Loot! Loot! Loot for ME!

Monday, August 31, 2009
A number of months ago, the Incomparable Anne™, her lovely Auntie Ruth and her fabulous sister Aileen surprised me with a hand-made necklace crafted by an artist who lives in Northern Colorado. It was a charming surprise, and I've been enjoying it. The only issue I had was that I had no earrings that matched.

Now, I'm not usually a matchy-matchy kind of gal when it comes to my jewelry, but the necklace was so distinctive, nothing I owned (or could find for a reasonable amount) suited it. So yesterday Anne's Hot SIL had a jewelry party with the artist, and I was invited to go. Ka-chaing! She had a set of earrings that matched very well, and I scooped them right up:


Then, as long as I was there, I also bought these pieces. The deep red color and the boldness of the design appealed to me, and looked fabulous against my pale skin:


Of course, I practically stole it out from under Aileen, on whom it also looked fabulous. You snooze, you lose, baby. Better luck next time.

Okay, not really. We all tried on several sets, and I just happened to be the one who pulled this one off the table and put it aside so I could buy it. And I softened the blow with some home-made jam. So hopefully she won't continue to curse me to the heavens for my greedy, greedy ways.

I also bought a tiger eye set, but the artist had to take the necklace home and shorten it for me. She'll be mailing it on when the alteration is done. Since I'm exploring the possibility of moving into a field job where I'll actually have to, you know, leave the house and wear professional attire, I figured I could justify the expense by planning on wearing them for work. Yeah, that's it. Work.

Loot!

2009 Flower Pr0n, San Diego Botanical Gardens Edition, Part II

Sunday, August 30, 2009



Well Behaved Women Rarely Make History, Volume XXIV

Saturday, August 29, 2009
This is Margaret Sanger. She was born September 14, 1897, and died September 6, 1966. Her legacy? Knowledge of and access to birth control for women.

In the early 20th century, Ms. Sanger was working as a nurse in New York City, and was sickened by the number of women she treated due to self-induced abortions. She became a devoted advocate for birth control in this country, opening the first family planning and birth control clinic in the United States. For over forty years, she founded organizations, clinics and political entities that championed this most profound women's health issue.

From her essay for Edward R. Murrow's This I Believe:

I started my battle some forty years ago. The women and mothers whom I wanted to help, also wanted to help me; they, too, wanted to build beyond the self, in creating healthy children and bringing them up in life to be happy and useful citizens. I believed it was my duty to place motherhood on a higher level than enslavement and accident. I was convinced we must care about people; we must reach out to help them in their despair.

For these beliefs I was denounced, arrested, I was in and out of police courts and higher courts, and indictments hung over my life for several years. But nothing could alter my beliefs. Because I saw these as truths, I stubbornly stuck to my convictions.

And I'm thankful that she did stick to those convictions. Voluntary and safe birth control was the single greatest contributor in women's struggle for equality in this country, and it's because of women like Ms. Sanger that I have the dizzying array of choices and opportunities that are her legacy.

Well done, Ms. Sanger. And thank you.

'Tard of the Week - Michele Bachmann

Friday, August 28, 2009
You know, I may have to disqualify Representative Bachmann from this feature. Like Sarah Palin, it's just ridiculously easy to bust her chops. After all, every time she opens her mouth, vivid proof of her inability to form a coherent thought just falls right out and drops in your lap. Like shooting fish in a barrel.

Her latest contribution to the idiocy that is her political career was a tele-town hall meeting, which near as I can tell is the ninth circle of conference calls. Organizers claimed there were 35,000 people on the line, and all of them witnessed this loon's crazy-ass assertions.

She claims the thoroughly debunked "death panels" are in fact "true," and praised her hero Sarah Palin for bringing that shocking revelation out into the open. She very carefully didn't deny that there's a plan afoot to force all doctors to perform abortions under the new health care initiative (what?). But the highlight of the call was when she encouraged all the listeners to get down on their knees and pray that health care reform fails.

Because, really, what's more Christian than hoping the 47 million Americans without health care continue to be under served and die early as a result? That certainly personifies the Judeo-Christian ethos in my book.

And according to her, “That’s really where this battle will be won — on our knees in prayer and fasting. Remember: faith without works is dead. So we’re asking you to do all of it: pray, fast, believe, trust the Lord, but also act.”

I'm surprised she didn't tell them to pray for Obama's death while she was at it, since it seems to be in fashion among the Christian wackadoodles these days.

Since she's proven (over and over and over) how incredibly fucking stupid she is, I'm now starting to wonder about the median IQ in her district. We'll see if they come to their senses the next time this 'tard's number is up and get someone in there who's smarter than a box of rocks.

Boogie Blogging Friday - Action Blankie Edition

A game that Boogie has never outgrown is whipping his blankie around like it's a prey animal and he's solely responsible for feeding his pack. Grr! Now that he's an older dog, he just gets tired a bit more quickly and takes longer naps - with his blankie.




And the Batshit Crazy Just Goes On and On...

Thursday, August 27, 2009
If it's not the birthers screeching like rhesus monkeys about how the President's not a U.S. citizen and should be IMPREACHED, goddamit, and if it's not Palin and her reprobate cronies running all over town with their pants on fire squawking about OBAMA'S DEATH PANELS, then it's some so-called Christian wackadoodle praying for the President's death like Obama's the Pharaoh and they're convinced his death is the only way they're going to be LET GO.*

The latest batshit crazy is courtesy of one Pastor Steven Anderson of the Faithful Word Baptist Church in Tempe, AZ. His congregant, the clearly nutso Chris Broughton, was one of the dipshits who brought their AR15 to the president's appearance earlier this week. Because apparently appearing with an automatic rifle at a presidential appearance really just shows what a fine, upstanding American you are, not that you'd have any ill intent, or anything. Grassy knoll? I don't know anything about any grassy knoll. You crazy kids.

And it turns out that Pastor Anderson is just as wacky. In his sermon, he contended that "I don't obey Barack Obama. And I'd like Barack Obama to melt like a snail tonight." The name of the sermon? "Why I Hate Barack Obama." He has also readily admitted that he "pray[s] for Barack Obama to die and go to hell."

Um, yeah. Hypocrite much, you insane motherfucker?

Now, I'm not a Christian, and I've never pretended to be one. But I know a lot of them. I have friends who are Christian, and family members, too. Decent people all, and some of them are genuinely concerned about the direction the President is taking us, and are actively working to ensure his policies are replaced with solutions that suit them better. And that's the way it's supposed to work. This is a democracy, and as Ursula Hegi notes, "early dissent is essential to democracy." People of good conscience can disagree about the appropriate policy to address specific problems, and still behave in a moral and justifiable way.

