting in line, sitting on the porch or calling. I just checked her account and she's already signed on 20+ and just started! And I think Sally (England) has started up on Facebook, too. It reminds me of junior high cliques; been there done that, no thanks. My experience on the net and in real life is that if people don't agree with your politics or religion, they get hurt, then nasty and soon they de-link you.

In real life friendships we will soon be going to a Robert Burns 250th birthday party. How cool is that? I'm trying to learn that poem about the louse in a lady's hair. "O wad some Power the giftie gie us / To see oursels as others see us!" And our Holy Land cruise group is going to have a pot luck (I'm taking a main dish because that's how the alphabet crumbles). If our friend recovers from his bronchitis, we'll be going out for dinner on Friday. I think he's been sick since New Year's. There's some 168 Film Project festivities this week-end we should take in. I'm planning a little luncheon for retirees in February--soup and salad. And then there's the usual activities like exercise class, watercolor class, serving lunch at the senior center, gathering with church friends for Bible study, praying for Obama every day, sending notes to shut-ins, new parents, and grieving families. But Facebook can be useful. I found my first grade piano teacher that way. Of course, what I'll do with her, I don't know.

Today my husband hooked up the digital converter box to the 1988 TV at our summer cottage (he watched our daughter do it here). He says we can now get 14 stations. And no pipes were frozen, which is good news. It's much colder on Lake Erie than here.

Universal pre-school

is one of Obama's plans. In today's WSJ opinion piece lauding such efforts, the writer finally got to the point.

The only lasting effect of average programs documented so far for all kids is a modest increase in behavior problems."

Pre-school, no matter how good, can't overcome the effects of poor parenting, a teen-age mom who didn't finish her education and a fatherless home. It might give them a six month or 12 month head start over the poor kid who didn't have preschool, but it will all be lost. More billions to be wasted.

The number one positive thing the Obamas can do for children, they have done by being a married couple seen in close, familial activities with their children. For so many women, marrying the father or fathers of her children isn't even on the radar. Even having his mother-in-law with them is an excellent decision, because although it doesn't take a village or the government to raise a child, an extra set of eyes and the wisdom of an older generation sure helps. Who knows where Obama would be today if it hadn't been for his grandparents.

The Obamas were terrific

according to the consensus and chatter I heard at the coffee shop from the early-early crowd this morning. The girls were adorable; the speech wasn't too long. Pushed the right buttons. However, others in the crowd and on the platform left some pretty negative impressions on suburban citizens.

Aretha's song styling and hat were real turn offs.

What designer would put a classy woman like Michelle in a pea-green dress? She's got a great sense of style, but that? Oh dear! Aged her 10 years. Someone else said the press reported it as gold--but on TV it didn't look gold. I thought it looked like Queen Elizabeth's designer. Fortunately, I think these dresses immediately go to a museum.

The black preacher's prayer was racist.

Booing the president and vice-president (the crowd) showed we have poor winners, not poor losers. After 8 years of smearing and ridiculing Bush, I guess it's a tough habit to break.

The poem . . . boring and awful. Did anyone know what she was talking about? I must have gone to the restroom--don't remember hearing it.

When did Stevie Wonder get so heavy? Didn't see him.

Will the press investigate the cost of Michelle's clothing?

And not a word about policy. Aren't we a shallow bunch! Oh well, maybe tomorrow everything will change.

Kitty makes a suggestion

It's time to clean the office shelves! Several months ago I did "before" and "after" photos of my husband cleaning his office. When I uploaded them, I couldn't tell the difference. I don't think that will be the case here; assuming I ever get around to it. When it comes to cleaning, I have drawersful of round tuits.

Today’s new word is BART

Actually it's an acronym. It used to be BART meant "Bay Area Rapid Transit" at least to me. Here in Columbus it means "Bias Assessment Response Team," and if the same nonsense weren't cropping up on most college campuses, I’d suggest you send your hard earned tuition dollars to another school.

