Thought of the Day #293 - Meteor

Last night about 12:15ish, I was heading to bed. With fresh underwear in my hand, sitting on the edge of the bed in a dark room, I was trying to figure out which side of the undies was front or back. The front is narrower than the back, you know. I was feeling the seamlines when all of a sudden I could see them...plain as day. Literally as plain as day -- the light streamed through my window like a gently pulsing electric explosion. I looked behind me to see the house next door lit up brilliantly. As soon as it began, it was over.

I got up and exclaimed, "Oh my god, what was that?! Did you see that?!"

Ivan jumps out of his slumber and we look out the window. Nothing. No sound. No traffic on the street. Nothing. I told him I wasn't sleeping. (There are times I *see* things while sleeping. *ahem*) We continue to look out the window and nothing is on fire, and there are no little green men wandering around -- both of which were definite possibilities at that point. Ivan heads back to sleep and I continue to look out..."What was that?! Maybe a cop car shining his light on the house? I mean it was brighter than anything I've seen from them...I really thought electrical explosion, but there was no sound...It was a really cool toned light...but with red...maybe it was..."

It was so unusual that it sent me into full-on chatterbox mode. After a few minutes I quieted down, jumped into bed and continued to think of the possibilities. I seriously thought that *it must be* something someone else had seen.

I'm happy to report this morning...that it was. From KSL.com: (http://www.ksl.com/?nid=148&sid=8714738)

SALT LAKE CITY -- A fast moving meteor lit up the night skies over most of Utah just after midnight Wednesday. KSL News has been receiving hundreds of calls from southern Utah to southern Idaho. There also are reports of people seeing it from Wyoming, Las Vegas and areas of California. People are reporting a flash so bright it lit up the entire sky for a couple of seconds. Some people are also reporting a slight rumbling sound a few seconds after the flash. One caller told us it knocked a few items off her shelf. One resident who lives in Cedar City said she could see the mountains and her grass for a few seconds. Another resident in Bountiful said the sky was so bright, it shut off the light-sensored street lights for a few seconds. Patrick Wiggins, who is a NASA ambassador living in Tooele County, says the bright light is most likely a bolide meteor.

I'm happy I wasn't alone in seeing this. :-)

Thought of the Day #271 - Indecent Exposure

I saw a news story tonight about a guy who was arrested for indecent
exposure for being naked in his own home. A woman and a child saw him as
they were walking by his uncovered window and apparently called the cops
after seeing his "bits" exposed through the window.
This link has the full article in it:

http://www.fairfaxunderground.com/forum/read/2/259880.html

I don't know how I can describe the incredulity I feel over this. NO ONE
should be charged with indecent exposure when in their own home. I don't
even care if the guy was masturbating in the window. It's his home and
his right to do what he wants regardless of window coverings. The
passersby are the ones choosing to *peep* through the man's windows.
While children may look, it was clear the guy wasn't trying to draw the
child's attention...he was just drinking/making coffee.
It's the parent's responsibility to educate their children not to look
in other's windows or to tell them to look away if there is something
offensive.

If this man ends up getting convicted, it will set a really bad
presidence. Will we be recovered by law to draw the drapes whenever
having sex? The joys of sex in a ray of sunshine would be over. Would we
be required to glass block EVERY bathroom window to prevent accidental
genital exposure? Will we be required by law to put on a robe the moment
we jump from the shower?? There is no end to how much this would limit
one of our simpler liberies.

Save your freedom and vacuum naked in your house without reserve!

Onions are Pretty!

 

Cattle Compass

http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/science/nature/7575459.stm I do appreciate odd studies like these, but often question their conclusions. Rather than the animals having a magnetic need to face north or south, couldn't it be that they are simply trying to get the greater bodily sun coverage? I would think the widest part of the cow would get better sun if facing west/east throughout the entire day? Maybe they tend to follow fencelines? Who knows for sure. It's interesting nonetheless.

Prostitution In the Media

New York Governor Spitzer has been connected to "high-priced", "high-dollar" prostitute. Does it make a difference if the prostitute is getting more money than the ones on the street? Every news story I've heard about this mentioned the "high-priced" bit. Is this supposed to make him look better or worse? Like, "Hey, he's an idiot for spending so much money...he could get it much cheaper on 5th Street." Or is it supposed to make me think, "Well, gosh, he cheated on his wife...but at least he got one of those classy high buck whores." It's one of those added titilating terms that news writers use. It doesn't add to the scandal's actual news worthiness, but it adds to the perception of the news worthiness. Spin news, spin!

