“He who opens a school door, closes a prison.” (Victor Hugo)
[Now, about those state budget allocations….]
Archive for May 16, 2013
Abercrombie & Fitch: Good Fit for Homeless
Here’s a protest I can relate to. It seems that Greg Karber didn’t like it when A & F’s CEO Mike Jeffries said that only “cool kids” and “only thin and beautiful people” should wear their clothing…and Greg was determined to get even. But he wanted to do something positive, at the same time, to, as he says, “Turn this negative urge into something that might be positive for society.” His answer was to go to thrift stores and buy all the used A & F clothing he could find, and give it to the homeless in Los Angeles. (Note that A & F never donates damaged or substandard clothing but burns it instead.) He hopes his action will be an inspiration to others. I hope it will do what he wants it to do, PLUS call attention to the needs of the homeless. That would be a double win.
Some people accuse Greg of using the homeless to re-brand A & F, so that people stop thinking of them as special or “cool.” Sounds to me like the accusers think of a homeless person as a non-person, incapable of being “cool” in his or her own right. Also, if the homeless wearing an identifiable label degrades or defames those behind the label, a whole lot of organizations had better get out there and yank the clothing off of those people’s bodies. (Think 49ers, Giants, Gap, Old Navy, Obama, Bush, Ghandi, and Holy Family Parish.)
By the way, Greg is a So. CA film maker, so of course he posted a video online (http://www.christiantoday.com/article/abercrombie.fitch.homeless.video.receive.af.clothing.greg.karber.effort.rebrand.controversial.brand/32494.htm). – No comment from me on the video.
Health Advice: Drink Champagne
I plan to drink lots of champagne to improve my health and memory. Scientific studies tell me I should. One indicated that the fizzy stuff is good for my heart. Now studies are showing it can be good for my spatial memory and maybe even keep dementia and Alzheimer’s away. Testing has been done on (happy) rats, whose performance increased with the amount of champagne they were given. Their performance increased even more after being on the bubbly for six weeks.
Yes, the test-subjects were just rats. Researchers are thinking about humans, though. For example, they’ve figured out that a human would have to drink the stuff regularly for three years in order to reap the full benefits. There’s still much to be learned. All I know is that I’m submitting my name to volunteer for the human trials. I figure, if it works on humans I get to celebrate; if it doesn’t work, I’ve already celebrated.
(See details at The Telegraph article entitled “Three glasses of fizz a day could ‘improve your memory.’”
Earth-Friendly Tip: Plastic Ocean
How to save money (personally, as a community, and as a state) and help the environment: watch this two-minute video on plastic to find out and learn what can be done about marine plastic pollution Then sign the petition and let your California lawmakers know you’re in favor of AB521.
Why God Made Moms
Answers given by 2nd grade school children to the following questions:
Why did God make mothers? 1. She’s the only one who knows where the scotch tape is. 2. Mostly to clean the house. 3. To help us out of there when we were getting born.
How did God make mothers? 1. He used dirt, just like for the rest of us. 2. Magic plus super powers and a lot of stirring. 3. God made my mom just the same like he made me. He just used bigger parts.
What ingredients are mothers made of? 1. God makes mothers out of clouds and angel hair and everything nice in the world — and one dab of mean. 2. They had to get their start from men’s bones. Then they mostly use string, I think.
Why did God give you your mother and not some other mom? 1. We’re related. 2. God knew she likes me a lot more than other people’s mom like me.
What kind of a little girl was your mom? 1. My mom has always been my mom and none of that other stuff. 2. I don’t know because I wasn’t there, but my guess would be pretty bossy. 3. They say she used to be nice.
What did mom need to know about dad before she married him? 1. His last name. 2. She had to know his background. Like is he a crook? Does he get drunk on beer? 3. Does he make at least $800 a year? Did he say NO to drugs and YES to chores?
Why did your mom marry your dad? 1. My dad makes the best spaghetti in the world. And my mom eats a lot. 2. She got too old to do anything else with him. 3. My grandma says that mom didn’t have her thinking cap on.
Who’s the boss at your house? 1. Mom doesn’t want to be boss, but she has to because dad’s such a goof ball. 2. Mom. You can tell by room inspection. She sees the stuff under the bed. 3. I guess mom is, but only because she has a lot more to do than dad.
