Paul Newman RIP

It’s sad to see a giant of the silver screen like Paul Newman disappear from humanity’s ranks–but it had to happen eventually. Newman leaves behind an amazing body of work that includes drama, comedy, suspense and a Western (Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid is the only one that comes to my mind and you could argue it was a comedy/adventure film that happened to take place in the old West).

Newman retrospectives have been written up in the NY Times (twice) and, at length, in the LA Times.

Newman died of cancer at the age of 83. Funny–no matter how old he got, he always seemed to have a timeless quality to him. He will be missed.

Cat-astrophic Eviction Avoided at Hemingway House

I’m happy to report that the six-toed descendants of Ernest Hemingway’s cat, Snowball, will get to continue living in and around the late author’s house in Key West.

Several years ago, the U.S. Department of Agriculture threatened to fine the Ernest Hemingway Home and Museum $200 a day per cat (about $10,000 total), claiming it didn’t have the proper animal exhibition license to keep the cats on its grounds and couldn’t qualify for one. Since the cats have always just been there and haven’t been kept on exhibit, the museum fought the USDA’s attempts to fine them and (sniff) take the cats away. (And I’m sure the feds wouldn’t have personally seen to each and every one of the cats being placed with good homes–not.)

But this cat tale (ooh–sorry) has a happy ending. The museum and the USDA have reached an accord that lets the 50 or so cats keep roaming the grounds.

It took years of “fruitless” meetings between the parties and the museum paying more than $250,000 for legal bills and fencing, but the cats can stay at the Hemingway house.

There is still the unresolved question of whether the museum needs a permit–something the courts may have to decide. But who cares?! The cats get to keep their home! So they end up the winners in this legal battle–and rightly so.

Political Tidbits

Sen. Barbara Boxer says Stephen Johnson, the head of the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, has lied to Congress (I’m shocked . . . shocked, I tell ya’) about his basis for turning down California’s request to limit carbon dioxide emissions from cars and light trucks. The remark was prompted by an EPA staffer’s testimony that “he could recall no EPA recommendation to reject the waiver [allowing California to regulate the emissions], that all the advice he was aware of recommended granting the waiver or at least granting it for a period of two years.” The exact quote from Boxer to the senator who elicited this information in questioning: “You’ve shown that what Mr. Johnson told us is not the truth.” Okay, so she didn’t say “liar, liar, pants on fire” . . . but close enough.

And while some political figures are telling lies (or, at least, not speaking the truth), John McCain chose an inopportune moment not to speak, period. So much for straight talk?

The Funny and The Weird

I thought this was funny–though I’m not sure whether David Foster Wallace fans or NASCAR fans should feel more offended by it.

And this . . . well, weird doesn’t begin to describe it.

(Both via Confessions of an Idiosyncratic Mind)

Why We Need TSCA and . . . the Rubber Dodo?

There’s a reason we need the Toxic Substances Control Act or, given its astounding failure since its passage in 1976 to make manufacturers use less toxic chemicals in producing stuff, something very much like it. This article tells you the reason–I think the headline says it best and the photo caption explains the problem in a nutshell.

In fact, it turns out that understanding potential chemical risks isn’t even part of chemical engineering training. Now, just how screwed up is that?

Meanwhile, in other environmental news, this doesn’t exactly sound like a gold star for Sarah Palin.

Is the Sky Falling?

I think the headline pretty much says it all.

Plus, speaking of skies and disaster, there’s Hurricane Ike and others–which look a lot cooler from space than they do on the ground.

We’re Sorry . . . So Sorry . . .

On behalf of Charles Darwin, who was unable to be here due to circumstances beyond his control (namely, his death), we would like to accept this somewhat-long-in-coming apology from the Church of England for rejecting his theory of evolution.

So Darwin gets to enjoy the Church of England’s apology about as much as Lenny Bruce enjoyed the pardon for his obscenity conviction and Galileo enjoyed the Catholic Church’s concession (in the early 1990s) that the Sun didn’t revolve around the Earth.

In any case, die-hard creationists and intelligent designers, please take note. If the Church of England is willing to apologize to Darwin, can we agree that it’s possible to believe in both God and evolution? Or agree to disagree? Or whatever–just enough arguing about this stuff already, okay?

A Little of This, A Bit of That

Sounds like they’ve been going kind of crazy at the Department of Interior–sex, drugs and graft, eh? (What about the rock ‘n roll?)

And am I seeing things? Social networking for babies? Surely, they mean social networking for parents of babies, don’t they? (I’m trying to picture–without success–a toddler navigating a Web site. I know kids use computers young these days, but really . . .) In any case, it looks like a lot of new baby networking sites are springing up now. Will parents be calendaring “play dates” online now? Will they Twitter every time Junior reaches a new milestone–”He grew his first tooth!” “She just took her first steps!” The mind boggles.

