Citadel of Stars

It's Time for Eagle Cam!

2012-01-26T15:47:00.004-05:00

Last winter I got hooked on Eagle Cam: Decorah Eagles (in Iowa). Watching these magnificent birds hatch and raise their eaglets was amazing and addictive. I was so proud and sad to see them grow big enough to leave the nest.

At the same I discovered another cam: Eagles at Norfolk Botanical Gardens. This eagle family suffered a tragedy when the mom was killed by an airplane. The dad eagle couldn't feed three rapidly growing eaglets alone, so they were rescued, raised, and later released by the Wildlife Center of Virginia. I, along with thousands of other viewers, became very attached to "our babies" as we watched them grow at the Wildlife Center. Watching their release into the wild was stunningly beautiful and emotionally overwhelming.

And it's all starting again with the new nesting season! Mom and Dad Decorah have been seen mating and nesting. Dad Norfolk has a new lady. They, too, are mating and nesting. Soon, both sets of parents will be protecting their eggs as we watch in awe. I learned so much about eagles (and other wildlife) last year that I'm looking forward to this season. I wish both sets of eagle parents safe and long lives with many healthy eaglets.

Want to join the Eagle Nation? The web cams are free and both sites include links to lots of info about Eagles. The Wildlife Center of Virginia also has lots info on animals is it treating and their own wildlife cam.

Warning: Eagle watching can be addictive may lead to lack of housework and cooking, excessive Eagle Cam viewing to the exclusion of TV, DVDs, etc., and obessesive talk of "beaking," "nesting," and "branching."

Getting Ready

2012-01-15T18:47:00.012-05:00

I started a Tai Chi class in the fall and I love it. I feel so relaxed and energized after each class session!

Since I won't be able to lift or drive for 6 weeks after surgery, that also means no Tai Chi. :(

I'm taking the class for stress reduction so now that I'm feeling really stressed what does the doc say? No Tai Chi. Oh, the irony.

I have a phobia about general anesthesia (based on bad experiences I had during multiple ear surgeries as a child) and I'm starting to get nervous about my abdominal surgery next week. Since I can't do Tai Chi, I'm working on my Tai Chi meditation with lots of positive and healing imagery. It's helping some (but so does anxiety medicine). At this point, I'll just be glad when the surgery is over.

I have a few work-related things to do Monday. After that I'm really going to focus on relaxing and de-stressing. It will be hard but I know it will help with anxiety and healing, or so my doc, nurses, and Tai Chi instructor all tell me. Wish me luck!

iPad

2012-01-09T18:45:00.006-05:00

I'm expecting to lie around a lot during my recovery from abdominal surgery. Since I may not even be comfy with a laptop on my lap, I splurged and bought an iPad 2.

I have to admit, it IS cool. So thin, so light, so pretty! (Of course it's pretty, it was designed by Apple.)

My husband loves his iPad and recommended lots of work-related apps:

Course Smart (access your textbooks as e-books)
Blackboard (access your online classes)
The CIA Factbook (a favorite reference tool)
Pages (like Word for the iPad)

He also recommended AppStart which introduces you to many useful apps (described by category) and Netflix (watch movies and TV shows, including every episode of Star Trek every made).

Of course, everyone suggested I download the Angry Birds game. ($%^& addictive game!)

So far, I love my iPad. I can't access the instructor tools in Blackboard so I'll still use my laptop for grading, but the iPad will be great for travel and for when I'm recovering from surgery. So far my favorite app is Netflix. I'm watching the BBC's new, modern Sherlock Holmes.

Surgery (Again!)

2012-01-05T18:47:00.004-05:00

In the fall I learned I have a painful condition called Adenomyosis. It's "a condition in which endometrial tissue, which normally lines the uterus, is present within and grows into the muscular walls of the uterus."

I'm thankful I only have pain and not all the other symptoms listed on the Mayo Clinic web site! Strangely, I don't have any of the risk factors (childbirth or prior uterine surgery). Since I'm in my 40s, I thought the symptoms were the beginning of menopause. Nope.

Unfortunately, the Adenomyosis getting worse and the only cure is a complete hysterectomy. I'll be having surgery Jan. 18, so I had to scramble to re-do my lesson plans at the last minute and make arrangements to work at home. Fortunately, my on-campus class does not mind becoming an online class during the 6 weeks or so while I can not drive. Thanks, guys! You made my life a little easier.

I'm hoping that, like my elbow reconstruction surgery, I'll feel better immediately after the surgery. Not lifting or driving for 6 weeks will be hard, but at least I won't have cast! Yay!

The Titanic Books is Here at Last!

2012-01-01T18:25:00.004-05:00

I spent my summer working on this book with 10 of my Titanic friends. It finally arrived Christmas Eve. I am proud to work with so many prominent "Titanicologists"!

The format is based on the report for the British Inquiry but we've included 100 years of research and forensic analysis. We know so much more than we did at the time of the disaster and the book reflects the most current research on every aspect of the disaster.

I worked with George Behe on the treatment of the Third Class Passengers and the question of gates. Were passengers really locked in and left to die? Most Titanic scholars have long believed this to be a myth since no gates are depicted on the blueprints, but George and I have some interesting passenger accounts to the contrary. You can read a summary in Ch. 8 and excruciating details in Appendix J.

Where can you purchase this magnificent book?
Amazon UK (available now) and Amazon US (available April 2012). In the meantime, you can also visit the official book site.

*****

I got out of the habit of blogging when my arm was in a cast after my elbow reconstruction. One of my New Year's Resolutions is to begin blogging again. Happy New Year!

99 Years Ago

2011-04-10T15:10:00.005-04:00

99 years ago today, Titanic sailed from Southampton to Cherborg. Her next stops would be Queenstown and history. She had only four more days to live.

This is the last known photo of her.

God bless all the souls who died with her.

I Met Tony Shaloub Today!

2011-04-08T15:23:00.007-04:00

Actor Tony Shaloub was guest lecturer today at Mott Community College (part of the Ballenger Eminent Persons Lecture Series). Actutally, it was more of an interview, with the stage set to look like the office of Dr. Bell, Mr. Monk's psychiatrist.

Shaloub was funny, gave lots of good advice for young actors, and talked about his career. At the end many of us walked up to the stage to get our programs autographed. Although the organizers did not take this into consideration and Shaloub had to move on to his next engagement, he signed programs and DVDs for as many people as he could. I didn't really get a chance to talk to him but I got a big smile when I handed him a wipe to take on the plane (they never clean those tray tables, you know). :) What a wonderful, funny man. I'm just sorry he had to rush off.

Congratulations on the Arab American of the Year Award you'll be receiving tomorrow night, Mr. Shaloub!

Worth the Wait: One was a Soldier by Julia Spencer-Fleming

2011-04-07T20:19:00.009-04:00

For Julia Spencer-Fleming fans it's been a long wait, but One Was a Soldier was worth waiting for!

Since Episcopal Priest Rev. Clare Fergusson re-upped in the military to serve as a helicopter pilot in Iraq at the end of the previous book, fans have been eagerly awaiting this new installment in the series. The plot focuses on Clare and other vets adapting to civilian life. When a young veteran appears to commit suicide, Clare disagrees with her lover, Chief of Police Russ Van Alstyne, and investigates the case as a murder (with help from her fellow vets). I'm afraid to say much more about the plot for fear of giving anything away but, like her other books, the plot is compelling, the characters complex and unforgettable, and the end leaves the reader eagerly awaiting the next book. Let's just hope we don't have to wait three years. :)

For those who haven't read the series yet, the Kindle version of the first book, In the Bleak Midwinter, is currently on sale for $2.99. If you don't have a Kindle, you can download free Kindle software for your desktop, laptop, cell phone, or iPad.

Thank you, Julia, for this wonderful book and for the opportunity to review an advance reader's copy.

Wordle

2011-02-08T18:51:00.004-05:00

Here's a word cloud based on this blog, created by Wordle. (You can click on the image for a larger view.)

Apparently all I write about are Ray Bradbury, The Lord of the Rings, writing, and my cats!

Tenth Life Fund-Raiser

2011-01-27T13:34:00.003-05:00

The Cat Who Fetches

2011-01-20T09:57:00.003-05:00

Misty, our 9.5 month old kitty, likes to fetch. She brings toys for me to throw, but she also likes to explore the basement and bring me whatever she finds. Here's what she's fetched so far:

* bubble wrap sheets (on several occasions)

* a strip of dried caulk (I have no idea where she found that!)

* a phone jack

* a tupperware lid (I have no idea where the matching freezer container is)

Isn't she clever? She certainly keeps me guessing! I just hope she doesn't start bringing me mice. (So far, so good.)

Hobbit Rumors

2011-01-13T17:40:00.005-05:00

It's a new year so there are lots of new rumors about the long-awaited Hobbit movie, directed by Peter Jackson. The latest news is that Elijah Wood (pictured left) will be playing Frodo, who isn't in that book. This prompted me to look for cast info on TheOneRing.net and The Internet Movie Database.

I was surprised by two things:
1. The release date (Dec. 2012)
2. The inclusion of characters who are not in the book

The latter includes Frodo, Saruman, Radagast, Galadriel, and Legolas. It's rumored that Orlando Bloom will be paid $1 million for a two-minute cameo as Legolas. Since Legolas wasn't in that book, I had hoped they wanted Bloom to play Thranduil, King of the Mirkwood Elves (and father of Legolas). Now it rumored that David Tennant (who recently played Dr. Who and Barty Crouch, Jr. in Harry Potter IV), will play Thranduil.

Speaking of Elvish characters, what the heck is Galadriel doing here? Where is Elrond? I hope the writers don't send Bilbo and company to Lorien instead of Rivendell. (Let's all hope they stick to the book and take a good look at the map of Middle-earth before they make any radical changes).

Perhaps Jackson has other plans for these non-Hobbit characters. In the past he said the movies (yes, plural, there will be two of them) would be based on material written by Tolkien. Other than The Hobbit, I wonder if he's referring the "The Book of Years" in Appendix B of The Lord of the Rings (LotR). Other than the events in LotR, there's not much mention of these characters in that Appendix, certainly not enough for a movie, so I can't help but wonder how inventive Jackson and co-writers Fran Walsh and Philippa Boyens will be. Goodness knows, they took quite a few liberties with LotR! At least we only have to wait 23 more months to find out...

A Reply from Ray Bradbury!

2011-01-09T08:22:00.008-05:00

Ray Bradbury is one of my all time-favorite authors. Just look under Bradbury in the topics list if you don't believe me! The older I get, the more he inspires me. Not just his wonderful writing, but his optimistic and loving attitude toward writing, life, and doing what you love.

This week Sam Weller, Ray's biographer, posted a request on his blog about Ray: did you have a question for Ray? I did -- and I was thrilled when Ray sent me an answer on Sam's blog, Listen to the Echoes!

I pasting the relevant parts here, just in case Sam's blog ever disappears:

January 4, 2011

Ask Ray Bradbury!

By Sam Weller at 4:38pm ET

I am visiting with Ray Bradbury later this week. If you have a question for him, I’m happy to ask. Just post your inquiries in the comment field down below, and Ray and I will do our very best to answer. All questions must be submitted here before noon pacific standard time on Friday.

Best,
Sam Weller

Dear Ray,
You are my favorite author and I feel like I’ve come to know you through your stories. After reading Sam Weller’s biography, I almost feel like you are family, a dear uncle who lives far away but whose visits and stories I eagerly await.
I would love to receive a note from you. If I write to you and send a card for you to sign, will you send it back? I know you are very busy but I would treasure it forever. Also, is sending a letter to your publisher (HarperCollins) the best way to write to you?
Thank you very much,
Cathy Akers-Jordan Davison, MI
Comment by Cathy Akers-Jordan — January 5, 2011 @ 5:48am

Dear Cathy,
Thank you for your note! If you send a message to me in care of HarperCollins publishers, they will forward the letter to me.
Love!
Ray
Comment by Sam Weller — January 7, 2011 @ 5:56pm

Mere words can't express how happy this simple answer made me! Ray answered my question! Now, if you'll excuse me, I have an important letter to write. :)

Some Favorite Christmas Songs

2010-12-11T07:35:00.004-05:00

It isn't Christmas without Bing Croby, but here are some new Christmas songs that I love:

Michigan Christmas - Brian d'Arcy James. Click the link to listen via YouTube. Brian is from Saginaw and you can buy this album in iTunes.

A Michigan Christmas Card by the Meijer Choral Group. Click the link to go to a safe download site for the mp3 file. This brings back happy childhood memories. :)

They play both songs a lot on 96.1 WHNN. No matter where you live, you can listen to their live broadcast via their web site.

A snowstorm is predicted for tonight. It's beginning to look a lot like Christmas...

9/11

2010-09-11T08:44:00.002-04:00

Was is really 9 years ago? It seems like yesterday. Never Forget.

My Favorite E-Book Gadget

2010-03-08T12:08:00.004-05:00

A while ago I wrote about how much I love my Book Buddy II, a pillow designed to hold hardback books. I was thrilled when Reading Comfort released a similar product, the E-Buddy, for use with e-book readers!

I chose a beautiful Lapis design for my Kindle. Now that I have tendonitis in both elbows even holding the 10.2 ounce Kindle (which is lighter than most paperback books) can be uncomfortable. (Knowing that makes me feel like a total wimp!) Now I read comfortably again. I recommend Reading Comfort's many products for book lovers (and e-reader lovers) of all ages.

UPDATE: I just discovered it's also the perfect size for paperbacks!

Why the Government Shouldn't Run the Post Office

2010-03-05T11:41:00.003-05:00

Now that we've survived moving and are getting settled in our new house, we've noticed that we don't get much mail. My husband especially misses his daily Wall Street Journal.

Monday I filled out the change of address form at the Post Office, thinking that it would only take a couple of days for our forwarded mail to start arriving. After all, this is what happened the last time we moved (just a year and half ago).

Today I stopped by the Post Office to find out what happened to our mail. Silly me! I assumed the change of address would be handled by the local Post Office, but no!, it's being done at a major P.O., probably Detroit. Once our new address is entered in the system, we'll be notified and our mail delivery will resume. In the meantime, our mail is piling up in some other P.O., probably Detroit, and we can't even pick it up.

