and I thought I was clumsy...

A woman taking an art class at the Met fell into a Picasso and ripped it.

Full story here.

On a happy note, at least she didn't damage Dogs Playing Poker.

the morning paper

It's been great having C&D (Offsprings #1&2) home from college, but *sniff sniff* they head back on Saturday. And that means Mr. Tumnus heads back too. I'm going to miss that li'l kitty.

Right now Mr. Tumnus and I are in the back yard. I have been reading the morning paper and Mr. Tumnus has been hunting crane flies. (He's darn good at it, I might add.)

Today's paper has some good 'human interest' stories. One article is about a globe-trotting left-handed fly fisher from Oregon. She just turned 100 years old and still loves to go out fishing. The best part: she continues to use the same rod she used in 1959. (I still use the same snow skis I used in college so I can sorta relate.)

Another story is about a 99-year-old Oregon woman who won a prize in a weekly drawing at her neighborhood Bi-Mart store -- an air rifle! For some reason (probably the mental image) this tickled my funny bone. Unlike the woman in the first story, this woman isn't an outdoor enthusiast. And, she can't even bring the prize into her retirement center because they don't allow weapons. The store doesn't usually exchange prizes, but they might make an exception.

The headline that did NOT tickle my funny bone is this: Washington Colleges Lead U.S. in Swine Flu Cases. Yep, our state "easily leads the nation in the incidence of swine flu among college students" -- nearly triple the rate of the next highest state, Georgia. And no vaccine yet. Dang. Think we better pack some hand sanitizer...

purrrr-meow-purrrr

Here's an interesting tidbit from Current Biology. Researchers conducted an acoustic analysis of cat purrs and found that hidden within mealtime purring (so-called "solicitation purring") is a high-pitched meow. This hidden meow is reminiscent of a cry which signals urgency and exploits our "sensitivity to acoustic cues relevant in the context of nurturing offspring".

I think Mr. Tumnus uses this purr quite effectively when he wants to be fed. Marble, however, doesn't bother with the solicitation purring and goes straight for the mealtime howl. This is also quite effective, albeit more annoying.

eco-prank

I'm sure everyone has read or seen the story about Greenpeace activists scaling Mt Rushmore on July 8th and unfurling a large banner beside Lincoln's face with the message: "America honors leaders not politicians: Stop Global Warming." (They should have placed it by Teddy; he would have appreciated it more.)

Photo: Kate Davison/Greenpeace/AFP/Getty Images


You can see the Greenpeace climbers do their thing here on youtube.

My first thought when I read the news articles was, "Wow, how did they pull that off?!" And I'll admit I also thought "Well, at least that's a message I agree with." (I allow myself to end sentences with prepositions when I'm just thinking.)

However, I also found their actions disconcerting. If Greenpeace could breach security, another group could do the same. Our famous national monument could be host to a variety of political messages and even stupid ads, perhaps something like this:

photoshopping by me

Plus I don't want people damaging the monument. (At least the Greenpeace climbers used anchors already installed by the Park Service for cleaning and repair.)

In any event, I think the National Park Service needs to rethink their security system. (I'm sure they are.) I also think that Greenpeace might want to rethink their strategy, because while their actions might have helped energize the base, they also probably turned most other folks off. For one thing taxpayers probably won't be too happy about footing the bill for the cost -- probably in tens of thousands of dollars -- of prosecuting the climbers and beefing up security.

Also Mt Rushmore is such a beloved national monument that most people (including myself) object to defacing it in any way. (Although I'll admit that Mike G. of Greenpeace raises an interesting point: "Mount Rushmore was built on a mountain stolen from Native Americans. Adding insult to injury, we then carved a bunch of white people’s faces into it. So you gotta ask yourself: What does Mount Rushmore really represent?)

I hope that all of this doesn't impact the plan to open new hiking trails in the Mt Rushmore area (because I want to use them!)... and I also hope that the planet isn't too hot to enjoy them if/when the trails actually do open.

more signs of the divine?

Dan and Sara Bell of Texas recently found what they think is the likeness of a praying Jesus inside a bag of Cheetos. Their Holy Puff (nicknamed "Cheesus") is about two inches tall and has a body, hair, robe and even a tiny face -- but, sadly, the right arm is missing.

Hmmm... that makes me question their assumption of divinity. I mean, couldn't "Cheesus" have fixed/healed his right arm?

I think the cheeto isn't a likeness of Jesus, but rather a likeness of the old country man on the Led Zeppelin IV album.




Cheesus picture and full story from here.
Googled the Led Zeppelin album cover.

appearances of the divine

A couple of days ago I read a story about how an outline of the Virgin Mary appeared on a food griddle at a restaurant on the California/Mexico border. The faithful and the curious are flocking to see it. (You can read more here.)



As I recall, the Virgin Mary has previously appeared on a grilled cheese sandwich and on a pizza pan.

