Pluripotent Stem Cells? Oh, Yeah
I was assigned the "pro" position on fetal stem cell harvesting and research, so I've been reading about the issue.
I have long been a proponent of stem cell research. I have no issue with using donated or abandoned zygotes or embryos for this purpose, and my research is reinforcing that position rather than weakening it. Now I just have more facts at my disposal to defend my view. Learning to actually understand the differences between totipotent, pluripotent and multipotent stem cells has given me a much clearer view of the scientific issues inherent in the debate.
Given my own views regarding abortion and when life begins, it was extremely unlikely that I would suddenly decide that harvesting embryonic stem cells from donated or abandoned embryos was somehow immoral or unethical. While I think you might be able to make a case that creating an embryo for the sole purpose of harvesting its pluripotent stem cells is a little shady, I just can't see the issue with using the ones that are already there.
Of course, since many of the arguments used to oppose this practice are religious ones, it's extremely unlikely that any of them will carry any weight with me whatsoever. Another student has been assigned the "con" position, and our final assignment, to take place in three weeks, is an on-line debate using the arguments, evidence and ethical justifications we researched for this assignment. I'm rather looking forward to it, and I hope my "partner" ends up being a worthy adversary. If she ends up discussing "SIN" I am going to be sorely disappointed.
'Tard of the Week - Joe Lieberman
Here's the part that once again exposes Joe for the incredible fucking hypocrite that he is: Lieberman was in favor of a public option for years and years, and now that Olympia Snowe is the Belle of the Ball instead of him, well clearly the public option IS EVIL AND MUST BE DESTROYED. As long as destroying it makes him the center of attention for the foreseeable future, that is. Once the media's Eye of Sauron moves away from HIS RIGHTEOUS STAND OF RIGHTEOUSNESS, then I'm quite sure he'll find something else to grandstand about.
Seriously, Connecticut - can't you find someone a little less offensive to represent you? Anyone? Say, someone who gives a good goddamn about what his or her constituents actually want? Perhaps you could convince Saqib Ali to move...
The Colbert Report | Mon - Thurs 11:30pm / 10:30c | |||
Joe Lieberman Is a True Independent | ||||
www.colbertnation.com | ||||
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In the interest of full disclosure, I have to say that I support a public option (along with 55% of the rest of America). And I love Stephen Colbert, lifetime member of my celebrity seraglio. "Stick to your principles, Joe, and as soon as you can, let us know what those are."
::swoon::
Boogie Blogging Friday
You can see the incision on his neck. His vet used staples, I assume because the skin gets pulled in so many directions during normal activity. He goes back in 10-14 days to have those removed. I hope they're less painful to remove than mine were when I had my C-section, 'cause damn.
I'm just happy he came through with his usual proclivity for fast healing and a desire to continue with his normal activities. He was quite miffed this morning when I did not reach for his leash for our daily walk, although he wasn't nearly as disappointed as he's been in the past when he was constrained. The price of getting older, I guess.
Soft
The surgery wasn't very complex - he had a soft benign tumor removed from his neck before it gets large enough to require a general anesthesia. As it is, it was removed with a sedative and a local. Since Boogie is a very large dog, and will be eight years old next month, a general really isn't a good idea at this stage of his life. So it was sedation and a local.
I was very anxious while I was waiting on the status report. Hell, I'm always anxious when I think Boogie's health is in jeopardy. Because I am so soft for that silly dog I can't even believe it.
Boogie is a family dog, to be sure. He loves the Smart Man and the Smart Twins, and they love him. Training him was a group effort, and caring for him is, too. Boogie loves his temporary caregivers - his Hot Grandma and his Hot Auntie Anne and his Smart Uncle Dale.
But in my heart, Boogie is my dog. I've worked from home either several days a week or full time his entire life, and we spend each and every day together. We go for walkies every morning. He keeps me company. He makes me laugh. He encourages me to take a break and play. He distracts me when I want to hit someone in the face with a shovel. He keeps my blood pressure down.
I love my Boogie-Dog more than I thought I could love a pet. Of course, I've never had a pet with whom I spent so much time, so I have nothing to compare it to.
If the Smart Man predeceases me, I shall be a "dog lady" rather than a "cat lady." If I can stand to even get another dog after Boogie, that is. I think the recent death of a friend's dear pet and Boogie's surgery has made me maudlin.
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Updated 10/29/2009 12:46 p.m.: Boogie's home and resting comfortably. He's still a bit groggy, and his back legs are none too steady, but he had a few bites of kibble and a small drink and is napping his way to recovery.
