PBMom's Blog

Today on the 5:00-5:30 p.m. segment, the topic of Your Family Matters will be the economy.  How do you talk to your kids about money during such hard economic times.

For every struggle with Patrick's disability, there is also a plus side.  I don't think he will ever understand the concept of money.  His world is about going to school, learning, watching Winnie the Pooh and still letting me tickle him (although I'm sure that will is likely out the door next since he is about to turn 13).  He knows there will be food on the table when he asks and milk when he asks for a drink.  He knows there will always be a roof over his head. 

While people are wondering how they are going to afford 4 years of college for their child, I have to come up with a plan on how do I afford the money in care that is about the costs of an Ivy League college tuitition for all the years, each year, of his natural life?  And if McCain becomes president, he has promised to slash Medicare/Medicaid by 1.6 trillion and also cut social security.  The money we had invested to try to cover these expenses has likely dropped significantly in the past few weeks and it might take 5 years to recover that money.  There is still a significant amount of fraud and misuse of Medicare/Medicaid that could be fixed and eliminated that could lead to a great amount of savings without hurting people, our elderly, people with disabilities that cannot work, etc.  Some parents of special needs kids could be asked to serve on a panel to help the federal government identify such areas. 

How is the economy having an affect on your family?  How are you explaining what is happening to your children?  Are they modifying their own spending and saving to model ours? 

I want to say that I was never a fan of the bail-out plan. 

Today, when it was revealed that the house approved the bill and attached to this bill was a "mental health parity" bill.  The autism community rejoiced.  I was skeptical.  After seeing the language, this is going to be a disaster.  Here are the details:

1.  Under the bill, if an insurer CHOOSES to provide mental health coverage (I stress the choose part), it must include benefits for ANY mental health condition listed in the latest edition of the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders, published by the American Psychiatric Disorder (Also known as DSM-IV, as it is the fourth edition). 

Yes, autism is in there as are all the variations of the disorder's name as part of the Axis II diagnosis.  Some of the other disorders in this manual:   Breathing related sleep disorder, circadian rhythm sleep disorder, adjustment disorder, exhibitionism and feitishism among other sexual disorders, impulse control disorder not otherwise specified, histrionic personality disorder, hypochondriasis, intermittent explosive disorder, kleptomania, narcissistic personality disorder (would someone with this actually think they needed treatment?), pedophilia, pyromania.  The NY Times article also listed "caffeine intoxication" and sleep disorders resulting from jet lag. 

The Congressional Budget Office estimated that a  previous version of the House bill would increase premiums by four tenths of 1 percent.  I'm not sure I buy that amount.

It's an "all or nothing" approach.  You have to cover them all, or the employer can choose to not provide mental health benefits.  If I'm a business with 60 employees and the premium goes up to a point where my business will fold if I keep the mental health benefits, even the most humanitarian-minded employer will say, do I drop the mental health benefits or keep 60 people employed?  Which does the greater good?  Right now, keeping 60 people employed without mental health benefits at all would be the greater good.

2.  Employers with 50 or less employees would be exempt from this legislation and individual policies would be exempt.  I believe that is going to exempt most businesses.  But if they are providing mental health benefits now, they will also have to pay for them all or drop their coverage. 

3.  Insurers could still deny coverage if they found that a service was not medically necessary.  If someone tried to submit a claim for applied behavior analysis, the insurance company could say it was not medically necessary.  We're in the same boat now anyway.  How many people file a claim with their insurance company who get an automatic rejection saying it wasn't medically necessary and then they have to jump through hoops to get documentation to say it is and have it reviewed.  That is standard practice of insurance companies.

4.  Who was supporting this bill?  "Consumer groups and the American Psychiatric Association."  Wow.  Big surprise there.  This bill will increase business for them.  Increased business to them means more prescription drugs being prescribed and the benefactor of that will be Big Pharma.  Big Pharma owns many doctors, including doctors with the American Psychiatric Association, as well as many politicians. 

The best case scenario is that the premiums don't increase that much and if the employer has to they can pass these costs directly to their employees and the business doesn't lose out.  I see this as a disaster in progress.  I hope I am proven wrong.