If that weren't frustrating enough, I asked how long it might take to get our new address in the system. Hold on to your socks: at least a week, maybe two. By the time the P.O. figures out where we live, we'll have a BOX of Wall Street Journals waiting for us, not to mention our regular mail, and all the junk we usually just throw away. SIGH.

What would Ben Franklin think of his Post Office? Maybe, like me, he'd think someone more efficient than the government should be running it.

Another Snow Day!

2010-02-22T10:17:00.002-05:00

The University of Michigan-Flint will close at 12:00 p.m. today, Monday, February 22, 2010 due to the anticipated winter storm. All late afternoon and evening classes, events and activities that begin at 12:00 p.m. or later are canceled. Only essential personnel should report.

Woo hoo! Another snow day! The barometer change is making my sinuses hurt, so it's a good day to curl up by the fireplace (among the boxes) with a good book and a snuggly cat. This the third time U of M has closed this winter; since we hardly ever close, that must be some kind of record!

RIP Dick Francis

2010-02-20T03:08:00.007-05:00

I didn't hear this sad news until Entertainment Weekly arrived today (click to enlarge):

I love his wonderful stories which often have a horse-racing connection and always have interesting characters and excellent plots. I'm glad his son Felix will continue writing but I will always miss his unique writing style. I like to think Dick's in Heaven now with his beloved Mary, chatting with the Queen Mum about horses.

Links:
Dick Francis on Stop You're Killing Me!
Dick Francis author web site

Moving, at Last!

2010-02-19T15:38:00.003-05:00

A week and half a later than expected, we now know when we're moving! We get the keys Wed., Feb. 24 and the movers will be here Sat., Feb. 27. Yay! The end is now in sight! Best of all, I'll have my spring break (Mar. 1 - 7) to unpack the essentials. After that, I don't care how long it takes to unpack. :)

Only one more week of listening to the shrieking neighbor children...

Snow Day, Packing, and The Bismarck

2010-02-09T18:57:00.003-05:00

I'm doing my happy dance because I had a snow day today AND Lost is on tonight! The only way this could be better would be if my husband also had a snow day. The poor guy has a night class and has to drive home in crappy weather.

I spent my afternoon packing, with much feline assistance from Sophie. We packed photos, games, and models. When I found the model of the Hood, guess what song got stuck in my head? Let me share it with you:

"Sink the Bismarck" by Johnny Horton

In May of 1941 the war had just begun
The Germans had the biggest ship that had the biggest guns
The Bismarck was the fastest ship that ever sailed the sea
On her decks were guns as big as steers and shells as big as trees

Out of the cold and foggy night came the British ship the Hood
And every British seaman he knew and understood
They had to sink the Bismarck the terror of the sea
Stop those guns as big as steers and those shells as big as trees

CHORUS
We'll find the German battleship that's makin' such a fuss
We gotta sink the Bismarck cause the world depends on us
Yeah hit the decks a runnin' boys and spin those guns around
When we find the Bismarck we gotta cut her down

The Hood found the Bismarck and on that fatal day
The Bismarck started firing fifteen miles away
We gotta sink the Bismarck was the battle sound
But when the smoke had cleared away the mighty Hood went down

For six long days and weary nights they tried to find her trail
Churchill told the people "put every ship asail
Cause somewhere on that ocean I know she's gotta be
We gotta sink the Bismarck to the bottom of the sea"

CHORUS

The fog was gone the seventh day and they saw the morning sun
Ten hours away from homeland the Bismarck made its run
The Admiral of the British fleet said turn those bows around
We found that German battleship and we're gonna cut her down

The British guns were aimed and the shells were coming fast
The first shell hit the Bismarck they knew she couldn't last
That mighty German battleship is just a memory
Sink the Bismarck was the battle cry that shook the seven seas

We found the German battleship t'was makin' such a fuss
We had to sink the Bismarck cause the world depends on us
We hit the deck a runnin' and we spun those guns around
Yeah we found the mighty Bismarck and then we cut her down

What can I say? I was raised on WWII movies...

A Snow Day at Last?

2010-02-08T08:32:00.004-05:00

The eastern US has is still digging out form a blizzard but here in mid-Michigan we have no snow. SIGH. I'm never going to get a snow day at this rate. I do have hope though! The NWS has issued a Winter Storm Watch for Tues morning through Wed morning, possible accumulation of 6-10 inches. It's time to do my snow dance...

Cul de Sac by by Richard Thompson Monday, January 18, 2010 (click to enlarge)

(read it at http://www.gocomics.com)

RIP Mia

2010-02-04T13:56:00.005-05:00

Mia Keeler
1992-2010

Rest in peace, fiesty girl. You were my first (surrogate) cat and the reason I love kitties. I miss you already and I always will.

We Are Homeowners - Yay!

2010-01-29T15:00:00.006-05:00

Since about 9:00am (after 45 minutes of signing and initialing papers), we are homeowners! I'm sure it will seem real after we move in -- and I can hardly wait.

The owner's son is living there and packing her stuff. He has 30 days to move, but he thinks he'll be done by mid-Feb. That would be wonderful but we're planning on a late Feb/early Mar move, just in case.

I met both realtors (ours and theirs) at the house last night to look at it again, go over any last-minute questions, and to learn how to light the sunroom heater. From the sunroom, we were treated to a beautiful view of the nearly full moon rising behind the branches of the huge trees in the backyard. It was especially lovely since we can't see the moon from our current apartment.

We want to pack as much as we can (especially things like glass, china, and Roger's books), then have movers pack the rest and move all of it to the new house. I've been researching movers and have learned a lot about choosing a reliable, professional full-service company. I think we're going to use Personal Touch Moving, Inc (located in Lake Orion, MI). Their Better Business Bureau rating is A- and they are about $1,000 cheaper than Corrigan Moving Systems (which several friends have used; Corrigan is near Detroit and has a A+ BBB rating).

I'm so excited about the house I'm having a hard time focusing on work. I've never wanted to move before and now I can hardly wait to do so. I'm looking forward to having more room, a yard (with bird feeders!), and no more neighbor kids playing Wii over my head or shrieking under my feet.

As a parting gift to our apartment neighbors, you are invited to a reenactment of Riverdance after our apartment is empty. Be sure to wear your hard-soled shoes! I'll provide loud Irish music and all you have to do is jump around a lot.

Kindle Addiction

2010-01-07T18:30:00.001-05:00

I'm not saying I quickly adapted to my Kindle, but yesterday I was reading a printed book and I keep wanting to click the built-in dictionary... Sad, eh?

The Inspection

2009-12-29T18:21:00.005-05:00

Today we had the inspection of the house we're going to buy. It was nice to have so much time to look around and think about where we want to put things, and to realize our furniture will fit. :) The actual inspection took longer than I expected (the inspector was very thorough and very good at explaining everything to us) but I learned a lot.

The best news is that house is great shape. Because they used real wood, cement, etc. the construction is strong, the walls are straight, etc. They don't use such good building materials today!

The only problems the inspector found were:
1. The garbage disposal doesn't work
2. The gas wall heater in the sunroom won't light
3. The logs in the gas fireplace in the basement need to be updated
4. The attic insulation was installed upside down (with the paper side up, so the paper needs to be slit)
5. Wall plugs in the kitchen and bath need breakers added
6. Smoke detectors need to be replaced and CO2 detector needs to be added

We're asking the seller to fix the first two. Roger and Dad can fix everything else (such little things!) and add a second bath (shower, toilet, and sink) in the basement. We also want to add a sump pump alarm, just in case.

The appraiser comes tomorrow. Now that it's starting to seem real, I'm so excited about moving I can hardly wait! We've asked our realtor to arrange the closing ASAP so we can move ASAP. I'll be so relieved to get away from our noisy neighbors and into our own house at last!

I'm also looking forward to meeting the seller. Given her collection of Dept. 56 villages and the amount of counted cross-stitch on her walls, we seem to have a lot in common! I might consider buying some of her Dickens Village and I want her to tell me how to care for the beautiful plants/landscaping, gazebo, etc. They have put so much work into making the yard lovely and I want to keep it that way.

I still can't believe we're finally about to become homeowners!

My Favorite Electronic Book Gadget: The Kindle

2009-12-28T17:47:00.014-05:00

For Christmas my dear husband gave me a Kindle (second generation) book reader. This thing is every bit as cool as Amazon claims: light, intuitive (so much I can't help wonder if Apple designed it!), and addictive. I'll never give up printed books completely, but I *love* reading on my Kindle. The screen really is crisp and easy to read (unlike a backlit eye-strain-inducing computer screen). Best of all, it can hold TONS of books, magazines, blogs, and newspapers.

New "hardback" books are usually $9.99. New "paperbacks" are usually around $6 -- but public domain books (Shakespeare, Poe, etc.) are free or very cheap. Where was the Kindle when I was hauling around a thirty pound Shakespeare textbook? :) If you keep an eye out you can find new promotional paperbacks (temporarily free).

In addition to classics and murder mysteries I "splurged" on a couple of very helpful, inexpensive books:

1. The Complete User's Guide To the Amazing Amazon Kindle 2: Tips, Tricks, & Links To Unlock Cool Features & Save You Hundreds on Kindle Content by Stephen Windwalker $0.99

2. Kindle Shortcuts, Hidden Features, Kindle-Friendly Websites, Free eBooks & Email From Kindle: Concise User Guide for Kindle 2 (US & International), DX, 1, iPhone & iPod by Aaron Steinhardt PhD $0.25

From these I learned about how to access Project Gutenberg, free books and audio, keyboard shortcuts, and hidden features (like the calculator, Minesweeper game, and Go game). About the same time I also discovered Sudoku Volume 1: Interactive Sudoku Puzzles for Kindle 2 and Kindle DX and Word Morph Volume 1: transform the starting word one letter at a time until you spell the ending word (Word Puzzles Optimized for Kindle) -- both for just $0.01 each. Who knew you could play these games on a Kindle?

Interested in Kindle fiction? I recommend Stephen King's UR ($2.99) and The Gift of Murder (a $7 mystery anthology which features "The Kindle Did It!" by Gail Farrelly -- and profits go to Toys for Tots).

As you can see from the photos (courtesy of Amazon), the Kindle is light and comfortable to hold. I love curling up with my Kindle. It's so easy to use, I really do forget about the hardware and just enjoy the story -- just as advertised.

I love my new Kindle so much that I named it: Miss Marple (because it appears so cozy and simple, yet it knows so much more than you expect). I supposed the same logic could apply to Lord Peter (sophisticated, elegant, and knows so much more than you expect) but apparently I like to assume my gadgets are female. (Ask me about my car, Christine.)

For those who know I only like Miss Marple on TV (not in print), I can't explain this choice. The name just seems to fit!

Merry Christmas!

2009-12-24T11:52:00.003-05:00

This was too funny not to share:

To All My Democratic Friends:

Please accept with no obligation, implied or implicit, my best wishes for an environmentally conscious, socially responsible, low-stress, non-addictive, gender-neutral celebration of the winter solstice holiday, practiced within the most enjoyable traditions of the religious persuasion of your choice, or secular practices of your choice, with respect for the religious/secular persuasion and/or traditions of others, or their choice not to practice religious or secular traditions at all. I also wish you a fiscally successful, personally fulfilling and medically uncomplicated recognition of the onset of the generally accepted calendar year 2010, but not without due respect for the calendars of choice of other cultures whose contributions to society have helped make America great. Not to imply that America is necessarily greater than any other country nor the only America in the Western Hemisphere . Also, this wish is made without regard to the race, creed, color, age, physical ability, religious faith or sexual preference of the wish.

To My Republican Friends:

Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year in the year of our Lord Jesus Christ 2010.

Seriously, I wish everyone a very Merry Christmas and safe, happy, healthy and prosperous New Year!

The Miracle on 34th Street

2009-12-20T20:48:00.023-05:00

I still don't quite believe it, but we are about to become homeowners! (I've always wanted a house. To get one at Christmas is just like The Miracle on 34th Street!) The seller accepted our bid on the ranch I fell in love with. Photos and specs are below.

We can get out of our apartment lease four months early, so we'll probably move in March. I'm simultaneously excited and numb. I'll let you know when it finally feels real!

Brick Ranch in City of Davison. Many updates - Huge add on Family Room, Large Deck w/ Gazebo. 2 Car Garage, Finished Basement, Newer Roof, Electrical, Central Air, Fenced back Yard with Shade Galore ... Must See Home!

Built in 1956 (but in better shape than some new houses we saw!).
Lot size 70 x 136
Home size 1331 sq ft.
Master Bedroom: 11.4 x 11
2nd: 11 x 11
3rd: 11.4 x 9
Kitchen 12.2 x 11
Great Room 20.9 x 13.9
Family Room (Sunroom) 19.6 x 11.8
Downstairs Rec Room (w/gas fireplace) 23.4 x 12.6
Hobby Room (Workshop) 14.9 x 12.8
Laundry and storage room 35.6 x 11.1

Another Reason I Hate Renting

2009-12-18T10:16:00.003-05:00

This morning the toilet in our master bath backed up. No amount of plunging cleared it, so I called maintenance as soon as the office opened. They promised to send someone right away but warned me "There's a service charge if it's not our fault."

"Service charge?" I asked.

"Yes, a service charge. It's $125 if it's not our fault." I started to wonder why she kept repeating this phrase.

"We only flush toilet paper," I said. "How could that be our fault?"

"We'll send the maintenance guy right away to assess the situation," she said, implying once again that it mus be our fault.

When I relayed this conversation to my husband he said, "We're not paying $125 effing dollars for this!"

I agreed, thinking of the bid I sent the realtor last night while waiting for the maintenance guy. We're guessing they have lots of residents with kids who try to flush toys, so this is now the standard reply for toilet problems.

The maintenance arrived shortly thereafter and it took two minutes for him to plunge the toilet, no service charge. Apparently I just need a different plunger. Still, the situation was just another reminder of how ready I am to move to a house.

More Houses

2009-12-18T09:35:00.003-05:00

The adventure continues: Wednesday we looked at more houses.

First up was an older Cape Cod (1949). This is the house we wanted to see last time but the realtor was unable to contact the residents. It was nice but the wood floors in two rooms needed finishing (they had been sanded recently) and the paint needed touching up in some rooms. Bonuses: OK kitchen, LOTS of storage, big closets, 2 baths, and two rooms upstairs that would make nice offices. Negatives: the yard is very small (no room for a sunroom). The linolium on the stairs to the basement is peeling and the tile in the basement is probably asbestos (and would need to be covered/sealed). This house is my second choice.

