tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-36624332012-01-24T08:13:15.531-06:00Dianenoreply@blogger.comBlogger36071100tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3662433.post-11986179204348324742007-06-01T08:14:00.000-05:002008-12-09T01:02:41.981-06:00

We're all packed and ready to go to our new home at Women Who Serve, and we're even taking those pesky kittens with us. We hope you continue to visit us on Fridays, and who knows? Maybe you'll even get into women's pro tennis--it's exciting! We loved blogging for you at The Dees Diversion, and we hope to see you at least once a week at our new place.

Dianenoreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3662433.post-28488223353687737402007-05-30T11:16:00.001-05:002008-07-16T11:06:26.654-05:00

I have been publishing The Dees Diversion (formerly known as DED Space) for four years and ten months--five years, for all practical purposes. I have also been blogging for Mother Jones' MoJo Blog for over a year and nine months. That is a lot of blogging, and the time has come for me to cut back. After this week, The Dees Diversion will no longer be published. There are several reasons I made

Dianenoreply@blogger.com18tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3662433.post-39094866072451763432007-05-28T10:00:00.000-05:002007-05-28T10:00:23.843-05:00

Before September 11, 2001, the song "God Bless America" was played in Yankee Stadium only on holidays. But since mid-October of 2001, it has been played before the bottom of the seventh inning at every game. It seems like that would be punishment enough, but George Steinbrenner has taken the punishment a step further: While the song is being played, fans are not allowed to leave their seats.(

Dianenoreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3662433.post-55823399838884798932007-05-27T14:18:00.000-05:002007-05-27T14:18:29.641-05:00

Six customs inspectors at Orlando Sanford International Airpot say that, in 2005, they were told by their supervisors to falsify information they were supposed to have gathered during an inspection for plant and animal contraband. The passengers in question were never stopped and their bags were not inspected. The inspectors said they were told to lie because the airport was "busy."Welcome to the

Dianenoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3662433.post-4040123824699309042007-05-25T15:42:00.000-05:002008-12-09T01:02:42.189-06:00

C. 'En Evant' is a French antique canna that dates back to 1914. It is just the sort of canna that the Victorians were crazy for, and I like it too.

Dianenoreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3662433.post-21681304729189204752007-05-25T15:12:00.000-05:002008-12-09T01:02:42.800-06:00

Svetlana Kuznetsova--can she finally win the French Open?Jelena Jankovic may have burned herself out of a chance to beat Henin and win at Roland GarrosQualifying for the French Open is currently in progress, and, as always, my favorite Grand Slam is the most puzzling to figure out. That's because it is played on red clay, and red clay tends to diffuse power. Or, as I like to put it, people play

Dianenoreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3662433.post-19602835099618528912007-05-25T14:35:00.000-05:002007-05-25T14:26:17.906-05:00

Once again, a poll shows that almost one-third of Americans believe that the Bible is the word of God and that every word is to be taken literally. Of those who do not believe the Bible's contents are to be taken literally, the majority believe that the book is nevertheless the actual word of God. Not surprisingly, belief in the literal meaning of the Bible is highest among those with the lowest

Dianenoreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3662433.post-45865185980981540162007-05-25T09:11:00.000-05:002008-12-09T01:02:42.944-06:00

Sometimes Ziggy just can't watch the whole movie.

Dianenoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3662433.post-34780098179557615392007-05-24T13:00:00.000-05:002007-05-24T13:00:50.370-05:00

Last November, someone set fire to the central wing of a high school in Jena, Louisiana. Then white students beat up a black student because he went to their party. Soon after that, a white adolescent pulled a shotgun on three black adolescents in a convenience store, and then four black students jumped a white student as he came out of the school gym. Following that incident, in which the

Dianenoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3662433.post-60245408599776254332007-05-24T11:23:00.000-05:002007-05-24T11:22:59.427-05:00

A few days ago, George W. Bush referred to the investigation of Attorney General Gonzales as "the reason the American people lose faith in the system" (not an exact quote). What he was saying was that the evil people calling out Gonzales for possible (likely) wrong-doing have stirred things up and caused Americans to doubt their own government.From a moral standpoint, his statement is outrageous.

Dianenoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3662433.post-84424078694477452182007-05-23T13:34:00.000-05:002007-05-23T13:34:17.836-05:00

Former Tennessee senator, stunningly bad actor and possible presidential candidate Fred Thompson has seen fit to shut down his political action committee. The PAC in question has raised $66,700 for election campaigns and committees in the four years it has been in existence. It has also paid $178,000 in consulting fees to Daniel Thompson Associates.(Continue reading at MoJo Blog)

Dianenoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3662433.post-20680604197822111692007-05-23T13:18:00.000-05:002007-05-23T13:18:03.236-05:00

