The year is over. We had some real highs, like the birth of our second child. And then there were some bottom-of-the-barrel lows, like what happened in early November.
Someone made a clever recap of the year, cut like a horror movie trailer. They only touched on the most terrifying thing about the year, however. I guess they didn't want to make it too scary.
Saturday, December 31, 2016
Friday, December 30, 2016
broken heart syndrome
As you undoubtedly heard, Debbie Reynolds died two days ago, the day after her daughter Carrie Fisher died. I saw this article on Alternet, a sometimes dubious website, and asked my MD brother what he thought about it.
He was skeptical although qualified that with the caveat it offered few medical details about Reynolds. He thought the fact that she already had several strokes earlier this year was a more significant cause of the fatal one that may have been triggered by her daughter's death.
While medical literature has reported a number of cases that suggest the so-called "broken heart syndrome" is real, he said, those tend not to happen so quickly after the first death.
On an unrelated noted, the picture of a young Debbie seen below is striking. I never thought she looked much like Carrie, but here you can see the resemblance is strong.
He was skeptical although qualified that with the caveat it offered few medical details about Reynolds. He thought the fact that she already had several strokes earlier this year was a more significant cause of the fatal one that may have been triggered by her daughter's death.
While medical literature has reported a number of cases that suggest the so-called "broken heart syndrome" is real, he said, those tend not to happen so quickly after the first death.
On an unrelated noted, the picture of a young Debbie seen below is striking. I never thought she looked much like Carrie, but here you can see the resemblance is strong.
Thursday, December 29, 2016
Wednesday, December 28, 2016
carrie fisher
As you almost certainly know, Carrie Fisher died yesterday. She reportedly suffered a massive heart attack shortly before her commercial flight landed in Los Angeles a few days earlier.
Whenever a famous person dies before their senior years and who also had a history of substance issues, I always wonder if they would have lived longer had they not had the proverbial monkey on their back. Such a thought might seem ghoulish, but regular readers here know I wonder aloud about stuff like this.
I happened to see a short clip online from an early 1990s interview where Fisher talked about her Percodan addiction and the possible side effects, which she named: "palpitations, heart attack, death." Her words now, of course, have an eerie prescience.
She also was known to have several rapid weight loss episodes during her life, a process which can also weaken heart muscles. Coupled with her drug and alcohol history, if it wasn't the one it likely was the other.
Safe to say, some of her lifestyle choices may have shortened her life. But at the same time, had she not had substance issues, would she be the beloved public figure she became?
Drug and alcohol abuse might be the package deal for some celebrities -- without them, they wouldn't be the person known and adored by countless fans. The monkey on their back makes them who they are -- but it also ultimately breaks them, too.
Fame itself seems such a potentially dangerous commodity. This seems doubly so for famous children of celebrities, as was Fisher.
With fame comes fortune, but the side-effects and tradeoffs make acclaim seem like it's just not worth it. Perhaps it's better to live the quiet life of anonymity.
Whenever a famous person dies before their senior years and who also had a history of substance issues, I always wonder if they would have lived longer had they not had the proverbial monkey on their back. Such a thought might seem ghoulish, but regular readers here know I wonder aloud about stuff like this.
I happened to see a short clip online from an early 1990s interview where Fisher talked about her Percodan addiction and the possible side effects, which she named: "palpitations, heart attack, death." Her words now, of course, have an eerie prescience.
She also was known to have several rapid weight loss episodes during her life, a process which can also weaken heart muscles. Coupled with her drug and alcohol history, if it wasn't the one it likely was the other.
Safe to say, some of her lifestyle choices may have shortened her life. But at the same time, had she not had substance issues, would she be the beloved public figure she became?
Drug and alcohol abuse might be the package deal for some celebrities -- without them, they wouldn't be the person known and adored by countless fans. The monkey on their back makes them who they are -- but it also ultimately breaks them, too.
Fame itself seems such a potentially dangerous commodity. This seems doubly so for famous children of celebrities, as was Fisher.
With fame comes fortune, but the side-effects and tradeoffs make acclaim seem like it's just not worth it. Perhaps it's better to live the quiet life of anonymity.
Tuesday, December 27, 2016
brave new cyborg
Arguably one of the most important developments during the last year had nothing to do with politics but instead was all about the amazing strides being made with human bionics.
For instance, in the United Kingdom, a pilot program will provide ten blind people with a pioneering bionic eye that will allow them to see.
Meanwhile, in the United States, a paralyzed man has been fitted with a bionic arm that he not only can use but can also actually feel.
While such innovations are still very expensive and still only in the experimental phase, they are expected to become commonplace in the next decade.
When I read about things like this, I have hope for the future. Yeah, there's scary shit coming down the pike, like what might happen if climate change isn't diminished, but humans have an uncanny knack for overcoming adversity when their backs are against the wall.
I could imaging a future where not only disabled people would be helped by bionic technology but also the elderly. When you consider how far humans have come technologically in the last century, the exponential potential of bionics could be much greater than what we imagine today.
Of course, we could reach a point where technology makes humans themselves obsolete. People of future centuries could be entirely bionic with the exception of their brains.
And if some futurists are to be believed, future humans might end up battling artificially intelligent robots or even end up subservient to them.
In other words, The Terminator may end up being a true story.
For instance, in the United Kingdom, a pilot program will provide ten blind people with a pioneering bionic eye that will allow them to see.
Meanwhile, in the United States, a paralyzed man has been fitted with a bionic arm that he not only can use but can also actually feel.
While such innovations are still very expensive and still only in the experimental phase, they are expected to become commonplace in the next decade.
When I read about things like this, I have hope for the future. Yeah, there's scary shit coming down the pike, like what might happen if climate change isn't diminished, but humans have an uncanny knack for overcoming adversity when their backs are against the wall.
I could imaging a future where not only disabled people would be helped by bionic technology but also the elderly. When you consider how far humans have come technologically in the last century, the exponential potential of bionics could be much greater than what we imagine today.
Of course, we could reach a point where technology makes humans themselves obsolete. People of future centuries could be entirely bionic with the exception of their brains.
And if some futurists are to be believed, future humans might end up battling artificially intelligent robots or even end up subservient to them.
In other words, The Terminator may end up being a true story.
Monday, December 26, 2016
thor's fist
I saw this photo (enlargement) of a rare cloud formation on a science webpage the other day. The image is both stunning and entirely natural with no retouching.
