Should schools be allowed to use corporal punishment?

Are you surprised I would even be asking that question?

Approximately 20 states across the country still allow corporal punishment. 

Even Wisconsin doesn't "prohibit" the practice, but states it is "generally prohibited."

Is it prohibited or isn't it?

State	Code Section	Punishment Allowed
WISCONSIN	118.31	Corporal punishment generally prohibited; reasonable and necessary force allowed in self-defense, to protect others, etc., and as proscribed by school board policy.

The states most often still allowing corporal punishment?  Southern states.

You can view the list and clarification of codes via the following link:

Freedom is so very precious.

 Another sign of change has cropped up in communist Cuba with President Raul Castro's announcement that Cubans can build their own homes with their own money.

[...]

Cubans will be told "OK, here you can build. I've given you this amount of space, that amount of room for a street, and that amount for a sidewalk. Now build your little home with whatever you can," said Castro on a local television program as he visited a new neighborhood of Venezuela-built homes.

[...]

Many of the perks are out of reach for the average Cuban, who earns about 17 dollars a month.

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Will it be in Milwaukee?

Could it be in your city?

Will it be a street? 

A school?  

Will it be while he is President? 

Or after?

Some cities across the country have already begun the process.

"DELMAR BOULEVARD is an arterial road running through some of the poorest and richest, and most racially divided, neighbourhoods of St Louis, Missouri. Some city aldermen are now trying to rename the street after Barack Obama before he takes office.

St Louis is not alone in its efforts to stick Mr Obama’s name on public property. Opa-locka, in Miami-Dade County, Florida (one of the most dangerous cities in America), plans to rename one of its avenues after the next president. A Long Island elementary school in Hampstead, New York, recently changed its name from Ludlum to Barack Obama after students organised a campaign. Another Long Island school thought of doing the same until parents intervened. One in Portland, Oregon, is still considering it."

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I think most of us already know that diet sodas and foods that are branded with the term "lite" really are not any healthier for us.  We all know that they just have fewer calories, don't we?  We all know it's a marketing scheme to make us want to buy that product, don't we? Still, fewer calories may be what some of us are looking for, right?  Well, even if you know it, I guess it doesn't hurt to get some tips on healthy alternatives...

"Even if you haven't bought full-fat mayo or sugary soda since blue eye shadow was in style (the first time), you may be getting duped into less-than-stellar food choices at the supermarket. The culprit? The "health halo." "From a distance, some foods seem like healthful choices because of the way they're packaged or labeled," says Janel Ovrut, MS, RD, a Boston-based dietitian. "But just because a product's marketing gives it an aura of health doesn't necessarily mean it's good for you." Here, eight notorious health food impostors, plus smarter swaps that up the nutritional ante and still give you the flavor you crave."

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Do you see problems when Hollywood celebrities, or even former politicians, get involved with causes?  From AIDS to world hunger, you'll find celebrities there helping to raise money.  Sometimes some of them seem to make a certain cause their life's cause.  Now some recipients of their help are complaining. 

Who's really at fault here?  Is it the Hollywood stars for donating and running?  Is it the people who donated the land and the other volunteers?  Or is it the actual home owners who possibly haven't taken on the responsibility of owning a home?  We're talking about Habitat for Humanity.

RESIDENTS of a model housing estate bankrolled by Hollywood celebrities and hand-built by Jimmy Carter, the former US president, are complaining that it is falling apart.

Fairway Oaks was built on northern Florida wasteland by 10,000 volunteers, including Carter, in a record 17-day “blitz” organised by the charity Habitat for Humanity.

Eight years later it is better known for cockroaches, mildew and mysterious skin rashes.

A forthcoming legal battle over Fairway Oaks threatens the reputation of a charity envied for the calibre of its celebrity supporters, who range from Johnny Depp and Brad Pitt to Colin Firth, Christian Bale and Helena Bonham Carter.

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 Congressman Henry Waxman, D-California, is chairman of the Committee on Oversight and Government Reform.  He has been leading a congressional investigation into steroid use in professional wrestling but will be leaving to become chairman of the Energy and Commerce Committee.  He has written a letter to John Walters, director of the president's office of National Drug Control Policy.

