August 30, 2008
August 17, 2008
August 13, 2008
August 12, 2008
duncan's stalking my searches again.
How else would he know about this uncharted discovery on www.searchingforbigfoot.com, which has released a bone-i-fied picture that proves once and for all big foot exists right here in an undisclosed North Georgia location?
How else would Duncan have come upon the same news announcement Jenna and I had just finished looking at because she has been on a big foot hunt lately herself, having set aside "Nessy" for the time being, and that we followed some youtube videos of bigfoot to www.searchingforbigfoot.com just a couple of hours ago. (Incidentally, who knew THAT domain would be available -- the guy grabbed a goodun there, eh?).
Same guy that titled his JPEG image of one of science's most important discoveries in centuries "Thawed.JPG."
you know you're a redneck if...
ANYWAY, the point is Duncan friendfeeded this bigfoot finding and the news that the big foot hunters are taking their prey to Palo Alto for a news conference to show off their catch. ('Course they found him dead--but they always say that in Georgia. See, all you gotta do is drag him inside and it's legal).
And ANYWAY the point being dear daughter Jenna is now asleep not in HER bed but mine because she saw "Freezer Big Foot" thawed, and was grossed out to the point of nightmares.
So all this better be for real, and not a bear with his face shot off, or else someone other than me is taking a turn reading Molly Moon books as a bed-time distraction tomorrow night.
---
August 11, 2008
R U Southern?
Tomato Sandwiches. That's what makes August worth living in the heat soaked south. I'd never had a tomato sandwich until I moved down yonder to Atlanta. My friend from the Mississippi Delta introduced me to them a couple of years ago, and it's my favorite lunch -- Bar. None. -- during summer when you can get REAL tomatoes. With Hellman's Mayonnaise more than $4.00 a jar, the Tomato Sandwich has become a bit of a gourmet specialty. Let me tell you how the Real Southern Woman makes them, so you can impress your yankee friends and relatives:Get a big-ass, plump, vine-ripe, richly-red tomato.
Get a loaf of unhealthy processed white-ass bread, the softer the better.
Get a BIG-ass spoon to dip into a big-ass jar of Hellman's Real Mayonnaise.
Cut 1/4 inch thick slices of tomato, NOT sideways, but starting with the bottom/butt of the tomato upward toward the top/stem. (more fleshy pieces this way).
GLOB mayonnaise on both pieces of bread.
Pile 3 slices of tomato on one piece of bread to cover the mayo.
Sprinkle the tomatoes LIBERALLY with salt, and even more LIBERALLY with black pepper til you can hardly see any red.
Put the sandwich together.
Lean over paper plate.
EAT IT NOW! NOWWW!
Enjoy--From Miss Manners Book of Southern Luncheons
August 07, 2008
August 06, 2008
"It's like these guys take pride in being ignorant."
Rocking The House with the truth about the other side.
August 05, 2008
My 100 Reasons to Quit Smoking (which I did 4 yrs ago!)
(This post if from before I quit - which was 4 years ago! I just came across it and realized how significantly unraveling my smoking addiction changed who I am. And I'm not done yet.)
1) The smell on me, clothes, car, stuff
2) Costs too much money
3) Takes time away from my daughter
4) Takes time away from my husband
5) I get sick too much
6) How can I tell my kid not to when it's time if I do
7) Painful lungs
8) Cough
9) I'm asthmatic, and even if you aren't, you probably will be
10) Lung cancer
11) Throat, mouth, and related cancers
12) Heart disease
13) It's digusting
14) No place to smoke at work
15) Smoking outside in the winter and the rain
16) Not being able to watch a whole movie without at least thinking about one
17) Not being able to go to the mall without stepping out for one
18) Yellowing of skin, fingernails
19) That little frown and wrinkles that come lots sooner on a smoker
20) Want to see my daughter grow up
21) Don't want to die on her
22) Want to grow old with my husband
23) Don't want surgery
24) In the humidity of summer, the smoke sticks to you
25) Hands won't get so dry if I'm not washing the smell off them all the time
26) Sinus infections and ear infections
27) Knowing that teachers, co-workers and boss can smell your habit.