Pilgrimage

When I see a photo of a pilgrimage or a large demonstration, I often wonder how many people in the photo are thinking:

• How the hell will I get out of here?
• You know I'm here just 'cuz my dad wants me to be...
• If I fall...I am so dead, dude.
• Shoot...Where did I park??
• Maybe I don't feel like everyone else in the crowd, but how do I dare say something?
• I could soooo be home playing Guitar Hero right now.
• Before this moment, I had no idea how claustrophobia felt.

Size Acceptance in the Media

I looove this quote about the treatement of fat people from Miss Conduct's Blog at Boston.com(link)

"People really, truly believe that it is not only acceptable, but right to treat fat people with disdain. I'm sad to say that I've been inculcated with enough societal garbage that I occasionally hate my own body--but as a thin (white, able-bodied, etc.) person I cannot fathom what it must be like to have others take it upon themselves to hate my body for me. As I've said before, if you think fat people have no self-discipline, consider the fact that they haven't killed you yet. "

Thanks to Kate Harding at Shapely Prose(link) for posting this earlier today.

Job Performance

Does it strike anyone else odd that the government is scrutinizing
professional athletes' use of performance enhancing drugs, yet they
don't look into Wall Street execs or doctors or any number of
professions using speed to enhance their performance. The list of
potential drug offenders using substances to enhance their particular
skills is staggering. Hell, I don't think I could do my job without
caffeine. Granted, that's not illegal, but it is a drug in a very real
sense. So, really...baseball ...why is that being targeted? Something
seems quite fishy.

Have You Seen Her?

We're inundated with the missing's faces so often these days. They're peppered throughout the 2008 tax forms, for instance. So many people gone...vanished into thin air. I look at the faces and they never seem familiar. Well, until today. I opened up the StarTribune website (http://www.startribune.com/) tonight and came face to face with a girl I knew many, many years ago on the front page. Sue Swedell. We went to school together and rode the "late bus" back through Lake Elmo together. She wasn't a remarkable girl in a lot of respects. She was somewhat mousy, but always pretty sweet. I remember a look of longing in her eyes as she attempted to connect with people 'cuz she never quite "fit in". We'd chatter from time to time, about what, I don't recall at all. I do remember she had the cutest impish laugh.

So, there she was, on the website. (http://www.startribune.com/local/east/13842956.html) Missing for 20 years now. I vaguely remember hearing on the news about her disappearance probably a year after she actually disappeared. I thought it was pretty odd, but always believed that maybe she had run away to find herself. I'm really hoping that's what has happened to her all these years. I hope that she's fitting in with her crowd now and is still laughing an impish laugh.

In any event, take a peek at the photo and let her family know that you know something about her whereabouts. Not knowing all these years must be torture for them.

Creepy yet Fun...perfect for Halloween

  I found this article browsing around online today. The look on the pumpkin is especially creepy, but hey, so is the chick's painted on eyebrows. It's a cool idea, too. I remember having molds for cucumbers years ago, but never had one big enough to mold a pumpkin. How festive!

Money, Money, Money

Do you ever see the stories in the newspaper about billions of "unclaimed" dollars that the government, banks or other entities are holding for people who have gone missing? I check nearly every year and what do ya know? This year, I've got some cash coming to me! Go here if you want to find out if you're due some moola: http://www.missingmoney.com/ The money I'll be getting is from a class-action suit with Microsoft settled in 2003, I believe. I didn't get my check 'cuz I moved from my old address and changed my name. It's not a lot of money, but hey, it'll buy a dinner out on the town. Wahooo!

Glacial Lake Vanishes in Southern Chile

A five-acre glacial lake in Chile's southern Andes has disappeared. (Surf to your local news site for more information on this story.) Scientists are stumped, but I have my own theory as to where all of the lake went. Las Vegas. The overbloated, water-sucking, fun-time, desert oasis is constantly searching for potable water. It found it in Chile. A few pipelines here, a few pipelines there and you've got a moistened desert hot spot...and one large missing glacial lake.

On a more sensible, serious note, shouldn't there be a limit as to how large Las Vegas can grow? It is a really dry desert for gosh sakes. There was a time, not that long ago really, when settlers moved west and stopped to take up residence in spots where water was plentiful. You see, back then, they realized that water was essential to life.