"Waxman, chairman of the Committee on Oversight and Government Reform, has led a congressional investigation into steroid use in professional wrestling for more than a year, spurred in part by the murder-suicide deaths of wrestler Chris Benoit and his family in Georgia in June 2007."

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From the official letter:

"Conclusion

The evidence obtained by the Oversight Committee indicates that illegal use of steroids and other drugs in professional wrestling is a serious problem that the wrestling organizations are not effectively addressing. One former wrestler who agreed to talk to Committee staff on condition of anonymity explained that, in the wrestling business, "steroids are like white socks and tape, they're just part of your gear,"

Since the Committee began its investigation last year, both the WWE and the TNA have made efforts to improve their steroid testing programs. But these efforts suffer from a lack of independence and transparency. As a result of these weaknesses, the organizations appear unable to effectively prevent the use of steroids and other illegal drugs by professional wrestlers.

Over 3 million children and teenagers watch professional wrestling each week. The apparently widespread use of steroids in professional wrestling sends the wrong message to youth. For this reason, I request that ONDCP examine steroid use in professional wrestling and take appropriate steps to address this problem."

 

So, guys...If a study told you that choosing the proper scent for you would make a difference in your self-confidence, would you you believe that?  Or do you already know that?  And that having the right scent for you could increase your mood in such a positive way that it could attract the opposite sex? 

From the Economist -

THE very word “perfume” has feminine overtones to many male ears. Men can be sold “deodorant” and possibly “aftershave”, but the idea of all those dinky little bottles with their fussy paraphernalia is too much for the sensitive male ego. Yet no industry can afford to neglect half its potential market, and perfume-makers are ever keen to crack the shell of male reticence. Now they may know how to do so.

Craig Roberts of the University of Liverpool and his colleagues—working with a team from Unilever’s research laboratory at nearby Port Sunlight—have been investigating the problem. They already knew that appropriate scents can improve the mood of those who wear them. What they discovered, though, as they will describe in a forthcoming edition of the International Journal of Cosmetic Science, is that when a man changes his natural body odour it can alter his self-confidence to such an extent that it also changes how attractive women find him.

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26-year old Indycar driver Danica Patrick appears to have a lead foot off the track.  Somehow I don't think attending "traffic school" was the right answer for her.  I'm sure that taught her a good lesson.

SCOTTSDALE, Ariz. - Danica Patrick paid a $196 fine to settle a speeding ticket after the star race car driver was caught going 54 mph in a 35 mph zone last month.

Patrick, the first woman to win an IndyCar race, was due in traffic court Monday, but a Scottsdale City Court clerk says she paid the fine Wednesday.
.

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I missed the New Year's celebration in Times Square. Did you see it?

Nice to hear Hillary and Bill got to share in the celebration. Does anyone know if Bill will be moving to Washington again to join Hillary? Or, will they keep their New York home and Hillary drop in back home on weekends?

"Clintons, Revelers Ring in 2009 in Times Square.

The wind chill made it feel like 1 degree in the area, but that didn't stop the throngs bundled in fur hats, heavy coats and sleeping bags from attending the event.

Former President Bill Clinton and Sen. Hillary Clinton helped Mayor Michael Bloomberg lower the ball atop 1 Times Square for the 60-second countdown to midnight. Last year, Hillary Clinton was in Iowa campaigning for the presidency, and now she's expecting to be secretary of state in President-elect Barack Obama's administration.

Five minutes before midnight, 1,000 balloons with the words "Joy," "Hope" and "2009" were released from rooftops in the area. The Waterford crystal ball — 12 feet in diameter and weighing nearly 12,000 pounds — dropped as the crowd erupted in cheers.

Bill and Hillary just seem So Happy Together!   ; )

Rolling Stone always has the best of this or the best of that.  This time they have the Reader's Rock List of Best Album Covers of 2008.  There are 25 to choose from. 

