An old review of Stiff: The Curious Lives of Human Cadavers by Mary Roach:
Where has this book been all my life? :) As someone interested in this sort of thing (death, the funeral industry, forensics), I was surprised that I had not heard of this book until recently. And I must say that it was exactly what I expected it to be. Roach takes a look at how corpses serve a purpose after death - their "life after life." From serving as med school gross anatomy tools to crash test "dummies," human cadavers can play important roles in the work of scientists, doctors, and engineers in their collective quest to keep the living safe and healthy. The ultimate cadaver post-life work is that of an organ donor - a single individual can save the lives of multiple others. But Roach doesn't just cover the "typical" cadaveric endeavors. For instance, she describes a visit to the "Body Farm" at the University of Tennessee, where donated cadavers are placed out in the open so that scientists can study rates and types of decay - with the goal of better forensic work. She also discusses other methods for preserving (plastination, as used in the work of the man behind the "Body Worlds" exhibits) and disposing of bodies (liquification, fertilizer), including a few taboo subjects (cannibalism). Overall, this book is tremendously entertaining; Roach is a very funny writer, but she manages to still respect her, um, subjects. Probably not a good book for the squeamish, though - especially the chapter on decay (don't ask about the "haciendas")
Friday, May 7, 2010
Wednesday, April 28, 2010
As I've been feeling like I need an outlet lately, I've decided to do something with this blog...at least until I get back into the writing swing of things.
For now, I'm going to start by posting some old book reviews. I love books...I love reading. But I don't necessarily like all the books I read. :)
The first book review (I read this last year, I think) - Steven Johnson's The Ghost Map: The Story of London's Most Terrifying Epidemic and How It Changed Science, Cities and the Modern World.
Johnson presents an intriguing story of medical investigation in mid-nineteenth century London. Reading about a vicious cholera epidemic, centered in a run-down neighborhood of Soho, makes the reader glad that he/she lives in a time when access to clean water is a given. Imagine seeing your neighbors succumb, sometimes in hours, to a disease that robs the body of all liquid, stiffens the blood, and makes your face turn blue...and not having any idea where it came from! Such was life in the early industrial city which, Johnson reminds us (constantly), was a disorganized, densely-packed collection of people, animals, smells, dirt, and excrement.
The story is essentially the story of two men - a doctor and a curate - who help to not only stop the "Broad Street" cholera outbreak, but change public opinion about the source of diseases such as cholera. Reading about the public health establishment's desperate clinging to the "miasma" theory of disease strikes us as comical, if it had not been such a deadly mistake. I am no expert in the history of epidemiology (though I have no doubt that the Broad Street epidemic and the work of Doctor Snow and Reverend Whitehead were elemental to the paradigm shift concerning the nature of epidemic disease). However, I often felt like Johnson was making overly-broad pronouncements concerning the Broad Street outbreak's influence on the future. ESPECIALLY when, in the last 50 pages or so, Johnson starts going on about the nature of cities and starts talking about terrorism, nuclear weapons, New York's 311 system, and the internet. I understand the points he was trying to make; however, I felt that they were out of place with the tone and progression of the rest of the book. I think Johnson felt that he had to write some grand unifying conclusion that made the book "relevant" to the modern reader. Why does he have to do that? Isn't the story about how two men helped advance the germ theory of disease in a skeptical public health establishment enough?
On the writing: I found that Johnson has a tendency to repeat points much too often. By the end of the book, I thought maybe he was getting paid by the word. He also repeats words and frequently uses metaphors that are clunky, at best.
For now, I'm going to start by posting some old book reviews. I love books...I love reading. But I don't necessarily like all the books I read. :)
The first book review (I read this last year, I think) - Steven Johnson's The Ghost Map: The Story of London's Most Terrifying Epidemic and How It Changed Science, Cities and the Modern World.
Johnson presents an intriguing story of medical investigation in mid-nineteenth century London. Reading about a vicious cholera epidemic, centered in a run-down neighborhood of Soho, makes the reader glad that he/she lives in a time when access to clean water is a given. Imagine seeing your neighbors succumb, sometimes in hours, to a disease that robs the body of all liquid, stiffens the blood, and makes your face turn blue...and not having any idea where it came from! Such was life in the early industrial city which, Johnson reminds us (constantly), was a disorganized, densely-packed collection of people, animals, smells, dirt, and excrement.
