Posted on July 12, 2009 by paisie
Something fun, for a change! I like listening to NPR’s (National Public Radio, 91.5 FM) “Whadya Know” program and found this out today. NECCO wafers were made by the New England Candy Company (get it? NECCO?) beginning in the 1840s!! That means that Civil War soldiers enjoyed them (that was part of their trivia question, which is how I learned about this). I just thought that was pretty cool – we’re eating candy that President Lincoln might have had, too.
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Posted on July 10, 2009 by paisie
Reading my latest Sports Illustrated, I see that Mr. Vick is eligible to play in the NFL. The article I read includes several opinions that, for the most part, say “Let him play because he’s been punished enough.” My opinion as to whether he should be allowed to play focuses on why football teams would sign him at all. This man is an abuser of innocent animals. Granted, the following quotes are from a Google search: “consulted [with a 'colleague'] about the losing dog’s condition, then executed it by wetting it with water and electrocuting it”; “the star athlete and his co-defendants used as the ‘main staging area for housing and training the pit bulls involved in the dog fighting venture and hosting dog fights.’”
Caroline Bishop (again, per Google) says “Michael Vick has openly admitted to the fighting, torture, and murder of many pitbulls on his land in Virginia. These dogs were not only fought but murdered in some of the most brutal ways-beating, drowning, hanging, and even electrocution. ” Google search notwithstanding, Vick does say that “I take full responsibility for my actions” and “dogfighting is a terrible thing.”
So my question to the NFL is: A person - I don’t care if he can throw or catch a football, shoot a puck, hit homeruns, or make half-court shots – who knowingly contributes to the death of innocent animals… is the kind of person you WANT on your team? Is that the image that the National Football League is trying to project: a bloodthirsty, “I-don’t-care-what-it-takes-to-win” individual? Is that what “sport” has become?
Excuse me, but isn’t that what gladiators did? you know, the Christians vs. the lions thing? The Romans used to call that “sport.”
I shudder to think that civilization has ‘progressed’ to the point that people (Michael Vick, and yes, a hockey player to be named later in this post) who cause the death of living creatures are forgiven as long as they’re ’sorry’ and then given millions of dollars to play a game and be worshipped by small children?
Danny Heatley, then-Atlanta Thrashers hockey player, crashed his speeding Ferrari into a tree and killed his teammate Dan Snyder. Heatley apologized, pleaded guilty and got probation (no jail sentence). He went on to get millions of dollars and continue to play in the NHL. Sure, I love to watch hockey, but if Heatley never played again I wouldn’t miss him. If Vick never played again…. so what?
What does it say when professional sports teams (that is, their owners and managers) overlook things like murder, death, and even animal cruelty - all crimes – to sign “athletes” so that their team (and just as importantly, their own bank account) benefits from a person’s physical talents? Evidently life doesn’t mean much: “Hey, they’re sorry. What more does the public want?”
How about human decency? Or are some athletes considered to be so special that they are no longer “human”? Where are our priorities????
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Posted on July 2, 2009 by paisie
That’s a fancy title, but I couldn’t come up with anything more fitting at this late (early?) at night. I realized I haven’t blogged for awhile and the only news I have for today is that I gave blood at the Cary Red Cross office. Why do I let myself be stuck with a large needle and watch (not really – I watch the TV) a pint of my blood drain into a bag?
I didn’t start doing this until after I had kids. My mother mentioned she was a donor, and I thought it was a small thing that I could do that could possibly help somebody else. And it was a “golden rule” kind of thing: I’d like someone else to donate blood if one of MY family members needed it, so I would do the same thing. I’ve continued for years, so I believe I’m on my 4th gallon at this point. That’s pretty cool to think of.
You have to be 17 or older, at least 110 pounds, and then a bunch of other medical details (like no tattoos in 12 months, no hepatitis, no mad cow, and more). Does it hurt? There’s a bit of a sting at first, and I do notice that the needle is there, but it’s not something that lasts. Plus you get cookies and juice- 
– so they know you aren’t going to faint or feel lightheaded before you drive home. That’s uncommon, but it can happen, so drink lots of fluids the 24 hours or so before you donate, and then keep it up for another 24 hours afterwards. You can donate every 8 weeks.
I don’t have much time to volunteer, or I’d be at the ASPCA or the U.S.O at the airport. Blood donors are volunteers, too, though!
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Posted on June 22, 2009 by paisie
Ah, nothing to say that is meant for students, although I hope some stop by to read what their ‘old’ teacher is thinking about. I just got back from a trip to Columbus Ohio with my daughter, who’ll be going to grad school there starting in July. This is her first apartment, so it’s been fun watching her decide on things like dishes, a couch (or a loveseat? or a couch? it’s on sale! Is it big enough? Let’s go home and measure and then look around before we decide). And my son is now assigned to Camp Lejeune (he’s a Marine linguist) for now, until he’s set for deployment somewhere. He also announced he asked his girlfriend to marry him!! THAT’s very exciting!! He had such a rough time in middle school and early high school – he was one of those kids who was constantly picked on and labeled a nerdy little kid with glasses (short, wore glasses since 14 months old, taught himself to read in preschool) – that it hurt to see him so unhappy. But let that be a lesson to all of you middle schoolers who think this is the suckiest time of your life. Yes, it is. But it does, and it WILL, get better.
My big summer project is helping my husband rebuild our deck. We both love to work with our hands, and we save a lot of money that way. Have you ever made or built something that you could have bought, but that you decided to try making yourself? How’d it come out?
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Posted on June 6, 2009 by paisie
Wanna bet? Look at this video – be sure to watch it all the way to the end, as the first part with the girls eating their meal will play a part in what comes next. I am interested in reading your comments which, I hope, do not include words like “gross, ewww, etc.” Now here’s a problem-solution situation that would be worth writing about!
http://www.cultureunplugged.com/play/1081/Chicken-a%20la%20Carte
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