Emily's Journal

The CPSIA of Food...or Congress tries to ruin farmer's markets.

hazel75 — Wed, 11 Mar 2009 17:30:28 GMT

Evidently, there is a bill in committee which would do its darnedest to get rid of the small farm in the name of protecting the public from salmonella. In response to the peanut/jalapeno/tomato scare, Congress is trying to ~~screw up~~ ensure the safety of food.

http://www.popehat.com/2009/03/09/you-are-why-i-cannot-eat-good-things/

When are we going to wake up and smell the coffee?? Congress cannot do anything but fuck up our lives. Do you really want them in charge of anything?!?! Believe what you want regarding Ronald Reagan, but he had it right when he said “The nine most terrifying words in the English language are, ‘I’m from the government, and I’m here to help.’”

Postscript re: CPSIA, for those who are interested. DeMint, a senator from SC (and one of 4 congresspersons to vote again CPSIA), has an amendment which would ameliorate many of the deficiencies of CPSIA. From what I understand, he tried to get debate on his amendment while Congress was busy passing their first massive spending bill to no avail. It's currently in committee but who knows if it'll ever see the light of day. Consider writing your senators asking them to join their support to the amendment. I wrote Chambliss two months ago (and since then as well) and next thing I knew he was supporting the amendment (after first just responding by saying that CPSIA was to protect our kids) -- don't know if my writing had anything to do with it, but it couldn't have hurt!!!

Books from my childhood endangered by Congress's stupidity...

hazel75 — Tue, 10 Mar 2009 15:19:43 GMT

I've been spending a good amount of time keeping up with the effects of CPSIA. This is the incredibly, poorly though-out (unbelievable, I know) law passed by Congress last year (that went into effect this year) banning phthalates and lead over certain limits in products intended for use by children 12 and under and requiring testing for the presence of the same.  Great except that the testing is prohibitively expensive for many makers of toys, clothing and BOOKS, applies retroactively, and the law is insanely overly broad and applies to many, many, many products which do not and have not ever posed a danger of lead (or phthalates) to children. One of most troubling consequences to me is that the Consumer Products Safety Commission (CPSC) has determined that many books published prior to 1985 are in effect be banned from use by children b/c lead was used in inks used for illustrations prior to 1985.  Nevermind that most children over the age of 2 are not eating books and that there are NO reported cases of lead poisoning being causally connected with a book.

In short, if a children's book was published prior to 1985, it is presumptively illegal to sell the book for use by children. I suppose if one tested the book and found it not to have lead above the limits set by law, one could legally sell the book. But this would not make financial sense since the testing would cost more than the book itself.

It looks as though many of the books illustrated by Sorenson Svend Otto should go the way of the dodo bird if Congress has its way as these were published prior to 1985 and do not appear to have been reprinted since then.  I had the two below growing up...

http://www.amazon.com/Cinderella-Jacob-Grimm/dp/0883320932

http://www.bookfinder.com/dir/i/Briar_Rose-The_Sleeping_Beauty/0720708036/

If you are interested, I recommend going to www.Overlawyered.com for Walter Olson's review and analysis of CPSIA. His coverage beats anyone else around.

hazel75 — Tue, 18 Sep 2007 22:12:05 GMT

Ok, evidently what will inspire me to post again is the death of a favorite writer. Rest in peace, Robert Jordan. For all its flaws, he wrote a great series and it's very sad to me that he died and that he died before completing it. Evidently, right up to the end he was doing his best to continue work on the last book which shows some serious dedication to me.

Again, rest in peace.

Otherwise, doing fine. Working at a place that doesn't allow for internet beyond CNN, really, and living with Mike. Things are going well. Now back to your regularly scheduled programming...

ATTN: OUT-OF-TOWN WRITERCON FOLK

hazel75 — Mon, 17 Jul 2006 18:45:22 GMT

It's occurred to me that I'm a selfish SOB and haven't offered to do crap for people who are coming in town for WriterCon this week.

