Thoughts on the morning

I’ve successfully worked out in the mornings 3 days this week – very exciting! – and run for 2 of them. A few observations:

- It’s a very nice time to work out – peaceful, even.
- there are a lot of runners quietly running around at 6am.
- My butt and sometimes lower back hurts after a run even though I stretch before and after, and have proper running shoes. My courses are up and downhill as my courses are hilly. Maybe I just have to run more often?

Gangs & stuff

Sort of good news in Maryland: an MS-13 scumbag who orchestrated the gang rape of two teenage girls was sentenced to 37 years behind bars (evidently, this isn’t the same judge who dismissed charges of a Liberian child rapist in Montgomery County –see below). This criminal was caught and charged through a RICO operation. Yeah, RICO!

Now, although I’m gratified that this SOB will be behind bars for a long time, he’s still taking up public (taxpayer) resources – food, shelter, medical/dental, etc. And he’ll probably meet up with his MS-13 buddies already in prison – and still operate from the inside. And, ok, the article in WaPo mentioned that he spoke through an interpreter, which I take to mean he’s an illegal. And probably, too, are the scads of relatives present in the courtroom who, along with the defendant, wept at the injustice of the verdict. Read the whole thing for yourself, especially the part where the scumbag says that God knows his heart and that he didn’t do anything wrong. Rich. My only hope is that the system doesn’t allow time off for good behavior.

Oh, yeh, I'm back from Vegas

I guess from the last post, you've figured out that I'm back at the ol' homestead. Vegas was a blast, and not only in temperature.

Speaking of heat, though, the average high temp during our stay was 108 degrees Fahrenheit. At that temp, it does feel like a furnace, albeit a dry one. Here are some musts, if you're to remain healthy and conscious during your stay:

- water, water, water! And by "water" I mean H20, not soda or anything else. DH Jeff & I were constantly drinking water because the dry, hot air sucks the moisture right out of you. And fast. I've heard tales of dehydration and it's not pretty.

- sunblock, sunblock, sunblock! I used SPF 45 and sunbathed. Evidently I missed a spot or two and burned after only about two hours in the sun. I mean REALLY red in the missed parts. Those spray-sunblocks are good - just get someone to spray your back.

In up-coming posts, I'll share what we did & the best places to go (restaurants, etc.).

Miscarriage of justice writ large

In today's WaPo, there's an article that totally infuriated me - and not just in the usual outrage-y way, but in the where's-the-justice way, in the incompetent judge way, in the child-advocacy way. Ok, here's what it's about: in Montgomery County (MD), a Liberian man was charged with raping and repeatedly molesting a 7-year-old girl over a year's period. He was brought to trial. Now, the judge, a Katherine D. Savage, is dropping the charges because over the three year period of the trial, the courts couldn't retain a suitable interpreter for him under the period acceptable to uphold speedy trial rights.

Other interesting facts:

- the accused [sexual predator/child molester scumbag] attended high school in Montgomery County, where presumably the standard operating language is English;

- the accused [sexual predator/child molester scumbag] was taking classes at a community college in Maryland, where presumably the standard operating language is English;

- a court-appointed psychiatrist recommended that "an interpreter be appointed." (WaPo, July 22, 2007). The court followed suit and was evidently bound by this recommendation. I have to wonder why the shrink recommended that, why the justification.

- Montgomery County cannot retry this scumbag again for these charges;

- WaPo claims to have found at least one agency that could provide Vai (a tribal language spoken in Liberia & Sierra Leone) interpreters at short notice.

- the prosecution not only had DNA evidence against the accused, but eye witnesses to the crimes.

- the accused is free to go now.

The prosecution will probably appeal, but what the hey - the guy is free as a bird to rape and molest again, and the victim has received absolutely no justice under our wonderful legal system. The scumbag's rights were upheld, the victim's were - well - at best, theoretical. Now she and her parents must live in the fear that this rapist (a relative, no less), is released back into her community.

The moral of the story? Let's see...If you're raped, make damn sure your rapist speaks & understands English, and understands that what he was doing was actually wrong (that wasn't brought up in the article, but judging from the incidence of rape by all types - UN "peacekeepers", child soldiers, other soldiers, every other Moslem male, etc, in many parts of Africa, I'll make the leap that the accused was bringing up the cultural variance defense). Or maybe: we gratefully import poverty, crime & all sorts of predation in the name of a multi-culti sense of diversity - and our courts happily evidence the kind of incompetence and disfunctionality existent in the courts in countries from which these criminals come. And if you're a kid, you quite literally screwed. Your parents can't protect you everywhere, not even (especially???) from predatory relatives. The courts won't protect you either.

Our justice system, specifically in Montgomery County, specifically in the court of Judge Savage (interesting name, huh, considering the case and her action in it?), failed miserably in bringing to justice a heinous criminal and henceforth, failed in protecting not only this 7-year-old from further injury, but other children who are vulnerable to this free violent criminal. I would not be surprised, nor particularly troubled, if this community took it upon itself to exact a justice unanswered by our supposed rule of law.

A further thought: perhaps the moral of the story is to promptly kill your or child's attacker, because the court system, especially certain judges, will focus solely on the constitutional rights of the accused and disregard the wellbeing of the victim and society at large.

Hiatus

Well, as of late I've been pretty good about posting; however, for the next week and change, I'll be off to Vegas with DH Jeff to see the in-laws and I will be having TOO MUCH FUN to post. Sorry about that but facts are facts. BUT I'm going to take notes on my favorite places (besides the Wynn Hotel) out there & post my thoughts, well, post-vacation. heh. See you then, renewed!

On depression

There's a good article in the Health section of WaPo yesterday (7/10/07) on depression from a sufferer's perspective. I can identify with much of what she says about not wanting to use meds to alleviate it; feeling like it was the easy way out; feeling relief and a sense of optimism and purpose when the meds kicked in; acknowledging that meds can make things more tolerable; but they don't magically resolve anything; however, they can be a good and useful tool when dealing with depression. Check it out.

Morning workout update

Well, this might be an emerging habit after all. I mean working out in the morning. Yesterday, both of us worked out early in the AM & today, I went to AM spin class. If we can keep this going, it'll be a major coup! For now, I'm basking in the well-accomplished week. Yippee!

5 things: hot sauces

In the continuing series of 5 things, I’ve decided that today’s highlighted items are of a hot sauce persuasion. Now, my philosophy on hot sauces is that the perfect one is thick, chunky, garlicky and at the same time, capable of making your nose run and your mouth burn. Smoky, chipotle flavors are good too. Thin, vinegary varieties are at the lower end of pleasure – ok as a stopgap when having nothing else and when faced with bland airline food. The bounty of available thicker, hotter & tastier sauces available make this a moot point. So…here are my 5 favorites of the moment:

1. Uncle Brutha’s Fire Sauce No. 9: Chile verde, garlic & ginger. This is the most flavorful, spicy, garlicky, wonderful sauce I’ve had the pleasure to sweat over in a while. Has a nice thick consistency. My personal favorite of the moment. Can be purchased online or at Whole Foods.

2. Uncle Brutha’s Fire Sauce No. 10: Four chiles & garlic. From the same company as #1 above. Smoky, full-flavored, garlicky and with the same thick consistency as #1. Can be purchased online or at Whole Foods.

3. King Street Blues Chipotle Kick Pepper Sauce. Smoky, full-flavored, garlicky and with thick consistency. DH Jeff’s personal favorite of the moment. Personally, I prefer the Uncle Brutha’s chipotle sauce (#2 above) to this, but they’re very similar. Can be purchased at Whole Foods or I reckon, at the local King Street Blues restaurants (Arlington & Alexandria, VA).

4. D.L. Jardine’s Blazin’ Saddle Habanero Pepper Sauce. This is a nice, bright, spicy habanero (is that redundant?) sauce with a slightly thinner consistency than #s 1-3 above. Still in Renée range of thickness though. Can be purchased online, Whole Foods, or at any hot sauce emporium.

5. D.L. Jardine’s Texas Kicker Habanero Pepper Sauce. Another nice, bright, spicy habanero sauce from the D.L. Jardine’s family of sauces. This sauce is at the threshold of the acceptable thickness and consistency. Any thinner and you’ve got, well, Tabasco sauce. Can be purchased online, Whole Foods, or at any hot sauce emporium.

Honorable mentions to Melinda’s family of hot sauces* and Day of the Dead Hot Sauces. For those chile heads in your world, samplers of these make great gifts!


* Just a quick visit to Melinda’s web site revealed new varieties which I haven’t had the opportunity to taste. Honorable mention is primarily for the XXXtra Hot Sauce, readily available at grocery and gourmet stores. I’ll get back to you when I’ve had a chance to try the new ones. Wahoo! New potential favorites!

Run, Nic, run!

I must confess, I'm between bemused and smitten with the new French president, Nicolas Sarkozy. He's pro-American, law and order, his own man - and not Chirac. Now I have one more reason to like him: in today's WaPo is an article about how he just loves to run (usually in his favorite NYPD tshirt!), which is causing a complete uproar in the French press and with French intellectuals because evidently it's "un-French" to jog. Sarkozy could care less. Ha! Read the whole article here.