Also, if you’re tired of hearing from the two usual suspects in the presidential race, you might want to consider this alternative from the Libertarian Party. Bob Barr has some strong views on things and, since he’s a Libertarian and will never win, he’s not afraid to share them.

And, finally, Apple releases its “cleanest” iPod yet. The company claims its new iPod Nano is the most “toxic free” model to date. Greenpeace has been after Apple to clean up its act and, in response, the company says that, starting Jan. 1, 2009, it will make products free of BFRs (brominated flame retardants) and PVC (polyvinyl chloride). Now that’s good news!

The Frustration of Dystonia and My Attempt to Help

This excellent column was written by Beka Serdans, a nurse who developed dystonia. Even though my dystonia is much less noticeable than Beka’s, it has been (almost) equally frustrating for me to find treatment that actually works. Even though we have very different forms of the disorder–Beka’s dystonia affects her neck and gait, where mine affects my left hand and foot (parts of my body that were temporarily paralyzed following a stroke)–as I read the piece, I found myself relating quite a bit to her situation.

I nodded knowingly as I read about her avoiding sitting in seats reserved for the disabled on public transportation, because–goodness knows!–she wasn’t one of them, was she?

I could totally relate as she recounted the seemingly endless search for viable treatment options–the alternative therapies, the occupational therapies, the splints, the meds and so on. Botox, so far, has worked for me . . . a little, but not completely to my satisfaction. But finding the right dose and the right places to inject it has been a complete trial-and-error affair that’s taken years to iron out–and even so, it’s not perfect. I’m currently experimenting with the use of kinesiotape (thank you Olympic swimmers, for enlightening us about this!) on the opposing muscles to those that clench in my arm, which has helped a little–at least, while the tape lasts. We’ll see how that goes. (Deep brain stimulation is an option no one has recommended and one to which I’d rather not resort.)

I also had to smile at her response, when people asked why she wore a cervical collar to counteract her twisting and spasms. “Stiff neck,” she would say, though the real answer was much more complicated. But if you tell people you have dystonia, most of the time you’ll get a blank stare followed by, “What’s that?” Then you have to explain it. And isn’t having dystonia enough work as it is?

Which is why so often, when I wear a wrist brace to counter the constant clenching in my left hand from dystonia, if people ask, “Carpal tunnel?” I’ll often say, “It’s a long story” and leave it to their imaginations.

However, lately I’ve been trying to just tell them. I’ll simply say, “I have a movement disorder. It makes my hand clench all the time.” People are often surprised, alarmed even to hear about this. If I don’t wear a wrist brace, my affliction often goes unnoticed. (Which can be a blessing and a curse.) When I complain of pain, fatigue or discomfort, I often hear others say, “Well, you look just great!” Which is nice, but not much consolation to someone who’d like to feel great again.

Why do I tell them? Mainly, because I feel like it must be told. People need to be made aware of dystonia. And if those who suffer from it don’t tell them, who will?

Anyway, I have corresponded with Beka on previous occasions. She founded Care4Dystonia Inc., “a nationwide community-based health organization dedicated to Setting the PACE: Patient Care, Awareness, Collaboration and Education for the dystonia community and the general public.” And if you’d like, you can order a dystonia awareness T-shirt from her organization (I ordered the one on the right), so you can spread the word about the existence of this disorder/need for a cure and look really cool at the same time–what could be better?

I am gratified for the efforts of organizations like Beka’s, as well as the Dystonia Medical Research Foundation, which funds research on the problem and did a lot to promote a documentary called “Twisted” (made by dystonia sufferer Laurel Chiten about three other people with the disorder), and the Bachmann-Strauss Dystonia & Parkinson Foundation, which recently produced a public service announcement about dystonia.

For my own part, I’ve tried to write about the problem when I can. But somehow I felt like I had to do more. So, I’ve started organizing a dystonia ride through a local Harley dealership in my area. I’m hoping that, with support from the HOG chapter at the dealership and other chapters in the area, as well as the dystonia support groups in my area, I can make this a success. This will be an “all bike” event, not just Harleys (I’ve even heard of rides that allowed 4-wheelers along with the 2-wheelers, so that’s a possibility, as well).

Wish me luck!

Put Some Stinkweed in Your Tank?

A biodiesel company has started a pilot program to test using a weed called pennycress as a biofuel. Pennycress is also known as “stinkweed.”

Researchers have been considering all sorts of biological alternatives to petroleum-based fuels–from corn to canola, from animal fat to algae. According to the article, “Researchers at the Center for Agricultural Utilization Research stumbled on pennycress a few years ago after noticing it growing wild. They soon found it had potential biodiesel benefits: the little seeds are 36 percent oil, it’s easy to harvest and has potential for a high yield per acre.”

Since it is a weed, there’s less information available on cultivating stinkweed than eradicating it. However, if it grows like a weed, one would think cultivation shouldn’t be too much of an issue.

I just always thought “stinkweed” referred to something else . . .