10.31.2005
Say What?
Since when did pitch-black sky and drenching buckets of rain qualify for a forecast of "mostly sunny skies and no rain until tomorrow?" Power FM's forecasters must be hallucinating. My jeans are soaked halfway down despite my large umbrella, and I'm pretty cold, so I treated myself to a Starbucks mocha with whipped cream. And reading another chapter of Neverending Story before my library training session begins. That's what I call therapy.
10.30.2005
Reasons Batgirl Rocks
1) she's a redhead
2) she's a librarian/information maven
3) she's got a killer costume
4) it's black
5) she's spunky
6) she rides a motorcycle
7) she dates a guy in yellow tights---oooo, wait, that's a strike against her.
I've been thoroughly enjoying my historical romp through Bathound's wondrous Batgirl/Oracle site. It answers some nagging questions produced from a knowledge primarily drawn (sorry, bad pun) from the animated series, Batgirl: Year One, and a smattering of other places. It only reinforces my thought that Batgirl is the best comic heroine of all time.
Sorry, Wonder Woman fans, I had the underoos* when I was four, too (I've got a photo to prove it), but star-spangled panties can't top the bat-coolness.
Okay, now I want these**.
Note: copy/paste these URLs for Underoos Fun:
*http://www.retrocrush.com/
archive2004/underoos/ww.jpg
**http://www.retrocrush.com/
archive2004/underoos/05batgirl.jpg
Creative Seething
See, this is what sucks. I have a slow evening at work, so I read Mark "Comic Critic" Monlux's blog-ish comic about his vacation in Hawaii--it's stellar. And now I want to cartoon, right now, dangit--no paper, no decent writing instruments, and no storyline but that it's a slow night at work.
The creative mind seethes with the unjustice of it all.
The creative mind seethes with the unjustice of it all.
Weekend's End
This morning, Alex and I got up early--not because we had to, but because we actually went to sleep early last night. We spent a fun morning--Alex playing Half-Life, me reading Neverending Story, and then we watched "The Hobbit" while we ate scrambled eggs and orange-glazed cinnamon rolls. It felt luxuriously weekend-ish.
Then we had to clean house, which felt not so weekend-ish, but we did watch some Dukes of Hazzard to pass the time more pleasantly. I must admit I'd never really seen much of the show before, but we bought the first season on sale at $15 to see if Alex would like it as much as he had as a kid. Now I love it! Lots of "sweet jumps," Alex says, quoting Napolean Dynamite, and it's pretty darn funny. I just can't get over Sheriff Coltrane's crazy laugh. It sounds like a drunk, half-insane Popeye.
Then at 4:30, as usual, I had to leave for work. I'm feeling pretty sleepy and wishing I could have stayed home to watch Alex beat Half-Life instead of sit here at the desk, knowing full well that it's a Sunday night and no time to be working, even at my dream job. *Yawn.*
But tomorrow I get to attend my hands-on preservation lab--Yippee!
Then we had to clean house, which felt not so weekend-ish, but we did watch some Dukes of Hazzard to pass the time more pleasantly. I must admit I'd never really seen much of the show before, but we bought the first season on sale at $15 to see if Alex would like it as much as he had as a kid. Now I love it! Lots of "sweet jumps," Alex says, quoting Napolean Dynamite, and it's pretty darn funny. I just can't get over Sheriff Coltrane's crazy laugh. It sounds like a drunk, half-insane Popeye.
Then at 4:30, as usual, I had to leave for work. I'm feeling pretty sleepy and wishing I could have stayed home to watch Alex beat Half-Life instead of sit here at the desk, knowing full well that it's a Sunday night and no time to be working, even at my dream job. *Yawn.*
But tomorrow I get to attend my hands-on preservation lab--Yippee!
10.28.2005
Choice Morsels
Crunchy NES goodness: here, here, and here.
Delicious comic-hosting services for the time-challenged and financially sound artist.
For dessert, check out the master flavor list and a dreamy concoction*. I'm also tempted to taste this.
* Finished Inkheart and couldn't contain myself until Thanksgiving Break. Must...read....
Delicious comic-hosting services for the time-challenged and financially sound artist.
For dessert, check out the master flavor list and a dreamy concoction*. I'm also tempted to taste this.
* Finished Inkheart and couldn't contain myself until Thanksgiving Break. Must...read....
10.27.2005
Geek TGIF
Okay, I am pleased as punch that Stargate SG-1 is now officially the longest-running sci-fi show ever. And I love Battlestar Galactica, and I love Sci-Fi (even though I don't actually watch their shows in realtime--DVD, not cable). But the sad thing about this story is that it reiterates the truth behind the stereotype: geeks stay home Friday nights.
Update: more proof; the HSU CS Tournament '05 photos.
Update: more proof; the HSU CS Tournament '05 photos.
10.26.2005
Why I Don't Like Brooms
(Title Hint: it has to do with sweeps.) So sad, so sad.
A big, hearty round of applause to the Astros for making each game so close, and for finally bringing a World Series to Texas. Another big round for Backe, who did a sensational job for seven innings and should have been allowed more. And finally to the crowd in Houston, who cheered their hearts out, painted their faces in astonishing patterns, and wore their rally caps.
