Sunday, July 28, 2013

One Singular Sensation: Blogophilia 23.6

Bonus Points:
(Hard, 2 pts):   Mention a 17th Century artwork
(Easy, 1 pt):   Incorporate an abandoned boathouse

https://www.facebook.com/notes/marvin-martian/blogophilia-week-236-one-singular-sensation/596098730411348






Plane in the water, wet nose, I think I can...




I was on my way to take a vacation with my family, and we decide to sight see in the pleasant town before we head to the airport.  As we walk past the river, we come across a downed plane, and run into The David, who points out the plane in the park, stating that we need to put your nose to the grind to help everyone get to safety off of the plane in the water.  The task is daunting, and I suggest a round of shots, calling out bottoms up!

As we get people to safety, and perform first aid on those who need it, the coast guard comes to deal with the wreckage.  It was a stressful time, and our savage souls needed some soothing.  Stormy Gail plays some 17th Century baroque music on her stereo.  If I recall, it's Johan Sebastian Bach. 


http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Xq2WTXtKurk

Before you know it, people are singing and dancing.  A relief.  Doris, rejoicing with us, says this is one singular sensation we are feeling, being comrades with perfect strangers, united by an event.

Even if the situation was at it's best, with no major injury or death, I was still disturbed  by the fact that we are now late for our flight, and can't get a refund, with money paid out, and no vacation taken.  Tyler, sensing my disturbed mood, shows me an old abandoned boat house to take refuge in, and I kept thinking about that plane, wondering if it had the engine that could.

To participate, or just curious, please click the link at the top of the blog, to see the rules, and how your creative writing can be entered. It's fun, and you can meet other people with similar and broad interests.

Wednesday, July 24, 2013

Pro-life, pro-choice, or non-sense?

Previous rant(s):  http://likaslaments.blogspot.com/2013/07/gun-rights-vs-gun-conrol-striking.html

It's the trifecta!  And the saga continues again.  Yes, more craziness rants from a mad-woman.  As you may know, I'm a fierce advocate for the abused.  Especially for abused children.  All too often, the parent(s), guardian(s), extended relative(s), etc get a slap on the wrist, because either it's not considered a harsh enough trauma on the child, or that because as a society, we still consider children a property of their parent or legal guardian.  Until that child dies, it's like it doesn't matter if an abusive parent gets 6 months probation, or 10 years for raping 4 children.

A couple of weeks ago, the Governor signed into law the tighter law, that is still not quite as strong as Arizona, but, as for Wisconsin, a much more restrictive anti-abortion law, that all of those who are going to get consult for an abortion would have to be subjugated to a transvaginal ultrasound and the doctors would have to have some sort of right to have hospital rights, or they would have to close down their clinics.  This would affect tons of Planned Parenthood clinics, even those which don't necessarily perform the abortions on site.

Now, don't get me wrong.  I get it.  In a perfect world, there would be no need for an abortion.  At all.  But this is NOT a perfect world.  The real world has a lot of gray, and there may be more than one right answer.  Or, more than one wrong answer.

I don't know how others define anything, but, to give you a clue to how common sense may define things, there are categories.  And there has to be some form of sense.

Pro-abortion:  abortion on demand, no restrictions.  At all.

Pro-choice:  choice for those with special issues such as rape/incest, life/death issues of the mother, and   abuse situations.  Accepts that others will utilize the legality, and should be between them, their doctor and eventually, their maker.  Prefers to have it happen in the 1st trimester.

Pro-life:  No abortion, but will make exception to those who are in need from rape/incest and life/death issues of the mother.

Pro-birth/Anti-choice:  No abortion.  Period.  No exceptions.

I call myself pro-choice.  Because I am.   I've had discussions with some of those radicals, one who insisted that the unborn is a parasite, so abortion should be legal up until birth.  I found that argument quite disturbing, because seriously?  The person made it sound like it's no big deal, and that parasites don't have rights, etc.  I have to disagree, because if a premature baby is born 4 months early, and is healthy, why would one abort at 5 months gestation, knowing that, that unborn is a viable life, that if that were to be born, you'd have a living, breathing baby who is full capable of living outside the womb.  So no, I do not agree with the abortion on demand, w/o any consequence.

