G.A.B. means Great Aunt Betty

Longtime Paso civic leader Betty Cousins dies at 87

Councilwoman, nurse, athl

ete and advocate for the deaf, she was a major force for city and educational projects

Bill Morem - bmorem@thetribunenews.com

A Paso Robles civic leading light has died, but not before having led a life that blazed on multiple levels. Elizabeth “Betty” Cousins died from a heart attack at her Paso Robles home Monday afternoon. The former Paso Robles city councilwoman and Citizen of the Year was 87.

A native of Paso Robles, Betty was b

orn to James and Cicile Cousins on Feb. 12, 1922. Her fat

her, a civic leader in his own right who founded the Paso Robles Chamber of Commerce, was a grain broker and insurance agent, a profession that Betty Cousins would later follow.

(Aunt Alice, Aunt Betty, Grandpa, Great-Grandpa, (great) Grandma Gigi)

By 17, Cousins began losing her hearing. That didn’t deter the life-long bachelorette from obtaining a degree in nursing from the University of San Francisco.

)

(Outgoing Paso Robles City Councilwoman Betty Cousins receives a street sign as she completed her term in 1988. Tribune file photo

But her ultimate deafness did force her to give up surgical nursing at the Paso Robles War Memorial Hospital, niece Terri Cousins said, “because she couldn’t read lips with masks on during surgery.”

No longer in the operating room, Cousins nevertheless remained committed to the community’s health needs. In 1961, she financed the equipment for screening infants for deafness, a move that put Paso Robles on the national map as the smallest city in Ame

rica to have such facilities.

She also served on the board of directors of War Memorial Hospital until 1978, when the hospital was closed and Twin Cities Community Hospital was built in Templeton.

Blessed with an adventurous spirit, Cousins decided in 1955 to join an all-female African safari after reading about it in the San Francisco Chronicle.

The escapade lasted 90 days and yielde

d trophies ranging from water buffalo to rhinoceros — mementos that hung for years in the upstairs bar of the Paso Robles Inn.

A gifted athlete, she was a driving force in creating the Paso Robles Country Club — where she would capture the women’s club championship five times. Friends and acquaintances say the qualities that best defined Cousins were her direct, no-nonsense approach to finding solutions to problems and her lack of ego. “She fought the good old boys’ network and got things done,” said Terri Cousins. “Her belief was, ‘I don’t care who gets credit as long as it gets done.’ ”

She took that approach when running for City Council in 1984.

Her credentials as a candidate included her membership on the hospital board, past president and lieutenant district governor of the Quota Club, stock broker, director of Heritage Oaks Bank and founding member of A Community Organization Recognizing Needs (ACORN), a dynamic organization that spearheads fund drives for parks and other civic improvements.

Cousins was a passionate lover of her hometown who wanted to see it planned well. Her campaign platform centered on fixing downtown traffic circulation and growth.

(Left to Right: Uncle George, Dad, Grandpa, Uncle Steve, Aunt Lisa, Aunt Diana, Mom, Me, Grandma, Aunt Elena, Aunt Betty, Trina, Clint)

“Paso Robles does not want urban sprawl,” she told the then-Telegram Tribune. “The city is playing catch-up. It’s got to slow down.”

At the end of the political day, Cousins was the top vote-getter in her inaugural political foray; her fellow council members unanimously voted her mayor pro tem the following month.

“She didn’t put up with any guff,” recalled Norma Moye, executive director of the Paso Robles Downtown Main Street Association. “She was a pretty tough lady, but she also had a great sense of humor, very factual but very funny.”

Among her accomplishments on the council was lobbying for and casting the deciding vote on the new library and city hall that have helped revitalize and reshape downtown Paso Robles into a nationally recognized city of distinction. “She had those councilmen intimidated about the library,” said Phil Dirkx, a longtime Paso Robles resident and current Tribune columnist. “She wasn’t a token woman on the council; she was a real player.” After a four-year stint on the council, she felt the city was on the right track and decided not to seek re-election. However, she again agreed to step up to public service four years later when a short-term council seat suddenly opened.

Cousins is also noted for her efforts to help establish Cuesta College’s North County campus. Longtime friend Dee Lacey succeeded Cousins on the Heritage Oaks board, worked with her in ACORN and partnered with her on raising money for the North County campus. She recalled the early days of that campaign when Cousins wrote a check for $25,000 and challenged others to match it. “That was Betty,’’ Lacey said, “always willing to be the seed or starter, and then she’d turn it over to someone else because she wasn’t about ego.”

In later years, she would serve on the board of the Cuesta College Foundation to keep those funds flowing.

