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:Random thoughts from a Renegade Mom:

Saturday, October 29, 2005 Scientists identify dyslexia gene  Now back to our regularly schedualed science news: An international team of researchers say they have discovered a genetic basis for dyslexia - a condition which results in problems with reading and writing. A genetic basis for dyslexia has long been suspected. But this is the first time a particular gene has actually been identified. This is really interesting news for me, I'm dyslexic and so is my Brother-in-law, now that they are sure there is a genetic link I really need to watch my kids! Gina froze in time on 8:38 PM [ | ] Halloween "TOO PAGAN"  Halloween is just around the corner and that means there are the usual "Halloween is the devils holiday" Well this year there are some alternatives for those who may find the pagan roots of Halloween distasteful! Via Wildhunt Blog: The Bishop of Bolton, the Rt Rev David Gillett is worried that Hallowe'en is becoming too "Pagan" to be celebrated by good and decent Christians. "There has been a widespread increase in New Age spiritualities and connections with dark occult happenings have surfaced in certain areas," he says. "Hallowe'en has, in many ways, reverted to its pre-Christian days." He wants to create a new holiday for Christians. "Lite-Nite". No. Really. "Hallowe'en has become associated with the occult and should be reclaimed by Christians and even renamed "Lite-Nite", a Church of England bishop says. And we also have Neighbor Day; a day to celebrate neighbors: The official rule: On October 31st children (and adults) dress up in friendly, cheerful, and outlandish costumes that have either been created from house-hold materials or purchased at the local department store. The celebration of Neighbor Day begins in each local neighborhood around 1pm in the afternoon and ends at dusk. Children and adults who have dressed up in costume are to visit local neighbors, especially those that they have not recently visited (or have managed to offend during the previous months), and knock on their door. When opened, the persons in costume are to exclaim the official Neighbor Day greeting and present a small gift as a token of friendship. Gifts may include a card, candy, coupons, fresh fruit, balloons, flowers, etc. The recipient of the gift should express appreciation and may, if they so choose, return the favor by offering a small gift or token to their visitors. This returned gift is not mandatory (but would most likely be appreciated - especially by the younger visitors). Costumes worn on Neighbor Day or worn during the season of Neighbor Day must be non-threatening, non-sinister, non-gruesome, non-risque, non-toxic, and non-flammable. The fear of anything pagan is driving things like this. Halloween is not bit SAMHAIN (the pagan holiday) - anymore- and even if it was, there is nothing wrong with that, Samhain is a great holiday of remembrance for the dead and celebration of the end of summer. There is nothing about the devil or killing people, I mean come on, most pagan's don't even believe in the devil!! Look for my post on Monday about Samhain. Gina froze in time on 7:10 PM [ | ] Sulu: I'm gay  CNN.com reported yesterday that George Takei, 'Star Trek's' Sulu, has come out as a homosexual in the current issue of Frontiers, a biweekly Los Angeles magazine covering the gay and lesbian community." I'm a bonafide Trekkie and felt the need to comment. I'm very happy for him and his 18 year relationship. I'm glad he has finally felt comfortible enough to come out of the closet! Gina froze in time on 6:54 PM [ | ] Friday, October 28, 2005 Breastfeeding Witch  This is a story close to my heart, breastfeeding and witches :) "The Witch Lactation Station." That's right. The Petrie's holiday display features a breastfeeding witch, complete with a gourd breast and a baby witch doll. "I would hope if witches have babies and the witches would have to feed their babies, they would nurse," Lauren Petrie told the Brattleboro Reformer. "I am also advocating being comfortable with nursing in public." Some in town say the display is inappropriate, particularly because their kids are asking questions. Others can see the humor in it, and say it's a great way to raise awareness of breastfeeding. The Petries say they have no plans to take down the display. "We are having fun with it," David Petrie told the Reformer. "My four kids were breastfed and we believe it is the best way to feed a child." I love this, and so what if kids are asking questions. I think it's natural to talk about breastfeeding with your child, even if you didn't do it. It's funny they don't seem to mind their kids asking about the decapitated ghoul on someone's lawn, but heaven forbid that a kid ask about something natural like feeding an infant. via amygeekgrl Gina froze in time on 8:16 PM [ | ] Thursday, October 27, 2005 Too Tired  Gina froze in time on 8:33 PM [ | ] creepy things you find on the internet  So I was looking for a book shelf and found this: How creep is that, and the funny thing is they are "Bookshelf Buddies" for children's room. Gina froze in time on 8:31 PM [ | ] Wednesday, October 26, 2005 Wal-Mart Get's a Black Eye from Internal Memo  I was listening to the radio and heard this report today, knowing that I was going to post it, I looked for reports on it and found a poor showing of only three news report. But Alas I did find some good blog reports: Michelle had the NYT article posted, Charliedigital has a nice comparison b/w Walmart and Costco, while Paul -V examins how Wal-Mart (according to the memo) keeps track of its employees medical status, and then compares this personal information to productivity rates and benefit satisfaction. Here are some highlights from the article, read for yourself: Internal Walmart Memo: Cut Benefits to Employees An internal memo sent to Wal-Mart's board of directors proposes numerous