ExecutiveMom's Safety and Self Defense Blog

Barbie and A Conversation About Race

Doing my mommy thing today -

I read this in today's paper and found it quite interesting.  For the life of me, I can't figure out why people have to make EVERYTHING racial.  What happened to "people" issues or "human" issues.  We are all in this together.  Personally, I wouldn't care what color the Barbie was - hey, a sale is a sale and if I can get my child a toy that's cheaper - good for me! And great for my daughter - she not only gets a doll now but I can also afford to buy her additional clothes or other accessories.

My daughter is a teen now but have to say that through Bratz and the American Girl Doll collection - we have dolls that are white, black, American Indian, Spanish and Japanese.  They all seemed to play well together and there has been no revolt in our storage closet from any of them to this date....

You don't hear families complaining because there aren't more Asian or Mexican dolls like Barbie... JMO.  This is a marketing issue and happens on every product in a store that doesn't sell well so what makes this a "race" issue. 

I for one, as a parent trying to teach my child equality and inner beauty, am sick of hearing over and over again about "separate but equal".  It is not anybody's fault for the separation issues except for those groups that continue to bring it up (NAACP, etc).  We are people, we all have issues, we all are Americans born here (although my roots can be traced directly to the home my grandmother was born in - in Morocco Africa - so we are truly white, African Americans if you want to be technical - can many do that? )  Get over this race thing - it's a HUMAN thing....how can I teach my children equality when so many continue to want to harp on quotas and separation ???  No one is suppressed unless they chose to be - there are many opportunities in this country....(my incredibly beautiful, black female college room mate was abused as a child, worked 2 jobs and got scholarships to go to law school, worked her butt off, kicked my ass in everything and is now helping those less fortunate? Sorry - don't see many excuses when there is a will - )

This is just my opinion and I know I'm opening a "can of worms" but as they said in the article - love to hear your opinion.  Maybe WalMart should have put the clearanced items on an end cap all together or some other positioning but I don't see this as a "devaluation" of a race....)

Walmart discounts black Barbie doll, leaves white version full-price

By Steve Parker

St. Louis Post-Dispatch

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ABC News reports that Walmart is drawing criticism for selling a black Barbie doll side-by-side with a white Barbie with the black version selling for about half-price.

ABC News reports the dolls were first shown in a photograph “posted to the humor Web site FunnyJunk.com and later to the Latino Web site Guanabee.com.”

A Walmart spokesman couldn’t verify which store was pictured, but the spokesman did verify that the black doll was being sold at a discount while the white doll sold at full price, ABC News reports.

From ABC News:

“To prepare for (s)pring inventory, a number of items are marked for clearance, ” spokeswoman Melissa O’Brien said in an e-mail. “… Both are great dolls. The red price sticker indicates that this particular doll was on clearance when the photo was taken, and though both dolls were priced the same to start, one was marked down due to its lower sales to hopefully increase purchase from customers.”

“Pricing like items differently is a part of inventory management in retailing,” O’Brien said.

But, ABC News reports, some view that strategy as insensitive:

• “The implication of the lowering of the price is that’s devaluing the black doll,” said Thelma Dye, the executive director of the Northside Center for Child Development, a Harlem, N.Y. organization founded by pioneering psychologists and segregation researchers Kenneth B. Clark and Marnie Phipps Clark.  “While it’s clear that’s not what was intended, sometimes these things have collateral damage,” Dye said.

• Walmart could have decided “that it’s really important that we as a company don’t send a message that we value blackness less than whiteness,” said Lisa Wade, an assistant sociology professor at Occidental College in Los Angeles and the founder of the blog Sociological Images.  Last year, Wade posted a blog entry on another case where a black doll was apparently priced less than its white counterpart at an unidentified store. Wade said that when white dolls outsell black dolls, it’s usually because black parents are more likely than white parents to buy their children dolls of a different race.  “Most white parents wouldn’t think to buy a black doll for their child, even if they believe in equality and all those things,” she said.

What are your thoughts? Did Walmart show insensitivity in discounting just the black doll?