Photo credit: Remy De La Mauviniere, Associated Press; Washington Post, July 7, 2007.

More from the religion of heinous violence

Well, if you've been keeping up on current events, then you know about the whole Glasgow airport thing and the cars and stuff. And I suppose, you know by now that these actions were not taken by a bunch a sparked-up Presbyterian grandmothers from Boise, right?

My question is, why does the West think it can continue to appease, placate, pander to or just ignore these folks whose mission is to kill-kill-kill us? This must stop and we (the broad Western "we") must put our collective foot down. These actions are not just criminal, they're terrorist in nature. They will not stop. Why aren't we really fighting back?

I fear it's getting to be too late & the civilized world is done for. I'd love to see someone prove me wrong, but unless we start taking decisive action against this threat, it will be too late. Writing on wall, people!

Wonders never cease

Ok, so maybe it's not quite a pattern yet, but it cannot be called a complete fluke. Speaking of my early morning exercise, that is. This morning, I actually got myself up, pulled on clothes and running shoes & went running, then to the gym for some weights.

The mere fact that I was able to wrench myself from a perfectly comfortable bed with my perfectly cuddly husband this morning at 5:45am (imagine!) and actually was able to leave the apartment without wimping out and diving back into bed is noteworthy, don't you think?

Oh, if I could do this 5 times a week! Wow, having my whole evening free! Not having to motivate myself after work! Not having to fight crowds at the gym! Going to work knowing I've done right by my body! Wahoo!

Ok, here's the test: tomorrow morning, 6:15am, there's a spin class at the gym. Let's see if BOTH Renee & Jeff can make it! Wow, then when class is over, we could toddle down to Whole Foods and grab some coffee and noshes on the way home! I'm so excited! We must actualize this plan! Wahoo!

UPDATE: We didn't make it to spin, but we went and did weights. Anyhow, we made it to the gym! This could be a trend...

2nd shot at amnesty bill killed

And thank goodness for that. The bill, no matter what amendments were added, was still horrible legislation, which at best would have no effect (completely unenforceable and therefore ignored) and at worst, would reward illegal behavior; the added legalized foreign nationals completely overwhelming the already strained capacity of the FBI, DHS, etc., to process applications & background checks (I mean, come on, they already have backlogs in the hundreds of thousands and can’t seem to keep track of the files they’re currently processing); not to mention social and healthcare services (because with legalization comes greater access to welfare, food stamps, medicaid, etc., and the need to process even greater volumes of applicants than before).

No, the bill wasn’t “reform,” no, it wasn’t an “overhaul” and no, it wouldn’t have improved any immigration issues; it is just a misbegotten, voluminous mess and ultimately, a huge waste of taxpayers’ money. Illegals aren’t following the law anyway (either rushing the border or overstaying their visas), so what makes these yahoos think they would fall cooperatively in line and observe all the convoluted rules according to this proposed law (going back to their country, renewing guest-worker visas, etc.)? We have immigration laws on the books already, but what we’ve (the U.S.) shown them (the illegals), is that we’re willing to disregard our laws or unevenly apply them. To a person coming from somewhere like Mexico, wherein there are plenty of unenforced laws (rule of law is notional at best) and almost anything can be bought, maneuvered or extorted, this country and our governance thereof may only seem to be a better functioning variety of their native environment. And they have and will act accordingly.

Furthermore, because historically (read: after 1986 amnesty), such laws didn’t result in secure borders; because millions of tax dollars have been wasted on non-functioning systems (software, for instance) to track deportees, dangerous illegal alien criminals, or just visa over-stayers; and because even if the systems do work, they aren’t used consistently by agencies or available to and shared throughout law enforcement and intelligence agencies [read Michelle Malkin’s book Invasion for details about these fiascos], there is little hope that such a complicated, impractical scheme such as this bill would resolve anything at all. As it could make things a whole lot worse, I’m hoping this monster won’t be re-animated.

Read the WaPo article on its recent demise here.

States take on immigration

Today in WaPo There was an article about how several states are stepping up to the plate and putting forth bills that target illegal immigration in ways that could be effective in discouraging the continued presence of these scofflaws in their states. Clearly, many constituents are frustrated with the lack of meaningful action by federal government to stop the flood of illegal immigration, and their state-level representatives are actually doing something about that frustration. These bills include limits on illegals’ access to government services, ability to hold jobs and to acquire driver’s licenses, as well as enabling law enforcement to inquire about a person’s legal status and detain those who are here illegally. I think this is a very positive trend and if passed, these bills may indeed create a hostile environment for illegal immigrants in the respective states. There’s more than one way to skin this cat and it’s nice to see state lawmakers taking ownership of their own state’s situation. Read the whole article here.

Movie Review: Pan's Labyrinth

Pan’s Labyrinth involves a fairy tale, but make no mistake about it – this is not a kid’s story. The protagonist, a young girl named Ofelia creates this fairy tale world to buffer herself from the very traumatic and violent real world around her. Her pregnant mother is married to a sadistic captain in the Spanish army in 1944 fascist Spain. The captain insists that his wife join him at the front of current fighting against the communist rebellion even though she’s dangerously close to giving birth. As Ofelia’s real existence becomes more lonely, isolated and precarious, she delves deeper into the realm of the fantastic, wherein she attempts to prove herself as worthy to become Princess of that realm.

I would highly recommend this film. Even with subtitles (the movie is in Spanish), the movie draws you into the dark real and mystical action. Really good characters all around: the winsome and brave Ofelia, the brutal captain Vidal, the kindly Mercedes, the wise, old Pan and the creepy guy with eyes in his hands. The violence is shocking, but not gratuitous. And I found it interesting, even with my limited Spanish, to contrast what was actually being said with the subtitle translation.

5 things to say

I had an interesting interpersonal encounter today while walking back from Corner Bakery (lunch). And by interesting, I mean “revolting.” A young black woman (I suspect teenage or early twenties) stopped me and after buttering me up (yes, I know this is a good outfit –I picked it out, didn’t I?), asked me for money for food, because: I’m homeless AND pregnant.

Ok, I’m irritated that anyone would come up to me, a stranger, and demand money. Like, don’t I pay enough taxes to take care of the problem and preclude such encounters? Aren’t I gouged in taxes because I DON’T have children? They have it backwards: I should be paid for NOT having children. But I digress.

I’m not quick in these situations; I never have a snappy come-back until later. Then it’s not so snappy. After all, I may have only 4 brain cells playing bumpercar upstairs, but this was obviously 3 more than the lonely one floating in the dark that this chick was entertaining. Very lonely and understimulated.

Rambling aside, I belatedly thought of a few things to say. Here goes:

1. So where’s the sperm-donor? Why not hit him up for cash? Oh, I know, because he’s out impregnating other stupid girls. So he can brag about all his progeny without actually supporting them.

2. Give me one good reason why I should care what happens to you or your bastard child? And don’t say, “because we need a larger underclass.”

3. What kind of moron throws contraceptive caution to the wind when already homeless? Oh, wait a minute, I’ve answered my own question.

4. Sorry, those funds are earmarked for my new Jimmy Choo’s.

5. Alternately: Sorry, those funds are earmarked for my new boobs.

Ok, I think that’s enough for now. My poor little neurons are tuckered out. If I come up with other zingers, I’ll let you know. And remember boys and girls, responsibility you have to work at, but stupidity is easy and free.

This morning...

...I woke up at 4am and couldn't get back to sleep. Finally, after trying for about an hour and a half, I decided enough already. Better to get up and do something productive rather than lie in bed wide-awake and achieve nothing more than irritability. So, what was that productive activity at 5:30 in the morning, you ask? Well, I threw on clothes and went running in the neighborhood - and then went to the gym to do a weights workout. I know, this doesn't seem possible as it usually takes an act of God to get me going in the morning, but today it all fell into place.

Let me just say that running at that hour of the morning was the most beautiful experience I've had in awhile. It's quiet, calm and fresh, no humidity and the temperature perfect(70s?). The lawns are neatly mowed and green. There are just a few motorists out so it's safe. I ran down streets that I hadn't before and checked out the new houses being built. Oh, if I could rouse myself every morning to do this, I'd be a happy camper.

Now, however, I just want to curl up and go back to sleep.

On manners

I've noticed - and have commented tangentially on - people's manners when it comes to social events at people's homes. You've heard my rants on the issues with Book Club and such. Well, pretty recently DH Jeff came up with the idea/concept of having a monthly "Sunday Dinner" like those dinners with family growing up. It was [originally] a chance for Jeff to stretch his culinary skills (as he is the primary cook in our household) and, of course, another excuse for us to be social.

