- I just heard the nyc health commisioner say that the death of a child due to MRSA occurs one in a million, after a 12-year old black boy in IS211 contracted it and died. Strangely, a death occurred in Pa recently to a student. MRSA is the antibiotic resistant staph infection that Jerry contracted last year. In fact, there have been several reports of staph infection in schools here. I can only urge you all to caution your children about washing their hands and carrying hand washes on them at all times. It seems schools, gyms, hospitals and I'm sure public transportion are highly susceptible to carrying infectius diseases. This is nothing you haven't heard before, it's just a reminder to my loved ones.
- Interesting how it's already been determined that the air quality in California is bad due to the fires, but 911 rescuers in NYC are still dying and sueing because the EPA declared the air safe.
- Who is the only minority governor in the US and the youngest: it's Republican Bobby Jindal, 36, Indian-American governor-elect of Louisiana (Indian as in India).
- Today is Hillary's 60th birthday.
- Anybody doing anything for Hollow-Weenie?
- Oh where, oh where have mocomo and pdw gone???
Friday, October 26, 2007
DIS-N-DAT
Thursday, October 25, 2007
IS IT JUST ME OR BAD LEADERSHIP
It's truly a shame what's happening with the fires in California. Many people's lives have been disrupted and we now learn it may have been started by arsonists and fanned by nature. The already bad housing and credit market will only compound the misery for some.
That said, watching cnn around the clock shows a massive, coordinated efficient effort to provide basic necessities to those affected, even down to providing entertainment for the kids to get them thru this tragedy. I never once heard the media refer to them as refugees. Not only the National Guard are supplementing efforts but active duty military. I remember when Florida had severe hurricanes, again the people were well cared for during the emergency and FEMA was throwing money at people whether they lost their homes or not.
So my question is - what happened in Louisiana during Katrina - an event that was predicted. The surprise was how quickly the levees devastated New Orleans but even that was known ahead of time, that they would never sustain a major hurricane. We all saw the bloated bodies floating down the street and people on rooftops begging for help, the thousands sequestered in the SuperDome without food, water or toilet facilities and the head of FEMA said he didn't know but got "you're doing a great job Brownie" from the president.
Maybe I'm being too cynical but the disparities appear blatant to me. Is the difference leadership in the different states, but what happened with the federal government's response? New Orleanians are scattered throughout the US or living in toxic trailers and there still is controversy about reconstruction, not to mention they hoards of people who either did not have insurance or did, but were not reimbursed thru loopholes. I've heard Californians interviewed in the last few days who've stated they had no insurance but I'm sure we'll never know 'the rest of the story.'
It's truly a shame what's happening with the fires in California. Many people's lives have been disrupted and we now learn it may have been started by arsonists and fanned by nature. The already bad housing and credit market will only compound the misery for some.
That said, watching cnn around the clock shows a massive, coordinated efficient effort to provide basic necessities to those affected, even down to providing entertainment for the kids to get them thru this tragedy. I never once heard the media refer to them as refugees. Not only the National Guard are supplementing efforts but active duty military. I remember when Florida had severe hurricanes, again the people were well cared for during the emergency and FEMA was throwing money at people whether they lost their homes or not.
So my question is - what happened in Louisiana during Katrina - an event that was predicted. The surprise was how quickly the levees devastated New Orleans but even that was known ahead of time, that they would never sustain a major hurricane. We all saw the bloated bodies floating down the street and people on rooftops begging for help, the thousands sequestered in the SuperDome without food, water or toilet facilities and the head of FEMA said he didn't know but got "you're doing a great job Brownie" from the president.
Maybe I'm being too cynical but the disparities appear blatant to me. Is the difference leadership in the different states, but what happened with the federal government's response? New Orleanians are scattered throughout the US or living in toxic trailers and there still is controversy about reconstruction, not to mention they hoards of people who either did not have insurance or did, but were not reimbursed thru loopholes. I've heard Californians interviewed in the last few days who've stated they had no insurance but I'm sure we'll never know 'the rest of the story.'
Tuesday, October 23, 2007
Knowing Your Value (and Thanksgiving Dinner)
It's not nice to admit this but I don't have empathy for women that don't value themselves. Life has taught me that you must value yourself before you can expect anyone else to value you.
