What Are the Republicians Thinking??

According to the Rocky Mountain News:

A Republican legislator's remarks about sexuality sparked a bitter volley at the state Capitol on Wednesday, the second time in three days such comments have created controversy.

(Photo by Darin McGregor © The Rocky Mountain News)

So what has caused the controversy now? Sen. Dave Schultheis (R), of Colorado Springs, opposed a bill requiring pregnant women to be tested for HIV so that if they are infected their babies can be treated to prevent the virus's transfer.

"This stems from sexual promiscuity for the most part, and I just can't go there," he said.

"We do things continually to remove the consequences of poor behavior, unacceptable behavior, quite frankly. I'm not convinced that part of the role of government should be to protect individuals from the negative consequences of their actions."

Until Schultheis' remarks, this bill had the support of every other Senate Republican, including Senate Minority Leader Josh Penry, who signed on as a co-sponsor.

At least one Republician, Rep. Marsha Looper, of Colorado, was willing to publicly take her party members to task.

"What are they doing over there?" she asked, referring to the Senate. "I find their comments inappropriate and offensive, and I question their motives."

Former Colorado Gov. Bill Owens said he was puzzled over Schultheis' "no" vote.

"It's extremely inconsistent for any person who is pro-life to oppose this effort to potentially save the life of a child," he said.

Does Schultheis honestly believe that pregnant women who are HIV positive or have AIDS are all promiscuous? Doesn't he realize women are raped every day? Husbands cheat on their wives while still sleeping with their wives every day? And doesn't he realize that not all people with HIV contracted it through sexual contact? How can a US Senator be so narrow minded?

Heaven forbid Sen. Schulheis' daughter is raped by a man with AIDS. Heaven forbid his son-in-law cheats on his daughter and gives her HIV. Heaven forbid his daughter is in an accident and suffers bodily fluid exchange with an HIV person. Heaven forbid his daughter gets pregnant after any of these things happens.

The Devil's Panties

If you've been reading my blog for any length of time, you have probably noticed the icon on my sidebar for The Devil's Panties. This is the comic strip by Jennie Breeden that I start every day with. I have always loved comic strips, and Jennie's wonderful strip gives me a laugh to start my day with.

I started reading this comic after Laurell K. Hamilton mentioned it on her blog many months ago. Of course, Laurell is my favorite fictional author and her blog is one I read religiously every day. So, when she suggested The Devil's Panties, I couldn't resist checking it out. I've been hooked ever since.




Check out Jennie's website and read The Devil's Panties for yourself. Trust me, it will make your day!

Dead Skunk in the Middle of the Road

Ah, after a long cold winter, spring is finally in the air. All around is the sweet, aromatic fragrance of ... skunk ...



Yep, that's right, it's skunk mating season again! This is the time of year when skunks seem to come out of the wood works and they end up ... splatted on the side of the road.

I swear, I only drive 5 miles into town to go to work, and there were at least 8 dead skunks - some on the sides of the road, some in the middle of the road. Makes me think of the old 70s song, "Dead Skunk in the Middle of the Road" by Loudon Wainwright.

Crossin' the highway late last night
He shoulda looked left and he shoulda looked right
He didn't see the station wagon car
The skunk got squashed and there you are!

You got yer
Dead skunk in the middle of the road
Dead skunk in the middle of the road
You got yer dead skunk in the middle of the road
Stinkin' to high Heaven!

Take a whiff on me, that ain't no rose!
Roll up yer window and hold yer nose
You don't have to look and you don't have to see
'Cause you can feel it in your olfactory

You got yer
Dead skunk in the middle of the road
Dead skunk in the middle of the road
You got yer dead skunk in the middle of the road
Stinkin' to high Heaven!

Yeah you got yer dead cat and you got yer dead dog
On a moonlight night you got yer dead toad frog
Got yer dead rabbit and yer dead raccoon
The blood and the guts they're gonna make you swoon!

