2016 Presidential Election Results Will Be Questioned- a Commentary

At the time of this writing I have no idea who won the 2016 Presidential Election for the United States.

This election has been fraught with accusations of fraud, illegal activities, corruption, and personal character assassinations on both sides. The mainstream media has shown unprecedented bias which only serves to destroy the vary thing that made journalists so important- integrity and impartiality in reporting.

Several years ago former Vice-President Al Gore ran for election to take the place of Bill Clinton who had already served as president for 8 years. He demanded a recount because votes were not counted and a little something called a hanging chad in the Florida ballot punch cards. Everyone thought he was just a sore loser, and that may be so, but it was his right to challenge the tally, especially with the challenged ballots and uncounted ballots.

Donald Trump has already announced he will exercise his right to do the same thing in the event he doesn't win because there have been so many allegations of illegal activity against the democratic candidate Hillary Clinton. He is being called a sore loser before the ballots are even tallied or cast. Unfortunately, he is right to assume the tally may be skewed. There is technology that was not available in previous elections, and actually, it is not legal to use it. I'm talking about photographing or video taping anything going on in the voting booth. People are doing it anyway. It has become a civic duty for them to do so, as only reporting the issues with the electronic ballot system may not be enough. Video has been showing up from early voting to election day voting that the electronic ballots are not actually recognizing the results of the voters. In some cases it refuses to register anything that is cast for the Republican Party, and in other cases it is outright changing the votes from Republican to Democrat right before their eyes. This is ridiculous! Paper ballots were not counted and some actually destroyed rather than be counted for candidates in the Democratic party in order to guarantee the candidate the party preferred won the nomination.There are also reports of intimidation of voters is going on and poll workers wearing tee shirts supporting the democratic candidate. That advertising for a certain candidate thing is actually highly illegal. Pamphlets, handbills, signage, or soliciting votes in any way is actually illegal within so many feet of a polling place. (Check for local ordinances on distance.)

What the hell is going on in this country people? This is the United States of America! We founded the idea of fair, free, and democratic elections. We often send the United Nations in to other countries to try to guarantee the same right to their citizens. I never thought I would see the day that the United States would need UN observers to monitor OUR elections to make sure they are fair and un-tampered with. We may be facing a civil war type atmosphere over this election when the results are revealed because people will just not believe the results one way or the other. Why should they?

Please try to remember when this is all said and done that we are one nation - indivisible, who has proven time and again that we can get through anything as long we stand together. Curb your tendency toward violence if this doesn't go your way. 

Government Shutdown Needs Solutions

The government has shut down, which hasn't happened since the Clinton Administration. They are, of course, in complete disagreement about pretty much everything so they are choosing not to work at all. Amazing how alike the two presidencies are- both determined to turn our democratic (not to be confused with Democrat) society into a socialist government where the government runs the people and everything they do. We are not socialist or communist. The government works FOR US. We hired them by virtue of the vote- all of them. It's bad enough that the average working American is seeing less and less of their pay because the government takes it in taxes every paycheck, but the very people who campaigned on not raising their own pay did just that, and raised it and you can bet they are being paid for this debacle of non-cooperation . You know, I don't recall that when I work for someone I get to tell them I AM getting paid more whether you like it or not. So now, our employees (senators and congressmen) are telling those who work for the government to go home and others to work without pay. Now if I were to tell my boss what I will and won't do and that they are going pay me more even if I am not doing the job they assigned me, they would tell me to hit the bricks or get to work. If our senators and congressman cannot get their collective butts back to work and resolve the issues we hired them to, then they too should go without pay (only seems fair since they are doing it to other workers) or they should get the hell out so we can get someone who is willing to do the job. Don't you think so?

Back-to-School Time: Are We Looking at It All Wrong?

We see it every day lately: It's back-to-school time! Sale on now! Buy the latest ______ (fill in the blank). The commercials inundate us at every turn and they use kids to push the point that they should be buying all the coolest clothes, the latest, most up-to-date gadgets, the neatest binders and notebooks (and not necessarily the paper kind). Some communities go pretty much year round, which is another issue altogether, but they still have all these sales in the fall in an effort to make big bucks off of you and to push the 'I'm cooler than you' attitude.