I Suck
Here we are again, folks - it's after 2:30 in the afternoon, and again I have nothing to write about other than generalized whining about work. Aside from the fact that such bitching and moaning gets old after awhile, I choose not to use this venue for that purpose. Somehow I doubt someone's going to pay me a kabillion dollars for my modest blog if I get fired, so in this case, discretion is the better part of valor.
So I'm stuck with that old standby -talking about the weather.
To the left is the view from our basement door. It's been snowing pretty steadily since last night, although it's a light snow. Most of the schools are doing short days today (because really, how can we possibly expect our staff and students to remember what to do during snowfall? That's just crazy talk.).
And here's the Incomparable Boogie™, starting to get quite insistent about coming back in the house after he accompanied me outside for picture taking. He still loves to go out and play in the snow, but he's starting to think active snowfall is not really his cup of tea, thank you very much. He has to start fasting at 8:00 p.m. this evening in preparation for his surgery tomorrow. Wish him luck.
Well Behaved Women Rarely Make History, Volume XXVI
She's also recently learned to perform a procedure called "clitoralplasty," or "female circumcision reversal." This procedure allows the victims of female genital mutilation to have the violence done to their bodies repaired in both functional and cosmetic ways, relieving them of the pain and scar tissue associated with this horrific practice.
Dr. Bowers waives her fee for these procedures, and the hospital where she practices caps their fees at $1,700.00 because the procedure is so new most insurance companies won't pay. Surgeons who perform this procedure frequently receive death threats from radical Muslims. When asked if she was afraid, Dr. Bowers replied, "I've jumped through enough fires and over enough barbed-wire fences in my life by now. I do not fear for my safety."
Well done, Dr. Bowers. Well done, indeed.
A Glutton for Punishment
Ahem.
But this particular Hot Cousin and her daughter are members of Eastern Stars, or Job's Daughters, or some other Mason related cult (bazinga!). Part of their work with these organizations is support for a girls group home in Aurora, Colorado called Exceslior Youth Center. They collect toiletries, blankets and other necessities for the girls there.
So during our monthly family get-together this weekend, the Hot Cousin commented that she should learn to knit hats on looms so that she could donate them to the girls who live at Excelsior. I researched the facility and considered the issue, and decided that I could knit hats for these girls - all 180 of them. I'm giving myself until Christmas to get it done.
I have 55 hats on hand right now, which only leaves me with 125 to go. Yeah.
Anyone who can knit and wants to contribute to the effort, you can contact me using the information on the sidebar, and I'll e:mail you details on where to send your pieces. Any help would be gratefully accepted...
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Updated 10/26/2009 9:15 p.m.: Okay, troops - anyone who wants to donate to the cause in the way of yarn can either mail your selections to the Big Yellow House, or send a cash donation to my PayPal account. No more than $10.00, though. Thanks to all - you rock!
Adventures in Windows
First was the machine for my Hot Mom. She'd been limping along an oldy-moldy machine she bought about eight years ago, and was overdue for a refresh. So the Smart Man decided to put together a screaming machine for her as an early Merry Christmas present. He's been ordering pieces and parts for months, and installing them without her knowledge. Once the new OS came, it was simply a matter of loading it up and having the old machine's files backed up. After he was done with that, he upgraded his own machine, which was also pretty painless.
Today we drove up to Longmont to install Hot Mom's machine and get her ready to go. Again, painless. So Windows 7 gets a good grade from a usability perspective. The jury's still out on other aspects, but so far - it looks good.
As for my desktop, we need to wait on that upgrade. My current back up drive is only 250GB, and it doesn't have sufficient room to back up my iTunes library and all the other stuff I need to keep. So before I can plan to do the upgrade, I need to buy a larger external back up drive. I'm thinking I should just bite the bullet and get a 1TB one, rather than nickel and dime myself. But my pay structure changed on October 1st, I need to wait and see how my budget shakes out. Stupid budget.
Hope you're having a good weekend, Hot Chicks and Smart Men.
Bloggity Goodness, or How the UCF isn't the Only One Who Makes Their Lives More Complicated for FUN
The blog share is coming up. If you’re a blogger, you should definitely think about being part of it.
Have you ever wanted to blog about something — been DESPERATE to get a post out of your head — and yet felt that you shouldn’t, because people know who you are? Blog Share is your opportunity to publish that post.
Here’s how it works:
1) People from all over the Internet sign up with -R-. She collects all of the names and assigns swap buddies.
2) You write the post that reveals your deepest, darkest secrets. Or that would really annoy your husband. Or that is just totally out of character for your own site. Whatever.
3) Your post is published on another blog. That same day, you publish someone else’s secret post.
That’s really all there is to it. It’s great fun. -R- provides a list of all of the participants, so you’ll be able to read all of the posts. For those who are into such things, it’ll get you more traffic and link love, and it will probably bring you some new subscribers.