28) It sucks being an addict
29) To learn to be able to say, No.
30) The Creator didn't put me here to kill myself
31) Sore throats
32) To be able to focus on just one thing--to live in the moment
33) To not always be "escaping"
34) More restful sleep
35) Less angst during air travel
36) No more having to ask at restaurants and then getting the worst table
37) No more lying to doctors
38) No more doctors
39) My daughter's school tuition
40) Vacations - money to go on them
41) Vacations - not always picking a 1st floor room so I can step out the door to smoke
42) Vacations - the long car ride to our destination, during which I can't smoke and therefore bitch a lot
43) Having to remember to get enough cigs to last the weekend.
44) Having to remember to take them with me everywhere I go
45) Tobacco all over the bottom of my purse
46) Freaking out when I don't have matches
47) Having to buy the fifth lighter in a month because I lost the other four
48) Smoking a hard-to-find brand like American Spirits means driving 5-10 miles for a pack
49) If Dave Winer can do it, I can
50) Don't want my daughter to have to push me around in a wheel chair with an oxygen tank
51) Bumming from others is embarassing
52) Self-esteem: get some
53) Fewer breaks from writing = more writing done sooner
54) To smell the wind outside my door instead of the smoke
55) My husband telling me not to drop the butts in the driveway
56) Dropping the butts in the driveway anyhow
57) My daughter staring at me when she catches me
58) Dread of the day she asks me, "What is that and what are you doing?"
59) Feeling like she's already figured it out and I'm a liar
60) Feeling like a criminal
61) Knowing I would resort to stealing them if I had to
62) Walking upstairs without breathing hard
63) More energy to work out, to care, to get inside the day
64) Wheezing
65) Prescription and non-prescription sinus medicine: costs and side effects
66) Wouldn't have to wash my coat so often - less money on water and laundry detergent in general
67) No worries about the cordless phone running out of batteries and having to cut calls short, because coming inside means no smoking
68) More money for phone bills to talk longer on regular phone
69) Blue Book value and resale potential of both cars would be better
70) To be able to complain about smokers, or at least feel sorry for them
71) Because I know it's wrong
72) Because I hate that it controls me
73) The lady I buy my cigarettes from has no front teeth
74) I hate giving money to tobacco company
75) RJ Reynolds just bought American Spirit--I'm giving my money to people I hate.
76) I'm giving my money to liars
77) Soon employers won't keep/hire you if you smoke
78) Some doctors won't even see you if you smoke
79) There are lots of new aides to help you quit
80) I've always felt better as a non smoker
81) I can get a good buzz off of coffee
82) I've quit before; I know I'm capable
83) I've stayed quit for years and know I'm capable
84) Losers won't take 20 cents off me every time I comply with their request to bum a smoke
85) Living
86) Dying
87) Being able to sit still for an hour
88) Not thinking of the next one before I finish the first
89) Not having to stash some away so I know I'll have them "just in case"
90) To be able to say, "I quit" and mean it
91) To be able to see a pack, or someone smoking, and not care
92) Those terrifying "oops! I smoked!" dreams don't last forever
93) To be able to tell others how I did it and maybe they'll decide to quit too
94) To be able to tell my husband how I did it and maybe he'll decide to quit too
95) To be able to reward myself with the new shoes I want
96) So that I can tell my daughter, in all honesty, it wasn't worth it
97) Because it's not my life to take
98) No more breath mints
99) Flicking my non-filter out the window and wondering if I'm going to blow up my gas tank
100) Because "It's Time."
