I woke up circa 3am and wandered about the yard in my robe looking upward. I only saw one dim meteor and one rather bright one. Both were quick and short-lived, as Geminids are want to be. But I've just got too many trees (only about half the leaves have fallen off) and several neighbors with streetlights to get good views.

The story below about an innocent man jailed for 26 yrs (so far) due to the attorney / client privilege provides solid evidence for my suspicions - that more often than we want to know the justice system merely wants someone to "hang" for a crime, even if it's not the right person. It's increasingly difficult to have faith in the system, and the ( Read more... )

I sometimes think about children I've seen on TV that have become so morbidly obese they cannot even leave their rooms. My first thought is - how is it that someone who can't get to the kitchen keeps getting enough food to perpetuate this problem?!?! Shouldn't this be self-correcting at some point? The answer seems to always be found in a "loving" ( Read more... )

One word - appendectomy!

In only 36 hours, I went from first vague symptoms to awakening from my very first surgery:

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Most surprises are not pleasant, so when one is I feel somewhat obligated to give recognition to it - if for no other reason than to refute claims that all I ever do is complain :)

I figured it was time to get started, even if slowly, on what I had been ignoring for some time. I had dental problems in my youth and all (but one) of my molars are full ( Read more... )

Why is this a surprise? It's simple economics, not rocket science. Perhaps the research is being conducted by nerdy (hence disproportionately unmarried) researchers?

My take on it...

First of all, I am constantly reminded of conversations I've had with single mothers who wanted to find a man but would NOT take one that did ALL the domestic chores ( Read more... )

I'm not sure I've got a clear handle on the line between "hate crime" and "hate". A noose may (or may not) signify hate. Hanging a man with it is a crime that may (or may not) be motivated by racial hatred. Perhaps Sharpton and Jackson and all those they make efforts to keep in a mindset of victimization  would like any expression of hate to be a ( Read more... )

"Can and should one generation be held accountable for another's atrocities?" This article about saving Africa brings up the topic.

I don't have time to address this all at once, so it will have to come in parts...

Part 1

This is not unlike the Christian Biblical issue of whether children should pay for the sins of their fathers. Would you enjoy going ( Read more... )

Paris Hilton tries to help drunken, rampaging elephants. Somehow the thought of her using the word "pachyderms" amuses me. Google image search and photoshop come together to provide a visual:


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There are those in power that wish for the American people to say goodbye to rights they've long held. First, "A top intelligence official says it is time people in the United States changed their definition of privacy."

This, along with all the current administration has done in this arena in the name of homeland security leaves me with a queasy, ( Read more... )