Come back next year.
A big, hearty round of applause to the Astros for making each game so close, and for finally bringing a World Series to Texas. Another big round for Backe, who did a sensational job for seven innings and should have been allowed more. And finally to the crowd in Houston, who cheered their hearts out, painted their faces in astonishing patterns, and wore their rally caps.
Come back next year.
Paint Like an Egyptian
I dropped exhausted into bed this morning at 1:30, completely defeated from watching the long, at times thrilling, but ultimately disappointing World Series game. And I got up again at 6am to finish a document for work which should have been done at 8, and instead took me until 10. At which point I took an hour nap, then drove to my painting job, which certainly turned the day for the better. I am painting these two Egyptian "statues" on the back wall of a media room. They are each about 7 feet tall, and this is just the underpainting coat from about 3 1/2 hours' work. I haven't added any metallic paint yet; I will probably do that Friday. I'm also painting Pharaoh heads and a hieroglyphic border around the room. I've got a lot of photos to take at this house when I finish--two bedrooms, the media room, and two bathrooms! I think Thanksgiving will be spent uploading photos to Snazzy Decor. Mmm, turkey and jpgs, my favorite.
10.25.2005
Gi-normous
Dude... Tihleigh's found something awesome again, go check it out. Not only Where the Wild Things Are, but check out the b&w Han Solo in the "only cool" gallery. (And if you need to look up "rasterize" like I did, click here.)
Go, do it now!
Open Sesame...
Can someone tell me why anyone besides the Astros should care whether or not their roof is open?
10.24.2005
Note to Self
(No, Mom, not "bring bungie cord.")
I want to remember to add "Entrusted" to our rent-list; it's a movie version of the excellent WWII novel "Daddy" that Cherie and I read in high school. Actually it was a mini-series in the UK, but apparently was cut down for the US version. Sigh.
I want to remember to add "Entrusted" to our rent-list; it's a movie version of the excellent WWII novel "Daddy" that Cherie and I read in high school. Actually it was a mini-series in the UK, but apparently was cut down for the US version. Sigh.
Filling Up
I thought my eyeballs were going to pop out of their sockets last night: gas is $2.27 in Denton right now! The crazy thing is, the cheapest place in McKinney is $2.57. Normally the two cities are about 3 cents different on gas--fifty cents tacked on isn't enough to talk about when I'm already paying on average $60 a tank.
But thirty cents difference?! Okay, I have a 25-gallon tank. That means that my total per-tank difference between McKinney and Denton is $7.50! I feel like I should be making some public service announcement to tell McKinney residents to come gas up Denton.
I just can't believe that I'm finally paying closer to $2 than $3 per gallon. My pre-gas-hike memories are so dim, but I do remember after 9/11 when $1.75 was shocking. Ah, yes, those days. Those days when I would have snorted in derision at anyone who suggested that several years--not decades--later I would be paying $3.01. The days when car manufacturers never thought they'd see SUV sales drop.
I try not to think about 2000 when gas was routinely $1.15 in Dallas and $.88 in San Antonio. I don't like banging my head against brick walls; it hurts, and it doesn't change anything.
But thirty cents difference?! Okay, I have a 25-gallon tank. That means that my total per-tank difference between McKinney and Denton is $7.50! I feel like I should be making some public service announcement to tell McKinney residents to come gas up Denton.
I just can't believe that I'm finally paying closer to $2 than $3 per gallon. My pre-gas-hike memories are so dim, but I do remember after 9/11 when $1.75 was shocking. Ah, yes, those days. Those days when I would have snorted in derision at anyone who suggested that several years--not decades--later I would be paying $3.01. The days when car manufacturers never thought they'd see SUV sales drop.
I try not to think about 2000 when gas was routinely $1.15 in Dallas and $.88 in San Antonio. I don't like banging my head against brick walls; it hurts, and it doesn't change anything.
10.23.2005
Fall-ing
It's a perfect day for hot cocoa and my Yoda sweatshirt--blustery, cold, and rainy. This morning's errands would have been pure drudging misery alone, but luckily I got to do them with my best friend, so I enjoyed myself. Alex and I went to Walmart, Academy Sports, and Fry's Electronics before we drove home so that I could drive to Denton to work.
I still maintain that people who love Fall are crazy. Listen to the name, "Fall." Why is it called that? Because leaves fall. Why do they fall? Because they wither up and die, leaving the trees naked and alone. I'm surprised that more people don't find this fact incredibly depressing.
Then you have the fact that fall holidays and the dying-leaf colors inspire many women to festoon their house primarily with shades of orange and brown. Ugh--isn't brown the color of dirt? I don't get it.
I do admit to a female weakness for bringing out either the bright red Christmasy decorations or the blue/silver snowflake decor each winter (depending on my winter mood). But I was horrified to see in a catalog I picked up yesterday, not one but two different "Claus Commode" sets--Santa-Claus-festooned toilet seat covers and bathroom rugs. I can't immediately think of a more horrifying idea--unless this is like a road map for Santa to know which bathroom to use after he's engorged himself on milk and cookies.
