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We pitch into landfills 38 billion water bottles a year—in excess of $1 billion worth of plastic.I always thought this didn't make any sense. Where were all these water bottles going? How is that good for the environment?
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Dunne, 30, was denied a license to practice law in May after scoring 268.866 on the exam, just shy of the 270 passing grade.
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What idiot thought of this?
"I can only imagine what would happen in a driver’s head if he or she were fully immersed in a racing game using the exact same driving equipment that they’d be using moments later to pick up grandma from the airport."
Ah, there's is nothing like crisp, line-dried sheets! My mother hung out the wash for years. I have gotten out of the habit, but this site reminded me of one of the simplest things we can do to conserve energy and lift our spirits at the same time.
And I bet all the major players in the real estate biz all already staking out their beach-front properties.
This reminds me of one of my favorite quotes by Anita Roddick: "If you think you're too small to have an impact, try going to bed with a mosquito in the room."
But doesn't it make you wonder? Should we be building these things just because we can?
Commentator Bob Sloan shares some basic truths and the story of the ugly dog who taught them to him.
The Gift of ADHD: "We heard a lot of negative impact from ADHA (Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder). Studies suggests people with ADHA can have some unique gifts and attributes, like naturally creative and being more impulsive on thoughts: … To think daringly original thoughts and to create new ideas or perspectives requires impulsiveness. Impulsiveness is the urge to do things [...]"
Well, now, isn't it about time somebody realized that since we don't all look alike, talk like, walk like, sound alike, etc., etc., etc. - maybe that we don't all learn alike isn't so strange? Who determines who is "deficient" and who is the norm? What if those who can too easily pay attention to just one thing at a time are the drones?
Oh, yes. One of the hardest things for most over-acheivers to do is Knowing When To Quit. It's so easy for it to feel like a failure, when it's really exercising good judgment. After all, you wouldn't buy everything in the store just because you wanted it at that moment, would you?
Well, only if you had more money than mental capacity...
I'm always wondering what the heck is going on behind the scenes. This site can help me figure it out, so I'm blogging it to help me find it again.
Good Lord, I thought I had enough to read already. Along comes the fantastic Literature-Map and I will now have to extend my life by at least 1,000 years to get it all in...
List ten songs that you are currently digging ... it doesn't matter what genre they are from, whether they have words, or even if they're no good, but they must be songs you're really enjoying right now. Post these instructions, the artists, and the ten songs in your blog. Then tag five other people to see what they're listening to.
1. Francis Dunnery's "Good Life"
2. The rest is easy. Bonnie's putting out a new album. Already heard "I Will Not Be Broken" - I'm hooked...
Oh, crap. Now who do I tag?
Back to the drawing board...
Oh no. That Crazy Neighbor Lady has tagged me with a music meme! She has no idea that although I can hum a mean tune, song titles and artis'ts names completely escape me. I shall need to do some research.
At least I don't have the distraction of a new driver in the house. That would put me over the top entirely...
While reading this post at Ishbadiddle, I remembered that I still had quite a few slash pocket folders. I can use them to gather my project papers instead of the clear plastic coverslips. Fits my reuse/recycle contribution to the planet, and I prefer them to plastic anyway. Those damn plastic sleeves keep sliding around on me, and I have enough trouble herding these projests as it is.
Bizwerk: Donald Norman Defends Cheating
I hadn't thought of things this way, but there is a difference between "cheating" and "collaboration" or even research. I don't think our public schools prepare students for life "on the outside" anyway. If I had to memorize everything I needed to know and never use my skills for research I would have been culled from the herd a long time ago.
I've separated my feeds between two readers: Bloglines for the entertaining, non-biz oriented ones, and Newsgator for the career and biz-oriented feeds. That way, I don't find myself straying into Dooce territory followed by That Crazy Neighbor Lady when I should really be focusing on the job...
Too Many Books, So Little Time
I've resigned myself to the fact that I will never, never, never read all that I want to read. Logically, it would be impossible to live that long!
So I've made a few concessions.
Just as I don't read novels during "business hours", I no longer read business things during leisure hours. That's too much like refusing to leave work. Gotta put an end to it sometime.
