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Snowfall science

DoctorD
Yesterday
2 comments

We have about 6" of snow on the ground, north of Chicago, but a bit to the west they had 12 or 134 inches. The forecast had been for 2-3"!

Science remains imperfect. However, I guess it is better than the alternatives.

My son-in-law, a very distinguished physicist, certainly thinks so. There was a Christmastime discussion about whether or not cell phones are dangerous to the human brain. He assured us that they are not.

However, as brilliant as he is, one of his favorite tv shows (he watches very few) is that comedy about the two musicians from New Zealand: Flight of the Conchords. Sort of makes you wonder.

I wonder what shows the Nobel Laureates like best? I have only known one, and he didn't even follow the news. He was totally caught up in his research, and said that if anything really important happened, he would learn about it over lunch at the faculty club.

Still at work here

DoctorD
2 days ago
6 comments

I am still at work on Christmas cards. (On Facebook, one friend wrote me she had just given up!) And I notice that I am sending out quite a few more than I receive. In this regard, I think my wife does better--getting more than sending, and it seems to me, is better able to keep up to at least this degree friendship or relationship from many decades past.

We wrote a letter about our "family" events, and have a couple photos to send out, and I am trying to use hand-written cards as well. But I do admit that it is all something of a time-consuming and frustrating task.

Still, I do especially like the letters I have received from near and far. A few have come by email only, but there are more that were typed. The more "news" that the greetings contain, the more I appreciate them.

It is interesting to see what others are doing, like for example riding the Empire Builder or spending a semester in northern India or recovering from a stroke or partial knee replacement. Taking long walks in interesting places, seeing places I've enjoyed (like Yellowstone) and others I never have and almost certainly never will. Losing jobs, being forced to relocate or take very very long commutes. Selling property, or having difficulty doing so.

I am glad for these thoughts that are shared. I suppose that is partly why I "blog" too.

Right now, though, I need to get back to work. We have some travel plans in January, and this self-imposed task needs to be completed before we leave town!

Happy Holidays!

Team Vox
4 days ago
9 comments

6acardVOX

5 comments

Happy Holidays to you, your family, friends and neighbors from all of us at Vox.
See you in 2010!

Our song for the first thing Christmas morning: a family tradition

DoctorD
4 days ago
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Christmastime is drawing near

Santa Claus will soon be here

With his presents and his toys

For the little girls and boys

For dear old Santa we'll give a cheer

He'll soon be coming with his swift reindeer

He comes to quick with a click click click

On the early Christmas morning

Have you sent him by the post

Telling what you want the most

If you have you need not fear

For he loves you all most dear

For dear old Santa we'll give a cheer

He'll soon be coming with his swift reindeer

He comes to quick with a click click click

On the early Christmas morning

Merry Christmas to All!

Christmas eve dinner, 2009

DoctorD
4 days ago
7 comments

Xmas dinner

Christmas eve dinner, home-made, prepared by my wife following Italian family traditions. Several days work to make all the dishes! There was a gathering of 16 (eight adults and eight children).

Christmas came a day early

DoctorD
5 days ago
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Christmas came a day early for Americans this year, as the Senate voted down the Republican filibuster in order to permit full consideration of the "Patient Protection and Affordable Care" Act a bit after midnight. The last time the Senate voted on Christmas eve day was in 1895, when the issue was whether or not to provide federal benefits to U.S. military servicemen. I assume that the people we now call "Republicans," but back then probably were Southern democrats--anyhow, the same group that provides the core of ongoing political racism and opposition to federal government actions of any beneficial sort--were the "againsters" then as well. (Although I don't know that for sure; perhaps I will try to look it up).

Humor was provided by Majority Leader Senator Harry Reid, who had worked so hard to assemble and keep a supportive coalition, actually initially voted "nay" by mistake! Senator Harry Byrd, the ill 92 year-old that Republicans and their "Christian" allies had vocally prayed would die and thus be unable to vote yes managed to make it there, too. Of course, the biggest advocate of health insurance reform, Senator Ted Kennedy, did pass away a few months ago, perhaps showing the power of such pacts with the devil against progressive forces do sometimes work after all?

I don't know: I have never prayed for someone to be harmed, at least not that I can remember. Sometimes I've been a little glad for their misery, though, like the plumber in my neighborhood who cheated me, and now is unable to sell his house. Is that the Hand of God in action?

But anyhow, I am (mostly) a Buddhist--although we will attend a Christmas day mass tomorrow, and certainly celebrate this evening.

Always, when human progress is made, there are opponents. The Republicans know full well that their only hope for a political comeback after the catastrophic Bush years is that Obama somehow "fails." So they don't want unemployment to go down, they want it to go up; they want more people to lose their houses and their life savings; they hope that there will be terrorists attacks against the US that they can blame on Democratic laxness, as they have attempted to do with the Fort Hood tragedy and the prospect of trials in American courts; they want to prevent action against climate change--and perhaps top among their priorities, they don't want the health insurance system to be improved and they don't want Americans who lack coverage now to get any.

