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Semantics - Nix Nepenthe

Which brings me to the impetus for this particular post: lately I find myself continually wanting to say “define ‘XXXX’, please.” Define: sex, love, intimacy, relationship, service, submission, bottoming, humiliation, etc., et. al. I’ve found myself tending to try to distill things to the purest possible meaning of whatever descriptors I use.

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Beautiful Night – Devastating, yet Inconsequential

What a beautiful night.
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Year of the Rat: Furry Critters are Misunderstood, vet says – Science Daily

But the truth is, they are highly intelligent animals, have been amazingly beneficial in medicine and can be very affectionate pets, says a Texas A&M University veterinarian and rat expert

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Scientists find something good about a big bottom – Reuters

A type of fat that accumulates around the hips and bottom may actually offer some protection against diabetes, U.S. researchers said on Tuesday.

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15 Horribly Tacky Cake Toppers - via Boinkology

Tacky wedding cake toppers. Need I say more?
Betty once told me, while searching for an erotic cake for Sammy’s birthday, that she found an one that had a cake topper of Barbie fucking Ken in the ass with a strap on. That is my favourite thing ever. Hands down.

I figure, I can’t have that at my ‘proper’ wedding, but since I’ll probably wind up having a kinky party/ceremony/collaring/whatever, I can put a little veil on the Barbie, and dye its hair to match mine, and put a little bow tie on Ken. Or maybe a collar and leash. Heh.

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A Pyschedelic ‘Problem Child’ Comes Home – via the New York Times

Dr. Hofmann, who died last week, spent the latter part of his life consulting with scientists around the world who wanted to bring his “problem child,” as he called the drug, back into the lab to study as a therapeutic agent. Not long before his last birthday, he learned that health officials in his native Switzerland had approved what will be the first known medical trial of LSD anywhere in more than 35 years — to test whether the drug can help relieve distress at end of life.

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One Third of Parents Lack Facts About Child Development – via Health Day

A lack of proper understanding of a child’s development can cause assorted problems, Paradis said. For example, she said, a mother might expect an 18-month-old child to sit still for a doctor’s appointment, even though children that age are normally curious and like to wander around.

“A mom could misinterpret a child’s normal curiosity as intentionally being defiant, and could respond with harsh discipline, withdrawal of affection and repetition of that pattern over time,” Paradis said. “That could hinder the child’s potential for full growth and development.”

Why am I not surprised?

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Mom’s Resit HPV Vaccine for Pre-Teens – via ABC

New research shows that only half of American mothers intend to have their teenaged daughters vaccinated against human papillomavirus (HPV) if the girls are under the age of 13, despite government guidelines that suggest the opposite.

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All You Need Is Hate – New York Times

This is not to say that there are no rational, well-considered reasons for opposing Clinton’s candidacy. You may dislike her policies (which she has not been reluctant to explain in great detail). You may not be able to get past her vote to authorize the Iraq war. You may think her personality unsuited to the tasks of inspiring and uniting the American people. You may believe that if this is truly a change election, she is not the one to bring about real change.