Don’t like what you see here at MickWright.net?

Join the club.

No, really.

The thing is, I need some help. And not just psychological help, either.

Rather than asking a co-blogger or two to participate here and confuse a few people, I decided I would go ahead and confuse everyone by doing something a little more out of the ordinary.

That’s why I’ve launched the MickWright.net Butter Cowncil, an advisory board with special responsibilities and privileges.

I’m inviting you to join me in this blogospheric adventure by becoming a member of the Butter Cowncil. As cowncilor, you will help determine the course and content of this blog, and in return will be entitled to special recognition and members-only access and information (see details).

The only cost of membership is a $12 donation to the charity of your choice*, in addition to your undying oath of allegiance to MickWright.net and its affiliates.

Yes, this is a crappy blog. But now you can help me make it even worse!

I can’t wait to hear from you.

* Click here for details.

At the risk of this becoming the anti-Wendi-Thomas blog, we must at least touch on her latest column, published this morning. In it, the Commerical Appeal columnist declares healthcare is a right of Americans. She compares a federally-funded universal medical care plan to already existing services funded by taxpayers, such as police protection, fire-fighting and paved roads. Thomas also casts doubt on those who object to socialist healthcare or have criticized the latest Michael Moore film, writing, “I truly believe that some of the resistance toward universal health care is because some people don’t believe we all deserve to be healthy.”

I’m certainly willing to explore the philosophical idea of healthcare as a right; I’m also willing to re-examine our policies in terms of helping poor, elderly and uninsured Americans. I look forward, in fact, to participating in a national discussion on that topic, as I’m sure there are good things to be said on both sides.

But for now, let’s just stop for a moment and take a look at the inconsistency of this columnist’s argument.

From previous columns we know that Wendi Thomas refers to herself as being “pro-choice,” meaning she is in favor of abortion.

So first, how is it that she can believe we have a right to health care if she denies we have a right to life itself?

Second, abortion advocates such as Thomas frequently cite a woman’s right to privacy, or a woman’s right for her “health care decisions” to remain only between her and her doctor. So how is it that Thomas now wants government not only to foot the bill, but also to be fully involved in all of our healthcare decisions?

Under “free” universal healthcare, not only does government violate your privacy by reaching into your pocket to pay for your neighbor’s abortions, but it also remains apprised of your health care decisions, and in fact chooses what kind of care you will receive, and where you will receive it, and how often.

Advocating both a “right to privacy” and a “right to health care” — that’s hypocrisy on steroids.

My brother and me, Christmas 2003

For whatever reason, one of the Christmas stocking stuffers we had growing up was a kiwi. One explanation I remember hearing was that kiwis are in season at that time of year; if that’s true or not, I have no idea. I’m sure kiwis are also fairly easy to slip into stockings, allowing St. Nick to make a quick getaway, upon finishing his milk and cookies. And, of course, kiwis fall in line with the traditional Christmas gifts of oranges and other citrus fruit (and our family often got a special box of those to share).

With all of the changes our family went through over the years, all the places we lived, the different family members and other people we lived with, my parents’ divorce and their second (and third) marriages, kiwis were just about the only constant, the only real tradition that remained.

So kiwis, besides being delicious, always make me happy and nostalgic, and I always insist that we have them during the Christmas holiday.

—Sidebar—

I remember being told that kiwis were a man-made hybrid fruit produced by combining the DNA of strawberries and bananas. Those dirty liars. Unless the Wikipedia entry on kiwifruit is wrong, that would appear not to be the case. Then again, perhaps someone told me it was “the combination of strawberries and bananas,” meaning taste-wise, and I just took it to mean production-wise. As the Wikipedia entry says, “The texture of the fruit is soft and the flavour is sometimes described as a mix of strawberry, banana, and pineapple.” So there you have it.

—End Sidebar—

My wife’s wonderful parents have taken to buying me kiwis just about every time we visit them. I’m not used to eating kiwifruit at other times of the year, but it’s growing on me. And until recently, I had always considered actually eating kiwifruit somewhat of a chore.

Mom would always peel away the fuzzy skin, then cut them into thin slices and sprinkle a little sugar on top. It tastes great that way, but it takes some time to prepare, not to mention plenty of skill (kiwis happen to be quite slippery without the fuzzy exterior).

If you only eat them once a year, it’s not hard to be patient; but if you’re eating kiwi more regularly, that method can grow tiresome.

Last year, I offered a kiwi to a friend of ours named Mike, and he introduced me to a different way of eating kiwifruit; he simply cuts off one end, then takes a spoon and digs into the fruit, using it like a bowl. The peel is thick enough to remain intact, as long as you’re careful and don’t stab it too hard with your spoon.

Then just a few weeks ago, we were visiting the in-laws again, and they had purchased some kiwis that were already chopped in half. I decided to try eating them Mike’s way, only in halves rather than as a whole. It worked beautifully.

So when I saw that my company had supplied its employees with some kiwifruit this week, I felt I should share my special new, efficient way of eating them. Assuming Youtube starts working again, my video is below the fold. It was created using a Flip Video and Windows Movie Maker. Bon Appétit. (more…)

New Path Memphis has released its list of endorsements for the upcoming local election:

New Path is excited to announce its full support for the following candidates for the October 4, 2007 Memphis City Council elections:

Bill Morrison = District 1
Brian Stephens = District 2
Davida Cruthird = District 3
Reginald Milton = District 6
Desi Franklin = Super District 9 Position 3

Please take advantage of the opportunity to personally meet and greet all of our candidates on Monday, July 30, 2007 at the Central Library (3030 Poplar Ave)from 5:30pm - 7:30pm in Meeting Room C.

We also encourage you to visit our website: www.newpathmemphis.org, for complete profile and campaign information on each of the candidates forthcoming.

We will follow up with you shortly to arrange a convenient time for you to meet the candidates on an individual basis. Please feel free to contact us for additional information or to address any questions or concerns you may have.

Thank you.

–Tarrin McGhee–
Program Director, New Path
(901) 517-2870
tarrin@newpathmemphis.org
www.newpathmemphis.org

Full list of candidates below the fold.
Who are you supporting?
Your thoughts on the New Path selections?
See: previous posts on New Path.

(more…)

Autoegocrat has a post about the latest Wendi Thomas column, which takes to task the plethora of candidates from last year’s “overcrowded primary race for the Ninth District Congressional seat.”

Writes Thomas,

And wasn’t it frustrating that so many were willing and ready to leave Memphis for more prestigious pastures out east?

I just have one little question for the esteemed columnist: does Baltimore count as “more prestigious pastures out east,” or is that different?

Yes, people with political aspirations need to start serving locally before they can be taken seriously for national offices. Thomas has a good point; it just happens that she’s the wrong person to make it.

Do you hear what I’m saying, Wendi?

Bueller?