You got it!
It's dead, it's in the middle
Dead skunk in the middle!
Dead skunk in the middle of the road
Stinkin' to high heaven!
All over the road, technicolor man!
Oh, you got pollution
It's dead, it's in the middle
And it's stinkin' to high, high Heaven

The Morning After LOST

"The Life & Death of Jeremy Bentham" Season 5, Episode #7

Excellent episode!! ***SPOILER ALERT***

On the Island: We start out with a strange man and woman in some type of Dharma office. The woman tells the man they have found a man standing in the water wearing a suit - saying he wasn't on the plane. Heading toward the beach, they pass a downed plan with the logo Ajira Airways printed on the side. Ahh - the plot thickens! Who is this mysterious man? Why John Locke, of course, resurrected from the dead.

Flashback to the frozen donkey wheel and Locke is again in the presence of Christian Shepherd. Bright light and flashes - then Locke is in the Tunisian desert with a broken leg.

On the Mainland: Next thing you know, 4 men have gathered up Locke and it looks like he's being tortured - but looks are deceiving. Locke is actually in a crude hospital and the men are trying to fix his broken leg. When Locke wakes up, Charles Widmore is at his side, telling him he has been waiting on Locke's return. He tells Locke they met when Widmore was 17 (on the Island) and that Locke looks exactly the same. It is Whidmore who gives Locke the false identity of Jeremy Bentham. Unfortunately, because of his leg injury, Locke is back in a wheelchair. Now Locke is on a mission.

He tracks down Sayid - but Sayid refuses to come back to the Island. Next, Locke finds Walt, but when he sees how happy Walt is, Locke doesn't ask him to return to the Island. Then Locke visits Hurley - at first Hurley thinks Locke is a ghost. Hurley also refuses to go back to the Island. The same think happens when Locke visits Kate - she refuses to go back as well. Locke has a car wreck and ends up in Jack's hospital. Jack is angry with Locke and refuses to believe anything else he says. He tells Locke to leave the Oceanic 6 alone.

Defeated, Locke prepares to hang himself, but is interrupted by Ben. Ben tells him not to trust Whidmore because he is dangerous. Everything is going fine until Locke mentions Eloise Hawking - then the unthinkable happens!

Holy mackerel of the night: Ben and Locke in the hotel room - I won't say anything else because it's a major spoiler!

The ah-ha moment: When Whidmore tells Locke he was 17 when they first met - further evidence of the time shifts.

What the hell moment: At first I thought Locke was being tortured in Tunisian, but he really wasn't.

The funniest moment: When Hurley thought Locke was a ghost - he had to ask something if Locke was really there.

Best "what I missed" moments: Again, no Sawyer! It has been 2 weeks now, I'm ready for some Sawyer time ...

Way Back Wednesday - The Outlaw Josey Wales

The Outlaw Josey Wales is a 1976 Western film set at the end of the American Civil War directed by and starring Clint Eastwood (as Josey Wales).

This film is the first ever to confront the history of those Missourians who fell prey to the murder and rapine of the Kansas-based Unionists who called themselves "Red-Leggers" (after their red-striped stockings and gaiters) and Jayhawkers during the Civil War.



Although this story is based on the overwhelming grief and revenge of one man, it is also a story of true friendship and loyalty. Josey Wales , a peaceful Missouri farmer, is driven to revenge by the brutal rape and murder of his wife and family by a band of pro-Union Redlegs from Kansas.

Josey joins a group of pro-Confederate Missouri guerrillas led by "Bloody Bill" Anderson. At the end of the war, his fellow guerrillas attempt to surrender but are instead gunned down in a botched execution by the same Redlegs who burned Josey's farm and murdered his family, led by the vicious Captain Terrill. Josey refused to surrender, so he begins a life on the run.

Along the way, Josey befriends an elderly Yankee woman from Kansas (Paula Trueman) and her granddaughter (Sondra Locke), a wily old Cherokee named Lone Watie (Chief Dan George), and a young Navajo woman (Geraldine Keams).

Divine Misdemeanors

Laurell K. Hamilton's website now has the cover artwork for the next Merry Gentry book - DIVINE MISDEMEANORS. The release date has not been set. This will be the 8th book in her American fairy tale.

Goody - I can't wait!

Worst Person in the World

Have I told you lately how much I love Keith Olbermann?

Last night's "Worst Person in the World" was the one and only Sen. Mitch McConnell - you know, someone else I really like - NOT!!!