No crime committed, no state law violated, nor university policy or code of conduct, but. . .it can still be reported if someone suspects the perp’s “motivation” and feels offended. A teaching career or a school record can all go up in smoke from an anonymous report. And what recourse does the “reported” one have? Who is the judge and jury? Imagine the twit or bureaucrat getting on this board, committee, task force. Oh the rush of power!

This is one of the most alarming things I’ve ever read on an Ohio State web site--but your school probably has one too. We are followers here in mid-Ohio, not instigators. This was definitely imported either from the northeast or California, probably after some counselor attended a mid-winter conference in a warm climate, because normally Midwesterners are a bit tougher than this mollycoddling would indicate.

“Bias Incidents: Acts or behavior motivated by the offender's bias against a race, religion, disability, veteran status, ethnic/national origin groups or sexual-orientation group. While these acts do not necessarily rise to the level of a crime, a violation of state law, University policy, or the student code of conduct; a bias act may contribute to creating an unsafe, negative, or unwelcome environment for the victim, anyone who shares the same social identity as the victim, and/or community members of the University.”

Looking through the list of “protected elites,” on the web site, I’d say the only target of this harassment could be white, male, heterosexual Christian students, staff and faculty.

I looked through the summary and documentation of the reports--and considering it’s a campus of 50,000+ people primarily under 25 studying and discovering life within a few square miles, many of whom do the usual stupid mind altering activities college kids are known for--it’s not too shocking that most of the reports deal with language. Nothing illegal, mind you, except this poor little college kid whose parents are spending $20,000 to buy her education so she can compete in the real world is offended. Boohoo. Or, maybe it’s just a girlfriend/boyfriend thing; or a jealous rejected gay lover thing; or a crush on a faculty member that isn’t returned; or it’s a stalker who wants attention; or it's someone who doesn't think Obama can walk on water and is therefore a racist pig; or someone was reported to be "culturally insensitive." But once that report has been filed, I’m guessing it takes on a life of it’s own. And good luck getting the student/faculty record cleaned up. I wonder if any guys ever file reports on female students with potty mouths and say they find them sexually threatening and offensive. I know they sure think it.

See the case of the IUPUI janitor charged with harassment for reading a book about the KKK on his own time--and it was an anti-Klan book!

A great speech

George W. Bush speaking at his welcome home rally. Wow. Heart warming, funny, empowering, encouraging, uplifting, principled, unifying, not divisive; and a message I fear we'll never hear again. I hope someone is making a video so I can post it.

Update: At least 4 minutes or so of the speech.

Markets drop to welcome Obama

Ker-flop. Drop below 8000. They're not hot on planned economies either.



Just look at what happened on November 5 and January 20! Amazing. Obama has a number of bazillionaire backers. Easier to put the little guy out of business with a Democrat in office. It's called over-regulation and government nannyism.

Maybe a theme--Ron looking for Mindy

I used Mindy's husband again for my painting (see last Wednesday). May have to darken the ice on the lake for a little more contrast with his hat. I found some buckle over the shoe boots for him, and will probably need to add a few more footprints in the snow, otherwise there's no way for him to get seated. And I should have left some snow on the park bench, but maybe it melted before Ron got there? Mindy is off teaching art classes, and Ron is wandering around Ohio looking for her. She made some good suggestions on last week's so I grayed the sky and put in some more shadows and rescanned it.

No place to hide today

It's all Obama, all the time. The Obamathon. The WSJ has an editorial, "The Opacity of Hope," which really, really tries to put the best spin on this presidency. I'm just looking for a place where the TV and slavish-slurpy admirers won't be out in force--I have to be out of the house most of the day, so there's no place to hide. I'm surprised that Soros and Moveon haven't constructed flatscreen TV billboards throughout the cities and countryside so people can watch while they drive. Phrases from the WSJ with my comments:

his heritage: Little is said about his European roots and middle class life--raised by his white grandmother who was a bank vice president--a plus for all the grandparents, black and white, who step up to do what needs to be done when parents have failed; a teen mother, absentee, polygamous father--yes, this too can be overcome if the government gets out of the way.