I know what I’m going to blog about. It is not really a secret, but it is something I feel I cannot post here. I am looking forward to writing it.
If this sounds like something you’d like to try, let -R- know.
Boogie Blogging Friday
He's scheduled to have a large, benign tumor on his neck (see red arrow) removed on the 29th, and his collar will interfere with the stitches while it's healing up. Since skipping his daily walkies is simply out of the question, he'll be using this harness in the interim.
He's not too thrilled with it, and has tried to remove it with his teeth a couple of times. That's why he's wearing it periodically around the house to get used to it prior to his surgery.
So handsome!
Because I'm Twelve
I love the show "Glee." I love the stories, I love the music. I realize that makes me resemble a twelve year old girl, and you know what? I don't care. The show is charming and sweet, and I have a soft spot for choral music that this show touches.
This clip is from episode 4, where the high school football team, who couldn't win if their opponents were from an old folks home, decide to try a more unorthodox approach. Their new kicker is a young gay man from the Glee Club who has had trouble telling his father about his sexuality, and uses the music of Beyonce to help him achieve a spot on the team. Because he's successful, he convinces the rest of the team to give it a whirl, too.
'Tard of the Week - The Oath Keepers
While the Promise Keepers advocate their particular brand of Christianity (not my cup of tea, obviously, but whatever makes you a contributing member of society, I guess), the Oath Keepers are
I swear I'm not making that up.A non-partisan association of currently serving military, reserves, National Guard, veterans, Peace Officers, and Fire Fighters who will fulfill the Oath we swore, with the support of like minded citizens who take an Oath to stand with us, to support and defend the Constitution against all enemies, foreign and domestic, so help us God. Our Oath is to the Constitution
Our motto is "Not on our watch!"
They even have a list of "Ten Orders they will Not Obey:"
"We will NOT obey any order to disarm the American people,
We will NOT obey any order to conduct warrantless searches of the American people, their homes, vehicles, papers, or effects -- such as warrantless house-to house searches for weapons or persons.
We will NOT obey any order to detain American citizens as “unlawful enemy combatants” or to subject them to trial by military tribunal.
We will NOT obey orders to impose martial law or a “state of emergency” on a state, or to enter with force into a state, without the express consent and invitation of that state’s legislature and governor.
We will NOT obey orders to invade and subjugate any state that asserts its sovereignty and declares the national government to be in violation of the compact by which that state entered the Union.
We will NOT obey any order to blockade American cities, thus turning them into giant concentration camps.
We will NOT obey any order to force American citizens into any form of detention camps under any pretext.
We will NOT obey orders to assist or support the use of any foreign troops on U.S. soil against the American people to “keep the peace” or to “maintain control” during any emergency, or under any other pretext. We will consider such use of foreign troops against our people to be an invasion and an act of war.
We will NOT obey any orders to confiscate the property of the American people, including food and other essential supplies, under any emergency pretext whatsoever.
We will NOT obey any orders which infringe on the right of the people to free speech, to peaceably assemble, and to petition their government for a redress of grievances."
Um, yeah. I'm pretty sure such orders would already be against the law and would be a gross violation of the Constitution*. I'm also pretty sure that members of the Armed Forces and law enforcement agencies have similar "oaths" phrased in the positive rather than the negative. Just sayin'.
First of all, I raise the Bullshit Flag on their claim of being "non-partisan." This movement was highlighted yesterday on that bastion of conspiracy theories and home of non-critical thought, the World Net Daily, by none other than return champion 'Tard of the Week and racist fucktard Pat Buchanan. I don't know about you, but I have to assume that an organization ole Pat supports as belonging to "real Americans" (read that: privileged white guys) is in fact conservative and/or libertarian, not "non-partisan." Not to point out the obvious, or anything, but Pat Buchanan is not exactly famous for his support of organizations that would even allow a liberal (or a Jew, or a brown person, or a yellow person, or one of the gayz, or, or, or...).
Then there's the whole premise of the group. Do these folks think they're preparing for the Zombie Apocalypse, led by Zombie Obama? Do they have any idea how nuts they sound? Their oath might as well be, "We swear to continue to hate Obama, and to uphold our white privilege with every method at our disposal, legal or not!" It seems pretty obvious (at least to me), that these whackadoodles are simply the grown up version of the crazy militias that inhabit underpopulated areas of Idaho and Montana. They're better funded, certainly, and they obviously have some level of technical and PR competence. But their core beliefs are based in a completely imaginary world-view. It's like the natural evolution of our country is so abhorrent to them, and the loss of their white privilege is so utterly frightening, they're willing to do anything to stop it. And I do mean anything. And no matter how much lipstick they put on that pig, it's still a pig, and they're still 'tards. Scary 'tards, but 'tards nevertheless.