I'm not negative today, I'm just cold. (Get used to it--I vascilate between sardonic and snuggly all winter, depending on how many cups of hot cocoa I've consumed at that point in time.)
I still maintain that people who love Fall are crazy. Listen to the name, "Fall." Why is it called that? Because leaves fall. Why do they fall? Because they wither up and die, leaving the trees naked and alone. I'm surprised that more people don't find this fact incredibly depressing.
Then you have the fact that fall holidays and the dying-leaf colors inspire many women to festoon their house primarily with shades of orange and brown. Ugh--isn't brown the color of dirt? I don't get it.
I do admit to a female weakness for bringing out either the bright red Christmasy decorations or the blue/silver snowflake decor each winter (depending on my winter mood). But I was horrified to see in a catalog I picked up yesterday, not one but two different "Claus Commode" sets--Santa-Claus-festooned toilet seat covers and bathroom rugs. I can't immediately think of a more horrifying idea--unless this is like a road map for Santa to know which bathroom to use after he's engorged himself on milk and cookies.
I'm not negative today, I'm just cold. (Get used to it--I vascilate between sardonic and snuggly all winter, depending on how many cups of hot cocoa I've consumed at that point in time.)
10.22.2005
Shootin' the Breeze
Alex and I went shooting with Joel, and I really had fun! At one point, we were all making fun of each other for being real Texan rednecks, sitting on the tailgate loading our shotguns. Ah, well.
I didn't really get to shoot clays with the Remmington 870 much, because it's way too long and heavy for my stumpy little arms. I felt like I was trying to shoot with a Buick. But I enjoyed shooting Joel's Glock at the stationary targets--it's somehow enjoyable to line up a target with the sight and then watch it shatter in the dirt. Reminds me of the similar satisfaction of the anti-tank gun in Battlefield 2, only it feels a tad more powerful when it's real life. On the flip side, it's a lot more terrifying to hold a potentially destructive force in your hand in real life, where no one can "spawn" back in. Hence the reason I didn't hold any of the guns very long, even when unloaded with the safety on.
We were all picking up the empty shells and walking back to the truck when a bundle of energy exploded out of the ground in front of us, so close that I kicked it as it passed. It was a wild rabbit--man, those things are solid muscle. It felt like I hit a big rock, only one that was vibrating with life.
And then we went home and watched the Astros lose. But dangit, they're in the series, and I'm proud for Texas. And insanely jealous of anyone who scored tickets to the Houston games.
10.20.2005
Comedy About Comedy
Just discovered this little gem, The Comic Critic, while trolling Unshelved for prices on museum prints of their best strip ever. It's a comic strip that reviews movies, new and old. Entertaining even when you don't agree with the review (Hello, who would rate Dude, Where's My Car higher than Harold & Kumar Go to White Castle? Shocking!)
My favorite reviews so far are probably Alien and ID4.
My favorite reviews so far are probably Alien and ID4.
Book Lint
There's a radio commerical that makes fun of collecting boring things, like stamps, coins, and... lint? And now I feel silly, because I genuinely do collect lint! I have four categories of dryer lint: almost-white, red/purple (the best and most scarce kind), blueish-dark grey, and the usual medium grey shade of "blah." I was inspired by reading about a lint artist to begin my collection three years ago. Not that I've actually made any lint art yet, mind you. I don't really want to sculpt with it--I'd like to make lint paper, which we did in sixth grade. It produced very thick paper that was good for painting designs.
Yes, I am an offical loony. I know.
Speaking of things gathering lint--er, dust, I have en ever-growing stack of books to read. It's both a physical and metaphorical stack, as some of the books I own, and some I don't, but I don't have time for any of them until Christmas break (or maybe Thanksgiving if I am very, very good).
1) Knife of Dreams (it's tempting me every moment), Robert Jordan (WoT #11)
2) Inkheart (only 10 pages to go and no time for them--Aaack!), C. Funke
3) Inkspell, C. Funke
4) The Big Over Easy, Jasper Fforde
5) Eragon, C. Paolini
6) Eldest, C. Paolini
7) The Batman Adventures: The Lost Years (out of print--Aarrg!), H. Bader
8) Book Lust, Nancy Pearl (librarian extraordinaire)
9) The Amazing Adventures of Kavalier & Clay, M. Chabon
10) Alone of All Her Sex (one of those Art History nerd books), M. Warner
11) The Mists of Avalon (this summer I read a third of it--Dangit!), M. Z. Bradley
Yes, I am an offical loony. I know.
Speaking of things gathering lint--er, dust, I have en ever-growing stack of books to read. It's both a physical and metaphorical stack, as some of the books I own, and some I don't, but I don't have time for any of them until Christmas break (or maybe Thanksgiving if I am very, very good).
