Let's Pretty Things Up, Shall We?

I am from the south. Even though I was born and raised in NW Florida, my little hometown is so close to the Florida/Alabama border that there is almost no difference in the two. Sure Florida's peninsula is a little more enlightened than the area I still live in, but, not much! (Marco Rubio - 'nuff said) But somewhere along the lines, I developed a soul, a conscience, I don't know what so that I understand that judging others on the basis of their appearance, their beliefs, their lifestyle is not acceptable. (I am not trying to say I learned this on my own, my parents did raise me to believe that all people are equal) Many who still live in that little hometown are still horrible racists although they hide it behind the birther issue (dead giveaway in my eyes), or their belief in a 'free' America.

But to come across two separate articles on the same blasted day about the rampant racism of the south makes me wonder if we have not started some space/time reversal process. I just posted about the 'church' service that was restricted to white 'christians' only and now:  “an awful lot of made-up criticism about, for instance, the founders intruding on the Indians or having slaves or being hypocrites in one way or another," Tennessee has decided to 'help' history by, well, changing it. Or at least whitewashing (pun not intended but it works).

Early in 2011 the TEA BAGGERS in Tennessee made some  suggestions  demands of the newly elected Legislators - to "fix" history so that the founders didn't appear so mean.  This occurred in other states (Texas) as well, but it did not go very far in Tennessee, but HEY! They're back.

OK, to be truthful even the 2nd link is six months old, but I missed it then.

Either way, attempts are being made across this nation to stop teaching the truth of history, at least as far as we know it. In Texas. In Tennessee. Probably in Georgia and Alabama and Florida.

It is disturbing on more levels than I can even comprehend.

Just For the White Folk

Two days ago we celebrated the 236th birthday of America. Of that fateful day when colonists became rebels and staged a full blown war for freedom. Yes, freedom of white men ONLY, but somewhere in my mind things were getting better. Slavery has been abolished for years. The Civil Rights Act of 1964 was passed. There is a man in the White House who is not white. Shouldn't we be further along than THIS?

In Guin, AL a church put out flyers inviting all "White" Christians to the celebration of our nation's birth. KKK membership NOT required (although it's OK if you have one). And when things are all said and done?  "Sacred Christian Cross Lighting Ceremony"

But they aren't burning a cross, you understand, they are just.... well... BURNING A FRIGGING CROSS.

Many of the residents of Guin (according to the story) are appalled and many of the commenters are also, yet I bet sometime tonight (celebration started Wednesday and concludes today with that, yes, cross burning) many will gather in the name of the Great White Hope or some such nonsense.

I am seriously sickened by this nonsense.

A New Work Computer!

I have always done most of my postings from work. I think about them off and on for the morning and write them up at lunch... or before if it is really important. I get my work done, so it has never been an issue.

So part of the reason that my blogging has slacked off over the last couple of years is that as technology advanced my computer system at work did not. Yes, I am still on Internet Explorer 7.0. Is that crazy or what? At home I use Google Chrome, but before I switched to that I was on IE 9.

So I have a lot of difficulty making comments on the posts of others even when I do visit them. I can't even see the entire posting menu (yesterday's linkage was a lot of guesswork) and I wouldn't mind a "New Blogger Look" but there is no way to figure out how to do that.

But tonight, while I sleep and dream this piece o' crap (it's not really, but it seems like it) will disappear and on Thursday when I return to work a brand new machine will be in place!

Hopefully it allows me to 'blog more, comment more, and, you know, work more efficiently!

A Facebook Discussion - Retold

Early yesterday (Sunday 1 July 2012) morning the lovely Lola had to GO! We normally get up anywhere from 5:30 - 6:30 am during the week, but she is good about letting me sleep later on the weekends. DSD worked late on Saturday night, so I waited up for him and was late getting to bed and I was not ready to be awake at 8. But I had no choice. I took her out, got her breakfast, and settled in to see what exciting stuff had happened during the night with all 347 of my 'friends.' (I have no idea how I ended up with that many friends - it makes me nuts!)