his rhetorical skills: This one really baffles me. Do whites never listen to black preachers on Sunday morning? He can't even come close to the power, rhythm, KJV language and parables of hope--probably because it doesn't come naturally--he had to learn it as an adult, and the ear for imitation is never as good at that age. Do most rhetoricians stammer when off teleprompter?

first class temperament: Has no one at WSJ seen his flashes of anger when cornered by a lie, even by a plumber? His hatchet men were immediately sent out to destroy the little guy who dared to question him. I see he also has no patience in press conference when there is the audacity to step outside the MSM carefully drawn guidelines of obsequiousness and lackeydom.

self-confidence: Self delusion comes to mind. I'm guessing he's quite surprised to be where he is, considering he'd set his sights on being Mayor of Chicago. Others on the far left saw more in him for their purposes than he did--when they saw the effect of his 2004 speech at the Democratic convention, how the crowd was moved to tears, after he'd said those same phrases many times to black audiences in Illinois, with little impact--they began to rub their hands with glee--"here's how we'll do this."

smooth transition: Yes, because Bush continues that precedent of being gracious and helpful, something that all our out-going presidents have done. Also, it doesn't hurt that he's surrounded himself with Clintonites who've had 8 years experience and never left the plantation.

first black president: first Hawaiian president, first offspring of an African, first president born in the 60s, first president with such shallow experience. All presidents come with "firsts." JFK was the first Roman Catholic, and we haven't had any since. There are lots of firsts, but the hoop-la about being black is the one that mystifies me the most. I never once doubted that we'd have a black president in my life-time, although as the civil rights industry grew and expanded in the 80s and 90s, I was feeling less confident as black people were being held back by the very people encouraging them to eat only slops at the victimhood trough.

historical symbol, walking affirmation of opportunity: Obama has defied the entire civil rights movement, the whole black power bleat--beat them at their own political game and sought help from whitey, the Chicago machine and terrorists moved maintstream. WSJ editors need to read some presidential biographies, not his two autobiographies written before he'd accomplished a thing. He's not a Lincoln who grew up without education; or FDR who over came a physical disability to rise to the heights of power; or the son of a rich and powerful bootlegger turned respectable; or a dirt poor, crude Texan who learned the political ropes with powerful mentors and a refined, classy wife; or a peanut farmer with a naval education and ambition, or a handsome radio announcer turned movie star from tiny Dixon, Illinois. There's nothing remarkable about Obama except the hysteria--particularly from whites clawing and grasping for release from a prison of a sordid history they had no part in making. I'm not the least bit surprised at the pride and love the African-Americans are showing him--they've longed for this recognition on the world stage and at home that they are indeed "somebody." Having Jesse Jackson shout it was nice, but for them, this is the real thing. For white liberals, I say, step back and take a deep breath. This is your creation. Tomorrow it's business as usual.

Today's new word (phrase) is CONSTITUTIONAL LEVEL OF CARE

This phrase appeared in a JAMA want ad for a “medical executive” (physician? Bureaucrat? Bean counter?) to work in the California prison system. Here’s what the job offered:

Mandate to provide a CONSTITUTIONAL LEVEL OF CARE
Significant challenges
Sacrifices
Rewards
Choose job location from San Quentin, Mule Creek, Folsom or California State
Exceptional pay
Salary based on qualifications
No FICA
Great CA benefits and retirement package
Changing health care from the inside out

So I looked up “constitutional level of care” in google and found several articles, all related to prisons. Seems some prisons will do sex change operations and acne treatment for thugs, rapists and murderers, others won’t.

But here’s an interesting item in the Sacramento Bee that seems to say there is no “constitutional level of care”

The unsigned Oct. 11 report [on the $2.3 billion dollar plan] obtained by The Bee called the $230,000 per-inmate cost "staggering." It is nearly five times the average $46,104 needed to house a run-of-the-mill California prisoner.