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*Yes, yes, I'm aware the extra-Constitutional activities started by the Bush administration (and, in some cases, continued by the Obama administration). Such activities absolutely need to be addressed and corrected. I just don't think a bunch of retards who can't even analyze the oaths they've already taken should be the ones to wield the baton.
Wave o' the Flag to Chez.
It's That Time of Year Again
Time for my annual mammogram, and I am once again grateful for the circumstance that makes me not only a citizen of a country that has the luxury of modern medicine and diagnostics, but that I have excellent health insurance with an HMO that believes in preventative care.
With a smile on my face and a song in my heart - Mammogram, ho!
Something to be Mad About
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You know, I'm a big proponent of civil rights. Our country was founded on them, and I spent a good portion of my adult life serving the document that protects them.
So when I hear about circumstances where people's civil rights have been violated, it angers me. When I find out that the violation in question has been deemed "legal" by the federal court system, it enrages me.
Really, America? Really? Denying people the right to be a legal part of a legal family is the legacy we want? What the hell is wrong with us?
I really hope the answer isn't that we're bigoted asshats with no sense of justice and fairness. Because if that's true, it cheapens my service, and makes me feel dirty.
This week, Washington state will be voting on Referendum 71, which asks voters to reconfirm expanded domestic partnership rights which were signed into law in May, 2009. If you live in Washington state, please consider voting "yes" on this important legislation. If you don't, please continue to spread the word, or donate to the cause.
Our society's apparent inability to see this for what it is shames me. Our blatant discrimination against gay and lesbian families sickens me. Let's fix this.
Wave of the Blood Pressure Cuff to Dr. Phil and Tania via Facebook.
2009 Flower Pr0n - Special Nashville Edition
The facility is huge, and the hotel rooms and convention facilities surround giant greenhouses, complete with a river, ponds, shops, restaurants and walking paths. It was really quite beautiful.
Just Kill Me Now
No, no - he's not a racist - he's just concerned for the children.
You see, he treats everyone equally - no interracial couples receive marriage licenses from him.
The ACLU is on the case, and I doubt Keith Bardwell will be employed in his current capacity much longer.
That's okay. I'm sure the League of the South will hire him forthwith.
Sometimes I think the U.S. is doomed. DOOMED.
H/T to MWT, who enjoys watching my head explode.
Tired and Sad
So I'm a bit uninspired when it comes to scintillating content. I'm trying to do my homework, and one of the discussion points this week is whether or not social media and electronic forms of communication has turned Today's Youth into social retards. It's an interesting idea, and one that deserves some thought, especially since I'm a bit of a social retard myself.
But for today, I think I'm going to go take a shower and then go grocery shopping, a chore I didn't get accomplished yesterday (the shopping, not the shower). I really don't feel like I have enough intellectual vigor to write anything meaningful.
Tonight is the Longmont Chorale's fall concert, and then I'll return tomorrow, hopefully refreshed and ready to go. Have a good Saturday, Hot Chicks and Smart Men.
Things I (Re)Learned at the Sales Conference
People will engage in shenanigans while at these events that would give stereotypical sailors a run for their money.
If you choose to engage in these shenanigans, then you shouldn't be surprised when people gossip about you.
There's a tipping point in corporate hierarchy where people stop enjoying the sound of their own voice for its own sake. This point occurs at different places in different industries.
If you want people to spend a lot of money and behave badly, decorate your nightclub like it was the location of numerous 70's porn movies.
No matter what, the Boogie Dog is always, always happy to see me when I come home from a trip. This probably makes me happier than it should, but I don't really care.
While I take my on-line relationships (and the on-line community to which I belong) seriously and behave appropriately, others do not. While an on-line persona is necessarily an incomplete picture of who someone is, the adage still applies. If someone behaves like a dickweed on-line, it's a pretty good bet that it's because they're a dickweed.
Weight Watchers' Dark Chocolate Raspberry 1 point bars are the work of the devil. They are evil and must be destroyed.
I think I gained some weight while at the conference. Drat.
Never bring shoes you've never worn before to any event where you have no other options. Because while Danskos are the cat's pajamas with slacks, they look like ass with a dress. So I have blisters on my toes, instead.
There are some companies that understand so little about customer service that their employees should never, ever be allowed to have contact with customers. Yes, Boingo, I'm looking at you. Having your software initiate an unrequested "chat" session with a customer who is trying to purchase your bandwidth is really fucking annoying. Having that person's sole purpose be to up sell me on services I don't want and don't need is super fucking annoying. Forcing that person to continue to "pitch" me with their script even after I've said "no" pretty unequivocally means that you'll never get another dollar from me EVER.