A smoker until a decade ago, Cousins was diagnosed with breast cancer two years ago. Although she underwent a mastectomy and treatments, the cancer returned. Martin Kuehl, former owner of Kuehl Funeral Home, is also a native of Paso Robles and knew Cousins for her entire life. He sizes her up succinctly: “One heck of a fine gal. She knew her mind and didn’t mind speaking it.”

A service is set for Monday at 10 a.m. at St. Rose Catholic Church on Creston Road.

Absolutely no mention of her great love for animals--feeding stray cats off the street for years. Her beanie baby stint of the 2000s, her love for Cadillacs, sweets (mm Orange Slices!), and appreciation of a nice steak dinner (Medium Rare--no salad).

Aunt Betty taught me many things, but the most important of all--follow your heart. If there is something you want to do--do it. If it doesn't go the way you wanted, you will learn from it and be the better for it.

She gave me a beautiful Carousel horse trinket when I was a baby. I wanted to pick it up and play with it but my mom wouldn't let me. Aunt Betty said, "If she wants to do it, let her." So, a foot and a leg missing later, I still have the horse.

And I have great memories and stories in my heart of a woman who really fit the bill of a grandma but held the high distinction and noble title of Aunt.

Battlestar Galactica series finale

Friday night was the Battlestar Galactica series finale after 4 very interesting seasons. I was hooked from the minute I started watching the mini-series last year online. It's a great show with fascinating characters and above average themes. God? Resurrection? Life and death and war? All things not usually addressed in normal primetime shows.

Well, my review for the series finale, after so much buildup: I think it lived up to my expectations. The whole time you're wondering, how are these people and the cylons connected to us? Are they? Hmmm...

The miniseries preview:



The first season preview:




I wonder what, if anything, the creators and writers of the show will do next. It's bound to be great.

the Fifthteenth of March

The Ides of March! I forgot to write a post about this! One of my most cherished days of the year!

The Ides of March, a day originally named to celebrate the Roman god Mars, is now known as the day Caesar was killed in the Roman Senate in 44 B.C. (or B.C.E. if you are a finicky secularist).

Shakespeare wrote about it in the play Julius Caesar and added in the heartbreaking line, "E tu Brute?" Below is video from Rome season one (the end of course!), a bit violent, but almost tragically beautiful, in its portrayal of Caesar's death--especially from Brutus.

Julius Caesar comes home to Rome a beloved hero after the war in Gaul and his victory over ex-best friend, Pompey. No mention of the Rubicon, thanks to James. All of this makes him a hero in the eyes of the Roman people. Basically, the Senators see this and some of them think he is a big threat to Rome's security. They think he will take away their "democracy". A guy named Cassius is at the root of the plot against Caesar. He knows that Caesar's beloved status would make it hard to gain momentum against him. So what he does is turn the nobleman Marcus Brutus, Caesar's long time com padre, against him. If someone that once loved Caesar like a Dad turned against him, surely the citizens might be more keen to listen to such an opposition.

A big storm comes to Rome. Metaphor? Brutus figures out that assassination might be the only option to oust Caesar from power. The fellow senators convince Brutus that "the greater good" is at stake. Brutus does convince them, though, to spare Caesar's chum Marc Antony.

On a few occasions, Caesar is warned of his iminent demise. A vagrant on the street warns, "Beware the Ides of March", and his wife also gives him some words of advice. But Caesar still goes to the Senate and is stabbed brutally by the "Liberators". Brutus, of course, included. The famous line, "And you, Brutus?" makes it clear that Caesar had a deep love for Brutus and was indeed, betrayed. Soap opera? That's what the TV series Rome was made for.

So Mark Antony is pretty pissed, but he makes a deal with Caesar's muderers. He asks to accompany Caesar's body and to give a speech at his funeral. At the funeral, Brutus beats him to the punch:

BRUTUS

Be patient till the last.
Romans, countrymen, and lovers! hear me for my
cause, and be silent, that you may hear: believe me
for mine honour, and have respect to mine honour, that
you may believe: censure me in your wisdom, and
awake your senses, that you may the better judge.
If there be any in this assembly, any dear friend of
Caesar's, to him I say, that Brutus' love to Caesar
was no less than his. If then that friend demand
why Brutus rose against Caesar, this is my answer:
--Not that I loved Caesar less, but that I loved
Rome more. Had you rather Caesar were living and
die all slaves, than that Caesar were dead, to live
all free men? As Caesar loved me, I weep for him;
as he was fortunate, I rejoice at it; as he was
valiant, I honour him: but, as he was ambitious, I
slew him. There is tears for his love; joy for his
fortune; honour for his valour; and death for his
ambition. Who is here so base that would be a
bondman? If any, speak; for him have I offended.
Who is here so rude that would not be a Roman? If
any, speak; for him have I offended. Who is here so
vile that will not love his country? If any, speak;
for him have I offended. I pause for a reply.

