Cady

How can you look at nine puppies and try to pick one? Let alone leave with just one!! This was our dilemma as we went to pick out our new Golden.

Our plan was to eventually get a dog from our local APL when we felt ready. Then a couple, who frequent the coffee shop, told me that their Golden was pregnant. I felt that it was time. With John going to China soon and fall approaching I was ready to commit to training a new puppy.

We knew that we wanted a female and by the time we got there there were three to choose from. I got into the baby pool, where they were keeping the pups, and played witht hem and let the right one pick me. After 20 minutes I put them all away from me and the one that walked back over and barked at me seemed to be the one.

Hubby and I have always had a hard time naming our dogs. It takes us forever to agree on a name, and this time was no different. I was out at the picnic table going through baby names on my laptop and he was in the house. I was in the C"s and happened to stop on the name Cady. As he was coming out the door he said,"Hey, what do you think about Cady"? I am not kidding! We knew that was the name!

They will be ready to leave between the 29th and Oct.2, so I have time to get puppy chow and toys and training pads. Ready to sleep on the couch for a week or two. Ready to spoil the new baby.

Serving the Masses

Unless you live under a rock there is no chance that you have missed the story of Steven Slater, the Jetblue flight attendant, who recently quit his job with a bit of dramatics. As someone who has often worked in the service industry, and has a husband that flies the friendly skies frequently, I have a few things to add to the discussion.

I heartily applaud his aggravated state and even though he may lose his job I love the manner in which he made his exit and told off that rude customer! The public has just gotten out of hand and extremely rude to those who are in the service industry.

I do not even know where to begin........ I guess we can start with those on their cell phones. You know who they are. The people who have so much that is important to talk about, but they still want to stand in line to purchase what you sell, but they also want to hold everything up by NOT paying attention when it is their turn to order and pay. They have to tell the person they are talking to where they are, please hold on, and then they get out their money etc! They act all pissed off that they have to halt their phone chat because you are asking them what is it that they would like to order. They have come to your shop to get what you sell and then they get all huffy when you want to sell it to them and ask for payment!! WTF!!!!!!!!!!!!

How about the people who have already paid and received their product, they stand there and drink a third or more and pass it back to you and ask for more milk!! I'm sorry, but when did it become a bottomless drink? It is not a Denny's or iHop and I am not walking around refilling coffee cups. You bought and paid for one item. If there was a mistake I would gladly fix the problem, but I am not going to stand there and refill your cup AS you drink it.

Your kids might be very cute to you, but as they run back and forth, as people carry hot drinks around, screaming and banging on windows they are not cute to any of us working. probably not to any of the other people who are reading or having quiet conversation. If your kids are old enough to run around then they are old enough to behave. Buying them a sprinkle covered pink donut and giving it to them with a very sugary blended cold drink is not the way to settle them down. Also, setting a group of them up at a table with a fellow child as babysitter does not work either. If you want to have mommy chat time and you all have a bunch of 2 and 3 year olds maybe McDonalds or Chuck e Cheese is a better choice for you. I think the folks trying to read a book or newspaper would agree with me as do those of us who have to clean up all the mess that your little darlings have left!

It is also very loud in our shop. Next to a major university we do a constant business. between the sound of bean grinders, drink blenders and two very large espresso machines it can be very hard to hear you when you WHISPER your order and then get really pissy when we have to ask you several more times what it is you would like!! Especially when the line is 20 or so long and you are at the end of it!! Don't get irritated with us, you came in for our product we are just trying to move the line along. And to the gentleman that said I need a hearing aid....kiss my ass!! You try smiling and getting orders in a million dollar business with all that racket for eight hours a day. I am sorry that you had to wait in line behind 15 sorority girls getting strawberry frozen drinks, but if you choose to wait you have to deal with it!! It is not my fault that they are holding up the line!!

Finally, to those few who get so pissed that they write letters to the corporate offices trying to get employees fired..... how big are your egos that you are resorting to this action because you did not like your drink that day or because Jane did not smile at you today? Get over yourself. We deal with your big ass egos everyday and smile even though we know you are a jerk.