VoteVets.Org had plenty to say about John McCain after the debate.   But first, who might want to know who VoteVets.org is.  From their website:

The mission of VoteVets.org Political Action Committee is to elect Veterans of the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan to public office; hold public officials accountable for their words and actions that impact America’s 21st century servicemembers; and fully support our men and women in uniform.

A political action committee (PAC), VoteVets.org was founded in January 2006 by Iraq war Veterans Jon Soltz and Jeremy Broussard. Since its inception, VoteVets.org PAC has endorsed eight candidates for office – both Democratic and Republican. Additionally, VoteVets.org PAC held 11 Members of Congress accountable in 2006 for failing to provide body armor and healthcare to active servicemembers.

VoteVets.org PAC has three primary goals:

• Elect Iraq and Afghanistan Veterans to public office – regardless of party. The war in Iraq is the number one issue facing the nation, and these 21st century patriots are the only ones with personal experience in America’s most recent conflicts. Theirs is a voice desperately needed in the debate.
• Oppose public officials who have failed our troops, Veterans, and nation on matters regarding the war and Veterans’ issues.
• VoteVets.org PAC is building an organization to fight for Veterans in the future.

You have to get past the first part of the Rachel Maddow part of her talking, but eventually Jon Soltz comes on.  I think it is important to know that while John McCain says he loves vets and he will take care of vets, some vets don't believe that has been the case. 

And I pre-acknowledge this comes from what people call liberal media, but this is a veteran of our country and deserves equal time.

Taking on a challenge from the right wing people who continue to claim that Obama has done nothing while in office, and produce for them just one thing that he did, I thought I would let you know of things that were of interest to the disability community and where the candidates stood on the issue:

Community Choice Act of 2007 to provide equal access and resources for community services for persons eligible for institutional care but who choose to remain in their homes and communities.   McCain:   Opposed   Obama:  Co-Sponsored

Community Living Assistance Services and Supports (CLASS) Act of 2007 to create a national insurance program to be financed by voluntary payroll deductions to provide cash benefits to adults who become disabled.  McCain:  No position  Obama:  Co-Sponsored.

Expansion of the State Children's Health Insurance Program (SCHIP) to increase access to health care for uninsured children living in households earning up to 3 times the federal poverty level.   McCain:  Voted No.   Obama:  Voted Yes

Ending the Medicare Waitiing Period (S.2102) to eliminate the 2-year wait for Medicare coverage for persons who become disabled and qualify for Social Security Disability Insurance.  McCain:  No position.   Obama:  Co-Sponsor

Mental Health Parity Act of 2007 (S. 558) to require that health plans that provide medical and mental health coverage insure that mental health benefits are no more restrictive in deductibles or co-pays and no more limited in frequency or duration of services than medical benefits.  McCain:  No position.  Obama:  Co-Sponsor

Combating Autism Act of 2006 to require Secretary of Health and Human Services to develop and implement a strategic plan for research, screening, intervention, and education.   Both McCain and Obama:  Co-Sponsor

Expanding the Promise to Individuals with Autism Act of 2007 to expand treatment, intervention, and support services for individuals and families to carry out research and demonstration programs, to expand training of professionals and to support protection, advocacy, and legal services.  McCain:  No position.  Obama:  Co-Sponsor

Fully funding through appropriations the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act to provide the 40% federal support for free and appropriate education for students with disabilities as authorized in the original legislation.  Both candidates:  Support

Higher Education Act (S. 1642) to expand opportunities and assistance to individuals with disabilities on postsecondary and higher education.  McCain:  No vote.  Obama:  Co-sponsored.

Americans with Disabilities Restoration Act to revise ADA's definitions of disability to extend protections beyond restrictions imposed in recent Supreme Court rulings, especially for people whose impairments are fully or partially managed by medications or assistive devices:  Both candidates:  Support

Help America Vote Act to ensure that all polling places and voting areas are physically accessible to persons with disabilities, that voting ballots and voting procedures are accessible, including nonvisual accessibility for persons with visual impairments and that election officials and poll workers are trained in promoting access and participation of persons with disabilities.  Both candidates:  Voted For

UN Convention on Rights of Persons with Disabilities to include the US in an international treaty recognizing human rights for persons with disabilities consistent with principles of dignity and freedom, nondiscrimination, full participation, equality of opportunity, accessibility, gender equality and the right and capacity of children to develop.  McCain:  No position.  Obama:  Supports US ratification.

