Merry Christmas

and Happy New Year! I hope it's a wonderful week ahead for everyone.

A Christmas Carol

Top Ten and a Rant

Time is out with its Top Ten Everything of 2009. My favorite is the Top Ten Under-reported Stories because I learned a few things. Here is the entire list, some of which is just... odd.

I spotted a sad story on Yahoo this morning: Pop culture main reason Calif has Chihuahua crisis

Chihuahuas make up 30 percent or more of the dog populations at many California shelters. And experts say pop culture is to blame, with fans immitating Chihuahua-toting celebrities like Paris Hilton and Miley Cyrus, then abandoning the dogs.

Pop culture and stupid, selfish people who think it's okay to take an animal in then just dump it off on someone else when it becomes inconvenient. This sort of stupidity just pisses me off. A member of the family pulled this stunt recently and my sister and I went ballistic on that person. Sadly neither of us can take in the animal in question so we're hunting for a home.

For the California Chihuahua problem there is something of a bright side:

"We never have enough supply for the huge consumer demand for small dogs," she said. One of Webb's biggest problems is a lack of money to fly the dogs to other states. Buchwald said she would be happy to help. "Nothing is outside the realm of possibility here. We have a supply-demand isssue," she said.

But it is no solution. Of course there is no solution for stupid, selfish, thought-less people. We just have to put up with them and correct their mistakes.

You can make donations of money or supplies at your local shelter. Petfinder.com (and other sites) can give you a list of shelters in your area. Please, people, don't adopt now - the holidays are the worst time to adopt pets - just go visit them, take some food and think about whether or not you can take on a new family member in the coming year.

Just sharing

an article I spotted:

The Afghanistan War Through a Marine Mother's Eyes

In other news, I had three or four inches of snow at the Farm overnight. It's howling like mad outside right now. The ride back home tonight should be "interesting" if this all freezes up.

First Snow

We got a tiny bit of snow at the Farm on Saturday. It looked like a blizzard out there but very little stuck. What little did stick is now frozen solid to the ground. More snow is predicted for Tuesday night and then rain. So... winter has finally arrived.

Even though very little of the white stuff stuck to the ground I thought I'd take a picture and post it. I have unearthed the camera but it needs to be charged and I can't find the charger. Ah, the joys of moving. I'll come across it eventually I guess.

On my wish list this year is a large embroidery stand with scoll frames. My hands keep cramping up holding onto the hoops so it's time to move up to the big time and have a standing frame. As if I need one more thing...

But no books this year! Seriously, Santa, I've appreciated the books you've given me over the past forty something years but I just don't have any more room for them. Of course this means I'll go on some crazy book-buying binge at my birthday, but for right now no.more.books!

Oh, and for what it's worth, I have not had sex with Tiger Woods.

DONE!

I finally moved.

Yesterday.

It has been a long, strange saga... complete with getting mauled by a cat.

Now comes the unpacking.

Are you kidding me?

I couldn't believe it when I heard this announcement on the radio this morning: In a surprise, Obama wins Nobel Peace Prize. He has done nothing to deserve this. What the hell was the Committee thinking? The award to President Wilson made far more sense than this does - it was for starting the League of Nations. Even though the League failed and was replaced by the United Nations, Wilson had actually accomplished something. Obama made some nice speeches but he hasn't done anything.

Someone else, much nicer than I am, said:

"So soon? Too early. He has no contribution so far. He is still at an early stage. He is only beginning to act," said former Polish President Lech Walesa, a 1983 Nobel Peace laureate.

"This is probably an encouragement for him to act. Let's see if he perseveres. Let's give him time to act," Walesa said.

The Peace prize wasn't created to encourage actions but to reward extra-ordinary actions taken by a person to bring about peace. From the Nobel Peace Prize site:

According to Nobel's will, the Peace Prize is to go to whoever "shall have done the most or the best work for fraternity between nations, for the abolition or reduction of standing armies and for the holding and promotion of peace congresses". The prize includes a medal, a personal diploma, and a large sum of prize money (currently 10 million Swedish crowns).

Awarding the Peace Prize to Obama at this time actually cheapens it. This is just ludicrous and I'd like to know what the hell the Nobel Committee was thinking when they decided to do this.

