Stupid State Legislature
In 4 days, Missourians will be asked to ammend the state constitution twice. Once to put gambling boats on the White River, and once to define marriage. We've heard all about the gambling boat proposal. I get large glossy ads in support of it every few days. (those ads piss me off because I can't recycle them)
Yet, there's been nary a word on ammendment 2. I thought they must have decided to put the vote for it in November, instead of August. I figured someone would be saying something about defining marriage. To be fair, I haven't watched much news lately; so maybe I've missed something being said. So anyway, here we are... 4 days away from a stealthy little change in our constitution as if Missouri doesn't already have a restrictive piece of legislature defining marriage. Ah, but you see, a change in the constitution would keep the courts from deciding that marriage can mean a union between two persons, regardless of sex.
Back in the late 1950's I'm sure it was comfortable to keep people of different (apparant) ethnicities separate (but equal!)
That didn't make it right. If it weren't the Supreme Court, racial bigotry would still be legal. Thank gods the Supreme Court justices were able to look beyond their discomfort at the idea of equal rights for all. Can we, as voters do any less? (well, yes -and we probably will) Just... please... think before you vote. Take you gut reaction, thank it for giving you fearful input, and then listen to your brain. Thanks to the Defense of Marriage initiative, same sex marriage is illegal in Missouri. We do not need to change our constitution to reinforce that.
Vote no on Ammendment 2
Thursday, July 29, 2004
Monday, July 26, 2004
Tuesday, July 20, 2004
To the dipshit who searched for "where to buy blood diamonds":
Not here! May I interest you in a nice white sapphire instead?
I looked at the 59 other titles you had to read through before you got to this little blog. You would think you'd have gotten a clue from the endless repetitions of "don't buy" and "torture", but who knows... Perhaps you want that karma. Perhaps you get off on buying something with a value that can be measured in dollars and lives.
Or maybe you meant to search for sellers of conflict diamonds so you could avoid those retailers. Unfortunately, the retailers have no idea where their diamonds were really mined. All they care about is having paperwork to claim they're not conflict diamonds.
Not here! May I interest you in a nice white sapphire instead?
I looked at the 59 other titles you had to read through before you got to this little blog. You would think you'd have gotten a clue from the endless repetitions of "don't buy" and "torture", but who knows... Perhaps you want that karma. Perhaps you get off on buying something with a value that can be measured in dollars and lives.
Or maybe you meant to search for sellers of conflict diamonds so you could avoid those retailers. Unfortunately, the retailers have no idea where their diamonds were really mined. All they care about is having paperwork to claim they're not conflict diamonds.
Saturday, July 17, 2004
Thank You Lesley
Thanks for the heads up about the store. I needed to fix a bit of HTML coding. You all can become customers now; so come on, sign in, and shop shop shop! :)
Thanks for the heads up about the store. I needed to fix a bit of HTML coding. You all can become customers now; so come on, sign in, and shop shop shop! :)
Friday, July 09, 2004
Vacation Shopping
Every year, my son goes on vacation with his grandparents. He usually flies to Savannah and spends a week swimming, fishing, and playing in the waves at Tybee Island. We're very fortunate that his grandparents can afford to fly him there and back. Sometimes they need a vacation too, so they take L to Florida and visit Seaworld or some such.
This year they're going to Disney World. I want to be there with him, and we just can't afford it. I want to see that Disney magic touch him.
Well, I'll see him when he gets back. :) (sigh)
L has one pair of shorts that I have to pry from his clutches in order to wash. It's gotten to the point where he only owns 2 pair of shorts, because he will only wear the one pair, or the backup shorts when I'm washing his favorites. I mean, why waste money on clothes he won't wear, right? However; he can't wear just one pair of shorts on vacation. I also forbade him to take nothing but his 2 favorite shirts. He needs changes of clothes, dammit. So, we went to Wal-Mart. I didn't want to go there, but he's old enough to decide where he wants his clothes from; so off to Wal-Mart we went.
