Uncategorized « Help me, Obi-Mom Kenobi! You're my only hope!

I'm not really supposed to do that... for fun, I mean.

“I’m not really supposed to do that… for fun, I mean.” – Anakin, Star Wars II: Attack of the Clones

What happens when the highway engineers of the world get a little punch-drunk? Highway Engineer Pranks. My favorite is the Rotary Supercollider.

That’s funny the damage doesn’t look as bad from out here.

“That’s funny the damage doesn’t look as bad from out here.” – C-3PO, Star Wars IV: A New Hope

Since I had to change the dressing this morning anyway, I thought I might as well snap a picture of Padawan Learner’s fingernail-less finger for posterity. This will also help any future spouse understand that his propensity to hurt himself in exceedingly painful ways is long-standing. I’m just saying it’s handy having a doctor completing her pediatric residency living two doors down.

Click through, if you want to see the visual portion of our show today.

Continue reading That’s funny the damage doesn’t look as bad from out here.

We would be honored if you would join us – again.

“We would be honored if you would join us.” – Darth Vader, Star Wars V: The Empire Strikes Back
(part two)

Ready to play another round of Is the Hype Worth the Press? (Aka – more wishful thinking about cool stuff) My last post got me mentally planning a few more things that I’m just Jones-ing to try out.

Kindle 2: Amazon’s New Wireless Reading Device
The reviews on the Kindle 2 have been relatively good overall, but I wonder a bit if people don’t sometimes talk themselves into raving about something they’ve just shucked out a a handsome swash of cash for it. At least I know that I have been guilty of doing just that in the past. My biggest concerns are how durable it is (I do have a 13 year old in the house) and if I would miss the swish of turning pages and the physical heft of holding 250+ pages.

A KitchenAid Stand Mixer
I make bread by hand, but I think I’d probably be willing to give that up in a minute to have a KitchenAid Stand Mixer mix it up for me. If everything I’ve heard about them is true, that is. $350 is a pretty steep price tag is all I would end up using it for was making chocolate chip cookies and banana bread. Dough is a pretty heavy mixture to push around, with the added danger of too much and too rough manipulation potentially making the dough tough. Still, I’d be willing to give it a whirl if one were to show up at my front door!

Mini Cooper
And just to round out today’s list of things I’d love to have a crack at but can’t for the life of me afford, I submit… the Mini Cooper. It’s small, decidedly adorable, and is said to corner like a go-kart (and how I do love go-karts). Its gas mileage is decent, although lower than Dad Windu’s somewhat draconian “40 mpg minimum” demands, but I’ve heard you can really bump up the stated amounts by driving like a good doobie. As I generally tend to drive at (and even sometimes a bit below) the speed limit, don’t race off the line or stomp on the brakes to stop, I’d be interested to see what I could drag out of one if given a chance. Of greatest concern to me is how this cute little car would handle a Midwestern winter and how well would I end up getting to know my mechanic. Would a Mini get bogged down in the snow? Could it push itself through the crusty lip of slush that forms at the end of my driveway after a day’s worth of cars driving up and down the street? Could the frame handle that annual harbinger of spring – potholes the depth and breadth of Lake Erie? Would it eat brakes and clutches like Padawan Learner eats cocktail wienies?

Note to Mini Cooper USA (should they be interested in handing the keys over to me): British Racing Green, white top and mirrors, manual transmission to boost gas mileage, and – preferably – some of that custom-fit luggage you used to sell (for the road trips that would be absolutely necessary to test it out proper) would be lovely.

We would be honored if you would join us.

“We would be honored if you would join us.” – Darth Vader, Star Wars V: The Empire Strikes Back

Time for an exciting round of Is the Hype Worth the Press? – The Apple Version (aka – wishful thinking about hot, new technology).

Because Dad Windu has to work pretty hard for each dollar he brings home, I do not part from our family’s cash easily. Something has to really blow my socks off to peel the dollar bills from my hands. Thus, I am not an early adopter of electronic gear – although as a card-carrying tech junkie I would l.o.v.e to be an early adopter. I’m the one who would come to your house and play with your electronic gadgets for hours on end, if only you’d let me.