It doesn't really surprise me that much that a state that would elect a sex criminal to be its governor would also decline to prosecute gang-rapists. A group of college baseball players in San Jose took turns raping a drunk 17-year girl. DNA samples have been obtained. There is an eyewitness. But the Santa Clara DA's office says there isn't enough evidence to charge the perpetrators."From the

Dianenoreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3662433.post-62284721240510983962007-05-21T11:28:00.000-05:002007-05-21T11:28:53.780-05:00

On Saturday, ethically challenged former House Speaker Newt Gingrich gave the commencement address at Liberty University, the school founded by Jerry Falwell. This was the second time the former speaker has delivered the Liberty commencement address. In his speech, Gingrich quoted Bible verses and warned graduates against "the growing culture of radical secularism."(Continue reading at MoJo Blog)

Dianenoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3662433.post-42797711046405627962007-05-21T10:59:00.000-05:002007-05-21T10:59:12.125-05:00

Of all we've done for the cause of women's rights in Afghanistan.

Dianenoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3662433.post-47865085811095254132007-05-18T12:04:00.000-05:002008-12-09T01:02:43.185-06:00

There are still enough cool days for the sisters to get in some snuggling on the sofa

Dianenoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3662433.post-69507826552261444122007-05-17T22:00:00.000-05:002007-05-17T22:00:25.605-05:00

Especially the disgusting ones.

Dianenoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3662433.post-47022840675149333572007-05-17T21:24:00.000-05:002007-05-17T21:24:08.151-05:00

A few years ago, when Bush on the Couch was published by psychiatrist Justin A. Frank, his publicist invited me to review it. I declined on ethical grounds. Frank, having never met George W. Bush, is not qualified to diagnose him, despite his using the technique of "applied psychoanalysis" which permits the psychological analysis of a public figure, but which--in my opinion--shoud be limited to

Dianenoreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3662433.post-80392775512148074932007-05-17T10:12:00.001-05:002007-05-17T10:12:18.283-05:00

You have to hide from everyone the fact that you find the divine in nature, but you can put bumper stickers on your car advertising that your religion condemns your family members, neighbors and co-workers, and that you wish to suppress women and members of the LGBT community.

Dianenoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3662433.post-7168605553184283042007-05-16T11:09:00.000-05:002007-05-16T11:10:35.726-05:00

Though many of us (and especially those of us with brains who live in Louisiana) cannot help but be grateful to Larry Flynt for exposing the hypocrisy of right-wing womanizer Bob Livingston, there has never been any doubt in my mind as to Flynt's character: He is a vicious, hateful bigot who has caused untold amounts of damage to women, people of color and members of the LBGT community.But Duke

Dianenoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3662433.post-14342134486224610242007-05-15T19:58:00.001-05:002007-05-15T19:58:21.106-05:00

From New Orleans...

Dianenoreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3662433.post-15668866258443680742007-05-15T19:35:00.001-05:002007-05-15T19:35:06.134-05:00

Tim Coil is a Gulf War veteran with PTSD. In early March, he and his wife visited the Stow-Munroe Falls Public Library in Ohio so that his wife, Yvette, could study for a test and he could do some reading. While they were there, they saw two military recruiters approaching potential elistees in a nearby room. Yvette Coil wrote some messages on 3x5 cards: "Don't fall for it! Military recruiters

Dianenoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3662433.post-81339352952134193382007-05-15T13:43:00.001-05:002007-05-15T13:43:20.532-05:00

In After Atalanta, Ken talks about a new version of "I'm not a feminist, but--", which she calls "I am a feminist, but--" Good stuff.

Dianenoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3662433.post-89001512401314895682007-05-15T13:11:00.001-05:002007-05-15T13:11:34.475-05:00

Obviously, for the sins of hating women and homosexuals, and for not using the brain he was given at birth.

Dianenoreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3662433.post-85507412554131177632007-05-15T11:16:00.001-05:002007-05-15T11:16:10.161-05:00

"Only in a hopelessly Puritan country like America could people actually think that a bad work of art is redeemed by its content."--Joseph S. Salemi, in an essay in The New Formalist.

Dianenoreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3662433.post-62210610891508480302007-05-15T10:51:00.001-05:002007-05-15T10:52:33.952-05:00

"I think lots want to watch, you know, girls dressed in a cute way. I think fashion has helped us a lot, people watch for that too."--WTA world number 7 Nicole Vaidisova

Dianenoreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3662433.post-34186655324394823412007-05-14T15:31:00.001-05:002007-05-16T10:27:09.665-05:00

I generally resist the enormous temptation to write about film in this blog, but I saw a film last night that I must mention because of its subject matter. The Notorious Bettie Page is a film I wanted to see when it came out last year, but I did not have the opportunity. It was on television last night, and I was enthralled by it.Many of us grew up hearing about the scandalous Page, though we did

Dianenoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3662433.post-30534243075633673732007-05-13T22:22:00.000-05:002007-05-13T22:23:02.187-05:00

There's this. Because everyone knows it isn't about athletic ability and months of very difficult work.

Dianenoreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3662433.post-52598329106092293972007-05-12T09:54:00.000-05:002007-05-12T09:53:42.105-05:00

I was going to blog about the Opie and Anthony incident and all things related to it, but there is no way I could have said it better than egalia at Tennessee Guerilla Women, so here is her take on this horrific incident and what it means in the context of the big, ugly picture.

Dianenoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3662433.post-49798491641530437122007-05-11T19:11:00.000-05:002007-05-11T19:10:49.630-05:00

Last year, Michael Baker was one of only forty-seven teachers in Nebraska to obtain National Board Certification. Last month, he showed his students at East High School in Lincoln the documentary, Baghdad ER, which shows the lives of doctors, nurses, medics, and soldiers in Iraq. The next day, Baker was no longer in his geography classroom.(Continue reading at MoJo Blog)

Dianenoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3662433.post-58101992788409005872007-05-11T17:52:00.001-05:002007-05-11T17:52:37.770-05:00

Being sarcastic about so-called "political correctness" is some people's way of showing hostility with regard to sensitivity about race, gender and other important matters. Here is a video of North Carolina Rep. Patrick McHenry demonstrating his anger toward chairwoman Rep. Ellen Tauscher because she would not call on him until others became quiet.Tauscher handled the situation beautifully, and a

Dianenoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3662433.post-91102521959585173002007-05-11T09:27:00.001-05:002008-12-09T01:02:43.688-06:00

Ziggy Stardust and his friend Tarzan will each be one year old some time this month; no one knows the exact date. Ziggy has been here since he was very small. Rescued from a feral colony, he was here to be fostered, and we just couldn't give him up. His interests include buzzing really loud, playing, eating like an oil rig worker, and trying everything he can think of to get Roxie to like him.

Dianenoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3662433.post-58444365466718706122007-05-09T21:53:00.000-05:002007-05-09T21:52:53.312-05:00

PepsiCo has decided to stop torturing and killing animals.

Dianenoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3662433.post-87834690348317685342007-05-09T17:54:00.001-05:002007-05-09T17:55:20.960-05:00

On the eve of her graduation from Millersville University, Stacy Snyder was told that she would not be receiving her teaching degree, but instead, would receive a degree in English. The reason? 27-year-old Snyder, who works as a nanny, posted a photo of herself on her MySpace site in which she was--hide your eyes!--wearing a pirate hat and drinking from a plastic "Mr. Goodbar" cup. Jane Bray,

Dianenoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3662433.post-16464873338488514512007-05-09T17:37:00.001-05:002007-05-09T17:38:30.579-05:00

Dave Terwilliger, principal of San Juan High School in Citrus Heights, California, recently suspended 35 students for wearing T-shirts with gay-hating slogans on them, including a message that gay students were bound for hell. The students say that the shirts are an expression of their religious views, and therefore, they are being persecuted. The shirts, by the way, were selected for what the

Dianenoreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3662433.post-9678719832926644122007-05-09T14:53:00.001-05:002007-05-09T14:53:06.558-05:00

Last month, several air traffic controllers at the Newark Airport claimed they were forced to direct planes while they were suffering from dizziness, confusion, headaches, and disorientation brought on by carbon monoxide poisoning. It turns out that a test of the facility's backup generator sent exhaust fumes into the building's ventilation system, thus releasing the carbon monoxide fumes. The

Dianenoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3662433.post-48770963338272127652007-05-09T13:38:00.001-05:002007-05-09T13:38:14.502-05:00

Same slimy tactic--different Kathleen.

Dianenoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3662433.post-69941702365644093642007-05-09T11:36:00.001-05:002007-05-09T11:36:30.915-05:00

Federal recovery coordinator Donald Powell hasn't had much of a clue since he arrived in Louisiana. His latest insult was to remind people in the Corps of Engineers-damaged area of the "overwhelming generosity" of the American taxpayer toward them. Hello! The people of New Orleans are American taxpayers, too. And the federal government, which Powell represents, caused much of New Orleans and St.

Dianenoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3662433.post-13495318220912498542007-05-08T21:38:00.000-05:002007-05-08T21:37:54.733-05:00

After Minnesota governor Tim Pawlenty made it clear that he would veto any bill giving domestic partnership benefits to several state employees, the Minnesota legislator dropped the matter last week. Members of the House and Senate eliminated language in a major spending bill that would have given such benefits to domestic partners, including gay partners.(Continue reading at MoJo Blog)

Dianenoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3662433.post-74127460079282157422007-05-08T19:04:00.001-05:002007-05-08T19:04:14.927-05:00

Maia of Alas, a blog, has a post about how the police in New Zealand respond to the dreadful fact that some of their number rape female citizens. You can probably guess the content, but here it is.There is also some commentary as to whether the "feminist-only thread" plug-in is working. One man was polite enough to mention that, because the plug-in was not working, his comment went online. "I do

Dianenoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3662433.post-34739983931054073642007-05-08T18:09:00.000-05:002007-05-08T18:09:03.844-05:00

This morning, I was in a coffee shop looking at a catalogue of English-inspired and English-made goods. There was an entire page devoted to Winston Churchill--books, cds, DVDs, ties, a bust, etc. The promotional piece for one of the books mentioned, in addition to the obvious things about Churchill, his love of sailing, dining and painting. And it also mentioned his weaknesses--hardheadedness,

Dianenoreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3662433.post-74065325417810769962007-05-07T18:42:00.000-05:002007-05-07T18:44:15.062-05:00

Herman Clayton lives in St. John the Baptist Parish in Louisiana and works as a school electrician and a Baptist minister. His school has installed a $75,000 fingerprinting system which enables employees to clock in each day by having their fingers scanned. Clayton refuses to have his finger scanned because by doing so, he says, he is violating the End of Time Doctrine.I am not making this up.

Dianenoreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3662433.post-40168704244206899832007-05-07T10:21:00.001-05:002007-05-07T10:21:39.400-05:00

A couple of years ago, Kim Clijsters said she would retire at the end of 2007, that she had made up her mind and would not change it for any reason. Nevertheless, the tennis talking heads continued to say things like "Clijsters, who is considering retiring in 2007...," and "Clijsters, who is giving some thought to retiring this year... .Wishful thinking, I suppose. Finally, people got it:

Dianenoreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3662433.post-77179488178559871262007-05-04T15:05:00.001-05:002007-05-04T15:05:49.952-05:00

Laura Bush says she had to get Condoleeza Rice to help her convince her husband, who "dislikes" formality and all that goes with it, to host a white tie dinner when Queen Elizabeth II comes to visit. On the one hand, that's easy to understand, since Bush was vulgar enough to wear cowboy boots and not dance at his first inaugural ball.On the other hand, if you saw Fahrenheit 911, you'll recall

Dianenoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3662433.post-87443127727216199082007-05-04T14:49:00.001-05:002007-05-04T14:49:38.707-05:00

A terrible thing happened in our country. The people who brought you this horror were very much like the people who are in charge now.

Dianenoreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3662433.post-41994426696849203332007-05-04T14:44:00.001-05:002007-05-04T14:44:28.498-05:00

When reasonable, Constitution-abiding people argue that no one--and especially "suspects" and "persons of interest"--should be imprisoned (and denied legal representation) without being charged with a crime, we are often told that we are "unpatriotic" and "weak." What will our accusers, then, tell members of the National Rife Association, who are arguing that suspected terrorists should not be

Dianenoreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3662433.post-42993309177194707222007-05-04T14:09:00.001-05:002007-05-04T14:09:21.880-05:00

That the same people who think it is wrong to enact harsher penalties on people who commit hate crimes also think it is just fine to enact harsher penalties on people who kill police officers?Because the issue isn't about a group getting "special treatment" at all.

Dianenoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3662433.post-86132475592825830302007-05-04T14:03:00.000-05:002007-05-04T14:02:51.680-05:00

Joan Baez accepted an invitation from John Mellencamp to sing for recovering soldiers at Walter Reed, but was then uninvited by the hospital. Baez says she was "not approved" by the U.S. Army to participate in the concert, and Mellancamp was told that Baez "can't fit in here, period."Of course, the Army has a right to keep anti-war personalities away from its facilities. But anyone who recalls

Dianenoreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3662433.post-64761945905227108732007-05-04T09:57:00.001-05:002008-12-09T01:02:44.405-06:00

Roxie sits in a bedroom windowVelma gives us a glimpse of her behind the dining room window Roxie relaxing in the window

Dianenoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3662433.post-48089170418138961502007-05-03T22:16:00.001-05:002007-05-03T22:16:33.818-05:00

He never tires of finding new, disgusting ways to bash Sen. Clinton.

Dianenoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3662433.post-60221711455066101522007-05-03T19:25:00.000-05:002007-05-03T19:24:47.948-05:00

Here is a fine example.

Dianenoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3662433.post-53641119600944628452007-05-03T17:59:00.000-05:002007-05-03T17:58:59.686-05:00

Presidential candidate John Edwards, the man whose rhetoric implies that it isn't the government's job to fix the mess it made in New Orleans, has talked about the "war on terror" as much as the next politician. But suddenly, he has removed all references to it from his website, and says that the term "has created a frame that is not accurate," and that he now believes there is not really a

Dianenoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3662433.post-50965149976998677752007-05-03T08:37:00.000-05:002007-05-03T08:36:59.345-05:00

If you are the husband or wife or sibling or parent of a U.S. Army soldier serving in Iraq and you blog (and according to the new rules, email) about the war, you are now in official trouble with the U.S. Army.(Continue reading at MoJo Blog)

Dianenoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3662433.post-15212453633223267732007-05-03T08:13:00.001-05:002007-05-03T08:13:24.200-05:00