If possible, I would be more than happy to shuttle people to and from the airport. (I am working but they don't make me work 24/7 so I ought to be able to do something). If people want to, tell me when you're coming in and maybe we can fix it so that I pick you up rather than having to take MARTA or a taxi in.

Anyway, let me know!!!

hazel75 — Tue, 30 May 2006 18:28:18 GMT

So...I wanted to thank everyone for your wonderful thoughts and support last week. I needed that and it was appreciated muchly. I'm feeling much more positive this week which is a beautiful thing.

I spent a good part of the weekend doing productive stuff which makes one feel better any day. Saturday, Mike and I saw (along with the rest of the country apparently) X-Men: The Last Stand. It was meh, for the most part. Frankly, it was just a rather hollow movie. No emotional resonance. I mean, they killed off three of main characters -- Cyclops, Jean Grey and Professor Xavier, and I felt nothing. It had some good special effects but that was it. MI:III was a much better movie, in my opinion, and had a lot more emotional impact. X-Men III -- I felt like an objective outsider during the movie.

Other random thoughts:

--The actress playing Rogue doesn't work for me. I liked her in the first one, liked her less in the second one and I'm now totally over her. She's just not Rogue.
--Hallie Berry needs to learn how to walk and tight pants because she was walking way funny at time, I thought.
--The actress playing Kitty (the person who can walk through walls) is a mouth-breather which is very annoying.
--The actor who played the little kid whose power was to remove others' mutant powers looks like Jennifer Connelly.
--I thought it was totally bizarre that the bad guys left the city to go live in the set of Robin Hood: Prince of Thieves. And, evidently, they also grabbed Marion's costumes for Jean Grey/Phoenix to wear. Ugh.

I was mightily disappointed. The Phoenix storyline was one of my absolute favorites in the comic book series. And I was expecting more.

hazel75 — Fri, 19 May 2006 20:21:28 GMT

You know things have changed when you find yourself thinking "I sure wish Angelina Jolie would take Britney Spears under her wing and help her out re this mothering thing."

The latest pictures at www.wwtdd.com of Britney tripping while holding Sean Preston and then crying later in a restaurant (probably about how she was going to get ripped again in the papers re almost hurting Sean Preston) just really made me sad. I do think she loves the heck out of that little guy, but that she does need some real help on mothering him and handling the press.

And Sean Preston is one of the cutest babies in the world.

Disturbingly accurate...

hazel75 — Fri, 12 May 2006 22:15:12 GMT

What horrible Edward Gorey Death will you die?

You will sink in a mire. You like to think you're normal, but deep down you really just want to strip off your clothes and roll around in chicken fat.
Take this quiz!

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| Make A Quiz | More Quizzes | Grab Code

hazel75 — Wed, 15 Feb 2006 16:58:14 GMT

swsa -- I was loving Dick Button last night during the men's short programs. And hating that woman, whoever she is.

hazel75 — Wed, 15 Feb 2006 02:16:07 GMT

I have a suggestion -- if your ice-skating program and its choreography have nothing to do with the music playing in the background, maybe you should just turn the music off because it's distracting. /sarcasm

hazel75 — Thu, 09 Feb 2006 08:17:37 GMT

Where are my fucking, fucking shoes??????!!!!!! ::stabs the shoe fairy who steals shoes while one is trying to pack:: ::stab, stab::

ETA: I ALSO APPRECIATE THAT ONE OR BOTH OF MY CATS HAS PEED IN MY SUITCASE.

ETA2: Has peed. I don't know what I was talking about. Hell, one of them peed in it while I was packing. Which, um, yay. Thank god I did not take the dry cleaning out of the plastic.

I'm very angry right now. Very angry. I know this probably makes me a bad pet-owner but I don't give a crap about the reasons why one of them did it. Because, no, I don't think it's a physical problem, and I could give two shits about the emotional problems at this moments. Because right now I'm packing for a work trip in a duffle bag because it doesn't smell like pee. And the cats don't eat if I don't work.

hazel75 — Fri, 03 Feb 2006 18:01:16 GMT

I dreamt about Tom Cruise last night. Not only that, but I dreamt about scheming to seduce Tom away from pregnant Katie Holmes. Which is totally bizarre: (a) because I actually like Tom and Katie and am rooting for them to both make it and for the baby to be his (as well as made through the normal means of making a baby) and (b) well, it's just weird.