Visit msnbc.com for Breaking News, World News, and News about the Economy

Slumdogs

Congratulations Slumdog!

Slumdog Millionaire won eight Academy Awards: Best Picture, Best Director, Best Adapted Screenplay, Best Cinematography, Best Sound Mixing, Best Film Editing, Best Original Score, and Best Original Song.

Prayer Shawls

As I've mentioned before, my oldest 2 daughters are both getting married this year. In addition to helping with wedding plans, I'm also knitting each daughter a prayer shawl.

Here are photos of the completed blue prayer shawl for my middle daughter.



I am over halfway finished with the pink one I'm working on for the oldest daugher. I'll post a picture of that one when it is completed.

Sunday's Seven Wonders - Mausoleum of Maussollos

(Interpretation of the Mausoleum of Maussollos, from a 1572 engraving by Marten Heemskerk)

From UN Museum: In 377 B.C., the city of Halicarnassus was the capitol of a small kingdom along the Mediterranean coast of Asia Minor. It was in that year the ruler of this land, Hecatomnus of Mylasa, died and left control of the kingdom to his son, Mausolus. Hecatomnus had been ambitious and had taken control of several of the neighboring cities and districts. Mausolus in his time, extended the territory even further so that it finally included most of southwestern Asia Minor.

Mausolus, with his queen Artemisia, ruled over Halicarnassus and the surrounding territory for 24 years. Mausolus, though he was descended from the local people, spoke Greek and admired the Greek way of life and government. He founded many cities of Greek design along the coast and encouraged Greek democratic traditions.

Then in 353 B.C. Mausolus died, leaving his queen Artemisia, who was also his sister (It was the custom in Caria for rulers to marry their own sisters), broken-hearted. As a tribute to him, she decided to build him the most splendid tomb in the known world. It became a structure so famous that Mausolus's name is now associated with all stately tombs through our modern word mausoleum.

The Mausoleum of Maussollos was built between 353 and 350 BC at Halicarnassus (present Bodrum, Turkey). The structure was designed by the Greek architects Satyros and Pythis. It stood approximately 45 metres (135 ft) in height, and each of the four sides was adorned with sculptural reliefs created by each one of four Greek sculptors — Leochares, Bryaxis, Scopas of Paros and Timotheus. The finished structure was considered to be such an aesthetic triumph that Antipater of Sidon identified it as one of his Seven Wonders of the Ancient World.

(The Mausoleum site in ruins, as it is today)

The Morning After BONES

Episode #415 - The Princess and the Pear

Another hilarious episode! Booth has hurt his back again and is begging Bones to "use your magic knuckles" to fix it like last time. Bones is hesitant because she is afraid his back problem is a recurring issue, but she gives in and cracks his back. Booth ends up at the hospital! So needless to say, Booth is not on stage much this episode.

Because Booth is out of action, Bones partners up with Agent Perotta again as they try to solve the mystery of the murdered medieval princess.

Dr. Fisher is back as a recurring intern (I've given up on the Bones' Intern-O-Meter because the last 2 episodes did not have any interns)! He is hilarious - a dark, bruding guy depressed over the break-up with his lady love. Dr. Fisher was called upon to infiltrate an ImagiCon (similar to Comicon) Convention to help track down the murderer. I hope we see more of him in future episodes - he is too funny!

Dr. Sweets also got to be on stage for the majority of the episode. How cute was he in his Star Trek outfit?? And then to get run off the road with Bones in the car with him - I enjoy Dr. Sweets!

So, we didn't get much Booth this episode, but we did get Dr. Sweets and Dr. Fisher. I'm actually not too crazy about Agent Perotta - she's trying to make moves on Booth and she needs to just keep her hands off him!

Oh, I almost forget - last night there was a glimmer of hope between Angela and Hodgins! I'm still rooting for the two of them to get back together again - they make such a cute couple!

Bobbi Needs ...

I got tagged for this meme on Facebook, so I wanted to share. All you do is Google your name and the word "needs" in quotes ("[Your first name] needs”) and see what comes up. The results will be highlighted in the little paragraph contained below each result. List the first 10 and then tag 10 or more of your friends.

