Puteri’s Musings 2

Some years ago, I read a story by a journalist recounting why some of his Indian relatives wanted to emigrate to the US. One of the reasons they gave was they wanted to move to a country where the poor are fat.

The following story by NPR illustrates that point rather well. I do not want to sound heartless but I think going without meat could be one of the best things that the Nunez family can do for themselves!

If NPR is trying to make us feel sorry for folks like the Nunez in Ohio, I think they fail miserably once people see how well fed they look!

Full NPR story here.

Parents who lack teaching credentials cannot educate their children at home, according to a state appellate court ruling that is sending waves of fear through California’s home schooling families.

Advocates for the families vowed to appeal the decision to the state Supreme Court. Enforcement until then appears unlikely, but if the ruling stands, home-schooling supporters say California will have the most regressive law in the nation.

“This decision is a direct hit against every home schooler in California,” said Brad Dacus, president of the Pacific Justice Institute, which represents the Sunland Christian School, which specializes in religious home schooling. “If the state Supreme Court does not reverse this . . . there will be nothing to prevent home-school witch hunts from being implemented in every corner of the state of California.”

The institute estimates there are as many as 166,000 California students who are home schooled. State Department of Education officials say there is no way to know the true number.

Unlike at least 30 other states, home schooling is not specifically addressed in California law. Under the state education code, students must be enrolled in a public or private school, or can be taught at home by a credentialed tutor.

Full story here.

This court ruling is certainly a blow to families who home school their children. California is well known for being a nanny state and this is just the latest case of government interfering in the decisions that are best made by parents who want the best for their children.

I have been thinking about home schooling my children myself but now I am not so sure especially if the ruling is enforced. The only way I know how to comply with the situation is to get my own teaching credentials or pay for a credentialed tutor.

I hope parents bring this case all the way to the Supreme Court.

There was one other thing that I noticed as I watched Prince Harry and other British soldiers returning from Afghanistan.

The hair cut, or the lack of it, of the British army and the hair cut we are used to seeing the US Marines sport. The US marines have that close buzz cut and the British army looked like they can keep their shaggy look.

Or could it be that when they left for Afghanistan they had left with a buzz cut but came back looking all shaggy? Were they too busy being soldiers in Afghanistan or was it possible that there was no one in their company who knew how to cut hair?

Image Source: AFP and ViewImages

Berkeley, California is a another city run by left wing kooks. Berkeley makes Boulder City look normal in comparison.

The Berkeley City Council has given Code Pink, an anti-war group, a parking space in front of the Marine Corp Recruiting office. They have also given Code Pink a letter that they are to deliver to the Marines to let them know they are “uninvited and unwelcome intruders” in Berkeley.

Image Source: ZombieTime.com

Who else in Berkeley would get the same kind of right to a dedicated parking space besides Code Pink? No other group, I am sure. That parking space is being used by Code Pink protesters to show their displeasure at the presence of the Marines in Berkeley, in hopes of getting them to close down.

It seems that the Berkeley City Council’s treatment of the Marines is going to backfire on them.

The proposal to strip $2.1 millions in earmarks to the city by South Carolina Republican Sen. Jim DeMint, has changed the minds of some of the City Council members. The council voted 7-2 Wednesday not to send the letter (telling the Marines they were uninvited and unwelcome intruders), while restating its opposition to the war and refusing to apologize.

These same hypocritical left wing kooks in the City Council and Code Pink would like to send a peace keeping force to Dafur, Sudan. Where do they think these peace keeping force would come from? The City Council Members? Code Pink Members?

The military that they hate so much, of course!

Chinese Prime Minister Wen Jiabao has urged people to “have faith” that some of the worst snow storms in 50 years can be overcome, state media says.

Mr Wen called the extreme weather a “severe natural disaster” as he travelled to Hunan province, one of the worst-affected.

The weather has caused travel chaos and left thousands of people stranded.Full story here.

“We have the faith, courage and ability to overcome the severe natural disaster.” the Chinese Prime Minister is quoted as saying. Poor Chinese people. Faith in what?

If its faith in their own ability to recoup the losses and damage incurred in the worst storms in half a decade, sure. What choice do they have?

I don’t think the Prime Minister is suggesting the people put their faith in God. Oh no. Not from the Chinese Communist leader. There is no place for religion in communism after all.

I don’t know if I’d bother trying to get home for the Chinese New Year if I were one of the Chinese people at the train stations or airports.

Image Source: BBC News

Just look at the HUGE crowd! And these people were forced to stay out in the cold all day and all night!

Forget it, if it were me!

31 January 2008
Some trains are operating again but crowds remain at stationsChina’s worst snow storms in half a century have caused 54bn yuan (£3.8bn) of damage, officials have announced.

Sixty people are now known to have died as a result of the severe weather, which began three weeks ago.

Millions of travellers remain stranded as they try to get home for next week’s Lunar New Year holiday, with the army helping to clear railways and roads.

Full story here.

Have you seen the crowds at the train stations in China? My goodness, it is almost like the whole country is at the train stations!!

I feel very sorry for these people who are hoping to get home in time for the Chinese New Year. The way the weather is going, it doesn’t look like many will make it home. So what if they managed to get on a train? For all you know that train might be stuck in the middle of nowhere in the freezing cold! That would be a lot worse than being by yourself in your rented room for the Chinese New Year!

Imagine 60 people have been known to have died from this big freeze in China! The worse snow storms in half a century.

Come on, there’s no global warming!! People have died from the cold weather, in the last few years, but I have yet to hear of people having died due to global warming!

There is NO global warming!

Have you heard the story of how a 24-year-old father used a high-voltage stun gun on his 18-month-old toddler to make him “tough”?

Tough? Why does an toddler need to be tough in the first place?

Oh, ya, I guess that is just a substitute word he is using for abusing his child! What a jerk! He deserves more than 4 years in jail for using a stun gun on an 18-month old child! Put him away for life, I say!

Watch the video of his sentencing here.