In the dream, my family and I were visiting her family in their wood-burning stove-heated home. Tom was there also but, at first, he appeared as a talking dog. Yes, a talking dog. At some point, he was in his own body but there was never any discussion as to why/how he was a talking dog before.

Oh, and before we were Katie's parent's house with him and Katie, I was at some awards show at which he and Nicole Kidman were presenting an award. He and Katie were there together but for some reason he and Nicole were presenting together. Anyhow, after the show, I came upon Nicole very upset because she was worried about Tom because he had a brain tumor which needed to be operated on immediately, but instead he was doing something else. She told me this because I swore I wouldn't tell any gossip rags. I remember thinking -- wow, maybe this explains the crap about psychiatry this past summer.

Anyway, totally bizarre.

Lost

hazel75 — Thu, 12 Jan 2006 07:05:38 GMT

Is anything Charlie's fault or is everyone else to blame for his mistakes? Geez. He really has to be the most unattractive (mentally -- though physically ugh to me also) character on the show. Whine, whine, and then bitch some. Sometimes throw in some unearned superiority crap. And sing really badly.

Eko -- enjoying him. Very much.

Sawyer -- looking good. I do think Josh Holloway would make a good Gambit.

Buffy Shoutout During Highlights of Giants Game?

hazel75 — Thu, 01 Dec 2005 19:40:17 GMT

Just kidding. Maybe.

But this past weekend the Giants lost to the Seahawks in stunning fashion when the Giants' normally reliable kicker Jay Feeley missed 3 consecutive field goals that could have won the game. On the replay of the highlights of the game on Sportscenter, the announcer remarked about his final missed field goal, "Once more, with Feeley!"

So...

View Poll: Buffy/New York Giants Poll

hazel75 — Tue, 22 Nov 2005 16:40:04 GMT

I watched Las Vegas last night for the first time in forever. I can understand why NBC's doing so poorly in the ratings battle. It was stupid. I mean stupid stupid. By the end, I was wondering why in the hell I wasted an hour of my life on that. Will not be tuning in again.

God, it's great to have cable again!!!

LOST Season 1

hazel75 — Mon, 21 Nov 2005 17:21:33 GMT

So I finally watched the entire first season of LOST this weekend. My one word reaction: Wow.

Explanation: I watched from start to finish this weekend. Last year I saw the first part of the pilot and scattered episodes up until mid-season. Then, I had been so scattered in my viewing I gave up and decided to wait for the DVDs to come out. I bought the DVDs the weekend they came out and didn't get around to watching them until this weekend.

I liked what I saw when I watched it before. I was stunned, though, when I watched it all and saw the sum of the parts. It was absolutely delightfully creepy in a Stephen Kingish kind of way. I had no idea. It verges on horror at times. "Teresa fall up the stairs, Teresa fall down the stairs", etc.

My take on the various characters:

Boone -- liked him in the first couple of episodes, was annoyed by him as the season went on. I thought it became apparent they had no idea what to do with him which is why they made him Locke's follower. However, I liked the way they killed him off -- thought it was interesting, creepy (Locke's vision), and respectful. He was a good guy, just kind of dippy. Interestingly enough (to me), I thought he was very cute in the first episode, but not so much as the season wore on.

Shannon -- She's ok. Definitely got more likeable/layered as the season went on. They weren't afraid of portraying her as a shallow, self-centered bitch in the beginning and in the flashbacks. I'm interested to see what happens with the character in S2. Re: the Shannon/Sayid stuff -- I like them both but didn't feel any chemistry or at least nothing that came close to heat.

Sayid -- I started out very meh about this character and ended up liking him quite a bit. If Jack weren't around, he seems to me like he would be the most likely leader. It's funny to me how short he seems next to certain characters. And his accent in the interviews -- wow, so very different than that on the show.