On the other hand, those who are pro-birth are NOT making sense with their anti-choice theory.  Because I disagree with these people, and I try to understand where they come from.  But, how do I understand where they come from, when they say that there should be NO choice, because to them, it's murdering a baby.  Hate to tell them.  It's not fully a baby until it's capable of being born and viable.  Before then, it's a fetus.  I get called every name under the clouds, being told that I'm no child advocate, that I'm terrible because I "allow" babies to die.  Or that there are enough medical advances that we don't have to worry about the woman dying so that isn't an issue.  And a rape victim, even with PTSD, should just go get counseling to deal with it and have her baby.  If she really can't deal with it, adopt that baby out.

There are so many flaws with this.  First off, counseling is very expensive.  Sometimes only covered 50%.  It's not like we have money to pay for these services.  and if we don't have insurance?  Then what?  So not only is it the rape victim's problem, but now she can't get help paying for the counseling?  So, it's okay to abuse her, but we better not inflict sex abuse on others?  It's this type of thought that actually helps perpetuate more abuse.  And then who pays for the prenatal care, and the stay in the hospital?  The raped mother to be?  Or do we subjegate her with more trauma to have to see her rapist who pays the bills, because we STILL live in a world where rape is not only under reported, but is also not prosecuted because there is still a LOT of victim blaming.  We still talk about how "anyone can cry rape".  This makes it difficult for rape victims to be believed.  Plus, some women can handle more than others.  No one should have to go through this alone.

How about health issues?  What, so if a woman has ovarian or cervical cancer, and it's in it's aggressive stages, what, that we have enough advancements in medicine?  No.  The very treatment to kill the cancer is the very treatment that will be killing the unborn baby.  Chemo and radiation target fast growing cells.  Embryos, cancerous tumors, fetuses, cells, etc...  the treatment can't really distinguish too much between the two.  All of these are targeted, because they don't know the difference.  Only the difference between normal cells and fast growing cells.  So, if she were to accept the treatment, she'd have to have the abortion, which would be more humane than to burn the unborn up with chemicals like this.  If she doesn't accept it, she may be writing her own death sentence.

When it's an incest issue, there could be congenital problems.  So, if there is such a bad defect that this "baby" could die within hours of birth, what do you do?  Plus, the very people who are supposed to protect you are  the ones hurting you.  Unless you've been victim, you have NO idea how traumatic it is when this type of abuse gets put on you.

In all of these cases, I say it should be up to the mother.  Seriously.  If you can't deal with that, you just might be a misogynist.  Seriously.  For those who say that there should be more abortion on demand, well, you're not the humanitarian as you think.

Now, there are other issues, lets say with those who are so deathly afraid of their dad if they're pregnant, that they either have the abortion or her dad may actually kill her...  Don't dismiss this scenario.  As a former crisis worker at a shelter, I've heard these real life stories.  No.  I can't make this up.

Why am I outraged?  Planned Parenthood tries to educate our young people to practice safe sex.  Yes, they do teach abstinence.  But, if you choose to be sexually active, they give you condoms, both for male and female use.  Or there is The Pill.  Other forms of birth control.  Now, before the far right says people shouldn't have premarital sex, or that birth control is wrong, well, that's not your call to make.  Planned Parenthood will give a ton of education, to try to make sure that you have had all of the other options for you to utilize before you land on abortion.  They KNOW that you are serious.  So, the ultrasound is only going to delay the decision, not keep it within the first trimester.

Or, how about the fact that there are so many conservatives who say that they don't want to pay for welfare, yet say that these people should not have abortions?  And what if they get pregnant?  Are you saying they should starve?  Hmm.  Well, it's not anyone's business.  It's one of those deals that is a civil rights issue.  Even poor people have the right to at least have one child.  So you're going to tell a married couple NOT to have sex?  No birth control?  Ridiculous.

Anyway.  Here it is again.  We.  Need.  Employment.  Without that, violent crime such as rape and domestic violence will be at an all time high, with no place for the victim to go to.  Violent crimes cause death.  And when we can't take care of the ones that are here, why are we going to talk about abortions not being legal?  So let these babies be born, just to end up being starved and neglected to death or to be abused to the point of permanent damage?  And if you think that neglect is not so bad, think about the scene in The Breakfast Club, where Ally Sheedy's character says she's ignored by her parents...  Yeah.  It's that hurtful.