In the schools, kids are excited to go back, at first, but then the 'I don't want to go to school in the first place' kids start up and disrupt classes for those who do. Kids are texting back and forth, which in most schools is actually against school policy to even have a phone in class. (So why are you buying them the most expensive, does-everything phone?) A good many kids take it for granted that they will go to school, like it or not, and a lot of parents are involved enough to help them with their homework. Those who don't, again, is another issue altogether. The kids who take it for granted go along goofing off, sometimes learning in spite of their antics.

Now, flash to other countries where it is not a right to go to school; it is a privilege, and if one goofs off and doesn't participate and do well, they are out and destined to poverty and menial employment if any. Also consider the Middle Eastern countries, such as Pakistan, where the Taliban shot a young woman in the head because she spoke out against not letting women to go to school. That young woman was Malala Yousafzai. She survived the gunshots after surgery in the United Kingdom and months of rehabilitation. Still she fights on. The United Nations honored her bravery on July 14, 2013, and the speech to the United Nations Youth Assembly she gave was astounding. With great passion and eloquence she made a plea for all children, male and female, to be allowed to get an education. In her country schools are burned and the students are killed just for trying to learn. Those children aren't thinking about which clothing or robes, as the case may be, are the coolest, or who has the newest technology. They just want to go to school and learn.

If we look at going to school as a privilege and an education as one of the greatest assets we can give our children, and teach our children to respect the privilege, then we can make real strides in educating our children; not by teaching them to be ultimate consumers of whatever the 'coolest' trend is in blue jeans and tee shirts and electronics.

Watch Malala Yousafzai's speech on You Tube: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5SClmL43dTo

Stop! Drop That Cupcake!

I was browsing MSN the other day and came across an article that made me want to gag. Of course I read it! If you are eating a commercially made baked good, you might want to put it down and consider learning how to bake from scratch- I don’t mean open a box, dump it in a bowl with an egg, water, and oil; stir and bake. I mean measure out all the ingredients yourself: flour, sugar, baking powder, cocoa, etc. The article for your reference can be found at: http://todayhealth.today.com/_news/2012/10/17/14489629-8-ingredients-you-never-want-to-see-on-nutrition-labels?lite , and it is called 8 Ingredients You Never Want to See on Ingredient Labels. Of all the ingredients they labeled, which really were disturbing, I nearly tossed my last meal when I read about one of them: Castoreum. Castoreum is actually from the scent glad (an anal glad) of the beaver. (What?) You might not even see it on the ingredient list because it can be simply labeled as a ‘natural ingredient’. Well, yeah, I suppose it is ‘natural’ since it isn’t created in the lab!

Okay, so, I want to know how this came about. Did someone in some lab playing around with studying the effects of drugs (like marijuana) suddenly decide to try it on themselves and then the participants start thinking something like this:

Guy One: “Hey, dude! Look at that flat tailed critter over there in the cage. I wonder what would happen if we played with that thing man? Ping Pong!”

Guy Two: “Man you ain’t right! Ha ha. Let’s play with his butt!”

Guy One:  “Cool.  Look! He’s spraying something out. Whoa! That smells dude. But look at the color!”

Guy Two:  “I wonder if we put that in food it will hurt someone. Let’s try it.”

Guy One:  “Gross idea; let’s do it.”

Then these two knob-heads bake a cake and put in this ‘extracted’ substance (I really don’t want to know how they did that. Do you?) And, then they decide they like this cake.

Guy One:  “Eureka! We’re on to something here. I wonder if the FDA will approve it for commercial use.”

Guy Two: “I don’t know. Let’s see.”

I want to know who in the FDA decided that it was a good idea to even test this as a legitimate ingredient. Did someone not ask why someone would want to put an ‘extract’ from a beaver’s butt into food in the first place? Or did they just say, “Sure, we can see if this will sicken people over time,” and send out the approval?

Personally, I have always preferred homemade, from scratch baked goods. My husband, not so much. Not that it isn't good; he just thinks it's softer or less expensive, or easier. I wonder if now I can convince him that he should eat what I do- the homemade bread (not from a mix) and cake from scratch. How about you?

