Here are a few quotes I collected from this site. (I recommend the site for anyone not convinced on the circumcision issue--although I say this with the disclaimer that it has actual photos...) I believe these quotes can apply to a lot more than routine infant circumcision though...the cesarian epidemic, early weaning, separating babies from their parents, CIO (crying it out)...the list goes on and on.
"Tradition will accustom people to any atrocity." --George Bernard Shaw
"Habit and routine have an unbelievable power to waste and destroy." --Henri de Lubac
"As long as people believe in absurdities they will continue to commit atrocities." --Voltaire
"Often the less there is to justify a traditional custom, the harder it is to get rid of it." --Mark Twain
"What's done to children they will do to society." --Karl Menniger
"The test of the morality of a society is what it does for its children." --Dietrich Bonhoeffer
"Whenever you find yourself on the side of the majority, it's time to pause and reflect." --Mark Twain
"Whenever a doctor cannot do good, he must be kept from doing harm." --Hippocrates
"We shall have to learn to refrain from doing things merely because we know how to do them." --Theodore Fox, Spech to Royal Physicians
"Fear is the main source of superstition, and one of the main sources of cruelty. To conquer fear is the beginning of wisdom." --Bertrand Russell
"Convictions are more dangerous enemies of truth than lies." --Friedrich Nietzsche
"What history teaches us is that men have never learned anything from it." --Georg Wilhelm Hegel
"It is never too late to give up your prejudices." --Henry David Thoreau
"All truth goes through three stages. First it is ridiculed. Then it is violently opposed. Finally, it is accepted as self-evident." --Arthur Schoepenhauer
"Never doubt that a small group of thoughtful, committed citizens can change the world. Indeed, it's the only thing that ever has." --Margaret Mead
"Enlighten the people generally, and tyranny and oppressions of body and mind will vanish like evil spirits at the dawn of day." --Thomas Jefferson
"Each time a person stands up for an idea, or acts to improve the lot of others, or strikes out against injustice, he sends forth a tiny ripple of hope, and crossing each other from a million different centers of energy and daring, those ripples build a current that can sweep down the mightiest walls of oppression and resistance." --Robert F. Kennedy
"[A] long habit of not thinking a thing wrong, gives it a superficial appearance of being right, and raises at first a formidable outcry in defence of custom. But the tumult soon subsides. Time makes more converts than reason." --Thomas Paine, Common Sense
"Whoever has overthrown an existing law of custom has always first been accounted a bad man: but when, as did happen, the law could not afterwards be reinstated and this fact was accepted, the predicate gradually changed; - history treats almost exclusively of these bad men who subsequently became good men!" --Frederich Nietzsche
"It's not the facts which guide the conduct of men, but their opinions about the facts; which may be entirely wrong. We can only make them right by discussion." --Sir Norman Angell
Tuesday, February 5, 2008
Monday, February 4, 2008
Foray into Felting
Here is the photographic evidence of my new addiction: knitting!
I started off with felting. Felting is very forgiving, since the wool yarn shrinks up and hides a multitude of little mistakes... So, my first project was to make a pair of felted socks, using the fuzzy feet pattern from knitty. I guess standard procedure is to also mention which yarn I used and all that...this is Caron's "Felt It" yarn in "Rose Garden." I found that it tore easily if, say, your infant grabbed the ball and pulled while you were trying to work. On the other hand, it is very soft and pretty easy to work with (it has substantial variation in width, so wouldn't be perfect for everything). In 4 balls of it, I did come across one splice where two pieces had been tied together mid-ball. Spit-splicing does NOT seem to work on this yarn.
Here they are before felting (winnie the pooh is there to show scale)
And here they are after felting!
I have concluded that this pattern is better when made with the short rolled cuff and worn like a slipper--just like it shows on the pattern. I lengthened the cuff to try to make them more sock-like, and they are kinda snug to get on and off, as well as being so thick that it is hard to zip up my boots. So I guess felting should stick to slippers, and not try to venture into socks. Ah well, I learned how to turn a heel!
