Showing posts with label education. Show all posts
Showing posts with label education. Show all posts
Monday, February 09, 2009
In China, They’d Be Executed
Monday, February 09, 2009 | Original Musings by
Jen
The same week Peanut Corp. of America backdated its recall of products to January 2007 and the FDA announced numerous apparent violations at the Blakely, Ga., manufacturing facility, the Chinese government sentenced to death three people convicted of intentionally adulterating milk products with melamine last year.
They have now shut down a second plant of theirs in Texas.
18 months earlier, China executed the head of its food and drug safety agency for taking bribes. His lack of oversight eventually lead to the sickening of thousands of children and hundreds of deaths.
When Melamine killed pets in the US, it was on CNN nightly for almost 3 weeks straight, until the death of Anna Nicole changed the media focus. Where is the out rage in the actions of Peanut Corp? Where are the protests? The letters to the FDA? Where is the outrage?
The failure of the FDA in both the pet food recall and the current peanut butter recall should lead consumers to action and the FDA to being reorganized. Unfortunately, consumers are quite content to ignore again what is in their food.
They have now shut down a second plant of theirs in Texas.
18 months earlier, China executed the head of its food and drug safety agency for taking bribes. His lack of oversight eventually lead to the sickening of thousands of children and hundreds of deaths.
When Melamine killed pets in the US, it was on CNN nightly for almost 3 weeks straight, until the death of Anna Nicole changed the media focus. Where is the out rage in the actions of Peanut Corp? Where are the protests? The letters to the FDA? Where is the outrage?
The failure of the FDA in both the pet food recall and the current peanut butter recall should lead consumers to action and the FDA to being reorganized. Unfortunately, consumers are quite content to ignore again what is in their food.
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Tuesday, September 04, 2007
First Day of Kindergarten
Abby +3
Mom -2
Abby Wins. :)
Abby (+1) : walks in without fear
Mom (-1) : walks out in tears
Abby (+1) : shows her independence by walking in the room and making friends
Mom (+1/-1): both proud and sad she has so much independence at age 5
Abby (+1): takes a great photo
Mom (-1): does not - lol
Wednesday, August 15, 2007
I don't understand.
I don't understand how you can ask a person, "how do you feel about {insert some current event here}?" and they respond with, "I really don't know" or "I don't pay attention to the news" or "That doesn't really affect me."
But I guarantee if you ask that person:
"How many days did Paris stay in jail?"
THEY WILL KNOW!!!!!?!!!!!!?!!!!!
argggggghhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhh!!!!!!!!!!!!!
(in my best charlie brown voice)
But I guarantee if you ask that person:
"How many days did Paris stay in jail?"
THEY WILL KNOW!!!!!?!!!!!!?!!!!!
argggggghhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhh!!!!!!!!!!!!!
(in my best charlie brown voice)
Thursday, July 05, 2007
My Daughter's School
Confession, my daughter goes to Catholic School. (STA from here on out).
I hate a love/hate relationship with STA. Everything about the school we love. The teachers, the staff, the way things are run, the PTA, their curriculum, and the class sizes. I don't even mind her going to Mass every Tuesday morning.
Her paternal family is 99% Catholic. My side is a mish-mash of Christian beliefs.
So, what's isn't to like? It's simple.... we're not Catholic. It bothers pumpkin. I explain to her that her dad is Catholic, and he went to Catholic school. I feel left out of some parental happenings around the school, and I know it's because we don't go to church there.
In a previous life, I was married to a debvout Catholic, and it does not bother me she goes there. It's a good education.
The community at STA is something to envied. They play and pray together. Lots of the teachers at STA also were students there. when I think of how churches should be, most of the time I think of my small town church. This is the closest thing "in town" that I have found that even comes close.
I know she'll go to kindergarten there, but after that...... we'll see. I'd like that $600/mo back in mama's pocket sometime.
My bebe? She's worth every penny!
And who knows.... maybe I'm learning something about community that once I can articulate better, I can take back to my church....
I hate a love/hate relationship with STA. Everything about the school we love. The teachers, the staff, the way things are run, the PTA, their curriculum, and the class sizes. I don't even mind her going to Mass every Tuesday morning.
Her paternal family is 99% Catholic. My side is a mish-mash of Christian beliefs.
So, what's isn't to like? It's simple.... we're not Catholic. It bothers pumpkin. I explain to her that her dad is Catholic, and he went to Catholic school. I feel left out of some parental happenings around the school, and I know it's because we don't go to church there.
In a previous life, I was married to a debvout Catholic, and it does not bother me she goes there. It's a good education.
The community at STA is something to envied. They play and pray together. Lots of the teachers at STA also were students there. when I think of how churches should be, most of the time I think of my small town church. This is the closest thing "in town" that I have found that even comes close.
I know she'll go to kindergarten there, but after that...... we'll see. I'd like that $600/mo back in mama's pocket sometime.