I like rum runners.
I'm happy to be home.
Responsibility Magnet
In some cases, it's because I sought out additional responsibilities for reasons of my own. This was certainly the case in my professional life - I was ambitious, and knew that taking on additional tasks would prove my worth to those who had power over my ability to move up. It worked, too. I made Chief in nine years, Senior Chief in thirteen. In my civilian career I've octopuled my salary in thirteen years. So seeking out additional responsibilities worked out well for me, and I'm happy with the results, although I'm not very ambitious these days.
In other cases, however, it seems like responsibility seeks me out.
I tend to be the one who organizes things, if something needs to be organized. I tend to be the one who "takes the lead" when there's something that needs to be led.
I have a self-imposed glass ceiling in my professional life, mostly because I'm not very interested in "coaching," corporate-speak for being the boss. And yet every time I have one of those "career planning" discussions with my boss, it keeps coming up. And up. And up. I don't want to be anyone's boss - I have enough trouble managing myownself, and I assume I'd get in trouble the first time I told a subordinate to shut the fuck up, quit their damn whining and do the work for which they're paid.*
A part of me knows that if I want to stop being "responsible," then I need to stop volunteering for every damn thing that comes up. Special project? I'll do it! Beta testing? I'll do it! Volunteering for a local charity? I'll do it! I need to let others step up and take some responsibility. I'm not the only one who's capable of executing on these things.
But it's not all me - it seems pretty apparent that the "no good deed goes unpunished" concept plays a role, as well. Once you prove that you're capable of performing a task, on time and to others' expectation, then you're pretty much doomed to be the go-to gal moving forward. Hell, I'm guilty of this myself - it was always easier to assign specific tasks to sailors who I knew would do them well without making a big production over it rather than forcing the resident dirt-bag to carry their fair share of the load. No matter how carefully you try to guard against such unfair practices, they do creep in when the pressure's on.
Of course, I could be flattering myself. The truth may be that I'm just bossy and self-important. I don't think so, though. This responsibility magnet thing runs in my family, and we can't all be bossy and self-important....can we?
*Which is not to say I didn't take good care of my sailors when they needed it. I just didn't like to hear them whine.
You People Need to Get a Hobby
Is Keith Harkin gay? Christ, who cares? He's evidently a pretty gifted musician, so unless you're twelve, I can't see how this can possibly be of interest to you.The Internet - diluting the gene pool for the good of mankind. While I usually welcome new readers here, I'm not sure I necessarily want folks who use these search phrases.
Michele Bachmann nude photo. Gee, thanks a lot, Internet. Now I have to go scrub my eyeballs with lye.
Men shitting. Please. Seek help. And why would HCDSM appear in the search results for such a phrase? Ew.
Scars from toupee glue. Gadzukes! Using toupee glue can give you SCARS?
Chick Stuff - Pantyhose
Enjoy. Now, on to the chick stuff!
Today's topic is pantyhose. That bane of the modern woman. Expensive. Fragile. Completely non-fire retardant. Tell me - are they IN or OUT?
When I was in the Navy, pantyhose were not optional. If you were wearing a uniform skirt, you were wearing pantyhose with it. NOT OPTIONAL. Didn't like it? Tough shit, you whiny git. Quit your bitching and get your ass over to the Navy Exchange and buy a pair of the hateful things.
When I joined the civilian workforce, I wore pantyhose with my professional attire. I wore a lot of skirts and suits, and I wore the pantyhose because that's what I knew. Then I started working with my friend Tabby.
Tabby never wore pantyhose. Dress, skirt, suit, summer, winter - she didn't care. NO PANTYHOSE. She was almost religious in her conviction that pantyhose were things of the devil, so she went bare-legged wherever she went. And I found that fascinating, because her skin was pale. Pale, pale, pale. Just like mine.
Now I had seen women go without pantyhose before - I'm not that much under a rock. But they usually had very nice tans, either from a bottle, a booth, the beach or the genes, or they were women of color. It never occurred to me that a woman like myself, long on the Irish heritage when it comes to skin color, might actually go without pantyhose and get away with it.
Well.
I still usually wore pantyhose, though. I lack self-confidence when it comes to the fancy attire, and usually I need someone who is wiser in the ways of fashion to give me some guidance before I make a change. Then I started working from home full time, and it didn't come up much. Boogie the Giant Schnauzer does not care if I wear pantyhose, and in fact, my fuzzy slippers were usually pretty much my daily staple.
But now I'm in a job where I may have to leave the house and dress for work. And I'm dying to know - pantyhose, or no? When is it acceptable to forgo the hose when you wear a dress, a skirt or a suit?
