Goosed
They began by arguing the merits (or rather, the lack of merits) of sweet side dishes that had marzipan in them. “That was a lot of WORK,” my sous-chef growled. “Eat it and shut up.”“This rice is hard and funny,” said another son, “and the chestnuts look like little brains.” “I made it exactly the way the recipe said to,” said his brother.“Eeeew!” said the third as he poked at the slaw. I looked down the table in an effort to enlist their father’s support in quashing the rebellion. John was sitting hunched over, eyelids at half mast, face quite green. He hadn’t touched his food.
Book Review: The Education of a Black Radical: A Southern Civil Rights Activist’s Journey 1959-1964
Jo Freeman writes: Colleges and universities were a major source of civil rights activists in the Sixties. Whether black or white, as long as they did their activism after leaving school, they were heralded as heroes. But if they were active while still students, even off-campus, they were troublemakers. This was particularly true for state supported schools. Legislators often wanted the schools they funded to keep their students off the streets. When campus administrators couldn’t control student activists, someone suffered.
Palin vs. Gore Climate Showdown
From FactCheck.org: "On Dec. 9, an op-ed by Sarah Palin on climate change ran in the Washington Post. Al Gore responded to Palin’s piece and made some fresh claims of his own later that day in an interview with MSNBC. We find that both engaged in some distortions and have been rightly called out by experts in the field."
Shopping Green for Gifts
We thought the jewelry at the Inhabitat shop very good looking especially the Swedish pieces made by Kumvana Gomani: Snö leaf earrings are made in Sweden delicately handcut from recycled soda and water bottles and like a true snowflake, no two are exactly alike ... for $20.
Teens and Sexting, One of a New Series of Pew Reports
A new survey from the Pew Research Center’s Internet & American Life Project found that 4% of cell-owning teens ages 12-17 say they have sent sexually suggestive nude or nearly nude images or videos of themselves to someone else via text messaging, a practice also known as “sexting”; 15% say they have received such images of someone they know via text message.
Current Reading, Divorce Denied: Social "Social Abandonment" is Insufficient Grounds in New York
In her complaint, she alleged what amounts (or might amount) to "social abandonment" – stating that her husband refused to celebrate or acknowledge major holidays or birthdays with her; refused to "eat meals together"; refused to "attend family functions or accompany [her] to movies, shopping, restaurants, and church services"; once left her "at a hospital emergency room"; removed her "belongings from the marital bedroom"; and just generally "ignor[ed] her."
Book Review and a Holiday Gift Idea: Read My Pins; Stories from a Diplomat's Jewel Box
"Read My Pins" is an appealing coffee-table book; it is an indulgence. This one justifies itself by being light enough to lift, fun to read, and visually beautiful.
Grandma's Boxes: Letters from 1918
Roberta McReynolds writes: "I suppose you’ll hear all kinds of reports about influenza so I’ll tell you what I know. The doctor claims it is real and spread from that dance last week. I don’t know how many cases and something like 15 in town, 2 new ones…
The Exquisite Corpse Adventure
Jon Scieszka, the National Ambassador for Young People's Literature, has written the first episode. He has passed it on to a cast of celebrated writers and illustrators, who must eventually bring the story to an end. Every two weeks, there will be a new episode and a new illustration. The story will conclude a year from now.
Travel: The Splendor of India's Royal Court and Palaces of the Maharajas
"For confirmation of our love and friendship, I desire your Majesty to command your merchants to bring in their ships of all sorts of rarities and rich goods fit for my palace"— The Great Moghul Jahangir: Letter to James I, King of England, 1617 A.D.
The Shape of Fashion and Its Underpinnings, 1870 - 1960
"Underpinnings are the foundation upon which the shape of fashion is built, and similarly reflect the swing of the fashion pendulum. Perhaps more fascinating than the costume itself, these foundations for The Shape of Fashion reflect more earnestly the essence of the feminine realm."
Exploring the Article "Married (Happily) With Issues" on Air
The New York Times Sunday Magazine article entitled Married (Happily) with Issues, was discussed by the author, Liz Weil, joined by her husband, Dan Duane, on KQED's radio program, Forum. The marriage therapies the couple tried are examined.