1) The smell on me, clothes, car, stuff
2) Costs too much money
3) Takes time away from my daughter
4) Takes time away from my husband
5) I get sick too much
6) How can I tell my kid not to when it's time if I do
7) Painful lungs
8) Cough
9) I'm asthmatic, and even if you aren't, you probably will be
10) Lung cancer
11) Throat, mouth, and related cancers
12) Heart disease
13) It's digusting
14) No place to smoke at work
15) Smoking outside in the winter and the rain
16) Not being able to watch a whole movie without at least thinking about one
17) Not being able to go to the mall without stepping out for one
18) Yellowing of skin, fingernails
19) That little frown and wrinkles that come lots sooner on a smoker
20) Want to see my daughter grow up
21) Don't want to die on her
22) Want to grow old with my husband
23) Don't want surgery
24) In the humidity of summer, the smoke sticks to you
25) Hands won't get so dry if I'm not washing the smell off them all the time
26) Sinus infections and ear infections
27) Knowing that teachers, co-workers and boss can smell your habit.
28) It sucks being an addict
29) To learn to be able to say, No.
30) The Creator didn't put me here to kill myself
31) Sore throats
32) To be able to focus on just one thing--to live in the moment
33) To not always be "escaping"
34) More restful sleep
35) Less angst during air travel
36) No more having to ask at restaurants and then getting the worst table
37) No more lying to doctors
38) No more doctors
39) My daughter's school tuition
40) Vacations - money to go on them
41) Vacations - not always picking a 1st floor room so I can step out the door to smoke
42) Vacations - the long car ride to our destination, during which I can't smoke and therefore bitch a lot
43) Having to remember to get enough cigs to last the weekend.
44) Having to remember to take them with me everywhere I go
45) Tobacco all over the bottom of my purse
46) Freaking out when I don't have matches
47) Having to buy the fifth lighter in a month because I lost the other four
48) Smoking a hard-to-find brand like American Spirits means driving 5-10 miles for a pack
49) If Dave Winer can do it, I can
50) Don't want my daughter to have to push me around in a wheel chair with an oxygen tank
51) Bumming from others is embarassing
52) Self-esteem: get some
53) Fewer breaks from writing = more writing done sooner
54) To smell the wind outside my door instead of the smoke
55) My husband telling me not to drop the butts in the driveway
56) Dropping the butts in the driveway anyhow
57) My daughter staring at me when she catches me
58) Dread of the day she asks me, "What is that and what are you doing?"
59) Feeling like she's already figured it out and I'm a liar
60) Feeling like a criminal
61) Knowing I would resort to stealing them if I had to
62) Walking upstairs without breathing hard
63) More energy to work out, to care, to get inside the day
64) Wheezing
65) Prescription and non-prescription sinus medicine: costs and side effects
66) Wouldn't have to wash my coat so often - less money on water and laundry detergent in general
67) No worries about the cordless phone running out of batteries and having to cut calls short, because coming inside means no smoking
68) More money for phone bills to talk longer on regular phone
69) Blue Book value and resale potential of both cars would be better
70) To be able to complain about smokers, or at least feel sorry for them
71) Because I know it's wrong
72) Because I hate that it controls me
73) The lady I buy my cigarettes from has no front teeth
74) I hate giving money to tobacco company
75) RJ Reynolds just bought American Spirit--I'm giving my money to people I hate.
76) I'm giving my money to liars
77) Soon employers won't keep/hire you if you smoke
78) Some doctors won't even see you if you smoke
79) There are lots of new aides to help you quit
80) I've always felt better as a non smoker
81) I can get a good buzz off of coffee
82) I've quit before; I know I'm capable
83) I've stayed quit for years and know I'm capable
84) Losers won't take 20 cents off me every time I comply with their request to bum a smoke
85) Living
86) Dying
87) Being able to sit still for an hour
88) Not thinking of the next one before I finish the first
89) Not having to stash some away so I know I'll have them "just in case"
90) To be able to say, "I quit" and mean it
91) To be able to see a pack, or someone smoking, and not care
92) Those terrifying "oops! I smoked!" dreams don't last forever
93) To be able to tell others how I did it and maybe they'll decide to quit too
94) To be able to tell my husband how I did it and maybe he'll decide to quit too
95) To be able to reward myself with the new shoes I want
96) So that I can tell my daughter, in all honesty, it wasn't worth it
97) Because it's not my life to take
98) No more breath mints
99) Flicking my non-filter out the window and wondering if I'm going to blow up my gas tank
100) Because "It's Time."
