TMI on Brisket

Gross. I'm someone who gets ready to swear off meat, when the discussion turns to details like this:

For those who don't know exactly what part of the cow brisket comes from, it's basically the chest. "Looking at the animal head-on, it's the broad portion separating the front legs that has a point to it," the professor said. "It's like the sternum on a human.

I would rather not know that brisket comes from a cow, to be honest. Because, it comes from the grocery store, as you know. Comes from the chest of the cow? Well, that's just disgusting. The good news is that Aggies have discovered that the fat in brisket is good for you. Raises your good cholesterol. Since this is Aggie research, you may want to take this with a grain of seasoning salt. But, these Aggies recommend that brisket fat should be used in ground meat. Which is gross, and makes me want to swear of tacos. Almost.

Pink (Purple) Hair and a Dead Bird

The absolutely adorable teenage daughter in my house has decided that pink hair - the kind that requires bleaching your hair, then putting a horrible pink dye on parts of it - would be just the coolest thing. Because her best friend did that. I kept ranting about pink hair and she kept telling me I wasn't listening. About how you really said purple hair, sweetie? Oh, yeah, I WAS listening. Teenagers are fun. And, mercurial. Dead bird alert. In the driveway. Apparently the 49 mpg Prius ran right over it, while I was totally unaware, being distracted by that loud beep it makes when it backs up. That is not a happy/hopeful/rainbow/butterfly beeping noise! I had to get someone over here to put it in a box. And then in the big trashcan. And then put the big trashcan by the curb. Because dead birds freak me out. And, are gross.

A New Focus At Musings

Musings is now dedicated to hope, change, butterflies and rainbows. Happy now, kids?

Republicans Latching On To "Change" Message?

Sounds like the Rs are developing multiple personality disorder, going negative on Obama to try and win seats right now (linking Democrats to Obama and Rev. Wright), while at the same time, grasping at their own illusory message of change. There's this moment of humor in response to the Democratic pick-up in MS-1 last night:

Representative Tom Cole of Oklahoma, chairman of the National Republican Congressional Committee, said the party was disappointed and needed to be better prepared to deal with conservative Democratic candidates, but he warned that time is short.

“Voters remain pessimistic about the direction of the country and the Republican Party in general,” Mr. Cole said. “Republicans must undertake bold efforts to define a forward-looking agenda that offers the kind of positive change voters are looking for.”

Bold. Forward-looking. Positive. Change. Sounds like our plan to take our country back in November.

Mother of the Bride

This:
Plus this:

Equals this unfortunate Mother of the Bride dress:

Laura looks like she is either about to take flight or explain to the taxpayers why she is wearing the White House drapes to her daughter's wedding. Jenna, on the other hand, looks adorable.

Back in the U.S.S.R.

Somehow this reminds me of the U.S.S.R.

A land ruled by old, white men. All dressed exactly alike. And where you fear that at any moment, you might get sucked into some giant turbine tunnel-like human sucker machine thing. And, disappear forever.

Mostly, it's the identical suits that slightly freak me out. That, and how McLame appears to be making the case for the men not to throw him into the sucker tunnel that would whisk him down to the hot magma under the earth's crust.

She Wins! He Wins!

Go, Hillary! Great win, great speech, great leader. I heart Hillary! That story about the woman who voted early by mail for Hillary from hospice . . . needed kleenex. Wow, and what fantastic news out of Mississippi. The AP has called the special election for Mississippi's 1st Congressional District for the Democrat, Travis Childers. This has been a long time Republican stronghold with R's winning by 60% and better margins FOREVER. Yesterday I read quotes from R leaders saying things like, "if we lose this one, we go back into our bat cave and don't come out until 2016." OK, not that exactly and I can't find the quotes, but they really were telling their families to hide the knives, because they might be reaching for them if they couldn't hold onto that seat. Obviously this country is ready for change and . . . Hillary is the change you can count on! UPDATE: I just found out that Childers' campaign manager is Joel Coon, the guy who ran Shane Sklar's campaign. Great guy! Great big congratulations to Joel!

