If you've ever bought a toy for a child, chances are it was from Fisher-Price or Mattel. You may not be aware of a massive recall of many popular toys in 2007 due to lead paint. I wasn't, and was shocked to see which toys were part of this recall. This has now turned into a class action lawsuit, which Mattel is settling. To see exactly which toys are in this recall, what dates are affected and what to do about it, visit the Mattel Settlement website. Think this isn't a big deal? I'd like to share just some of the character series involved:
Dora the Explorer
Diego (Go Diego Go!)
Sesame Street
Blues Clues
Geo Trax
Barbie
Polly Pocket
Batman
and MORE
My daughter is a huge Dora/Diego fan. I literally rummaged through her toy box last night, pulling out toy after toy affected in this recall. Maybe you're the type that don't like to participate in class action lawsuits. I'm not either, but PLEASE at least view the affected toys so you can GET RID OF THEM. A great number of these toys cater to small children, who stick everything in their mouths. My daughter was tested for lead levels a few years ago, and I was shocked when the results said her levels were high. We combed through our house thinking it could be paint in the house or something. Now that I've read this it makes me think otherwise.
PLEASE don't brush this aside. Please look at the affects of lead poisoning. Considering young children are at high risk, and the fact that MANY of these toys are for this very age group is scary!
Friday, April 16, 2010
Tuesday, March 2, 2010
Governmental Irony
The Postal Service is losing money at an enormous rate. The Wall Street Journal reported on it today in this article. Now there are many reasons for this, but I figure if they stopped advertising on TV, they may be able to save a couple of bucks.
A few moments ago, there was a knock at my front door. It was a representative from the census bureau, handing me our census form. The government paid someone to personally hand me my census form. It comes with a postage paid return envelope. Now I'm not complaining, the way I figure it there would be some people who wouldn't return it based on that. But to send it out? Wouldn't it cost less to send it in the mail?
A few moments ago, there was a knock at my front door. It was a representative from the census bureau, handing me our census form. The government paid someone to personally hand me my census form. It comes with a postage paid return envelope. Now I'm not complaining, the way I figure it there would be some people who wouldn't return it based on that. But to send it out? Wouldn't it cost less to send it in the mail?
Wednesday, February 24, 2010
Puppies
Meet Justice. At just 10 weeks old, he's a ball of cuteness, energy and trouble. When we went to look at the entire litter, this little guy was a standout. He was alert, curious and playful. The owner was trying to help by removing any of the pups that weren't on my short-list. So while he was picking up the others to bring back to their pen, Justice stood at attention and watched. As soon as his back was turned Justice flipped around and aimed for some packaging that contained food. This guy's a thinker, I thought and that sealed the deal.
He was really great in the car. Divine held him in the backseat with a pad covering her lap while I drove to pick hubby up from work. It was working well until he got car sick on her arm. I have to say Divine was wonderful about it. Despite the stench emanating from the backseat, she remained calm, petting him saying "it's alright, sweetie...it's okay..." while the cold wind blew through the car to air it out. Thank goodness for pet stores! We ducked inside so she could wash off the best she could. The kids thoroughly enjoyed parading their new puppy around the store, lapping up all the oohs and aahs from passers by. Since we had planned on getting a puppy we had all the necessary supplies, but couldn't resist getting a few toys for him.
Hubby was very happy with my choice. My cats weren't nearly as thrilled, hissing and running off as soon as we came into the house. LOL!
Thursday, February 11, 2010
2010 Snowstorm
So the 2nd snowstorm in a week's time is finally over. The cleanup is just beginning! I thought I'd share some of the pictures.
To get an idea of how much snow we got, here is a shot of my picnic table. The left side represents how much we have total from both storms, the right is how much we got with this storm alone:
This picture is a measurement of how high the snow pile is left by the plows. It's actually a bit higher than this, but I had trouble stuffing the tape measure down into the snow.
This picture is the best estimate of how much we really got...22 1/2 inches!
After I uploaded these I took a few more which I can share later. I'm just thankful we didn't lose power this round, which is what happened last week! The kids can't wait to get out and play in it!
