May... December

Older and Younger
Can mesh as one

Who will approve?
Why does it matter?

Acceptance will come
With time and with faith

When love is mature
Two lives will embrace

Crashing? Not Me!

Your computer can crash any day
Are you prepared in every way?

Are you backed up?
Are your files saved?

You can only recover
If a backup is made

Carbonite can help
With one easy step

Let them do your backups
And you will never fret


Almost everyone has stuff on their computers that they just can't afford to lose. Visit carbonite.com and use Offer Code "BZZ" when signing up and you'll get a special, BzzAgent-exclusive deal: a one-month risk-free trial and a bonus two months free if you decide to buy Carbonite later. No credit card needed. Carbonite won't ask you for a credit card – so your trial is truly risk-free.

FYI - this does require windows xp & a high speed connection

Lover Revealed by JR Ward

J.R. Ward's Black Dagger Brotherhood is back, and in the latest installment of this bestselling paranormal romance series they're bigger and badder than ever. In Lover Revealed, Butch O'Neal, the hard-living ex-homicide cop goes even deeper into the world of these vampire brothers, with their revved-up sex-drives, strange language (a glossary is provided!) and violent turf wars with the "lessers," who are de-souled humans in the evil Omega's Lessening Society. The only human allowed into the inner circle of this band of "brothers," Butch falls for Marissa, a female vampire who's an aristocratic beauty way out of his league. Needless to say, this complicates his life just a little bit...

What is loved about this installment is watching all the characters grow and evolve—Butch especially comes into his own here. Richly layered, this book is far from "vampire-lite" chick lit, with the exception of Ward's occasional "brand name" dropping. It's gritty, suspenseful and not for the faint of heart, with plenty of strong sexuality and even stronger language.

Preview Lover Revealed by J.R. Ward (Chapters 1-4) on sale 3/6/07, paperback original, $7.99 list price http://www.bzzagent.com/member/campaigns/7608883881/LoverRevealedexcerpt.pdf

J.R. Ward Ward is a New York Times and USA Today bestselling author of the erotic paranormal romance series The Black Dagger Brotherhood. Frighteningly addictive, these books have a great, page-turning effect and have deservedly earned Ward an Anne Rice-style following. She also writes contemporary romance novels under the name of Jessica Bird. She currently lives in Kentucky with her husband. Visit her website at jrward.com.

Get a 25% discount off of any of the books offered in this BzzCampaign by going to us.penguingroup.com and entering the code BZZFEB when you check out. Hurry, this offer expires on April 17th!

J.R. Ward's Black Dagger Brotherhood Novels are Earning Rave Reviews

Praise for LOVER REVEALED:
"[T]hese erotic paranormals are well worth it, and frighteningly addictive...it all works to great, page-turning effect...In just two years, the first three books in the series have earned Ward an Anne Rice-style following, deservedly so; this entry should prove no less popular." —Publishers Weekly

Praise for LOVER AWAKENED:
"[A] raw, gritty tour de force, creating an array of ugliness and beauty, pain and pleasure in a tale that sparks enough plot stunners to keep readers fascinated for years to come. Not for the faint of heart—strong sexuality and stronger language rule here—this genre-bending third novel in the Black Dagger Brotherhood series...is a perfect fit for those who like fast-paced urban fantasy rich in both fury and poignancy."—Booklist (starred review)

"J.R. Ward's third entry in the fabulous Black Dagger Brotherhood vampire series is all adrenaline all the time, starting from page one."—BN.com

"Best new series I've read in years! Tautly written, wickedly sexy and just plain fun. Now here's a band of brothers who knows how to show a girl a good time."—New York Times bestseller Lisa Gardner

"[U]tterly absorbing and deliciously erotic. The Brotherhood is the hottest collection of studs in romance, and I can't wait for the next one!"—USA Today bestseller Angela Knight

"J.R. Ward's unique band of brothers is to die for. I love this series!" —New York Times bestseller Suzanne Brockmann

