Wednesday, August 12, 2009

Blood Pressure !

Man, there's so much crap out there to rage about, where does one start? First, with the tea-bagger/ birther / nutjob campaign of "disinformation" and "protest" about health care --- and then with the lack of balls the media and almost everyone else is exhibiting in responding to them.

Exhibit One: (from Salon's "say what?")

"People such as scientist Stephen Hawking wouldn't have a chance in the U.K., where the National Health Service would say the life of this brilliant man, because of his physical handicaps, is essentially worthless."
-- from Investor's Business Daily editorial on "death panels"

"I wouldn't be here today if it were not for the NHS [National Health Service]. I have received a large amount of high-quality treatment without which I would not have survived."
-- Stephen J. Hawking, who has motor neurone disease, was born in the UK, and has lived there his entire life

Ummm... And we should listen to uninformed people, why?


Exhibit Two: (from NYT's account of Sen. Arlen Specter's town hall in PA)

"It says plainly right there they want to limit the type of care elderly can get," said Laurel Tobias, an office manager from Lebanon, referring to a bill in the House. "They are talking about killing people."

Um.... Right where? In one of the several draft bills still circulating? Which she has read? Or "right there" in some unidentified document waved by the host on a right-wing tv show? Has Ms. Tobias ever seen a living will form? I made mine out the other day, prompted by all this discussion --- well, I'd been thinking about it for some time -- and one of the choices you can check basically says "use all the friggin' technology you can to keep me alive for as long as possible." Prompting people to think about these choices before their health is seriously compromised does not mean "coercing them to make a particular choice."

Exhibit Three: (from Salon; this meeting also reported in Charlottesville Daily Progress)

At the latest in a series of town hall meetings in Charlottesville, Rep. Tom Perriello heard both cheers and jeers for health care reform. Among his comments? "There are no 'death panels' in the bill, there just aren't," he said. "If one believes as a matter of faith that this is a secret strategy to get to rationing care, that is a legitimate position to take, but I can't refute it." (emphasis added)

Oh dear oh dear. We shouldn't decide policy issues (or much of anything in the public sphere) based on our "beliefs." Belief does not require evidence. Does not require facts. Does not require reason. That's why we say we "take things on faith." Okay, so some citizens, unfortunately, decide in the absence of any evidence or any thought to believe that reform will ration care --- what makes that "a legitimate position to take"? And surely Perriello means that it's not possible to refute any article of faith, since it's not subject to reason, but he comes off sounding like he condones their misguided beliefs. Wouldn't it have been better -- not politically better, but more honest -- to say "If people choose to believe as a matter of faith that this is a secret strategy to get to rationing care, those people can't be reasoned out of that belief. But their position is not supported by the facts." I myself would add something like "You dimwits shouldn't be disgracing Thomas Jefferson's town this way," but that would be optional.

And the hits just keep on coming.

UPDATE -- Glenn Greenwald's guest columnist, here:
http://www.salon.com/opinion/greenwald/2009/08/13/palin_grassley/index.html


Monday, August 3, 2009

p.s., thanks to Edwardses

It has been a dreadful and cabin-fevered last month or so, and I very much enjoyed visiting with almost the full complement of in-laws in Tennessee. Big public thank-you shout-out to Sue, Francis, Malindi, Michael, Kevin, Heather, Wil for being fun. And for reminding me to post photos ; )

Toe Promises

Okay, as promised,
here they are (only some of my MANY somewhat grotesque toe photos).

The two with the doctor are from the day the accident happened; the other, somewhat fuzzy one is from two weeks later and shows toe sans nail and plus stitches. Note how swole up this sucker is.

Enjoy! : )

Friday, July 31, 2009

Tennessee Times

We're on vacation this week (if that means anything, when you have the summer "off" or are retired...) with most of Bibb's family, in Sevierville, TN. It's in the Gatlinburg/Dollywood/Pigeon Forge mega-area, and quite possibly includes the tackiest square mileage known to mankind.

Yes, Las Vegas is so garish that it feels like another planet. I don't like Los Angeles either. But this is beyond beyond. A not-to-scale replica of the Titanic sits next to an upside-down house, the setting for a country-music dinner show. In the next block is the Jurassic Park waterslide. The NASCAR go-kart track. Five pancake houses. It's like Branson writ somewhat larger, and so little of it focuses on the truly gorgeous surrounding mountains or the geologic or human history of the area.

*sigh* Good thing we have each other, which means you can basically have a good vacation anywhere.

And, as Bibb keeps reminding me, without all this development (even if it could have been SO much better done), the people who live here would be cut off and dirt poor.

I'm just sayin'.

