"Gun control means being able to hit your target."
This evening, we received a telephone call from the NRA. I doubt the young lady on the line ordinarily expects to hear her affiliation met with racous laughter. However, that's what she got.
Then I explained to her my theory on gun control.
My grandfather was a hunter. He always had rifles and shotguns. Guns were used to hunt for food for the family table. If you shot it, you cleaned it and you ate it.
Grandfather did not have any handguns. He did not like pistols. He said, "A pistol is only good for shooting a person."
And that's my feeling on gun control. Use guns to hunt for food.
One of the problems with this society is that we frown more on eating a dead person than on shooting him in the first place.
'
Wednesday, June 30, 2010
Sunday, June 20, 2010
Nostalgia
I got another one of those e-mails today. You know, the ones that talk about watching Howdey-Doodey and Green stamps, etc, etc, and how wonderful the world was when we were growing up and didn't have viedogames or seat belts.
Remember?
Remember laughing and making fun of the kids who had polio and had to wear heavy braces and akward crutches? We had to put up with them in class because there was nothing wrong with their minds, just their bodies, but face it, most people with disabilities were kept "out of sight"
Remember no seat belts? I remember a girl I had been friends with since first grade, she was a homecoming princess our senior year. Then on Mother's day, the car she was riding in hit an oily patch and spun out. She wasn't wearing a seatbelt. She was still in rehab and didn't get to graduation. She did make it to college. And by then, people in wheelchairs weren't as unusual as when we were in grade school.
Remember getting your tetnus shot on a regular basis? When was the last time any of us did THAT?
Remember the days when (because of illegal red-lining) there were NO minorities of any color in your neighborhood? In California, in the mid-60's four of the largest real estate firms in my area were charged with discrimination. Certain areas were understoon to be "off limits" to minorities. Even if they had cash to pay for the home.
Nostalgia may be a longing for "the way things used to be" Take a hint: They never really were that way.
Remember?
Remember laughing and making fun of the kids who had polio and had to wear heavy braces and akward crutches? We had to put up with them in class because there was nothing wrong with their minds, just their bodies, but face it, most people with disabilities were kept "out of sight"
Remember no seat belts? I remember a girl I had been friends with since first grade, she was a homecoming princess our senior year. Then on Mother's day, the car she was riding in hit an oily patch and spun out. She wasn't wearing a seatbelt. She was still in rehab and didn't get to graduation. She did make it to college. And by then, people in wheelchairs weren't as unusual as when we were in grade school.
Remember getting your tetnus shot on a regular basis? When was the last time any of us did THAT?
Remember the days when (because of illegal red-lining) there were NO minorities of any color in your neighborhood? In California, in the mid-60's four of the largest real estate firms in my area were charged with discrimination. Certain areas were understoon to be "off limits" to minorities. Even if they had cash to pay for the home.
Nostalgia may be a longing for "the way things used to be" Take a hint: They never really were that way.
Tuesday, May 25, 2010
Immigration: A Modest Proposal
No, no, I'm NOT doing a re-write of Swift for this (although I once posited that if you could re-write his essay, substituting 'welfare' for Irish, a large number of newspaper readers would not recognize it). And yes, I have said that if the stands in Nevada and Arizona that sell "Alien Jerkey" were to re-image their little, green icons, it might make some illegal immigrants think twice; but no, I'm not proposing cannabilism.
Why do immigrants come to this country?
Because it is better here than where they are coming from. Why is it better here? Because here, they can find work that pays enough that they can live and in many instances, send money home to their families.
Why can they find work in this country?
They take jobs many people in this country are not willing to do.
Why are people here unwilling to do these jobs? In many cases it is because there are no benefits, unsafe or unplesant working conditions, no overtime pay, no sick leave, and similar matters. Why? Because the employers have found that illegals are willing to work under these conditions, will not report the employer to the Labor, Health, of Safety departments that would monitor these conditions, and because of their illgal status, will not protest unfair, or unsafe working conditions.
By using illgal workers, the employer can under-bid other employers who provide safe working conditions and pay full wages.
My point? There is a huge incentive for large employers to continue the current situation. The problem is not the "day-labor" pick-ups at the corner. The problem is not the woman who cleans houses. The problem is large employers.
Check construction sites for large developments (I know, I know, there aren't a whole lot of those right now) Look at the after-hours cleaning crews for major retailors. And yes, look at the traditional occupations of 'stoop labor': the agribusinesses who grow the food we put on our tables.
The simplest way to eliminate the "problem" of illegal immigrants is to eliminate the jobs that they perform. How can that be done?