But none of the Christians I know actively pray for someone else's death and justify it with their faith. Doing so would place them firmly in the realm of the hypocritical, batshit crazies, where apparently Pastor Anderson is vying for kingship along with Wiley Drake.

Christian? I think not.

Paging the Secret Service...


*As opposed to getting Uncle Joe as their new President, which is what would, you know, actually happen. But that's confusing the issue with FACTS and CONSTITUTIONAL LAW. We don't abide by that HIGH-FALUTIN' STUFF 'ROUND HERE.


H/T to my old pal Hot Chick Kathee Jones, who used to sit next to me in Mr. Weatherbee's art class. When I attended, that is. Which wasn't often. I was such a slacker in high school, but Kathee liked me anyway.

Homey's Rockin' the Ganj

I love Colorado. From a political perspective, it runs the gamut from ultra-conservative in the rural areas (and Douglas County, where I live) to the People's Republic of Boulder, a bastion of socialism surrounded by hicks and libertarians. And it looks like Denver just got a whole lot more liberal.

Denver has something called the Denver Marijuana Policy Review Panel, and part of their job is to review and recommend appropriate fines and punishment for marijuana possession in the city and county of Denver. Yesterday, they recommended new guidelines for possession, which will go to the presiding judge for review.

Their recommendation? A fine of $1.00 for possession:
Upon reviewing the fine schedule, we have noted that a number of offenses carry a $50 fine -- including urinating in public, park curfew, and open container violations -- and others carry even lesser fines, such as disobeying a signal light ($40), light rail violations ($26), and spitting in public ($25)," the Panel wrote in the letter. "We are...requesting that you revise the schedule to reflect the lowest law enforcement priority approved by the voters. "[W]e believe the court should reduce the fine to the absolute minimum allowable, or $1.

Denver law enforcement has long considered marijuana possession by adults to be its lowest priority:
"By setting the fine at just $1, we are sending a message to Denver officials that the era of citing adults for using a less harmful drug than alcohol is over. It's simply not worth the city's time or resources," said panel member and SAFER Executive Director Mason Tvert, who coordinated the successful Denver marijuana initiatives.
If the recommendation is adopted, Denver will have the lowest fine for marijuana possession in the country. My own opinion is that they should just legalize the stuff and be done with it. Simply treating it like alcohol would do the trick, and might even stimulate the economy, at least as far as paraphernalia and Cheetos go.

Homey's going to be rockin' the ganj in city limits, that's for sure.

Buzz Aldrin - Gangsta'

Wednesday, August 26, 2009
Buzz Aldrin just released his very first rap song, called "Rocket Experience." He cracks me up - what a good sport, and he's probably the only rapper you will ever see here at HCDSM.
“I’m not too good at carrying a tune, but I do have rhythm,” says Aldrin, who got the idea from a family member who felt the genre would have a broad reach. Aldrin’s ShareSpace Foundation, which promotes science and exploration, is one of three beneficiaries of the song’s iTunes sales. “I want kids interested in space. It’s their future”….[Aldrin] says rapping with Snoop Dogg proved almost as daunting as space. “Snoop had this great hand language going as he sang, which was hard for me,” Aldrin says. “But when it comes to getting people’s attention, comedy goes a long way.”

The first is the official video, the second is the "making of" with Snoop Dog and Soulja Boy.



Go, Buzz!

Teddy Kennedy

From Deus Ex Malcontent, the best eulogy of the Lion of the Senate I've read today:
Love him or hate him, tire of his personal triumphs and tragedies or be fascinated by them, Ted Kennedy was a force of nature; a larger-than-life, yet all-too-human, champion of unapologetically liberal values; a man who fought for the poor, against racism, and who took up the torch of community service and volunteerism -- even during a lengthy period in our nation's history when such issues were anything but fashionable.

Sleep well, Senator. I hope we're worthy of your legacy.

Back to School

Tuesday, August 25, 2009
I took the summer off of school this year for a variety of reasons, but mostly because I didn't feel like going. Since I typically take classes for enrichment purposes only, I had minimal guilt about this decision. But the Mad Cow is relentless, and now that fall is approaching, I need to get back to the virtual classroom and stimulate my brain.

Since my employer has very generously agreed to pay my tuition through their tuition assistance program, my studies must be related to the work I do for them. So this fall I've decided to take a course from the Science and Technology catalog:
ST 3100 - Business Computer Applications Organizations today purchase technology to solve business problems. This course introduces students to business processes and requirements that can profit from the application of computer technologies. Students develop an understanding of business functions, requirement definition, process mapping, and selection and implementation of appropriate software applications. Topics include such items as System Development Lifecycle (SDLC), process engineering, Enterprise Resource Productivity (ERP), and how to build a case for a particular computer technology application.
I'm not sure how much I'll enjoy this class, but it's required for my degree program and Quantitative Reasoning wasn't offered this quarter. The book costs $198.23, which makes it the most expensive book I've had to purchase to date, which kind of sucks. On the gripping hand, I may actually be able to use what I learn in my current job. That probably makes it worthwhile in its own right.

I sincerely hope I don't get any evangelizing dipshits in this class. So far those individuals who have displayed this behavior have been majoring in "Leadership and Organizational Studies" (quite possibly the most useless course of study on the planet) rather than Science and Technology. Perhaps that means I'm free of them, since I've done my required courses in that catalog.

Hope springs eternal...

What Do I Want to be When I Grow Up?

Monday, August 24, 2009
I'm 44 years old, and I still don't know what I want to be when I grow up.

My first career was as a Navy NCO. I loved it. I still miss it occasionally. It was incredibly rewarding, and I was good at it.

I'm currently working in my second career. I'm a systems engineer for a major manufacturer of telecommunications equipment. I really enjoy the work (most days), it pays really well, and I'm good at it. Because the Smart Twins are now college students, the whole "paying really well" benefit is important right now, and I intend to stick with it until they're done with their undergraduate work or drop out and become commune hippies, whichever comes first.

But now that the academic year has started, my mind is turning once again to a mid-life career change. For a long time I wanted to go to law school and work in public policy. But after doing some research, I don't want it bad enough to incur the debt that would be required for me to attend Law School full-time for three years. Public service attorneys don't typically make a ton of money, and I don't want to have to work until I'm 70 in order to get out from under my student loans.

So I'm considering alternatives. Nurse. Librarian. Phlebotomy. Something that allows me to serve others in a meaningful way.

By the time the kids are off the payroll, I'll be done with my own BA, so pursuing an MLS would be completely doable. I could even do a large portion of it part-time, and there are several schools here in Colorado that have reputable programs. I love libraries. I think I would like to be a librarian, especially a research librarian. Unfortunately, most MLA programs require a teaching certificate, as well. And I don't want to be a teacher.