Friday, July 10, 2009

Today's NYT

Here's a link to Judith Warner's NYT piece on the resentment (?)
hatred (?) backlash against (?) educated women,who have long
been considered (as she points out) unnatural, unfeeling, uppity.
I don't agree with the decision made my the woman Warner
describes, who was arrested for leaving two 12-year-olds in
charge of three younger children at a mall, but -- is this child
endangerment?

Too bad Warner didn't consider what our civilized world thinks

Saturday, June 27, 2009

Owie, owie!

So, it took breaking my toe to force me to sit down to write? That makes me sound like one of my students.... Or I could say that I've been thinking about writing but not getting around to it.... That would be true but common and pathetic.

I guess I'm only motivated to blog when something, good or bad, has happened, and my event of late would be the three seconds it took to drop a newly-cut piece of hardy-board* on my toe, which resulted in stitches, lost toenail, and multiple fractures to my left big toe. Longer lasting and less exciting, I can't drive. Or walk any distance. Or get in the pool for at least two weeks. Or be exposed to excessive sunlight while on the antibiotic to prevent infection in the cut. Is this the Summer of the Vampire??

My podiatrist-guy was nice, willing to answer questions, didn't mind my taking photos of the (fairly disgusting looking) injury. So, photos follow -- aren't you excited?! (I can't find the cable I need and don't want to hobble upstairs, so I will have to post them later.)

I'm also using this enforced-idleness time to catch up with facebook and classmates activity and to plan ahead for fall courses, so it won't be a total loss. I have a big fat book to read (Mitchener's Caribbean, which I'm disappointed in so far) and lots of favorites to rereread. I found a reliable neighborhood youngster to walk my dog several times a week, so that's the important stuff taken care of.

More soon. Hopefully not b/c anything ELSE gets broken.

* "hardy-board" is a brand name, which I may be spelling incorrectly; it's a concrete-composite siding material, so the six-foot length of it I lost my grip on was heavy as &&insert expletive here&&


UPDATE, Friday July.... well, something. The days start to run together. I am definitely not good at being an invalid. It was MiraTech, not HardiBoard. Decking, not siding. Still heavy as sh*t. Deep cut not healed. No shower, no pool. Limited driving and walking.

Friday, February 6, 2009

TGIF

Happy is at the vet getting "tutored" today; he drooled extensively in my lap en route to the vet's, leading to a somewhat embarrassing "look" for me by the time I got to school. Fortunately, my lightweight pants dried quickly, so I didn't have to go to the gym and find a hot-air dryer!  We are hoping that Happy (aka Mr. Chunky-butt) will get on an animal transport van to New Jersey, where there is a waiting list for pups.

Oh, to live in a place that actually enforces leash laws. And where people are responsible enough to neuter their pets.

Well, maybe not New Jersey....

Been having lots of good discussions at work lately about department matters:  what's the role of reading in college writing classes? what should the relationships be among first-year comp (fyc), the intro lit course, and the introduction to the major course? Given that we have a composition faculty that's diverse in rank, in training, and in philosophy, how (much) can we encourage common goals, procedures, expectations?  They're difficult questions, but engaging to talk about. 

Almost wrote "fun to talk about," but stopped myself, because "fun" isn't correct. It's better than fun, and harder than fun. I'd like students to get that distinction and stop settling for "fun."


Wednesday, February 4, 2009

Snow Morning!

For the second time this semester, we are having time off from school for s * n * o * w. At least they call it snow here, though a couple of inches of fluffy hardly counts for those of us who've lived in colder climes. Last time we had a storm, the university cancelled classes "until 11am"; then, at about 10, they called it off for the day -- after, of course, I had left for school. Thank goodness for colleagues who have my cell number and know how to use it!

Today we have no classes until 11:30. My first class is not until 11:30 anyway, but it still feels somehow luxurious to be at home in the snow -- walking the dogs, blogging, writing up meeting minutes, working on a student's recommendation letter, looking out the window into the cold world. It's nice.

I claimed a locker at the gym yesterday; no charge, you just get your own lock and put your name up. Three of us have committed to swimming two afternoons a week (we keep each other motivated), and it seems so much more official to have my own locker with its own cute round very purple lock. I can keep deodorant, etc. there and not have to lug everything around. 

Now I'm thinking about a new gym bag, as the plastic-y one I've been using has rips and is actually a bit too large.... Henry David said to beware of enterprises which require new clothes, and I tend to agree, but there is something about making that financial investment which makes you feel more...invested. (Sounds like a lolcat caption.)

Sunday, February 1, 2009

RIP Sam

Jane's boyfriend Sam (an older man, pictured below on Jan 14th) was put down a few days ago. He was 11 1/2 and had had a good life, very well loved.  Still sad news.

Home for Happy


Picked up a new foster child today from the woman who does my hair. She's been calling him Happy and, though he was a little timid at first, the name seems to fit.  I'm sending out his photos through the animal club at school, and we'll be getting his shots and "tutoring" this week.