I fell in love with the second house: a ranch with a wonderful sunroom, deck with gazebo, and finished basement. The yard is a nice size and nicely landscaped. We also really like the neighborhood: all brick houses from the 1950s, all well-maintained with low turnover. This is the kind of neighborhood people stay in. Negatives: there's only one bathroom. (Hey, how hard can it be to add a second bath? Roger and his dad used to build houses.) I put in a bid on this one last night. Wish me luck! I'm praying really hard...

The third house was a new home in a new subdivision. No trees or sidewalks, but the online photos looked great: large master bedroom/bath/walk-in closet, a wonderful kitchen and great room with fireplace, 3 baths, and huge beautifully finished basement. Sadly, the house is now bank-owned and recently had water standing in the basement. That meant that the basement had been stripped AND still had mold. I'm so allergic to mold I barely saw this house. A few minutes indoors and my eyes and throat were itching. This one is a definite no go.

The next house on our list was a split level in the township. It had a severe mold problem so we didn't even try to go there.

The most interesting house was next. It was originally built in the 1800s! It had a new kitchen but everything else needs lots of TLC (a definite no go term in my book). The second level was in good shape but there was water at the base of the basement stairs. We looked in the basement out of curiosity after the realtor told us the support poles were logs. Yup, logs were holding the floors up. Under the oldest part of the house the basement was fieldstone on one wall and something that had been painted white on the other walls, smoothed logs maybe? Nice yard but this was another definite no go.

The last house was a ranch just a few doors away from our apartment, on a busy and partially commercial section of Irish Rd. Traffic made getting in and out of the driveway a major pain. The house itself was a nice 3 bedroom 1.5 bath ranch with partially finished basement. The kitchen was really nice but the renter wasn't kidding when they said the house was messy. Judging by the toys covering most of the floors, we're guessing they had three kids. It had nice deck and huge back yard; the field behind it was included, so there was a lot of land. Negatives: one room in the basement (probably painted by a tween or teen) was black with rainbow-colored designs. It was far out, man. The waterheater was unusually small for a house that size. Given the traffic problem, this was a no go.

I really, really want the ranch and am praying the owner accepts the bid, but I expect her to make a reasonable counter-offer.

House Hunting

2009-12-10T17:28:00.006-05:00

Yesterday the realtor took us to see three houses. I had no idea house hunting would be such an adventure! I'm so new to this that I'm glad Mom and Dad went with us.

The first house was a ranch three doors away from our dear friends John & Denise. It was small but nice. Denise met us there to point out things we might miss. I liked it but after our huge kitchen, it's going to be hard to get used to a small kitchen again. It did have 2 baths a partially finished basement, sunroom, and a 2.5 car garage. The best part about this house was the 50K price!

The second house was a Cape Cod that was listed at 99K and was about to be re-poed by the bank. It was larger than the ranch and had some interesting spaces (like the second floor of the 1.5 floors). Frankly, I can't actually remember much about this house except that the rooms were small but it did have a garage and 1.5 baths. I think I'd find it more interesting if the price were lower.

The last house was a ranch in the neighborhood I grew up in. Although it's currently listed at $107K, I think I liked this one the best. It was larger (1200 sq ft) with 4 bedrooms, a finished basement with day light windows, and a gazebo. The really interesting part was what we found in the house: an intercom system ("Scotty, I need more power!"), an incinerator in the basement (I'd never actually seen one before!), and boat (yes, a boat, specifically speedboat used for water skiing) in the garage, and chest freezer full of frozen food. Weird. Bonuses: gas fireplace, and new furnace/air, new hot water heater, and new roof. The realtor says the price is probably about to drop, so I'll definitely want to keep an eye on this house!

There were two more houses we wanted to see but couldn't. One had a bid (and only allowed one bidder at a time) and the other was still occupied. The realtor couldn't reach the residents in time for us to see it yesterday. That means the search will continue -- and next time I'll remember to take my camera and to take notes!

The Washer Incident

2009-12-07T17:05:00.006-05:00

I spent Thanksgiving week crying about Saffron and have been numb ever since -- and frantically trying to work on my end-of-the-semester grading. Since I teach writing, I don't have to give final exams and the sooner I get done grading, the sooner my Christmas break begins.

Roger suggested we go up north for the weekend. Everyone I talked to thought this was a good idea. I could relax as much as I wanted, work as much as I wanted, and I wouldn't expect to see Saffron everywhere I looked. It was a good idea! We have wonderful time enjoying Traverse City and I even got a substantial amount of grading done.

All that relaxation disappeared when got home and discovered water standing in our hallway (in front of the laundry closet), in Roger's office, and in the master bath. I immediately called maintenance was told that my upstairs neighbor* overloaded her washer (apparently with a comforter, bedspread, AND pillows), then left the house. The washer was so full the sensor couldn't tell when to shut the water off, so the water just kept running. In addition to our apartment, the one next door also flooded. Since there's cement between the floors, the water came in through the smoke alarms and the vent/light in the bathroom.

I was furious at the mess AND at maintenance for not calling Mom and Dad. Before we left town I called the office to let them know we'd be out of town for the weekend and Mom and Dad would be stopping by daily to care for the cat. I gave them Mom and Dad's names and phone number specifically in case of a plumbing emergency so Mom and Dad could be here to prevent the cat from escaping if maintenance needed to come in.

All this was news to the maintenance guy. He did know the apartment next to us was flooded but he didn't even try to contact us?! (No message on our answering machine.)

After soaking up all the waters, then washing all the towels, I collapsed in bed -- just as the smoke alarm started beeping.

I called maintenance again. Apparently smoke alarms beep when they get wet. Taking out the battery didn't help, so we called maintenance AGAIN to learn how to pull the wires (the battery is only a backup). Even then, the damn thing continued to beep far longer than I expected. I was ready to wrap it in a towel and stuff it in a draw (or leave it on the porch) when it finally stopped.

Once again, I collapsed in bed. A few minutes later, Roger informed me that the smoke detector in his office was dripping again. I think I would have cried at this point if not for my anti-anxiety medicine.

The first thing Monday, I called the rental office to 1) make sure there's a note in our file saying no current or future water damage was our fault and 2) to find out why Mom and Dad's contact info wasn't passed along to the on-call maintenance guy. I also complained about the downstairs neighbor** kids who like to ring doorbells and disappear.

My next calls were to the bank and the realtor. It's time to house hunt!

NOTES
* These are the neighbors directly above us, the ones with noisy kids who fall out of bed frequently and play Wii a LOT.

** These children are apparently unattended while the parent works afternoons/evenings.

Good-Bye, Dear Little Friend

2009-12-01T16:54:00.011-05:00

Our precious little Saffron died in her sleep the day after Thanksgiving, just two days after my last post. She was sleeping peacefully in one of her favorite beds under the Christmas tree and seemed to know Roger and I were both with her. She coughed very delicately a few times and just slipped away peacefully. I’m thankful for her peaceful passing and so glad she was home with us. I know we did all we could to give her a wonderful life but I miss my sweet little girl already and always will. I like to think she’s already in heaven with Sable.

Thank you for all your love and support during her illness, from all of us.

Cathy and Roger (and Sophie the oblivious cat who nevertheless howled at the moment of Saffron’s death)

Saffron Update

2009-11-25T14:08:00.009-05:00

Saffron hasn't been doing so well recently. A couple weeks ago she had some kind of "event": she fell over, acted a bit weird for a few hours, and was back to normal the next day. There's no way to know for sure what happened, but since then, she's been acting like an old cat (pacing, vocalizing, and occasionally a little confused). The old cat behavoir appears to be unrelated to her liver problem or the "event."

I became really worried this week when her weight dropped to 4 lbs. (she should weigh about 7 lbs.). She's eating, but not nearly as much as usual. Although she's still drinking and getting around, I'm afraid she doesn't have much time left. We don't want to make "the decision" as long as she's not in pain and is still eating, drinking, and getting around. She seems comfy and happy -- I'm the one who is distressed! I guess we're never ready to say good-bye, no matter how much time we have to prepare. I'm still hoping that when the time comes, she'll leave us peacefully in her sleep. Until then, I'm going to sleep in the living room with her and love and comfort her as much as I can.

Here are some photos of her eating in bed (yes, she's the most spoiled cat on the planet) and sleeping in her favorite spot in the whole world (of course we put the tree up early just for her!). Say a prayer for my sweet little girl.

My Favorite Hardback Book Gadget

2009-11-22T13:15:00.005-05:00

A while ago I wrote about the Gimble, my favorite paperback book gadget. This is my favorite hardback book gadget: The Book Buddy II.

As you can see from the photo (click to enlarge) it can hold any size paperback or hardback book or, with the optional acrylic desktop, most laptop computers.

I mostly use my Book Buddy for hardback books. It's comfy because I can read without holding the book (which makes my healing tennis elbow hurt). Even if I do hold it, the pillow really does make the book feel weightless -- just as their web site says!

The Book Buddy comes in a variety of colors and prices and I recommend it for anyone who loves to read. I bought mine when I had chronic tendonitis, but don't wait until you have a medical excuse. This is a good product for any bibliophile.

Remember in the Fitz

2009-11-12T18:27:00.003-05:00

November is flying by so quickly I just realized that for the first time in many years, I didn't the about the Edmund Fitzgerald on the anniversary of her sinking. Listen to the song and remember a good ship and 29 men who just wanted to get home.

Does anyone know where the love of God goes
When the waves turn the minutes to hours?

"The Wreck Of The Edmund Fitzgerald" by Gordon Lightfoot

Newcomers Sweep Davison City Council

2009-11-06T08:15:00.007-05:00

Big news in Davison this week: City Council shakeup: Incumbents ousted by three newcomers.

I've pasted the story here in case the link disappears.

City Council shakeup: Incumbents ousted by three newcomers

BY SARAH FISH STAFF WRITER

DAVISON — In an obvious two-sided election, the threemember team supported by Mayor Fred Fortner and Councilman Jim Hershberger will be sworn into the Davison City Council at the Nov. 9 meeting.

Roger Lutze, Matt Judd and David Martin have earned four-year terms and will join the seven-member council.

Roger Lutze

Incumbents Ron Emery and Keith Flewelling lost their longtime seats on the council, while candidate Ralph Arceo also lost the election.

“Congratulations to Mr. Lutze, Mr. Martin, and Mr. Judd,” said City Manager Dale Martin. “I look forward to working with these three men, the mayor and the others on the city council. On behalf of the city staff, I also wish to thank Mr. Emery and Mr. Flewelling for their years of service to the community.”

According to unofficial election results from the City of Davison, Lutze received 369 votes. Martin received 349 and Judd received 306 votes. Emery received 250, Flewelling received 243 and Arceo received 198.

David Martin

In total, 1,717 voters turned out to the polls.

The results of the election come after an obviously twosided race, with the six candidates dividing into two teams of three. Fortner and Hershberger have gained a majority on the council, following a history with the previous council of a 5-2 voting split.

“I’m very pleased, I’m very excited and really looking forward to serving the community,” said Lutze after hearing the election results Tuesday night. “The main thing is going to be listening to the people of the city and that we started before we started the campaign.”

Emery, who has been on the council 18 years, said he was disappointed in the election results.

“After 18 years on council obviously I’m disappointed in the election results,” said Emery. “However with the resentment against incumbents and the strong campaign waged by Mayor Fortner against us, the results were not unexpected.

Matt Judd

“I wish the new council members well and hopefully they continue making Davison a great place to live.”

Judd said he plans to work in the best interest of the people, and will figure out the issues in the city once he takes his seat on the council.

“I think it’s time for new people to be in there and we’ll give it the best chance we can, do the right thing for people,” said Judd. “(I’m) just going to get on there and find out exactly what we’re doing, you know … and go from there.”

Flewelling, who has spent 10 years on the council, said he hopes the city will continue to be a quality place to live.

“I am obviously disappointed with the results of Tuesday’s election. It is clear that those who voted want a change in city government and I congratulate the winners,” said Flewelling. “I hope that the city continues to be progressive and maintains the quality of living its residents have come to expect.

“The employees of the city do an excellent job in providing the services that make our city what it is. I know that they will continue to do so and I expect the government officials will respect that.”

The incumbents are surprised and blame the mayor. Helloooo! Maybe it's because voters are unhappy about:

1. Their decision to remove the canopies downtown

2. Their desire to spend our tax dollars on a new, unnecessary municipal center.

Nah, must be a conspiracy. After all, the mayor is the former owner of a downtown business and was opposed to the canopy removal.

I'm so glad these clueless dolts are out of office and wish the best of luck to newcomers Roger Lutze, Matt Judd and David Martin!

Saffron's Special Day

2009-10-31T08:55:00.011-04:00

The weather forecast says only a 20% chance of rain tonight and it should be cool and windy. Perfect Halloween weather! (You know you're from Michigan if you've ever gone trick-or-treating in the snow, wearing your winter coat over your costume.)

Best of all, today is Saffron's special day. We found her 12 years ago today and, despite her liver disease, she's still with us and doing OK. We are so happy she's here to celebrate her special day with us! Here's a recent photo of us together (don't you hate it when you're sleeping and someone starts taking your picture?):

And here are a couple of Halloween pics from last year. (She no longer climbs onto the table with the village.)

Happy Halloween birthday, sweet girl!

Happy Halloween!

2009-10-30T08:09:00.007-04:00

It's the second most wonderful time of the year: Happy Halloween! I stitched this for my friend Nathan (click to enlarge):

Beautiful October

2009-10-29T08:25:00.008-04:00

After killing frosts on Oct. 9 and 10, temps have stayed in the 50s F (some days going up to 60!). Apparently these conditions, coupled with our cooler than usual summer, have led to a long, beautiful autumn. Even at the end of October, we still have leaves on the trees.

For my fellow Tolkien geeks: it's like spring in Lothlorien! For everyone else, here's the quote:

"There are no trees like the trees of that land. For in the autumn their leaves fall not, but turn to gold. Not till the spring comes and the new green opens do they fall, and then the boughs are laden with yellow flowers; and the floor of the wood is golden, and golden is the roof, and its pillars are of silver, for the bark of the trees is smooth and grey. So still our songs in Mirkwood say. My heart would be glad if I were beneath the eaves of that wood, and it were springtime!" (Legolas, The Fellowship of the Ring).

