Oscar Buzz

So the Academy Awards are this weekend, and I’m personally looking forward to them.  I think some really great moments are in store.  I haven’t seen all the Best Picture nominated films yet but I have seen a few of them.  I’m hoping that I’ll get the time to watch the rest soon.  I recently watched An Education, and after being slow to warm to it, actually enjoyed it and found it captured my attention from about 20 minutes into it until the end.  The story follows a 16 year old girl who meets a wealthy, older English gentleman in Britain in the 1960’s.  As a teacher I enjoyed the battle the main character faced in deciding whether she would pursue the academic life or follow her heart.  The film made me very grateful that I live in a time where women are no longer forced to decide between an education and a love life and family.   When confronted with the final decision, the Jenny is confronted by her headmistress.  She argues that she does not want to be one of the bored members of British society who have a degree.  She tells the headmistress that, “It’s not enough to educate us anymore Ms. Walters, you’ve got to tell us why you’re doing it”.  The crisis that this young woman goes through is extremely compelling, and I found that I felt nervous throughout the film.  The importance of an education and of love and fun were constantly debated, and the fear Jenny felt was palpable through the entire movie.

Earlier today I viewed another one the Best Picture nominated films, Up in the Air.  Starring George Clooney and Anna Kendrick, this film was extremely existentialist.  We as viewers were transported into the world and mind of Ryan Bingham, a “suit” who calls airports his home.  Similarly to An Education the film is based on a personal struggle.  Ryan must decide between continuing a solitary life and starting a family.  I will not give away the end of the movie.  I found that it was extremely powerful, and once again I was caught up in the story.  Unlike An Education, Up in the Air had me transfixed from the beginning.  I thought the idea was original, compelling, and well implemented.  I also enjoyed the fact that the entire movie was not serious and gloomy, but incorporated humour and love.

I would highly recommend both of these movies, as well as the other nominated films I have seen, Precious and Up.  I am in complete agreement with the Academy in terms of these choices, and I wish all the nominees luck on Sunday.  I know I`ll be watching!

[Via http://teachthemteachmyself.wordpress.com]

Parental Advisory

A little while back, my father told me about something he witnessed while at a basketball game with my little brother (who was playing). There was another boy on my brother’s team who reportedly wasn’t playing hard enough defense or not passing or whatever. His mother, who was sitting in the stands watching, called that out to him. She told him to push harder, and in response, the boy gave his mother the middle finger. Neither the mother or father (who was also there) did anything about this. I, on the other hand, would shortly afterwards be on trial for assault and battery against a minor*, but this article at the Huffington Post says I would be wrong.

The article by Ellen Galinsky, about preventing aggression in children and refraining from responding to aggression with aggression, says that you have to show physical affection (hugs and pats on the head and s&%t), have to be vested in whatever your child is trying to do with themselves, reward them for their achievements.

I think any realistic person will say that raising a child has to be a mixture of love and discipline, serving the child but at the same time mentally and emotionally strengthening them to stand on their own, or to be civil and respectful people rather. Being warm and sympathetic and hippie to your child 24/7 fails to teach that child any kind of respect for anything, since their will is unhindered by any kind of discipline for destroying things or taking them or corrupting them in some sort of way or fashion. But also, you can’t completely invade your children’s will and thought. You must teach them to be able to assess decisions for themselves.

You shielding your children, keeping them ignorant and in fear of losing your love if they don’t follow your rules seems to me like a display of your own fear. Perhaps, for some parents, it’s easier to keep their children in the world of things they know themselves. They have not fully inspected or have come to understand the world, and so, are not fully aware of what will or will not hurt their child. But perhaps your child can teach you things; can come to understand things about the world that you would not perceive from your viewpoint.

I watched an episode of a reality show called “The World’s Strictest Parents”, where two kids, a constant martini-drinking and cigarette smoking girl and a cursing, disrespectful gay teenage boy from England flew to the American Deep South to live with two extremely conservative Christian parents. After the first hour or so that the Brits came into the house, there was sharp tension. The Christian father, who was strict on inspecting every piece of media, from songs on their children’s iPod’s to the T.V. shows they watched to the detail of every turn and stop their children made when out driving the car, went through the British boy’s bag and looked all through the pictures of his camera. Of course, the boy voiced his rebellious opinion about this, and all the father would say is that in their house they have strict rules about what content is there and what isn’t (the mother said that if she listened to a song on her children’s iPod during “inspection” and heard just one word she didn’t like, she would delete the song).

I’m not a parent nor a child psychologist or professional, but I am always a proponent of the belief that good ideas about subject come from brainstorming as well as the hands-on approach. And in some situations, a solution to a problem becomes obvious to both sides. The two teenagers were reckless brats and the parents would’ve been great Nazis during World War II. The personalities don’t have to crash together like this, because that seems to be about conflict. And I think to prevent this, there has to be understanding and civility between the parent and child. The child should respect the authority of the household, but the child should also have an opinion in things.

*I joke, but I’m trying to say that there would have been some severe disciplining for that.

[Via http://transcendanxiety.wordpress.com]

Previous Jon Venables claims denied

From the Daily Mail: Claims that he was involved in a fight with a colleague and had a long-standing drink and drugs problem have been dismissed.

Privately, sources have described the reason for his recall as ’shocking’, prompting speculation that Venables may have been violent towards a child or woman.

The reason is thought to be so serious that it is unlikely he will even be considered for release for at least a year.

The Daily Mail is denying claims from “private sources” that say Jon got into a fight and has a drug problem. So why should we believe their own “private sources”?