Antony replies after Brutus leaves--with the famous first words, "Friends, Romans, country men".

through his masterful use of irony [he] stirs the crowd—which to this point had been solidly behind the conspirators—to call for the blood of Cassius, Brutus, and anyone else associated with Caesar's death.

ANTONY

Friends, Romans, countrymen, lend me your ears;
I come to bury Caesar, not to praise him.
The evil that men do lives after them;
The good is oft interred with their bones;
So let it be with Caesar. The noble Brutus
Hath told you Caesar was ambitious:
If it were so, it was a grievous fault,
And grievously hath Caesar answer'd it.
Here, under leave of Brutus and the rest--
For Brutus is an honourable man;
So are they all, all honourable men--
Come I to speak in Caesar's funeral.
He was my friend, faithful and just to me:
But Brutus says he was ambitious;
And Brutus is an honourable man.
He hath brought many captives home to Rome
Whose ransoms did the general coffers fill:
Did this in Caesar seem ambitious?
When that the poor have cried, Caesar hath wept:
Ambition should be made of sterner stuff:
Yet Brutus says he was ambitious;
And Brutus is an honourable man.
You all did see that on the Lupercal
I thrice presented him a kingly crown,
Which he did thrice refuse: was this ambition?
Yet Brutus says he was ambitious;
And, sure, he is an honourable man.
I speak not to disprove what Brutus spoke,
But here I am to speak what I do know.
You all did love him once, not without cause:
What cause withholds you then, to mourn for him?
O judgment! thou art fled to brutish beasts,
And men have lost their reason. Bear with me;
My heart is in the coffin there with Caesar,
And I must pause till it come back to me.

First Citizen

Methinks there is much reason in his sayings.

Second Citizen

If thou consider rightly of the matter,
Caesar has had great wrong.

Third Citizen

Has he, masters?
I fear there will a worse come in his place.

Fourth CitizenMark'd ye his words? He would not take the crown;
Therefore 'tis certain he was not ambitious.

Then Caesar's nephew, Octavius, plots with Marc Antony to gain control of Rome, forcefully. They kill a lot of people--some of the senators that killed Julius Caesar--and other people that were against them. But low and behold Brutus and that evil mastermind Cassius raise up a dark army against them. In the last battle, they gain some successes, but eventually Cassius kills himself when he falls on his own sword--a symbol of a man's failure. Then Brutus follows suit, unwilling to be taken captive by the heathens Antony and Octavius.

Upon discovering the body, Antony laments the tragic fall of Brutus, calling him the noblest of them all.

Julius Caesar is a man still talked about today, not just because of the Shakespeare play. Why is this? Many reasons, of course. But I think it is important to remember what happened in Ancient Rome--and to learn from it. So often human beings have let history repeat itself.

Is it right for a champion of democracy to kill to serve the interests of the nation?

Can any true democrat act in the "best interests of the people" if the people do not support his or her actions?

This raises questions about the nature of government and the ethics of revolution that have plagued political commentary for generations.

Do you think that Caesar's death inevitably helped or hurt the Roman Empire? Was Brutus justified? Has any modern day revolution/assassination ended up helping a nation?

Men at sometime were masters of their fates. / The fault, dear Brutus, is not in our stars, / But in ourselves, that we are underlings (I.ii.140–142)

Caesar declares: “It seems to me most strange that men should fear, / Seeing that death, a necessary end, / Will come when it will come” (II.ii.35–37). In other words, Caesar recognizes that certain events lie beyond human control; to crouch in fear of them is to enter a paralysis equal to, if not worse than, death.

Change of Scenery

Yes, if you visit this blog a lot (cough Sarah cough), you might've noticed I've changed the color scheme and header about 4 times in the last 3 days. I feel that with Spring rapidly approaching (and pollen allergies), a change of color was needed. I did like the red but it was a bit much and not at all appropriate with my new music playlist.

Taxes

From a friend's status on Facebook:

...Just learned that our taxes are no longer due April 15th. They are due when we are nominated to a cabinet position.

Happy St. Patrick's Day!

Watch some great videos about Saint Patrick here! Here is an excerpt from the videos. Very interesting stuff!

After the dead of winter, St. Patrick's Day is a welcome sign of spring; a day for wearing of the green, for the Irish and non-Irish alike. It's a celebration of the Emerald Isle's patron saint, but now it is time to separate St. Patrick fact--from the blarney.

The story of St. Patrick's Day goes back to fifth century Britain, where a sixteen year old boy, Maewyn Succat, was kidnapped by Irish marauders. He remained a shepherd slave in Ireland for six years until a vision directed him to escape. Back home in Britain, Maewyn had another vision beckoning him to help the the people of Ireland. So he took his vows as a priest, adopted the Christian name Patrick, and in 432 A.D., returned to Ireland on a mission. In his autobiography, The Confessor, Patrick wrote about converting the Irish to Christianity while also building schools and monasteries along Ireland's north and west coast.