There was a fabulous Midwestern storm building as we headed out. We enjoyed the giant bolts of lightning flashing a few miles away, while not a drop of rain touched us. By the time we reached the store it had begun to sprinkle, then pour down in sheets. We held hands and dashed through the rain, jumping in puddles and laughing like crazy. Then we froze solid because Wal-Mart is air conditioned. hee hee.
We browsed the boy's clothing section, and let me tell you; Walmart has zero selection this late in the season. Everything was sports wear. Does anyone sell shorts above the knee anymore? All we could find were basketball shorts that covered his knees. So we bought long-assed "shorts" in silky breathable fabrics, and a bunch of shirts to match. Then we went to the electronics department to get a new gameboy game for the trip. (yeah, I spoil him)
Meanwhile, the storm was getting worse outside. The store had been steadily clearing out while we shopped. Walmart is a pleasant place when it's not crowded. We could hear thunder crashing outside almost constantly. While we were waiting for someone to get the game out of it's locked case; thunder shook the store, and the lights went out.
Now how's this for priorities... the reserve power kept the registers running. It provided light for the main aisles. And the video games were still playing. I kid you not. We could have stayed and sampled video games with the power out!
A voice came over the intercom and asked us remaining shoppers to finish their shopping quickly because the back up batteries would only run for a few hours. So we got our game and checked out. I guess the phone lines still worked, because my credit card went through fine. Or maybe they stored all the transactions and sent them through later. Who knows?
At the exit were a huddled mass of people, holding their purchases and looking fearfully at the rain. I asked L if he wanted me to go get the truck and pull up to the entrance, or did he want to get wet with me. He was going to get soaked in the first 30 seconds anyway, so he elected to run for the truck with me...
I tell you, the storm gods love my son. We stepped out the door, and the rain slowed down. There were still cold, fat drops of rain falling everywhere, but we barely got wet. We ran for the truck, expecting the downpour to start up again any second, and it didn't. As we pulled out of the parking lot, I glanced back at the crowd at the door. Not one of them had followed us.
Fools.
Every year, my son goes on vacation with his grandparents. He usually flies to Savannah and spends a week swimming, fishing, and playing in the waves at Tybee Island. We're very fortunate that his grandparents can afford to fly him there and back. Sometimes they need a vacation too, so they take L to Florida and visit Seaworld or some such.
This year they're going to Disney World. I want to be there with him, and we just can't afford it. I want to see that Disney magic touch him.
Well, I'll see him when he gets back. :) (sigh)
L has one pair of shorts that I have to pry from his clutches in order to wash. It's gotten to the point where he only owns 2 pair of shorts, because he will only wear the one pair, or the backup shorts when I'm washing his favorites. I mean, why waste money on clothes he won't wear, right? However; he can't wear just one pair of shorts on vacation. I also forbade him to take nothing but his 2 favorite shirts. He needs changes of clothes, dammit. So, we went to Wal-Mart. I didn't want to go there, but he's old enough to decide where he wants his clothes from; so off to Wal-Mart we went.
There was a fabulous Midwestern storm building as we headed out. We enjoyed the giant bolts of lightning flashing a few miles away, while not a drop of rain touched us. By the time we reached the store it had begun to sprinkle, then pour down in sheets. We held hands and dashed through the rain, jumping in puddles and laughing like crazy. Then we froze solid because Wal-Mart is air conditioned. hee hee.
We browsed the boy's clothing section, and let me tell you; Walmart has zero selection this late in the season. Everything was sports wear. Does anyone sell shorts above the knee anymore? All we could find were basketball shorts that covered his knees. So we bought long-assed "shorts" in silky breathable fabrics, and a bunch of shirts to match. Then we went to the electronics department to get a new gameboy game for the trip. (yeah, I spoil him)
Meanwhile, the storm was getting worse outside. The store had been steadily clearing out while we shopped. Walmart is a pleasant place when it's not crowded. We could hear thunder crashing outside almost constantly. While we were waiting for someone to get the game out of it's locked case; thunder shook the store, and the lights went out.