Don't get me wrong, I do like my job,but people have gotten more rude. My husband flies all around the world and has seen this crap on airplanes often. People who think that whatever they are doing is more important than what anyone else is doing. He is not surprised that that guy lost his cool. People bring on bags that are often too large for the overheads or under the seat and then try and force them in. They get up and try to be the first off the plane before the all clear is even given.

All of this has made me more aware when I am standing in a long line. It is not anyone's fault and it is just something to be tolerated. If you are going to shop or purchase something in the service industry you must wait your turn. Learn some patience or personal meditation techniques. Don't take it out on the service people!! They are just trying to earn a living.

Surgery Day

Today is surgery day for hubby's knee. Not nearly as invasive as the accompanying photo would suggest! We have to be there all day and since I can not take my laptop I am taking a book, one that I found at work and have just started, planning on several trips to the cafeteria and many caffeinated beverages!

I may even take a nap...who knows, but as hospitals usually do, I am sure that it will provide much blogging fodder, as this entire leg scenario has seemed to do right from the start.

The Junk Drawer

It has been almost two months since the, "broken leg of aught 10", and hubby has become quite mobile on his crutches. We go to the doc next Wednesday and hopefully he will get the all clear to begin walking on it. He has three trips coming up and walking would be a good thing.

Now that Cleveland sports has completely fallen off the face of the earth I think we may just throw in the towel and start watching cricket. I mean it! We have nothing left except college sports.

Summer has been fantastic here with the exception of the ground hog family of four that has eaten everything in my gardens. I had to go out and buy potted plants to fill in the spots where they ate everything down to the ground. They have two babies this year and I have never seen them eat so much of my stuff. It pisses me off, but they are just so damn cute. So, I just get potted plants.

Work at the coffee mega giant has been so much nicer since I gave up my managerial position. I love just coming and going without any worries about the place. I have found some joy again in my work. I have been learning to back off and not always have to be in charge. I have decided that I like NOT being the boss anymore. I would rather enjoy my life than worry about work. I come home and enjoy my garden, sitting outside and relaxing. All that stress is gone. Sure, I miss some of the money, but have finally gotten it through my head that there is SO much more to living.

Just finished a nice 5 day mini vacation and read a good book, played Scrabble with my mom, and sat out and had a big fire. Life is very good indeed.

Broken Leg Story

Sunday before Memorial Day hubby was putting new brake pads on the car. It was a beautiful day, I had the day off, and was sitting on the picnic table talking with him while he worked. I was doing my suburban hillbilly thing and rolling him cigarettes. I saw the car rolling forward.....................

He could not move in time and it all collapsed on his leg. The rotor hit his thigh and calf.

I dropped to the ground and tried to get that stupid jack to work, but could not do anything with it and called 911. They were here within two minutes.

They had the largest jack I have ever seen, but oh...I forgot, as I was messing with the jack I am not sure where my brain went, but I remember looking up and there was a face just a few inches from mine and I remember thinking, who is this, as I looked at her. Turns out my brain recognized her about 15 minutes later. My neighbor had heard me screaming and calling 911 and she had rushed over to assist. We even tried to lift the car, but it is a 4 door sedan and not a little Yugo!!

He was in shock and I have not ever seen a living person the color of putty. His blood pressure was down to 85! No external bleeding, just internal damage and shock. I rode in the front of the ambulance to the hospital.

After 8 hours in the ER and 8 x-rays later they tell us that his tibia is broken, the main long bone in your shin, and we will need to this leg immobilizer until he sees an orthopedic surgeon.

He has been living on Vicodin because it has been a very painful break, but now we know that surgery is not necessary. The break is too close to his knee and any metal they put in would be too uncomfortable and need to be taken back out after a year or so. NOT!!

You may think that this is the end of the story, but no............ there was something even more scary than the whole broken leg. What could that be you ask? The part where we had to get home!!

