2011 Wrap Up

It's that time of year again where we deck the halls, eat too much, get our trees, our friends at Fox News have their yearly "War on Christmas" rants, and we ring in the new year. So, in that spirit, here is my commentary on 2011.

We started the year with the tragic shooting of a town meeting hosted by Arizona Congresswoman Gabrielle Giffords. 2011 brought us "the protester" (Time Magazine's Person of the Year) with the Arab Spring and the on-going Occupy Wall Street protests, as well as similar protests, from New York's Zuccotti to Oakland to Tahrir Square . There was also the now infamous footage of our increasingly militarized police force pepper spraying students in the face while peacefully protesting. This incident in at UC Davis wasn't the only one; this has happened at Occupy protests all over the country.

Next year will bring a presidential election and so the fight for the chance to challenge President Obama has begun among the right. With the primary season about to go in early January in Iowa, the coverage of all the smearing and name-calling is in full swing. And how 'bout all those 13(!!) great Republican primary debates? There is a plethora of nonsense and false and bizarre statements that I probably cannot cover it all but here are the most memorable moments. Who could forget all the cheering about death of the uninsured and the death penalty, as well and Mitt's $10,000 bet to Rick Perry? Speaking of the death penalty, this was a hot topic this year with the execution of Troy Davis and an examination of Rick Perry's record.

Going into the primary season, Mitt Romney and Newt Gringrich (yes, I can't believe it either) are the current front runners but apparently Ron Paul could take Iowa. The circus may have just begun. And thanks to the Supreme Court's ruling that corporations are people and money equals free speech, the 2012 election season is going to be truly unprecedented in shenanigans. I'll have some popcorn.

Along with the multiple budget showdowns and the threat of government shutdown, 2011 has truly been a bizarre year in politics, but at least it gave comedians plenty of material.

Other lowhighlights in politics have been Rick Perry's "Strong" ad, Herman Cain's rapid rise and fall (sexual harassment allegations do not bid well for a potential presidential candidate), Michele Bachmann saying that God caused Hurricane Irene as a warning to curb spending in the U.S., Herman Cain's ridiculous 9-9-9 plan, hundreds of pieces of legislation restricting reproductive rights including a (thankfully defeated) personhood amendment in Mississippi that would grant fertilized eggs full rights as a person. Lastly, Obama's HHS Secretary Kathleen Sebelius overruled the FDA's recommendation that Plan B (emergency contraception) be available over-the-counter and those under 17 may purchase it without a prescription. Dear Mr. President, anti-choicers will never support you, no matter how many concessions you make on the reproductive rights front.

Other notable moments of 2011 was the royal wedding of Prince William and Kate Middleton, the last Harry Potter film was released, Osama bin Laden was killed by Navy SEALS, following a 2008 agreement (GW Bush) all of US troops will be withdrawn by the end of the year, and just recently, Kim Jong II died.

There was also Kim Kardashian's 70 something day marriage and the revelation that the Muppets are Communists. September 11, 2011 marked the 10th anniversary of the attack on the trade towers.

2011 was also the year of well-publicized murder trials of young women. Casey Anthony was acquitted and surprisingly Nancy Grace did not burst into flames (but she was pretty upset). Amanda Knox's murder conviction was overturned and she went home to Washington. Amy Winehouse died, joining the 27 club, Don't Ask Don't Tell was repealed and Steve Jobs died.

Penn State is amid a child abuse scandal involving former offensive coach Jerry Sandusky and the following riots by students after Joe Paterno was fired (which just may be the dumbest protest of the year) and there was the earthquake, tsunami and following disaster in Japan complete with a nuclear plant meltdown. We also had record breaking weather disasters here at home, including super tornadoes, drought, and wildfires.

And who can forget the (former) Governator's affair and secret love child with the housekeeper. Lastly, the Earth's human population reached 7 billion.

What a year! What will 2012 bring?

Happy New Year!