1) Knife of Dreams (it's tempting me every moment), Robert Jordan (WoT #11)
2) Inkheart (only 10 pages to go and no time for them--Aaack!), C. Funke
3) Inkspell, C. Funke
4) The Big Over Easy, Jasper Fforde
5) Eragon, C. Paolini
6) Eldest, C. Paolini
7) The Batman Adventures: The Lost Years (out of print--Aarrg!), H. Bader
8) Book Lust, Nancy Pearl (librarian extraordinaire)
9) The Amazing Adventures of Kavalier & Clay, M. Chabon
10) Alone of All Her Sex (one of those Art History nerd books), M. Warner
11) The Mists of Avalon (this summer I read a third of it--Dangit!), M. Z. Bradley
10.18.2005
Fairy "Tails"
I'm editing some photos for my Digital Imaging class project. We have to create a creative website for a pet shelter; my group picked Fairy Tales as its theme. I've been editing the group's pet photos to reflect the theme. You can check out the finished photos (14 so far out of 50) at my Flickr page. Here's a sample image of Kali's cute little Sleeping Beauty...
10.16.2005
Come Home from Homecoming
I'm thoroughly convinced that I had about the best undergrad experience a person could have, and it's reinforced by the familial atmosphere when the school comes together for Homecoming.
Alex and I bid on some items at the silent auction, and it's rumored that we won at least one--I have high hopes that it's the Tim-Duncan-autographed-floor-tile, so I can showcase some Spurs bling. (Gotta make my friends Josh and Jaime drool!)
I also made out like a bandit with several sacks of books and records from the library booksale. I was all ready to make out my $8 check when Terry Minami, HSU librarian and a pal, insisted I only pay $2 because I always buy a sack of books from her. She's tops!
I had great fun at Cowpoke Posse, which the BYA sponsors. Actually, our job mostly consisted of packing up the kid's shirts and other supplies and boxes and cramming them into a small sedan. I'd like to work earlier next year and see more of the alumni's kids. I did score a "HSU Sheriff's Posse" pin, which I wore for the rest of Homecoming. Kathryn and I had BBQ, and then I met Alex to test the game demo levels (to be sure they'd support 64 people at once).
The Alumni Art reception was great--it consisted of Kathryn and I reminiscing with our former professor & employer, Linda Fawcett, and having a grand old time laughing about it. My favorite stories are always the bulk-mail stories and the time that I was sick and fell asleep in the art office closet for four hours. Good times.
Then on to the tourney! The alumni whomped the current students so badly this time that we quickly abandoned the traditional teams for a fair match. We feasted on pizza and battled primarily in the very-excellent Battlefield 2. I would like to take this opportunity to say that I did not completely suck, and that it is a grand thing to snipe with an anti-tank gun. Tanks or people.
Thanks once again to Jared for his generousity in providing us a lodging and conversation late into the evening--er, morning. I'm looking forward to our next Abilene-ian trek in the spring!
Miss the Human Touch?
Check out Find-A-Human for all those times that you need to explain something to Customer Service in person, instead of transferring through electronic options for six hours.
Enjoy the power of the human voice.
My thanks, once again, to Tihleigh.
Enjoy the power of the human voice.
My thanks, once again, to Tihleigh.
10.15.2005
No, not THOSE Cowboys...
Well, here we are in Abilene at Jared's house, ready for the HSU Homecoming shindig tomorrow. First, Kathryn and I will man the last portion of Cowpoke Posse for the "future alumni," then clean-up and cruise around campus checking out a few events. Once the (HSU) Cowboys game starts at 2pm, I'll probably be firmly esconced in the computer lab with the guys, playing gam--er, testing the computers for the evening Computer Science Alumni Tournament that Alex thought of and organized the past two years. Last year our team of alumni completely wiped out the current students at both Battlefield 1942 and Wolfenstein. Heh, heh.
Oh, and from 5-7 is the Art Alumni reception, always a good time to accompany Kathryn and see how our favorite department is doing.
I've just finished my first Weblomic episode! Once I get home, I'll scan it in and digitally clean it up, then post it on the site. I haven't committed to a CMS yet, so I may just post the single strip on the site for the time being and change it to the spiffy-keen CMS in the next week or so. We'll see what my time permits.
Oh, and from 5-7 is the Art Alumni reception, always a good time to accompany Kathryn and see how our favorite department is doing.
I've just finished my first Weblomic episode! Once I get home, I'll scan it in and digitally clean it up, then post it on the site. I haven't committed to a CMS yet, so I may just post the single strip on the site for the time being and change it to the spiffy-keen CMS in the next week or so. We'll see what my time permits.
10.13.2005
A Library Geek's Dream
How could I forget to add this tidbit? I responded to a blog post from the Unshelved guys requesting help at the January ALA conference in San Antonio, and guess what? I'm getting an exhibitor pass and a chance to hang out with some seriously talented artist/librarians. I know you're all dripping with envy now--well, all you fellow geeky artist-librarians, anyway.
So now the question is, what sort of attire does one wear to man a booth for a library-oriented webcomic at a library conference? Vote for your pick!
A) professional attire (blazer/skirt)
B) "business casual" (dark jeans/button-down shirt)
C) geekwear (ThinkGeek shirt/jeans)
D) literary nerdwear (LOTR shirt/jeans)
E) other (suggestions welcomed)
Note: I'd just wear an Unshelved shirt, but the Book Club shirt is currently on my Christmas wishlist. Gotta wait!
