Did y'all hear about this??

New York Girl of My Dreams

He's all over the internet and TV. Just Google him, you'll see... :)

Also, as an aside - he's from Nashville and went to Hume Fogg....

How is it still Tuesday?

The Onion explores.

Cop sues family of drowning victim

Ridiculous.

Cop Who Fell on the Job Sues Family of Baby Who Almost Drowned

There are some bizarre people in this world...

MAIDEN, North Carolina — A man who bought a smoker at an auction of abandoned items might have thought twice had he looked inside first.

Maiden police said Tuesday the man opened up the smoker and saw what he thought was a piece of driftwood wrapped in paper. When he unwrapped it, he found a human leg, cut off 2 to 3 inches (5 to 8 centimeters) above the knee.

The smoker had been sold at an auction of items left behind at a storage facility, so investigators contacted the mother and son who had rented the space where the smoker was found.

The mother, Peg (wow....her name is Peg - hilarious) Steele, explained her son had his leg amputated after a plane crash and kept the leg following the surgery "for religious reasons" she doesn't know much about.

"The rest of the family was very much against it," Steele said.

Steele said her son, John Wood, plans to drive to Maiden, about 35 miles (55 kilometers) northwest of Charlotte, to reclaim his amputated leg, police said.

Laughing baby

Maybe the cutest baby ever. Who knew door stoppers were so funny?

Bring It On Home

I love this song...just wanted to share.

I'm back! Well, sorta...

I'm coming out of my blogger silence and hiatus with this story to share:

Minnesota Toe Licker Napped

Please (I beg you), please read this. The picture for the article is worth one million (that's right, million) words...and uproars in laughter.

Travels with Family!

I'm traveling to San Francisco August 31 - September 5 with the family! I'm super excited - I've always wanted to go there. So I'm soliciting you, dear readers, for fun things to do! Give me the inside scoop! Who's been there? Who's lived there?

Touristy, I know...but I want to ride a trolley. When I was little, my dad would take me to work with him on occasion and we'd ride the trolley from the parking lot to his office. It will bring back fun memories for me.

Chinatown looks like fun.

I don't think the trip would be complete without a tour (the Night Tour - take a gander - Mom just bought the tickets!) of Alcatraz.

I foresee a trip to the wine country...either Sonoma or Napa Valley...

Obviously, the Golden Gate Bridge is a must.

I don't know much about this area...but maybe North Beach?? Thoughts?

Pacific Coast Highway would be beautiful!!

Anyway, give me your advice! I gotta know! :)

Why some guys suck...

I might never feel the same about Maroon 5's catchy lyrics and beats after reading this quote from lead singer Adam Levine:

“She wouldn’t make any noise during sex. I can’t tell you how disappointed I was. I really thought, like a lot of guys, that she’d be the loud screaming type. But instead, she just lay there like a dead frog. She even got angry if I started to moan, said it ‘ruined her concentration.’ It was so disillusioning that I went on Paxil for a month afterwards. Really, it was much more of a shock than when I found out there’s no such thing as the Easter Bunny.”

Who was he talking about? Well, I've never been one to spread gossip...

You'll have to click the link to find out. Assuming this is true...what a jerk!

They all look alike, right?

Most likely you've been embarrassed about it before...but you don't necessarily have to be anymore.

New research shows that it is difficult for people to distinguish faces of different races (he. he....faces...races...that rhymed). Anyway, the research indicates that it's not because we are racists, it's the in-out syndrome.

In a series of experiments, Miami University undergraduates were led to believe that they would view the faces of fellow Miami students (the in-group) and students from Marshall University (a perennial football rival, making them the ultimate out-group) on a computer screen.

In reality, none of the faces, all of whom were white, were students at either university. By merely labeling them, however, the participants better recognized faces that they believed were fellow Miami students.

It is believed that the findings suggest "recognition deficits" can occur "without the need for race or different physical characteristics, arguing instead that there is more than just unfamiliarity with other races at play in the cross-race effect."

According to the researchers, "people frequently split the world up into us and them, in other words into social groups, be they racial, national, occupational, or even along the lines of university affiliation. Our work suggests that the cross-race effect is due, at least in part, to this ubiquitous tendency to see the world in terms of these in-groups and out-groups."

Tagged, I'm it!

Michael just tagged me in the Face Behind the Blog meme.

While I am into my anonymity (though I have been known to post some pictures of myself), I can be persuaded to post more than the one blurry picture of myself in the top right corner.

Here are the rules.

1. Post a short blog article that includes a photograph (or a series of photos) showing the face behind your blog. If you already show a photo somewhere on your site, then make your post more interesting by choosing a photo that’s not currently online.

2. Include links to other people who have displayed a photo.

3. Link back to the original post.

4. Tag as many others as you like.


So, here they are...and here I am.




Tagging: Patrick, Kerpupples, and Soledad.

Thanks, Perez...

For this truly bizarre great video. Ladies and gentlemen, I introduce you to Bearforce 1.

China Bridge Collapses

Kills 29. Injures at least 22.

With America's recent obsession with all things structural, the question is, will we care about China's recent tragedy?

And in other news:
9th body found at MN bridge collapse
South Asia's flood death toll has reached 2,000
Cracking down on crack...
1,340 (367 whom were handicapped) rescued from slave labor in China
Cho may have made a practice run at Norris Hall (Virginia Tech)


And after that, I'm starting a new thing right now. Only good news from now on. I have to start slow....it's a different way of thinking. Here's my first. Yea!
Amazon deforestation reduced dramatically over the last three years

Time - Photo Essays

Tying into my post about perspectives, these photo essays put images to two tragedies - the Minnesota bridge collapse and the monsoons in India.

The first, entitled the Worst Bridge Collapses in the Past 100 Years, is a photographic journey through the heartbreak that surrounds senseless tragedies.

• Photo 3, The Skywalk collapse in Kansas City
• Photo 6, Rainbow Bridge collapse in Qijiang county, China - A government official who ignored signs of decay was sentenced to death.
• Photo 10, Bridge in Bihar, India

The second, entitled Asia's Monsoon, takes you through the affected region. "Though the monsoon is an annual event, this is the heaviest season Bihar has seen in 30 years. The Indian government reports this year's rains have killed over 1,200 since June and displaced some 14 million people."

• Photo 4, Heartbreaking
  
• Photo 7, Waiting for the flood waters to recede, India has yet to see the worst.
• Photo 9, Sad subject - beautiful composition.
• Photo 10 and 12, Nothing but water as far as the eye can see.
• Photo 11, Nowhere else to go.
  