Now how's this for priorities... the reserve power kept the registers running. It provided light for the main aisles. And the video games were still playing. I kid you not. We could have stayed and sampled video games with the power out!
A voice came over the intercom and asked us remaining shoppers to finish their shopping quickly because the back up batteries would only run for a few hours. So we got our game and checked out. I guess the phone lines still worked, because my credit card went through fine. Or maybe they stored all the transactions and sent them through later. Who knows?
At the exit were a huddled mass of people, holding their purchases and looking fearfully at the rain. I asked L if he wanted me to go get the truck and pull up to the entrance, or did he want to get wet with me. He was going to get soaked in the first 30 seconds anyway, so he elected to run for the truck with me...
I tell you, the storm gods love my son. We stepped out the door, and the rain slowed down. There were still cold, fat drops of rain falling everywhere, but we barely got wet. We ran for the truck, expecting the downpour to start up again any second, and it didn't. As we pulled out of the parking lot, I glanced back at the crowd at the door. Not one of them had followed us.
Fools.
Thursday, July 01, 2004
Tuesday, June 29, 2004
Sunday, June 27, 2004
Fun!
I spent the day with Persephone, yesterday; and I had a blast! To be fair, she wasn't feeling her best, and I stayed way too long, and I'm sorry. However, we got a lot done. She made a set of truly awesome bath products -which are now being tested for the store. I watched in awe as she created bath salts for her daughters; who are going through hormonal changes. She'd never made this particular blend before, but you wouldn't know it to watch her. She filled the kitchen with love, and she smiled as she worked.
When the girls' salts were done, she moved on to a bath salt for men. She didn't use snips, snails or puppy dog's tails; and it was still the perfect blend for manly men who deserve a good soak in the tub. I want some for the Hubby-Man. I'll be her first customer. The rest of you all have to wait in line.
She called the kids, and had them sniff the bath salts. The girls smelled the mens bath and said, "That smells ok." Then they sniffed the womens salts and said "That smells soooo good!"
Next it was the boy's turn, and they had the opposite reaction. The girls salts were ok, the boys salts were fabulous. Nice!
After the smell test, Persephone moved on to a milk bath. Again, miracles happened. I have a jar of (what I call) "Mother's Milk Bath", and some of the bath salts. I'm testing the salts today, because I'm ovulating right now; and it's an ideal time to try Persephone magic.
I spent the day with Persephone, yesterday; and I had a blast! To be fair, she wasn't feeling her best, and I stayed way too long, and I'm sorry. However, we got a lot done. She made a set of truly awesome bath products -which are now being tested for the store. I watched in awe as she created bath salts for her daughters; who are going through hormonal changes. She'd never made this particular blend before, but you wouldn't know it to watch her. She filled the kitchen with love, and she smiled as she worked.
When the girls' salts were done, she moved on to a bath salt for men. She didn't use snips, snails or puppy dog's tails; and it was still the perfect blend for manly men who deserve a good soak in the tub. I want some for the Hubby-Man. I'll be her first customer. The rest of you all have to wait in line.
She called the kids, and had them sniff the bath salts. The girls smelled the mens bath and said, "That smells ok." Then they sniffed the womens salts and said "That smells soooo good!"
Next it was the boy's turn, and they had the opposite reaction. The girls salts were ok, the boys salts were fabulous. Nice!
After the smell test, Persephone moved on to a milk bath. Again, miracles happened. I have a jar of (what I call) "Mother's Milk Bath", and some of the bath salts. I'm testing the salts today, because I'm ovulating right now; and it's an ideal time to try Persephone magic.
Friday, June 25, 2004
I have a logo!
The store is coming together. I can take orders, but the shipping rates are still a bit messed up. For some reason, it doesn't tap USPS for shipping rates; and UPS thinks the weight is pounds, not ounces. But I have a logo! I made it all by myself, too!
Chasmyn, would you go look at it and give me your opinion? I know you could do a much better job and all, but I wanted to make one myself.