Don't have a lot of time; still trying to play catch up with all my things going on since I was down for 6 days with no power, but this was posted on one of the autism listservers I subscribe to and found it pretty funny so I thought I'd share. 

"Opening up the health insurance market to more vigorous nationwide competition, as we have done over the last decade in banking, would provide more choices of innovative products less burdened by the worst excesses of state-based regulation."

John McCain in the September/October issue of Contingencies, published by the American Academy of Actuaries

http://www.contingencies.org/septoct08/mccain.pdfa>

Yes, brought to you by the liberal media in only the way Jon Stewart can.  So funny.  Enjoy. 

Before you say anything, yes, this is from the liberal media, but only Jon Stewart's staff can put these wonderful clips together of people doing the Texas Two-Step.  The bits about Karl Rove and Bill O'Reilly at the beginning are the best ones. 

Some say that having a certain breed of dog says something about you.  I know a few of the dog breeds we have among us in blogger world, and this list I have encompasses 50 breeds (unfortunately no mutts on the list).  So let me post the four I know about and then I thought it would be fun, and a breath of fresh air from the hot political fire out there, if you want to know what the breed says about you.  So here are the four I know about....

1.  Golden retrievers (me and chatter 9ep).  Golden retriever owners are generally laid back people who love the outdoors.  They enjoy spending time with their friends and family and many have jobs where they help people.  Most also devote some of their free time to volunteering and frequently donate to various charities.  Some can be a little too trusting.  Favorite TV Show:  None.  They would rather be socializing. 

Okay, some of that is true.  I love the outdoors when the temperatures are modest to cool.  I still haven't adapted to the Texas heat 26 years later. 

2.  German shepherd:  Owners are often serious people that tend to be a little shy around strangers.  People that don't know them may consider them to be aloof.  But once you get to know them, they have hearts of gold and will do anything for their friends.  They can be fiercely loyal and enjoy helping people.  They always want to do what is right, morally and ethically.  Favorite TV show:  NYPD Blue.

3.  Dachshunds:  Dachshund owners love people and good parties.  They can be somewhat stubborn.  When they want something, they don't give up until they get it.  These people love gardening, especially digging up things.  Favorite TV Show:  Ground Froce.

4.  Siberian Husky:  Husky owners are busy people struggling to keep their family, work, and home lives all together.  They are kind hearted people that will do anything to help someone in need.  They love sports, especially cold weather sports.  They tend to not like the dentist or doctor too much and avoid going unless absolutely necessary.  When they are sick, they like to have others around to take care of them.  Favorite TV show:  Northern Exposure.

So what other breeds do we have out here in blogger/chatter world?

Video speaks a thousand words....

I need a break from politics to expand on the report that came out earlier this week about cholesterol-lowering medications being linked to cancer.   I love how mainstream America catches up over 10 years after the fact.  There are so many reasons not to take cholesterol-lowering medications.   Consider this:

Use of statin-type drugs rose by 156% between 2000 and 2005, rising from 15.8 milion people to 29.7 million people.  Spending on the drugs jumped from $7.7 billion to $19.7 billion annually over the same time period.  Here is where the corrupted government "health guidelines" and the pharmaceutical companies profits go hand in hand.  In 2004, the US government's National Cholesterol Education Program panel advised those at risk for heart disease to reduce their LDL cholesterol to very, very low levels.  Before 2004, 130 mg LDL cholesterol level was considered healthy.  The updated guidelines, however, recommended levels less than 100, or even less than 70 for patients at very high risk.  In order to achieve these outrageous and dangerously low targets, you generally have to take not just one but multiple cholesterol-lowering drugs in combination.  The guidelines had a direct increase in the sales of these drugs.  Eight of the nine doctors on the panel were, in fact, making money from the cholesterol-lowering drugs they were pushing. 