The story is essentially the story of two men - a doctor and a curate - who help to not only stop the "Broad Street" cholera outbreak, but change public opinion about the source of diseases such as cholera. Reading about the public health establishment's desperate clinging to the "miasma" theory of disease strikes us as comical, if it had not been such a deadly mistake. I am no expert in the history of epidemiology (though I have no doubt that the Broad Street epidemic and the work of Doctor Snow and Reverend Whitehead were elemental to the paradigm shift concerning the nature of epidemic disease). However, I often felt like Johnson was making overly-broad pronouncements concerning the Broad Street outbreak's influence on the future. ESPECIALLY when, in the last 50 pages or so, Johnson starts going on about the nature of cities and starts talking about terrorism, nuclear weapons, New York's 311 system, and the internet. I understand the points he was trying to make; however, I felt that they were out of place with the tone and progression of the rest of the book. I think Johnson felt that he had to write some grand unifying conclusion that made the book "relevant" to the modern reader. Why does he have to do that? Isn't the story about how two men helped advance the germ theory of disease in a skeptical public health establishment enough?
On the writing: I found that Johnson has a tendency to repeat points much too often. By the end of the book, I thought maybe he was getting paid by the word. He also repeats words and frequently uses metaphors that are clunky, at best.
Wednesday, April 21, 2010
Wow!
I haven't touched this blog since 2008...maybe I should pick up where I left off. After all, I am filled with joy, lust, indignation, and various other feelings which need ventilation from my soul...
Monday, November 24, 2008
I feel like writing something stupid today...
Words that I like, just because they sound cool:
mellifluous
iconoclastic
aircraft
shenanigans
policy
queen
summarily
nevertheless
hobo
byzantine
mayonnaise
ecclesiastical
transubstantiation
mellifluous
iconoclastic
aircraft
shenanigans
policy
queen
summarily
nevertheless
hobo
byzantine
mayonnaise
ecclesiastical
transubstantiation
Thursday, November 6, 2008
The Fearmongering of Certain Republicans
The election is over. The Republicans lost. You live in country where there is a democratic process and the people choose the President. If you can't deal with it, leave. Most of us Democrats didn't like it when Bush was elected...but we dealt with it. And we didn't leave our country because we didn't have the money...(just kidding). We stayed here because we love our nation.I am really concerned about the people who are panicking about the election of Obama. The man has not even taken office yet! And, even when he does, this government is a system of checks and balances. One branch cannot go and do something crazy (not that I expect that, anyway); the other two branches can stop it. Let me be a little honest here: When September 11 happened, I was initially impressed by Bush's handling of the situation. I actually thought to myself, "Well, maybe it won't be so bad after all." Seven years later, I know I was wrong. Even though I have not liked Bush for a long time, I have NEVER said that he is NOT MY PRESIDENT. Whether I liked it or not, he was and if, for instance, I ever met him - I would grant him the respect due his position.BUT the difference between me and the folks who are already calling for Obama's impeachment is that I ALREADY GAVE Bush a chance. I have seen the results of the policies and actions of his administration....the wars, the bank crisis, the divisiveness. I have seen my country become more hated and less respected over the last eight years...and it bothers me.If people are truly believers in what the founders of this nation wanted, they should at least give Obama the chance to get in office. You DO NOT know what policies he is going to make. You DO NOT know what new challenges lay ahead. You DO NOT know what the first "100 days" will bring. So, for the sake of unity, give Obama the chance to show what he is made of. If he starts doing things that you don't agree with, FINE...complain all you want. But he is STILL YOUR PRESIDENT-ELECT and he deserves respect.
Friday, October 31, 2008
Wow...I was just browsing through the available Flair on the "Pieces of Flair" Facebook application (it's really quite a fun thing, if you don't take it too seriously).I am dismayed by the number of buttons that describe Obama as a "Communist," "Socialist," or even a "Nazi." Folks - learn a little about history:
For one - make up your mind. Nazism/fascism (far right) and Communism/TRUE socialism (far left) are DIAMETRICALLY OPPOSED! Hitler tied the Socialist and Communist parties of Germany to the Jews - and essentially labeled Russia's Bolshevist movement a Jewish plot. Hitler believed that Jews were a "nation without a nation"; he called them "parasites" infecting the German Fatherland. Hitler associated them with Communists because, in true Communist thought, all workers are united based upon class - regardless of nationality, religion, etc. It was these two groups' inability, in Hitler's opinion, to put the German nation above all ("Deutschland uber alles") that made them a threat to the nation's very existence. And Hitler was willing to do ANYTHING - as history has made clear - to protect the German nation (well, the people he thought belonged there).