One popular myth has Patrick driving the snakes out of Ireland. The truth is, there were never snakes on the island. This is probably a metaphor for Patrick cleansing the island of paganism. Another myth has Patrick using the shamrock to teach the holy trinity. This legend is possible, but Patrick never wrote about it.

So why does the holiday fall on March 17th? Supposedly it is the day Patrick died in 461 A.D.. Since then, Irish Christians have marked the anniversary as a holy day. Beginning in the middle ages, Irish Catholics would close shop and attend church to honor the feast of St. Patrick. And it was a time to celebrate. St. Patrick's Day falls within Lent, the season before Easter when Catholics give up their vices as penance. The feast of St. Patrick was a one day reprieve when Irishmen could down a pint or two of ale. This custom really took off.

The first St. Patrick's Day in colonial America occurred in Boston in 1737 with a parade organized by the Charitable Irish Society. New York City followed in 1762. Today, New York's Fifth Avenue is America's most famous, largest, and rowdiest St. Patrick's Day tradition.

During the 1840s, when Ireland was starving from the potato famine, millions were forced to leave. The mass migration sent Irish to Canada, Australia and America. As the Irish settled in their new countries, they brought along old customs and invented a few more. In the United States, it became customary to wear green on St. Patrick's Day. Toward the end of the 19th century, the smell of corned beef wafted from Irish-American neighborhoods. The traditional Irish meal was boiled bacon and potatoes, but in the United States, immigrants could find a cheap piece of beef, tenderize it with brine, and slow cook it cabbage. The dish remains a delicious Patty's Day tradition.

As the Irish in America gained influence in politics and culture, their exclusive holiday became a nationally recognized celebration. And it all began over 1500 years ago, when a boy was torn from his family. Little could he know, that his life would inspire parades, fashion, and yes, the hoisting of a few pints to host his special day.

The traditional color associated with Saint Patrick is actually blue! There is even a particular shade of blue known as Saint Patrick's Blue. Green is a color that became associated with Ireland, both because of the Emerald Isle, which came from the greenness of the land, and because of the shamrock, which Saint Patrick used to explain the trinity. The shamrock became a symbol of Irish-Catholic nationalism. The tradition of wearing green on St. Patrick's Day is derived from the tradition of picking a shamrock and putting in the lapel of your jacket. Then, when you had the United Irish Uprising in 1798, they took the popular connection of a national saint and the wearing of the green, and they applied it politically. They translated it into garments--their uniforms were green. Here in the United States, it became associated with showing an identification with Ireland and green has become ubiquitous on St. Patrick's Day.

Did you know that the patron saint of Ireland wasn't Irish? That he was born in Britain? And kidnapped? Britain was a Roman colony. When Rome withdrew its legions, because of the fall of the empire in the West, the Irish began to raid Britain, take the inhabitants, kidnap them, and use them as slaves. One of the people they kidnapped and used as a slave was Patrick. He was there for many years, and escaped, went back, became a priest in Europe, and then was called back to Ireland by a dream. He converted Ireland from pagan, Celtic culture, like worshiping the sun, to Christianity. St. Patrick's Day has been celebrated in Ireland and among the Irish people since not long after the death of Saint Patrick.

Flicker!

Yesterday a bird hit one of our windows -- which happens a lot. I glanced outside and didn't see anything so I figured it had already flown away. A few hours later, I let the dogs out and low and behold, Luci found the bird. It hopped away but couldn't fly. I watched it for a while and realized it had broken a wing.

I went in, called my mom, and tried to figure out what to do. She told me to email a Contra Costa Times writer, which I did, and found out he was out of town. So I called the 24-hour emergency vet hospital and they referred me to the Linsday Wildlife Museum which has a hospital. I went to their website. Birds that hit windows are usually dazed but recover in minutes. It had been hours since the bird had hit the window. The site said to put it in a box and store it in a warm, quiet, dark place. I did this. The bird did not want to stay in the box. It kept getting it's head stuck in the openings on the side.

This morning I took it into the hospital. They told me it was a Flicker.

As you can see, it is a very beautiful bird. Some facts about the Northern Flicker:

• Although it can climb up the trunks of trees and hammer on wood like other woodpeckers, the Northern Flicker prefers to find food on the ground. Ants are its favorite food, and the flicker digs in the dirt to find them. It uses its long barbed tongue to lap up the ants.
• The red-shafted and yellow-shafted forms of the Northern Flicker formerly were considered different species. The two forms hybridize extensively in a wide zone from Alaska to the panhandle of Texas. A hybrid often has some traits from each of the two forms and some traits that are intermediate between them. The Red-shafted Flicker also hybridizes with the Gilded Flicker, but less frequently, and the Gilded Flicker is considered a separate species.
• The Northern Flicker is one of the few North American woodpeckers that is strongly migratory. Flickers in the northern parts of the range move south for the winter, although a few individuals often stay rather far north.