I took this photo in Davison Regional Park, Fall 2005. It looks about like this now, too!

RIP, Milvina

2009-10-26T17:48:00.003-04:00

A memorial service was held Saturday for Millvina Dean, the last Titanic survivor. She was 97. The BBC story includes a short video with highlights from the service and her partner Bruno Nordmanis scattering her ashes "from a small launch on the water of berth 43/44 at Southampton Docks, the terminal from which the ship set sail."

God bless you, dear lady. I pray you are with your parents now and this time you all complete your voyage together. Rest in Peace.

Scream Theatre

2009-10-23T22:05:00.003-04:00

I had a blast at the show tonight! The should cell CDs so we can enjoy the Halloween radio show again and again. If you're in the Flint area and not busy tomorrow, catch the show at 8pm at The Good Beans Cafe (810-237-4663). Tickets are only $7 for 1.5 hours of fun Halloween entertainment.

October, at Last

2009-10-02T11:00:00.005-04:00

It's Friday, it's October, AND I have a new Ray Bradbury book to read. Life is good.

Woo Hoo! Frost Advisory!

2009-09-30T08:53:00.001-04:00

There is a frost advisory most of Michigan's lower peninsula tonight. Woo hoo! Come on, frost. Kill the evil ragweed and solve my summer allergy problem!

Bradbury at 89

2009-09-20T08:13:00.004-04:00

After I found the interview with Ray Bradbury from July, I decided to put him in my Google Alerts so I don't miss any more news. I just learned that Ray celebrated his 89th birthday at Clifton's Cafe in downtown LA, where the Science Fiction Society met in the 1930s.

Next month he'll be signing his books at Every Picture Tells a Story in Santa Monica on Oct. 24. Oh, how I wish I could be there!

UPDATE: Ray will also be speaking Oct. 3 at the Duarte Festival of Authors (Southern California) and signing his new book We'll Always Have Paris. I'm so glad I added Ray to my Google Alerts! I just wish I could get to CA to meet him.

Ray Bradbury on the 50th Anniversary of Apollo 11

2009-09-14T18:16:00.008-04:00

I just found this wonderful interview of Ray Bradbury on the July 19, 2009 podcast called 365 Days of Astronomy. This was recorded about a month before Ray's 89th birthday. He sounds good! Older, a little tired, but still mentally sharp and as optimistic as ever. Follow the link to read the transcript or listen to the podcast.

I've also pasted the transcript here.

Podcaster: Mat Kaplan of The Planetary Society

Links: Planetary Radio

Ray Bradbury.com

Description: A very recent conversation with the beloved author, poet, dramatist and visionary, Ray Bradbury. In these excerpts, Mat asks Ray to look back forty years to the Apollo 11 landing on the moon. Ray expressed his exhilaration and hopes to Walter Cronkite and walked out on talk show host David Frost! The Los Angeles-based writer shares other memories and looks to our future on Mars and beyond.

Bio: Mat Kaplan hosts and produces Planetary Radio, the weekly public radio and podcast series from the Planetary Society. Planetary Radio is heard on 150 stations across North American and beyond, as well as on Sirius XM satellite radio. The podcast can be found in the iTunes Store. Founded by Lou Friedman, Bruce Murray and Carl Sagan, the Planetary Society inspires and involves the world's public in space exploration through advocacy, projects, and education.

Today's sponsor: This episode of The 365 Days of Astronomy Podcast is sponsored by Clockwork Active Media Systems. Clockwork invents, designs, develops and maintains web applications that market, sell, streamline, automate and communicate. Visit Clockwork.net net or email inquiries@clockwork.net to get started on your web project.

Transcript:

OPENING REMARKS: Hello, pod people. I’m Mat Kaplan of the Planetary Society, where I host and produce our weekly series about space exploration called Planetary Radio. We’re very proud to join you on this, the eve of the 40th anniversary of the Apollo 11 landing. And we’ve brought along someone many of you know and love. I visited Ray Bradbury at his West Los Angeles home just a few days ago. Ray will soon turn 89. I was cautioned that his hearing is not what it was, so I should speak up. Also that he was likely to tire long before he was ready to stop telling stories. That’s just what happened. We talked about many things, but we kept coming back to the shining significance of July 20, 1969. Here are a few excerpts from our conversation. You’re hearing them ahead of our regular radio and podcast audience.

MAT: I wonder if you feel as fortunate as I do in the whole history of humanity to have been alive not just to have left our planet, but to have set foot on other worlds?

RAY: Well, when I was a young boy, I thought, “I’ll be an old man when we land on the moon.” But I wasn’t old, I was 49 years old. I was very young. And I was in London that night, and I went over to the TV show. Instead of introducing me, he introduced Engelbert Humperdinck. I walked off the show. The producer came running out after me and said ‘What are you doing?’ I said, “That idiot doesn’t know this is the most important night in the history of mankind. I will not be on the show with that idiot! He’s stupid! Get me out of here! Get me a cab!” So I went across London and I met with Walter Cronkite. I did a broadcast on Telstar at midnight telling all the reasons why space travel was important and why it was important that we were on the moon because we were on our way to Mars. And someday we would settle Mars, and then we would go to Alpha Centauri, and we’d live forever. So this is the first step toward living forever. Mankind has got to be…the sun going out, or the sun flaring up. So, we’re gonna survive because of this very first step tonight, and that idiot Snow should have had enough brains…

MAT: Now, wait. I’ve gotta stop you because you said “Snow.” It’s “Frost,” right? David Frost.

RAY: Pardon me!

MAT: That’s quite alright. I just didn’t want to confuse the audience!

RAY: Frost, yeah. I don’t know why I used Snow. When I left that broadcast at the BBC in London I walked across London laughing and crying all the way. It took me six hours to walk back to my hotel. It took me six hours to walk back to my hotel. I didn’t take a taxicab! I wanted to be in London alone with myself and my joy. When I got back to the hotel, out in front there was a tabloid with the headline that said, “Neil Armstrong Walks on the Moon, Bradbury Walks at Midnight!” They reported I walked off the David Frost show. I hated him so much. But it’s good to have that headline! Me and Neil Armstrong in a single newspaper the morning after we landed on the moon.

MAT: It didn’t start then, of course. I think of your old friend, Arthur C. Clarke. It was in his story that he had a proto-human looking up at the moon and reaching for it, and thinking, well, if I could just get to a high enough spot I could reach it.

RAY: Well, we’re all similar people. We have the same dream, and landing the moon really did it for us.

MAT: You were talking though, before we started to record about, yes, I guess it’s okay to be excited about the moon, but your heart is still farther out on that red planet.

RAY: Well, see, we’ve been building flimsy things in space. Space stations, but they’re not strong enough. But it’s gotta be the moon. And sometime in the next few years we’ve gotta re-establish ourselves on the moon.

MAT: So you do see a role for the moon? You’re happy to see that we’re on the path to returning humans there?

RAY: We should never have left. We’ve circled the Earth with our rockets and photographed it. That’s good information, but it doesn’t help us get to Mars. The moon has gotta be a solid underground for us to build factories to go to Mars, and it’s going to take thirty or forty years to establish a base on the moon. And then we’ll go to Mars and we’ll establish a civilization which will last for thousands of years. And then we’ll move from Mars to Alpha Centauri or a planet near there.

MAT: You don’t sound like you’ve lost any confidence in the human potential in the universe.

RAY: We didn’t think we could do it, and we did it! It was quite amazing. And I went down and met with all the astronauts in 1967. I went to Houston. Life magazine sent me down to interview all the astronauts that were coming up. None of them had any names yet. But Life magazine had a meeting where there were seventy astronauts. And the editor of Life said, “Young men, I think you’d like to know that in the back of the room today is Ray Bradbury.” Everybody jumped to their feet and seventy astronauts ran back and clustered around me because they’d all read The Martian Chronicles. Isn’t that wonderful? I’m part of the lunar exploration. It’s so wonderful to be loved by these young men who treated me as a equal.

MAT: I think you’re part of much more than the lunar exploration. I think of the scientists and engineers who were also inspired to do what they’ve done, who are STILL inspired, who are still leading the missions that are taking us off of this pale blue dot.

RAY: Well, that’s wonderful. The night the Viking lander landed on Mars I was out at JPL. I was watching the photographs come in on the TV. I noticed a man behind me and I turned. It was Werner von Braun. I didn’t want to speak to him. I had mixed feelings. But I realized he was a mixed creature. He was half black, half white. He was half good, he was half evil. He invented the V2 rocket that destroyed England, and then he invented the rocket that took us to the moon. So I shook his hand, and he wrote an autograph on a piece of paper for me: “You saw it all ahead of us…to the moon. You inspired us.” And so Werner von Braun gave me credit for inspiring him to be a rocket engineer. Isn’t that beautiful?

MAT: There’s much history left to be made. In something like ten years humans will walk on the moon again. If we’re lucky, in something like twenty or thirty years they’ll walk on Mars for the first time. If you had a message for these future explorers, does anything come to mind that you might want them to hear from the past…

RAY: No, I want everybody listening to me to think of Mars, only Mars, again and again and again. And think of going back to the moon and make sure the government hears this from you. These are bad times today. If you read the Wall Street Journal, forget it! You know? If you buy stocks sell ‘em! Get rid of ‘em! But listen to me and say, “Back to the Moon!” The moon is everything and Mars is beyond, waiting for us. I want to be buried on Mars. I don’t want to be the first live person to arrive there. It’ll be too late. But I want to be the first dead person that gets there. I want to arrive in a Campbell’s soup can. Bury me on Mars in thing called the Bradbury Abyss. They gotta name a place on Mars for me, and I will welcome that.

MAT: I would love to see that happen. From your mouth to NASA’s ears! Thank you, Ray, and thank you for all of those stories.

RAY: Heh, heh, heh.

CLOSE: Author, poet, dramatist, visionary and blessed optimist, Ray Bradbury. We’ll include more of our recent conversation in the coming week’s episode of Planetary Radio, the public radio and podcast series from the Planetary Society. And we’ll put nearly my entire half-hour conversation with Ray on the Society’s website, planetary.org. Thanks very much for joining us. Ad astra!

For any newcomer to this blog: Ray Bradbury is one of my all-time favorite authors. I've blogged about him several times and recently sent him a geeky fan letter enclosed in a Halloween card (which I hope reaches him in time for his favorite holiday). I'd write more but I'm busy downloading the podcast so I can listen to the complete half-hour interview. Thanks, Planetary Radio!

Never Forget

2009-09-11T21:28:00.009-04:00

Waiting for Frost

2009-08-31T15:43:00.008-04:00

Last night the upper peninsula and the northern part of the lower peninsula had a frost warning. I can hardly wait for the frost. Here's why:

In case you can't read the maps, those are the ragweed and mold levels (the things I'm most allergic to). Pollen is not killed by having a lovely, cool summer (that I can't even enjoy!), it's only killed a killing frost. I think that's 28F for several hours. Since the summer has been so cool, I'm really hoping for an early frost this year!

RIP Sister Carol Anne

2009-08-30T19:05:00.007-04:00

I just learned that one of my favorite authors, Sister Carol Anne O'Marie who wrote the Sister Mary Helen mysteries, died in May from Parkinson's disease. After seeing a death date on her Stop You're Killing Me page, I found her obituary and a nice article in the online Catholic Voice about her homeless shelter: "Nuns continue ministry to homeless women in Oakland."

I found this picture and a nice remembrance of her on Stephen Danko's web site. There's another nice tribute on Janet Randolph's blog.

I'm so sorry to hear of her death and to learn that she suffered from Parkinson's disease. Apparently she didn't let it slow down her writing or her ministry! God bless you, Sister. I wish I could have met you in person but am glad to know you indirectly through your books. Rest in peace.

My Favorite Paperback Book Gadget

2009-08-28T13:26:00.004-04:00

When I developed chronic tennis elbow one of the things that hurt my arm most was holding a book. As an avid reader, not reading was NOT an option so I like to try different book gadgets. One of my favorites is the Gimble.

When you buy a Gimble (just $8 at Schuler Books, where I found mine, or Barnes and Noble), you get two sizes: mass-market paperback and trade paperback. Not only is the Gimble inexpensive, it actually WORKS! It's great for reading anywhere but especially handy for those who like to read while eating or read in the bathtub.

The Gimble is made in the UK and I found it in the gift section at Schuler Books. It was a serendipitous find since I haven't seen them in any other store. I've now purchased several as gifts and recommend them to anyone who loves to read.

My Interview on Mystery Matters

2009-08-21T08:35:00.003-04:00

Today I'm the guest on Mystery Matters, an internet radio show hosted by author Fran Stewart. You can listen live at the web site at 10 a.m. or listen later via the site’s archive or podcast at Mystery Matters.

How I Spent My Summer Vacation

2009-08-16T10:51:00.005-04:00

Yesterday we visited the Star Trek Exhibit at the Detroit Science Center. It featured lots of costumes and props but the coolest part was the recreated bridge of the original series:

That's my husband in the Captain's chair and I'm at Sulu's station.

A volunteer told us the set was one-third scale, except for the chairs. The captain's chair is one of three actual props. Yup, I sat in it, I just didn't get my photo taken there. That's right: my butt sat where William Shatner's butt once sat! At least I wasn't geeky enough to wear a uniform to the exhibit. :)

Julia's Kitchen is Complete Again

2009-08-08T18:57:00.004-04:00

I haven't seen Julie and Julia yet, but just read that Julia's copper pots are now in the Smithsonian with the rest of her kitchen. When we saw the exhibit a few years ago, that wall was glass. Now it's an actual wall with her copper pots. I want to go see her reunited kitchen!

Read more on the NPR and Smithsonian web sites.

We miss you, Julia. May the new movie lead new readers/viewers to discover your books, DVDs, and your love of life and food!

Saffron on YouTube!

2009-08-07T11:44:00.003-04:00

The other night we gave Saffron a Cornish Hen. Yup, a whole chicken that was just her size! She loved it. Watch the excitement in her first YouTube video:

Before you ask: yes, we spoil her terribly. (Hey, she deserves it and we are just so glad she's still with us after being diagnosed with liver disease two years ago!) And, yes, we are easily amused. Who needs TV when you have cats?

P.S. If the video takes too long to load watch it on YouTube.