Now Communism is Socialism taken to its most logical endpoint. There are many nations on this earth who are nominally "socialist" that most Americans don't have issues with: England is technically a "socialistic democracy" because of its program to take of its citizens from "cradle-to-grave" (socialized health care, unemployment, old age pensions, etc.). But England is not Communist: the British government does not take the earnings of all individuals, put it in a pot, and give everyone a plot of land and two cows. There are plenty of rich capitalists in England; religious freedom; free elections; and even private doctors, if you want them.
Socialism is not Communism. In Soviet Russia, the KGB spied on dissidents, who often ended up in jail or worse for speaking out against the party; leaving Russia to live in another country required the dangerous task of defection; all religion was silenced and the state promoted an atheistic devotion to State above gods; commodities were limited, as was the press and the trickle of information from the West. Separation of Church and State? Did not exist, because - in the eyes of the government - there was no Church.
Now, if you take the time to think - does it really seem logical, nay POSSIBLE, for BARACK OBAMA to take over this country, destroy its very fabric, and reverse the way of life we have had for 232 years??? A man seeking the highest office in the land who - no doubt - has been vetted and investigated by the entire US Intelligence Community (CIA, FBI, DIA, NSA)?? I mean, for pete's sake, many low-level Department of Defense employees have to have a minimum of a SECRET security clearance. Do you think your own current REPUBLICAN administration has completely dropped the ball and allowed a covert anti-American heathen with terrorist buddies to get into not only the SENATE, but a mere 270 electoral votes from the highest office in the land????!!!! FOR GOD'S SAKE PEOPLE, THINK!!!!!! To quote Charlie Brown after he got his bag of rocks on Halloween, "AARRRRRRGGGGG!!!!!!!!!!!!!!"
I have come to the conclusion that the majority of Facebook voters are very conservative...and sadly uneducated. Either that or these people simply make up a very (bored) vocal minority who have an excessive amount of time to produce hateful anti-Democrat "flair." This must be why they are voting for McCain - they don't have time to think.
For one - make up your mind. Nazism/fascism (far right) and Communism/TRUE socialism (far left) are DIAMETRICALLY OPPOSED! Hitler tied the Socialist and Communist parties of Germany to the Jews - and essentially labeled Russia's Bolshevist movement a Jewish plot. Hitler believed that Jews were a "nation without a nation"; he called them "parasites" infecting the German Fatherland. Hitler associated them with Communists because, in true Communist thought, all workers are united based upon class - regardless of nationality, religion, etc. It was these two groups' inability, in Hitler's opinion, to put the German nation above all ("Deutschland uber alles") that made them a threat to the nation's very existence. And Hitler was willing to do ANYTHING - as history has made clear - to protect the German nation (well, the people he thought belonged there).
Now Communism is Socialism taken to its most logical endpoint. There are many nations on this earth who are nominally "socialist" that most Americans don't have issues with: England is technically a "socialistic democracy" because of its program to take of its citizens from "cradle-to-grave" (socialized health care, unemployment, old age pensions, etc.). But England is not Communist: the British government does not take the earnings of all individuals, put it in a pot, and give everyone a plot of land and two cows. There are plenty of rich capitalists in England; religious freedom; free elections; and even private doctors, if you want them.
Socialism is not Communism. In Soviet Russia, the KGB spied on dissidents, who often ended up in jail or worse for speaking out against the party; leaving Russia to live in another country required the dangerous task of defection; all religion was silenced and the state promoted an atheistic devotion to State above gods; commodities were limited, as was the press and the trickle of information from the West. Separation of Church and State? Did not exist, because - in the eyes of the government - there was no Church.
Now, if you take the time to think - does it really seem logical, nay POSSIBLE, for BARACK OBAMA to take over this country, destroy its very fabric, and reverse the way of life we have had for 232 years??? A man seeking the highest office in the land who - no doubt - has been vetted and investigated by the entire US Intelligence Community (CIA, FBI, DIA, NSA)?? I mean, for pete's sake, many low-level Department of Defense employees have to have a minimum of a SECRET security clearance. Do you think your own current REPUBLICAN administration has completely dropped the ball and allowed a covert anti-American heathen with terrorist buddies to get into not only the SENATE, but a mere 270 electoral votes from the highest office in the land????!!!! FOR GOD'S SAKE PEOPLE, THINK!!!!!! To quote Charlie Brown after he got his bag of rocks on Halloween, "AARRRRRRGGGGG!!!!!!!!!!!!!!"
