eriepressible™

Momsrising is at it again, touting the wonderment of motherhood to the detriment of everyone else. 

I received a Google Alert this morning about this entry on the Momsrising website, which reads in part:

If issuing stimulus checks is a flawed remedy, what would a long-term solution look like? The answer is simple: committing to the overall health of families is the key to securing a favorable economic future.  A stimulus package for mothers would be a holistic, progressive move toward supporting healthy communities, and strengthening the social networks that are crucial to the positive development of our children.

…

Imagine what $168 billion could accomplish for our families if we committed to a real economic stimulus package–one that stimulated parenthood, rather than proposed a fleeting solution to a problem that is here to stay. We need well-rounded and educated kids to help solve the problems that we are creating for the future. Building a family-friendly America is possible, if we look to long term, community-oriented solutions, rather than near-sighted political gimmicks that may seem appealing at first, but ultimately do more harm than good.

Interesting, no?  It seems that according to the Momsrising Movement, only those Americans who have procreated should be entitled to any kind of tax relief/economic stimulus.  It doesn’t matter that there were stories all over the place about parents using the money for a trip to Branson or someplace a little more tropical.  Maybe if parents invested the money in their children’s college funds or used the money to pay daycare providers I’d be a tad more sympathetic.

This is just another example of Momsrising advocating discrimination.  They believe parents, especially mothers (note that only mothers are mentioned in the first paragraph I quoted) are, for some reason that is completely alien to me, entitled to be handed the world on a silver platter.  They believe that all children should have health insurance.  I think all Americans should have health insurance.  They believe only mothers are entitled to “stimulus package.”  Fuck the rest of us.  They believe parents should be entitled to flexible work schedules.  To hell with everyone else…they can work 80 hours a week for all Momsrising cares.   

I, on the other hand, believe that people, both men and women, should think long and hard about how much it costs to have a kid.  Or two.  Or 18.  I think people should be encouraged to stand on their own two feet (or four, if they happen to be a couple).  I believe government sponsored social programs should be in place for emergencies, not forever.  And I believe that all people should be treated equally, no matter the life choices they have made.  Have kids if you can afford them.  Don’t if you can’t.  But the rest of us work just as hard (if not harder, because we’re the ones left holding the bag when mommy skips out of work for the ballet recital, piano lessons, and parent-teacher conferences) for our money and aren’t particularly interested in forking over more cash than you just because we made a different choice.

Although I’m getting completely and totally bored with all the VeepStakes talk in the news/blogosphere, I’m going to say a couple of things about it and then, for the love of all things warm and fuzzy, could the candidates just frickin’ announce their picks already so the pundits can go back to ignoring McCain’s "elitism" and accusing Obama of vacationing in a "foreign, exotic place."

First, I think McCain’s choice is much more important than Obama’s choice because McCain, if elected (*shudder*) will be 72 years old on inauguration day.  Now, while 40 may be the new 50 and 50 could be the new 60, I’m not so sure that 70 is the new 60…at least not for everybody.  Think about this:  If elected, and if he served two terms, (*double shudder*) John McCain would be 80 years old at the end of his presidency.  Even if 80 is the new 70, I can’t say that I would want any 70-year-old, much less 80-year-old, with his finger on the button.  Especially one that’s already known to have a hot temper.  Of course, that’s assuming he lives that long.  The average life expectancy for a man born in 1930, who makes it to 65, is 76 years.  That means he’s expected to just barely finish out his first term.  Or not.  He has a history of cancer and was a POW.  I’m thinking that might affect his longevity.  Of course, he’s also richer than the vast majority of Americans, thus he can afford the best health care money can buy, so, you know, he’s got that going for him.  But the chances of his Veep having to step in and finish out his term is much greater than that of the Democratic party’s nominee.  I can’t help thinking that a lot of Republicans are realizing this and will actually be voting for the Veep, as opposed to McCain.