No-Lost Wednesday

So there isn't a new episode of Lost tonight. Bummer.

I pose a question to all fans of the Losties: In this last episode, a woman gave birth to a baby on the island. It's been established that when the Losties first crash landed on the island, pregnant women could not carry to term. What happened? Perhaps, it was the purge...or maybe...something the Losties themselves did in the past.

Some food for thought...

The baby is supposedly Ethan.

The glimpse of the statue! The boards all over the internet are talking about what it could be. Most people agree it is an Egyptian god of some sort. Here are the top contenders (all of which are very fitting!):

Taweret (Taueret, Taurt, Toeris, Ipy, Ipet, Apet, Opet, Reret) - The Great Female - was the ancient Egyptian goddess of maternity and childbirth, protector of women and children. Like Bes, she was both a fierce demonic fighter as well as a popular deity who guarded the mother and her newborn child.

She was depicted as a combination of a crocodile, a pregnant hippopotamus standing on her hind legs with large breasts and a lion. Unlike the composite demoness Ammut, her head and body were that of the hippo, her paws were that of the lion, and her back was the back of a crocodile. All of these animals were man killers, and as such she was a demoness.

...She was thought to assist women in labour and scare off demons that might harm the mother or child.

Childbirth and early infancy were felt to be particularly threatening to both mother and baby. Magic played the primary role in countering these threats; various evil spirits needed to be warned off, and deities invoked to protect the vulnerable. These magic knives, also known as apotropaic (that is, acting to ward off evil) wands, were one of the devices used. They are usually made of hippopotamus ivory, thus enlisting the support of that fearsome beast against evil.

The depictions on this knife encompass a range of protective images. They include a grotesque dwarf, probably known as Aha at this date, but later the more famous Bes, and Taweret ... both of whom are associated with childbirth.

...Apotropaic Wand, British Museum

SO This Egyptian goddess, Taweret, used magic to ward off evil so women could have successful childbirths. Interesting...

Next is Anubis!

Patron of: mummification, and the dead on their path through the underworld.

Appearance: A man with the head of a jackal-like animal. Unlike a real jackal, Anubis' head is black, representing his position as a god of the dead. He is rarely shown fully-human, but he is depicted so in the Temple of Abydos of Rameses II. There is a beautiful statue of him as a full jackal in the tomb of Tutankhamun.

Description: Anubis is an incredibly ancient god, and was the original god of the dead before Osiris "took over" the position. After that point, Anubis was changed to be one of the many sons of Osiris and the psychopomp (conductor of souls) of the underworld. His totem of the jackal is probably due to the fact that jackals would hunt at the edges of the desert, near the necropolis and cemeteries throughout Egypt.

Prayers to Anubis are found carved on the most ancient tombs in Egypt, and his duties apparently are many. He watches over the mummification process to ensure that all is done properly. He conducts the souls through the underworld, testing their knowledge of the gods and their faith. He places their heart on the Scales of Justice during the Judging of the Heart, and he feeds the souls of wicked people to Ammit.

Oh yeah, and Ammit.--quite a good resemblence to Smokey (aka the Smoke Monster):

Other Names: Eater of the Dead, the Devourer.

Patron of: destruction of the souls of the wicked.

Appearance: a demon with the head of crocodile, the torso of a leopard and the hindquarters of a hippopotamus.

Description: Ammit sits beneath the Scales of Justice before the throne of Osiris where she waits for the daily flow of souls to come before Osiris for judgement. During the Judging of the Heart, if the deeds of the soul being judged are found to be more wicked than good, Anubis feeds the soul to Ammit. This results in the total annihilation of the person, and there is no hope of further existence.

Hmmm...remember when Smokey killed Mr. Echo?

very interesting.

Horus

Patron of: the living Pharaoh, rulers, law, war, young men, light, the sun, many others depending on the particular variant.

Appearance: His most common form is that of falcon-headed man, but he is also shown as a falcon, a lion with the head of a falcon, or a sphinx. He is also shown as a falcon resting on the neck of the pharaoh, spreading his wings to either side of the pharaoh's head and whispering guidance in his ear.

Description: It is nearly impossible to distinguish a "true" Horus from all his many forms. In fact, Horus is mostly a general term for a great number of falcon gods, some of which were worshipped all over Egypt, others simply had local cults. Yet in all of his forms he is regarded as the prince of the gods and the specific patron of the living ruler.