Oh my!

Pregnant 10.5 years of her life? Jim Bob Duggar's wife has been.

Read about her and her 17 children here.

Gaining Perspecitve

Ever noticed how something horrible can happen a world away...and "it sucks", "gosh that's terrible".

But if this event were to happen, say in your own country, it would occupy the minds and hearts of all citizens...thousands of newscasts...countless of hours of television...and journalist efforts devoted solely to what happened...

Big or Small.

Let's take, for example, the floods that are currently happening in India. Gosh, that sucks, doesn't it? Millions are marooned and the current death toll is over 1,000.

1,000!

But in Minneapolis, 4 people are dead and 20 are missing. Let's just assume for a moment that all of those 20 missing will turn up dead (that sounds callous, I'm sorry). Even still, that makes the death toll from a bridge collapse possibly 24 people.

24!

Can we gain a little perspective here?!

Technoriti is telling me that 170,529 people linked to this one article about the MN bridge collapse. That's just one article of the thousands that have been published, printed and reported.

One person, one, linked to the article from ABC World News about the floods that are currently killing thousands in India.

Me.

The bridge collapse is also mentioned three times in Technoriti's top searches.

But there's not one mention of the devastation in India, Bangladesh and Nepal.

Now, don't get me wrong. I feel for the families that have lost loved ones in the bridge collapse and I know the reason we obsess over needless tragedies such as this is for the simple fact that they are close to home.

And maybe those countries, so far away, don't seem real to some. But they are very real. Those 1,000+ people included in that death toll were mothers, fathers, brothers, sisters, and children...just like the ones in Minnesota.

Sometimes, I just feel that we, as Americans and as inhabitants to the world, need to gain a little perspective.

This enrages me...

May I have an abortion, sir?

To think that some people think this is a viable means to control women getting abortions...a signed consent from the fetus' father.

Awesome.

Awesomely ridiculous.

Loveable Links

Peruse some of these links. Pretty interesting stuff. Occupied me for a good long while.

Enjoy.

Carnivore Sex Off the Menu
Sexual Atrocities in the Congo
Police in Ocean City Search for More Tiny Corpses
And covered again here.
Girl Living in Animal Filth Shoots Dad in the Face
A Snapshot of a Would-Be President

Internet Stalking

No work required.

PC World Magazine has compiled some of the best sites/sights on Google Earth. Peruse, enjoy, stalk in complete anonymity.

In Pictures: The Strangest Sites on Google Earth

Personality Test

It's been awhile since I took the Myer's Briggs personality test and low and behold, I'm still the same.

Your Type is
ENFJ

Extraverted	Intuitive	Feeling	Judging
Strength of the preferences %
22	12	38	44

If you want, take your test here. Comment back what you are. I'd love to know.

Here's a little about my type, you know...just in case you're interested!

• ENFJs are energetic, enthusiastic, and very aware of others. Their genuine interest can usually draw out and involve even the most reserved person. They listen to and support others, but also have a very definite values and opinions of their own, which they will express clearly. ENFJs are energized by people and are socially adept; however, they also have a strong need for authentic, intimate relationships.
• Abstract in their thought and speech, cooperative in their style of achieving goals, and directive and expressive in their interpersonal relations.
• Especially capable of educing or calling forth those inner potentials each learner possesses. Even as children this type may attract a gathering of other children ready to follow their lead in play or work. And they lead without seeming to do so.
• Expect the very best of those around them, and this expectation, usually expressed as enthusiastic encouragement, motivates action in others and the desire to live up to their expectations. This type has the charming characteristic of taking for granted that their expectations will be met, their implicit commands obeyed, never doubting that people will want to do what they suggest. And, more often than not, people do, because this type has extraordinary charisma.
• Found in no more than 2 or 3 percent of the population. They like to have things settled and arranged. They prefer to plan both work and social engagements ahead of time and tend to be absolutely reliable in honoring these commitments.
• Values harmonious human relations above all else, can handle people with charm and concern, and are usually popular wherever they are. But Teachers are not so much social as educational leaders, interested primarily in the personal growth and development of others, and less in attending to their social needs.
• And here's a really good site describing ENFJs that I won't burden you with here.
  

So, take the test. Tell me what you are!

Meme time!

Lane tagged me in the 7 Random Things meme and I just found out. Lucky me, I am bored at work today. I'll get right on this! Yea!

The Rules:

• Players start with 7 random facts/habits about themselves.
• People who are tagged need to write their own blog posts with their 7 things as well as these rules.
• You need to tag 7 others and list their names on your blog.
• Remember to leave a comment for them letting them know they have been tagged and to read your blog.

Here are my seven randoms:

1. I play volleyball at Hooters. I don't wear the uniform. Don't ask me about it. It's pretty awesome... :)
2. I sleep with the blanket that I have had since I was three. He's called Pink Baby. That's right, he.
   
3. When I'm nervous or embarrassed my face blushes to a bright crimson shade. No hiding those feelings!
4. I try to have breakfast with my dad once a week. I look forward to it a lot, even though I have to get up way too early.
   
5. I would love to live overseas...just for a few years. In the end, I don't think I will feel complete if I haven't done this.
6. I graduate college on Friday, August 13, 2004. So far, so good. No bad luck yet!
7. When I'm nervous (along with blushing) I get very talkative. I don't shut up and I try to make people laugh...usually by being sarcastic. If I don't feel comfortable...and there is a difference between that and nervous, I just don't talk.

Okay - I can't think of seven people that will do this, so I'll just tag the people I think that might... :)

Tagged: Kerpupples, Salmon Pants, Patrick

Best. Line. Ever.

"Frank Garcia, 72, happily pocketed his supply of official New York City condoms, which are packaged with a subway logo."

Oscar's Awesome

"Oscar has a habit of curling up next to patients at the home in Providence, Rhode Island, in their final hours.

According to the author of a study in the New England Journal of Medicine, the two-year-old cat has been observed to be correct in 25 cases so far.

Staff now alert the families of residents when he sits down next to their ailing loved one.

Oscar was adopted as a kitten at Steere House Nursing and Rehabilitation Centre.

The cat is said to do his own rounds, just like the doctors and nurses at the home, but is not generally friendly to patients.

Although most families are grateful for the warning Oscar seems to provide, some relatives ask that the pet be taken away while they say their last goodbyes to their loved ones.

When put outside the room, Oscar is said to pace up and down meowing in protest.