And this sweet little hat was the product of having an extra ball of the yarn! Modeled here by S, I thought it had too much pink to be a boy hat, so it's now for sale in my store
I started off with felting. Felting is very forgiving, since the wool yarn shrinks up and hides a multitude of little mistakes... So, my first project was to make a pair of felted socks, using the fuzzy feet pattern from knitty. I guess standard procedure is to also mention which yarn I used and all that...this is Caron's "Felt It" yarn in "Rose Garden." I found that it tore easily if, say, your infant grabbed the ball and pulled while you were trying to work. On the other hand, it is very soft and pretty easy to work with (it has substantial variation in width, so wouldn't be perfect for everything). In 4 balls of it, I did come across one splice where two pieces had been tied together mid-ball. Spit-splicing does NOT seem to work on this yarn.
Here they are before felting (winnie the pooh is there to show scale)
And here they are after felting! I have concluded that this pattern is better when made with the short rolled cuff and worn like a slipper--just like it shows on the pattern. I lengthened the cuff to try to make them more sock-like, and they are kinda snug to get on and off, as well as being so thick that it is hard to zip up my boots. So I guess felting should stick to slippers, and not try to venture into socks. Ah well, I learned how to turn a heel!
And this sweet little hat was the product of having an extra ball of the yarn! Modeled here by S, I thought it had too much pink to be a boy hat, so it's now for sale in my store
More Movies
With Hubby out of town for more than half of the last month, I've been watching a lot of movies, so I thought I'd write a few more reviews...
Amazing Grace
PG for historical content (dealing with the slave trade)
This was such a fantastic movie, I can't say enough good about it. I'm not sure how tightly it follows the actual historical facts, but it is well worth watching regardless. The powerful, moving account follows the story of William Wilberforce and his endeavors to get the British House of Commons to end the slave trade.
The Holiday
PG-13 language and sexual content
It's funny and kinda fun, but at several characters are not terribly moral, and that always leaves a sour taste in my mouth. The previews are actually quite accurate--if you like them, you'll probably like it. If not, well, it's nothing spectacular.
Millions
PG for some scary moments and a brief scene which I'll explain
A 7 year old boy finds a duffle bag full of money, and believes it was sent from God. He tries to make the world a better place, but his brother wants to spend it all on toys...and then they learn where the money really came from. A charming little story about finding ones place in the world. That said, it's also a bit weird. It's British--let's just leave it at that, shall we?
In one scene (which doesn't have much to do with the rest of the movie) the little boy is with his pre-teen brother and they come across a picture of a woman in a lace bra. The woman's areola is visible, and the little brother asks what it is. The older says "that's her nipple." "What's it for?" "It's to feed babies. Mum fed us with hers." "How do you know, you can't remember being a baby." "I don't remember her doing it to me, but I remember her doing it to you." And that was the end of that...On the one hand, the scene is unnecessary, on the other hand, I was very pleased that they handled it the way they did...let's hear it for promoting breastfeeding in the movies!!!
The Nanny Diaries
PG-13 for language
It looked cute, and I like Scarlett Johansson...great acting, intriguing premise...but all in all the movie was kinda dumb. I am glad I saw it...but don't feel the need to see it again, ya know? It's depressing to see how dysfunctional some families are.
Stardust
PG-13 for intense situations, storytale combat, and a few scary moments
So, I guess I'm not the first to say it, but this movie reminded me of The Princess Bride or of Shrek. It's not that the story is even vagely similar, but that, like those others, it is a whole new kind of fairy tale. It's not quite little-kid-safe (just a little step up from Princess Bride though), but thoroughly enjoyable. It's full of those far-out things that normal people never think of--like a pirate who catches lightening to sell on the black market, or a kingdom where the heir to the throne is the one who can manage to kill off all his brothers, or an old stone wall which separates the magical world from the mundane...
Amazing Grace
PG for historical content (dealing with the slave trade)
This was such a fantastic movie, I can't say enough good about it. I'm not sure how tightly it follows the actual historical facts, but it is well worth watching regardless. The powerful, moving account follows the story of William Wilberforce and his endeavors to get the British House of Commons to end the slave trade.
The Holiday
PG-13 language and sexual content
It's funny and kinda fun, but at several characters are not terribly moral, and that always leaves a sour taste in my mouth. The previews are actually quite accurate--if you like them, you'll probably like it. If not, well, it's nothing spectacular.
