Deep Reading a Thing of the Past?

With the Internet, Twitter, Facebook, and other social media; there is a concern that children are not learning to "deep read."  What is deep reading, you ask?

"Deep reading," or slow reading, is a sophisticated process in which people can critically think, reflect and understand the words they are looking at. With most, that means slowing down -- even stopping and rereading a page or paragraph if it doesn't sink in -- to really capture what the author is trying to say. Experts warn that without reading and really understanding what's being said, it is impossible to be an educated citizen of the world, a knowledgeable voter or even an imaginative thinker.

I had to pause to contemplate why deep reading might becoming a thing of the past.  Are we too involved in social media and texting 24/7 to take the time to pick up a book worth reading?  Do we think that because we're adults and not enrolled in school that learning stops or is no longer necessary?  Do the teens and adults of today think that they know it all or know all they need to know? Are we raising mindless zombies that are incapable of deep reading? Deep reading surely requires deep thinking.  More than just reading the words on the page in front of you, it is necessary to comprehend them.  Deep thinking requires contemplating and pondering what you've read and "digesting" it if you will. As a student, I did a lot of learning because it was required.  I enjoyed most subjects.  Now, as an adult, I am able to study and learn at my leisure and on those subjects that I choose.  Learning has become enjoyable, a hobby even.  I have even found that some subjects that I absolutely did not like (history) can be interesting and that I probably had a couple of teachers that didn't do a very good job teaching the subject. Most importantly, I study the Bible (what I consider the handbook of life) on a daily basis.  This requires reading the same passage more than once, thinking, contemplating, taking notes, asking what I can learn from this passage, how it applies to me, and considering any changes I may need to make in my life.  I'm saddened to think that we might have a society of people unable to do this. Deep reading, deep thinking, and learning are very important.  We will become a country of mindless zombies controlled by the government if our children are not taught to do this.  How will they understand our Constitution and be able to defend it and their God-given rights?  How will they understand the Bible, God's plan of salvation, and His plan for their lives? via Experts worry deep reading becoming a thing of the past | The Post and Courier, Charleston SC - News, Sports, Entertainment.

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Homeschooling: The Most Effective Educational Choice

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Go to Work, Go to School, Quit Complaining, and Praise the Lord!

We got dumped on about 10 days ago, and we have several more inches of snow today.  It is not uncommon here to be stuck inside for a few days during the winter.  I can certainly sympathize with this woman.

Evidently, Atlanta had the same controversy over Martin Luther King Day as this area did.  After missing several days of school, some schools wanted to open on MLK Day because they did not have any snow days built into their school calendar.

I certainly like this lady's sense of humor.

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Couple Stopped From Helping Homeless

Bobby and Amanda Herring spent more than a year providing food to homeless people in downtown Houston every day. They fed them, left behind no trash and doled out warm meals peacefully without a single crime being committed, Bobby Herring said.

That ended two weeks ago when the city shut down their "Feed a Friend" effort for lack of a permit. And city officials say the couple most likely will not be able to obtain one.

[. . .]

Anyone serving food for public consumption, whether for the homeless or for sale, must have a permit, said Kathy Barton, a spokeswoman for the Health and Human Services Department. To get that permit, the food must be prepared in a certified kitchen with a certified food manager.

The regulations are all the more essential in the case of the homeless, Barton said, because "poor people are the most vulnerable to foodborne illness and also are the least likely to have access to health care."

Yah, right.  The kitchens this food is being prepared in is probably cleaner than any restaurant or soup kitchen.

Bobby Herring said those rules would preclude them from continuing to feed the 60 to 120 people they assisted nightly for more than a year. The food had been donated from area businesses and prepared in various kitchens by volunteers or by his wife.

[. . .]

City Councilwoman Wanda Adams, who has been an advocate for the homeless during her tenure, said she planned to review the ordinance. She reiterated the importance of the city's rules but applauded the efforts of the Herrings.

"I'm very passionate about what they're doing," she said. "Somebody needs to make sure our homeless people are being taken care of. ... We have to look as a city to see if there are other ways we can partner with people like this who are trying to help."