Give me some guidance, y'all. Seriously, I really shouldn't be allowed to dress myself without some help, and I do like to wear skirts and dresses occasionally in a professional capacity.
Yes, yes, I'm a dork. So sue me. And then give me some advice about pantyhose. Inquiring minds need to know.
Religion and Identity
If I'm asked to describe my identity, I usually use such descriptors as "family member," "wife," "mother," "engineer," "veteran," "friend," and "blogger." This is how I see myself, and while I recognize that others certainly won't see me in exactly the same way, I typically don't self-identify in terms of my non-belief. Being an agnostic is certainly part of who I am, and it definitely informs and influences my writing, but it doesn't play a pivotal role in my daily life or offline activities. So that's where I'm coming from, and what has prompted today's question:
How come some people so closely wrap their public identity to their religious belief, while others internalize their faith and simply live their belief?
I know a large number of highly religious people. The ones with whom I'm close typically fall into the latter category. They consider their faith to be a cornerstone of their lives, and their belief quietly informs every aspect of their identity and behavior. But they don't advertise it, telling one and all "I'm Christian (Jewish, Muslim, LDS, Hindu), you know," or framing every discussion, every opinion, every thought in terms of their religious belief. I find people who do that annoying as hell, but that's just me.
What drives these behaviors? What makes some people live their faith and others advertise it? I don't really understand either perspective, being all heathenish and all, but I am curious.
Professional Conference - Yay?
On the plus side is the opportunity to see members of my team who live in other parts of the country. We're a virtual team, and we don't get many chances to see one another, so I usually enjoy that. The technical breakout sessions are also usually helpful and informative. Since I'm a technical resource, taking advantage of opportunities to stay current is always in my best interest.
On the negative side is the issue of over scheduling. I understand the company's desire to get the most value for their money, but is it really necessary to schedule every day from 7:00 a.m. to 10:00 p.m.? There's very little time available for answering e:mail, doing revenue generating work, or (heaven forfend) exercising. That would be just great if customers didn't insist on having access to their account teams during the week, but we all know customers typically aren't excited about waiting a week for their deliverables because their entire team is off at a conference. Based on the current schedule, this year is more flexible in terms of scheduling than years past, so maybe it won't be that bad. Hope springs eternal.
There's also the whole "pep rally" aspect of these events. While I can recognize the value in getting your customer-facing employees all on the same page in terms of company direction, do you have to be so cheesy about it? Maybe that's a sales thing - while I get excited and motivated by cool, effective technology, I have no idea what motivates sales people. Besides money, I mean.
So I'll be a bit scarce this week while I go learn new things, spend time with my team-mates, and snicker behind my hand. Don't burn the place down while I'm gone.
Conversations with Karma - Somali Pirates
Somali Pirate 1: Hello?
Karma: May I speak to the Somali Pirates, please. This is Karma.
SP1: Just a second - let me put you on speakerphone.
*click*
SP1: Okay. We're all here. Who are you and what do you want?
K: I'm Karma. The eastern idea that people get what they deserve. You know, what comes around, goes around? Karma.
SP2: We're a Muslim country. We don't believe in Karma.
K: That's okay. I believe in you.
SP3: What do you want, infidel?
K: Well, I have some special, special plans for you guys. Not to pat myself on the back or anything, but every once in a while I have an idea that is so stunning, so perfect in its elegance, I feel like I need to bask in the glow of my own brilliance.
SP4: Get to the point. We have places to go.
K: You do indeed. You might even say you have a DATE WITH DESTINY.
SP5: You know, I like that idea! A DATE WITH DESTINY!
K: I'm sure you do. Listen, I'm going to explain this plan, and you guys can tell me just how awesome this will be.
SP2: We don't have time for this. Get the skiff ready. We need to get going.
SP4: Yeah, load the Kalashnikovs. I have a good feeling about today.
K: Um, yeah. Today is going to be LEGENDARY.
SP1: To the skiff, fellow pirates!
SP2, SP3, SP4, SP5: TO THE SKIFF! TO THE SKIFF!
K: Hello? Hello?
*cue crickets*
K: Oh, well. I guess they'll find out my plan soon enough. But seriously, how ironic is this plan? They're going to mistake a French Naval vessel for a civilian craft, and they're going to be captured. By the French Navy.
K: ::snort::
K: I kill me.
The Nobel Peace Prize - Really?
And my initial reaction was, Wow, the Nobel committee must have really hated George W. Bush and the Insane Clown Posse he called a cabinet. Let's face it - as much as I like President Obama and approve of his willingness to engage with the rest of the world, he really hasn't done anything yet to earn such an honor. I can only assume the committee wanted to poke W with a stick for reasons of their own.