UPDATE Feb 14
Happy is being adopted by a woman in New Jersey and will be going to his new home in a few days, via rescue-van transport.  Happy ending!  He has learned "come" and "potty" and (sort of) "sit" quickly and will be a great pet for his new family.

Monday, January 26, 2009

Owie, Owie!

Spent all afternoon visiting dentists' offices, with the conclusion that I have to have a molar yanked out (it's badly cracked) and need to see an oral surgeon. Owie, owie. At least the second dentist gave me painkillers -- which, I've discovered, seriously slow me down.  Not enough to be truly recreational, but it certainly takes the edge off. For which deep gratefulness! ! !

Classes going well so far.  I like all my students, and they have created / are maintaining a good atmosphere.

Will pick up another foster pup (black lab mix this time) in a few days, as soon as I get the dental brouhaha over with. Stay tuned for fotos of another cutie!

Saturday, January 17, 2009

Foster child Leo


Foster child Leo
Originally uploaded by Anita R. Guynn
This adorable mixed-breed pup is now fostering with us and available for adoption. He is learning potty-training and is very sweet-tempered. And obviously completely precious!

UPDATE, Monday 19th pm:  Leo was adopted today in Hope Mills, NC! A happy ending for all. (I mean, who could meet him and not want him?!)

Wednesday, January 14, 2009

Jane and Sam


Jane and Sam
Originally uploaded by Anita R. Guynn
This is my dawg, Sweet Jane, and her boyfriend Sam. He is 11, she is 6. Photos of my other critter-children are at my flickr account.

Back to School -- Eeeek!

Man, this going-to-work thing is hard.  And no one is making my bed  and laying out food choices anymore.

Oh, yeah, this is what life is really like, huh?  

How easy it is to fall into a spoiled way of life, even in only a few weeks. It gives me, in a creepy way, a little understanding of those plantation owners who grew enormously wealthy from the labor of their "property."  Maybe they said to themselves "hmm, this makes me uncomfortable when I think about it...so I just won't think about it. What's for lunch? Think I'll read some Greek poetry. Tra la."  

There's a good deal of enjoyment in that lifestyle but little real joy, I think. 

More later; off to school.

Sunday, January 11, 2009

More on St. Kitts









I'm attaching more photos of our fabulous jeep tour on St. Kitts; scenery from a topographic high point.

 Our drive-about focused on the sugar industry, which determined -- and to some extent still does determine, through its collapse, the lives of many residents, slave and owner alike. Here, tour operator Greg Pereira stands in a ruined mill and tells us about the sugar industry.


In the shade of this lovely tree we sampled island fruits and fruit-based cookies, spread out across the top of one of the jeeps.









Our tour's last stop was this Anglican church, still in use, which dates from (I think) the mid 1700s. It now has a thriving black congregation, but at one point the slaves had to wait outside while their owners attended services here. The building is surrounded by old gravestones.


Monday, January 5, 2009

Only One More Island

The last week of this trip is one-day in-and-outs of different islands, hard to keep up with both in blogging and in what passes for reality.

After Trinidad we went to Dominica (pronounced doh mu NEE kuh, just like in the singing nun song), where I was out of commission for much of the day with the viral bug that's been going around. About 3pm, after Bibb came back from his excursion, we walked around a bit, very s-l-o-w-l-y. Seems not too touristy, pretty small, worth another visit, but I basically don't have very many memories of that particular site.

The next day, fully recovered, I had a GREAT time on St. Kitts, where we took a Jeep Adventure which focused on the history of sugar production on the island. The tour operator, Greg, is a 5th generation Kittitian (that's what they call themselves, according to the guide book) and has dual citizenship with Canada. He went there to get a degree in hotel-entertainment-management, and now runs several different kinds of tours, using Land Rovers.

We visited several defunct sugar plantations and processing sites, and he gave very well-informed talks about the slave labor that produced the crops and how the wealth was basically bled off to Europe, where it fueled the Industrial Revolution. The govt of St. Kitts took over the sugar industry in 1974 and basically bought out much of the land, and the last sugar processing facility just closed in 2005. The island is still struggling to find a new economic mix that will support its people. Greg showed us housing that's being built for some of the many landless people and talked about how he hopes his county will choose to develop tourism in a healthy way. Very socially conscious and progressive picture of the island, delivered along with amazing scenery, fresh breezes, a sampling of exotic fruits.