Are We Arrogant Americans?

Found this interesting....have we as American's gotten "too big for our own britches?"  Sometimes wonder if we all have so many expectations to "be manager.  Are we paid more than we deserve, yet unwilling to put in the work we owe?  We seem to have a lot of excuses for not doing this or that or we have to hire unqualified people because of anti-discrimination laws.  Are we too arrogant for our own good?  Who said life has to be a "Rat Race" and who says we can't have a balance of work / life any more?  We are all just people trying to survive in a declining environment....maybe this is a good time to reevaluate how we view ourselves, our place in this world and communities.... Just something to thing about - this doesn't paint a pretty picture of America but is it true?

    

Job Ad: 'Arrogant Americans,' Seek Work Elsewhere

An employer is apologizing after a help-wanted advertisement was published with a sentence that indicated "arrogant Americans" would be a bad fit for the company's open position, Fox News reports.

The ad, which was placed with CareerBuilder by a staffing firm on behalf of Exelon Nuclear Partners, started off simple enough, saying Exelon was looking for a technical writer who would be working with Chinese businesses. The ad indicated the company preferred a candidate "who is respectful and understands Chinese culture."

Then, there's the line that grabbed the attention of Fox News.

"An arrogant American will not work well in this role," the ad read.

In apologizing, Exelon said a third party had created the language that was included in the ad and that copy was never approved by Exelon.

"Exelon was surprised and very disappointed to see this job posting including this offensive and inappropriate language," the company said in a statement to Fox News. "This statement was not approved by Exelon and in no way reflects the company's policies and values. We regret that this language appeared in recruiting materials that were prepared by a third party and not approved by Exelon. We apologize for this error and the offense it has caused. We are taking steps to ensure this does not happen again. Exelon is deeply committed to diversity and inclusion, and we make every effort to attract and retain talent of all backgrounds."

The ad has been removed from CareerBuilder, but Fox News has a copy.

Source: Fox News
http://nl.blr-news.com/c.asp?830971&23f9056bae2215f6&27

Good luck in your life.   Best to you and yours.    Have a wonderful, healthy, SAFE weekend!

Be Proactive - Being Good To YOU...

My favorite saying to my friends is: "Be Good To You"... I found as I aged and added not only work responsibility but extras such as kids, animals, husband's needs that in that mix of "stuff" I call my life I FORGOT about ME.  At one point, 8 years ago, I had a teenie tiny melt down when someone at a business meeting asked me to describe Kim....Wow - should not have been a very difficult question but it was.  Here I was 35 and I didn't know ME.  Who was Kim? Not the mother, wife, sister, family member but the person.  Who was she? I had no clue. 

Today, I'm closer to that answer but still there are times I forget that if I don't care for me and "Be good to me" first then I'm not a very good person to ANYONE else...

You may not be able to stop the rain that falls into your life, but you can turn on your windshield wiper to clear away the frustrations, criticisms, and self-doubts that, like a drenching downpour, can obscure your vision and make it hard to see where you’re going.

When you’re feeling upset or when others aren’t valuing you, what helps you see clearly again? Taking some time alone? Meditation or prayer? Journaling? Exercise? Walking in nature? Watching an inspiring movie? Talking to a supportive friend? Scheduling a massage or a session with a life coach? Make a list of the tools that work for you so you don’t forget to put them into action when the storm clouds let loose.

Love to hear what YOU do!

Have a wonderful, safe weekend and "Be Good to You!" - for an added bit of fun and self goodness, you might want to check out Sandra Brown's contest this weekend - free books and movies (for me that's fun :)

All the Best -

Stupid People and the Things they say....

I have to say that I'm a huge fan of Bill Engvall's just because he is a recent comedian who reminds me so much of my fave: Bill Cosby.  What he talks about is clean, true, fun and timeless.  As humans, we make it so very easy to be made fun of just by "being".  Two of my favorite acts of Engvall's are when he speaks about the labels that are put on objects because of the silly things people have done (and probably sued someone over)...like using the hair dryer in the shower, or what does happen to those people who actually read the directions on a bottle of shampoo (wash, rinse, repeat...do they ever leave the shower?).  And my other, like many, is "Here's Your Sign...."

