My Own Thoughts

A Statue of Liberty made out of 18,000 men. A grammar lesson on YouTube which is incorrect. None can stand for “not any” as well as for “not one.” Wedding Photos We’ll Remember, some of which you may wish you could forget. Some are funny and some… are weird because they’re in the package. This [...]

See this post from Hummer Limos in Miami… Find out that the math question is wrong because Tracy is a woman. Learn that radioactive ooze allows you to investigate phenotypes. And, most ingeniously, see how chemistry helps uncover Batman’s private identity.

R and I were discussing whether good schools create high IQs or high IQs create good schools. Or some such. I was directed to a review of a book, which clearly indicates that high IQs come first. They only stay high if the schools support them. Chinese-American entrants to Berkeley in 1966 had an IQ [...]

so I was especially interested in the Common Room’s historical posting of 1910 doctor letters. (For myself I’m a big history fan.) Part I is here. It talks about the rich guy whose wife flaunts her Worth gowns (and yes, I know what those are. I read Georgette Heyer.) and won’t pay his doctor whose [...]

I hit a curb in a parking lot yesterday. I managed to scrape one knee and elbow, wrench my back on that side, twist my other ankle, and hurt the knee on that side. Nothing is broken. And my computer didn’t break either. But oh man do I hurt. And I clearly to work on [...]

The problems with the Flight 93 Memorial haven’t been “suddenly discovered.” I spent a lot of time back in September of 2005 putting my two cents in with the National Park Service. In April 2006, Park Service Director Mary Bomar ordered an internal investigation into claims that the planned Flight 93 Memorial is actually a [...]

I don’t know him, but I still love him. He gave me my own private cooking aficianado. We now have all the kitchen gadgets I wanted years ago. But I don’t use them. My hubby does. Go here to read some great thoughts on Alton Brown. If you liked “Chuck Norris’ tears cure cancer,” you’ll [...]

This is a chocolate chip cookie recipe. It is great for sending overseas. These cookies are ONLY good direct from the oven OR two weeks or more later. 1 cup (even scant) Crisco shortening 1 packed cup dark brown sugar 1/4 cup white sugar 1 tsp vanilla 1 tsp baking soda 2 eggs Stir together [...]

This is the chow-chow my dad grew up eating. He loves it. I’m the only one with a recipe because back when I was in junior high, I asked my grama for it. Here it is: 1 gal. green tomatoes (ground up) large and small head of cabbage (ground up) Grama used a sausage grinder. [...]

The BBC has emails (I guess) from US folks who are tightening their belts. Some of them are really tightening their belts. Like the man who went from making $45/hr to minimum wage. Expenses don’t drop just because wages do. He’s probably got house payments, etc, that he can’t afford. But give me a break… [...]

findings of the National Confidential Enquiry into Patient Outcome and Death…. has revealed over half of patients are not given good enough treatment as staff are often too inexperienced. from the BBC

is that I live in a country where I can vote, move around, travel, and get a job (among many other things) without the government telling me I cannot. Thank you to the men and women of the United States Armed Forces who have made that possible.

I enjoy a perceptive political cartoon as much as the next guy. Maybe more. Here’s Red Planet Cartoons, to whom I have just been introduced by American Digest. (Full disclosure: My father worked for Exxon for most of my life. He worked for Exxon the entire time we had enough to eat in our house.)

Memorial superintendent admits giant crescent still present in memorial design No comment from the Park Service yet on Congressman Tancredo’s request for a new Flight 93 Memorial. We did a little better with last week’s blogburst letters. Some emailers got a response from Memorial Project Superintendent Joanne Hanley, answering Mr. Tancredo’s contention that the original [...]

This year I am most grateful for my wonderful husband R, my two beloved sons E and M, and the fact that we are all doing so well. Thank you, God. I hope that everyone who reads this has a blessed Thanksgiving.

Mix: 1 cup oil 3/4 c sugar 1/2 c red wine vinegar 1/2 tsp salt 1/4 tsp pepper 2 minced cloves 1 TBS onion Put together. Drizzle on 1 qt cut strawberries and 1 lb spinach.

I had to go take the “What accent do you have?” quiz. What American accent do you have? Your Result: The Midland   “You have a Midland accent” is just another way of saying “you don’t have an accent.” You probably are from the Midland (Pennsylvania, southern Ohio, southern Indiana, southern Illinois, and Missouri) but [...]

That’s what my husband said. My mom called all night long and started again this morning at 6:51. Nobody died. She just wanted to tel me, again, something that she had already told me. Bipolar is not fun, for anyone.

I’ve been doing four bike rides between 10 and 14 miles each. I’ve been walking at least 8 miles a week. I’ve been lifting twice. (My goal was three times a week, but I didn’t do that.) I also started jogging, just a bit. Trying to get ready for the 5K Rodeo Run on March [...]

It was pouring rain, and had been for hours, when I was supposed to go ride for 32 miles. I didn’t go. I’m off on Tuesday and Wednesday. Maybe I can get it in gear and go for a 32 mile ride then. It won’t be the same, no straightaways on the green belts, but [...]