They told us that he would be getting a room and staying the night, so mentally that is what we were prepared for. Then later the nurse came and suddenly told us that we were being released! It was 1:00 AM. We were totally unprepared to go AND we had no car! The nurse said that she would call us a cab that they do it all the time. We did not want to call family, or friends, at that hour to come all the way to the city where the ER was located. It was a good drive from where we live. Our local hospital is not a Major Trauma facility.

So they wheel us out and we wait for the taxi. This rickety cab, a term I use loosely for the vehicle that arrived, pulled up and we proceeded to load hubby & myself into the back seat. It was so filthy that I could not have even tried to get in the front seat! I was smashed against the door as hubby was stretched out on the other side of me. He was still reeling from the morphine that he had been given several times that night, so he was not as aware of the scariness of this situation.

As we began to pull away this cab was creaking and grinding. When he hit the expressway, at 65-70 MPH, I was white knuckled all the way home! There is no way that car should have been going that fast! He had several engine lights on and it smelled weird in there. He had the radio up and I had to tell him how to get to our town. Once we got off the highway, as we drove through town, he was continuously crossing the yellow line! He was either drunk or very high. I was thankful to make it home.

Once I got hubby out and up to our front porch I leaned him against the wall. He chain smoked and I got a gallon sized glass of wine!! Thank god....day over!! Home in one piece.

Getting off the Roller Coaster

This past year has been one big ass, crazy, out-of-control roller coaster ride for me. Hopefully I will get some closure, and medication, on Monday that will make it all seem right.

Seeing this new doctor on Monday has me all excited. I have been planning what I want to say to her ,and the quickest and easiest way to say it, for a few days now. I also know that there is a very good chance that I will start to cry and may not be able to stop for some time, so I hope she has a good chunk of time set aside for this new patient!

Due to all my anxiety and whackadoo, nut job craziness I am now appreciating the "step down" that I took from my management position at work, but most definitely not the drop in pay! That part sucks and now I have new stress and anxiety over that!! Just figures. Hubby has been very supportive over this change and has reminded me over and over again that he has thought that I did too much for them for years. He is happy that I am doing less and have more time to myself. It has made me ask myself what was I thinking when I took that promotion.

Just like anything I always take a job or activity to heart and become immersed and want to be an ultimate achiever and get sucked into the system and get to the top etc. I am trying to let go of that behavior. I am trying to say, "I just don't care."

I am also going to go back to substitute teaching this fall. Now that the economy is not so bad and schools around here are holding steady I could sub somewhere that could end up as a job opportunity. I am also looking into starting one class towards my masters. Nothing too crazy, but stuff that is more about me, us and my future. Hubby is traveling allot now, business has picked back up, and I could easily give up the insurance at this job if a permanent teaching job became available in this area.

I used to think that I had to be strong and put forth an image of thus, but trying to hold myself together this past year with all these chemical changes has been a real bitch! As have I. I have no doubt that I have been a total certifiable nut job. I have told hubby many times that if this is what mid life is going to be like that I want no part of it! I have been so desperate that twice I have called the suicide hot lines for help, but they pissed me off so much that I actually hung up on them!! Sadly they did not even try to call back and check on my safety or sanity!

Having tried all the herbal supplements etc., wine and pot I am truly of the belief that only good ol' pharmaceuticals are going to get me through this part of my life. The Internet has been a big help in researching and I feel like I am armed with enough info to make some rational choices. I am going with a legal pad of questions and hope to come out of there on my way to a happier and healthier version of me!

I have been on this ride for too long and have always hated rides! I am ready to get off.

Not Surprising

Newsweek Magazine poses the question as to whether Tea Party members are racist. No surprises in that one!

"A new survey by the University of Washington Institute for the Study of Ethnicity, Race & Sexuality offers fresh insight into the racial attitudes of Tea Party sympathizers. "The data suggests that people who are Tea Party supporters have a higher probability"—25 percent, to be exact—"of being racially resentful than those who are not Tea Party supporters," says Christopher Parker, who directed the study. "The Tea Party is not just about politics and size of government. The data suggests it may also be about race."