Yes, they do have the ability of lowering cholesterol levels by 50 points or more, but people can achieve the same results with diet and exercise.  The possible consequences of taking these drugs long term far outweigh the benefits.  Some consequences of taking statins in strong doses or for a lengthy period of time include:

Depression of mental acuity (Researchers at University of Pittsburg told a meeting of the American Heart Association in Orlando on November 11 that patients whose cholesterol had been lowered with Lovastatin paid less attention and had delayed psychomotor reflexes.   The lower the cholesterol level, the worse off the impairment. 

Anemia

Acidosis

Frequent fevers (basically decreases your immune function)

Cataracts

The most common side effect is muscle pain and weakness because statins deplete Co-Q10, a nutrient that supports muscle function, something your doctor probably never told you.  Labeling in Canada, however, clearly warns of CoQ10 depletion.  The breakdown of skeletal muscle tissue can in turn also lead to kidney failure.  The industry insists that only 2-3% of patients get muscle aches and cramps, but according to one study, 98% of patients taking Lipitor and one-third of the patients taking Mevacor suffered from muscle problems.  Active patients actually did less well on these than sedentary people. 

Regarding the cancer risk, in the Journal of the American Medical Association in 1996 (JAMA 1996 Jan 3:275:55-60)  said this, "All members of two most popular classes of lipid-lowering drugs (the fibrates and the statins) cause cancer in rodents, in some cases at levels of animal exposure close to those prescribed in humans...Longer-term clinical trials and careful postmarketing surveillance during the next several decades are needed to determine whether cholesterol-lowering drugs cause cancer in humans.  In the meantime, the results of experiments in animals and humans suggest that lipid-lowering drug treatment, especially with the fibrates and the statins, should be avoided except in patients at high short-term risk of coronary heart disease."

This is further supported by a British study (Br J Cancer 2000:Oct:83-887-891). 

Having too low of a cholesterol level is also not good.  The general consensus in alternative medicine is not to go under 150.  Studies have shown that male psychiatric patients with low cholesterol (below 160 mg/dl) are twice as likely to attempt suicide, and elderly men with low cholesterol are three times as likely to be depressed.  The reason:  It affects serotonin levels. 

Personally, although I have problems with weight that have to do with insulin-resistance and stress, my cholesterol and triglyceride levels are normal.  My triglyceride level was not always normal.  Once I limited my carb intake to below 20 gm per day, my triglyceride level dropped 50 points (and I also lost 30 pounds). 

People in traditional medicine will tell you that eggs are bad.  You can actually eat a dozen eggs per week because it is a high-quality protein and it will not affect your cholesterol levels.  Recently published information this week said that eating two eggs for breakfast as part of a reduced-calorie diet helped overweight adults lose more weight and feel more energetic than those who ate a bagel breakfast of equal calories.  That actually has to do with leptin levels.  Proteins are more filling foods and should ideally be eaten at every meal.

So what can you do to lower your cholesterol naturally?

Make sure you're getting plenty of high-quality animal-based omega3 fats.

Reduce with the plan of eliminating, grains and sugars in your daily diet

Eat the right foods based on your nutritional type

Eat a good portion of your food raw

Right amount of exercise.

Avoid smoking and drinking alcohol excessively

Stress management

If all else fails (if you can't exercise regularly, stay away from sugars or eating right for your nutritional type), try hypnosis. 

The best arsenal you have is to be informed and just don't leave your health education to doctors anymore.  Too many have been compromised.   Others are overwhelmed with the amount of information out there that they often just believe the drug reps that come in and give them talking points.  Take charge of your health.

Let the interview go to about 2:57 when she asks the interviewer, what exactly does a VP do?  May I suggest to the potential commander-in-chief a Wikipedia.....

What also worries me is some things she thinks is true, like the founding fathers created the Pledge of Allegience. 

She does seem to have things in common with the current administration.  She can shoot a gun like Cheney (hope she hasn't shot her friend in the face), and she apparently removes people from office if they don't share similar beliefs as her, like the attorney general scandal.  She also was originally backing the "Bridge To Nowhere" before she was against it. 

http://www.usatoday.com/news/politics/election2008/
2008-08-31-palin-bridge_N.htm

Although she says she is against earmarks, she apparently didn't mind when they were for her own town.  According to this article:

"And as mayor of the small town of Wasilla from 1996 to 2002, Palin also hired a Washington lobbying firm that helped secure $8 million in congressionally directed spending projects, known as earmarks, according to public spending records compiled by the watchdog group Citizens Against Government Waste and lobbying documents.