CRIMINALIZE HIRING ILLEGALS
WHAT??? You say. Why should hiring people be against the law? If you believe that by being in this country a person is commiting an illegal act, then are you not also committing an illegal act (aiding and abbeting) when you hire them? IF crossing into this country without proper papers, or staying here after the proper papers have expired is illegal, why is not all interaction that allows these people to stay here also a crime?
1. ANY employer found to have either knowingly hired illegal immigrants or to have been less than careful in requiring hires to prove their status is fined $5,000 PER ILLEGAL EMPLOYEE for a first offense.
2. On a second offense within five years, the employer head - Company President, CEO, Chairman of the Board of directors (YES, ALL of them) spends 30 days in jail for each illegal employee.
3. Third offense? DEATH PENALTY. The corporation is dissolved! The business is out-of-business. In addition, the culpable parties (the ones listed in item 2 PLUS all of the paerons who hired illegals onto the jobs) spend ONE YEAR in jail for EVERY illegal they hired.
Now, if those were the penalties, how many large employers would hire ANYONE who could not prove legal status?
Now - just to keep things 'fair', if retailer X uses sub-contractor C to do ALL of the janitorial chores in State Q, RETAILER X IS ALSO ON THE LINE IF C HIRES ILLEGALS!! In other words, if a company does not hire illegals itself, but contracts work to companies that do, the top-level company is charged with complicity in the hiring.
That's my 'modest proposal' It will never fly.
Why not?
There are two reasons:
1. As the above situation shows, major corporations have a very big interest in hiring illegals, either directly or indirectly by sub-contracting with companies that do.
2. Ever since the expiration of the 'bracero' program (late '60's) Mexico has used illegal immigration to the United States to export their most ambitious members of the underclasses. If even half of the people who have come into this country illegally from Mexico had stayed at home, they very likely would have formented a revolt against an enourmously corrupt ruling class.
Quite honestly, I believe that Mexico uses this as a threat: if the U.S. actually cracks down on illegal immigration, Mexico would face serious upheaval. This threat serves to prevent true, serious immigration reform in this country. Face it, it is not in the interests of the U.S. to have Mexico in the throes of a revolution.
Of course, there is a simple, knee-jerk response to this: annex Mexico.
We had that opportunity in 1848. We didn't take it. Why not? There were three primary reasons:
1. The people of Mexico did not speak English.
2. The people of Mexico had brown skins.
3. The people of Mexico were primarily Catholic.
Which of those reasons still holds true today?
Why do immigrants come to this country?
Because it is better here than where they are coming from. Why is it better here? Because here, they can find work that pays enough that they can live and in many instances, send money home to their families.
Why can they find work in this country?
They take jobs many people in this country are not willing to do.
Why are people here unwilling to do these jobs? In many cases it is because there are no benefits, unsafe or unplesant working conditions, no overtime pay, no sick leave, and similar matters. Why? Because the employers have found that illegals are willing to work under these conditions, will not report the employer to the Labor, Health, of Safety departments that would monitor these conditions, and because of their illgal status, will not protest unfair, or unsafe working conditions.
By using illgal workers, the employer can under-bid other employers who provide safe working conditions and pay full wages.
My point? There is a huge incentive for large employers to continue the current situation. The problem is not the "day-labor" pick-ups at the corner. The problem is not the woman who cleans houses. The problem is large employers.
Check construction sites for large developments (I know, I know, there aren't a whole lot of those right now) Look at the after-hours cleaning crews for major retailors. And yes, look at the traditional occupations of 'stoop labor': the agribusinesses who grow the food we put on our tables.
The simplest way to eliminate the "problem" of illegal immigrants is to eliminate the jobs that they perform. How can that be done?
CRIMINALIZE HIRING ILLEGALS
WHAT??? You say. Why should hiring people be against the law? If you believe that by being in this country a person is commiting an illegal act, then are you not also committing an illegal act (aiding and abbeting) when you hire them? IF crossing into this country without proper papers, or staying here after the proper papers have expired is illegal, why is not all interaction that allows these people to stay here also a crime?
1. ANY employer found to have either knowingly hired illegal immigrants or to have been less than careful in requiring hires to prove their status is fined $5,000 PER ILLEGAL EMPLOYEE for a first offense.
2. On a second offense within five years, the employer head - Company President, CEO, Chairman of the Board of directors (YES, ALL of them) spends 30 days in jail for each illegal employee.