Now this weekend, after a sporting accident, yes I purposefully give my child a stick and tell her to go hit a small ball and other children (field hockey), my daughter ended up with a busted up hand (she's happy - no writing in school for a while :) But we went to the ER with blood dripping, ice bags wrapping it up, arm cradled and the doctor was observant enough to ask "What brings you in here today?" Hhhmm?

Okay, so I'm as guilty as any one else of doing these things every now and again but I couldn't help passing along a group of comments I saw recently - these just happen to be ones from attorneys in court...

Since, our first big day in court is tomorrow AND my little sister is an attorney AND I needed something light to start my Monday on a Tuesday off with, I thought I'd share a smile - Enjoy and hope EVERYONE had a wonderful and SAFE Labor Day Holiday!

These are from a book called Disorder in the American Courts, and are things people actually said in court, word for word, taken down and now published by court reporters who had the torment of staying calm while these exchanges were actually taking place.

 ATTORNEY: Are you sexually active?
 WITNESS: No, I just lie there.
 ____________________________________________

 ATTORNEY: This myasthenia gravis, does it affect your memory at all?
 WITNESS: Yes.
 ATTORNEY: And in what ways does it affect your memory?
 WITNESS: I forget.
ATTORNEY: You forget? Can you give us an example of something you forgot?
 ___________________________________________

 ATTORNEY: Do you know if your daughter has ever been involved in voodoo?
 WITNESS: We both do.
 ATTORNEY: Voodoo?
 WITNESS: We do.
 ATTORNEY: You do?
 WITNESS: Yes, voodoo.
 ____________________________________________
ATTORNEY: Now doctor, isn't it true that when a person dies in his sleep, he doesn't know about it until the next morning?
 WITNESS: Did you actually pass the bar exam?
 _______________________________

 ATTORNEY: The youngest son, the twenty-year-old, how old is he?
 WITNESS: He's twenty, much like your IQ.
 ___________________________________________

 ATTORNEY: Were you present when your picture was taken?
 WITNESS: Are you shitting me?
 _________________________________________

 ATTORNEY: So the date of conception (of the baby) was August 8th?
 WITNESS: Yes.
 ATTORNEY: And what were you doing at that time?
 WITNESS: getting laid
 ____________________________________________

 ATTORNEY: She had three children, right?
 WITNESS: Yes.
 ATTORNEY: How many were boys?
 WITNESS: None.
 ATTORNEY: Were there any girls?
 WITNESS: Your Honor, I think I need a different attorney. Can I get a new attorney?
 ____________________________________________

 ATTORNEY: How was your first marriage terminated?
 WITNESS: By death.
 ATTORNEY: And by whose death was it terminated?
 WITNESS: Take a guess.

 ____________________________________________

 ATTORNEY: Can you describe the individual?
 WITNESS: He was about medium height and had a beard.
 ATTORNEY: Was this a male or a female?
 WITNESS: Unless the Circus was in town I'm going with male.
 _____________________________________

ATTORNEY: Is your appearance here this morning pursuant to a deposition notice which I sent to your attorney?
 WITNESS: No, this is how I dress when I go to work.
 ______________________________________

 ATTORNEY: Doctor, how many of your autopsies have you performed on dead people?
WITNESS: All of them. The live ones put up too much of a fight.
 _________________________________________
ATTORNEY: ALL your responses MUST be oral, OK? What school did you go to?
 WITNESS: Oral.
 _________________________________________

 ATTORNEY: Do you recall the time that you examined the body?
 WITNESS: The autopsy started around 8:30 p.m.
 ATTORNEY: And Mr. Denton was dead at the time?
 WITNESS: If not, he was by the time I finished.
 ____________________________________________

ATTORNEY: Are you qualified to give a urine sample?
WITNESS: Are you qualified to ask that question?
______________________________________

ATTORNEY: Doctor, before you performed the autopsy, did you check for a pulse?
WITNESS: No.
 ATTORNEY: Did you check for blood pressure?
WITNESS: No.
ATTORNEY: Did you check for breathing?
WITNESS: No.
 ATTORNEY: So, then it is possible that the patient was alive when you began the autopsy?
WITNESS: No.
ATTORNEY: How can you be so sure, Doctor?
WITNESS: Because his brain was sitting on my desk in a jar.
ATTORNEY: I see, but could the patient have still been alive, nevertheless?
 WITNESS: Yes, it is possible that he could have been alive and practicing law..