Nursing is also problematic. I would probably have to attend an accelerated program full-time after finishing up the science prerequisites, which would constitute about two semesters (in addition to my in-progress BA).

The expense for either choice is considerable.

I may end up with an early retirement and a phlebotomy certificate, instead. The certification program is only twelve weeks, and the cost of the program is only about $1K. Of course, it only pays about $15.00 an hour.

I really need to win the PowerBall. That's a mid-life career change I could get behind.

Inglourious Basterds

Sunday, August 23, 2009
Quentin Tarantino is one sick motherfucker, and I'm glad he's working out his deep seated mental issues on film instead of going on a killing spree.

Brad Pitt nails the deep southern accent and was actually quite funny (instead of annoying) in this movie.

Christoph Waltz kind of steals the show, and I spent a lot of the time watching him wishing I could punch his character in the throat. But I like Aldo's solution better.

I wonder how many illiterate SOB's will actually think the end of the war was accomplished by a group of sadistic Jewish misfits called "The Basterds" as a result of this film?

Areer-va-deer-chi!

2009 Flower Pr0n, San Diego Botanical Gardens Edition




Bitch, Please

Saturday, August 22, 2009
You know, there are certain forms of bad manners that piss me right the hell off.

And on the top of that list is those able-bodied, self-important fucksticks who think that parking in a spot reserved for the disabled is okay. After all, it's only for a minute. I'm in a hurry. There are other handicapped spots open.

Bitch, please. You are going into a COFFEE SHOP, not the EMERGENCY ROOM. Whatever your hurry is, I'm quite positive it's not a matter of life and limb, and in fact is 100% related to your lazy ass not wanting to walk the 25 feet from a non-handicapped spot to the door.

ATTENTION SELF-IMPORTANT FUCKSTICKS: PARKING IN A HANDICAPPED SPOT IS NEVER OKAY UNLESS YOU'RE APPROACHING THE EMERGENCY ROOM AND YOU OR SOMEONE WITH YOU IS BLEEDING PROFUSELY.

You're not so important that you get to park wherever the hell you want. It's not "just for a minute" and I don't give a good goddamn if there are other handicapped spaces available. IT'S NOT OKAY.

If I see you parking in a handicapped spot and you don't have a placard or appropriate license plates, and it's evident that your only disability is that you're a lazy fuckwad, then one of the following things is going to happen:
  1. I will leave a note on your windshield with a pithy comment. Today's was suggested by the Smart Man: "So you're mentally handicapped?"
  2. I will call the local law enforcement agency to have you ticketed or towed, preferably both.
  3. I will confront you personally, and give you the dressing down you so richly deserve, Navy Senior NCO style.

I'm considering a fourth option, where I take a photo of the offending vehicle (license plate showing) and post it here in a "Wall of Shame" feature. Or even a fifth option, where I go all Tonya Harding on your ass, thus ensuring your legal usage of the handicapped spaces.

Christ on a crutch, people - can't you see how foul it is to park there when you're able-bodied?

Boogie Blogging Friday


Boogie's not feeling well today. He has an upset stomach, and has decided the best way to spend the day is napping on the futon.

Poor Boogie.



I know it's Saturday. Shut up.

Get Thee Behind Me, Ebola

Friday, August 21, 2009
My company has a generous policy when it comes to employees taking time off. I get plenty of vacation, in addition to personal time, floating holidays and sick time. It's one of the things I really like about working there, and consider myself lucky because of it.

They also have a policy that requires all vacation days be taken each year or you lose them. This simplifies their accounting, as they don't have to "roll over" unused vacation on the debit side of their ledgers. It's also supposed to force the workaholics to take their time off, since they'll lose it if they don't. That's not what actually happens, though. I work with many, many people who honestly feel like they don't have time to take their vacation days, and end up losing them. Or they work through their vacation days, essentially giving the company free labor. Of course, these are also the individuals that work late into the night, on weekends, and can't remember what their children and spouses look like.

Fuck that.

I'm unusual in the corporate world. I won't work on vacation days. If I have to work because of some emergency, I don't take the vacation day. I won't work late into the night or on weekends unless the issue at hand is a genuine (and not manufactured) emergency. I insist on having dinner with my family unless there's a REALLY COMPELLING reason for me not to (like designing and helping to deploy emergency telephony support post-Hurricane Katrina). I honestly believe that lack of planning on your part does not constitute an emergency on mine, and I usually behave accordingly.

I haven't always been this assertive about maintaining my work/life balance. There was a time when I would work 14 hours a day, compromise my well-being and my health, and generally behave like a serf indentured to the landholder.

Then the Smart Man explained to me how such choices don't usually result in more money, more promotions, or more satisfaction. Instead, they usually result in heart disease, loneliness, and the feeling of being taken advantage of. Over the years we've been together, I've come to see that he's correct, and I've adjusted my priorities.

That's not to say I don't give good value for the money I'm paid. I think I'm constitutionally unable to do other than my best, and I ensure my skills remain current and pertinent. I just don't live to work anymore. I realize that my priorities have resulted in my hitting a self-imposed glass ceiling, and I'm okay with that. I'm also fortunate that over the years, my performance has been sufficiently good that my bosses have "forgiven" my stubborn reluctance to compromise my private life for the good of the company.

When did every white collar job in this country become indentured servitude? I don't understand why companies (and bosses) think it's perfectly acceptable to have an expectation of 70 hour work weeks, working while you're on vacation, and neglecting your family and your health in order to ensure your company succeeds. And you want to know why it's so all-fired important that employees show such devotion? Compromising everything that's important to you has a hell of a lot more to do with the cupidity of the company's executives than it has to do with your own quality of life.

And it's not "the economy." I've been a salaried employee for eleven years, and I've seen this same attitude in good times and bad. The recession has just made it easier for companies to behave badly without incurring turnover.

This is not acceptable. Unless you're the POTUS or have some other life and death responsibilities, you should be allowed to say "Get thee behind me, Ebola project" when you want to take a day off. And the Ebola project should get the hell behind you, at least until the next work day.

Perspective. Get some, won't you?

'Tard of the Week - Fort Dix Terrorists

Thursday, August 20, 2009
Disclaimer: Even though this happened in 2007, I just found out about it through Cracked's August 18th article entitled "The 5 Most Embarrassing Failures in the History of Terrorism," so it's being featured a day late and a dollar short.

I love Cracked. I want to marry it and have its babies.

So it seems that some young jihadists decided that the perfect terrorist attack would involve infiltrating Fort Dix, an Army base in New Jersey, and killing service members there. They practiced their happy dance, shooting off their weapons and dancing around triumphantly, shouting their terror-filled slogans. "FEAR US. WE ARE TERRORISTS. ROCK ON." Of course they recorded their antics, apparently for posterity. But then they couldn't figure out how to copy the footage. Because really, the important part of being an effective terrorist isn't being clever, or smart, or informed, or technologically savvy. It's about the passion, baby. And the slogans. Don't forget the slogans.