I can totally understand why earlier cultures would've seen something like this and assumed it was a god's flaming fist. What other logical explanation would they have? How many humans were sacrificed in primitive cultures because of a rare siting in the sky like this?
I can totally understand why earlier cultures would've seen something like this and assumed it was a god's flaming fist. What other logical explanation would they have? How many humans were sacrificed in primitive cultures because of a rare siting in the sky like this?
Sunday, December 25, 2016
merry christmas!
Ho ho ho! Happiest of the holiday season to everyone reading this. Today is always a memorable day for me, because it's both Christmas and our wedding anniversary -- our eighth!
I hope everyone has a memorable day with friends and family. I don't miss the cold much here, but I do miss having a white Christmas. The forecast today is for sun and the low eighties, with the nineties coming later in the week.
Merry Christmas!
I hope everyone has a memorable day with friends and family. I don't miss the cold much here, but I do miss having a white Christmas. The forecast today is for sun and the low eighties, with the nineties coming later in the week.
Merry Christmas!
Saturday, December 24, 2016
dangerous nipples
The concept of nipple rings on women leaves me cold, but this girl's tit rings look downright dangerous (huge enlargement). They're like a safety pin design with a ring and little wings that protrude.
Accidentally snag one of those with a fingernail or get it caught in a garment, and you're looking at many hours of pain, surgery, and recovery after you rip open your boob. You'd arguably never be able to nurse from that nipple, and if you've ever breast-fed, you know you can't turn your tits off like faucets.
So your breasts would fill with milk but baby could not nurse out of the damaged side. So your one tit would be painfully engorged with no quick way to relieve the intense discomfort. Not to mention your tit would likely be scarred for life, like it had been mangled with barbed wire.
When I danced in clubs, a few of the women had pierced nipples, but the jewelry was always simple and not accident targets like these things. It's been eight years since I stepped inside such a club, so tit jewelry may have changed radically since my departure.
Accidentally snag one of those with a fingernail or get it caught in a garment, and you're looking at many hours of pain, surgery, and recovery after you rip open your boob. You'd arguably never be able to nurse from that nipple, and if you've ever breast-fed, you know you can't turn your tits off like faucets.
So your breasts would fill with milk but baby could not nurse out of the damaged side. So your one tit would be painfully engorged with no quick way to relieve the intense discomfort. Not to mention your tit would likely be scarred for life, like it had been mangled with barbed wire.
When I danced in clubs, a few of the women had pierced nipples, but the jewelry was always simple and not accident targets like these things. It's been eight years since I stepped inside such a club, so tit jewelry may have changed radically since my departure.
Friday, December 23, 2016
marianne faithfull
British singer/musician Marianne Faithfull will turn seventy next week. She has a voice like a corpse dragged on a gravel road but, for whatever reason, millions love her music, and I'm one of them.
I was hunting around on YouTube for some of her music videos and came on a candid shoot where she gives a short tour of her Paris flat. She's still the feisty curmudgeon she always was and must be a very unconventional grandma.
"As Tears Go By" is arguably her most famous song, but I've always liked her cover of "The Ballad of Lucy Jordan" best, which plays below. I learned an interesting fact when writing this entry: her surname is her real name. I always thought it was her stage name, but she was born Marianne Faithfull, the daughter of a British spy.
I was hunting around on YouTube for some of her music videos and came on a candid shoot where she gives a short tour of her Paris flat. She's still the feisty curmudgeon she always was and must be a very unconventional grandma.
"As Tears Go By" is arguably her most famous song, but I've always liked her cover of "The Ballad of Lucy Jordan" best, which plays below. I learned an interesting fact when writing this entry: her surname is her real name. I always thought it was her stage name, but she was born Marianne Faithfull, the daughter of a British spy.
Thursday, December 22, 2016
bud sex
New York Magazine recently published an article about men who consider themselves straight and often have wives and children but also engage in sex with "manly" men.
The piece is fascinating in a surreal way but also, ultimately, rather silly. A man may not think he's engaging in gay sex, but if it isn't a lady in bed with him making the beast with two backs, he's not straight.
A man can call himself a cantaloupe if he wants, but that doesn't mean he is one. Similarly, no matter what he calls himself, a man who engages in sex only with other men is gay. A man who engages in sex with both women and men (or one of each) is bisexual.
There's nothing wrong with being gay or bisexual, but IMHO these men are in denial. They can't face the fact they're gay or bi, so they try to convince themselves they're neither.
Many of the men referred to in the piece are from rural, conservative, so-called "traditional" families, so pretending they're not gay or bi gives them some kind of false reassurance, it seems to me.
The article does not mention how these men's wives react to this action on the side. I would bet a good sum of money that very few, if any, of the spouses have a clue what's happening here.
The piece is fascinating in a surreal way but also, ultimately, rather silly. A man may not think he's engaging in gay sex, but if it isn't a lady in bed with him making the beast with two backs, he's not straight.
A man can call himself a cantaloupe if he wants, but that doesn't mean he is one. Similarly, no matter what he calls himself, a man who engages in sex only with other men is gay. A man who engages in sex with both women and men (or one of each) is bisexual.
There's nothing wrong with being gay or bisexual, but IMHO these men are in denial. They can't face the fact they're gay or bi, so they try to convince themselves they're neither.
Many of the men referred to in the piece are from rural, conservative, so-called "traditional" families, so pretending they're not gay or bi gives them some kind of false reassurance, it seems to me.
The article does not mention how these men's wives react to this action on the side. I would bet a good sum of money that very few, if any, of the spouses have a clue what's happening here.
Wednesday, December 21, 2016
the heimlich maneuver
I've been reading some obituaries obituaries about Dr. Henry Heimlich, inventor of the famous maneuver that bears his name, who died last week at age 96. Estimates by various sources hold that his procedure to assist choking victims has saved the lives of at least 100,000 Americans and countless people in other countries.
For instance, Clint Eastwood once saved a man's life using the Heimlich maneuver. In a separate incident, Ronald Reagan's life was saved by a Heimlich before he became President.
While the most well known, the Heimlich maneuver is not his only widely used medical innovation. He also invented something called the Heimlich valve, used for chest drainage, another advance that has saved many thousands of lives.
I wondered why he was never awarded a Nobel Prize for Medicine because of all the people who have been saved, but then I read he was somewhat controversial because of other less successful inventions. His own son has dedicated his life to proving his father was a fraud.