Any other fun things you've heard that you can share?

Obamacare - Reading between the lines

WE NEED HEALTH CARE REFORM - don't get me wrong!  I have been on both sides - selling pharmaceuticals with wonderful insurance and being one who is uninsurable and suffering through huge bills in this system as it is BUT this is not the answer.... here is just another example of pieces that haven't been completely thought through....what happened to all the HIPPA they were promoting?  Why don't they have REAL forums and focus groups of NOT lobbyists but patients - ones with health insurance to see what they LIKE and ones IN NEED to see what is lacking and then meet as appointed groups and find out what would work for EVERYONE and ones that our representatives would ALSO be willing to use themselves.... JMO

CBS News reports another startling detail of H.R. 3200, better known as Obamacare.

Section 431(a) of the bill says that the IRS must divulge taxpayer identity information, including the filing status, the modified adjusted gross income, the number of dependents, and "other information as is prescribed by" regulation. That information will be provided to the new Health Choices Commissioner and state health programs and used to determine who qualifies for "affordability credits."

Section 245(b)(2)(A) says the IRS must divulge tax return details -- there's no specified limit on what's available or unavailable -- to the Health Choices Commissioner. The purpose, again, is to verify "affordability credits."

Section 1801(a) says that the Social Security Administration can obtain tax return data on anyone who may be eligible for a "low-income prescription drug subsidy" but has not applied for it.

Over at the Institute for Policy Innovation (a free-market think tank and presumably no fan of Obamacare), Tom Giovanetti argues that: "How many thousands of federal employees will have access to your records? The privacy of your health records will be only as good as the most nosy, most dishonest and most malcontented federal employee.... So say good-bye to privacy from the federal government. It was fun while it lasted for 233 years."


They updated their piece with comment from Marc Rotenberg of the Electronic Privacy Information Center, after wondering in their article where the Electronic Privacy Information Center stood on the issue of section 431(a) of the Obamacare bill:

"We would oppose section 431(a) of the bill because it violates the intent of the Privacy Act which generally requires agencies to obtain information directly from individuals and not from other agencies."


Since the bills didn't get jammed through before Congress went on their august vacations as Obama insisted, it seems folks are getting a chance to actually read the bill and find these tidbits that would have made it through without our knowledge.

Your opinions on this mess - for me - i'm happy it wasn't shoved through in August as insisted!

How Do You Ask Your Doctor if He is Involved with Any Drug Companies

You’re in your doctor’s office and you want to know whether he or she has any financial ties with drug or device makers. How do you ask that question?

That’s the sensitive situation the Washington Post presents this morning. It can be awkward because patients don’t want to offend or alienate their docs.

Be inquisitive, not accusatory. Daniel Carlat, a psychiatrist who has written about his own experience getting paid by the drug industry and also publishes the Carlat Psychiatry Report, suggests saying to your doctor that you’ve heard a lot about ties between doctors and the drug industry, and asking whether it happens.

Of course, it’s becoming a little easier to get the information other ways as well. If your doc is part of an academic medical center, you might check out their Web site, because some are starting to list their docs with industry affiliations. Several pharmaceutical companies, like Eli Lilly, GlaxoSmithKline and Pfizer, are or will be posting this information as well.

And if your doctor does work with industry, that’s not necessarily a bad thing, notes the Post.

“We can’t lose sight of the fact that it is potentially beneficial [to the public] for industry to interact with physicians, because someone needs to develop these drugs,” Steve Nissen of the Cleveland Clinic told the Post. “I work with many pharmaceutical companies, and I believe it is my responsibility as a physician to facilitate the development of new therapies.”

