This top ten list from LiveScience.com has been around for a while. People talk about destroying our planet a lot. I think what they are actually thinking of is wiping out human life.
In this vein, I am looking forward to reading 'The World Without Us' by Alan Weisman. He was recently on 'The Daily Show' (one of the few shows I actually seek out on the evil I-Tunes).
Also, as a side note, Nathan Sawaya was on The Colbert Report
Friday, August 31, 2007
Resurrecting the Champ
So, we went to see 'Resurrecting the Champ' and it was better than I'd expected. Josh Hartnett is apparently the heir to Brad Pitt's universal character (a bit of eye candy without a lot else). But, he works well enough for the part.
Samuel Jackson really does a good job on this one though. Between this and his study of beloved R.L. for 'Black Snake Moan' I've almost forgiven him for 'Deep Blue Sea' I was even able to get past Alan Alda's annoying voice and into his character in this film.
Samuel Jackson really does a good job on this one though. Between this and his study of beloved R.L. for 'Black Snake Moan' I've almost forgiven him for 'Deep Blue Sea' I was even able to get past Alan Alda's annoying voice and into his character in this film.
Caring about health care
I would bet that the folks who make major decisions about health care in this country are all very well insured themselves - isn't that funny - ha!
Anyhow, I came across this article today in the NY Times "Cancer Society Focuses Its Ads on the Uninsured"
This is an exciting development and one which I hope builds up to a fevered pitch by the next presidential election. While other countries may have some problems with their health care systems (I mean those that even have systems), and while we are a country based on (supposedly) keeping the government out of our lives as much as possible, obviously the track we are on now is not the right one.
To be truthful, I am more than a little despondent about the state of coverage in the U.S. My own mother was ill for many years. She kept going to doctors and hospitals here and they didn't want to run extra tests that might have told them she had cancer.
It was only when she moved back to London to take care of her own ailing mother and got into the National Health that her Lymphoma was discovered. It was a slow-growing variety and she has been done with treatments (or poisonings as I refer to them) and in the clear for over a year now. However, they assured us that this was something that had been brewing for a long time.
What ifs are rarely useful, but I find myself wondering how much easier would it have been and how much less would she have suffered if the Doctors here could have just run those tests? Maybe she wouldn't have to live the rest of her life with such sever chest pains from the scar tissue that the chemo left behind.
Anyhow, I came across this article today in the NY Times "Cancer Society Focuses Its Ads on the Uninsured"
This is an exciting development and one which I hope builds up to a fevered pitch by the next presidential election. While other countries may have some problems with their health care systems (I mean those that even have systems), and while we are a country based on (supposedly) keeping the government out of our lives as much as possible, obviously the track we are on now is not the right one.
To be truthful, I am more than a little despondent about the state of coverage in the U.S. My own mother was ill for many years. She kept going to doctors and hospitals here and they didn't want to run extra tests that might have told them she had cancer.
It was only when she moved back to London to take care of her own ailing mother and got into the National Health that her Lymphoma was discovered. It was a slow-growing variety and she has been done with treatments (or poisonings as I refer to them) and in the clear for over a year now. However, they assured us that this was something that had been brewing for a long time.
What ifs are rarely useful, but I find myself wondering how much easier would it have been and how much less would she have suffered if the Doctors here could have just run those tests? Maybe she wouldn't have to live the rest of her life with such sever chest pains from the scar tissue that the chemo left behind.
Wednesday, August 29, 2007
Stealing an email
Curt wrote this, but I think it is interesting and that's why I am stealing it for here. He wrote:
A nation of babies...
http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/20441775/
Ok, so the stupid drinking/running club *could* have been a bit smarter and used something other than a white powdery substance to mark their trail and realized how goddamned stupid Americans are these days, but this is ridiculous.
Everyone's afraid of a "terrorist" attack.
Since 2003, we have had almost 3000 people killed by "terrorist" attacks - almost all in the towers on 9/11/2003.
If we look at 2003, here are the numbers (for only that year) of people who died from:
car driver - 44,757 (this doesn't include trucks and vans)
pedestrian - 5,991
car passenger - 15,797
drowning - 412
falling - 17,229
killed by machinery - 640
choking - 3,004
fires - 2,761
hypothermia - 620
unexpected complications during surgery - 2,855
So, that puts the terrorism threat (for 2003 - much lower if we average it out since 2003) somewhere above hypothermia, but below walking across the street. It's just about on the same level as choking to death (got $500 billion we can spend for the War on Choking?).
But, we've sold out the next two generations with these stupid wars, and who knows how many generations will end up mentally screwed up because a good percentage of people in this country now think it more likely that their kid will be killed by some arab than on a four-wheeler or sticking them in the passenger seat for a drive to the water park.
We're sending people to jail for pouring flour on the ground, for chrissakes, but Bush and his buddies are running this country into the ground and we're going to give them pensions, lifetime secret service protection, and a library.
What the hell is happening in this country?
Right-wing assholes like to use the phrase "Freedom isn't free" to back up their idiotic positions on military spending. Well, I got news for them: Freedom doesn't exist.
"Welcome to the new Soviet Union... Papers, please."
