http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20090930/ap_on_re_us/us_baby_sitter_backlash_mich
In the article linked above, a mom in Michigan has been told by the state to stop watching her neighbours' kids each morning before the school bus comes. Her house is the stop for the bus, the kids have working parents, the mom doesn't charge and the kids are only there less than an hour. The parents of the other kids babysit for her too, sometimes. Its what friends and neighbours do.
So apparently, some other busy body neighbour decided to call the state and report her. The Michigan Department of Human Services in turn sent her a cease and desist letter saying that it was illegal to keep non-related children for more than four weeks out of a year. HUH???? They said if she was going to run a daycare center, she had to get a license, and apparently they tried to fine her. She called to complain, they blew her off.
Then the media caught wind of the story and now its national news. The governor of Michigan, Gov. Jennifer Granholm was told of the situation and like an intelligent person, went directly to the Director of the agency, Ismael Ahmed and told him to fix it. State legistators are working to change this law.
In this day and age, in this economy, neighbours helping neighbours makes the absolute most sense, for all those involved- including the state. Why the state? Because when you work, you pay income taxes... to the state. So duhhhh!
I feel terrible for this woman having to go through this. And I hope they find out who reported her so her kids can go and egg their car. There is being vigilant, and being a busy body. Ugh!!!
In other news, hockey starts for real tomorrow. My Caps are playing game one up in Boston against the Bruins. While it would piss me off for a team to come to my home opener and beat my team.... I still hope the Caps win. Our home opener is Saturday. Man I can't wait.
Wednesday, September 30, 2009
Wednesday, September 23, 2009
Denied Abortion despite the Law
http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/europe/6470403.stm
BBC news reported today on a woman in Poland who was awarded about $33,000 by the European Court of Human Rights is Strasbourg because she had been denied an abortion. Alicja Tysiac became pregnant in 2000 with her third child. She was told by three eye specialists that having the baby could damage her eyesight, but none of them would sign off on her having an abortion. Huh???
In Poland, a very Catholic country, abortion is illegal except in cases where the mother or the unborn child's health and/or life is at risk. Ok fine, I am pro-choice regardless but I can live with this. At least they have the sense to take that into account. Many other countries, including Chile and El Salvador... abortion is illegal period. Screw the mother who might die. Sure, she may have other children to care for, but that's ok. Sigh.
Anyway, so this Polish woman had the baby and suffered a retinal haemorrhage and may end up going blind. She has to wear what we tend to call "coke bottle" glasses, she is a single mother of three, and can barely see. Lucky for her, she hat the European Court of Human rights on her side. They ruled that Poland had violated her human rights. Who knows if she'll actually get the money, and it probably won't save her eyesight, anyway.
Look... you don't have to approve of abortion. That's fine. I would never, ever tell you that your opinion is wrong. But I will say that it should be a choice- a personal, PRIVATE choice. No government should have the right to say, well you can't have one so deal with the reprocussions.
See this link for International laws on abortion: http://www.medicalabortionconsortium.org/law-policy/
Tuesday, September 22, 2009
Trying this again
So awhile back, I tried to start a blog. I did a few posts, then let it go. So I deleted it and decided to try again. There has been so much going on lately... not so much in my life necessarily but in general.
This summer... we lost several "famous" people, it was like, boom boom boom! One after another after another. Henry Gibson (Rowan & Martin's Laugh-In), Patrick Swayze, Sen. Ted Kennedy, Farrah Fawcett, Michael Jackson, Larry Gelbart (wrote M*A*S*H), Les Paul, Eunice Kennedy... I mean, I'm not even touching it! What the hell is going on? Sure wasn't Swine flu, although I did hear that the kid from Harry Potter who plays his friend Ron Weasley (Rupert Grint) did get swine flu. He didn't die though. Which is good.
I watched "Medicine Man" the other night, with Sean Connery and Lorraine Bracco, a film about a couple of scientists searching for the cure for cancer in the jungles of South America. Anyway- This film came out in 1991 and twice Connery's character mentioned Swine Flu. Apparently, the scientist had wiped out a tribe down there with it, by accident, and it part of why Bracco's character ended up down there. Anyway, so this isn't NEW, people. A lady that works in the office next to mine said there was a swine flu break out in the 70s. So, whatever. I'll get the regular flu shot because my friend is an ER nurse and told me to... but no H1N1 for me thank you, I'll risk it.
In personal events... we went camping and tubing 3 times this summer. It's just so much fun. Two of the 3 times we had to deal with rain for at least some of the time. So the 3rd trip, we got smart and bought a canopy. Guess what? It did not rain. Yay! We also went zip-lining twice. Talk about an adrenaline rush. 10 lines down a ski slope, what a blast. However, I've recently heard about one in Sun City, South Africa that is way cooler (there are a couple youtube vids of it) so now, besides wanting to go to SA anyway, now I REALLY want to go!