With DVDs we don't get to appreciate album covers anymore.  They really used to be a big deal; something to really appreciate.  You stored your album in the album cover, and while you played your album, you might look over the cover each time.  Sometimes the cover might even open like a book and you could read information inside, or look at more information or photos inside.  Or the sleeve might have cool stuff on it.

And...

Rolling Stones 500 Greatest Albums of All Time 


Number One?

Maybe this site could help you.

Especially if you are toughing it out on your own.

It's an online program called Gyminee™

Looks like Wisconsin and Minnesota are once again in the news together. 

A Wisconsin man, Mike Raymond, who works in Minnesota at a job he has held for almost 28 years, decided to clear a path to his ice fishing house on the Red Lake River rather than plow the parking lots.  Oops!  the $200,000 "payloader" fell through the ice. 

Gee, it only weighed 15 tons.  Can't see why it wouldn't stay on top of the ice on the river.

Your House?

Possibly.

Piggy banks are one hot item.

So are safes.

I bet people who still use cookie jars are stashing a few bucks in them again, too.

And we all know there are people who really do hide money under their mattresses.

How about in the family Bible or other favorite books?

The point is, with the recession here, people are back to saving money, even if it is small change.

And some people are not going to trust putting it in a bank.

"WASHINGTON (Reuters) – Recession-wary Americans embraced the virtues of thrift this Christmas, with stores reporting a clear rise in the popularity of piggy banks.

"We have been selling coin banks really well," said Laura Kellner at Kikkerland Design Inc. in New York City, whose stylish chrome pig is priced at $31.

U.S. savings levels have increased markedly in recent months as households adjust to a yearlong recession and the worst financial crisis since the Great Depression.

The downturn has shattered house prices and the value of retirement accounts which, in turn, has reinforced the necessity to systematically put funds aside for the future.

Retailers said this translated neatly into a gift that captured the spirit of the times.

"We definitely noticed a trend with the piggy banks," said Erin Mara at Homebody, a design store in the Capitol Hill neighborhood of Washington, DC.

"People were very upfront about the need to save...the pig is very symbolic of that sentiment," she said."

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Melanie had her heart in the right place back in 1969.  Most people are "beautiful," especially if you just give them a chance.  Sometimes you just have to reach out to them.  The trouble is, most often, we just don't take the time.

                               Beautiful People - Melanie Safka

Those of you who read these blogs have probably had your fill of lists and links this past couple weeks.  I know I have.

My list is short, with one item on it. 

I'll call it the "F" list for FranklinNow.

My list:
 

1.  You, the readers of my blog (this one and my Righty Blog if you go there, too).

Thank you for reading in 2008 and I wish you all a very Happy and Healthy New Year!

What's a Port-A-Party?

I'll don't think you'll be finding a Porta-Party at any of my parties.

If you are having a New Year's Eve party tonight, you may find there are more non-alcohol drinkers there than you expected.   Someone has to drive home unless you are having the group sleep over, and that's unlikely.  Why not serve a non-alcoholic punch that's festive, instead of just soda, along with your other beverages?

Here's a punch that's like one huge ice cream soda with an almond twist to it.  And if you want, you can serve Peppermint Schnapps or Kahlua or Brandy on the side for those who are drinking.  People love this punch, but you need a large punch bowl.  Make the punch base ahead of time.  It just takes a few minutes.

White Christmas Punch

2/3 cups water

2/3 cups sugar

1 tsp. almond extract

5 oz. evaporated milk (small can)

1 pint vanilla ice cream, softened

1 and 1/2 (2-liter) bottles Slice or other lemon-lime soda

Cook water and sugar until sugar has dissolved.  Add almond extract and evaporated milk.  Refrigerate.  At serving time mix softened ice cream and slice into sugar mixture in large punch bowl.  Add a small ice block if desired.

Actually, do you find anything wrong with the family in the picture?



The Duggar Family, before the latest arrival Photo by: Beth Hall / AP




The photo is of the Duggar family of Arkansas.  This photo was taken after the birth of their 17th child.  This month the Duggars gave birth to their 18th child, Jordyn-Grace, by C-section.  You may view the current family photo here.