So these geniuses took the DVD to a Circuit City to have it copied. No, I'm not making that up. And the Circuit City employee rightly called the authorities.

The end game is that their little terrorist cell was infiltrated by the FBI, who had a ridiculously easy time finding sufficient evidence to send these jokers to prison.

Even though these stupid motherfuckers weren't Cracked's number one failed terrorist, I chose them as my 'tard this week because really, getting outed by Circuit City's Tech Support is much more embarrassing than blowing yourself up. Imagine the prison yard cred:

Fort Dix Terrorist: I am bad. I'm in here for terrorism.

Inmate: Really? I'm in here for 1st degree murder.

Fort Dix Terrorist: If the FBI hadn't arrested me, I'd have done all those guys.

Inmate: I was caught because the prosecutor used a combination of DNA evidence and Forensic Entomology. How did they catch you?

Fort Dix Terrorist: The fucking Circuit City guy, man. He narced us out when we took our terror DVD to get it copied.

Inmate: I'm sorry, you recorded your intentions and then took the footage to Circuit City to have it copied? Pardon me while I go find a shiv. You are TOO FUCKING STUPID TO LIVE.
Of course, this would be a lot more funny if we could count on all the terrorists to be this dumb.

Okay...

Because all the cool kids are doing it.

I Am A: Neutral Good Human Wizard (6th Level)


Ability Scores:

Strength-13

Dexterity-10

Constitution-13

Intelligence-15

Wisdom-12

Charisma-15


Alignment:
Neutral Good A neutral good character does the best that a good person can do. He is devoted to helping others. He works with kings and magistrates but does not feel beholden to them. Neutral good is the best alignment you can be because it means doing what is good without bias for or against order. However, neutral good can be a dangerous alignment because it advances mediocrity by limiting the actions of the truly capable.


Race:
Humans are the most adaptable of the common races. Short generations and a penchant for migration and conquest have made them physically diverse as well. Humans are often unorthodox in their dress, sporting unusual hairstyles, fanciful clothes, tattoos, and the like.


Class:
Wizards are arcane spellcasters who depend on intensive study to create their magic. To wizards, magic is not a talent but a difficult, rewarding art. When they are prepared for battle, wizards can use their spells to devastating effect. When caught by surprise, they are vulnerable. The wizard's strength is her spells, everything else is secondary. She learns new spells as she experiments and grows in experience, and she can also learn them from other wizards. In addition, over time a wizard learns to manipulate her spells so they go farther, work better, or are improved in some other way. A wizard can call a familiar- a small, magical, animal companion that serves her. With a high Intelligence, wizards are capable of casting very high levels of spells.


Find out What Kind of Dungeons and Dragons Character Would You Be?, courtesy of Easydamus (e-mail)

The Courage of Your Convictions, Part II

Wednesday, August 19, 2009
This week's Newsweek includes an article profiling a late-term abortion doctor named LeRoy Carhart. He was an associate of Dr. George Hiller, the late-term abortion doctor who was assassinated in a Wichita church.

Dr. Carhart has experienced his own share of intimidation and threats. His farm was burned to the ground in 1991, killing many animals. His practice, employees and family members routinely receive threats, and his place of business takes appropriate precautions every day.

You might think that after his associate of 21 years was gunned down, he might consider retirement, or keeping a lower profile if he felt compelled to continue his work. Instead, he has redoubled his efforts to ensure women who need abortions have access to safe and legal procedures. He intends to open a clinic to serve the women previously seen by Dr. Hiller. He's teaching as many doctors as are willing to learn how to perform late-term abortions. He frequently speaks in public, and has championed his work to the Supreme Court - twice.

Which is not to insinuate that he takes his work lightly, or that the decisions he takes on don't carry their own special burden. He considers each request carefully, weighing the emotional and physical health of the mother with the viability of the fetus. He second guesses himself. He agonizes. But he doesn't think he's doing anything wrong.

He maintains medical licenses in seven states, so that if a doctor is hurt, retires or is killed, the women in that area will have someone else to to turn to. As he says, "If not you, who? If not now, when?" He's fully aware that his choice to continue this work may result in his death, and it's a risk he's willing to take.

Like most Americans, I believe that Roe v Wade is an important precedent, and should remain the law of the land. And like most Americans, I'm still deeply ambivalent about abortion, especially late-term abortion. It's one of the few true ethical dilemmas we face in our modern world, and I think those (on both sides of the argument) who insist that the issue is black and white lack subtlety at best, and are a bit rabid to boot.*

But I'm glad Dr. Carhart has the courage of his convictions. There are many, many women who need his help, and the help of those whom he'll train. I sincerely hope for his continued safety, and that the hypocrisy of those who claim to be "pro-life" while simultaneously taking the life of others will be outweighed by wiser heads. Good luck, Dr. Carhart - I'm afraid you'll need it.


*I'll be wielding the Shovel of Doom™ with abandon today, folks. In spite of how this topic brings out the screechy in all of us, I expect the discourse to remain civilized. In the words of the always fabulous Wil, "Don't be a dick."

Attack of the Ebola

Tuesday, August 18, 2009
I'm being attacked by the Ebola again today (even after unsuccessfully running away yesterday). In my absence, please read Richard Cohen's interesting opinion piece about the obvious comparisons between the unlamented Senator Joe McCarthy and that blithering idiot Sarah Palin.

The most salient point for me? Wondering where the hell the Republicans are, and why they aren't disavowing this insipid woman as she essentially alienates every intellectually honest voter in the country.

Attention gutless Republicans: UR DOING IT RONG. Grow a fucking backbone, won't you? Or don't - I'm sure the Dems would love to have control of the White House and the legislative branch for the next 20 years.

The Courage of Your Convictions

Monday, August 17, 2009
Recently a friend of mine was exposed to an ugly display of public racism on the military base where he works. His blog details the way he handled the incident, and ways in which he thinks he could have done better.

Well.

I have to say that I think Jim's visceral reaction to the racist asshat in question was absolutely appropriate. If someone had called the president a "fucking nigger" in my presence, it's entirely possible that my foul language would have been the least of the asshat's troubles. My fist in his throat would probably tie with my foot in his 'nads for the number 1 position.

But I really found the discussion surrounding the incident to be quite fascinating. Most of the commenters felt that Jim had done the right thing, and admired him for it, although some allowed that his language could have been a bit less foul given the presence of children in the area. Of course, Jim just considered his actions "the right thing to do," and the congratulations embarrass him, I think.