I bought an elliptical this summer also because I've just gained too much weight. I know what it is- beer. I'm not a drunk or anything but my friends and I like to imbibe after work and on weekends, not every night but at least 4 per week. The funny thing is, we tend to stay up later DURING the week, than on weekend nights. So, I'm switching to cranberry juice and raspberry vodka- but just a shot of vodka for every fairly large glass of juice. Just to take the edge off. Back to the elliptical. I spent a lot of time researching, figuring out money, etc. Finally got one and my dumb boyfriend insisted it be in the bedroom not the basement. He sleeps later than me, and said it wouldn't be annoying. Frankly, I do not like it in the bedroom... the point was to work out while we watched shows and stuff. Plus the basement is way cooler. So, we put a tv in the bedroom (YIKES!!!!!!!!!!!) with the rule that at night, when I am sleeping- it is off. He had a tv on during the night for nearly 34 years- until he met me 4 years ago. Anyway I am using it about 4 days a week. Certainly not enough yet to burn off all the beer calories, but I'm trying. Yesterday I actually attempted to jog but 2 miles later my shins were in pain, and today still. So no more of that.
I am thankful that I still have a job, barely. The majority owner of my company died this summer (not a celeb... at least not here). He was a super nice guy, and helped us every month financially. So that hurt, plus he is/was... my boss' brother in law, so a double whammy for my boss.
And, last thing before I get back to my actual job- Washington Capitals Hockey starts in less than 2 weeks!!!!!!!!!!! First home game Oct 3. I can't wait!
This summer... we lost several "famous" people, it was like, boom boom boom! One after another after another. Henry Gibson (Rowan & Martin's Laugh-In), Patrick Swayze, Sen. Ted Kennedy, Farrah Fawcett, Michael Jackson, Larry Gelbart (wrote M*A*S*H), Les Paul, Eunice Kennedy... I mean, I'm not even touching it! What the hell is going on? Sure wasn't Swine flu, although I did hear that the kid from Harry Potter who plays his friend Ron Weasley (Rupert Grint) did get swine flu. He didn't die though. Which is good.
I watched "Medicine Man" the other night, with Sean Connery and Lorraine Bracco, a film about a couple of scientists searching for the cure for cancer in the jungles of South America. Anyway- This film came out in 1991 and twice Connery's character mentioned Swine Flu. Apparently, the scientist had wiped out a tribe down there with it, by accident, and it part of why Bracco's character ended up down there. Anyway, so this isn't NEW, people. A lady that works in the office next to mine said there was a swine flu break out in the 70s. So, whatever. I'll get the regular flu shot because my friend is an ER nurse and told me to... but no H1N1 for me thank you, I'll risk it.
In personal events... we went camping and tubing 3 times this summer. It's just so much fun. Two of the 3 times we had to deal with rain for at least some of the time. So the 3rd trip, we got smart and bought a canopy. Guess what? It did not rain. Yay! We also went zip-lining twice. Talk about an adrenaline rush. 10 lines down a ski slope, what a blast. However, I've recently heard about one in Sun City, South Africa that is way cooler (there are a couple youtube vids of it) so now, besides wanting to go to SA anyway, now I REALLY want to go!
I bought an elliptical this summer also because I've just gained too much weight. I know what it is- beer. I'm not a drunk or anything but my friends and I like to imbibe after work and on weekends, not every night but at least 4 per week. The funny thing is, we tend to stay up later DURING the week, than on weekend nights. So, I'm switching to cranberry juice and raspberry vodka- but just a shot of vodka for every fairly large glass of juice. Just to take the edge off. Back to the elliptical. I spent a lot of time researching, figuring out money, etc. Finally got one and my dumb boyfriend insisted it be in the bedroom not the basement. He sleeps later than me, and said it wouldn't be annoying. Frankly, I do not like it in the bedroom... the point was to work out while we watched shows and stuff. Plus the basement is way cooler. So, we put a tv in the bedroom (YIKES!!!!!!!!!!!) with the rule that at night, when I am sleeping- it is off. He had a tv on during the night for nearly 34 years- until he met me 4 years ago. Anyway I am using it about 4 days a week. Certainly not enough yet to burn off all the beer calories, but I'm trying. Yesterday I actually attempted to jog but 2 miles later my shins were in pain, and today still. So no more of that.
I am thankful that I still have a job, barely. The majority owner of my company died this summer (not a celeb... at least not here). He was a super nice guy, and helped us every month financially. So that hurt, plus he is/was... my boss' brother in law, so a double whammy for my boss.
And, last thing before I get back to my actual job- Washington Capitals Hockey starts in less than 2 weeks!!!!!!!!!!! First home game Oct 3. I can't wait!
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