I don't want to argue.  You are free to state your case.  If I ask you questions, the proper answer is NOT to start getting mad, and start acting like a raging lunatic.  I'm asking you questions, because no, I don't know why you stand where you stand, and I'm trying to understand your view.  If you can't return the courtesy, maybe we don't need to talk.

Sunday, July 21, 2013

Raindrops Keep Falling On My Head: Blogophilia 22.6

Bonus Points:
(Hard, 2 pts):   Quote Maya Angelou
(Easy, 1 pt):   Mention a past U.S. president

https://www.facebook.com/notes/marvin-martian/blogophilia-week-226-raindrops-keep-falling-on-my-head/591071757580712

As a child, I was called 'kazenoko', a Japanese word for 'child of the wind'.  I'd go outside, and even on windy days, whether to ride a bike, fly a kite, jump through puddles, I'd come back home with wind kissed cheeks.  I'm also born under the sign of Aquarius, the water bearer.  I don't know if these attribute to the fact that I love rain storms.  Thunder and lighting with it all.  I still park in the back lot, to walk the long way into the store, even if raindrops keep falling on my head, as Colleen sings, just like in that scene in the movie, you know the one. 




Anyway, the cold rain hitting my skin, is exhilarating to the point that my blood cells flow quickly, straight through my blood vessels.  Some people really think that I'm kind of a nut, sometimes, but, you know, I don't care.  You have to live life.   Irene would tell us that this type of gallivanting in the rain can make us sick, and no one wants germs running through their system

Another pastime that I used to love, was baseball/softball.  It was kind of neat to be on a team like that, because even in life, you can apply the concept of the game to everyday things.  As social people, our friends are like different people on our team, because every friend has a special place in your life.  They become your life family, because we all need to be accepted, even aside from our blood relations.  And think of it when we are ill.  Not just a cold, but REALLY ill.  With health care, you are the pitcher, and your doctor is the catcher.  The nurses, medical & nurses assistants, specialist doctors, and everyone else are your in-fielders, out-fielders, base men, and what not.  Without the team, we may not make it through our ailments.

Even with all of our daily grind, stresses, ailments or what not, Jessica gives us good advice when she points to this Maya quote "I've learned that you can't go through life with a catcher's mitt on both hands; you need to be able to throw something back".  And it's true.  You can't win a ball game with a mitt on both hands.  You need to be able to throw the ball to the proper teammate.  So even though I'm too old and out of shape to play the real game, at least I have it in my blood to play the life game of ball.

And while I do appreciate the smaller things in life, a pet peeve is stupid.  I'm not including those "duh" moments that we all get.  It happens to the best of us.  And of course we occasionally do dumb things.  But most of us don't do it normally, and most of the time it's because we're too tired, or it's an easy over-site to make, or an honest mistake.  Those are fine.  I'm talking about those who, no matter how you try to help them, teach, explain, discuss, reason, what ever, they just "don't get" what seems to be the sense that many of us learned at a young age...  Yet they don't. 

I love this Maya Angelou quote "My mother said I must always be intolerant of ignorance but understanding of illiteracy.  That some people, unable to go to school, were more educated and more intelligent than college professors".  I am reminded of my Hungarian great grandmother.  She was born here in the U.S., as far as I know, and was bilingual in English and Hungarian.  She only went to school "til the third grade", because her help on the family farm was very needed.  When my great grandfather, an immigrant straight from Hungary, came to her, didn't know English.  They married, and they bought a blueprint for a good brick farmhouse.  They built it with the help of friends, family and other local places.  Mind you, this was probably about 120 years ago or more...  They didn't have the modern machines, and this was in the boonies.  They were behind in modern things than what the "city folk" have.  My Great Grandma...  3rd grade education...  A builder!?!  Farmer!?!  Butcher!?!  All without even completing her primary education!  That is SMART! 

But it really irks me, when I hear people talk like they don't have a lick of sense...  At all.  As if these days we can't get the education?  And these are people who live right here in the USA, making silly statements that Canada is south of the United States, when they really mean that there is a part of Canada that is further south on the latitude line than Wisconsin.  Or when things are stated CLEARLY, and they read something in it that doesn't exist, then miss the obvious point.  Totally.  It's this type of thing, which seems to be spreading, is helping to lead to the down spiraling of culture and society.  These are the germs clogging the natural flow in the figurative blood of our planet.  I think that Nissemeth agrees with me that we need one of those deals to help the people in our country get back on our feet like what FDR did back in the depression.