"Surveyers asked respondents in California and a half dozen battleground states (like Michigan and Ohio) a series of questions that political scientists typically use to measure racial hostility. On each one, Tea Party backers expressed more resentment than the rest of the population, even when controlling for partisanship and ideology. When read the statement that "if blacks would only try harder, they could be just as well off as whites," 73 percent of the movement's supporters agreed, while only 33 percent of people who disapproved of the Tea Party agreed. Asked if blacks should work their way up "without special favors," as the Irish, Italians, and other groups did, 88 percent of supporters agreed, compared to 56 percent of opponents. The study revealed that Tea Party enthusiasts were also more likely to have negative opinions of Latinos and immigrants."

Just goes along with the scary remarks made by people like Sarah Palin and Glen Beck. These people and groups are only gaining more followers and momentum.

Toxic Tea

If you Google the Tea Party you will find more signs and images than you can believe. These were just two of my faves.

Up till now I have been largely ignoring them and their rhetoric. I have only marginally been listening to Sarah Palin and the crap coming out of her mouth. I also include Glen Beck in that as well.

Ron Rosenbaum, of Slate Magazine, wrote an excellent article about the Tea Party and how dangerous they are to ignore. How they flagrantly misuse words like tyranny, communist, Marxist and socialist. They are also quite guilty and misrepresentation of history, but does that surprise us?

I am a great believer in used-bookstore serendipity. Sometimes when you're thinking about how to express something, you find a perfect exemplification of it just by chance in the musty stacks of such an emporium. Here's a remarkable example. I'd been trying to find a way to write about Tea Party ideology, and in particular about the fraudulent history and distorted language it indulges in. Listen to Tea Partiers on cable news—or read the signs they hoist or their Internet comments—and you frequently encounter the flagrant abuse, the historically ignorant misuse, of words such as tyranny, communist, Marxist, fascist, and socialist. "

"You hear them say, for instance, that we live under "tyranny" because one side lost a health care vote in an elected legislative body. And that, in all seriousness, the president is a communist. For many Tea Party members, the word is not just a vile epithet; it's a realistic political description. Check out this clip in which Tea Party "celebrity" spokeswoman Victoria Jackson flatly tells a flummoxed Fox News host, "The president's a communist." When the host (the Fox host!) starts to object, she responds that Glenn Beck has taught her that progressive is a code word for communist. (Time to put that ugly hammer and sickle logo inside the "O" on your I-hate-Obama T.P. protest sign!)"

How can they play so easily on the fears of the weak minded and how can these people be so lead? I shake my head when I think about this. I am continually stunned, although I guess I should not be, that people like Glen Beck can gain suck a foot hold upon the public.

These people scare me.

Going, Going, Gone!!

Of all the things I've lost, I miss my mind the most. Ever hear that one? Well, it's true.

I am solidly right in the middle of a break down. I am slowly circling the hole that will lead me into mental oblivion.

Still in my 40's I did not know what was happening to me.....I just thought that it was a year long extended session of PMS. Now we have the facts. It is the ugly word that I never thought that I would speak......MENOPAUSE. OMG!

I had the mental vision of this only happening to "older women". I never saw myself as someone that was heading into this area. Well, let me tell you I am standing knee deep smack in the middle of it and holding my nose as I sucked deep into the vortex.

I am trying to get into a new doctor since my old one, literally, has never mentioned it or talked to me about it. My mom says that she was totally done with it by the time she was my age. Done!? I can not imagine how that might be. From what I have been reading this could last for years. YEARS!!!!!!!! Are they serious. I may have to move into a quiet, padded room long before this is over.

During any day I dance through such a myriad of emotions that I don't know if I am coming or going! I have enough patience that would fit inside a thimble. Sleeping is a thing of the past. I just can't. Sleep. I toss and turn every night and that, in turn, sets me up for the emotional roller coaster that is the rest of my day.

