Crossing the Line
Broad lines painted in the brilliant color of a yellow school bus sectioned off areas on the warehouse floor. The reception area was on one side of the cautionary line and the work area was on the opposite side. My face reddened with embarrassment: I had stepped across a clearly defined boundary. I broke the rules. My actions threatened the space and comfort zone of these dear, gentle souls. They knew the rules and I fumbled around totally ignorant.
Does Screening for Partner Abuse Reduce Violence?
'The results of the [current study] should dispel any illusions that universal screening with passive referrals to community services is an adequate response to violence in intimate relationships.'
Mastering the Art of Julia
Julia kept meticulous notes and spent months perfecting recipes for one ingredient. She made so many egg dishes that she finally wrote to Simca, "I've just poached two more eggs and throw them down the toilet."
New Link: Wolfram
I don't pretend to be able to define Wolfram's goals, talents and offerings, so I'll let the site speak for itself, and perhaps most easily in its FAQs. An aspect that might be intriguing for seniors is the fact that you can contribute materials and sugg…
Horse, Horse, Tiger, Tiger
armed with our new linguistic knowledge, we headed off on our own into the shops that lined Nanjing Road, a major shopping area in Shanghai. In one shop, we pointed to a fan. The clerk took it from its case to show to us. We looked it over and carefully said in our best Mandarin, "Mao, mao, hoo, hoo." The clerk's eyes widened. She backed away into the protection of the other clerks who were standing around stone-faced trying to decipher our intentions.
CultureWatch: My Father's Tears and Other Stories
Divorce is a part in a surprising number of them, and usually the reader cannot imagine any other outcome for the situation described, but sometimes it seems an oddly self-serving decision, with little or no hope of improving the emotional lot of those involved.
A White House Health Reform Reality Check, Hiking health insurance premiums 95 percent? Surgery vs. Abortions? Counseling to Die?
The White House Reality Check for Health Insurance Reform. FactCheck.org: The latest ad from the group Conservatives for Patients’ Rights claims that 'new rules could hike your health insurance premiums 95 percent.' That’s misleading.Bills pending in Congress – at least those that have made it through the committee level – don’t mention abortion at all. Furthermore, none of the bills call explicitly for cuts in Medicare coverage, or rationing under a public plan. False Euthanasia Claims - The claim that the House health care bill pushes suicide is nonsense.
Following The Puppy Diaries
"Puppies tie you down, drag you out for a walk even when it's sleeting and sink their tiny teeth into your favorite shoes. They offer boundless love, granted unconditionally. They also provide their share of frustrations."
And That's the Way It Is
Instead of telling the other guy everything he’s doing wrong, we can do what we know is right and see if we can find a way to work with those whose viewpoints differ from ours.We can do it without editorializing, without pointing fingers. We can deal with facts instead of opinions. We can do it the way Walter Cronkite reported the news.
Shop at the Glass Market, Revel in the Corning Exhibits
The gift selection includes flowers that look amazingly 'live:'Tiger lilies, irises, daffodils. Pages of glass fruits, lamps, artists and designer collections are on the site as well as glassmakng tools, ornaments, Serengetti sunglasses, Pyrex kitchenware, a Portland Vase watch and paperweights. Glass jewelry might dazzle on its own as done the revelation about glass instruments.
Book Review of We Had Sneakers, They Had Guns: The Kids Who Fought for Civil Rights in Mississippi
Tracy Sugarman describes the roads different people in the summer project took after 1964, including his own, that of the white couple, local blacks, SNCC and summer workers. In 1978 Sugarman and his wife began a documentary on Fannie Lou Hamer, who had died the year before. Never Turn Back: The Life of Fannie Lou Hamer took five years to complete.
Is a Beatles Song Dated? Or Could It Be Us?
Respondents older than age 30 lean more toward the age of 70 and above as when someone becomes old.
More or Less
Taking the SAT verbal section was a cinch, as was placing out of bonehead English in college. My earliest bosses, too, appreciated my ability to clean up their lousy grammar when I quietly re-wrote their letters. At least I think they did.
The Decision to Remove an Obese Child From His Mother: A Lawyer Differs
Sherry Kolb, a lawyer, Cornell professor and law clerk to former Justice Harry Blackmun, voices her views on the recent decision by a South Carolina court to remove a child from his mother's custody. Here are a few paragraphs from her FindLaw column:…
A New Minimum Wage Fact Sheet
The Economic Policy Institute released an Economic Snapshot regarding the new minimum wage:
On July 24, 2009, the federal minimum wage will increase to $7.25 per hour. This is the final step of a three-step increase passed in 2007 when the minimum wa…
Best Books About Science
The University of California, Berkeley, has published yet another annual list of best books, the 2009 list being designated as the best books about science. We've selected a few here from the University's list and reviews:
Why People Believe Weird Th…
Council of Economic Advisors: Future Employment Trends
Jobs in health care support occupations are projected to experience even faster growth. The increased demand in this area stems largely from an aging population that will require care at home, at nursing care facilities, and in inpatient and outpatient settings. Support occupations that will likely grow in importance are physical therapists, physical therapist assistants, medical social workers and home health care aides.
Withholding Data: Cellphones Deadly Distraction
"By withholding this data, the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) led consumers to believe that it was safe to talk on their cell phones while driving if they kept both hands on the wheel"
Judging Romantic Interest
in order to evaluate potential mates longer without signaling their true intentions, women behave more covertly and ambiguously during initial interactions with the opposite sex.
Driving to Distraction ... and Worse
According to a study released by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) and the Virginia Tech Transportation Institute (VTTI), 80% of crashes and 65% of near-crashes involve some form of driver distraction. The distraction occurred within three seconds before the vehicle crash!
Yinka Shonibare in Paris, Brooklyn and Newark
"The animated body language of the guests suggests a moment in which proper Victorian etiquette has been cast away as an indulgent celebration of prosperity tips toward misbehavior and even debauchery"
Book Review: California Wines for Dummies
California Wine for Dummies is especially good at presenting the nuts and bolts: the regions (including the American Viticultural Areas [AVAs]) and what they’re known for, the varietals, the six star grapes (Chardonnay, Sauvignon Blanc, Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot, Pinot Noir and Zinfandel), the up-and-coming grapes and the supporting cast.
Calm Sea Palace at the Garden of Perfect Clarity*
"In the early 18th century, the theatre building itself acquired new importance as proof of courtly or civic power. A wave of building across Europe established the theatre types we know today."
"It is as if wrinkles which were about to form have stopped"
I staggered out onto our balcony overlooking the hills here in southern France, gasping, trying desperately to take in some of the warm night air. I was more than a little frightened; I was terrified
Listening to Justice
The US Senate's Judiciary Committee hearings on the confirmation of Judge Sonia Sotomayor's nomination to the Supreme Court are taking place. The Committee has made available webcasts of those hearings. However, if that viewer is unavailable, turn to C-S…