America's Black Holocaust Museum Should Not Close.
America's Black Holocaust Museum, located in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, has been hit by hard economic times along with the rest of America. It's disheartening when folks have to decide whether to spend their $4-$5 on a gallon of gas or a ticket to America's "never again" museum.Founded by Dr. James Cameron, the museum houses artifacts that mark a critical period in America's history. Cameron passed away in 2006, but left his legacy, which grew out of his basement into the permanent location on North 4th Street. He also left a legacy in his life's work.
Displays in the Museum's permanent collection include:In August, 1930, when Cameron was 16 years old, he and two teenage friends were accused of the murder of a young white man in Marion, IN. As a result, Cameron and his two friends were brutally lynched by a mob of 15,000 at the Grant County Courthouse Square.
Cameron witnessed the deaths of his friends, but, miraculously, young Cameron survived his attempted lynching. Yet, because of the criminal charges against him, he was immediately sentenced and served time in a state prison before his parole four years later. Ironically, no one was ever accused, arrested or charged with the murders of Cameron’s teenage friends, nor for the beating Cameron suffered.
Because of his personal experience, Cameron has dedicated his life to promoting civil rights, racial unity and equality. His commitment is evidenced by his founding the first chapters of the NAACP in Indiana during the 1940s—a time in which the State of Indiana was notes as the Ku Klux Klan capital of America. Cameron went on to establish and become the first president of the NAACP Madison County Branch in Anderson, IN.
Additionally, Cameron also served as the Indiana State Director of Civil Liberties from 1942—1950. In this capacity, Cameron reported to then Governor of Indian Henry Shricker on violations of the “equal accommodations” laws to end previously mandated segregation. During his eight-year tenure, Cameron investigated over 25 incidents of civil rights infractions and faced many acts of violence and death threats for his work.
The African Village:On July 29th, the Museum website announced it's economic difficulties:
This mural depicts life in a village on the coast of West Africa . Civilization, family and common customs are highlighted in this exhibit, giving visitors a view into the rarely shown images of a great culture and people.
The Middle Passage – A Voyage to Slavery:
This 15-foot reproduction of a slaveship details the largest forced migration in human history, from the vantage point of Africans enslaved in a cargo hold.
Wisconsin Legends of the NAACP:
This video and photo exhibition highlights the significant leaders and activities of the NAACP in Wisconsin . Images of Father Groppi, Vel Phillips, Gwen Moore and many others are depicted in Wisconsin ’s “march” towards racial equality and civil rights for the United States .
Strange Fruit - Lynching in America:
This exhibit allows visitors to examine the atrocities of lynching in America and the mentality that allowed lynching to occur.
The Life and Legacy of Dr. James Cameron:
Dr. Cameron, the only known survivor of a lynching, founded ABHM in 1988. This exhibit features several of Dr. Cameron’s life, including last summer’s “The Senate Apology” for failure to intact anti-lynching legislation decades ago.
Before Freedom Came:
This didactic panel exhibit depicts the lives of 18th and 19th century African Americans and documents how their experiences have shaped American history, culture and politics.
The Board of Directors for America's Black Holocaust Museum announced today that the museum will temporarily close its doors in order to reconfigure its operations.Reggie Jackson, Board Chair for America's Black Holocaust Museum (ABHM) said the institution has been impacted by the economy and part of the museum's reconfiguration will focus on developing a new fundraising plan. Jackson said ABHM does not have an endowment and relies strictly on individual donations and corporate philanthropy.
