Walking in the Shadows

Random musings from Warwickshire on life in general... Things that make me laugh, make me cry, things that wind me up beyond all endurance - and everything in between.

UCLA STUDY (very interesting and short)

I make no apologies for posting this – it made me laugh when all other jokes are about the blasted football.

Karen

Now some things you hold on to - and some you just let go
Seems like the ones that you can't have
Are the ones that you want most


A study worth sharing with friends both male and female:

A study conducted by UCLA's Department of Psychiatry has revealed that the kind of face a woman finds attractive on a man can differ depending on where she is in her menstrual cycle. For example: if she is ovulating, she is attracted to men with rugged and masculine features. However, if she is menstruating or menopausal, she tends to be more attracted to a man with duct tape over his mouth and a spear lodged in his chest with a bat up his ass while he is on fire.

Justice has been served? I wonder.

A man convicted of murder from the American state of Utah has been executed by firing squad.

Ok – this in itself is unusual, because most states that have the death penalty opt for lethal injection.

But what makes this case unique (in my opinion) is the attitude of the Attorney General. He used the micro-blogging site twitter to announce the developments in this case.

Don’t get me wrong – I have nothing against twitter (ok – it’s just not my choice to put my view on the world into cyberspace) but I find the method of self promotion to be distasteful to say the least.

Aside from the issue of the twitter posts, things like this do make you reassess your own ideas about capitol punishment. I was always of the opinion that killing someone who was proven guilty beyond reasonable doubt was right, just even.

Now I'm beginning to wonder. What purpose does this penalty serve? It certainly doesn’t serve as a deterrent, and the people who are in favour of what amounts to state sanctioned murder in America are the same people who are quick enough to cry foul when other countries enforce the death penalty.

Ok – I know that the death penalty in the USA is only imposed after years of appeals and counter appeals, but what happens when the appeal process runs out – the condemned man (or woman, but it’s more usually a man) dies.

But surely there has to be an alternative? It’s been stated that the death penalty is the most expensive option, but state prosecutors still go for it. Why? Because of the publicity that a successful case can bring them.

But does the death penalty bring closure to the victim’s family? I don’t honestly know, but I do know that in the Utah case (which started me thinking about this matter) the relatives of one of the victims pleaded for clemency, whereas the relatives of the other victim were against this.

Is this the right way to go? I don’t know. I get the impression that the idea was to use this as the ultimate deterrent, as in “you kill someone, and we (the state) will kill you”.

But times and attitudes have changed, so may be it’s time to do away with this barbaric option in what is supposed to be a civilised society.

Time to call this quits – it’s nearly time to escape, and I’ve got some travelling to do.

Back when I get the chance…

Karen

Now some things you hold on to - and some you just let go
Seems like the ones that you can't have
Are the ones that you want most

The Gyneacologist who became a mechanic

I make no apologies for posting this – it’s made me laugh out loud in the office this morning, on a day when not much else has managed to bring a smile to my face.

Enjoy.

Karen

Now some things you hold on to - and some you just let go
Seems like the ones that you can't have
Are the ones that you want most


******************************************

A gynaecologist had become fed up with malpractice insurance and paperwork, and was burned out. Hoping to try another career where skilful hands would be beneficial, he decided to become a mechanic. He went to the local technical college, signed up for evening classes, attended diligently, and learned all he could.

When the time of the practical exam approached, the gynaecologist prepared carefully for weeks, and completed the exam with tremendous skill. When the results came back, he was surprised to find that he had obtained a score of 150%. Fearing an error, he called the Instructor, saying, "I don't want to appear ungrateful for such an outstanding result, but I wonder if there is an error in the grade?"

"The instructor said, "During the exam, you took the engine apart perfectly, which was worth 50% of the total mark. You put the engine back together again perfectly, which is also worth 50% of the mark."

After a pause, the instructor added, "I gave you an extra 50% because you did it all through the exhaust, which I've never seen done in my entire career.”

Breaking news

I’ve just received the following message from my beloved:

Hi just to let you know I’ve seen Mum, she is shaken and battered and bruised but she is in better shape that the car – that is f****d. Any more info I’ll let you know.

Phew. It could have been a hell of a lot worse, and I am more than willing to admit that I am relived – if only for my beloved as I know the stress that this sort of thing can cause.

Guess I should think about doing some more w*rk, but it’s Friday, and I have TNFI…

Back later.