It has been very successful, I think. This last Sunday I took the helm on cooking & was pleasantly surprised (?) how well everything came out. [Sidebar: part of my motivation was a little healthy competition for Jeff and part of it was not wanting to be pidgeon-holed as the booze-hound-in-chief. I am what I am, but who wants that as an epitaph? Also, no one notices all the hard work that went into making the place clean - they just notice when it's not clean] Also, that we attracted a good group and everyone seemed to be having a good time. So far, so good.

But: there were two people we invited who said they would come, who inexplicably didn't show up. There were no phone calls or emails saying they couldn't come, at the last minute. These were two who had done the same thing in the past. You know, at this age - and both parties are around my age - I don't think I should have to remind you to have manners, and yet...it seems beyond some people to exercise a little courtesy.

In the past - and I've mentioned this before - I used to be that way. I'd never give a solid response - just "maybe" and then if if I said yes, sometimes not show up. And then at some point I had an "Aha! Moment": these people don't have to invite me AT ALL and here I am treating them and their hospitality so casually, so dismissively. NOT ANY MORE. Now I'm usually the first to RSVP. No, you won't have to wait for me. I appreciate that you bothered to invite me to your whatever and understand that puting on even a small gathering involves time, effort, planning and yes, money. If I have no scheduling conflicts, I'll (now we'll) be there & will bring some token offering (wine, mostly).

Evidently, some folks can't grasp this concept...and are probably miffed when I bring it to their attention. Well, it's not all about you - do you get that?

Enough, already. I want to thank all of those who do have manners, who do bother, and show how they value our hospitality and friendship - it's most certainly not lost on me!

In memoriam

Yesterday, one of my uncles died after being on the healthwise decline for awhile. After talking with my mom, I understand he died peacefully, thank goodness.

Just wanted to post a little tribute to my Uncle Moses:

Although I didn’t know you well, I can say that you were a kind and giving person, a man who served your country well, a patriot, a real character and a heck of a good story-teller (that last part is high praise from me!).

May your afterlife be as interesting yet easier-going than your life here had been.

Cheers!

Venting

[UPDATE]: Coordinator emailed me about the whole thing and all is well. Evidently, the late night wasn't alright with members, so the 9pm cut-off this week was an attempt to reign things in. Promised to review my piece the next critique. Call me fickle, but now I'm not sure I want the piece reviewed or want to continue with the story line at all. As much as I've been enjoying the group, I've also been addressing it like school - as in assignments. As in pressure. I need to just back off and take it easy. Especially with everything else going on. We'll see.

Ok, I know I should be “bigger person” or more of a grown-up about this, but tough, I’m not and I need to vent. Last evening at writing group we were critiquing works and my submission was supposed to be last because chronologically, I had submitted it last of the entries. No problem, that system is fair. After all the others had been addressed thoroughly, and I had given what I hoped were encouraging-yet-helpful comments and waited patiently for my turn, however, we “ran out of time” at 9pm. Which essentially means that my piece (a first chapter of a proposed novel) won’t be considered at all, even at a later time unless I press the issue at the next critiquing session. So, basically, it would just drop off the radar.

Now, last week, the meeting was going strong at 9:30-ish when DH Jeff & I left. But evidently, that was ok.

I tried to be an adult about it last night, at least until we left the meeting. Sure, folks can email me with comments. No problem. Now, one nice gal had actually written comments for me. I appreciated that. But no one else bothered.

But after we cleared the building, I expressed my really pissy mood. DH Jeff found it hard to relate because his story had been reviewed, thoroughly. But, he rightly suggested that next time I specifically ask to go first. Yes, good idea and so is submitting early so I’m first on the list. Yep, I’ll work on that. Doesn’t really help my mood now.

Let’s have some context for this situation:
- After an exceedingly tedious day at work, I was looking forward to the meeting & feedback
- I managed to review all the submitted works and gave the authors my notes, which clearly was a waste of effort on my part
- I had not exercised all week and in light of the lack of satisfaction with the meeting, my time would have been better spent at the gym. At the very least, I could have gotten some endorphins out the deal.
- To add insult to injury, it was thundershowering when we headed home and – our apartment lost power!

What a brilliant evening. The only high point was dinner out: a very good Japanese Rockfish and grilled asparagus dish. And the waiter was nice. And I didn’t have to clean up afterwards.

OK, rant over.

Yippee!!!

The stupid and anti-American amnesty bill fell apart! Read about it here. Evidently, some of our senators actually represented the will of their constituents.

Book Review: Death's Acre

Death’s Acre by Bill Bass and Jon Jefferson is the real-life story of how Dr. Bass started the Anthropological Research Facility at the University of Tennessee, otherwise known as the Body Farm. At the Body Farm, they do experiments to study human decomposition in all its aspects: entomologically, how it’s affected by temperature, weather conditions, clothing, location (such as in a car, in a structure, etc.), and just about anything one can think of.

Although the subject matter of the Body Farm has a high “Eww Factor,” the book is very accessible (even to those who don’t find this stuff as fascinating as I do) due to Dr. Bass’s way of describing his stops along the way, his motivations and his influences (both personal & professional) which led him to develop this research facility (which I believe is the only one of its kind in the world). After reading the book, one understands the importance of such research in crime-solving and even crime prevention. Plus, the real-life forensics stuff is just neat. Dr. Bass tells his story with humor, humility and a sense of mission. That’s refreshing no matter what the subject matter.

Book Review: Beauty Junkies

Beauty Junkies, by Alex Kuczynski, gives us the history of plastic and cosmetic surgery, the charlatans, the risks, the popularity especially in the U.S. and its ridiculous extremes. The story is told deftly, with humor and a sense of veritas: the author herself had undergone several procedures, including one that had the unintended effect of swelling her mouth to grotesque proportions (a severe response and fortunately for her, a temporary one). This last experience compelled her to wean herself from her growing obsession with cosmetic surgery and procedures.

I’ve never been a fan of purely cosmetic surgery or injections. If it’s not broken, no need to operate on it or stick a needle in it (yeh, yeh, I’m for tattoos, but big difference between a little ink and a dangerous toxin). The thought of having foreign objects stuffed under my skin, especially since they can burst, harden, leak and migrate – just to fill someone’s aesthetic profile – pretty much disgusts me. Ditto, shots in the forehead or other places on the face, forceable Hoovering of fat from one’s rear-end, and the cutting and stretching of facial skin. I find it disturbing and ridiculous that younger and younger women are opting for procedures. I mean, it’s positively asshatted of parents to give their daughter a gift of new boobs for graduation.

Now, although this trend of surgical change doesn’t only apply to females, it’s with the females that it is most prevalent and to me, most offensive: to change oneself into the porn star mold (i.e., sexual object), to reduce one’s features so the result is a person indistinguishable form scores of other blandly appealing “beauties” (i.e., loss of that which makes us unique) or to chase youth as if it were the only thing worth having. We’ve come so far as women, only to reduce our efforts - by drastic and dangerous means - to, well, attracting men.

It’s sad that the inner selves of these people – intellect, creativity, personality, achievement – is so neglected and disparaged – in order to maintain a superficial and ultimately impermanent illusion. Ms. Kuczynski, in fact, discusses a woman for whom her appearance – and all the supporting procedures – is ALL she does with her time and money. This book is a cautionary tale, and an honest and entertaining – if disheartening – read.

I woke up on the wrong side of the bed...

...well, actually I fell asleep in the living room floor after a late dinner last night and woke up at 4 this morning. Then when trying to sleep IN OUR COMFORTABLE BED, my stupid mind was racing along, making that difficult. I did doze off, only to have to wake up 3 hours later. I was not a happy camper. Actually I was UNPLEASANT. Not Jeff's fault, but he did have to deal with it.

To add insult to injury, that little goo on my lower abdomen that I was finally getting rid of - was back with a vengeance thanks to too much sangria as of late, and having pizza TWICE in one week (can't have just two slices!), and not having worked out AT ALL this week. You know, I may be 41, but my body hasn't been thru the ravages of pregnancy or childbirth, or any other major thing, so what the hell's my problem? Oh, I've answered my own question.

Then, I go to work and have a series of irritations that made me want to just go home and cry. or sleep. both at the same time?

And, I'm just feeling a bit overwhelmed about all the stuff we're trying to do: reading, writing, socializing, hosting, etc. It's been good and fun, but kinda crazy.

Not to mention, that heinous amnesty bill is probably going to pass. See the reader comment on my Thomas Sowell post below for the myriad reasons why this is stupid, unworkable, damaging, and the best part: punishes AmCits while rewarding the invaders overrunning the country. Watch our futures end. It would be less disingenuous for "our leaders" to say: we're selling out America; aiding the collapse of the healthcare and other systems; don't give a damn about assimilation or having one language; don't care about patriotism or even if the US survives as a nation. Heck, let's just give it away to whichever squatter happens to find his way into the country by whatever means. So, just suck it up, folks.

Anyhoo, tomorrow will be another day...the bill will still suck, the leadership still missing in action, but my attitude may indeed be better.