Think Before You Speak

I know people get nervous when they are being interviewed, but really, the other day a Dallas Cowboys fan was asked how they felt about the tragedy regarding the death of Jerry Brown due to one of his teammates driving drunk. Her comment was that she hoped "everything would turn out okay." What? Everything turn out okay? How can that happen? Jerry Brown who was only 25 years old and going to be a new dad very soon is dead and the last time I checked the only one who could change that hasn't come back yet. Did she think it would be "okay" for Josh Brent to get away with killing another human being after getting behind the wheel drunk. This isn't the first time he has done so either. He was just off probation last year for another OWI arrest and he was driving without a valid license.

Here are some questions I have in this matter: What makes these people think they are above the law? That they can drive under the influence of anything and skate by? Much less kill someone while doing it? Why would anyone want them to? How can an organization such as the Dallas Cowboys stand behind someone who does this and has been convicted of doing so before (driving while intoxicated). Is that the example they want to set for the youth of today for acceptable behavior? Is it any wonder that people think it is okay to drive drunk, take a chance of killing someone, maybe you or me or one of our children or grandchildren? I have seen multiple DWI, DUI, (whatever they want to call it) arrests and people are still getting away with it.They are using poor judgement, to say the least, and depraved indifference for public safety when they take a chance they won't be caught or get into an accident.

People need to think before they put someone, sports figures or celebrities, on a pedestal and give them a pat on the head and tell them everything will be "okay" when they act in a dangerous fashion. It's not okay with me, and it shouldn't be with you either.

Community Theater Excellent Opportunty for Children

With the economy pretty much in the tank schools are making extreme cutbacks and of course the first things to be cut are the arts. It's been well known for years. I have noticed that people are passionate about keeping sports in schools, but not as loud when it comes to art, music, and drama. Why is that? If you think about it, you have to acknowledge that not everyone is cut out to be on the team for whatever sport the school has and I do know that schools are also cutting sports or are consolidating with other districts in order to continue participating. I understand the team work concept that sports teach, and that some kids get scholarships from playing sports, but not all kids who participate in sports get a scholarship. Just like not all kids who participate in the arts get a scholarship. One can argue however, that the arts can appeal to more students, and one doesn't often get injured participating in music, except for the occasional dance injury, or art (which can lead to many careers such as architecture, graphic design, web design, etc.). Does anyone think about how drama (theater) helps students? Try acting if you can't read and read well. Theater helps with confidence, overcoming shyness (as it did me), learning to multitask, which is important in most jobs, keeping grades up if their parents (and the schools) make it a part of participation, staying active (learning dance steps and when to do them). I had two left feet and I learned to dance because of community theater.

I was recently contacted by a new company out of Chicago called Compass Creative Dramatics because of an article I had written years ago regarding community theater. They are trying to raise awareness of the importance of community theater for children and plan to take small productions to several cities throughout the Midwest. They have testimonials on their website and videos on their YouTube page of people telling their memories of being involved in community theater. I, too, gave them some material. They are trying to raise money to get the project started and what a worthy project it is! Check out their website http://www.ccdramatics.com/index.html and their YouTube page
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DeMxvqipOto .  Hey, if you have something to add to their testimonials, go ahead; I'm sure they would appreciate it.

I have to wonder if more people in other areas endeavored to undertake such projects the void left by the schools would be filled and children would find something to do who might otherwise just sit around the house vegetating, or get into trouble 'just hanging out'. There isn't always a Boys and Girls Club (or such other club) available for them; I know there isn't where I live, but there is a small community theater. Get involved, won't you?

Questioning the Electoral College

As the presidential election of 2012 is rolling around, I think it is time for a little lesson in voting. Did you know that even though one votes for a candidate, all the votes are tallied, and someone has received the most votes, they may not actually win the election? That's right. That vote can be overturned in a sense by the Electoral College.

The Electoral College has been around since our country's first election. The framers of the Constitution for some reason decided that election of a president by popular vote was not good enough and so created an electoral college to do it for us supposedly based on the popular vote. Seems like an un-necessary extra step to me. Members are based on various factors: number of senators in each state (2), and the number equal to how many representatives there are for each state which is based on population and will vary as the population does (Census figures), and three for Washington, D.C. These electors are usually voted in by popular vote. Supposedly, the electors vote according to who their individual states have popularly voted for the president, only actually they do not legally have to do that at all. It has happened four times in our history, as recently as 2000 when Al Gore, who won the popular vote, lost the electoral vote and therefore was not put into office. Regardless of how anyone feels about who won or lost the election that should not be legal. If someone won the popular vote that is who should win the election.