I had talked to my "old" doc about this and he just told me to get more exercise and that it was okay to keep taking the night time PM sleep pills that I have been taking. As I stabbed him in the heart with his own pen I knew that it can not be good for my kidneys to keep taking this crap just to sleep each night. Did I also mention that I am taking them with a glass or two of wine? Oh yeah, that's safe!! Never has he mentioned that it might be the "M" word or that blood work might be necessary to see where all my hormone levels are. As if I have any left!! They have to be all wazoo. He said get more exercise....hell, I can't get out the door. I have been so depressed that I am lucky to even get dressed or go to work!

I found a new doc and am trying to get into her office. I have been reading a good deal about HRT and other drugs and I am ready to say,"Hook me up"!

Out the Door

Today was the first time that I have taken a walk, without a dog, in almost 20 years. I had to force myself out the door. well, really I had to force myself to get my shorts on, and shoes, an Id then out the door. It was/is a beautiful 80 degree day here and I wanted to begin getting myself into walking/running for my 5K this fall.

Last year I did not make it due to a knee problem, but now I am slowly making my way back. Hopefully by October I will be able to run again.

It was the most boring walk ever AND i did not know what to do with my arms and hands! I am so conditioned to either walk a dog or pick up poop that I don't know what to do otherwise.

I don't want to listen to music because I want this time to be for meditative thought or reflection or whatever. I listen to music when I run, so I want my walking time to be more peaceful.

I know that as time passes it will become more natural, but for now it is hard to leave the house and take the same routes that Casey & I used to take. I think that I will change them for awhile until I don't think about it anymore.

Although it was weird the sun was shining and the 80 degree day felt good on my skin. Like they say...time heals everything.

Heads and Shit Rolling Downhill

I can't help laugh as the latest Catholic follies are coming into light. The church/leadership that has always acted so far above everyone else is now being shown for the liars, hypocrites and fakes that they really are.

I think that Maureen Dowd, of the NY Times, says it the best in her recent editorial.

"It doesn’t seem right that the Catholic Church is spending Holy Week practicing the unholy art of spin.

Complete with crown-of-thorns imagery, the church has started an Easter public relations blitz defending a pope who went along with the perverse culture of protecting molesters and the church’s reputation rather than abused — and sometimes disabled and disadvantaged — children.

The church gave up its credibility for Lent. Holy Thursday and Good Friday are now becoming Cover-Up Thursday and Blame-Others Friday."

Instead of playing all pious as the Easter weekend comes upon its followers they are instead ignoring all of this and focusing on things as they wish to divert attention. I don't think that this is going to happen!.

"The Catholic Church can never recover as long as its Holy Shepherd is seen as a black sheep in the ever-darkening sex abuse scandal.

Now we learn the sickening news that Cardinal Joseph Ratzinger, nicknamed “God’s Rottweiler” when he was the church’s enforcer on matters of faith and sin, ignored repeated warnings and looked away in the case of the Rev. Lawrence C. Murphy, a Wisconsin priest who molested as many as 200 deaf boys.

The church has been tone deaf and dumb on the scandal for so long that it’s shocking, but not surprising, to learn from The Times’s Laurie Goodstein that a group of deaf former students spent 30 years trying to get church leaders to pay attention."

These most recent abuse revelations are some of the worst yet! Still the pope tries to cover it all up under that big hat. Then they also trot out the blame for the gays defense as well!! They must either be on drugs or so out of touch with reality that they think that that age old line still works.

With this much heat coming down it might be time for the millions of followers to finally toss in the towel and look at these men for who and what they really are. It's a sham.

Farewell Good Friend

March 28th we lost Casey. She just suddenly passed away on a Sunday afternoon. She had been having some back trouble, pinched nerve, and was recovering nicely. Her death came as quite a shock. We were, and are, still numb.