Immediately I was informed that the USDA was promoting 'Food Stamp Parties' to get the entire United States of America into the Food Stamp program to ensure our continued dive into that horror known as socialism. With no preceding comment, my friend Gigi, posted this link. It's another 'blog. Someone's opinion about how we are all going to die. I Googled "food stamp party" and found links only to other 'blogs and, that lovely bastion of bullshit, Fox.

I asked how and why this lovely 'blog was shared with no corresponding links to the allegedly pamphlet about these parties and I was informed that THIS WAS ON THE NEWS. Want to guess which channel? Because none of the mainstream media was carrying it. I could not even find it on Heritage, as much as I hate even looking there.

I did go to the USDA site and discovered that there is a program in place to encourage the elderly to see if they qualify for food stamps. Florida's pilot program? Began in 2002. Of course while W was in office and during the time he was telling us to shop and don't worry about all those children he was planning to murder in that little place in the Middle East called Iraq. And his little brother was governor of my beloved state. Damn radicals! I provided the link for her, but she suddenly became busy with the new grandbaby. But first she provided me with a link to Fox (I have it if you want to see it) about a new radio commercial ENCOURAGING PEOPLE TO LOOK INTO FOODSTAMPS.

I could not find any other links to this so I did watch the YouTube Fox provided. Of course YouTube is visual, so Fox so kindly added some visual to the nice lady talking about how she was feeling so much better now that she was eating nutritionally sound meals - and I cannot make myself watch it again to tell you about the visuals, but I think they were perfectly healthy Americans taking advantage of the system. You know, instead of people like my aunt who worked hard her entire life, raising 4 children on her own for years (she left the bastard who fathered said children after discovering he was a child molester!), who was struck with a debilitating eye disease in her mid-30s and has been on social security disability for almost 30 years. She is not on food stamps. She has her pride, you know! (She also has my parents who take her half of everything they grow in their garden).

My aunt would be better off if she was receiving food stamps. (I am not begrudging her anything my parents do for her, she is a wonderful lady, but I am concerned about the stress of it killing my mother!) 

Many elderly and disabled people would be better off receiving the tiny bit for food provided by the state.

But this, my friends, is something that must be avoided at all costs! Stop letting the government interfere in our lives! LET'S TAKE A STAND AND KICK OBAMA OUT OF THE WHITE HOUSE.

The uninsurable with insurance. The elderly and disabled with food. Women being allowed to make their own medical decisions and receive equal pay for equal work. When will it end?

When they put a Republican back in the White House.

I'm sad about the stupidity that is rampant. I'm sad about the hate that is everywhere.

It's Constitutional!

What a relief! 5 - 4 the Supreme Court of the United States has upheld the Affordable Care Act (aka Obamacare) to be Constitutional. My Facebook is exploding with anti-Obama comments, some pulling out the so-called 'death panels' and other crap that was proven to be false before the law ever passed. I am starting to rethink some of these people on my friends list.

The individual mandate, which was the crux of the constitutionality question, was declared legal but NOT using the Commerce clause. According to Justice Kennedy (paraphrasing here) Congress has the right to levy taxes and it is under that right that the mandate can be upheld. If a person chooses to purchase health insurance they are given a tax break, but a person choosing to not purchase health insurance will be taxed to pay for their care.

I have been a nervous wreck about this one, especially after the Citizen's United ruling was upheld earlier this week. I am thrilled and overwhelmed that the Supreme Court has upheld this law. It does not affect me personally at this time, thanks to DSD's Navy retirement we are covered under Tricare, but I have been that person. I have had to decide between decent food and prescriptions for my child because we could not afford healthcare with a 3 year old with asthma - IF we could have found someone to cover us.

Today is a wonderful day for our country and for so many people who are able to find coverage with a pre-existing condition or to cover a child with a pre-existing condition.

Tonight I shall raise a glass to those 5 who were smart enough to know that this is the best thing for our country and the people in it.

Juneteenth....