In this day and age when business people and politicians are often bought and paid for in various ways, otherwise there wouldn't be any lobbyists out there; it would be way too easy for someone to buy an electoral vote. I'm not saying that has happened, but it potentially could. Some states have sanctions for not voting with the popular vote- a fine and not being able to be an electorate again. Big deal! Anyone could pay the fine for them and if they truly are just trying to rig the election, then they don't care if they are not voting in the next one. At least Michigan negates the vote of the person not voting according to their state's wishes; others just give a slap on the wrist, so consequences vary wildly all the way to only being replaced.

When I checked the National Achieves (http://www.archives.gov/federal-register/electoral-college/electors.html) it listed how many representatives there were for each state and how many states had no laws or pledges regarding the electors voting with their state's popular vote - that means no penalties. There were 24 of them. That's 24 states' electorates potentially voting against the popular vote – almost half!

I don't see how we would have the right to point fingers at other countries' elections if we can't guarantee we would have an absolutely fair election. This is from a Constitution-believing, proud patriot: The Electoral College must go if we can't find a way to guarantee they will vote with the people they represent. I understand the College is supposed to make lesser populated states just as heard as the larger ones, but unless we want another play out of the 2000 presidential election, changes need to occur. Maybe jail time should be part of the deal for not voting as they are supposed to and it should be counted as election fraud. I am not a politician and I do not have all the answers, but together, as a country, the way the founding fathers did, we should figure out a solution.

Where Were You September 11, 2001?

To borrow from an Alan Jackson song, where were you when the world stopped turning? Obviously September 11, 2001, the world did not stop turning- but it sure felt like it. I was in our dairy barn cleaning up after the morning milking. My youngest son had already gone inside and saw the report on the Today Show.  He ran to tell me a plane had hit one of the buildings of the World Trade Center. My reply after the 'Oh my God!' was, "Somebody's in trouble," the last word being dragged out. I asked if it was a small plane like the one that hit the Empire State Building so many years ago and of course he looked confused not knowing what I was talking about. (I only knew about it from historical reports-I am not old enough to have read about it real-time.) He just shook his head and said, "No, Mom; it was a jetliner." You could have knocked me over with a feather. As I was finished in the barn, we came inside to watch the updates together. Horrified, we watched as yet another plane hit the second tower and then the towers collapsed. Panic reigned supreme in the streets as people understood we were under attack even as they had no idea what had happened.  I told him one is an accident, two is on purpose. Then of course came the reports of the plane crashing in Pennsylvania and the one that hit the Pentagon. All air traffic was officially grounded. We just stared at the television, my arm around his shoulders. We knew we were at war. My husband having heard vague reports on the radio that we kept in the barn came in and asked if we'd heard the news.

As the days went on we learned, if we had not already known, what real heroes were. Those brave, selfless individuals who caused their own plane to crash rather than let the terrorists take it into the White House or some other government building, gave everything for their country. The rescuers who knowing full well they might not make it out, went into those burning towers to save those that could be and then retrieve those who couldn't and many of them too gave everything to their fellow man not just their country. There were poor, unsuspecting people conducting business, going about their day who were killed inside those infernos, many of which died trying to save their coworkers. We will never forget.

All these years later, we still remember vividly where we were. Of course many have been born who have never felt the devastation of seeing that awful, terrible site except on historic news reports around the anniversary, and many of those will go on to defend our country, once they are old enough, so that it doesn't happen again, or if it does, they will be there.

September 11 has been named Patriots Day in observance of those thousands who died that day.  Just as December 7, 1941, is remembered as Pearl Harbor Day in honor of those attacked in Hawaii while they slept is not meant to bring about hatred for the Japanese, Patriots Day is not meant to bring about hatred for those of Middle Eastern descent. There is enough hatred in the world. It is to remember the victims, the fallen heroes of that terrible day, and to remind us to keep ever mindful, ever vigilant and not let it happen again.

God bless America, the survivors, the families left behind wherever in the world you hale, and the heroes who defend us against those who would do us harm if given the chance again.