So now the question is, what sort of attire does one wear to man a booth for a library-oriented webcomic at a library conference? Vote for your pick!
A) professional attire (blazer/skirt)
B) "business casual" (dark jeans/button-down shirt)
C) geekwear (ThinkGeek shirt/jeans)
D) literary nerdwear (LOTR shirt/jeans)
E) other (suggestions welcomed)
Note: I'd just wear an Unshelved shirt, but the Book Club shirt is currently on my Christmas wishlist. Gotta wait!
Chitter-Chatter
My client consultation for Snazzy Decor went well today, so I've got another job lined up when I finish my current murals. That's in addition to another client who wants a consultation when I'm done, and a third person who was referred to me yesterday. All of them are referrals, either from this job, or from my June Undersea mural (which was actually a referral itself). The ubiquitous "They" really do know what they're talking about when they say that word-of-mouth is the best advertisement!
Yesterday while painting, Best Buy guys were installing theater equipment, and I was treated to about six different uses of the word "dude." I'm going to have to work with Amy to create a definitive list of all the inflections and meanings you can infuse this word with. If I wasn't so burned out on school, I'd write a farcical-yet-academically-sound article about the cultural connotations and evolution of this term.
I finally got the police report for the hit-and-run--they made me pay $4 for the pleasure of finding out that no, the other driver in fact did not have insurance, as we suspected all along. But my anger and frustration were immediately tempered when I saw that the other driver is 90 years old. Instead, I'm mad at his kids for not driving their dad around town, or for whoever is responsible for this poor guy without insurance. I'm sure he was scared to death that the little girl driving the huge truck was going to scream at him, and that he just panicked.
How can I feel this compassion and still feel so deeply angered--not for the accident itself or the lack of insurance, but that he drove off? I'm sure he could tell I was okay and that my vehicle was driveable, so was it that horrible of an offense? If I was old and broke, would I have run off? I know it sure would have crossed my mind, with the adrenaline pumping through my body.
I'm too conflicted. Let's talk about baseball. Both the NLCS and ALCS games ended badly for Alex and myself last night, since we are rooting for the Angels and the Astros. I can't even talk about the bad call in the Angels/Sox game last night--we all know what really happened.
Yesterday while painting, Best Buy guys were installing theater equipment, and I was treated to about six different uses of the word "dude." I'm going to have to work with Amy to create a definitive list of all the inflections and meanings you can infuse this word with. If I wasn't so burned out on school, I'd write a farcical-yet-academically-sound article about the cultural connotations and evolution of this term.
I finally got the police report for the hit-and-run--they made me pay $4 for the pleasure of finding out that no, the other driver in fact did not have insurance, as we suspected all along. But my anger and frustration were immediately tempered when I saw that the other driver is 90 years old. Instead, I'm mad at his kids for not driving their dad around town, or for whoever is responsible for this poor guy without insurance. I'm sure he was scared to death that the little girl driving the huge truck was going to scream at him, and that he just panicked.
How can I feel this compassion and still feel so deeply angered--not for the accident itself or the lack of insurance, but that he drove off? I'm sure he could tell I was okay and that my vehicle was driveable, so was it that horrible of an offense? If I was old and broke, would I have run off? I know it sure would have crossed my mind, with the adrenaline pumping through my body.
I'm too conflicted. Let's talk about baseball. Both the NLCS and ALCS games ended badly for Alex and myself last night, since we are rooting for the Angels and the Astros. I can't even talk about the bad call in the Angels/Sox game last night--we all know what really happened.
10.11.2005
For Your Viewing Pleasure...
Ah, more webcomic greatness on Serenity and Star Wars. I love comics.
And if you still don't know about the greatness of Strong Bad and Homestar Runner, then read this, watch the cartoons, laugh your head off, and then thank me profusely.
Note: there is some language in the Homestar Runner article, although not in the cartoons themselves.
Eat it Again, Sam
Are we ready for the milk and meat of cloned animals to become a part of our food supply (FDA article)?
That was the topic of today's Diane Rehm show on NPR (listen to this episode here). And while there are a bunch of responses that I have to this topic, let's for the moment leave out any ethical concerns about cloning and simply talk about health concerns.
Claim 1: The two "pro-clone" guests agreed that cloned animals tend to have higher rates for still birth and miscarriages. However, they said there wasn't a reason for this, it was just a fact that it was a higher rate, and that therefore there is no health issue with these animals.
Rebuttal 1: I have a major issue with this. How can there be a higher rate, yet "no reason" for it? Of course there's a reason, otherwise this rate would not be significantly higher in cloned animals. I don't particularly want to consume these animals for the next twenty years it takes before the research provides the answer to "why," thanks anyway.
Claim 2: The FDA apparently sees no reason to label food as coming from cloned animals, because the FDA anticipates passing the animals as safe to consume. FDA claims that it only provide labels based on safety, not on other concerns.
