Sunday, December 25, 2011
Monday, December 12, 2011
10 Year Old Mexican Girl Gives Birth
To say that I was appalled and dumbfounded when I read about this poor little child is probably the biggest understatement I have ever made. And then to continue reading, from various sources, of the circumstances surrounding the birth just sent me into an almost insensate rage.
The little girl was taken to hospital in Puebla, 31 weeks into a pregnancy, and suffering from life-threatening complications and issues, which included seizures. Her baby boy, weighing 3.3lb, was born by Caesarean section, and is in intensive care, suffering from pneumonia. He is said to be doing well. The little mother, who is recovering well also, visits the hospital to breastfeed her baby.
The baby's father is unknown. There is an investigation underway to determine who assaulted the little girl.
My sheer rage is directed at the Mexican authorities and a group named Vida Humana Internacional. This organisation promotes the teachings of the Roman Catholic Church in Spanish-speaking countries, and supports strict anti-abortion laws. They argue that even if it is a case of sexual assault, or when pregnancy poses health risks to the mother (even a 10 year old), abortion is an immoral act.
"In the end, the child at any stage of development has all the rights of any other human being and may not be directly and voluntarily killed," Magaly Llaguno, the Executive Director of VHI, told The Christian Post in an email.
She added: "Such an act is, as John Paul II emphasized, 'always gravely immoral.' Increasingly so, the default position of physicians today is to recommend a direct abortion. But such a moral evil is never necessary as the death of a child never brings about the health of a woman."
Magaly Llaguno is obviously not educated. To have made such a ridiculous statement - and publicly, shows that she is totally in ignorance of the risks to the health of little girls who are forced by her bigotry to undergo the ordeal of pregnancy and giving birth.
There are severe health risks faced by mothers under 16 years of age. According to Time magazine, they are four times more likely to die during childbirth and are more susceptible to developing anemia, postpartum hemorrhage, depression and other mental disorders.
Due to the difficulties of child labor, minors who give birth also make up 65 percent of the women who develop obstetric fistula - a devastating condition in which a hole develops in the birth canal, causing an uncontrollable leakage of urine and faeces into the vagina.
So much for "the death of a child never brings about the health of a woman." Perhaps she should have consulted a few physicians before she made that stupid statement. One out of eight children in Mexico currently works.
The unfortunate circumstances in Mexico are that approximately 90% of the population is Catholic, and are thus influenced by the Roman Catholic church's stance regarding abortion. Individual states in Mexico are able to decide their own laws regarding abortion, and some states, such as Puebla, where the 10-year-old girl lives, prohibit the procedure unless the woman can prove the pregnancy is a result of sexual assault. I would be interested to see how a 10 year old could 'prove' sexual assault?
Lawmakers from the state of Puebla approved an anti-abortion amendment in 2009, which says life begins "from the moment of conception to natural death, except in cases foreseen by law." Sixteen of Mexico's 31 states have similar abortion laws.
It appears glaringly obvious what is going to happen in countries with these draconian laws. Many women and girls will put their lives at risk by undergoing illegal abortions in unsavoury, insanitary conditions. Many will die.
Mexico City's governmental Human Rights Commission said the country's abortion laws "will worsen the serious public health problem of clandestine abortions in unhealthy conditions"
This is not the first birth to a little girl in a Latin American country, nor will it be the last. Which is totally unacceptable, and a searing indictment of the anti-abortion laws in countries such as Mexico, Brazil, Colombia, Chile, El Salvador and Nicaragua. Abortion is illegal in all circumstances in El Salvador and Nicaragua.
Sunday, December 11, 2011
I Hate Being Manipulated
There I was downloading my emails, which are normally full of all sorts of exciting things, like how to extend my penis and take viagra now that I have a big one. When suddenly there came a shout from the roof.. no, suddenly I saw a strange email (I meant to say that in the first place). It was from some "psychic" who calls herself Zora. Usually these are automatically dumped into the bin.
Lady, I don't need a psychic - I am one! This one guys, would take your breath away though. Forgetting all the rules about tracking cookies and whatnot, I opened the email and read the contents. How I wish I had minded my own business. The email reads as follows:
Subject: Theres something disturbing you Carol
Dear Carol,
By looking at your situation more closely I say to myself you could have no more personal worries and money problems.
But as you delay every day a little your request for your Free Confidential Clairvoyance which should arrive never arrives.
I see a crow passing above you, this means that you're feeling low.
You see only darkness, you don't believe in anything any more!
I'm the witness of your life and your future happiness which requires my urgent intervention to reveal itself but I'm powerless in the face of your staggering inaction.
Time is passing quickly and if you do nothing, you'll see the train pass in front of your window, a train loaded with all the world's wonders, all the dreams which are still in your mind. Enter into the fairytale world of Zora; immediately request your Free Confidential Clairvoyance! Everything will change for you soon...
Your Astral Adviser
I sure don't know about anyone else but when I read that I went into such a steam about it. Cheeky, manipulating cow she must be. She can't be that bloody psychic or she wouldn't have sent the email in the first place - she would have known how bloody angry it makes me feel. Talk about low, underhanded and shoddy salesmanship (or womanship). I mean, for pity's sake, if I was some random old lady - sssh no giggling allowed ok?.
Anyway as I was saying, if I was some frightened little old lady reading that I would probably be sucked right in and spend spend spend.
How easy it is to blurt about money or personal worries. Hell, everyone on earth has those same worries. I bet even the Queen of England worries about stuff now and again. Especially family stuff.
The kicker, or the killer was the itsy bit where madame 'Zora' stated that You see only darkness, you don't believe in anything any more! - well I guess maybe she is psychic because right then the electricity went out because of a storm! And how does she know what I believe or don't believe? I obviously don't believe in her, that's for sure!
As for I'm powerless in the face of your staggering inaction. Hey ZORAAAAA????? Guess what? I am not powerless - I have a button called 'bounce to sender'. Every time one of your manipulative little ditties arrives, it will go straight back to you - you cheeky bloody person. And at the same time it will be automatically deleted.