This decision bothers me for a couple of reasons. First of all, the Nobel Peace Prize is nothing to sneeze at, and using it as a tool to shame someone who is no longer in power seems more than a bit childish. I mean, seriously - the committee might has well have stuck their tongue out and sneered "Nanny-nanny-boo-boo!"
And secondly, I wonder if this will somehow compromise the President's ability to be effective. I can't believe that the President doesn't see right through these shenanigans, and I'm interested to see how he will try and leverage the situation to his advantage.
Interesting times, children.
'Tard of the Week - Justice Antonin Scalia
It's not that simple, of course - in 2004, the Congress got involved, and there were a bunch of shenanigans related to who "owns" the land, and whether or not other memorials would be affected if the SCOTUS forces the VFW to remove this one, etc., etc., ad naseum. I'm not entirely clear on all the legal nuances, and since a decision has not yet been made, I'm taking a "wait and see" attitude.
However, during oral arguments, Eric's favorite justice, Justice Antonin Scalia, had the following exchange with ACLU attorney Peter Eliasberg:
Um, yeah. A sitting Justice of the Supreme Court of the United States believes that "the cross is the — is the most common symbol of — of — of the resting place of the dead..." and that "I don’t think you can leap from that to the conclusion that the only war dead that that cross honors are the Christian war dead. I think that’s an outrageous conclusion."MR. ELIASBERG: … I think it would be very odd indeed for the VFW to feel that it was free to take down the cross and put up, for example, a statues of a soldier which would honor all of the people who fought for America in World War I, not just Christians, and say: Well, we were free to do that because even though there’s the sign that says, this cross is designated to honor all the —
JUSTICE SCALIA: The cross doesn’t honor non-Christians who fought in the war? Is that — is that —
MR. ELIASBERG: I believe that’s actually correct.
JUSTICE SCALIA: Where does it say that?
MR. ELIASBERG: It doesn’t say that, but a cross is the predominant symbol of Christianity and it signifies that Jesus is the son of God and died to redeem mankind for our sins, and I believe that’s why the Jewish war veterans —
JUSTICE SCALIA: It’s erected as a war memorial. I assume it is erected in honor of all of the war dead. It’s the — the cross is the — is the most common symbol of — of — of the resting place of the dead, and it doesn’t seem to me — what would you have them erect? A cross — some conglomerate of a cross, a Star of David, and you know, a Muslim half moon and star?
MR. ELIASBERG: Well, Justice Scalia, if I may go to your first point. The cross is the most common symbol of the resting place of Christians. I have been in Jewish cemeteries. There is never a cross on a tombstone of a Jew.
(Laughter.)
MR. ELIASBERG: So it is the most common symbol to honor Christians.
JUSTICE SCALIA: I don’t think you can leap from that to the conclusion that the only war dead that that cross honors are the Christian war dead. I think that’s an outrageous conclusion.
MR. ELIASBERG: Well, my — the point of my — point here is to say that there is a reason the Jewish war veterans came in and said we don’t feel honored by this cross. This cross can’t honor us because it is a religious symbol of another religion.
An outrageous conclusion? Really, Justice Scalia? Christ on a crutch (or more to the point - on a cross), could you have more unearned privilege and sense of entitlement, you pompous twit? Only a member of the majority, who is absolutely certain that his unearned privilege is his birthright and something that should NEVER, EVER BE CHALLENGED would make such a claim. How can this guy possibly believe that his religious symbol is the "symbol of the dead" that represents "all the war dead?" I doubt very seriously he'd feel that way if the symbol in question was the Star of David or a Wiccan Pentacle, both symbols authorized by the VA as religious symbols on veteran's tombstones.
Quite frankly, this fucking boggles my mind. BOGGLES. How does he not see how exclusionary such a symbol is to non-Christians? I actually still have some respect for the SCOTUS as an institution, but Justice Scalia - this time, you're a 'tard.
The Shame of Mental Illness
And she's right.
I want to make something perfectly clear. While I have been known to poke the whackadoos with a stick around here, I have nothing but empathy for those who struggle with mental illness, whether it's depression, OCD, substance abuse, or any of a thousand other afflictions. People with mental illness suffer in ways healthy people can't even imagine, and what makes it worse is the way that our culture sometimes looks at mental illness as shameful or as a weakness. Really? Well, guess what? People who have that attitude deserve a good whack in the noggin with the Shovel of Doom™.
There's really no end to the ways in which our society treat those who suffer from mental illness badly. We suck - let us count the ways:
- Most health insurance plans don't cover mental health services, which leaves those who struggle with it to either go without treatment or pay out of pocket for the services they need in order to remain contributing members of society.