Rebuttal 2: Maybe I misunderstand the relationship between the FDA and USDA, but the USDA provides a very clear labeling category for "organic," yet on the USDA official site, they continually, clearly state that "organic" does not necessarily mean healthier or safer food. It is an informational label only, albeit one granted after a strict battery of tests and approval process. If the FDA/USDA won't require a "cloned" label, which makes little sense to me, then what's the difference in providing a "Non-Cloned Animal Product" label with a similar approval process?
In addition, the guests said that if the FDA approves cloned foodstuffs, they would be eligible for the "organic" label if they met all other requirements. Um... organically produced by man in a lab? I don't know about you, but to me the point of the "organic" label was to get back to the natural way of harvesting food.
Near the end, one of the guests stated that although his own surveys revealed that 2/3 of Americans would not buy cloned animal foodstuffs if given a choice, he believes that this attitude would quickly change with education about the cloning process. He cites as his example that most Americans are under the impression that larger chicken breasts are due to genetic engineering, and that Americans buy these products. He then states that in fact, the larger breasts are due to selective breeding.
First, "selective breeding:" is this a code word for "heavily injected with hormones?" Secondly, I have no idea why he made the point based on supposed American assumptions--I certainly haven't been assuming that larger chicken breasts were due to genetic manipulation. Thirdly, why the heck does he think that "education" about a process with which many Americans have deep ethical reservations will suddenly change their minds? It's a ridiculous assumption that revealing a detailed scientific process will suddenly relieve those who are afraid that cloned foodstuffs is a baby step toward human cloning.
The ironic thing is, I'm not fully convinced that this is a step in that direction. When in-vitro fertilization first came around, there was a lot of controversy for similar reasons, and now it's widely accepted for both animal and human reproduction. I just don't want to get into my own ethical concerns about human cloning here. My concerns are that it has only been eight years since Dolly the sheep was cloned. I don't feel that is nearly a long enough time to determine long-term health effects on the animals themselves, their nutritional effect on humans, or unforseen long-term effects on the environment as a whole.
Note: The information I am citing comes from the three guests on Diane Rehm's show (their names are presented on the website). If you have issues with the information presented here, please take it up with them, not me.
That was the topic of today's Diane Rehm show on NPR (listen to this episode here). And while there are a bunch of responses that I have to this topic, let's for the moment leave out any ethical concerns about cloning and simply talk about health concerns.
Claim 1: The two "pro-clone" guests agreed that cloned animals tend to have higher rates for still birth and miscarriages. However, they said there wasn't a reason for this, it was just a fact that it was a higher rate, and that therefore there is no health issue with these animals.
Rebuttal 1: I have a major issue with this. How can there be a higher rate, yet "no reason" for it? Of course there's a reason, otherwise this rate would not be significantly higher in cloned animals. I don't particularly want to consume these animals for the next twenty years it takes before the research provides the answer to "why," thanks anyway.
Claim 2: The FDA apparently sees no reason to label food as coming from cloned animals, because the FDA anticipates passing the animals as safe to consume. FDA claims that it only provide labels based on safety, not on other concerns.
Rebuttal 2: Maybe I misunderstand the relationship between the FDA and USDA, but the USDA provides a very clear labeling category for "organic," yet on the USDA official site, they continually, clearly state that "organic" does not necessarily mean healthier or safer food. It is an informational label only, albeit one granted after a strict battery of tests and approval process. If the FDA/USDA won't require a "cloned" label, which makes little sense to me, then what's the difference in providing a "Non-Cloned Animal Product" label with a similar approval process?
In addition, the guests said that if the FDA approves cloned foodstuffs, they would be eligible for the "organic" label if they met all other requirements. Um... organically produced by man in a lab? I don't know about you, but to me the point of the "organic" label was to get back to the natural way of harvesting food.
Near the end, one of the guests stated that although his own surveys revealed that 2/3 of Americans would not buy cloned animal foodstuffs if given a choice, he believes that this attitude would quickly change with education about the cloning process. He cites as his example that most Americans are under the impression that larger chicken breasts are due to genetic engineering, and that Americans buy these products. He then states that in fact, the larger breasts are due to selective breeding.
First, "selective breeding:" is this a code word for "heavily injected with hormones?" Secondly, I have no idea why he made the point based on supposed American assumptions--I certainly haven't been assuming that larger chicken breasts were due to genetic manipulation. Thirdly, why the heck does he think that "education" about a process with which many Americans have deep ethical reservations will suddenly change their minds? It's a ridiculous assumption that revealing a detailed scientific process will suddenly relieve those who are afraid that cloned foodstuffs is a baby step toward human cloning.
The ironic thing is, I'm not fully convinced that this is a step in that direction. When in-vitro fertilization first came around, there was a lot of controversy for similar reasons, and now it's widely accepted for both animal and human reproduction. I just don't want to get into my own ethical concerns about human cloning here. My concerns are that it has only been eight years since Dolly the sheep was cloned. I don't feel that is nearly a long enough time to determine long-term health effects on the animals themselves, their nutritional effect on humans, or unforseen long-term effects on the environment as a whole.
Note: The information I am citing comes from the three guests on Diane Rehm's show (their names are presented on the website). If you have issues with the information presented here, please take it up with them, not me.
