10 Things Thursday (Late Edition)

1. I am a bit of a Pinterest slut. I go on pinning binges, then leave her (yes ... Pinterest is definitely female) high and dry for weeks without letting her know why. Then when I need more of her, I just show up and use her until I'm satisfied. Anyway, THIS is one of the projects that I recently pinned and will likely NEVER be done.
2. Speaking of binges, this happened yesterday. It's the Seattle skyline with the exact longitude and latitude of my childhood home. I've gotten three tattoos in 7 months. It's probably time to stop for a while or get an intervention.
   
3. Did you know that in Japan, many hot springs, public pools, sports clubs and hotels will not allow guests with tattoos? It's true! I read it on the internet. Actually, I did fact check that before posting it. So, if you have tattoos, are visiting Japan, and have a burning desire to go to a public pool, here's a list of tattoo friendly spots.
4. I loved reading I Will Never be a Well-Behaved Woman written by Janne Robinson. It is filled with morsels of wisdom like, "I would rather drink seven year old rum from a sandy bottle, smell of smoke and ash than sit in church." It was posted on the ElephantJournal - a must-read for me now.
5. If I was willing to shovel snow and freeze my ass off for long periods of the year, I might actually consider moving to Vermont where the Governor recently signed a bill into law that pays newcomers a $10,000 grant as a reward for moving to Vermont and working remotely for an out-of-state employer. If it were $25,000? I'd freeze my ass off all year!
6. Planning a staycation? Here's a list of the best (and worst) cities for a staycations. I guess I'm on a permanent staycation - Las Vegas is number seven.
7. I am quite the sports fan - I even listen to a significant amount of sports talk radio - so the (FAKE NEWS) story that Fox reported implying the Eagles knelt during the national anthem was a major topic of discussion this week. I am still amazed that 45 *using his name makes me throw up a little in my mouth* believes Fox News is the only news that isn't fake!
   
8. The resulting responses from Philly players and Mayor kept me entertained for hours.
9. So the Miss America pageant is scrapping it's swimsuit competition and claims they, "... will no longer judge our candidates on their outward physical appearance." I call BULLSHIT! Let me know when a 5'-6" overweight (and not 5 pounds overweight) woman is crowned Miss America. Then I'll admit I was wrong.
10. Hey Mike! Did you notice there was no Vanessa Marin content this week?? I'll get back on that next week *wink*

Food or Punishment?

Have you heard the news? Today, the Vermont Supreme Court heard arguments in a class action suit brought by inmates who say the Nutraloaf they are being served is not food but punishment. The inmates believe anyone subjected to having to eat it should get a formal disciplinary process first.

So, what is Nutraloaf? Apparently, the recipes vary, but the one used in Vermont (a vegan recipe) includes a mixture of cubed whole wheat bread, nondairy cheese, raw carrots, spinach, seedless raisins, beans, vegetable oil, tomato paste, powdered milk and dehydrated potato flakes. It is a nutritionally balanced food served without utensils or trays. Many inmates say they'd rather go hungry than eat it.

Ummm ... yeah ... so how does an inmate in Vermont end up on a Nutraloaf diet? Let me tell you, it is reserved for the very special inmates. These inmates include those who throw feces, urine, trays and silverware at prison staff, or those who have attempted to make weapons out of trays and silverware. Once the inmate stops the unacceptable behavior, he is returned to a "normal" prison diet.

Here's a thought ... quit acting like animals and you will not be treated like one. Better yet, give your Nutraloaf to the people of North Korea who are given a ration of grains from their government and have to forage for fruits and vegetables to supplement the grains. What? That's cruel and unusual punishment? Maybe a little cruel and unusual punishment is what you need considering you find it acceptable to throw feces, urine, trays and silverware at prison staff - something that I think certainly qualifies as cruel and unusual.

Now, for all of you fans of the "not everyone in prison is guilty" school of thought, get a grip! This isn't about guilt or innocence, it's about acting like a minimally acceptable human being. Vermont, I say serve your Nutraloaf and be proud! If the inmates don't like it, maybe they'll work a little harder at staying out of prison next time!