Friday, February 24, 2012

Op Ed Worth Reading

Last night DH told me my audience is probably getting tired of the alphabet posts.  But I've been working on a post for OCN and doing things with the children, so I haven't had much time to post something more substantial.

In fact, in about 10 minutes I'll be running off again to a field trip, but before I go I thought I'd share a link to a poignant opinion piece that DH showed me this morning.  In common with the piece I'm currently writing is a plug for patience.

Read on so you can decide if you agree... Will tweets destroy American politics?

The Letter U

Gel cling
I passed the clearance valentine's at the grocery store the weekend after Valentine's Day and splurged on a set of clings for each of the girls.

Wednesday, February 22, 2012

The Letter S

I fell behind because I was stumped by S. I finally saw it while sitting at lunch...


Swirly Straw

Saturday, February 18, 2012

Friday, February 17, 2012

The Letter P

Block with Braille
(I bought this at a conference when pregnant with Hummingbird)

Traditional Block
We checked out a storytime backpack at the library today that included the traditional blocks.  Hence, the inspiration for the letter P.

Thursday, February 16, 2012

Wednesday, February 15, 2012

The Letter N

From a Chicago neighborhood map poster
with a little help from Photoshop

Monday, February 13, 2012

The Letter L

I'm not feeling very creative today, but I want to keep on track, so here's the letter...

Sunday, February 12, 2012

Friday, February 10, 2012

Thursday, February 9, 2012

Wednesday, February 8, 2012

Tuesday, February 7, 2012

The Letter F

Big F

Little F
...both a little twisted

I decided to play a little bit with text manipulation in Photoshop.  This is pretty basic, but I like the way the Fs seem to be flying or diving.

Monday, February 6, 2012

The Letter E

From a sign made by Hummingbird & hanging on her door.
It reads "Do not Dysterb! Do no come in! Employes only!"

Sunday, February 5, 2012

Will You Still Be "Pro-Life" After She's Born? Yes!

A friend recently put this poster on her Facebook page, saying she agrees with it.

By: Strong Intelligent Women Choosing Equality
& Freedom Instead Of Religion

In all fairness, I can't say I disagree with what the poster says.  The words are indeed in keeping with church teachings about how we should respect life and the gifts God has given us.  HOWEVER, I am deeply disturbed by this group and what the poster means to its members.  While these people may speak out vehemently against war, hunger, poverty, homelessness, the planet's degradation, capital punishment, and for educational and employment opportunity, "human" rights, and might I add animal rights, they think it's okay to kill babies.  Right there on their poster is the image of a "fetus."  Is it a just a fetus, a clump of cells or do I see tiny hands, and toes, little ears and a nose?  Those things belong to BABIES!  Indeed that fetus looks remarkably like a baby who has been born.  And if I'm not mistaken babies are humans.  Moreover, by 18 weeks in utero the nervous system is rapidly maturing.  This means that the baby can feel pain.  Let's not hurt a poor little kitty cat, but it's okay to rip your baby apart, certainly causing pain, because it's inconvenient for you to have her.  So, how can you claim to support human rights (and support animal rights) when you support abortion, which takes away the rights of so many humans before they have any opportunities?

With our modern technological advances, we are able to see the development of a baby in her mother's womb.  We are able very early on to see the features that make her human.  Years ago, you may have been able to plead ignorance and call her nothing more than a clump of cells, but doing so today shows only a blind selfishness.  If you are not willing to offer your offspring the opportunity to live, then you should reconsider your pre-conception choices and show a little self-control.  Despite what society wants us to believe, we will not die if we don't have sex.  And if you are not willing to live with the possible consequences of having sex, you should not be doing it.

So, will I still be "Pro-Life" after she's born?  Yes!  And I'll continue to pray and fight for her life before she's born.

The Letter D

The United States on its side and minus a few states...
My apologies to those who had to be sacrificed.  I thought of how much the U.S. looks like the letter D while watching Weekend Update on SNL.  Also, I've been learning a bit of Photoshop, so you'll be seeing more creations.