The iPod Nano’s (and assorted docking accessories) that I bought for Dad Windu, Padawan Learner and myself last Christmas were the first Apple products that we’ve every owned. Shocking, I know. While I can’t say I’ve become a devotee, I have definitely caught of glimpse of the pixie dust flying around. But to really drink the Kool-Aid, I’d have to be bowled over by one or more of the following:

iPhone
I would love to get my hands on an iPhone. My current cell phone is little more than a step up from two tin cans and a string. Seriously. Welcome to 2001, Obi-Mom Kenobi! It can neither take nor receive pictures. Its keypad is far too small to text anything more than S.O.S. It has a battery life of approximately 15 seconds. It can’t even download ringtones. Theoretically it can – the manual says it can – but what actually happens is the phone freezes up and makes very, very, very bad sounds while it runs through the remaining 14 seconds of battery life. We bought it last summer when I did something very stupid. Yet it is the only mobile phone our family has. Because it is so pathetic, I rarely use it. While I find many of the apps available for the iPhone ridiculous, several appear to be potentially quite useful. I guess the biggest question I have is for that much money (in addition to a rather steep monthly service fee), would it really become an essential part of my daily life or just a source of short-term entertainment?

MacBook Air
I should admit right now that we Jedi don’t own a single laptop. I hang my head in shame. I am a tech geek without the must fundamental piece of tech. Oh, how I would love to change that fact! We’ve owned PC’s up to this point (they’re cheaper overall – if less reliable and more prone to viruses – and we can order them at a serious discount through Dad Windu’s office), but I used an older MacBook last year while traveling with a friend and found the Mac interface a pleasant experience. This same friend just got a MacBook Air. It’s a shame she lives on the complete opposite end of the continent because I’d love to put one through its paces.

iHome Stereo Mini Speakers
These little speakers are tiny, tiny, tiny which would make them perfect for traveling (and they come in my favorite color – bright red!), but can they deliver the sound? If they live up to the 4 and 5 star review on Apple.com, I could easily see Padawan Learner and I using these in our Roomette on an Amtrak train when we go out west to visit friends and family (this fall? next spring?). But at nearly $50 for something that there is a pretty good chance we’d be losing along the way (they’re the size of walnuts)… they’d have to prove themselves to be pretty darn amazing.

Mr. Jobs (or any of his people) can feel free to contact me with shipping info at their earliest convenience. I’ll be sure to give them an honest review.

It is clear to me now that the Republic no longer functions. I pray you will bring sanity and compassion back to the Senate.

“It is clear to me now that the Republic no longer functions. … I pray you will bring sanity and compassion back to the Senate.” - Queen Amidala, Star Wars I: The Phantom Menace

The inauguration is upon us. In a few hours the American people will have a new President, the Federal government will have a new agenda, and hopefully America will have a fresh start. I do not believe that all things will improve for all people in all ways because of this change. I do, however, believe we have the potential to move this country in new and better directions for many, if not most, citizens and residents. Time only will tell if we – President Obama, Congress, and the American people – take this opportunity to better our country, our states and our communities or fritter it away in politics-as-usual power plays, snarky back-biting, and selfish wastefulness.

I wish us all wisdom, self-restraint and foresight.

Tell them to take off!

“Anakin! Tell them to take off!” - Qui-Gon Jinn, Star Wars I: The Phantom Menace

To dreamland, that is!

Harken back to yesteryear all Star Wars geek boys and girls. Do you remember these wicked, cool sheets from the first time around? My brother had a set that he used so long he wore holes straight through the fabric. When the bottom sheet finally and completely went, my mom made curtains for his bedroom from the top sheet. Good times.

What? How can you do this? This is outrageous, it’s unfair.

Mace Windu: “You are on the council, but we do not grant you the rank of master.”
Anakin Skywalker: ”What? How can you do this? This is outrageous, it’s unfair.”
Mace Windu: “Take a seat, young Skywalker.”

Star Wars III: Revenge of the Sith

Proposal 8 looks to have passed in California. I am deeply sorry for them. Take a seat (in the back of the bus, please) GLBT citizens. You are no longer recognized as fully human in California. HOPEfully, that can be CHANGEd nationally now and this defeat will not much longer matter to you or to future generations.