"When it comes to tormented heroes, few can top the dangerous and tortured Zsadist. In a change of pace, it's the hero who has sexual issues resulting from his violently abusive past as a blood slave. Both the hero and heroine have suffered greatly, but it's Zsadist's journey to self-acceptance that makes this book so compelling. Ward pulls no punches in this dark, dangerous and at times tragic series. Waiting for successive installments is getting harder and harder."—Romantic Times, Top Pick (4½ stars)

Praise for LOVER ETERNAL:
"Like any good thrill ride, the pace changes with a tender story of survival and hope and leaves readers begging for more. Fans of L.A. Banks, Laurell K. Hamilton, and Sherrilyn Kenyon will add Ward to their must-read list."—Booklist

"[A] fun ride."—MonstersAndCritics.com

"[I]ntense paranormal thriller that will have new fans and old begging for more."—BN.com

"Extremely intense and emotionally powerful...colorful, dangerous and richly conceived. With both intricate plots and believable characters, she has penned a surefire hit."—Romantic Times, Top Pick (4½ stars)

Praise for DARK LOVER:
"[A]n awesome, instantly addictive debut novel. It's a midnight whirlwind of dangerous characters and mesmerizing erotic romance. The Black Dagger Brotherhood owns me now. Dark fantasy lovers, you just got served."—Lynn Viehl

"A dynamite new Vampire series — deliciously edgy, erotic, and thrilling! In DARK LOVER, J. R. Ward has created a wonderful cast of characters, with a sexy, tormented, to-die-for hero and the spirited woman who proves his soul-mate. What a fabulous treat for romance readers!"—New York Times bestselling author Nicole Jordan, author of WICKED FANTASY

"J.R. Ward makes an exceptionally polished debut in this intense paranormal romance."—BN.com

"It's not easy to find a new twist on the vampire myth, but Ward succeeds beautifully. This dark and compelling world is filled with enticing romance as well as perilous adventure. With myriad possibilities to choose from, the Black Dagger Brotherhood series promises tons of thrills and chills."—Romantic Times, Top Pick (4½ stars)

"J.R. Ward takes you deep into her intense, dark world of vampires and holds you captive until her last breathless word. This is the first in her series 'Black Dagger Brotherhood,' and it's sure to satisfy lovers of vampire romance everywhere." —Affaire de Coeur (Reviewer Pick, 5 Stars)

Marshall’s experiment gone wrong…

My 11 year old (who is brilliant in many ways) did a little experiment today… an of course we just died laughing…

We have a “baby” lock on the door because the twins love to get into this cabinet and play with the buttons…

Marshall hooked a rubber band around the lock – so he could pull it down – he did not take into account that he would not be able to reach his arm up to get the rubber band.

He wanted to see how long it would take him to get out! Instead… we poked some fun at his expense and of course this was a picture moment!!

Enhancing your blog experience

Over the past four months, I have found an incredible mental release from writing my thoughts and ideas in my blog. Prior to bogging, I never attempted poetry or writing down recipes. I have found that my blog has helped in focusing my creative energy. It has been fun in many ways. I love that I am able to include many different aspects of my life in one place.


One of the newest additions for my blog is providing interesting reviews for those reading my blog. When evaluating blogs, those with a high traffic flow have more opportunities when being paid by advertising sites. Compared to many, I have a lower traffic flow. What is great about Pay Per Post is that there are opportunities for both high traffic and lower traffic bloggers through blog marketing. Each opportunity has its own requirements. However, one common thread for opportunities is that a disclosure is required of all bloggers.


My recommendation for all bloggers is take a look at what Pay Per Post has to offer. You can easily incorporate their opportunities into your existing blog. Your blog continues to offer all of your creative writing with the extra recommendations for your readers. After you take a look, let me know what your opinions are of Pay Per Post.

Travel With Me...

I love to travel
I love to share

What a perfect site
To preview anywhere

When I’m done with my trip
I can share my new pics

With all of my contacts
Just one easy click


Gusto! is a free travel site that helps you plan, daydream and share memories of your trips, with helpful resources, unbiased member reviews and online photo sharing.
You can join Gusto free at gusto.com/bzz and receive a free upgrade to 2GB of online photo storage.

Gusto was a top website pick for US News & World Report! Check it out.