I loathe people trying to manipulate me lady, and I despise people who use thinly veiled scare tactics to get me to cooperate with their aims.
So criss off you picket, and go nag someone else's pants off. If I wanted your services I would bloody come to you. The only crow I see around here is you mate.
Lady, I don't need a psychic - I am one! This one guys, would take your breath away though. Forgetting all the rules about tracking cookies and whatnot, I opened the email and read the contents. How I wish I had minded my own business. The email reads as follows:
Subject: Theres something disturbing you Carol
Dear Carol,
By looking at your situation more closely I say to myself you could have no more personal worries and money problems.
But as you delay every day a little your request for your Free Confidential Clairvoyance which should arrive never arrives.
I see a crow passing above you, this means that you're feeling low.
You see only darkness, you don't believe in anything any more!
I'm the witness of your life and your future happiness which requires my urgent intervention to reveal itself but I'm powerless in the face of your staggering inaction.
Time is passing quickly and if you do nothing, you'll see the train pass in front of your window, a train loaded with all the world's wonders, all the dreams which are still in your mind. Enter into the fairytale world of Zora; immediately request your Free Confidential Clairvoyance! Everything will change for you soon...
Your Astral Adviser
I sure don't know about anyone else but when I read that I went into such a steam about it. Cheeky, manipulating cow she must be. She can't be that bloody psychic or she wouldn't have sent the email in the first place - she would have known how bloody angry it makes me feel. Talk about low, underhanded and shoddy salesmanship (or womanship). I mean, for pity's sake, if I was some random old lady - sssh no giggling allowed ok?.
 | |
| My Staggering Inaction |
Anyway as I was saying, if I was some frightened little old lady reading that I would probably be sucked right in and spend spend spend.
How easy it is to blurt about money or personal worries. Hell, everyone on earth has those same worries. I bet even the Queen of England worries about stuff now and again. Especially family stuff.
The kicker, or the killer was the itsy bit where madame 'Zora' stated that You see only darkness, you don't believe in anything any more! - well I guess maybe she is psychic because right then the electricity went out because of a storm! And how does she know what I believe or don't believe? I obviously don't believe in her, that's for sure!
As for I'm powerless in the face of your staggering inaction. Hey ZORAAAAA????? Guess what? I am not powerless - I have a button called 'bounce to sender'. Every time one of your manipulative little ditties arrives, it will go straight back to you - you cheeky bloody person. And at the same time it will be automatically deleted.
I loathe people trying to manipulate me lady, and I despise people who use thinly veiled scare tactics to get me to cooperate with their aims.
So criss off you picket, and go nag someone else's pants off. If I wanted your services I would bloody come to you. The only crow I see around here is you mate.
Saturday, December 10, 2011
Do I Have Irritable Bowel?
Maybe it's just bad temper! I am the owner of a bowel (nooooooo I hear you say), and I am so damned irritable that it isn't funny.
And when I get irritable, so does my bowel. And the rest of me to boot. There is also pain, which is constant and debilitating to say the least. Some days it is a dull roar, other days it is so bad I hardly know what to do with myself, and the drugs I have don't help. So I get irritable.
Today the pain was extreme, feels like I need a back-ectomy or something. I am coming back as a jellyfish or an amoeba, and that way I won't need to ever experience backache. Knowing my luck, if I return as a damned jellyfish I will have tentacle ache instead. Do jellyfish get tentacle ache? Betcha I would.
One of the biggest bitches I have is that the brain is only in the early 20's, even though with the pain and all the memory is shit. But the body is ancient and wizened. The biggest blow my esteem has taken just lately is from the results of the CT scan to my abdomen...there are words on there that if you used them I would wash your mouth out with soap. And words that have approximately 22 syllables. Totally unpronounceable. And amongst the scientific mumbo are the words "moderate degeneration of the left hip", and also the fact that the lowest disc space in my spine is now almost non-existent.
For ages I have been joking and saying I think I need a new hip. Now? Mind over matter? I dunno, but since I found out that it actually IS my hip the pain has been three times as bad. Or is it that I notice it more? So frustrating, not to be able to do all your shopping in one hit, for example, but to have to go back day after day because you can only walk for an hour or so before being totally unable to take another step.
Today it was my back, the pain not so much in the hip. To ensure that it got worse over the course of the day, I decided I would do some weeding and what-not. Maximum time 10 minutes, then 15 minutes rest. Do this for one hour, maximum 1.5 hours! Gone are the days when I could happily spend all day working hard in the garden! Piss off, pain.
Add pain to pain and pain to irritability, and the whole lot comes booming down as molto depression. That bit is, I think, the source of the tiredness. Fighting off the depression is sure to suck every bit of energy and strength out of anyone. You guys know I have coping mechanisms - kick out the negative thoughts, sing loudly and all the rest. Sometimes it is more difficult than others!
How some ever, we shall overcome, one way or another. Getting out of the house into the fresh air is a good depression killer, except when you have two monster dogs bugging the hell out of you. Somehow they know when I am down in the dumps and they eagerly make it worse by trying to stick more closely than usual.
Need a dog whisperer to tell them to just be nice poochies and back off a bit huh? I need a little dog-free space, not muzzles down holes and pees on the lilies I am uprooting! No lolling on my feet please, it hurts my ingrown toenails! In other words? Bugger off dogs, I am trying to be depressed here!
And when I get irritable, so does my bowel. And the rest of me to boot. There is also pain, which is constant and debilitating to say the least. Some days it is a dull roar, other days it is so bad I hardly know what to do with myself, and the drugs I have don't help. So I get irritable.
Today the pain was extreme, feels like I need a back-ectomy or something. I am coming back as a jellyfish or an amoeba, and that way I won't need to ever experience backache. Knowing my luck, if I return as a damned jellyfish I will have tentacle ache instead. Do jellyfish get tentacle ache? Betcha I would.