Whether or not that's true, I'm sure all the people whose lives he saved are happy he walked among us. I have to think in the great karma ledger, saving a whole lot of lives has to stand for something.
For instance, Clint Eastwood once saved a man's life using the Heimlich maneuver. In a separate incident, Ronald Reagan's life was saved by a Heimlich before he became President.
While the most well known, the Heimlich maneuver is not his only widely used medical innovation. He also invented something called the Heimlich valve, used for chest drainage, another advance that has saved many thousands of lives.
I wondered why he was never awarded a Nobel Prize for Medicine because of all the people who have been saved, but then I read he was somewhat controversial because of other less successful inventions. His own son has dedicated his life to proving his father was a fraud.
Whether or not that's true, I'm sure all the people whose lives he saved are happy he walked among us. I have to think in the great karma ledger, saving a whole lot of lives has to stand for something.
Tuesday, December 20, 2016
the pregnant brain
The Washington Post published an interesting article yesterday about how pregnant women's brains are altered for up to two years during and after their pregnancies.
"The changes were measured in brain areas that are responsible for social cognition and the ability to understand the thoughts and intentions of others, suggesting that they may intensify maternal bonding with a newborn," the article states.
Having now experienced two pregnancies, I already knew that my brain activity seemed more intense during late pregnancy and in the months immediately after birth. Awareness seems to be stronger.
While pregnancy can make you feel more tired more often and thus foggy, when you're alert, you really feel alert. I don't know if this is specifically what the article was discussing, but I know I'm not alone in the way I've felt, because I've shared such experiences with other moms I know.
The article talks about "brain pruning," which is a fascinating process that I've read about elsewhere. It occurs naturally in healthy young brains but also can cause problems in those with mental illness and dementia.
This study might also explain why men can never really truly understand what it's like to be pregnant and then a new mother. It's more than just a physical thing. It's a brain thing, too.
On a largely unrelated note, I'd be interested in whether male readers find this picture alluring or not (enlargement).
"The changes were measured in brain areas that are responsible for social cognition and the ability to understand the thoughts and intentions of others, suggesting that they may intensify maternal bonding with a newborn," the article states.
Having now experienced two pregnancies, I already knew that my brain activity seemed more intense during late pregnancy and in the months immediately after birth. Awareness seems to be stronger.
While pregnancy can make you feel more tired more often and thus foggy, when you're alert, you really feel alert. I don't know if this is specifically what the article was discussing, but I know I'm not alone in the way I've felt, because I've shared such experiences with other moms I know.
The article talks about "brain pruning," which is a fascinating process that I've read about elsewhere. It occurs naturally in healthy young brains but also can cause problems in those with mental illness and dementia.
This study might also explain why men can never really truly understand what it's like to be pregnant and then a new mother. It's more than just a physical thing. It's a brain thing, too.
On a largely unrelated note, I'd be interested in whether male readers find this picture alluring or not (enlargement).
Monday, December 19, 2016
girl on the derailed train
My Hollywood friend sent me a box of screeners which arrived about a week ago. We've made our way through several in no particular order.
We were both pleasantly surprised by The Meddler, starring Susan Sarandon as a needy mother of an adult child. Sarandon absolutely dazzles in a well made albeit small, personal film. This one was a real surprise.
We both enjoyed Sully more than we thought we would. The movie manages to tell a compelling story even though the outcome is entirely known. Tom Hanks gives a subtle, nuanced performance that isn't showy but with significant depth.
We both thought The Girl on the Train was a total mess. Emily Blunt is an excellent actress but she just can't carry off this uneven, sloppy adaptation of an excellent thriller.
I thought the direction by Tate Taylor was noticeably clumsy, and I can't say I've been impressed by anything he's done. On certain technical levels his work is flawless, but on other levels its surprisingly amateurish and hits the nail too hard on the head. Sometimes actors make exceptional directors, but other times they make mediocre ones, and I think Taylor is one of the latter.
Several of the screeners we deliberately did not watch so we could take them with us for a visit with my in-laws and family over the long Christmas weekend: Arrival, Hell or High Water, Manchester by the Sea, Moonlight, and Nocturnal Animals. All have gotten better-than-average reviews and I hope they live up to their hype.
We were both pleasantly surprised by The Meddler, starring Susan Sarandon as a needy mother of an adult child. Sarandon absolutely dazzles in a well made albeit small, personal film. This one was a real surprise.
We both enjoyed Sully more than we thought we would. The movie manages to tell a compelling story even though the outcome is entirely known. Tom Hanks gives a subtle, nuanced performance that isn't showy but with significant depth.
We both thought The Girl on the Train was a total mess. Emily Blunt is an excellent actress but she just can't carry off this uneven, sloppy adaptation of an excellent thriller.
I thought the direction by Tate Taylor was noticeably clumsy, and I can't say I've been impressed by anything he's done. On certain technical levels his work is flawless, but on other levels its surprisingly amateurish and hits the nail too hard on the head. Sometimes actors make exceptional directors, but other times they make mediocre ones, and I think Taylor is one of the latter.
Several of the screeners we deliberately did not watch so we could take them with us for a visit with my in-laws and family over the long Christmas weekend: Arrival, Hell or High Water, Manchester by the Sea, Moonlight, and Nocturnal Animals. All have gotten better-than-average reviews and I hope they live up to their hype.
Sunday, December 18, 2016
queen donald
Some very funny people with exceptional Photoshopping skills have been busy morphing together images of Donald Trump and Queen Elizabeth. No one seems to know why it's being done, but it's incredibly amusing. Considering Trump has a notoriously thin skin, I doubt he'd find these funny, which makes them all the more enjoyable.
I've found at least one Instagram account where they're displayed and also at least one Imgur gallery. Mashable also recently featured some select images.
I almost want to spend time learning and refining Photoshop skills so I can join in the fun.
I've found at least one Instagram account where they're displayed and also at least one Imgur gallery. Mashable also recently featured some select images.
I almost want to spend time learning and refining Photoshop skills so I can join in the fun.
Saturday, December 17, 2016
man stink
Why is it that some men feel an overwhelming need to slather on an overpowering amount of cologne? I took the children into the city yesterday on the train, and a man came on a few stops after me and positively reeked.
After we disembarked in the city, I swear I could smell him for hours afterwards. He was otherwise groomed very neatly so who knows why he -- or any of his confederates -- feel a need to drown themselves in Eau de Stink.
