Monthly Archives: February 2012
Best Remark of the Day
New Jersey Governor Chris Christie is definitely not afraid of speaking his mind. There is no doubt I agree with his comments regarding Warren Buffett. Buffett has repeatedly called for higher taxes on those who are rich, and this is coming from a man who owes taxes going back to 2002.
Christie said:
Cut a check and shut up, that’s what I say, okay? I’m tired of hearing about it. He wants to pay more taxes, pay more.
Christie is right on the money with this comment. Perhaps, Buffett should do what’s right and pay more taxes. God knows he makes enough, and if he wants to pay more, then by all means, he should pay more.
Welcome to the Nanny State…School Lunch Inspections?
Remember the days when you could take a Peanut Butter and Jelly Sandwich, along with a snack bag of Doritos and a Twinkie to school for lunch. Well, those days are gone like the wind.
Welcome to the Nanny State, where state officials can take your lunch and replace it with what they feel is the healthier option. Recently, a student at West Hoke Elementary School in North Carolina had her lunch removed, because a government inspector thought her lunch was not healthy enough.
According to the John W. Pope Civitas Foundation, the student brought a lunch packed by her mother, which contained a turkey and cheese sandwich, a banana, apple juice, and a snack bag of potato chips.
What is so unhealthy (maybe with the exception of potato chips) about the rest of the student’s lunch? The real question that should be brought up: Whatever happened to parental rights? Is it not the right of the parents to pack a lunch that best fits the nutritional needs of their children, without government intervention?
So, what did the government give the child in return for the so-called unhealthy lunch? Chicken Nuggets. They are supposedly healthier than a turkey and cheese sandwich, apple juice, and a banana. I wonder where the government official and school system took their nutritional courses.
Welcome to the Nanny State…where parental rights are assaulted every day and a freedom destroyed.
Journey into Bikram Yoga
You knew this post was eventually coming, and I forewarned you that I was going to write about other things outside of politics. So, without further adieu, I present to you the first into my series focusing on fitness.
With health care costs increasing significantly every year and with obesity rates at 36%, exercise is the best preventative medicine around (along with eating right…but I’m not going to go all Michelle Obama on this post). It gives you energy and for the most part, it provides focus and clarity.
Today, I ventured into a Bikram Yoga class. It was not my first time encountering a 104 degree room and holding poses. I had been before, but I was not thoroughly convinced that it would be the perfect alternative to running. However, after today’s class, I feel this could be an alternative.
Bikram Yoga has many benefits including increased flexibility through intense stretching, and allows the ability to sweat out the toxins. Of course, you need to drink lots of water before, during, and after practice to remain hydrated due to the excessive amount of sweat loss.
Running has caused a few injuries along the way, and lately, I have been feeling frustrated by the fact that I am in pain a few hours after a long run. It is great cardio, and one that has contributed to my overall weight loss. From being overweight in high school, I bought my first pair of running shoes during my freshman year in college, and the first run was painful. Needless to say, I have been running strong over the years with several races under my belt (a 5-K, 8-K, 10-K, and a 10 miler), and a goal to run a half marathon this year.
However, I need balance. I tried CrossFit, but I feel like that it is taking away from my overall flexibility. Yes, I like weight lifting, but I really don’t need to add muscle mass or bulk to my petite frame. Yoga feels like a natural complement to running. I just feel flexible and peaceful after class, which is a good thing.
In the end, if you can take the heat and are willing to embrace your inner self through the practice, you should definitely try Bikram Yoga (or another form, if you are not a big fan of the heat). The health benefits are tremendous, and there is no doubt that you will leave with a peaceful feeling at the end of practice.
Susan G. Komen Foundation Pulls Grant from Planned Parenthood
In business, there are times when you need to look over a budget carefully and decide whether or not you can give grants to certain organizations. Sometimes, it is feasible and other times, it is not quite possible to make grants to other organizations.
Yesterday, news broke that Susan G. Komen Foundation was not giving grants to Planned Parenthood. It was a move to strengthen their granting process and free up money for services to help women, who might not have access to care. According to a statement from Susan G. Komen Foundation’s Founder and CEO Ambassador Nancy Brinker, the decision to stop funding Planned Parenthood was based in part to a strategy that was meant to safeguard donor dollars, and it was not based on politics.
Since the decision was made, there has been backlash from many who support Planned Parenthood and feel the decision was made for political reasons. Planned Parenthood has been under scrutiny and investigation for their organization’s practices, involving abortions. Supporters of Planned Parenthood have been attacking Susan G. Komen on their Facebook page and on social media outlets, such as Twitter. There has been a surge in donations to Planned Parenthood in response to the decision.
The Susan G. Komen Foundation made the best decision for the future of their organization. If anything, perhaps they realize that the Congressional investigation into Planned Parenthood’s practices might harm their reputation. It is also pretty bad, considering that an undercover investigation discovered that a majority of their clinics do not offer mammograms. A Susan G. Komen Foundation donor (and potential donors) might want to know how Planned Parenthood used the money. There is no doubt that this had to be a factor in the decision to eliminate the grants.
Cross posted at Bearing Drift