The worship of Horus was brought from the outside by neighboring tribes who invaded and then settled into Egypt. He was their god of war, but was quickly absorbed into the state religion, first as a son of Ra, then changing to become the son of Osiris. He was the protector and guide to the pharaoh and later pharaohs were believed to be his avatar on earth. Horus was also the patron of young men and the ideal of the dutiful son who grows up to become a just man.

The most popular story of Horus is the one in which he grows to manhood to avenge the death of his father Osiris by battling against his cruel uncle Set. In many writings, he is said to continue to battle Set daily to ensure the safety of the world.

I bolded that particular part because it reminded me of Jack.

Really---I think the Egyptian theme is the way to go. It seems obvious that an ancient civilization inhabited the island; the heiroglyphics in the donkey wheel room, the four toed statue, the temple seen during Rousseau's team episode...and the fact that both Ben and Locke ended up in Tunisia...

but Charlotte also mentioned Ancient Carthage. And I still believe in the Atlantis theory.

Jesus In a Cafe

Thought this joke as hilarious. Taken from The Repurblican.

A Republican in a wheelchair entered a restaurant one afternoon and asked the waitress for a cup of coffee. The Republican looked across the restaurant and asked, ‘Is that Jesus sitting over there?’

The waitress nodded ‘yes,’ so the Republican requested that she give Jesus a cup of coffee, on him.

The next patron to come in was a Libertarian with a hunched back. He shuffled over to a booth, painfully sat down, and asked the waitress for a cup of hot tea.

He also glanced across the restaurant and asked, ‘Is that Jesus over there?’

The waitress nodded, so the Libertarian asked her to give Jesus a cup of hot tea, ‘My treat.’

The third patron to come into the restaurant was a Democrat on crutches. He hobbled over to a booth, sat down and hollered, ‘Hey there, honey! How’s about gettin’ me a cold glass of Miller Light?’ He, too, looked across the restaurant and asked, ‘Is that God’s boy over there?’

The waitress once more nodded, so the Democrat directed her to give Jesus a cold glass of beer. ‘On my bill,’ he said.

As Jesus got up to leave, he passed by the Republican, touched him and said, ‘For your kindness, you are healed.’ The Republican felt the strength come back into his legs, got up, and danced a jig out the door.

Jesus also passed by the Libertarian, touched him and said, ‘For your kindness, you are healed.’ The Libertarian felt his back straightening up, and he raised his hands, praised the Lord and did a series of back flips out the door.

Then Jesus walked towards the Democrat. The Democrat jumped up and yelled, ‘Don’t touch me. I’m collecting disability!

My Daily Plates

For the last few months I have been keeping tabs on what I've been eating. There is this great site called The Daily Plate, now operated by LiveStrong, and it shows you what you eat.

Basically you type in "turkey sandwich" and tons of options to choose from come up. Also, many brand names and restaurant foods come up. It's awesome. You can add up what you eat everyday and see how much Fat/Carbs/Protein you are getting. You can also change the settings, using your weight and height, and say you want to lose/gain blank # of pounds, and it will give you the calories you need to do so. I love seeing halfway through the day where I am calorie wise... from a big breakfast or a small one. I am just starting to add my fitness log, which also helps track calories and fitness.

It's really interesting to see over time what you eat a lot and what's in it. I am not methodical about this site--I think I've tracked 4 days in a row faithfully. But it does help with keeping in good health and good shape.

Watchmen! and WonderCon 2009

So last Saturday, James and I went to WonderCon.
...and it was pretty awesome. There were tons of booths full of comic books and nerdy things like action figures, tshirts, pins and button, art, you name it, it was there.

There were people in costume everywhere -- from Watchmen to Star Wars, Serenity and Firefly, Batman and Robin, the Joker (Heath Ledger version and Jack Nicholson), and loads of other characters I really had no idea who they were.

We had a great time walking around the floor of the convention and getting free stuff! Then we went up to a ballroom for the Watchmen panel. We got there about 3 minutes before it was set to start and were lucky to get to two seats together. Later, I heard that they turned 2,000 people away at the doors! We lucked out! Zach Snyder was the first guest to come out and he spoke for a while about adapting the graphic novel to film and how they explained the alternate-universe the story takes place in *(example: Nixon is still president in 1985, serving his 5th term, and Reagan is set to run at the end of the movie). Snyder explained that they tried to introduce the differences in the open credits sequence, and then went on to say that they had the clip and would show us. Boy did they ever! We saw the first 20 minutes of the film and a clip from much later in the movie. I would have to say it was some of the most stunning and visually amazing footage I have every seen. Not to mention they obviously stuck to the graphic novel almost 100% with dialogue and actions. The opening credits were awesome! If you know the characters and the graphic novel, you'll get some of the scenes. Rorschach as a child with his prostitute mother; Dr. Manhattan filming the footage of the men on the moon; Blake (the Comedian) on the grassy knoll after Kennedy gets shot; Veidt at Studio 59 (correct me, James?) talking to David Bowie; Silhouette kissing a woman at the end of WWII; and so many more...they left a few out as well, Snyder told us, like The Comedian raising the flag at Iwo Jima...by himself. BAMF.

