Interesting that I struggled to write positively here about my body, yet initially posted this with a negative in the title, and a protective attitude, assuming that "boys" would not understand, would possibly make fun of my feelings.  And it took me two days to notice that I did that.  So… Read full post »

It's enough to tempt me to give the Three Stooges another try.

 My husband and I are lackluster television watchers at best, and frequently wait to get an entire season of a show on DVD.  When we discovered "30 Rock" we plowed through three seasons with great pleasure, and looked forward… Read full post »

Here’s some news, from the New York Times, March 29, 2009:

“New results from a large study suggest that the drugs known as statins may have a benefit beyond lowering cholesterol: reducing the risk of developing blood clots in the veins.  The study, published on the website of the New… Read full post »

So, I finally got to see "Milk," took awhile to get to our small town, just ahead of the DVD issue.  Enjoyed the movie, some touching moments.  (Diego Luna is a bad, bad boy though -- trying to steal all those scenes from Sean Penn.  Or maybe I just have a… Read full post »

Or, How OS Has Changed My Life.  Not particularly for the better, either.

Awhile back I posted my opinion that use of torture scenes in stories is more than simply gratuitous.  It is actively dangerous to us as a society because it numbs us to the reality of actual torture.

 I… Read full post »

Just finished listening to the Inauguration Speech.  A fine speech, I thought, extending hands to clenched fists, bringing in George Washington, even admitting "unbelievers" into the American way of life.

But two things thudded in that speech.  The first was that although there was mention… Read full post »

The Congregational Church down the street from me has a large banner on the side of the building:  "Torture is Wrong."  The church has impeccable  liberal credentials, and I'm sure that the members who watch "24" on television feel it's a guilty pleasure.

But I'm also sure that they ar… Read full post »

As you might imagine, not a whole lot is getting done.

I'm old.  I'm 65, which is not very elderly, but it's certainly not middle-aged.  When I turned 60 I felt wonderful, a feeling of "Damn!  I'm still standing!" but 65 feels different; the path just slightly starting downhill.  … Read full post »

This is an apology to Jocelyn Testes-Harder.  I'm been thinking about this for a couple of days, and I haven't read anything else that may have been said recently, and I don't intend to.  I'm ashamed of myself, and I need to say I'm sorry. 

One of my most cherished beliefs… Read full post »

In honor of the late Mr. Newman, Mr. K and I had a Fast Eddie Felson Marathon several days ago.  (Note:  the following contains spoilers; if you haven't seen these films but intend to, you might want to skip this post.)

 "The Hustler" was released in 1961; I saw it as… Read full post »

When I was growing up, there were "panhandlers."  They were men, almost always men, and they approached men, almost always men, and asked for money for a cup of coffee, or a bus ride, or whatever they thought would work best.  I clearly remember my shock in the early 60s the… Read full post »

Now that I've recovered enough from my Big Official Birthday to take a bit of broth and return to my computer, I'd like to share my celebration.  (It's a Big Official Birthday because it means that I don't have to worry so much about health care, the government will help out,… Read full post »

If you want to really see how far we've come, what hope we have -- take a look at the photos on Procopius' blog.

My God, what a speech!  I was a strong Clinton supporter, and I've had reservations throughout this entire endless campaign, but -- what a speech!  The only word that comes close to describing how I feel is gratitude.

When President-Elect Obama (ah!) started to enumerate the problems ahead… Read full post »

Today is the last day my husband is officially a member of the Army National Guard.  He's cheerful about it, but I'm in mourning for the loss of a dream.

I grew up an Army brat, and I have a deep, abiding distrust of all things military.  There is an appeal… Read full post »

... and the big fool says "Push on."

 Old enough to remember that?  Young enough to appreciate it today?

 Just watched a DVD, "Pete Seeger: The Power of Song."  Feeling down?  Feeling scared?  Watch this movie.  Feeling helpless, hopeless and lost?Watch this movie.… Read full post »

We know something's happening to the economy, but what the hell does it mean?  We know it's not good -- Dow's up, Dow's down, governments are working on bailouts, Iceland's going to the IMF for help, home foreclosures are up 71% from this time last year, the pounds of ad inserts… Read full post »

I just found out that Al Qaeda websites have been down since September 10, the day before there was to be another video from bin Laden.  They claim "technical problems" (don't we all), but it seems to me much more likely they're under cyber attack.

 This raises the interesting question of… Read full post »

Nick Paumgarten, writing in the current issue of The New Yorker:

"Last week, the global economy, struggling to agree on a price for its components, in an environment without leverage or liquidity, found pretty much everything (except gold bars and Phillies tickets) to be worth a lot less than everyon… Read full post »

I live, by luck and by choice, a very quiet life.  Lots of talk, and lots of laughing, retired to my tend my garden, and my friends.  Which may be why stumbling on the videos taken outside McCain/Palin rallies felt like such a physical blow, a punch to my stomach.  Shouts… Read full post »