To get an idea of how much snow we got, here is a shot of my picnic table. The left side represents how much we have total from both storms, the right is how much we got with this storm alone:
This picture is a measurement of how high the snow pile is left by the plows. It's actually a bit higher than this, but I had trouble stuffing the tape measure down into the snow.
This picture is the best estimate of how much we really got...22 1/2 inches!After I uploaded these I took a few more which I can share later. I'm just thankful we didn't lose power this round, which is what happened last week! The kids can't wait to get out and play in it!
Wednesday, September 9, 2009
Bread Farts
So this weekend I was cleaning out the fridge. Not my favorite job, but it was pretty bare and hubby decided to do the grocery shopping. His mantra is 'he who shops decides what we eat.' Since I don't feel like dragging the monsters three with me, he can do it. As usual, my mini crowd congregates while I'm elbow deep in suds cleaning the various parts and drawers. My oldest holds up my container of yeast and asks what it is.
"It's yeast, honey."
"Okay, what does it do?"
"You make bread with it."
She gets a quizzical look on her face and asks how.
"You have to wake them up."
"Like this?" violently shaking the container.
"No, honey. You have to put some in warm water to wake them up. Then you use it in the dough."
"Okay mom...then what?"
Honestly, I didn't know how to tell her about the science of making bread in a simple way. So I said,
"It farts."
"It FARTS?!?!" (Laughs hysterically)
"Yep. You know those holes in the bread you eat? That's created when the yeast fart."
She gallops off to tell her siblings about this, cracking up. I only hope there's a good amount of time between now and the next time we visit my in-laws. I have a funny feeling this new found science of theirs will come to revisit. You see, my MIL is a lady. And when I mean lady, I mean there's no such thing as a fart in her house. She's informed my children they do not fart, they pass gas.
Not skipping a beat, all three come running back into the kitchen.
Little Man: "Mom, does bread fart?"
Little T: "NO! It PASSES GAS! (doubled over in laughter)
Me: "Yeah, you wait and think about THAT the next time you eat lunch!"
Honestly they seem to be delighted with the idea. My kids are as sick and twisted as I am.
"It's yeast, honey."
"Okay, what does it do?"
"You make bread with it."
She gets a quizzical look on her face and asks how.
"You have to wake them up."
"Like this?" violently shaking the container.
"No, honey. You have to put some in warm water to wake them up. Then you use it in the dough."
"Okay mom...then what?"
Honestly, I didn't know how to tell her about the science of making bread in a simple way. So I said,
"It farts."
"It FARTS?!?!" (Laughs hysterically)
"Yep. You know those holes in the bread you eat? That's created when the yeast fart."
She gallops off to tell her siblings about this, cracking up. I only hope there's a good amount of time between now and the next time we visit my in-laws. I have a funny feeling this new found science of theirs will come to revisit. You see, my MIL is a lady. And when I mean lady, I mean there's no such thing as a fart in her house. She's informed my children they do not fart, they pass gas.
Not skipping a beat, all three come running back into the kitchen.
Little Man: "Mom, does bread fart?"
Little T: "NO! It PASSES GAS! (doubled over in laughter)
Me: "Yeah, you wait and think about THAT the next time you eat lunch!"
Honestly they seem to be delighted with the idea. My kids are as sick and twisted as I am.
Monday, August 3, 2009
The Best of Intentions
Yesterday we went shopping. On one of the endcaps were beach towels on sale, a large stack of them were of the American flag. I looked over at Hubby and said, "There's just something wrong about that." Knowing me as well as he does, I didn't have to explain it. He just nodded with a slight smile and said "yeah". The reference went right over a nearby gentleman though, who got his huff on:
"There's nothing EVER wrong about the American flag!"
Me: "To wipe your wet butt on?"
He drew in his breath to continue on his soapbox, then halted. The mental connection must have clicked as the wind went right out of his sails.
I'm sure the product was made with the best intentions and all, but perhaps they didn't think it through. Maybe that's why they were on sale.
"There's nothing EVER wrong about the American flag!"
Me: "To wipe your wet butt on?"