If you haven't seen it

read a fascinating article in the New York Times by Sara Corbett entitled The Holy Grail of the Unconscious.

It was this last part — the idea that a person might move beneficially between the poles of the rational and irrational, the light and the dark, the conscious and the unconscious — that provided the germ for his later work and for what analytical psychology would become.

1st woman takes charge of Army's drill sergeants

I liked this story:

1st woman takes charge of Army's drill sergeants by Susanne M. Schafer and AP. The article states that Command Sgt Major Teresa King is 48 and unmarried. If the Sgt Major were male, would that be stated?

I do like the story but I also noticed it had a bit of a Donna Reed undercurrent:

Command Sgt. Maj. Teresa King can dress down a burly, battle-hardened sergeant in seconds with a sharp phrase and a withering look, then turn around and tell trainee soldiers to be sure they get seven hours of sleep.

It this were about CSM Tom King, would they write that, even if true? Or this:

"She's got this unique way of dealing with soldiers where she can be correcting them, but it's in a manner that they're wanting to please her and wanting to do the right thing," he said. "It's not degrading to them."

That statement is by her battalion commander, Lt Col Dave Wood. I'm not criticizing Wood, you can tell he means that as a compliment, but would he say the same thing about a male CSM?

And what does this matter?:

A touch of bright red lipstick and kohl-dark eyeliner doesn't soften her stern gaze when she spots a sheet corner not properly tucked or a young soldier with a uniform askew.

Overall the article is positive and I enjoyed it. I'm not much of a feminist but the above strikes me as condescending and pointless.

~ ~ ~

Still in the process of moving. New date is October 3.

Dead Dreams

Senator Edward Kennedy dies at age 77

Not overly surprising as most victims of brain cancer (as the article points out) die within a year. I am saddened for his family but I'm not going to be one of those lionizing him. I had serious issues with most of his political views and there was just something about the man that irked me.

I saw Camelot at Goodspeed Opera House earlier this summer. I've been listening to the musical on my ipod and thinking alot about that era - the 1960's - and the mythology surrounding the Kennedy's. Many point to the lies of the Nixon administration as when ordinary, middle-of-the-road Americans started losing faith in their government but I wonder if they knew, sensed, the lies of Camelot. It would explain the explosion of rage that was the late 1960's. People just knew they were being lied to all along and with the murder of the dreams they just... exploded.

It's true! It's true! The crown has made it clear.
The climate must be perfect all the year.

A law was made a distant moon ago here:
July and August cannot be too hot.
And there's a legal limit to the snow here
In Camelot.
The winter is forbidden till December
And exits March the second on the dot.
By order, summer lingers through September
In Camelot.
Camelot! Camelot!
I know it sounds a bit bizarre,
But in Camelot, Camelot
That's how conditions are.
The rain may never fall till after sundown.
By eight, the morning fog must disappear.
In short, there's simply not
A more congenial spot
For happily-ever-aftering than here
In Camelot.

Camelot! Camelot!
I know it gives a person pause,
But in Camelot, Camelot
Those are the legal laws.
The snow may never slush upon the hillside.
By nine p.m. the moonlight must appear.
In short, there's simply not
A more congenial spot
For happily-ever-aftering than here
In Camelot.

It's the reprise that is most haunting:

ARTHUR:
Each evening, from December to December,
Before you drift to sleep upon your cot,
Think back on all the tales that you remember
Of Camelot.
Ask ev'ry person if he's heard the story,
And tell it strong and clear if he has not,
That once there was a fleeting wisp of glory
Called Camelot.

Camelot! Camelot!

Now say it out with pride and joy!

TOM:

Camelot! Camelot!

ARTHUR:

Yes, Camelot, my boy!
Where once it never rained till after sundown,
By eight a.m. the morning fog had flown...
Don't let it be forgot
That once there was a spot
For one brief shining moment that was known
As Camelot.

Richard Burton, who could not sing, does a brilliant job of conveying the pain, the anguish, the soul-crushing weariness of Arthur before he dies. You are almost happy for him that it is over and he can find peace. I would imagine that being a myth, or being part of one, must be a burden almost impossible to bear.

"The disadvantage of my position," he told an interviewer, "is being constantly compared with two brothers of such superior ability."

