Bullying; it's still making headlines

Bullying

It’s still making headlines…

The word “bully” strikes a note of discontent in the vast majority of Americans.  Whether a bully, a bystander or the one who is being bullied, I venture to guess that everyone has experienced some form of bullying at one time in their life.  Where did we get off the track in thinking that our children are immune from this type of punishment? 

The educational system has harbored this type of civil abuse long enough and with the media attention given to too many suicides stemming from verbal, physical or cyber abuse, the government must now decide if they are going to get involved.  Our current president is an extreme advocate of “no child left behind” and this is encouraging when you consider how uneducated our students are in comparison to China and Japan.  However, I must ask you Mr. President, to clarify this statement when it pertains to the inability to receive the education desired by students who are perpetually plummeted with sneers, punches, and social intimidation because of their differences. 

Sadly, our nations parenting skills must be severely lacking if our juveniles consider this behavior acceptable. This is another story entirely; but if we want to insure that our children are getting the education that is granted to them so that they will be the capable leaders of tomorrow, then this civil right obstruction must be addressed, and addressed quickly!

Ring Around the Rosie



                   When you hear the words “Ring Around the Rosie…” you probably think of children holding hands in a circle, turning slowly while singing the song, then collapsing in a giggling heap at its conclusion. Just another innocent and meaningless rhyme, right?   Wrong, not even close.

I was very surprised when I found out how dark and depressing, "Ring Around the Rosie," actually is. The song is about the Bubonic Plague.

Ring Around the Rosie

When a person contracted the Bubonic Plague, they would gain rose-colored, puss-filled sores on their body called rosies. As the infection spread, rings would wind around the rosies. "Ring Around the Rosie" refers to these rings.

Pocket Full of Posies

During the time of the Bubonic Plague, people realized that it was harmful to go around the body of someone who had died from the plague. The common practice in Europe was to fill the jacket pocket of the deceased with posies so that others would know to leave the body alone.

"Pocket full of posies," was what would soon happen after the person started getting the rings around the rosie. Once the rings started to form, the undertaker would be called to prepare the posies.

Ashes Ashes

Once the body of the person who had died from the plague had been taken away, it would be burned.

We All Fall Down

By now, this one should need little explanation...

 

It was believed by many that ultimately the Bubonic Plague would wipe out all of civilization. It is understandable why they had this belief due to the number of people dying every day from the Plague. It was nearly impossible for anyone to not know at least one person who died from the Plague at the time.

 

Plants & Music

Have you ever heard that sound affects plant growth. This belief dates back to 1848, when Gustav Fechner wrote a book titled “Nanna,” meaning “soul-life of plants.” His work stated that our voices help plants grow. So talk to your plants! 

Prince Charles once told an interviewer in 1986 that when he talked to his plants, they seemed to respond. His statement that plants react to sound and voices was brushed off as the opinion of an eccentric Royal but I think he was on to something. More recently, researchers have studied the effects of sound on plants and flowers, especially music, and found that they do respond.

 There are several theories on the way plants are affected by music. On one extreme it is argued that plants don't have ears and so don’t hear the music. Stupid, if you ask me! Of course, we’d be talking vibration. The other argument is that music is more than sound waves to be received by the ears but made up of waves/vibration with the potential to affect living things. Science backs up the latter argument.



The best is classical music and that’s no surprise. Classical music has been determined by research to be a stimulant for plant growth. Most studies conclude that the plants with classical music playing grew better than plants exposed to other types of music or no music at all.

So playing soothing music will make your house greener, soothe your soul and I know my pets enjoy it as well.

 

How can I possibly blog?

How can I possibly blog when there's all these other things that NEED to be done?

Ok, I know I need to write one, but coffee is a must...and toast...after all, I need fuel.

Now I'm ready and sitting at the computer. I reach down to pet BB. Oh! She needs to be brushed! Immediately! After all, you can't have hair flyin' around the house and she loves it so...come on BB, let's groom you.

Ok, now I can blog. Well, first a second cup of java...for energy.
Wow, look at all that dust on my keyboard! When was the last time I cleaned that? It must be cleaned! Can't type with dusty keys!