2009-08-05T09:16:00.006-04:00

The hibiscus bloomed for the first time since we moved last summer. Whew! I was afraid that between moving and repotting we had killed it.

We're having a cooler summer than usual (it hasn't reached 90 yet!). I love it but wonder if that's part of the reason this tropical plant, which usually grows and blooms like crazy in July and August, isn't blooming much.

At least it had one bloom!

Reindeer Cherrries?

2009-08-04T08:42:00.005-04:00

Sometimes being hard of hearing is almost (but not quite) amusing. The other day Mom gave me some Ranier cherries, but I thought she said "reindeer cherries." What the hell are reindeer cherries, I wondered.

They are beautiful cherries that look like this:

Not like this:

They were delicious and didn't taste anything like venison.

Back to Work!

2009-08-03T14:57:00.004-04:00

Hoo-ray, the physical therapist says I can work again as long as I take frequent breaks and don't overdo it! Starting today, I am slowly working on updating my Fall classes. I figure it will take about a week.

Sadly, my Detective Fiction class, which I was really looking forward to, has been cancelled for low enrollment. Oh well, maybe things will work out the next time it's offered. In the meantime, that means I have only one class to prepare for Fall. Teaching four sections of freshman composition will be a LOT of grading, but it does cut down on the prep time.

I'm really annoyed with our Regents. They have changed our academic calendar and for the first time in years we'll start Fall classes AFTER Labor Day. That means exams will last pretty much until Christmas. Look at our schedule:

Sept. 8 -- Classes Begin
Dec. 14 -- Classes End
Dec. 15 -- Study Day
Dec. 16-22 -- Exams
Dec. 24 -- Grades Due

Yes, you read that correctly: grades are due on Christmas Eve. Christmas Eve! Apparently our Regents don't actually teach and never have. Bah! Humbug! It's going to be a LONG fall semester and a very short Christmas break...

Going Paperless

2009-07-22T17:10:00.004-04:00

I feel so 21st century: my husband and I have decided to cancel our subscription to The Flint Journal, the major newspaper for our area. Like many other papers, it's facing tough economic decisions and the recent change from daily to a three-day-a-week paper just didn't help. At best, it was good for local news (and the funnies and syndicated columns I like to read daily), but with the three-day format there was even less local news AND they got rid of a lot of stuff I do like.

For a while now I've been reading the funnies and syndicated columns online so the Journal's change to a useless three-day format made canceling an easy decision. Unfortunately, the Journal's web site is one of the worst I've every seen, so I won't be reading it. Sadly, the same company provides the web sites for most of the city papers in Michigan (Ann Arbor, Grand Rapids, etc.) so they are all equally bad. I'll be referring the web site for my local ABC TV station for local news from now.

I'd thought I'd miss reading a printed newspaper but I don't. (It looks so quaint now on Miss Marple!) By reading it online I don't get ink all over my hands, don't have to worry about recycling, and never miss an issue because the paperboy forgot me for some reason. I think I actually prefer electronic format! I still love printed books but I'm also not opposed to ebooks and magazines, especially for travel.

Now I want a Kindle. :)

Damn Ragweed!

2009-07-11T08:27:00.003-04:00

Argh! The ragweed has started pollinating early this year. I'm so allergic that I react to the merest hint of ragweed pollen. I'm so annoyed! We're having a lovely, cool summer and I can't leave my air conditioning (aka my friend the pollen filter) -- and the first killing frost usually isn't until the first week in October.

Enough whining! At least I have air conditioning and allergy medicine to make life tolerable! Even so, I'm dreaming of lovely October weather.

Saffron Update

2009-07-09T18:55:00.004-04:00

Much to the vet's (and our) surprise, our sweet little Saffron is still hanging in there. She still appears comfy, eats a lot, and purrs a lot. Isn't she cute sleeping under her cat tree? It takes a comfy, secure cat to sleep with her head upside down!

Thank you to everyone who asked about her and sent prayers and good wishes for her. Her liver is clearly getting larger and we know her time is really getting short and thank everyone for being so supportive.

Surgery + Seven Weeks

2009-07-09T18:47:00.002-04:00

Almost seven weeks ago I had surgery to fix my tennis elbow. What an amazing difference it has made! I had a regional, not a general anesthesia, and as soon as the numbness wore off the tendon pain was gone. The doc fixed the two tears, looked at the joint to make sure there where no problems, then sewed everything back together. The only pain I've had since surgery was muscle soreness.

The first 12 days I couldn't type with that hand or drive. For the first 6 weeks I wasn't supposed to lift more than 4 oz. with my left hand. Now I can type, drive, and lift 1 or 2 pounds (very carefully). I feel almost normal again!

I started physical therapy this week and we're going really slow to prevent re-injuring anything. I still spend lots of time resting and icing my arm. The cats love it because I'm available for cuddling. (It's going to be hard to go back to work in the fall!)

The doc said to take it easy typing (no novels or anything like that), so I've been limiting my e-mail, etc., but I missed blogging so I'm back!

Happy Independence Day!

2009-07-04T09:16:00.001-04:00

Happy Independence Day! Here some fireworks for your computer and some for you:

Remember to think of the bravery of our Founders, read the Declaration, and have fun and safe 4th.

Advanced Cat Yodeling

2009-06-03T10:51:00.001-04:00

By request from icanhascheezburger.com, "Advanced Cat Yodeling" is a shortened edit of "An Engineer's Guide to Cat Yodeling (with Cat Polka)" by Paul Klusman. Don't drink while you are watching this!

Memorial Day

2009-05-24T09:34:00.004-04:00

Cow and Boy by Mark Leiknes

Tendonitis Update -- It's fixed!

2009-05-23T09:32:00.000-04:00

Surgery went well and I’m so relieved it’s over. The pain isn’t bad but I can’t use my left arm. I have bandages from my knuckles to my shoulder; can remove them Sun. but can’t use my arm until my follow-up visit June 3.

Typing with one hand is really annoying so I won’t be doing much e-mail or blogging. Thank you all for your kind messages, thoughts, and prayers!

Saffron Update

2009-05-18T11:31:00.009-04:00

Our sweet little Saffron is still hanging in there! Isn't she adorable sleeping in her bed (above)?

A few weeks ago the vet tech thought Saffron was having trouble breathing. An x-ray showed that her liver is much larger and is pushing on her lungs, tummy, and intestines (which is probably why she has diarrhea). The vet said she might make it to July 4th, but he'd be astonished if she made it to Labor Day. We've known for a long time that her days are numbered, so we're just glad she's comfortable, eating a lot, and has no trouble breathing. If any of those things change, we'll have to make The Decision, but we're still hoping she stays comfortable for as long as possible and slips away peacefully in her sleep.

Saffron has never been a lap cat; she's just happy to be near me, especially if she can see me, but every now and then she wants to snuggle (below). I'm thrilled with every happy minute, every sweet kiss that wakes me in the morning, and every cuddle. Maybe our Miracle Kitty will surprise everyone again...

Tendonitis Update

2009-05-18T11:14:00.005-04:00

As my faithful readers (all two of you) may recall, I haven't blogged much since February because I was busy doing physical therapy for tendonitis (tennis elbow type) while working full-time. The therapy was in Lansing (an hour away) because that was the only place where I could get low-level pulsed-laser therapy in addition to the usual stuff. That 6-hours-a-week really ate into my usual work time, so I was behind all semester. I can't tell you how relieved I was when the semester was finally over!

At first the therapy helped a lot. The pain decreased tremendously and instead of looking damaged/atrophied, my elbow looked almost normal. It even quit hurting when the weather changed. After four weeks, it improved so much that I began to hope PT would heal my tendon once and for all, especially when my sports doc ordered four more weeks of therapy in hope of doing just that.

During week 5 or 6, I had a flare-up. I was lifting something (I don't remember what) out of the grocery cart when pain suddenly shot up my arm. I do remember that the item wasn't heavy and that I was very surprised by the pain. Unfortunately, it didn't improve even with more physical therapy.

I saw the sports doc again when I finished therapy and he decided it was time to talk about surgery. After a couple discouraging doc visits, including a second opinion from a hand/arm specialist with no bedside manor, I was referred to Dr. Rook in Rochester. I really like him and his bedside manor! Fri., May 22 he'll be doing surgery to repair my tendon.

The surgery is outpatient so I'll be back home the same day. Dr. Rook says the tendon pain will go away as soon as he fixes the tendon (removes damaged area and sews everything back together). Recovery will take 6-12 weeks, during which I can't lift even a gallon of milk until Dr. Rook says I'm ready.

Right now my arm still looks really swollen and it's pretty sore. (I can't take my pain med the week before surgery since it may cause bleeding.) I'm am relieved and excited to know that soon it will be fixed and the chance of recurrence is very low. After four years of chronic pain, I'm ready to say good-bye to tendonitis!

I'm not sure how much I'll be able to type, so after the surgery it might be a while before I'm blogging again.

Captain Kirk, American Icon?

2009-05-18T11:01:00.008-04:00

I saw the new Star Trek opening weekend. No spoilers here! While it wasn't "your father's Star Trek," and not quite mine either, I really enjoyed it. I found the alternate timeline a clever way of rebooting the franchise without ignoring canon or alienating long-time fans. I'm thrilled to see so many people enjoying the characters I already love and hope it leads new fans to discover the original series and the best of its movies (2, 4, and 6, of course).

One thing I missed in the new movie: lots of long, loving shots of the Enterprise. You can tell the writers aren't Trekkies/Trekkers/Geeks because they didn't make Enterprise a character -- like the original series and previous films. I missed her.

I really enjoyed this article in Sunday's paper: "Capt. Kirk, American Icon?" by Ted Anthony, Associated Press.

I've also copied and pasted the article here.

Capt. Kirk, American icon? New Frontier renewed

By TED ANTHONY, Associated Press Writer Ted Anthony, Associated Press Writer – Wed May 13, 10:18 am ET

NEW YORK – There's a moment in one particularly silly episode of the original "Star Trek" that is, despite its camp, quite stirring. Captain James T. Kirk, on a distant planet that somehow developed into a twisted parallel America, rises to recite the preamble of the U.S. Constitution in a way that only William Shatner could.

It is pure schmaltz, patriotic manipulation puffed up by the swelling chords of "The Star-Spangled Banner." But it cuts straight to the heart of Captain Kirk, one of popular fiction's most enduring characters of the past half-century.

You can put him in a multiculti setting, dispatch him to the farthest reaches of the galaxy, entangle him with aliens and have him deliver speeches about the virtues of a United Federation of Planets. But there's no getting around it: Jim Kirk is unabashedly, enthusiastically American. "I'm from Iowa," he once said. "I only work in outer space."

Since his birth 43 years ago on mid-1960s network TV, the commander of the USS Enterprise has been a distillation of American ideals — one who finds himself suddenly reinvigorated for the 21st century now that the Kirk torch has been passed to a new generation.

"We stand today on the edge of a New Frontier — the frontier of the 1960s, a frontier of unknown opportunities and perils, a frontier of unfulfilled hopes and threats," John F. Kennedy said in 1960. "Beyond that frontier are the uncharted areas of science and space, unsolved problems of peace and war, unconquered pockets of ignorance and prejudice, unanswered questions of poverty and surplus."

That stalwart but softer version of Manifest Destiny — a sense that American exceptionalism could be exported to the stars, despite the Cold War — was, in effect, the manifesto that created Captain Kirk and the "Star Trek" universe around him.

Kirk was supposed to be the leader of what "Trek" creator Gene Roddenberry dubbed a "Wagon Train to the Stars" — a convoy of travelers who bond while facing threats and exploring uncharted terrain. But from that framework, one of the most enduring characters of modern American fiction emerged.

Much is made of the duality of Mr. Spock, Kirk's half-Vulcan, half-human first officer who struggles to figure out where he fits in. Pundits have even compared Barack Obama to Spock, saying the combination of coolheadedness and humanity fits the times.

Kirk, though, embodies a different, distinctly American duality: the tension between exuberance and impetuousness on one hand and seriousness and intellect on the other. All at once, Kirk manages to be both Democrat and Republican, hawk and dove, humble and arrogant, futurist and traditionalist — and, in the most American duality of all, childlike and completely adult.

He's JFK — a deep thinker and voracious seeker of knowledge who disdains intellectualism when it is untethered from common sense. He's Andrew Jackson — populist and anti-elitist, as at home in jeans and an untucked shirt as he is in his full dress uniform. He's Vince Lombardi, rejecting the no-win scenario and pushing on to victory.

He's Humphrey Bogart, the darkly driven loner intimate with fisticuffs. He's Edison, always thinking outside the box. He's Elvis — robust wooer of women, intergalactic California blondes in particular. And, as we learn in an episode that re-enacts the shootout at the O.K. Corral, he's Gary Cooper — not only a gangster of love but a space cowboy descended from frontiersmen.

"He's the George Bush that George Bush pretended to be — the compassionate conservative, the `uniter not the divider,'" says Richard Slotkin, author of "Gunfighter Nation" and a historian of the frontier.

"His style of action is George Bush's style of action — `I go with my gut and I have an indomitable will to win,'" Slotkin says. "It's essentially a right-wing style, but it's controlled in Kirk's case" — by an ingrained sense of progressivism, among other traits.

But while Shatner's Kirk was a reflection of mid-20th-century America as defined by Kennedy — eyes optimistically toward the future but girded for any fast-approaching upheaval — Chris Pine's take on the character is just as distinctly a product of the 21st century.

The Kirk of J.J. Abrams' retooled "Trek" was raised by a widowed mother and questionable stepfather after losing his father in battle. Pine's Kirk is Shatner's on Red Bull and vodka — rebellious and sarcastic, vaguely felonious, tragically hip, soaked in irony and maybe a bit ADD. He leaps, then — maybe — looks.

And yet the new Kirk, however brat-packy, remains the vessel of American exceptionalism — the regular kid from the Midwest who manages to be, in the eyes of his mentor, Capt. Christopher Pike, "meant for something better, something special."

The Kirk character is "the embodiment of the everyday guy becoming a hero," says James Cawley, who plays the captain in an elaborate fan-made production that picks up where 1960s "Trek" left off. "He's definitely a leader, someone we look up to, but if you could get inside his head, he wouldn't see himself that way."