"While the development of a comfortable, decorated living space with outdoor courtyards, private rooms, and overnight visitation, may indeed promote healing, it appears to be an extraordinary step by the federal government to impose a 'Class A, State-of-the-Art' facility design on what has been characterized to date publicly as an effort to achieve only 'a minimum standard of care,' deemed necessary to prevent unnecessary deaths," the report said.

"It is also unclear what the reaction of the public will be to providing this extensive 'enhanced universal health care' model to convicted felons when (law abiding citizens) are not afforded this same service, especially ... in ... fiscally uncertain times."

Details in the report drew a sharp response Friday from Assemblyman Todd Spitzer, R-Orange, who led the opposition that derailed [J. Clark] Kelso's efforts to fund his construction plan through the Legislature.

"He has never defined what is constitutional health care," Spitzer said. "Now I know. It's obviously having barbers and beauticians for prisoners. He'll probably want them to do hair weaving next."

It's really not surprising that liberals are so concerned about the rights of imprisoned terrorists--their level of care just isn't up to our own home grown and alien prisoners in California. They must be getting that $46,000 care instead of the $230,000, and that's just not fair. But I think you can see what government officials envision for healthcare when the sky's the limit and pigs can fly.

Blogging raters

A few days ago I got an e-mail congratulating me on my "personal blog" with a score of 7.2. I think that's about a C+ in the real world. In other words, if I were doing this for pay, I certainly wouldn't get a raise this year. So who's on first? Well, get a load of this fascinating blogger who scores in the high 90s--like an A-

"Nowadays, more and more people are suffering from health problems such as chronic fatigue, chronic constipation and lack of energy. That kind of health problem can be related to a dirty bowel, caused partly or largely by eating and drinking foods and drinks which are not what nature intended we eat and drink". . . And it gets worse from there.

--who knew the blog world was filled with such fascinating topics?

Students benefit from charter schools

"A string of high quality studies is finding that students benefit academically from attending a charter school rather than a traditional public school."

And then he lists the studies. Very impressive. Don’t expect a change, however. It’s really not about the children.

Today's new word is TRAJECTORY

At least it is new to me the way it is used in Archives of General Psychiatry 2008;65(10) 1185-1192. My sense of the word was that it had something to do with a bullet or something flying through space in some sort of predictable line and going splat. Not so in the social sciences, apparently.

Peer-victimization trajectories
pre-school trajectories
developmental trajectories

I scoured the internet dictionaries trying to nail down a definition, but I guess you have to sit in a classroom and hear it to grasp the meaning. It sounds a lot more hopeless and set in stone than "direction," or "path." First, in case you weren't sure, "peer-victimization" is bullying. I was pretty sure it was, but had to go to the article and look for keywords or tags. Usually, finding a summary of a medical article in layman's language is helpful. This article in Medical News Today manages to summarize the original and only use the word “trajectory” once--maybe they were confused too. Their title was “How And Why Certain Children Receive Chronic Peer Abuse” instead of "Predictive Validity and Early Predictors of Peer-Victimization Trajectories in Preschool." You get paid more if you've got a fancy title.

What I got out of the article, other than a vision of seeing little kids hurtling through the air from pre-school into a gang of bullies in high school, is that the parents’ behavior and the child’s behavior cause something in the dynamics that invites bullying by other children. I’ve read it through several times and don’t see any other conclusion. The children are aggressive or hyperactive from a very early age, and the parents have poor skills and react harshly. When these children are around other kids, they are doing something that causes the other children to react mean or negative. Also, the same predictors for poverty (teen mother, single parent, low education) seem to be in the bullying scenario.

Conclusion: Early childhood preventive interventions should target parenting skills and child behaviors, particularly within families with insufficient income.

Short of taking the children away from the parents, I don’t know where this research is going, because a few public service announcements on public television (I've seen them about 6 a.m. and wonder who is watching) or a one hour parenting class at the Y probably isn’t going to change much, but the concept sure is fodder for the grant money. What do you think (if you’ve read the article.)