A Birthday Card to America

Happy Birthday to my country- the United States of America. We have many patriotic holidays, but I must say this is our most  precious and patriotic of all of them. Men, at great risk to themselves and their families, signed a proclamation that we wanted our independence from British rule and after years of fighting and many dead men, women and children, we earned that right. We won the right to vote for our representatives in government and our head of government -the President of the United States. We may not like who gets into office, but they were put there by a majority vote of everyday people like you and me and not forced upon us as some other countries have.

There are a few thank yous that need to go out today. Try the members of the Armed Forces - Army, Navy, Marines, Air Force, National Guard and Reserves, and the United States Border Patrol. (HUH?) The Border Patrol agents are for more than trying to keep non-citizens from crossing our borders; they watch for those who might try to do harm to our country and stop them at the border (they need our help and support too by the way). If you see a serviceman or woman today thank them. Someone before them served to give us our freedom, keep our freedom, and stop our country's enemies. The tradition continues with today's members. Please give them the respect they deserve. And while you're at it, thank a veteran. They don't get that often enough, they really don't. Many have made great sacrifices or the ultimate sacrifice (thank their families). Help when you can and celebrate our independence every day.

While you watch the candles glow and sparkle and fizzle (the fireworks) and listen to some great music and exploding rockets (again the fireworks), participate perhaps in a barbecue, or enjoy your family, raise a glass to our country and wish it a happy birthday with many more to come.

A Mother's Love

From the tiny flutter in my abdomen to the solid go-for-the-goal kick, the stretch of your tiny limbs under my ribs and the sound of your heartbeat through the stethoscope; I thought I couldn't love you more.

There you were, wrinkled face, yawning, smiling, eyes staring up at me, bundled in your little blanket with your tiny hat and tee shirt, making little sounds and crying on occasion, depending on me for everything; I knew I couldn't love you more.

Your first steps, first words, feeding yourself, sippy cups and potty chairs, dressing yourself, even if it was sometimes backwards, amazing me with every evolution. Later, your first bike, first grade, first girlfriend, and, oh my God, first car, graduation, college, a grown man; still I love you more.

How could a mother have a capacity to love more everyday? How could a mother have enough love to go around for more than one amazing, blessed child? How could a mother's love grow with each year exponentially, without ceasing, no matter what, for all her children? It seems impossible, yet it isn't. It's a blessing we've been given. I should know; I'm a mother.

The No Child Left Behind Act

In frustration one day I said to my son, “I can’t believe how many kids around here are graduating and cannot read or write.” What I have noticed in dealing with the public in the last five years is that people who have graduated in the last decade (or about to graduate) have a very difficult time with reading and understanding simple questionnaires. In talking to them I get the impression many of them don’t really understand them when read off to them either. I have seen a few that actually can read and understand the questions, but cannot spell well enough to put down answers. Mostly they are written in texting language. Not everyone speaks text language –me included, which I’m sure irritates those who do. Texting is for telephone messages that are sent like email but shortened for space sake; right? So don’t use it on paperwork.

My son’s reaction to my statement was that it was because of the No Child Left Behind Act. Now, I have of course heard of the Act and I knew it was supposedly in place to raise standards of schools and education, but I also knew schools had complained about it for years. What I didn’t know, and suspect neither do a lot of other people, was the exact specifics of the law. He went on to give me the shortened version of it, in his opinion. The No Child Left Behind Act caused schools to make their curriculum steer to the lowest common denominator. (He likes to use mathematical references.) They test the students, see what the lowest level of ability is and teach on that level. That can’t be right. The law was meant to make schools be steadily better by 2014 and would cause them to lose federal funding if they didn’t.  That was my understanding.  He considered that because of teaching on the lower levels they were dumbing down the population.

I looked up the No Child Left Behind Act on Wikipedia and realized what he said actually was correct in a nutshell. It kind of irritated me that he had dumbed it down to tell me what it involved. School districts have until 2014 to improve their standard measured by test results. They have to improve steadily every year to bring students up to a well educated level. States will lose federal funding for education if they do not show improvement every year. States are allowed to create their own tests.

What the schools did was create tests that were below grade level and slowly inched up the level, but they are still below level. As a result, the tests show improvement. They did essentially what my son said; they dumbed it down to lowest level. Schools are putting efforts into what is on the test and diverting from other subjects that would give a good all around education. They are what is referred to as ‘teaching to the test.’ My son came home and complained about what a joke that test was every year when they made him take it.