I'm reminded of the Peanuts character Pig-Pen who always walked around in a billowing cloud. But instead of dust and dirt, scent addicts are trapped in a cumulus of cologne.
Less is more, gentlemen. I like a very light touch of scent that mixes with a man's natural odor of clean sweat. My husband always has a very slight nutmeg smell, even when he steps out of the shower, so when he puts on a tiny amount of cologne, he smells very sexy.
Male stinkbombs have female equivalents, of course -- those women who positively douse themselves with a major perfume dosage. I have a feeling people like that become immune to their own scents so they keep slogging on more and more.
After we disembarked in the city, I swear I could smell him for hours afterwards. He was otherwise groomed very neatly so who knows why he -- or any of his confederates -- feel a need to drown themselves in Eau de Stink.
I'm reminded of the Peanuts character Pig-Pen who always walked around in a billowing cloud. But instead of dust and dirt, scent addicts are trapped in a cumulus of cologne.
Less is more, gentlemen. I like a very light touch of scent that mixes with a man's natural odor of clean sweat. My husband always has a very slight nutmeg smell, even when he steps out of the shower, so when he puts on a tiny amount of cologne, he smells very sexy.
Male stinkbombs have female equivalents, of course -- those women who positively douse themselves with a major perfume dosage. I have a feeling people like that become immune to their own scents so they keep slogging on more and more.
Friday, December 16, 2016
the war on glitter
I was sitting at the kitchen table yesterday, opening mail and doing other things. The table is large enough to seat eight adults, so I often have the kids at one end eating or doing whatever while I do something at the other end.
I quickly went through the mail, tossing most of it after opening it, and saved bills and Christmas cards. A while later I took the children out to run errands.
I was in a store reaching my wallet out of my handbag when I noticed the front of my blouse had a fine dusting of glitter. Then I noticed it on the back of my hands and both of the children, including the baby's face.
I realized the culprit must have been several of the Christmas cards decorated with fine glitter I had opened earlier in the day. I was silently outraged.
Why do greeting card makers use that shit? Do they think people like it and will thus be more likely to buy their cards? Did market surveys tell them that?
I hate that stuff. No matter how hard you try, you can't get that crap off of you because of static electricity. It will even surviving a washing machine.
If you're not careful, you can get it in your eye, which happened to me several years ago. We don't send a lot of Christmas cards, but when I buy them, I always make sure they're glitter free. I wish other people thought the same, or at least the ones who send us holiday cards.
There should be a special United Nations treaty to ban greeting card glitter throughout the planet.
I quickly went through the mail, tossing most of it after opening it, and saved bills and Christmas cards. A while later I took the children out to run errands.
I was in a store reaching my wallet out of my handbag when I noticed the front of my blouse had a fine dusting of glitter. Then I noticed it on the back of my hands and both of the children, including the baby's face.
I realized the culprit must have been several of the Christmas cards decorated with fine glitter I had opened earlier in the day. I was silently outraged.
Why do greeting card makers use that shit? Do they think people like it and will thus be more likely to buy their cards? Did market surveys tell them that?
I hate that stuff. No matter how hard you try, you can't get that crap off of you because of static electricity. It will even surviving a washing machine.
If you're not careful, you can get it in your eye, which happened to me several years ago. We don't send a lot of Christmas cards, but when I buy them, I always make sure they're glitter free. I wish other people thought the same, or at least the ones who send us holiday cards.
There should be a special United Nations treaty to ban greeting card glitter throughout the planet.
Thursday, December 15, 2016
how do they do that?
I have seen variations on this photo for nearly every President, all the way back to the 1950s. The earlier versions show three televisions literally side-by-side in the Oval Office as the Commander in Chief watches the nightly news concurrently on all of them.
Notice in the picture below (enlargement) -- no one holds a remote. So they're obviously not adjusting the volume for any of the feeds.
I'm left with the conclusion that (1) they only listen to the sound on one channel, no matter what plays on the others or (2) they have the volume up for all the channels simultaneously.
If it's the second choice above, then how can they possibly understand the cacophonous gabble with all those people talking at once?
If that's the case, then a President must have a very special skills set to understand multiple people talking at once.
Notice in the picture below (enlargement) -- no one holds a remote. So they're obviously not adjusting the volume for any of the feeds.
I'm left with the conclusion that (1) they only listen to the sound on one channel, no matter what plays on the others or (2) they have the volume up for all the channels simultaneously.
If it's the second choice above, then how can they possibly understand the cacophonous gabble with all those people talking at once?
If that's the case, then a President must have a very special skills set to understand multiple people talking at once.
Wednesday, December 14, 2016
light at the end of the tunnel
My father-in-law saw the oncologist yesterday and received potentially very good news. The X-rays and other scans revealed no other bone lesions, and the blood tests show no signs that he has multiple myeloma.
There is still a small chance has has a rare type of multiple myeloma that does not show up in blood tests. The oncologist said that happens in about one percent of myeloma cases.
The lesion in his skull bone could still be some form of rarer malignancy other than myeloma, but the oncologist thinks that's not terribly likely and it's more likely benign. A needle biopsy of the lesion will be performed as soon as it can be scheduled to find out what's happening.
So this is potentially very good news but with an asterisk that it won't be certain until the needly biopsy is performed. However, better to have received this news than a report that malignancy was a certainty.
We're all hoping the needle biopsy can be performed and the results known before Christmas; however, that may be a little too much to hope for at this point. We should count our blessings but not ask for another serving.
There is still a small chance has has a rare type of multiple myeloma that does not show up in blood tests. The oncologist said that happens in about one percent of myeloma cases.
The lesion in his skull bone could still be some form of rarer malignancy other than myeloma, but the oncologist thinks that's not terribly likely and it's more likely benign. A needle biopsy of the lesion will be performed as soon as it can be scheduled to find out what's happening.
So this is potentially very good news but with an asterisk that it won't be certain until the needly biopsy is performed. However, better to have received this news than a report that malignancy was a certainty.
We're all hoping the needle biopsy can be performed and the results known before Christmas; however, that may be a little too much to hope for at this point. We should count our blessings but not ask for another serving.
Tuesday, December 13, 2016
litigious zygotes
Americans have a nasty reputation throughout the world as being excessively and ridiculously litigious.
A recent lawsuit filed against actress Sofia Vergara by her two fertilized embryos is sure to perpetuate that tarnished image.