Zach also talked about why they didn't go with a big name "Ocean's 11" cast, and even made a few remarks about how he spoke to Tom Cruise but "Didn't know what to do with him" and "Tom had Valkyrie"----instead, Snyder chose actors, not names. Personally, I think it was a really great choice!

Then the panel came out--almost all of the main characters except for Matthew Goode (Ozymandias/Veidt). Jeffrey Dean Morgan was probably the actor that I was most excited to see. He's been on and off Grey's Anatomy and had a supporting role in P.S. I Love You, and was in the Accidental Husband, which I didn't see. He was asked if he would keep taking roles where his character dies...


and then this--which was hilarious!



Here, he talks a bit about playing the Comedian--a character few might identify with or even remotely like!




The one thing that really surprised me was what Jackie Earle Haley's (Rorschach) voice really sounds like! Here he is in an interview:



and here he is narrating the trailer:



And---I saw it last night on IMAX. It was awesome. They changed the ending from the graphic novel, not really changed, but tweaked. They kinda had to though, if you've read it, you might understand. The direction was beautiful. The characters were amazing. I can't wait for the Director's Cut which is being released in July!


We also saw 3 other panels!

"9" which is an animated film coming 9/9/09. Elijah Wood was there as well as one of the main animators. I like Elijah Wood, ever since Flipper, he stole my heart. Yet after I saw Sin City, I just haven't been able to see him the same way again. During this panel, a few kids asked him questions, and he answered them using very large words and even I had trouble understanding him fully. But he's a nice guy and this looks like a great, dark animated film.



We also got to see tons of clips from the new Disney Pixar film UP.



This film looks so cute. I have to see it. Most animated films I pass over these days, even if I like the trailer, simply because the action adventure real films seem more important. But UP looks promising. I am super excited.



And finally, we waited for the Terminator: Salvation panel, just to see if Christian Bale would be there. He was not. But McG was, and he was INSANE.

McG is the most entertaining director I have ever seen. He used massive amounts of profanity, jumped up on the panel table to incite the audience, called Christian Bale's home phone and left a message that ended with: "You're f*cking dead to me. See you next week.", and he actually asked the audience their opinion on various things that should or should not be in the film...INCLUDING...the Governator himself. In fact, he hinted at it so much, saying this was the rise of *Forgive me I don't know the name* Arnold's model of machine, that wouldn't it be incomplete without him in it? hmmm...

While I have only seen most of Terminator 2 (said to be the best one, with Terminator 3 being pity-liked), this looks like an awesome film. Of course, anything with Christian Bale is an awesome film, because he's a effing professional.

The interviewer asked McG to comment on the Christian Bale blow up that happened on set, and he said he would answer it after the next clip played. Hmm, he never did.


All in all, I loved WonderCon--except for missing the Star Trek panel (the new film is directed by J.J. Abrams, the co-creator of LOST!). I really want to go to ComicCon in San Diego because it is said to be a million times bigger. It had a Dharma Initiative booth last summer as well as way more nerd booths and panels and stars!

This summer I am SO going! Anyone with me?

Obama promised FOCA

Most people that know me know that I am as Pro-Life as it gets. Abortion sickens me to the core. Below, I have a wonderfully written article (by my Mom) that talks about the Freedom of Choice Act.

Barack Obama told a Planned Parenthood audience in July 2007 that the first thing he’d do as president is sign the Freedom of Choice Act. (Search YouTube for FOCA). The Senate version, S.1173, was sponsored by Sen. Barbara Boxer (D-CA), and the House bill, H.R. 1964, was introduced by Congressman Jerrold Nadler (D-NY). Barack Obama was a co-sponsor of the Senate Bill. What is FOCA?

• It creates a fundamental right to abortion throughout the nine months of pregnancy.
• No governmental body at any level would be able to deny or interfere with this right.
• It would eliminate all informed-consent state laws (advising women of the risks of abortion).
• It would eliminated all state-enacted parental involvement laws including notification
• It eliminates regulations on abortion clinics
• It would end conscience-protection laws (pro-life hospitals and medical personnel opting out of abortion procedures)
• After FOCA, any laws prohibiting a particular abortion procedure, such as partial birth abortion, would no longer be in force.
• It would strike laws requiring that abortions only be performed by a license physician.
• It codifies Roe v. Wade

The Catholic Church, one of the nation’s largest health care providers, may shut down over 500 hospitals and 400 clinics that it now operates if the law passes rather than become abortion clinics. At least 80 million poor and work-class families could lose health care currently provided by the Catholic Church.