Thomas Graves, a feline expert from the University of Illinois, told the BBC: "Cats often can sense when their owners are sick or when another animal is sick.

"They can sense when the weather will change, they're famous for being sensitive to premonitions of earthquakes."

A doctor who treats patients at the home said she believed there was probably a biochemical explanation, rather than the cat being psychic. "


I wonder if Mr. Darcy can do this? Oscar kinda looks like Darcy...but Darcy curls up next to me pretty much every night. His death'dar cannot be trusted.

Bikini-Clad Mowers in Memphis

They'll mow your lawn almost naked! So far, there have been no requests for the male version. Probably because men mow the lawn sans shirt anyway. Why pay more?

Prison's going to be awesome!

And, you know, should I ever have to go to prison...I hope it's something like this...

Sex Ed to Kindergarteners?

I don't think so.

It's just not appropriate.

"But it’s the right thing to do, to provide age-appropriate sex education, science-based sex education in schools." -Barack Obama

When Obama was put on the spot as to what exactly the sex education to 4 to 6 year olds would consist of, he really couldn't answer except to say this...

He "moved to clarify" that he "does not support teaching explicit sex education to children in kindergarten. . . 'Nobody's suggesting that kindergartners are going to be getting information about sex in the way that we think about it,' Obama said. 'If they ask a teacher 'where do babies come from,' then providing information that the fact is that it's not a stork is probably not an unhealthy thing. Although again, that's going to be determined on a case by case basis by local communities and local school boards.'"

I honestly believe that children that young should be taught that boys and girls have different "parts" and that's it. There's really no reason to burden them with more information than that.

Let them play with their dolls, play Indians and Chiefs or whatever else kids play these days. If they ask questions, answer them openly and honestly. Don't hide anything or make sexual things sound dirty.

But for God's sake, don't sit them down in a classroom and teach them more than they need to know about sex a good 6-9 years before puberty even hits.

Look at the kids to the right. Can you honestly tell me that these children need to know the intricacies of sex? Let them learn the ABCs and ask questions like "Why is the grass green", "Why is the sky blue", before we start in with sex. They'll have the rest of their lives to worry about sex.

Let them be innocent...even if it's just for a little while.

Another reason to get/stay off the meat...

Japan has come out with a new study claiming that producing 2.2 lbs of beef generates as much as driving a car non-stop for three hours.

"That means that 2.2lb of beef is responsible for greenhouse gas emissions which have the same effect as the carbon dioxide released by an ordinary car travelling at 50 miles per hour for 155 miles, a journey lasting three hours. The amount of energy consumed would light a 100-watt bulb for 20 days.

Su Taylor, the press officer for the Vegetarian Society, told New Scientist: 'Everybody is trying to come up with different ways to reduce carbon footprints, but one of the easiest things you can do is to stop eating meat.'"

Remember, I just went vegetarian in May. So far, so good. I've had recent cravings for meat...but nothing too bad or uncontrollable. There are definitely some good alternatives out there if you choose to go meatless.

-Boca Burgers (I tired the Flame Grilled one) are delicious, absolutely delicious.
-Cedarlane is tasty with a plethora of product offerings.
-Morningstar Farms is ah-mazing. Simply delicious. I have had a ton of their products and have not been disappointed with one of them so far.

And then, of course I am not full on vegetarian since I still eat fish, milk and eggs. But you know, I do what I can and every little bit helps and makes me feel better about what I eat.

U.K. Schoolgirl Looses "Virginity Ring" Battle

So, so sad.

LONDON - A teenager whose teachers had stopped her wearing a “purity ring” at school to symbolize her commitment to virginity has lost a High Court fight against the ban.

Lydia Playfoot, 16, says her silver ring is an expression of her faith and had argued in court that it should be exempt from school regulations banning the wearing of jewelry.

“I am very disappointed by the decision this morning by the High Court not to allow me to wear my purity ring to school as an expression of my Christian faith not to have sex outside marriage,” Playfoot said in a statement Monday.

Playfoot’s legal challenge was the latest in a series of disputes in British schools in recent years over the right of pupils to wear religious symbols or clothing, such as crucifixes and veils.

Playfoot’s parents are key members of the British arm of the American chastity campaign group the Silver Ring Thing, a religious group which urges abstinence among young people.

Those who sign up wear a ring on the third finger of the left hand. It is inscribed with “Thess. 4:3-4,” a reference to a Biblical passage from Thessalonians which reads: “God wants you to be holy, so you should keep clear of all sexual sin.”

Lawyers for the school denied discrimination and said the purity ring breached its rules on wearing jewelry.

They said allowances were made for Muslim and Sikh pupils only for items integral to their religious beliefs and that, for the same reason, crucifixes were also allowed. But it argued that the purity ring was not an integral part of the Christian faith.

Owner of a Lonely Heart...

Yes...
(hahaha)

Japanese men are finding it increasingly difficult to partner with a women that will please them. So...as any natural person would do, they turn not to dating sites or prostitutes...but to plastic.

Plastic sex dolls.

These dolls are life like and are anatomically correct and range in price from $800-$5,500 a piece. The more expensive models are made of silicone (more life-like and have, get this, 35 movable joints).

Please read the attached article...it makes me really sad for this one guy who goes by "Ta - Bo".

"Each has a name. Ta-Bo often watches television with his toys before bathing them, powdering them so that their skin feels more human, dressing them in lingerie and then taking them to bed.

'A human girl can cheat on you or betray you sometimes, but these dolls never do those thing. They belong to me 100 percent,' says the engineer who has spent more than 2 million yen ($16,000) over the past decade on the dolls."

Poor Ta - Bo! He has three of them lined up on his couch when he returns home...then he bathes them and powders them.

He has obviously been cheated on in the past.

Ta - Bo, not everyone cheats! I promise. You have to pick up the pieces, man. Date women. Real ones that don't come from a factory or a company. And don't advertise the number of movable parts they have.

There's a girl out there for you. Don't give up hope. Seriously, these were originally meant for handicapped men....but whatever floats your boat.

Obviously Ta - Bo wanted some girl to "belong" to him and do whatever he wanted her to. He likes the silent, submissive type. Those kinda girls might be difficult to find.

Well, I guess he found one. Scratch that...he found three of them. Until his next paycheck and he can buy more. Whoo Hoo!

What a "Bass"inine Thing to Do!

Ha. Ha. Ha. "Bass"inine! Ha. Ha. Ha. Get it?! Like asinine?! Only with a bass?! Oh, keep reading, you'll get the correlation in a minute.