[Via http://charleyross.wordpress.com]

Habit and the Philosophers

At first a person is like a child in the womb, “living from hand to mouth”.  They are warm and safe; they are blind grubs.  It is easy to remain in the womb.  It is soft.  There is no need to think about what might be outside the womb.  The children in the womb (it is a very large womb) squabble amongst themselves occasionally about who is what, and who gets what.  But they do not ask, “What else?”

You will be pleased to learn that some of them do grow dissatisfied with the dull comfort the womb offers.  They wriggle and kick and are painfully pushed out into the cold.  They scream as their world expands infinitely.  Most of them curl up in denial of the knowledge they have gained, frightened by the vastness and complexity of puzzles they cannot solve.

Others will attempt to walk around; they are content to ponder and perhaps admire what they cannot understand.  These are the philosophers.  They will try to talk to the children in the womb, but it is difficult because the children are so warm and sleepy that they do not pay much attention.  So the philosophers wander lonely by themselves, rarely meeting each other.

Often a philosopher will think that they has met another of their kind, and will talk to them.  But almost as often, the other will take offence or take fright and curl up, making his own little womb around themselves, and the philosopher will walk on in disappointment, and sometimes disgust.

From time to time the philosophers pay a visit to the mother of the children.  Her name is Habit.  The philosophers ask her why she keeps rearing her children in this way.  She cannot explain; she merely repeats words like “order”, “truth”, “good”, “love” and “nature” until she is blue in the face and the babies are fast asleep.  This frustrates the philosophers no end.

–None of you know what you are talking about! they say.

They tell Habit that it is not natural for her to keep the babies cooped up inside her like this.  It is not healthy.  The babies can’t grow.

–On the contrary, Habit replies, it is very healthy, and very natural.  As for their size, this a good size for babies to be.  They won’t be pushed out because their heads are small and that keeps their dreams small.  You people have itchy feet; I am still sore from where you kicked me.

–Even so, say the philosophers, we believe that you are doing the children an injustice.

–They are my children, says Habit, and I know what is best for them.  You may be “philosophers” but to me you are just troublesome children, and you are giving all the good children bad dreams with your talk.  Do you want them to beunhappy?

–No, they say, but we want them to realise that there is more than you.

–What’s wrong with me? Habit scowls.  Amn’t I good enough for you?

–You are very good, they say, but you are only the beginning.  Beginnings can’t last forever.

The children sleep on; they think Mother knows best.

—

Written in autumn 2008 for Theory of Knowledge class.

[Via http://livferg.wordpress.com]

Don’t Qualify for Medicaid? The Children’s Health Insurance Program (CHIP and Healthy Families)

If you are struggling to get health insurance for your children but don’t qualify for Medicaid, you should also try the Children’s Health Insurance Program, usually abbreviated at “CHIP.” The Children’s Health Insurance Program was previously known as the State Children’s Health Insurance Program (SCHIP).

The Children’s Health Insurance Program is a program administered by the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services which distributes matching funds to the states to provide affordable health insurance to uninsured children. The CHIP program is designed to help children in low-income families who do not qualify for Medicaid who cannot afford or otherwise get private health insurance.

CHIP programs typically provide affordable comprehensive health insurance coverage for medical, dental and vision services, including check-ups, doctor’s visits, dental cleanings and fillings, prescription drugs, vaccines, hospital care, and eyes exams and glasses.

Every state has a CHIP program to assist children without health insurance, and eligibility rules vary by state within broad federal guidelines for the program. In addition to children, some states have received authority through waivers of statutory provisions to use CHIP funds to provide affordable health insurance coverage to the parents of children receiving benefits from both CHIP and Medicaid, pregnant women, and other adults. Please note that in some states the CHIP program is known as “Healthy Families.”

If you are interested in learning more about the CHIP program, visit the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services here: Department of Health and Human Services CHIP Page.

For more on related topics, visit us at MyHealthCafe.com at:

Medicaid-What is It?

Medicare Basics-What is it and Who Does it Cover?

Medicare Part D-The Basics

[Via http://myhealthcafe.wordpress.com]

Alice in Wonderland (or Joanne in Wonderland)

(no copyright infringement intended)

March 4…. wahoooo…. I cannot wait, really… This is one fairy tale (fantasy) whom I have been following around ever since I am a child. So, having its new version with high-end technology, the film seems to be wrapped in its own form, going beyond the borders of my imagination…

Wow… So to share, I am watching this definitely in 3D!!!! and all the other “D’s” available in the world. hahahaha

[Via http://jcmanliclic.wordpress.com]

Two Months Old

Faustina’s biggest change from last month is that she is much more interactive now.  She loves being talked to, and will readily smile and coo at anyone who gives her attention, even down to the other little ones, like Regina and Teresa.  She has also much improved in her ability to take in what is going on around her. This is where it really comes in handy having older siblings:  she now can enjoy spending some time sitting in her seat and watching the others play.  Another change she has made that has made her a little easier to take care of is that of consolidating her naps, taking fewer and longer naps than she was before.  Beyond these things there has not been a whole lot of change.  These early months are generally pretty quiet as far as outward development goes, though of course there is a lot going on inside.

It would have been appropriate to add a smiley picture of Faustina here, but unfortunately she has spent the last two days being uncharacteristically grumpy.  Rather than put in a grumpy picture, I’ll come back later and put in a nice one after she has returned to her cheerful self.

[Via http://hausofholmes.wordpress.com]