Drugged, raped, and pregnant?

“Drugged, raped, and pregnant? Too bad. Republicans are pushing to limit rape and incest cases eligible for government abortion funding.”(1)
Republicans in the House have announced an all-out war on abortion. They are making good on the promise to the Christian Conservative Right with the “"No Taxpayer Funding for Abortion Act," which contains provisions to drastically redefine the definition of rape for the purposes of abortion. They want only situations where “forcible rape”, that is rape where a woman is physically forced to submit, to count as rape. Credible threats don’t count; threats of injury to others don’t count; statutory rape doesn’t count; incestuous rape doesn’t count; rape of drugged or intoxicated persons doesn’t count. Only if someone beats the crap out of a woman or puts a gun to her head will the Act possibly permit federal resources to pay for an abortion.
This is basically solving a problem by definition. For example, suppose instead of allowing African-Americans equal rights as in the Brown vs. Board of Education ruling, the legislature passed a constitutional amendment that simply put AMs out of the human race, and then passed the “Equal Education for all Human Being Act”? Problem solved by definition. Does this idea piss you off? Offended by the example? Me too. And I am offended as hell by another thinly veiled attempt by MEN to limit the health choices of WOMEN. What do you wait for? The males in the legislature to pass the “Housewife Mandatory Work Act” or the “Women Only Get Minimum Wage Act”?
Women are getting screwed and getting pregnant by MEN, again, and those same men want to control every aspect of women’s lives. Sounds dangerously like Sharia Law with a Hijab.
1. Source: http://motherjones.com/politics/2011/01/republican-plan-redefine-rape-abortion
Image: blogs.creativeloafing.com

The REAL Wilson has been FOUND!!

We all remember the discovery of Wilson, his invaluable companionship and council and we all remember the heart-breaking moment when he floated away into oblivion in the Pacific Ocean. Be of good cheer. Wilson didn’t deflate and sink into the cold dark depths. He went on a journey of discovery, and what a journey it was!
From the undisclosed location in the Pacific he made it to the Indian Ocean, around the southern tip of Africa, and up the east coast to the equator. There, he traveled through the Caribbean into the Gulf of Mexico, through the Straits of Florida and north in the Gulf Stream. He turned south off the coast of Scotland, sailed on to the Bay of Biscay and finally into the Mediterranean.
After several months of bobbing in a general north eastward direction he came to the mouth of the Arno River. Here one of the greatest feats of navigation of all times occurred. Taking advantage of the small but persistent eddy currents that move upstream, Wilson floated hundreds of miles inland to Florence, where I spotted him playing is a pool just below the dam near the Ponte Vecchio.
The reason for this long and harrowing trip is clear: Wilson is an Italian from Firenze and just wanted to get home. When we shouted “Look!! There’s Wilson!! Welcome Home!!” he spun with joy and bounced off a log with a playful twist.
And now you know the rest of the story.
Image: http://tierneylab.blogs.nytimes.com

“SUNNY”

Some people naturally view the world through the pessimistic viewer and some through the optimistic viewer. I am in the former camp. And I think there are good reasons to be watchful for problems and prepare if possible for outcomes caused by situations “going South”. Plan ahead for hurricanes or hope they don’t hit? Use side mirrors and look for cars on side streets or just hope nobody does anything wrong or stupid? Get medical checkups or just hope you stay healthy?
You get the message. This kind of view, when expanded to a world view can lead to an incessant drumbeat of warning and worry (why worry if you can’t do anything?). And this in turn can drown out the sunny side of life or shove the good times so far back that they remain unremembered. Well partner, don’t do it. No matter how situations may appear, there will be bright spots somewhere. Bobby Hebb reminded me of that yesterday on WQTL, Q-106.1 with his wonderful rendition of “Sunny”. Stevie Wonder said it using sunshine as a metaphor too.
So yesterday as I was driving home and listening to “Sunny” and thinking about “You are the Sunshine of my life” the Sunshine of my life came into sharp focus. Thank you Sunny, for everything.