Michael -- One of the most annoying and most sympathetic characters at times. Dude had no idea how to be a dad or what kids were like. He, of course, learned. Sometimes his attitude made me want to punch him, but usually I found him quite likable. He seemed to me to be the most normal, everyman character and, therefore, pretty accessible most of the time.

Jin -- I'm surprised at how one character could be in one episode so sympathetic and another such an asshole. Frankly, I'd love to better understand how he went from being the gentle man he was at the beginning of his and Sun's courtship to the guy who threw a fit if she wore a swimsuit.

Sun -- Really liked seeing her come out of her shell over the course of the season. I can also totally see how they could have had this actress read for Kate. She's very good at portraying a deep, inner strength, in my opinion. Glad they wrote in the character for her, though, as her and Jin's struggles, together and apart, were very interesting and some of the best flashbacks in my opinion.

Walt -- awesome child actor. Can't wait to see what it is about this kid that has made the Others so interested in him.

Sawyer -- Love him. He's slimy and arrogant and I love him. He tries so hard to play others, but seems to usually end up the one being played. Found the flashback where he was tricked into killing the dude who was not "Sawyer" heartbreaking. I can't help but root for this guy everytime he's on screen. And I love the accent -- it's so nice to hear a genuine Southern accent on television.

Kate -- I still don't get her story -- how she ended up on the run. Maybe I was in the bathroom when they explained this or maybe it hasn't been explained yet. It looks like she has the least to look forward to upon return to civilization, but it also looks to me that that's her fault. And while I understand her not wanting to face those consequences, I'm rather ambivalent about her attempts to evade them. Frankly, I was rooting for Sawyer to keep his place on the raft (although I knew they weren't going to escape) because I didn't want to see her "win" that battle. And I was glad for the truth to come out, not the least because I think she can overcome her past with everyone, i.e., not be some kind of pariah or whatever. One big complaint: Evangeline Lilly way overuses the hurt eyes. I got sick of them. Way sick of them.

Jack -- Like him a great deal, also. Very noble and also very complicated. I can see how/why people would compare him to Angel and Sawyer to Spike although this comparison oversimplifies and does a disservice to all four characters in many ways if you just stop there. He's a fixer -- it's been interesting in seeing him deal with failure. The speech from his fiancee the night before their wedding made me somewhat sad -- it seemed to me that it was all about her being appreciative for Jack fixing what's her name. Which, yay, but it wouldn't be the kind of love that I'd want.

Locke -- probably my favorite character. Love his spirituality. And, lord, he is one fucked up guy. The most emotionally devastating flashbacks, in my opinion, were his -- all of them made me cry even the short one in the finale with him having to be carried on the plane. He's had so many terrible disappointments -- I can't help but root for him and be impressed with his optimism that there is some meaning in all this. I think he would break if he weren't able to believe there was some meaning to all the crap that's happened to him. I think he's the most vulnerable because of this hope which is why the island picked him to find the hatch.

Hurley -- Comic relief usually but very good comic relief. His flashback had a wonderful mix of horror and humor -- kind of reminded me of one of the more horrific, surrealistic paintings.

Claire -- great actress, in my opinion. Very sympathetic character -- another kind of everyman, normalish character, in my opinion, which is sort of interesting as she's the other parent on the island.

Charlie -- Dominick Monaghan (sp?) is just not an attractive guy at all to me. That being said Charlie is still a very likable character most of the time. A very pathetic character at times also. Hope he finds an inner core of strength to deal with his weaknesses.

Other thoughts: The crazy French lady is very creepy and sad. I hope to see more of her. Didn't see Ardst (however you spell it)'s death coming. Thought the meta they brought up with his conversation with Hurley at the Black Rock very funny and took a bit of guts from the writers. I'm amazed at the suspense they've been able to maintain throughout. I gather Anna Lucia is in season 2 -- hope they manage to make me like her more than I did in her brief appearance in the finale. Because didn't like her at all then. Anyway, overall, having watched all the episodes, I've got to give kudos to ABC and J.J. Abrams because I didn't think either was capable of a series this complicated, scary and intriguing.

