Archive for June, 2009
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If you have been reading my posts on a regular basis, you know that I spent five years working for a Non-Profit Teen Drug and Alcohol treatment center. Some of the teens were teen mothers and fathers. One of my “hats” was as the Intake Coordinator. I explained the treatment program to the teen and his or her parents or guardians. I also explained the rules or our center. And lastly, I explained how all of this fit in with their probation. Early on I learned not to ask certain questions to the teens in front of their parents because I would either get the “gee, I only used drugs one time, and that was the time I got arrested” answer. Or they would lie and say they used every drug under the sun to watch their parents eyes role around in their heads. Or they would say that they were sexually active when they weren’t or say they they had never had sex when they were either pregnant or had gotten their girlfriend pregnant. So on the first day of treatment, I would complete the intake process. And I would always add another question to the “intake form.” I would ask the teens, “where do you see yourself in six months, one year, and five years.” Yup, the same questions we are asked on job interviews. And to my horror, the last answer was usually “dead.”
The Drug and Alcohol Treatment center where I worked was in the “inner city“, but we had teens of all ages, races, sexes, sexual preferences, and income levels, at our center. And while 90% of the teens involved in the treatment center were there because they were on probation, some were brought in by their parents who were concerned about their erratic behavior. But in completing the intake process, I found a common tread running through 85% of the teens in the program. A fatalistic view of of their future. While some kinds might have been in the “wrong place at the wrong time”, some of the kids were just “living their lives to the fullest.” Or living “La Vida Loca.” (The Crazy Life) And the things they admitted to having participated in shouldn’t have been a surprise to anyone who was paying attention.
Continue reading “Dead” »
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Governor Mark Sanford – REPUBLICAN – from South Carolina, tearfully admitted to having traveled half way across the world to have an affair. He was missing for the last 7 days and NO ONE, not even his FAMILY, knew where he was. Sanford was “surprised” with all of the hoopla that surrounded his absence and couldn’t understand what the fuss was about. Never mind the FACT that he is a public official and that he is answerable to the people of South Carolina 24/7/365, but he failed to tell anyone where he was or what he was doing. When the story first broke, the governor went on a “hike”, I guess that is the new REPUBLICAN word for affair. As more people began to talk and whisper, he finally came clean about the affair. That he had an affair is not news. Affairs happen all of the time. What is galling is that this REPUBLICAN has consistently voted NO to allowing Lesbians and Gays both Civil Unions or Same Couple Marriages. Is this the “sanctity of marriage” that he has vowed to protect?
Mark initially told his staff that he was going “hiking in the Appalachian Mountains” and never told them that he was headed for Argentina. The year long affair with a woman he termed as a “dear dear friend” is allegedly over. Over about 72 hours ago. Thank goodness he rushed into ending the affair. Once he was caught in the lie, it was over before the light switch could be turned off! But I wonder. If no one had questioned where he was for the past seven days, would he have ended the affair? Or would he have even made the affair public knowledge?
Listening to him speak, I was waiting for the words “I have sinned against you” to come forth from his mouth. He talked for more than 8 minutes, many times in tears, puzzles, riddles, and tongue-twisters, before saying the word “affair.” This is a man who has claimed to be a “family man” and a “god fearing christian” was willing to travel almost 5000 miles to break his marriage vows.
Continue reading “Is this the “sanctity of marriage” you are protecting?” »
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One of the main reasons countries in the Middle East have fought against any aid from America is because of their fear the aid will come at a cost. The cost being the spreading of Christianity. That charge is denied by the military leaders of this country, but those same leaders have used biblical terms to describe the war, making statements like this is our “army from god,” and saying that soldiers were “hunting people for Jesus.” This strategy of using the gun then the bible to conquer whole groups and races of people has been used by people of European descent for centuries. And is NOTHING NEW to people who have studied on their own and know World History!
When Columbus and his gang or rapists, pillagers, and plunders came to the new world, they killed and enslaved many of the people they initially came in contact with. Then they brought in the Catholic Bishops to “teach” the “pagans” that their language, religion, customs, and way of life, were against “god.” They were told that their conquers were there to “save them” and help them get to “heaven.” This is an one example of the gun then the bible being used to justify Manifest Destiny.
The bible was used by slave traders to justify conquering all of Africa. Slave ships had names like Jesus. At the Berlin Conference in 1884, Spain, Portugal, England, Germany, Italy, the United States, and France, to name a few, decided to carve up Africa for their own benefit. They also agreed not to fight one another over the natural riches that the continent has and to help each other conquer the people in Africa if needed. That meeting started the second assault on the continent that came on the heels of the African Slave trade. This assault began with the simultaneous violent raids on the continent. And after the “heathens” were beaten, raped, and/or killed into submission, religion was brought in. The bible was RE-WRITTEN and MIS-INTERPRETED to claim that Black skin was a curse and because of this, we were predestined to be slaves forever. Another example of the use of the gun and the bible to justify Manifest Destiny.
Continue reading “The Gun or the Bible” »
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Steve Jobs, co-founder of Apple Computers, is said to have had a liver transplant recently. That he needed a liver transplant is not news. He has been very ill for quite some time now. What is news is that he was able to either circumvent the Donor Transplant system by purchasing a liver, or he was selected ahead of people who have been on the list longer and possible died while waiting.