Knowledge & Children

Throughout the history of education, knowledge has been encouraged through the discovery of ideas from textbooks and teachers. But, according to Kincheloe, Slattery & Steinberg (2000, p.76), knowledge that is constructed and invented is worth the most and should be the emphasis of today’s model of education. Constructed knowledge produces a classroom environment where students are free to question the content and validity of both the text and curriculum. The pursuit of knowledge in this fashion will not only gain and hold student interest, but also encourages the application of new knowledge to the student’s life and will lay a foundation for the continuation of critical thinking skills.

Astington (1997, p.95) discusses the importance of students constructing knowledge with the guidance and assistance of educators. Through this process, all groups of students can participate and will benefit individually and together, as a class. This knowledge is needed by all students in order to acquire learning skills and discovery of the various subject areas taught in the classroom.

In addition, when first entering school, students should have the knowledge given to them by their parents. Parents who instill and talk to their children about other “people’s thoughts, wants, and feelings” (Astington, 1997, p.96), will foster an understanding of other students and society. All students need this basic knowledge as they begin the primary years of education. With this basic knowledge instilled in the young student, an educator will be able to guide the young mind to the construction and invention of new knowledge and ideas.

Astington, J.W. (1997). Reflective teaching and learning: children's and teachers' theories of mind. Teaching Education 9(2). 95-103.

Kincheloe, J.L., Slattery, P., & Steinberg, S.R. (2000). Contextualizing Teaching: Introduction to Education and Educational Foundations. New York: Longman.

New Slide!!

And here they are together playing on their new slide!! They did not go to bed until 10 pm last night... they love it!! Anthony says "weee" and many of you know he doesn't really talk yet... so we were so excited to hear this expressive word from him.


Only one boo-boo so far.. Elizabeth fell off and busted her bottom lip - put her tooth right through it... but recovered quickly and went right back for more!

Cute Bubby

Princess Elizabeth

In Persuasion Nation by George Saunders

Check out reviews for In Persuasion Nation by George Saunders (part 1 and 2). You can also see him in person. That's right, fans. Take a look at his upcoming book tour dates:

George Saunders Book Tour Dates
Feb 8: Canisius College (Buffalo NY)
March 7-8: Cornell
March 14-15: Portland, OR (with Mary Gaitskill)
March 30: Housing Works Bookstore, New York, NY (with Jonathan Lethem)
April 5: Virginia Commonwealth University
April 14: Satire Festival, Maryland
April 17-18: Oberlin College (Oberlin, Ohio)

One favorite take on In Persuasion Nation is from The Philadelphia Inquirer which describes Saunders as "Kafka trapped in a Jerry Springer universe." (Runner up? "A marketing expert gone mad.") So what does that mean? Oh, let's see ... how about bottomless greed, maniacal competitiveness, hyper-materialism, environmental obliviousness and spiritual callousness? George Saunders' collection of short stories explores a world in which junk food is not only alive, but aggressive; people speak in television commercial sound bites and orphans get sold to a market research firm.

A social satirist, Saunders has earned enthusiastic acclaim (including comparisons to George Orwell and Kurt Vonnegut) and a devoted cult following, thanks to his first two story collections and the recent novella The Brief and Frightening Reign of Phil. His best work yet, In Persuasion Nation features 12 brilliant stories of regular people living in a culture obsessed with entertainment and short-term fulfillment. Both strange and eerily familiar, this collection inspired some pretty fascinating conversations around our office!

Preview In Persuasion Nation by George Saunders (two stories) on sale 3/6/07, paperback, $14.00 list price

George Saunders Saunders is the author of CivilWarLand in Bad Decline and Pastoralia, both of which were New York Times Notable Books, and the political novella The Brief and Frightening Reign of Phil. He also wrote a children's book, The Very Persistent Gappers of Frip, which was a New York Times bestseller. In 2006, he was awarded a MacArthur Fellowship, making him an official genius. He writes regularly for The New Yorker and Harper's, as well as for Esquire, GQ and The New York Times Magazine. Saunders teaches at Syracuse University. Visit the book's website at inpersuasionnation.com, a goldmine of reviews, fun downloads and information.

Get a 25% discount off of this book offered in this BzzCampaign by going to us.penguingroup.com and entering the code BZZFEB when you check out. Hurry, this offer expires on April 17th!