10.10.2005
Acting My Age?
| You Are 22 Years Old |
 20-29: You are a twentysomething at heart. You feel excited about what's to come... love, work, and new experiences. |
Well, I have to tell you I was surprised by this result--I guess I don't act as atrociously young as I thought. Then again, there weren't any questions about number of Disney DVDs owned, number of toys in my house, or any strange hankerings to play dress-up.
Er... costuming, I meant costuming, dangit!
10.09.2005
Missing You...
I just wanted to take a moment to say:
I miss my husband!
We've been in separate places all weekend, and we don't get a huge amount of time together during the week, with how much we're both working. Buddy, best friend o' mine, I miss and love you!
(...and Duuuude, thanks for the drafting table! You rock, rock on!)
I miss my husband!
We've been in separate places all weekend, and we don't get a huge amount of time together during the week, with how much we're both working. Buddy, best friend o' mine, I miss and love you!
(...and Duuuude, thanks for the drafting table! You rock, rock on!)
Weary Weekend
Whew! So much for the weekend.
Alex has spent the weekend attending, purchasing, and bringing home items from an auction in south Dallas. He, his father, and his mama spent today loading three trailers on three trucks full of insulation and various other things that the family purchased--plus a huge, wonderful drafting table for me! It's soon-to-be covered in the plethora of sketches I already have for my webcomic--yippee!
In preperation for said arrival, I have been clearing out our Box Room and Guest/Art Room. Yesterday, I transformed the haphazard--and harzardous--mess of the Box Room into Organized Ebay Central, so that Alex can easily find, photograph, and ship all the items we've accumulated for sale. I did get to spend a little time on my art stein--just enough to base coat the thing, unfortunately.
Today, I bought some storage bins, did the much-dreaded grocery shopping (I hate spending so much time purchasing things that won't exist in a few weeks once we've consumed them), and turned the Guest Room inside-out (meaning that most of its insides are now in the hallway and my office). Alex is going to move the bunkbeds back to the original position they occupied several years ago, and then will move my (apparently mammoth) drafting table inside as well. Then I get to sort which boxes go where, and if I can find the time, throw a bunch of my old crud out in the process.
So much for taking the weekend to paint my stein. This is how my plans tend to go on weekends--there's always something that you haven't counted on. Alex and I didn't get to go to Serenity as planned, either, nor did we get to go clay-shooting. Sigh.
But in the act of all my Fall Cleaning, I did hear some interesting bits on the radio. I'm quite enjoying listening to the National/American League Division Playoffs--particularly since the Astros won (Go Astros!)--and NPR has had a variety of entertaining weekend tidbits. There was a funny bit called "Ruth Harrison, Reference Librarian" on the Prairie Home Companion yesterday, and this evening on my way to work, I listened to a great short short by Audrey Niffenegger--author of one of my favorite books--called "The Night Bookmobile" on Selected Shorts.
And one day, I'll be able to sit down and get some photos edited and posted. No, really.
10.08.2005
Shortstuff
(No, not me. Just that this is a quick update.)
Today I'll be painting my first art stein, but later on I'd like to finish my first web-comic 'sode (short for "episode," people, get used to it--I plan on using this term a lot in the near future), and add some photos to the blog. Stay Tuned.
I just wanted to give a heads up to this Time online interview with Joss Whedon and Neil Gaiman--yes, I know, somebody at Time must have had an "apostrophe." It sounds like total greatness, but I must admit I haven't finished it yet (I took Excedrin for my headache and my concentration is shot). Enjoy!
Today I'll be painting my first art stein, but later on I'd like to finish my first web-comic 'sode (short for "episode," people, get used to it--I plan on using this term a lot in the near future), and add some photos to the blog. Stay Tuned.
I just wanted to give a heads up to this Time online interview with Joss Whedon and Neil Gaiman--yes, I know, somebody at Time must have had an "apostrophe." It sounds like total greatness, but I must admit I haven't finished it yet (I took Excedrin for my headache and my concentration is shot). Enjoy!
10.06.2005
The Ultimate "Unshelved"
Reasons why "Unshelved" is pretty darn much the best comic strip online:
1) It's about a sarcastic librarian
2) It consistently makes pop culture references (particularly those dealing with sci-fi and gaming)
3) It's funny as heck (which is pretty funny)
Best example storyline (unless you have no idea about the greatness of Joss Whedon's Serenity, in which case BUY TICKETS!): Parts 1, 2, 3
(These are actually my three favorite strips from this year--they are a condensed version of the storyline, but they illustrate The Greatness.)
PS--I'm excited! We're going to see the final cut of Serenity this weekend with Jaime and Amy--yippee! We decided that after we watched last night's episode of Lost... the show you love to hate, or hate to love?
1) It's about a sarcastic librarian
2) It consistently makes pop culture references (particularly those dealing with sci-fi and gaming)
3) It's funny as heck (which is pretty funny)
Best example storyline (unless you have no idea about the greatness of Joss Whedon's Serenity, in which case BUY TICKETS!): Parts 1, 2, 3
(These are actually my three favorite strips from this year--they are a condensed version of the storyline, but they illustrate The Greatness.)
