Lady Sheherazahde's Journal

The Severson's came up to give me 5lbs of honey (for Dwarf Bread!) and retrieve their TV remote that I inadvertently took when I was down there.

I took them to Garcia's to see if it met their Southwestern standards for Mexican food. It got their Seal of Approval. It was not too spicy for Queenie while still looking and tasting like the Mexican food they are accustomed too. And, as I promised them, most of the staff doesn't speak English. IDK had chicken fingers and french fries. Children like him are why chicken fingers and french fries are on the menu. My chili relleno was unusually hot today. It has not been so hot in the past, I will have to specify mild sauce next time.

We tried three deserts. The sopapilla was more of a fried flour tortilla than a puff pastry, but it was sprinkled with sugar, cinnamon, and honey so it's all good. (Was sopapilla the thing B and I had last time we went there? If so it was totally different this time.) The Flan was rich and creamy but I prefer it without cinnamon. The deep fried cheesecake was ... a piece of cheesecake wrapped in a flour tortilla and deep fried, served with a scoop of vanilla ice cream and whipped cream.

I requested "Angels in America" after having a very good experience with "The Laramie Project". "The Laramie Project" was great. "Angels in America" is heavy handed, pedantic, and dated. I just couldn't get into it.

"Meet Dave" is a mostly harmless children's movie. An alien spaceship full of tiny human shaped aliens comes to earth in search of a missing probe that has been found by a young boy. The aliens learn about love and other human emotions from the boy's widowed mother and the boy learns that it is OK to be different. And everyone lives happily ever after. There are some sub plots about a mutiny among the alien crew and two police officers tracking the alien ship. But there is nothing new here.

There are lots of silly scenes involving little people in oversized environments. Children will probably find this amusing. I would say it is safe to put in the DVD player on a rainy day to keep the children amused.

Liberal parents might be offended by a Gay alien who is a Flaming Queen. Conservative parents might be offended by a Flaming Queen being presented as a good thing. There are also two potty jokes and a fart joke. I'm not into potty humor but the jokes did not disgust me.

So, Mostly Harmless.

from typographer

Wonderful animation of what it's like to read a good book.
New Zealand Book Council: Going West

This so cool.

The Atlas of True Names reveals the etymological roots, or original meanings, of the familiar terms on today's maps of the World, Europe, the British Isles and the United States.

For instance, where you would normally expect to see the Sahara indicated, the Atlas gives you "The Tawny One", derived from Arab. es-sahra “the fawn coloured, desert”.

The 'True Names' of 3000 cities, countries, rivers, oceans and mountain ranges are displayed on these four fascinating maps, each of which includes a comprehensive index of derivations.

The Atlas of True Names restores an element of enchantment to the world we all think we know so well.
It takes the reader on a journey into the unknown – a unique exploration of uncharted territory in that familiar place we all know as ‘home’.

Take a look at the world through fresh eyes!

You can buy the maps from Amazon
Atlas of True Names - World Map
Atlas of True Names - British Isles Map
Atlas of True Names - Europe Map

I got this from crowleycrow

Tanner Ian Snyder Wootton
born 11-30-09 weight: 7 lb 11 oz.

I recently gave some unsolicited advice to a friend, with no ill affect that I know of. The problem is that now I'm beginning to feel that giving advice is a Good Thing... and that is problematic. I seem to remember that in the past once I start meddling in other people's problems it only leads to drama. So, this is just a reminder to myself to keep my well intentioned "help" to myself if I want to keep my friends.

I was talking to my dad this morning and mentioned this discussion I was having over in the _wicca_ community with fatpie42.

I mentioned the debate between Stephen Fry, Christopher Hitchens, Anne Widdecombe, and Archbishop John Onaiyekan. Particularly the part when Christopher Hitchens said "If the Catholic Church isn't always right what good is it." My Father pointed out that the same thing could be said about Science. I was happy! A few months ago I tried to make that point at a gathering down at the Serverson's and I felt like an Atheist who had wondered into a Baptist picnic. Everyone jumped on me to explain why Science was always right.

The point I was trying to make is that Science is always right today. Today Science has the Truth and can prove it and anyone who doesn't believe it is an idiot. But they don't seem to remember that today's Proven Truth is tomorrow's Discredited Theory that you would have to be an idiot to believe.

Anyway, it was really nice to find out that my Dad understands what I'm talking about.

Miss Manners, Wednesday, December 2, 2009

Dear Miss Manners:

My partner and I adopted a child three years ago. He has become a happy, silly, active, loving child.

When we were going through the adoption process, the topic of being a "conspicuous family" was discussed. As two men with a child, we fall into that category.

Several times over the last couple of years, we have been verbally attacked. Twice we have been in a grocery store when someone informed us that we were not a "real family." On one of these situations, we were even told that we were condemned to hell!

Another time, when I was having breakfast out with our son, I was discussing children with a woman who was there with two of her own. The conversation was casual and amiable. When I mentioned "my partner" in the conversation, she started shouting at me, "You're evil! You are doing that child a great injustice!"