The suit is so labyrinthine I won't attempt to describe it here, because The Daily Beast published a good article late last week that does a better job than I could. The bottom line is that the fertilized embryos are "seeking" a trust fund to pay the costs of their upbringing.
The father of the embryos in question is not a named party to the suit but almost certainly behind it. He's fortysomething sometime actor Nick Loeb and the son of a famous billionaire, so he has access to almost unlimited cash to fund what is described as extremely longshot litigation. He can obviously throw money at suits and motions and lawyers and appeals -- he's had another recent case about the same matter.
I'm not a lawyer, but this lawsuit fails what I call the common sense test. I understand how legal action can be brought on behalf of children and mentally incapacitated people by their guardians, but two hypothetical persons are not the same thing.
Many in vitro attempts with fertilized embryos fail to implant, and many implanted fertilized embryos will spontaneously miscarry, so there is no guarantee these will ever be children.
There's something fundamentally and morally wrong in allowing litigation by hypothetical people who may never exist.
If that's allowed to fly, then what's to stop litigation by future children who will never be born because their potential parent was accidentally killed?
A recent lawsuit filed against actress Sofia Vergara by her two fertilized embryos is sure to perpetuate that tarnished image.
The suit is so labyrinthine I won't attempt to describe it here, because The Daily Beast published a good article late last week that does a better job than I could. The bottom line is that the fertilized embryos are "seeking" a trust fund to pay the costs of their upbringing.
The father of the embryos in question is not a named party to the suit but almost certainly behind it. He's fortysomething sometime actor Nick Loeb and the son of a famous billionaire, so he has access to almost unlimited cash to fund what is described as extremely longshot litigation. He can obviously throw money at suits and motions and lawyers and appeals -- he's had another recent case about the same matter.
I'm not a lawyer, but this lawsuit fails what I call the common sense test. I understand how legal action can be brought on behalf of children and mentally incapacitated people by their guardians, but two hypothetical persons are not the same thing.
Many in vitro attempts with fertilized embryos fail to implant, and many implanted fertilized embryos will spontaneously miscarry, so there is no guarantee these will ever be children.
There's something fundamentally and morally wrong in allowing litigation by hypothetical people who may never exist.
If that's allowed to fly, then what's to stop litigation by future children who will never be born because their potential parent was accidentally killed?
Monday, December 12, 2016
sparticus turns 100
Kirk Douglas turned a century old on Friday. Not only did he pass that milestone, he's still ambulatory and enjoys life out and about. He celebrated his birthday at a Beverly Hills restaurant with family and friends.
Becoming a centenarian is one of those amazing events many hope for but few achieve. Countless millions of people who have lived extremely healthy lifestyles don't make it but a few do.
One thing interesting I read about Kirk Douglas in the various news articles reporting on his birthday -- he didn't quit smoking until his late fifties. I found that really amazing, because smoking usually shortens someone's life when they don't quit until their later years.
I suspect genes make all the difference. I once read something in a book or magazine written by a recognized aging authority (not some crackpot) that one in six people have "the longevity gene."
If you have that gene and live a healthy lifestyle, lasting well into at least your eighties or beyond is pretty likely. If you don't have that gene, then you probably won't make it.
I assume you can be tested to see if you carry that gene. I don't think I want to know that. Maybe when I'm eighty I'll think differently.
I know I have some relatives who lived into their late nineties, but I don't believe anyone crossed the century threshold. My grandfather was one of eleven children, and some of them certainly seemed like they had the longevity gene. Out of the eleven two died in their forties of natural causes, most died in their seventies, but two lived into their very late nineties.
However long I do live, I know this: I would rather drop dead at eighty but never have memory loss or serious physical limitations than live to one hundred and have no idea who I was and confined to a wheelchair or bed.
Becoming a centenarian is one of those amazing events many hope for but few achieve. Countless millions of people who have lived extremely healthy lifestyles don't make it but a few do.
One thing interesting I read about Kirk Douglas in the various news articles reporting on his birthday -- he didn't quit smoking until his late fifties. I found that really amazing, because smoking usually shortens someone's life when they don't quit until their later years.
I suspect genes make all the difference. I once read something in a book or magazine written by a recognized aging authority (not some crackpot) that one in six people have "the longevity gene."
If you have that gene and live a healthy lifestyle, lasting well into at least your eighties or beyond is pretty likely. If you don't have that gene, then you probably won't make it.
I assume you can be tested to see if you carry that gene. I don't think I want to know that. Maybe when I'm eighty I'll think differently.
I know I have some relatives who lived into their late nineties, but I don't believe anyone crossed the century threshold. My grandfather was one of eleven children, and some of them certainly seemed like they had the longevity gene. Out of the eleven two died in their forties of natural causes, most died in their seventies, but two lived into their very late nineties.
However long I do live, I know this: I would rather drop dead at eighty but never have memory loss or serious physical limitations than live to one hundred and have no idea who I was and confined to a wheelchair or bed.
Sunday, December 11, 2016
uh oh
Andy and Angie celebrated their engagement at the local Hibachi restaurant. They wanted a memorable photo, and the chef helped them out. The resulting picture turned out to be quite memorable, but for entirely different reasons.
Saturday, December 10, 2016
carpool madonna
This segment of "Carpool Karaoke" has gotten huge play in the last several days with millions of hits. I've never been much of a Madonna fan because, truth be told, much of her music sounds so derivative and uninspired to me. But I nonetheless found this of interest for people-watching purposes.
Looking at this video, when she's not laughing -- and even when she sometimes is laughing -- her eyes look unhappy. For all the attention and riches she receives -- she's reportedly the wealthiest entertainer alive -- I'm left wondering it she's really rather bored with life, given all she's seen and done.
I remember the documentary she appeared in years ago, Madonna Truth or Dare, where she just seems so underwhelmed by living. That was made more than twenty-five years ago, so I have to think life is a whole lot worse for her. Having achieved stardom relatively early and quickly, does that take an emotional toll?
She's extremely accomplished and a very hard worker with clear goals and a razor-sharp focus on what she wants. But she has so much, and I wonder if she ever asks -- how much success is too much?
Looking at this video, when she's not laughing -- and even when she sometimes is laughing -- her eyes look unhappy. For all the attention and riches she receives -- she's reportedly the wealthiest entertainer alive -- I'm left wondering it she's really rather bored with life, given all she's seen and done.
