It's Tartan Day once again, a day to celebrate all things Scottish.

Remember, if it's not Scottish, it's crap!

For more on Tartan Day, see Ith's post, or check out the Tartan blogroll (near the bottom of the left sidebar on this page)

Last year's post recognizing my own Scots ancestry is here.

One of my favorite Scottish things is the music. There are TON of great bands from Scotland, both in traditional and popular music. Check out this list of Scotland's favorites. You might even know some of them.

Here are some Scottish bands that are DEFINITELY NOT crap:
(LOTS of YouTube vids below the Jump!) more...

Posted by: caltechgirl at 12:57 AM | Comments (4) | Add Comment
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Let's put it this way, if I was the mama Billy Goat Gruff, I wouldn't go near this bridge myself, let alone the little BGG....

Paroled sex offenders living under Miami highway bridge

 

MIAMI -- Several paroled sex offenders are living under a noisy highway bridge and fending off rats each night, because they cannot find housing in compliance with strict county ordinances for violators, state officials and one of the men said Thursday.

At least three men are making their home under the Julia Tuttle Causeway, which connects Miami with neighboring Miami Beach, said Gretl Plessinger, a spokeswoman for the Florida Corrections Department. One of the men under the bridge said he was among five.

The state decided they could live under the bridge because the men were unable to find housing they could afford and that did not violate Miami-Dade county rules, which say sex offenders must live at least 2,500 feet from places children gather.

They must stay there between 10 p.m. and 6 a.m. because a parole officer checks on them nearly every night, Plessinger said.

"This is not an ideal situation for anybody, but at this point we don't have any other options," Plessinger said. "We're still looking, the offenders are still actively searching for residences."

[...]

"This is an injustice," said the man who wouldn't give his name. "I completed my sentence."

The man refused to discuss the crime that landed him under the bridge, but state records show a host of offenses for the men who live there: sexual battery, molestation, abuse, grand theft. Many of the crimes are against children.

"Public safety is our main focus and we feel like public safety is being achieved in these individuals," Plessinger said. "But this is a problem that is going to have to be addressed. If we drive these offenders so far underground or we can't supervise them because they become so transient it's not making us safer."

Most homeless shelters won't take the men, Plessinger said, because they're sex offenders. One that would is within the prohibited range of a school or daycare center. She said one of the men, for example, found dozens of residences he was happy to live in, but parole officers vetoed all of them because they violated county rules.

Plessinger said she believed the state first authorized sex offenders to live under a bridge last June. Before the causeway, some of the men lived under a bridge in downtown Miami. They were forced to leave, Plessinger said, when it was determined they were within range of a daycare center.

The man under the causeway on Thursday said he had been there for about six weeks. He said he fears for his life.

Here's the creepy part:

Ironically, putting the men here hasn't kept them out of reach of children. On Thursday afternoon, down the concrete slope from the men's makeshift home, a family with young children played in the bay next to their boat, oblivious to the sex offenders who call a place under a bridge their home. (emphasis mine, --Ed.)

Posted by: caltechgirl at 09:17 PM | Comments (3) | Add Comment
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I sent this in an email earlier, in response to some discussion about the fat rant I posted below.

It's below the jump because it's pretty long and profanity laced. more...

Posted by: caltechgirl at 12:04 PM | Comments (11) | Add Comment
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1 no one seems to think this blog deserves a comment

Posted by: John Ryan at April 05, 2007 04:20 PM (TcoRJ)

2 Can you hear me applauding? Well said. I agree completely.

Posted by: Theresa at April 05, 2007 04:24 PM (xpIQQ)

3 I saw a youtube video at Beth's http://www.thedonovan.com/beth/archives/2007/04/i_think_i_shoul.html today that you might like. I think you're right, and so is the girl in the video. Hell. None of us are perfect and we all have to deal with stuff that we shouldn't have to because of our flaws and the way society views them. Keep rantin' if it make you feel good.