Nissen has also argued for tighter caps on funding for medical societies from drug and device makers.

*** As a career Pharmaceutical sales person, I think the one time you really want to know when your physician has any ties or influence from a drug company is if they are trying to fix something that isn't broke.  For example, if you have been on a generic, or inexpensive medication and it is doing what it is supposed to be doing and all of a sudden the physician tries to switch you to a newer, more expensive medication with no rational reasoning - drug interactions, side effects you may be having, etc.  Then I would most certainly begin to ask these questions.  Many new medications just haven't proven themselves yet.  But, if you are having difficulties and a new product is suggested then it is worth a try - not every product will work for every patient.... As far as keeping up on new information, that is not what drug companies do any more. They used to provide physicians with a lot of medical information, today it is all about sales and making their bottom line so most information provided to the physicians is slanted and jaded and your phsycian needs to stay on top of unbiased information that isn't drug sponsored....JMO

If you want more information, check out Healthy Skepticism....Have a wonderful and SAFE weekend. Looking for a book to read this weekend - check out www.kimberlycheryl.net. More on the pharmaceutical industry there...Thanks!

Are you able to have these types of conversations with your physician?

Dunkin = Death ?

Agree with him or not - I found this article today to be very thought provoking.  A doctor was hired by the state and county to run the educational section of the Health Dept.  He was doing a good job - getting people to talk about and consider what they were putting in their mouths.

As a summer person, who loves sunshine, water and the beach, it amazes me every year how many people will go out in swimsuits that are inappropriate for their body size.  And those sizes continue to get larger.  Not just on adults (which is our choice) but on children (which is our fault).  As a child I was always kicked out the door at 9 in the morning and not expected (or wanted) home until the street lights went on.  Today, I know I do more to entertain my kids due to my own safety cautions but I make them put away video games, cell phones, computers, etc and go out to walk the dog, run with friends, ride their scooters, swim.... get some sunshine!  Yes, they eat junk food and yes we have fast food but it's all in moderation and both are thin. 

After having back surgery this winter, I knew I wouldn't be wearing that bikini this year - I was so out of shape from not exercising but after going to the beach and seeing a woman in a two piece with string bottoms (and my husband turned his head away because he couldn't see the string) well - I didn't feel so bad about my suit any more but....why not let our health care professionals educate ALL of us on healthy eating habits and healthy choices.  Isn't that part of this health care debate?  We not only need health care to be accessible and affordable but we also need some education on prevention and more personal accountability for our eating choices which may lead to poor health in the long run. 

It doesn't surprise me that his campaign was okay until it bothered the business enterprises of those in charge - then instead of being concerned about it's citizens, those in charge were more concerned about their own bottom line.  Never ceases to amaze....JMO

What do you think about this doctor's tactics?  What about his losing his job over the issue?

Fla. doc fired over 'doughnuts equal death' sign

By MELISSA NELSON
Associated Press Writer

PENSACOLA, Fla. (AP) -- Dr. Jason Newsom railed against burgers, french fries, fried chicken and sweet tea in his campaign to promote better eating in a part of the country known as the Redneck Riviera. He might still be leading the charge if he had only left the doughnuts alone.

A 38-year-old former Army doctor who served in Iraq, Newsom returned home to Panama City a few years ago to run the Bay County Health Department and launched a one-man war on obesity by posting sardonic warnings on an electronic sign outside:

"Sweet Tea (equals) Liquid Sugar."

"Hamburger (equals) Spare Tire."

"French Fries (equals) Thunder Thighs."

He also called out KFC by name to make people think twice about fried chicken.

Then he parodied "America Runs on Dunkin'," the doughnut chain's slogan, with: "America Dies on Dunkin'."

Some power players in the Gulf Coast tourist town decided they had had their fill.

A county commissioner who owns a doughnut shop and two lawyers who own a new Dunkin' Donuts on Panama City Beach turned against him, along with some of his own employees, Newsom says. After the lawyers threatened to sue, his bosses at the Florida Health Department made him remove the anti-fried dough rants and eventually forced him to resign, he says.