I no longer feel the need to obsessively read every freakin' word. What was that all about? The reading police were going to come and arrest me if I skimmed a boring paragraph now and then? Sometimes I skim practically the entire book now - I can get the idea of what it's about, and I can always go back to it later if I want more depth.
And some are just resigned to the "ain't gonna happen" list. I'll never read everything I want to, just like I'll never be twenty again. And really, neither one of those is all that bad...
Blinq: Drop A Dime Time
What I think is so funny is how so many people just don't get it when it comes to cell phones. Have a more interesting life because you have someone to talk to on your cell? What about talking to one of those "sardines" standing right next to you? Why don't people see the irony of walking down the street, cell phone glued to ear, chattering away to the person on the other end of the line while completely ignoring the human being standing right next to you?
People don't have respect for each other? Hell, people don't even notice each other. Just wait - someone will develop a little portable sound-proof "booth" that you can sheild yoursellf with. And nobody will see anything wrong with it.
Sorry, David, I like to use hanging folders. Saves readjusting the slider in the back of my old, creaky, file drawers, and I like my folders standing up and at attention - plus, I have a lot of them from my color-coding days, and was brought up on the old Puritan ethic: "use it up, wear it out, make it do, or do without."
So my hack is to integrate the colored folders into my GTD system. I assigned one color for me, one for the business, one for the kid, etc. in my alphabetical files. Now, for example, it's a little easier to find something related only to my daughter, or a file of stuff related only to me. Grass green is financial stuff. Generic stuff is still in the generic green. It's not a rainbow of colors, but it helps me make use of what I already have and adds a little more organization to my files.
New Toy
Brother P-touch 1750 to label my files in my GTD set-up. Added feature: it also makes labels that can be used outside.
Now I can label all those friggin' plants I've planted.
 | You scored as Cultural Creative. Cultural Creatives are probably the newest group to enter this realm. You are a modern thinker who tends to shy away from organized religion but still feels as if there is something greater than ourselves. You are very spiritual, even if you are not religious. Life has a meaning outside of the rational.
What is Your World View? (updated) created with QuizFarm.com |
This sounds awkward, but there is a big difference between writing with just your fingers and moving your whole arm as a unit. My handwriting wasn't bad to begin with, but there was an improvement when I stopped concentrating all my movements in my fingers and started using my whole arm. It's just that it doesn't feel like my shoulder is involved at all, unless I'm making REALLY HUGE LETTERS...
| You scored as Existentialism. Your life is guided by the concept of Existentialism: You choose the meaning and purpose of your life. “Man is condemned to be free; because once thrown into the world, he is responsible for everything he does.” “It is up to you to give [life] a meaning.” --Jean-Paul Sartre “It is man's natural sickness to believe that he possesses the Truth.” --Blaise Pascal More info at Arocoun's Wikipedia User Page...
What philosophy do you follow? (v1.03) created with QuizFarm.com |
This makes me very proud of my Scottish heritage. What amazing craftmanship!Being in tune with the land and her gifts. No wonder they have stood the test of time; not in conflict, but in harmony with Mother Nature herself.
"Someone retorted to me that they believed, because I am childless, and therefore not contributing to 'the pool of future citizens' at present, I should have to pay extra taxes that should go toward mothers whose goal in life is to be a stay at home mother."
Now, what fool said this? I believe there are enough people in jail raised by stay-at-home moms to disprove that theory. Just because you are lucky enough to have someone else (or something else) supporting your choice to stay home and raise your kids doesn't mean you can't suck at it. A working mom who makes time for and relates to her kids is worth a handful of stay at homes suckin down a brew while their kids run screaming thru the neighborhood. Or the mom who sets a wonderful example by putting up with an abusive partner because he brings home the bacon. And what about the littl' darlins' with moms who sacrifice everything - even their backbone? These overindulged little creeps are a boon to society?
