Texas Truth Keeps Marching On

♠
HOUSTON, April 25 — A revolt by lawmakers has blocked Gov. Rick Perry’s effort to make Texas the first state to require sixth-grade girls to be vaccinated against a sexually transmitted virus that causes cervical cancer.

... Bill Miller, an Austin lobbyist close to the Republican leadership, said the mixture of “under-age girls, cancer and sex” had proven too volatile.

-- Ralph Blumenthal for The New York Times

I was too quick in praising Texas for rising above itself. Score another for the religious whackos.

xXx

Texas Truth Keeps Marching On

♠
HOUSTON, April 25 — A revolt by lawmakers has blocked Gov. Rick Perry’s effort to make Texas the first state to require sixth-grade girls to be vaccinated against a sexually transmitted virus that causes cervical cancer.

... Bill Miller, an Austin lobbyist close to the Republican leadership, said the mixture of “under-age girls, cancer and sex” had proven too volatile.

-- Ralph Blumenthal for The New York Times

I was too quick in praising Texas for rising above itself. Score another for the religious whackos.

xXx

Asymmetrical Life

♠
Every dog lover knows how a pooch expresses its feelings.

Ears close to the head, tense posture, and tail straight out from the body means “don’t mess with me.” Ears perked up, wriggly body and vigorously wagging tail means “I am sooo happy to see you!”

But there is another, newly discovered, feature of dog body language that may surprise attentive pet owners and experts in canine behavior. When dogs feel fundamentally positive about something or someone, their tails wag more to the right side of their rumps. When they have negative feelings, their tail wagging is biased to the left.

-- Sandra Blakeslee for The New York Times

It was thought that only humans have brain asymmetry. Now, not only dogs, but even simpler creatures are known to have this kind of asymmetry, including honeybees. Specialization pays, I suppose.

Though, I wonder if they got it backwards about dogs. Either that or Bo is more angsty and cantankerous than I thought.

xXx

Asymmetrical Life

♠
Every dog lover knows how a pooch expresses its feelings.

Ears close to the head, tense posture, and tail straight out from the body means “don’t mess with me.” Ears perked up, wriggly body and vigorously wagging tail means “I am sooo happy to see you!”

But there is another, newly discovered, feature of dog body language that may surprise attentive pet owners and experts in canine behavior. When dogs feel fundamentally positive about something or someone, their tails wag more to the right side of their rumps. When they have negative feelings, their tail wagging is biased to the left.

-- Sandra Blakeslee for The New York Times

It was thought that only humans have brain asymmetry. Now, not only dogs, but even simpler creatures are known to have this kind of asymmetry, including honeybees. Specialization pays, I suppose.

Though, I wonder if they got it backwards about dogs. Either that or Bo is more angsty and cantankerous than I thought.

xXx

The World's Greatest Idol

♠
I had heard early yesterday that Elvis was suppose to make an appearance on "American Idol" that night. I meant to tune in and see what they were talking about, but it slipped my mind. I wish I could have shared the Elvis love with all the viewers and audience, but fortunately YouTube gives one a taste:

And you just know that Elvis and Celine would be making more beautiful music together after the show, as she still seems awed by just the simulation of the man, heh.

xXx

The World's Greatest Idol

♠
I had heard early yesterday that Elvis was suppose to make an appearance on "American Idol" that night. I meant to tune in and see what they were talking about, but it slipped my mind. I wish I could have shared the Elvis love with all the viewers and audience, but fortunately YouTube gives one a taste:

And you just know that Elvis and Celine would be making more beautiful music together after the show, as she still seems awed by just the simulation of the man, heh.

xXx