3. Third offense? DEATH PENALTY. The corporation is dissolved! The business is out-of-business. In addition, the culpable parties (the ones listed in item 2 PLUS all of the paerons who hired illegals onto the jobs) spend ONE YEAR in jail for EVERY illegal they hired.
Now, if those were the penalties, how many large employers would hire ANYONE who could not prove legal status?
Now - just to keep things 'fair', if retailer X uses sub-contractor C to do ALL of the janitorial chores in State Q, RETAILER X IS ALSO ON THE LINE IF C HIRES ILLEGALS!! In other words, if a company does not hire illegals itself, but contracts work to companies that do, the top-level company is charged with complicity in the hiring.
That's my 'modest proposal' It will never fly.
Why not?
There are two reasons:
1. As the above situation shows, major corporations have a very big interest in hiring illegals, either directly or indirectly by sub-contracting with companies that do.
2. Ever since the expiration of the 'bracero' program (late '60's) Mexico has used illegal immigration to the United States to export their most ambitious members of the underclasses. If even half of the people who have come into this country illegally from Mexico had stayed at home, they very likely would have formented a revolt against an enourmously corrupt ruling class.
Quite honestly, I believe that Mexico uses this as a threat: if the U.S. actually cracks down on illegal immigration, Mexico would face serious upheaval. This threat serves to prevent true, serious immigration reform in this country. Face it, it is not in the interests of the U.S. to have Mexico in the throes of a revolution.
Of course, there is a simple, knee-jerk response to this: annex Mexico.
We had that opportunity in 1848. We didn't take it. Why not? There were three primary reasons:
1. The people of Mexico did not speak English.
2. The people of Mexico had brown skins.
3. The people of Mexico were primarily Catholic.
Which of those reasons still holds true today?
Friday, May 21, 2010
Uneccessary things that Haven't been invented yet
Just the title makes me smile. Think of thigs that DON'T (we hope) currently exist, that are possibly feasible to create.
I. The cell phone vibrator:
It's ALWAYS set on vibrate!
Gives a whole new meaning to "phone sex"
II. The automatic toilet paper:
It's positioned somehow under the seat, and does it's duty after you've done
yours
"Look Ma! No hands!!"
III.
Come, my friends, let's create an entire catalogue. Clearly, there is a need for the uneccessary!!
I. The cell phone vibrator:
It's ALWAYS set on vibrate!
Gives a whole new meaning to "phone sex"
II. The automatic toilet paper:
It's positioned somehow under the seat, and does it's duty after you've done
yours
"Look Ma! No hands!!"
III.
Come, my friends, let's create an entire catalogue. Clearly, there is a need for the uneccessary!!
Thursday, April 22, 2010
April 22, 1970
The first Earth Day.
I was 17 years old, a junior in High School. I remember walking the 3 miles to school that day.
What had happened? In the late 60's and early 70's there was a lot of excitement, a lot of discussion, a lot of new (and some old) ideas going around. At my school, some of the teachers decided it would be a good idea to form "discussion clubs" where the students COULD discuss almost anything. A teacher would be present, perhaps to guide or monitor some of the discussion. The teacher could refer us to resources, books, articles, more information on a given topic.
We started off discussing the things that were of major importance to us: Vietnam and drugs. But we were hearing a lot about eco-action, and we started talking about the earth, what we were doing to hurt it and what we could do to help.
The very first Earth Day, we walked to school. (Okay, the kids who lived more than 5 miles away didn't). After that, we tried to take the idea of car-pooling seriously. We talked about mpg instead of horsepower when we talked about cars we wanted.
Did we make a difference? I like to think that we helped. Because we were willing to become aware, and to discuss recycling, conservation, pollution, and helping the earth, we were a small part of what became a large movement.
Forty years later, there is still a lot to be done. But starts have been made. Programs are in place, and people are aware.
And forty years later, Earth Day is still a day when all of us think about our planet and how to make it a little better, a little cleaner, a little heathier for ALL of us.
In the forty years since then, we've heard/learned about how clear-cutting the Amazon rainforest hurts us here in the US.
Earth day helped us all to realize that we ARE all in this together. We only have this one planet, and ALL of us are responsible for keeping it functioning for the next generations. We may not do much, but planting a tree, picking up trash, not littering, walking instead of driving when you're going less than a mile; all of these things help planet Earth.
Earth Day not only commemerates the beginning of serious ecology awareness to many of us, it also marks a day when we began to realize that we are one people on one Earth.
I was 17 years old, a junior in High School. I remember walking the 3 miles to school that day.