Craddick's Wealthy Daughter Gets State Health Care Benefits

Craddick is a mulit-millionaire. His daughter makes well over $100,000 a year from his campaign and his PAC. Yet, he initiated the bill that allowed adult children over the age of 25 of state employees to continue receiving state health insurance benefits. All the while, Craddick ruthlessly cut poor children from CHIP, which even when restored was not restored to pre-cut levels. Just another reason why Craddick needs to go. The only way that will happen is if we elect legislators who will vote for a new Speaker - and it needs to be a Democratic one.

When Women Rule the World

I think it's time for this. I've had way too many experiences the last few days with men who are aggressive and hostile. A good (female) friend of mine - who I called today in exasperation - says these men are obviously not getting what they want/need (ahem!) elsewhere, and they compensate with bad, territorial, bullying behavior. Men, please. I beg you. Go get that thing you have to have to prove your worth as a man. Go get it now. Go, go, go! And, come back when you have calmed down. Don't call, don't email me or anyone else until you are feeling manly again. All of you. And then there was the sweet, kind man who emailed and called today with helpful info. He thinks I am crazy, but he puts up with me anyway. He even admits experience counts, while he is hoping for change. I know I am talking in code. And, yes, I am sure there is a pro-Hillary message in here somewhere. Here's how to decode that: I WANT HILLARY TO WIN NORTH CAROLINA AND INDIANA TOMORROW. And, hey, when is this Fox show going to air? When Women Rule the World:

What if it was “a woman’s world”? What if women made ALL the decisions? If men were their obedient subjects?

These questions and more will be explored when a group of strong, educated, independent women, tired of living in a man’s world and each with a personal axe to grind, rule over a group of unsuspecting men used to calling the shots on WHEN WOMEN RULE THE WORLD.

The unscripted series will reveal how women and men react in a world where women are in charge and men are subservient, and each gender’s ability to adapt to a new social order will be put to the test.

The participants will be brought to a remote, primitive location where the women will have the opportunity to “rule” as they build a newly formed society – one where there is no glass ceiling and no dressing to impress. For the men, their worlds of power and prestige are turned inside-out and upside-down. And for these women, turnabout is fair play!

In order to win, the men must accede to the women’s every demand, 24/7. Here, women command and men obey. Over the series’ duration, the men will be eliminated by the women until one last man is standing.

How will the men react? How will the women treat the men? Can women effectively rule society? Will the men learn what life is like for some women in today’s world? Will this new society be a Utopia or a hell on earth? And in the end, who will be man enough to succeed in the new social order?

It's time!

Vog-onomics

They've got vog - volcanic smog - on the Big Island of Hawaii. There's a new vent on Kilauea emitting lots of noxious, toxic sulfuric acid. In terms of economics, flower crops are suffering the most.

Here's the low down on the health risks:

Sulfur dioxide, a pollutant that is also generated by burning coal and oil, can lead to asthma and other respiratory illnesses and aggravate lung and heart disease. When combined with dust and sunlight, it makes vog. Mixed with atmospheric moisture, it produces acid rain

I've been to Hawaii Volcanoes National Park and seen Kilauea up close from the observation center. Along the trails you can see the oozy lava nearby and the steaming hardened lava all around the walkways. Somehow, some pieces of cool, hard lava made it home with me. I have a piece sitting above my kitchen sink on the window sill. It's very lightweight. Reminds me of some good family times a long time ago.

We've Passed the Six Month Mark

Yesterday, May 4th, marked the day where we are six months out from the November 4th election. What are you doing to turn Texas Blue? It's going to take all of us contributing something to the effort - time, talent, money - whatever you can offer. How much do you want it? If not now, when?

It's Science TAKS Test Day - Take the Test!

Well, take the 2006 eighth grade Science TAKS test - the actual one given to 8th graders that year. It's online. It scores it for you. Very quick. Very easy? Are you dumber than an 8th grader? Let me know in the comments!