I have come to the conclusion that the majority of Facebook voters are very conservative...and sadly uneducated. Either that or these people simply make up a very (bored) vocal minority who have an excessive amount of time to produce hateful anti-Democrat "flair." This must be why they are voting for McCain - they don't have time to think.
Thursday, October 30, 2008
A little tale of Alaska...
**This is a work of fiction/parody...any resemblance to the real actions of the individuals named is simply coincidental...but hilarious!**
Wasilla, Alaska – A couple of months after the McCain-Palin duo failed in the 2008 presidential election....
Begin Scene 1: Bristol Palin is exhausted, having had to birth a baby and do at least 24 hours of irrational travelling at the start of her labor pains. Sarah Palin explains: “I started having labor pains and travelled for hours and hours, against all advice from those ‘medical elites’ [doctors, to most people], just so I could have my baby in the methamphetamine capital of Alaska! You betcha!” So after an airplane flight to San Francisco, a train trip to Seattle, a boat journey to Juneau, and a covered wagon drive to Wasilla – we find Bristol and her family in the hospital room, several hours after the birth of her little daughter, President Maverick Palin-Johnston.
[A small knock at the door is heard by Sarah Palin; she crosses the room to answer.]
Designated Alaskan Governor’s suck-up: Mrs. Palin, we have taken care of that...er...“problem” you wanted taken care of.
SP: Ooooh, great...excellent. [cuts to a whisper] You’re sure he’s gone?
DAGS: [whispers conspiratorially] Absolutely, Madame Governor. When he saw that suitcase full of cash and condoms, he willingly got on the plane to Thailand. Oh and he said, ‘Tell Bristol there ain’t no way that baby’s mine! Sayonara, motherf***ers!’
SP [smiles slyly...and winks]: Great...you betcha! [SP strolls over to her exhausted daughter’s bed.] Oh, honey...let me hold the little sweetie again!
Bristol Palin [not Johnston? Hmmm....]: Again, Mom? Geez, Levi hasn’t even gotten to see his little daughter yet...why hasn’t he gotten back? It can’t possible take that long to organize catering for a rehearsal dinner...KFC is not even busy at this time of day!
SP: [Puts on her best “standing in front of a rally, about to mention another Arab-sounding Obama friend’s name” face] Bristol, dear...I was waitin’ for the best time to tell you this but....Levi’s gone.
BP [ha...BP’s an oil company...coincidence? I think not.]: What??? But Mama...he said he was goin’ to marry me! And that we were going to hunt moose to feed our babies! And that he was goin’ to be Daddy’s snow machine racin’ partner!!
[Meanwhile, Todd feeds baby Trig while little Piper sits by, surreptitiously reading her A Child’s Guide to Karl Marx: K is For Das Kapital (signed and air-dropped into her bedroom by Vladimir Putin himself) behind a copy of VeggiTales.]
SP: Bristol, honey...I have it on good authority that Levi was...[sharp intake of breath]...abducted.
BP: Abducted?? By aliens??
SP: Oh, don’t be silly...everyone knows aliens aren’t real...just witches, demons, and the Anti-Christ. Anyway, we think he was abducted by....polar bears!
[Everybody in the room turns towards SP, waiting to hear how-the-hell she’s going to explain this one.]
BP: Polar bears?
SP: Sure, you betcha! [SP reflexively starts winking uncontrollably, as she does whenever put on the spot to explain her statements.] I told those government folks that polar bears aren’t endangered! Why, there’s so many of them, they’ve started to round up our menfolk and hold ‘em hostage! We think they’re holdin’ Levi in exchange for us not drillin’ in the ANWR. But...and I’m sorry, honey, but you’ll understand...we don’t negotiate with terrorists...terrorist bears. Because it’s all about job creation. Maverick. [slaps face] Sorry...flashback. [Raises her fist into the air and shakes it.] Darn you, Obama!!
[As Bristol starts to cry uncontrollably, the attending doctor and nurse take comfort in the fact that – under Obama’s new social reforms, Bristol and her fatherless wilderness baby will be ok. SP picks up the child and carries her over to the window.]
SP: [whispering] Oh, little baby...I have big plans for you. When I run in 2012, I will carry you around– my sweet grandbaby – because apparently my little bundle of fuzzy hats and mittens Trig wasn’t the “good-luck charm” I thought he would be. And I will skip a generation and say YOU are the future of the Republican Party...Ayers...no experience...Joe the Plumber...gotcha media...[grits her teeth angrily] Focus, Sarah, focus!...Because although I may not win in 2012, there will always be you....[she takes the baby girl, holds her up “Lion King”-style to the window and yells]...my little President Palin!