The store is coming together. I can take orders, but the shipping rates are still a bit messed up. For some reason, it doesn't tap USPS for shipping rates; and UPS thinks the weight is pounds, not ounces. But I have a logo! I made it all by myself, too!
Chasmyn, would you go look at it and give me your opinion? I know you could do a much better job and all, but I wanted to make one myself.
Wednesday, June 23, 2004
It's amazing what you can't mail
I like the idea of shipping my shea butter through the U.S. Postal Service. It's cheaper than UPS or FedEx. It's generally faster, too. So I went to the USPS website and tried to find out if I could ship shea butter. I mean, it could be called "organic material" and "perishable"; so I thought I should check first.
Which led me to an incredibly long list of things that you can't mail. Most of them would never have crossed my mind. Like this:
Under 18 U.S.C. 1716, all matter that is outwardly or of its own force dangerous or injurious to life, health, or property is nonmailable (duh. But if you ship it anyway...)
The knowing deposit of such matter in the mail is a crime punishable by fine, imprisonment, and/or other penalty. (the actual penalties must be listed elsewhere)
However, certain hazardous materials and otherwise restricted and perishable matter may be mailed under the conditions permitted in DMM C020-C024 and this publication.
Ok, then. On to the list of examples. (mind you, these are examples. They can bust you for shipping anything that's not on the list -but still something hazardous, restricted or perishable)
a. Hazardous materials (DMM C023) include:
(1) Corrosives.
(2) Explosives.
(3) Flammable liquids and solids, combustible liquids.
(4) Gases (under pressure).
(5) Infectious substances, etiologic agents, clinical specimens, biological products, sharps, other used medical devices.
(6) Miscellaneous hazardous materials (i.e., dry ice, magnetized materials).
(7) ORM-D materials.
(8) Oxidizers, organic peroxides.
(9) Radioactive materials.
(10) Toxic substances (poisons).
b. Restricted matter (DMM C024) includes:
(1) Abortive and contraceptive devices.
(2) Battery-powered devices. (is it the batteries you can't ship, or the entire device? Does this mean I can't mail a hearing aid, or a watch? Or does it mean some devices are forbidden, like vibrators?)
(3) Building construction materials. (yep, you can't mail drywall)
(4) Controlled substances and drug paraphernalia. (duh)
(5) Firearms. (duh)
(6) Intoxicating liquors. (really? wow.)
(7) Liquids and powders. (What about dehydrated H2O?)
(8) Matter emitting obnoxious odors. (no used gym socks, sorry)
(9) Motor vehicle master keys. (duh)
(10) Nonhazardous liquids and powders. (why not? they're nonhazardous!
(11) Sharp objects (knives, switchblades, stilettos). (duh)
(12) Odd-shaped items in letter-size envelopes. (actually, you can mail those, but you pay an extra fee because it's "non machinable")
c. Perishable matter (DMM C022) includes:
(1) Dead animals or parts of animals. (is fur perishable? What about wool? that's part of an animal.)
(2) Eggs. (ew)
(3) Live animals. (duh)
(4) Meat and meat products. (wouldn't meat or meat products fall under "live animals", "dead animals" or "parts of animals"?)
(5) Plants and plant products. (I guess that rules out shea butter and tofu. What about paper?)
But wait!
section 215.3 says:
Restricted Matter or Perishable Matter
To obtain a ruling on the mailability of restricted matter or perishable matter, a mailer should provide specific information to the local postmaster. This information should include the following:
a. Detailed description of the restricted matter or perishable matter. (Simple enough)
b. Special precautions necessary to permit handling without harm to postal employees or damage to property. (also simple, no special precautions necessary)
c. Proposed method of packaging. (double walled tub with a cosmetic seal, placed in a ziploc baggie -just in case, surrounded by shredded newspaper, and stuffed into an official USPS priority mail package)
d. Explanation of any local, state, or federal regulations that apply to shipping such matter. (Do I have to do everything myself?!?)
e. Quantity per mailpiece and per mailing, frequency of mailing, and post office(s) of mailing. (a simple matter)
I think I can handle that. 'Course, I'm shipping some to a friend without jumping through all those hoops. Instead, I'll be going to the local post office and ask, "Can I mail this?" while looking innocent. It usually works.
