CPSIA again....

Tweek it to suit your needs and send it on to your Senator: http://www.senate.gov/general/contact_information/senators_cfm.cfm You can do it via email, so what is your excuse??? :)

Dear Senator Lugar,
I have been a small business retailer of specialty baby items for 6 years, however all of that is about to change because of the CPSIA standard. This standard was a reaction to toxic levels of lead being slipped into items manufactured in certain Asian countries, as a result some of my best manufacturers will be unable to afford the component testing prices required of all toys (included wooden toys with water based paint) that are well above and beyond those requirements necessary for sale in all of Europe. These are respectable companies that have never had lead recalls but they are the ones being penalized for a mistake that was not theirs as they have always put the safety of children above their bottom line. I fear that in the next year our children will not be able to have wooden blocks from respectable companies like Selecta Spielzeug and many handmade in American brands but will be completely able to buy another plastic pre-mold from China b/c the testing is cheaper there and their bulk sales are higher. Rep. Weiner from Virgina wrote a fantastic letter expressing his concerns to the CPSA and I encourage you to research this issue and do the same. You can find more information at: http://www.handmadetoyalliance.org/

Sincerely,
Kathleen Field
Mother of 3 young boys
Owner of Little Ants Inc in Evansville, IN

Katie

Reason #18 Just War

So the other day Alexander and I were chatting about David and Goliath. He told me David cut his head off, I said that I didn't remember that part of the story so we looked it up and of course he was right. We then read about how he carried the head around town for a while after. Alexander asked what everyone did after that so we talked briefly about how the loser was supposed to be the others slave etc.

Anyway, he later came up to me a little troubled about fighting and how that worked with me telling him that it is wrong to hurt other people and fight. So we talked briefly (he is only 6) about how there is criteria for what fights are worth fighting and considered just.

I thought about and realized that this is somewhere that Catholic schools are really lacking. Growing up as a girl, I could never get into the wars. The violence, loss of life and blood shed was just too much for my heart to handle so I memorized, regurgitated for the test and moved on. I still don't know much about a single war. What would have been fascinating and helped me see through all the bloodshed (and I am guessing would help other sensitive children) is for the discussion to also include an analysis of whether the war was just or not. I know this might seem like a lot to ask of a teacher, but it will definitely be the way that my children are presented information about wars. The church has laid out very specific criteria for a war to be considered just and how we view the answers to the criteria can be a little gray but worth an interesting discussion and doesn't allow for the memorize and regurgitate that I think so many children view school subjects as today.

My Middle Child

So Dominic decided that he was going to take a bath and then changed his mind. Since he already was already naked, Alexander suggested maybe he should just get dressed (it is only 2:30pm). Dominic said, "okay but can someone else get me clothes, I don't really like going up and down in the same day." referring to the stairs he would have to climb to get clothing. I think he needs to buy a ranch house when he grows up.

Note: he is still standing in the bathroom naked and probably freezing b/c he doesn't want to walk all the way upstairs.

God Bless Dominic (and whoever he marries).

Too funny not to share...

So the question remains, paid off or threatened?

"When U.S. Senator Peter Fitzgerald announced in spring 2003 that he would not run for re-election in 2004, the Bush administration approached Edgar about running for the seat. Due to his overwhelming popularity that still exists today, Edgar was seen as a very formidable Senate candidate.

Edgar seemed likely to enter the race, but he suddenly announced he would not seek the seat, saying instead that he was giving his wife an early Mother's Day gift. His medical problems (he had recently undergone heart surgery) were also cited. The Senate seat eventually went to Democrat Barack Obama."

Just can't trust those Chicago politicians. I was looking into it and 3 out of 5 former IL Governors have been arrested, one of the other ones had a policy he made that only allowed for republicans to have state jobs go to the supreme court. The fifth is Jim Edgar. So the question remains was he paid off or threatened?