Let's stop comparing today's stay at home moms with the previous generations - you know, the one's without automatic washer/dryers, wrinkle-free clothing, microwaves, freezers, vacuum cleaners, stain-resistant carpets and furniture, washable wall paint, voicemail, and a myriad of cleaning products that cut the time and elbow grease required in half, if not more? Try cleaning the way your mother and grandmother did. Or cooking a meal. Or doing the laundry. Or just curling your damn hair.
And what about TV's, vcr's, dvd's, video games, iPods, and a hundred other distractions for the kids? Formula? Disposable diapers? Baby monitors? Crib toys?
Being a good mother has nothing to do with how many hours you stay home. It's how much you love your kids, tolerate your kids, pay attention to your kids, relate to their needs, know your kids. That's the choice you make, not how many hours you spend at home.
I've done both. Stayed at home, and worked outside the home. Both can be damn hard. Because of how you do it, not which one you do.
And hooray for those who chose to be childless, or chose to wait to have kids. Crankin' em out ain't hard to do. Any fool with a working reproductive system can do that. Putting a little thought into it, now that takes work.
Outside for the first official weed-pulling session. Ok, actually I went out to chase the neighbor's damn dog out of my yard. But the walkway was calling me. Just one tug. Come on, you know you need it. Weeding is cathartic.
The thyme is spreading nicely and should be beautiful when it blooms. Not to mention it's making it harder for the weeds to take hold. Things need to be low-maintenance around here.
I've already succumbed to that philosophy, why shouldn't my yard?
Yahoo! News - Philadelphia Plans First U.S. Citywide Wi-Fi Network: "The city of Philadelphia will become the largest U.S. Internet 'hot spot' next year under a plan to offer wireless access at about half the cost charged by commercial operators, city officials said on Thursday."
I don't know whther this is a good thing, or a horrible mistake.
Not being a Catholic, I guess I'm a little confused about all the sadness of the Pope's passing. He will be missed here on Earth, of course, but isn't going to Heaven what you strive for? Why isn't there more rejoicing? Not being happy he's dead, exactly, but being happy that he's now with God? Seems like it shouldn't be such a sad time, unless you'd prefer that he was still here. But would you want that?
Do other parents have trouble getting their kids to take out the trash?
I found a solution. My kid knows the distance between the trashcan and the end of the driveway. She also knows the distance between the trashcan and her room.
Guess which is shorter?
I know. I'm such a bad mother. But it's amazing what the power of suggestion can accomplish. If I gotta haul it, I'm takin' the shorter route.
"There are at least a dozen ways to parse and think through the acknowledged underrepresentation of women opinion writers, and yet—to the extent that we are having a national conversation on the topic—it is a conversation so far almost wholly lacking the voices of men."
Yes, I agree it is a landmine. A sort of "damned if you do and damned if you don't" for any man commenting. But isn't it about time they took that chance? Women have been walking on those eggshells for years.
Maybe it isn't in a women's make-up to indulge in that sort of commentary. But suppose it is? How long do you think it would take to earn that "bitch" label? A millisecond? And let's face it - that "bitchiness" of Murphy Brown could not have been passed off as an endearing quality if she looked like Helen Thomas. TV character or not.
The freakin' copier at work is in love with me.
Put in a large run and as soon as I walked out the door, it jammed. Fixed it, it ran for a few copies. I walked out the door, and it jammed AGAIN. Repeat the scenario, one more time.
The next time it happened, I said to the machine "ok, you want me to stay in here with you, I'll stay." Yes, now I'm talking to the office equipment
Fifty copies. NO PROBLEMS.
So I walked out the door. Not TWO FEET from the room, it JAMMED AGAIN.
Went back in, fixed it, promised I'd stay til the end of the run. No more problems.
Just what I need. Office equipment with separation anxiety.
Wired News: Need a Building? Just Add Water: "'The Concrete Canvas product tackles the key issues of portability, ease of assembly, durability and cost,' he said. 'The applications in the humanitarian field are immediate and obvious, but there are many other fields where this technology could successfully be deployed.'"
Great in emergency situations - a way to get hospital units set up quickly.
I'm a little concerned about the "other fields". Will we be having little concrete pod towns?
Watched another of our Netflix movies - I (heart) Huckabees. From one end of the spectrum to the other...
