A forgotten note from the trip northward - turns out the people of Burlington have a ballot question this spring about whether or not to continue fluoridating the water. The group looking to end the practice cites a lack of need and studies indicating health risks in exposure to fluoride, especially in the levels used in their drinking water.

Those looking to continue the practice cite teeth, and the general desire to have them.

Unrelated to this, I was amused to find that one of the meat options from the Thai place our office orders from is "vegetarian ham." I suppose, like nutria, it comes from pigs that live in water and thus get some sort of Vatican ruling that it's not meat.

Speaking of which...

Lentorama 2006 Saint of the Day: St. Cunegundes

Married to St. Henry (aka Holy Roman Emperor Henry II), she took a vow of chastity prior to marriage, which Henry respected during their union (which explains in large part his sainthood). When she was accused of infidelity, she proved her innocence by walking over "pieces of flaming irons" without injury.

(I hope this doesn't open the door to sainthood for all those idiots running empowerment seminars where people walk on hot coals.)

Anyway, she was pretty much broke after Henry died, as they'd given away most of their money for charitable works. A year after his death she entered a monastery (one she actually founded) and lived as the other inhabitants did until her death 15 years later.

St. Cunegundes is also the Patroness of Luxembourg, Lithuania, and Poland. The first makes sense, she was born there. The other two, couldn't tell you.