ABHM is in discussions with its lender and with the City of Milwaukee Department of City Development to retain the museum's building at its current location.
Jackson said that during its temporary closure, ABHM will restructure its educational development and complete the cataloguing of the museum's archives.
"Though we may be temporarily closed to the public, we will continue the museum's mission through aggressive outreach to the community to raise funds and ensure that this national museum remains open," said Jackson.
America's Black Holocaust Museum exists for the community, and we want you to continue investing in the organization.
As ABHM moves forward, we will keep the community updated and respond to inquiries about progress toward our joint goals of fundraising, board restructuring, and educational development.
Today an article in the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel reiterated the plight of the museum and gave an even less heartening glimpse at its future.
It would take about $125,000 to $175,000 a year to run the museum, which seems like a small price to get people of all races to rethink their assumptions about race.
America’s Black Holocaust Museum was a good place to talk about race, and it would be a shame for that forum to close because foundation support has waned in tough times. Race remains a hot-button issue in this community. Even with the doors to the museum closed, conversations about race must continue.
To donate to America’s Black Holocaust Museum, call (414) 217-9056.
Membership details are here.
August 04, 2008
Dude who invented modern air conditioning.
says he's buried with all three of his wives.
sounds kinda crowded.
bet he wishes he had a little air down there.
/today's history lesson.
sounds kinda crowded.
bet he wishes he had a little air down there.
/today's history lesson.
August 02, 2008
Life, Loss, and Lightning
A magnificent storm swung southward through Atlanta this evening. Not the pop-up kind, but the kind that rolls in angry, cracks open the sky, blue-black clouds turning lush green leaves sliver as branches thrash against the wind.
Before it bullied its way into Cobb and Cherokee counties, the day was mostly sunny, and I took Jenna and a friend to the pool to cool off. A few times during the day we heard distant thunder, and as parents, we huddled to perform a crude risk-benefit analysis on the possibility of a direct lightning strike vs pulling all the kids out of the pool without fall-back activities or any real desire to leave poolside on the part of the adults. Most of the time we kept our eyes skyward as the kids swam.
There's that window, when you're pretty sure it's safe because it hasn't thundered for ten minutes and the sun is out, yet suspicious clouds dot the sky. Everyone has a story about the bolt that came out of nowhere and killed a whole pool full of people. It must be a southern thing. Sort of like the kids who die by falling into snowbanks in the north.
Weather can be unforgiving.
Since I was there by myself in charge of two girls, I made the decision that if they were in the pool, I was going to be in the pool. If they were out, I would be out.
As for in-water reasoning, I figured, if a bolt decided to electrify the pool, I damn well wouldn't want to be around to suffer through the guilt and broken heart that would be my legacy. Likewise, I didn't want to be in the pool while they were at the picnic table snacking only to have the stray-death-bolt-of-lightning strike my raft. Then I would miss my daughter growing up and leave her to mature without a mother. Not the ideal option.
The all-in or all-out of the pool plan worked well, though it took away from the relaxation part of my master plan. Thankfully, we made it out alive just as the serious weather began to move in.
When the sky opened, pregnant storm clouds mixed their blackness with over-watered lawns turning everything that eerie tornado-brewing shade of pea green.
As we were driving Jenna's friend home, we got stuck between the pool and her house in the worst of the weather and found shelter in a friend's basement. My friend was out of town, but her nervous Golden Retriever was overjoyed for the company. He tried to climb inside of me with every smack of thunder.
The power flickered, cable gave out, and I was glad for my blackberry tuned into live Doppler radar on the local news station.
As the girls played Scrabble in the basement, I went upstairs to call home and tell George we were out of the storm.
I decided to lie back and let go, and began thinking about something I had read last night, something about kids and stealing. No no, not about *my* kid, but about me as a kid.
It's no secret, my Esteemed Readers that I shoplifted as a kid.