On feminism

The other evening we had some guests for dinner and the topic of feminism came up. I made a face showing my distain. After the fact, I realized that my DH Jeff knew exactly in what context and from what attitude my distain came...because he's been around me awhile and he knows me. But others may be a little confused about my expression.

When "feminism" meant (if, indeed, it ever did) universal suffrage, full participation in one's country governance and political life (including holding office), equal pay for equal work, equal protection under the law, etc, then I say, "Go team!" But because it's become synonymous with "abortionista," (that is, the attitude that abortion rights are essential to women's power, an unalienable right, essential to women's health - I mean give me a break), with perpetual victimhood (the patriarchy! the patriarchy!), equal quantities of men-bashing, the NOW folks, etc - well, that's when I make the face. Come on, grow up.

OK, gotta go. I'm trying to get my thoughts out there...

Amnesty bill commentary must-read

Ok, ok, haven't been blogging much, but a lot has been going on. More about that to follow. Never-the-less, here is a spot-on commentary about the whole retched amnesty mess, by the wonderful Thomas Sowell.

Hat tip: The Stein Report.

It's about governance

Occasionally, when I talk to friends and coworkers who are from different countries (read: not American Citizens) living and working here, the subject of voting has come up. And by voting, I mean this: they posit that because they work - pay taxes - in the US, they should be able to vote in elections. Believe it or not, this has come up several times.

For the sake of argument, let's put my response this way: let's say I worked in YOUR country. I paid your taxes. Would I think that by virtue of that I had the right to participate in the governance of YOUR country? The answer is NO, resoundingly. I'm not a citizen or subject of YOUR country, therefore I have no stake in YOUR country, and I have no right to weigh in on its rule. If I don't like what YOUR country in any part is doing, if it's that offensive, I leave. Afterall, I'm a GUEST in YOUR country.

Why is it that just by virtue of paying taxes in another country, not YOUR own, would you presume the right to participate in its rule? Paying taxes in someone else's country is the cost of doing business - if you don't like it, well, you really don't have a say.

Sell-outs.

Yesterday's WaPo ran a story of a illegal haven town in New Jersey. Basically the town is making it attractive to illegals to be there, treating them as legitimate residents, offering all sorts of "free" services like bilingual computer classes, "health fairs," etc. Basically thumbing their noses at federal immigration law.

First, nothing is FREE - someone - taxpayers - is paying for it. Do the legal residents realize this or in their idiocy think that "the government" is paying for it?

Second, actually more important, is the fact that there are cities and towns across the country that are actively (as opposed to just accepting the uncontrolled influx of illegals) accomodating a population that has no business being in the country at all. So...if these invaders are acquiring so many rights and privileges - with no real accountability, legality, loyalty, legitimacy, choose your own word, what's left for those of us who are citizens? These cities and towns are selling us out, plain and simple. But, no moreso than our president and his administration.

Science geek moment

So many things to comment on, so little time...which is why I'm far behind in my posts. However, here's a little science geek thrill moment in the news (yeh, yeh, last week, but still): a Rockville, MD, based team circumnavigated the world, collecting DNA from marine microbes. Evidently, there's a lot out there & this expedition was just a start, yielding discoveries of new life forms and ones that could prove extremely valuable in medicine as well as just neat. Read the whole thing here.

On the bright side...

...did I mention how HAPPY I am that DC enacted its smoking ban in restaurants and bars?

This weekend DH Jeff & I were having sangria at the Jaleo's bar while we waited for friends to join us. And it was pleasant! No acrid smoke! No irritated lungs or watery eyes! I didn't even mind when it got crowded! Wow! Jeff mentioned the same thing. I'm like, "Yippee!"

This has to be the most enlightened legislation the District has enacted in - well, forever!

Now, you say, jeez, isn't that awfully nanny state of you, Renee? Well, here's where I explain that I'd be a libertarian if not for people and their human nature. Please explain to me why it ever was acceptable to share your smoke? Oh yeh, you have the right to carry out this systematic poisoning of YOURSELF, but do you have the right to impose it on others? And why should I avoid bars and other places because they haven't achieved enlightenment in this sense? Sometimes legislation is necessary to enforce behavior that folks won't voluntarily carry out on their own.

Virginia in general, however, hasn't reached this point of enlightenment, BUT, I was pleasantly surprised that a neighborhood restaurant, Clarendon Woodgrill, VOLUNTARILY went smoke-free! Wonders never cease!

Technorati topic: smoking, politics

Because they're all so law-abiding

There's an article in WaPo today about an Arlngton woman (around my age, no less) who was attacked, beaten and sodomized with a stick by - anyone, anyone? - an illegal foreign national from El Salvador, while she walking on a bike path. Wow! Our county/state/country is richer for his inclusion! Wait a minute, no it's not - although he faces life in prison, that's on our dime and he's only 18-years-old. Why can't we just execute him and let whatever diety exists (if indeed one does) deal with his soul (if indeed he has one)? Furthermore, why was he in our country in the first place? Anyone, anyone, Bueller? Silence.

Technorati topic: immigration, crime

Ah, the poor

This post concerns two-no-three recent WaPo articles, the first about how "high housing costs & an unpredictable job market" sends many into homelessness; the second how a young boy died of an infected tooth and the final one (today anyway) concerns childcare subsidies for poor "families." Secondly, this post is also about how liberal publications like to throw sob stories around as proof that we need to do more for the poor and our social services need to be "reformed" (read: more bloated with my tax dollars with still no end in sight).

In the first article about a couple who lost their jobs and because of aforementioned economic woes, is now "poor" and "homeless." It also mentions that the female is pregnant and that prior to their joblessness, they had been supporting children from "other relationships."

The second article is about a kid who had an infected tooth and by the time his "mother" found a Medicaid dentist, the infection had spread to the boy's brain - and he died. First, let me say, I feel bad for the kid - I cannot imagine the suffering he went through and I cannot imagine having such an irresponsible parent.

The third article, in today's WaPo is about all these "poor families" who desperately need childcare subsidies so they can stay off welfare. And they spotlight this single mother (is there any other kind?) who is staying home from her job to take care of her child because she's on a waiting list for childcare subsidies (VA state & federal funds - that means tax dollars to you and me).

Here are a few of my observations:

1. Liberal publications like WaPo like to find these sob stories (it's all about the CHILLLLDDDDRRRENNN!) and basically try to guilt the rest of us into supporting more government programs to help the PPPPOOOOORRRR! Then they manage, ironically, to find the least sympathetic people to highlight.

2. Case in point, if the folks cannot even afford to support themselves or won't take the steps to do that, why are they having children?

3. What? Ever hear of condoms, people? If the females in question can't manage their own contraception and are too irresponsible and weak to demand condom use from the dogs who are screwing them, perhaps they should just keep their legs closed.

4. A glaring omission in the last two stories: where are the sperm-donors and why aren't they contributing to the children's upkeep? I know, out impregnating other females! In the first story, it's stated that the dog is happily depositing his sperm everywhere with no care about consequences until bills come due.

5. Another glaring omission in the second story: why do/did these kids (both of them) have such rotten teeth? Answer: because their "mother" doesn't ensure that they're actually brushing their teeth - or for that matter, around to monitor their eating habits. Come on people - both items are part of parenthood! And I don't have to be a parent to know that - I had two who actually attended to those responsibilities! Go figure!

6. In the first article, these two are so irresponsible and plain stupid, it's hard (actually impossible) to feel any sympathy for their "plight." They abdicate thought mostly and pop out kids they have no way to support. Yet look suitably sad, desperate and pathetic for the Post's cameras. Yeh, it's all about the economy!

And if all of us (I mean folks who work, and live within our means, paying gobs of taxes for all these programs) just stopped working and keeping this industry (yes, poverty and its attendant helpful programs is an industry - and a self-perpetuating one at that!) humming along, what then? No matter what cosmetic actions politicians may enact to mollify us (conservative, responsibility-oriented "us"), there will be yet another pop-up program (see "childcare subsidies") to soak up more cash and accomplish - well, more programs! Welfare by any other name is still welfare. I suppose these liberal publications seek to elicit a response - and they do - in me it's anger.

Technorati topic: welfare

Now I'm sure my gov't is on crack

Read here about what both DHS and my own Arlington County is spending taxpayer money on (WaPo, February 22, 2007). Wow - how's that for a security booster. I'm a friend to animals, but this is ridiculous.

Here are some wonderful quotes from the article:

The Department of Homeland Security approved the county's use of $20,000 of a $217,000 Urban Area Security Initiative grant for pet sheltering, Powers said. The county decided that the trailer was the best way to use the funds.

Because Arlington County, illegal capital of the country, knows about security!

Arlington resident Christopher Bannon, 47, a software developer, said he was "shocked" to learn that the county was "spending homeland security money on pets. It doesn't seem to be the right priority."

Yes, I'm "shocked" too, Christopher.

Last year, Congress passed the Pets Evacuation and Transportation Standards Act, which mandates that localities have provisions for pets in their emergency plans.

Um, what? Are you all insane?!