A letter was sent to all members of Congress in September by Cardinal Justin Rigali, chairman of the US Bishops’ Committee on Pro-Life Activities. He stated that “ Despite its deceptive title, FOCA, would deprive the American people in all 50 states of the freedom they now have to enact modest restraints and regulations on the abortion industry. It would counteract any and all sincere efforts by government to reduce abortions in our country. We can’t reduce abortions by promoting abortion.”

While similar legislation has been introduced in the past, the Senate may have a filibuster proof majority to get this law passed. And with a willing president eager to sign FOCA, abortion on demand could become a national entitlement. Please contact Senators Boxer and Feinstein as well as your Congressman/woman asking them to oppose FOCA.

Seriously? I do not understand how people could support abortions after 6 or 7 months. With today's technology, a baby can survive at those times. If the child can survive outside the womb, that is like, super murder to me. That defeats the purpose to me. And eliminating Doctor's from having to tell women the risks of abortion? Harumph--in the last 30 years, 600,000 women have suffered post-abortion depression. Of course, out of the 50 million abortions performed, I guess that is a small amount. COUGH. Not only that, but having an abortion could seriously affect a woman's reproductive system. These things should be mentioned, as well as the Option of Adoption.

As far as closing the Catholic Hospitals, Bishop Thomas Paprocki says,

“It would not be sufficient to withdraw our sponsorship or to sell them to someone who would perform abortions. That would be a morally unacceptable cooperation in evil.”

But others want to simply ignore FOCA if it gets passed. Why?

According to the Catholic Health Association of the United States, Catholic hospitals make up 13 percent of the country’s nearly 5,000 hospitals, and employ more than 600,000 people. CHA says one of every six Americans hospitalized in the United States is cared for in a Catholic hospital.

The question I would really like to ask is this: If our President has said on so many occasions that he wants to find common ground and compromise--why then is he going out of his way to royally piss on the conservatives in this country? He made a campaign promise that if the Freedom of Choice should come to him in a bill, as President he would sign it.

I can honestly, from my heart, understand some women who get abortions in the first trimester. But later on---isn't that just more evidence that they're killing an actual person? When you see it coming out in pieces?

La Fleur

Lost was last night. I must say...It was the first episode this season that really had the style of the old flashbacks...with the exception of the STUPID "Three Years Later" screens. Honestly, if you could not tell what was going on, don't watch Lost. I could have easily distinguished. Since when do they do that? On a few occasions, especially with Locke in the past, it was necessary. But necessary no more! Let's talk about what happened.

Sawyer and Juliet---together! I could have called that...I kinda like. Obviously Juliet is one of my favorite characters, so I am glad to see her happy. What happened in those two weeks that made her stay permanently and made her a mechanic? Also, what form of Prozac is Sawyer on? Is it because he's the new "Jack"?

Daniel Faraday, during this time, is obviously doing real work for Dharma. We saw in the season premiere that he was down in the construction for the Orchid. Also, view this video, and tell me who's voice is behind the camera? (Not the chubby kid, the Marvin Candle camera!)






So-- Daniel must be an integral part of Dharma. What I want to know is where is Sayid? From the previews for TWO WEEKS FROM NOW (ugh two weeks, what will I do?), Sayid is in the past with them. Ben, Locke and Sun are in the present. Oh no!

The years are: 1977 and 2009.

Anyway. Here are some great Jimmy Kimmel clips that make me laugh all over.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tYjZScFrTss

Another reason I do not eat at KFC

....it's all a part of an old man's murderous revenge.

the recession affects us all

Today, after my class, Chrissy and I went to get Cannoli (left the guns, took the--)

the Lunardi's Market parking lot is visited by ARF a lot and they were there today. It made me think of all the animals that might be affected by the recession. So I googled "animals the recession" and many articles came up--

Recession hurts pets as vet care expensive

Polk County Humane Society Breaks Ground on New Shelter

The organization is seeing a lot more animals in this recession, many of them top quality pets that people just can't afford to keep.

In Chicago, "best friends" are victims of recession, too

These are just a few articles articulating the fact that people can no longer afford their pets. If you can afford a pet--a cat or dog--please, now is the time to adopt. They will change your life for the better, and you will change theirs forever.


Me--the self proclaimed cat-hater--I am thinking about adopting a cat, or another rabbit. No animal left behind---well...not quite.

Total Eclipse of the Heart

One of my favorite songs from my childhood--performed by two of my favorite people!



P.S. I laughed SO hard.