I must admit that I personally don't really see the Virgin Mary on the griddle (or grilled cheese or pizza pan) without using my imagination to some degree. Not like the appearance of Presbygal in my breakfast this morning. That was straightforward.

the empty nest (& bare bottom) hiking club

Guess Hubby and I will have to rethink our next hiking destination... and/or attire. We just read in USA Today that voters in a region of the Swiss Alps recently passed legislation banning naked hiking. Apparently dozens of mostly German nudists had started sauntering through the Alps wearing nothing more than socks and boots, and this upset many Swiss citizens who called the back-to-nature activity both "disturbing" and "irritating".

I suppose we could still go if we've got the 200 Swiss franc ($176) fine money. But come to think of it, I'm supposed to be wearing sun protective clothing anyway.

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Click on picture to enlarge at your own risk. :) And no, it's not me in the photo. I got it from here

purported photo of Lincoln found

According to the Associated Press, a collector of photography from New York claims to have identified a rare photo of President Lincoln standing in front of the White House (what was then known as the Executive Mansion) in 1865. (Short article here.) The figure in the photo is tall and bearded, and the curator of the National Portrait Gallery's photographs department says he is "very satisfied that it's Lincoln":



Interestingly, if you zoom into one the windows another face appears.



After careful inspection, I'm "very satisfied that it's Presbyterian Gal". Or of course much more likely, an ancestor of PG.

state department update

As we all know, during the recent diplomatic trip to East Asia with Secretary of State Hillary Clinton, Garbage Puff dropped the ball. He was more interested in hitting the tourist spots than taking care of business. Thankfully he appears to be more on task on this latest trip. Here Clinton and Puff are meeting with Egyptian Prime Minster Ahmed Nazif and Foreign Minister Ahmed Abul Gheit before a conference on rebuilding the Gaza Strip. I like the way Hillary and Garbage Puff both have on their 'game faces'.

born again american

I love my subscription to USA Today because I often run across things I otherwise would have missed. An example is the article I read about a patriotic song and video, Born Again American. (Maybe you caught it around the time of the inauguration and this is "so six weeks ago" for you.)

Anywhooo, it starts out with a guy in a cowboy hat sitting on the steps of the Jefferson Memorial singin' 'bout the hard times and you can't help but think, "Yeah, I know where this is going." But if you hang in there, it gets interesting. As the scenes shift, there's the inclusion of an Asian-American woman playing a cello by the Golden Gate Bridge, an African-American gospel choir on a ferry by the NYC skyline, a man in a Muslim robe from the Islamic Center and a woman cantor from Temple Ahavat Shalom singing together at the base of Mount Rushmore, etc. WooHoo! Diversity!

If you haven't seen the video and have 6 minutes, take a look:



The story behind the video is that Norman Lear (TV producer of hits such as All in the Family and liberal activist) asked Keith Carradine to write a song for him called Born Again American to "reflect a revitalization of the faith of all Americans in their country". (As an aside, I've liked Keith Carradine since the movie Nashville back in the day.)

I'm not totally comfortable with the term "born again American" because "born again" has so much baggage. I'm also not sure if I'm comfy with linking the Bible and the Bill of Rights (even though I understand the history) if this is to emphasize an interfaith vision. But I do like the idea that not just one party or group has a corner on patriotism -- liberal, progressive people are patriotic too! And rather than focusing on what divides us we need to focus on things that unite us including our shared history and belief in the founding documents, etc. It's a good thing to send the message that we're all in this together, and we'll need to work together to solve our current problems.

understated...

My grandmother (my personal hero) had many qualities I admired. She was unfailingly kind and even-tempered. She always took a stand on ethical issues and stated her opinions in a low-key way. Actually, I think she mastered the art of the understatement, but she always got her point across.

So I couldn't help but smile and think of my grandma when I recently heard Hillary issue a warning to the North Koreans. She said, "The possible missile launch that North Korea is talking about would be very unhelpful..."
I love that -- very unhelpful. Clear message; no saber rattling.

Here's the youtube clip:



But speaking of unhelpful... I am a bit embarrassed to report on Garbage Puff's job performance. You probably noticed he was nowhere to be seen on the clip. He was late for the press conference because he was hitting the tourist traps. Here he is seen trying on some Kim Jong-il souvenir glasses:

we're in good hands

For those of you who have been wondering what Garbage Puff has been up to...



That's right. He has been training for a high level State Department job. In fact, he will be joining Hillary Clinton as she sets off today on her first foreign trip as Secretary of State. Clinton and Puff will be visiting four Asian capitals and will attend talks on the economic crisis, climate change, and the North Korean nuclear threat. The picture above is of Hillary briefing the press on the crucial role Garbage Puff will play during the eight-day mission.

I don't know about you, but I'm feeling a renewed sense of optimism.

as seen in one of our local weeklies...

Umm... I'll just take the candy. (And I don't really even like candy that much.)

Prognosticating Animals

Punxsutawney Phil saw his shadow this morning and predicted six more weeks of winter.


Mr. Tumnus shredded the toilet paper this evening and predicted a reprimand.