Things will get better!  I can feel the energy flow through my veins.  Until then, life is a concert.  You go to the ones that make you happy, because we all could use a brand new love, or at least refreshingly new with the current.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=W6QxItpzXQ4

Tuesday, July 16, 2013

Gun Rights vs. Gun Conrol: Striking the Balance

Previous rant:  http://likaslaments.blogspot.com/2013/07/what-in-world.html

Here is the continuing saga...  It's not just the economy and Walmart wanting to build in ridiculous places...  It expands past the fact that we don't have enough jobs in the first place, much less enough work to live on.  There is MORE!

We all remember the Sandy Hook school shooting.  Then there is the one up in Waukesha in the spa, where the husband shot his wife and two others, after she got a restraining order on him.  We also need to add in the Hindu Temple shooting, by an elitist who was confused and thought they were Muslim.

Then you get the gang related shootings where innocent bystanders get killed by a stray bullet.  Or a guy who kills his wife and burns down the building.  Everywhere we look, it seems as if violence involving a person using a gun is in the media practically every other day.  It's not just nuts.  It's insane.

So, here we have the downward economy, and it makes sense to me, that when people are stressed to the point of wondering if they can feed their family, or if they can make rent, or if their children need medical care, if they can even afford a $3.00 copay, that violence will rise, in all different ways.  Not just domestic violence, but ALL kinds of violence.  The sad thing is, places like the Women's Resource Center lose out, because fewer people can donate to the cause of keeping abuse victims and their children safe.

Something needs to change, to diminish the violence, because too many people are losing their lives to unnecessary loss because someone got trigger happy and decided to shoot up the joint.  We agree, correct?

Well, the conservatives want to add more guns into the whole mess.  Security guards at school.  Armed guards at churches.  Conceal and carry dads at neighborhood parks.  Moms with guns at carnivals.  Where does it end?  I have no idea.  So, the theory is, a retired police officer or military person is supposed to "volunteer" to protect the schools.  So, if they die while serving, who pays for their burial?  And what do you tell that person's children, spouse, parent, or whom ever?  Their husband was brave?  And if they are volunteering, how long are the supposed to give of their time?  It's not like these emergencies happen so regularly that it mandates daily guarding of these buildings.  It's also a fact that when we let our guard down, figuratively speaking, is when the shootings can happen.

So, if we decide not to use police and military volunteers, the other suggestion is to have teachers and what not have guns.  In the classroom?  Seriously?  So the curious first grader can find it and have an accidental shooting?  Then we decide that the gun should be locked up...  with the safeties on.  Um, excuse me.  When that gunman comes barreling into the classroom with a mission to shoot it up, there is no time to unlock safety boxes and undo the gun safety.  the shooter is already done killing the teacher, and possibly some of the kids.

Well, I just don't think that they're  necessarily a smart ideas.  A guard may end up being over powered.  Or, say if the gunman scoped out the place well enough, they may know of a weak spot, or have another game plan to sneak past the guard.  So how many people do we expect to volunteer at each school, "just in case"?  Have we pondered that?

And if we ask the neighborhood people to step up?  So we can have another incident like George Zimmerman & Trayvon Martin?  That was a shooting that should never have happened.  Zimmerman called the PD.  Got told to sit tight, they'd take care of it.  Instead, he gets in the van, and follows the kid.  Martin calls his girlfriend.  Zimmerman calls the cops again.  An altercation occurs, because it was reported that a group of young black males with hoodies stole car stereos.  So Martin, a solitary figure walking around to find a place to buy a soda and return to Grandma's, is confronted by Zimmerman.  So George gets called a cracker, after he's already labelled Travon a thug.  A fight ensues, and Trayvon gets shot to death after the fight.  If Zimmerman would have stayed home rather than confronting, the shooting would have never happened.  Duh.  Bad move from a neighborhood watch guy.

So, the liberals want to buy back guns.  Try to take some of these guns off the streets.  The intent of this is great.  It really is.  But seriously?  Who are we fooling?  Those criminal minds are NOT going to end up selling their weapons.  With the economy being so bad, it's going to be more like the people who are desperate for money.  Or maybe the druggie who needs their next hit so bad, they'll sell anything to get the money.  They'll just steal another one to sell at the next one.  The dealers themselves won't be seen, because they are intent on keeping their power.