Our son's birth mother was a heroin and cocaine user during her pregnancy. She had the presence of mind to realize she couldn't take care of him and chose us as his adoptive parents.

We didn't decide to adopt to "save" a child, but the fact is, we will probably be able to give our son a much better life than if he had stayed with his birth mother.

How do we react to these people?

Gentle Reader,

A gentleman of Miss Manners's acquaintance was once subjected to a barrage of unwarranted insults. Outraged on his behalf, she asked why he did not trouble to defend himself.

His reply (and please forgive the inelegance for the sake of vividness) was: "If someone is throwing up on you, you get out of the way. You do not stay around to examine what is coming up."

There is nothing you can say to people who, whatever they may think, see fit to hurl crude insults at you, even in front of your son.

A stiff "I'm sorry you feel that way" is all you can utter before turning your back.

My mom tells me my new nephew was born yesterday. Since my sister Gina didn't actually give birth to him we don't know the details yet. Gina and David should take custody tomorrow. I'll probably get an email. The new baby boy is a full biological brother to their first son, Forrest. So, that's nice.

This is just adorable!

This is a wonderful movie.

Dustin Hoffman plays Mr. Edward Magorium, the 243-year-old owner of the Mr Magorium's Wonder Emporium. He hires an accountant, Henry Weston (played by Jason Bateman), to get his business in order before he "leaves", by which he means "dies". There does not appear to be anything wrong with him, as he explains to Henry he purchased enough shoes to last his whole life and he has reached his last pair. It doesn't really matter why he is dying, everyone dies eventually. His apprentice and store manager Molly Mahoney (played Natalie Portman) does not take the news well. She doesn't want him to go, which is perfectly natural. But doesn't change the fact that he is going. The store itself also doesn't want him to leave and starts turning gray and moping whenever he mentions it.
( cut for possible spoilers )

I tripped in the dark last night and hurt my right elbow. It didn't hurt at the time. But this morning it hurt every time I moved my arm. I went to my doctor and got some x-rays. She thinks it is pulled tendon. I should put some ice on it and not lift things.

Bummer. I will be wincing every time I move for next couple of days. During the hiliday, while I'm visiting my family.

Ok, I just don't get it. This movie won 23 awards. It's kind of slow, and not much happens. It seems to be about lonely dwarf who inherits a train depot, and finds that his friendly neighbors won't leave him alone. I like Joe (the coffee truck guy). And I totally identify with Fin's distrust of people. I get the same thing from strangers and children because of my weight.

It's just not my kind of movie.

Maybe Kaaren would like it.

"The Laramie Project" was very moving.

The Catholic priest came off well. He is someone who really lives his faith. The Protestant minister... not so much.

And the college theater major. I loved that line, when his parents didn't want him acting a gay play but they didn't mind him playing a murderer. That is the way I feel about the Catholic church threatening to end their social services if they have to give health care to same sex couples. They don't mind giving health care to divorced and remarried couples (who Jesus called adulterers) I guess being gay is a more important sin than Adultery.

And there was the woman who didn't understand why people were upset about the Matthew Shepard case or understand the concept of "hate crime". What is so hard to understand, attacking a total stranger because they belong to a group you don't like is different from attacking someone because you had a fight with them or you want to rob them.

The other day on the Thom Hartmann Program he had on a Christian minister who was against government health care, because he does that sort of thing.

Thom brought up what Jesus had to say about helping the poor. The minister had some quote from Paul that he felt was more relevant. Thom felt that Jesus's words should have more weight but the minister countered that no part of the Bible is any more, or less, important than any other part.

What?

Let me get this straight. The One True God, Creator of the Universe, was born on earth and actually talked to people in person but His actual words are less important then the letters of one of his followers, who never actually met Him.

This goes in my list of reasons why I'm not a Christian.

I think "SNL" might be funnier if you watch late at night... while you are high. During the day while sober it is just strange.

Al Gore was interesting. I wasn't sure it was really him at first. They gave him a good couple of skits that worked well with his personality. I particularly liked his spot on Weekend Update.

I think planting trees in people's yards with toy guns taped to them so people will think the forests are coming to get them is a good idea.

Robert Knepper plays Samuel Sullivan on "Heroes"

I just Spotted him in "Murder, She Wrote:The Sound of Murder" (1993) playing music agent Charles George Drexler.

He has a very distinctive face. Great for creepy villains.

Watching "Fringe" and "Flash Forward" feels like something I'm doing because I have to. I'm really not enjoying it.

"Bones" is lot gorier than I remember. But I enjoy it.

And I'm still liking "Community"

Neil Gaiman mentioned watching the latest Doctor Who Special "The Waters of Mars". I won't be able to see it till next year . :-(

I just bought a GIANT Turkey. (22 lbs)
"Why would a single person do that?" I hear you ask.
Because it is $.29/lb and turkey freezes well. At this price I really couldn't pass it up.