This makes me feel like I’m an absolute illiterate, again. Hee hee … the last time I felt this way, I returned to graduate school for another Masters — all because I entered a grand library, and felt I hadn’t yet read 1/2 the books in the collection. What fun that was with my youngest in tow, who was simply shaking her pre-adolescent head watching her insane mother dive into “the books.” That reminds me, one early morn, I was reading an original manuscript, pacing back and forth, reading aloud in our living room at 2 AM, as youngest slept peacefully upstairs in her bedroom. “What is that, Mom?” she called down to me. I answered Chaucer, and mumbled the year giving me the challenge that required, for me, reading it aloud. No response — for a while, then, “MaMA! Men haven’t changed at all!” Love that 4th daughter, to this day — she is now giving her siblings fits about a venture she’s planning on taking that will change her life, career, domicile, and more. Me? I’m too tired, and too old to ever believe I’m powerful enough to change anyone, much less at the age of 34 (baby of the family) and one who cancelled a highly formal wedding 5 days before the event, because he lied to her and she caught him in the deception (yes, she was grief-sticken, but … did not turn back!). That offspring just phoned from Houston to tell me that I’m the only one in this “damned family who’s ever mentioned they made any mistakes, or had people in their lives that were miserable—everyone else is under the very false impression they’ve make perfect decisions all along. Where do they think I was when they were going beswerk, and driving you nuts?”

Merci, dear sister. I’ve handed the “Heritage” to every woman student I’ve ever known, and passed out hundreds of that pb edition to groups I’ve spoken to a universities, sororities, etc. Hx of Science was one of my “majors.” Tut. But, along with that, English (aka literature) had to be. Few know of her—even today. Where has woman been?

This “study” isn’t cited as replicated research, so unless it is, by credible editors, I’m not inclined to give it any credence; however, this has been around every year or so the past 20 years, like the “high voltage lines,” which I do believe may harm us, but no more than having a DISH on one’s home for TV reception focusing more highly condensed particles into the smaller and smaller “dishes.” I lived with the phones for years - from the earliest days of the “bag phone,” on 24-hour call. It drove me almost insane in resturants, public places, hearing people rudely carry on conversations aloud; it’s worse in airports, and men are the absolute limit—I have them categorized by permance and “job classification,” nation-wide. It appears to date, that most of those talking-out loud-people with that thing in their ears don’t have the funds to hire someone, or are mothers who cannot let their children wait until the correct time to contact them. What was that recent ‘study,’ about the highest text-messaging age-group??? Women in midlife - I think it was about 33-45 who were in constant contact with their children! Good gravy. One day, I decided that even if I could “deduct” the cost of the ever-inflated, failing service, it was driving me to distraction, and “just not me,” so I hired another emplyee to handle “communications” for me - giving a new stay-at-home Mom a job. That satisfied me, perfectly, and that person was the most competent, caring, thorough person one could ever dream of to take all incoming calls. Find me when needed? You’d be shocked. The CIA would should have recruited that woman!

Would life be so simple, so predictable.

And, Jane, I agree — we have no idea what has gone on beyond their own front door. It’s so simple to judge, and project our feelings onto others actions, but we may end up shockingly surprised when and if we ever find out what her rationale was about….

Knocked myself out the door on my reply to AB — AND, Hypatia (c370-415) - damn, it’s still going on, too.

HA! AB, your post tossed my green tea through my lips as I howled in agreement! Very good! Semmelweis is mine, though - he nearly died trying to get doctors to merely wash their hands between obstetrical patients - to stop “childbed fever” from killing most women! And, Alfred the Great - save all the books from destruction, and started the library concept. Go Alfred, Go!

PS. I refused to be photographed as the Infantile Paralysis Poster Child because they wouldn’t let me take off those horrid brown high-top Oxfords, or my braces. There was no way I could understand why my picture would be taken with them on me … no way. I was 10. I’m still the same way!

Ina, Polio Class of 1950. I’ve heard of so many incredibly loving parents who took care of their little polio children, but my eyes still tear, and my heart still swells. You were fortunate, indeed, Sister isn’t known for her kindness, or being correct for that matter, but we didn’t have much to save us. I had wonderful doctors in one of the nation’s top hospitals, then the only iron lung available for miles, but it broke my little girl heart, because in the coma, I still heard my pediatricians say I would die by morning if (…..) didn’t die so I could have his iron lung …when I next awakened, I was in it - until I had polio-releated breathing problems ( not lung/heart related), I had no memories of the iron lung. Now, I hear it clanging, and heaving every time I’m building up CO2. Have you heard of the Blue Whale Project? I know their email is Polio.information@gmail.com, and there’s a lot of information on www.ppsmanager.com. Oh my, wander I did. Parents? Neither. I started looking for new parents when I was 2-1/2. They told people I had died “at 7…” I made it; my younger siblings didn’t. Uri Bronfenbrenner and I were on a panel together, in 1976, and someone asked him if there was just 1 thing that was important to every child, what it would be, and he said, “Every child must have 1 person, only 1, who is insanely in love with them; it can be a crossing guard, a grandparent, a shop-keeper, anyone, but a child must know someone loves them insanely.” I had one.