I think I was about 12 when I went pro, which lasted a couple of years. Those were easier days, no scanners or detectors. You had two way mirrors, and you had store detectives. Neither a match for me. Innocent brown eyes and a too-sweet smile, I had the perfect cover. It was never very hard for me to slip one shirt under another in a fitting room, books down the back of my pants, candy up the sleeve, or makeup in zippered pockets. A mood ring here, a magazine there.Of course I posted about that part of my life in 2002, before the days of Social Media. Now I have a reputation to keep up. (sneer). Anyway what I read in the article about stealing that gave me pause was this:
Shoplifting is the art of distraction. Left hand reaches for a bottle of shampoo, lean a little closer, read the label, right hand slips the eyeliner up the coat sleeve. (This was upstate New York. You always had a coat on.)
But don’t think badly of me. This was just a phase. You had phases too, right? Looking for attention was what I always heard from adults who talked about kids who shoplifted, often in front of me, while I blinked in dismay. I said, “Wow, kids do that?” but I thought, “I’m not looking for attention. I’m looking for a really cool shirt.”
"It is hypothesized that subconsciously Atypical Theft Offenders are very angry and steal because they want someone else to feel the unfair loss that they are feeling. Since this is a subconscious act in partnership with deep subconscious anger (Cupchik,1997)."Some things I didn't feel about my father's death at the time were anger, grief and unfairness. Some things I certainly repressed that needed an outlet were anger, grief, unfairness.
There is something so profound in this realization for me - an understanding that it was never about the taking, it was never about the getting, it was never about attention, which was the last thing I wanted.
It was about the loss on the other side.
It wasn't about having; it was about another's not having.
It was about an unconscious need to gain some measure of control, real or imagined, over the loss that would be forever. About controlling loss through taking.
It was a way of passing my loss on, of saying, "Please, the burden of my loss is so very heavy that I can't manage it on my own - can you lose something with me?"
In losing something can you carry part of my loss for me?
It was about a six-year-old girl whose world stood still in a second that lasted six months,
It wasn't about what I took from them; it was about the displacement of my own empty shelf.
And this is what I was thinking as the rain beat against the storm door, the dog nudged the cuff of my jeans, and the children giggled downstairs playing Scrabble, safe, out of the storm.
---
July 30, 2008
July 29, 2008
I only wish I could have Stealth-Discoed Joi
Joi Ito at Fortune Brainstorm - he's so fucking smart. (venture communist - heh.)
"Money is lonely - It always goes where other money is."
hat tip: SVW.
"Money is lonely - It always goes where other money is."
hat tip: SVW.
July 26, 2008
10 years after - JP Clues Us In.
With an intro from Euan Semple, JP Rangaswami revisits Cluetrain past, present and future. This should be required viewing for social media "experts" and anyone who thinks that 140 character tweets are what it means to be connected as human beings.
JP is just. so. cool. And Euan's story took me back. I remember hearing about that talk, that trip, and oh do I remember that time.
I wish I had the chops to transcribe this -- if anyone's up for it, let me know so I can link to the result. If I get time, I'll try and get the fingers flying.
In the mean time, enjoy the video.
JP is just. so. cool. And Euan's story took me back. I remember hearing about that talk, that trip, and oh do I remember that time.
I wish I had the chops to transcribe this -- if anyone's up for it, let me know so I can link to the result. If I get time, I'll try and get the fingers flying.
In the mean time, enjoy the video.
July 25, 2008
July 20, 2008
July 19, 2008
Bloggers As Webkinz
Our daughter collects Webkinz, which is not in and of itself unusual. What IS unusual is that she has named her most recent webkinz purchases after women bloggers. Specifically:- Halley the Horse after Halley Suitt
- Toby the Tree Frog after Toby Bloomberg
- Margaret the Monkey after Margaret Adam (via AKMA)
But this is the first Webkinz-as-Women-Bloggers List, folks. Sqeezem if you gottem.
---
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