Millions
PG for some scary moments and a brief scene which I'll explain
A 7 year old boy finds a duffle bag full of money, and believes it was sent from God. He tries to make the world a better place, but his brother wants to spend it all on toys...and then they learn where the money really came from. A charming little story about finding ones place in the world. That said, it's also a bit weird. It's British--let's just leave it at that, shall we?
In one scene (which doesn't have much to do with the rest of the movie) the little boy is with his pre-teen brother and they come across a picture of a woman in a lace bra. The woman's areola is visible, and the little brother asks what it is. The older says "that's her nipple." "What's it for?" "It's to feed babies. Mum fed us with hers." "How do you know, you can't remember being a baby." "I don't remember her doing it to me, but I remember her doing it to you." And that was the end of that...On the one hand, the scene is unnecessary, on the other hand, I was very pleased that they handled it the way they did...let's hear it for promoting breastfeeding in the movies!!!
The Nanny Diaries
PG-13 for language
It looked cute, and I like Scarlett Johansson...great acting, intriguing premise...but all in all the movie was kinda dumb. I am glad I saw it...but don't feel the need to see it again, ya know? It's depressing to see how dysfunctional some families are.
Stardust
PG-13 for intense situations, storytale combat, and a few scary moments
So, I guess I'm not the first to say it, but this movie reminded me of The Princess Bride or of Shrek. It's not that the story is even vagely similar, but that, like those others, it is a whole new kind of fairy tale. It's not quite little-kid-safe (just a little step up from Princess Bride though), but thoroughly enjoyable. It's full of those far-out things that normal people never think of--like a pirate who catches lightening to sell on the black market, or a kingdom where the heir to the throne is the one who can manage to kill off all his brothers, or an old stone wall which separates the magical world from the mundane...
Wednesday, January 23, 2008
You Are What You Eat
Check this out. It's talking about the "Doctrine of Signatures," or the idea that foods resemble the part(s) of the body which they serve. I'd heard about some of this before (and was sceptical), but this site has pictures and explanations about a dozen foods, and it's really quite fascinating. I'm not sure that I'm entirely sold on it yet, but the notion is growing on me...
I have always believed that food cravings were how my body tells me what I need (like how I wanted nothing but tomatoes and peaches when I was pregnant with S). In considering the Doctrine of Signatures, I'm inclined to think that paying attention to those cravings may also give us clues about which parts of our bodies are in particular need of nourishment or attention...don't you think? For example, I went through a period of craving avocado, (which I have never even liked). Avocado promotes female reproductive health, and wouldn't you know, those cravings were just before conceiving S...I'm willing to believe that it's related.
Now for the real question--which part of my body looks like an oreo?!
I have always believed that food cravings were how my body tells me what I need (like how I wanted nothing but tomatoes and peaches when I was pregnant with S). In considering the Doctrine of Signatures, I'm inclined to think that paying attention to those cravings may also give us clues about which parts of our bodies are in particular need of nourishment or attention...don't you think? For example, I went through a period of craving avocado, (which I have never even liked). Avocado promotes female reproductive health, and wouldn't you know, those cravings were just before conceiving S...I'm willing to believe that it's related.
Now for the real question--which part of my body looks like an oreo?!
Sunday, January 20, 2008
A Candidate for Me...
So, I took another quiz
66% John Edwards
64% Hillary Clinton
60% Barack Obama
59% Tom Tancredo
58% Joe Biden
57% Chris Dodd
57% John McCain
56% Mike Huckabee
54% Bill Richardson
50% Mitt Romney
47% Dennis Kucinich
46% Mike Gravel
43% Fred Thompson
42% Rudy Giuliani
35% Ron Paul
2008 Presidential Candidate Matching Quiz
Interesting that my top three should land like that, because I watched the democratic debate with the three of them last week, and that was NOT what I thought! I saw three people with almost identical platforms, but one kept changing the subject away from himself, and tried to make the others look bad; one seemed unable to look the camera in the eye, and also changed the subject a lot; and one answered questions straight up, looked me in the eye, and said a lot of things which I agree with. So my fingers are crossed for Obama.