Technorati topic: national security

Credit cards for illegals - come get your goodies!

Bank of America cares about illegals - mostly that they're potential customers. So...persons without SSNs or credit history can now get BoA credit cards. Story here. Yeah!

Some folks aren't actually thrilled with this development and some are actually doing something about it:
-Dennis Miller closes his account with BoA.
-A San Diego Radio Show Host holds a BoA credit card shredding party for those who want to demonstrate their dismay.

Unfortunately, BoA isn't the only bank catering to illegals; Wells Fargo & even the Federal Reserve Bank are cashing in on the complete lack of border control. Sellouts. Well, I don't have time tonight to get the links to these stories, but hopefully will soon...

Hat tips: The Stein Report & Michelle Malkin.

Technorati topic: immigration

Five things I'm really tired of

I may just do a "5 things" blurb from time to time...This is "5 Things I'm really tired of":

1. Jihad, jihad, jihad. I'm sick of reading accounts of suicide bombers, honor killings, of torched cars, of offended Muslims, of Muslims in this country crying discrimination and - uh - racism! Etc.

2. Racism, racism, racism. It's the fall-back charge whenever the "slighted party" wants to avoid any real discussion of the issue. Like illegal immigration. Like criminal activity by certain other parties. Like Muslims detained for suspicious behavior on airplanes.

3. Marching. Any demonstration - don't care what your topic is - don't you have something better to do with your time?

4. Metro incompetence. You've heard it before: can't handle any little snow or rain, escalators and elevators always out of order.

5. The cold. Hasn't been that long a spell, but I'm ready for spring and temps that reach freezing.

Technorati topic: minutiae

Book Review: Not Enough Indians

Not Enough Indians, by Harry Shearer (of Simpsons & Christopher Guest movies fame), has an interesting premise: a bankrupt town decides to save itself by requesting federal recognition as an Indian –ahem- Native American – tribe and subsequently setting up a casino there. Now, I was first attracted to this book because Harry Shearer is a hoot in his various incarnations, especially movies like Spinal Tap and A Mighty Wind – so I thought he would render a pretty funny/clever novel (even if it was his first). Well…while the book had some funny (not roll-on-the-floor-funny, but chuckle-funny) moments, it was rather insipid overall. The characters were two-dimensional, even stereotypical. Before I read it, I had put it on the potential selections list for our book club, but after reading it, I realized it was so content-lite that it wouldn’t provoke much discussion at all. So, I retracted that particular suggestion.

Although not a horrible first effort, I was not really jazzed by Shearer’s first novel. I’d rate this book a B- or C+.

Technorati topics: book reviews

A bit of grousing

So, maybe I shouldn’t be complaining or feeling frustrated so soon after starting up this book club thing again…maybe I should just give it some time, but…

Besides those folks who were SO interested in joining a book club, yet aren’t going to show again…or haven’t communicated at all after the initial burst of enthusiasm…besides those folks who cancel at the last minute and give lame excuses…I have a new favorite “member”: the ones who won’t be attending this Sunday because of Super Bowl. Over half of the members have not even confirmed whether or not they’ll be attending – and I bet when I pull teeth yet again, they’ll tell me they have to go to a Super Bowl party and can’t make it.

You know, it’s not like coordinating this damned Book Club takes any time, effort or money…it’s not like I have anything better to do (work, school, etc.)…it’s not like we’ve consciously tried to make membership as completely easy as possible…as cheap as possible…as democratic as possible. What exactly are we doing wrong? Do we have to canvass the group to make sure there aren’t any exciting sporting events (mind you, watching – not playing), stubbed toes, sock-drawer-organizing emergencies that might derail meeting-attendance?

Hit a nerve? Good. I’m feeling very frustrated with the lack of buy-in of these “members.” If you just want to read books and not meet – then do so. But don’t act like you really want to be in a book club – which suggests, get this, that you actually SHOW UP for discussions. It’s once a month, for gosh sakes!

Whatever, tomorrow I’ll send out another email to those who haven’t responded (pulling teeth) and see what happens.

Technorati topics: manners, book club

A heartwarming story

Here’s a heartwarming story (for a change) from WaPo: various groups and individuals making quilts for injured soldiers at Walter Reed Medical Center. Check it out.

BTW, I had no idea there were SO many dedicated quilters out there!

Technorati topics: war

Some good news for us Virginians

Evidently there are not only a few others in Virginia who are anti-illegal, pro-border control, but we actually have some representation in state government. Here's a WaPo article about the various bills up for vote that will start to make Virginia an undesirable place for illegals. About time!

Technorati topic: immigration

Episodic TV: a review of Grey's Anatomy

Because it was cheap and some folks had recommended it, I went and bought the first season of Grey's Anatomy. This series concerns a cohort of surgical interns and their wacky experiences and their torrid little lives. I can tell you, I was not impressed (can you tell already?).

It was like, maybe, a step down from ER, having a Peton Place-esque story line (everyone is having sex with everyone else, and in this version unprotectedly! Spreading pregnancy and diseases. Now that part rings true, believe it or not) that was 1) stupidly salacious and 2) vacuous. The characters are pretty much 2-dimensional with the typical liberal underpinnings. Yech. I'd give it a D+ - credit only for somewhat interesting surgical cases.

If I were to choose between "new" medical shows, I'd choose House. At least you have Hugh Laurie. And for your money, skip these medical shows altogether and stick with Law and Order (any of them) - they actually present various perspectives on the issues, without dumbing them down so incredibly. Also, they have good characters that effectively play off each other instead of just issuing lines.

Well, there you go.

Technorati topics: entertainment, tv

Episodic TV: a review of House, season 1

Ok, on a whim, I ordered the first season of the series House, mostly because I heard 1) it involved medical mysteries and 2) because the main character was a real, well, character.

Hugh Laurie, the actor who plays Dr. House, is the main reason to see the program: the character is a pill-popping misanthrope who says exactly what he's thinking, no matter what. This often gets him into trouble,...but for his medical mystery-solving skills. The support cast, I would say, is good and the mysteries are fun, but make no mistake, Laurie is the main draw. He says everything you'd want to say, and lots you wouldn't - very entertaining!

I'd give this series a B+ - and when I get another freebee situation from Amazon, I may just order season 2.

Technorati topics: entertainment, tv

Some random items

The good: our gym just got in some new cardio machines that mimic skating movement, with several levels of challenge. Today I did level 3 and my legs were killing me! This machine was very easy on the knees (smooth motion), but murder on the actual muscles. I'm going to do this exercise some more to see if I see progress.

The stinky: yesterday while having coffee & bagels with DH Jeff at Cosi, I noticed the distinct odor of urine wafting in from the open windows (warm out yesterday). We moved tables a few times to get away from it. I suspect it was vagrant urine, since the advent of the cover over the metro entrance, there have been more vagrants around. Yuck. Yuck. Yuck. Because this nice neighborhood needs lazy, dirty folks hanging around, pissing around, making it a sty. Thanks so much.

Technorati topic: minutiae

Too much information

An interesting article in WaPo on the amount of personal information available on each of us. Good food for thought - how do we protect ourselves from unauthorized and unlawful use of that information?

Technorati topic: technology

Heathcare on the quick

There's an article in WaPo today about a new trend(?) by some drugstores and such to provide "quick-stop healthcare," that is, physician assistants and nurse practitioners on site (like at CVSs and such) that provide such healthcare services as diagnosis and treatment of common maladies (such as strep throat) and administration vaccinations. The up side to this is that these stations are very accessible, available more convenient and longer hours, and charge reasonable prices for their services.

On the one hand, one can see the attraction to patients over regular medical centers and doctors' offices: no waiting, accessibility, availability of vaccines such as flu shots, reasonable charges, no hassle. I know for a fact that it can be very inconvenient to make a regular appointment at my medical center - one must schedule a month ahead to be sure and you have to go through the healthcare insurance system. Then you have to hope that the office staff are competent in submitting accurate and appropriate charges to the PPO/HMO/insurance company (I had an incident recently where that was not the case, and I had been dealing with the same office for years). Sometimes that's simply not acceptable or feasible.

On the other hand, regular healthcare facilities are concerned that there's no continuity of care, and that this may end up jeopardizing the health and wellbeing of the most vulnerable patients - children. One can also see that these "quick-stop" stations take a chunk out of doctors'/healthcare facilities' profit. I perused my latest statement from my PPO and for what was a straight-forward shot, administered by a nurse, the PPO was charged for "follow-up care" and for the physician of record's time (when I didn't actually see or speak to the physician at all - just the nurse). And not cheap either.

I think this is a really interesting situation to consider. We have these "help stations" serving a need and solving existing (and continuing) healthcare issues - great for the consumer. Look, I have a CVS across the street from where I live. Would I be happy to mosey on over, let's say, on a Sunday to get a flu shot? You bet. Would I mind that they're not MDs but PAs and NPs? No, because I've had PAs/NPs treat me frequently in a regular healthcare facility over the years with no ill effects & they tend to be easier to deal with than some doctors. Plus, no middleman with staff & insurance. Just pay the fee. On the other hand, if patient histories aren't taken/taken carefully, and if the treatment information isn't conveyed to the primary doctor/facility, there could be serious problems. Evidently, these stations do take care of the above items. And they're not performing brain surgery - just minor - but necessary - procedures. Well, perhaps (and this thought is discussed in the article too) regular facilities need to be more patient-friendly and take a lesson from these retail-based stations.