Karen

Now some things you hold on to - and some you just let go
Seems like the ones that you can't have
Are the ones that you want most

Worrying times

I’ve not heard anything from my beloved, so I am praying that everything is ok. But I know from past painful experience that a car accident leave an awful lot for the relatives to cope with, as the police and other emergency services get involved and you just get swept along for the ride.

It’s a scary time for all involved, as my beloved’s Mum is no youngster and already has a heart condition, so I just hope that she’s ok. I work on the principal that bits of metal can be repaired or replaced, but flesh and blood is infinitely more precious.

I’m not going to call him – as much as I would like to, as I don’t know what’s going on, and the last thing I want to do is cause extra stress to him at an already stressful time.

Back later, as I am supposed to be working – or at least that’s the theory.


Karen

Now some things you hold on to - and some you just let go
Seems like the ones that you can't have
Are the ones that you want most

Smeg.

I think this title is very appropriate. I’ve just had the following text from my beloved:

Call me please

So me being me, I called his office, only to be told that he’d gone home. Ok – now I admit I was starting to worry.

I broke every rule in the book and called his mobile… He was heading for home, as his Mum had been involved in an accident. He didn’t know how bad she was, but said that the car was a write off, and promised to call me as soon as he got any more details.

Having been through a similar experience, it’s quite scary, and I can imagine the emotions that are whirling through him at the moment – fear of the unknown being the predominant one – as in “how badly hurt is my Mum?”

So, at the moment, all I can do is wait for his phone call, and pray that things are ok.

Back when I have more information.

Karen

Now some things you hold on to - and some you just let go
Seems like the ones that you can't have
Are the ones that you want most

Cloth caps and clogs

I make no apologies for posting this – it was sent to me by a colleague and really made me giggle.

Enjoy.

Karen

Now some things you hold on to - and some you just let go
Seems like the ones that you can't have
Are the ones that you want most


******************************************

A London lawyer and a Yorkshireman are sitting next to each other on a long flight to Leeds .

The lawyer is thinking that Yorkshire men are all 'cloth cap and clogs' and that he can fool them easily...

So the lawyer asks if the Yorkshireman would like to play a fun game.

The Yorkshireman is tired and just wants to take a nap, so he politely declines and tries to catch a few winks.

The lawyer persists and says that the game is a lot of fun.

'I ask you a question, and if you don't know the answer, you pay me only £5; you ask me one, and if I don't know the answer, I will pay you £500.'

As may be expected, this catches the Yorkshireman's attention and to keep the lawyer quiet, he agrees to play the game.

The lawyer asks the first question. 'What's the distance from the Earth to the moon?'

The Yorkshireman doesn't say a word, reaches in his pocket, pulls out a five-pound note, and hands it to the lawyer.

Now, it's the Yorkshireman's turn.

He asks the lawyer, 'What goes up a hill with three legs, and comes down with four?'

The lawyer uses his laptop, searches all the references he knows. He uses the air-phone; he searches the Net and even the British Library.

He sends e-mails to all the smart friends he knows, all to no avail. After over an hour of searching, he finally gives up.

He wakes up the Yorkshireman and hands him £500. The Yorkshireman pockets the £500 and goes straight back to sleep.

The lawyer is going crazy not knowing the answer.

He wakes the Yorkshireman up and asks, 'Well! What goes up a hill with three legs and comes down with four?'

The Yorkshireman says "Buggered if I know!” reaches in his pocket, hands the lawyer £5 and goes back to sleep.

Don't mess with Yorkshiremen; we only talk different.

Football Blues

I’ve just realised that the blasted World Cup football starts in 11 days, and I loathe football.

Already the media is whipping up the hysteria about this, and I am starting to get bored even before the tournament starts. If it was rugby –that would be a different matter as I am a rugby fan, but football leaves me cold.

I know that there are people who will be watching every single match, and some people who will just watch the England matches. I, however am not one of them, so I have a stash of films that I have been saving for this four week period of rotten TV.

However, I guess that I am going to have to put up with the hysteria that will become almost the norm (and cope with the strange looks when I say that I won’t be watching any of the football.

Ah well, I guess I should do some w*rk, but as I'm only in the office (or playpen) for three days this week, I'm really struggling to find the enthusiasm to do anything today…

Back when I get the chance.

Karen

Now some things you hold on to - and some you just let go
Seems like the ones that you can't have
Are the ones that you want most