Ok, now I can blog. Oops, the phone's ringing and you have to answer a ringing phone. After all, it may be an emergency! It's just a chatty friend. All is well.

Ok, where was I? What to blog? What to blog?

Hmmm, did I water the plants recently? The one on my desk looks a little droopy...and now I can hear them all requesting a drink! How can I blog with a living thing in my care wanting nourishment? It will only take a moment.

Ok, now I can sit in my comfy chair and write...no more distractions for now...just me, my thoughts and a blank page on the computer screen...and the nice clean keyboard...here I go. Nothing stopping me now.

"Ding Dong"  You've got to be kidding! Who is it?!! And it better be important!"
I'm trying to blog!

 

Dog Food Recalls

 

“Two National Dog Food Suppliers Issue Recalls for Possible Salmonella Contamination”

This was the news for Feb 23, 2013 that makes dog owners crazy.

Infected pets can be carriers of the bacteria and infect other animals or humans, according to the FDA.

Dog Food Recalls are becoming all too common and the frequency is alarming.

·        On February 15, 2013, Nature's Variety announced it was recalling a single batch of one of its raw dog food products. Fragments of clear plastic may be present in some bags and could pose a potential choking risk to pets.

·        On February 21, 2013, The Honest Kitchen announced it was recalling five lots of its Verve, Zeal and Thrive dog foods because they may be contaminated with Salmonella bacteria.

·        On February 22, 2013, Hy-Vee Inc. announced it was recalling certain bags of its dry dog food products due to elevated levels of aflatoxin.

It used to be all we had to do as responsible dog owners was research a healthy food safe from fillers and carcinogenic and possibly get a second job to pay for it!

Now you have to pray you don’t accidently poison your beloved best friend.

And the high end foods are not excluded. Apparently, those expensive foods and treats are sometimes processed in the same mill the low end foods are and of course cross contamination can result.

 

Now that I have sufficiently alarmed you (and I am sorry for that but ignorance is NOT bliss)

please let me arm you with a wonderful link to keep you informed and hopefully one step ahead of

a possible trip to the vet.

http://www.dogfoodadvisor.com/dog-food-recall-alerts/

 



Chronic Pain

Watching a relative / loved one live with chronic pain can be very painful.

Most of us have had an injury that caused us to flinch or cry or become temporarily without normal movement.

A broken bone heals, a headache eventually goes away, a scrape or deeper wound may take some time but usually all of these can be soothed with medications and will mend in time. Pain that is brought about by a nerve disorder that is not affected by over the counter relievers and lasts for months, years, or even lifetimes becomes debilitating and is stressful on the recipient and those that love them.

The internet can offer some help and suggestions and even some ways to soothe both the bearer of the pain and those that plead for help. Mostly, a chronic pain sufferer needs to be acknowledged and assisted with sometimes simple tasks. Reaching for opioids to diffuse the symptoms that make you want to jump off a bridge is just a patch for the underlying causes. Quite often you will create an addict before finding what can truly help. Awareness is necessary when dealing with anyone who is ill or in pain and having outlets and resources is important for those of us that feel all they can do is sit and watch and cry with them.

"Carnival" Cruise?

 

A “Carnival” that is NOT so much fun.

“Feasting and merrymaking,” perhaps this cruise line should change its name.

An entire ship made up of a “poop deck!” All of the information is not in as of yet

and I am sure many will have much to say. The bottom line is that recession is taking its toll

across land and sea with major corporation’s side stepping and just plain neglecting to keep up with maintenance and overhauls of equipment.

As a former cruiser with many sails to my name, it seems to me that the cruising populace will probably tell themselves

the same thing that frequent flyers do; “well, it’s safer than driving a car.” I don’t know if this is soothing enough

to have me drop a few thousand dollars to propel my way to exotic destinations.

 

I think I would rather take my chance with an automobile and stick to the Americas for now.

Somehow, driving across state borders into Canada or Mexico seems like a safer proposition

than bobbing without control in the Atlantic with land nowhere in sight. I will most likely continue

to fly and even book another cruise or two, but for the near future I think I will keep my feet or at least my wheels on solid ground.