What had happened? In the late 60's and early 70's there was a lot of excitement, a lot of discussion, a lot of new (and some old) ideas going around. At my school, some of the teachers decided it would be a good idea to form "discussion clubs" where the students COULD discuss almost anything. A teacher would be present, perhaps to guide or monitor some of the discussion. The teacher could refer us to resources, books, articles, more information on a given topic.
We started off discussing the things that were of major importance to us: Vietnam and drugs. But we were hearing a lot about eco-action, and we started talking about the earth, what we were doing to hurt it and what we could do to help.
The very first Earth Day, we walked to school. (Okay, the kids who lived more than 5 miles away didn't). After that, we tried to take the idea of car-pooling seriously. We talked about mpg instead of horsepower when we talked about cars we wanted.
Did we make a difference? I like to think that we helped. Because we were willing to become aware, and to discuss recycling, conservation, pollution, and helping the earth, we were a small part of what became a large movement.
Forty years later, there is still a lot to be done. But starts have been made. Programs are in place, and people are aware.
And forty years later, Earth Day is still a day when all of us think about our planet and how to make it a little better, a little cleaner, a little heathier for ALL of us.
In the forty years since then, we've heard/learned about how clear-cutting the Amazon rainforest hurts us here in the US.
Earth day helped us all to realize that we ARE all in this together. We only have this one planet, and ALL of us are responsible for keeping it functioning for the next generations. We may not do much, but planting a tree, picking up trash, not littering, walking instead of driving when you're going less than a mile; all of these things help planet Earth.
Earth Day not only commemerates the beginning of serious ecology awareness to many of us, it also marks a day when we began to realize that we are one people on one Earth.
Saturday, April 17, 2010
National Day of Silence
I came to this information from another blog I regularly read --don'tgetmestarted.com by Linda Sharp. Google it and you will find a wealth of opinion, humor, and commentary on our lives. She also does some wicked re-caps (or recraps, as she calls them) on Americal Idol.
Anyway, today was a National Day of Silence. This was a day on which mid-school and high-schoold students "tak a vow of silence to bring attention to anti GLBT name-calling, bullying and harrassment at their schools."
WOW.
I graduated from high school in 1971. Of the students I kept contact with after high school, one came out as lesbian, one came out as gay. I was called a lesbian for putting my arm around another girl and comforting her when something went wrong.
Sexuality, indeed, sex was not an overt topic at school. There were the one or two girls who "got in trouble" (notice how it never was the boys?) Drugs and drinking were discussed more freely then sex.
Yes, this was not long after the gay community first began to make themselves visable.
But to me, the striking thing is -- The idea of SILENCE against bullying. From what we see in the news, bullying is the BIG issue today in mid and high school. Bullying. Not mere teasing, not mere "shuning" (which you by-passed by finding a group YOU were comfortable with and ignoring the "in" crowd)
Some of it is due to today's technology. When I stepped off the school bus, I was DONE with dealing with the 7th grade bullies. Today, FaceBook, cell phones, texting, all mean that a child is connected 7/24 to their social circle. Or their social tormentors.
Times like this make me very, very glad I never had kids.
"Stickes and stones may break my bones, but words will never hurt me. " That worked for me, in the 1960's. It doesn't work today.
I applaud all of those students who took the pledge and made today a day of silence in support of those around them who may have a different orientation but are non the less, human, teenagers, angst-ridden (weren't we all) and caring individuals.
Under our clothes, we are all naked. Under our skins, we are all human.
Something to consider.
Anyway, today was a National Day of Silence. This was a day on which mid-school and high-schoold students "tak a vow of silence to bring attention to anti GLBT name-calling, bullying and harrassment at their schools."
WOW.
I graduated from high school in 1971. Of the students I kept contact with after high school, one came out as lesbian, one came out as gay. I was called a lesbian for putting my arm around another girl and comforting her when something went wrong.
Sexuality, indeed, sex was not an overt topic at school. There were the one or two girls who "got in trouble" (notice how it never was the boys?) Drugs and drinking were discussed more freely then sex.
Yes, this was not long after the gay community first began to make themselves visable.
But to me, the striking thing is -- The idea of SILENCE against bullying. From what we see in the news, bullying is the BIG issue today in mid and high school. Bullying. Not mere teasing, not mere "shuning" (which you by-passed by finding a group YOU were comfortable with and ignoring the "in" crowd)
Some of it is due to today's technology. When I stepped off the school bus, I was DONE with dealing with the 7th grade bullies. Today, FaceBook, cell phones, texting, all mean that a child is connected 7/24 to their social circle. Or their social tormentors.
Times like this make me very, very glad I never had kids.
