Health "Care"

"Just nine people accounted for nearly 2,700 of the emergency room visits in the Austin area during the past six years at a cost of $3 million to taxpayers and others, according to a report. The patients went to hospital emergency rooms 2,678 times from 2003 through 2008, said the report from the nonprofit Integrated Care Collaboration, a group of health care providers who care for low-income and uninsured patients."

Holy sh*t

I was out enjoying dinner with friends Wednesday night, so I did not watch this week's episode of America's Next Top Model. Come to find out (via Feministing) that this week's challenge was for the contestants to be "beautiful corpses" via a "CSI"-style photoshoot.

To echo many of the comments made on Feministing, WTF, Tyra?!

An open statement to Tyra Banks:

Trya, I know you're a ditzy but fun-loving showbiz-crazed gal, but for god's sake, what is wrong with you? It's one thing to herd this gaggle of naive model-wannabes through the hoops of your show; but to glorify violence against women is completely sick and utterly reprehensible.

I've watched all 7 "cycles" of your show, but will watch no more. That's it, it's over. I put up with your and the other judges' comments about the "fat" size 8 girls, comments about the ethnic attributes of some of the girls (see our banner), and the objectification of your willing contestants, all in the name of entertaining television; however, when you have 19- and 20-year old young women painted with bruises and fake blood, their eyes rolled back in their heads and their legs splayed, all in the name of selling fashion, you're sending a very powerful message about the disposability of not only the contestants, but women in general, to viewers.

I get it that the girls are competing (hence, the "knifed by a model" etc themes of the shoot). But I have to say murder is not sexy. Never has been, never will be. You should be ashamed of yourself.

Sincerely,

Tiny Robot

Goodbye Dallas Rose

As you've probably heard, Anna Nicole Smith died yesterday. I heard the news after I woke from another illness-induced nap. I wasn't all that shocked, she was known for controversy; however, it was a rant I heard on The View about Ms. Smith that played back in my head. Rosie O'Donnell and gang were ragging on how they were sick of Anna Nicole and they made fun of her. At the time, I was just flipping channels, ya know? But who knew in a few hours Smith would be dead? Creepy.

Even more creepy? What if the rants broadcast on The View that morning pushed an already depressed Smith over the edge that afternoon? Talk about yer mind bullets...

When it rains, it pours

I've been home all day with flu. I left work early yesterday because I felt like crap. To make a bad situation worse, Emerson collapsed suddenly yesterday when I was unlocking the front door to go in. The vet tried to save him, but he didn't make it. I'm still in shock.

Baby G had Emerson as a pet since he was a tiny kitten. He was the only one in his litter to crawl into her lap and take a nap, so it was love at first sight, ya know?

Here in my car I feel safest of all

Baby G is currently sick with the flu. (Get well soon!)

I am currently enjoying new glasses. My robot eyes were wearing out, so it was time for an upgrade.

We watched Idiocracy last night. It was hilarious! Two enthusiastic thumbs up.

Get well, Tiny Robot!

Our favorite Tiny Robot is sick again, thanks probably to the beginnings of the Central Texas allergy season. She is beetle-boop-pooped today, but I will do my best to take care of her. Please join me in sending her some get well wishes!

Sick Day

Hola, GRs. I'm home sick today. Don't worry, it's mainly a sinus infection and an ear ache. Should be good as new by tomorrow. Thankfully I voted last week in early voting.

I did manage to catch the HBO documentary I mentioned last week. Very sobering and downright frightening. Basically electronic voting machine manufacturers are dictating how we vote in this country, not the voters. And when I say "dictating" I mean that in more ways than one.

So, as you diligently caress the touchscreens of democracy today (except you, Prophet and you, St. Gorton, because you didn't update your voter registrations, you stinkers) ask yourself why you don't get a paper receipt. Ask why megacorporations have more say than you do in this democracy of ours. Then call your Congressperson, your county election commissioner, etc and ask them. It's time you got angry.

Wooo... it's time I had something cold to drink and a nap. Until tomorrow, Gentle Readers. Tomorrow, possibly the first day of the new era in our government?? Let's hope.