St. Louis Pride

WORLD SERIES CHAMPS











It could not have happened to a better city in the country. St. Louis totally deserves this!! I am so proud of my city, its team, and its fans... I LOVE YOU ST. LOUIS AND FOREVER WILL!!

Understanding Amendment 2

...is more or less an impossible task.

I was remarking to my parents today during the onslaught of commercials urging voters to "VOTE YES" or "VOTE NO" on this controversial amendment that one side or another needs to SHOW US the writing of the bill where it bans or allows cloning and the sale/purchase of human eggs. Wouldn't it give either side far more credibility if they would put up in black and white what the bill says?? Or at least advertise where the text of the bill can be read? The "VOTE NO" proponents came the closest to doing so by running the text across the screen in one commercial, albeit very fast, and saying where in the amendment it allows for cloning. But still. Both sides are saying contradicting things and not showing any proof to back up their arguments. I decided I had to read the bill for myself.

Here is the text of Amendment 2. Read it. Study it. And allow me to point out a few things about it.

Notice at the very top the bill says "No person may clone or attempt to clone a human being." Sounds good, right? I almost threw in the towel there and decided the bill WAS pretty plain in banning cloning.

But scroll down to the definitions. It says, "'Clone or attempt to clone a human being' means to implant in a uterus or attempt to implant in a uterus anything other than the product of fertilization of an egg of a human female by a sperm of a human male for the purpose of initiating a pregnancy that could result in the creation of a human fetus, or the birth of a human being."

So it won't allow implanting eggs created by somatic cell nuclear transfer in a woman's uterus. But it doesn't ban this procedure, which is cloning in and of itself. You're still doubling a human embryo. And nowhere does the document actually define somatic cell nuclear transfer.

But that's not all. Consider where it says this: "No person may, for valuable consideration, purchase or sell human blastocysts or eggs for stem cell research or stem cell therapies and cures." Oh, good. They won't allow women to sell their eggs or laboratories to buy them. Right?

Once again I direct your attention to the definitions: "'Valuable consideration' means financial gain or advantage, but does not include reimbursement for reasonable costs incurred in connection with the removal, processing, disposal, preservation, quality control, storage, transfer, or donation of human eggs, sperm, or blastocysts, including lost wages of the donor. Valuable consideration also does not include the consideration paid to a donor of human eggs or sperm by a fertilization clinic or sperm bank, as well as any other consideration expressly allowed by federal law."

They are saying one thing, and immediately taking it back. "No we won't allow women to sell their eggs. But we will allow reimbursement to be paid to a donor of human eggs." Either I've got really terrible reading comprehension skills (even though I would LIKE to think they're better than the average Joe Q. Public) or this bill is PURPOSELY MISLEADING the average voter.

After my study of this bill, I have decided that it DOES allow cloning and it DOES allow for laboratories to purchase eggs from women, a dangerous and sometimes deadly process.

PLEASE VOTE NO ON AMENDMENT 2!!!!

WORLD SERIES BOUND AGAIN

And off we go again... we seriously have the best team and the best city in the US!!! I LOVE ST. LOUIS!!!!!! GO CARDS GO GO GO!!!!

Haunting Anyone?

It's Halloween and so of course I got the itch to check out a haunted house or two. They always scare the friggin daylights outta me though, but this year I'm feeling brave. I guess I'm proud of myself that I watched "Poltergeist" alone last night and wasn't bothered at all by it. Anyways I'm not sure I want to go to the Darkness again, especially after the fight that broke out there recently, but they've converted the old Noah's Ark restaurant in St. Charles into a "Haunted Hotel" and that might be cool. Of course this is only if I have any time...

Chill Air

I am oddly excited about the cool air moving into the area today and tomorrow... it means I get to wear a sweatshirt to work tomorrow and for some reason that makes me happy. I'm excited for warm blankets, hot cider, and soups and chilis. In fact I just bought a couple of awesome soup mugs that match my dinnerware. I love soup mugs.

Ok I was interrupted while making this post by the sound of loud meows coming from right outside my door. I opened the door and in ran a little kitten with orange and gray and white markings. It was a beautiful little cat, with no collar and no tags, and it hid under my kitchen table. I coaxed it out, picked it up, and took the mewing little thing upstairs to my neighbors to see if it belonged to them. They said no, but they'd take care of it until they found someone to take it. I honestly wouldn't mind looking after it myself except I'm allergic (I'm itching like crazy now). I'd have to go get shots if I were going to take care of it. I was briefly tempted because it really was a pretty little kitty... my neighbor promised that he was perfectly capable of taking care of it. I told him to let me know if he found out whose it is. I feel kinda bad about dumping it on him though...


Edited later: The cat's owner was found! It's the people right across the hall. :)

Z is for Zoo

What kind of bad St. Louisan am I, that I haven't been to our probably-second-best-in-the-country-yet-still-free zoo in almost 10 years? I need to go. It's probably too late to say it now cause who knows if we could arrange an outing before it gets too cold. I suppose I could get brave and go by myself on one of my off days. I wonder what that would be like. It could be fun.

Another St. Louis destination that I am long overdue for revisiting is the Anheuser-Busch brewery... I haven't toured it since I was drinking age. In fact I think the last time, I was WELL below drinking age. 10 years below, I think. But that's not something I want to do on my own. You just don't drink beer out in public alone.

I should be a tourist in my own city more often. Then when people come to town and want me to show them around, I'm not lost for suggestions.

Y is for YYZ

It's Toronto's airport code. Really. Does this make sense at all? No it doesn't. The only part that makes sense is that it begins with Y, as do all Canada's airport codes. But the -YZ? Uh-uh. I don't see it. Someone explain it to me.

Sorry guys, I don't have a better idea for Y... If I think of one I'll add it later.

X is for Xanadu

Alright, this movie's just a guilty pleasure of mine. But I've known it since I was maybe five. I grew up knowing the soundtrack. And I still love it to this day. That's right, I love it to this day!! Gimme all the "I'm Alive" and "Dancin'" and "Don't Walk Away" and "Whenever You're Away From Me" that you got!! I'm putting on my roller skates and leg warmers!! Hey!!! Where you goin'????

W is for Wales

Ok now it's my turn to be predictable. :)

Just posting a few pictures of my favorite place in the world... I was just chatting with a friend of mine today and I said "I should move to London! Then I can visit Wales on weekends." And it seemed so plausible at the time...


Snowdonia National Park as seen from the car



Breacon Beacons National Park



Caerphilly Castle (KIRE-filly), near Cardiff



A river near the House of the Princes in Abergwyngregyn

V is for Vices

Wine...



Ice cream...



Chips and Salsa...

(Wait, don't forget the sour cream...)




Coffee...


Without them I die.

U is for Underground

During my visit to London almost five years ago(!!), I remember being very fascinated with the Tube. It was one of my favorite things about London in general. Since then I've loved cities that have subway systems, New York and Boston being two other favorites. I don't know what it is about them that draws me... I guess because they give you the freedom of the city without having to park a car or walk too far. And the people-watching is the best... wondering where they're coming from and going. I've often said that if I move to another city I'd love it to be one that has a subway, just to experience it as part of everyday life. I guess I've been in an urban frame of mind lately... (another U)

T is for Today

Today is a holiday, October 1!! For me that is. Because I positively love October.

Looks like we're in for a brief indian summer this week though... temps are supposed to be near 90 tomorrow. Noooo!! :) I was getting to REALLY enjoy this crisp air...