Now, 21st century settlers just *expect* water to appear through the tap without giving it a second thought that it has to come from *somewhere*. Vegas is trying to buy water from Utah and other areas, too. Do ya think that maybe, just maybe there should be a limit on development? Nah, that would be too logical and against good old American bloatishness.

Even here in the Salt Lake Valley a mountainous desert area, we're reaching critical mass as to how many people can be supported by the mountain run-off. In the days of 1847, the Mormon settlers who came were brilliant, really. There was lots of water availble for the small settlements. They built irrigation canals which are still being used today. Unfortunately, with the bloat of housing developments, secondary canal water is rarely used to water our desert-lawns. No, all those lush lawns are watered with precious clean water. The very same water that is slowly, but most assuredly, running out. Given the rate of population growth and the potential for global warming changes, I give this area 50 years, tops, before it's buying water from Montana...or just closing up shop entirely.

Earthquake Update

Seeing how it's my first real earthquake and all, please grant me some latitude to blabber a bit more on this...I found out in one of the local newspapers that the epicenter of the little earthquake was only 3 blocks south and 4 blocks west of me. It was very close. OH, and since I know better than any seismologist I'm pretty sure it was actually centered directly under my office... ;-)

Ci-Wi Wi-Fi in the Minneapple

I remember hearing that they were going to do this several years ago. It's exciting to hear that City-Wide wireless is nearing completion in Minneapolis. At only $20 bucks a month, you really can't beat it. Maybe it'll be coming to my neck of the woods? Fat chance. :-(

"My Bad"

Oh, the horrors, I just had a co-worker (whom I respect greatly) use "My Bad" in a work-related email. The poor guy has unknowingly caught the "My Bad" virus. Hopefully, it will fade quickly and he'll be back to normal within a few weeks. If you're not familiar with this virus, it's very similar to the "You Rock" variant prevalent in today's society. I'm not positive, but I believe this virus started from the criminally thoughtless TB carrier, Andrew Speaker. On that note, does anyone else think it's HUGELY suspicious that the guy's father-in-law is a CDC TB specialist? Do you think he was trying to kill Speaker in order to prevent him from marrying his daughter? Oh, the plot may thicken!

My First Earthquake

I knew it!...but I didn't know for certain. Last night about 9pm, I was writing an email to a friend when the whole house shook...for only about 3 seconds. I thought maybe a large truck drove by with a huge load, a house exploded or an asteroid fell in the back yard. The thought of an earthquake crossed my mind too, but not until well after I was looking out all the windows to see which house exploded. I went to the bedroom to see if Ivan felt it. He was already asleep and didn't get awoken by it, so you know, it wasn't *that* bad. I forgot about it until today when I hear a blurb on the tele about "last night's earthquake". Yay! I'm no longer a virgin. Here's the snippet from the Salt Lake Tribune:

The University of Utah Seismograph Stations confirms the southern portion of the Salt Lake Valley was hit by a mild earthquake last night. Seismologists place the magnitude of the temblor at 2.3. There were numerous reports of it being felt by residents of West Jordan and South Jordan, about 13 miles southwest of Salt Lake City. No injuries or property damage were reported in the quake, which was recorded at 9:05 p.m. Monday night.

We're in South Jordan, so yay! By the way, when it happened, the deep shaking and rumbling made my brain visualize tornado inverting into the Earth, like I was getting sucked in. Hmmm...maybe I wasn't too far off? Hold onto your hats, this could be the biggun'!

Birth Certificates for Stillborns?

As you've probably heard, there are many states trying to pass legislation which would allow parents to request birth certificates for stillborn babies. I'm torn on this. Probably because it is such an emotionally charged issue -- how horrible would it be to carry a baby to full term only to have it born dead? From the statistics I reviewed, about 25,000 babies a year are born dead. A much larger number than I would have imagined.

Currently, from what I've read, parents receive a death certificate, but not a birth certificate. Here's where I can see the line is already being crossed. If the parents receive a death certificate, they should certainly receive a birth certificate, too, as the implication of the death certificate is that the baby was alive.

Removing the emotional constraints, I would say that there are two realistic options: 1. a birth & death certificate issued 2. Neither certificate should be issued.