"I picked on doughnuts because those things are ubiquitous in this county. Everywhere I went, there were two dozen doughnuts on the back table. At church, there were always doughnuts on the back table at Sunday school. It is social expectation thing," says Newsom, a lean 6-foot, 167-pounder in a county where 39 percent of all adults were overweight in 2007 and one in four was considered obese.

Newsom was hired by the state Health Department to direct the county agency. His $140,000-a-year salary is paid jointly by the state and the county. His job primarily involves educating the public about health issues - swine flu, AIDS and the like - but he also decided to address the dangers of glazed, sprinkled and jelly-filled treats.

He angered staff members by barring doughnuts from department meetings and announcing he would throw the fat-laden sweets away if he saw them in the break room. He also banned candy bars in the vending machines, putting in peanuts instead.

In May, lawyers Bo Rivard and Michael Duncan, co-owners of a new Dunkin' Donuts, asked Newsom to take down the "America Dies on Dunkin'" message. Newsom already had run other anti-doughnut warnings, including "Doughnuts (equals) Diabetes," and "Dunkin' Donuts (equals) Death."

The businessmen had the backing of County Commissioner Mike Thomas, who owns a diner and a doughnut shop. Thomas called for Newsom's ouster, saying the doctor shouldn't have named businesses on the message board.

"I think he was somewhat of a zealot," Thomas says. "I don't have a problem with him pushing an agenda, it's the way he did it. People borrowed money to go into business and they are being attacked by the government."

A short time after Newsom's meeting with Rivard and Duncan, Newsom says, his bosses at the state Health Department told him that his leadership wasn't wanted and that he could be fired or resign. He chose to resign May 8 but has reapplied for the job.

"I have never been known for my subtlety. I don't have a knack for it. I speak the truth to people and just assume that that my data and purpose are so real and true that everyone will see the value of what I'm doing," says Newsom, who now works at a prison, doing exams of inmates.

If you could be King for a day: How would you solve the Healthcare Debate

I have to say that I mistakenly believed that I lived in the United States of America where I was given the right of free speech and democracy?  Is that not what we are all about?

After a Town Hall meeting that was held last evening at my son's middle school, I am appalled at the behavior that was witnessed.  I do believe that my son and his preteen friends behave more like grown ups than the behaviors that were displayed last evening in that building.

First, I am ashamed to say that during his years working in law enforcement for the State, my husband was a member of the SEIU.  I am disgusted to know that I am represented by a man like Russ Carnahan who would allow a woman to be in his employ who would kick a man in the head while he is lying injured on the ground.(it ended up as a racial fight against a black man for being a conservative?)   I am in disbelief that adults can not gather together and speak their minds without punching one another - over healthcare? 

Well, they are now utilizing that same system as one man lies in the hospital from injuries substained while passing out American Flags at a meeting.

And then to know the PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES condones this sort of behavior by stating - a man who is to be representing our democratic rights of freedom and free speech - They showed video clips of the confrontational town halls that have dominated the media coverage, and told senators to do more prep work than usual for their public meetings by making sure their own supporters turn out, senators and aides said.

Read more: http://www.politico.com/news/stories/0809/25891.html#ixzz0NWyHeeUx

“If you get hit, we will punch back twice as hard,” Messina said, according to an official who attended the meeting.

The hourlong session was the last opportunity for Democratic leaders and the White House to prepare senators for what will be a crucial month in shaping public opinion on health care. With no final legislation to promote, senators have expressed concern about dealing with questions and criticisms about the almost $1 trillion overhaul. The spate of confrontational town hall meetings have raised the stakes.

Russ Carnahan Blames Innocent Victim for Unprovoked Beating by Union Thugs

Russ Carnahan calls out the SEIU to fill up a Townhall

What did he honestly think would happen in a heated debate when you purposefully pull in supporters, block those who oppose your point of view and then say "punch"?   He knew exactly what he was doing and the end result of his ridiculous statement.  And I'm sickened by this entire set of events.

