Knoledge is Power, Except in Sex Ed

"There's a chance that, in the U.S., UNESCO's recommendations will be drowned out by the knee-jerk outrage of conservative pundits.But at least the guidelines can undergo sober and thoughtful examination in more open-minded places ... like Ethiopia"

clipped from news.yahoo.com Any attempt to decrease the number of unwanted pregnancies and slow the spread of sexually transmitted diseases like HIV around the world has to be a good thing, right? That's what the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) thought. But now it finds itself under fire from American conservatives for proposing a new set of guidelines on sex education in schools The goal is simple: with contraception often not an option in many parts of the world - and vaccines to prevent diseases like AIDS still unavailable - UNESCO hopes that teaching children more about the risks of sexual activity will help them steer clear of such perils. Apart from the outcry from American conservative groups, however, it appears the response to the recommendations elsewhere in the world has been mostly calm But at least the guidelines can undergo sober and thoughtful examination in more open-minded places ... like Ethiopia

She's Better Than Kerry

clipped from wbztv.com Coakley First Candidate In Race For Kennedy's Seat Attorney General Martha Coakley announced Thursday she will run as a Democratic candidate in the special election to succeed the late Sen. Edward M. Kennedy. The 20-year prosecutor said she can continue to be "an effective voice for the people of Massachusetts." "As some have noted, we perhaps cannot fill his shoes, but must strive to follow in his footsteps," Coakley said to supporters at a downtown Boston hotel. Coakley was elected the state's first female Attorney General in 2007. She has fought to lower health care costs and address the foreclosure crisis, and protect the rights of same sex couples to marry and receive all the benefits of marriage. "I want to make government work for you, to remove barriers, to provide for opportunities and to renew that promise of democracy," she said.

Compostable Plastic made from plants

This is currently for purchase in mass bulk for grocery stores. My hope is that it will eventually make it's way to the individual consumer.

clipped from www.f-k.com Greenware® portion cups and lids are a line of crystal clear, American made premium portion cups manufactured from NatureWorks® biopolymer, a polylactic acid (PLA) resin derived entirely from plants instead of oil.  Greenware portion cups feature a rolled rim for leak-resistant lid application are are crystal clear to highlight any food or beverage.  Available in three popular sizes, Greenware portion cups are a sustainable solution in foodservice packaging. Made from NatureWorks biopolymer Resin derived entirely from natural and renewable resources Crystal clear for complete product visability Durable material unsusceptible to flavor or odor transfer Compostable where managed facilities exist* Customer recognition of environmental leadership  Stylish upscale look Containers stack on top of one another during packing, transport and storage "Sourced locally" and manufactured domestically Made in America

Kerry for health care reform

His position on health care aside---He's No Ted Kennedy.

clipped from wbztv.com Kerry Vows To Fight For Health Care Reform Sen. John Kerry positioned himself as the political heir to Edward Kennedy, pledging to the thousands who attended his town hall meeting Wednesday that he would fight for the health care overhaul championed by his longtime Democratic colleague. More than 2,000 people turned up for Kerry's first public meeting since Kennedy's Aug. 25 death from brain cancer at age 77. A line of supporters and opponents of health care reforms snaked out of the Somerville high school and down two blocks. Kerry moved quickly to invoke the memory of Kennedy and promised to carry on the fight for health care reform. "That means taking on these battles in the way that Teddy would and I pledge to you that I will," he said. The crowd appeared largely in favor of health care reforms, giving Kerry loud cheers whenever he discussed the issue. Those booing appeared to be in the minority.

Busted

Shame, shame , we know your name.

clipped from wbztv.com Mass. Rep. Buys Alcohol In NH, Avoids Sales Tax A Massachusetts state legislator who voted to impose a 6.25 percent sales tax on alcohol has come under fire after he was seen loading liquor into his state-owned vehicle outside a tax-free New Hampshire liquor store.  Rep. Michael Rodrigues' Ford Crown Victoria, bearing "House 29" Massachusetts license plates, was seen outside the store on Interstate 95 South last weekend. The Westport Democrat told The Standard Times of New Bedford that he bought the liquor during a bathroom break while he and his wife were on a weekend away in New Hampshire. He blamed the controversy on "Republican demagoguery." State Republican Party chairwoman Jennifer Nassour called Rodrigues' actions "the height of arrogance."

Reality Check

Does it really hurt to learn more? Visit the site, watch the video ,take the quiz.

clipped from www.whitehouse.gov

Where did all my stuff go?

I came through the front door with a new book in one hand and my purse in the other. I went straight to the kitchen , put the book and my purse on the table. I went to the stove to put the kettle on for some tea, which I was going to drink while I thumbed through said book, turned around and no book. I am still in the kitchen and haven't gone anywhere else. My purse is still on the table but no book. Where's the book?

I just had it. It was right here.Where did it go? Seriously, I just brought it through the front door not 5 minutes ago. I thought for sure I put it on the the kitchen table. Where did that book go? I know I put it on the table.

I was considering the possibility of having been "beamed up" , stepping into an parallel dimension, and other possible causes of memory loss , when my husband walked into the kitchen. Catching the look of obvious confusion plastered on my face, he asked what the problem was.

"I'm losing my marbles", I complained.

"I thought you lost those a long time ago", he jests.

"Most of them, sometime after the twins were born",I said. " I still had a few left, but I think those are gone now too".

"What's up?"

"I just bought a new reference book, put it on the table, and now it's gone."

Grinning, he asks if Marjika, our 5 year old daughter, was in the vicinity when I put the book on the table. I check my daughter's room and sure enough, there's Marjika , relaxing on her bed reading my new book . Boy, she really is slick.

This is a common occurrence in my home. When you have six children, things have a way of growing legs and walking off ,only to be found later in one of the children s rooms. Some of our more useful items have gotten bored with their humdrum day to day existence and have found exciting new lives as make believe airplanes, rockets, and light sabers.

Marjika is the main culprit when it comes to books, especially my design magazines and reference books. They've got great pictures in them, so I can see the attraction. Whenever she's bored with "The Scrawny Tawny Lion" she ducks into my office and picks out something from my library. This wouldn't bug me so much if she wasn't so stealthy. I'll put a book on my desk to reference as I work and she'll come up silently behind me , swipe the book and run back to her room . I reach over to find that the book has vanished. Marjika Strikes again.

She has also adopted my artist model as one of her favorite dolls. Not one of the wooden dummy types, mind you, it's an expensive , Art S Buck, anatomically proportional, one-sixth scale , over 30 points of articulation, manikins. I have to borrow it back from her when I need it for a sketch . All in all , Art seems to be getting along with the barbies just fine.