Back, and My Unsolicited Opinion on the HHS decision

I finally feel passionately enough about an issue to post on this blog after what, a year and a half?

Re: Kathleen Sebelius and her not letting minors buy Plan B over the counter

I feel very conflicted about this issue, and I come down on Sebelius' side for one reason, although I REALLY wish that I could create a compromise between HHS and FDA's respective decisions.

My opinions:

1) Plan B is ABSOLUTELY SAFE for all women or girls of reproductive age to take.

2) Plan B should be available over the counter.

3) Plan B should be available to all girls 12 and over.

4) Plan B should NOT be available to girls 10-111. But why do I feel this way about the youngest girls, and not about 15-year-olds? Because I feel very strongly that girls of that age are NOT OLD ENOUGH to either give consent or understand the consequences of those actions. I want them to get a prescription not because I want them to suffer the consequences of rape and assault, but because I want those girls, who are so young, to see a doctor and get help. It is so unfair to just let these girls slide through the system without someone being able to investigate why these girls are pregnant. Just because they CAN be pregnant doesn't mean that they should, and I want them to be able to get help.

My compromise: All women and girls 10 and older have access to over-the-counter Plan B. If a girl under 13 tries to purchase it, they and their parents are automatically referred to Child Services. If a 12 year old girl is pregnant, something is very, very wrong.

The true pain of art, and not being able to go the distance

From Sandra Tsing Loh, in an essay response to The Tiger Mother.

One of the most painful things about being us is how we ache to be as beloved as Mozart, but are stunted. When I think of Chinese parents, I think of people who weep upon hearing Beethoven, but who can’t necessarily bring that joy to others. Perhaps we can do so fleetingly, through our children, while they are still young, decades before they, like me, will sit at a piano, Fallen Prodigies in their 40s, their own kids squalling, dogs barking—once-perfect dolls who berate themselves for losing their youthful technique.

I feel this constantly, and the terror of not being able to get it back paralyzes me.

'An important message about the arts' - an animated video by artist Davi...

Dear All, Please take a moment to view this cute and funny video on the relevance of the arts to Britain (and, correspondingly, to the United States).

Blogging Janelle Monae

So, I bought both Janelle Monae cds because I was sent her music video twice by friends. TWICE. They were absolutely right that Monae's music is exactly what I like, and I bought. She's fantastic. She's just as much of a performance artist as GaGa, with as much funky gender-bending design, but she's a better singer and has a MUCH more interesting musical environment. I just started listening to her stuff, and oh, she's just spectacular.

I will admit, I've never been one for orchestral music, but I was totally surprised by how much of a visceral reaction I had to the opening of her CD the Archandroid. It's pegged as the overture to "Act II" of her android saga. I had to close my eyes and just drink it up. I'm SO excited for the rest of the CD.

Uh Oh...

I was just watching Rachel Maddow Show clips from last night, and OMG it was so frightening - Stephen Chu, Secretary of Energy, HAS NO CLUE WHAT DRILLING IS APPROVED OR NOT APPROVED UNLESS HE READS IT IN THE PAPER.

I immediately started panicking. What the heck is the Administration doing? Don't they know that in a case like this Interior and Energy should be communicating every single day? Who cares that permits to drill are Interior? They should have a hold on them that is totally binding, and approval of any new ones should be ferried up the line to be approved by the heads! Ugh. This is turning into a horrible disaster. My interpretation of what ought to be done:

1) Send out a "request for volunteers" to all high schools and colleges in the US, and have the government organize the shore cleanup. BP should not be in control of that. They don't care about wildlife, they don't care about Louisiana.

2) Have the government control the on-sea cleanup effort. they should stop BP from spraying any chemicals, and instead organize that cleanup themselves.

3) Sequester BP officials and scientists in a room and have them focus all their attention on capping the spill. The government should say that damages will be calculated after the spill is capped, and set no ceiling on damages. BP would then fight the spill while understanding that the quicker they cap it, the less money they'll be sued for.

If a BP manager or other spokesman comes to the government (aside from interior or energy scientists), the ONLY question should be: Is the spill stopped? If it isn't, THEY SHOULDN'T BE TALKING.

At least the gamma ray mapping of the blow out worked...

I am growing an avocado tree in a cup

I am excited to be venturing into this kindergarten-level experiment in gardening and the growth of seeds. Reactions to the seed in a cup:

My Father: You know, Cara - you are not likely to be here when this tree would be planted, so your mother and I are not going to be responsible for the continued health of this plant.

Me: Ok, well if it dies I'll look sad.

Father: That's acceptable.

My Mother: Oooh! I would love to have an avocado tree.

Two reactions, both wonderfully indicative of their characters.

I am now going to attempt to post a picture of said tree.

Cool Arrangement

Nobunaga Oda just opened his short program with a bit from Dido and Aeneas by Purcell - When I am Laid (in Earth). Then it went into synth dramatic music - and then it went into something vaguely 80's hard metal - which was totally cool. Thought I should mention.