As for Obama, I think he’s an intelligent human being and will choose wisely, but I anticipate that he’ll live long enough to finish out both terms, so the Veep question just really isn’t that important, unless you’re looking ahead eight years and assume that the Vice President would then be the Presidential nominee.

Finally, if McCain picks Tom Ridge, no, it will NOT influence, in the least, how I will vote.  It makes not a bit of difference to me if someone from Erie becomes Vice President, or even President, of the United States.  It would be a novelty that would wear off rather quickly.  Eventually, Erie would probably get a presidential library, but at what cost?  I’m not willing to whore my city at the cost of 4, 8, 12, or 16 more years of a Republican economy, Republican lies, and/or Republican wars.  (*Triple Shudder* )

No, that’s not a misspelling (although it appears that you can spell anything however the hell you want these days and it’s perfectly acceptable).  It means I want to be rid of having to carry a purse, but can’t quite figure out how to do that.

I just read an essay by Nora Ephron in her collection, I Feel Bad About My Neck And Other Thoughts on Being a Woman about how she is one of my kindred spirits in that she doesn’t particularly like having to lug a purse around with her, either.

Unfortunately, I just haven’t been able to find an alternative for all the "stuff" I need to have with me.  It started in college when I had to get glasses.  But I’m farsighted, so I don’t have to wear the glasses all the time.  I just need them for reading.  But I read a lot and at different times.  There’s waiting-room-reading and at-work-reading.  Then there’s restaurant-menu-reading (although my eyesight isn’t bad enough that I can’t make out what’s on most menus…unless the lighting is really bad, which is common in a lot of restaurants) or looking-at-a-map-when-you’re-the-copilot-reading.  There’s the reading you have to do when you have to fill out forms at the insurance agent’s office, the Driver’s License Bureau, and the Community Blood Bank.  There are the papers you have to read and sign when you go see your lawyer or your dentist or your doctor.  Everywhere I go, I have to read something, it seems.  So I need my glasses with me. 

Men, it seems are able to keep their glasses in the breast pocket of their shirts without a problem.  I thought about buying a bunch of men’s shirts and wearing them all the time so I could do this, too.  But the more I thought about it, the more I decided it probably wasn’t a good idea to put anything in my breast pocket because I really don’t need the ladies looking any bigger than they already do, if you get my drift. 

And then there’s the cellphone.  Once we go cell-only at The Steinfeld Estate, I thought about leaving it at home instead of carting it around with me, but that would defeat part of the purpose of having a cellphone.  I originally got it years ago for security purposes.  In the event of an emergency, I didn’t want to have to depend upon the kindness of strangers for help…and since pay phones are mostly nonexistent these days…I got a cheap cellphone.  And, let’s face it, if I end up getting an iPhone, I’ll want that fun little item with me all the time.  Oh, and clipping it on my waistband is not an option.  I’m not a fan of that look.  I may be a little on the nerdy side, but I’m going to have to draw the line there. 

I also carry my PDA with me everywhere, as it’s my "appointment book" and there are so many times when I need to know what I’m doing on a certain date/time, that I kind of have to have it with me.  Of course, if I get the iPhone, I can probably get rid of the PDA and use Google Calendar.

Then there’s the wallet for money, credit/debit cards, driver’s license, library card, gift cards, insurance card, etc.

And a pen.  I always have to have a pen with me.  And it has to be a real pen, because I’ve become a pen snob and can’t stand writing with ballpoint or rollerball or felt tip pens anymore.  Frankly, they suck.  I could keep a pen in the pocket of my shirt or pants, but again, things in the breast pocket of a well-endowed woman is probably not a great idea.  At least I don’t think it’s a great idea for me. 

And let’s not forget the sunglasses.  I have very light sensitive eyes and need my sunglasses.  But, you know, it’s not always sunny, so I need someplace to put the sunglasses when they’re not on my face. 