My bebe? She's worth every penny!
And who knows.... maybe I'm learning something about community that once I can articulate better, I can take back to my church....
Tuesday, January 23, 2007
Pro-Choice? You betcha!
Ok, ok... I have a friend that I go round and round with. She tells me you can not be against abortion on a personal level, yet on a political level support choice. I still stand by my argument that a person can and I do.
Personally? I have a few issues with abortion, but those are mine to deal with. On the same note, I have never been raped and it resulted in a pregnancy, or been a victim of sexual abuse or many of the other reasons I can see why women choose to have an abortion.
I am against abortion as birth-control. I see abortion as a last resort.
I support access to safe and legal abortion and, equally, that women should be protected from forced abortions.
The end.
Personally? I have a few issues with abortion, but those are mine to deal with. On the same note, I have never been raped and it resulted in a pregnancy, or been a victim of sexual abuse or many of the other reasons I can see why women choose to have an abortion.
I am against abortion as birth-control. I see abortion as a last resort.
I support access to safe and legal abortion and, equally, that women should be protected from forced abortions.
The end.
Monday, January 15, 2007
MLK - fighting for abolilition of Slavery? WTH? (also titled, our kids are f*ing stupid)
Today on MSNBC.COM is an article and I think the subtitle sums it up the best :
"College survey shows some think he was advocating the abolition of slavery"
yes folks, college students, NOT 3rd graders.
as you read the article, yes, you can blame it on "No Child Left Behind" (which is a whole other rant, oops, I mean blog)... but can we blame it on....
THE PARENTS??????
Hmmmmm.... it's MLK day, yes you're off school. How many parents ask their kids, "honey, do you know why you're off school today?" How many parents take their kids to MLK celebrations over the weekend (our church is having community service projects, but I'm stuck at work)?
Again, you can blame the education on the schools, or where it squarely belongs, on the parents.
As for not knowing who MLK is..... WTH?
"College survey shows some think he was advocating the abolition of slavery"
yes folks, college students, NOT 3rd graders.
as you read the article, yes, you can blame it on "No Child Left Behind" (which is a whole other rant, oops, I mean blog)... but can we blame it on....
THE PARENTS??????
Hmmmmm.... it's MLK day, yes you're off school. How many parents ask their kids, "honey, do you know why you're off school today?" How many parents take their kids to MLK celebrations over the weekend (our church is having community service projects, but I'm stuck at work)?
Again, you can blame the education on the schools, or where it squarely belongs, on the parents.
As for not knowing who MLK is..... WTH?
Tuesday, November 21, 2006
My Uterus Feel Safer Already
Who needs family planning? Not Bush and certainly not his latest Bush appointee Dr. Eric Keroack to oversee the Title X funding for the US.
Dr. K is the medical director for a group called A Womens Concern in Boston. AWC according to their site.... "supports sexual abstinence until marriage, opposes contraception and does not distribute information promoting birth control at its six centers in eastern Massachusetts."
So, basically, the best person in the country to deal with issues of birth control and family planning according to the President, is a person who only believes married people should have sex and only if they want to have a baby, because they can't use birth control.
Thank you Mr. President. My uterus feels safer already.
Understand that it is not healthy, responsible sexual activity that Keroack is promoting. Sex for sex's sake is unwholesome in their book. I'm certain none of them have EVER participated in pre-martial sex or had affairs. We all know conservative, religious right folk don't do that.
People such as Dr. K see sex as a hedonistic and sinful flight from what they perceive as the real purpose of sex. What is being promoted is the idea that sex ought only to exist for married couples who share in God's plan.
"God's plan"? From what I can tell from this administration (which God himself condoned according to Bush) involves procreating for the sole purpose of increasing the numbers of people just like them: anti-science, anti-evolution, anti-choice, pro-war, pro-death-penalty, pro-grammed, and "Christian".
Why did I say "Christian" in quotes? In case you missed my sarcasm, it's because Bush and I might, just might, disagree on what Christians should stand for. I consider myself a Christian, and it amazes me the damage President Bush has done to the reputation and image of Christians. I want to stand up and scream and let people see that not all Christians are so, well, damn backwards.
As a side note in case you don't want to google: What is Title X? Here is a Link to the Office of Population Affairs. In short it is :
The Title X program is the only Federal program devoted solely to the provision of family planning and reproductive health care. The program is designed to provide access to contraceptive supplies and information to all who want and need them with priority given to low-income persons. A broad range of effective and acceptable family planning methods and related preventive health services are available on a voluntary and confidential basis. In addition to contraceptive services and related counseling, Title X supported clinics also provide a number of preventive health services such as: patient education and counseling; breast and pelvic examinations; cervical cancer, STD and HIV screenings; and pregnancy diagnosis and counseling. For many clients, Title X clinics provide the only continuing source of health care and health education.