But really, the tantalizing aspect to this discussion is what "regular folks" do when exposed to this type of public (or really, private) behavior. Do you stand by your convictions and confront the individual, or do you remain silent, but make a mental note about the obvious asshattery of the speaker?* When you state your opinion, do you do so forcefully (i.e., a fist to the throat), or do you try to reason with the person and change their minds?

For myself, I have to admit I have a blind spot in this area. I'm not really capable of civilized discourse when the White Supremacists or the Klan come out. I know this about myself, and I try hard to stay out of circumstances which would tempt me into punching folks over their poor choice of language. If I don't then I end up calling my extended family members nasty names and threatening to leave co-workers on the side of the road between here and Boulder. (Both true stories. There's a reason I only have contact with half of my extended family.)

So once I know you're a racist pig, then it's a safe bet that not only do I not want to be your friend, I don't want your presence to contaminate my air, because I'm apparently constitutionally unable to let these things go.

Is there a better way to handle such things? Maybe. Even probably. But having a zero tolerance policy on this issue is a fault I find I can live with.


*If someone calls another human being a "fucking nigger" and you agree with them, please stop reading my blog and go contaminate your own corner of the Internet. Unless, of course, you're interested in my fist coming into contact with your throat and my foot being lodged in your 'nads. Then, by all means, stick around for the natural consequences of your stupid assholery.

2009 Flower Pr0n, Garden of the Gods Edition, Part II

Sunday, August 16, 2009



Tasty Tuesday - Hearty Vegetable-Smoked Sausage Soup

Saturday, August 15, 2009
I was going to post this on Tuesday (hence the title), but I got distracted with ranting about people who don't know how to act. Yes, I know. Shocking.

One of the challenges I'm having with Weight Watchers is the tendency I have to prepare the same things over and over for my meals, because I know their point values and I know they're effective choices for me. This isn't that big a deal for breakfasts and lunches, but I'm trying to expand the menu for dinner. If this particular weight loss effort is to be successful (i.e., I can not only lose the weight but keep it off), then I need to ensure my food choices offer enough variety to keep me from losing my mind and eating an entire bag of Nacho Cheese Doritos in frustration.

So I've been looking for tasty recipes that offer a point value I can live with that everyone will eat.

One of my success stories is this soup recipe from Cooking Light's Slow Cooker cook book. One of the things I like about this cook book is that each recipe includes complete nutrition information, which I'll include here. Enjoy!

Hearty Vegetable-Smoked Sausage Soup

1 14 oz package low-fat smoked sausage, cut into 1/4-inch-thick slices*
2 3/4 cups (1/2-inch) cubed peeled baking potato
1/2 (10-ounce) package angel hair slaw (about 4 cups)
2 cups chopped onion
1 cup sliced carrot
1 1/3 cups diced celery**
1 cup frozen cut green beans
1 (16-ounce) can kidney beans, rinsed and drained
4 (14-ounce) cans less-sodium beef broth
1/4 cup chopped fresh parsley
1/2 teaspoon dried thyme
1/2 teaspoon black pepper
3 garlic cloves, minced, or 1 tablespoon bottled minced garlic
1 bay leaf
1 (14.5-ounce) can diced tomatoes with basil, garlic, and oregano, undrained

1. Heat a large nonstick skillet over medium-high heat. Add sausage, saute 8 minutes or until lightly browned.

2. Layer potato and next 6 ingredients in a 6-quart electric slow cooker. Top vegetable mixture with sausage. Combine beef broth and next 5 ingredients; pour over sausage mixture. Cover and cook on LOW 10 hours or until vegetables are tender. Discard bay leaf. Stir tomatoes into soup.

Yield: 10 servings (serving size: 1 1/2 cups).

CALORIES 160 (8% from fat); FAT 1.4g (sat 0.4g, mono 0g, poly 0.1g); PROTEIN 10.7g; CARB 26.3g; FIBER 4 g; CHOL 14mg; IRON 1.4mg; SODIUM 846mg; CALC 66mg


*I use Hillshire Farms Turkey Polska Kielbasa
**We don't like dishes with a strong celery flavor, so I use only 1/3 cup diced celery.

And Now, Some Good News

Friday, August 14, 2009

Until this week, I had never heard of Saqib Ali. He's the first Muslim to serve in Maryland's Legislature, where he represents the 39th District. I know nothing about his platform (other than the fact that he's a Democrat), nothing about his views or his ambitions.

But I did read his Op-Ed in The Gazette after hearing him speak on NPR's Tell Me More.

In his piece, he takes a firm stance in support of marriage equality for same-sex couples, in spite of his religion's unequivocal position on the matter. In his words:

"My stance on this issue isn't politically expedient. I am the first Muslim in the legislature. Homosexuality is strictly forbidden in Islam. As such I have evinced much grief from my most conservative supporters.

"But I recognize that I represent people of all faiths and no faith at all. If I tried to enforce religion by law — as in a theocracy — I would be doing a disservice to my both constituents and to my religion."

Wow. Just...wow.

Like many privileged white Americans, I am guilty of stereotyping Muslim Americans after 9-11 and reading Ayaan Hirsi Ali's Infidel. It's not something I'm proud of , but I'm honest enough with myself to admit that such dark thoughts have invaded my mind from time to time.

And here comes Saqib Ali, educated in part in Saudi Arabia, with his public declaration of a seperation of church and state that shames not only my dark thoughts, but many so-called "real" Americans (i.e., white Christian Amercians) who clearly don't have nearly the Constitutional grasp that he does.

Thank you, Mr. Ali. I'll be keeping an eye on you in the future.

Boogie Blogging Friday Featuring Chester

This is Chester. He was recently adopted by our neighbors from a puppy rescue organization, and is three months old. "Chester" is short for "Manchester," the favorite soccer team of one of the neighbor boys.

His family thinks he's a Burmese Mountain Dog mix, and it's a pretty safe bet he's going to be a big boy, although he's all legs and paws at the moment. Getting him to hold still long enough for me to take a photo was a bit of a challenge, as he's quite the little wiggle-worm.

Chester's favorite activity is to sit on his deck and look at Boogie, which drives Boogie crazy. Chester doesn't respond to his barking, and only wags and carries on when there's a person to engage with. So Boogie has apparently determined it's his new mission in life to school this youngster.

I like Chester, but not enough to consider getting another dog. Boogie's quite sufficient.

Farewell, Les Paul

Thursday, August 13, 2009



Guitar legend and Smart Man hero Les Paul passed away today from complications from pneumonia. He was 94.

The Smart Man owns a Gibson Les Paul traditional in Iced Tea burst, in addition to his Stratocaster. As you can see, it's a beautiful instrument and he thoroughly enjoys it.

Thank you, Mr. Paul, for you contribution to the music I love. You will be missed.

'Tard of the Week - Anna Falling

Anna Falling is the Republican candidate for Mayor in Tulsa, OK.