So, as a result, I’m left with pretty much no alternative but to lug a purse around with me.  And then what happens?  I’ll tell you what happens…it becomes a magnet for shit, junk, crappola, garbage, and various and sundry other objects that I don’t really need.  Altoids?  Oh, it’s nice to have them on occasion, but do I really need to cart them around with me every day?  My checkbook?  I rarely write checks other than to pay some bills at home, so why do I carry my checkbook with me?  Apparently, just because I have this stupid purse.  A comb?  Most of the time when my hair gets messed up, I can pretty much fix it with just my fingers, but I carry the comb simply because I can.  My iPod?  No, I don’t need it with me at all times, although it is nice to have it at work (people don’t bug me while I’m eating lunch if they see I have the little earbud thingies in my ears).  I could just as easily listen to Pandora for my musical needs at the office.  And there’s usually a book or magazine stuffed in my purse, too.  Not because I have tons of time during the day when I’m not at home to read, but simply because I have the purse and, you never know when the opportunity might arise to be able to read a few pages. 

I’ve pretty much resigned myself to the fact that I have to carry a purse of some sort with me for what I deem my necessities, but I draw the line at having a whole bunch of purses that I change according to what I’m wearing.  Seriously, who has this kind of time?  My old purses are all up in the attic in a box.  The purse I use on a daily basis is actually a large fanny pack that I don’t wear as a fanny pack, but, instead, I use the waist strap as a shoulder strap.  I also have a Timbuk2 messenger bag that I use if I have to cart larger things around with me (files to/from work, books and/or other materials to/from writing workshops or other classes, my laptop, etc.), but when I use the Timbuk2 bag, the purse fits in it so I only have to carry one bag.

While typing this, I did have a thought.  I’m wondering if I might be able to design and sew (yes, I actually can sew…I just don’t very often) my own creation that’s just big enough to carry the cellphone, a pair of glasses, a pen, and a couple of cards (credit, insurance, license).  Hmmm.  Have any of you seen anything that might fit the bill?  The size/style would depend upon what type of cellphone I end up with.  I’m thinking the iPhone would be easier to house in something small because it’s thinner than a lot of cellphones (like my current flip model).  Look at that…yet another reason to get an iPhone.  

August 17 - 23, 2008 is Erieblogs Week at the Community Blood Bank of Northwest Pennsylvania and Western New York.

We managed to get to two Seawolves games this week - one on Thursday (lost) and one last night (won).  Last night, we were pleased to have our friends joins us for the game and the very nice fireworks show after the game.  Mark’s wife and I both commented at the same time how some of the fireworks looked like sperm.  Apparently, we’re not the only ones who think so.

If you’ve ever been to a Seawolves game, you’ve seen the between innings games/contests they have.  One popular one is the race to dress in a baseball uniform:  two kids are chosen and they both start at home plate…one runs clockwise and one runs counterclockwise.  They stop at one base and put on a baseball jersey.  At the next base, they have to put on the pants.  At the final base, they have to put on a hat.  Then they sprint for home (usually falling down due to the length of the pants).  The first one back to home plate wins.

Al and I came up with an adult version of this game.  At the first base, the adults would have to eat a Smith’s hot dog.  At the second base, they would have to chug a Railbender.  At the final base, they would have to eat a dish of Pulako’s ice cream.

Running a race with a brain freeze…could be interesting, no?

Actually, the probably was more like “that doesn’t suck.”  As in my vacuum cleaner.  My beautiful, wonderful, most awesomest vacuum cleaner ever stopped sucking and the little light on the front of it was flashing above the “change bag” picture.  No biggie, right?  I took the old bag out (it was kind of full, but not completely full) and put a nice, new, fresh, out-of-the box bag in it, closed the door, and flipped the switch.  And guess what?  The “change bag” light went on again.  Huh?

