RE:Schiavo -- I was until last night. I really think there's a strong case that the husband has wanted her dead. Some of the nurses that have come forward - I just heard one on CNN a few minutes ago, convinces me that her husband should NOT have the authority to make this decision. I, too, want the parents to have her. Then she would get some therapy which could help her have a much more functional life.
I watched an interview last night with a woman who had had a stroke and the doctors wanted to pull the plug and she said she was awake and could hear people talking but she had no way of shoing she was cognizant of the goings on. The doctors told her husband she was never coming out of the PVS and there was no hope. He persisted, and she did come out of it.
We really know very little about levels of consciousness. There are many cases of people who are allegedly under anesthesia who can feel pain and can tell you what was talked about in the OR during their procedure.
Her best friend has said that Terri was planning on leaving her husband - they'd talked about getting an apt together. The guy had the classic symptoms of an abuser - excessively controlling, etc. There's more to this case, and it sickens me.
It really looks like spring today and I wish I could hit the links, but have to bake two apple pies for the local church's bake sale for tsunami relief. We don't attend that church, but I'm just trying to be a good neighbor (when I'm not putting "W" stickers on my liberal neighbor's car in nighttime commando raids, that is).
E - I may ask you about that place in Massachusetts. We're thinking of going to Boston for the marathon next April, as usual, then heading to Nantucket for a few days.
James Taranto, Best of the Web Today, wrote what I thought was the best "bottom line" on Terri's case. He asked "What kind of husband is Michael Schiavo?". Given his cohabitating with a woman who called herself his "fiancee" 5 years ago, his 2 children with her, and his refusal to provide therapy for Terri.....given all that, wouldn't Terri divorce him the moment she woke up? Everyone talks about Terri's wishes....THAT one is pretty easy to figure out.