I remember the documentary she appeared in years ago, Madonna Truth or Dare, where she just seems so underwhelmed by living. That was made more than twenty-five years ago, so I have to think life is a whole lot worse for her. Having achieved stardom relatively early and quickly, does that take an emotional toll?
She's extremely accomplished and a very hard worker with clear goals and a razor-sharp focus on what she wants. But she has so much, and I wonder if she ever asks -- how much success is too much?
Friday, December 9, 2016
we told you so
It's been a month since the election, and I've kept to my promise not to write much about politics here -- in fact, this is my first political entry in a month.
I still follow the news from the United States, of course, but I also feel weirdly at peace about what happened. I think that's because I'm safely 10,000 miles away.
Donald Trump has turned out to be just as bad as we all predicted. He has not risen to the occasion of being President Elect.
Many of the things he promised, he's already abandoned -- what a surprise! He talked about "draining the swamp," but instead he's fortifying his administration with the worst sort of self-dealing predators while boosting his own businesses' bottom line. It's like he's pathologically unable to be honest or altruistic.
The Teapot Dome scandal has long been regarded as the worst example of self-dealing corruption in American history, but I'm not alone in thinking that will soon be eclipsed by the incoming administration's perfidy. Is there yet a foreign leader with whom he has talked who hasn't also been lobbied on a Trump project?
The scariest thing is his complete inattention to national security. He's skipping almost all of his daily security briefings and he has a lone staffer coordinating all transition functions with almost two dozen intelligence agencies within the federal government. That is a disaster waiting to happen.
I don't follow Rolling Stone magazine too much, but I did catch an excellent article they published yesterday with a long title: "Trump's presidency is shaping up to be an American tragedy; his administration is likely to be just as bad as you think – and possibly worse." It's a must read.
As for you stuck living in Trump's America, keep your passport up to date. I'm serious about that. If the shit really hits the fan, consider Australia as a possible refuge. There are lots of Americans here and more arriving every day. Nearly 30 percent of Australians are immigrants.
I still follow the news from the United States, of course, but I also feel weirdly at peace about what happened. I think that's because I'm safely 10,000 miles away.
Donald Trump has turned out to be just as bad as we all predicted. He has not risen to the occasion of being President Elect.
Many of the things he promised, he's already abandoned -- what a surprise! He talked about "draining the swamp," but instead he's fortifying his administration with the worst sort of self-dealing predators while boosting his own businesses' bottom line. It's like he's pathologically unable to be honest or altruistic.
The Teapot Dome scandal has long been regarded as the worst example of self-dealing corruption in American history, but I'm not alone in thinking that will soon be eclipsed by the incoming administration's perfidy. Is there yet a foreign leader with whom he has talked who hasn't also been lobbied on a Trump project?
The scariest thing is his complete inattention to national security. He's skipping almost all of his daily security briefings and he has a lone staffer coordinating all transition functions with almost two dozen intelligence agencies within the federal government. That is a disaster waiting to happen.
I don't follow Rolling Stone magazine too much, but I did catch an excellent article they published yesterday with a long title: "Trump's presidency is shaping up to be an American tragedy; his administration is likely to be just as bad as you think – and possibly worse." It's a must read.
As for you stuck living in Trump's America, keep your passport up to date. I'm serious about that. If the shit really hits the fan, consider Australia as a possible refuge. There are lots of Americans here and more arriving every day. Nearly 30 percent of Australians are immigrants.
Thursday, December 8, 2016
the little pisser
Joey is now four, and like many boys his age, is quite proud of the fact that he can use the toilet without any assistance. Although this independence recently resulted in a clogging incident caused by too much bum paper, there otherwise have been no incidents.
Correction -- there has been an incident, but that technically didn't involve the toilet.
About a week ago, I was doing something with the baby and noticed Joey out in the back yard facing away from the house near the wall. A thought dashed through my mind that he was taking a leak out there, but Tombo soon distracted me and I forgot about it.
Then yesterday when I was in a back room with a direct view of the yard, I saw from an angle that he was indeed using that same spot in the back as an outdoor pissoir.
My immediate reaction was to tell him that nice boys didn't pee in their mum's yard, but then I decided this was best referred to my husband. I didn't think punishment was in order, but I thought a dad talk would be the best way to prevent a recurrence.
James spoke with him alone and the misunderstanding has been ironed out. He told me later Joey incorrectly concluded since it was okay for men to piss in the wild outdoors in complete privacy, it was okay to piss outdoors anywhere, no matter if someone was looking.
This led my husband to recall a childhood story I had never heard before. When he was not much older than Joey, he had been invited to a birthday party of a friend where both little boys and girls attended.
For no longer remembered reasons, James decided it would be instructional for him to demonstrate to the little girls present how boys like him urinated. So in full view of all guests at one edge of the yard, he proceeded to perform the act.
The outraged mother of the birthday boy then called my father-in-law and demanded James be picked up at once. When she told him what had happened, rather than being angry, my father-in-law burst out laughing.
I'm left with the conclusion that this public urination thing is possibly something genetic my husband has passed along to my son. Thankfully, the matter was rectified before any birthday party gaffes.
Correction -- there has been an incident, but that technically didn't involve the toilet.
About a week ago, I was doing something with the baby and noticed Joey out in the back yard facing away from the house near the wall. A thought dashed through my mind that he was taking a leak out there, but Tombo soon distracted me and I forgot about it.
Then yesterday when I was in a back room with a direct view of the yard, I saw from an angle that he was indeed using that same spot in the back as an outdoor pissoir.
My immediate reaction was to tell him that nice boys didn't pee in their mum's yard, but then I decided this was best referred to my husband. I didn't think punishment was in order, but I thought a dad talk would be the best way to prevent a recurrence.
James spoke with him alone and the misunderstanding has been ironed out. He told me later Joey incorrectly concluded since it was okay for men to piss in the wild outdoors in complete privacy, it was okay to piss outdoors anywhere, no matter if someone was looking.
This led my husband to recall a childhood story I had never heard before. When he was not much older than Joey, he had been invited to a birthday party of a friend where both little boys and girls attended.
For no longer remembered reasons, James decided it would be instructional for him to demonstrate to the little girls present how boys like him urinated. So in full view of all guests at one edge of the yard, he proceeded to perform the act.
The outraged mother of the birthday boy then called my father-in-law and demanded James be picked up at once. When she told him what had happened, rather than being angry, my father-in-law burst out laughing.