With a few key exceptions (Atticus Finch, Vito Corleone, some comic-book superheroes), Americans have spent much of the past 50 years bringing our fictional protagonists down to eye level. Where once we had Captain Ahab and Paul Bunyan and John Henry, now we have Rabbit Angstrom and Jack Bauer and Tony Soprano, characters consumed by their faults or quirks or doubts.

That makes for great tragedy and great realism but, perhaps, not great myth. And "Star Trek," as a history of the future we desire, is unrepentantly mythic.

Through the "Star Trek" movies of the 1980s, the sense of nostalgia that had settled over the nation found its expression in Captain Kirk. He was looking back more, examining regrets, wondering about roads not taken. The Rabbit-style introspection fit him well, but somehow it reflected a gradual abandonment of the New Frontier's optimistic tomorrow.

That's why Kirk 2.0, rebooted to the beginning of his interstellar career, feels so fresh, so necessary for the times.

The world is more confusing, more ambiguous than ever. Change is everywhere. The contours of American life keep getting blurrier. "The new frontier," British Prime Minister Gordon Brown told Congress in March, "is that there is no frontier."

A scary prospect for Frontier Nation. But if you accept that the Kirk character embodies American ideals projected into the future, here's a guy who — after 9/11, after waterboarding, after Katrina and economic meltdown — restores the balance of American duality.

Strong but caring. Deeply American but casually, completely multicultural as a simple matter of fact. Understanding of history but with eyes squarely focused on the things to come. And possessed with a just-do-it sense that while safety is important, risk, as Shatner's Kirk once said, is our business. America, after all, needs leaping and looking both.

Captain Kirk has endured for a reason: He shows us what we want to be. And whatever the answer, having a slice of American popular culture that is unashamed to help us figure it out is a refreshing thing indeed. A generation after the Enterprise first flew, we have met the future once again, and once again it looks like James T. Kirk.

___

EDITOR'S NOTE — Ted Anthony covers American culture for The Associated Press.

Shame on the Flint Journal for omitting the Capt. Kirk/Pres. Bush comparison! (Can you say "censorship"?)

I am impressed that Anthony included James Cawley, from Star Trek: New Voyages.

Here's to the new Trek and new voyages.

Star Trek Humor

2009-05-12T10:40:00.002-04:00

The new Star Trek film was a hit its opening weekend. Here are some funnies from SNL and the Tonight Show:

Free at Last!

2009-05-03T08:46:00.004-04:00

After a very long semester (more on that later), I have turned in my grades and am ready to enjoy having the summer off.

Yesterday I celebrated my 46th birthday with my husband his parents by having dinner at Taboon's (a middle eastern restaurant). We got the mixed grill for four and had more food than we could possible eat; I swear it included everything on the menu!

Afterwards we browsed Border's Books where I had a butterbeer (warm frothy milk with vanilla, hazel nut, and caramel -- topped with whipped cream and more caramel). It was very sweet but very yummy! (For the unfamiliar, it's based on a drink in the Harry Potter books.)

The best present of all is that my sweet little Saffron is still here to celebrate our birthdays! Friday she officially turned 13 (but is probably much older) and Sophie turned 12 (which we are sure of).

Out of the Past

2009-04-09T13:19:00.002-04:00

My favorite column in my local paper, The Davison Index, is "Out of the Past." Here's what happened in Davison 100 years ago this week:

April 9, 1909
• Last Friday two young men “blew” into Davison, one of them with a bundle of clothing. After they wandered about the village for some time, Deputy Sheriff Munger’s attention was called to them and he interrogated them as to their names, which were given as David Court and George Boyle, but as they were unable to give anything like a straight account of themselves or their destination they were locked up. Munger telephoned the Home of Lapeer (Oakdale), but finding no one had escaped from that institution, he called up the sheriff at the poor farm. He received information that the two men had skipped that morning from the Poor Farm, so he took them to Flint and turned them over to the sheriff there. Investigation proved that the men, who were about 30 years old, were being held at the poor farm pending the outcome of an application to commit them to the Feeble Minded Home at Lapeer.

I laughed out loud because no one would dare write anything so politically incorrect these days. (Yes, I know I have weird sense of humor. Until now my favor entry had been "so-and-so lost a fine ram due to lightning." You know you live in a small town when the death of livestock is news. LOL.)

Can you imagine being committed to the Feeble Minded Home? I can't help but wonder how that differs from the Home of Lapeer (the old state mental hospital).

Tenth Life Fundraiser

2009-03-13T20:12:00.002-04:00

Tenth Life is a no-kill shelter that provides love, medical care, and homes for homeless cats. Kitties live in foster homes until they are adopted; funds are always needed for medical care.

Even small donations help! If you can't attend the concert, but would like to make a tax-deductible donation send a check to:

Tenth Life
3415 Hull
Flint, MI 48507

The kitties appreciate your support!

Beware Dec. 21, 2012

2009-03-12T19:57:00.004-04:00

Have you heard of the 2012 hoax? I had not until I listened to the NOVA Science Now podcast for Feb. 27. Apparently some people believe that the Earth, Sun, and the giant black hole in the center of the galaxy will align on Dec. 21 (the winter solstice), 2012 and the cumulative gravity will cause Earth to spin on its axis or some such nonsense.

People, it's a hoax! As astrophysicist Dr. Neil de Grasse Tyson explains in the podcast above, this alignment happens every year and is nothing to worry about. Get a grip and don't believe everything you read on the Internet!

New Physical Therapy

2009-02-24T19:03:00.004-05:00

Two weeks ago I started physical therapy (again) for my tendonitis. I've been so busy I haven't had time tor write about it. It's hard to fit physical therapy into my work schedule, but my arm has been hurting too much for me to wait until the semester is over.

Good news! I had an evaluation today and the physical therapy is clearly working (there's measurable improvement in my flexibility and grip strength, there is less swelling, and, best of all, there's a lot less pain)!

What are we doing differently this time? In addition to the usual stuff (stretching, strengthening, cross-frictional massage, and ultrasound treatment), the therapist is using a low-level pulsed-laser treatment to promote healing. This is sort of new and no one in Flint does this kind of therapy, so I'm going to Lansing twice a week. It's worth it! It doesn't hurt and is effective 80% of the time. Based on how well it's working so far, I'm hoping it will mean an end to my chronic tendonitis!

A Long Winter

2009-02-08T10:11:00.008-05:00

Ooo! Look! The first sign of spring in Michigan: the deer are starting to move around:

Several people e-mailed me this funny picture and I couldn't resist including it here.

This winter has been unusually cold and snowy, like "winter when I was growing up" everyone keeps saying. I found the reason why in meteorologist Mark Torregrossa's column in Tuesday's Flint Journal (Feb. 3):

We know it's been snowy this winter, and it was certainly very snowy last year. The two combined have made for a record. For the calendar year of 2008, a record was set for the most snow in one year. MBS [Midland Bay City Saginaw] Airport near Freeland had 102.5 inches of snow. To do what I attribute this large amount of the white stuff? I believe we are in what I call a cyclical stormy pattern caused by the temperature pattern of the Pacific Ocean. I'm talking about the north half of the Pacific. This pattern is thought to last over 20 years by researchers. That doesn't mean every year is going to be snowy, but we may have above-normal snow for another 10 years or so.

That makes sense! It was very snowy when I was growing up but it hasn't been for the last 20 years, until now. I don't mind, after all this what winter is SUPPOSED to be like.

Yesterday the February thaw hit. It was 45 and everyone was out enjoying the weather WITHOUT coats. Today it's still warm (in the mid-30s) and the most of the snow has melted. I took advantage of the weather and finally took down my outside Christmas lights. I know spring isn't really here (colder temps and more snow are predicted for the end of the week) but winter gets really hard after a taste of spring.

Tenth Life Fundraiser

2009-02-07T12:18:00.006-05:00

6 More Weeks of Winter

2009-02-02T16:27:00.003-05:00

In today's news: Groundhog Day: Phil Sees Shadow, Predicts 6 More Weeks of Winter.

Dear Phil,

Since winter is here to stay, can you arrange for a couple of snow for us? Thanks.

Your friends in Michigan

Saffron Update

2009-01-22T11:31:00.007-05:00

I’ve been putting off posting this update. Saffron is OK but has had a rough week. For the last couple weeks she has had more digestive problems than usual (about three bad days per week instead of one; this is probably an indication that her overall condition is getting worse). This past weekend she clearly didn’t feel well and Sunday we couldn’t get her to eat. Not eating is very bad for cats because they can go into liver failure very quickly. Since she already has liver problems, not eating is a very serious problem.

When she saw the vet Monday her digestive problems were gone but she was dehydrated and her gingivitis was not responding to antibiotics — which was why she didn’t want to eat. (She is too frail for dental surgery.) Fortunately, she HAS responded to extra fluids and pain medicine. The pain medicine doesn’t make her groggy, loopy, or hyper; it just makes her act like her normal, perky, hungry self. Whew! Today she is OK, but we have no idea how long it will last.

If she had not responded to this treatment, it would have been time to make THE decision. When she first got sick we decided that as long as she was eating, drinking, getting to the litterbox, and looking happy, her quality of life was good. Fortunately, the new medicine means she has those things, for now. I’m afraid it may not last long and that the end may come soon and possibly suddenly.

She likes to be near me or where she can see me. Here are some photos of her telling me she's ready to eat and looking happy and snuggly in her favorite bed (I left the little Christmas tree up -- undecorated -- for her because she loves sleeping under it so much):

Thank You, President Bush

2009-01-19T08:20:00.003-05:00

I don't normally post anything about politics, but I was struck by this comic and wanted to share it with my fellow conservatives:

Mallard Filmore by Bruce Tinsley (Jan. 19, 2009):

I read this comic online at DailyInk.

A New Blog

2009-01-19T08:14:00.002-05:00

I have joined a multi-author blog created by my husband called Michigan Miscellany. This is the first time I've been on such a blog, so it will be interesting to see how it works!

Michigan Miscellany is "a discussion of popular culture and related topics by a collection of Michiganian contributors." We've invited quite a few friends, but so far my husband and I are the only ones to post. I plan on cross-posting my pop culture topics (Star Trek, etc.) there.

When you have time, stop by Michigan Miscellany for a visit!

Twitter vs Facebook

2009-01-13T10:19:00.008-05:00

Are you wondering what the heck Facebook and Twitter are? This article is a good intro to social networking. It describes both, including the advantages and disadvantages of each.

Twitter versus Facebook: Should you Choose One?

BTW, I found this article because my colleague, James, posted a link in Facebook. Thanks, James!

I have also pasted the article here.

Twitter versus Facebook: Should you Choose One?
by Guest Poster on January 13, 2009
in Other Twitter Tips

Twitter or Facebook? Or Both? In this post Steve Thornton (follow him at @stevethornton) explores the decision.

The phenomenon of social networking is still in its infancy and it remains to be seen exactly which network might become the 800-pound gorilla in the space. It is reminiscent of the dotcom 90s, when I worked in the search industry; dozens of venture-backed search firms battled for dominance and search appeared to become a commodity, with limited monetization potential, or so we all thought at the time.

There are now so many social networks vying for users that even the most elite “Digerati” have trouble keeping up with the ever-shifting landscape. And most are still struggling to find effective monetization strategies, casting doubt on their long term survival and pointing to massive consolidation at some point.

The Evolution of Social Networking Compared to Search

In the now-infamous dotcom era, Yahoo, Lycos, Excite and others evolved into portals in a desperate attempt to find ways to make money, since nobody had really found effective ways to monetize search. That was, until companies like Goto.com (which became Overture and was eventually bought by Yahoo) and Google invented the concept of paid search and contextual, pay-to-click advertising models. The rest is history and we all knew who won the war.

So it seems today that applications like Twitter and Facebook, while attracting new users at astounding rates have not fully defined their business models and the 800-pound gorilla has yet to emerge. It is still early in the game and, as with search in the mid 90s, the eventual winners in the social networking space may not even yet exist, but I would argue that Twitter and Facebook are emerging as potential contenders to dominate.

The differences between the two networks are substantial and in some ways a direct comparison between the two is actually difficult to make. Twitter is simple and feels like Google did in 1998, while Facebook offers a portal-like interface somewhat reminiscent of Yahoo.

Key Elements of Facebook and Twitter

Facebook appeals to people looking to reconnect with old friends and family members or find new friends online; the mashup of features like email, instant messaging, image and video sharing, etc. feels familiar, while Twitter is a bit harder to get your arms around at first.

Most people can very quickly grasp how to use Facebook to connect to friends and family, using it to share thoughts, images, etc. Like MySpace but more geared to adults than teens, Facebook is a social networking Portal; beckoning you not to leave but rather to stick around and communicate within the network.

Twitter on the other hand, encourages you grab ideals in byte-size chunks and use your updates as jumping off points to other places or just let others know what you’re up to at any given moment.

Why People Love Facebook

Facebook appeals to social animals and can be very addicting to people who have an insatiable appetite to stay connected with friends and make new acquaintances. In fact, some people report they rarely use email or IM tools anymore in their online social communications anymore, relying almost entirely on Facebook for email, chat, image and video sharing.

Facebook addicts prefer the social portal model versus having to log into AIM, Yahoo Messenger, Gmail, Hotmail, Flickr, YouTube, MySpace, etc. Instead, Facebook gives them a single alternative to all these applications, with one login and interface to manage their online social interaction needs. This largely explains the explosive growth Facebook continues to experience and why the company reportedly invested $200 million in data center upgrades last year to keep up with demand!

Why People Love Twitter

The usefulness of Twitter is not readily as obvious to some people as Facebook; although it may be more addictive once you get the hang of Tweeting; you get more immediate responses and it seems to live somewhere between the worlds of email, instant messaging and blogging. Twitter encourages constant “linking out” to anywhere and, in that respect, is more analogous to a pure search engine; another way to find people and content all over the Net.

Twitter has quickly built brand awareness and a loyal following, especially among the technically adept; bloggers, online marketers, evangelists, basically anyone with something to promote seem to find Twitter extremely valuable.

When asked why they love Twitter, users say like “I can ask a question and get an instantaneous response”. They crave the ability to “tap into the collective consciousness” of others on the network, bouncing ideas off others with whom they would otherwise have no means of connecting. Twitter addicts claim it’s like the old fashioned water cooler, where people can gather to shoot the breeze on whatever topic is on their minds. Twitter is like a communications stream you dive into for an invigorating swim.