Sandra

My friend Sandra
Always cheerful and bright

We gave birth to our babies
On nearly the same night

I visited her, she visited me
We had the same hospital stay

Two years went by
She is still sunny every day

Out with the girls
A birthday celebration
A jealous old boyfriend
Ended her life with no hesitation

Found by her baby
On the cold basement floor

He was found hanging
Behind a different door

Dedicated to my friend Sandra, who was killed by a former boyfriend this past Sunday Night

http://www.10nbc.com/index.asp?template=item&story_id=21615

Classroom Kit for National Poetry Month

If you are involved in educating children (a classroom or homeschool teacher, a school or public librarian, a reading specialist, a PTA member, an administrator, etc.) here’s a free gift for you.

Celebrate National Poetry Month and Young People’s Poetry Week, April 16-22, with a free classroom kit suitable for grades 2-5. The kit includes a full-color poster featuring a poem and art from Douglas Florian’s new poetry collection, Comets, Stars, the Moon, and Mars. You’ll also receive a pack of special poetry-writing pencils for your students, a Florian author bio, and tips on writing poetry from Douglas Florian himself!

(Allow 2-4 weeks for delivery; offer good while supplies last.)

http://www.harcourtbooks.com/TK8/

Breathe

I’m ok, breathe it in
It’s my choice, breathe it in
It’s my money, breathe it in
It’s my life, breathe it in

I can’t breathe, breathe it in
I can’t walk, breathe it in
I can’t work, breathe it in
I can’t live, breathe it in

Stop
Too late

I hurt
I’m angry
Fix me… please

Suffering,
Gasping, hacking,
Desperate wishes,
No breath comes

No fond memories...

My father died prematurely. I do not have any memories of my father when he was healthy... he was always sick in my mind...Unable to walk many steps, unable to breathe...suffering slowly for 20 years.
There are no memories of running around with my father. No memories of playing ball, catch, tag, wrestling, or any other sport.

My memories include oxygen, hacking noises, hitting his back, and slow, agonizing walking when we ventured anywhere. There were pills, inhalers, hospital visits and aids that came to the house to take care of him. Stress, arguing, yelling, and constant fear gripped my house.

My father only met one of his five grandchildren. My oldest son, Marshall (now almost 12) attended his grandfather's funeral when he was 9 months old. There are no memories for any of them.

Marshall tells me regularly he will not follow in his grandfather's footsteps; he wishes he knew his grandfather. It makes both of us sad when he longs to have known him. He has asked to see and have pictures of him, so that he can feel a connection to what he has lost.

I am not the only daughter that has lost a parent to smoking. I have never touched, inhaled or smoked because of the loss that I experienced from this terrible, addictive, product that destroys families and lives.

If you have children, grandchildren or plan to have a family in the future, you should consider how this product may forever change the course of your life and your family.

There are many products and programs available, but from what I understand, there needs to be a need to stop. If you have approached this point in your life please get the help you need to accomplish this task.

Be sure to visit http://www.nicodermcq.com/ for more information to help you or someone you know quit smoking. At this site, you can find out more about your addiction. You can also find a support coach, or link up with someone else who is trying to quit. Develop your plan and become healthier today.

Is Education in the US Improving?

After reading the National Goals adopted by the former President Bush and Congress in 1989 and reflecting upon the situation in my school and many other schools, which are in the national spotlight, I am first inclined to say, what happened? Why have we not seen these goals followed through? What can we do to change this situation, in order to achieve these goals in a reasonable time? I will address each of the eight National Education goals of and reflect how or if they have been met at my school and note whether I feel the goal is still relevant.

The first National Education Goal was School Rediness. This goals states, "by the year 2000, all children in America will start school ready to learn." In my school district there are a few "Head Start" programs available for pre-school children. These programs help to prepare pre-school children for kindergarten and routines found in school. However, there have not been enough programs implemented to prepare each child entering kindergarten in the City School District. Many parents are not even aware that their children should be entered into a preschool program that will give their child a successful start in the school system. In fact, many children are still not receiving proper health care, immunizations, and nutrition. Every child in the City School District does have the ability to eat breakfast before school and lunch during school hours. I feel that this goal is relevant. However, without additional funding for free services and parental support and understanding of this goal, children will not be prepared for school in the preschool years.

