Showing posts with label Current Events. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Current Events. Show all posts
Thursday, February 10, 2011
Teacher suspended after ranting about students in her blog
http://www.phillyburbs.com/news/news_details/article/25/2011/february/10/blog-puts-teacher-in-hot-water.html
“Each time you post a photograph or information on the web, make sure you would gladly show it to the following people: Your mother. Your students. Your superintendent. The editor of The New York Times,” the PSEA tells teachers on its web site.“
Good rule of thumb for everyone, don't you think? I think it's true of words, too. Don't say something you wouldn't want to get back around, because most of the time, it probably will.
Cached version of Munroe's blog
Sunday, January 9, 2011
Are you ready for Snowpocalypse!?
Hey, all you Southern friends. Are you ready for Snowpocalypse(DV) 2011? these tips are probably good for any bad winter storm weather preparedness, really, so here goes. Think about all the things you won't be able to do without power, or travel, and do them TODAY!
- Charge your technology devices! (Like how I did that one first?) If you're like me and don't have a home phone line, you'll be depending on that cell phone for calls, so don't waste your iPhone battery on games. :/
- Ladies: Hair Dryer, need I say more? yes? ok well, cold weather, wet hair, unpleasant, really. And could make one sick, too. Just ugh.
- If your hot water heater runs off electricity, I pity you already. DO take a nice, long hot bath today - you'll be glad you did in a couple of days, if it gets as bad as it did in '92. And it's sounding like it just might for some. (Why risk it?)
- Go ahead, run that washer and dryer while you can!
- A dishwasher run probably wouldn't hurt, either.
- Have any prescriptions you'll need filled in the next couple of days? Looking like you probably won't be able to. Good luck with trying to get those today, but you should probably try.
- I guess it's needless to say BREAD AND MILK! Haha, sorry, couldn't resist. But yeah, get some groceries you can eat without needing power to prepare. Sandwich supplies, canned foods you can stand to eat cold, or prepare over a gas grill, etc.
- Get out cooler so you can stick your stuff out in the snow to keep cold once the freezer can't hold its own any longer.
- Candles or oil-burning lamps.
Obviously, most of us will be without our main source of power. GET FIREWOOD if you have a wood-burning device. We ordered ours on Friday and it's just about to get here, so yeah, good luck with that one, but.....
Also - make sure you have propane for your gas grill if you have one!
It's already setting in, just check out Steve's excellent links!
http://web.me.com/slcochran/Weather/Radar.html
- Charge your technology devices! (Like how I did that one first?) If you're like me and don't have a home phone line, you'll be depending on that cell phone for calls, so don't waste your iPhone battery on games. :/
- Ladies: Hair Dryer, need I say more? yes? ok well, cold weather, wet hair, unpleasant, really. And could make one sick, too. Just ugh.
- If your hot water heater runs off electricity, I pity you already. DO take a nice, long hot bath today - you'll be glad you did in a couple of days, if it gets as bad as it did in '92. And it's sounding like it just might for some. (Why risk it?)
- Go ahead, run that washer and dryer while you can!
- A dishwasher run probably wouldn't hurt, either.
- Have any prescriptions you'll need filled in the next couple of days? Looking like you probably won't be able to. Good luck with trying to get those today, but you should probably try.
- I guess it's needless to say BREAD AND MILK! Haha, sorry, couldn't resist. But yeah, get some groceries you can eat without needing power to prepare. Sandwich supplies, canned foods you can stand to eat cold, or prepare over a gas grill, etc.
- Get out cooler so you can stick your stuff out in the snow to keep cold once the freezer can't hold its own any longer.
- Candles or oil-burning lamps.
Obviously, most of us will be without our main source of power. GET FIREWOOD if you have a wood-burning device. We ordered ours on Friday and it's just about to get here, so yeah, good luck with that one, but.....
Also - make sure you have propane for your gas grill if you have one!
It's already setting in, just check out Steve's excellent links!
http://web.me.com/slcochran/Weather/Radar.html
Monday, June 14, 2010
Blog about the BP Oil Spill & our trip down there
Upon hearing about the landfall of oil upon our Alabama shores last week, David and I could not stand it... we could not just sit here, worrying about our coast and our wildlife. We had to get down there and observe what was going on first hand, and see if there was any productive volunteering we could do.
Unfortunately to do any of the more "productive" roles they funnel you through BP and you have to be trained even just to volunteer, especially when pertaining to the wildlife. I signed up with the ACF but it takes days to process the sheer # of interested party sign-ups during this time so we didn't hear from them (until after we got back home). So instead we opted to go down and spot and report independently.