One of the biggest bitches I have is that the brain is only in the early 20's, even though with the pain and all the memory is shit. But the body is ancient and wizened. The biggest blow my esteem has taken just lately is from the results of the CT scan to my abdomen...there are words on there that if you used them I would wash your mouth out with soap. And words that have approximately 22 syllables. Totally unpronounceable. And amongst the scientific mumbo are the words "moderate degeneration of the left hip", and also the fact that the lowest disc space in my spine is now almost non-existent.
For ages I have been joking and saying I think I need a new hip. Now? Mind over matter? I dunno, but since I found out that it actually IS my hip the pain has been three times as bad. Or is it that I notice it more? So frustrating, not to be able to do all your shopping in one hit, for example, but to have to go back day after day because you can only walk for an hour or so before being totally unable to take another step.
Today it was my back, the pain not so much in the hip. To ensure that it got worse over the course of the day, I decided I would do some weeding and what-not. Maximum time 10 minutes, then 15 minutes rest. Do this for one hour, maximum 1.5 hours! Gone are the days when I could happily spend all day working hard in the garden! Piss off, pain.
Add pain to pain and pain to irritability, and the whole lot comes booming down as molto depression. That bit is, I think, the source of the tiredness. Fighting off the depression is sure to suck every bit of energy and strength out of anyone. You guys know I have coping mechanisms - kick out the negative thoughts, sing loudly and all the rest. Sometimes it is more difficult than others!
How some ever, we shall overcome, one way or another. Getting out of the house into the fresh air is a good depression killer, except when you have two monster dogs bugging the hell out of you. Somehow they know when I am down in the dumps and they eagerly make it worse by trying to stick more closely than usual.
Need a dog whisperer to tell them to just be nice poochies and back off a bit huh? I need a little dog-free space, not muzzles down holes and pees on the lilies I am uprooting! No lolling on my feet please, it hurts my ingrown toenails! In other words? Bugger off dogs, I am trying to be depressed here!
I Googled Christmas Wreaths?
||Artificial insemination for goat class||: ||artificial streaks ...
creativenergy.com.au/leroy-artificial-vaginas/bulk wholesale artificial christmas wreaths. artificial satellites in indian express. artificial poppies for sale nz. artificial pumpkin vine ...
Dear Google, or should that be Goggle?
Thank you for your enlightening information! I am sure getting an education in the ways of the world around me.
It seems, however, that your little search men got all twizzled up with their satellite, as the search returned the most amaaaaaaaaazing results. In fact, I should just check out some of the sites to see what in hell the little men found for me. For example, what, oh what is a "leroy-artificial-vagina"? I daren't even begin to ponder this one.
And what a crackup, who would want "artificial satellites in Indian express"? Express what? Total hilarity here, just saying.
The most astonishing result of all, one which for the life of me I can't see having the slightest bearing on artificial wreaths, was the return of "artificial insemination for goat class". Goat class of what? Class of '11 maybe? Low class of goat? The poor mind is overheating and the jaw is aching from the spontaneous laughter.
Just as a last query, why would anyone want an artificial pumpkin vine?
Kind regards,
Your favourite searcher, Carol
p.s. thanks for all the laughter I have.
Baring Your Breast? Is Breastfeeding In Public Offensive?
QUOTE:
One thing I don’t like is someone using a twisted sense of morality or decency to try to prevent something as healthy and natural as breastfeeding in public.
The above was a comment on a blog on wordpress, go to the following to see it:
http://naturesmother.wordpress.com/2011/05/10/breastfeeding-in-public-is-offensive-see-for-yourself/
Now I know I am an older person (stop laughing all right?!), however, I don't believe I am showing my age when I OBJECT to that remark, by someone called "Tim Merrick". Yep, I get embarrassed as hell when a stranger partially undresses in front of me in a very public place, ok? I do NOT have a twisted sense of morality or decency!
What the original poster of the blog and succeeding posters, plus many many of those who have commented, including Tim Merrick, have NOT BOTHERED to take into account or even to think about, is the upbringing of people of my generation and the generation ahead of me! Anyone who knows me will know that there is no way on earth I am a prude, a prissy miss, nor do I have a twisted anything - except perhaps my sense of humour. This does not prevent me from being embarrassed!
The generations younger than mine are far more relaxed and open about all things sexual, about their bodies, about their antics in the bedroom, whatever. I know I am not alone in the way I was introduced to matters pertaining to the "birds and the bees".
My instruction was from a little book that my mother gave me to read, saying "If you have any questions just ask me". I need to add here that if I had asked her anything she would have probably died on the spot from extreme mortification. I don't think her mother told her and my aunt much, if anything at all. It was all hush hush - and sex, bodies, menstruation, the whole of it - never to be spoken of, and definitely not in public!
As for bare bodies in ads - unthinkable! No sex in the movies, just the waves suggesting motion or some other 'subliminal' prompt. I still can't watch a movie in which couples strip and dive into bed to have sex. I find it extremely unnecessary and hideously uncomfortable. Maybe that is my twisted sense of decency? I just feel sex is a very private matter, and is between two people who love and care about each other. Not for voyeuristic consumption.
Somehow I have come a long way in a short time, and can talk about many things quite openly, but will always have that training, that upbringing, lodged firmly in my mind and many of my attitudes.
Not speaking for the men of any generation, but the women I know don't agree with half naked female bodies being used to promote or sell anything. We feel ashamed and embarrassed (there's that word again) when we see billboards or ads with young women posed in deliberately provocative ninon over none-on clothing. Most of my mates disagree with this type of exploitation, and feel that there would be far fewer sex attacks and far more respect for women if this type of advertising was damned well banned.
Come on, you don't often see adverts using men with their bag of fruit hanging out, now do you? Somehow women have become OBJECTS, and sexuality TRIVIALISED. And girls and women go along with it. No, I don't find bum cracks and bare bellies attractive, not at all. And judging by remarks I read and hear, few others disagree with me. I don't find tits hanging out all over the show attractive either. Whether it is the girl in the mall or a 'film star', it is just not a good look. They demean themselves. There is a distinction between looking sexy and looking like a tart.