The second National Education Goal was School Completion. This goal states, "By the year 2000, the high school graduation rate will increase to at least 90 percent." In my High School approximately 700 freshmen are admitted each year. Our graduation of seniors is approximately 110 each year, or 16% of our freshman class graduates. Therefore, our dropout rate is close to 84%. Our High School likes to hide this fact by creatively saying our students are being transferred to other sites in the City School District and to Alternative Programs. However, it is accurate to say that 84% of our incoming freshmen will not graduate from our high school. My high school's minority rate is close to 85% with 70% of students on some form of government assistance. There has not been a decrease in dropout rates in the last 10 years, in fact more students have dropped out because of higher graduation requirements and failure to pass New York State mandated competency tests. This goal is also still relevant. However, a better plan to attack the problem of dropouts especially in the minority population needs to be addressed.

The third National Education Goal was Student Achievement and Citizenship. This goal states, "by the year 2000, all students will leave grades 4, 8 and 12 having demonstrated competency over challenging subject matter including English, mathematics, science, foreign languages, civics and government, economics, arts, history, and geography, and every school in America will ensure that all students learn to use their minds well, so they may be prepared for responsible citizenship, further learning, and productive employment in our Nation's modern economy." From my experience at my High School, the students who are entering 9th grade are not entering with the competency needed in these various subject areas. They are simply being pushed through the grades because the middle schools are crowded and they cannot stay there. Many of my 9th grade students read at an elementary school level without comprehension of what they are reading. They are not familiar with how to use a ruler and must use a calculator for simple math problems. They are not aware of the world around them. They do not want to be responsible for their own deeds and rarely pick up after themselves after a science lab period or after eating their lunch in the cafeteria. I really worry about how these students will survive in the world once they drop out or graduate from High School. I do not think this goal is relevant to my current High School. Instead of demanding further testing and competency, we should try to enable students to see the connection between the subjects and material they are learning in High School and the "real world". Once students see this connection, they may be more willing to learn and explore and become responsible with their actions and belongings.

The fourth National Education Goal was Teacher Education and Professional Development. This goal states, "By the year 2000, the Nation's teaching force will have access to programs for the continued improvement of their professional skills and the opportunity to acquire the knowledge and skills needed to instruct and prepare all American students for the next century." In my school district new teachers are given mentors and expected to attend a number of professional development programs throughout the school year. Many of these programs are convenient and located right in the same building in which you teach. Many are interesting and directly applicable to the classroom setting. I feel that this goal is relevant and educators should have the opportunity to continue to learn and network with other educators.

The fifth National Education Goal was Mathematics and Science. This goal states, "By the year 2000, United States students will be first in the world in mathematics and science achievement." I feel that our country and my school are far from this goal. It is a well-known fact that the United States has not surpassed every known country in the fields of math and science. Our country is well behind several other industrialized counties whose children are more advanced in these fields. At the beginning of the school year, the freshmen science students in my classroom are not aware of measurements in the metric system and cannot distinguish between the metric and our US measurement system. Therefore, the concepts of the metric system are still not being taught in the younger grades. Additionally, there continues to be a decrease in the number of math and science teachers with a well-known shortage in these areas across the United States. I do not feel that this is a relevant goal for our country. Why does the United States need to be first? We should be more concerned with what are students are learning and retaining through the years, than the world ranking of our students is in a particular area.

The sixth National Education Goal was Adult Literacy and Lifelong Learning. This goal states, "By the year 2000, every adult American will be literate and will possess the knowledge and skills necessary to compete in global economy and exercise the rights and responsibilities of citizenship." My students often tell me that they cannot get help to complete their homework because their parents can not read. Therefore, I am very aware that we, as a nation, have not reached this goal. Many of these adults feel that they have "gotten by" their entire life without the ability to read, so why start now. If we are to reach every adult, we must somehow change the attitudes of these adults in order to encourage them to learn this vital skill. This is an important goal for our country. We may not reach every adult, but we should certainly increase funding in order to do our best to teach every American who desires to learn how to read.

