Yup. It’s that time again. We must “Fall Back” an hour this weekend. For those of us who are confused by this twice-yearly ritual, here’s a guide.
Tag Archive for guide
ANOTHER Darned Election???!!!
ANOTHER DARN ELECTION! It never comes out the way I’d vote. It’s just a waste of time and money.
Actually, it will be a waste if you don’t vote. Even if there’s only one issue or candidate you really care about, make your voice heard. Better still, take some time to get acquainted with more of the propositions and candidates. They will determine how we treat our fellow human beings—family, workers, the poor, even us voters. Find out about them from impartial sources who have thoroughly researched them, like the League of Women Voters (www.smartvoter.org), and carefully read through the official Voter’s Guide from the Registrar of Voters. Think carefully, not emotionally or following what any other person or biased group says. Make up your own mind, then vote.
Why bother? Because not voting would let a small handful of people (those who DO vote) make decisions you’re forced to live with.
Clearing the Quagmire
Pity our poor legislators. Yes, we get mad at them–and impatient because so little seems to be getting done. Imagine their position, with all that’s currently in front of them. What do they take on first, among all the vital issues?
I found A Guide to the Fall 2017 Congressional Session to be helpful. It gave me needed perspective on the Washington quagmire and how our legislators can approach it. It doesn’t cut down Trump, a political party, or a person or group, and it comes from several viewpoints rather than just super Republican/Democrat/Etc. I thought you, too, might find it helpful.
The “Clean 15” and “Dirty Dozen”
You may have heard in today’s news that thick-skinned produce, like bananas and avocados–are no healthier organic as they are regularly grown. Pesticides don’t get through their thick skins. Still, wash them anyway to get rid of residue.
However, the nonprofit group dedicated to promoting and protecting people’s health, the Environmental Working Group, has a publication called Shoppers’ Guide to Pesticides in Produce. In it, they list their “Clean Fifteen.” Based on 43,000 pesticide tests, these have been shown to be just as safe whether organic or grown the regular way.
- Broccoli
- Eggplant
- Cabbage
- Banana
- Kiwi
- Asparagus
- Sweet peas (frozen)
- Mango
- Pineapple
- Sweet corn (frozen)
- Avocado
- Onion
They also list what they call the “Dirty Dozen,” ones with the most pesticides.
So now you know, when you shop for produce, which ones it pays to spend extra on organic and which “organic” ones are just a waste of money.
Eclipses, Meteors. and Rockets
Are you fascinated by meteor showers, rocket launches, and solar and lunar eclipses? If so, you don’t want to miss a single one. Here’s a website that gives you a calendar of all those spectacular events in 2016: YOUR ULTIMATE GUIDE TO METEOR SHOWERS, ROCKET LAUNCHES AND MORE IN 2016.
Enjoy!
“Meet Uncle Bob”
A 3+ minute video for your consideration, to prepare you for family gatherings this holiday season:
https://www.facebook.com/RBReich/videos/1119243378088257/
What a Stroke Victim Wants from You
If you have a loved one who has had a stroke, this is for you: 40 Things I Need the Most–Requests from a Stroke Victim. So many of us fear doing or saying the wrong thing. As a result, many of us do nothing, thus isolating our loved one when he or she most needs human contact and love. This simple guide should remove all discomfort and make life better for both you and that person you care about. Click on the above link and look for “Special Feature” a short way down the page.
Dream Tour through Disgraceland
You probably know that we people with disabilities are granted the privilege of going to the head of the line at places like Disney. Actually, it’s a practical matter. We clutter up the line with, say, our wheelchair, plus, we need extra help getting onto the rides. Sometimes our chair won’t fit through the regular door so they take us to a wider entrance. Yes, it seems nice for us, although most of us prefer not to be singled out for obvious special treatment. However, it’s also convenient for the park.
So Florida’s Dream Tours hired disabled persons as guides, meaning they could get up to six people moved to the head of the line with them. It cost the customer only $130 an hour, or $1,040 for 8 hours (cheaper than Disney’s VIP guides, at $310-$380 per hour).
I wonder what it cost the kids who were ushered in this way: increased sense of entitlement, negative perception of people with disabilities, lessons in cheating, a feeling of being better than others…attitudes that prepare them for what kind of adulthood?
As for the guides, what were they thinking, allowing themselves to be used in this way! Not to mention the black mark against the rest of us disabled people.
Bad press caused Dream Tours to stop this practice–without even an apology. I think it’s far too late. They’ve already lost their way in Disgraceland.