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!