He drew in his breath to continue on his soapbox, then halted. The mental connection must have clicked as the wind went right out of his sails.
I'm sure the product was made with the best intentions and all, but perhaps they didn't think it through. Maybe that's why they were on sale.
Wednesday, July 29, 2009
I'll Save Me, Thank You! Part 2 of the Obesity debate.
Perhaps you saw my little rant a few months ago on the 'story' that obesity contributes to global warming, or how a New York Congressman wants to ban any fast food restaurant within a 500 feet radius within a school. The first sentence is linked to it if you missed it and care to read it first.
Part two of this rant presented itself just a few weeks later, although it only recently gained more press due to it's relevance to the Healthcare Bill President Obama is attempting to pass. Commonly called the 'soda tax', it would tax "soda, certain fruit drinks, energy drinks, sports drinks and ready-to-drink teas. It would not include most diet beverages," according to the Wall Street Journal. Do you honestly think it will end there?
Recently Alabama was rated as the second most obese state in the nation. In response, all Alabama state employees must pay a 'fat tax', a $25 surcharge on their health insurance. As Fox News reports, "But there's a way to avoid the fee: Get a check-up at an in-office "wellness center," where nurses will check for diabetes and hypertension and measure blood pressure, cholesterol, glucose levels and Body Mass Index (BMI). The idea is to encourage employees to act responsibly, lose weight and lower their health care needs. But critics say it will humiliate and stigmatize obese employees and amounts to nothing short of a "fat tax." Here's the catch: ALL state employees have to pay this tax. The only way to avoid the fee is to go through the humiliating process described above. It's an IN-HOUSE wellness center, which to me equates to being forced to step on a scale in your boss' office. Then the results are sent up to the insurance handlers, who are your co-workers, who then also know your results...private health results they don't deserve, nor should they know. That is something that should be between a patient and their private doctor.
In my view the soda tax simply opens the door to more 'sin' taxes, which are already being considered on the federal level. Right now one could argue the tobacco taxes or an alcohol tax. But what is next? Potato chips? It's just another way to bilk money out of the American public by making it palatable (pardon the pun) to step on others' rights. Proponents say it's designed to discourage 'unhealthy behavior'. Really? I think that's a load of crap. So instead I thought of a better way to handle this problem:
If this administration is so concerned with obesity and the health of Americans, perhaps we should have federally funded gyms. These gyms could have a physician, nurse, nutritionist and personal trainers on staff. They should also have child care available with certified child care providers, so all Americans could take advantage. Think of it: The physician could assess and recommend a work-out regimen for you, who would be in direct communication with your personal trainer. Your personal trainer would be then properly notified of any relevant medical conditions and how that applies to their job. The nurse could assist in this process, as well as be on hand (as would the doctor) if any health emergency or accident occurs at the gym. The nutritionist would also be in direct contact with the physician (having more medical knowlege on each patient) and can council people accordingly. Maybe each gym could have a pool for fitness and hydrotherapy, and on the side have lifeguards who could also be certified to teach swimming to children. There's another safety issue we can address on the national level!
Now I hope you realize I'm not serious, right? The cost alone would be astounding. But with a government that's not afraid to spend obscene amounts of money on rediculous projects with OUR money, is it so far fetched? Spending time on the CAGW (Citizens Against Government Waste) website is enough to make one sick. Government pork isn't the focus of this particular post, but I think the government is more concerned with finding ways to tax us rather than have the actual concern they claim to have for the people they serve. That's obvious by how most, if not all our representatives and senators haven't read the sweeping healthcare bills being proposed. Even Rep. Conyers, the Chairman of the House Judiciary Committee seemed incredulous that we should actually require him to read the bills he votes on: “I love these members that get up and say, ‘read the bill!’ Well, what good is reading the bill if it’s a thousand pages and you don’t have two days and two lawyers to find out what it means after you’ve read the bill?” Oh, and 'The Bill' he's discussing is YOUR HEALTHCARE BILL. Here's a thought, Rep. Conyers! Maybe you should DEMAND TIME TO READ IT. EACH VERSION YOU COULD POTENTIALLY VOTE ON. That is your JOB.