Her platform? Christianity. And not the Christianity of well-informed, scientifically literate people of faith. No, her Christianity is the Christianity that blurs (or eliminates) the separation of church and state guaranteed by the establishment clause, and injects public life with such a singular dose of stupid that it brings our collective IQ down just by association.

Her number 1 issue of importance as a mayoral candidate for Tulsa? Putting a Christian creationism display in the Tulsa Zoo. No, I'm not making that up. Because really, what could possibly be more important than "recogniz[ing] the fact that God needs to be honored in this city." Additionally, she intends to appoint people who will "honor God. We will also look for people who want to characterize the origins of both man and animals in a way that honors Judeo-Christian science that proves God as the creator."

And there's plenty more where that came from - check out her blog (if you can stomach it, I mean). She doesn't have a law enforcement platform, or a human services platform - she has a scriptural platform. No, I'm still not making this up.

Because really, what's more American than disenfranchising huge swaths of your community by excluding them from the public debate due to their religious beliefs? THAT'S THE REAL AMERICA, BY GOD. THE AMERICA THAT ANNA, SARAH AND MICHELLE ARE FIGHTING FOR.

And a Creationist display in a zoo? Really? And what the fuck does "Judeo-Christian science" mean? Science is science, based on reality and the scientific method. Attempting to skew your results so they conform to your preconceived religious world-view isn't SCIENCE. It's RELIGION. As XKCD says, Science. It works, bitches. And the new Janiece corollary: Religion. It isn't science, bitches, although it may work for you.

Here's the thing. I know plenty of people who I consider to be scientifically literate and proponents of the Constitution, who are also people of considerable faith. People like Anna Falling embarrass them, just as I'm embarrassed by the fact that Sarah and Michelle and Anna are women. As I understand it, being a good Christian does not mean you have to be a proponent of theocracy, a Young Earth Creationist, or a person who excludes others from secular life based on their religious beliefs. You don't. So why is this freeze-dried wackaloon puking her exclusionary religious belief all over the public square? Because she's pandering to the lowest common denominator in our society, that's why.

And, of course, because she's an incredible 'tard.

Ka-Ching

Wednesday, August 12, 2009
You know, when my Smart Twins were middle and high school students, my role as their mom consisted of me being present in their life with a great big sign that said "I don't know shit."

Now that they're a bit older, my sign alternates between "I may know a little shit" and "Woman with the Check Book."

The Smart Boy is making his final preparations to start college next week, and like all parents with college age students, my savings are taking a beating. First it was the new laptop - an HP TouchSmart Tx-2 from Best Buy, along with the 3 year service agreement. Then it was clothing, although that's usually not too much money - the Smart Boy's fashion sense tends toward Levi's and T-shirts. Next it's his college tuition for his first semester. Since he's attending a local regional college, the cost is pretty affordable, at least for now.

I make a good living. My company pays well, and I'm debt-free with the exception of the mortgage on the Big Yellow House. I can afford to pay my share of the Smart Twins' college expenses. But I cannot imagine how low income families manage to send their kids to college without incurring massive amounts of debt.

No wonder there are so many adult students out there. No one can afford to go to college right out of high school, and instead enroll in the twenty year plan and earn a living in the mean time.

Show Some Class

Tuesday, August 11, 2009
Some people have no fetching, as my Hot Mom used to say.

This ad is being displayed in the Metro public transportation system in Washington, DC, and is being paid for by the Physician's Committee for Responsible Medicine. The ad is intended to bring attention to the lack of vegan and vegetarian school lunch choices. The group wants Congress to provide this option when the Child Nutrition Act comes up for re reauthorization in October, and they believe this ad will bring awareness of this issue to lawmakers.

It's bringing awareness, all right. The White House has noticed, and is not pleased that the organization is attempting to use the President's daughters as leverage for their campaign. And the White House isn't the only one who looks askance at this sort of thing. My own first thought upon seeing this ad was to wonder if the same strategy would have been used if Sasha and Malia had been white. I'm quite sure the PCRM didn't intend for their ad to be perceived as exploiting the President's ethnicity, but that's certainly how I took it.

In this country, the cultural norm of making the President's children "off-limits" is pretty strong, regardless of their skin color. There's a reason the norm exists - because the children of the CINC are not in any way responsible for the Administration's decisions and policies, and it's tough enough to live in the White House fish bowl without people trying to use you to score political points or get their own way on some issue. Leaving them alone is the DECENT THING TO DO and using children to accomplish your own ends is BAD FORM. A point that the PCRM has apparently missed. While the ad isn't a personal attack on the President's daughters, it certainly attempts to leverage their privilege to affect the change the sponsors desire.

Now, I'm not saying that a revision of the Child Nutrition Act isn't in kids' best interests. I don't really know, as I haven't looked into it. But I can assure you that this ad makes me less inclined to give a rat's ass rather than more.

Get a clue, PCRM, and go bitch-slap your mom for failing to fetch you up right.

Overtaken

Monday, August 10, 2009
I have been overtaken by the Ebola today, so instead of actual content, you get something I saw on my flight from Phoenix on Frontier Airlines. I can't embed, but if you're a sucker for a bass (as I am), and enjoy a good cry (as I do), click through and enjoy.

Lawrence Beaman sings "Old Man River" on America's Got Talent.

2009 Flower Pr0n Part IX, Recovery Edition

Sunday, August 9, 2009

You'll recall that my flower buckets took a real beating during the recent hail storms.

Well, amazingly enough, they're recovering.

"Life finds a way."

'Tard of the Week - Sarah Palin

Saturday, August 8, 2009
Could Sarah Palin get any dumber?
The America I know and love is not one in which my parents or my baby with Down Syndrome will have to stand in front of Obama's 'death panel' so his bureaucrats can decide, based on a subjective judgment of their 'level of productivity in society,' whether they are worthy of health care... Such a system is downright evil.
No, I didn't think so.

Can you imagine this dumbass with any significant amount of power? I simply can't express how happy it makes me that we've dodged THAT particular bullet. At least for now.

Every time she opens her mouth, the stupid falls out and stains the carpet. And her handlers have apparently been unable to convince her that the very best thing she can do for her future prospects is to SHUT THE FUCK UP.

What a 'tard.

Boogie Blogging Friday

Friday, August 7, 2009

We currently have our deck and patio furniture, along with the planters and the BBQ, on the lawn while the Smart Boy works on preserving them.

Well, Boogie is quite confused with this state of affairs - the furniture is supposed to be on the deck, not on the lawn. Not to mention the SMELL that permeates the air whenever the Smart Boy goes to apply the Cabot's. Ew.

A creature of habit is our Boogie.