1. A new doctor - hello?!
2. An invention - LOL, maybe for my blogging addiction?!
3. To learn this kind of lesson - hmmm, wonder what I need to learn?
4. A promotion - YES, one I can agree with!
5. Needs help fast - well, duh!
6. Keep feeling superior - yeah, I'm practicing to be Supreme Ruler of the World!
7. Powerpoint presentations - hell, I'm just learning Facebook; I'm scared of powerpoint!
8. A vacation - amen, sista!
9. Use the right tool - I guess that would help.
10. Lower my prices - Haha, wouldn't you like to know!

Too funny!! Thanks, Natalie, I needed a laugh!

The Morning After LOST

Season 5, Episode 6 (#91) 316

The way back to the island is revealed to members of the Oceanic 6, but there's trouble ahead when not all of them wish to return.

Questions, questions and more questions!!

On the Mainland:
Where is Aaron? And for that matter, where is Ji Yeon? Have these 2 mothers gone crazy?
Who is holding Sayid prisoner? And who is the girl?
Who beat the crap out of Ben and why didn't they ask me to do it? I bet there are people lining up to take credit for that!
Is the guitar case Hurley has Charlie's? I don't think I've seen Hurley playing a guitar before. (And YEAH - Hurley is back!!)
So, the Island isn't finished with Desmond - wonder if he will end up back on the island? And if he does, what about Penny and the baby?


On the Island:
What the hell - Ajira Airlines?! Is this where the water bottles from last week's episode came from?
Are the rest of the survivors from Flight 316 the ones shooting at Sawyer and the castaways?

Answers to some questions:
We now know Eloise Hawking IS Daniel's mother.
It looks like Dharma built the little room in the church basement.
The island really IS moving, both in place and time.

Holy mackrel of the night: Frank Lapidis is back as the airline captain of Ajira Airlines Flight 316 - it really is a small world!

2nd Holy mackrel of the night: Locke's suicide note!! Whoa - this gets deeper and deeper.

The ah-ha moment: Eloise Hawking IS Daniel's mother

What the hell moment: Why is Jin wearing a Dharma jump suit???

Best hubba-hubba moment: Kate and Jack playing tonsil hockey.

Best "what I missed" moments: Where are the Island castaways?

What Did We Learn on the Show Tonight, Craig?

I love the "what did we learn on the show tonight" kitty at the end of The Late, Late Show with Craig Ferguson. You never know what that bad kitty will do. Here are a few of my favorites:


Hypnotic Kitty


Devil Kitty


Poof goes the Kitty

Money For Education

President Obama signed the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act into law this week. Here in Kentucky our schools will receive more than $300 million to aid low income and special needs students.

I am so glad money is going towards education - it is such a huge need in Kentucky. IMHO, teachers are so under-appreciated and they have one of the most important jobs - they are teaching our next generation. I have so much respect for teachers - I just hope they start getting some of the credit they deserve.

David and Craig - On One Stage

Here are 2 of my favorite people, together on one show - David Boreanaz and Craig Ferguson! David was a guest on Tuesday night's Late, Late Show.



Don't you just love Craig??!! He is my favorite late night comedian - I like him much better than Leno and Letterman.

And Then It's Gone ...

What a freaky storm! One minute pouring down hail and coating the yard - the next minute all is calm and the hail is gone!

Oh, Hail !!

Great gobble-de-goo! It is hailing so hard right this minute, my front yard looks like it's covered with snow! The hail is only pea-sized, but OMG, there is tons of it! It sounds like someone is throwing pebbles at my doors and window......

Do You FaceBook?

Do you FaceBook? I have finally jumped into the world of FaceBook - let me tell you, it has been a scary jump! I have gotten this blogging thingy down pretty good, but I'm not very technically oriented, so trying to figure out FaceBook is another internet challenge for me.

Any and all suggestions are welcomed - please, I need all the help I can get!

So, if you want to be my friend - OMG, that sounds so cliche - check out my profile page

Way Back Wednesday - Dr. Syn: The Scarecrow of Romney Marsh

Dr. Syn: The Scarecrow of Romney Marsh (1964)

"On the southern coast of England
There’s a legend people tell
Of days long ago when the great Scarecrow
Would ride from the jaws of hell
And laugh with a fiendish yell."