No, the government is not the solution.  The Herrings were doing just fine handing out food to the homeless without the help of the government.  The government has now become the problem and has stopped the Herrings from doing so.  Partnering with "people like this" will only add more bureaucracy, more red tape, more expenses and in the end less people will be helped.  Or, as it as right now, no one will be helped.  As often is the case, Houston's homeless would be better off if the government would get out of the way.

Houston permit rule stops couple's effort to feed homeless | Houston & Texas News | Chron.com - Houston Chronicle.

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Safe Holiday or Any Day Sweeteners

In her December 2010 newsletter, Dr. Janet Starr Hull gave a list of safe sweeteners and sweeteners to avoid.  Even though this may be something we might need to be more mindful of during the holiday season, it's good information for us to have all year.

Remember, these are the artificial sweeteners to avoid:

1. Sucralose (Splenda)
2. Aspartame (NutraSweet/Equal^®)
3. Acesulfame-K (Sunett^®)
4. Neotame^®

What are your safe natural sweetener choices?

1. Stevia*
2. Raw, unprocessed sugar (Sucanat^®)
3. Brown Rice Syrup
4. Barley Malt
5. Date Sugar
6. Honey
7. Maple Syrup
8. Molasses
9. Sorghum

*Safe for diabetics. Use Stevia sparingly or it is bitter - otherwise, it's naturally delicious and a much healthier choice! These are the secondary natural sweetener choices to use with discretion:

1. Fructose
2. Fruit Juice Concentrate
3. Juice Concentrate
4. Sugar alcohols (Polyols)
   • Isomalt
   • Lactitol
   • Malitol
   • Mannitol
   • Sorbitol
   • Xylitol
5. Turbinado Sugar
6. Tagatose

Safe Holiday Sweeteners.

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KCMO 2010 Top 20 Crash Sites

The Kansas City, Missouri police department has identified the top 20 crash sites for 2010.  If you live north of the river in Kansas City, you will be interested in this as there seems to be a high concentration of accidents in that area.

There is a simple solution:

A study conducted by Texas A & M University found that adding one second of yellow decreases crashes 35 to 40 percent and violations by 60 percent.

Image source:  http://kcpdchief.blogspot.com/2011/01/top-20-crash-locations-of-2010.html

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Nixon Urges Cooperation As Mo. Legislature Begins

You gotta love how the dems want to ram everything down your throat when they're in power.  But, now that they're not, we need to all learn "to get along."

The Missouri Legislature is convening with its largest Republican majority in decades and its largest freshmen class in several years. Lawmakers are to begin their 2011 session around noon Wednesday. And Democratic Gov. Jay Nixon says their first order of business should be simply learning to get along.

via Nixon Urges Cooperation As Mo. Legislature Begins - Kansas City News Story - KCTV Kansas City.

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Obamacare is Not About Healthcare

Dr. Susan Berry at Big Government does an excellent job explaining what Obamacare is really all about.

In reality, the Healthcare law is a liberal power grab that is gradually permitting the federal government to control more of our lives, making more people dependent upon the government and continuing the culture of dependency among minority groups who, up until now, have mostly voted liberals into power. The symbolism of the repeal will ring loud and clear.

[. . .]

For those who do not have adult children in the 21 to 26 age range, would it surprise you to know that these adult "children," who are now covered, are not required to even live with their parents to remain on their plans, and that they may even be married and still be covered under their parents' health plans? Through the new Healthcare law, liberal Democrats have gradually introduced the concept that adult children should remain dependent on their parents, and when their parents are not around, perhaps the government can take over in that parental role? Of course, this new rule comes at a time when the economic decline made it difficult for young adults to obtain jobs. This is how the gradual creep of dependency begins: introduce a law which creates dependency on the government at a time of crisis, so that uninformed Americans will see it as a caring and positive intervention to help them in their time of need. This is how every entitlement legislation begins, and why none has ever been totally eradicated thus far, mainly because people have come to expect these benefits.

[. . .]

In addition, as a result of the left's encouragement of this culture of dependency, those who are truly in need will no longer have to seek voluntary assistance from neighbors and communities. Conversely, neighbors and communities will not be encouraged to voluntarily reach out to others because the knowledge that the government will provide for their friends' needs may cause them to think twice. As such, dependency on the government creates more distance, and less connectivity, among members of a community.