Fungus Among Us

You'll recall that on Monday, the Smart Boy and I discovered some yucky stuff growing on the bottom of our deck. Several HCDSM regulars speculated that it was might be a fungus of some sort, with Stonekettle Station's Jim Wright (a woodworker) chiming in with some information about rot.

Well, yesterday evening our Deck Guy came out and took a look. Fungus and rot, indeed, and it needs to be replaced before it affects the structural integrity of the deck. The rot is limited to one area (yay!), but that area happens to be the main supporting beam (boo!).


Since the Big Yellow House has a walk-out basement and the kitchen door leads to the deck, having a structurally sound deck isn't exactly a luxury item around here. So our Deck Guy gave us a bid, and we'll be be scheduling the work. Because it's the flitch beam that needs to be replaced, the rest of the deck will have to be raised and supported while the work is done.

Lovely.

On the bright side, I noticed the damage before the Smart Man went out to use the grill and had the whole thing collapse around him. 'Cause that would have just sucked.

I Love This

Thursday, August 6, 2009
The Texas Library Association does a fund raiser every year for the TLA Disaster Relief Fund. The fund is used to help libraries that are destroyed in disasters (duh), and they've decided that this year, they'll be raising their money by selling a calendar featuring Librarians.

That's right - Librarians. But they're Hot Librarians. With tattoos!

The 2010 TLA calendar is called The Tattooed Ladies of TLA, and it features 21 women who are members of the TLA, showing off their ink for a good cause.

I love Librarians, and since I usually have a negative stereotype in my mind when I think of Texas (Naomi notwithstanding), this calendar just tickles me no end. Go Hot Librarians!

Count Your Blessings, You Stabby Bitch

Wednesday, August 5, 2009
What with the all the shenanigans associated with Health Care Reform and some work-related issues that are standing on my last nerve, I feel like I've been kind of a stabby bitch lately. Having such an attitude tends to make me tired, so today I wanted to write about something a bit more cheerful.

So I asked for ideas on Twitter, and among the suggestions was one from fellow UCFer Jeri, who you might remember was a visitor here at the Big Yellow House during 2009 Trollopalooza II. She suggested that it might be time for another round of "Count Your Blessings." I'm down with that, in spite of my usual distaste for memes, mostly because I need an attitude adjustment.

I'm actually pretty good about making sure I don't take the people I love for granted. I try to make sure my family, my friends and the Boogie-Dog (hey, he's a person to me) are all aware of how much they mean to me, and how grateful I am to have them in my life. What I don't do a great job with is acknowledging the other things that make my days more joyful, or enable me to more thoroughly enjoy the people who are the cornerstone of my happiness. I'm also not great at acknowledging my own internal efforts that improve the quality of my life.

So today I'm going to acknowledge those things that tend to slip through the cracks.

**************

I'm grateful that I have a job that allows me to work from home. This flexibility has done more than anything else in reducing my daily stress.

I'm grateful that the older I get, the more comfortable I am in my own skin.

I'm grateful that my parents gave me the gift of reading for pleasure.

I'm grateful that I don't have faith. While such disbelief is sometimes scary, and I'm sometimes envious of the certainty of faith, I have learned to embrace my disbelief and take joy in not knowing.

I'm grateful for my love of learning.

I'm grateful to have finally learned that exercise, while boring and utterly unenjoyable, is necessary to my well-being.

I'm grateful that female balding doesn't run in my family.

I'm grateful that I don't appear to have screwed up my children too badly.

I'm grateful to have a body that works. I've always been regretful that I'm not in the least athletic, but as I age, I'm becoming more impressed with the very presence of my living body, athletic or not.

I'm grateful that now, in my forties, I have finally learned that having a life partner is a luxury and a pleasure, but not a necessity for happiness.

I'm grateful that I have a sense of humor. While I wouldn't know any better if I didn't, I'm sure my life would have been less joyful.

I'm grateful that I'm an American, warts and all.

I feel better now.

Keith Olbermann, I Think I Love You

Tuesday, August 4, 2009

Betsy McCaughey is a Lying Sack of Shit, or Why the President Doesn't Want to Kill Your Grandma

Betsy McCaughey is a lying sack of shit fucking cow.* Not to mention intellectually dishonest. And she has teeth like a horse. Although the teeth thing really isn't pertinent.

For those of you who have never heard of this woman (as I hadn't, before Nathan frothed all over my e:mail), she's the former lieutenant governor of New York, and presumably a health care advocate. I say "presumably" because even though she has a foundation dedicated to the abatement of infectious disease in hospitals, she's apparently lost her fucking mind, and is now running all over the country trying to convince everyone that President Obama wants you to not only kill your grandmother, but eat her dead flesh, too.

Okay, that last part was hyperbole, but not by much.

She's been featured on every talk show on the planet that has a mentally challenged, narcoleptic fact checker, where she uses the venue to spout the idea that the new Health Care bill (H.R. 3200) would encourage you to kill your senior relatives:
...the Congress would make it mandatory … that every five years, people in Medicare have a required counseling session that will tell them how to end their life sooner, how to decline nutrition, how to decline being hydrated, how to go into hospice care … all to do what’s in society’s best interest … and cut your life short.
Really, Betsy? Really? C'mon, now, we both know that's not what the bill says. In fact, the pertinent section of the bill reads:

H.R. 3200, page 425: Subject to paragraphs (3) and (4), the term ‘advance care planning consultation’ means a consultation between the individual and a practitioner described in paragraph (2) regarding advance care planning, if, subject to paragraph (3), the individual involved has not had such a consultation within the last 5 years. Such consultation shall include the following:

(A) An explanation by the practitioner of advance care planning, including key questions and considerations, important steps, and suggested people to talk to.

(B) An explanation by the practitioner of advance directives, including living wills and durable powers of attorney, and their uses.

(C) An explanation by the practitioner of the role and responsibilities of a health care proxy.

(D) The provision by the practitioner of a list of national and State-specific resources to assist consumers and their families with advance care planning … .

(E) An explanation by the practitioner of the continuum of end-of-life services and supports available, including palliative care and hospice, and benefits for such services and supports that are available under this title.

(F)(i) Subject to clause (ii), an explanation of orders regarding life sustaining treatment or similar orders … .

So how does "end of life planning" suddenly become "you have a duty to die as soon as possible because it's in society's best interest, you blue-haired parasite?"

This is exactly the kind of shit that I blogged about on Saturday. Here's this incredibly important debate, and this bloviating wackadoo is confusing the issue with her inflammatory rhetoric and outright falsehoods. And they are falsehoods. The details of how many ways this crazy person is out in the weeds can be found over at FackCheck.org, but the main issue is that she's spreading the misconception that "end of life services" are synonymous with "euthanasia," and nothing could be farther from the truth.