The seventh National Education Goal was Safe, Disciplines, and Alcohol - and Drug-Free Schools. This goal states, "By the year 2000, every school in the United States will be free of drugs, violence, and the unauthorized presence of firearms and alcohol and will offer a disciplined environment conductive to learning." Instead of our school becoming more organized and safe, our schools across the nation have become out of control. Rampant school shooting, drugs being sold on campus, students who outright threaten, abuse, and commit violent acts against other classmates, students who refuse to listen to authority figures, and this is unfortunately becoming the norm across America. Administrators tell educators that our schools are safe, but teachers often wonder why our schools are getting worse and not better. In my school, when I walk up and down stairwells and halls, I often smell pot being smoked, I see students walking out of classrooms, I hear students yelling and screaming in the classroom, I see students throwing objects at each other, etc. We have police officers permanently stationed at my school and sentries who are supposed to handle violent incidents or students who show defiance to authority. But their presence in my school is not a threat, students will continue to act in this way because they do not care about the consequences and there is no parental support to change these behaviors. As I look over all of these goals, to me this one is the most important and most relevant. We, as a nation and educators, need to take back control of our schools from the students.

The eighth National Education Goal of was Parental Participation. This goal states, "By the year 2000, every school will promote partnerships that will increase parental involvement and participation in promoting the social, emotional, and academic growth of children." In my school, there is an active PTA with very few members. During Parent-Teacher conferences, only a handful of parents come in to discuss their child's progress. I send notes home with my students and via the US mail and call parents on the telephone. Yet, parents do not overly support their child's education by becoming actively involved or initiating contact. Students often tell me that their parent will not help them on homework assignments or review their work. It is unfortunate that we are raising a generation of students who see the lack of parental support and will most likely continue this cycle with their own children. This goal is also important in the fact that in order to increase student participation and completion of work, we must have parental support. If the parents do not support the educators, the students will see not consequences when they do not complete assignments, do not learn material and fail a course or grade.

Overall, I feel that the educational goals previously mentioned have not been met. Is eighteen years not long enough? Should this type of work be extended over the next 25 or 50 years? It will be interesting to note what the educational goals for the new President will entail. I would like to see him or her address these goals, which have not been met.

Snow Day

Blowing, swirling and twirling around
Can’t see through it
Homebound

Bright and quiet
The muffled sound
Of winter comes down

Gloves, hats, scarves, boots
Might keep you warm
On this cold winter Day

Push it back
Salt thrown around
Clearing the way
For children and parents to play

"Out of Sync" High Schools

Keller’s (2001) article sites several important aspects of today’s youth which should be taken into account when reflecting on the high school experience. These include the studies that indicate the sleep rhythms of adolescents are quite different than adults. Teenagers tend to stay up later in the evening and sleep in later. In my current high school this is reflected by stragglers into school who tend to wake up late on a daily basis. We have an extended Homebase period every day. This gives students the time in the early am to socialize, visit teachers for extra help and catch up on homework that was not completed the previous night. Our extended Homebase period allows for nearly full attendance by the time school actually begins at 8:00 am. Other examples provided by Keller (2001) include that students are often rule-bound and schools do not build “on their desire to connect to the real world.” Many classes provide “too much seat time” and lack purpose.

Viadero (2001) continues with the observation that “1/2 of high school seniors leave school today with out the skills they need to succeed in work or further study.” In addition, in urban schools, “1/2 of freshmen disappear before reaching the end of the senior year.” In my current urban high school, this last quote is currently true. Our freshman incoming class is usually around 300 pupils, however or senor graduating class was just over 100 students. By the time the students reach the upper levels, many have chosen alternative GED programs, dropped out, or transferred to alternative vocational programs. We as educators are obviously not meeting the needs of today’s young students.

References:
Keller, B. (2001). Schools Seen as Out of Sync With Teens. World Wide Web: http://educationweek.org/ew/ewstory.cfm?slug=33develop.h20
Viadero, D. (2001). Getting Serious About High School. World Wide Web: http://www.edweek.org/ew/ewstory.cfm?slug=30highschool.h20

Yummy (so easy) Beef Bake

½ - 1 lb Beef strips
2 medium yellow onions
About 6 medium carrots
About 12 salt potatoes
1 Red Bell Pepper
About 12 fresh mushrooms
Olive Oil
Italian Seasoning
Garlic Salt
Garlic Pepper

Pre-heat oven to 350°

In a 9x13 or larger glass dish put in enough olive oil to cover the bottom of the glass dish.