She was just eleven and we had expected her to live at least 5 or so more years. John and I were having our usual Sunday. Eating some junk and watching Weeds. I walked into the dining room to put the disc in the Netflix envelope and noticed that she looked odd lying on the floor. An unusual position. That was when I realized that she was not breathing.

Monday we buried her in the spot where she used to lay behind our yard chairs. It was the very same hole that she had been digging last summer. We figured it was her favorite hole and it was only fitting that she be buried in it. I plan to plant many red impatiens there this summer.

It will be the first time, in almost 20 years, that we will not have a dog in the house. It is so quiet.

Catholic Follies

You would have to be either living in a cave or under a rock not to know all the latest about the Catholic church and their carrying on with little boys. Not to mention the cover up. Ah yes, the cover up. How crafty and clever they had been with the cover up. Their solution ? Just move the offending individuals to new locations, yet still near and involved with children. Let's just put the fox right in the middle of the hen house!!

"Pope Benedict XVI’s latest apology for the emerging global scandal of child abuse by predatory priests — an issue that the Roman Catholic Church should have engaged years ago — is strong on forgiveness but far short of the full accountability that Catholics need for repairing their damaged church. "

More than falling short on accountability it holds no one accountable and seems to let them roam about unhindered still within the church! Forgiveness my ass! The axe should be falling and heads should be rolling...including the pope's. The fact that he had knowledge long ago just makes the situation worse. The church has hidden behind the big hat for too long. They are a black eye on and for all who belong to that church.

Now there are deaf men coming forward to say that they had been abused, as children, by the priests! Deaf children! Is there anything more repulsive! Not just children, but those who are less able to report and respond to what they were going through.

"Three deaf men who say they were repeatedly sodomized and abused by priests as children confronted the church diocese yesterday about why it had not punished their abusers, saying they wanted justice.

The three men first interviewed last year by the Associated Press, appeared on a prime-time talk show on Italy's state-run RAI television, squaring off with the spokesman of the Verona Diocese amid a global sex-abuse scandal that has inched closer to Pope Benedict XVI."

By the time the pope apologizes to every person and country that has suffered abuse by his priests it might be the "end of times". He might just as well throw in the towel, put the big house up for sale and take the big hat and get out of Dodge. The church is falling down around him. Just like the pants of the priests!!

Pitchforks & Torches at the Gates

Just like the days ,when the angry mobs were at the castle gates looking for the Wolfman or Frankenstein, I expect them to show up at the gates of the White House any day now. Yes, now that health care seems to be on its way, their are Republicans that are ready for blood.

In the mornings, as I get ready for work, I listen to talk radio. The guy is not a real big name, but syndicated I believe. As you might suspect, VERY conservative. The caller told him that he, Rush and Sean Hannity are the voice of their future. The torch bearers for the voice of the party.

They scare me. It reminded me of the way the villagers would storm the gates of the castle. They get people riled up after they are already not happy with the way things are going. I just get so pissed off at the juvenile ways that they pick at and on people to stir the pot. Very high schoolish.

Health Care Reform & Welcome to Barbara O'Brien

Owner/proprietor of The Mahablog (est. 2002)

Guide to Buddhism at About.com.

After several years of editorial and production management in the book and magazine publishing industry, I set out to be a freelance web content provider. My personal politics blog, The Mahablog, was launched in 2002. I am a frequent contributor to several websites, including The Guardian’s Comment Is Free site. Since 2008 I also have been the Guide to Buddhism for About.com.

Note: I’m looking for work as a writer — permanent, temporary, part time, full time, on location (New York City area) or telecommuting. Contact me by email if interested.

Barbara contacted me, via e-mail, and asked to be allowed to publish on my little blog. As someone who appreciates those with liberal and vocal viewpoints I heartily welcome her and add her to this little corner of the blogosphere! She has an excellent blog of her own and you should think about checking it out.

http://www.mahablog.com/



Would Health Care Reform Help You?