A debate is just that - both sides being able to share their point of view.  You don't have a democracy when you only allow those who AGREE with you speaking.  Are you afraid you will lose the debate so you have to make it one sided?  Now that sounds like my middle schooler - he will win no matter the cost - cheating included - BUT - he is 11 not a grown up.   Even when he's losing and is mad, t he will just get up and walk away - NOT PUNCH someone because he's losing or they don't believe the same things he believes in!

I have my right to my opinion.  I have spent 2 years as one the millions of UNINSURED in this country.  I am bankrupt due to medical costs.  I have had to fight to get the insurance that I finally have due to disability and the inability to find AFFORDABLE and ACCESSIBLE health care.  I have either been turned down due to pre-existing conditions or I have been quoted between $1500 - $2300 / MONTH for coverage.  Even while I was working full-time with a comfortable salary, I could not have afforded that types of costs each month for coverage for my care.  But, without the various hospitalizations and surgies, my medications now cost $1974/month so what do I do?  There has to be a better way....so don't get me wrong - I am completely for health care reform.  But is this the right thing?

NO. 

They are trying to SHOVE a program down my throat that is being put together in the dark.  The bill changes daily, no one truly knows all the pieces of it, Mr. Carnahan surely doesn't know it all..... They are trying to hurt elderly / disabled and cut their Medicare (I now have Medicare) - is this not a group that TRULY NEEDS health care coverage?  They are trying to cut out those who are terminally ill - and who decides that?  My best friend was terminally ill - stage 4 ovarian cancer - with treatment, she lived 11 more wonderful, work productive, years before passing last September at 51.  She would have never been given that time or those years of her life - she would have honestly been a "Dead man walking"!

Have we not witnessed too many knee-jerk reactions and programs in the last couple months that have failed?  We have done things like bail out the banking industry only to see the top rich get richer and the money not going where it was intended because of "loop holes" in the program.  SHOULDN'T WE GET THIS ONE RIGHT FIRST?  Rather than going back AFTER THE FACT and saying "Wow, we should have....??"  THEN IT'S TOO LATE!!!

So why are people not being allowed to share their opinions and voices?  I understand that many people are scared but to resort to violence?!  Are we truly that immature?

I say, if this program isn't that bad, then why should ANY government official that WE THE PEOPLE have elected be afraid to take the health care program as their own? If it's good enough for their constituents then it should be good enough for them and their families - NO QUESTIONS ASKED. 

Yes - we need change - start with insurance, pharmaceutical, tort reform - allow physicians to actually PRACTICE medicine NOT spend so many resources on CYA .... we are a broken system but this is NOT the answer!

So....if you were king for the day...how would you make these Town Meetings more productive?  How would you make them so EVERYONE had a chance to voice their opinions? What would you do to make our healthcare system better?  Do you agree with the direction these meetings are going?  (An old couple in Florida being separated by holding the man up against a wall so he couldn't enter the room?)

I'm at a loss and saddened right now to say that this is the area where I live (STL Post Story).  After knowing the lack of protection our legal system (Mr. Robert McCulloch) provides for it's abused children, I guess I truly shouldn't be surprised at this type of behavior occuring - not just "somewhere USA" but at my child's school by those in my own community.  What has happened to our humanity?

College Roll Call - Does Your kids School Make the Grade for a Party School

Attention parents getting ready to send your kid off to campus next month?

I can't believe I am saying this but school for us is only 3 weeks away.  As I push my daughter to finish the 3 books she has to write reports on this summer before her AP courses start in a couple weeks, all she is concerned about is taking her driver's test.  She knows without grades she isn't using her cell phone to text let alone attempt to drive a car....but she persists none the less. 

As I worry about driving and high school, I realize that college is just around the corner and is closing on me quickly.  So today as I read the news I wonder, which school will she want to attend and what scares me the most is my own memories of new found freedom during my college years.  Yes, I survived and I did thrive and I made a little money in my career too BUT... as you send your kids off to college are you worried about them having a bigger reputation as a "Party School" rather than one known for their academics? 