And, that we did. We walked up and down the beaches all along Fort Morgan, Gulf Shores, Orange Beach, ocean and bay sides... went as far down as the Perdido pass and on to the resort area on into Florida to see what we could. Now that we are back, the most I can do is share what I saw with anyone who might look, so here are my photos:
Pick one of these for your viewing preference - Facebook or Myspace
or Webshots
The fine folks of the Ravelry Editors community reminded me that there could be a useful application of wool sweaters for oiled birds; as was proven in past oil spills, these help to soak up some of the oil, as well as preventing the birds from preening, and ingesting the toxins. I have submitted this offering to the officials and am awaiting hearing back from them, if they do find the need. In the past it was penguins which may wear sweaters better but we'll see. I will also inquire with other independent organizations as I feel they would be more receptive (it seems to me that BP refuses more help than they accept). BP seem to have everything funneled through a choke point, but I believe that the Louisiana Humane Society, ASPCA, or Louisiana’s Clearwater Wildlife Sanctuary will be worthy of an ask.
BP's Where can I find the status of a beach:
Alabama Dept of Public Health: If you come in contact with oil, just wash it off and watch to make sure a rash doesn't follow. Most people will not be exposed to enough dispersants to be affected.
National Weather Service Deepwater Horizon Page for daily and hourly forecasts, winds and currents.
NOAA's Daily Trajectory Maps
Deepwater Horizion's Interactive Online Mapping Tool
Nasa Imagery of Oil Spill
Live feed of all eleven cameras on the ocean floor
Unfortunately to do any of the more "productive" roles they funnel you through BP and you have to be trained even just to volunteer, especially when pertaining to the wildlife. I signed up with the ACF but it takes days to process the sheer # of interested party sign-ups during this time so we didn't hear from them (until after we got back home). So instead we opted to go down and spot and report independently.
And, that we did. We walked up and down the beaches all along Fort Morgan, Gulf Shores, Orange Beach, ocean and bay sides... went as far down as the Perdido pass and on to the resort area on into Florida to see what we could. Now that we are back, the most I can do is share what I saw with anyone who might look, so here are my photos:
Pick one of these for your viewing preference - Facebook or Myspace
or Webshots
The fine folks of the Ravelry Editors community reminded me that there could be a useful application of wool sweaters for oiled birds; as was proven in past oil spills, these help to soak up some of the oil, as well as preventing the birds from preening, and ingesting the toxins. I have submitted this offering to the officials and am awaiting hearing back from them, if they do find the need. In the past it was penguins which may wear sweaters better but we'll see. I will also inquire with other independent organizations as I feel they would be more receptive (it seems to me that BP refuses more help than they accept). BP seem to have everything funneled through a choke point, but I believe that the Louisiana Humane Society, ASPCA, or Louisiana’s Clearwater Wildlife Sanctuary will be worthy of an ask.
BP's Where can I find the status of a beach:
Alabama Dept of Public Health: If you come in contact with oil, just wash it off and watch to make sure a rash doesn't follow. Most people will not be exposed to enough dispersants to be affected.
National Weather Service Deepwater Horizon Page for daily and hourly forecasts, winds and currents.
NOAA's Daily Trajectory Maps
Deepwater Horizion's Interactive Online Mapping Tool
Nasa Imagery of Oil Spill
6-12-2010:
Live feed of all eleven cameras on the ocean floor
Friday, October 2, 2009
Buy American
This will put our fellow Americans back to work here in America. We just have to unite and DO IT every time we shop. Let's be good Americans and build it stronger than ever.
Good idea . . . . one light bulb at a time . . . .
A physics teacher in high school, once told the students that while one grasshopper on the railroad tracks wouldn't slow a train very much, a billion of them would. With that thought in mind, read the following, obviously written by a good American.
Good idea . . . one light bulb at a time . . . .
Check this out. I can verify this because I was in Lowes the other day for some reason and just for the heck of it I was looking at the hose attachments. They were all made in China. The next day I was in Ace Hardware and just for the heck of it I checked the hose attachments there. They were made in USA. Start looking.
In our current economic situation, every little thing we buy or do affects someone else - even their job. So, after reading this email, I think this lady is on the right track. Let's get behind her!
My grandson likes Hershey's candy. I noticed, though, that it is marked made in Mexico now. I do not buy it any more. My favorite toothpaste Colgate is made in Mexico now. I have switched to Crest. You have to read the labels on everything.
This past weekend I was at Kroger. (Can be true for any store.) I needed 60W light bulbs and Bounce dryer sheets. I was in the light bulb aisle, and right next to the GE brand I normally buy was an off brand labeled, "Everyday Value." I picked up both types of bulbs and compared the stats - they were the same except for the price. The GE bulbs were more money than the Everyday Value brand but the thing that surprised me the most was the fact that GE was made in MEXICO and the Everyday Value brand was made in - get ready for this - the USA in a company in Cleveland, Ohio.
So throw out the myth that you cannot find products you use every day that are made right here.
So on to another aisle - Bounce Dryer Sheets . . . yep, you guessed it, Bounce cost more money and is made in Canada. The Everyday Value brand was less money and MADE IN THE USA! I did laundry yesterday and the dryer sheets performed just like the Bounce Free I have been using for years and at almost half the price!