Oh, it's early...and sometimes...when I'm tired...I crack myself up.

Anywho.

Well, I read an article this morning, while sipping some java and perusing my Google Reader, about Albert Gore.

Good ole Al.

His efforts at environmental conservation and reducing carbon footprints - when his is incredibly large - are well intended. And his Live Earth celebration stirred up much criticism regarding all the air travel and waste that was produced because of the concerts.

It's just, well...you've got to walk your talk...or well, you'll reap what you sew.

Anyway, he's in a new hot-bed of environmental hypocrisy.

Apparently, at his daughter's wedding over the weekend he served Chilean Sea Bass. What's the big deal, you ask? Well, it's only one of the most endangered fish in the world. (Although, you can read this article for a dissenter's opine).

Why do I care? Well, my dad's a fisheries biologist/conservationist...and I, well...dislike hypocrites very much.

Oh well. I just want Gore to be a real conservationist. A real giant for the green. A green giant...if you will.

Happy Wednesday. That's what I've got for this morning. Will be in touch and hopefully not bitter later. :)

Final Period

With the development of a birth control that allows women to never have their periods, Karen Houppert, a NY Times columnist, has some things to say.

It's really good. Read it. I dare you. Period.

Ugh - Just a horrible fashion trend...

You know, if you ask me...

Apology for all the sex/preggers articles...

But here's one more. I need to get my mind on other things today!

NY Times - Positive Trends for Today's Teens

Take Aways:
*The teenage birthrate hit a record low. The teenage birth rate in 2005 was 21 per 1,000 young women ages 15 to 17 — an all-time low. Comparatively, the rate in 1991 was 39 births per 1,000 teenagers.

*In 2005, 47 percent of high school students — 6.7 million — reported having had sexual intercourse, down from 54 percent during the 12 years between 1991-2003

*Of those who reported having had sex during a three-month period in 2005, 63 percent — about 9 million — said they used condoms. That is an increase from the 46 percent reported in 1991.

“I think the H.I.V./AIDS epidemic and the efforts in the ’80s and ’90s had a lot to do with that,” Mr. Wagoner said of the improved numbers on teenage sexual activity, condom use and births. “We need to encourage young teens to delay sexual initiation, and we need to make sure they get all the information they need about condoms and birth control”.

Honestly, I just can't imagine 54 percent having sex in high school. I mean, I know they did...and I know that I was sheltered...but come on! None of my girlfriends had sex back then and not many of my guy friends did as far as I know...and I am pretty sure they would have talked/bragged about it...because I got to hear everything else. Whatever, though. Perhaps I was just friends with the other 46 percent.

Also, this brings up the condom issue. Thank God the number of teenagers using condoms is going up.

I understand that it might be embarrassing to look for and perhaps even, buy condoms. But don't be stupid.

If it's the cost, suck it up. Your $5 dollars (or whatever condoms cost) is a lot cheaper than caring for a child. And after all, you think you are old enough to have sex, therefore you are old enough to have a job and pay for your condoms.

If it is the embarrassment, you should only be embarrassed if you look like a baby about to engage in a sexual act...which you probably do because you're in high school. Even still, you need protection. I would imagine that going to the doctor to find out that you had herpes and/or gonorrhea would be pretty embarrassing too...only it lasts a lot longer than your check-out with the other pimple-faced teenager at Target.

And that concludes my rant...sorry if it offends... :)

Why do you do it?

A recent research study found 235 reasons why people get it on between the sheets.

Sushi during pregnancy?

Sure!

The US Food and Drug Administration would have you believe that eating raw fish during pregnancy is as bad as ingesting Pine Sol. And it's not limited at fish, women that are preggers are also supposed to avoid like the plague, unpasteurized cheeses and alcohol.

Well, the French and the Japanese eat all of these things...and we all know how smart Japanese babies are.

Apparently, according to this NY Times article, the US is missing the boat.

The risk of falling ill from eating seafood (not including shellfish) is 1 in 2 million servings while the risk from eating chicken is 1 in 25,000.

Raw fish is generally safe, baring any cross contamination and assuming that the restaurant follows good safety practices, it is the shellfish that you have to watch out for.

"Most species used for sushi don’t have parasites anyway. Fish like tuna are not particularly susceptible to parasites because they dwell in very deep, very cold water, and sushi restaurants typically use farmed salmon to avoid the parasite problems wild salmon have. Most of the fish likely to have parasites, like cod and whitefish, aren’t generally used for sushi. Nor does pregnancy increase susceptibility to parasites. Healthy women who’ve been eating sushi are not at increased risk when they become pregnant. The same resistance and immunities function before, during and after pregnancy."

In other words, eat up ladies!

Time to revoke your old notions of librarians...

A Hipper Crowd of Shushers is emerging. ;)

Reading, a Harry situation...

Does the Harry Potter series deserve as much credit for motivating young readers as has been given?

According to this NYT article, no.

Studies have shown that interest in reading peaks with every new installment of HP and then reverses back to the previous interest level. Meaning that children don't pick up other books while waiting for the next HP. Is reading one book every two or so years enough?

One researcher at Stamford said that we put too much interest on reading for pleasure. He says children should read for information in preparation for what they will need to survive the real world. He poses the question, when will reading literature be a necessary skill/pass time?

What do you think?

Should children be encouraged to read for pleasure? Is reading a fundamental skill that should be developed? Or, as the one researcher suggests, should reading for information be the skill that is developed in school?

The Virgin Suicides

I just finished reading The Virgin Suicides by Jeffrey Eugenides and it will be far too hard for me to convey to you how much I loved this book.

Loved, loved, loved.

Eugenides' combines the common elements of humor and grief into something beautiful and rare.

I definitely recommend this book.

Here are some quotes that I found particularly captivating:

"All wisdom ends in a paradox." (p. 246)

"They had killed themselves over the dying forests; over the manatees maimed by propellers as they surfaced to drink from garden hoses; they killed themselves at the sight of used tires stacked higher than the pyramids; they had killed themselves over the failure to find a love none of us could ever be. In the end, the tortures tearing the Lisbon girls pointed to a simple reasoned refusal to accept the world as it was handed down to them, so full of flaws." (p. 245)

"The essence of the suicides consisted not of sadness or mystery but simple selfishness. The girls took into their own hands decisions better left to God. They became too powerful to live among us, too self-concerned, too visionary, too blind." (p. 248)

"What my yia yia could never understand about America was why everyone pretended to be happy all the time." (p. 175)

Writing about prostate self exams: "And so we lie on our backs, probing, recoiling, probing again, and the seeds of death get lost in the mess God made us." (p. 170)

"We felt the imprisonment of being a girl, the way it made your mind active and dreamy, and how you ended up knowing which colors went together. We knew that the girls were our twins, that we all existed in space like animals with identical skins, and that they knew everything about us though we couldn't fathom them at all. We knew, finally, that the girls were really women in disguise, that they understood love and even death, and that our job was merely to create the noise that seemed to fascinate them." (p. 44)

Sarah Ashlee's Word of the Day

Just because it's a newly discovered, fantastic word...one worth knowing.