Not my kind of movie. Too cerebral. I prefer books for that, not movies. If not for Lily Tomlin and Dustin Hoffman, I don't think I would have watched the whole thing. Not that it was a bad movie on any critical level - just not my kind of entertainment.
But it did help to get the other one out of my head. Shudder.
The 'spring and I watched The Grudge last night.
OH. MY. GOD.
We both slept with lights on.
I'm not a big fan of recent scary movies, mostly because they seem to be more "let's see how much fake blood we can use in this scene" than letting you use your imagination. Although there were some rather bloody scenes, there was a lot of "what was that" to let your imagination run wild. Which I think is much scarier that laying it all out there.
Well, at least for me.
And apparently for the 'spring, too. Not that I enjoy scaring my kid, but it's nice to see she hasn't been desensitized like so many other kids. So the "But, Mooooommm, the other kids can watch it" moments paid off.
Ah, yes, the reliable fast food shuffle. We always check the bags before we leave the drive thru - can't tell you how many times the orders have been screwed up. And we don't even go that often. Really.
How hard is it to remember to put in the friggin piece the damn meal is built around?
Searching for my spiritual path...
1. Neo-Pagan (100%)
2. New Age (91%)
3. Unitarian Universalism (83%)
4. Mahayana Buddhism (72%)
5. New Thought (67%)
6. Hinduism (66%)
7. Liberal Quakers (65%)
8. Theravada Buddhism (63%)
9. Jainism (53%)
10. Reform Judaism (53%)
Of course, now I forget where I took the damn test...
"Oddly, the woman who boasted her “non-negotiable” stance that moms forgo outside work is the same one who has forbidden her daughter to color her hair until the girl is paying her own way. This is a daughter who — if she accepts mom’s value set — could one day be a stay-at-home mom dependent on a man who’ll pay her bills. Will he also be in charge of her hair color then?"
You know, I never thought about it that way. But she's got a point. And a good one.
Well, I've done it. I've hired a lawyer, and I am sueing my school district. Someday soon I hope to be able to post about why I'm sueing the school district, but it's all still too raw.
Let's just say, next time they will think twice about jerking the single mom around because she can't possibly have enough money to do anything about it.
Heh.
Been reading a lot about parents who blog - there's an article in the NY Times about it. What it's all about, why they do it, what the kids will think of it when they're older.
I've noticed that most of the links they supplied are to parents who have kids that are still in the infant, toddler, elementary school age. Their antics are often fodder for humourous stories, sometimes for serious questions. And very entertaining reading. But they've overlooked something. Yes, those kids will grow up and read what you've written.
And they will someday be able to blog about you.
Lord, I hope my child is kind...
The worst part of working for a non-profit is the way people think they can control your time, that they have the right to impose on you because you are "paid" and they are not. That their volunteerism is so much more of a sacrifice than is the fact that you are paid far below what you are worth. That somehow, their contribution has so much more value that you should be grateful enough to do what they ask. What's up with that?
Well, I'm glad to see that I'm not the only one who forgets about the laundry...
Although I'm reeeaaallllyyy thankful that I don't have that much to do!!!
Laundry is not my favorite chore. I want my damn clothes to come out clean and pressed, ready to wear, the same size they were when I put them in there. Is that too much to ask? Seriously.
I like black. Can't there just be one color for black? Without some fancy special detergent? And what's the damn difference with "little ironing" if I still have to set up the damn ironing board and heat up the damn iron? Does it really make a difference? When does it cross the line into "a lot of" ironing? And when will someone make a decent friggin' iron that does cost as much as my whole wardrobe?
Household chores. The bane of my existence.
Bit slippery on the way to work. And of course, there's the hot-shots with them big ol' plows on the front jes wantin' ya to git outta the way coz they's got some bucks to make fer they git to the taproom tonite. Um, excuse me? That dark patch up there. That's ice. It don't care that you got you a big ol' plow on the front. Spin you like a top anyway. So I'm taking my time to get to my destination, mkay? Because I allowed travel time for the weather conditions. And I don't feel like testing out my airbag, thankuverymuch.