And guess what else? The original blogger lost the plot or missed the point or something. The ads have nothing whatsoever to do with breast feeding! Heigh Ho, the BF Nazis are going to hate me for this, but it has bugger all to do with women undressing in front of me at the bus stop. Yes, yes, breastfeeding is all natural and healthy and whatnot etc etc. IF you can do it - good luck to you. BUT. Please don't be one of those (and there are many many many of you) who deliberately go out of their way to make, or prove, a point. What that point is (apart from their bare nipple) I am not sure.
Hell's bells, I have stood with a friend of my daughter's, who said excuse, placed baby in the sling and fed her. Her respect for other people's feelings was enormous, and I applauded her. My respect for her was also enormous. She didn't make a display, nor an exhibition, nor a point. She quietly got on and fed her baby. And we quietly chatted while the little one had her meal.
In answer to the question posed - no. Breastfeeding in public is not offensive, it is a certain type of mother who makes it into a spectacle that is offensive.
And in answer to those who say ' you don't have to look ' - how can you bloody well avoid looking when some women are so blatant about popping their boob in front of your eyes? Some women feed their babies discreetly, respectfully, and with modesty - well I think the majority do - they are the ones I can smile at!
The ones who show no discretion, no respect - which after all means 'consideration' - to me it is just as though some strange boy dropped his pants in front of me. The effect is exactly the same. It is human nature to LOOK! Yep, breastfeed in public because your baby needs feeding - but where you have wonderful quiet facilities to do so, why not use them? If you don't have the facilities, have consideration and don't provoke!
One thing I don’t like is someone using a twisted sense of morality or decency to try to prevent something as healthy and natural as breastfeeding in public.
The above was a comment on a blog on wordpress, go to the following to see it:
http://naturesmother.wordpress.com/2011/05/10/breastfeeding-in-public-is-offensive-see-for-yourself/
Now I know I am an older person (stop laughing all right?!), however, I don't believe I am showing my age when I OBJECT to that remark, by someone called "Tim Merrick". Yep, I get embarrassed as hell when a stranger partially undresses in front of me in a very public place, ok? I do NOT have a twisted sense of morality or decency!
What the original poster of the blog and succeeding posters, plus many many of those who have commented, including Tim Merrick, have NOT BOTHERED to take into account or even to think about, is the upbringing of people of my generation and the generation ahead of me! Anyone who knows me will know that there is no way on earth I am a prude, a prissy miss, nor do I have a twisted anything - except perhaps my sense of humour. This does not prevent me from being embarrassed!
The generations younger than mine are far more relaxed and open about all things sexual, about their bodies, about their antics in the bedroom, whatever. I know I am not alone in the way I was introduced to matters pertaining to the "birds and the bees".
My instruction was from a little book that my mother gave me to read, saying "If you have any questions just ask me". I need to add here that if I had asked her anything she would have probably died on the spot from extreme mortification. I don't think her mother told her and my aunt much, if anything at all. It was all hush hush - and sex, bodies, menstruation, the whole of it - never to be spoken of, and definitely not in public!
As for bare bodies in ads - unthinkable! No sex in the movies, just the waves suggesting motion or some other 'subliminal' prompt. I still can't watch a movie in which couples strip and dive into bed to have sex. I find it extremely unnecessary and hideously uncomfortable. Maybe that is my twisted sense of decency? I just feel sex is a very private matter, and is between two people who love and care about each other. Not for voyeuristic consumption.
Somehow I have come a long way in a short time, and can talk about many things quite openly, but will always have that training, that upbringing, lodged firmly in my mind and many of my attitudes.
Not speaking for the men of any generation, but the women I know don't agree with half naked female bodies being used to promote or sell anything. We feel ashamed and embarrassed (there's that word again) when we see billboards or ads with young women posed in deliberately provocative ninon over none-on clothing. Most of my mates disagree with this type of exploitation, and feel that there would be far fewer sex attacks and far more respect for women if this type of advertising was damned well banned.
Come on, you don't often see adverts using men with their bag of fruit hanging out, now do you? Somehow women have become OBJECTS, and sexuality TRIVIALISED. And girls and women go along with it. No, I don't find bum cracks and bare bellies attractive, not at all. And judging by remarks I read and hear, few others disagree with me. I don't find tits hanging out all over the show attractive either. Whether it is the girl in the mall or a 'film star', it is just not a good look. They demean themselves. There is a distinction between looking sexy and looking like a tart.
And guess what else? The original blogger lost the plot or missed the point or something. The ads have nothing whatsoever to do with breast feeding! Heigh Ho, the BF Nazis are going to hate me for this, but it has bugger all to do with women undressing in front of me at the bus stop. Yes, yes, breastfeeding is all natural and healthy and whatnot etc etc. IF you can do it - good luck to you. BUT. Please don't be one of those (and there are many many many of you) who deliberately go out of their way to make, or prove, a point. What that point is (apart from their bare nipple) I am not sure.
Hell's bells, I have stood with a friend of my daughter's, who said excuse, placed baby in the sling and fed her. Her respect for other people's feelings was enormous, and I applauded her. My respect for her was also enormous. She didn't make a display, nor an exhibition, nor a point. She quietly got on and fed her baby. And we quietly chatted while the little one had her meal.
In answer to the question posed - no. Breastfeeding in public is not offensive, it is a certain type of mother who makes it into a spectacle that is offensive.
And in answer to those who say ' you don't have to look ' - how can you bloody well avoid looking when some women are so blatant about popping their boob in front of your eyes? Some women feed their babies discreetly, respectfully, and with modesty - well I think the majority do - they are the ones I can smile at!
The ones who show no discretion, no respect - which after all means 'consideration' - to me it is just as though some strange boy dropped his pants in front of me. The effect is exactly the same. It is human nature to LOOK! Yep, breastfeed in public because your baby needs feeding - but where you have wonderful quiet facilities to do so, why not use them? If you don't have the facilities, have consideration and don't provoke!