Everybody's going off the deep end, everybody needs a second chance

For approximately 95% of human history* we lived as nomads, no large societies, just small groups of gathers and scavengers. Recent evidence suggests we did not start hunting with sophisticated tools and strategies until  later than previously thought. It blows my mind that for so long we lived a dramatically different lifestyle than what we play out in modern industrial societies.

Globalization. I just (unknowingly) ordered something from China. My first clue after the transaction was complete was the email I received with Chinese characters before the English text. YeePay, the leading online transaction company in China, had processed my transaction. I hadn't heard anything from the merchant in two weeks and there was not a phone number on the website, just an email address. I was worried that I was scammed.

I thought, "What the hell? How can this be happening? Is this a real site? In China?? How the hell did I end up ordering from a business in China?"

Last Thursday, I had a minor meltdown over it after a conversation with my father who was not sure what to do but said his tech guy looked up the site and it seemed legitimate. I called my mom and talked to her and she said that it would turn out and that the package will probably come. After about an hour of worrying, my mom called and told me that she had a notice from the post office that they have a package from China but no one was home at the time of delivery. Ahhhhhhh! Well what do you know, it all worked out. The product would have come from China if I had ordered it from a US company anyway; I just purchased directly from the country of origin. Oh globalization and technology, what have you done?!

My third semester of my master's degree has come to an end but winter break does not mean release from all school work like it did during my undergrad years. I am taking a vacation to Minnesota for 10 days but I have  to start writing my thesis and analyzing my data! My research does not take a break (until I graduate then wait three months for my PhD program to begin, that is). I wish I could spend a month doing whatever I want (which would probably involve a plethora of movies, books, and naps), but I am becoming a professional scientist now. But Dr. Veech was totally cool with my MN trip, so vacation here I come! Resuming work on thesis till after New Year's Day.

The rat babies are almost all grown up now, 4 months old. They have reached sexual maturity (that happens at 5-6 weeks!! Thanks mama Phoebe for demonstrating this!) but they will reach "social maturity" around 6 months of age. I'm not really sure what that means in rat world, but I read that on a few websites about rats. Io and Phoebe have apparently just reached social maturity; I guess they had Matilda and Marley (until she died in October) to show them how to be rats. And they are teaching Tempie, Fancy, and June.

Zeus and Splinter are huge and determined to find the girls. They live together in a separate cage from the girls . I heard male rats were supposed to be calm. But the boys run around like mad men and try to scale up the sides of the girls' house. Maybe I should move them to a different room? Believe it or not, rats can be neutered. But, I don't think I'm going to go there.

I just realized that I never gave Marley a blog tribute. You were a sweet girl and a good auntie. Watching you carry the babies around was so sweet and I feel lucky to have shared nearly two years of my life with you. I hope you had the best life possible.

In the lane, snow is glistening

Another year is coming to a close. I still cannot believe that it is December. Time (feels like) it moves differently here. There is no snow. No sub-zero temperatures. Is it really the holiday season? I am going to Minnesota again  on December 23 for a white Christmas. Last year, I experienced the holidays away, lonely and longing for the place my heart lies. Suddenly "White Christmas" held a whole new meaning. Last winter was brutal. Not due to weather since I live in Texas but painful because I was here while the rest of my family and friends began their normal celebrations. My favorite Christmas carol of all time became something new, something relevant to me. It played over and over in my mind and through the tears and sadness, I hoped that next year would bring me back to MN, that a line in the song will come true.

"In a year, we all will be together."

And now, it's almost here. A good friend of mine told me this morning that she is very happy at the progress that I have made over the last year.

Have yourself a merry little Christmas, let your hear be light.
From now on, our troubles will be out of sight
Have yourself a merry little Christmas
Make the yuletide gay
From now on, our troubles will be miles away

Through the years, we all will be together
If the fates allow
Hang a shining star on the highest bough
And have yourself a merry little Christmas now

Take it away Judy Garland.