I'm left with the conclusion that this public urination thing is possibly something genetic my husband has passed along to my son. Thankfully, the matter was rectified before any birthday party gaffes.
Wednesday, December 7, 2016
zombie presidents
On an artistic and creative level, this series of tattoos is well done (enlargement). I can't tell if they're supposed to be ghost Presidents or dead Presidents or vampire Presidents because of the picture quality, but whatever the answer, they're pretty creepy. The father of our country appears to have bloody lips.
If you look closely, you can see Thomas Jefferson (or possibly Andrew Jackson) standing behind George Washington and what appears to be a slimmer Teddy Roosevelt behind Abe Lincoln.
I imagine this elaborate of a neck tattoo would be a job killer in many fields. You couldn't hide it with a dress shirt and tie.
In other professions, it might be an asset. It certainly would make you memorable.
I keep wondering what people like this will think about their tattoos twenty or thirty years down the road. When the fashion pendulum swings away from tattoos, what will they do?
If you have to get a neck tattoo, this isn't an absolutely horrible choice, considering how many absolutely horrible choices there are.
If you look closely, you can see Thomas Jefferson (or possibly Andrew Jackson) standing behind George Washington and what appears to be a slimmer Teddy Roosevelt behind Abe Lincoln.
I imagine this elaborate of a neck tattoo would be a job killer in many fields. You couldn't hide it with a dress shirt and tie.
In other professions, it might be an asset. It certainly would make you memorable.
I keep wondering what people like this will think about their tattoos twenty or thirty years down the road. When the fashion pendulum swings away from tattoos, what will they do?
If you have to get a neck tattoo, this isn't an absolutely horrible choice, considering how many absolutely horrible choices there are.
Tuesday, December 6, 2016
little white lies
I've seen a neighbor semi-regularly in our local library when I stop by for my weekly supply of reading. The last time I was in on Saturday, I happened to walk out with her while we chatted.
Out of the blue, she invited me to join her book club. I told her that I would think about it, but because of family commitments it would be unlikely.
Truth be told, I had zero interest in joining a book club/reading group. Reading is the one pleasure over which I have complete control -- I decide what to read and when.
With a book club, you have to read what the club decides through consensus. Yes, it's democratic, but I'm not interested in a democracy deciding what I normally decide myself.
I think one of the reasons I never did well in school is because I don't like to be directed by others about what I should learn. A book club would be a little too much like a classroom I think.
Was it naughty of me to name a faux reason I couldn't join the book club, giving the excuse of family commitments, when the real reason is I have zero interest? I honestly didn't want to hurt the woman's feelings and didn't think she needed to know the actual reason, given she'd have no way of ever finding out.
In a situation like this, I'm hard pressed to see how telling the absolute truth is better than a little white lie. Why hurt someone's feelings if you don't have to?
Out of the blue, she invited me to join her book club. I told her that I would think about it, but because of family commitments it would be unlikely.
Truth be told, I had zero interest in joining a book club/reading group. Reading is the one pleasure over which I have complete control -- I decide what to read and when.
With a book club, you have to read what the club decides through consensus. Yes, it's democratic, but I'm not interested in a democracy deciding what I normally decide myself.
I think one of the reasons I never did well in school is because I don't like to be directed by others about what I should learn. A book club would be a little too much like a classroom I think.
Was it naughty of me to name a faux reason I couldn't join the book club, giving the excuse of family commitments, when the real reason is I have zero interest? I honestly didn't want to hurt the woman's feelings and didn't think she needed to know the actual reason, given she'd have no way of ever finding out.
In a situation like this, I'm hard pressed to see how telling the absolute truth is better than a little white lie. Why hurt someone's feelings if you don't have to?
Monday, December 5, 2016
anti-flirting laws
I was reading an article in The Atlantic about school discipline and was surprised at this paragraph about the 1920s:
"During the Progressive era, with women beginning to vote and race riots breaking out across growing urban centers, lawmakers seized on flirting as a menace to social order. New York City police set up flirting dragnets, using 'pretty blonde girls as bait,' according to a syndicated newspaper column from June 1920. 'The enormous recent growth of the crime of flirting ... must be ascribed to a growing laxity of conduct in general, and also to the rise of the short skirt,' the article continued. 'It should be promptly and drastically suppressed.'"
Wow. I did some Googling and found another article, also in The Atlantic, about anti-flirting movements in the 1920s.
So between Prohibition and anti-flirting laws, plus the Scopes Trial and the Hayes Office, the 1920s was like Puritanism run amok.
I've read a lot about history but I've never been able to crawl inside the head of Victorians and Puritans to understand why they were so rabidly anti-sex. Sex is fun, makes you happy, and relieves stress. If more people fucked more often, the world arguably would be less of a mess.
"During the Progressive era, with women beginning to vote and race riots breaking out across growing urban centers, lawmakers seized on flirting as a menace to social order. New York City police set up flirting dragnets, using 'pretty blonde girls as bait,' according to a syndicated newspaper column from June 1920. 'The enormous recent growth of the crime of flirting ... must be ascribed to a growing laxity of conduct in general, and also to the rise of the short skirt,' the article continued. 'It should be promptly and drastically suppressed.'"
Wow. I did some Googling and found another article, also in The Atlantic, about anti-flirting movements in the 1920s.
So between Prohibition and anti-flirting laws, plus the Scopes Trial and the Hayes Office, the 1920s was like Puritanism run amok.
I've read a lot about history but I've never been able to crawl inside the head of Victorians and Puritans to understand why they were so rabidly anti-sex. Sex is fun, makes you happy, and relieves stress. If more people fucked more often, the world arguably would be less of a mess.
Sunday, December 4, 2016
dead presidents twitter
Some clever wit at one point in time decided it would be funny to create a Twitter account for a dead President and then tweet in character for that historical figure. That wit could be the unknown person who created the Richard Nixon account way back in 2008, which now has something of a cult following and 36,600 followers.
Since then, a lot of faux dead Presidents have popped up to the point where there are now several competing accounts for each former Commander in Chief. None of the ones I've seen are as wicked as Nixon's, although John Tyler is sometimes good for a laugh. "If Harrison had worn a coat, I'd be totally forgotten to history." Sometimes the dead Presidents get into tweet wars with each other but not as often as they should.
Some of them are somewhat more serious, like Teddy Roosevelt, where real Bully quotes are used in response to current events. Historic Bully trivia is also included.