Posted by: RedNeck at April 05, 2007 07:29 PM (IqSuW)

4 I can't wait to meet you in person and give you a hug. You're my hero.

Posted by: wRitErsbLock at April 05, 2007 07:31 PM (0Pi1o)

5 I've started a comment about 3 different times only to be interrupted and have to leave off... ARG! To some people I'm fat, to others I'm skinny. It all depends on who is doing the looking and sometimes who I'm standing next to... (my family were masters of insinuating that I was fat *sigh*) Long ago I realized I can't "do" diets. I don't have the interest to maintain something like that - it's way too much work. There for I am what I am - I don't try to be different. And while I've never been out shopping with friends, I know all about not finding your size in most any store... I'm 5'9"... that puts me squarely between the regular sizes (ending at 5'7") and the tall sizes (starting at 5'10"). Nothing is more frustrating than being the only kid in class who can't find jeans that hit below the ankle. Looking at cute jackets... only to find that the sleeves end three inches above the wrist. Being the one girl who has to stand in the back with the boys (most of whom you also tower over) for class pictures... I've had friends who were "fat" and yet none of them was persecuted as much as one of my friends in High School who was severely underweight. She wasn't just thin, she was skinny... in the knobby knee and elbow sense. I tried my best to stand up to them when she was harassed within my hearing. I've never understood why people pick on others because of their looks. Of course it's a mind game... makes the harassers feel superior. Far too many people think they need to tell others how to live, eat, sleep, play, work... you name it. With looks, it's an easy target - someone always has advice and "knows" it's the best around. Ho-hum. Unfortunately, our brains are built to remember the slights far more clearly than the smiles. Having had the great pleasure of meeting you, I can say right now, I really never thought at all about your weight... there were far more relevant things to be thinking about... like the conversation at hand. Then again I have a wonky brain, ask anyone. Heh.

Posted by: Teresa at April 05, 2007 08:28 PM (gsbs5)

6 I'm glad you are able to deal with the comments and feel good about yourself. If we ever get to meet, I'll show you pictures of me as I was growing up and you'll wonder why I love myself. I was ugly. But amazingly it works wonders if you don't care what other people think and love yourself. You know best!

Posted by: vw bug at April 06, 2007 12:28 PM (cudDU)

7 Thank you. Reading that was just what I needed. I just got done having a discussion with my mom who was telling me how important it is for women to learn to accept and love themselves, no matter what they look like or what size they are. You're an excellent example.

Posted by: JM at April 06, 2007 03:25 PM (3IU8F)

8 I am perpetually amazed by people and how judgemental they are. (I've been meaning to comment on this post since I read it yesterday, but just had a couple minutes of down time.) I don't get it. I really don't. I think one of the most appalling things I've seen in awhile was when we were together and someone came up to you and said something I construed as insulting and rude. I thought I'd blow a frickin' gasket. And you handled yourself so well, while I wanted to absolutely strangle her with her tongue. I have many friends who shop in the Plus sizes departments and to all of them I say, when they bring up weight, "Just Love yourself." That's all I want for them. If they love themselves no matter their weight, I am happy and care not about anything else. If they cannot love themselves for who they are, then I am concerned. I liked your post. Nicely ranted.

Posted by: Bou at April 06, 2007 08:47 PM (8LOvI)

9 Wow, my friend. You are AWESOME! I admire you for your strength, your intelligence, and your courage. ; )

Posted by: Christina at April 07, 2007 07:01 AM (FaCaW)

10 Once again, Sister. AMEN. You hit this one out of the park!

Posted by: Richmond at April 07, 2007 01:54 PM (e8QFP)

11 I applaud every word in your blog. Thanks

Posted by: Lyz at April 10, 2007 11:11 AM (ejMLX)

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Posted by: caltechgirl at 08:12 PM | Comments (1) | Add Comment
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...and you don't even know the reporter.

But this story, from Sunday's Raleigh News and Observer, well, it's not hard.

Hispanic DWIs rooted in immigrants' culture

When Eliseo Hernandez came to the United States 30 years ago, he thought he drove better after a few beers. Driving drunk had been normal back in Mexico, he said. But Hernandez, 54, learned of its perils firsthand. He quit the practice after falling asleep at the wheel and hitting a tree 18 years ago.

Then, last year, a young Hispanic man who authorities say was drunk nearly killed Hernandez's only son, Diego, in a crash on a rural Johnston County road. Eliseo Hernandez's daughter, who was nine months pregnant, lost her unborn child in the accident.

Hernandez has spent the past year following Diego through four hospitals and 14 brain surgeries. Diego only recently began to smile again and might never walk.

Hernandez said he hopes his painful journey will teach his friends and family a lesson. Car accidents are the top killer of Hispanics in North Carolina, and the disproportionate number of alcohol-related arrests and wrecks are an embarrassment to a minority already beleaguered by hard feelings over illegal immigration.

"It makes the Mexicans look bad, very bad," Hernandez said. "The American people say 'Oh, it's just another Hispanic, the same as the others.' "

DWIs are far higher among hispanics than any other culture in NC, and for a while this was seen as racial profiling by police and State Troopers.  In CA, many times the DWI hispanic driver is also an illegal alien. Interesting now to see this article owning that DWI/DUI is sometimes part of the culture.