This brings to mind also at what point should the birth/death certificate be issued? Most of the states are considering 20 weeks. Why not less? When I had a miscarriage several years ago, the fetus developed to 8 weeks. It was the size of a lima bean when I passed it. It had two eyes...granted they were on oposite sides of the head, but still. It was living tissue prior to coming out of me, right? What if it's only 1 week along, and I pass it just as a heavy period? Should I get a certificate then? Oh, and you know if fetuses prior to full term will be allowed to have birth certificates there will be HUGE issues opened up with regard to abortion rights. I don't need to go there. I'm guessing they are picking 20 weeks because there are fetuses that have survived being born prematurely at 21 weeks. Of course that's not a common thing. Most fetuses need to be older in order to be viable, so I think they're dreamin' up that number.

In my bean, I'm guessing that to be a viable fetus, they would need to be 30 weeks old for the majority to surivive with today's technology. So, going back to my conclusion -- again removing the emotional constraints -- I would say that there are two realistic options: 1. a birth & death certificate issued for fetuses older than 30 weeks OR 2. Neither certificate should be issued.

What do you think?

Oh, the humanity! Wait...it's humanity! Scanner that sees through clothes!

The new airport scanner that supposedly shows the "the body's contours with blush-inducing clarity" is shown to be "controversial". People are worried that their ~gasp~ body will be visible!

Let's step back a second and put your ego in check. Your body is just like everyone else's body. Who gives a flyin' flip that your body contours will be visible? I'm sure after seeing hundreds of bodies each day, even the scan operators will yawn when they see your visage, too. I feel that so much of the fear of losing body-privacy in this instance is due to some sort of malformed belief that "we are all individuals." Sure, we're all different right down to our DNA, but on the scan-screen we're all pretty much the same. Most have two nipples. Most have two arms. Most have body fat. Most have two legs, etc, etc. There's nothing sooooo unusual from body to body. So, again, to those of you worried about getting ~exposed~ -- get over yourselves and realize that your body is boring just like all the rest of 'em.

Not surprising...

Anna Nicole Smith dies at 39. I'm guessing a drug OD, but what do I
know? It's a tragic end to a tragic-filled life.

Firmicutes - I'm full of 'em!

You'd think they would have called the bacteria "flabby-cutes". :-) Apparently...(well, you know, according to one study, probably brought to you by bacterial culturists or anti-biotic manufacturers) fat people carry more firmicute bacteria than our thin counterparts. Either it causes obesity or fat people just produce more. Either way, it's festive firmicutes to the rescue in third world countries. In any event, go here for more info: http://www.nature.com/nature

Antikythera Mechanism

Yeah, so what the heck is "Antikythera Mechanism" you say? Well, it's a nifty tool that's 2000 years old. Yeah, you heard me...2000 years old! If you're like me, you probably figured the most advanced tool that old is a flat rock rather than a round one. Well, huh, who knew, but this Antikythera Mechanism actually was an early computer that calculated when eclipses would occur within an hour's accuracy. I don't think I can do that with my Dell! (Well, I guess I could Google it...but still.) It's just an awesome discovery. Google Antikythera Mechanism. You'll be glad you did. Oh, and by the way, make sure you look for the new studies. Apparently this thing was found around 1900, but the recent studies have deciphered the mechanics a bit better.

How Creepy!

There's a reservoir here in Utah called "Strawberry Reservoir". It's a hot fishing location. I've been there fishing a few times over the last few years. It's big and pretty quiet on the whole. A couple was thrown overboard into the water last week. They're most likely drowned and in the lake/reservoir somewhere. Rescue crews have been searching for them since the night they disappeared. During their search.they found one body missing since 2001. Yesterday they found another body.and today.yet another body!! Anyway, here's the creepy bit - neither of the most recent bodies are of the missing couple. Creepy, I say! Let me just tell ya, that no matter HOW hot the day is when I'm down there, I AM NOT going to put my toes in the water! No way, no how!

Fall Colors

What a good little resource for identifying trees and their various leaf shapes and fall colorations. Kudos to StarTribune.com! Oh, it is kind of Minnesota specific for locations, but a lot of the tree types featured are all over the country. Especially good for those of us who confuse aspens and birch. :-0

Local Outdoor Newsman Dies

The first quote at the Salt lake Tribune (http://www.sltrib.com) made me laugh out loud: "I know Doug is in heaven with all the animals he hunted," the fan wrote. Funny, that doesn't sound restful. If I were Doug Miller and this was true, I would be watching my back!!

Darn Speculation! Now Pluto is Demoted...