Many obstacles and stumbling blocks remain in the way of health care reform. The House and Senate bills will have to be merged, and then the House and Senate both will vote on the final bill. We don’t yet know what will be in the final bill, or if the final bill will be passed into law. Passage will be especially difficult in the Senate, where it will need 60 votes to pass. It is still possible that after all this angst, just one grandstanding senator could kill the whole thing.

But just for fun, let’s look at what conventional wisdom says will be in the final bill and see if there is anything in it that will be an immediate benefit to people with mesothelioma cancer and other asbestos-related disease.

It is likely that the final bill will provide additional funding for state high-risk insurance pools. Currently more than 30 states run such pools, which are nonprofit, state-sponsored health insurance plans for people who can’t buy insurance because of pre-existing conditions. The biggest problem with such pools is that, often, the insurance they offer is too expensive for many who might need it. Both the Senate and House bills provide $5 billion in subsidies for state high-risk pools to make the insurance more affordable.

Under the Senate bill, beginning in 2014, private companies would no longer be able to deny coverage to adults with pre-existing conditions, nor could they charge higher premiums for people with pre-existing conditions. Until then, the state high-risk pools could provide some help.

Closing the Medicare Part D coverage gap — also called the “doughnut hole” — is another potential provision that could help some patients with asbestos-related disease. The “doughnut hole” is the gap between the coverage for yearly out-of-pocket expenses provided by Medicare Part D and Medicare’s “catastrophic coverage” threshold.

For example, in 2009 Medicare Part D paid at least 75 percent of what patients paid for prescription drugs up to $2,700. After that, patients must pay for all of their prescription medications until what they have paid exceeds $6,154. At that point, the catastrophic coverage takes over, and Medicare pays for all but 5 percent of the patient’s drug bills. The final health care reform bill probably will provide for paying at least 50 percent of out-of-pocket costs in the doughnut hole.

You may have heard the bills include budget cuts to the Medicare program, and this has been a big concern to many people. Proponents of the bill insist that savings can be found to pay for the cuts, and that people who depend on Medicare won’t face reduced services. But this is a complex issue that I want to address in a later post.

The long-term provisions probably will include many other provisions that would benefit patients with asbestos-related disease, including increased funding for medical research. Although there are many complaints about the bill coming from all parts of the political spectrum, on the whole it would be a huge benefit to many people.

— Barbara O’Brien

March 16, 2010

Divider & Hater

Glen Beck is just another, in a long list, of TV talking heads that pisses me off and drives me insane! He is another one of those talking heads who is also not very nice. Sure, some may call that his "schtick", but I don't think so. I think he is just as narrow minded, racist and fear mongering as many of his contemporaries.

Fox may claim various things about him, but they have to be loving all the attention that he and their network are getting due to his asinine behavior on air. Someone once said that there is no bad press.

He epitomizes the typical conservative Mormon man. Anything that is not like him or his faith is suspect. As someone who spent many years around them, and is a recovering Mormon, I know what I am talking about. They are rigid and afraid of anything that is not part of their faith and church. This is why the crap he spews on his show is real. He really IS that conservative, religious whack job.

Jefferson Who?

Are they or have they gone crazy in Texas? I can not believe that they are still so backwards and conservative. I lived there in the early 80's and found them to still be very critical of the North. They used to say, about the Civil War, that there was nothing civil about it! Until I adopted the local accent I would get all kinds of comments and stares. That was 20 years ago...yet they are now re-writing history. ACTUALLY!

Jefferson who? Yes the Texas school board is opting to leave Thomas Jefferson out of their new text books and replacing him with John Calvin.

"The Board removed Thomas Jefferson from the Texas curriculum's world history standards on Enlightenment thinking, “replacing him with religious right icon John Calvin.”

How can this even happen in 2010?