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groundhog picture from here; picture of mr. tumnus by offspring #1

cheating: in the news and on the stage

Looks like Treasury Secretary Geithner has company in the 'tax trouble club'. Health and Human Services Secretary-designate Tom Daschle is in the news for tax issues of his own -- and also regarding money he earned from interests in the health care industry. Of course, the main question being raised right now with Daschle is: Will this affect his confirmation? (I'd say the answer is probably 'no' -- he will likely be confirmed.) Addendum 2/4/09: Oops! Guess I got THAT wrong! Daschle is toast.

But for me, the more interesting question is: How pervasive is cheating? Maybe all these tax mistakes were 'innocent', but I must say I have my doubts. (And Hubby says that it looks like the best way to get people to pay their taxes is to nominate them for an important post!)

Part of why I'm pondering the pervasiveness of cheating is that on Friday night I attended the play Cheat (in which Offspring #1 was involved) at WWU. The play focused on cheating in relationships, business, and sports, and it was designed to raise questions rather than give answers.

One of the really cool things about this play is that it is a "devised" work. According to the playbill, "Devising is the creation of a new theatrical work where the artists who collaborate to create the piece also perform it." Using David Callahan's book The Cheating Culture: Why More Americans Are Doing Wrong to Get Ahead for inspiration, the students wrote the script, did the stage design, music, costumes, etc. Everything was done 'from scratch' and it was impressive! My mind is still reeling over the amount of work involved! (As an aside, the stage was designed so that the majority of the audience was standing several feet above the actors during the entire production -- which was an interesting perspective!)

Offspring #1 and her boyfriend Doug were excellent in their roles involving the relationship aspect of the topic. Their performances were both rock solid, and their chemistry on stage was (probably not surprisingly!) wonderful.

Here they are:
[photo by Hailey Tucker, which appeared in 'The Western Front' online edition]


This play provided lots of food for thought, and I plan on reading Callahan's book as a follow up.



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re: the other photos:
I googled the top 'tax' photo, and I took the picture of the 'Cheat' poster at Bandito's Burritos!

we be wet

Yep, we are having some flooding issues here in the Pacific NW. Our house is ok (it sits fairly high on our lot), but the golf course adjacent to our backyard is flooded. As I proudly mentioned to Dust Bunny (who resides on a hill in town), we now have lakefront property.

The streets near our house are also flooded. The picture below was taken just at the end of our block. (I'm not sure who took the picture -- it was posted on the website of our local newspaper.)

It can stop raining now. Really.


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credits
savage chickens here
newspaper here

short short, big big

Today was the second meeting of the Short Short Book Club, where we have a short discussion of a couple of short stories. My contribution is to write the discussion questions, and I usually throw in related pictures to spice things up a bit.

One of today's stories (A Change in Fashion by Steven Millhauser) dealt with the excesses of the whole fashion scene, and at one point in the story there was a dress as big as a house. Yep, that big! In looking for a picture to go with my questions, I googled "big dress" and here's what came up:


Bride's big day

A bride's dress was so big it got stuck in the church door.

Carly O'Brien's 25 stone dress was 8ft wide and cost £25,000. It took twenty people an hour and a half to push 16-year-old Carly through the church door and up the aisle followed by her 60ft long train.

The 30-layer dress, covered with 3,000 Swarovski crystals, diamond head-dress and train meant dad Frank, 40, had to walk in front as there was no room alongside.

Carly, who spent nine and a half hours getting into the dress, was so exhausted when she got to the altar in Gloucester that the groom, Michael Coffey, 17, and 14 relatives carried her out.

Sister Crystal, 20, said: "Carly wanted her day bigger than Jordan's. She got it."


After seeing this monstrosity, I guess the dress-as-big-as-a-house indeed appears to be the next logical (or illogical) step...

I am a migraineur...

Yep, I get migraines. I think I had my first one when I was in junior high. For me, migraines usually start as a small bright spot in my vision which gradually grows into a shimmering, jagged semicircle. This disruption in vision lasts for about a half hour and looks something like this:



After the vision clears up, I get a headache. I am lucky in that the headaches are usually not that bad, and my migraines are infrequent. Now I'm finding out I am even luckier than I thought, because a recent study links migraines to a lower risk of breast cancer. According to Reuters, "overall, women who had a history of migraines had a 30 percent lower risk of breast cancer compared to women who did not have a history of such headaches." (Full article here.)

It should be interesting to see future research on both health issues. In any event, next time I get a migraine I'll probably have a slightly more positive attitude about it. :)

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migraine art from here

Hillary weighs in too...

From the Associated Press:
November 04, 2008
Hillary Clinton Casts Vote for Obama

Sen. Hillary Rodham Clinton has cast her vote for Barack Obama, saying that voters understand that the nation needs "a serious president for serious times."

Clinton voted Tuesday with her husband, former President Bill Clinton, in their hometown of Chappaqua in New York's Westchester County.

The senator was asked if she felt sorry that her name was not on the ballot. She replied: "The personal honor and privilege I had of being a candidate and coming so close is something I'll always be proud of."

Sen. Clinton said she hopes "to be part of what I hope will be a great next couple of years for America."

She added: "I feel very good about what's going to happen today."

oh joy...

From today's USA Today:



Guess I can scratch that one off my list of things to try if stopped by the police.