I'd also like to get back home in one piece.
So git offa my ass!
Ah, the Fates are screwing with me again. A water pipe broke in this cold snap. but fortunately I was home when in happened, that short break between clients. I can't imagine what a nightmare I would have come home to if it had happened while I was gone. So thank you, Fates, for that at least. And it's a pipe that's in the garage, so I won't need it until the Spring thaw.
Now I just have to figure out who, how, and what I need to do to fix the damn thing. Home maintenance is not my forte, and brings with it one of the few times I wish there was a man around the house not of the feline kind.
Oh please. Why would they put the damn thing in the middle of his back? Wouldn't the waist hide it better. Cripes.
Besides, you'd undoubtedly keep hearing him go "What? Is this thing on?"
What is it with parents?
Don't want your kid to do drugs? Don't do drugs. Don't want them to smoke? Don't smoke. Worried about sex? Don't be parading your latest "friend" who you've known for less than a week in and out of your bedroom. Don't want your kid shot-gunning the booze every weekend? Don't spend your Friday nights getting wasted yourself.
"Do as I say, not as I do" doesn't work. Kids spot the hypocracy. You didn't raise them to be stupid, did you?
You want to continue your carefree, party-centered life? Don't have kids. Keep it zipped. Act responsibly.
You're the adult, remember? You came first. You will always set the example. For better or worse.
I so admire those that can blog every day and still make their life seem so interesting.
It's a rainy day, the kind of day that I love to spend in a bookstore. But we were at a benefit last night and my usual "pass out around 9 wake up at 11" routine was interrupted. So today has been a dragging my feet day, a do a chore, nap, do a chore, nap, kind of day. Did manage to perk up enough to run out for pizza and movies, so I'm off to watch Stepford Wives, Raising Helen and another one word movie with Ashley Judd I can't remember the name off. Oh yeah, Twisted.
Another sunny but windy and cold Saturday. Housework to do, but I'm sick of the damn broken vacuum cleaner. Maybe I'll just go buy one, but it's nice to have some money in the bank for a change, and there are other things that need to be paid. Deciding what and when is a constant juggling act, and I never was all that coordinated.
"Kerry won. Here's the facts."
Now, why am I not surprised? It would be nice, with all the damn phone calls I got about getting out to vote, if those votes would actually be counted. I don't care who it's for - if you vote, your vote should count.
How to give the cat a pill
1. Pick cat up and cradle it in the crook of your left arm as if holding a baby. Position forefinger and thumb on either side of cat's mouth and gently apply pressure to cheeks. As cat opens mouth pop pill into mouth. Allow cat to close mouth and swallow.
2. Retrieve pill from floor and cat from behind sofa. Cradle cat in left arm and repeat process.
3. Retrieve cat from bedroom, and throw soggy pill away.
4. Take new pill from foil wrap, cradle cat in left arm holding rear paws tightly with left hand. Force jaws open and push pill to back of mouth with right forefinger. Hold mouth shut for a count of ten.
5. Retrieve pill from goldfish bowl and cat from top of wardrobe. Call spouse from garden.
6. Kneel on floor with cat wedged firmly between knees, hold front and rear paws. Ignore low growls emitted by cat. Get spouse to hold head firmly with one hand while forcing wooden ruler into mouth. Drop pill down ruler and rub cat's throat vigorously.
7. Retrieve cat from curtain rail, get another pill from foil wrap. Make note to buy new ruler and repair curtains. Carefully sweep shattered figurines and vases from hearth and set to one side for gluing later.
8. Wrap cat in large towel and get spouse to lie on cat with head just visible from below armpit. Put pill in end of drinking straw, force mouth open with pencil and blow down drinking straw.
9. Check label to make sure pill not harmful to humans, drink glass of water to take taste away. Apply Band-Aid to spouse's forearm and remove blood from carpet with cold water and soap.
10. Retrieve cat from neighbor's shed. Get another pill. Place cat in cupboard and close door onto neck to leave head showing. Force mouth open with dessert spoon. Flick pill down throat with elastic band.