Who'd Have a Bloody Dog?
Um. Me? Please don't ask me why, as I have no idea whatsoever! Two monstrous, hair-shedding, spoiled, four-legged shadows. Wherever I go they go. If I suddenly turn around I trip over one of them, sometimes both.
Trying to garden is an exercise in extreme patience, without the goodwill to all dogs. Picture me. Fat backside in the air, 'lady garden fork' dug into the muddy ground, levering away at Canna Lily corms. We are doing well so far, Carol, we have 3/4 of the pest dug out.
When along comes the dog, and along comes the other dog. Dog one decides that there is a magnificently stinky pong coming from the hole under the corm I am struggling to dig out. So she shoves her whole nose and half her head into the hole. I am trying to lift the fork, corm and dog, all covered in mushy mud. Growl at her and push her away - she doesn't need a forking hole in her muzzle eh? She comes right back. End up popping her on the nose and pushing her physically out of the way.
She comes right back. So. I continue, drag out the corm and shoots and shake it like mad. Getting dirt all over the damned dog. Who immediately shoves her head in the hole. I win. I cover the hole with dirt. So she promptly sits where I am about to dig next.
Fair enough, two can play at this game madam. I move to the next spot. Dog number two has been happily barking his fool head off at a falling leaf, but seeing that I am about to dig he comes barrelling back and - with a huge smirk on his furry dial - pees all over the lily I am about to dig up. AAAAGH!
Right. Forget the lilies, I have a garden edge to straighten and re-define, at the back of the house. Off I go and collect the trusty ' lady garden spade'. As I commence panting and grunting and pounding the spade into the ground, sweat drooling off every surface (of me, not the spade!) - along comes....... no not Jones, the bloody dogs!
Dog one decides there is a wonderful stinky smell in the hole I have just dug............repeat paragraphs 3 and 4 (above). Dog two? Happily sits watching until I get to an especially heavy spot (must be a stone under the surface), whereupon he pees. double AAAAGH.
Nothing daunted, I carry on, with one dog happily digging out the edge and widening the bed even more, and the second dog sitting in the exact spot where my spadeful of dirt will be thrown. I gave up in the end, with just one or two more spade widths left to dig.
Who'd have a bloody dog?
Trying to garden is an exercise in extreme patience, without the goodwill to all dogs. Picture me. Fat backside in the air, 'lady garden fork' dug into the muddy ground, levering away at Canna Lily corms. We are doing well so far, Carol, we have 3/4 of the pest dug out.
When along comes the dog, and along comes the other dog. Dog one decides that there is a magnificently stinky pong coming from the hole under the corm I am struggling to dig out. So she shoves her whole nose and half her head into the hole. I am trying to lift the fork, corm and dog, all covered in mushy mud. Growl at her and push her away - she doesn't need a forking hole in her muzzle eh? She comes right back. End up popping her on the nose and pushing her physically out of the way.
She comes right back. So. I continue, drag out the corm and shoots and shake it like mad. Getting dirt all over the damned dog. Who immediately shoves her head in the hole. I win. I cover the hole with dirt. So she promptly sits where I am about to dig next.
Fair enough, two can play at this game madam. I move to the next spot. Dog number two has been happily barking his fool head off at a falling leaf, but seeing that I am about to dig he comes barrelling back and - with a huge smirk on his furry dial - pees all over the lily I am about to dig up. AAAAGH!
Right. Forget the lilies, I have a garden edge to straighten and re-define, at the back of the house. Off I go and collect the trusty ' lady garden spade'. As I commence panting and grunting and pounding the spade into the ground, sweat drooling off every surface (of me, not the spade!) - along comes....... no not Jones, the bloody dogs!
Dog one decides there is a wonderful stinky smell in the hole I have just dug............repeat paragraphs 3 and 4 (above). Dog two? Happily sits watching until I get to an especially heavy spot (must be a stone under the surface), whereupon he pees. double AAAAGH.
Nothing daunted, I carry on, with one dog happily digging out the edge and widening the bed even more, and the second dog sitting in the exact spot where my spadeful of dirt will be thrown. I gave up in the end, with just one or two more spade widths left to dig.
Who'd have a bloody dog?
Wednesday, November 30, 2011
Time Again for the Annual 'Stella Awards'!
For those unfamiliar with these awards, they are named after 81-year-old Stella Liebeck who spilled hot coffee on herself and successfully sued the McDonald's in New Mexico, where she purchased coffee. You remember, she took the lid off the coffee and put it between her knees while she was driving. Who would ever think one could get burned doing that, right? That's right; these are awards for the most outlandish lawsuits and verdicts in the U.S. You know, the kind of cases that make you scratch your head. So keep your head scratcher handy.
Here are the Stellas for last year -- 2010:
*SEVENTH PLACE*
Kathleen Robertson of Austin, Texas was awarded $80,000 by a jury of her peers after breaking her ankle tripping over a toddler who was running inside a furniture store. The store owners were understandably surprised by the verdict, considering the running toddler was her own son.
Start scratching!
* SIXTH PLACE *
Carl Truman, 19, of Los Angeles , California won $74,000 plus medical expenses when his neighbour ran over his hand with a Honda Accord.
Truman apparently didn't notice there was someone at the wheel of the car when he was trying to steal his neighbour's hubcaps..
Scratch some more...
* FIFTH PLACE *
Terrence Dickson, of Bristol , Pennsylvania , who was leaving a house he had just burglarized by way of the garage. Unfortunately for Dickson, the automatic garage door opener malfunctioned and he could not get the garage door to open. Worse, he couldn't re-enter the house because the door connecting the garage to the house locked when Dickson pulled it shut.
Forced to sit for eight, count 'em, EIGHT days and survive on a case of Pepsi and a large bag of dry dog food, he sued the homeowner's insurance company claiming undue mental Anguish. Amazingly, the jury said the insurance company must pay Dickson $500,000 for his anguish.