A nation of babies...
http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/20441775/
Ok, so the stupid drinking/running club *could* have been a bit smarter and used something other than a white powdery substance to mark their trail and realized how goddamned stupid Americans are these days, but this is ridiculous.
Everyone's afraid of a "terrorist" attack.
Since 2003, we have had almost 3000 people killed by "terrorist" attacks - almost all in the towers on 9/11/2003.
If we look at 2003, here are the numbers (for only that year) of people who died from:
car driver - 44,757 (this doesn't include trucks and vans)
pedestrian - 5,991
car passenger - 15,797
drowning - 412
falling - 17,229
killed by machinery - 640
choking - 3,004
fires - 2,761
hypothermia - 620
unexpected complications during surgery - 2,855
So, that puts the terrorism threat (for 2003 - much lower if we average it out since 2003) somewhere above hypothermia, but below walking across the street. It's just about on the same level as choking to death (got $500 billion we can spend for the War on Choking?).
But, we've sold out the next two generations with these stupid wars, and who knows how many generations will end up mentally screwed up because a good percentage of people in this country now think it more likely that their kid will be killed by some arab than on a four-wheeler or sticking them in the passenger seat for a drive to the water park.
We're sending people to jail for pouring flour on the ground, for chrissakes, but Bush and his buddies are running this country into the ground and we're going to give them pensions, lifetime secret service protection, and a library.
What the hell is happening in this country?
Right-wing assholes like to use the phrase "Freedom isn't free" to back up their idiotic positions on military spending. Well, I got news for them: Freedom doesn't exist.
"Welcome to the new Soviet Union... Papers, please."
Sunday, August 26, 2007
Guess who's coming to town
Or close enough. I love 'Slow Show' from the National's new Album 'Boxer.' The whole album is great, but this song has the classic line:
"Looking for somewhere to stand and stay,
I leaned on the wall, the wall leaned away"...and to think we were afraid they'd lose that dark edge they had in Alligator.
Curt got tix for us to go see them in Chapel Hill next month! So, I'll get to really hear it. Hopefully by that point in the tour they won't be completely sick of playing.
"Looking for somewhere to stand and stay,
I leaned on the wall, the wall leaned away"...and to think we were afraid they'd lose that dark edge they had in Alligator.
Curt got tix for us to go see them in Chapel Hill next month! So, I'll get to really hear it. Hopefully by that point in the tour they won't be completely sick of playing.
'I Don't Want to Grow Up'
Since I couldn't find you any Morphine, thought I'd pass along this treat...
What could be better than Tom Waits covering a Ramones song?
What could be better than Tom Waits covering a Ramones song?
Morphine
Okay, okay...so I am a born and raised Massaholian...should have been worshiping at the altar of Morphine for years you say.
Whatever, they always seemed so booooring! I'm not a talented listener. If I get bored 15 seconds into the first song, then that's it (must have wasted too much time trying to listen to whole songs as a kid or something).
Anyhow, figured that I should give them another go when listening to Redbird's self-titled albumn. They do a beautiful cover of 'Patience.' Also, we recently went to see the Mammals & they came out with a lovely cover of 'Do Not Go Quietly Unto Your Grave.'
So, thought I'd give 'em another whirly. A lot of it I still find kind of dull. However, there are some really great tunes mixed in. So far, my favourite is 'In Spite of Me' off of 'Cure for Pain.'
Anyhow, can't find any quick links for these, but when searching them, it is interesting to see how everyone covers them.
Whatever, they always seemed so booooring! I'm not a talented listener. If I get bored 15 seconds into the first song, then that's it (must have wasted too much time trying to listen to whole songs as a kid or something).
Anyhow, figured that I should give them another go when listening to Redbird's self-titled albumn. They do a beautiful cover of 'Patience.' Also, we recently went to see the Mammals & they came out with a lovely cover of 'Do Not Go Quietly Unto Your Grave.'
So, thought I'd give 'em another whirly. A lot of it I still find kind of dull. However, there are some really great tunes mixed in. So far, my favourite is 'In Spite of Me' off of 'Cure for Pain.'
Anyhow, can't find any quick links for these, but when searching them, it is interesting to see how everyone covers them.
Friday, August 24, 2007
When Mum comes to town
I always forget to take photos and then at the last minute annoy everyone. So, here are a slightly irritated Curt and Caroline...aren't they sweet to humour me so?!
Saturday, August 18, 2007
Calling all stars...
Listening to 'Weekend America' on NPR. They were just replaying a story about sidewalk astronomers. I love the idea that people are so enthusiastic about astronomy that they, a: build their own telescopes, and then b: run around setting them up on quasi-busy corners and get passersby interested too.
Monday, August 6, 2007
Pretty cool art
This guy Phil Hansen does some pretty neat projects. I like that he ends up with such interesting pieces, but the thought he puts into making them and the creative steps to reach his goal are more impressive. Check out his site.
Secret identity revealed!
Okay, so the fairy stairmaster turned out to be Dad. He's just looking out for his granimals.
Wednesday, August 1, 2007
Thank you fairy stairmaster
Ernie and Clovis received anonymous gifts in the mail today. They each got a matching set of padded pet stairs. Clovis thinks that they are a bed though, so he'll be napping on them. Here are some pictures of them trying out getting to the sofa in luxury...
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