I opened the door and checked the bag, convinced it hadn’t clicked all the way into place.  Nope, that wasn’t the problem.  Off to the owner’s manual I went, whereupon I learned that the “change bag” light also lights up if there’s a clog or if one of the filters needs to be changed.  However, it also said the filters usually only need to be changed about every 20 bags or so.  And since I still had seven bags left in my original box of ten I got when I bought the vacuum cleaner, I was guessing the filter wasn’t the problem and, more than likely, there was a clog someplace.  I checked all the spots listed in the manual for clogs and couldn’t find anything.  Nothing.  Nada.  I could see light through the hose and couldn’t see anything lodged in any of the other two compartments.  WTF?

So, this morning, I put my red Sebo in my red Prius and toddled on up to Yaple’s, where I purchased the vacuum.  I walked in carrying my Sebo and a very nice gentleman greeted me immediately as I entered the door.

“What’s wrong with her?” he asked.

I explained my problem.  He immediately opened her up and looked at the filter.

“Filter’s fine.  You’ve got a clog somewhere.”

I explained to him that I had checked all the areas the instructions listed and could see light in the hose and couldn’t find anything in the compartments.

He removed the hose from the vacuum and held one end of it and let the other fall down in front of him so that the end he wasn’t holding was about two or three inches from the ground.  He looked down the hose and assured me that even though he could see some light, there was something there.  He then removed a pocket knife from his pocket and dropped it down the hose.  It did not land on the floor.

“With any luck,” he smiled at me, “there’s a nice 100 dollar bill stuck in there.”  He walked into the back room with my hose and returned less than a minute later with a piece of wire in his hand.

“This was your problem,” he explained.  “It wasn’t enough to block all the light, which is why you didn’t see it, but it was enough to register as a clog.”  He wound the power cord back up.

“Where’re you parked?  I’ll carry it to your car for you.”

“In your lot across the street.  I can carry it, it’s okay.  But do I owe you anything.”

“Nope.”  He said as he headed for the door with my vacuum in his hand.  “Just tell your friends about us.”  We continued walking to my car as I explained to him that, indeed, I do tell everyone about Yaple’s.

“As a matter of fact,” I explained, “the last time my friends from Vermont were here they saw my vacuum and came and bought one from you and took it back to Vermont with them.  Not only that, but my mother has been coming to you guys for as long as I can remember.”

“That’s what we like to hear,” he smiled as he loaded by Sebo in the back of the Prius.  “You have a nice weekend.”

And now I’ve told all of you, too.  If you’re living in or around Erie…or even if you’re from out of town but find yourself in Erie and might be in need of a new vacuum cleaner or sewing machine, go to the friendly people at Yaple’s located at 801 West 26th Street.

They were great when I bought the machine and they’re great with service.  They’re locally owned and have been around for as long as I can remember.  My mother, who’s been sewing everything from clothing to quilts since she was a kid, has always gotten her sewing machines (including a most awesome embroidery machine) from them and, likewise, has alway been pleased with their service.

It’s not just the regular folk who are trading four wheels in for two.  Pedal Power is catching on even amongst those making six - and even seven figures.

Jeremy Guthrie, who earns $770,000 as a pitcher for the Baltimore Orioles, rides his bike to work.  So do Luke Scott ($430,000), Aubrey Huff ($8,000,000), Brian Burres ($395,000), Lance Cormier ($495,000), Nick Markakis ($455,000), and Garrett Olson all ride their bicycles to Camden Yards.

Guthrie rides to Camden Yards six days a week during long homestands. The exception is Sundays, when his wife drops him off after they attend church in the morning. He has maintained that routine at every level of professional baseball, including his days at Triple-A Buffalo, when the trip covered 10 miles. But it was a one-way journey. His wife would pick up Guthrie and the bike for the ride home.
"I rode when it was sub-40 degrees," he said. "It’s actually better. You don’t sweat as much."

…

Thanks to the Orioles, their fans at Camden Yards don’t get as much exposure to carbon monoxide. The team might not be baseball’s best, but at least it’s environmentally conscious.
"I’m trying to save the planet," Guthrie said, "one pedal at a time."