Portentous (por-TEN-tus)
adjective

1. Foreboding; foreshadowing, especially foreshadowing ill; ominous.
2. Marvelous; prodigious; wonderful; as, a beast of portentous size.
3. Pompous.

Gracious!

11 Year Old Charged With DUI

She was arrested right by my parents beach house...

On Family

Family is a weird thing.

From birth, you’re placed into this unit of people and told to love them because they are your blood – and because family is all you really have in this world. These people, to whom you are inexplicably tied, come to your major life events, share your holidays, and perhaps, know your deepest family skeletons. They are people who you might not get along with, might not like and might not want to love. But for some reason, you do.

That being said, my mom’s mom and I were never close. She was always cold, brusque, and more than often, curt. She never read to me, never let me curl up on the couch with her and never cooked the dinners she knew I would like. She was vain, opinionated and always stubborn. I begged my parents to not leave me alone with her. It was always awkward and boring.

Though it may seem this way, my grandma has not passed away, at least not physically. She has Alzheimer’s and has slowly been slipping from my family’s grip for a little over two years.

The degenerative process didn’t start the way they say. Loosing keys, forgetting names, and places. She forgot weird things, like how to use the phone, the microwave and the oven. We would call her on the phone, talk for a bit and at some point, she would set the phone down, and walk off calling your name…trying to find you.

One hot, Alabama summer day, she trapped rambunctious children in her storage room. She said they were running through her yard, trampling her flowers and needed to be taught a lesson. At least that’s what she thought. My aunt rushed over to her house, ran from her car, swung open the storage room door and found not one child.

She would talk to you normally, then look to your side, and ask Fred what he thought, or ask you to take a look at Fred, look at him napping. Fred was my grandpa who died when I was in fourth grade. Being alone with her at this point was far from boring as it had been in my younger years, now it was just far too creepy.

The mind is a scary and wonderful thing.

Recently, she slipped into what can be likened to a coma-like state. She’s alive and doing all of the needed bodily functions on her own. But she rarely opens her eyes, she never sits up, and when she speaks, it is barely audible or understandable.

On the way to the beach last week, the Genius wanted to know the reasons behind my desire to see my grandma. What I came up with made me feel confused. I wanted to go and see her, but why?

Was it for me? Yeah. I’m not sure that I would be okay with myself having passed through the very town she was in, and not stopped. And honestly, there was a little part of me that was curious. Was she really as bad as my mom had said?

Was it for her? Sure. If there was any glimmer of hope that she was in there, somewhere in the depths of her mind, I wanted her to know that her family was there. Loving her, supporting her, and praying for her.

Because that’s what family does, that’s what we’re here for.

We may not get along and we may not have chosen the individuals that make up our unit, but this is who we have. The members of our families represent our pasts and our futures.

We are tied to these people as we are tied to no one else in this world. Sure, you can leave them…but they will always be there in your history and I can pretty much guarantee that you will always think of them, be it fondly or not.

Picture of the Week

The other competitor's face is priceless...simply priceless.

Really big time capsule found...

ABC news reports,

"...Among other things, the capsule contained membership lists for the 1937 school board, an American Legion post, the Masonic Lodge, the Methodist Church and a band that played at that year's Kansas State Fair. It also held copies of the Kiowa County Progressive Signal and the Greensburg News."

Really? The time capsule contained the Masonic lodge, the Methodist church and an entire band?? That surely is amazing!

Update: I just reread the above article that I was making fun of...and, well - I am reading it correctly now. They found membership lists from those places! GOT it. I don't see how that's something so great that it should be included in a time capsule, though. Oh well. Call me crazy.

Bizarre Quote...

"They went to sleep in a manure pit but woke up in Heaven."

Manure deaths called baffling...

Don't Lie...

You know this is the coolest thing you've ever seen. Yeah, the coolest...

Two words...

Google Pedometer

On the left column, click "Usage Instructions". I needed the help; you might not.

Women in Art

Okay, maybe it's because I'm in love with art history - but this video is absolutely the coolest...

Flugtag - Don't Miss It!

Flugtag's free...fun...and well, free. What else do you want from me??

Gates open at 11:00.
First flight is at 1:00.

See you there!

Britain's Got Talent...

Seriously, if you can watch this without getting misty eyed...well, that's just sad...

Good night, sleep tight...

I was tagged by LeBlanc in a meme to create a list of six things I do before heading off to sleep. While this changes drastically depending on my sleeping location/situation at the time…this is my "alone" routine.

First I feed the beast….Mr. Darcy. God forbid, that little devil run low on food or water during the night because I will be woken up…bitten…and aggravated until I go into the kitchen to feed him.

Second I decide if I want to sleep sans apparel…or sleep in my pjs. If I decide to sleep sans apparel, I skip to the third step. If I decide to sleep in my pjs, I pick out what I want to wear…shorts, t-shirt, tank top, negligee…cough…just kidding.

Third I’ve got all the bathroom duties to do. Brush my teeth, floss, gargle and rinse. I wash my face, put on some moisturizers so that I don’t look too old, too fast and then I go to the bathroom in hopes of heading off a trip to the loo in the middle of the night.

Forth I get a glass of water to take with me to bed and take my vitamins. By the way, the GNC Hair, Skin and Nails formula…oh, it pretty much rocks my world. That’s right. My entire world. I believe I have told everyone I know this, but I used to have these ridges on my fingernails and I knew, from diligent research, it was from some vitamin deficiency. Though, I couldn’t figure out which one! Even the Centrum Performance wasn’t enough to get rid of them. Oh…those dang ridges were no match for the GNC Hair, Skin and Nails formula! Freakin’ miracle drug, that’s what it is.

Fifth I settle in for a good read. I like to read a fiction and a non-fiction at the same time. Right now, I am reading The Memory of Running and Reefer Madness. They are both good…and recommended.