The children seem happy enough in the photo.  I wonder what mom is telling her son.  Perhaps that he is going to be in charge of his sister some day.  You see, that's how the Duggar's work.  How else could parents take care of 17-18 children on their own, while home schooling and running their own "church?"  The kids work on a sort of buddy system where each older child plays parent/teacher to a younger sibling.   According to their mom, Michelle, on a CNN American Morning interview in 2005,  "They help them with their little phonics lessons and games during the day and help them practice their music lessons. They will play with them or help them pick out the color of their outfit that they want to wear that day, and just all of those types of things."  

I thought being a parent and making the choice to have a family was the responsibility of the parent's?  This little army of children doesn't seem to ever get to be children in my book.  Of course, someday they will get to venture out.  And there are worse things that could be happening to these children.  But should that even be said? 

Who supports the family financially?  In part, their show on TLC.  Right...their family is a regular little television production.  There are a few other families like this on TLC, Little People, Big World with the Roloff's comes to mind.  I've never seen the Duggar's but I have seen the Roloff's.  Talk about one messed up, spoiled, dysfunctional family (in my view) from the way they are portrayed on their television show.  I can see why the families are tempted to sign on to these shows in the first place.  That income must be a great help when the families are in need.  See, you tune into a show like this out of curiosity to see what it must be like to go through life like the Roloff family, a family of part little people and part regular sized people.  But then TLC literally turns them into entertainment instead.  But when you start seeing the families now living in their mansions, taking out-of-this-world trips and doing all sorts of odd things after they were saying they were struggling, the shows are not "reality" anymore. "The Greatest Show On Earth" comes to mind instead.  Now is that what is wanted for these 18 children?


For those of you wondering, The Duggars are said to be conservative Baptists who endorse the Quiverfull movement.

I normally try to forget my birthday...I like to forget that I'm over 30!

But I am just so happy that this January 21st I get to watch the Season Premiere of Lost Season 5 on my birthday.  It's practically an all night event, so I can forget about how old I am and concentrate on more important things.

Namaste.

Let's hope it's a wimper.

But something is rumbling and grumbling  in Yellowstone National Park, and it's not the bear's stomachs.  There were dozens of tremors on Monday.  There have been tremors before, but not so many at once.  Is an eruption in the future?

"Yellowstone National Park was jostled by a host of small earthquakes for a third straight day Monday, and scientists watched closely to see whether the more than 250 tremors were a sign of something bigger to come.

Swarms of small earthquakes happen frequently in Yellowstone, but it's very unusual for so many earthquakes to happen over several days, said Robert Smith, a professor of geophysics at the University of Utah.

"They're certainly not normal," Smith said. "We haven't had earthquakes in this energy or extent in many years."

 

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No one thought that the up and down relationship between President Elect Barack Obama and incoming Secretary of State Hillary Clinton was going to go away, did they?  It matters more than ever right now that Obama show his support for his choice for this position.  Now that Hillary Clinton has to jump right into Condoleezza Rice's shoes at the get go in a job where she isn't always going to be welcomed with open arms, she needs all the support she can get.  She also has to deal with her past in Washington and that of her husband, President Bill Clinton and his foreign relationships.  I'd say Hillary Clinton is going to have a lot of sleepless nights ahead of her.

"As incoming President Barack Obama's secretary of state, she will have to overcome a view of some in the Arab world she is more interested in supporting Israel than being even-handed.

Once she stops being a U.S. senator from New York to take her new job, Clinton could find herself pursuing the same Middle East peace that eluded her husband, former President Bill Clinton, in the final months of his presidency in 2000.

University of Maryland professor Shibley Telhami said opinion polls he conducted earlier this year in Arab countries indicated Clinton was viewed as someone who, like her husband, would work to advance Middle East peace.

"Bill Clinton had a much more positive image in the Middle East (than George W. Bush) and Hillary is seen in a similar light," he said, adding that her past support for Israel would not necessarily count against her."


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