BaltimoreSun.com

With salaries like these guys are pulling in, they could afford to hire drivers if, like Guthrie, they simply don’t like to drive.  But, instead, they’re doing something that’s not only good for their health, but good for the earth and the people living on it.

The fact that there are so may bicycle commuters on the Orioles team isn’t going to make me switch my loyalty from the Red Sox, but it does give me a little more respect for a lot of the Orioles players.  Kudos to them.

August 17 - 23, 2008 is Erieblogs Week at the Community Blood Bank of Northwest Pennsylvania and Western New York. 

You can get the entire lo-down on the event over at Erieblogs’ Blood Drive page.

I’ve donated blood many, many times in the past.  It’s quick, easy, and, with the exception of a slight pinch, it’s quite painless.  The phlebotomists at the Blood Bank are the best and I don’t think I’ve ever even flinched. 

And even if you do flinch at the pinch, isn’t it worth it?  After all, the blood you donate could help save up to three lives. 

And, just in case you need more incentive to donate than that, there are prizes to be won.  There will be one person (drawn randomly) who will win a gift basket of assorted goodies and another person (also a random drawing from those participating in Erieblogs Week) will win a new iPhone 3G.  And since I’m considering getting one of those puppies anyway, you can bet your sweet tushie that I’ll be donating at some point next week. 

So, go.  Donate.  Save a life.  It’s a good feeling. 

A propane plant in a residential area just north of Toronto, Ontario, Canada blew up Sunday.  Explosions, fire, a death, a missing person, lots of injuries, and a bunch of displaced residents were the result.  And now they’ve got people scratching their heads wondering why this plant was ever built in a residential area. 

“Why would they allow a propane company to open up in a residential area?” said Fernando Caschera, 56. “I don’t understand.”
Sunrise, open around the clock as a propane dealer, “should never have been there in the first place,” said Merv Mostoway, 73.
“It was only a matter of time – I knew one day something stupid would happen.”
The blasts came just before 4 a.m., shattering windows and reportedly setting several buildings on fire. Police with bullhorns ordered the evacuation of everyone within a 1.6-kilometre radius.
A no-fly zone for small aircraft was ordered above the scene and traffic backed up for kilometres as Highways 400 and 401 were closed down.

TheSpec.com

What was the first thing I thought about when I read the stories on the internet about the propane plant explosion?  The proposed tire burning plant…oh, sorry…tire gasification plant here in Erie.  You’ve all heard about tire fires, no?  Well, what happens when all the tires being stored, awaiting gasification, catch on fire?  Hmmm?  Oh, I know, I know, I’m just one of those environmental whack-jobs and I don’t really care about Erie because, after all, this proposed plant might bring what 60 full time permanent jobs?  Maybe.  Maybe not.  But here’s a little tidbit of information from the Rubber Manufacturers’ Association:

The fire service has had to confront this problem on an increasingly frequent basis. Over the past several years there has been a sharp increase in the occurrence and severity of scrap tire fires. Current storage regulations are often unheeded, and fire departments are
generally ill equipped and untrained in the management of these incidents; this is especially true in rural areas, where many scrap tire piles are located.

…

The environmental consequences of major tire fires are significant. A tire fire in Rhinehart, Virginia issued a plume of smoke 3,000 feet high and 50 miles long with fallout reported in three states. This fire also threatened the drinking water in the District of Columbia with lead and arsenic contamination. Officials estimated the clean up cost at $1.3 million.

…

Extreme heat turns rubber into oil, and a standard passenger car tire can generate about two gallons of oil as it burns and liquefies. If half of the burned tires in the Hagarsville, Ontario fire were liquefied in this manner, an estimated 14 million gallons of toxic oil could have been leached into the soil of nearby farmlands (by comparison, the Exxon-Valdez incident spilled 11 million gallons of oil into the sea).

