Weather report

I understand the weather back home isn't so great, unless you like cold, blustery days in April that threaten to snow.

I feel for you while I'm out here in California, sitting on a swing on the back porch in the sun with my flip-flops off.

So full of crap the bottle's brown.

No, not Leinie's. So most guys should probably turn away now.

I made the mistake of clicking on a link to an article titled "Ban the Breast Pump."

Excuse me, but what the f*@& is wrong with people? Why do people have to make it any more involved than it already is? And why the constant need to find ways to condone not breastfeeding?

The woman, who should know better except that she makes her living doing this, gives a shot at cramming this down our throats:

Is it at long last possible – on this side of the Atlantic – to suggest that we’ve maybe taken “breast is best” a bit too far? That a mother’s need for some semblance of physical dignity is perhaps a right worth respecting? That supplementing with formula – if it makes for greater happiness (and emotional availability) in the baby’s most important caretaker – isn’t necessarily an act of gross irresponsibility?

"B is b" being an ideal, not a mandate, can be taken too far? Pumping milk keeps the supply primed if you have to work, and relieves buildup in the mother's body. Ah, you see? I'm already sucked into the debate.

Let her do it. Or not. It's not cause to react in any way - shame, disgust, judgement, approbation, reconstructing the idea of "physical dignity" - or to make the saddest comment I've heard in a long time: “Who could blame [your husband] for never wanting to sleep with you again?”

What an effed-up bunch of people. Makes you wonder why they have kids in the first place, but I suspect it has everything to do with self-fulfillment.

'time to grow up'

And there's no time like the present.

Instead, Levi Johnston prefers to titillate America in a tell-all on Tyra Banks' show. My favorite slice from this article:

Johnston said the Alaska governor probably knew he and Bristol were having sex. "Moms are pretty smart," he said.

Which means exactly what? If this is supposed to signify parental consent, a lot of parents of sexually active teens would like to disabuse you of that idea, young Levi.

Tyra's promoters put it like this:

Find out if Sarah Palin knew Levi and Bristol were sexually active and what he has to say about practicing safe sex.

I agree - check out the clip. Then tell me if you "found out if Sarah Palin knew" they were having sex. And Levi's word on "safe sex."

But wait - a Chicago Tribune article words that bit about Palin knowing differently:

In an interview that airs Monday on "The Tyra Banks Show," Levi Johnston admits he and Gov. Sarah Palin's daughter Bristol were allowed to share a room at Mom's Alaskan home even though Palin probably knew they were having sex, Usmagazine.com reported Friday.

"I'm pretty sure she probably knew," says Johnston, "Moms are pretty smart."

Did I miss something? Was he reportedly allowed in the house after the birth of their not-immaculately-conceived baby, but then he was relegated to the couch?

That's not what I thought. 'Cause it's pretty clear the chastity ship already sailed. With a new baby waking up every few hours, how is that couch thing gonna work? It's silly. Moreover, until now nobody was asking.

I'm not surprised that so many reports misrepresented this quote.

Catch Levi's most telling quote in my BBA post.

History's mysteries

In our own back yard:

When four Los Angeles private detectives contacted the Rock County Archives & Research Center, archives manager Ruth Anderson knew there had to be a sizable estate involved.

"We had to locate a daughter of a daughter of a daughter of an ancestor who came to Beloit early on," Anderson said.

The real fun usually begins with a bit of work, but what a payoff.

Think it will never apply to you?

Those erecting a memorial marker of a noted mathematician in Ireland recently contacted the center trying to trace descendants.

RTWT. And next March 17, throw a parade, will ya?

Spacey

Now at the Beloit Fine Arts Incubator, Dan Wuthrich's Big Bang:

Bye bye, and buy bonds!

Stevie, in his ode to Theda (nice rack!*), extolls her virtues in his purloined hagiography as one of "the most effective war bond salespeople in the United States" during the Great War.

What do you think would have happened if the GWOT the Group Hug on Terror were financed by matching war bonds?

*The thing on her head. What did you think I meant?

California dreamin'

Things I miss about California:

The paved roads and freeways that get you where you want to go.

The coffee you don't have to wait ten minutes to get.

The variety of goods and foods and breads.