There's a little shrieker in my neighborhood, but she's older than toddler -- I'd guess K or 1st grade. But still -- OMG the shrieking.

A shrieker lived in my co-op. Any desire to protect was usually overcome by the urge to kill once the shrieking started. She's nine now and the shrieker still shrieks.

A couple of stories struck me about the Republican debate last night.

There was Tommy Thompson:

Thompson was asked by the moderator: "If a private employer finds homosexuality immoral, should he be allowed to fire a gay worker?"

The former Wisconsin governor answered: "I think that is left up to the individual business. I really sincerely believe that that is an issue that business people have got to make their own determination as to whether or not they should be." The moderator appeared a bit startled: "OK, so the answer is yes?" Thompson replied, "Yes."

In a telephone interview from O'Hare Airport, Thompson told "American Morning" that he "misinterpreted" the question and should have asked to have it repeated.

"That's never been my position," Thompson said, said adding that discrimination isn't acceptable.

What did he think the question actually was?

The shrieking is not unavoidable. I've a friend whose migraine triggers include sounds of that pitch. I have no idea how she did it, but her daughter never shrieked.

Toddler shrieks. Those can liquify your brain.

I remember thinking that baby crying was loud when I just had a baby. Then came toddlerhood and I realized just how wrong I was.

I remember thinking that baby crying was loud when I just had a baby. Then cam toddlerhood and I realized just how wrong I was.

I think the slow ramp up in volume is a evolutionary survival tactic.

I have no idea how she did it, but her daughter never shrieked.

Raise child in presence of lions.

t /badmommy

The other story was evolution.

Two odd moments - the first on the subject of evolution.

Three of the candidates indicated that they did not believe in it.

None is a front-runner but even so there will be American scientists who will feel deeply depressed that serious politicians in 2007 can be disputing the entire thrust of modern knowledge about how the world was formed and how it, well, evolved.

So very depressing. At least they weren't the first tier candidates.

From BBC Story

Unless the infinite plain has a water source, then everybody dies of dehydration or asphyxiates if there isn't adequate ventilation.

You die. There are infinite babies--unless they die before they can get to you, it tilts the odds away from you.

Hey, just checking in from Atlanta. For your peace of minds, I wish to report that the hotel is awful, the neighborhood is dangerous, there are no stores or places to eat, and all the Buffistas that showed up (except me) are horrible.

While there is a small possibility that I might be lying about any or all of this, I implore you to clap your hands and believe very hard in what I said above.