The first step is admitting you have a problem.

Posted by: caltechgirl at 07:22 PM | Comments (2) | Add Comment
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Phoenix has a new fiction challenge up.  1,000 words inspired by 3 pictures.  Due Friday April 13.

I think I already have an opening sentence....

Posted by: caltechgirl at 12:52 PM | Comments (1) | Add Comment
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The TiVo records 2 things at a time, and we can't watch another channel when it records 2.

Tuesday at 9, however, is a WEALTH of good TV.  What's a girl to do?

House
DWS elimination show
Deadliest Catch (it's back!  YAY!)
Dog the Bounty Hunter

Thank God the cable companies re-run their primetime shows 3 or 4 hours later. DC and Dog each record at 1am Wednesday, while DWS and House record LIVE...

So I'll be seeing both of them tonight.

I've mentioned before how much I LURVE Deadliest Catch.  Don't ask why.  I just like watching these guys go out and try to beat Mother Nature and make BANK in 2 weeks.  Good for them.

Spring is definitely the BEST TV time.  YAY!

Posted by: caltechgirl at 12:50 PM | Comments (3) | Add Comment
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I would use some cliche title like "Fat and Happy" but that would insult ME, so I didn't.

This so perfectly expresses my attitude about my body. 

Fat happens.  Get over it.  Yes, I can diet and exercise. In fact, I do.  But my body happens to LIKE being this size, I guess.  So what?  Why should you care?  Projecting YOUR insecurities on me, huh?  I'm happy, my husband thinks I'm sexy, and the doctor says I'm 100% healthy except for a disease that has NOTHING to do with my weight.

So why should I waste my time being upset about it?  Seriously.

As my buddy Cartman once put it, "I'm not fat, I'm festively plump."
h/t RG

Posted by: caltechgirl at 12:11 PM | Comments (5) | Add Comment
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It appears the dookie spelling test got 50% easier.  But you still have to spell Krzyzewski, as it's coach Gail Goestenkors that's leaving town:

Goestenkors was widely considered the top candidate to replace Hall of Famer Jody Conradt at Texas after her sudden resignation last month.

The night Conradt retired, Texas officials made it clear they would be willing to pay for a top-notch coach. Conradt earned $550,000 a year. While Goestenkors' salary at Duke is not a public record, it was believed the private school would be unlikely to match a high offer from the Longhorns.

Goestenkors visited the Texas campus last week, when she met with women's athletic director Chris Plonsky and members of the school's search committee and toured the Longhorns' facilities.

Goestenkors coached the Blue Devils to four Final Fours and two appearances in the national championship game. Her last Duke team was one of her best. The Blue Devils ended the regular season ranked No. 1 and held the top overall seed in the NCAA tournament, but were upset in the regional semifinals by Rutgers. Duke ended the season 32-2.

Posted by: caltechgirl at 04:43 PM | Comments (1) | Add Comment
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The oldest living Naval veteran of WWI has made his last call.

In 1918, a young man from the Ozarks lied about his age - he was only 16 - to enlist in the Navy and "see the world." He served aboard a battleship, the USS New Hampshire. His name was Lloyd Brown, and he was our oldest living naval veteran of the First World War.

He died Thursday at age 105, survived by three daughters.

Posted by: caltechgirl at 01:13 PM | Comments (1) | Add Comment
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Yoga is a fun, relaxing practice. Sure, it can be challenging, but I find that even a few simple stretches and poses are very good for helping me to relax and focus, especially in the midst of a very stressful task or a rapidly approaching deadline.

One thing that usually DOESN'T help, however, is my beloved Princess. She is drawn like a magnet to mommy on the floor, assuming of course, that the only reason I would be there is to play with her. Frankly, she's WAY more of a hinderance than anything, especially if I am trying to meditate.

So I was highly amused when I found this article today:

In Bryan's class, the humans do traditional yoga poses -- yes, including "downward facing dog" -- while staying in contact physically with their pets.

Part of the class includes gentle stretching and dog massage, another specialty of Bryan's, but most of the time the humans gently use the dogs like yoga props.

In downward facing dog, for example, the humans rest their heads on their companions, who are relaxing -- napping? -- on the mat.

"Don't be too ambitious," she said. "Honor where your dog is and remember that dogs respond to our energy."

Actually, it sounds like fun.  And it's a great fundraiser for the humane society.

Posted by: caltechgirl at 12:07 PM | Comments (3) | Add Comment
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