We should all have this kind of anguish Keep scratching. There are more...
Double hand scratching after this one..
*FOURTH PLACE*
Jerry Williams, of Little Rock, Arkansas, garnered 4th Place in the Stella's when he was awarded $14,500 plus medical expenses after being bitten on the butt by his next door neighbour's beagle - even though the beagle was on a chain in its owner's fenced yard.
Williams did not get as much as he asked for because the jury believed the beagle might have been provoked at the time of the butt bite because Williams had climbed over the fence into the yard and repeatedly shot the dog with a pellet gun.
Pick a new spot to scratch, you're getting a bald spot..
* THIRD PLACE *
Amber Carson of Lancaster, Pennsylvania because a jury ordered a Philadelphia restaurant to pay her $113,500 after she slipped on a spilled soft drink and broke her tailbone.
The reason the soft drink was on the floor: Ms. Carson had thrown it at her boyfriend 30 seconds earlier during an argument. What ever happened to people being responsible for their own actions?
Only two more so ease up on the scratching...
*SECOND PLACE*
Kara Walton, of Claymont , Delaware sued the owner of a night club in a nearby city because she fell from the bathroom window to the floor, knocking out her two front teeth.
Even though Ms. Walton was trying to sneak through the ladies room window to avoid paying the $3.50 cover charge, the jury said the night club had to pay her $12,000....oh, yeah, plus dental expenses. Go figure.
Ok. Here we go!! Drum roll .....
* FIRST PLACE *
This year's runaway First Place Stella Award winner was: Mrs. Merv Grazinski of Oklahoma City, Oklahoma, who purchased new 32-foot Winnebago motor home.
On her first trip home, from an OU football game, having driven on to the freeway, she set the cruise control at 70 mph and calmly left the driver's seat to go to the back of the Winnebago to make herself a sandwich. Not surprisingly, the motor home left the freeway, crashed and overturned.
Also not surprisingly, Mrs. Grazinski sued Winnebago for not putting in the owners manual that she couldn't actually leave the driver's seat while the cruise control was set. The Oklahoma jury awarded her, are you sitting down? $1,750,000 PLUS a new motor home.
Winnebago actually changed their manuals as a result of this suit, just in case Mrs. Grazinski has any relatives who might also buy a motor home.
Just a bit of fun!
Here are the Stellas for last year -- 2010:
*SEVENTH PLACE*
Kathleen Robertson of Austin, Texas was awarded $80,000 by a jury of her peers after breaking her ankle tripping over a toddler who was running inside a furniture store. The store owners were understandably surprised by the verdict, considering the running toddler was her own son.
Start scratching!
* SIXTH PLACE *
Carl Truman, 19, of Los Angeles , California won $74,000 plus medical expenses when his neighbour ran over his hand with a Honda Accord.
Truman apparently didn't notice there was someone at the wheel of the car when he was trying to steal his neighbour's hubcaps..
Scratch some more...
* FIFTH PLACE *
Terrence Dickson, of Bristol , Pennsylvania , who was leaving a house he had just burglarized by way of the garage. Unfortunately for Dickson, the automatic garage door opener malfunctioned and he could not get the garage door to open. Worse, he couldn't re-enter the house because the door connecting the garage to the house locked when Dickson pulled it shut.
Forced to sit for eight, count 'em, EIGHT days and survive on a case of Pepsi and a large bag of dry dog food, he sued the homeowner's insurance company claiming undue mental Anguish. Amazingly, the jury said the insurance company must pay Dickson $500,000 for his anguish.
We should all have this kind of anguish Keep scratching. There are more...
Double hand scratching after this one..
*FOURTH PLACE*
Jerry Williams, of Little Rock, Arkansas, garnered 4th Place in the Stella's when he was awarded $14,500 plus medical expenses after being bitten on the butt by his next door neighbour's beagle - even though the beagle was on a chain in its owner's fenced yard.
Williams did not get as much as he asked for because the jury believed the beagle might have been provoked at the time of the butt bite because Williams had climbed over the fence into the yard and repeatedly shot the dog with a pellet gun.
Pick a new spot to scratch, you're getting a bald spot..
* THIRD PLACE *
Amber Carson of Lancaster, Pennsylvania because a jury ordered a Philadelphia restaurant to pay her $113,500 after she slipped on a spilled soft drink and broke her tailbone.
The reason the soft drink was on the floor: Ms. Carson had thrown it at her boyfriend 30 seconds earlier during an argument. What ever happened to people being responsible for their own actions?
Only two more so ease up on the scratching...
*SECOND PLACE*
Kara Walton, of Claymont , Delaware sued the owner of a night club in a nearby city because she fell from the bathroom window to the floor, knocking out her two front teeth.
Even though Ms. Walton was trying to sneak through the ladies room window to avoid paying the $3.50 cover charge, the jury said the night club had to pay her $12,000....oh, yeah, plus dental expenses. Go figure.
Ok. Here we go!! Drum roll .....
* FIRST PLACE *
This year's runaway First Place Stella Award winner was: Mrs. Merv Grazinski of Oklahoma City, Oklahoma, who purchased new 32-foot Winnebago motor home.
On her first trip home, from an OU football game, having driven on to the freeway, she set the cruise control at 70 mph and calmly left the driver's seat to go to the back of the Winnebago to make herself a sandwich. Not surprisingly, the motor home left the freeway, crashed and overturned.
Also not surprisingly, Mrs. Grazinski sued Winnebago for not putting in the owners manual that she couldn't actually leave the driver's seat while the cruise control was set. The Oklahoma jury awarded her, are you sitting down? $1,750,000 PLUS a new motor home.
Winnebago actually changed their manuals as a result of this suit, just in case Mrs. Grazinski has any relatives who might also buy a motor home.
Just a bit of fun!
The Woman on the Tram ?