May you find peace in the Summerland Edward.

Odd, wandering thoughts day

Google has a new doodle which led me to the information that this is the 400th anniversary of Galileo's telescope.

400 hundred years. My mind started wandering down a path of thought about all that has happened in the past 400 years, all that human beings have accomplished - the good, the bad, the ugly. Take a look at wiki's list of events for this day in history.

I found a new place to live. Not a house, but it's a nice place. I'm probably moving the weekend of September 12. I've sicced a lawyer on the condo's owners to get out of the lease and get the security back. Nothing is ever simple, is it?

Your government at work or why I keep avoiding the news

C.I.A. Sought Blackwater’s Help in Plan to Kill Jihadists.

“It’s wrong to think this counterterrorism program was confined to briefing slides or doodles on a cafeteria napkin,” the official said. “It went well beyond that.”

I'm moving on to less stress-inducing topics. It's too damn hot and life is too damned short to be this angry.

~ ~ ~

Rick Bayless FOR THE WIN!

I had a hard time getting into Top Chef Masters even though some of my favorite chefs were showcased. It was... meh... to me, for some reason. But I'm tickled beyond belief by the Bayless win. Love!Him! and I'm really happy he won.

Top Chef Vegas... well, we'll see. There are always so many of them in the beginning I have a hard time keeping track. Bacon donut? Gross. Just!Gross! Also, I wasn't thrilled with the chef (Mike? I think) who whinged about losing to a girl. Jackass. Pack your knives and go chef. See TWOP later in the day (or tomorrow) for the re-cap.

Not paying attention

Dad got me hooked on NCIS earlier this year. He's the typical older parent in that he doesn't want anything for birthday's, Father's Day or Christmas and he doesn't want anyone spending any money - especially on him (for what it's worth Mom is just as bad). He is a typical male in that whatever he "needs" he just up and buys - which can be annoying. A few years ago sister Gretchen came up with the plan that we (the five chillun) would provide Dad with one seaon of JAG for each birthday, Father's Day and Christmas. Sadly, the show was only on for ten years so that only got us through three years of the afore-mentioned gift-giving occassions. Thankfully, JAG had a spin-off in NCIS. Sadly, it's just starting season seven (and the five of us are awaiting his season six Christmas present to be released at the end of the month) so we've already run out of options for his birthday next March. Dad loves all things Navy, John Wayne, Navy, The Quiet Man, MASH, Navy... and we've run out of options having provided vhs's, and now dvd's, of all his favorite movies and shows already. There might have to be a road trip to Annapolis in March. Not that that is a bad thing. Hm... Navy men...

In any event, Dad's gotten me hooked NCIS. Mom mentioned that USA network was running marathons of the program and guess who is glued to the show most nights? Other than Dad? Yeah, me. In addition to enjoying the fun and banter of the early years of the show (which seems to missing in seasons five and six), I'm loving me some Mark Harmon. Damn! If I'm not careful I might turn into fangurl at the rate this is going. Because of my latest obsession I haven't been paying attention to the world at large. I heard something about some fool woman accussing President Obama of being Hitler, the health care policy being a "Nazi" policy, and Barney Franks giving her a "smack down" and I was WTF?

"Do you really think that's thoughtful conversation? Do you really think that advances your arguments? I mean I thought you were thoughtful people who were here to have a conversation. I guess I don't understand. Is it because you don't like what I'm saying? What's the matter with you all? I don't understand your mentality. What do you think you accomplish by yelling?"

Representative Frank frequently annoys me. Grates, really, and he's no stranger to shouting down people he doesn't like, but I agree with him this time. What am I missing by not paying attention to the news these days? How did this fool woman come to the conclusion that the health care plan is a Nazi policy? Do I want to know?

Probably not.

While watching Mark Harmon each evening I've been stitching Daisy Collage by Laura J. Perin. It has been taxing because of my limited ability and it distracts me from Mark. Or Mark distracts me from Daisy. It could go either way. I might finish this project by next August at the rate I'm going.

I'm going to have to give up on Daisy for a couple of weeks - I'm moving again. Serious water leakage in the condo that management is doing nothing about has me looking at houses. Small, 1,000 sq ft or less, and I am hoping to move by September 12. I've had nothing but water problems for the last seven years and when Mom mentioned that to Dad on Sunday he said:

What do you expect, she's a Pisces

Hm.