Different Communication Styles for Different Social Settings

Let’s say you go to a wedding or other social gathering where lots of people know each other. The style and tone of communication there will be more like using Facebook; you chat with old friends and acquaintances, mixing and mingling in an intimate manner. In this setting, people tend to feel more relaxed and “in their element”. Conversations are familiar and center on shared experiences and connections.

Now, when you go to a large party or social event where you don’t know most of the people in attendance, you will use a very different style of communication, more like Twitter; you want to meet people and somehow make yourself known, stand out from the crowd, make an impression, self promote and make new connections. Twitter is like getting the podium and not everyone feels comfortable or knows how to stand comfortably in the spotlight.

In fact, almost all of us, when first approaching Twitter, tend to use it to post useless updates like “Going to lunch”, thinking of it as a another tool to communicate with friends, when in fact, it is more like stepping on to a stage, where you are communicating with an audience and quickly find that you need to find a voice and say something useful and interesting or quickly lose the attention of your audience. People refer to Twitter as a mini or micro blogging platform.

So Which Social Network is the Best?

While zealots will immediately point to either Twitter or Facebook as being superior, the truth is that each has its advantages and disadvantages and will tend to appeal more to different types of people and for different reasons. Each can have great or little value to anyone; it really depends on what you are trying to accomplish in a given situation. Consider some of the pros and cons of each network:

Twitter Pros

Easy to navigate and update, link to and promote anything
Reach far beyond your inner circle of friends
One feed pools all users; anyone can follow anyone else unless blocked
Pure communication tool, rapid responsiveness
You don’t have to be logged in to get updates; you can just use an RSS reader
Very interactive, extensible messaging platform with open APIs
Many other applications being developed (Twitterific, Summize, Twhirl, etc.)
Potential SMS text messaging revenue from wireless networks (although Twitter states they are not currently getting any cut)
Potential future advertising and/or enterprise subscription-based revenue streams
With its “thin” overhead, Twitter is probably more scalable than Facebook, giving it a cost advantage

Twitter Cons

Limited functionality; find people, send brief messages, direct replies
Limited to 140 characters per update
Not all people find it immediately useful
Over-emphasis on follower counts
Easily abused for spam and increasing the noise level
Relatively smaller installed user base
As yet no readily apparent monetization strategy

Facebook Pros

Application mashup; find people, make connections, email, instant messaging, image/video sharing, etc.
Most people can quickly grasp the value of connecting with friends, family and established contacts; some people report they use Facebook instead of email and IM
More emphasis on deep connections with others vs. who has the most connections
“True Friends” feature increases your transparency to selected connections; almost like having private and public profiles
Huge, rapidly growing installed user base
Inherit stickiness, third party applications, “gift giving” and personal data collection make Facebook a powerful advertising platform

Facebook Cons

More difficult to navigate and update
Requires investment of time to realize sustained benefit
Opt in model requires a user to allow others to connect
Less immediate responses; unless you stay logged on continually
Overhead of mashup and “thick” applications could limit scalability, bloat cost structure

The Future of Social Networking

In the end, both Twitter and Facebook are simply communication tools; both will continue to evolve and morph as users find new ways to extract value and either network may or may become a long term winner in the rapidly evolving social networking space. Ultimately, the fact remains to be seen whether either application has a profitable, scalable and sustainable business model or whether the exit strategy is simply to be acquired.

As we learned in the search space, consolidation will eventually prevail. Unless they can find a way to turn all those eyeballs into profits, social networks will lose relevance. It does seem obvious that the venture capitalists are betting they will not only continue to enjoy tremendous growth but will also successfully monetize all that traffic.

But, will either Twitter or Facebook become the next Google or will they fade into the rear view mirror of technological and social evolution? What do you think?

Truth in Advertising: The Heart Attack Grill

2009-01-10T12:48:00.004-05:00

I just got this from my cousin Rick and had to share:

Watch CBS Videos Online

Can you believe they don't have bacon cheeseburgers?!

Happy New Year!

2009-01-01T15:02:00.003-05:00

Happy New Year! Only 20 days until season 5 of Lost and 15 days until the second half of season 4 (the final season) of Battlestar Galactica! After such a long haitus for both shows, their return will get my new year off to a good start.

Speaking of the new year, in case you didn't read "Annie's Mailbox" (i.e., Ann Landers) today, you might be wondering about the lyrics to "Auld Lang Syne," the traditionally sung on New Year's Eve.

The version we know best was written in Scottish by poet Robert Burns. The first stanza seems fairly understandable:
Should auld acquaintance be forgot,
And never brought to mind?
Should auld acquaintance be forgot,
And days o' lang syne.
For auld lang syne, my dear,
For auld lang syne
We'll tak a cup o kindness yet,
For auld lang syne.

Those words seem fairly straightforward and familiar, but they get a little tricky after that:

And surely ye'll be your pint-stowp,
And surely I'll be mine
And we'll take a cup o' kindness yet,
For auld lang syne
We twa hae run about the braes,
And pu'd the gowans fine
But we've wandered mony a weary foot,
Sin auld lang syne
We twa hae paidlet i' the burn,
Frae morning sun sill dine
But seas between us braid hae roar'd,
Sin auld lang syne

And there's a hand, my trusty feire,
And gie's a hand o' thine
And we'll tak a right gude-willie waught,
For auld lang syne

Of course, few of us speak 18th-century Scottish, although you can use this to impress your friends. Here is the translation of the entire song:

Should old friends be forgotten
and never brought to mind?
Should old friends be forgotten
and the days they shared together?
For days now in the past, my dear,
For days now in the past
We'll drink a toast of kind remembrance,
For days now in the past

You can pay for your pint tankard and I will pay for mine
We'll drink a toast of kind remembrance,
For days now in the past

We two have fun about the hillsides and pulled wild daisies
But now we are far apart in distance,
From those days now in the past

We two have paddled in the stream from morning until noon
But oceans now lie between us since those days now in the past
So take my hand, my trusty friend and give me your hand
And we will take a hearty drink together,
In memory of those days now in the past.

Makes more sense now, doesn't it? Remembering the past while looking forward to the future: a good way to start the new year!

Merry Christmas

2008-12-22T21:12:00.000-05:00

Merry Christmas! Saffron is under the tree, Sophie is wearing her Santa hat, the house is decorated, and stocking are hung by the chimney with care, in hopes that St. Nicholas soon would be there...

Stitching, Baking, and Waiting for Santa

2008-12-22T19:19:00.005-05:00

The cards and packages have been mailed, the decorations are done, and the presents are wrapped. It's time to settle down and cross-stitch while I watch It's a Wonderful Life and wait for Santa.

I'm stitching a sampler by Blue Ribbon Designs called "Peppermint Twist":

I don't do many samplers but I found the Christmas colors and motifs irresistible! So far I've only done the poinsettias in the upper left corner. I'm stitching on linen called Wood Smoke and the color actually looks like this photo. It's 40 count (i.e., 40 "squares" per inch). You stitch over two squares, so it works out to 20 stitches per inch. This is the smallest linen I've ever worked on and I really like it! I use a magnifier, so it's not hard at all -- and I only need to use one strand of floss.

Speaking of needle work, I haven't yet blogged about our most recent needle felting class on embellishment. The class was taught by Deb (from Stitches 'n' Things) Dec. 13 and I attended with stitching buddies Laurie and Sue. We started the class by wet-felting a Christmas ornament; the rest of the class was devoted to embellishing a sweatshirt with felting. (If you've never heard of needle felting or want more info, refer to Needle Felting Basics.)

Wet felting was what I always thought of as felting. We used hot water to shrink the wool over a styrofoam ball, then embellished it with layers of sparklie floss or textured ribbons and more wool. It was fun and I really like my purply ornament, but wet felting involves lots of pressing and rolling which didn't help my tendonitis.

Embellishing the sweatshirt with needle felting was fun! Here's my finished product:

This is much like the shirt Deb made and used in the class description. When I told Mom about the class and showed her Deb's shirt, she said she wanted a shirt just like Deb's, so that's what I made her for Christmas. (Yes, she knows about it, otherwise I wouldn't be blogging about it before Christmas.)

I cut open the front of the shirt, then trimmed off the ribbing at the neck, cuffs, and hem. I used a stencil to create the flower-and-vine pattern then felted the raw edges. It went amazing fast and I'm very pleased with the result! The shirt is easy to care for, too: just toss it in the washer and dryer.

By the way, if you want to try needle felting, I don't recommend working about Siamese cats (even mixed breeds) who are notoriously attracted to wool. Sophie, my Siamese Snowshoe, tried to help with felting the raw edges and was really miffed when I wouldn't let her lay on the shirt, suck on the already felted portions of the shirt, or play with the wool roving.

Tomorrow I plan to stay home and do more stitching when I'm not baking. I'm making a Red Velvet Cake for my brother's birthday (it was the 19th but we'll celebrate it on Christmas Eve at our family Christmas party). It's been a long time since I made a cake from scratch and I hope it turns out OK! If it doesn't, I'll still have time to get to the bakery before Christmas Eve. :) If I have enough energy left after the cake, I might also make my grandma's date cookies (very similar to this recipe).

Whatever you are doing to celebrate the holidays, I hope you are having peaceful, relaxing Christmas season!

Barney Cam 2008

2008-12-15T14:48:00.006-05:00

Every year I look forward to Christmas at the White House. I've never been there but I always enjoy the photos and descriptions on the White House Web Site. My favorite part is always Barney Cam, a Christmas video of the Bush Scotties Barney and Miss Beazley decorating the White House, with cameos by Willard (the Bush cat), President Bush, Miss Laura, their daughters and son-in-law. Other than First Family, the guests vary from year to year.

To see the White House decorated for Christmas or watch this year's Barney Cam, visit the Red, White, and Blue Christmas page. There also link for the previous seven years, in case you'd like to see the decorations or videos.

This is Barney's last Christmas in the White House and I sure am going to miss Barney Cam! I wonder if we can buy them all on DVD? (If so, I haven't yet found the link.)

A Winter Poem

2008-12-15T14:12:00.005-05:00

The temperatures have plummeted from the 40s to the 20s with a single-digit wind chill. (Translation for our metric-using friends "temperatures have plummeted from 8 C to -4 C with a -14 C wind chill.") In honor of this freezing weather, I would like to share a poem sent to me by my friend Bob in England.

'WINTER'

...............................

SHIT, it's COLD!

The End

Stay in and stay warm!

Strange Blogger Problem

2008-12-14T11:10:00.004-05:00

Now that my end-of-the-semester grading is done, I have time to think about blogging again. A while ago I noticed a strange problem with blogger but have been to busy to actually write about it. Since I added the code for expandable posts, Blogger's Layout/Page Elements feature is disabled. (For you techie geeks, the error message says:

Error interpreting blog template

Invalid data reference post.url:com.google.layouts.framework.widgetview. GoogleMarkupException: No dictionary named: 'post' in: ['blog']

This means that to edit my layout I have to remove the related code from my template, update the layout, then post the code back in so I don't mess us the expandable posts. It doesn't take long but I find it annoying, which is why I haven't updated my summer reading list until now.

Does anyone know a better solution?

I tried Blogger Help and several discussion boards with no luck. I'd post the code in question, here but Blogger won't let me. If you want to see it, e-mail me and I will send it to you.

Sweet Saffron

2008-12-04T08:35:00.002-05:00

I'm busy with my end-of-the-semester grading, but my beautiful, sweet Saffron is keeping me company in her favorite spot.

Way to Go, Kevin!

2008-11-29T09:38:00.006-05:00

In today's Flint Journal: Filmmaker Kevin Leffler takes on Michael Moore, Moore-style

I've pasted the story here, in case the link disappears.

Filmmaker Kevin Leffler takes on Michael Moore, Moore-style
by Carol Azizian | The Flint Journal Saturday November 29, 2008, 12:20 AM

From "Shooting Michael Moore"
In his documentary, "Shooting Michael Moore," Davison native Kevin Leffler uses the same tactics against Michael Moore that made him famous. The movie is being shown in commercial theaters for the first time.

Kevin Leffler turned the cameras on Michael Moore -- and now he's getting a wider audience to show the results.

In his documentary, "Shooting Michael Moore," Leffler adopts the famous filmmaker's guerilla interview tactics to harp on what he sees as inconsistencies and hypocrisies in Moore's popular and high-grossing movies.

Leffler, a Davison native who attended high school with Moore, said he wants the public to "see the other side of Michael Moore and make their own decisions."

The movie premiered a year ago at the Flint Film Festival and is being shown for the first time in commercial theaters -- from Dec. 5-11 at AMC Great Lakes 25 in Auburn Hills, AMC Forum 30 in Sterling Heights and AMC Laurel Park 10 in Livonia.

Leffler says he is not a right-wing critic or even an indie filmmaker. He's an accountant and Baker College professor who taught himself how to use a film camera and spent $250,000 of his own money to make the film.

When "Shooting Michael Moore" first premiered at the Flint Film Festival in 2007 -- it won an audience choice award -- Leffler said he was a registered Democrat with no political ax to grind.

His motivation was simple. He wanted people to see the Michael Moore he knew.

"Mike is out for Mike. I don't have a problem with him making money, but don't tell me you're fighting for the underclass and people without a voice," Leffler said.

Moore could not be reached for comment, but Leffler's film is not the first to criticize the filmmaker. Another one titled "Manufactured Dissent," was released in 2007 by Canadian filmmakers.

At the time, Moore told The Journal: "There have been about 10 films made against me. I haven't seen any of them. ... I get so used to listening to the stuff people say about me, it becomes entertainment ... like a fictional character has been created named Michael Moore."

Throughout his documentary, Leffler poses as a "Mini Mike," wearing a baseball cap -- Moore's signature garb -- while he interviews subjects and even a cameraman from the Oscar winner's films, reads contradictory quotes from his books and takes a critical view of Moore's movies.

Leffler sometimes interviews people Moore himself previously interviewed and who claim their comments were taken out of context.

In the film, Leffler tries to contact Moore to get some answers.

When phone calls and letters fail, he trespasses onto his picturesque northern Michigan property -- where arrives by boat -- and plants a life-size cardboard figure of President George W. Bush.

