Inedible Ink

An open letter to the people of the Archdiocese of Denver:

(here)

The smell of others that attracts, excites or repels and disgusts us has been showing up from diverse sources in my newsreader lately.  I’m trying to not appear too curious, is it working?

The Hidden Power of Scent: Scientific American
research demonstrates that we subconsciously use smell to assess a person’s likability, sexual attractiveness and emotional state. Through scent, people can distinguish stranger from friend, male from female and gay from straight. Thus, olfaction may facilitate reproduction and prevent risky encounters

The “Oooh that smell” smell Lynrd Skynrd was singing about was probably the smell that results from wrapping your new car around an oak tree and spilling more than just your bourbon. “Whiskey bottles and brand new cars, oak tree, you’re in my way.”

I think of the Maverick Philosopher as being my Blogging Professional Philosopher Arizona Neighbor.  Today he methodically addresses some questions that he does not consider above his pay grade.
Maverick Philosopher: Some Abortion Questions and Answers

1. Is there life at conception?

You might also be interested in his “Back to Blogging” post, or more interested in The Pleasures of the Mountain Bike.

Dear Baristi, Bartenders, Waiters,

I’d like a cappucicno, please. I’m enclosing the beautifully executed espresso-drink stacked bar chart from designer Lokesh Dhakar for your reference because, well, I’m having a run of bad luck in the cappuccino department.  The last three have been so far off-the-mark that I felt I was lucky to have gotten a coffee based drink at all.  The prior attempt started out with a conficence eroding “What size would you like that?” (Coffeegeek confirms my understanding that cappuccino is a 6oz drink give or take a cm of foam.)  The attempt prior to that was scratched and redirected, the barista told me he’d rather make a latte.

Previously on Inedible Ink:  Cappucino fõam, I do not speak Starbucks, and Starbucks followup.

I’ll meet you at Lux.

The study referenced from “Proceedings of the Royal Society” is literally about how the contraceptive Pill alters both a woman’s sense of smell and her taste in men.
Thomas at AmericanPapist: Not Your Average Catholic!says: Finally, some honesty about the effects of The Pill on relationships

The UK Times Online, in its typical British-tabloid way, published an article yesterday entitled: “The Pill may put you off smell of your man and ruin your relationship.”

Caustic, sure. But accurate? Yes!

While this information has long been available, a scant few publications have actually spoken about it, leaving such pro-life, pro-Humanae Vitae catholics such as Janet Smith trying to get the word out.

More from the Times article:

A study by British scientists suggests that taking the Pill can change a woman’s taste in men — to those who are genetically less compatible.

Psychology Today: The Stripper’s Secret

Dancers made about $70 an hour during their peak period of fertility, versus about $35 while menstruating and $50 in between.
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Women on the pill averaged $37 (and had no performance peak) versus $53 for women off-pill.

Via PopSci blog.

Not sure I can go through life as a Jets fan. (or an Aaron Rodgers fan, for that matter.)

My parish priest is going to have trouble with this.

ESPN - Jets set for Brett: Packers legend headed to New York - NFL
Brett: Packers legend headed to New York

… and it’s not writers block.

There are two serious problems with blogging, no matter what you write.

1.)  Nobody reads what you write.

2.) Somebody might read what you write.

The title of this blog, “Inedible Ink”, means (to me) that I do not write authoritatively.  I can observe, comment, note, and joke, but when it comes to the brass tacks issues in this life you shouldn’t be leaning too heavily on me.

I’ve simply found myself in a no man’s land between what I care about, and what I’m willing to write for the unfiltered public to read.  I’ve been unwilling to press the ‘publish’ button for the last  few months.

When I’m joking and a random visitor mistakes my meaning because I have presumed too much of the reader, well, that’s troubling to me.

Please bear with me as I figure out when to press publish and when to hold my tongue.

I saw the following in today’s American Spectator, a note from Ben Stein to Paris Hilton regarding her vocal support of Obama and her mocking of McCain:

The American Spectator
Paris, get this: in modern day America, we don’t mock people because of things they have done that are unavoidable and not in any way blameworthy. We don’t make fun of blacks for being black. We don’t make fun of women for having breasts. We don’t make fun of old people for being old. This is uncool from any source. It is downright disgusting coming from a porn star — and not a very good porn star at that (yes, I have seen the tape). And we especially don’t like being told how to vote by porn stars.