Silence Is The Enemy

Silence Is The Enemy

Silence Is The Enemy was born–so named because we will not be. All through June, I’ll continue posting information, details, benchmarks, and let everyone know about progress made, new initiatives, and stories from the region. I encourage others to do so as possible. The Intersection, On Becoming A Laboratory And Domestic Goddess, Aetiology, Bioephemera, Neurotopia, The Questionable Authority, DrugMonkey, and Adventure In Ethics And Science will be donating all revenue this month to Doctors Without Borders. The goal is two-fold: Raising funds and–arguably more importantly–awareness. Since blogging revenue increases with traffic, we hope to get people to keep coming back for more information about what’s going on and thinking about how to make a difference. Do not feel obligated to donate, but it’s one idea. There are many ways to contribute: Write and email Members of Congress (Congressional Directory here), speak at community meetings, encourage others to get involved, or donate to our chosen charity (Doctors Without Borders). Help us maximize our donations by visiting Isis, Jessica, Tara, Neurotopia, Mike, DrugMonkey, Janet and returning here often because every click will help raise money. Spread the word. We want to make sure elected officials at multiple levels realize this is a global issue that matters to a large voting constituency!

After Wars, Mass Rapes Persist

In Liberia, sexual predation during the civil war was “normal.” One major survey found that 75 percent of women had been raped — mostly gang-raped, with many suffering internal injuries.

The incidence of rape has dropped since then but is still numbingly high. An International Rescue Committee survey in 2007 found that about 12 percent of girls aged 17 and under acknowledged having been sexually abused in some way in the previous 18 months.

Then there is the age of the victims. Of the 275 new sexual violence cases treated between January and April by Doctors Without Borders in Liberia, 28 percent involve children aged 4 or younger, and 33 percent involve children aged 5 through 12.

“The rape of little children is common,” said Oretha Brooks, a social worker at the excellent Duport Road Clinic in Monrovia. “It happens on a daily basis.” She introduced me to Wynnie, a 9-year-old girl in her waiting room who had been raped twice.

Silence Is The Enemy on Facebook.

PANIC!

We've had Swine flu in the US before, peeps, and it was no big thing then and most likely won't be now. At least not in the US. The media, addicted to adreneline rush, are hysterically hyping Swine Flu right now. The deadly flu will be trumped, until after the 6pm news this evening, by the fly-over which occurred at the Statue of Liberty today. The FAA didn't deem it necessary to warn New Yorkers of a 747 flying around lower Manhattan... being chased by F16's.

Fucking. Morons.

Is it talk like a pirate day?

No?

Then this patch on my eye must be because I have PINK EYE!

oy.vey.

Warning: what follows is seriously gross.

I've been fighting a sinus infection for nearly a week with anti-biotics. That seems to have disappeared on Tuesday but just past noon yesterday my right eye started itching. I resisted the urge to rub and headed for the ladies room. My right eye was sea of red with a brown pupil in the center. I flushed it with cold water and went back to the office. About three o'clock the pain hit and I went back to the bathroom and there was a dam of pus in the corner of my eye. I went back to the office, called my eye doctor and begged to be seen immediately. By the time I got there, 30 minutes later, pus was draining down my cheek. There were some kids in the office with their mothers and they freaked out a little when they saw me. One mother said "Is that pink eye?" and I said I think so and she literally shrank back and pulled her kid closer to her.

Yes, I am a monster.

I got into to see the doctor and explained how fast this had happened and he was a bit shocked. He cleaned out the eye, did an exam, put in anti-biotic drops in both eyes and put a patch over the right eye.

Probably so I don't scare more children.

The doctor gave me more drops and instructions to use in both eyes for seven days. I went to the pharmacy and go more eye patches and anti-bacterial hand wash and proceeded to drive home.

In the kingdom of the blind the one-eyed man is King.

Have you ever tried driving with an eye patch on? My perception is deeply skewed at the moment so I'm driving like a little old lady. Not quite curb-crawling, but close.

So I'm putting drops in every four hours. The left eye is slightly red and draining a little and the right eye looks better but it is still horrifying to see. I don't know how I picked this up, especially as I've been on anti-biotics for the sinus infection.