Lyrics by Bobby Hebb: http://www.kbapps.com/lyrics/top50/18sunny.html
Lyrics by Stevie Wonder: http://www.romantic-lyrics.com/ly3.shtml
Bobby Hebb: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WwX_DU02aDg&feature=related
Stevie Wonder: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mL_PNNr_NgU&feature=fvw

Passed a nice fat dead deer on US 90 yesterday. Head cut off at the shoulders. We can all guess why. Many years ago I hit a beautiful 8 point buck on Meridian on the way home one night. I left it there after being sure it was off the road and dead. The guy that processes my deer won’t take road kills. Next morning as I passed I noticed: Head cut off at the shoulders.
So, some Redneck (I know its pejorative but what else can you call them?) now has two nice bucks mounted in his double wide and regales the boys with the stories of how he tracked them, kilt them with one great shot and dragged them out of the woods way after dark.” Damn skippy they was heavy. Look at the racks!!”
And these guys actually get licenses to hunt and drive, and some of them vote. No wonder we are in deep, ah, pellets.

Image: www. thedissidentfrogman.com

On Poo, or, "Damn it, I was not BSing you."

I was telling a class the other day about the chemistry of feces and why it turns dark on the “air” side and stays lighter in the water. I mentioned, as I have for decades to other classes, that in Europe you can find toilets with a shelf to poo on so you can inspect the results and collect a sample if needed. As usual, met with disbelief. “Why would ANYONE want to do that???”
Reasons too numerous to list, but suffice it to say some are good. Like people with IBS or Crohn’s disease that from time to time have to take a look or grab a sample. I am tired of always saying ‘No, really, they do!!!”
So here are the pictures and links. If they don’t work, just Google “toilet for inspecting feces” and look at the images. If you are lucky, you might even get the “twins”.

(Flachspueler means "Washout" in German according to Google translate.)
Essay on subject: http://www.breigh.com/wordpress/archives/1617
Image: lifeintheleftlane.wordpress.com

Muslim World Begins to Crack.

The Muslim world is shaking. Unrest in Tunisia has quickly spread to Egypt with trouble also in Lebanon. I guess “unrest” is mild considering the problems in Iraq, Pakistan and Afghanistan. And then there are the southern ‘-stans’ of Russia. Beside radical Islam there is a common thread: millions of young men with no prospect for a future. No jobs. No education. No real hope. Nobody really cares about them except radical Clerics and jihadists. Men of twisted value and perspectives who want power. Plain and simple.
I see the problem like this: Muslims often have large families, roughly one half males. The population of young Muslim males is growing quickly with no prospects better than those mentioned above. So what do the 2 to 12 year olds have to look forward to? Work? Not bloody likely. Education? No again. Real hope? Unlikely.
Then there are the girls that grow up to become mothers with many children. Hope? No. Poor, sick, abused? You bet.
Solution? I seriously doubt that short of all-out war eventually, there is no solution. And I really don’t see how all-out war will help either. Maybe reduce the population a bit? Terrible way to do that, isn’t it?
At least that’s the way I see it. How do you see it?
Image: www. northwestindiana.com

Image: www.signsofthelastdays.com

Nothing to Say.

Nothing to write about is a bad sign. With so much to write about it seems strange to have nothing to say about any of it. Weather, religion, politics, even sex. News, work, students, friends, even food. Nothing. I wonder if this is what writers block is all about, or maybe depression? The world flows around you but doesn’t seem to touch. The sun shines but doesn’t seem to be warm. Time moves slowly.
Ah. Reality. Seven squirrels stocking up on spilled sun flower seeds. Furry and warm. Paying not the least attention to the sleeping dogs, going on their way oblivious. Of what? If they knew they wouldn’t be oblivious, would they? Duh.

Tonight then tomorrow then tomorrow again.

Immage: www.spanring.eu

Take the Country Back? You Are Damn Right!!!