66% John Edwards
64% Hillary Clinton
60% Barack Obama
59% Tom Tancredo
58% Joe Biden
57% Chris Dodd
57% John McCain
56% Mike Huckabee
54% Bill Richardson
50% Mitt Romney
47% Dennis Kucinich
46% Mike Gravel
43% Fred Thompson
42% Rudy Giuliani
35% Ron Paul
2008 Presidential Candidate Matching Quiz
Interesting that my top three should land like that, because I watched the democratic debate with the three of them last week, and that was NOT what I thought! I saw three people with almost identical platforms, but one kept changing the subject away from himself, and tried to make the others look bad; one seemed unable to look the camera in the eye, and also changed the subject a lot; and one answered questions straight up, looked me in the eye, and said a lot of things which I agree with. So my fingers are crossed for Obama.
Friday, January 18, 2008
Love in Color
I recently read a book to Wolf called “I love you the purplest.” It’s about a mother and her two sons, and as she tucks them into bed, each asks her who she loves best. She tells one son that she loves him the reddest, and the other that she loves him the bluest (thus the ‘purplest’ of the title). She elaborates to each son about why she chose the color that she did… Wolf really liked the story, and asked me to read it to him several times. Then he asked me what color I loved him…
I went with my gut, and said the color that came to me first. Then I told him why I loved him that color...and I wanted to share.
Wolf, I love you the greenest:
Green as the wild jungle
and the eyes of the panther as he slowly stalks his prey.
Green like the powerful sea
and the gentle tidepools. 
Green as the comfort of sweet smelling grass in the lawn.
Green with life like new moss on a fallen log, or a fiddlehead 
beginning to open into a fern.
Refreshing like green mint leaves in lemonade on a warm summer afternoon.
Green as the last exultant moment of a sunset, 
right before the stars come out.
As Bear gets older, and his personality develops more, I will be able to tell him what color I love him. :-)
I really enjoyed doing this. Thinking about my child in terms of what color personifies him and why...I wouldn’t be so pushy as to suggest making a meme of this, but for all my fellow parents out there—give it a try! And if you enjoy yourselves as much as I did, maybe you’ll share, eh?
I went with my gut, and said the color that came to me first. Then I told him why I loved him that color...and I wanted to share.
Wolf, I love you the greenest:
Green as the wild jungle
and the eyes of the panther as he slowly stalks his prey.
Green like the powerful sea
and the gentle tidepools. Green as the comfort of sweet smelling grass in the lawn.
Green with life like new moss on a fallen log, or a fiddlehead beginning to open into a fern.
Refreshing like green mint leaves in lemonade on a warm summer afternoon.
Green as the last exultant moment of a sunset, right before the stars come out.As Bear gets older, and his personality develops more, I will be able to tell him what color I love him. :-)
I really enjoyed doing this. Thinking about my child in terms of what color personifies him and why...I wouldn’t be so pushy as to suggest making a meme of this, but for all my fellow parents out there—give it a try! And if you enjoy yourselves as much as I did, maybe you’ll share, eh?
Tuesday, January 15, 2008
Snowy Pelican
A few photos of recent days...
.JPG)
Well, ok, from a couple of weeks ago. It has snowed so much in the last two days that the air is too full of snow to take a decent picture... small avalanches spill off my roof and knock my internet satellite dish off aim; the thunder of them waking my baby...
.JPG)
Well, ok, from a couple of weeks ago. It has snowed so much in the last two days that the air is too full of snow to take a decent picture... small avalanches spill off my roof and knock my internet satellite dish off aim; the thunder of them waking my baby...
Saturday, January 12, 2008
How We Met--Customs
Another 'how we met' story...
Hubby just told this story this week (to the mother of one of his high school friends...someone he hadn't talked to in years, and who would have no clue he was making it up as he went, heeheehee.)
Hubby was on his way home from a vacation in Vancouver, BC. He had bought some fruit while there, so got stopped at the border. (Whoops! Haven't we all done something like that though?!) He had never been stopped or searched before, so he was a little anxious about it all. I was working at the customs station, and we got to talking a little while they were inspecting his car...
Ok, so, this one is actually pretty plausible, in spite of being nowhere close to the truth. :-)
Hubby just told this story this week (to the mother of one of his high school friends...someone he hadn't talked to in years, and who would have no clue he was making it up as he went, heeheehee.)
Hubby was on his way home from a vacation in Vancouver, BC. He had bought some fruit while there, so got stopped at the border. (Whoops! Haven't we all done something like that though?!) He had never been stopped or searched before, so he was a little anxious about it all. I was working at the customs station, and we got to talking a little while they were inspecting his car...