11. Fetch screwdriver from garage and put cupboard door back on hinges. Apply cold compress to cheek and check records for date of last tetanus jab. Throw shirt away and fetch new one from bedroom.
12. Ring fire brigade to retrieve cat from tree across the road. Apologize to neighbor who crashed into fence while swerving to avoid cat. Take last pill from foil-wrap.
13. Tie cat's front paws to rear paws with garden twine and bind tightly to leg of dining table, find heavy duty pruning gloves from shed. Push pill into mouth followed by large piece of fillet steak. Hold head vertically and pour 2 pints of water down throat to wash pill down.
14. Get spouse to drive you to the emergency room, sit quietly while doctor stitches fingers and forearm and removes pill remnants from right eye. Call furniture shop on way home to order new table.
15. Arrange for SPCA to collect cat and ring local pet shop to see if they have any hamsters.
How to give the dog a pill
1. Wrap it in bacon.
Fear Trumps Reason: "This generation of young people must bear the brunt of whatever comes now, whether it be the draft which seems to be inevitable, the financial burden of a ballooning deficit, or the struggle for survival in a degraded environment. "
And next time, instead of just registering to vote, they might actually go out and do it.
Don't Mourn, Organize: "Think about how you can lend a hand to the amazing myriad efforts that will promptly break out to help the country recover from what it has done to itself. Now is the time. Don't mourn, organize."
Well, Zoot, I don't know about that site you've linked either. Yes it raises money, but it really doesn't do much to illustrate the impact of breast cancer.
Where are the pictures of those not fortunate enought to still have what they were born with? What shows the physical impact of a mastectomy? Where do they celebrate the battle scars? They may be raising money, but this site is a terrible blow to those who no longer have what it so vividly displays.
Excellent fundraiser? I'd have to vote "no". And a big "yes" to incredibly insensitive.
Oh, I just love it when the average joe,... uh, jane... uh, Patti wins. (Who is anything but average...)
You go, girl!
The Enigma has just cleaned her room. And I mean cleaned. There's actually a rug in there. That one can see.
And she did her laundry. And she put her dishes in the dishwasher. And she picked up after herself.
I suspect this new school has made this improvement.
Either that, or they sent home the clone by mistake.
"Petrone is seeking reimbursement for a $3,000 diamond and platinum ring that she lost down the drain while chopping up vegetables over the kitchen sink in his Mulholland Drive home about 10 years ago"
Oh, please. I hope she uses it to buy some common sense. And perhaps a ring that fits? What a complete waste of the judicial process.
"A German telecommunications company said on Tuesday it is developing the first mobile phone that will alert users when their breath is bad or if they are giving off offensive smells. "
Well, now. Won't this come in handy? I can see it now - buy a cellphone, get a free tin of Altoids...
"Bradford was given a gift, and he threw it back. If a company gets an advantage, Trump seemed to be saying, that company is smart enough to run with it. No big executive takes a gift given to his company and says 'Yeah, that's great, but I'm such hot stuff I don't need it.' You take every advantage you can and are grateful for them. You may not get another."
And this is why I love The Apprentice. Where else can you get such an education in business for free?
You killed my son."
"Sapir Niederer was charged with defiant trespassing, even though she had a ticket to the rally."
This is free speech? A lone woman with an incriminating t-shirt and a voice. How much do you think you can hide, G? Are you so used to the life of privilege that daddy provided for you that you think you're entitled to it everywhere you go? That all the unpleasantness can be swept under the rug?
People want answers. "Wazz'n me" ain't it.
From that Crazy Neighbor Lady, via the Linkmeister , who wants to know if anyone else remembers numbers from their past.
2-12-30 the combo to my high school locker (late 60's) I was terrified of not being able to open my locker, being late for class, getting into trouble. Still haunts me.
EL-7-7100 My mother's number at work. I was a latchkey kid, way back on the days when few women worked outside of the home. She did get the summer's off, though, when I was out of school, to keep me out of trouble. Yeah, right.
As for everything else - total blanks. Even the current stuff. Thank the Goddess for pda's.
