Today’s Thursday Thought comes from Gandhi, who walked many miles and met many dirty feet:
“I will not let anyone walk through my mind with their dirty feet.” (Mahatma Gandhi)
Archive for July 31, 2014
Walgreens, Say it Ain’t So!
I’ve been happy with my friendly local Walgreens. It’s near-by, I get some good deals on their sales, and the people there are friendly. Now I learn that they’re taking their Medicare/Medicaid earnings (masking up 1/4 of their income) and my dollars and fleeing the scene. They’re one of the latest companies to take advantage of “tax inversion.” That is, they’ll not touch our familiar Walgreens stores but move their corporate headquarters to a tax-haven, a place that allows them to avoid paying U.S. tax on the U.S. money we gave them. It’s a nice little loophole for them and other corporations, but it cheats our economy out of funds that pay for our government, military, health, safety, and safety nets.
Read more in the Chicago Sun-Times article “Walgreens: The tax-dodger on the corner.”
If this bothers you, inform Walgreens CEO and President Gregory Wassen. Sign the petition at the Credo Mobilize site. If enough Walgreens custormers let him know of our disapproval, he may very well calculate how many customers–and how much financial loss–he’ll face and decide to do the right thing.
Veg Out this Summer
Look at all those yummy fresh fruits and vegetables in that Farmer’s Market! And it’s all grown locally. Why does that matter? Because they’re fresher (haven’t traveled 1-2 weeks to get here), have fewer or no preservatives or genetic modifications to extend freshness, save energy (local production takes 3%-17% less oil for transportation), and have less packaging. Besides, buying them supports our local farmers and economy. So, enjoy the abundant fruits (and veggies) of summer!
[For more easy, money-saving, Eco-friendly tips, download a FREE copy of Green Riches: Help the Earth & Your Budget. Go to 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.]
Executions: Purpose and Practice
What do events in Arizona a few days ago, in Oklahoma in April, and in Ohio in January have in common? Three botched executions, in which the condemned man tried to gulp air for nearly two hours (Arizona), writhed in agony for several minutes before dying of a heart attack (Oklahoma), and snorted, gasped, and struggled for some time before the lethal drugs killed him (Ohio). These–and many similar events–also show that carrying out a death sentence can be far from the humane practice it’s legally supposed to be.
I feel compassion for families of victims. I understand their need for “closure” (whatever that is) and that they believe in “an eye for an eye” (even Christians, whose faith says that Christ came to bring mercy and forgiveness, replacing the Old Testament law of getting even). And I know that executions are codified in our laws. But unless they can be carried out in a legal (meaning humane) fashion, they should be discontinued. Otherwise, they aren’t justice but simply vengeance.
Just a Little Heart Attack
Like my friend Linda, I didn’t think anything about a woman having a heart attack could be at all funny. Actually, I think it would be funny only to women, because a “typical morning” for a man tends to be very different from that of a woman. Anyway, this short video gets the message across while letting us chuckle a bit–if somewhat uneasily. Judge for yourself:
[Thanks to Linda Younts for this one.]
Recall? Be Safe
Another batch of vehicles is being recalled! Seems like it’s happening every day. At this point you’d have to have a car as old as mine (2004) to be safe. But, no, recalls are going back farther than that.
To be safe, I looked up my Dodge van. It had an old recall I never heard about and a problem hose that I’d replaced long ago.
I suggest you check your car. The easy way is to go to the government website, safercar.gov. The page you need is at http://www-odi.nhtsa.dot.gov/owners/SearchSafetyIssues. Just put in your make, model, and year and you’ll learn if there are any recalls you should be aware of. Please do it today. I’d like my readers to be safe.
Uncategorized
auto, car, government, recall, safe, van, vehicle, website
Focus on Kids, not Parental Sexual Orientation
Why (according to a University of Melbourne study) are kids of same-sex parents healthier? One possibility cited is that same-sex families tend to get along better. Another is that because same-sex parents are likely to share more child-rearing duties, basing them on skills rather than traditional gender roles, the children grow up in a more harmonious household. These factors lead to increased health for a child.
But how about in other areas–temperament, behavior, mental health, emotional role, and self-esteem? Those children scored the same as ones in the general population. Except that kids with same-sex parents suffered due to the stigma of their parents’ sexual orientation.
What hurts most, apparently, is a child’s growing up in a single-parent household, especially with as single mother, who tends to struggle more financially than a single father.
In my opinion, this shows that a child thrives best in a home in which parents work at their marriage, share their talents in caring for a child, and maintain a harmonious household, whatever the sexual orientation of the parents. No sensible person believes anymore–considering all the studies and anecdotal evidence–that homosexual parents raise children to be homosexual. So why not concentrate on how kids are being raised and not add stress to their lives by focusing on what their parents do in the bedroom?
Read about the study at http://www.nbcnews.com/health/kids-health/children-same-sex-parents-are-healthier-study-n149901.
House of Reps Closed Down?
Last week there was a problem with asbestos, causing the House of Reps to start late. You didn’t notice? Most people didn’t. Could be because our Reps accomplished just as much by NOT meeting as they normally do when in actual session.
Oooooo….I guess I’m getting jaded……
Child Caught in World of Hatred
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This short video is so heartbreaking. If the child threw rocks, set off a bomb, or yelled obscenities at the Israeli soldiers, what adults–the real ones at blame–taught him to do that? If the child was simply guilty of being Palestinian while walking down the street, what adults–again the real ones to blame–taught this soldier such hate and cruelty? Hatred begets hatred; cruelty begets cruelty. Why would parents perpetuate such inhumanity? Over land? Politics? A God who must, by now, have shed oceans of tears over the situation? So heartbreaking.
See video at www.facebook.com/photo.php?v=599613566824335. There are about 10 seconds of a newsperson (not in English), then the video.
Those Items from Your Remodel Job are Valuable!
DON’T THROW AWAY THAT DOOR, FIXTURES, APPLIANCES, OR OTHER ITEMS FROM WHEN YOU REMODELED. Donate them to a Habitat for Humanity ReStore. That’s a nonprofit home-improvement store that accepts new or gently used building materials, appliances, furniture, and home accessories and sells them to the public at fantastic prices.
Money from sales goes to help build homes for families, who earn those homes by putting in mandatory “sweat equity” in building the structures.
Recently we remodeled our kitchen, including new lighting. I took in the old lights, expecting them to be rejected because, although in good shape, they’re old fashioned round globe/brass and wood frames. They were happily accepted by the Habitat worker. You can bet I’ll be back with other items and, when I have more time, to shop around.
Most states have a ReStore. Find one in your area by going to www.habitat.org/env/restores.aspx?place=us and searching your state. Then use the place to donate and shop. (By the way, some ReStores will pick up your items at your house. Call to find out.)