Ok, so, this one is actually pretty plausible, in spite of being nowhere close to the truth. :-)
Zerberts
Zerbert: noun (though sometimes used as a verb as in "No Dad, don't zerbert me anymore!"). Where one person blows on the loose skin of another, causing an amusing noise. aka "raspberries"
This morning I wasn't really quite ready to wake up yet, but S was definitely awake, and wanting to play. He often likes to nurse a bit at this stage, so I rolled over, pulled out a breast for him, and attempted to get a few more minutes of sleep... He leaned in, but didn't latch on... instead I felt his warm breath and heard a half chuckle from him (yes, he chuckles). I was busily trying to sleep when I felt him make contact and THBBBBBB he gave me a world class zerbert. Then he collapsed in gales of laughter.
Then he did it again.
And again.
I gave up and got up.
I guess it was fair payback for all the zerberts I've put on his tummy.
This morning I wasn't really quite ready to wake up yet, but S was definitely awake, and wanting to play. He often likes to nurse a bit at this stage, so I rolled over, pulled out a breast for him, and attempted to get a few more minutes of sleep... He leaned in, but didn't latch on... instead I felt his warm breath and heard a half chuckle from him (yes, he chuckles). I was busily trying to sleep when I felt him make contact and THBBBBBB he gave me a world class zerbert. Then he collapsed in gales of laughter.
Then he did it again.
And again.
I gave up and got up.
I guess it was fair payback for all the zerberts I've put on his tummy.
Recent Movies
So, I'm watching movies again...here are a few more quick reviews
The Water Horse
PG for some intense/scary scenes.
Drop everything and go. It's excellent! If you never believed in Nessy before, well, shame on you, but this film should help you believe! Also the little boy who stars is just so cute. :-) We figure to buy this one when it comes out.
National Treasure: Book of Secrets
PG for action violence, scary scenes, and maybe some language, I don't recall...
Um, just go see the first one again. This one isn't nearly as good. Borrow it from somebody, or at most rent it...but it's not worth spending much money on.
The Golden Compass
PG-13 for scary parts and an ice bear fight
Ice Bears rock. The rest of the movie was interesting enough to keep me awake...but mostly just ice bears are so cool. :-) I also enjoyed Nicole Kidman's costumes. The story is ok, and the movie is visually pleasing...but I could take it or leave it...all except the ice bears. I love them.
Man of the Year
PG-13 for language, sex-related humor, drug related material
Robin Williams runs for president... Funny (of course), and a nice political commentary on our system... Unfortunately there were a number of sexual jokes (Robin Williams) but, even still, very funny... I don't feel the need to watch it over and over, but I definitely enjoyed it.
Ocean's Thirteen
PG-13 for language and a chick with a really low-cut dress
Better than Twelve was...still not as good as Eleven... Glad I saw it, but next time I feel like watching this type of movie, I'll rent "The Sting" or maybe Eleven again...
The Water Horse
PG for some intense/scary scenes.
Drop everything and go. It's excellent! If you never believed in Nessy before, well, shame on you, but this film should help you believe! Also the little boy who stars is just so cute. :-) We figure to buy this one when it comes out.
National Treasure: Book of Secrets
PG for action violence, scary scenes, and maybe some language, I don't recall...
Um, just go see the first one again. This one isn't nearly as good. Borrow it from somebody, or at most rent it...but it's not worth spending much money on.
The Golden Compass
PG-13 for scary parts and an ice bear fight
Ice Bears rock. The rest of the movie was interesting enough to keep me awake...but mostly just ice bears are so cool. :-) I also enjoyed Nicole Kidman's costumes. The story is ok, and the movie is visually pleasing...but I could take it or leave it...all except the ice bears. I love them.
Man of the Year
PG-13 for language, sex-related humor, drug related material
Robin Williams runs for president... Funny (of course), and a nice political commentary on our system... Unfortunately there were a number of sexual jokes (Robin Williams) but, even still, very funny... I don't feel the need to watch it over and over, but I definitely enjoyed it.
Ocean's Thirteen
PG-13 for language and a chick with a really low-cut dress
Better than Twelve was...still not as good as Eleven... Glad I saw it, but next time I feel like watching this type of movie, I'll rent "The Sting" or maybe Eleven again...
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