I like the idea of shipping my shea butter through the U.S. Postal Service. It's cheaper than UPS or FedEx. It's generally faster, too. So I went to the USPS website and tried to find out if I could ship shea butter. I mean, it could be called "organic material" and "perishable"; so I thought I should check first.
Which led me to an incredibly long list of things that you can't mail. Most of them would never have crossed my mind. Like this:
Under 18 U.S.C. 1716, all matter that is outwardly or of its own force dangerous or injurious to life, health, or property is nonmailable (duh. But if you ship it anyway...)
The knowing deposit of such matter in the mail is a crime punishable by fine, imprisonment, and/or other penalty. (the actual penalties must be listed elsewhere)
However, certain hazardous materials and otherwise restricted and perishable matter may be mailed under the conditions permitted in DMM C020-C024 and this publication.
Ok, then. On to the list of examples. (mind you, these are examples. They can bust you for shipping anything that's not on the list -but still something hazardous, restricted or perishable)
a. Hazardous materials (DMM C023) include:
(1) Corrosives.
(2) Explosives.
(3) Flammable liquids and solids, combustible liquids.
(4) Gases (under pressure).
(5) Infectious substances, etiologic agents, clinical specimens, biological products, sharps, other used medical devices.
(6) Miscellaneous hazardous materials (i.e., dry ice, magnetized materials).
(7) ORM-D materials.
(8) Oxidizers, organic peroxides.
(9) Radioactive materials.
(10) Toxic substances (poisons).
b. Restricted matter (DMM C024) includes:
(1) Abortive and contraceptive devices.
(2) Battery-powered devices. (is it the batteries you can't ship, or the entire device? Does this mean I can't mail a hearing aid, or a watch? Or does it mean some devices are forbidden, like vibrators?)
(3) Building construction materials. (yep, you can't mail drywall)
(4) Controlled substances and drug paraphernalia. (duh)
(5) Firearms. (duh)
(6) Intoxicating liquors. (really? wow.)
(7) Liquids and powders. (What about dehydrated H2O?)
(8) Matter emitting obnoxious odors. (no used gym socks, sorry)
(9) Motor vehicle master keys. (duh)
(10) Nonhazardous liquids and powders. (why not? they're nonhazardous!
(11) Sharp objects (knives, switchblades, stilettos). (duh)
(12) Odd-shaped items in letter-size envelopes. (actually, you can mail those, but you pay an extra fee because it's "non machinable")
c. Perishable matter (DMM C022) includes:
(1) Dead animals or parts of animals. (is fur perishable? What about wool? that's part of an animal.)
(2) Eggs. (ew)
(3) Live animals. (duh)
(4) Meat and meat products. (wouldn't meat or meat products fall under "live animals", "dead animals" or "parts of animals"?)
(5) Plants and plant products. (I guess that rules out shea butter and tofu. What about paper?)
But wait!
section 215.3 says:
Restricted Matter or Perishable Matter
To obtain a ruling on the mailability of restricted matter or perishable matter, a mailer should provide specific information to the local postmaster. This information should include the following:
a. Detailed description of the restricted matter or perishable matter. (Simple enough)
b. Special precautions necessary to permit handling without harm to postal employees or damage to property. (also simple, no special precautions necessary)
c. Proposed method of packaging. (double walled tub with a cosmetic seal, placed in a ziploc baggie -just in case, surrounded by shredded newspaper, and stuffed into an official USPS priority mail package)
d. Explanation of any local, state, or federal regulations that apply to shipping such matter. (Do I have to do everything myself?!?)
e. Quantity per mailpiece and per mailing, frequency of mailing, and post office(s) of mailing. (a simple matter)
I think I can handle that. 'Course, I'm shipping some to a friend without jumping through all those hoops. Instead, I'll be going to the local post office and ask, "Can I mail this?" while looking innocent. It usually works.
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