Wasilla's lobbying firm was headed by Steven Silver — a former chief of staff to Alaska Sen. Ted Stevens, a key proponent of the bridge project."

It has also been alleged that she was a member of the Alaskan Independence Party; her name is mentioned as being a member during one of their meetings.  The AIP wants to become an independent state, much like some people in Texas want Texas to leave the United States.  But I guess it is okay now that she has been nominated to the position for which she doesn't know the job description.

And all the people on the right are going to hear is, "No abortion for any reason."  When will the conservative right quit being used as a political tool to get their votes and then be discarded?  I've heard every politician in the Republican party use it as a tool to get votes and then once in office, then hush-hush it under the table.  What makes you think it is any different this year?  You are being used once again.  Please wake-up. 

The FBI admitted this woman was not vetted until the Wednesday of the Democratic Convention.  You really want a president that makes a very, very important decision about who his running mate will be that quickly?  You really think this person was the "best person for the job?"  I sure hope nothing happens to McCain if he becomes president because the thought of someone who doesn't know what the VP does scares me more than Cheney does.  And note to the Republican party:  I don't vote based on my genitalia.  And as Hillary Clinton so eloquently stated last week, if you voted for her just because she was female, then they missed the point. 

The official nonofficial blogger/chatter picnic has been chosen to be on Saturday, October 11.  The time and place are up for a vote.  For Kemah, everyone is responsible for their own food, drink, and, in the Kemah case, rides and possibly parking.  In the case of Discovery Green, I figured we can bring a treat to share (homebaked or packaged).  But main meal (lunch) and drinks you can buy on-site or bring in the form of a picnic.  They do not allow outside alcoholic drinks, but you can buy alcoholic drinks on the premises. 

There will be no rain date. 

I would prefer 1:00-3:00 wherever we go, just because I work so late the night before.

The two places:

Discovery Green Downtown or Kemah Boardwalk

The time couldn't be any earlier if you want me to be there; but later would be okay. 

Pros and cons to both

Discovery Green is downtown, giving everyone an equal opportunity to attend.  It has nice picnic areas, but not tables you can push together.  The seats at the restaurants outside can only be used if you are buying food.  You can bring your own seating, your own picnic items,   Parking is $10.00.  There is a large kid play set right next to the picnic grounds.  Clean bathrooms (at least the day we were there).  The map on line is not as big as the park looks.  You can bring your own food, but no alcoholic beverages.  You can bring your dogs (they have a dog park).

Kemah is closer for some, farther for others.  We would meet in the area where the Boardwalk Inn is, outside on the boardwalk near the tables.  The rules from Kemah's website say that no food or drink can be brought in (you must purchase on site), and no pets.  They have rides but that is something you would have to pay yourself to go on.  I don't know if parking is free or you have to pay.  They are having Halloween type festivities for the kiddos in the month of October.  Kemah does not allow tailgating parties either. 

Please remember that this is NOT an official Fox 26 gathering and just a bunch of us getting together to meet each other.  Nametags will be given so we can identify you of your chatter/blogger name and at least your first real name.   Sometimes we are surprised by some of the Fox 26 people, but the main reason for the event is to get to know each other.  I also intend to invite the Your Family Matters ladies. 

Troublemakers are not welcome and you aren't going to spoil our get-togethers with any threats.  So give it up now.  There is a new planner in town. 

So the question is:  Kemah or Discovery Green and does 1:00-3:00 sound good?

If you don't have the 6 hours to spend listening to the Senate Committee Hearing on Education from August 18, then he is a 6-minute take of what it sounded like, English parody style.

This Thursday's topic on the Your Family Matters segment was about homework.  Too much, not enough, or just right? 

At the center of the matter was the Spring Branch School Board is ordering a committee to review the district's homework policy to make sure students are benefitting rather than burning out from homework. 

We had the lovely Melissa, Laura and Carolyn weighing in on the issue.  

Here's my take on the issue.   And I don't expect this to be popular.