There are ten states who have actually asked for relief from the requirement to be improved by 2014 and the president granted them waivers. One more is being considered. According to MSNBC (online) the ten states are Colorado, Florida, Georgia, Indiana, Kentucky, Massachusetts, Minnesota, and New Mexico is under consideration. Twenty-Eight other states, Washington, D.C., and Puerto Rico are in line to make requests as well.

One thing I noticed with my kids is that they were bored half to death. Year after year they got the same lessons. In history, for instance, they didn’t get much further than the American Civil War and they barely brushed that. There was a mention for about a week each on the Industrial Revolution and World Wars I and II. Forget about the Cold War, the Cuban Missile Crisis, or the Space Race. Think how much has happened since then! I believe the children would have stayed more tuned in if the lessons had progressed from year to year. We did that when I was in school. What at one time had been called Americanism versus Communism was changed to Comparative Political Systems and the class lasted for a semester. Granted that could have gone further too, like changing geographical lines of countries and their names and their political systems.  World History didn’t get far up the historical chain either and they only got one year of that. Until they got into Algebra, my kids were bored with math and eventually that got old until more challenging subjects were brought in.

Challenge our children with interesting classes and they will respond. Don’t just simply decide they are not bright enough to learn therefore dumb down the tests. There are children with legitimate learning difficulties, but those can be worked around if one changes the way they teach those students. That means not labeling them, but still putting them in a classroom where the same material is covered as the other students, just taught differently. Right now those kids, if at all placed in another setting, are put in ‘Special Education,’ and that carries a stigma that makes the kids feel dumb and they get teased unmercifully for it.  

Some of the grounds for the waiver requests are that the students don’t speak English well enough to learn the lessons so they are taught in their language and then they can’t understand the test. Seriously? Hold them accountable to learn the language that may not have been legislatively recognized as the official language of the United States, but it sure is the language we speak. If we were in Mexico, we would have to learn Spanish in order to go to their schools. The same goes for other countries. Don’t use that as an excuse. Another reason is that the kids are poor and cannot relate to the requirements of the tests. They are poor; not stupid. That doesn’t have to go hand in hand. If their parents are uneducated then teach the children so that they can indeed achieve the American Dream of doing better than one’s parents. Parents have to take an interest in their children’s education and make sure they do their homework even if they don’t understand it themselves. After a certain point in Algebra I am totally lost, but I made sure they did the work. Find someone who does understand it if they need help that the parent is at a loss to explain. A kindly neighbor works well if a tutor is not in the cards, and for most of us, it isn’t. This is how parents help their children reach that American dream. Our children are the future, they will run the country and industry. How about we make sure they are up to the challenge? Is it really a 'no child left behind' guarantee, or an 'all children left behind' guarantee?

Trying to Regulate Sugary Drinks

I was browsing the net the other day and came across a headline about regulating sugar like alcohol and tobacco. I had to see what it said, after all my soda consumption may be in jeopardy. ( I don't really drink that much –but I don't want someone telling me I can't either.) Doctors think that because of the pervasive epidemic of obesity and diabetes (as a result of the obesity or just because of too much sugar in the diet) that sugary beverages, such as soda, should be regulated requiring one to show their ID if they wanted to purchase the product.  Most of us know there is a problem with people (not just in the US) ingesting too much sugar in their diets.There is supposedly evidence that sugar can be addicting and one can suffer withdrawal if they consume huge quantities regularly and then stops. However, we are free to eat what we want. Sugar isn't affecting other people by our using it; unlike alcohol and drugs where being inebriated can cause injury to others. 

What is the age they consider to be old enough to consent to consume sugary beverages?  How long will it be before they want us to show ID to purchase a candy bar? - 'I'm sorry; you aren't old enough for that pack of M&Ms you are dying to have.' How long until you have to show ID at the checkout for groceries such as cereal, cake mix, doughnuts, snack cakes, spaghetti sauce (it contains sugar!), and forget pancake syrup.

What will be next? Let's see… Studies have shown that processed foods are bad for us therefore anything containing white flour will be regulated. Canned meat products will be regulated. No more Chef Boy Ardee™ products for the kids; they contain sugar and flour. No more sandwiches because you can't buy bread unless it is whole wheat, and you can't get cold cuts because they are processed, and by the way, contain mass quantities of salt, which is probably the next to be regulated because too much of that is unhealthy too.