Pluto is no longer to be considered a planet in our solar system. What a horrible turn of events for this little picked-upon planet. Now it will only be known as an oft-forgotten Disney character. In other related news, last week, prior to the conference where the little orb was kicked out of the planet gang, rumors were floating around that they may determine it should be a 12 planet solar system. So, you know, I thought I'd get a jump on things and register "twelveplanets.net" and "twelveplanets.info". .com was taken, unfortunately...or maybe fortunately in this turn of events. So, screw domain purchases on speculation! By the way, if anyone wants either of those domains, I'll sell it to you CHEAP!

The title read, "Crack found in shuttle foam"

I read the above title and was suddenly outraged (ok, not really outraged, but surprised!) that they found crack cocaine in the shuttle foam. I mean, what sort of engineers do we have running this shuttle program? No WONDER they've had so much trouble with the shuttles. Drug abuse. Dang. Get some help so they can get back to safe aerospace design! I think it may be time to call myself Emily Littella from Saturday Night Live fame.

"Golden Rule" Education

I just saw a story on the Star Tribune (http://www.startribune.com) website about Minnesota appropriating funds for “Golden Rule” education.

As it says in the article, not much money is devoted to this concept -- only about 1.5 million. What makes me disturbed is that they felt that it was necessary at all.

A few basics – don’t lie, don’t cheat, be on time, etc – common courtesy items as well as basic societal values. What’s going on out there with child rearing that makes it necessary for public schools to teach this simple concept to kids? It’s really just a sad state of affairs.

Bush -- Now a Populist? Also -- Gay Marriage

This morning on NPR, there was a quote from Bush claiming that he wants to ban gay marriage because it’s “the will of the people”. If he was such a populist, wouldn’t he be pulling the troops out of Iraq by now? A wee bit more on gay marriage. For those of you who are opposed to it, why is that??

• The “it ruins the sanctity of marriage” argument is pretty weak. Your marriage sanctity is between you and your partner and potentially your god. Why does someone else’s marriage ruin the sanctity of yours??
• If your argument fixates on the sexual aspect of it, for instance, “gay sex is just not natural”. What business is it of yours what someone else is doing in their private bedroom? I’m sure if I were to peek in on your “activities”, I might find something that seems pretty damn unnatural to me, too. I think everyone gets their “freak on” in their own way. Also, why just focus on the sexuality of the marriage. There are plenty of gay (and straight for that matter) couples that don’t have sex. For those of you fixated on the sexual aspect being wrong, is it ok if a gay/lesbian couple gets married as long as they don’t “get busy”?

Ok…just a couple of early morning hmmms….

Gov't Tracking Phone Calls in the US

Yesterday morning, I heard on NPR some idiot (I wish I could recall who it was) saying basically, “it’s not *that* bad it’s not as if they’re tracking the contents of your phone calls.” As if the content would be the only thing that’s “private”.  Just calling someone indicates relationship. Calling someone often probably indicates a stronger relationship.

 

Let’s say you work for the government and have a spouse that you suspect may be cheating. Nothing illegal going on, but just immoral. You have access to every stinkin’ phone call your spouse ever made. You take a peek. Just a peek to see who he’s calling while you’re slaving away at the FBI.  Ah-ha! 30 phone calls to your best friend this week.  You’ve just violated his rights and probably just ruined your upcoming surprise birthday party *and* the affair they were having.  OK…in that instance, you probably would want to know the content, ‘cuz it could have been just a birthday party.

 

If you ever saw The Net, the movie with Sandra Bullock where pretty much everyone she knew was blown away, having phone call records would be one easy way to “do away with” everyone you know, without having to know anything about what was said on the phone in the calls. So there, a very, very bad thing.

 

OH, let’s say you have a friend who happens to be a communist. You’re living in the McCarthy era. Yeah, since you KNOW a commie, you must be one too. Right? Yeah, it wouldn’t be pretty.  I’m just sayin’…..

"Spy chief says nearly 100,000 Americans working in intelligence"

I read it in the news, so you know it’s true. If that’s true, than roughly 1/1850 working age people works in “intelligence”. I don’t know why, but that strikes me as unusually high. I guess it’s not *that* high when you figure there’s 1 attorney for every 300 citizen regardless of age. YIKES!   

Feelin' Mighty Toasty

It seemed pretty warm outside today. Sure enough, it's in the 50s. Yay! I looked at the weather forecast...and this is what I saw. 374 degrees for the LOW on Tuesday. I better go get my asbestos underwear ready to go.