Nice intention, but, not exactly the most logical way to go about it.  There is more to gun control than to try to reduce the number of guns on the street.  It's just that the guns aren't going to come off the streets.  Only from those who never use them.  Then we get the conservatives that will end up saying that their 2nd Amendment Rights are being violated, and that by having everyone under conceal/carry, that the "bad guys" won't know whether they can get away with it or not...  But, saturating the community with more guns raises the numbers for accidental shootings and death.  You can't legislate common sense.

So, where is the balance?  Saturating the market isn't going to do much, if you ask me.  Trying to buy back guns will help about the same.

How do we deal with this?  We NEED those promised jobs.  And no, not the minimum wage kind.  We NEED to have better jobs.  the more people we can employ, at a job that will pay above poverty rates, we will see less violence, especially because people will be working, not aimlessly trying to get attention.  More jobs will also mean that we have a larger tax base, to pump back up the police and rescue services, also.  More police means that more patrol can happen, which would put more licensed guns on the street, with people trained on how to use it.

More patrol would mean that those who are violent will be watched more, so the number of guns in the illegal world will reduce because of this.  it seems like a common sense way, but we NEED to have more jobs.  NOW.  Governor Walker, you are slacking in your promise to bring in those jobs.  For every new job being created, it seems as if Racine is losing almost the same number.  It's not getting any better.  Both sides of the isle need to shake hands, and be reasonable.

Monday, July 15, 2013

A Simple Misunderstanding: Blogophilia 21.6

Bonus Points:
(Hard, 2 pts):   Use the title of a Murakami novel
(Easy, 1 pt):   Include an encounter with airport security

https://www.facebook.com/notes/marvin-martian/blogophilia-week-216-a-simple-misunderstanding/591064064248148





 It was a strange day, hanging out in one bookstore after another.  The usual group wasn't there.  In one bookstore, a bunch of texting teens, as if it were a textathon rather than a bookstore.  Why are we on i-phones and Kindle Fires, rather than browsing books, and scanning the synopses in the books?  In another, old men play chess.  Another yet, has mothers with long faces.  The silence is deafening.  I'm thinking there is an Elephant in the room.  I smile a weak smile, and hope that I didn't intrude on those who've lost their children. 

I go to the library, and there are transients seeking solace from the outdoor heat.  And realize, no, it's not an elephant in the room, it's more like the story that Doris clued me in on about how The Elephant Vanishes  sometimes from some foreign zoo in Japan.  But maybe it's the fact that the unwanted elephant, orphaned at an old age, is the heavy feeling we get like having an elephant in the room?  We all know it's there...  Yet we're all afraid to talk about it.

But my mind wanders...  I suddenly think about how it would be crazy, that maybe like that picture, it's NOT Alice in Wonderland with the Mad hatter, it's Mad Alice on Elm Street, with the Cocky Hatter.  Or if the Hatter isn't cocky, could he be the Mooning Alice and the Teasing Hatter, as the painting by Christopher would imply...

So I go to the travel agent, who books me a flight to Japan, to see if I can help solve the mystery of the disappearing elephant and his Keeper.   My flight over is uneventful.  But then, as I cross customs, I realize that I'm flagged in their system, because of my status as an inactive citizen.  The TSA interrogates me in a language I don't understand any more...  But thankfully, rather than being a legal alien in a country I was born in, I'm a legal American visitor, due to the help of Jessica, the American airport security to help Western visitors make their way through the system.  A simple misunderstanding made right.  Thank you!

With my ordeal behind me, I can focus my energy for the mission in front of me...

Saturday, July 13, 2013

What, in the world?

You know, it's crazy.  I've always considered myself progressive.  Progressive with common sense.  For example, respect the constitution, but, the fact that our Native American culture was almost crushed.  Black people were slaves.  Women could NOT vote.  The fact that we are moving toward racial and gender equity, it's a great thing.

Thing is, these days, the Democrats are getting more liberal, to the point of being radical.  The Republicans are getting more conservative, to the point of being authoritarian.  It's disgusting, considering that most of the citizens in this great country of the USA, along with the people of Wisconsin are more centrist, in the middle.  There may be some obviously on one side or the other, but tend to be moderate to the point that most of us aren't 100% democrat nor republican.  Maybe mostly one or the other, but sharing some views with the other side.