Cider Press Hill has broken out the crockpot now that there's a bit of a chill in the air.
One of my favorite cold weather dishes is Cincinatti Chili. Easy to make, with the sweet/spicy/Christmasy tang of cinnamon and cloves and a cocoa surprise. Served over thin spaghetti, it's filling and good for the blood. I recently found a crockpot recipe for it and am eager to give it a try.
Cincinnatti Chili
2 lbs. ground beef
2 c. water
1 6-oz can tomato paste
1 large onion, chopped
2 T. chili powder
2 lg. cloves garlic (minced)
1 1/2 tsp salt
1 tsp ground cinnamon
1 tsp ground nutmeg
1/2 red pepper, cracked
2 tsp unsweetened cocoa
2 tsp Worcestershire sauce
5 whole allspice *
5 whole cloves *
1 bay leaf * (Put * items in a cheesecloth bag)
Kidney beans (drained and heated slightly)
Chopped onions
Grated Cheddar cheese
Brown the ground beef, then put in crock pot with water, tomato paste, chopped onion, chili powder, garlic, salt, cinnamon, nutmeg, red pepper, cocoa, Worchestershire sauce, and the cheesecloth bag of spices. Cook 8 hours on low. Add beans and cook on high for 20 to 30 minutes. Serve over thin spaghetti and layer with chopped onions and cheese. 6 cups.
Can also be used for chili dogs. Yum!
"IF — IF these end up being forgeries, one of the interesting subplots will be the timing and method by which they were exposed. We always favor looking at the content and substance over WHO is offering up the information, but in the war that will ensue about WHO gave CBS the potentially phony documents, it is interesting to Note that the right (Drudge, Fox, right-leaning blogs, others) led the way in pointing out the questions we have all been asking — and they were onto the questions, with remarkable detail, relatively soon after the documents were made public. "
"This nation's future is not about capturing or not-capturing any one mad-dog terrorist. It's not even entirely about any one Texan in the White House. Instead, it's about what is really in our hearts. Are we a nation ready to cede our power completely, with neither check nor balance, to misleading zealots?"
Read the issues. Discuss the issues. Debate the issues. Damn the issues, even. Just Vote.
Some applaud, others cringe as schools get tough on unruly pupils : "The charges were ultimately dismissed, but 'to push a child of that age into the criminal justice system seemed ludicrous,' Levick said. 'Nobody wants their kids to go to a school with dangerous students ... But we don't seem to have figured out yet how to do the sorting of which kids are dangerous, and which aren't.'"
Then work on that, not just on booting them out the door.
It's far too easy for the schools to turn their backs on kids who don't fit the "stay in your seat, fold your hands, stare straight ahead" form of education. Most parents are unaware of their child's right to an individualized educational placement - which means if the school doesn't have a class that fits your child's needs, they have to find it or create it. Few parents realize the options they have. It isn't just Door Number 1 or Door Number 2. It's that if your child needs it, they better be giving you Door Numer 3.
I'm so tired of school programs that focus on building the physical so they can create a sports hero while neglecting the mental that could find a cure for cancer, or AIDS, or world hunger, or corrupt government - something that extends beyond the rah-rah glory of the field and then we could care less what happens to you, you're not our golden boy any more.
Kids are "unruly" for a reason. There may be no supervision at home, too little to eat, no affection or attention. Ridicule in the hallways, or from teachers themselves. Don't just push these kids out to a virtual wasteland. Work on fixing the problem, not building a better band-aid.
Expel them and they won't be disrupting your class any more.
They'll be in the parking lot stealing your car.
Uncovering The Obvious Award
MSNBC - Teen s!x linked to racy TV programs: "The study found that youths who watched large amounts of programming with s!xual content were also more likely to initiate s!xual activities short of intercourse, such as oral s!x."
Gee. Ya think?
Monday Madness
1. Please tell us a little bit about your job (or your classes).
Helping Luddites integrate technology into their offices.
2. Do you enjoy your job?
Sometimes. Sometimes I wonder "what was I thinking?"
3. What would make your job more satisfying for you?
Steady work at a decent compensation with a lot of flexibility.