I have no idea how I'm going to catch up on season 2. I want to watch it from start to finish, in order, so I may be waiting on the DVDs for it also.

hazel75 — Mon, 07 Nov 2005 16:51:32 GMT

I woke up yesterday morning to a sound of muffled meowing. I walk around the house unable to find the source until I go into the kitchen: the refrigerator. Evidently, the kitten jumped in when I got a glass of milk Saturday night. And I didn't notice. She was in the fridge seven hours by my calculations.

She seems no worse for the wear. I will be more observant in the future and hopefully she'll be more cautious. Silly cat.

hazel75 — Fri, 21 Oct 2005 15:05:17 GMT

Note to self: If a tuna casserole Smart One thaws in your freezer because you forgot to close the door, do not refreeze and eat it. That's NOT a smart one.

Had a mild case of food poisoning yesterday. Not fun.

hazel75 — Fri, 07 Oct 2005 15:21:44 GMT

The clouds in the sky today look like quartz, I've decided. V. bizarre but pretty.

To Mother Nature:

hazel75 — Wed, 21 Sep 2005 15:54:54 GMT

Mother Nature -- We've had enough of the hurricanes this season. Cut us a break. We don't need the biggest oil refinery in the nation (if not the world) knocked out (Galveston). We don't need more people displaced. And we don't need more general destruction. We've had enough this year.

Mmm, 'kay? Thanks.

GIP

hazel75 — Tue, 13 Sep 2005 16:32:08 GMT

Everyone needs to notice the wonderful personalized Clint Eastwood icon pepperlandgirl4 made me. It's Clint from The Good, the Bad, and the Ugly.

Isn't it wonderful? Thanks so much, pepperlandgirl.

hazel75 — Thu, 01 Sep 2005 17:49:59 GMT

I hope that anyone who has held up a van taking supplies to a nursing home or hospital, threatened police and/or rescue workers, or participated in looting any goods other than food needed for their own survival dies and goes to hell.

Also, gas-hoarders -- get a grip. You're not helping.

Things are dire; however, we are still part of mankind and should act like such instead of acting like a bunch of rabid animals. Christ.

hazel75 — Wed, 31 Aug 2005 21:02:31 GMT

The house and I survived with no damage. No electricity and no phone either, but it could surely be much worse. Am at work because of course this place is open. Hoping to make it over to ATL for the weekend as I can't take much more of this.

My heart goes out to everyone from the Gulf Coast and New Orleans. It makes me sick.

Sorry -- not really in the mood to talk right now. Still just stunned by the devastation.

hazel75 — Mon, 29 Aug 2005 15:12:24 GMT

Friends -- Keep Mississippi (and New Orleans) in your thoughts and prayers today. It's looks like we're in for a hard ride today.

hazel75 — Sat, 27 Aug 2005 07:19:36 GMT

BTW. I think I'm in love with my icon.

Clint -- I love you.

That's all :)

hazel75 — Fri, 19 Aug 2005 00:53:57 GMT

From wildrider

Edward D. Wood, Jr.
Your film will be 45% romantic, 25% comedy, 34% complex plot, and a $ 32 million budget.

Ed Wood will get your film done waaaaay under budget, and will likely make it into a classic film of all time -- for all the wrong reasons. His resume includes classics such as Plan Nine From Outer Space and Glen or Glenda? He's not afraid to tackle controversial topics, and may insist on portraying a transvestite in your film -- even if you've never seen a transvestite before.

My test tracked 4 variables How you compared to other people your age and gender:

You scored higher than 99% on action-romance

You scored higher than 99% on humor

You scored higher than 99% on complexity

You scored higher than 99% on budget

Link: The Director Who Films Your Life Test written by bingomosquito on Ok Cupid

I find this rather funny especially since I've never in my life seen an Ed Wood film. I did try to answer the questions honestly though.