ways to hold down spending on health care and other benefits while seeking to minimize damage to the retailer's reputation. Among the recommendations are hiring more part-time workers and discouraging unhealthy people from working at Wal-Mart In the memorandum, M. Susan Chambers, Wal-Mart's executive vice president for benefits, also recommends reducing 401(k) contributions and wooing younger, and presumably healthier, workers by offering education benefits. The memo voices concern that workers with seven years' seniority earn more than workers with one year's seniority, but are no more productive. To discourage unhealthy job applicants, Ms. Chambers suggests that Wal-Mart arrange for "all jobs to include some physical activity (e.g., all cashiers do some cart-gathering)." The memo acknowledged that Wal-Mart, the world's largest retailer, had to walk a fine line in restraining benefit costs because critics had attacked it for being stingy on wages and health coverage. Ms. Chambers acknowledged that 46 percent of the children of Wal-Mart's 1.33 million United States employees were uninsured or on Medicaid. Ms. Chambers's memo voiced concern that workers were staying with the company longer, pushing up wage costs, although she stopped short of calling for efforts to push out more senior workers. She wrote that "the cost of an associate with seven years of tenure is almost 55 percent more than the cost of an associate with one year of tenure, yet there is no difference in his or her productivity. Moreover, because we pay an associate more in salary and benefits as his or her tenure increases, we are pricing that associate out of the labor market, increasing the likelihood that he or she will stay with Wal-Mart." The memo noted that Wal-Mart workers "are getting sicker than the national population, particularly in obesity-related diseases," including diabetes and coronary artery disease. The memo said Wal-Mart workers tended to overuse emergency rooms and underuse prescriptions and doctor visits, perhaps from previous experience with Medicaid. The memo noted, "The least healthy, least productive associates are more satisfied with their benefits than other segments and are interested in longer careers with Wal-Mart." The memo proposed incorporating physical activity in all jobs and promoting health savings accounts. Such accounts are financed with pretax dollars and allow workers to divert their contributions into retirement savings if they are not all spent on health care. Health experts say these accounts will be more attractive to younger, healthier workers. "It will be far easier to attract and retain a healthier work force than it will be to change behavior in an existing one," the memo said. "These moves would also dissuade unhealthy people from coming to work at Wal-Mart." So I guess That Wal-Mart Wants a "revolving" door of low-tenure and part-time employees that don't think for themselves. Here's an idea, they should just have complete turnover ever three or four years. I see that employee loyalty means nothing to them. Gina froze in time on 8:30 PM [ | ] Blog for Sale a Real Steal  My blog is worth $10,726.26. How much is your blog worth? I'm willing to negotiate.... (via torporific) Gina froze in time on 8:18 PM [ | ] Fun with family  Well, we had a great weekend. It was really unusual, not that I don't like my In-laws, but we usually spend the weekend running around trying to fit in two billion things, the kids get crabby and we never relax. This weekend was different. We ALL had fun, we did a few things, but we had a chance to relax and enjoy being together. Mikal, my 3yo doesn't nap, and he was so tired (from waking at 5am with grandpa) so I tried a new trick. I put him in his bed with a cooking timer and told him when the timer went off he could get up. I set it for 60 min and by 30 min he was a sleep and I got "retreived" the timer and let him sleep. When he woke up his grandmother caught him in the kitchen trying to climb on the counter. When she asked him what he was doing he said "I can't reach the timer" When she asked why he needed it, he informed her: "I need to throw it away". Grandma told him that he couldn't have it to throw away, she needed it to cook, where in he insisted "I need to thow it away". She asked him why and he came back with, "I need to throw away, it put me to sleep!" That just killed me. So any how, we had a great weekend, next year you are all invited :) Gina froze in time on 9:15 AM [ | ] Monday, October 24, 2005 Back, way tired...thought I'd leave this with you (via Pat) Gina froze in time on 11:37 PM [ | ]

The chaotic life of a (exausted) mother of 2 little mosters, I mean children. These are my thoughts on life and the world around me, so I can talk about things other than diapers! Current news, health and women's issues. [=Current Terror Alert Level=] _______________ [=About Me=] [=Home=] _______________ [=Previous Posts=] I'm not dead yet... Concern Over Rising Preterm Births Earth Day Footprint Quiz Hyperactivity, Sleepiness, And ADHD Often Improved... Sex Equality Linked To More Satisfying Sex Lives Email rumors and Moral dilemma... WorldChanging: Another World Is Here Very funny!! life has been crazy We Survived, Sort of... ________ [=Links=] _______________ [=Archives=] 05.29.2005 06.05.2005 06.12.2005 06.19.2005 06.26.2005 07.03.2005 07.10.2005 07.17.2005 07.24.2005 07.31.2005 08.07.2005 08.14.2005 08.21.2005 08.28.2005 09.04.2005 09.11.2005 09.18.2005 09.25.2005 10.02.2005 10.09.2005 10.16.2005 10.23.2005 10.30.2005 11.06.2005 11.13.2005 11.20.2005 11.27.2005 12.04.2005 12.11.2005 12.18.2005 12.25.2005 01.01.2006 01.08.2006 01.15.2006 01.22.2006 01.29.2006 02.05.2006 02.12.2006 02.19.2006 02.26.2006 03.05.2006 03.12.2006 03.19.2006 03.26.2006 04.09.2006 04.16.2006 04.23.2006 04.30.2006 _______________ [=Powered By=] Rate Me on BlogHop.com! help? www.globeofblogs.com Technorati search this blog all blogs designed by: dreamwalker