What’s the difference between moms and dads? 1. Moms work at work and work at home and dads just go to work at work. 2. Moms know how to talk to teachers without scaring them. 3. Dads are taller and stronger, but moms have all the real power cause that’s who you got to ask if you want to sleep over at your friends. 4. Moms have magic, they make you feel better without medicine.
What does your mom do in her spare time? 1. Mothers don’t do spare time. 2. To hear her tell it, she pays bills all day long.
What would it take to make your mom perfect? 1. On the inside she’s already perfect. Outside, I think some kind of plastic surgery. 2. Diet. You know, her hair. I’d diet, maybe blue.
If you could change one thing about your mom, what would it be? 1. She has this weird thing about me keeping my room clean. I’d get rid of that. 2. I’d make my mom smarter. Then she would know it was my sister who did it not me. 3. I would like for her to get rid of those invisible eyes on the back of her head.
[Thanks to my friend Linda Younts for sending me this. Happy Mother’s Day to all Moms and women who have been like a mother to someone.]
Thoughtful Thursday: Who We Can Love
“It is easier to love humanity than to love one’s neighbor.” — Eric Hoffer
[Isn’t it odd that we can all love in the abstract but are hesitant or fearful to love those around us who are different from us?]
Do You Remember Our National Bird?
Will our grand-kids recognize what these birds are and what they represent?
Maybe not, if there aren’t any around to see. That’s a possibility if energy lobbyists get their way. Right now, corporations can get a permit allowing them to kill a certain number of eagles, if they offset the damage. Every five years the public can examine a corporation’s operations before another permit is granted. What the energy lobbyists want to do is make that permit-period THIRTY years. A lot can happen to the birds in all that time without oversight of corporate actions.
These aren’t just any bird, or any eagle, for that matter. They’re the majestic symbol of our nation and, as such, deserve protection.
If you feel strongly about this issue, email Sally Jewell, Secretary of the Interior about your concerns. Also, go to Care2’s petition site and sign the petition.
Obama Care and Me
I just came back from my annual physical and I paid NOTHING. Apparently, a yearly exam is part of the preventative medicine plan, designed to keep us healthy rather than cure us when we get sick. We’re encouraged to monitor our health via cost-free exams. Makes sense to me!
Bostonians Should Have Been Armed
Boston should have been better armed, says the NRA. All households should have had guns to protect themselves from the escaping bombers. They would have been safer and not as fearful or nervous.
I agree, but only with a few provisions during an actual incident: 1) The family’s designated shooter (Guardian) must have completed formal training in handling and shooting the specific gun he’s armed with. 2) The Guardian must have taken courses (e.g., meditation) to learn to calm himself in extremely stressful situations and focus his attention and vigilance on his Guardianship role. 3) The gun must be registered so that if it is wrested from him in a scuffle with the perpetrators it can be returned to him when it’s recovered. 4) The family must all be home and stay in a designated safe-room so that they don’t startle the focused Guardian, possibly causing him to shoot a loved one. They must stay there, no matter how many hours or days it takes, until the perpetrator is captured and announced by the authorities as in police custody. 5) All doors and windows must remain locked until capture is announced. 6) No pets will be allowed outside to relieve themselves, as noise that they make may cause a neighbor-Guardian to panic and waste bullets on the family dog. 7) The police must notify the homeowner in advance of storming his home or property so that a shoot-out between them and the Guardian doesn’t accidentally occur.
With these seven simple provisions, a community can be ready for any threat it may face. Its people can relax in the safety of their own homes, as is the American way.
Earth-Friendly Tip: Have Fun
This summer, plan family recreational activities that use renewable rather than non-renewable energy. Hike one of the trails around the city. Take a rowboat out on a nearby lake. Bike around to neighborhood garage sales. Play board games stretched out on your lawn. Talk to each other.
[For more easy, money-saving, Eco-friendly tips, download a FREE copy of Green Riches: Help the Earth & Your Budget. Click on www.Smashwords.com/books/ view/7000, choose a format, and download to your computer or e-book device. Or download a free copy from your favorite e-tailer.]