No, instead they seek to blame, tax and humiliate 'fat' or 'obese' people as a social ill, and acting as if taking this action will save us from ourselves. As if we needed to be saved by the almighty government. No, it's just another handy scapegoat the government uses to justify taking more money out of our pockets.
Part two of this rant presented itself just a few weeks later, although it only recently gained more press due to it's relevance to the Healthcare Bill President Obama is attempting to pass. Commonly called the 'soda tax', it would tax "soda, certain fruit drinks, energy drinks, sports drinks and ready-to-drink teas. It would not include most diet beverages," according to the Wall Street Journal. Do you honestly think it will end there?
Recently Alabama was rated as the second most obese state in the nation. In response, all Alabama state employees must pay a 'fat tax', a $25 surcharge on their health insurance. As Fox News reports, "But there's a way to avoid the fee: Get a check-up at an in-office "wellness center," where nurses will check for diabetes and hypertension and measure blood pressure, cholesterol, glucose levels and Body Mass Index (BMI). The idea is to encourage employees to act responsibly, lose weight and lower their health care needs. But critics say it will humiliate and stigmatize obese employees and amounts to nothing short of a "fat tax." Here's the catch: ALL state employees have to pay this tax. The only way to avoid the fee is to go through the humiliating process described above. It's an IN-HOUSE wellness center, which to me equates to being forced to step on a scale in your boss' office. Then the results are sent up to the insurance handlers, who are your co-workers, who then also know your results...private health results they don't deserve, nor should they know. That is something that should be between a patient and their private doctor.
In my view the soda tax simply opens the door to more 'sin' taxes, which are already being considered on the federal level. Right now one could argue the tobacco taxes or an alcohol tax. But what is next? Potato chips? It's just another way to bilk money out of the American public by making it palatable (pardon the pun) to step on others' rights. Proponents say it's designed to discourage 'unhealthy behavior'. Really? I think that's a load of crap. So instead I thought of a better way to handle this problem:
If this administration is so concerned with obesity and the health of Americans, perhaps we should have federally funded gyms. These gyms could have a physician, nurse, nutritionist and personal trainers on staff. They should also have child care available with certified child care providers, so all Americans could take advantage. Think of it: The physician could assess and recommend a work-out regimen for you, who would be in direct communication with your personal trainer. Your personal trainer would be then properly notified of any relevant medical conditions and how that applies to their job. The nurse could assist in this process, as well as be on hand (as would the doctor) if any health emergency or accident occurs at the gym. The nutritionist would also be in direct contact with the physician (having more medical knowlege on each patient) and can council people accordingly. Maybe each gym could have a pool for fitness and hydrotherapy, and on the side have lifeguards who could also be certified to teach swimming to children. There's another safety issue we can address on the national level!
Now I hope you realize I'm not serious, right? The cost alone would be astounding. But with a government that's not afraid to spend obscene amounts of money on rediculous projects with OUR money, is it so far fetched? Spending time on the CAGW (Citizens Against Government Waste) website is enough to make one sick. Government pork isn't the focus of this particular post, but I think the government is more concerned with finding ways to tax us rather than have the actual concern they claim to have for the people they serve. That's obvious by how most, if not all our representatives and senators haven't read the sweeping healthcare bills being proposed. Even Rep. Conyers, the Chairman of the House Judiciary Committee seemed incredulous that we should actually require him to read the bills he votes on: “I love these members that get up and say, ‘read the bill!’ Well, what good is reading the bill if it’s a thousand pages and you don’t have two days and two lawyers to find out what it means after you’ve read the bill?” Oh, and 'The Bill' he's discussing is YOUR HEALTHCARE BILL. Here's a thought, Rep. Conyers! Maybe you should DEMAND TIME TO READ IT. EACH VERSION YOU COULD POTENTIALLY VOTE ON. That is your JOB.
No, instead they seek to blame, tax and humiliate 'fat' or 'obese' people as a social ill, and acting as if taking this action will save us from ourselves. As if we needed to be saved by the almighty government. No, it's just another handy scapegoat the government uses to justify taking more money out of our pockets.
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