» The Healthcare Law Is Not About Healthcare: It's About Making Us Dependent - Big Government.

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Rep. Giffords Fatally Shot at Public Event

Arizona Rep. Gabrielle Giffords was fatally shot in the head at close range by a gunman Saturday morning outside a grocery store in Tucson while holding a public event, Fox News has confirmed. via Rep. Giffords in Critical Condition After Being Shot in the Head at Public Event - FoxNews.com.

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41% of New York City pregnancies end in abortion

Eye-opening statistics about the rate of abortions in New York City have been released by the Health Department. [. . .] 41% of all New York City pregnancies end in abortion.

Ugh!  This is so discouraging and so disgraceful.  We're supposed to be civilized, moral, and the greatest nation on earth.  Yet, one of our largest cities is killing 41% of its babies. Another sad note is that the abortion rate is down from 46% in 1998. via 41% of New York City pregnancies end in abortion | 7online.com.

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NutraSweet: Pretty in Pink

We've all sat at the restaurant table with the container of various types of sweeteners:  white, sugar; pink, saccharin; yellow, Nutrasweet, blue, Equal.  We've all done it—reached for the packet we want based on color and poured it into our drink without even paying much attention to the label on the packet.

Artificial sweetener users beware!  Nutrasweet is now claiming to be the "new pink" and is now using a pink package!

Read more about this stunt from Dr. Janet Starr Hull.

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TSA: Helping America “FEEL” Safe

Tammy Banovac was not allowed to board her flight because of an "unusual contour in her buttocks area," yet was allowed to remain in the airport and says she plans to spend the night there.  If this lady is such a threat, why is she allowed to remain in the airport?   If she truly is a threat to others, shouldn't she be hauled off to jail where she would be strip searched and anything she might be hiding found?

Is it supposed to make us feel better when potential terrorists are not allowed to board a plane but are allowed to freely roam the world?  Aren't there more people in and around the airport itself than on a plane? 

Recently, a pilot named Chris Liu posted videos on YouTube to show what he thinks are holes in the security system at San Francisco International Airport.  Instead of looking into Mr. Liu's accusations, TSA reacted by sending four agents and two county sheriff deputies out to his house to confiscate his gun and suspend his Federal Flight Deck Officer credentials. 

Now, doesn't that make you feel safer?

 

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Who’s Poisoning Our Food Supply?

We now have confirmation of the concern that outsiders may try to poison U.S. citizens through our food supply.

The deadly terrorist group al-Qaeda may be plotting to poison U.S. food in the salad bars and buffets of hotels and restaurants, according to U.S. intelligence report obtained by the National Association of Chiefs of Police on Tuesday.

The plot entails the hiding of either ricin  or cyanide in the food at a number of locations in order to create panic and have an adverse effect on the U.S. food industry and economy.

The terrorists hope that Americans will eat the poisoned food and would become severely ill and eventually die. Sources at the U.S. Department of Homeland Security, who issued the warning, stated that it takes only tiny quantities of either ricin or cyanide to kill.¹

However, we've been slowly poisoning ourselves for decades with the myriad of artificial ingredients in our food.  As we continue to use food for fuel, our food prices will continue to increase, and manufacturers will seek ways to reduce their costs. Welcome to the world of artificial sweeteners!

Everyone wants to indulge a sweet tooth at this festive time of year, without suffering the inevitable consequences of weight gain. But, be aware of the hidden (not listed on ingredient labels) dangers of Neotame sweetener in almost everything consumed by humans, and now even in feed for livestock raised for human consumption.

In 1998, Monsanto applied for FDA approval for a monster molecule, "based on the aspartame formula" with one critical addition: 3-dimethylbutyl [listed on EPA's most hazardous chemical list]. Neotame is touted as being 13,000 times sweeter than sugar.

On July 5, 2002 - Monsanto's Neotame molecule was approved by the USFDA over formally registered objections of the Aspartame Consumer Safety Network and others. (Long term effects on humans are unknown.) Read the full release on The Aspartame Consumer Safety Network.

The food labeling requirements required for aspartame have now been dropped for Neotame, and no one is clear why this was allowed to happen. Neotame has been ruled acceptable, and without being included on the list of ingredients, for:

1. USDA Certified Organic food items.
2. Certified Kosher products with the official letter k inside the circle on labels.