Anakin, my allegiance is to the Republic, to democracy.

“Anakin, my allegiance is to the Republic, to democracy!” Obi-Wan Kenobi, Star Wars III: Revenge of the Sith

These are my touchstones for a political candidate – local, state and national. This is what I want from the collective United State of America.

For all children to have the opportunity to eat a healthy breakfast, lunch and dinner and to sleep safely in a warm bed, 365 days a year. Hunger and destitute poverty, in a land of plenty, is beyond unfair. It is unjust.
For all people to have access to basic, preventative medical care – recommended vaccines, an annual check-up, an annual blood screening, contraceptives, and nutritional and wellness information. The basics.
The freedom to live, love, learn, travel and raise our children without undue interference from government – federal, state or local.
IF parents decide to send their children to a public school, the right of those parents to decide where their children will attend – not a school district grid.
Equal treatment of all businesses under the law – no special treatment for large corporations, no exemptions from clean air or water standards, no subsidized oil, no tax loopholes.
A commitment to get clean, renewable and nonpolluting energy sources online – immediately.

A little left, a little right.

Don’t be too proud of this technological terror you’ve constructed.

Governor Tarkin:    “The Jedi are extinct, their fire has gone out of the
                              universe. You, my friend, are all that’s left of their
                              religion.”
Admiral Motti:       “Any attack made by the Rebels against this station would
                             be a useless gesture, no matter what technical data they
                             have obtained. This station is now the ultimate power in
                             the universe. I suggest we use it.”
Darth Vader:         ”Don’t be too proud of this technological terror you’ve
                             constructed.”
            Star Wars IV: A New Hope

I feel this way about how our nation’s food system is becoming ever more unsustainable, centralized and – frankly – dangerous. The FDA is taking comments on their decision to allow fresh lettuce and spinach to be irradiated – Use of Ionizing Radiation for the Control of Food-Borne Pathogens and Infectious Protozoa, and Extension of Shelf-Life, in a Variety of Human Foods - to kill e-coli and other nasties that have sickened so many people in the recent past. In one of the spinach recalls, the contamination was from e-coli infected fecal dust and liquid sewage leaking from a “manure lagoon” near a confined animal feeding operation located upstream of a fresh vegetable growing operation.

Nice. Here, have some pig poo to go with your leafy greens and raspberry vinaigrette.

I am opposed to allowing food to be irradiated in general, but especially food that will be served to the general public without their knowledge or consent – such as in restaurants, nursing homes, school or other public venues. Irradiation of food, in my researched and much considered opinion, is a “too late” solution to our very dirty and dangerous food growing and manufacturing systems. To me, irradiating food is similar to having nails and broken glass embedded on a highway and “fixing” the problem by having a tire repair station 100 feet further down the road. Sure, you’d be able to continue on your way, eventually. The real solution would be to remove the section of the road having nails and glass, just like the real solution to these contaminated veggies (and CAFO beef, poultry and pork) is disallowing high-density animal confinement facilities where unnatural feeds are given to animals and unsanitary conditions are the norm.

Yes, it will cost more. It will require more people farming on smaller farms. It will, in actuality, entail a retooling of 90% of the American food production “system”. But it is also the right thing to do for the safety, longevity and sustainability of the very food that keeps us healthy and alive.

Your insight serves you well.

“Your insight serves you well. Bury your feelings deep down, Luke. They do you credit, but they could be made to serve the Emperor.” Obi-Wan Kenobi, Star Wars VI: Return of the Jedi

Choice or biology. I find it strange that people are still debating the topic of origin as it regards to homosexuality (or evolution, for that matter). I can give you my reason for believing what I do, but I think author Eileen Cook does a more entertaining job, with her trademark humor thrown in for good measure. Here’s her take on the matter. I’ll start you off…

“I don’t understand the recent debate on homosexuality and gay marriage. If sexuality was a choice, and you could choose to be gay or not, it seems that once you decided you could change your mind. If this were possible you would be flooded with telemarketers…”

Help me, Obi-Mom Kenobi! You're my only hope!

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