Blech!

Today has been brought to you by the letter P and Zymar (gatifloxacin ophthalmic solution).

Interesting reading in the Atlantic

One World, Under God by Robert Wright:

There’s no denying that this view threatens the claim that Christians, in worshipping Jesus, recognize God’s one physical appearance on Earth and thus have special insight into divine purpose. Still, as debunkings of scripture go, this one is fairly congenial to religious belief, for it does leave open the prospect of divine purpose generically. In fact, it underscores that prospect. The story of early Christianity highlights a kind of moral direction in human history, a current that, however fitfully, has repeatedly expanded the circle of tolerance, even amity. And if history naturally produces moral insight—however mundane the machinery that mediates its articulation—then maybe some overarching purpose is built into the human endeavor after all.

In any event, whether or not history has a purpose, its moral direction is hard to deny. Since the Stone Age, the scope of social organization has expanded, from hunter-gatherer society through city-state through empire and beyond. And often this expansion has entailed the extension of mutual understanding across bounds of ethnicity, religion, or nationality. Indeed, it turns out that formative periods in both Islam and Judaism evince the same dynamic as early Christianity: an imperial, multiethnic milieu winds up fostering a tolerance of other ethnicities and faiths.

Now, as we approach the global level of social organization—and see the social order threatened by strife among these Abrahamic religions—another burst of moral progress is needed. Success is hardly guaranteed, but at least the early history of Christianity and indeed of all Abrahamic faiths gives cause for hope. However bleak a globalizing world may look at times, the story could still have a happy ending, an ending that brings out the best in religion as religion brings out the best in people.

The only nice thing I can say about Chris Dodd is that

he isn't Joe Lieberman.

Is that an example of damning with feint praise?

Hm.

In any event, Time has an article on Senator Dodd: Connecticut's Chris Dodd Faces a Backyard Rebellion by Jay Newton-Small.

On this point Dodd says he too is frustrated in waiting for responses from the leadership on requests for more staff. "We're jammed," he says. "I think we'll need some more people, and we're bringing more people on ... I'm really exhausted. It's overwhelming the amount of work and trying to stay on top of it and listening to people about their ideas and trying to figure out what the solutions are."

Poor man. Perhaps Connecticut should take pity on the Senator and allow him to retire. But please, Connecticut, not Kudlow or Simmons... we have enough problems in this state.

Global Economic Crisis

Icelanders knit crafty response to global crisis

"At least there's a silver lining," says Sara Eysosdottir, owner and head designer of the psychedelic clothing store Naked Ape. "Because of the exchange rate, more foreigners are coming here, and they're buying what we've got in the stores: local design.

"And in a sense, the financial collapse has gotten young people busy," Ms. Eysosdottir says. "They have realized that they can't just be on Facebook all day; that if they want to survive, they're going to have to use their creativity and start making things to sell."

The upside to the current economic crisis is that people are getting crafty - not only finding new ways to save money but digging into old skills to make new money. I don't think there fortunes to be made here but some things are more precious than gold.

CNBC’s Jim Cramer on Obama: greatest wealth destruction ever

It's been an interesting media week. Rush Limbaugh is being targeted by White House/Democratic insiders and they are, basically, acting like bullying school boys. Limbaugh brought this on himself, but the childishness is reaching new lows. Now Cramer has done an about-face on his Obama-worshipping of last year and has declared that the President has “basically put a level of fear in this country that I have not seen ever in my life.”

Hm. I would argue that was the previous administrations gift to America.

Will the media ever engage in worth-while debate? Are they ever going to get past mud-slinging and deal with real-life issues?

Probably not.

March already

As it's been bitter cold with lots of snow I thought I'd post something to remind myself that spring will be arriving soon.

YIKES!

No, not really.

It's Friday the 13th. One of three we'll have this year:

13 Facts About Friday the 13th

The next Friday the 13th comes in March, followed by Nov. 13. Such a triple whammy comes around only every 11 years, said Thomas Fernsler, a math specialist at the University of Delaware who has studied the number 13 for more than 20 years.

... who has studied the number 13 for more than 20 years...

The mind boggles. I wonder if this guy got grant money for his "study".