"Celebrated on June 19, the term is a portmanteau of June and nineteenth,and is recognized as a state holiday or state holiday observance in 41 states of the United States," according to my friend, Tracy. Just another example of an important piece of our nation's history that is not really taught in our schools. "It marks the day in 1865 when slaves in south Texas first heard news about the Emancipation Proclamation, more than two years after their freedom had been proclaimed." Of course in Florida's schools if it isn't tested on the Florida Comprehensive Assessment Test (FCAT) it really isn't important - and there is no history or government questions on the test. Yes, our graduates could be stars on Jay Leno's Man on the Street interviews... showing everything they do not know!

I've missed so much and I have many opinions about all of it, of course. Apparently Florida has done something correctly by the court's declaring that George Zimmerman (and his wife!) are liars and throwing him back in jail. If you perjure yourself once, does that make it impossible for you to even testify in court in the future? I mean, if I am willing to lie about money, won't I obviously lie about the killing of another human being?

Poor Wisconsin - I was on vacation (more about that later) so missed all of the news leading up to and after the election, but WHAT HAPPENED? I read somewhere that the people voted him back in because their only other choice was almost as bad - was that the issue? Someone (besides Florida's Tricky Rick) is worse than Scott Walker?

Arizona didn't fall for the TEA Bagger's BS though, so that is nice. It would be such a slap in the face of Ms. Giffords if her pain and suffering was further exacerbated by electing someone who stood for everything she opposes!

The economy is still pretty horrible. We are doing alright, but so many are not. The foreclosures are still growing, the unemployment is not shrinking, and many programs are going broke. Greece has been on the verge of defaulting. Great Britain's unemployment for those just graduating high school is (don't quote me) something like 30%. Are there any answers? Is the entire world crashing down upon our shoulders? I mean it has to be all the Liberal politics, right, because even the ultra-liberal Australia is.... well, they are doing GREAT!!! Hmmmm, what is the secret? The recession hit them just as it did the rest of the world, what has Australia done differently that their government may show an actual surplus next year (2013?). Did they take austerity even further than Greece has? HELL NO! They raised freaking taxes and SPENT money on government programs to put people back to work. Seems like there is a certain President who has been trying to do that for over 3 years.... yet his programs are failing? Horseshit!

On a more personal note, DSD and I spent an amazing  8 days (10 if you count travel) in Calfornia. El Dorado county, where the wine was good. Sacramento where we enjoyed the Train Museum and Old Sacramento and 2 1/2 days running around San Francisco trying to DO IT ALL. We failed at doing everything, but we had a great time! (Pictures... no, REALLY... will be forthcoming)

And yesterday the lovely FedEx man brought my diploma! It's REAL! I will try to get a picture of that up also.

I am trying to catch up with all of you, but it is slow going! I hope to be back in less than a month!

Happy Juneteenth!

My B.S. is COMPLETE!

It makes me laugh to call it my B.S. (Bachelor of Science) degree.

But this afternoon I turned in my LAST assignment for my undergrad degree in Political Science (with an American history minor) at Troy University.

I cannot even express my excitement about having the entire summer with NO homework! I will be starting my Masters in Poli Sci in the fall.

But, for now, I am going to bask in this lovely feeling of accomplishment.

I returned to school in the spring of 2003, so it has taken me a while (and three different majors) to find my niche. I think this is it!

Now what am I supposed to do?

Twelve Days (Or Less) To Go!

Just popping really quickly, instead of reading about St. Thomas Aquinas, because WOW! Boring!

I am taking "International Conflicts" and "Medieval Europe" this term. I am enjoying conflicts, although the textbook author is a bit, shall we say, Pompous? But the other students are great and we have had some very interesting discussions. I have ONE more discussion board post in that class and I am DONE!

"Medieval Europe"? NOT my favorite class ever. I just don't care. All sorts of Catholic... stuff. I mean really, it wasn't like the average joe had books written about him in the 3rd through 13th centuries, just the Kings and the Popes. I think it would be a decent class if I took it in a real classroom with real discussion with other students, but I am not. So... I am struggling! I have a paper due Sunday, 2 more discussion board posts AND the final.

I am so READY!