Some countries talk about "gross national happiness" as their major goal, but for Republicans, adding to the "gross national misery" in the US during 2009 and 2010 and 2011 and 2012 is their chief, and really their only, objective.

But, anyhow, it happened to that this day, and the Christmas holiday, started with something good, something beneficial. There is still a lot of work to be done, trying to blend very different House and Senate legislation. The liberals will be angry that the resulting product isn't "strong" enough, and conservatives will be angry if anything at all is passed. (Indeed, John McCain is now unalterably opposed to his own prior proposal to expand Medicare to younger people!)

Of course, every member of Congress has perfectly fine government-provided health insurance. None have offered to give up it, or Medicare, or Social Security. It is just that if you are the constituent of a Republican, and out of work, and in financial stress, as so many millions are, or if you are sick and might cost a private insurer to lose money, they don't want YOU to have it! Better that you simply die, like they hoped for Senator Byrd.

Talk about your "death panels!" Here are groups of Republicans gathered, in family groups or what they consider to be "Christian" (sic) churches, praying for the Grim Reaper to come and take away a fellow man. (Of course, there were a lot of people that wanted Jesus to die, too--and he did. But right now, we celebrate his birth).

It isn't that there is a rotten apple in the barrel. Sometimes the barrel is nearly half full of rotten apples! But for today, Christmas eve, Christmas in the US came a day early, and every American has an opportunity to feel at least a tiny bit more secure that progress is being made, even as a second big winter storm is coming upon us.

Be careful out there!

Merry Christmas

Merry Christmas to all my VOX neighbors and friends

Christmas Angel 001

and Happy New Year too!

Christmas Angel 002

Christmas, so busy!!

DoctorD
6 days ago
2 comments

I haven't posted for a week or so, being so busy with Christmas preparations. Our first holiday-related company may arrive today, on their way west to Vancouver. Christmas eve will be spent in Chicago (that's our big meal and gathering). Probably on Christmas day itself we will work on slightly overdue Christmas greeting cards.

I do like getting letters from people, and hearing the news from various families and from various parts of the country. Some have had to relocate because of factory closings; many have taken wonderful trips to exotic locales. Several report injuries or serious illnesses, but I am impressed that quite a few age-mates have managed extensive walking or even biking tours. Sadly, I am well past that now.

My wife is cooking up a storm, in traditional Italian holiday style. (Probably I posted some photos a year ago). All the tension of planning and doing has led to a couple major outbursts and arguments. I am quite aware that the blessing of Christ's birth is hardly on the mind of anyone.

I do love our tree. Perhaps it is pagan, but I do like it a lot. And we do have some electric candles in the window, and a wreath on the door--unusual, in this predominantly Jewish neighborhood.

Days have started to get longer now. Good: but still there is a lot of snow and cold to come.

Merry Christmas and Happy New Year to all friends and neighbors out there in Vox-land. Thanks for reading and responding to some of my posts. It benefits me to have that contact with the "outside world," rather like my father did with ham radio.

I Feel Like I Just Won The Lottery...

Cat
7 days ago
12 comments

I am simply floating right now.

I got the call from my surgeon JUST NOW that the pathology reports on my lump and skin biopsy came back totally clear. I did not have any cancer cells anywhere in the samples they took. The lump was composed of fibrous tissue and totally benign and consistent with fibrocystic breast disease(not cancerous), and they found NOTHING in the skin biopsy to suggest I had IBC.

It's still a mystery what is causing the rash and swelling of the breast but I am scheduled for a consult with a dermatologist to have the rash looked at again.

This is seriously the BEST news I have gotten in like FOREVER and I am simply just ON TOP OF THE FUCKING WORLD!! I feel like this is the BEST Christmas ever, even though we are broke we have each other and our HEALTH.

I'm going to hug my kids, and bake cookies, and dance with my husband...

I love you ALL.
Seriously.

<3
Cat

A little Perplexed..........................................

Sheila
Dec 19, 2009
6 comments

I know I haven't been here in a little while. Sorry. I was posting on my regular blog and thought it showed up here, but I see it didn't(smile). That's ok.....now, I know.

The reason for my title.....a lady friend from church asked me to read "The Shack" and give her my opinion. Well, I finished it up today & I'm just not real sure how I feel about it. I think it's one of those books one must "digest" before forming an opinion. Does that make sense? First....all I can say right now is I thought it was a very good "story". Some of it I did not agree with..&..some of it was very,very good. One part really grabbed me where he wrote about Adam's death expelled the very breath of God. That never occurred to me...until reading that and remembering that God breathed into Adam to bring him alive & putting it all together, just made me go WoW!

So, I guess my question is this...."Has anyone here read this book & do you have an opinion you would like to share?" "What did you get out of it?"