Technorati topic: healthcare

Movie Review: The Pursuit of Happyness

Just saw The Pursuit of Happyness, with Will Smith and his real-life son. I must say, it was a really good movie. Will Smith did a fine job of portraying this bright, nice Chris Gardner on the out-and-outs, trying to make something of himself and raise his son alone at the same time. Yeh, those cynics out there will say - heck, women have been raising children by themselves for ages - what's so special about this guy? Don't be a cynic - Smith's Gardner is so earnest, sweet and determined to do the right thing, to keep it together against odds and his own perpetual Murphy's Law, that you really do root for him. And some of the character's situations are positively painful. Oh, yeh, and his kid is cute. Anyhoo, worth a go-see!

Here are a few more reviews for your reading pleasure.

Technorati topics: entertainment, movies

Book Review: Because They Hate

In Because They Hate, Brigitte Gabriel describes her idyllic childhood as a Christian in Lebanon and her teen years spent with her aged parents in a bomb shelter there during hostilities between Lebanon & Israel in the 1970s. She describes her perception of the destruction of her birth country by Moslems.

She makes the case that Islam is an extremely acquisitive ideology with world domination in mind – not peaceful coexistence. Gabriel goes on to advise us about threats to western civilization and culture, and specifically to our (U.S., she’s an American citizen now) country – and what our response should be to fend off that threat.

I first heard about her on Michelle Malkin’s blog and a link to a U-Tube video of her giving a speech at Heritage Foundation or American Enterprise Institute (I'm not sure which & I can't seem to find the link - bad girl!). Wow. She’s a really powerful speaker and dynamo. It’s also gratifying to hear a naturalized citizen so fully embrace our country and furthermore, become an activist in its preservation and protection: Gabriel started an organization, the American Congress for Truth to do just that. This book is an extension of those efforts and a warning to all who value our freedom and security. Compelling read!

Technorati topics: book reviews, islam

New Year's Resolutions

I shouldn't, but I did - make New Year's resolutions. Let's call them "goals" or "action plans." Regardless, here they are:

1. Get back down to a size 4. I know, shallow, but it’s a goal. When was a size 4 I felt more confident because 1) I looked better and 2) I wasn’t compelled to disguise so many figure flaws. There is merit in throwing something on without a lot of fuss and having it look good.

2. Develop blog. In the last year, I’ve blogged a lot, but not consistently. This year I want to not only post regularly, but make the blog more visually interesting – pictures, etc. This will entail learning a little HTML. So be it. Thanks to one of Jeff’s coworkers, J, I have a good resource book to mine. Also, I will be adding ads of different kinds with the hope of earning some cash. I know, sell-out, but there it is.

3. Start on a real career. I hereby renounce my forty-year career as a dilettante. Yes, I’ve always made ends meet, but never have I really felt job satisfaction that comes from a nexus of subject interest, salary, quality and efficacy control that comes from having both credentials and experience.

Forensic science will always be a keen interest of mine, but what I’m running into is that I would need a lot more education plus low-paid or no-paid (read: internship) experience to get even a toe-hold in the business. If I were twenty years younger, I would probably be willing to suck up the debt, time and hassle of accomplishing that, but from my current vantage point, I’m unwilling to do those three things, plus sacrifice my standard of living and scrounge to pay bills.

So, I’m going to finish the Forensics Certificate (instead of the degree program) so that I have some take-away from these current studies, and I’m going to see about starting some sort of accounting program at a convenient, less expensive school, with the aim to pass the CPA exam. Not as sexy as forensic science, but one can practice accounting anywhere in the country and get paid well. Yes, I’m mercenary – I like my wine and chic-chic food – but I also think I’d be really good at it. And, there’s still the thought of “fighting the good fight.”

4. Become more of a political activist. Now mind you, this doesn’t mean marching around – not my cup of tea. I mean besides ranting on my blog, actually engaging my elected officials in what they should be doing for this pro-border control, pro-national security run by adults, fiscal conservative, capitalistic, small-government constituent. Doesn’t mean my efforts will amount to much, but at least they’ll have my opinion.

5. Do more for the troops. I’m already a member of Laura Ingraham’s coffee club for the troops. For every order of four coffees, two coffees are donated/sent to some military installation (Hat tip: Mom). You get your tasty coffee fix each month and so do deployed service men and women. Click here for details. I’d like to do more. Details to follow…still thinking about what I’m going to do.

None of these resolutions are out of my reach – and you, gentle readers, will hear about my progress in each!

Technorati topics: resolutions

Catch & release; repeat ad nauseum

This article confirms what I already suspected was the case: that those illegals actually arrested for other crimes (besides entering the country illegally, of course), are arrested repeatedly (about three-fourths of the sample):

The findings by Justice Department Inspector General Glenn A. Fine are based on a sampling of 100 illegal immigrants arrested by local and state authorities in 2004, the latest complete data available. They show that 73 of the 100 immigrants were arrested, collectively, 429 times -- on counts including traffic violations and weapons and drug charges. (WaPo, January 9, 2007)

Um, do y'all understand my cynicism and despair at this issue? You can be one of those who sniffs glue and convinces yourself that all these illegals are benign, hard-working value-added units, but if you're sober you realize this is not the case. And the administration (plus every Democrat & every other Republican) wants amnesty with no border control, thus ensuring more illegals, thus more crime, more gangs, more drugs (because America just can't do without their drugs - wahoo!).

And we’re supposed to have faith in our leaders to uphold the law and protect us (that means, primarily American citizens) from criminals and invaders – and we certainly pay for that thru our taxes – and yet, this is the garbage we’re given. We cannot even be assured that those who have ignored our immigration laws, who have broken other of our laws (sometimes violently), who have been incarcerated for those transgressions – will be permanently removed from our country. Huh.

Technorati topics: immigration

Vaccinations, anyone?

In the WaPo today is an article about the whole vaccination issue and why so many school children didn’t have the required vaccinations by the time school started. Here’s a gem:

This time, Mazyck said, the reason for spotty compliance has a much more prosaic cause: Parents have said they had too little time and too much else to do. (WaPo, January 9, 2007).

You know, I don’t recall my parents ever making that excuse, because, wait a minute, my parents 1) had more than two brain cells to rub together and thus 2) understood their parental responsibilities vis-à-vis protecting their offspring from dangerous diseases. Clearly neither aspect is present in the referenced “parents.”

I have several thoughts, but I'll concentrate on one for your consumption: if you can't be bothered to immunize your children (you know, those little humans you claim to love so much?), perhaps you shouldn't have hatched them in the first place.

Technorati topics: diseases, parenting

We'll have to eat out in DC more often in 2007

The smoking ban in restaurants, etc, has now gone into effect in DC and I for one am happy (read "overjoyed") about it. How nice not to have to ask for the non-smoking area. How nice not to be seated in the non-smoking section and still have smoke wafting over.

I take the stance that your rights stop at the end of your nose, ie, before they affect others. Some folks still don't get that. They fight for the privilege (yes - not "right") to poison your air as well as theirs. Or you (as the non-smoker) can just find another place to go.

Nice. This attitude includes, unfortunately, some right-leaning bloggers. A few years ago, I stopped reading a certain blog because of the belligerent attitude of the author regarding his "right" to smoke wherever. Smoking is an unsupportable habit - there's nothing positive about it - a fact about which I'll be writing in upcoming posts. And shame on those of you (including a right-leaning female blogger) who have kids and think it's fine - apparently - to smoke around them.

Well, WaPo has an article regarding the ban and includes snippets about "rebel" smokers, bravely smoking their last in DC establishments on December 31st. Grow up folks. Better yet, quit. Why not start the year doing something smart?

Now, if only we could get Arlington to follow suit on this ban...you know, the county that is going "green"?

Technorati topics: manners

Even more good news about immigration...

...but sadly, not for us. Go read this article in the New York Times about all the happy little parasitic breeders who flocked to New Orleans to "reconstruct." Hat tip: The Stein Report.

Very telling quotes:

Because many immigrant mothers cannot afford to pay for prenatal care or delivery services, New Orleans’s newest citizens are adding an unexpected load to the decimated health infrastructure in a city abandoned by many of its doctors. Much of the state-financed Charity Hospital system, which before Hurricane Katrina provided the bulk of care to New Orleans’s uninsured and indigent population, remains closed.(NYT, December 11, 2006)

and

The two health units providing prenatal care run by the Louisiana Department of Health and Hospitals saw more than 1,200 pregnant women from January to mid-November. Virtually all were Latino immigrants.

