Sewmouse the Iconoclast

The Tyrant George W. Bush has repeatedly tried to brainwash and manipulate the general public - no more so than with his multitudinous "Constitutional Ammendment" proposals (more than ANY other President in history) - surprising, since he has been quoted as calling the Constitution of the United States "just a goddamn piece of paper"!!

One of his many obfuscations has been the proposed "Flag Burning Ammendment". From what I gather, it would become a criminal act - indeed, a FELONY - to "desecrate" the flag of the United States of America.

Most Americans are proud of their country. They are proud of it's heritage, and the symbol of both the country and it's heritage to them is it's flag. Note the word SYMBOL - it is relevant.

You see - although many men feel they have "fought" for the flag, I am certain beyond any reasonable doubt that the VAST majority of these men did not fight for a rather visually disappointing and patchwork piece of cloth - or in many cases now, plastic or polyester. What these men fought for - what countless of their brothers and fathers and other family members died for - was not the SYMBOL - but that for which the symbol STANDS. The Constitution of the United States (that goddamn piece of paper, according to GWB). The country, it's people, it's ideals. For heaven's sake, it can't POSSIBLY be for it's flag - because then the question arises - WHICH flag? There have been SIXTEEN US Flags - from the first one that Betsy Ross cobbled together from her quilting scrap stash













to the 50-star version currently in use.















But in the end - no matter which of these SYMBOLS we discuss/desecrate/deride or revere, the fact of the matter is - it is just a SYMBOL.

Just as the numeral 1 is a symbol for the quantity of a single instance of an item, or the first instance in a group of items, so too, the flag is just a SYMBOL.

These very words you read are symbols. They are symbols that represent the sounds of the words that represent the ideas I espouse. You can burn my words - but you cannot destroy my ideas by doing so.

If I tear a flag - it does not tear the Constitution, nor the country, nor it's people.
If I burn a flag - it does not burn the Constitution, nor the country, nor it's people.

Destroying or hurting the SYMBOL does nothing to the real thing. If our country is so fragile, so delicate, so WEAK that the desecration of it's SYMBOL can destroy the country, then we seriously have a LOT more wrong with our country than simply a few nutjobs who want to burn or pee on the flag.

In fact, having a President who considers the FOUNDATION of our country - it's Constitution - something he TWICE SWORE TO UPHOLD AND DEFEND AGAINST ALL ENEMIES, FOREIGN AND DOMESTIC - to be "just a goddamn piece of paper" seems to me to be MUCH more dangerous than simply having a SYMBOL spit upon.

Support our troops and our Country and it's Constitution - IMPEACH BUSH

The Rocket's Red Glare

Ah, the joy of not having to leave home to see a fireworks display. Not only are the township "official" fireworks visible from my window, but some kind soul gave us an "unofficial" (Illegal!!) fireworks display right outside my bedroom window. Until about 2 a.m.

The cats are nervous wrecks. When even Kili will crawl into my lap and demand pets, you know it's bad! Fortunately, they are banned from the bedroom (they chew cords, and I think I have an allergy) - so they weren't on top of me all night as well.

You know, sometimes I feel like Fate doesn't much like me. Susan is up here to visit this weekend - but she has to go back tomorrow so she's home for a Dr. visit on Friday. FRIDAY - which is when Pirates of the Caribbean II comes out. PHOOEY I would have loved to go to that one with her. Guess I'll be solo-ing it again. Oh well. Movie popcorn tastes the same solo or duo. We will probably go out to dinner or something tonite instead. She wanted to go bowling, but I dont' think I could handle that anymore. I'd probably put my back out. Still have the bowling ball somewhere in the garage, though....

I should. I should just go bowling now and again. I like it. I just don't ever do it anymore. So many things I don't do anymore. *sigh*

I just saw on Yahoo that Ken Lay died. Another one I'm having trouble mustering up any real greif over. That man was evil, he destroyed so much with his greed and dishonesty. Ken Lay is one of many that epitomize the abuses the Bush Regime has inflicted on our country. I knew that a Bush presidency was a bad thing before he even stole the first election in 2000. I had no idea it would be THIS bad.

Global... WHAT?

It's been so darn cold here the last few nights...

Global warming my ass.
In fact - my ass would appreciate a bit of warm weather. It was farking COLD last nite. It's almost the 4th of July - someone wanna remind the Weatherbunny about that????

What would YOU do?

Imagine if you will, the following scenario (taken from a REAL incident):

Your sister (brother, father, uncle - pick a relative) asks you to pick up something for them at the store and promises to reimburse you for it. As it so happens, the amount is EXACTLY $100.00 and said relative writes you a check for that amount.

The next day you take this check to the bank and cash it, the cashier gives you the money in a little envelope/packet thing, and you check, see there are 10 bills (10 x 10 = 100) and you drive off.

You realize you are out of aspirin, and stop at the Walgreens to pick up a bottle of aspirins, and hand the clerk one of the bills from the packet. The clerk gives you 97 dollars change.

You protest - the clerk shows you the $100 bill that you just handed her.

You check the packet and discover that you do not have 10 $10 bills, but instead you have 10 $100 bills.

What would you do?



As it happens, I know the woman this happened to. I'm proud to say that my friend was honest - immediately called the bank, and the next day had her mother return the $900 that she had been handed in error. I hope I can say I would do the same. I want to say it - and I hope that I wouldn't go the "too bad, so sad" route.

But...

What would YOU do?

Dad sent me this

And I found it somewhat amusing. I thought about KAL while reading the biology-related ones. Enjoy. Or not - as you will.


Exam Answers for the educationally challenged:

Q: Name the four seasons.
A: Salt, pepper, mustard and vinegar.