Ever ready to give the public what it craves - guilt-free, low calorie treats that taste as good as sugar, is the multi billion dollar sweetener industry. The sugar industry pales by comparison, in the profit generating arena. Fake sugars, in the form of Aspartame and now the Aspartame super clone, Neotame, give 'foodies' and fitness fanatics false hope and the empty promise that all can 'have our cake and eat it, too.' Not necessarily so.

Controversy has swirled around the artificial sweetener, Aspartame, now also known as AminoSweet, since its FDA approval in 1982. Virtually all corporate sponsored scientific studies show aspartame to be perfectly safe. Virtually all independently done studies show just the opposite. In the lab, Aspartame was shown to cause the following forms of cancers: brain tumors, pancreatic tumors, breast tumors and uterine tumors. Five deaths are registered with FDA. In more recent tests, leukemia, lymphoma and kidney cancers were discovered as well.²

This article goes on to explain how Neotame under the name of "Sweetos" is now being used to sweeten livestock feed.  Why?  Because it is cheaper than molasses which has skyrocketed in price due to it being used in the production of alcohol.  So, no matter how careful you are at reading labels, you may still be exposed to it through meats that you purchase.

Yes, we do need to be concerned about outside threats to poison our food supply.  We need to take those threats seriously and prevent them from being carried out.  However, we also need to scrutinize the ingredients of the foods we eat daily and realize that the manufacturers are willingly and legally poisoning our food supply while we happily buy and consume their tasty morsels.

¹Source:  Al-Qaeda plot to poison U.S. food supply uncovered by feds

²Source:  Neotame - Hidden Danger in Holiday Food Supply

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Mom Files Lawsuit Against McDonald’s Happy Meal Toys

I don't think that getting rid of the toy in the Happy Meals is going to keep this lady from feeding her kids fast food.  Obviously, she has a problem with saying 'no' to her kids.

Monet Parham needs help saying no to her two children and she's asking the courts for assistance, the Washington Post reports. Parham filed a lawsuit against McDonald's asking the fast-food chain to cease marketing toys to kids.

Mom Files Lawsuit Against McDonald's Happy Meal Toys.

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People are Worth Pursuing, Jesus Even More So

Image by Douglas Brown via Flickr

I was told today that people are worth pursuing.  In general, I agree.

How long do you pursue someone that left you?  How long do you pursue someone that has thwarted your efforts to communicate?  How long do you pursue someone that obviously doesn't want to be sought after?

It takes a lot of time and energy to pursue someone that doesn't want anything to do with you.  At what point do you leave someone to their own devices and hope they will someday return to you?

However, there is someone that very much wants to be sought after that we often ignore:

[1] Oh give thanks to the LORD, call upon His name; Make known His deeds among the peoples. [2] Sing to Him, sing praises to Him; Speak of all His wonders. [3] Glory in His holy name; Let the heart of those who seek the LORD be glad. [4] Seek the LORD and His strength; Seek His face continually. - Psalm 105:1-4 NASB

If only we put as much energy into pursuing the Lord, as we do pursuing people and things.

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If the house is pitch black, we probably didn’t order pizza!

Image via Wikipedia

 

Based on a true story:

 

'Twas a week before Christmas and all through the house

not a creature was stirring

not even a mouse.

 

The children were nestled all snug in their beds

Ma and Pa had taken all their meds!

 

The clock was about to strike 1:00 am

when at the front door there arose such a clatter

the whole family sprang up to see what was the matter.

 

Then what to my wandering eyes should appear

but a Northern Lights delivery man with a six pack of root beer.

 

Go away, go away, go away all.

We're not the ones that made the call!

 

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TSA Agents Just Doing Their Jobs?

(NaturalNews) Some apologists are now attempting to defend the lewd, obscene behavior of TSA agents by claiming "they're just doing their jobs." This is the exact same quote that was used by Nazi war criminals to justify their treatment of Jewish concentration camp prisoners; or by Japanese soldiers who raped and pillaged Chinese villages in World War II; or even by government hit men throughout history who have killed innocents because their bosses told them to.