The country and world are literally coming apart: Monetary crises; hunger crises; weather crises; immigration crises; civility crises; water crises; education crises; air quality crises and more. There is more than enough to keep politicians busy without getting into our personal lives, again. You would think so anyway. Yet the Republican controlled House and the minority in the Senate, and in more than 28 states, many of which face financial suicide, the self-stated PRIMARY OBJECTIVE of the legislative year is the total removal of the control of a woman’s right to control her OWN BODY. The agenda is to severely restrict or eliminate completely the right of a woman to terminate a pregnancy based on her own choice. Kill Roe v Wade at the federal level, eliminate any Federal funding that goes to abortion services, even when the health of the mother is in danger, and make the provision of abortions a crime. At the state level, a curtailing of licensed termination services, a prohibition of any termination over 20 weeks regardless of the condition of fetus or mother and/or the forcing of a woman to view the sonogram of the fetus prior to the procedure.
What the hell is going on here? Poll after poll indicates that more than 70% of Americans favor abortion services under some circumstances while clearly stating is should not be used merely as birth control. So when the newly elected politicians claim they are doing “The Peoples Business”. Who is” the people?” A minority of the voters, many of whom are conservative Christians that VOTE. Democrats far outnumber Republicans in voter registration and Democrats are overwhelmingly in favor of reproductive rights for women. But the lazy jerks don’t VOTE.
It really is time for women and men of moderate and liberal views to “Take the Country Back” from the radical right wingers that have taken over. Today women lose reproductive rights, tomorrow we lose religious freedoms and the day after tomorrow who knows? Wearing yellow and pink stars on our clothes and being stopped on the street by a man in a long leather coat and being asked “Let me see your PAPERS.”? (Oh, I forgot. They already do that in Arizona and Florida wants to do it too.)
Image: www.sodahead.com

Firenze: Tuscan Treats

One afternoon we were wandering around the side streets near the Ponte Vecchio, getting cold, wet and tires when we spotted a local-looking place. Wood fired pizza oven. Hmmm. This could be interesting. We looked over the menu and decided that would be the place for supper later. And, easy walking from the hotel. The name of this treasure is Le Antiche Carrozze.
I inquired about reservations and the fellow assured me in not much English that at the time we wanted to eat there would be no problem. And there was no problem. When we returned, we were seated quickly and soon had a bottle of a local wine and some good bread. The menu was varied and included several kinds of pizza, Italian style, and much more. Sal and I decided on Carbonara and were delighted with the dish. Perfectly cooked al dente pasta with a rich creamy eggy bacon sauce. To die for, literally it turns out. The combination of cream, egg and bacon fat is surely one of the most artery insulting mixes imaginable. But OMG what wonderful texture and flavor. We have tried Carbonara in other places and had only one to match this one. Years ago. Another tale for another time. We savored this meal, complemented with more nice local wine, and left sated.
Dinner for two including wine, appetizers, meal and tip = $85. A bargain in Florence.
Image: http://www.leantichecarrozze.it/en/menu-and-typical-tuscan-recipes.html

Tales of Firenz: Food

So we got settled in the Anglo-American hotel and set out for the Ponte Vecchio for a look. Same as last time. Dinner. Off to the Buca dell’Orafo for reservations. Chiuso. Hmm. What to do next? We had a tip on a place from a friend (RD) but no name. Too long a walk for one of us in the cold and rain, so back to the hotel. A friendly clerk got Google maps and we looked up the intersection and there it was.
We got a cab ride across town and went in. Table for four? No problem she said in British English. (It was still early by Italian standards.) Wine list? The Sommelier will be with you shortly. Ooops, this doesn’t sound like the place described. A snotty Italian produced a wine list with at least 500 selections and I chose a 35 euro bottle of something red. Sneer by the prick.
The Brit came back and we asked for the menu. She said, and I quote: “I am the menu.” Ooops again. She pulled up a chair and recited a rather extensive list of several courses, no prices, and we chose a modest starter. It came and was good along with the cheap wine. She came back, recited the first and second courses and we chose again. Another bottle of plonk from snotty. Good food, good service, pleasant atmosphere (excepting snotty), then the bill.
GASP! 365 EUROS! In dollars that is around $430 bucks. Definitely not the place RD recommended, but then again we had a good meal and Amex paid for it. Heh, heh.
So my advice is this: If you are ever in a restaurant and somebody says “I am the menu”, excuse yourself and leave.
Image: Buca dell’Orafo; http://www.travelpod.com