- Those whose mental illness lead to criminal acts are given treatment in prison, but are essentially dropped like hot rocks when their sentence ends, leading to additional criminal acts, for which they're sent to prison...where they receive treatment. Really? This is the most cost effective model we could think of?
- The science is immature. The brain is an incredibly complicated organ, influenced by a wide variety of factors such as chemistry, environmental issues, emotional history, etc., etc., etc. Identifying that there's something "wrong" with someone is the easy part - finding effective treatments is what's hard.
- And even those who make their living treating mental illness sometimes can't be bothered to keep abreast of the actual SCIENCE associated with their vocation. According to a study by Psychological Science in the Public Interest scheduled to be released in November, clinicians are "failing to 'use the interventions for which there is the strongest evidence of efficacy' and 'give more weight to their personal experiences than to science.'" Yikes. Because evidently the scientific method is for those elitest scientists, not for us clinicians.
Any health care reform those self-serving twits in Washington come up with should include some protections for those who suffer from mental illness. Because the shameful part of this isn't that people suffer from mental disease, it's in how we, as a culture, treat them. Now that's some shameful shit.
Social Networking
Well, I'll tell you why. My friend, Matt-chew.
Matt and I served together on the USS JASON in the 90's. We were great friends, and he was one of the most intelligent, funny and interesting people I've ever known. We kept in touch after he left the JASON, but then due to some life changes (for both of us), we lost touch.
That bothered me, and I've been looking for him on-line for a number of years, periodically searching using Google, Facebook, LinkedIn - whatever I could think of. And last night, I found success. Matt recently got himself an on-line presence, and I tracked him down like a dog. A lost dog, whose family missed him.
So yeah, Facebook is a time-suck that offers minimal value for the time spent. But I'm okay with that.
Say hello to the UCF, Matt, and welcome to our world. I'm glad you're found.
What's the Fuss?
My reaction? Meh.
I've always done the census with little thought. I understand how the data is used (and misused), and I believe that the benefits of filling it out fully outweigh the ways in which the data is manipulated by those who have their own agenda. Do I have privacy concerns? You bet. Do I "trust the government" to "do the right thing?" Don't make me laugh. But census results are used for more than just identifying Congressional Districts, and I'd rather government decisions were made on some informed basis rather than pulling the answers out of their collective asses.
The opportunistic ravings of Glen Beck and Michele Bachmann aside (no, the guv'ment isn't going to use your census results to deny you your 2nd Amendment rights, you tool), I consider the Census to be a necessary evil.
Things To Do
Have a nice Sunday, Hot Chicks and Smart Men!
Saturday Sniffles
I've spent the morning doing homework for my "Breakthroughs in Science" class. This class is pretty reading-intensive, which I expected. So far the subject matter is fairly interesting, and I anticipate the second half of the class will be more challenging, as we explore the moral and ethical dilemmas inherent in cutting edge research. We're exploring a wide variety of topics, but these are the ones that interest me, mostly because I don't know much about them. Other topics, like intelligent design versus evolution, don't interest me at all because I already have a well-formed (and well informed) opinion.
- Animal cloning
- Human cloning
- Genetic engineering/screening
- Human/animal testing
- Kyoto Protocol
- Weather modification
- GMO Foods/Agriculture
- Biometrics in border control
I love college and I hate having a runny nose. And that's your compelling commentary for the day.
Donors Choose, Science Rules!
It's that time of year again. School is fixing to start, and all over the country, disadvantaged students don't have the materials they need to accomplish their basic learning activities.
Continuing the work they started last year, Cosmic Variance is sponsoring a Donors Choose charity drive to support math and science learning in schools where kids need some help in reaching their potential. Hot Chicks Dig Smart Men is happy to be on board once again, and this year I chose to support a math-related project, since math is the language of science. Or so they tell me - in my current Theraflu-addled state, I doubt I could balance my checkbook, let alone solve for x.
In any case, this is one cool charity, since your money goes directly to providing the supplies teachers choose for their specific learning activities. Good luck to Mrs. S. and her algebra students!
September 'Tard of the Month
I'm a big ole slacker this month, so we only have three candidates for this prestigious award. First is that bastion of impartial legislation, Max Baucus, whose COMPLETELY UNBIASED STAFF chose to send the new health care bill to K Street before sending it to Congress; Mahmoud Ahmadinejad, who really is just bugfuck crazy. No, seriously - does anyone think this guy isn't three bricks short of a load? And John Edwards, whose dumbassery is only exceeded by his boorishness in the way he has conducted his "affairs."
What say you, Hot Chicks and Smart Men?