No apologies for jumping on the bandwagon here, as I watched that creature in action and to say I was disgusted is the least of it. Then doing a quick run around the internet, seeing people actually defending her, and saying "she has mental problems" was enough to send me climbing walls in fury. She has a problem all right, you cannot convince me that she wasn't drunk as a hoot owl.
The first thing I object to about this "poor" woman is that she professes to be a MOTHER. She sits there with a little guy on her knee, to my eyes looking scared as hell, and uses the most foul language, shouting and yelling, swearing and making bigoted comments. And never once does she consider him, not once. If she is like this in public, what on earth is she like in the privacy of her own home?
You have to laugh at the stupid bitch really, and the ones who say she has mental problems. She sure does - any form of racism is a form of mental problem.
Her performance, and correct me if I am wrong, but that is all it was - a performance - did lead me into other thoughts. She is the tip of the iceberg from what I read and see lately. Yes, she is bigoted, but so are many others.
Her attitude is not confined to white people either, it comes from both sides from what I can see.
She was arrested? Has nobody learned yet that you simply CAN'T legislate against hatred? You can't legislate against race - that just turns the legislation back on you big time, as we have witnessed many times.
My opinion is that bigotry is a learned behaviour. It is very difficult NOT to learn bigotry if it is practiced in your childhood home. My own father was a bigot par excellence - and instead of my learning from him, I just felt sickened by his hatred. An unreasoning, unreasonable, ignorant hatred. He would have cheered (as many others have) at that demented woman on the tram
The trouble is, many people can't get their head around the crap written in the bible by the 54 little scribes employed by jolly old Lord Bacon, who was happily altering things to suit King James and himself, as well as his Masonic beliefs. So we have the emergence of people with different or coloured skin being no better than animals, amongst other assorted rubbish.
Somehow this crap has perpetuated itself down the ages, and has translated into ignorance, bigotry, hatred - you name a negative and there it is. I am always reminded of an old song where a man asks little children what they think a certain word means. When he comes to prejudice the little girl says "um, I think it means when you are sick?" Yeah!
Don't you dare get me wrong either, people with coloured skin are just as prejudiced, don't worry. You have seen examples for yourselves I am sure. Sometimes their feelings can be understood, and sometimes not. Often people seem to hold dreadful grudges for absolute centuries - time to let go and move forward maybe? Whoever is doing the hating, it is a vicious circle.
My biggest rant is about how people become indoctrinated by organised religion. I don't care what damned religion it is, they do indoctrinate and I dare anyone to contradict this view. If you do, I want to see you explain fully WHY you believe that religion does NOT indoctrinate? I mean, come on? You are preached to over and over ad nauseum about the things your organisation believes. Year in and year out.
We went to Sunday school when we were kids, as many do, and ours was Baptist - you know they get you to sign "The Pledge" that you won't drink alcohol, and at the ripe old age of about 9 or 10? What? Kids that age, back then particularly, hardly knew what alcohol was? But it isn't indoctrination, by any means, oh no!
So then you have a group of people, from ANY country and religion, moving to another country, one which doesn't happen to share their religion. And what happens? Under normal circumstances most people try to integrate and become part of their new community. Fine, they can build their own churches etc. There are always those, however, who choose to cling to the ways of their 'old' country, their traditions and taboos. Many of which have roots deep into their religion. Many of the religions from poorer countries take root because of poverty and lack of education.
Lack of education equals ignorance and poverty, wherever it is experienced equals anger and frustration.
We saw and still see it here in Australia, with little communities forming, of Serbs, Croats, Chinese, Greek, you name it. They are some sort of hard core I feel, as the majority just get on with their new lives as peacefully as they can. Maybe a lot of them cling together because everything is different and frightening, I don't know. It is no way to become accepted into your new society though. If someone has been here 30 years and still can't speak the language it is time to ask questions, no?
There is always that fanatical little neucleus though, who spend most of their time trying to foment trouble, who either work behind the scenes or are blatant about their goals. The current troublemakers here are the fanatics who are fighting to go against the law of our land and have their own Sharia Law introduced - one rule for us and one for them.
I wonder what planet they are on, because they sure aren't living in Australia - and if their religion and religious laws are so important, I have to ask WHY they left their place of birth in such a hurry in the first place? These people knew before they came that our lives were completely different, so why did they emigrate here. Why were they given permission to emigrate when their views are so fanatical? Don't get me wrong, this is not a call for people to "go home", o.k.? I am genuinely MYSTIFIED about this. Totally baffled. I mean, I know what it must be like in places like Saudi, and tell you what - there is no way on earth I would EVER go there, not even for a holiday!
Next we will have public stonings and the so-called 'honour' killings happening here. Way to go! Straight back again to the 1600's everyone! It's a wonder that someone doesn't decide to form a religion where we all run around in animal skins, live in cages and men bash a woman over the head with a club when we they feel randy. After all, the cave men weren't that many years before 1600.
I fear that England too is sitting on a powder keg. It will get much worse before it changes in any way - and I do hope it changes for the better. The race riots in UK in 1981 will seem like a picnic in the park. And they were horrifying at the time. My feeling is that the government and the Police Force at that time were more to blame than anyone. Their policies actively promoted racial tension, and anyone who didn't see the riots coming had their heads in the sand big time. We who saw it coming were very afraid.
The governments today are doing the same, bending themselves double to cater to minority groups who are hellbent on taking over for their own fanatical reasons. Seems the people of our elected government are more terrified of what MIGHT happen if they don't kow tow than of what WILL happen when they do.
Take note, British Government, this woman on the tram is speaking aloud what a great number of people are feeling. You ignored the public feeling in the 1970's - time to wake up and think about a change of direction now, in 2011. It is simply wrong to change the law of the land to cater for a vocal minority of newcomers. It's a bit like making the whole class bow down to the class bully, isn't it?
Wake UP Australia - if we don't have the courage to stand up for our own country and our beliefs and way of life, the "lucky country" will bleed tears of blood.