Q: Explain one of the processes by which water can be made safe to drink.
A: Flirtation makes water safe to drink because it removes large pollutants like grit, sand, dead sheep and canoeists.

Q: How is dew formed?
A: The sun shines down on the leaves and makes them perspire.

Q: How can you delay milk turning sour?
A: Keep it in the cow.

Q: What causes the tides in the oceans?
A: The tides are a fight between the Earth and the Moon. All water tends to flow towards the moon, because there is no water on the moon, and nature hates a vacuum. I forget where the sun joins In this fight.

Q: What are steroids?
A: Things for keeping carpets still on the stairs.

Q: What happens to your body as you age?
A: When you get old, so do your bowels and you get intercontinental.

Q: What happens to a boy when he reaches puberty?
A: He says good-bye to his boyhood and looks forward to his adultery.

Q: Name a major disease associated with cigarettes.
A: Premature death.

Q: How are the main parts of the body categorized? (e.go., abdomen.)
A: The body is consisted into three parts--- the brainium, the borax and the abdominal cavity. The brainium contains the brain; the borax contains the heart and lungs, and the abdominal cavity contains the five bowels, A, E, I, O, and U.

Q: What is the fibula?
A: A small lie.

Q: What does "varicose" mean?
A: Nearby. (I do love this one...)

Q: Give the meaning of the term "Caesarean Section"
A: The Caesarean Section is a district in Rome.

Q: What does the word "benign" mean?'
A: Benign is what you will be after you be eight

Cultural Differences

There was an article on Yahoo yesterday about Saudi women bloggers. It gave some of their websites, and I decided to do a little browsing.

I came across the blog of a woman who calls herself "Jo" - She's 23 yrs. old and lives in Saudi. A very outspoken young lady, one I can identify with for her independent thinking and non-acceptance of the misogynist attitudes of the religious "Sharia" law makers.

In many ways, her liveliness, her attitude, her determination - remind me of Amanda. I'm so glad that I was born here, and that Amanda was as well - where, at least for the time being we enjoy freedom and independence, and do not HAVE to have a man in our lives unless we WANT said man in our lives.

Ok, Croila - I know you read here sometimes

Desperately, DESPERATELY need to start doing something exercise-centric ASAP.

I'm tired of being a slug. I look like Jabba the Hut. Cycling seems like something I can do, especially seeing as I have the bike already. Heck, I have 2 bikes, since Amanda's is still in the garage here.

Ok, so I know you're doing the cycle-to-work thing, which is super admirable, but I don't know how far you travel (one-way). There is no way on this planet I'm gonna be able to do that within the next 2 years or so.

About 12 miles for me, one way, with a lot of "hilly" terrain - even if I got good enough to manage it, I'd need several showers once I got to work to deal with the miasma of sweat and dust and bug parts.

So how since I know that you and Waterspout are doing a bit of a "partners" thing - do tell, how much did you start with? How far did you go? How hilly is it where you live? I need more inspiration, Girl!!

Weekends

Weekends aren't long enough. They need to be 2 days but 2 days with like 40 hours each.

I guess if I would be good and do stuff DURING the week, this whole weekend thing would be less oppressive, but meh.

Tonite dinner will be a small steak, asparagus, saute'd mushrooms and a tiny potato.

Reward for being a good lil' domestic type and finishing my chores.

bleh.

Friday... ahhh

What a lovely day outside. I've already accomplished a ton at home, and a lot here at the office too.

I hope I can keep up the momentum once I get home tonite. I'd love to get myself set up with a lot of chores behind me come Monday.

Also want to get me some quilting done, and some piecing too. I've got this idea...
*wink*

Hopefully in a few months, I'll have a very pretty delicate lace tablecloth for my bedroom endtable. I wish I could use it in the livingroom, but Mindi and Kili wouldn't let me. It promises to be as wonderful as the one Grandma Rennhack used to have on the small round table in the livingroom (I have the table, it's in MY livingroom - but until the cats are gone, no lace tablecloths!!)

I want an aspidistra. I gotta find someplace that sells them.

Well, he's off and running - soon, if not already. Kal, a super-long-time friend (watched him grow up online.. *smile*) has started his classes to become a part of the Ambulance Service...

Good luck, Kal, take bajillions (exact number) of photos!!

They're wrapping houses near mine in Tyvek, then covering them with aluminum siding. I am ambivalent about aluminum siding. Part of me thinks it would be awesome - especially the no more peeling and cracking bad paint jobs, part of me does not want my fence screwed up and my flower garden trampled by construction workers.

I need to remember to take the lemonade powder mix out of my car trunk (boot to you UK'ers). Someone remind me, k?

Thanks.

Movie Reviews!

Went to see "The DaVinci Code" yesterday. Good movie. I recommend.

Only a few things were not to my taste.

Tom Hanks is an excellent actor. He does, however, have a VERY distinctive voice. When he was just moving, or "doing" things, he was completely believeable. Every time he opened his mouth and spoke - *wham* - Tom Hanks.

Same thing with the "Grail expert" guy. Great acting... but... He's Gandalf.

Sorta blows the "total immersion" effect for me. Also, during the obligatory "car chase" scene, Ron Howard uses the annoying "hi-tech quick-flash, strobe" type effect to indicate speed. I hate that effect. It annoys me, rather than places me in a more "real" sensation.

Other than that, I really liked the effects and the way the plot of the movie synched with the book. Great adaptation.

As for the subject matter? Well - I don't discuss that crap. It's an interesting work of fiction. The author ACKNOWLEDGES it as a work of fiction in the front of the book. Those folks who choose to take offense are... IMNSHO - Morons.

But then, I am, if naught else - an Iconoclast at heart.