The Texas education model is one of the worst in the nation.  For people who have moved here from other states with better educational models, you know this.  For people who have never been out of this state, you have nothing to compare it to so you don't know any better and that's okay.  Senator Shapiro herself said in the August 18, 2008 Senate Committee on Education (which you can listen to on-line) that Texas is "the laughing stock" of the nation.  Indeed Texas is.

And when I share this with people, I get the  very intelligent reply (sarcasm here), "So move."  Yep, you are proving my point.  No, I will stay and I will fight for a better education for all our children, and maybe even you.  

Texas is on the "Needs Intervention" list for No Child Left Behind in 2007 yet we seem to be returning money to the federal government for No Child Left Behind, in fact $11.5 million in 2004.  We have a drop-out rate nearing 50%.  Our educational requirements do not match states like New York or Massachusetts.  Massachusetts scores the highest on national testing.  Instead of bringing up the standards, states like Mississippi is making their state testing easier to make it appear as if they are doing a better job, but we join Mississippi in the few states that "needs intervention." 

You cannot fix the homework issue until you fix the roots of the tree.  The homework issue is a branch on that tree.  You must heal the disease in the roots. 

Let's start with TEA.  They have to go.  They are being investigated for criminal activity for the moment.  They are in bed with lobbyists and lawyers that give business to each other.   Many students who are "bored" in school likely would test for gifted and talented programs, but just as with special  education, gifted and talented programs are being underfunded.  The problem is much deeper than this blog will allow, but it's a start.

Let's go next to the school boards.  Most of them are politicians who hope to leap-start their career.  Hardly anybody votes in school board elections or school bond elections.  The "I'll scratch your back if you scratch mine" starts here. 

Superintendents and upper management make far too much money and get far too many perks.  The superintendent of Conroe ISD with maybe 46,000+ students makes more than the annual salary of the Vice-President of the United States.   Granted once out of office, the VP makes far much more money and a lifetime of perks, but let's just make a direct salary-to-salary comparison.  

Our teachers.  While we have many, many hardworking good teachers, they are far too many who can't even pass the tests for the areas they are teaching.  We need to offer higher salaries to attract more intelligent people to want to teach and let go of these people who cannot pass their own tests in their own areas.  We also need to make teaching about teaching again and not about politics.  So many teachers get burned out on the politics that our educational instutitions have become. 

Our parents:  You need to take some responsibility here.  You are the first and best teachers for our kids.  If you don't or didn't do your job, don't expect the school to be the sole responsible institution for your child's education.  School is a part of the team but YOU are the captain of that team. 

Our curriculum:  We need to look to the states that have better programs, like Massachusetts, who recently received a grade of A, one of the few in the nation.  Or let's look into Japan.  Japan has an excellent curriculum and they do not assign homework.  Blogger Chassan shared that there is a school in Houston who has an afterschool program for homework help and those children in that program have a high percentage of graduation and going on to college.  Let's look at these curriculums and be open to new ideas.  What we have is not nearly adequate enough to help our children. 

Our education is our foundation for our country.  If we do not adequately educate our children, how can we expect them to inherit the problems we face in the 21st century and beyond?  Employers are saying they have to hire outside the country for positions that require a higher skill level because American is not producing these individuals. 

My son, as you know, has multiple disabilities.  His "homework" begins from the moment he wakes up until the moment he goes to bed. 

But I have wonderful memories as a student.  In elementary school, there was a group of 8 of us within the regular classroom who were allowed to work at our own pace and there was fierce competition between us about who could get the farthest the fastest and the most accurate.  It helped launch me two maths levels above my grade.  They recognized they had a group of kids who could self-teach with some mentoring. 