Today we spent on St. Croix, which is actually US soil, since it's part of the US Virgin Islands, so we were able to get dollars from bank machines for the first time in almost three weeks! I love travel, but familiar money also makes me happy :  )

I went on a bus tour (the first time I'd ridden in air conditioning for quite a while) that went to two more former sugar plantations, but very different from St. Kitts' tour. At the first one, the main houses are being stabilized and made safe for tours, so you can't go in, and the outbuildings where cane was processed into sugar, molasses and rum are mostly in ruins, though you can see outlines. The tour guides, though, focus on the present plantings, identifying trees, flowers, vines and cacti that either grow naturally there or have been planted (though they are all native to the area). That was interesting, but I learned more from Greg. The second plantation home, though, still belongs to the same family -- since it was built in 1896! -- and three generations of the family participated in our guided tour. A couple from Denmark ran the cane plantation, and the house is still in marvelous shape and has furniture from around 1900; the family doesn't live there, but they have family pictures of the various generations.

This island is drier, but in the higher elevations they have  rainforest-like growth. Not true rainforest, since there's far too much light getting to the ground level, but still pretty lush. After the tour I had a shower and walked into the small town where we docked, Frederickstad, and had lunch with a Canadian couple I ran into. (Was supposed to hook up with Bibb, but his tour was running late and we missed each other.) We ate shrimp with a local dish called fungi, pronounced foon-shay I think, that is made from calabash (a squash-type plant) but has an almost rice consistency. Tasty, anyway.  And a local beer, Presidente. 

Now we are chugging toward the Dominican Republic, then a day at sea, then Florida and the drive home. This has been so intense, in so many ways, it's hard to believe that it's almost over, and hard to believe that Christmas and New Year's happened, it was so warm and so busy.

More soon.


Friday, January 2, 2009

Leaving Trinidad


It's actually "the Republic of Trindad and Tobago," but that's too long to keep typing.

We spent all of New Year's Eve day at sea, booking toward Port of Spain, Trinidad.  We had the third of our "dressy" dinners, so we ate with our dinner partners Sylvia and Frank, the Canadian brother and sister. We learned that Frank has several vintage cars and chatted a bit about Louisville, where Sylvia lives, and Bibb talked about his family's Louisville connection (some generations back).

Also that day, we detoured slightly to have an ill passenger airlifted from the ship (pretty exciting) and arrived later than our scheduled time. Some shore excursions had to be postponed until the next day, including my visit to the Asa Wright Nature Center, which is on the site of an old plantation, almost at the top of a mountain directly inland from Port of Spain.

The city (and Trinidad in general) is not very tourist-y, since they struck oil about 30 years after gaining independence from the UK (in 1962) and have relied on that as a source of money rather than tourists. While we didn't feel downright afraid anywhere we went (walking around a bit on on the 1st), the city feels somewhat grubby. Lots of properties not well maintained, lots of low-quality housing. As Bibb put it, many small groups of young men who look as if they are auditioning for the part of "thug #3" in some film. People we met were all nice, though.

Today's trip to the Wright Center was about 1 1/2 hour drive in a van. Our driver and tour guide, Marlin, pointed out sights and gave a little history along the way. On the tiny, winding road up the mountain he frequently stopped in the road to let people take pictures or see the plant or animal he was pointing to. Once he jumped out and plucked some leaves for us to smell -- turned out to be fresh bay. We saw the Blue Emperor (I think) butterfly, a flat gorgeous electric blue HUGE butterfly, many smaller yellow and white bflies, and, on the Center grounds, mango, cashew, tamarind, powder-puff and palm trees. Frangi-pani, lipstick plants, bougainvillia (spelling?), trumpet flowers, bird of paradise, and many many flowers I don't recall names of. And the birds!!  

The Center is famous as a birding center and research site, and it was amazing. I'm not a serious birder, I just like to look at them, but even I could tell this was something special. We saw hummingbirds in several different brilliant shades, lots of finch-sized fellows, several large yellowtails. Heard some toucans but I didn't see any. Another "jungle" walk on a well-defined but steep and muddy trail. Some of our elder campers turned back and opted to stroll along the paved road. 

While I went to the Wright Center Bibb did the "Trindian experience," which focused on the island's East Indian heritage. There is a substantial Indian population b/c after slavery was abolished in Trinidad but it was still controlled by the British, Indians were brought over as indentured servants and given land on Trinidad at the end of their five-year terms. (Or they could go back to India, but many chose to stay.) There are still a significant number of Hindus on the island -- we saw homes with little temples in the yard and/or flags whose colors honored particular gods. 

We pulled out at about 5pm and are on our way to Dominica (doh mi NEE kuh). From now on each stop is only one day, and we have an outing scheduled at each stop. Dominica, St. Kitts, St. Croix, the Dominican Republic, and then a day's sail "home" to Florida.

rainbow,right


rainbow,right
Originally uploaded by Anita R. Guynn
A full 180-degree rainbow on New Year's Day -- made up for not being able to find an open restaurant : )