Good Morning! It’s apparently hot many places in the US; I wouldn’t know – I’m on the Vineyaahd and the weather has been absolutely perfect. But for you guys in the heat, how about a little Christmas in July? Continue reading
boobookitteh
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Welcome to Book Club: The Next Generation. Before I present our next book to be discussed, allow me to get some housekeeping out of the way. You may have noticed that this book choice was not a result of several voting rounds. That is because there has been a decision to have Book Club operate under the purview of DogsOfWar. Dogs will select the person to lead each book group. If you wish to be considered for leading a discussion, email Dogs at CommentsOfWar at gmail dot com and present your book for consideration.
Now that we all are on the same page (heh), allow me to present our next book, The Preservationist by David Maine.
Although it would be easiest to describe Maine’s debut novel as a retelling of the Noah’s Ark story from the Bible, it is much more than a simple reinterpretation. His narrative takes the few chapters about God’s judgment and punishment of his failing creation and expands and adds essential missing characters, as well as filling in the holes and questions left by the incomplete Biblical narrative. Continue reading
Like Moses coming down from Mount Sinai, I interrupt your Golden Calf internet orgy to present to you the Ten Commandments of Internet Commenting. I bring them down from an angry internet God who has judged you and found you wanting.
Much like the other God, they are presented without comment or explanation. Because, honestly, they should be self explanatory. But you can spend the next 2000-3000 years discussing and misinterpreting and generally believing they don’t apply to you.
Gay Marriage is becoming more and more of a ‘thing’. According to some nutjobs, this means we will be able to marry animals and perhaps inanimate objects.
Personally, I would not mind marrying cheese. Mmmm. Soft, supple Brie; dangerously sharp cheddar.
And my books of course. And the cats.
What would you marry?
Dr. Jack Kevorkian, AKA “Dr. Death,” who helped dozens of sick people commit suicide has died at age 83. Ironically, he died after a prolonged illness in a hospital bed – exactly the kind of death he helped his patients avoid.
Many people will say many things about this man and his deeply flawed methods, but I believe we would not have had this vitally important public conversation about death and self determination without him. He was an angel to those whose suffering he relieved at their request and a devil to those who despised his methods and message. Although his publicity seeking and death-obsessed art was off putting to even those that supported his message, he should be recognized as the trailblazer he was in bringing end of life issues to the forefront of American discourse. I only hope that dying in a hospital bed was what he wanted. Because that’s ultimately what Dr. Kevorkian was about: choice.
RIP Jack.
Today’s outrage is courtesy of Kansas State Rep Pete DeGraf who has equated becoming pregnant from rape with having a flat tire. How so? Well, apparently women should ‘prepare’ for this eventuality by having a ‘rape-abortion’ fund so that the taxpayers are not burdened with the cost.
Rep. DeGraf is a first term (and hopefully last term – don’t let us down Kansas!) Republican who is also an Associate Pastor at his church. Could someone refresh me on the passage in the New Testament where Jesus tells the ladies to save up for an abortion in case they’re raped? Continue reading
A Canadian couple is raising their 4 month old baby without telling anyone the gender.
In an email the couple explained, “We’ve decided not to share Storm’s sex for now — a tribute to freedom and choice in place of limitation, a stand up to what the world could become in Storm’s lifetime (a more progressive place?…).”
Is this the height of progressiveness or politically correct ridiculousness? Parentcental.ca
Happy Phriday Pholks! Today my Dad turns 79, so our theme this week is birthdays.
Show us your birthday cakes, favorite birthday presents, drunken birthday revelry – anything birthday related (except your birthday suit, unless it is an actual suit)! Continue reading
When I was working as a nurse in obstetrics everyone would comment, “oh how happy your job must be!” And it generally was, until things went badly. And then it was miserable. Nothing prepares you for the death or injury of a newborn and the grief of the parents and staff that follows.
Physicians and nurses may also fear a lawsuit – but hospital staff are rarely criminally prosecuted for their actions or inactions, but not so of home birthing midwives. Slate.com tells the story of Karen Carr, a midwife in Virginia charged with involuntary manslaughter in the case of a newborn who died under her care. She has pled guilty to two felony charges as part of a plea bargain. Continue reading
Today we sit on the couch watching Penguins of Madagascar and eating Girl Scout cookies whilst perusing medical news related to obesity.
Does adding sugar to virtually every processed food contribute to obesity? Consumption of added sugars (sugars not naturally occurring in foods) has increased along with BMIs over the last 30 years says an AHA study. Does this correlation equal a causation? Epidemiologists say likely. Big Sugar says no.
Too little sleep makes you overeat. More evidence that adequate sleep is important. This lines up with other studies that show lack of sleep (often related to shift work) can contribute to obesity and diabetes. The 20 pounds I put on working nights confirms the hypothesis.
Religion has been linked to obesity in young adults. It’s not clear what the causative factors are. I suspect Peggy Hill’s Frito Pie. Stick with the Lutefisk, but don’t light a match in the bathroom.
A University of Missouri researcher has found a plant fat that may help reduce deep belly fat that leads to the health complications of obesity. Hopefully it won’t cause anal leakage like the last time we got our hopes up.
And finally, Eric Cartman was right.