Ann always said, Washington boggles the mind…and wouldn’t be surprised at all of this nonesense. The WASP Male model is a genius at only one thing—triangling people against one another, and the Neocons are better at it; however, neither can multi-task. So, let’s get going. GW #43 sb under house arrest while he’s being investigated MORE, and yes, Rove is rowing around doing his nasties again, as he did bringing votes for poor George or stopping the votes against him. He was doing these horrific things in Austin, right there from his own office, too. What amazes me is that we’re sitting here knowing full well what’s going on yet doing nothing about it - no one is. In the 60s we were out in the streets, and to heck with what we were called, or though of. If we don’t do something quickly, and insist the candidates all get off their butts, there will be another nightmare perpetuated solely to trip up this election, too - and this group doesn’t care about lives. We’ve seen how much they care, including little “Condi,” with Katrina, the POW inhumane treatment, and torture taking the U.S. back beyond our nation’s founding in human rights — we’re like China! And, lest we forget the scare tactics about SS, and “money running out by …” but not one of those goons has mentioned recouping the cost of war, and unlimited spending the Senate and House have agreed to without checking to see if we had the money or not — not one is ethical, or moral…no one. Ann, Molly, and Barbara are waiting for us to get all of us out on the front lawn of 1600 raising hell. Every election brings off the wall situations, but this one is deliberate, and don’t think any differently. We have work to do, and we’re not doing it. Lesley, you have the opporutnity to make some demands - get going! And, btw, the Veep isn’t very bright, he’s just experienced. While you’re at it, check out the Mexican Mafia, and follow the money …

In truth, Bev, it doesn’t appear this depth of concern interests people enough, sadly not women, or this group. In fact, if corporate America wasn’t making so much $ off our youth, in particular the “minority-youth” it might be an actual concern. The sports attire (shoes, et al) make billions off this population, as to others, and that is the purpose of this website, de facto marketing. While we’re at it, it’s time Change the World got it’s pants on - and started in earnest, and the domain beefed up its resources.

Suzanne, women’s universities are highly responsive to women with multiple responsibilities. A colleauge and I brought the Displaced Homemaker program into national acceptance, with President Carter who created a specific place for it in his tenure—Charlotte went to DC to move it throughout the nation (my children were too young for me to relocate at the time). As a result, PELL and other grant programs recognize the importance and offer “handicap” for women returning to education. In fact, meet with the Financial Aid director, in person, and file an amended Pell application, ASAP. Your institution will grant you the funds based on the incoming Pell results, in advance - don’t worry about it - let Financial Aid handle it. Scholarships are pathetically inadequate, including AAUW’s. I’ve been with AAUW, and the Foundation in the past, and there simply are not enough women giving appreciable amounts of $ to same - they and the other “great philanthropists” send their $$ out of the country - as you can see! DON’T STOP - keep going to school, if you’re on a career track that’ll benefit you. If not, consider another option. Medical training, for example in respiratory therapy, will set people up for a lifetime career demand - and the BS can be attained afterward, with tuition-paid. ;-))

http://onlinejournal.com/artman/publish/article_3088.shtml

Every post has tried to simplify a highly complex situation; it just won’t work. It’s time wasted, albeit, benefiting the marketing people lurking here, so let them know that the basics are there: prostitutes are often in horrific emotional pain; prostitution has “an incredible expanse of problems associated with it—it will never be resolved (top HR VP of restaurant chain who ‘fights it all the time’);” men, in general - majority - leave their ethics, careers, families, education, status, and self-esteem ‘at the door’ of bars, clubs, Chicken Ranches, and—‘when the wife leaves the home,’ and become another person. They have no self-control because ??? —they do not have serious multiple responsibilities and multiple body functions that perpetuate and protect life. They are not the soldiers that save the world.

Had GW #43 half a dose of ethics, he could have stopped this, not pursued “the agenda” that was set in place decades ago, of which his grandfather was part. Several years ago in a talk I gave, I brought up the fact that 10 years before GE was the largest employer in the US, with the average (across the board) wage of $20.71/hour. That year, Wal-Mart was the nation’s largest employer (still is), with the average wage at $9.19/hour. Great Scott, does no one think? Americans are lemmings. Our femalness leads us into submission, instead of substance. In the 60s, we were out on the streets daring the government to just try going into Tonkin! Good thing, too - it wasn’t needed - it was a farse, in fact. As for “investing” and sheltering, putting money into anything that is not quickly convertible is pure folly. I just stopped someone from dumping cash into their “house.” Find an institutional bonds executive, if you must, but otherwise, it’s long past the time to “hold;” but do it. Parents, go out to sales, or re-sale shops, and buy your children their clothing in the next 6 sizes; put them away, and wait. Plant a garden, use no-till organic methods, to save the earth and water; fill your water features with herbs, and use grey-water on them (the evaporation in our fountains—just 1—will provide water for a year for 2 people) from your showers, etc. Sit tight, or move “for a while.” Plan ahead. In re Societe Bank of France, HA.