At the recent Apple convention, Jobs was conspicuous with his absence. His keynote addresses have usually been the highlight of the Apple events. And with every mention of his health, whether good or bad, Apple’s stock has dropped or risen accordingly. And a healthy Jobs is a good for Apple’s bottom line!
People are saying that there is no way for Steve to have bought an organ, or cut in front of the line. But with BILLIONS of dollars at his disposal, how can that statement be made with any certainty? The buying and selling of organs is common knowledge in the medical profession. And in countries like India and Egypt, there is a healthy (sorry for the pun) and striving Black Market for organs. With money being the common denominator, and him having “go gobs” of it, that scenario is not as far-fetched as some people might think.
What ethicists, transplant surgeons, and “people in the know” are saying is that with his wealth, Jobs was able to travel to the three hospitals in Tennessee, Le Bonheur Children’s Medical Center in Memphis, Vanderbilt University Medical Center in Nashville, and Methodist University Hospital in Memphis, and cut his waiting time for a viable organ.
People have been saying for centuries that money can’t buy you health. But if you have enough of it, looks like it most certainly can. And maybe did!
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There was an article recently in the news that stated there are thousands of teachers, NATIONWIDE who are being paid, with full benefits, including medical, vacation and holiday pay, for literally sitting around in a room during school hours doing nothing. This new kind of Rubber Room, is a holding tank for teachers or administrators who are waiting for their disciplinary hearings. Some of these teachers have been accused of major infractions lik esexual conduct to minor infractions like insubordination and everything in between. While I certainly wouldn’t want to have a teacher suspected of sexual misconduct to be allowed to teach in class, this idea of paying someone a full salary to sit around, for months, is just plain silly.
If you had read this blog before, you know that I had lost a job that I loved working with kids, because the new administrator didn’t like me. But I didn’t take it personally. She singlehandedly got rid of at least 8 other people. And because of her dirt, the Non Profit organization lost the contract with the San Diego Juvenile Probation Department to do Teen Drug and Alcohol Counseling. I guess you could call that Karma! And in reading this article, some of the excuses used to get rid of these teachers seemed pretty flimsy. Using the term “insubordination” is another way of saying “no reason at all, it just sounds good.” That was the excuse that was used to fire me. But when pressed by the Employment Development Department, my boss gave some many contradictory reasons that the Mediator sided in my favor. So listening to some of the reasons these teachers are in “purgatory” sounded familiar. One teacher is in the “room” because she allegedly allowed a student to sing in class while wearing a hat. Another teacher was there because he pushed another student while breaking up a fight. Another teacher is there because he blew the whistle on an Assistant Principal who was fudging test scores.
Continue reading “A new Kind of Rubber Room” »
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Peta, People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals, is upset with President Obama because he smacked and killed a fly who was buzzing around him during an on air interview. While I sometimes support things Peta stands for, in this case, Peta needs to sit down and SHUT THE FUCK UP!
I have done the EXACT same thing that Barack did on many occasions. I have caught and swatted flies out of the air with both my hand and with a fly swatter. And will continue to do so.
My feelings on all animals is this. If you are in MY HOUSE uninvited, you can best believe that I am going to get you. And that includes swatting, smacking, and stomping on you. And if your insect friends or family are watching, they better not come in here either! And because I feel that way, I rarely feel sorry for people chomped on my sharks, bears, or bitten by snakes, unless they are in my IMMEDIATE backyard. I have no problem sharing this earth with them. Because by all accounts, THEY WERE HERE FIRST!!!
I don’t see him having done anything wrong. I take that back. He should have talked more TRASH to the fly!
PETA, GET PASSED YOURSELVES! You have much more important this to worry about than the president swatting a fly that was somewhere he shouldn’t have been in the first place!
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President Obama has decided to allow the partners of Lesblan and Gay federal employees the same benefits as their straight co-workers. WOW! That’s awful damn WHITE of him!
And not nearly good enough!
He has refused to step in and end “Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell.” He has refused to end, what he promised to do before the elections, DOMA – Defense of Marriage Act – which he as the ability to do. Yet he thinks this is supposed to placate us! No, not even close!
Lesbians and Gays supported Obama in large numbers and if he thinks he would have gotten elected without our MONEY, organizing skills, and support, I can guarantee you, he is sadly mistaken. While he certainly brought together a large and diverse coalition of people, we were at the forefront of this group. And we are growing tired of waiting on him to do what he promised to do.
I pay taxes, FEDERAL TAXES, and don’t appreciate my tax dollars being used to discriminate against me. If the Federal Government has laws on the books that make discrimination legal, why should we be surprised that states are doing the same thing?
Major props to Iowa, New Hampshire, Vermont, Massachusetts, Connecticut, and Maine who are either already performing Same Couple Marriages, or are scheduled to begin in 2009 or 2010.
Hey california. How is the budget melt down working out for ya!!!! According to the prestigious Williams Institute, they estimate that the passage of Proposition 8 will cost the state more than $800 million in the next three years, due to a loss of revenue for weddings and various auxiliary services. Not to mention the “trickle down theory” that applies to more money in people’s hands.
I guess that old saying is right. Bigotry, Hate, and Racism affects EVERYONE! Not just the people it is aimed at!!!!
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BYE BITCH!!!!
Now you can continue your “Same Couple Marriage, Not in my Country” bigotry tour full time!