End Scene
(c) Copyright T. Owens, 2008
Wasilla, Alaska – A couple of months after the McCain-Palin duo failed in the 2008 presidential election....
Begin Scene 1: Bristol Palin is exhausted, having had to birth a baby and do at least 24 hours of irrational travelling at the start of her labor pains. Sarah Palin explains: “I started having labor pains and travelled for hours and hours, against all advice from those ‘medical elites’ [doctors, to most people], just so I could have my baby in the methamphetamine capital of Alaska! You betcha!” So after an airplane flight to San Francisco, a train trip to Seattle, a boat journey to Juneau, and a covered wagon drive to Wasilla – we find Bristol and her family in the hospital room, several hours after the birth of her little daughter, President Maverick Palin-Johnston.
[A small knock at the door is heard by Sarah Palin; she crosses the room to answer.]
Designated Alaskan Governor’s suck-up: Mrs. Palin, we have taken care of that...er...“problem” you wanted taken care of.
SP: Ooooh, great...excellent. [cuts to a whisper] You’re sure he’s gone?
DAGS: [whispers conspiratorially] Absolutely, Madame Governor. When he saw that suitcase full of cash and condoms, he willingly got on the plane to Thailand. Oh and he said, ‘Tell Bristol there ain’t no way that baby’s mine! Sayonara, motherf***ers!’
SP [smiles slyly...and winks]: Great...you betcha! [SP strolls over to her exhausted daughter’s bed.] Oh, honey...let me hold the little sweetie again!
Bristol Palin [not Johnston? Hmmm....]: Again, Mom? Geez, Levi hasn’t even gotten to see his little daughter yet...why hasn’t he gotten back? It can’t possible take that long to organize catering for a rehearsal dinner...KFC is not even busy at this time of day!
SP: [Puts on her best “standing in front of a rally, about to mention another Arab-sounding Obama friend’s name” face] Bristol, dear...I was waitin’ for the best time to tell you this but....Levi’s gone.
BP [ha...BP’s an oil company...coincidence? I think not.]: What??? But Mama...he said he was goin’ to marry me! And that we were going to hunt moose to feed our babies! And that he was goin’ to be Daddy’s snow machine racin’ partner!!
[Meanwhile, Todd feeds baby Trig while little Piper sits by, surreptitiously reading her A Child’s Guide to Karl Marx: K is For Das Kapital (signed and air-dropped into her bedroom by Vladimir Putin himself) behind a copy of VeggiTales.]
SP: Bristol, honey...I have it on good authority that Levi was...[sharp intake of breath]...abducted.
BP: Abducted?? By aliens??
SP: Oh, don’t be silly...everyone knows aliens aren’t real...just witches, demons, and the Anti-Christ. Anyway, we think he was abducted by....polar bears!
[Everybody in the room turns towards SP, waiting to hear how-the-hell she’s going to explain this one.]
BP: Polar bears?
SP: Sure, you betcha! [SP reflexively starts winking uncontrollably, as she does whenever put on the spot to explain her statements.] I told those government folks that polar bears aren’t endangered! Why, there’s so many of them, they’ve started to round up our menfolk and hold ‘em hostage! We think they’re holdin’ Levi in exchange for us not drillin’ in the ANWR. But...and I’m sorry, honey, but you’ll understand...we don’t negotiate with terrorists...terrorist bears. Because it’s all about job creation. Maverick. [slaps face] Sorry...flashback. [Raises her fist into the air and shakes it.] Darn you, Obama!!
[As Bristol starts to cry uncontrollably, the attending doctor and nurse take comfort in the fact that – under Obama’s new social reforms, Bristol and her fatherless wilderness baby will be ok. SP picks up the child and carries her over to the window.]
SP: [whispering] Oh, little baby...I have big plans for you. When I run in 2012, I will carry you around– my sweet grandbaby – because apparently my little bundle of fuzzy hats and mittens Trig wasn’t the “good-luck charm” I thought he would be. And I will skip a generation and say YOU are the future of the Republican Party...Ayers...no experience...Joe the Plumber...gotcha media...[grits her teeth angrily] Focus, Sarah, focus!...Because although I may not win in 2012, there will always be you....[she takes the baby girl, holds her up “Lion King”-style to the window and yells]...my little President Palin!
End Scene
(c) Copyright T. Owens, 2008
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