"I'm just doing my job" is the excuse of the weak-minded. It is a desperate attempt to shift responsibility for one's actions to someone else and therefore take on the actions of a mindless, immoral automaton who is incapable of independent thought. Throughout history, countless atrocities and war crimes have been conducted under the excuse of "I'm just doing my job." To hear it now cited in the United States of America is a worrisome red flag that we are headed into an era where rational thought is being overrun by fear mongering idiots.

Individual human beings have a moral and ethical responsibility to protect their fellow countrymen (and women)

In the real world, the excuse of "just doing my job" doesn't cut it. U.S. government workers have a personal and patriotic responsibility to ensure that their actions do not deprive American citizens of their Constitutional rights. A U.S. government employee who engages in behavior that violates the rights of American citizens -- even if ordered to do so -- is himself guilty of those violations under civil law (and perhaps criminal law, depending on the violation).

Read the rest here: http://www.naturalnews.com/030537_TSA_Nazi_war_criminals.html#ixzz17TsCzmaX

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Federal Reserve Under Fire for Lending Big to Foreign Banks During Financial Crisis

Yes, job creation is the most important economic issue facing America today.  Unfortunately, there's not a thing the Federal Reserve Bank or any other bank can do about it.

Supporters of the dual mandate say it has worked to balance Fed actions. On Wednesday, Bernanke told business leaders in Ohio that job creation is "probably the most important economic issue facing America today."

via FoxNews.com - Federal Reserve Under Fire for Lending Big to Foreign Banks During Financial Crisis.

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McCaskill to Host “Kitchen Table Talk” in Liberty, Missouri

I got this email last week from one of Claire McCaskill's reps.  McCaskill's office is hosting a "Kitchen Table Talk" at the Mid Continent Public Library in Liberty, Missouri.  Funny now that the election has passed and the dems have lost their super majority McCaskill claims she's willing to "listen to your thoughts and ideas."  Why the change of heart now that she's rammed Obamacare down our throats?  This is an opportunity to let her office know in person how you feel about S 510.

My name is Greg Razer and I am a staff member for U.S. Senator Claire McCaskill. On Wednesday, December 1st, on behalf of the Senator, I will be hosting a "Kitchen Table Talk" in Clay County at the Mid-Continent Public Library (1000 Kent Street) from 1:00PM- 2:00PM. The purpose of this meeting is to reach out to you, to listen to your thoughts and ideas about federal policies and legislation and to take them back to the Senator.

These "Kitchen Table Talks" also serve, in part, to inform you of the services that are available through Senator McCaskill's regional offices. The Senator's staff throughout the state are able to assist you on a range of federal government issues. If you are currently having an issue with a federal agency, I will be happy to discuss that with you and put you in touch with the member of the Senator's staff best suited to help with your issue.

Should you have any questions, please contact me at greg_razer@mccaskill.senate.gov or by calling 816-421-1639. I hope you will be able to join me in Liberty on 1:00PM - 2:00PM. 

Sincerely,

Greg Razer
Field Representative
U.S. Senator Claire McCaskill

Hey, Claire.  There's one thing most Missourians and Americans are concerned about right now and you don't have to have a "Kitchen Table Talk" to find out about it.  It's called jobs!  People need jobs, not government handouts.

Another thing people are concerned about is taxes.  We are being taxed to death and cannot afford to pay more taxes in a time that many don't even have a job.  Letting the Bush tax credits expire would not be a good move for you and your friends (or enemies) at Capitol Hill right now.

Claire:  more jobs, less taxes.

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Planned Parenthood sues over Alaska notification law

A few years ago, ds broke his ankle and had to have surgery on it--twice.  Parental consent was needed for anything and everything.  All the papers that we as adults normally sign when going to the doctor's office and being admitted to the hospital; we, as parents, had to sign and consent to.  None of the procedures would have been done without it.  Why is abortion any different?

ANCHORAGE, Alaska - Planned Parenthood of the Great Northwest is trying to block a new state law requiring that parents of teenage girls seeking abortions be notified. Several doctors joined the organization in suing the state Tuesday. Voters approved the measure in August and the law goes into effect Dec. 14. It requires Alaska doctors notify a parent before performing an abortion on girls younger than 18.

via Fairbanks Daily News-Miner - Planned Parenthood sues over Alaska notification law.

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