According to the National Library of Medicine, end of life services are defined as:
services [that] are available to help patients and their families deal with issues surrounding death." This can include making decisions about treatment, designating a health care proxy, choosing a hospice program and putting together a living will, all of which the bill mentions explicitly as being part of an advance care planning consultation. In a 2003 study, the Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality found that "[p]atients who talked with their families or physicians about their preferences for end-of-life care had less fear and anxiety, felt they had more ability to influence and direct their medical care, believed that their physicians had a better understanding of their wishes, and indicated a greater understanding and comfort level than they had before the discussion.
This is not a discussion about euthanasia. It's a mature, thoughtful discussion about how to die with dignity, about adhering to someone's wishes if they are no longer able to speak for themselves, about being respectful of our seniors and their wishes. It's about allowing gerontologists to bill Medicare for their services when they have these discussions with their patients. These are adults we're talking about - they're capable of having these conversations with their health care providers, and quite frankly, many of them need the help. It's not like most people have a ton of experience with end of life decisions. And the help isn't "mandatory," as Ms. McCaughey claims. It's initiated by the patient, not by some Logan's Run Sandman who wants the senior to climb into the Carousel and take their chances.

I've had this discussion with my Hot Mom, and I have to say I wouldn't have it any other way. My Hot Sister and I both know what she wants, and she has everything squared away and ready to go in case she becomes debilitated or dies unexpectedly. Does that mean my Hot Sister and I want her to hurry up and drop dead so she can quit being such a burden on the U.S. entitlement system? Of course not. But if something does happen unexpectedly, we'll know what to do. That's a Good Thing.

So what the fuck is wrong with Betsy McCaughey, that she's running all over the country spreading lies about H.R. 3200? I wish I knew. If we had a handle on her motivation for all this fear-mongering, we'd be in a better position to address it (and her). Christ, even the A.A.R.P. thinks she's off the deep end.

This woman is a grade A, freeze-dried whackaloon. Please, Ms McCaughey. Seek help. Before you run into Nathan on the street.

**********

*This piece is a Hot Chicks/Polybloggimous joint. Nathan was going to write it hisownself, but he inadvertently electrocuted himself by frothing all over his keyboard while doing research. So I've taken up the torch while he chews through his full-body cast in an effort to chase after Ms. McCaughey and beat her to death with a copy of H.R. 3200.

July 'Tard of the Month

Monday, August 3, 2009
Is July over already? It hardly seems possible that the summer is progressing so quickly. Maybe it's because the weather's been so unseasonably cool. Or maybe I should quit drinking so much.

In any event, it's time to vote on the July 'Tard of the Month! This month's choices include Nathaniel Stumpf, who thinks that reclaiming the wallet he lost while committing a crime is the best plan EVER; FoxNews.com and CNET.com, who believe that the military is trying to create a zombie robot; and Major Stefen Frederick Cook, who volunteered to deploy to a combat zone only so that he could "legitimately" expose himself as a "birther." I'm not sure how I ended up with only three 'tards this month - you know it's not because people are getting smarter. It must be because I'm a big slacker.

What say you, Hot Chicks and Smart Men?

What the Fuck?

Christ on a crutch, when things start to go wrong around here, the whole fucking place falls apart. First, the Smart boy noticed a bunch of wasps congregating around the cable junction box in the corner of our yard, and crawling in and out of the vents. A wasp's nest - just what we need! I called the cable company, and they're going to be sending someone out tomorrow. Yeah, it does suck to be that technician.

Then I was outside talking to the Smart Boy. He's currently sanding and restaining our deck and fence after the hail storm. We were discussing the work that needed to be done on the deck when I looked up and noticed this on the bottom on the deck:


I think it's a termite nest, but I don't know for sure. I've called our exterminator to schedule an appointment, but with all the rain we've had this year, it would not surprise me to discover I was right.

Lovely.

So Wrong

Sunday, August 2, 2009
Modified 8/3/2009 1:25 p.m.. I had to take out that horrible embedded video because it auto-started every time the page loaded. I didn't think a murderous rampage inspired by "Snuggies for Dogs" was a good life plan, so now you need to click through if you want to see this abomination.

******************

This is wrong on so many levels, I don't even know where to begin.

Snuggies for Dogs

I can reassure you that the Boogie Dog will not be receiving one of these. Ever.

2009 Flower Pr0n, Garden of the Gods Edition, Part I




Tough Conversations

Saturday, August 1, 2009
As the debate heats up about the Health Care bill, the blowhards are hard at work, escalating the conversation. On the one hand, you've got Pelosi talking shit about how the insurance companies are members of the Axis of Evil (an opinion to which I'm not unsympathetic, but then I'm not the Speaker of the House), on the other you have Fox News screeching about how Obama-care will kill your Grandmother. On purpose.

What's being lost among all the caterwauling is an incredible opportunity to have a tough conversation that needs to be had - the conversation about medical care at the beginning and end of life, and how much is "too much."

Medical ethicists have this conversation all the time, of course. They have to - decisions have to be made regarding the best course of treatment for individuals, and whether or not society is best served by a donated organ going to this recipient, or that one. Someone has to make these decisions, and it seems like Americans are squeamish about even having the conversation, let alone making the tough decisions that go along with them.

But we can't ignore this problem forever. Those over 85 are the fastest growing segment of our population, and the cost of their medical care is growing every year. Discussing their care, their quality of life, and yes, their end of life decisions, is something we need to address as a society.

And it really pisses me off that the politicos are using these issues to score partisan points off of each other, rather than leading their constituents to the table to discuss them in a mature and sensitive way. People want the ends of their lives to be dignified, meaningful, and to have a good death. That's not too much to ask, and I believe we have an obligation to our seniors to help them achieve those goals.

I don't claim to have all the answers. I've thought about some of the issues involved, of course - I have relatives who are at an age where the matter is anything but academic. I don't want my senior family members to suffer because medical technology is capable of extending the length of their lives without increasing the quality. Because in many cases, administering treatment just because you "can" doesn't mean you "should."

I believe that assisted suicide should be legal under certain circumstances. I know people, people I love, who disagree with me vehemently on this issue. And yet, in spite of our diametrically opposed viewpoints, we can discuss the issue with mutual respect and support, and understand each other's points of view. Because we recognize that such matters are some of the most important questions we'll ever address as human beings, and the issue should always be treated with the courtesy and respect it deserves, not used to further our own ends.

So how come I can successfully discuss this with people I know, yet my elected leaders can't discuss the issue without accusing each other of evil-doing and trying to kill each other's grandmothers?

Please don't answer that. I know the answer, and it makes me ill. Sometimes I want to smack those in the public eye in the face in with a shovel. Actually, that's true most of the time. Grow up, American politicians and talking heads. You're disrespecting those who are most deserving of our support, and it's shameful.