In other news, BabyBoy and I (with another friend) marched in Tallahassee on 28 April in the Unite Women March against the War on Women. There were some really great speakers there and BabyBoy came home with a better understanding of what we are facing. (Because he tunes me out when I try to talk to him. He knew there were issues but not how widespread they are!)

Two days before that I turned 45!

We had a lovely visit with DSD's daughter in mid-April and the precious grandson and I am hoping that they will be back in July.

And we have a 10 day vacation planned to California in June where we may or may not see the LittleMan graduate... another entire post!

But George Zimmerman was arrested (step 1) although I am not a lawyer (wish I played one on TV), I am not completely comfortable with the Murder 2 charge. I think manslaughter would almost guarantee a conviction. It will be quite a while, of course, before it comes to trial.

My garden is covered with weeds, but my parents' is producing and we are hoping to pickle some green beans over Memorial Day weekend (when I will be relaxing without worrrying about HOMEWORK!) and pick, shell, and freeze black-eyed peas!

I cannot comment on your lovely posts due to the fact that here at work I still have Internet Explorer 7. Sigh. But I will be around to see how everyone is!

The Death of a Child....

Is there anything more horrific than the thought of burying your child? I cannot even breathe at the thought as I sit here putting off icing the cupcakes I have lovingly prepared for BabyBoy's 23rd birthday tomorrow. (How did that happen so FAST?)

DSD and I went to visit his parents last weekend - about an hour from Sanford, FL. We arrived on Thursday afternoon and there was a large rally being held requesting justice for Trayvon Martin. Thousands were shown on the news. Thousands of mostly black people. (Y'all know I really wanted to be there, right?) I was dumbfounded by the comments of my completely non-racist in-laws. Things like "There's going to be trouble there." "That is so not a good idea." "They are just asking for trouble." WHAT?!?!? A child is dead. Justice should be sought!

Then there is the girl who I befriended when we were in class together about a year and a half ago, who seems to think it is her duty to remind us all that jumping to conclusions is not a good idea. She has gone from someone I thought was a card carrying Democrat to some crazy gun-toting, planning to vote for any Republican who runs because she hates Mexicans. (I have Republican friends, I just like to know what I am getting myself into.) The thing that makes me the MOST nuts (and she is a blog post all by herself) is that she keeps telling ME that she understands these things because she is majoring in Political Science. HELLOOOO! She is also more than a year away from graduation. I am (in case I forgot to mention it today) 6 weeks and 6 days away!

Trayvon Martin was a typical 17 year old - obsessed with girls and getting by. But also by the overwhelming thought of college, the future, and life. And all of that is now gone. Justice has NOT been done in this case. A child is dead and someone should be charged in that death. Preferably the man who followed him and then pulled the trigger.

I have more... but I have cupcakes to ice. I am very thankful that I can celebrate my child's birthday tomorrow. RIP Trayvon.

I Miss You All!!!

I know that I have been a mostly absent blogger for the last, OH! eight to ten months and I hate it. There are a couple of reasons for that. At work they only update our software once every two or three YEARS and we are still running Internet Explorer 7. So this means that I can read your blogs, but I cannot comment on them. I finally got so frustrated that I stopped reading!

But work keeps me busy - and they aren't paying me to blog there. And then there is school! Spring Break started today after I turned in my final paper. It was a fairly impressively written discussion on how the Tuskegee Syphilis Study plays into the federal regulations required today for those attempting to do research with humans involved. Exciting stuff! (It was pretty fun, really, but I am a dork!)

I have the next 9 days of allowing my brain to do nothing more strenuous than watch The Walking Dead (and do you all LOVE that show as I do?), read a couple of lame novels, and, well, work. It does pay the bills. After that I have NINE more weeks of school! NINE! And the lovely graduation! I do not mind telling you, I am so ready!

I am taking the entire summer off to let my brain decay before I start my Masters in the fall! I hope to catch up with all of you either over the next week or over the summer.

And, in case you care, I am paying close attention to the climate in this country and it is UGLY! Headed to Tallahassee on April 28th to march in protest against the Republican war on women. There is a march planned for your state capital also!!