The Prevention & Management of Scrap Tire Fires

The potential for a disastrous fire in a residential area is not the only reason to be against the tire burning plant.  Add all the reasons up and then ask yourself if all those cons (contaminating the lake; air pollution that poisons not only our own citizens but those of neighboring cities, states, and even another country; the potential for a massive fire and the resultant toxins/pollution, not to mention human life) are worth the pros.  The pros, near as I can tell, are some jobs (they’re estimating 60 full time permanent positions…I think they’re probably overestimating… and I don’t think anyone has indicated what kind of wages these positions are going to pay) and income from property taxes. 

My question:  What’s the price tag on Erie’s citizens’ health and well-being?

Yesterday and today it seems that every time I turn around, someone is either blogging about bicycling or someone is sending me news stories about bicycling and/or alternative means of transportation. 

First, yesterday Thomas Brock wrote about The Fat Cyclist and what happened when he encountered schmuck extraordinaire, Louis Baker, in the Leadville 100, a 100 mile bicycle race.

Then, earlier today, Al sent me this story about high schools and colleges encouraging their students to bicycle to class instead of driving cars. 

This fall, Ripon College in Ripon, Wis., is offering freshmen free mountain bikes, helmets and locks in exchange for a promise not to bring a car to campus. The $300-per-student cost is funded by private donations.

The college’s president, David Joyce, says the project was meant to avoid building a parking garage, but its side effects are beneficial: less pollution, more exercise and savings on gas.

It’s an idea that I would love to see catch on at our local colleges and universities….Gannon…Mercyhurst…is anyone listening (or should I say reading)?

Then, this afternoon, Thomas Brock posted another bicycling story, except this one is about himself and doesn’t involve a race.  It seems that Thomas is going to sell his 2006 Toyota Prius, lovingly referred to as The Silver Rhino, and begin living a car-free life, just like BlissChick and her partner.

I will divest myself of the Silver Rhino (hopefully this week) and in so doing save nearly $5,000 a year in vehicle loan payments and associated fees (vehicle registration, taxes, insurance and fuel). I will use my bicycle, Jacksonville Transit and my feet as my primary means of travel. If necessary, the extra savings will allow me to rent a car for long-distance travel or a moving truck for hauling large loads.

I’ll also be documenting here the transformation from car-reliant to self-reliant.

I’ll prove that it’s possible to be car-free in Jacksonville, NC, and if it can be done here, it can be done anywhere.

I was a bicycle commuter for a couple of years, then I stopped because I got fed up with Erie drivers and their obnoxious behavior, especially when that obnoxious behavior is aimed at law-abiding bicyclists and is more than merely obnoxious… it’s downright deadly.  But Al and I have been discussing alternative means of transportation to/from work for quite a while now and, as of this morning, I’m no longer driving my Prius to work.  On the days that Al doesn’t have to get himself to and from meetings all over town, he’ll be leaving his car at home, too.  Additionally, Al and I have also been discussing getting rid of one of our vehicles and becoming a one-car family.  Further, our parking lot at work is becoming emptier and emptier as two of my coworkers have also decided to leave their cars at home more, in favor of bicycles and good ol’ fashioned ped-power. 

And when I got to work this morning, without my car, I remembered what it was about riding my bicycle to work that I loved so much… not driving my car, as much as I love my Prius, puts me in a much better mood.  Being out in the fresh air and sunshine and getting a little exercise is a great way to start the day.  And, in a few hours, it will be a great way to end my work day…and start my afternoon/evening. 

I’m getting this post in just under the wire for Blog 365.  Damn.  Not only was today an incredibly busy day, but Verizon is pissing me off.  My connection has been FUBAR for about a week now.  We’ve gotten to the point where we are considering other options. 

We’re also considering getting rid of our land line (telephone) and going all cell.

Those of you out there who have decided to go cellphone only…I’d love to hear from you re: pros and cons.  If you don’t want to leave a comment, feel free to e-mail me.

Isaac Hayes…dead at 65

Hat tip lastangelman