Sixth …I turn on the fan that sits on my nightstand, put some chapstick on, and well...turn out the light...

My mom read my blog...

...you know, the one about decisions. Well, she had a few things to say, tried to post them but couldn't quite get the knack of posting a comment down...

Well, ladies and gentlemen, here is my mom's response to "Decisions". I have the best mom...ever (Hi, mom!).

"First and foremost, in this life, the only life we will have, I want you to be incredibly happy, self fulfilled, motivated, assured of your decisions, creative, and, believe that no matter which route you chose, as long as you are happy, that I will be completely happy. And, that will be because you have found yourself and are satisfied within yourself. After all, that is what happiness is. It's not how much money you make, but, if you are happy in doing what you do in life and with the money you make can you do the things that bring you happiness. It's a blend.

And, as to having children...that is absolutely personal. Not everyone can be a mother, or do a good job at it, or even want to be. I don't believe when I was in my teens Iwas ever even asked that question or even considered whether or not I did or did not want to be a mother...I just was. It was just there, maybe, even expected. I don't know, I just never really thought about it. However, later, I did. I wanted to be a mother...it was a choice, a decision. I know I made the right choice...because you are here. And, oh, how I love you. But, I will assuredly not be disappointed if you choose not to have children in any fashion..that is your choice. I love you just the way you are. With or without grandchildren. That is truly how I feel.

And, if you were a barrista... were happy, taught yoga , lived your dream, were safe, and I could be a part of your life that would make me complete. That is truly how I feel. I want you to feel free to be you. That is why I value education so much. It helps you to see "outside the box"; to find out what is in this huge wonderful world that I have no clue of; to teach me new and wonderful things....we are never too old to learn, to create, to change...never.

I am happy that you found role models that establish interesting concepts to be included in the person you are...just me would have never been enough. I knew from an early age that you were going to be and are gifted and that I could only go so far with what I knew. You know so much and are growing smarter every day...and, I hope to learn as much as I can from you. I do believe we will always learn from one another. Maybe in different ways. I have been many places in my lifetime...and learned a lot from just living...that you can't get from a book. And, you have been places I have not been....so, we both learn. Everyday."

The Luckiest

Have you ever had that one song, poem, quote…that one thing that was able to put into words…that was able to capture the essence of what you’ve felt, what you’ve bumbled though…what you want?

That’s the way the song “The Luckiest” by Ben Folds is to me. I’ve always loved it, but rediscovered it when I found my CD stashed away in a box from when I moved.

Anyway, my favorite parts of the lyrics follow. Enjoy!

I don't get many things right the first time
In fact, I am told that a lot
Now I know all the wrong turns, the stumbles and falls
Brought me here
And where was I before the day
That I first saw your lovely face?
Now I see it everyday
And I know
That I am
The luckiest

And in a wide sea of eyes
I see one pair that I recognize
And I know
That I am
The luckiest

I love you more than I have ever found a way to say to you
Next door there's an old man who lived to his nineties
And one day passed away in his sleep
And his wife; she stayed for a couple of days
And passed away
I'm sorry, I know that's a strange way to tell you that I know we belong
That I know
That I am
The luckiest

Never wonder about a song's meaning again...

Browse by song title and artist...it's pretty much awesome and it's made my day.

Ruth Graham passes away

Now, I haven't followed her life and I don't know much about her; however, watching her story this morning and listening to who she was and how she will be remembered touched my heart.

Watch the story here and here.

Billy Graham - "I am so grateful to the Lord that He gave me Ruth, and especially for these last few years we’ve had in the mountains together. We’ve rekindled the romance of our youth, and my love for her continued to grow deeper every day. I will miss her terribly and look forward even more to the day I can join her in Heaven.”

Ruth was asked in an interview with Diane Sawyer back in the 90's about the secret to her marital success. She responded that a Chinese writer once wrote that "In the West (America), marriage starts at a boil and gradually cools. In the East, marriage starts cool and gradually reaches a boil."

Perhaps that was their secret.

Browsing around Border's

And I saw some interesting books I thought I would share.


Three Cups of Tea (Greg Mortenson)

Some failures lead to phenomenal successes, and this American nurse's unsuccessful attempt to climb K2, the world's second tallest mountain, is one of them. Dangerously ill when he finished his climb in 1993, Mortenson was sheltered for seven weeks by the small Pakistani village of Korphe; in return, he promised to build the impoverished town's first school, a project that grew into the Central Asia Institute, which has since constructed more than 50 schools across rural Pakistan and Afghanistan. Coauthor Relin recounts Mortenson's efforts in fascinating detail, presenting compelling portraits of the village elders, con artists, philanthropists, mujahideen, Taliban officials, ambitious school girls and upright Muslims Mortenson met along the way. As the book moves into the post-9/11 world, Mortenson and Relin argue that the United States must fight Islamic extremism in the region through collaborative efforts to alleviate poverty and improve access to education, especially for girls. Captivating and suspenseful, with engrossing accounts of both hostilities and unlikely friendships, this book will win many readers' hearts. Publisher's Weekly

Rebecca's Tale (Sally Beauman)

April 1951. It has been twenty years since the death of Rebecca, the hauntingly beautiful first wife of Maxim de Winter, and twenty years since Manderley, the de Winter family's estate, was destroyed by fire. But Rebecca's tale is just beginning.

Colonel Julyan, an old family friend, receives an anonymous package concerning Rebecca. An inquisitive young scholar named Terence Gray appears and stirs up the quiet seaside hamlet with questions about the past and the close ties he soon forges with the Colonel and his eligible daughter, Ellie. Amid bitter gossip and murky intrigue, the trio begins a search for the real Rebecca and the truth behind her mysterious death. Book Description.

For those of us who have read and loved Rebecca, this looks like the book for us!

Decisions

I caught up with my friend Tiffany last night and we talked about many of the issues that concern (see also - bother) us on a regular basis.

As women, we are stuck in very difficult situations. We are forced, rather encouraged, to consider so many different and conflicting influences before making decisions that concern our lives. The key word there is our lives. The decisions that I choose are mine and mine only. At least at this juncture…

Whatever we, as women, choose to do is met by scrutiny, admonishment and scorn by one side or another. If I choose to get married, I am subscribing to archaic rules and values. Wasn’t I aware that women could make it solo? Perhaps I was, but didn’t want to go it alone…perhaps I wanted someone to share it with a long the way. And if I don’t want to get married, well, then naturally I am a career-ambitious bitch who doesn’t value family or family values.