Some Days It Just Doesn't Pay to Read the News

I'm sooooo torked today. Two very different stories with two very different reasons to be torked. The first: Anti-gay fury mars funeral of a soldier in Anoka. If the link doesn't work, here's the story in a quick quote nutshell, "The six (protestors at the funeral) are members of a church in Topeka, Kan., that espouses the belief that God is killing American soldiers because they fought for a country that tolerates homosexuality."

Ummm...yeah... Six sick f*cks who hide behind "God" to espouse their beliefs to people in mourning. Apparently these sickos are going from funeral to funeral. WTF?! I'm anti-war, I'm pretty dang liberal and now I'm livid. I just want to attend a funeral when they're in mourning and just scream at the top of my lungs, "Ya'll are sick, small minded, socially inept idiots who obviously are masking your own homosexual desires." Along side me, I'd like a whole band of guys who will be screaming that they slept with the sickos and ENJOYED IT. Or something like that. :-)

NEXT

Midwest Oil fined for selling gas too cheaply -- Again, briefly, the state of Minnesota is fining Midwest Oil for selling gas cheaper than the legally set "threshold price." What an idiotic law! Sure, the state loves making money off of gas tax (I mean, who wouldn't?), but seriously, there is no logical reason in this day to have a gas threshold price. A quote from the article: "Defenders of the law say it's critical to protect small and medium-sized stations.They note that unlike large chains, those stations often can't cushion below-cost gasoline with sales of other merchandise." hehhehe. THIS tickles me. In our homogenized-Walmartized country, I think most people would be hard pressed to even think of a gas station that isn't owned by a large size chain. I can't even think of one little mom&pop gas station. When I was a kid, yup, I could name at least three. No longer. They're all BP, Chevron, SA, etc, etc. What's the sole reason for keeping this law on the books --- well, it's related to the previous article -- the lawmakers are in bed with the gas companies. Pure and simple. Oh, and yeah, they like it.

"Rage Spreads Over Cartoons"

Just the headline alone makes me go “huh?” You know, if I took myself too seriously, I would have had to kill thousands of cartoonists over their lampooning ( and often harpooning) my fat self.

People spend too much time worrying about symbology and it’s worthiness in their lives. For instance, so many people vehemently oppose burning the US flag. It’s a freakin’ symbol. If you see a flag burning it doesn’t effect your personal views, does it? No, you believe deep inside what you want to believe and nothing external should be able to sway that. To heck with what others think of your own personal views. Also, to heck with what you think of their view.

The same goes with religion or other closely held beliefs. There’s a big hullabaloo in Utah about an atheist group filing a lawsuit against the state for using crosses to mark highway points where police officers were killed. It’s a symbol, people. Just because you don’t believe it, doesn’t mean it’s going to take away your rights to believe what you want to believe. I see a cross and I see a cross marking a death. I don't see a cross and then see Jesus upon it. The atheist group in town sees a cross and suddenly sees oppression. Personally, the group in question is giving atheists a bad name.

Now we’ve got the Danish people under attack by a bunch of overly sensitive Muslims. It’s a set of cartoons, people. Cartooooons. Political or not, they’re one man’s comic view of life. You might find it funny. You might find it touchy. It might make you think. Or maybe not. But, let’s get real, it’s not worth killing. It’s just a cartoon. Now, if said cartoonist takes out a gun and starts pickin’ off Muslims in Denmark and the Dane government supports him, have at ‘em! Take ‘em down! Until then, let cooler heads prevail.

Huge Kudos to Minnesota Pharmacist

Huge kudos to pharmacist Jim Witt of Borg Drug in Ashby, Minnesota! He's not charging the recommended "retail" drug prices. On the news story I heard last night, there are some drugs that the evil drug lords like Merck recommend to have sold at $25 that Witt is charging only $1. Now, if we can only get Walgreens or other national retailers to buy into the less-scam, more ethics philosophy, we'd have a country where elderly and poverty stricken individuals can actually afford to buy medication.

Bodies...the Exhibition

This show brings out the wannabe doctor hidden deep within me. How cool would this be to see? I would be fascinated and grossed out all at once. Apparently there are 22 bodies and assorted other body parts preserved for eternity by embedding polymers into the tissues. Plasti-man! I used to have the set of Visible Man (love that painting of it!) and Visible Woman models where you could take apart the bodies, organ by organ. Way cool, but they fell a bit short. No muscles. No odd pockets of fatty tissue, etc. The "Bodies" show has it all from what I can see. Fascinating!! I doubt the show will ever make it to Utah. Those lucky New Yorkers!