Add lots of Italian seasoning, sprinkle with garlic salt and garlic pepper.

Put beef strips in the glass dish and stir them so that they are completely coated with the olive oil and seasonings.

Wash carrots, potatoes and mushrooms. Then cut them into ½ inch chunks (do not peel potatoes).

Cut onions and pepper into strips.

Mix veggies in with the beef making sure that all veggies are also coated with the oil and seasoning mix.

Cover with foil and bake in oven for 1 ½ hrs.

Omega-3’s are they really important to your diet?

Having enough Omega-3’s in your diet, can make a difference to your mental and physical health and help you loose weight!

The hormones controlled by diet are far more powerful than any drug you’ll ever take. Maintaining hormonal equilibrium within a therapeutic range is essential for controlling inflammation and maximizing cellular rejuvenation by turning “on” and “off’ the flow of genetic information. This is the biochemical key for establishing a life-long strategy for weight control and risk-management of chronic disease.

Decreasing Inflammation
Excess weight gain is caused by inflammation within the fat cell. Left uncontrolled, this inflammation makes it increasingly difficult to stop the accumulation of body fat and reduce excess weight. When fat “goes bad” (becomes inflamed) powerful inflammatory hormones called eicosanoids trigger systemic inflammation throughout the body increasing numerous health risks related to heart, brain and immune function, just like a viral infection. This type of systemic inflammation “Silent Inflammation” because you cannot see it or feel it. Despite our inability to sense its presence, Silent Inflammation significantly increases the risk of chronic health disorders like problems with the heart and blood sugar levels. This explains why cutting calories and increasing exercise alone are not enough. First and foremost, you must control inflammation within the fat cells.

While there isn’t a single drug that can decrease inflammation within the fat cells, the foods you eat can! The reason fat cells become inflamed in the first place is caused by the accumulation of arachadonic acid (AA) as a result of diet especially one rich in refined carbohydrates that stimulate insulin production. Uncontrolled inflammation in the fat cells causes insulin resistance thus making you fatter while increasing inflammation levels throughout the body. Left unchecked, systemic inflammation compromises heart, brain, and immune function plus accelerates pre-mature aging.

Controlling Insulin
By eating the right combination of foods to reduce insulin coupled with adequate levels of Omega-3 fatty acids (EPA and DHA) that the body cannot make and are seldom found in the average diet, you can better control insulin levels and in turn reduce Silent Inflammation both within fat cells and systemically. EPA decreases the levels of AA that generate the chronic pro-inflammatory responses while DHA stimulates certain genes useful in burning stored body fat at a faster rate. By controlling Silent Inflammation within the fat cells and throughout the body, you can achieve successful weight loss and simultaneously optimize heart, brain and immune function.

The orchestration of the above is essential for weight loss, and the foods you eat are critical to your success for controlling the ideal hormonal balance necessary to decrease inflammation and stabilize insulin. Inflammatory eicosanoids and elevated insulin levels increase as you age and must be normalized to help control this delicate hormonal balance. Every meal and snack determines this balance, good or bad, for the next 4-6 hours each and every day.

Want to learn More?
You can learn even more about Omega-3’s and their importance to your health in the previously published article: “Are you Omega-3 deficient?”http://www.gather.com/viewArticle.jsp?articleId=281474976879333

Panic

Sudden, what’s wrong
Squeeze, can’t breathe
Thumping, heart skipping
Pounding, pressure rising
Thready, no pulse
Numb, can’t touch
Scared, crying
Dizzy, falling down
Shaking, can’t stop
Dark room, lay down
Close eyes, see nothing
Close mind, think nothing
Wait, almost done
So tired, time to rest

Should Colleges Continue to Require the SAT/ACT?