According to your definition, there are so many of us terrorists crawling around, you could never scoop us all up and bring us to justice. But give me a break--how can we not "insult" someone whose mission is to make people feel ashamed of themselves and to oppress more than half of the population, causing everything from hopelessness to death?The Pope, according to the Vatican, is "someone who

Dianenoreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3662433.post-39283000899442718392007-05-02T19:14:00.001-05:002007-05-02T19:14:36.916-05:00

I was just visiting one of my favorite blogs, After Atalanta, and after I made a comment on a post about Chinese women athletes and the Olympics, it occurred to me that maybe a lot of people are not familiar with one of China's "preparation for the Olympics" projects: Officials have gone door to door and killed about 50,000 "superfluous" pet dogs, beating them to death in front of their

Dianenoreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3662433.post-66878740920584064942007-05-02T08:52:00.001-05:002007-05-02T08:53:39.457-05:00

The treatment of female candidates and female politicians by the news media has gotten worse every year (those of you who do not believe we have a problem with sexism in the U.S., turn on your television). The "liberal" Chris Matthews is probably the worst offender, but he has plenty of company, including other "liberals," like Bill Maher and Keith Olbermann.The National Organization for Women

Dianenoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3662433.post-52807960037893767672007-05-01T21:33:00.001-05:002007-05-02T08:56:18.068-05:00

Back when Bill Clinton was a politician in Arkansas, his wife was Hillary Rodham. But in order to satisfy her husband's ambition (oh, I forget--it's okay if it's a man), she changed her name to Hillary Rodham Clinton, a desperate and stupid thing to do (but not as stupid as a woman running as councilman). Now she has become just Hillary Clinton in all of her official statements. Only she has

Dianenoreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3662433.post-7579283822002255372007-05-01T21:15:00.001-05:002008-12-09T01:02:44.643-06:00

'Seven Sisters' on two trellises; there is a third trellis in another part of the garden

Dianenoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3662433.post-73233863747835496162007-05-01T18:36:00.001-05:002007-05-01T18:48:44.727-05:00

This Washington Post story, brought to my attention by Feminist Law Professors, is a decent summary of what many women in the blogosphere have had to face. Getting sexually insulted, it seems, is the most harmless act being perpetrated against females; even worse (but not much worse) are threats and stalking.And while I have you at Feminist Law Professors, Ann Bartow brings to our attention a PSA

Dianenoreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3662433.post-4866452192073682072007-04-30T13:42:00.001-05:002007-04-30T13:42:11.230-05:00

In Indiana, you can buy a specialty auto license plate that supports everything from breast cancer research to child abuse prevention to the Indianapolis Colts, but it will cost you an administrative fee of $15, and there is often a donation to the cause included, too. Mark Studler pays $40 a year for his environmental cause plate--$40 goes to the Indiana Heritage Trust, and the state of Indiana

Dianenoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3662433.post-86635008757070640962007-04-28T15:08:00.001-05:002007-04-28T15:08:23.316-05:00

In March of 2006, I reported that the widow of a Nevada National Guardsman shot down in Afghanistan was trying to get permission from the Department of Veterans Affairs to have a pentacle engraved on her husband's headstone. Her request was denied.(Continue reading at MoJo Blog)

Dianenoreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3662433.post-65950952402725972522007-04-28T12:04:00.001-05:002007-04-28T12:04:37.261-05:00

There are many reasons, of course. But one of them is the existence of outrageous practices in Congress, such as attaching totally unrelated amendments to a bill. Why every voter does not threaten to kick out her senator and representative unless this is changed is beyond me...oh, wait...I forgot: Voters are not paying any attention.Another piece of outrage is the anonymous hold. For example, a

Dianenoreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3662433.post-89129656044159533502007-04-28T11:55:00.001-05:002007-04-28T11:55:43.396-05:00

First, the Provo School District denied a venue to Brigham Young University students who wanted a place to hold an alternative commencement ceremony. The students, who did not want to attend the official ceremony with speaker Dick Cheney, had been promised space at a local high school, but then a memo suddenly appeared, telling all principals to deny use of their schools for the event.(Continue

Dianenoreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3662433.post-36099983651880830792007-04-27T10:10:00.001-05:002007-04-27T10:10:22.464-05:00

Percentage of Pakistanis and Indonesians who say that attacks on civilians are sometimes justified (to defend Islam): 8Percentage of Americans who say that attacks on civilians are sometimes justified: 24(Also, the current Index indicates a higher figure than I previously guessed as to how many civil liberties cases were brought against Rudy Giuliani when he was mayor of New York: The actual

Dianenoreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3662433.post-30412309231021508162007-04-27T09:22:00.001-05:002008-12-09T01:02:44.879-06:00

Ziggy Stardust

Dianenoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3662433.post-87372371894512497222007-04-26T19:41:00.001-05:002007-04-26T19:41:30.033-05:00