A few of my bad relationships have been a careful study in "what not to do". What not to do: beg/whine/weedle for respect, reinvent yourself in someone else's image, put your needs at the bottom of the list, soothe with food/drugs/alcohol, remain steadfastly unchanged, avoid truth, and give others the responsibility for making you ________ (fill in the blank; including but not limited to whole/happy/successful/fulfilled).
Self value determines how you walk in the world. You can smell when someone values themselves (and doesn't). It's not lip service. Traveling though life as a victim encourages people to kick us, figuratively and literally.
It's our responsibility to shift this -- by creating situations in which we succeed, are validated and feel our strength. This may mean seeking professional therapy, reading, exercising, daring to speak when we are "normally" silent, avoiding or reducing our exposure to toxic lovers and friends AND accepting that fear is normal and pushing through it.
How we are valued starts with knowing our value...the universe is conspiring to shower us with blessings. See what Rob Brezsney has to say: http://www.freewillastrology.com/beauty/pronoia.therapy.html
Next subject: we all agree that we want to improve the quality of this year's Thanksgiving meal.
May I suggest we plan a menu?
What I'd like bring: butternut squash and sweet potatoes; quinoa, edamame, tart cherry salad and a dessert (probably cupcakes). I suggested cornish hens but I don't think this is do-able (organic hens are 8-10 bucks each). Your ideas?
A few of my bad relationships have been a careful study in "what not to do". What not to do: beg/whine/weedle for respect, reinvent yourself in someone else's image, put your needs at the bottom of the list, soothe with food/drugs/alcohol, remain steadfastly unchanged, avoid truth, and give others the responsibility for making you ________ (fill in the blank; including but not limited to whole/happy/successful/fulfilled).
Self value determines how you walk in the world. You can smell when someone values themselves (and doesn't). It's not lip service. Traveling though life as a victim encourages people to kick us, figuratively and literally.
It's our responsibility to shift this -- by creating situations in which we succeed, are validated and feel our strength. This may mean seeking professional therapy, reading, exercising, daring to speak when we are "normally" silent, avoiding or reducing our exposure to toxic lovers and friends AND accepting that fear is normal and pushing through it.
How we are valued starts with knowing our value...the universe is conspiring to shower us with blessings. See what Rob Brezsney has to say: http://www.freewillastrology.com/beauty/pronoia.therapy.html
Next subject: we all agree that we want to improve the quality of this year's Thanksgiving meal.
May I suggest we plan a menu?
What I'd like bring: butternut squash and sweet potatoes; quinoa, edamame, tart cherry salad and a dessert (probably cupcakes). I suggested cornish hens but I don't think this is do-able (organic hens are 8-10 bucks each). Your ideas?
Monday, October 22, 2007
WOW WEEKENDS
I hope everyone enjoyed their weekend. I really enjoyed mine with Miles. I hope he does well on his psat's.
It was a beautiful weather weekend and I'm hoping to remember all this good weather after the change comes.
Believe it or not Miles is a pretty good conversationalist - actually both boys are, but i know Bradley better than I do Miles. I don't know his interests (Miles). I learned that he does photography for the school newspaper, which surprised me. He described some of his best shots, but we forgot after we got home for him to show some to me. I'm interested in his writing desires and will encourage him to continue. I tried to encourage him with his art as I think he is pretty good. He told me his art teacher said he could come in and use the materials whenever he likes (providing it's not during another class, I'm sure.)
I'd like to bond more with him and let him know that he is welcome to visit anytime he wishes. My next email will be to him.
It was a beautiful weather weekend and I'm hoping to remember all this good weather after the change comes.
Believe it or not Miles is a pretty good conversationalist - actually both boys are, but i know Bradley better than I do Miles. I don't know his interests (Miles). I learned that he does photography for the school newspaper, which surprised me. He described some of his best shots, but we forgot after we got home for him to show some to me. I'm interested in his writing desires and will encourage him to continue. I tried to encourage him with his art as I think he is pretty good. He told me his art teacher said he could come in and use the materials whenever he likes (providing it's not during another class, I'm sure.)
I'd like to bond more with him and let him know that he is welcome to visit anytime he wishes. My next email will be to him.
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