My challenge to you is to start reading the labels when you shop for everyday things and see what you can find that is made in the USA - the job you save may be your own or your neighbors!
If you accept the challenge, pass this on to others in your address book so we can all start buying American, one light bulb at a time! Stop buying from overseas companies!
(We should have awakened a decade ago . . . . . . )
Let's get with the program. Help our fellow Americans keep their jobs and create more jobs here in the U.S.A. (Please copy this and pass it on!)
Good idea . . . . one light bulb at a time . . . .
A physics teacher in high school, once told the students that while one grasshopper on the railroad tracks wouldn't slow a train very much, a billion of them would. With that thought in mind, read the following, obviously written by a good American.
Good idea . . . one light bulb at a time . . . .
Check this out. I can verify this because I was in Lowes the other day for some reason and just for the heck of it I was looking at the hose attachments. They were all made in China. The next day I was in Ace Hardware and just for the heck of it I checked the hose attachments there. They were made in USA. Start looking.
In our current economic situation, every little thing we buy or do affects someone else - even their job. So, after reading this email, I think this lady is on the right track. Let's get behind her!
My grandson likes Hershey's candy. I noticed, though, that it is marked made in Mexico now. I do not buy it any more. My favorite toothpaste Colgate is made in Mexico now. I have switched to Crest. You have to read the labels on everything.
This past weekend I was at Kroger. (Can be true for any store.) I needed 60W light bulbs and Bounce dryer sheets. I was in the light bulb aisle, and right next to the GE brand I normally buy was an off brand labeled, "Everyday Value." I picked up both types of bulbs and compared the stats - they were the same except for the price. The GE bulbs were more money than the Everyday Value brand but the thing that surprised me the most was the fact that GE was made in MEXICO and the Everyday Value brand was made in - get ready for this - the USA in a company in Cleveland, Ohio.
So throw out the myth that you cannot find products you use every day that are made right here.
So on to another aisle - Bounce Dryer Sheets . . . yep, you guessed it, Bounce cost more money and is made in Canada. The Everyday Value brand was less money and MADE IN THE USA! I did laundry yesterday and the dryer sheets performed just like the Bounce Free I have been using for years and at almost half the price!
My challenge to you is to start reading the labels when you shop for everyday things and see what you can find that is made in the USA - the job you save may be your own or your neighbors!
If you accept the challenge, pass this on to others in your address book so we can all start buying American, one light bulb at a time! Stop buying from overseas companies!
(We should have awakened a decade ago . . . . . . )
Let's get with the program. Help our fellow Americans keep their jobs and create more jobs here in the U.S.A. (Please copy this and pass it on!)
Wednesday, November 5, 2008
Nobama
If I posted how I really feel, I'd be sure to piss somebody off. Instead, here is an interesting website. http://www.dontvoteobama.net
Sunday, September 14, 2008
Please, stop buying gas!
OMG! Gas has been out of control here in Alabama, due to panic over potential hurricane effects, since Friday.
http://www.al.com/news/birminghamnews/index.ssf?/base/news/1221293707189620.xml&coll=2
Gasoline prices in Birmingham and around the Gulf Coast skyrocketed Friday as panic-buying tied to Hurricane Ike caused lines at some service stations and voluntary rationing by one major retailer.
Prices jumped as much as 14 percent in hours, as many gas stations that were charging about $3.50 a gallon Thursday charged $3.99 a gallon by Friday afternoon. In some areas, prices jumped above $4.50 a gallon.
http://www.alabamagasprices.com/news/Stiff_penalties_for_gas_gouging_during_Hurricane_Ike/8664_325966/index.aspx "Fearing the worst, drivers flocked"
and "Gas Hoarding Drains Pumps" says it all.
http://www.wkrg.com/hurricane/article/hoarding_gas_in_south_alabama/17370/P10/
I was one of the unfortunates who actually NEEDED gas after work on Friday. I had to deal with the mad insane rush of frenzied people flocking to the pumps to fill up because their co-workers and family members and friends and they have all been in a state of panic because they think we're going to run out of gas because it can't be delivered due to it not being able to arrive because of the hurricane. (yikes, that was a long sentence.) If I hadn't have filled up, I would have run out of gas mid-day on Saturday, so I HAD to deal with it. I had to sit in a LINE to get gas. By 6:00 PM, the only gas available was the highest grade. I was actually pretty lucky because it was "only" $3.78 per gallon (their pre-frenzy price was $3.54 per gallon for the low grade, the cheapest in the general area I had seen). Many gas stations had already upped their prices by that time of the day to help offset the frenzy a bit.
I'm just mad that I had to be a part of it. A lot of people actually left work to fill up on Friday so they could avoid higher prices later. I just wanted to have a friggin' bit of gas so I could go places on the weekend.
Here's a neat little website to find the local gas prices.
http://gasnearu.com/zipcode_35244
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Update: 09-19-08
Yep, Friday they were out of stuff STILL.
