Only Dogs Can Hear

Religious speech revisited

I guess Justice Alito and I agree on the issue of how you fire government officials.  You vote them out of a job.  Although wouldn't it be nice if they had yearly performance reviews?  Like the reviews I go through?  Where they would have to write about their accomplishments and their shortcomings?  Then we'd all review that and give them a rating.  And tell them how they can improve.  In explicit detail.  Yes, I think we need a performance review system for the legislative branch.

The first time I mentioned this case was here.

But Justice Samuel A. Alito Jr., writing for the court, said the arguments embraced by Summum were not really the right way to look at the case. The core issue is not private speech in a public forum but, rather, the power of government to express itself, in this case by selecting which monuments to have in a public park, Justice Alito wrote.

“The Free Speech Clause restricts government regulation of private speech,” Justice Alito noted. “It does not regulate government speech.”

While a government entity is quite limited in its ability to regulate or restrict private speech in traditional public forums, like parks, the government entity “is entitled to say what it wishes,” Justice Alito wrote, citing earlier Supreme Court rulings. If the people do not like what their government officials say or stand for, they can vote them out of office, he wrote.

Google search

Today someone searched for problems with mri of  "small breasts" and found my blog.  Maybe I should've searched that same thing before having my first MRI?  In any case, the MRI will take longer than is typical for our more buxom sisters.  I'm sorry.  I hope you're not claustrophobic.

This week is crazy

Or at least it feels that way.  I've been feeling a little scattered and thinking WAY TOO MUCH.  Here's a quote from Swami Sivananda.  Just a little focus for me.

Practice meditation till perfection is attained, till the goal is reached.

~Sri Swami Sivananda

Facebook memes

Do not like memes.  Haven't ever done them on either of my blogs.  Have not done them on Facebook.  Strangely addicted to reading them on Facebook.  Apparently love it when other people do them.  

Google search

Some poor dog lover found my website as the fifth result when they searched for 'mammography in dogs'.  I hope your dog is ok!

175 years ago today

This is the 175th anniversary of the founding of the Oneida Community in upstate New York.  I only mention it here because it's one of the most interesting little cults to ever have shifted from communal living and complex marriage to exclusively producing silverware.  Upstate New York is positively a hotbed of weird religious experimentation from the 1800s (Mormonism, Seventh Day Adventism).  What the hell was in the water up there?

Facebook Friday

Here we are at the end of another week.  Of course that means a round up of my favorite status updates from the week.  It also marks another week that I've avoided doing any of those memes floating around Facebook.  Phew.  Here's your weekly installment of status updates from my Facebook friend list.

1. Susan is nursing her Bostonian cough by drinking copious amounts of tea and not expending energy to yell at That Guy for turning the TV to Walker, Texas Ranger.
2. Karen is thinking: As much as we all love Diane Court...Llod Dobler is the man...even women want to be Lloyd Dobler...I'm off to find me a Gas n' Sip.
3. Ben doesn't get death threats anymore.
4. Dana thinks Rachael Ray must be stopped!
5. Josh Excels.  Note the capitalization.
6. Shana says her pants tore today in class...on the backside.

I would tend to agree with #4. 

Catch up

I've taken an unintentional six day hiatus from blogging.  I definitely didn't set out to do that.  Here is the quick version of how I spent those blog free days. 

1. The breast biopsy was hideous but had negative results.  They took core samples from 5 lumps through 2 incisions.  It was gross, invasive and many other bad things.  There are now 5 little titanium clips in my boobs.  One for each lump.  Little markers to guide the next medical professional who gets all nosey about my boobs.
2. K and I had a little bit of an Afghanistan weekend.  We went down to San Francisco to hang out with Nicky and Dan.  It was great fun.  Nicky cooked an amazing meal.  Plus she has a bathtub.  I could actually bathe without getting my incisions wet.  And believe me at that point I really needed a bath. 
3. I flew to Washington, DC.  "They" had all the candidates staying in these condos out in Maryland which sort of sucked.  Nowhere near any metro stop or restaurants other than Subway.  Plus the wireless internet connection didn't work.  What the hell right?
4. The interview went well.  The whole security thing was a very strange experience, but I suppose that's the way it goes.  I feel really positive about the whole thing and am really happy I had the chance to do it.  We'll see if anything comes of it.
5. The night after the interview I was exhausted and laying in bed watching tv when the woman sharing the condo with me brought some guy home and made his day really loudly for about an hour.  Seriously.  That's not cool.  If we were in a hotel and only sharing a wall it would be one thing.  But not when we're sharing a condo and bathroom space.  That's creepy.

Have a great weekend!

Happy Valentine's Day!

Caring for Ourselves this Valentine's Day

The practice of metta (lovingkindness), uncovering the force of love that can uproot fear, anger, and guilt, begins with befriending ourselves. The foundation of metta practice is to know how to be our own friend. According to the Buddha, "You can search throughout the entire universe for someone who is more deserving of your love and affection than you are yourself, and that person is not to be found anywhere. You yourself, as much as anybody in the entire universe, deserve your love and affection."

--Sharon Salzberg, Lovingkindness

Facebook Friday

This week's dose of facebook status updates worth a second look, a giggle or a slow shake of the head are finally here. 

1. Tim is back from cock night with his head minging.
2. Sara should prepare for the "nailing" tomorrow:-)
3. Amanda's butt is vibrating from whatever the workers are doing!
4. Gina is wondering why anyone would become a FAN of Tide Total Care with Tim Gunn...if you do, please delete me from your friends list.
5. Andrew was completely disappointed by the tornadoes in Dallas.
6. Nancy is looking for True Love Waits events in the south, Feb. 25-March 6 - Know of any?
7. Brad is thinking about the term "stimulus package" :-).

I have also decided that writing about my recent biopsy on facebook was ill advised.  I have expunged it from the record.  It's now blog-only material.