Are we all to turn vegetarian? My husband refuses to go without meat and I'm sure he isn't the only 'meat and potatoes person' on the planet. Vegetables are only available certain times of year anyway so they would have to processed somehow (you can't freeze everything for preservation). To buy imported produce year-round would get too expensive, and as they are discovering now, the government has no control over what chemicals other countries allow used on their produce. They are finding pesticides in the orange juice imported from other counties; like that's healthy.

I don't think it would fly to try to pass such legislation to make one show ID to buy a bottle of pop. Can you imagine people being ticketed for buying a bottle of Coke™ and giving it to a minor or selling out the back door of the store to people who don't have an ID. The sales person looks around, eyes shifting right to left, ever watchful for the cops. "Don't tell anyone where you got it kid. I'll deny I've ever seen you."

Read the article here (Open in a new tab!): http://www.cbsnews.com/8301-504763_162-57369857-10391704/sugar-should-be-regulated-like-alcohol-tobacco-commentary-says/ 

Trying to Legalize the Fashion Police

I was perusing the internet news sites and on HLNTV.com I saw a story about Cabbo County Louisiana Commissioner Michael Williams who wants to pass a ban on the wearing of pajamas out in public, in other words outside of their homes. He had gone to a large store and saw many males running around in pajama bottoms without anything under them and was afraid their private parts would end up on display. (Don’t know how he knew they were wearing them commando style and I don’t want to!) The ACLU of course is getting involved stating that this ban would be unconstitutional as it would stop one's right to self-expression. I had to laugh. The only messages I have ever figured out one would be stating by wearing their pajamas to town is “I’m too lazy to get dressed in real clothes,” or, “I’m really too lazy (or too good) to do laundry, therefore I wear my pajamas.” They can say they’re comfortable all they want, but I fail to see how stares and heads shaking in disgust at the laziness makes one comfortable- I’ve heard the comments so this isn’t a guess. Both genders practice this degree of laziness by the way. 

                                                                              

Williams went further to ask what was next, wearing one’s underwear (with nothing covering it)? Has he seen the see-through garments women wear in the name of fashion? They might as well be wearing just their underwear. I don’t see him putting a ban on that. 

Face it; there are a lot of people out there who really are just too lazy to care if they look stupid. You can’t legislate common sense Mr. Williams.

Microsoft Grammer and Spell Check

Okay, I can't be the only one who gets extremely frustrated with the grammer and spell check function from Microsoft. Everyday I am typing away and it underlines sentences in the notes I am typing. I right click and it says it is a sentence fragment and that I need to reword it, only of course since I am typing other peoples dictation I can't do that. However, I diagram the sentences and they actually are not fragments for the most part. Counselors and doctors do tend to dictate in fragments and strug together prepositional phrases, but it decides just about every sentence is a fragment, even if it isn't. It does that with my manuscripts at home too, and I can change those, but they, ninety-nine percent of time, are not fragments. (I just diagrammed the last sentence to double check, by the way.)

I have to wonder where these programmers went to school to learn language arts. I think they went where I did for the first couple years of my education - Tallahassee. They had workbooks with clear plastic overlays where we circled the answers. When we moved in the middle of my third grade year I was surprised that the small town had actual text books for elementary school students and we had to write down sentences and fill in the blanks with the correct answers. In later sections we were diagramming sentences. We didn't do that in Tallahassee. I have relatives who have gone to school there (and other large city schools)  and they can't put a sentence together to save their lives either. We diagrammed ad nauseum until I got out of high school. I asked a niece if she had ever done that and she had no clue what I was talking about. Spelling was the same way. We had to learn to spell words, not shortened versions of the words, and we knew how to use a dictionary. I find myself constantly adding words to the computer dictionary and while I do understand that they can't possibly put every word in the dictionary, there are basic everyday words that should be in there as a matter of course and aren't.

The so-called experts doing the programming on these grammer and spell check programs need a refresher course in how to judge a sentence. It often gives the most rediculous explanations as to why it thinks a sentence is incorrect that have absolutely nothing to do with the actual sentence. I check just for kicks once in a while for the explanation and then the only kick I get is one I give myself for having clicked the exlanation box in the first place.