Originally airing in three parts on "Walt Disney's Wonderful World of Color," this thrilling adventure stars Patrick McGoohan as Dr. Syn, a kindly country vicar in 18th-century England. Only a few know that Syn is also the masked Scarecrow, notorious leader of a band of smugglers, who defends the villagers from unjust taxes and oppression by King George III's men.

I have such fond memories of watching this movie with my parents. Rewatching this old classic brings to mind my clown phobia. I always thought my fear of clowns began with an early episode of Dark Shadows, but after watching The Scarecrow again, I realize he may have been the orginal cause of my phobia. That white face and painted on mouth - aghhh! But white face or not, this is a wonderful movie to watch with the family.

On November 11, 2008 the Walt Disney company released a limited pressing of 39,500 issues of The Scarecrow of Romney Marsh in DVD format for the first time as a part of the "Disney Treasures" collection, and was now called Dr. Syn: The Scarecrow of Romney Marsh. The DVD's sold out in three weeks.

Television Whore

I don't do a lot of meme's, but here is a great one I picked up from Amy at My Friend Amy. Obviously, she is as much a TV whore as I am!!

1. Name a TV show series in which you have seen every episode at least twice: Dark Shadows, Buffy the Vampire Slayer, Bones, Weeds, Dexter, X-Files, Planet of the Apes (1974, don't laugh!), Land of the Lost (from my childhood, again, don't laugh!)



2. Name a show you can’t miss: Bones, Medium, LOST, Fringe, Robin Hood, Primeval, Legend of the Seeker



3. Name an actor that would make you more inclined to watch a show: David Boreanaz

4. Name an actor who would make you less likely to watch a show: I can't think of anyone that would turn me off from a great show.



5. Name a show you can, and do, quote from: Buffy the Vampire Slayer, LOST, Dark Shadows, Bones, Weeds, Dexter



6. Name a show you like that no one else enjoys: Most of my friends don't watch a lot of TV, so this could be almost anything! However, not many people I know watch Bones and I absolutely LOVE this show! Also, Legend of the Seeker.

7. Name a TV show which you’ve been known to sing the theme song: Land of the Lost (from my childhood), Friends, Cheers, Weeds (up until last season when they quit using "Little Boxes")




8. Name a show you would recommend everyone to watch: Fringe, United States of Tara





9. Name a TV series you own: Dark Shadows (all 128 disc!), Buffy the Vampire Slayer, Weeds, How I Met Your Mother, House





10. Name an actor who launched his/her entertainment career in another medium, but has surprised you with his/her acting choices in television: I still can't believe Johnny Depp started out on 21 Jump Street! (Okay, so I just wanted a reason to post another picture of Johnny Depp!)

11. What is your favourite episode of your favourite series? "The Knight on the Grid" - Bones





12. Name a show you keep meaning to watch, but you just haven’t gotten around to yet: Mad Men



13. Ever quit watching a show because it was so bad? In the past, I have given up several because I just lost interest: ER, 24, Terminator: The Sarah Conner Chronicles

14. Name a show that’s made you cry multiple times: Bones



15. What do you eat when you watch TV? We usually eat supper in front of the TV (bad habit, I know). I also tend to snack on popcorn or crackers.



16. How often do you watch TV? Our TV is on most of the time, even if we aren't watching. I come home from work at noon and will typically have on MSNBC for the majority of the afternoon. After hubby gets home, we usually have supper and then settle in to watch the tube. Most nights, I'm knitting while I watch my shows - it keeps my hands busy and helps me avoid #15.

17. What’s the last TV show you watched? Medium



18. What’s your favourite/preferred genre of TV? I enjoy drama, fantasy and science-fiction the best. Hubby likes his comedy.

19. What was the first TV show you were obsessed with? Land of the Lost and Planet of the Apes, both from 1974. The first TV show I owned on DVD was Buffy the Vampire Slayer, although I did use the VCR to capture all of Star Trek: The Next Generation and X-Files.

20. What TV show do you wish you never watched? The Rosie O'Donnell Live Variety Show - thank goodness it was canceled after only one show! I love Rosie, but this show was horrible!!

21. What’s the weirdest show you enjoyed? Twin Peaks






22. What TV show scared you the most? I don't watch many scarey programs, but there have been a few episodes of Dark Shadows and X-Files that gave me nightmares.