What is crazy is, here we have a president who is trying to make the health care access a more equal playing field, and our governor trying to resist to the point of turning it away.  The finger pointing back and forth is becoming a childish bickering contest, by saying you're wrong, no you, NO you, no YOU, NO YOU!  Grow up, will you?  No wonder why our economy is in shambles.

The jobs went to 3rd world countries, and we are left with low paying jobs, to which don't hire full time nor offer benefits.  Yet the liberal way is to extend unemployment.  The conservative way is to try to abolish the minimum wage, and tell people to grovel for their job.  Both perpostuous.  Seriously.  We.  Need.  Jobs.  Now.  And no, not at $3.00/hr.

Then, here we have people complaining that Walmart doesn't pay their employees properly?  What do they get paid?  On average of $9.00/hr?  I barely make more than that as a home care aid to wash poop off of people's butts, and we are worried about cashiers not making enough money?

Then, what is even crazier...  while our high paying manufacturing jobs went overseas to El Salvador, Mexico and China, the products that get sold at Walmart are also from, guess where?  Your first three guesses don't count...  You got it.  From El Salvador, Mexico and China.  I bought a package of underwear for my son, and the first wash, it shrunk to a third of it's size.  So no.  Saving the money for something that should have been able to last more than one use was NOT worth me buying.

So what is the problem?  Not only are these people in these other countries getting paid $3.00/day, the products that come back are sub-par, and we are paying for it.  In more ways than one.

Our wonderful governor promised us jobs.  In the urban areas.  Racine is urban.  Yet I see so many abandoned store fronts, downtown, uptown, Elmwood Plaza, Badger Plaza, North Main Street, Douglas Ave, and everywhere.

And Walmart wants to build on a farm on 4 Mile and Old Green Bay Rd.  Where the people there don't need nor want a store there.  yet the impoverished areas on Douglass Ave don't have anything except an Aldi's.  Ahem.  Here they could build, and have an automatic workforce as well as an automatic customer base.  But no.  they don't want to go.

I could go on...  and the saga continues...   Put your two cents in.  I might give you a nickel back...

Sunday, July 7, 2013

Master of the Universe ~ Blogophilia 20.6


Blogophilia Week 20.6 - Master of the Universe Bonus Points:

(Hard, 2 pts):   Incorporate a hyperbole
(Easy, 1 pt):  Include a corn dolly


https://www.facebook.com/notes/marvin-martian/blogophilia-week-206-master-of-the-universe/584864611534760







In the past of yore, when life was supposedly simple, women dressed to the nines just to go about their daily lives.  I'm not so sure, if life was really simple.  Maybe the stresses of modern conveniences didn't put everyone into the overdrive of doing, going, moving, etc...  people still hustled and bustled.  Walking to the market to buy daily dosages of fresh produce, meats, and what ever may catch their eyes...  laundering with washboards, to the point that you'd think that thee ladies weren't damsels in distress, but to push, and to twist, and to heavily clean til their arms pumped up like Popeye, yet, these women of your are spoken of as if they were Oliveoyl.

In the busy bustle, Nina shows us her blast from the past, as her great grandmother's wish to walk around In the Winter Wonderland, to feel the crunch of the recently fallen snow, and the star-shaped flakes.  Even though we may end up with some exaggerated and romantic tales, Lisa Conrad is full of the creative hyperbolas.

All too often, those of us who may be summer babies, we end up with a European corn dolly, Heather prefers the Indian corn dollies.  Yet, deep inside, our hearts, the summer babies grow up wanting to frolic in the snow, and us winter babies want to swim with the fishes in the summer.

In the meanwhile, Tyler wants to be the Master of the Universe.

Friday, July 5, 2013

Positively Racine County & NAASCA Radio Show Guest.