In the United States, a high school diploma is normally conferred based on taking a certain number of courses, not on reaching a particular standard of achievement. There are no exams that all students nationwide must pass in order to be eligible for university study. Admission standards vary from institution to institution to the extent that some open-enrollment colleges and universities permit almost any student to attend. Unless students are among the few who plan on applying to highly selective institutions, there are no external incentives encouraging them to work hard and do well in difficult courses. Good grades were once the required currency for college admission, and a high school diploma was once a pretty good ticket to a decent job. But today good grades aren't necessary to enter most colleges.

The two exams that most commonly serve as a gateway to college in the United States, the SAT and ACT, are not based on the curriculum students study in school. College-bound students in the United States are not required to take any advanced subject-specific exams. The most common requirement of college-bound students is that they have obtained a minimal number of course credits, though this is not necessarily a reliable indicator of their academic performance. Very high grades and test scores, correlate strongly with success. Very low grades and scores usually mean failure. Those who take AP exams may do so in any subject in which the exams are offered, but there are no government or university requirements in terms of subject areas or numbers of exams to be taken. Current college/university standards require that institutions monitor and assess the progress of candidates, establish and publish criteria or outcomes for exit, and provide candidates appropriate academic and professional advisement from admission through completion of their education programs.

In New York State, all students have the option of taking "Regents" (college preparatory-level) courses during their secondary years and then taking Regents exams before they graduate. Students who do pass the exams will have this noted on their diplomas for all to see, and New York's state university system gives preference to students who score well on Regents exams. New York is the only state in which a large number of high school graduates participate in a curriculum-based examination system. The system works; notably, when you control for family income, parental education, race and gender, New York has the highest average SAT scores of any state.

Colleges and Universities enacting higher admission standards would need to notify applicants that to be accepted at this particular college/university, students will have to complete a college-preparatory curriculum and attain a minimum GPA, SAT/ACT score, or class rank. This may cause a decrease in enrollment due to lack of qualified applicants. However, the initial loss in enrollment can be made up over time if potential applicants realized that the quality of the institution had improved with increased standards.

Yummy (so easy) Chicken Bake

½ - 1 lb chicken strips… (I have also used Chicken Breast)
2 medium yellow onions
About 6 medium carrots
About 12 salt potatoes
Olive Oil
Italian Seasoning
Garlic Salt
Garlic Pepper

Pre-heat oven to 350°

In a 9x13 or larger glass dish put in enough olive oil to cover the bottom of the glass dish.

Add lots of Italian seasoning, sprinkle with garlic salt and garlic pepper.

Put chicken strips in the glass dish and stir them so that they are completely coated with the olive oil and seasonings.

Wash carrots and potatoes and cut them into ½ inch chunks (do not peel potatoes).

Cut onions into strips.

Mix veggies in with the chicken making sure that all veggies are also coated with the oil and seasoning mix.

Cover with foil and bake in oven for 1 ½ hrs. When I make this with chicken breast, I will uncover for the last half hour to brown the breasts.

Are Special Ed Students treated too Special?

It is without question that students with special needs may not be excluded from school based upon their handicap. However, the safety of other students may be at stake in some situations regarding students who are emotionally or behaviorally disturbed.

There was a specific situation that occurred in my classroom that put both regular ed students and a student who had an IEP for a learning disability as risk. With out anyone's knowledge, one of my IEP students had brought a cigarette lighter to school. During one of my classes, he flicked the lighter on under another students arm. I saw the flash of light, and immediately knew what he had done. I looked at him and asked him to go to his administrator's office and stay there until I came down at the end of the period. I also had a paraprofessional in my room (because of the number of special ed students in the room this period) and I asked him to walk the student to his administrator and tell the administrator what had happened. The para as well as most of the students in the classroom did not see the incident. Previous to this, the student had never had a problem in my class or any of his classes this year. He stated that he was not aware that a lighter was a weapon and now realized he should not have brought it to school. The student was suspended from my class for 3 days and given in school suspension and several after school detentions. If this had been a regular education student, I feel the consequences would have been much more severe, but he was protected by his classification.

Based on this situation and others, It is my opinion that special education students who are emotionally or behaviorally disturbed should be placed in a classroom where there is constant supervision and low teacher to student ratio's. These students need to be reminded of school rules and acceptable behavior more often than traditional regular education students.