The first thing I object to about this "poor" woman is that she professes to be a MOTHER. She sits there with a little guy on her knee, to my eyes looking scared as hell, and uses the most foul language, shouting and yelling, swearing and making bigoted comments. And never once does she consider him, not once. If she is like this in public, what on earth is she like in the privacy of her own home?
You have to laugh at the stupid bitch really, and the ones who say she has mental problems. She sure does - any form of racism is a form of mental problem.
Her performance, and correct me if I am wrong, but that is all it was - a performance - did lead me into other thoughts. She is the tip of the iceberg from what I read and see lately. Yes, she is bigoted, but so are many others.
Her attitude is not confined to white people either, it comes from both sides from what I can see.
She was arrested? Has nobody learned yet that you simply CAN'T legislate against hatred? You can't legislate against race - that just turns the legislation back on you big time, as we have witnessed many times.
 |
| Brixton 1981 |
My opinion is that bigotry is a learned behaviour. It is very difficult NOT to learn bigotry if it is practiced in your childhood home. My own father was a bigot par excellence - and instead of my learning from him, I just felt sickened by his hatred. An unreasoning, unreasonable, ignorant hatred. He would have cheered (as many others have) at that demented woman on the tram
 |
| Toxteth 1981 |
The trouble is, many people can't get their head around the crap written in the bible by the 54 little scribes employed by jolly old Lord Bacon, who was happily altering things to suit King James and himself, as well as his Masonic beliefs. So we have the emergence of people with different or coloured skin being no better than animals, amongst other assorted rubbish.
Somehow this crap has perpetuated itself down the ages, and has translated into ignorance, bigotry, hatred - you name a negative and there it is. I am always reminded of an old song where a man asks little children what they think a certain word means. When he comes to prejudice the little girl says "um, I think it means when you are sick?" Yeah!
Don't you dare get me wrong either, people with coloured skin are just as prejudiced, don't worry. You have seen examples for yourselves I am sure. Sometimes their feelings can be understood, and sometimes not. Often people seem to hold dreadful grudges for absolute centuries - time to let go and move forward maybe? Whoever is doing the hating, it is a vicious circle.
 | |
| Brixton 1981 |
My biggest rant is about how people become indoctrinated by organised religion. I don't care what damned religion it is, they do indoctrinate and I dare anyone to contradict this view. If you do, I want to see you explain fully WHY you believe that religion does NOT indoctrinate? I mean, come on? You are preached to over and over ad nauseum about the things your organisation believes. Year in and year out.
 |
| Brixton 1981 |
We went to Sunday school when we were kids, as many do, and ours was Baptist - you know they get you to sign "The Pledge" that you won't drink alcohol, and at the ripe old age of about 9 or 10? What? Kids that age, back then particularly, hardly knew what alcohol was? But it isn't indoctrination, by any means, oh no!
 |
| Toxteth 1981 |
So then you have a group of people, from ANY country and religion, moving to another country, one which doesn't happen to share their religion. And what happens? Under normal circumstances most people try to integrate and become part of their new community. Fine, they can build their own churches etc. There are always those, however, who choose to cling to the ways of their 'old' country, their traditions and taboos. Many of which have roots deep into their religion. Many of the religions from poorer countries take root because of poverty and lack of education.
Lack of education equals ignorance and poverty, wherever it is experienced equals anger and frustration.
 | |
| Brixton 1981 |
We saw and still see it here in Australia, with little communities forming, of Serbs, Croats, Chinese, Greek, you name it. They are some sort of hard core I feel, as the majority just get on with their new lives as peacefully as they can. Maybe a lot of them cling together because everything is different and frightening, I don't know. It is no way to become accepted into your new society though. If someone has been here 30 years and still can't speak the language it is time to ask questions, no?
 | |
| Brixton 1981 |
There is always that fanatical little neucleus though, who spend most of their time trying to foment trouble, who either work behind the scenes or are blatant about their goals. The current troublemakers here are the fanatics who are fighting to go against the law of our land and have their own Sharia Law introduced - one rule for us and one for them.
I wonder what planet they are on, because they sure aren't living in Australia - and if their religion and religious laws are so important, I have to ask WHY they left their place of birth in such a hurry in the first place? These people knew before they came that our lives were completely different, so why did they emigrate here. Why were they given permission to emigrate when their views are so fanatical? Don't get me wrong, this is not a call for people to "go home", o.k.? I am genuinely MYSTIFIED about this. Totally baffled. I mean, I know what it must be like in places like Saudi, and tell you what - there is no way on earth I would EVER go there, not even for a holiday!
 | |
| Toxteth 1981 |
Next we will have public stonings and the so-called 'honour' killings happening here. Way to go! Straight back again to the 1600's everyone! It's a wonder that someone doesn't decide to form a religion where we all run around in animal skins, live in cages and men bash a woman over the head with a club when we they feel randy. After all, the cave men weren't that many years before 1600.
I fear that England too is sitting on a powder keg. It will get much worse before it changes in any way - and I do hope it changes for the better. The race riots in UK in 1981 will seem like a picnic in the park. And they were horrifying at the time. My feeling is that the government and the Police Force at that time were more to blame than anyone. Their policies actively promoted racial tension, and anyone who didn't see the riots coming had their heads in the sand big time. We who saw it coming were very afraid.
The governments today are doing the same, bending themselves double to cater to minority groups who are hellbent on taking over for their own fanatical reasons. Seems the people of our elected government are more terrified of what MIGHT happen if they don't kow tow than of what WILL happen when they do.
Take note, British Government, this woman on the tram is speaking aloud what a great number of people are feeling. You ignored the public feeling in the 1970's - time to wake up and think about a change of direction now, in 2011. It is simply wrong to change the law of the land to cater for a vocal minority of newcomers. It's a bit like making the whole class bow down to the class bully, isn't it?
Wake UP Australia - if we don't have the courage to stand up for our own country and our beliefs and way of life, the "lucky country" will bleed tears of blood.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)