Even with it's bathtubs full of "trashcan Kool-aid" or whatever gut rot was in it, my college was noted for it's educational opportunities should you so choose....

Who made the list this year of Top Party Schools? Well, the list of the nation's top party schools is out, and you might want to see if your student is headed off to one of them!  (rated by the Princeton Review)

After Penn State and Florida, the top five institutions on the party schools list were the University of Mississippi, the University of Georgia, and Ohio University-Athens.

Check it out HERE

Your thoughts?  Is this a popularity contest for fun or are they serious? Is this a big deal or not?

A 2009 All-Star Team

Having been born and raised in one of the best Baseball Cities in America - we have had a wonderful time celebrating the 2009 All-Star Game and it's many events.  Maybe I'm just such a huge fan of our Cardinals because as a kid - even though I played for years and the neighbor, God Bless his Soul, was my coach who worked with me for years to improve - I just wasn't made for the game (soccer was my thing).  Either way, I am a die hard through and through.

So as we celebrate the greats in Baseball this evening it got me to thinking...I could choose 9 people right now (not sport players) but any 9 people who in my life, and that of others, I see as ALL- STARS...WHO would make it in my starting line up? 

First, I think I'd just have to have an entire line of pitchers - that is where I would include my family - parents (and Happy Birthday today Mom); sisters, cousins, Aunt Judy, hubby, sister and mother in law, nieces and kids. (and ALL STAR group on their own!)

It was a little harder coming up with the next 8 players for the team - there have just been so many influential people in my life this past year so here they are in no particular order:

1. Ginny - a RAD trainer, musician, survivor, and incredible friend - there isn't enough room to tell you the wonders of this incredible woman and THANKS isn't enough to say to her for the influence and blessings she's bestowed on my life.
2. Kim - Well, here's another one; have known her for years and she never ceases to amaze me; one of the best sales people I know who looks out for her clients not for the money but because she truly believes in what she is doing; She has one of the biggest and truest hearts I know and I will be forever blessed to have her in my life.
3. Debi - Hey - she's known me since I was a kid - with out her - I just wouldn't know what to do without her so not even going there...there are just some people who will forever leave a mark on your life and no matter how long we go with out talking or seeing each other within a minute we are back to the comfortable relationship we've had forever.
4. Kelly - an incredible college friend who's been there for everything; Mother of 7 - Need I say more?? I admire everything about her!
5. Cyrus Webb - Now here is a person I truly admire!  As I am an avid reader and believe in literacy as a cornerstone of our lives - this man not only believes it but has dedicated his life to promoting literacy to all. You HAVE to check him out!! So many incredible programs to be involved with.
6. Irene Watson - author of award winning The Sitting Swing and Managing Editor of Reader Views.
7. Joey Tillman - The Child Protection Community - To protect our children, we are now making the necessary lines in the sand and moves towards the needed changes together. You are invited to join their effort.
8. In the outfield, sharing space are:Beth Baughman Anderson of  Chic Galleria Publications, Melissa of Lavender Power: The magazine for thriving survivors of trauma. and Joanna Campbell Slan   author of the Kiki Lowenstein series - I truly admire women (or anyone) who work hard to accomplish something they believe in!  Best to them in their endeavors.

Whelp, there is my team ... I know my bench would be full of so many others who I just admire on a daily basis for example, Zig Zigglar, my Childhood Pastor, etc.

I do also have a few Angels in my outfield including my grandparents, dear father in law and great friend who passed last winter of cancer and whose 52nd birthday would be tomorrow.  They are all missed tremendously but know they are helping my team out daily! 

Those on my team may not be paid millions for what they do but they are sure worth more than that to me and many others !

I see my team as a WINNER today and throughout the years!  If you had to choose an ALL-STAR team for yourself, who would be included on your "bench" and why?

Don't forget to be thankful for all the blessings people leave in your life and remember to tell them often how very much they are cherished and valued - you may not have that opportunity tomorrow.  Have a SAFE and wonderful Tuesday!