Here is the section, I'm on page 4, the first billing out of 19 people.  Thank you to the Journal Times, with an extra special thanks to Ann Walter, who is very community oriented.

http://advault.journaltimes.com/SS/Page.aspx?ptype=SS_TILE&secid=134692&pagenum=1&facing=false




National Association of Adult Survivors of Child Abuse
www.NAASCA.org


~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Stop Child Abuse Now Show - 609 -- special guest Lika Saliscente
Tonight's special guest is Lika Saliscente from Wisconsin, a lobbyist who specializes in issues related to women and children. She's also the founder of the Youth Voice Initiative, an action group, to take an active stand against those who abuse children. The YVI is a social welfare organization which authors and lobbies the innovative and groundbreaking laws needed to protect children from the dangers that arise from abuse and take away the tools for child predators who conspire to commit crimes against children. It also addresses the growing problem of domestic violence against men and fathers, as well as other abuses against our children. YVI also gathers support for these laws and build awareness to the problems that inspire them. Lika writes, "I have successfully lobbied the State of Wisconsin for Act 177, a fair pay bill for equal work as well as the "Mini Skirt Bill" which renders the attire of the rape victim inadmissible as evidence against the victim in the court of law." And she goes on, "I've also successfully lobbied for the federal law called the Violence Against Women Act of 1993. The Safer Campuses for Women was written by the Wisconsin student body." YVI is currently working on April's Law Wisconsin, currently going to the floor of the State Assembly, and the federal version yet to be introduced. We are also still working on getting equal services, shelter and support for our male abuse victims, as currently there are little to nothing for them. Read Ms Saliscente's BLOG at: http://likaslaments.blogspot.com

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Here are the Special Guest "Recommended Show" Archives as they appear on our NAASCA web site (but all daily episodes are recorded and available for "on-demand" listening, too). We've created quite a library of shows, all searchable by names, web addresses, key words, etc:

2013 - http://www.naasca.org/_2013-RadioShows-RECOMMENDED.htm
2012 - http://www.naasca.org/_2012-RadioShows-RECOMMENDED.htm
2011 - http://www.naasca.org/_2011-RadioShows-RECOMMENDED.htm

As you know, we're a grassroots organization at NAASCA .. one that belongs to no one else .. but this leaves us able to quickly decide which of the individuals and child abuse groups we support, promote and work with closely.

No doubt you will remain at the top of our list, and we're delighted to welcome you as a part of the family.

Please keep us informed about your work as it progresses and let us know how we can assist you in the future.

Yours in service,

Bill Murray

Bmurray3rd@aol.com
323 / 552-6150

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

LA Community Policing
www.LACP.org

Adult Survivors of Child Abuse
www.NAASCA.org

Internet-based talk radio shows
www.blogtalkradio.com/Bill-Murray

Facebook home page:
www.facebook.com/NAASCA

Monday, July 1, 2013

Blogophilia 19.6: Even The Losers Get Lucky Sometimes.


Bonus Points:
(Hard, 2 pts):   Incorporate 3 things that could happen to you while swimming in the ocean
(Easy, 1 pt):  Mention a fly on the wall


https://www.facebook.com/notes/marvin-martian/blogophilia-week-196-even-the-losers-get-lucky-sometimes/584850301536191



I grew up in Tokyo, Japan in my formative years, I liked the fact that there was this big vast body of water, that looked like a whole world in and of it's self, called the Pacific Ocean.  I remember daydreaming about pirates finding hidden treasures, and chests full of booty.  Coming to Racine, WI, it was neat to have this Great Lake Michigan to the east.  Even the family cottage on Eagle Lake, was on the west side of the lake, and you could swim across, if you had the stamina.

With all of the comforts we can find at the ocean, sometimes, it could bring us gloom, like a typhoon looming over the sails, as Doris suggests, as many things can happen while you're swimming in the ocean.  Photographer Sharon Lee captures the scene well in the picture.




 Even if the sailing seems to be good, there are often troubled times.  Nissmith can verify that often we feel like losers, and that there is something missing, like the special person to share it with.  Sitting at the break rocks, we might be mesmerized by the lapping waves to jump in, and drown while being pummeled into the rocks.  The sun comes out, bringing a ray of light glistening on the water.  So rather than bumming around feeling sorry, like Nissmith, realize that even losers get lucky sometimes.

I walk over to the sunny beach, hoping that I don't get bitten by a jellyfish, I realize I'm lucky that I didn't get eaten by a shark.  So, I decide to enjoy life, and do it my own way, and the heaviness lifts, and I go wash up in the bathroom, elated.  The fly on the wall like Ruggi probably thinks I'm a maniacal schizophrenic, I pep and primp myself up, ready to see the world.

But then, when Marvin the Martian wants to give us secret passages, there's always adventures around the corner where everyone has their story.