23. What is the funniest TV show you have ever watched? How I Met Your Mother





24) What show was cancelled too early? Planet of the Apes - only 13 episodes. I remember crying as a 12 year old because they canceled my favorite show. Recently, I was saddened when they canceled My Own Worst Enemy - I enjoy Christian Slater and this show was just getting good! I also hated because they canceled Lipstick Jungle this year.

Terrorist Attack vs. Mother Nature

According to WKYT:

A Kentucky official says there are fewer than 9,000 customers without power since ice and wind storms pounded the state.

Public Service Commission spokesman Andrew Melnykovych said Monday morning that about 5,000 customers remained without power from the Jan. 27 ice storm, down from more than 700,000 power outages at the peak of the storm.

Melnykovych says about 3,600 customers were without power from a wind storm that struck last week with reported gusts of up to 62 miles per hour.

We are know almost 3 weeks post ice storm and there are still thousands of customers without electricity. In the 21st century, how can this be?

With the government spending so much time and energy trying to prevent terrorist attacks on US soil, they don't seem worried about the disastrous effects of Mother Nature. This was just a moderate ice storm - what kind of shape would we be in if this had been a terrorist attack instead of an attack by Mother Nature.

DOLLHOUSE

I'm sure by know that everyone has read the negative reviews regarding Joss Whedon's new series, DOLLHOUSE. I read so many negative reviews, I was afraid I would be jaded when I finally got to watch the show on Sunday afternoon.

Not great ... but not bad either. There is lots of room for improvement, and knowing what a talented writer Whedon is, I have high expectations this show will only get better and better.

I'm a huge fan of BUFFY THE VAMPIRE SLAYER, and the first season of this 7 season series is my least favorite. I think freshman seasons are usually slow at picking up steam, and audiences.

I am a big Eliza Dushku fan and it was great to see her back on the screen. You will remember her from playing Faith on BUFFY and ANGEL. And man, did she look buff or what??!! She was definitely in "kick-ass" mode!

So, while we didn't get much background information about the interworkings of the Dollhouse, this only leaves room for the series to get better and better. If only Fox will leave it alone! Remember FIREFLY? Fox killed this Whedon baby almost at birth.

Only time will tell ...

Sunday's Seven Wonders - The Temple of Artemis

(The Lady of Ephesus, "Beautiful Artemis," 1st century CE (Museum of Ephesus), Efes, Turkey)

The Temple of Artemis was a Greek temple - the first temple dedicated to the Greek goddes, Artemis, the virginal huntress and twin of Apollo - probably built around 800 B.C. at Ephesus (in present-day Turkey). Nothing remains of the temple, which was one of the Seven Wonders of the Ancient World.

The temple was rebuilt and completed around 600 B.C. under the Achaemenid dynasty of the Persian Empire, but it didn't last long. This temple was destroyed in 550 B.C. A new and larger temple was then constructed by a man named Theodorus. Theodorus's temple was 300 feet in length and 150 feet wide with an area four times the size of the temple before it. More than one hundred stone columns supported a massive roof. This temple was destroyed on July 21, 356 BC in an act of arson committed by a man named Herostratus. According to the story, his motivation was fame at any cost, thus the term herostratic fame. This very same night, Alexander the Great was born. It is rumored Artemis was too preoccupied with Alexander's delivery to save her burning temple. Alexander later offered to pay for the temple's rebuilding, but the Ephesians refused. Eventually, the temple was restored after Alexander's death, in 323 BC.



This hand-colored engraving by Martin Heemskerck depicts the reconstruction of the Temple of Artemis at Ephesus, depicted here in a hand-coloured engraving by Heemskerck and dates from the 16th century and it is entirely imaginery. Heemskerck tried to capture the reconstruction of what the Temple of Artemis might have looked like.

The last temple was built by Scopas of Paros. The building is thought to be the first completely constructed with marble and one of its must unusual features were 36 columns whose lower portions were carved with figures in high-relief. This Temple of Artemis was destroyed during a raid by the Goths in 262 A.D

The site of the temple today, located on a marshy field. A single column is erect to remind visitors of the place where one of the wonders of the ancient world used to be located.