Saturday, February 4, 2012

Friday, February 3, 2012

The Letter B

A butterfly wing, used courtesy of Kjell B. Sandved
www.butterflyalphabet.com

This one isn't my letter B, but it is extremely cool. When I photograph one of my own, I"ll add it at the end... My husband acquainted me with this photograph which was on a college biology textbook. It was taken by Kjell B. Sandved, a Norwegian author and photographer.  He has an amazing collection of the alphabet on butterfly wings. You can see more (and even buy posters) at his website.

Thursday, February 2, 2012

29 Day Alphabet Photo Challenge

I'm going to take Mat. Anna's Alphabet Photo Challenge.  I'll be a day behind her, though, because I didn't start yesterday.  I think after I get all the letters, I'll also, make a photo collage.  I'm hoping that my photos will turn out well enough to make a great collage.  Wouldn't that make a lovely gift for a child's bedroom or playroom?!

So, this post is brought to you today by the letter A.

Letter A Key from Remington Rand Model 1 Typewriter

Voter ID Requirements

As I was waking up this morning, I heard a news story about the partisan fight in many states to require voters to present government issued photo IDs.  While I disagree with Republicans on many issues, this is one on which I agree with them.  I remember the first time I ever voted.  I lived in Louisiana at the time, and when I arrived at my polling place, I had to show my ID before being directed to a voting both.  Now, I'll admit that I don't know if it is actually law in Louisiana, but at that time nearly 15 years ago, it happened, and I didn't think twice about it.  It seems obvious that you should prove your identity before being allowed to vote.  It seemed so obvious to me that I was taken aback when I moved to New York and was not asked for ID before voting.  Perhaps fraud doesn't happen much, but it is very easy to commit fraud if one desires with the current system.  Given how much hoopla there is these days about making sure every vote is counted and recounted, I think we should be ensuring that those votes are legal and valid.

Opponents to ID laws claim that they will disenfranchise poor, minority, and elderly voters who don't have state IDs.  Some people have said that these effected groups don't always have a birth certificate to get an ID.  To this I say that a birth certificate is not required.  Every state in which I have lived has offered multiple options for required documentation.  There are always two or three lists from which you need to provide one item each.  A birth certificate is one option, but it is not required.  Having said that, I have three suggestions to solving the other problems that might prevent someone from having a photo ID.

1. If the problem is that people can't afford the $10-15 to pay for a state ID, then we should find ways to subsidize them through government, non-profit, or political organizations.  I know that in Illinois there is already a reduced fee of only $5 for senior citizens, that could easily be extended to low income applicants of all ages.

2. If the problem is that people can't get to a DMV or other government office to get an ID.  Then we should either provide shuttle buses (Walmart provides such a service to bring customers from poverty stricken neighborhoods to shop at their stores; we could do the same for those wanting IDs.).  If that solution doesn't sound appealing, mobile ID vans could be sent to those neighborhoods.  A few years ago, when we were considering getting an Illinois ID for our daughter, we happened upon a temporary setup for the Illinois Secretary of State at the Taste of Chicago where workers were indeed issuing state IDs.  The setup included a tent, a table, some chairs, camera equipment, and a small printer.  Easy.  Thus, I know this is not an impossible idea.

3. Finally, rather than issuing a voter registration card with only name and address, State Boards of Elections could issue photo registration cards.  The simplest way of doing this would be to submit a picture with your registration papers.  If political organizations are going door-to-door registering people, they could bring along a camera and necessary equipment to take photographs.  By making the registration card also the photo ID, you eliminate any claim that people can't afford IDs or that they can't get to a DMV or other government office to get one.

It is important that everyone who is eligible and wants to vote be able to do so.  However, it is also important that we have safeguards to ensure that everyone who is voting is voting legally.  On a side note, it is probably also a good idea to stop allowing people to register to vote on the application for driver's licenses and state IDs because that brings in a whole other problem of registering people who are not eligible...  These are all problems that can and should be addressed.