PS--I'm excited! We're going to see the final cut of Serenity this weekend with Jaime and Amy--yippee! We decided that after we watched last night's episode of Lost... the show you love to hate, or hate to love?
"Weblomic" Announced
Last week, Alex and I watched Super Size Me--wow. Both thoroughly entertaining, and thoroughly terrifying. So, I was already leery of continuing our once-a-week Sonic Splurge, but now I'm completely disgusted. Alex and I had already been looking into organic food--now I feel completely squeemish about eating fast food. I mean, meat from 1,000 cows in one burger?! Ewwwwww!
On a completely different tangent, I've begun development on a webcomic of my own. Yes, my addiction to online comics and graphic novels has combined with my nostalgia for my high-school strip (titled, strangely, "The Adventures of Jayne the Mashed Banana"--don't ask) to produce something I've titled "Weblomic." The title, as you can probably tell, is a combination of (web)blog and webcomic, which tells you a lot about the anticipated format. I plan on some being straighforward comic strips, but a lot being essentially my blog in comic form. There's no way I'm committing to a regular publishing schedule right now, so you'll have to be satisfied with irregular strips, but you can deal, right?
And what do you think of the nice cool weather we're having? It's not cold enough for me to complain yet, and the grass is still green, so I think it's great. Although I'm going to really miss wearing my ThinkGeek shirts to work--I'll have to wear a zip-up sweater over them or something.
10.04.2005
The Runaround
It's been a day of said theme.
Item One: UNT's Extreme Parking Fiasco, aka Football Game Parking. Because UNT has the (mis?)fortune of having this game televised on ESPN 2, all commuter parking--meaning all of the hundreds of us that normally can only park at the stadium lot--is being moved (or else you get towed). That means that every level of parking gets shuffled around--commuters, residents, premium, fac/staff. Which means, in essence, that you have hundreds more cars trying to park in lots where, already, I have routinely seen cars circle for 10-30 minutes to wait for a space. I tried seven lots, passed four more, and half an hour later found a spot--on the opposite end of campus from my meeting in five minutes. Riiiiight.
Item Two: Cell Phone Fiasco. My beloved camera phone's keypad is annoyingly finicky and routinely locks up, so I called Cingular's Phone Exchange program. Normally, they send you a lender phone, then you send them your phone, and they return your phone when it's done (or they let you keep the lender, if it's the same model). Cingular told me that Nokia is recalling my phone, so they a) won't fix it, and b) have no other phones of that model to offer me. I just called Nokia, and they said a) what? there's no recall, and b) we can fix your phone, but we can't offer a lender phone for the week that it will take to fix, so you should c) call Cingular again.
Can I scream now? Oh, wait, I'm in a library--I'll choose Quiet Seething instead.
Item One: UNT's Extreme Parking Fiasco, aka Football Game Parking. Because UNT has the (mis?)fortune of having this game televised on ESPN 2, all commuter parking--meaning all of the hundreds of us that normally can only park at the stadium lot--is being moved (or else you get towed). That means that every level of parking gets shuffled around--commuters, residents, premium, fac/staff. Which means, in essence, that you have hundreds more cars trying to park in lots where, already, I have routinely seen cars circle for 10-30 minutes to wait for a space. I tried seven lots, passed four more, and half an hour later found a spot--on the opposite end of campus from my meeting in five minutes. Riiiiight.
Item Two: Cell Phone Fiasco. My beloved camera phone's keypad is annoyingly finicky and routinely locks up, so I called Cingular's Phone Exchange program. Normally, they send you a lender phone, then you send them your phone, and they return your phone when it's done (or they let you keep the lender, if it's the same model). Cingular told me that Nokia is recalling my phone, so they a) won't fix it, and b) have no other phones of that model to offer me. I just called Nokia, and they said a) what? there's no recall, and b) we can fix your phone, but we can't offer a lender phone for the week that it will take to fix, so you should c) call Cingular again.
Can I scream now? Oh, wait, I'm in a library--I'll choose Quiet Seething instead.
10.03.2005
Well-Preserved?
This weekend, Alex and I trekked down to San Antonio for my mother's birthday and my father's art opening at the New Braunfels Art League. He won first place for one of his panoramic photographs of the Grand Canyon--Congrats, Dad!
[pictures TBA]
It was nice to be there, but I'm glad the drive is over. I'm back at the reference desk, reading material for my Preservation course. It's quite intriguing stuff--about acknowledging that we can't, and even shouldn't, save every information object. It's an interesting take that I haven't read before by Abby Smith.
...And I just joined ARLIS and TLA, two professional library organizations. I feel, well, professional!
[pictures TBA]
It was nice to be there, but I'm glad the drive is over. I'm back at the reference desk, reading material for my Preservation course. It's quite intriguing stuff--about acknowledging that we can't, and even shouldn't, save every information object. It's an interesting take that I haven't read before by Abby Smith.
...And I just joined ARLIS and TLA, two professional library organizations. I feel, well, professional!
10.01.2005
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