4. Name one thing you don't like about your job.
When the people that hire me aren't ready to take a realistic look at what they need and what they must do to get there.
5. Do you feel you are compensated adequately for what you do?
Are you kidding?
6. Any thoughts on social security and health benefits?
Both are joke. One big joke. They must benefit somebody, but it ain't me.
7. What are your thoughts on the current minimum wage?
The biggest joke of all. Who can live on that?
8. What kind of advice do you (or would you) give your children regarding their future and their career choices?
Never stop educating yourself, do something you love, and always be the boss.
9. What is your 'dream job?'
I just can't put my finger on it. It involves teaching, it involves writing, it involves streamlining small/home business processes at little cost.
10. At what age will you be (or were you) able to retire?
Dead.
Caution.
Never leave an open laptop and an unattended rabbit in the same room.
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"... crime itself should be taken as evidence of brain abnormality, even if no abnormality can be found, and criminals treated as incapable of having acted otherwise."
Is free will an illsion? Is all we need do is claim "I didn't do it, it's my brain's fault?" How do you determine those truly clueless about their behaviour and those who are cunningly aware?
Weekend Wonderings
1. If given a choice, which century would you live in?
This one. Although there are fascinating things about previous centuries, there have never been so many opportunites that affect the world as in this one. The internet and the simple act of blogging has done so much to make the world a smaller place, to show us our "differences" aren't often all that different.
2. If you could make time stand still for everyone else in the world except you, what would you do?
Stop every crime against humanity in process. And tie Georgy-boy's shoelaces together.
3. If you were given magical powers for one hour how would you change the world?
Give everyone a good meal and a safe place to sleep.
Watched Big Brother last night and there was a portion of the episode I found disturbing. Marvin embarked on a campaign to break up the kissy-kissy alliance between Drew and Diane. A smart move on his part, and Marvin's all about the game. His method is to create jealousy. A simple kiss, in full view of Cowboy, was the weapon of choice. Cowboy, of course, took the bait (little suck-up that he is) and went running to Drew, embellishing all the way. All predictable, with predictable results.
Almost.
Drew confronts Diane. He choses to fully believe Cowboy, who cloaks his insinuations with a good ol boy shrug, instead of the person for whom he professes to care .
And I saw, in that confrontation between Diane and Drew, a sign that too many women ignore. The mark of an abuser.
Drew, with total seriousness, told Diane he wanted to end it. She was incredulous. As her eyes start to tear he just sits there, his face a mask of finality, staring at her misery. And then, when he feels the power of the upper hand, he adds the final blow. As he pushes her down on the bed, he tells her.
He's only kidding. But if it happens again, he'll do it.
Diane, honey, that man has issues. It's only a matter of time before he's thumpin' more than his bible.
So when the final vote is cast and you leave that house, tell him he's an ass.
Then run.
"Four years ago a couple of thousand votes in a single state would have made all the difference."
This statement had a powerful effect on me. If people in this country don't understand anything else about politics, they need to understand this. What we do (or chose not to do) can matter. Not just to us. To the entire world. It's not an ego-boost. It's a responsibility.
Ah, the month of September. Schools supplies and backpacks. Bus schedules and lunch money. More time for Mom to be someone other than Mom.
But I have always maintained my identity as someone other than just a birthing caregiver. Probably because I grew up in an environment where women worked, sometimes alongside their men, sometimes on their own. Strong women. Educated women. Opinionated women. I was at more of a disadvantage during Women's Lib because I didn't at first understand what all the fuss was about. Liberation from what? My mom worked, drove her own car, had her own money, made decisions. That June Cleever/Donna Reed person was completely foreign to me.
As I got older and knew more of the world, I realized my mother was not quite as independent as I thought. She still had more than a lot of other moms I encountered, but my father definitely ruled the roost. He had to have things his way. Not because women were second-class citizens, just because, well, he had to have things his way. Period.
Still does.
He's hard of hearing now. So he's having a difficult time maintaining control, especially over his granddaughter who is walking the line between being respectful and not taking shit from anybody. Irks him.
Amuses the sh*t outta me.