“Before the storm, only 2 percent were Hispanic; now about 96 percent are Hispanic,” said Beth Perriloux, the head nurse in the department’s health unit in Metairie. (NYT, December 11, 2006)

In the words of the Borg Queen, "Watch your futures end."

Technorati topics: immigration

Don't you love when public servants serve themselves?

An immigration-related scum-bag and governmental incompetence story. You'll be glad to know that it involves someone you & I support thru tax dollars and it involves Asian immigrants, not hispanic ones. Feel the value. And crime pays big & sleazy.

Technorati topics: immigration

Because letting them in is just not enough

Read this article and literally feel your blood pressure increase. Yesterday I read the first notice of a Marine's (and his girl friend's) death (after suriving a tour in Iraq) at the hands of a drunk driver with a hispanic surname. At the time, I sarcastically stated to DH Jeff that the killer was probably an illegal. And I was right (but, heck, we love all our hard-working, law-abiding, brown peasant-serfs, and besides they're a protected class nowadays).

But there's even more fun in this story! Turns out that this menace had been charged with drunken driving earlier this year, but the Howard County cops evidently couldn't find their way out of a jar. Read on:

Morales-Soriano then refused to take a breath test, which should have led to the suspension of his license for 120 days. But the police accidentally gave Morales-Soriano all the copies of the form that was supposed to have been sent to the Maryland Motor Vehicle Administration to begin the suspension, McCrone said. (WaPo, 11/30/06)

Uh-huh. So, the perp who should not have been in this country AT ALL to begin with, is issued a valid driver's license, drives drunk, gets off scott-free because of the cops lack of evidence and gets behind the wheel drunk, AGAIN, to murder some law-abiding Americans (not to mention, a serviceman). Why not? I doubt it would deter this guy if he didn't have a valid driver's license. But it gets better:

Police said Morales-Soriano's blood alcohol level was four times the legal limit when he slammed into the back of the car carrying the couple. (WaPo, 11/30/06)

What's the legal alcohol limit? Since I don't have a car, the distinctions are sort of academic, but for the sake of our little consideration here, let's say the limit is .08 and then times that by four, which is .32!!! Even I know that's falling down drunk.

I wonder if this damn illegal will even serve any time before they [maybe] deport him or more likely, just release him into our public again. Expect more of this sort of thing, since there don't seem to be any negative consequences to be suffered. And, we can count on the total incompetence of the folks whose job it is to serve and protect US.

PS: I thoughtlessly forgot to give a hat tip to the place I found this article, The Stein Report, which has daily links to immigration-related articles. Dan Stein is from FAIR, Federation for American Immigration Reform, a group working actively for better (by which I mean tighter, more effective, border-controlling) immigration policies. Check out The Stein Report - very good!

Technorati topics: immigration

Our tax dollars hard at work???

Evidently, the U.S. Citizenship & Immigration Services (USCIS) "lost track of" 111,000 citizenship applicant background files...but continued to make citizenship decisions (some affirmative) on applications, that is, without having reviewed the pertinent background information. Read the whole frightening, dismaying story here.

So, we're paying taxes to support this agency's work, which is supposed to be about carefully regulating the quality of those they grant citizenship, yet clearly flying blind to the tune of 100,000 applications. That the GAO has found out about. Plus these folks are so incompetent, that historically, officers haven't even noted in applications if this background file has been reviewed. Evidently, it's just been assumed.

FYI, the GAO (Government Accountability Office - I know, I know, think of the jokes) initiated this investigation/review of the USCIS after an applicant with known and noted ties to Hezbollah was granted citizenship. Wow. I really feel so safe and glad that I'm flushing my tax dollars down the toilet.

As a side note, I went to the USCIS web site and found this warning (emphasis mine):

USCIS Warns of Potential For Immigration Fraud
Although Congress has been debating immigration legislation, all customers should be advised that currently no temporary worker program exists for aliens unlawfully present in the United States. Congress has not passed any legislation that would create a temporary worker program. Therefore, there are no benefits currently available because this program does not exist. Customers should not pay any fees or fines to any person or organization claiming they can help apply for or receive benefits for a temporary worker program. Be wary of persons or organizations that claim they can assist in applying for benefits that do not exist.

I was actually wondering if the warning was intended for applicants or employees.

A little rant from my mom...

...on a subject that pops up (oops!) from time to time.

TO ALL GOOD MOMS ALL OVER THE USA!

I am SICK and TIRED of listening/looking at all these damn programs about the latest complaint~~

BREAST-FEEDING

What in the world is all the fuss about???? For that matter, what is wrong with the USA??!!??

I mean, REALLY!! To be complaining about mothers breast-feeding on airplanes~~or anywhere else, for that matter. BIG DEAL!

Let me tell you a few facts from first-hand experience:

1. When a mom is ready to breast-feed, it is because of nature/baby's schedule. Mom knows it's time, because her breast are full and ready to "explode", AND are hurting terribly.

2. Baby also know his/her's schedule and is looking for food~~they aren't going to wait for the "right" place or circumstance. IT'S TIME!! DAH!!!!

3. Mom's pain relief comes when she is able to nurse, regardless of where she is. But still..., at the beginning, it is no fun and games for mom. Let me reassure you, It is painful and uncomfortable. Most moms do it because they feel that it is most beneficial to their child.

BUT..., In all these TV programs I've seen so far, they have failed to inform the public of the above~~three very important factors. This is all very natural and a wonderful thing, I might add, to both mom and baby. The bonding and the nutrition is NO comparison to "the bottle."

I've breast-fed you Renee [this author], on air-liners~~Japan to USA~~that was in 1966-67. Nobody complained, and no one even noticed! On top of all this, the air attendants were most helpful! Furthermore, I also breast-fed your brothers, thereafter, AND I'm one proud mom!! I might add, it was done in good taste and complete discretion.

BTW: Where are the protesters/complainers who think this is soooo terrible, but who most probably/likely frequent the "go-go" night clubs, where women are either dancing with all their breast hanging, and/or serving drinks plus??!!??

Last week, flying from LA to SA, I noted some mom's breast-feeding at the airports~~a "sit-in." At the time, I didn't know what was going on, OR I would have said, "what are you doing there, sitting on the floor!! Please get up and take my seat."

Down the toilet...

...our country goes. I really hate to say it, but I TOLD YOU SO. Heather Mac Donald at City Journal has a very disturbing (albeit not surprising) piece on the little Hispanic breeders and what this means for us. Do check out the whole thing while I go cry.

Hat tip to, well, Heather Mac Donald at the Immigration Blog.

Oh, for your reading despair, here are a couple of choice quotes from the article:

Hispanics now dominate the federal Women, Infants, and Children free food program; Hispanic enrollment grew over 25 percent from 1996 to 2002, while black enrollment dropped 12 percent and white enrollment dropped 6.5 percent. Illegal immigrants can get WIC and other welfare programs for their American-born children. If Congress follows President Bush’s urging and grants amnesty to most of the 11 million illegal aliens in the country today, expect the welfare rolls to skyrocket as the parents themselves become eligible.

and:

But it’s the fertility surge among unwed Hispanics that should worry policymakers. Hispanic women have the highest unmarried birthrate in the country—over three times that of whites and Asians, and nearly one and a half times that of black women, according to the Centers for Disease Control. Every 1,000 unmarried Hispanic women bore 92 children in 2003 (the latest year for which data exist), compared with 28 children for every 1,000 unmarried white women, 22 for every 1,000 unmarried Asian women, and 66 for every 1,000 unmarried black women. Forty-five percent of all Hispanic births occur outside of marriage, compared with 24 percent of white births and 15 percent of Asian births. Only the percentage of black out-of-wedlock births—68 percent—exceeds the Hispanic rate. But the black population is not going to triple over the next few decades.

and:

A case manager at a program for pregnant homeless women in the city of Orange observes the same acculturation to the social-services sector, with its grievance mongering and sense of victimhood. “I’ll have women in my office on their fifth child, when the others have already been placed in foster care,” says Anita Berry of Casa Teresa. “There’s nothing shameful about having multiple children that you can’t care for, and to be pregnant again, because then you can blame the system.”

Technorati topics: immigration

CSI - compelling, but not really all that balanced

Last night I was watching some episodes of the sixth season of CSI (the original, Las Vegas show - the others are crap), provided to me by DH Jeff. This one episode involved an organization that matched unused frozen embryos (from fertility clinics and such) to women willing to have the embryos implanted and carry them to term - i.e., adopt them. Kathryn Willows, upon meeting the head of this organization, proceeds to brow beat her with what the [Catholic] church has in the far past considered "life," i.e., way past fertilization. I thought, geeze, they're usually a bit more balanced in these shows than that...then I remembered that Law and Order (Fox) usually provides a more balanced view of various issues - not CSI (CBS). Aha.

First, if she were a real investigator, Willows would have been way out of line - her job is to get information regarding her investigation - not antagonize those with whom she disagrees (especially if she expects them to cooperate with her). Second, she then justifies her actions (huffily) to Grissom, stating how pro-choice she is (i.e., as a progressive, liberated woman, she had no choice but to brow beat the head of this backward-thinking and dangerous organization). Um, huh?

