Cutting and Self-Mutilation - NPR's Information

I was listening to some old NPR last night, from back in 2005. And apparently self-mutilation has been happening in human beings since the days of Ancient Greece. I looked this up only because one woman in her forties had said to me, quite matter-of-factly, "When I was a kid, no one would have cut herself. It's just not something you would do. If someone was stressed and she cut herself, we'd've been weirded out and would be like, 'Go read a book.'" Convinced this was incorrect, I looked it up.

In the nineteenth century, apparently two American doctors noted the phenomenon of women all over Europe puncturing themselves with sewing needles. They called them "needle girls" and said they were probably hysterical. Interesting. Here is the transcript. http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=4697319 Here, more interesting if you have time to listen, is the story with the real voices. http://www.npr.org/templates/player/mediaPlayer.html?action=1&t=1&islist=false&id=4697319&m=4697329 Listen to the victim of self-mutilation. Hear her logic. There is a very strong logic to cutting oneself.

Lihua

Look at me. I'm cool.

Sitting here in a library with my Star Trek lunchbox. They don't allow drinks in here and so my Star Trek mug is in the box. If only everyone could see that little bit of extra coolness I carry around. Plus I have on my TARDIS necklace. (Well, it's a little red police box. See, I couldn't find blue. But I was pleased with the charm I picked up at the dingy craft shop).

Lihua

"I want to talk about BOOKS, man!"

Peter Troughton has to be my third- or fourth-favorite Doctor. He's really incredible. I want to fight a fiction war. I want to live in a world where everyone reads. If I ever get married he has to read. Hands down. If he doesn't read he DOES have to make up for it with Star Trek or Doctor Who. Preferably BOTH. But mostly he has to read.

My brothers don't read much. My mother has no time to read. I want to talk about BOOKS, man!

(If YOU want to talk about books, especially classics, e-mail me. Please. Bai.Lihua@yahoo.com. I want to talk about books.)

I am writing a Scary Story for the kids who need one, usually two, before bedtime. This is fun babysitting. This is also bilingual babysitting.

I am now tutoring in Chinese. The first time was confusing, for both me and the student (a few years younger than myself). I don't know how she learns, the way she takes things in, and I assumed it might be similar to mine. Looks like it's probably not. So I suppose if she wants to ask questions I'll answer them. That will most likely teach me more about her method of absorption than my just spewing information ... and she was good. Most people can't repeat words with the same delicacy she did. I was pleased. And she was dedicated.

Today is MY Chinese lesson. Tomorrow is HER Chinese lesson. Fun times. Truly. I love it.

Lihua