Then there is the issue of children. Do I want them? Does he? If I decide I don’t want them and he does, is that a deal breaker? I tested the waters the other night while having dinner with my mom and dad.

“I don’t think I want to have kids,” I said to my mom.

“Sure you do, sweetheart! You’ve always wanted kids!”

“Yeah, I did. But I was younger then. Maybe I’m just not cut out for them. What if I’m a bad mom? And isn’t the world already populated enough?”

“Sarah, you’ll want kids when the time comes. You’re just in a phase right now.”

Yeah…that’s it, I’m in a phase. I think what she meant was, “Sarah, you’ll want to have kids…because I want you to have kids…and I’m your mother and mother knows best…”

Perhaps.

I don’t know. It sometimes just seems that no matter what side I choose, someone winds up disappointed. And I wonder, why can’t people just back out or pitch in and just make the decisions for me.

It would be a lot easier.

Sometimes I long for a simpler time. When there was only one car, a Ford, and it only came in one color, black. A time when women got married and had children early and they were “happy”…at least on the surface.

But I think they were happy. I think, maybe they didn’t know any different…maybe they didn’t know they were unhappy. Being married and having kids was what they were supposed to do and that was supposed to make them happy. They didn’t have a choice. The grass can’t be greener on the other side if another side doesn’t exist, right?

These days women actually have to figure out what makes them happy amid swirls of dissension. Thanks, women’s lib! Thanks a lot.

And this makes me think about my job and what I do, toiling day in and day out over what really are absolute frivolities.

I work to have money because I am scared to be poor. I work five days a week so that I have money to do something on the two days that I have off. I am working to contribute to the “system” because that is what I am supposed to do…this is what is supposedly good and respectful.

So then I think, what I really want to do is finish my degree, move to Seattle, work in a coffee shop and be a yoga instructor.

But I’m told I am too educated for that now. Silly me, here I was thinking that getting a Master’s degree would open up more doors.

I don’t want to be “wealthy”, I just want to have enough money to do the things that I want to do…to afford the things I want to afford. That’s it. I want to be comfortable and happy. I don’t think that’s too much to ask for, really.

I look up to my philosophy professor from Belmont. She never told us much about her personal life, so what I know about her, I have pieced together to make my ideal Dr. O.

She is in her 40’s or 50’s, never married but had, in her life, encountered and possessed many loves. She has no children and this sometimes creates a void, but she knows that if she truly wanted a child, she could have one.

She has a fantastic body, one that has not by spoiled by age and unhappiness. Life hasn’t gotten the best of her, her spirit or her body.

Which is more than I can say for people half her age.

She has fabulous salt and pepper hair and doesn’t attempt to hide it with colorings and dyes. She expects people to understand and accept her for who she is…not for the person she used to be or wish she would become.

Dr. O taught me that the important questions in life, the questions worth asking, are the ones you can’t answer. The questions that dig deep into your soul and, upon investigating, allow you to discover who you truly are.

For some reason, to me, she embodied both the conservative and the modern view of women. Somehow she was able to reconcile them both…in theory and in practice.

I think what made that possible is that she had found who she was, who she wasn’t and, in turn, was infinitely happy.

It might be the best day of my life...

A screaming Paris was sent back to prison today to serve her original 45-day (minus the "five" days she has already served) sentence.

Praise be to the LA court system; my faith has been restored!

Here's a round up for your reading pleasure -
The Superficial
I Don't Like You in That Way
TMZ
MSN
Yahoo
CNN

Spelling Bee Champion

Om. My. Gosh. That poor anchor woman! Seriously, I feel so bad for laughing because I have the distinct feeling that this kid might be mentally handicapped. But then again, he's a good speller. Is there a disability that makes one a phenom speller...but by all other accounts...act like an idiot? Or is he just socially awkward because he's home schooled?

Awesome Nationwide Ad

Location: Downtown Columbus, OH

I'm assuming those cars below the giant ad are part of the whole thing, but like the site the photo links to, I kinda want them to be innocent bystanders' cars.

From my visit to Columbus last year, I believe this is the building that had a giant poster of a young Fabio pictured in a romance novel sort of way. On the other tower was the old Fabio. Here's the video.

The Nationwide "Life Comes at You Fast" campaign is pretty awesomely clever.

What you reading this summer?

Having trouble deciding? Let your favorite authors give you a hand...

See what books they're reading, have read, and loved in this NY Times article.

Border's Coupon - 20% off!

Did you know?

"Bonobos share 98 percent of their DNA with humans -- they also apparently share a love of decaf caramel machiatos."

Oh yeah, and they can also communicate clearly...

There's a video after the jump from the interview with John Berman (ABC reporter) and Kanzi.

Awesome.

Scary!

Google can see you and so can everyone on the internet...

Are you kidding me?

Two stories that infuriate me:

First - A lawsuit brought on by a woman that slipped in a puddle of vomit at Wal-Mart. She's suing the company because she allegedly "suffered serious neck and upper back injuries in the fall and has undergone several surgeries and is unable to work."

Puh -Leeze! She slipped in vomit. I'm not doubting that Medema wasn't injured...and I'm not doubting that the fall didn't hurt her ego. But come on...surgery! To repair what exactly?! And unable to work? Come on...

Two - Some people just don't learn. A New Mexico man is charged with his 28th DWI offense. 28th!! He had 27 DWI offenses with 14 convictions before this current arrest. Someone please tell me why this man is still on the road and not behind bars? Ha - well, I guess he is behind bars...but I mean the bars of the steel/prison variety.

He parked his car, fell out of his truck, failed to complete the field sobriety tests and, consequently, refused to take the breathalyzer.

I think the criminal court system has failed the citizens of Albuquerque, New Mexico.

Political Ideologies

Libertarian, Centrist, Conservative, Liberal, or Big Government?

Where do you stand?

Dining Diva

So, I was tagged in this dining meme by LeBlanc (and also promised the Exception), and I'm with him...I don't really know what a meme is, but I'm willing to give it a shot...Here we go!

The rules are as follows:

1. Add a direct link to your post below the name of the person who tagged you. Include the city/state and country that you are in.