Here's what it comes down to: anyone who considers an embryo (or for that matter, any fetus who hasn't fully gestated) worthy of protection, or any consideration at all besides medical experimentation, is dangerous because this may abridge women's "right" to abort at any time for any reason. Now, this reminds me of the NOW (I think) chapter who objected to the legislation that considered a fetus murdered as a result of fatal violence done to his/her mother (re: Connor Peterson), i.e., a double homicide.

One must wonder what these folks are smoking to object to either situation. But you & I both know the rationale. Sad.

Technorati topics: entertainment, abortion

Movie Review: Harsh Times

This weekend I saw the movie Harsh Times, starring Christian Bale, who looks hot and buff (and not emaciated like in The Machinist). But, ok, how did I feel about this movie…? Bale gave his usual intensity to the part of an Army Ranger returning from Afghanistan a changed man – and not for the better. Good supporting performance by Freddy Rodriguez as his old buddy from the ‘hood. But…I didn’t like the movie. Why? Hmmm. Maybe because I’ve seen Bale in other “man-on-the-edge” roles in other movies that were a lot better. Like American Psycho. In that, Bale actually brought humor to a really extreme role (that I understand didn’t originally call for humor). Maybe because his performance in this movie, although good, seemed a little forced, as noted by a reviewer on this site. Maybe because for a film on the cusp of two hours, it seemed to go on and on without a real point. This is definitely a one-time view.

If you like Christian Bale, I’d recommend some other of his films besides those mentioned above:

Reign of Fire (about the takeover of dragons)
Equilibrium (dystopic future)
Batman Begins (you know what this is about)

Tell me this: how come British and Aussie actors have no problem with the American accent, but we have few who can pull off a British/Aussi accent? What’s up with that?

Technorati topics: entertainment

Oooh, this is good one!

Ahem, do any of you remember when Jeff & I got married & I said, "it's so easy & cheap to get married in Arlington?" Well...top story on the front page of the Post this morning is about a huge wedding scam perp'd by illegal Ghanians marrying U.S. citizens. And where was the hot spot for this scam? Why Arlington Country Courthouse, the same place where we got our marriage license & eventually our marriage certificate. Some alert clerks noticed funny behavior in license applicants - such as not even sitting with their intended or appearing distant to same. Then started noticing those same couples returning shortly for divorces - including paperwork with the same mistakes as others. Hmmm. Provocative. Evidently, not only State but Federal gov't got involved in catching these guys & prosecuting (which is ongoing at this moment). This surprises me to no end as I know (and have stated on this site) that Arlington is soft on immigration law enforcement.

This quote says it all:

"Along the East Coast and all the way to West Africa,...the word had spread: If you are in the United States illegally, go to Arlington. It's easy to get married in Virginia, because marriage laws are relatively lax." (WaPo, 11/13/06, pA1)

Yeh. Well, I guess Ghanians are "bad" illegals and the hordes of hispanics are "good" illegals? No?

Technorati topics: immigration

Shopping with Marilyn Manson...[warning: profanity & despair!]

...is a good way to tolerate the vast number of boneheads and humanoid cockroaches at Whole Foods this Sunday morning...although frankly, if I had waited until say 4pm, the vast number would have increased by a factor of ten. Would you NOT leave your cart smack in the middle of the aisle when you KNOW that you're not the only shopper at this time? Ditto the stroller with your "beloved" offspring? Please pick a direction! And no paying by checks, mkay? Kindly drag your sorry, confused ass into the 21st century - it's called "plastic." It chafes less, you see. Ok, I wasn't REALLY shopping with Marilyn Manson, but he was singing profanities in my ears (yes, I hear voices in stereo! Ok, that's a little nod to the movie Copy Cat, in case you didn't catch it).

I'm SO TIRED of everything:

- school - I'm sick of studying, so very sick & tired and as usual, wondering if any of the time, effort & mostly money is worth it. And it's going at such a glacial pace!

- work - glad to have my job, just not very motivated - and did I mention that it exhausts me? And not in a good way.

- my need for continuous work - i'm pretty much at the point where I'm just going to get a full-time, regular job & continue on at said glacial pace with my education (that is, part-time), or change majors to accounting - at a cheaper school (still at said glacial pace). Gaack. I'm such a rebel. I bet you were thinking - thank God! She's finally turning to a life of crime! Maybe now she'll be interesting!

- My 40-year-old body (Yes! 40! I'm now officially middle-aged!) - so far it's biologically hanging together pretty well despite the alcohol and saturated fats (and hydrogenated foods! can't forget the hydrogenation!) I've imposed upon it. That said, if i'm not going to have any children, my body had better start looking spectacular. No, don't placate me with oh, you look fine. "Fine" just doesn't cut it.

- Meaningless honor societies - I mean, at the last ceremony we were told that much is expected of us - to which I respond [in my head] you mean more than superior grades, a truck-load of money surrendered to this institution and no guarantee of meaningful employment afterward? Did I mention the horrendous two semesters spent in a class wherein the professor (yes! a full PhD!) was completely incompetent? And employment in the field only if I expend a lavish amount of time & energy (lavish because I don't have it) applying and interviewing and showing enthusiam for a job that will involve a significant pay cut just to get my feet wet? Just cut the crap & give me money so I can finish this fucking degree, already. I forked over $35 for the particular honor of listening to that & receiving a crummy certificate in the mail that they couldn't manage to actually package properly - so it was crumpled.

- illegals & their little helpers. in our government(s). - Although I've always had a particular hostility for the open-borders crew on the left, I reserve my truly quality fury for those who call themselves "conservatives" and "Republicans" -and who not only DO NOTHING to resolve the issue, but actively encourage it. Who sign bills that are worse than nothing. Who hamstring any efforts to stop illegal immigration, and demonize those who do do make legitimate efforts in that direction. But, you know, I live a Arlington County, Virginia, which has a motto of "Never an illegal we didn't love and abett," and thus, when I went into Macy's (former Hecht Co.) to do some power shopping (I succeeded at that) - all I heard was Spanish. Except for the token English-speaker, who was mercifully a native-speaker & also strangely well-versed in customer service. I think he was a replicant. So unseemly.

- fat people who think I need to see their stomach rolls. hanging out between their clothes parts. or brazenly displayed with a bare midriff (not joking). or ass cellulite vividly outlined through those off-white stretch pants. who are STANDING right in the middle of the metro escalator, blocking any movement past.

- Chortling Democrats & their chortling (DC) newspaper of record (Washington Post, duh) - just normally - but especially after the Dem win of House & Senate. Keep in mind, folks, that lots of real conservatives were pissed off at those weren't real & decided to teach them a lesson. at all of our expense. thanks. but, more to the point - this cannot be taken as a sign that America has turned liberal, morons, so don't get too excited.

- Islamists & all their widdle supporters. There's always some Moslem who's getting sparked up about something and killing someone (nuns, film-makers, Israelis, etc, etc), blowing up discos, supermarkets, public transportation, flying into buildings, burning cars, performing essential honor killings of their females (not to mention everything else that is imposed on said females), cowing Westerners by their violence, etc, etc. First, I don't care about your religion or your widdle feelings about it. Second, the West should get some gonads asap and put you down like the rabid dogs you are before we're in real trouble. Mkay? So, actually, Islamists, this isn't about you - it's about us & how we will overcome you and anyone who threatens our existence.

Basically, all this is just saying I'm fed up with my life & my total lack of clarity about where I'm going except it can't be more of the same. Also, my DH Jeff is away and I miss him - so there.

I could go on, but I gotta go study some more. Gaack.

Technorati topics: mental breakdown, islam, politics, manners, immigration

Thoughts for the Day

Just because the newly outed pervo (and now “Victim” ) Mark Foley is a Republican doesn’t mean we conservatives are going to magically become Democrats come November. Just a thought.

FYI, there was a Washington Post article yesterday regarding the difference in outcomes between Rs and Ds who have been caught in scandalous activities, i.e., Republicans are ousted, Democrats refuse to be ousted and are often re-elected for additional terms. Well, we know there’s a double standard, but beyond that, I guess Democrats hold their elected officials to a much lower standard of behavior. Good for them (insert sarcasm here)!

Frankly, I find the brazen, low behavior of all these guys (and gals – they can be scum, too!) sickening and unacceptable. No taxpaying citizen should just give them - or any complicit parties - a pass. Demand accountability!

Technorati topics: manners

Quote of The Day

“No wonder the price of gas in the US is so high. It's all being used for Molotov cocktails in Oaxaca.” found here.

From Mark In Mexico, a newly discovered (well new to me) blog, whose author works as a teacher in Mexico and reports on what’s going on there as well as on various other things. His observations about goings-on in Oaxaca (which coincidentally enough, is where my maternal grandfather came from) make even our meanest streets look tame and orderly by comparison. Check him out.