The Title X program also supports three key functions aimed at assisting clinics in responding to clients needs: (1) training for family planning clinic personnel through general training programs; (2) information dissemination and community-based education and outreach activities; and (3) data collection and research to improve the delivery of family planning services.
The program supports a nationwide network of approximately 4,600 clinics and provides reproductive health services to approximately 5 million persons each year.
Title X funds are critical to maintaining and operating clinics which ensure the availability of family planning services to low-income and uninsured individuals in the United States.
Each year, publicly subsidized family planning services help women avoid an estimated 1.3 million unintended pregnancies. Estimates also show that every public dollar spent for contraceptive services saves an average of $3 in Medicaid costs for pregnancy-related health care and for medical care of newborns.
The Title X program also supports three key functions aimed at assisting clinics in responding to clients needs: (1) training for family planning clinic personnel through general training programs; (2) information dissemination and community-based education and outreach activities; and (3) data collection and research to improve the delivery of family planning services.
The program supports a nationwide network of approximately 4,600 clinics and provides reproductive health services to approximately 5 million persons each year.
Title X funds are critical to maintaining and operating clinics which ensure the availability of family planning services to low-income and uninsured individuals in the United States.
Each year, publicly subsidized family planning services help women avoid an estimated 1.3 million unintended pregnancies. Estimates also show that every public dollar spent for contraceptive services saves an average of $3 in Medicaid costs for pregnancy-related health care and for medical care of newborns.
Tuesday, October 10, 2006
When the Doorbell Rings, God, I hope it's the Mormons
Tonight is PTO (or PTA in some schools) meeting #2. We're going to be making the final decisions on fund raising for the preschool. Yes, the preschool, which is a completely different financial entity than the k-8 attached to it. So, as I'm sitting in this meeting, the following will be running through my mind....
Last night, my doorbell rings, which causes havoc on the whole house. The cat runs, the dog barks and my daughter starts screeming. It's a lil cub scout selling popcorn tins. Calls me Ma'am. Strike one.
Strike two, little kid (8ish?) walking door to door without a parent at almost-dark. While I realize that is how I sold Girl Scout cookies (like 20 years ago! god I'm old) and we live in the 'burbs, I still hate the idea of this.
I tell him that if he buys the trash bags that our school is selling, I'll buy his over priced popcorn tin. The reply was, "but lady, I don't have any money." Pathetic, but adorable.
I bought it anyway.
Why did I want the Mormon Missionaries instead? They're easier to say no to.
About once a week it seems for the last 2 months, I'm getting hit up for something. Wrapping paper, trash bags, cookies, popcorn, and life insurance. But that was a guy who had a 5o'clock shadow at 11 am on a Saturday. I was less indulging to him than the little cub last night.
Private organization like the cub scouts don't bother me to the same degree as school fund-raising. What's the deal with the schools turning this into a requirement? If you don't sell, they not so subtly let you know they noticed.
What is wrong with the funding to our schools that we HAVE to do this so the teachers can have a microwave in their break room or the teachers can have supplemental supplies?
What if we spent 90 minutes tonight talking about which legislators we could lobby for education reform instead of which fund raiser is next?
What if we went door to door with a petition instead of Catalogs of crapola made by child slave labor in a foreign country?
What if we had the whole meeting at TKs Grill instead of the "after meeting"? Ok, I have no idea how that is socially responsible, but A LOT more fun).
You get the idea.
Last night, my doorbell rings, which causes havoc on the whole house. The cat runs, the dog barks and my daughter starts screeming. It's a lil cub scout selling popcorn tins. Calls me Ma'am. Strike one.
Strike two, little kid (8ish?) walking door to door without a parent at almost-dark. While I realize that is how I sold Girl Scout cookies (like 20 years ago! god I'm old) and we live in the 'burbs, I still hate the idea of this.
I tell him that if he buys the trash bags that our school is selling, I'll buy his over priced popcorn tin. The reply was, "but lady, I don't have any money." Pathetic, but adorable.
I bought it anyway.
Why did I want the Mormon Missionaries instead? They're easier to say no to.
About once a week it seems for the last 2 months, I'm getting hit up for something. Wrapping paper, trash bags, cookies, popcorn, and life insurance. But that was a guy who had a 5o'clock shadow at 11 am on a Saturday. I was less indulging to him than the little cub last night.
Private organization like the cub scouts don't bother me to the same degree as school fund-raising. What's the deal with the schools turning this into a requirement? If you don't sell, they not so subtly let you know they noticed.
What is wrong with the funding to our schools that we HAVE to do this so the teachers can have a microwave in their break room or the teachers can have supplemental supplies?
What if we spent 90 minutes tonight talking about which legislators we could lobby for education reform instead of which fund raiser is next?
What if we went door to door with a petition instead of Catalogs of crapola made by child slave labor in a foreign country?
What if we had the whole meeting at TKs Grill instead of the "after meeting"? Ok, I have no idea how that is socially responsible, but A LOT more fun).
You get the idea.
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