Nicole (Sydney, Australia)
velverse (Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia)
LB (San Giovanni in Marignano, Italy)
Selba (Jakarta, Indonesia)
Olivia (London, England)
ML (Utah, USA)
Lotus (Toronto, Canada)
tanabata (Saitama, Japan)
Andi (Dallas [ish], Texas, USA)
Todd (Lousiville, Kentucky, USA)
miss kendra (Los Angeles, California, USA)
Jiggs Casey (Berkeley, California, USA)
Tits McGee (New England, USA)
Joe (NE Tennessee, USA)
10K Monkeys (Chattanooga, Tennessee, USA)
Big Stupid Tommy (Athens, Tennessee, USA)
Newscoma (Weakley County, Tennessee, USA)
Finnspace (Springfield, Tennessee, USA)
LeBlanc (Lewisburg, Tennessee, USA)
I Am DisHeartened by My Jetta (Nashville, TN, USA)

2. List out your top five favorite places to eat at your location.

Phew - Top five?! There are a lot of really good restaurants here in Nashville (I think). The ones that I frequent most aren't necessarily the ones that I like the most. So, humm....

In no particular order my list is as follows:

1. Virago - Such good sushi! Good martinis, too! Monday's are half-priced sushi and martinis. Go then...but tip to the unaware, make reservations ahead of time...you'll need them on Monday's. Oh...and I'm not sure but there is some dress code. Guys can't wear hats or something like that. Don't quote me here...but I think that's right.

2. J. Alexander's - If you can't find something on their menu that suits your fancy...then you're too hard to please. They have a fantastic veggie/black bean burger that even non-vegetarians will like and their spaghetti squash is killer too. For dessert, they have a Snicker's pie thing that will make you wanna smack your mama.

3. Jasmine - One of my mom's favorite restaurants and recently one of mine, Jasmine serves fantastic and creative French-Thai cuisine. The standard Wonton Soup and Pad Thai are phenomenal! Beginner's Tip - Go at lunch when the meals are considerably cheaper and you get soup and an egg roll to boot.

4. Rosepepper Cantina - Located in East Nashville, this trendy "Mexican" restaurant has loads of character. And they have the best fish tacos and margaritas in town. Seriously, don't argue with me on this...it's true. They are the best.

5. Christopher Pizza Co. - Have to include fellow a Belmont grad in here! Christopher's has crazy pizzas if you like to try something a little different and it's located in a prime spot...right on Demonbruen. Awesomeness. Grab a beer, order a dish, sit back and people watch on their porch while live music plays most nights.

3. Tag up to 5 other people, preferably in other states or countries.

Kerpupples - I'm going to Denver in June/July and I need the dish (if you will ) on some good places to go!
BB - Sure, she's in NashVegas...but whatever.
Michael - Sure, he's in Nashville too...
Salmon Pants - Okay I really need to get around more...another Nashville blogger.
The Biscuits - I hear you are the person to go to for restaurant info and I need somewhere new to crave!

Three Thanks

1. TCBY - Man that place is delish. I love their soft serve, White Chocolate with Reese's Peanut Butter Cups. Sure, it makes the 96% fat free not so...ah hem, 96% fat free...but you know, I have to live a little. And let's be honest, they never go too crazy on loading me up with toppings anyway.

The hand scooped, Cookies and Cream is pretty freakin' good too. Just so you know...for future trips. I actually had a dream that a TCBY was being built next to where I work. Oh, that be dangerous. Dangerous, delicious and fantabulous.

2. Gmail Chat - Possibly the best invention ever for the 8-5 desk slave. Not the computer, not the fax machine, no...Gmail Chat. It's like AIM only they (read, Big Brother) can't really know that I'm chatting away. At least...I don't think they know...

Oh dear God...perhaps I have made a careless error in judgement...perhaps Big Brother can read all of my chats...

Nah. I'm pretty sure I'm safe...Plus, if not...I'll go drown my sorrows in TCBY. All will be well with the world.

3. Books - I think I have posted before about my sometimes bizarre, almost fetish, with books. There is just something about the way they smell...the pages' texture between my fingers...that just keeps me coming back for more.

Sure, I love reading the books. Sure, I love the development of plot, story lines, underlying meanings, and the association and familiarity I feel with the characters at the end of a satisfying novel.

But I love the physical aspects of the novel just as much. The cover design. The look, the feel, the smell. And the way that certain books are bound. You know, when you open it and it makes that lovely crinkle sound? Ahhh, I love that.

I just finished a book and have started The Memory of Running by Ron McLarty. Has anyone read this? Have any book suggestions? I have the summer off from school and a lot of books to be readin'! Hook me up with your favorites!

What are your morals?

And what do those morals say about you?

Find out what your core moral values are and how those relate to your political ideology, whether you are a socially dominate individual, and what you find disgusting and how that relates to your morals at YourMorals.org.

Pretty interesting if I do say so myself!

The Sanctity of Death

I'm not sure I understand some people's obsession with ensuring the respectful treatment of bodies post death. While I agree that bodies should not be treated willy-nilly, dumped and degraded, I also believe that people should be able to do with their bodies what they see fit. I don't see how individuals' views that this form of...well...body disposal...is "trivial, disrespectful and voyeuristic" should be of concern when I make my arrangements.

Honestly, I don't see how this is any more disrespectful than draining all the blood out of someone, pumping them with toxins, locking them into a little box, and then digging a hole six feet in the ground and throwing them in it to be slowly eaten and dissolved.

Is that really better? I'm just saying...

As for "trivial, disrespectful and voyeuristic", my thoughts are these:

If it is so trivial, why care?

I've already addressed the disrespectful aspect.

And voyeuristic? Heck yes it's voyeuristic! But I think more than anything it's curiosity. Death is a natural human fear and it's only natural to be curious about it. Some people choose to confront their fears by facing them (literally, in this case), to learn about them; and some people (like my mom) choose to turn a blind eye to them...hoping that, you know, death won't really happen to them.

From the USA Today article I linked to above, a lady is quoted saying that her "major objection stems from the belief that there's an innate dignity to humans that extends to our bodies. Anything that denigrates our bodies by commercializing them I'm opposed to."

An "innate dignity to humans that extends to our bodies"? I hate to think that this is true, but I feel that a lot of times, people are treated better and are more highly revered in death than they are in life. Before we can say that there is an "innate dignity to humans that extends to our bodies" why don't we try treating people with dignity and respect while they are actually living?

To end my argument, another lady is quoted stating why she has chosen to donate her body to plastination:

"The body is just a vessel. This is just what I have in this life."

Sums it up pretty good, I think.

What are your thoughts?

Degradation, disrespect?

Also, as an aside, if you are interested in this or have morbid curiosity, you should read the book Stiff by Mary Roach. It's an awesome and hilarious read.