Twitter seems much more tolerant of parody and joke accounts than Facebook, which is notorious for deleting certain faux personality accounts with a huge following as they enforce their rather draconian user policy. It's amazing how so much fraudulent and downright criminal garbage is freely posted on Facebook yet they hairsplit over humor accounts.
For that and some other reasons, I think Twitter will end up having a longer shelf life than Facebook. The latter now seems already dated, but Twitter is so simple it would seem less likely to become obsolete.
Since then, a lot of faux dead Presidents have popped up to the point where there are now several competing accounts for each former Commander in Chief. None of the ones I've seen are as wicked as Nixon's, although John Tyler is sometimes good for a laugh. "If Harrison had worn a coat, I'd be totally forgotten to history." Sometimes the dead Presidents get into tweet wars with each other but not as often as they should.
Some of them are somewhat more serious, like Teddy Roosevelt, where real Bully quotes are used in response to current events. Historic Bully trivia is also included.
Twitter seems much more tolerant of parody and joke accounts than Facebook, which is notorious for deleting certain faux personality accounts with a huge following as they enforce their rather draconian user policy. It's amazing how so much fraudulent and downright criminal garbage is freely posted on Facebook yet they hairsplit over humor accounts.
For that and some other reasons, I think Twitter will end up having a longer shelf life than Facebook. The latter now seems already dated, but Twitter is so simple it would seem less likely to become obsolete.
Saturday, December 3, 2016
penis eyeliner
Several websites I follow have reported on the now trending idea of "penis eyeliner." That may sound weird, but the picture below will explain it better than a bunch of text could.
IMHO this looks something like what girls did in middle school after they learned about makeup and started experimenting with it. I remember when I was in eighth grade that color contrasting eye shadow was my big contribution to the trend zeitgeist -- a different but complementary color on each eyelid.
I think that fad lasted for about a week and a half. All the girls in school copied me, then it was eclipsed by something else and I was an also-ran.
Regardless of what kind of message this sends, I think gimmick makeup is just goofy. Cosmetics should be used to enhance your looks and make you more beautiful, and penis eyeliner does not do that.
The only positive thing I could say about this is: at least it's not a tattoo.
IMHO this looks something like what girls did in middle school after they learned about makeup and started experimenting with it. I remember when I was in eighth grade that color contrasting eye shadow was my big contribution to the trend zeitgeist -- a different but complementary color on each eyelid.
I think that fad lasted for about a week and a half. All the girls in school copied me, then it was eclipsed by something else and I was an also-ran.
Regardless of what kind of message this sends, I think gimmick makeup is just goofy. Cosmetics should be used to enhance your looks and make you more beautiful, and penis eyeliner does not do that.
The only positive thing I could say about this is: at least it's not a tattoo.
Friday, December 2, 2016
strange affinity
Ever since I was a child, I've always been fascinated at the sight of someone inside a partially lit house at night watching television. The TV usually has no sound because their windows are closed, and sometimes the occupant can be seen staring at the set transfixed.
I told my husband this not long ago and, of course, he laughed and said I was a nutter. I tried to explain why I found it so fascinating.
I think because at moments like this, the artificiality of television becomes so vivid and distinct -- the way the images are usually arranged in quick cuts during the programming and how the whole conceit is interrupted by the surreal artificiality of commercials. This can only really be seen at a distance and not inside your own home.
When I used to live in New York City, I could look at the window at night and see dozens of people watching their TVs, often alone. The most memorable sight was when almost all of them were obviously watching the same channel.
I told my husband this not long ago and, of course, he laughed and said I was a nutter. I tried to explain why I found it so fascinating.
I think because at moments like this, the artificiality of television becomes so vivid and distinct -- the way the images are usually arranged in quick cuts during the programming and how the whole conceit is interrupted by the surreal artificiality of commercials. This can only really be seen at a distance and not inside your own home.
When I used to live in New York City, I could look at the window at night and see dozens of people watching their TVs, often alone. The most memorable sight was when almost all of them were obviously watching the same channel.
Thursday, December 1, 2016
the emperor of all maladies
After we first got the news about the lesion found in my father-in-law's skull and the possibility of multiple myeloma, I decided I should learn more about cancer. Like most laypeople, I had only the vaguest idea of how cancer happens.
I looked online but didn't find any dumbed-down reading to my liking. I dropped out of high school without taking biology and the GRE I took later only covered the broadest aspects of science and nothing about malignancies, so I needed something fairly basic.
Thus I headed to the library to see if they had any type of Cancer for Dummies book. The library had some in circulation but they were all checked out, so I settled on something I didn't think I'd like because it looked too advanced for me: The Emperor of All Maladies, by Siddhartha Mukherjee, a Harvard-trained oncologist.
I thought I remembered that Mukherjee wrote medical-topic articles for The New Yorker, which I had enjoyed, and that turned out to be correct. Although the tome looked daunting at 700-plus pages, I soon was caught up in it and was quickly hooked.
It's primarily a history of how cancer was understood and treated from ancient Egypt to the present day. After finishing the book, I had achieved exactly what I wanted to find -- a basic understanding of how cancer happens and how it works in the body, even though the work is not designed to do that.
Published six years ago, Emperor won scores of prestigious awards, including the Pulitzer Prize. It may sound daunting to you, but if you want to understand cancer through a well told story that isn't heavy reading, I highly recommend it.
I looked online but didn't find any dumbed-down reading to my liking. I dropped out of high school without taking biology and the GRE I took later only covered the broadest aspects of science and nothing about malignancies, so I needed something fairly basic.
Thus I headed to the library to see if they had any type of Cancer for Dummies book. The library had some in circulation but they were all checked out, so I settled on something I didn't think I'd like because it looked too advanced for me: The Emperor of All Maladies, by Siddhartha Mukherjee, a Harvard-trained oncologist.
I thought I remembered that Mukherjee wrote medical-topic articles for The New Yorker, which I had enjoyed, and that turned out to be correct. Although the tome looked daunting at 700-plus pages, I soon was caught up in it and was quickly hooked.
It's primarily a history of how cancer was understood and treated from ancient Egypt to the present day. After finishing the book, I had achieved exactly what I wanted to find -- a basic understanding of how cancer happens and how it works in the body, even though the work is not designed to do that.
Published six years ago, Emperor won scores of prestigious awards, including the Pulitzer Prize. It may sound daunting to you, but if you want to understand cancer through a well told story that isn't heavy reading, I highly recommend it.
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