"After three days of turbulent meetings, the Texas Board of Education on Friday approved a social studies curriculum that will put a conservative stamp on history and economics textbooks, stressing the superiority of American capitalism, questioning the Founding Fathers’ commitment to a purely secular government and presenting Republican political philosophies in a more positive light. "

"The board’s far-right faction has spent months now proclaiming the importance of emphasizing America’s exceptionalism in social studies classrooms. But today they voted to remove one of the greatest of America’s Founders, Thomas Jefferson, from a standard about the influence of great political philosophers on political revolutions from 1750 to today. "


“We are adding balance,” said Dr. Don McLeroy, the leader of the conservative faction on the board, after the vote. “History has already been skewed. Academia is skewed too far to the left.”

I actually laughed at this one, BALANCE? How can they even think that they are offering any balance when they are taking pieces and parts out they THEY disagree with and do not like.

Just another example of the conservative movement to make the world into what they want it to be. They don't like history, so let's just change it and make it into what they want it to be with the values they want to reflect.

Home School Scary

Ahhhh, welcome back from your brief hiatus Mix!! Nothing says welcome back like a good scary post about the crazies known as "home schoolers". I know it might be hard to believe but can you even imagine that they actually have text books that dismiss Darwin and state that the Christian worldview is the only correct view of reality. It's true!!

"Christian-based materials dominate a growing home-school education market that encompasses more than 1.5 million students in the U.S. And for most home-school parents, a Bible-based version of the Earth's creation is exactly what they want. Federal statistics from 2007 show 83 percent of home-schooling parents want to give their children "religious or moral instruction."

As a parent I have no problem with parents giving their kids the necessary tool of morality, and even religious training if that is their bag, where I draw the line is when they want to begin to act as if religious crap is REAL and science is the fake.

"The textbook delivers a religious ultimatum to young readers and parents, warning in its "History of Life" chapter that a "Christian worldview ... is the only correct view of reality; anyone who rejects it will not only fail to reach heaven but also fail to see the world as it truly is."

The fact that they are telling kids that folks will not reach Heaven if they do not believe this shit is outrageous!! How can any decent parent even fall for this shit. This is why home schooled kids and their parents are frightening. To everyone.

Granted, there are some people who home school and they are serious about the academics and NOT the Jesus curriculum, but they are getting lumped in with the nut jobs for sure. Sadly the squeaky wheels are the ones that get noticed and the Jesus nut jobs are making all the rest look like they do. Crazy and unintelligent.

Farewell Good Friend

It is with great sadness that I and others are bidding a fond farewell to our good friend and fellow blogging Mixter. Mixter and I met by accident on the world wide web. I just followed a link which lead to a link and then.....it is history. I fell in love with Mix's point of view and began to be a regular reader and commentor.

Through all the social commentary and changes and points of view I followed along and was eventually asked to join the Mix and become a fellow writer. Thus began our reign of atheistic terror!! We began to have many months of religious discourse with several followers. Now....we must bid it all farewell.

I am sad at the loss of the Mix and hope to continue some of her spunk here in my little corner of the world. With far less readership, but with lots of heart! I hope her spirit sticks with me.

Best of luck Mix in all your future endeavors. That includes Guy too.

Go Directly to Jail

I have been watching this story for a few weeks now and this dad just continues to piss me off. He may be heading to jail for violating his divorce decree by taking his three year old daughter to church.

Having taken my son to church for several years I think that I can say that a three year old doesn't get anything out of going except a snack and color time. There really is no reason to take a small child unless it is what the parent wants. Kids have no real concept until they are older. It is something for them to dread and have to sit still while their parents listen to long, drawn out speeches by people standing in front of the congregation.

When parents of different faiths get together, as these folks did, it should be decided what is going to happen when kids are born and what should be done or not done in regards to any religious education. In this marriage it was decided that they would be raised Jewish. Then after the divorce this guy gets something stuck crosswise up his ass and decided to bring his former religion in to the mix.

I would be as angry as this mom too. He got a television crew to follow him as he blatantly flaunted his disregard for the courts order. Granted they should both let it go until the kid is older and let them make their own choices, but since they have decided to go this route, I think the guy needs to get what is coming to him and go to jail.

The kid is three and has no idea what the parents are thrusting upon them. Just more nonsense in the name of God and religion!!