"Stickes and stones may break my bones, but words will never hurt me. " That worked for me, in the 1960's. It doesn't work today.
I applaud all of those students who took the pledge and made today a day of silence in support of those around them who may have a different orientation but are non the less, human, teenagers, angst-ridden (weren't we all) and caring individuals.
Under our clothes, we are all naked. Under our skins, we are all human.
Something to consider.
Saturday, April 3, 2010
The Chiffon Disaster
The title of this post is curtesy of my friend, Gwendy who wrote about the Disaster Cherry Jam
For dessert on an Easter dessert, I decided to make a lemon chiffon. This is lemon curd, stirred into unflavored gelitan, and then stiffened eggwhites.
To make lemon curd, you need a double boiler. I have a double boiler. However, out of vanity, I decided that my one-quart double-boiler was not big enough. Not big enough for four egg yolks, 1/2 cup lemon juice and 1/2 cup sugar. My very, very bad.
I have 2 2 quart pans. Slightly different configurations. However, they nest together. I decided I could use them for my double-boiler. Put water in the larger, put egg yolks, sugar and lemon juice in the smaller. Set water to boil. Once water was boiling, put second pan into first. Began stirring. Notices pans had apparently locked together. Thought "Oh shit, will have problems separating them later." Continued stirring custard.
Laws of physics ignore ignorance of cooks. Boiling water created sufficient pressure to blow entire matter off stove.
I remember giving one LOUD "YIP!" My husband heard POP of pan forcing up, my "YIP", then my SCREAMS as boiling mixture hit my face.
OUCH!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!Does not begin to describe!!!!
DROPPED PANS, TURNED FROM STOVE, TURNED ON FAUCET, SOAKED DISHRAG AND PLACED AGAINST FACE!!! REPEATEDLY!!!!
George grabed a bowl, poured in ice and ice water, handed me dishtowel, and I continued face applications!!!!!!!!!!
Once I could remove towel from face for more than 15 seconds, called Gwendy. She knew when I said "Is this nurse Gwendy?" that SOMETHING was wrong.
She brought me salve, and fortuneately, other than one or two blisters on my face, I am mostly recovered.
Clearly, my dessert for tomorrow is not going to happen as scripted. However, I still have eggwhites and lemmon zest. I believe it will turn into lemon macaroons.
BTW. Gwendy and Gil were ALREADY my guests for dinner tomorrow, BEFORE I needed "nurse Gwendy"
NEXT time I go to make lemon chiffon, I will use the 1 quart double boiler. And honestly, how ofter would I EVER need anything bigger??
For dessert on an Easter dessert, I decided to make a lemon chiffon. This is lemon curd, stirred into unflavored gelitan, and then stiffened eggwhites.
To make lemon curd, you need a double boiler. I have a double boiler. However, out of vanity, I decided that my one-quart double-boiler was not big enough. Not big enough for four egg yolks, 1/2 cup lemon juice and 1/2 cup sugar. My very, very bad.
I have 2 2 quart pans. Slightly different configurations. However, they nest together. I decided I could use them for my double-boiler. Put water in the larger, put egg yolks, sugar and lemon juice in the smaller. Set water to boil. Once water was boiling, put second pan into first. Began stirring. Notices pans had apparently locked together. Thought "Oh shit, will have problems separating them later." Continued stirring custard.
Laws of physics ignore ignorance of cooks. Boiling water created sufficient pressure to blow entire matter off stove.
I remember giving one LOUD "YIP!" My husband heard POP of pan forcing up, my "YIP", then my SCREAMS as boiling mixture hit my face.
OUCH!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!Does not begin to describe!!!!
DROPPED PANS, TURNED FROM STOVE, TURNED ON FAUCET, SOAKED DISHRAG AND PLACED AGAINST FACE!!! REPEATEDLY!!!!
George grabed a bowl, poured in ice and ice water, handed me dishtowel, and I continued face applications!!!!!!!!!!
Once I could remove towel from face for more than 15 seconds, called Gwendy. She knew when I said "Is this nurse Gwendy?" that SOMETHING was wrong.
She brought me salve, and fortuneately, other than one or two blisters on my face, I am mostly recovered.
Clearly, my dessert for tomorrow is not going to happen as scripted. However, I still have eggwhites and lemmon zest. I believe it will turn into lemon macaroons.
BTW. Gwendy and Gil were ALREADY my guests for dinner tomorrow, BEFORE I needed "nurse Gwendy"
NEXT time I go to make lemon chiffon, I will use the 1 quart double boiler. And honestly, how ofter would I EVER need anything bigger??
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