Woman of Note, Heroism Award Recipient: Lynne Tracy, Consular Officer in Peshawar, Pakistan
Secretary of State Hillary Clinton presented a Heroism award to the US Consular Official: "As Lynne was being driven to work, gunmen launched an attack on her, shooting out her car’s two front tires and leaving the vehicle riddled with bullets. Thanks to her driver and her bodyguard’s quick thinking, Lynne escaped. She returned to post later that day, believing it was important to inform the staff about what had happened, what it meant for the mission, and to think through their next steps as a community."
Questions about Endocrine Disruptors?
It was several years ago that our daughters raised our awareness about environmental concerns and the development of children lined to endocrine disruptors: tktkt. A recent New York Times column by Nicholas Kristof brought up this issue and led us to t…
A Volume of Friendship: The Letters of Eleanor Roosevelt and Isabella Greenway 1904-1953
Long after her death in 1962, readers remain fascinated by Eleanor Roosevelt — her life, her comments, her views. Isabella Greenway is barely known outside of Arizona — the state she represented in Congress from 1933 to 1937 — but her fifty-year friendship with ER was longer than that of any other of ER's many acquaintances.
Brilliant Women, 18th Century Bluestockings
They got their comical name - 'Bluestockings' - when another guest, the botanist Benjamin Stillingfleet (1702-71), was welcomed at one of Elizabeth Montagu's salons even though he had arrived absent-mindedly wearing the blue woollen stockings normally worn by working men, instead of the more formal white silk."
December 2009 CultureWatch
Abigail & John: Portrait of a Marriage is important because it helps to regender early American history which remains overly focused on generals and male political leaders. Lori Hahnel’s collection of short fiction, Nothing Sacred, is spare, subtle and literary but not pretentious in any way, and very pleasing. Now in paperback, the Pulitzer Prize-winning novel, Olive Kitteridge, give the reader a deep sense of the connectedness of the small town and its inhabitants, and of Olive’s place in the scheme of things.
Style: Shopping for the Fashionable, Different and Inexpensive Items at Kimono Kool
We're always looking for inexpensive items for granddaughters, as well as ourselves. We bought shoelaces from Dandelion in San Francisco and thought we'd pass it along to our readers. Decades ago, we bought similar items made from kimono material that last forever and go with everything. We still have the same kimono items from decades ago and just passed one along to a granddaughter as a belt for a Cacharel dress that was missing one.
Something New: A Privacy Complaint Tool
The Center for Media and Democracy has introduced the Privacy Complaint Tool: "From time to time, you may encounter a Web site or an Internet-based product or service or an offline company that you believe is violating your privacy."
Current Reading: Doctors Overlook Signs of Child Abuse
Physicians often misdiagnose bone fractures caused by child abuse as accidental breaks, particularly if the child is male and the doctor is not a pediatrician, a new study found.
Shop at the National Maritime Museum for Unique Gifts
For a truly unique gift, adopt a penguin and receive a gift tin with the following: After registration you will receive: •A personalised certificate displaying your name and your penguin’s name •A colour photograph of your chosen penguin.
Shopping: FeelMoreHuman
We were intrigued by the name of this site and found that in addition to a stylish assemblage of interesting and green gifts, the site suggests charities to contribute to, local suppliers to contact. Eco-friendly gifts are arranged according to category and brand. Even pets are not left out as well as health and beauty.
White House Photos and an Announcement of a New Commission
The White House presents a Photo of the Day and now with November closing, there's a goodly supply, including a picture of close aide Reggie Love tossing a football to the President; Presidential Commission for Study of Bioethical Issues
The Holiday Hustle Hassle
Unless the eight-foot tree is completely hidden behind a pile of bionic, electronic, computerized, overautomated and overpriced toys that cost more than you used to have to spend to furnish an entire house (real, not doll), they start reading you their Constitutional rights.
NPR's Program, Safe Driving For Seniors: Officials Get Creative
We want to preserve a senior's dignity and their independence — but we want to have highway safety," she says. "So if we can evaluate a senior — or anyone that's a high-risk driver — and determine that they can go to the doctor, church, because it's a safe driving distance, we can limit their driving. It keeps them from getting into high-risk situations."