But let me share with you all this.  From a student point of view, I was in accelerated/AP courses in the state of New York, a state known for its outstanding educational experience, 10th in my class of 1000 in junior year, 2nd in my class in Florida when I graduated.  I had hours upon hours of homework to do.  None of my teachers coordinated anything about homework.  In junior year, in one particular semester, I got scheduled double English classes.  My schedule looked something like this:   Fantasy (with the hardest English teacher our school had who rarely gave out A's)/Lyric Writing, Debate, AP American History, French, Chemistry (with the tougher teacher), 12th grade Calculus along with fun classes like PE, Chorus, etc.   All this without the benefit of the internet I must add.  All my research was done in our city's library.  We had our assignments; we were expected to do them and we did them.  I had much more than 2 hours a night on homework in high school; high school is supposed to be like a preparation for college.  I spent most of my weekends on projects and assignments.  I also had enough time to be president of my class, have a part in a play (where we would do our homework together up in the theater until we were needed on stage), was a member of Chorus, among many other things, and had plenty of time to play on Fire Island in the summer.  I always took the latest bus home.  My senior year was going to AP courses across the board. 

In my senior year, we were going to move to Florida and because I was going to be in college-level courses in NY, NY State was going to arrange for me to skip my senior year in Florida and go straight to college in Florida and then once finishing freshman year, I could come back and graduate with my class.  (One other student was doing that, too, actually my prom date).  That is how bad the educational system was in Florida. Something happened (I'll spare you the details), I didn't get to do it, and I remember sitting in the high school counselor's office saying, "Just tell me what I need to get a diploma because everything you have to offer I've already had years ago, so the best thing is for me to just get through this system as quickly as possible."  The administrator said, "I don't like your attitude, young lady."  And I said, "And I don't like that you can't match the education level in New York State."  (Yes, I was an obnoxious teenager).   

I was bored to tears those three months, so much so, that I decided to study on my own and took the full year's courses of Latin, and bookkeeping and accounting, and English, and anatomy/physiology and my teachers graded my work for me in those three months of prison.  I basically was homeschooling myself.  I stopped even showing up.  I'd just do it at home, go to work at my full-time job to pay for the rent of the place I was living (I moved out of my foster home by then) and got my assignments to my teachers to grade.  It had no affect on my grade, but I had to do it in order to keep my sanity.  I could see it now:  I'm an emancipated minor:  To whom it may concern:  Please excuse Hilda from being absent this week, but she can do this better by herself at home, and hold down a full-time job at the same time).  Signed  Hilda It's all about time management.

And our kids need to learn time management.  What might take one child 20 minutes to their homework might take another child 2 hours.  If my child is struggling with something, I'm going to ask that teacher to send home more practice questions.  If my child doesn't have homework assignments, I'm going to take what they are learning now and incorporate those lessons into normal life or make up assignments for them. 

And it is about the people in the state of Texas making a decision that football and cheerleading is not what life is about.  When we are paying a $20,000 stipind to the football coach versus a $3000 stipend to the Debate Coach, we have an unbalanced system.  We need to put the money we spend to build elaborate training and practice facilities into our children's educations. 

So my question is:  How can you fix the branch on the tree (homework) without fixing the disease (the Texas education system)?  Are these numbers acceptable to you?  If not, what are you doing to try to fix that? 

The ratings for Season 5 were up.  It is the fourth highest ratings on the Sci-Fi Channel (Eureka, ECW wrestling, Ghost Hunters rating higher).  But it wasn't enough.  Sci-Fi announced late last week that there would be no Season 6.  MGM will proceed to do a Stargate Atlantis Direct-To-DVD movie that Sci-Fi will air, but depending on that there may or may not be more. 

Who are these Nielsen people who get boxes that determine the fate of some of our best TV shows? 

Then BOOM!  We get hit with more news.  Stargate is going to do a third series, called Stargate Universe.  Hearing the concept at first, it sounded an awfully like Star Trek Voyager.  Apparently it will involve a Stargate that jumps on a preplotted course that they can't change.  It is supposed to appeal to a younger audience.  I hope that doesn't mean they are going to make it sexier.  They are trying to get the edgeyness that Battlestar Galactica had to the Stargate franchise.   I'll probably check it out when it comes out in July 2009. 

I'll still busy trying to save Jericho (and we hear good things that we might get something more--movie format, season 3--who knows.  I'm not so sure I'm going to be writing letters to Sci-Fi to keep playing the show on their channel. 

Upcoming new stories on Sci-Fi will be a spin-off of Battlestar Galactica called Caprica.  Also Amanda Tapping of Stargate SG1 and Stargate Atlantis has created a new show called Sanctuary and that is coming in October. 

What do you think?  Any fans out there.