He eventually catches up with Moore at the Traverse City Film Festival, where he introduces the famous filmmaker to the parents of the late Sgt. Raymond Plouhar who was killed in Iraq. They tell Moore that his cameramen didn't divulge the real nature of "Fahrenheit 9/11" when they took footage of Plouhar recruiting potential soldiers in Flint.

Leffler also says Moore's stance against corporate America conflicts with his financial practices. Leffler shows a tax return from a nonprofit established by Moore that invests in major corporations such as Exxon Mobil, Halliburton (from which Vice President Dick Cheney retired) and major drug companies.

Leffler also flew to Cuba to dispute Moore's somewhat rosy view of the country's universal health care in "Sicko."

He said he plans to take the film to some of the same film festivals where Moore's films were a big hit. And he's looking for a distributor.

Is Leffler concerned about Moore taking legal action against him?

"I'm willing to accept that risk," Leffler said.

I'm so glad Kevin did this so people outside of Davison can see what Michael Moore is really like. I can hardly wait to see this movie!

Black Friday Tips

2008-11-28T18:29:00.003-05:00

I don't shop on Black Friday (no deal worth getting up that early for or worth the hassle. I did notice a cool tip in the newspaper the other day. Here is it from an online source:

4. Get the best price without hassles by knowing price-match and return policies. Many stores offer price-match guarantees (if a competitor offers a lower price, they'll match it). Increasingly, Black Friday sales are exempt from all this. Others have a return policy that, in effect, is a price-match guarantee for the store itself (if they drop the price, the difference is later refunded to you if you ask for it). If you know which product you want to buy, and can find a store with a price-match guarantee that honors Black Friday prices, buy it! When Black Friday rolls around, you can go looking for the best price, and not have to worry about whether the store is out of stock. If a store is willing to refund the difference between its own normal price and its Black Friday price, buy it early for the same reason.

Read more at 12 Black Friday Secrets Retailers Don't Want You To Know. Happy shopping!

The Perfect Thanksgiving

2008-11-28T09:01:00.005-05:00

Happy Black Friday! To all you sane people who are not out shopping, here're some more thoughts on Thanksgiving. Thanks, Andy. What a wonderful column (even if it did make me cry)!

What's your perfect Thanksgiving?
Posted by Andrew Heller / The Flint Journal November 24, 2008 13:13PM

Categories: Andy's Journal columns

Don't you wish you could live the perfect Thanksgiving?

None of us ever has. But most have had moments of perfection at a bunch of Thanksgivings that in our memory get squashed together to form sort of a utopian day. It's the day we long for that never comes because it can't.

But what if, just once, it did? What if you could have one perfect Thanksgiving?

Mine would look like this:

Cartoon smell tendrils of turkey and cinnamon rolls -- a glorious mix of breakfast and dinner -- would waft down the basement stairs, grab me from slumber and drag me upstairs.

In the kitchen, mom would say, "Go watch TV until breakfast is ready."

Hey, no problem there. Thanksgiving morning has the parades from all over. New York, Chicago, Toronto, Detroit. Such exotic places. To a kid anyway, especially a kid raised in the Upper Peninsula.

I loved the parades. Every kid did way back then. (Kids these days can't be bothered. I try to interest my kids. No go. What's a parade when you've got Xbox?)

After parades, a big breakfast with my whole family -- dad at one end, mom at the other, the six of us in between. Somehow my wife and kids are there, too. Everyone is loud, happy, in pajamas.

We eat 'til we bust.

Then we shower. Then I play football or Hot Wheels with my brothers and kids. Dad puts on a fire and plays albums on his Quadraphonic music system. The kids all take turns trying to find the sweet spot in the middle of the room where you really can hear four distinct sounds.)

Then it's time for the Detroit Lions game on TV. At halftime, my mom brings in a tray of cheese and crackers to "tide us over" until dinner. We're still stuffed from the late breakfast, but we eat anyway. It's Thanksgiving.

The Lions win. (This is a fantasy, remember?) My grandmothers come over. At some point, Grandma Jean, the Scottish princess, stands between my dad and the TV, which she used to do to get his attention to ask a question. Man, he hated that. We kids thought it was hysterical.

Then my Grandma Rose -- the Southern belle -- would play Cribbage with me and my dad. When he would get up to fetch a drink, we would cheat and stock my hand with 5s, astonishing him with a 25-point crib.

At some point, I'd tease Rose about her South Carolina accent, so out of place in the U.P., which would be her cue to tell me to "Go to the first four letters of your last name." (Sounds harsh, I know, but she was kidding. We all loved it.)

Then it's into the kitchen to snitch pickles and olives off the "relish" tray, as my mom used to call it.

Then dinner. Oh, dinner. The table is covered with a red cloth and candles. The good dishes are out, the ones we only see twice a year. And the food. Oh, my. The table looks like an English king's feast, minus the roast pig biting the apple.

We eat. We dessert. We clear. We wash dishes.

The evening is here. We play games. We laugh. We snack. No one fights. No one is sad or dead or missing or scattered to the winds and not able to make it.

Finally, I drop into bed, happy and full in more ways than one.

And then I drift off to sleep.

Wishing it could always be thus.

Got something on your mind? E-mail Andy at aheller@flintjournal.com.

Giving Thanks

2008-11-27T10:17:00.010-05:00

Happy Thanksgiving! I hope everyone is having a peaceful, happy family holiday.

Among the many things I am thankful for year is Saffron. After getting worse in Oct. (so much so that we thought she might not make it through the weekend), she perked up and is holding her own. She is comfortable, hungry, and purry. She still has some trouble with gingivitis and is too frail for dental work. Fortunately, there's a injectable antibiotic that fixed that problem -- and it lasts for two weeks. (Amazing!). She woke me up today, as she does most days, by hopping on the bed to give me kisses. She is enjoying her Christmas village and sleeping under her small Christmas tree. I hope to put up our big tree tonight so she can enjoy sleeping under it. I'm just so thankful that my sweet kitty is purry, happy, and here to eat turkey with us.

Star Trek Movie Trailer

2008-11-17T18:23:00.016-05:00

After reading "Inspirations for a Whole New Enterprise: How the old 'Star Trek' influenced the new film" by Jeff Jenson (published in Entertainment Weekly Oct. 24), I had high hopes for the new film. It is supposedly influenced by "Balance of Terror" (original series episode), Star Trek II: The Wrath of Kahn (movie), "Unification" (one of the few Next Generation episodes I could stand to watch), "Yesterday's Enterprise (ditto), and Diane Carey's 1992 novel Best Destiny (one of the best Star Trek novels ever, in itself a rarity).

The cover story of the same issue of EW, 'Star Trek': New Movie, New Vision also by Jeff Jenson, made me change my mind. That's Zachary Quinto as Spock and Chris Pine as Kirk pictured on the cover.

I'm worried. The characters look great, but it appears they are ignoring the Trek timeline by putting all the main characters in Starfleet Academy at the same time (thus making them all close in age).

Jensen's article confirmed my fear. Director J.J. Abrams "was engaged by the possibility of a Star Trek movie 'that grabbed me the way Star Wars did.' That meant a bigger budget and better special effects than any previous Trek film, plus freedom to reinvent the mythos as needed."

Oh crap!

More stuff that makes me nervous: "The storytelling is newbie-friendly, but it slyly assimilates a wide range of Trek arcana, from doomed Captain Pike (Bruce Greenwood) to Sulu's swordsmanship to classic lines like, 'I have been, and always shall be, your friend.' More ambitiously, the movie subversively plays with Trek lore — and those who know it. The opening sequence, for example, is an emotionally wrenching passage that culminates with a mythic climax sure to leave zealots howling 'Heresy!' But revisionism anxiety is the point. 'The movie,'' [Damon] Lindelof [friend of Abrams close collaborator] says, 'is about the act of changing what you know.''

What the hell does that all mean?

On the plus side:

Quinto campaigned for the part of Spock and looks quite comfortable (and convincing) in the role. I suspect he's a good enough actor that when we see the film we won't even think about Sylar (his evil character on the TV show Heroes).
Abrams wouldn't make the movie without Leonard Nimoy (the original Spock). Jensen hints Nimoy will appear in a scene with Quinto and/or Pine. I figure that means time-travel is involved. (No wonder the time cops hate Kirk so much!)
Abrams gave "Randy Pausch, the now-late author of The Last Lecture and avowed Trekker, a cameo in the film."

On the other hand, the new trailer (shown before the James Bond file Quantum of Solace) doesn't encourage me:

Only six more months until we can see it and decide for ourselves. In the meantime, keep an eye on Star Trek: The Official Movie Site for updates.

Update Nov. 23, 2008: This scene-by-scene analysis of the trailer did not make me feel any better about the movie.

Holy Crap! Michael Crichton Dies

2008-11-05T18:18:00.008-05:00

Holy crap! This was not the news I was expecting to see on CNN today: 'Jurassic Park' author, 'ER' creator Crichton dies.

I've pasted the story here in case the link disappears.
'Jurassic Park' author, 'ER' creator Crichton dies

LOS ANGELES, California (CNN) -- Michael Crichton, who helped create the TV show "ER" and wrote the best-sellers "Jurassic Park," "The Andromeda Strain," "Sphere" and "Rising Sun," has died in Los Angeles, his public relations firm said in a news release.

Michael Crichton, here in 2005, was a director and best-selling author. He co-created the TV series "ER."

Crichton died unexpectedly Tuesday "after a courageous and private battle against cancer," the release said.

He was 66.

Crichton, a medical doctor, was attracted to cautionary science tales.

"Jurassic Park" -- perhaps his best-known work -- concerned capturing the DNA of dinosaurs and bringing them to life on a modern island, where they soon run amok; "The Andromeda Strain," his first major fiction success, involves an alien microorganism that's studied in a special military compound after causing death in a nearby community.

Crichton also invited controversy with some of his scientific views. He was an avowed skeptic of global climate change, giving lectures warning against "consensus science." He later took on global warming and the theories surrounding it in his 2004 novel, "State of Fear," which attracted attacks in its own right from scientists, including NASA climatologist James Hansen.

Crichton was a distinctive figure in the entertainment business, a trained physician whose interests included writing, filmmaking and television. (He was physically distinctive as well, standing 6 feet 9 inches.)

He published "The Andromeda Strain" while he was still a medical student at Harvard Medical School. He wrote a story about a 19th-century train robbery, called "The Great Train Robbery," and then directed the 1979 film version.

He also directed several other films, including "Westworld" (1973), "Coma" (1978), "Looker" (1981) and "Runaway" (1984).

In 1993, while working on the film version of "Jurassic Park" with Steven Spielberg, he teamed with the director to create "ER." The NBC series set in a Chicago emergency room debuted in 1994 and became a huge hit, making a star of George Clooney. Crichton originally wrote the script for the pilot in 1974.

"Michael's talent out-scaled even his own dinosaurs of 'Jurassic Park,' " said Spielberg, a friend of Crichton's for 40 years, according to The Associated Press. "He was the greatest at blending science with big theatrical concepts, which is what gave credibility to dinosaurs again walking the Earth. ... Michael was a gentle soul who reserved his flamboyant side for his novels. There is no one in the wings that will ever take his place."

Crichton was "an extraordinary man. Brilliant, funny, erudite, gracious, exceptionally inquisitive and always thoughtful," "ER" executive producer John Wells told the AP. "No lunch with Michael lasted less than three hours and no subject was too prosaic or obscure to attract his interest. Sexual politics, medical and scientific ethics, anthropology, archaeology, economics, astronomy, astrology, quantum physics, and molecular biology were all regular topics of conversation."

Michael Crichton was born in Chicago in 1942 and grew up in New York's suburbs. His father was a journalist and Michael loved the writing profession. He went to medical school partly out of a concern he wouldn't be able to make writing a career, but the success of "The Andromeda Strain" in 1969 -- the book was chosen by the Book-of-the-Month Club and optioned by Hollywood -- made him change his mind, though he still had an M.D.

Though most of Crichton's books were major best-sellers involving science, he could ruffle feathers when he took on social issues. "Rising Sun" (1992) came out during a time when Americans feared Japanese ascendance, particularly when it came to technology. "Disclosure" (1994) was about a sexual harassment case.

Crichton won an Emmy, a Peabody, a Writers Guild of America Award for "ER," and won other awards as well.

"Through his books, Michael Crichton served as an inspiration to students of all ages, challenged scientists in many fields, and illuminated the mysteries of the world in a way we could all understand," the news release said.

Crichton was married five times and had one child.

A private funeral service is expected.

I am stunned, sad, and speechless.

More Halloween Cats

2008-11-05T08:19:00.005-05:00

For those who thought Saffron looked ticked in the previous photo:

She really is the sweetest, most tolerant cat I've ever known.

Our Halloween Cats

2008-11-03T18:32:00.006-05:00

I bought the kitties a costume at the after Halloween sale. They were so excited, the couldn't wait until next Halloween to wear it. Here they are, still celebrating Halloween:

One of my friends thought Saffron (top photo) looked mad and Sophie (bottom photo) looked playful. Actually, Saffron is just waking up in that photo; she took the whole thing well and didn't mind the hat at all. I got several photos of her. Sophie, on the other hand, was not cooperative and this is the only photo I got of her. I'll have to sneak up on her when she's sleepy and try again.

Farewell, Opus

2008-11-03T08:03:00.009-05:00

My all-time favorite comic character, Opus, retired yesterday. Berkeley Breathed has decided that, in light of the political climate, it's time to end his Opus strip.

To see the last panel* of the last strip, which revealed Opus's resting place for eternity, readers had to visit the Human Society web site. It was a satisfactory fate for our beloved little penguin (the only thing better would be finding his long-long mother) but I'm still sad and annoyed to see the strip end!

Good night, little buddy, and sweet dreams. May Berekely change his mind and wake you again some day.

* For those who didn't understand the panel: it's a reference to the children's book Goodnight, Moon. It's also an allusion to the fact that although Opus won't be appearing in a regular comic strip, he will appear in Breathed's children's books.

Happy Halloween!

2008-10-31T07:44:00.006-04:00

Happy Halloween!

Enjoy this vintage postcard from 1911. In case you can't read it, it says:

All Hallowe'en

When the World is wrapped in slumber/
And the moon is sailing high/
If you peep between the curtains/
You'll see witches riding by.

I like this one so much I bought counted cross-stitch pattern by Lavender Wings! See lots more vintage (and very expensive!) Halloween postcards at Old Postcards (click the Halloween link).