Bronchiolitis obliterans, a rare, life-threatening lung disease, has been found in eight in eight individuals who worked in California food-flavoring plants between 2003 and 2007. Contracting this disease was apparently the result of inhaling diacetyl, which is also linked to the occurrence of bronchiolitis obliterans in people who work in the microwave popcorn industry.(Continue reading at MoJo

Dianenoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3662433.post-71680386134144614352007-04-25T19:44:00.000-05:002007-04-25T19:43:54.438-05:00

She asked us why she should waste her beautiful mind on such things as body bags and death. Then, she comforted us (with a chuckle) by telling us how much better off the Katrina evacuees were hanging out in Houston's hurricane relief centers.(Continue reading at MoJo Blog)

Dianenoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3662433.post-49040514637069223682007-04-25T19:01:00.000-05:002007-04-25T19:00:54.711-05:00

This is available for you to watch. Warning: the only thing more repugnant than watching George W. dance is watching Laura dance. But hey, they are all getting down with eradicating malaria in Africa, and never mind that they are hunky-dory with these same people dying from AIDS. Bush, by the way, had to practically be dragged onto the ballroom floor to dance with his wife at his first inaugural

Dianenoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3662433.post-73192103164792967932007-04-25T11:31:00.001-05:002007-04-25T11:31:48.175-05:00

That is the catchphrase now for people who do not want you messing with their delusions. When a crazy woman verbally attacked me in a parking lot a few years ago because I dared to not approve of the Boy Scouts, the Salvation Army and the Red Cross (just because I cannot abide bigotry, dishonesty, incompetence, and murder) her argument was that I was so negative. In today's New Orleans

Dianenoreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3662433.post-45389786389149747072007-04-25T09:16:00.001-05:002007-04-25T09:16:04.922-05:00

"...no one suffers more than the president and I do."Laura Bush, speaking about the war

Dianenoreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3662433.post-381300501151267982007-04-24T12:25:00.001-05:002008-12-09T01:02:45.309-06:00

The miniature rose garden has never been as beautiful as it is this yearThe grasshoppers have arrived: Nymphs visit the little fairy in the miniature rose gardenThe giant, sprawling 'Mermaid' rose is covered with bud clusters like this one

Dianenoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3662433.post-81420787820317922052007-04-24T10:55:00.001-05:002007-04-24T10:55:12.766-05:00

This is not a pretty read, but an important one. Make sure you follow the link to the article in The State.

Dianenoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3662433.post-51128085234933528402007-04-23T19:27:00.001-05:002007-04-23T19:29:11.873-05:00

What kind of man wants to stop his sons from seeing girl-on-girl sex, the ultimate fantasy pastime of heterosexual men? The kind of man who is so bigoted, he had a fit when his adolescent sons "just happened" to come across (oops!) such a book while they were in the library looking for a book about military academies.So which book would you rather read?I digress. Earl Adams of Bentonville,

Dianenoreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3662433.post-74260455337238932922007-04-23T17:05:00.001-05:002007-04-24T09:50:45.773-05:00

The last time I checked, singer Sheryl Crow and environmental activist Laurie David were Americans, just like me. But according to Karl Rove, he does not have to answer to them because he "works for the American people."(Continue reading at MoJo Blog)

Dianenoreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3662433.post-57628171809542888262007-04-23T13:36:00.001-05:002007-04-23T17:05:48.487-05:00

You can see the album here. The best way to view the photos is by using the slide show function.

Dianenoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3662433.post-37960742000606055032007-04-23T11:04:00.001-05:002008-12-09T01:02:45.436-06:00

As a sequel to Sunday's special ostrich blogging, here is the goat, Weber, who lives with those ostriches.And here is another fine goat.

Dianenoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3662433.post-28922806208267330392007-04-23T09:54:00.001-05:002007-04-23T10:28:26.588-05:00

We are now in the fourth week of National Poetry Month. If you signed up, you are receiving a poem a day in your email box from the Academy of American Poets. Some good poetry anthologies are Camille Paglia's Break, Blow, Burn, and Garrison Keillor's Good Poems. You can hear Keillor read a poem every day on The Writer's Almanac on public radio. If you live in a city or a university community,

Dianenoreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3662433.post-26495747245075970542007-04-22T10:44:00.001-05:002008-12-09T01:02:45.972-06:00

Since I was not able to do a cat blog on Friday, here is a photo of one of the ostriches at our bed and breakfast in Mount Pleasant, South Carolina, where we stayed when we went to see the Family Circle CupA close-upA basket of ostrich eggs right outside our room--the ostriches lay eggs constantly

Dianenoreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3662433.post-15272971472963551082007-04-21T19:44:00.000-05:002007-04-21T19:44:00.380-05:00

Blogger moved my blog over to the new system. The good news is that nothing was changed except for one little thing, and I'll be fixing that as soon as I get a chance. There were horror stories about things being changed, but I have just a little bit to fix. If you keep using html, things stay about the same; if you switch to the new WYSIWYG, you lose a lot, however. Needless to day, I'm sticking

Dianenoreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3662433.post-24060035859832699692007-04-21T19:42:00.000-05:002007-04-21T19:44:54.451-05:00

Give up? The Rutgers women's basketball team. During this morning's MSNBC Live, New York Sun national and foreign editor Nicholas Wapshott told the country he thought the Rutgers team "must feel pretty terrible about what's happened to Governor Corzine." Corzine, whose driver was doing 91 mph., was--not surprisingly--a victim of a motor vehicle accident that has left him seriously injured.

Dianenoreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3662433.post-47950084884326949942007-04-21T19:40:00.001-05:002007-04-21T19:44:25.369-05:00

Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid, not that long ago, had a high ACLU score of 44%, and his score has been even as low as 40%, not very fitting for the supposedly liberal wing of the Senate. In the latest ACLU compilation, however, Reid scores 67%, a significant improvement, though nothing to brag about.(Continue reading at MoJo Blog)

Dianenoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3662433.post-1176692452649888342007-04-15T21:59:00.000-05:002007-04-15T22:00:52.766-05:00

The 2007 Family Circle Cup player field was scheduled to be one of the best in history, and wound up disappointing. Justine Henin and Amelie Mauresmo withdrew because of illness, and Maria Sharapova, Martina Hingis and Svetlana Kuznetsova withdrew because of injury. I was deeply disappointed about Mauresmo's and Hingis's withdrawals, but I did not share the opinion some had that the tournament

Dianenoreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3662433.post-1176687808399465912007-04-15T21:42:00.000-05:002007-04-15T20:43:28.513-05:00

Attempting to serve during a windstorm at the Family Circle Cup final today, Dinara Safina yelled at the wind to stop blowing. She did a lot more yelling throughout the relatively brief match, as her opponent, Jelena Jankovic, handled the wind skillfully. Jankovic kept the ball in the court and waited patiently for the errors to come off of Safina's racquet, which they did, over and over. And

Dianenoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3662433.post-1176644255131372992007-04-15T09:36:00.000-05:002007-04-15T16:54:58.583-05:00

We lost our Internet connection last night, so I am only just now able to post about Saturday's action at the Family Circle Cup. Dinara Safina got a lot of rest after her quarterfinal match on Friday, when Tatiana Golovin retired after the first set because of an ankle injury (a chronic problem with Golovin). Then yesterday, Safina's semifinal opponent, Vera Zvonareva, retired at the beginning of

Dianenoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3662433.post-1176522135506796282007-04-13T23:41:00.000-05:002007-04-15T08:08:36.236-05:00

Like a backyard tent in a Low Country storm, Michaella Krajicek folded under the pressure of her quarterfinal match against Vera Zvonareva at the Family Circle Cup today. There were flashes of the brilliance we have seen all week from Krajicek, and she did rally enough to save five match points, but generally, she just wasn't there today. I was really disappointed. I didn't have a favorite

Dianenoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3662433.post-1176522013855560672007-04-13T23:39:00.000-05:002007-04-13T22:40:14.013-05:00

It's cozy in the armoire And even cozier in the underwear drawer

Dianenoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3662433.post-1176437598038772912007-04-12T22:25:00.000-05:002007-04-12T23:24:33.513-05:00

Playing on an out-of-the-way court, with little fanfare, Anabel Medina Garrigues of Spain quietly took out Li Na in straight setsIt was much warmer today at the Family Circle Cup. We began the day by attending the Michaella Krajicek-Sybille Bammer match, which was pretty good until the third set, when Bammer ceased her aggression and gave Krajicek all the room she needed to clean up. Those who

Dianenoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3662433.post-1176384916617733802007-04-12T09:34:00.000-05:002007-04-12T08:35:16.733-05:00

One of the things I didn't think about (I was very tired) last night when I was writing about Patty Schnyder's loss was how poorly she tends to do in wet conditions. She talks about it here.

Dianenoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3662433.post-1176351170640180542007-04-12T00:11:00.000-05:002007-04-15T20:46:40.146-05:00

Peng Shuai, playing two very clean final sets, defeated Charleston's favorite, Patty Schnyder, in the second round of the Family Circle Cup tonight, after Schnyder had played a brilliant opening setFirst the top five seeds--all huge stars--withdrew one by one from the Family Circle Cup. Then rain was forecast for several days of the tournament. Then the new number one seed was taken out in the

Dianenoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3662433.post-1176263384240968592007-04-10T23:41:00.001-05:002007-04-12T23:41:31.470-05:00

In an exciting match that included some excellent serving from both players and multiple breaks of serve, wild card Michaella Krajicek fought and clawed her way to a three-set win over Family Circle Cup top seed Nicole Vaidisova this morning. One of the most impressive things about Krajicek was her amazing second serve, which got her out of hole after hole; losing her first serve was not really

Dianenoreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3662433.post-1176161450665993672007-04-09T19:29:00.000-05:002007-04-12T23:22:11.696-05:00

Marion Bartoli of France won her first round against American Shenay PerryWe started the day by attending the Shenay Perry-Marion Bartoli match in the main stadium. Perry served out of her mind and hit ten aces; she also took the first set, 7-5. Bartoli took the second set, 6-4, and Perry's mental fragility--already on display earlier in the match--took control of her. She had a total meltdown,

Dianenoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3662433.post-1176073929171386932007-04-08T19:11:00.000-05:002007-04-08T18:12:09.176-05:00

Who finally won a WTA title, after being in several finals. The Frenchwoman defeated defending champion Nadia Petrova in straight sets at the Bausch & Lomb Championships in Amelia Island, Florida. To get to the final, Golovin had to defeat Ana Ivanovic in the semifinals; Ivanovic had beaten her the other five times they had played.

Dianenoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3662433.post-1176071103838062252007-04-08T18:23:00.000-05:002007-04-15T08:11:48.326-05:00

The weather was very nice all day, with little wind--unlike yesterday. Of the matches we watched, once again, the Fedak match was the most entertaining. Like yesterday, Fedak was very streaky, playing very cleanly for long stretches, then losing her momentum. In the end, she prevailed over Jarmila Gajdosova, and has entered the main draw. Having her coach talk with her helps Fedak a great deal.

Dianenoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3662433.post-1175986388090784272007-04-07T18:52:00.000-05:002007-04-07T17:56:13.506-05:00

The withdrawal of Martina Hingis more or less spoiled an otherwise good day of tennis as qualifying weekend began here in Charleston. With Amelie Mauresmo, Justine Henin and Maria Sharapova out because of illness and injury, fans were already very disappointed. Then yesterday, Svetlana Kuznetsova, who had moved into the first seed position, withdrew because of injury. Today's withdrawal by Hingis

Dianenoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3662433.post-1175904192680509012007-04-06T20:02:00.000-05:002007-04-07T18:01:53.056-05:00

Though I'm here (in Charleston) to attend a tennis tournament, right now, I want to talk about basketball, or--more accurately--homophobia and sexism in women's sports. Ken at After Atalanta nails the issue perfectly when she points out that such incidents as the Pokey Chatman resignation are anything but "isolated." They become fodder for public discussion and hang-wringing when lesbians are

Dianenoreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3662433.post-1175860620144807142007-04-06T06:56:00.000-05:002007-04-06T06:57:00.256-05:00

Tarzan catches some rays

Dianenoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3662433.post-1175786562458424602007-04-05T10:21:00.000-05:002007-04-05T10:22:42.573-05:00

I'm leaving tomorrow for the Family Circle Cup on Daniel Island, right outside Charleston. Like last year, we'll be staying in Mt. Pleasant. Most, if not all, blogging for the next week will be about the tournament, but come by--I may have some other things up, too. And the goings-on at the tournament can be interesting, even if you're not a tennis fan.For those of you who would like to watch

Dianenoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3662433.post-1175702369402407432007-04-04T10:56:00.000-05:002007-04-04T10:59:29.520-05:00

In December, I reported that Sen. John McCain had hired Terry Nelson to be his campaign manager in his run for the presidency. Nelson, Bush's national political director in 2004, was the creator of the infamous anti-Ford "Call me" spot that ran in Tennessee. Later that month, I reported that McCain had also hired Jill Hazelbaker as his New Hampshire communications director. Hazelbaker is best

Dianenoreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3662433.post-1175657786857092132007-04-03T22:35:00.000-05:002007-04-03T22:36:26.973-05:00

So "Studio 60 on the Sunset Strip" appears to be dead, though NBC is kind of saying it may put it back on the air. I doubt it. How two shows about the production of a an SNL-type show ever got on the air the same season on the same network is beyond me. I saw "30 Rock" only once and it was dreadful. Perhaps I saw it on the wrong night. But "Studio 60" was quick and funny and clever and had the

Dianenoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3662433.post-1175646458774441352007-04-03T19:26:00.000-05:002007-04-03T19:28:25.453-05:00

I have never been a big fan of MoveOn.org because I was quite opposed to the concept of moving on after the tainted 2000 election took place. It seemed to me that glossing over that incident and moving on was not what was needed. Now MoveOn has confirmed my worst suspicions by its recent decision to omit Rep. Barbara Lee's Iraq war amendment from its members' push poll.(Continue reading at MoJo

Dianenoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3662433.post-1175619691934205162007-04-03T12:00:00.000-05:002007-04-03T12:01:32.053-05:00

There is currently a petition drive at Brigham Young University to withdraw Dick Cheney's invitation to speak at the school's commencement exercises later this month. 2,300 signatures were collected the first week. Here is an excerpt from the petition:(Continue reading at MoJo Blog)

Dianenoreply@blogger.com1