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7:15 AM | link
Particularly relevant to the future state of our democratic union is research showing that the more time babies spend in front of TV, the less time they spend in one activity which we know is educational--creative play. Losing, or never acquiring, the ability to play may not sound like much until you realize that play is essential not just to learning, but to democracy. It's through playing that children learn skills essential to thriving in, and protecting, a democratic society. Critical thinking, initiative, curiosity, problem solving and creativity are capacities that develop through play, as are the more ephemeral qualities of self-reflection, empathy, and the ability to find meaning in life.
And what do children learn from the more than forty hours a week they spend with a commercially dominated media? They are being taught the corporate values embraced and promulgated by the Bush administration--unthinking brand loyalty, impulse buying, and a belief that consumption is the solution to all ills. Remember, this is the administration that told us to go shopping after the World Trade Center was attacked.
11:22 AM | link
When my neighbor Girl Scout came by today to sell cookies, I was disappointed to see that even after all the negative studies about the effects of trans fats, the cookies still contain partially hydrogenated oils. In addition, they contain high-fructose corn syrup, which has been shown to cause liver damage over time.
Please improve the ingredients of your cookies so that I may continue to support your organization without putting my family's health at risk.
Labels: Health
10:42 PM | link
IF EVERYONE LIVED LIKE YOU, WE WOULD NEED 3.2 PLANETS.Doh.
Labels: Green Living
7:16 AM | link
Today in the House of Representatives, I am introducing the Bring Our Troops Home and Sovereignty of Iraq Restoration Act, a comprehensive legislative proposal to quickly end the occupation of Iraq. It is a broad measure, capturing ideas from military and diplomatic experts and including provisions offered in previous legislative proposals. Specifically, the bill would, among other things:
- Withdraw all U.S. troops and military contractors from Iraq within six months from the date of enactment.
- Accelerate, during the six-month transition, training of a permanent Iraqi police force.
- Prohibit the continued funding, except for the redeployment of troops currently in Iraq, of combat troops to Iraq.
- Prohibit any permanent U.S. military bases in Iraq. (Despite official denials, bases are under construction, including one that includes a miniature golf course and a Pizza Hut).
- Authorize, if requested by the Iraqi government, U.S. support for an international stabilization force, which would stay no longer than two years.
- Prohibit U.S. participation in any long-term Iraqi oil production sharing agreements before the enactment by the Iraqi government of new regulations governing the industry.
- Authorize an array of non-military assistance in Iraq, including reconstruction of a public-health system; destruction of land mines, recovery of ancient relics; and distribution of compensatory damages for civilian casualties.
- Honor the sacrifice of our servicemen and women by providing full funding for every health-care treatment, and benefit that they are entitled to under current law.
6:41 PM | link
Another world is not only possible, she is on her way. On a quiet day, I can hear her breathing.
7:18 AM | link
Something more subtle -- and intriguing -- also seems to happen when people of color join groups that were formerly all white: The entire group starts to think in new ways. Minorities, in other words, not only bring new perspectives to the table but also seem to catalyze new thinking among others.
Tufts University psychologist Sam Sommers recently created mock juries -- either all white or diverse -- with volunteers from the public. He then provided the groups with ambiguous information about a crime involving a sexual assault and a black defendant. Sommers asked his "jurors" to judge whether the defendant was guilty.
About a third of whites in juries that were diverse thought the defendant was guilty, while 50 percent of the jurors in all-white groups reached that conclusion. What was really interesting, however, is that Sommers had people draw their conclusions before the groups had any discussions. The mere presence of people of color in the diverse groups caused whites to think differently about the case.
1:34 AM | link
Labels: Books
6:41 AM | link
Britain will cut troop levels in Iraq by almost 3,000 at the end of May, the Daily Telegraph reported on Thursday, citing a timetable for withdrawal the newspaper said it had seen. Within the next two weeks, Prime Minister Tony Blair would announce the reduction to Britain's 7,200-strong force based in the south of the war-ravaged country, it said.Know what I say? Hell NO.
6:51 AM | link
9:09 AM | link
And here's something you can try. Over the weekend, go to AEI's web site, aei.org. Read their Iraq proposal carefully. And then next week, when the President comes out to announce his new Iraq strategy, compare and contrast. And don't be surprised if they look a lot alike.So to save you all some time, I read through the executive summary of the report myself. Here's an executive summary of the executive summary—their words, not mine:
8:18 PM | link
The president of the United States does not have the sense God gave a duck—so it’s up to us. You and me, Bubba.So. What will we do? We obviously need some new ideas. So here's my best crack at it for right now. Please respond with your ideas!
I don’t know why Bush is just standing there like a frozen rabbit, but it’s time we found out. The fact is we have to do something about it. This country is being torn apart by an evil and unnecessary war, and it has to be stopped now.
7:01 PM | link