Seriously?

Yes. Seriously.
The powers that be think it is a very good idea to put a criminal mental health facility across the street from an elementary school and preschool. (As if sharing a fence with the sewer wasn't enough.)

As usual, following the money trail is very enlightening. For starters, the medical director of CARE Hawaii, Inc. is also (well, whaddayaknow?) the owner of the property where the facility would be. I'm sure there is plenty more dirt to uncover, but I have other pressing issues tonight.

The acting administrator of the State Health Planning and Development Agency (SHPDA) informed my state Representative of the criteria that are used to determine whether the state will allow a facility to exist. The major criteria are: "relationship to the sate plan, need and accessibility, quality of service/care, cost and finances, relationship to the existing healthcare system, and availability of resources". The full criteria are listed here. **Note that "impact on surrounding community" is not one of the cirteria.

If you live in this area, please get involved and contact Darryl D. Shutter, the Acting Administrator of SHPDA. This is really a challenging assignment, as all of your comments must deal only with the aforementioned criteria. No reason, or logic allowed. The email address is shpda@doh.hawaii.gov, the fax number is 587-0788.

If you don't live in the area, please pray that this facility would not be allowed to be located at this address, or any other so near to children.

Back In Black

I wish I had more creativity, but this is about as good as it gets for me. I go from black to grey and back again for my blog. I suppose I could take an art class, or something... any advice for good blog designs?

Oooh! Wow! Good Night.

It was awesome, but that is what happened at our house. It was perfectly clear and beautfiul to see. But it was, uh...12:51 AM.

Ouch!

It looks like I'll have to make another Amazon order soon. This book sounds like a must read. Check out the excerpt over at Between Two Worlds.

(Hat Tip: PalmtreePundit)

But of Course

My Peculiar Aristocratic Title is: Reverend Countess Jeanne the Encompassing of Waldenshire under Throcket Get your Peculiar Aristocratic Title

(Hat Tip: Empress Anne the Decent of Much Bottom )

Oh No You Di'int!!

"Catholic churches in the Netherlands should use the name Allah for God to ease tensions between Muslims and Christians, says a Dutch bishop."

The problem, of course, is that we are not calling upon the same God. It's short,so give it a read.

I do agree with the bishop, that God is above the names we try to give Him. However, we should not decide what to call Him based on an effort at appeasement of those who have a tendency toward violence. Every believer should call upon the name of the Lord their God in the culture of their own. In my middle class American lifestyle, it's God, or Abba, thankyouverymuch.

Nifty Stocking Stuffer?

"It resembles a hand-held electric razor and is available in metallic pink, electric blue, titanium silver and black pearl.

But it gives out a 50,000-volt jolt that short-circuits brain signals and momentarily incapacitates."

Of course, Amnesty International thinks it's mean.

It's a Tazer for the common folk. The whole story is here. What do you think about this?

It's My Blog And I'll Cry If I Want To

Today was the start of week 2 of school at our house. Simply put, it wasn't pretty. I was in tears--and shivering because our A/C is malfunctioning--by 8:30 AM. Considering that I actually break down and cry about 3 times a year (including funerals) this does not bode well for our little academy in the sun.

I got to pull myself together just in time to take a pregnant teenager to her first OB appointment, while being on the lookout for her abusive ex-boyfriend. Interesting. The appointment took 2 hours. Of Course. Actually the appointment took an hour. We waited for an hour.

All of this follows an exceptionally rough Sunday, which was anything but restorative.

God Answers Prayers

That may seem like an extreme title as you continue to read this post, but I don't think so. I have been praying for this to happen longer than I have even been a Christian! People, Whole Foods is coming to my town!!!!
An article detailing it is here, but it really does not do this momentous occasion justice....Allow me:

Whole Foods Saves Woman
Finally, after nearly 12 years of having to piecemeal a quasi-organic and natural foods diet for her family, one woman's dream has been realized. Whole Foods is setting up shop in her very own town. Gone are the days of schlepping two babies into that wretched Down To Earth on King Street. No more scary, scuzzy,3 foot wide parking structures. 'Finito' to hauling the babies in the urine scented elevator, plopping them into a "shopping cart" that would then be full--of babies, not food!
'Basta' to the half rotted produce that passes for organic at the markets!
It is all coming to an end, and I will wear a red dress to the funeral. HOORAY!

Shameful

In homage to the Emperor and his fine new clothes, the U.S. has withdrawn from the Trends in Mathematics and Science Study (TIMSS). The study is an international measure of high school seniors' abilities in algebra, geometry, calculus and physics. Get a load of this:

In the past, the American results have been shockingly poor. In the last survey, taken in 1995, students from only two countries—Cyprus and South Africa—scored lower than U.S. school kids.

No kidding. Cyprus and South Africa. We should be very proud.

Conspiracy theorists suggest that the U.S. government withdrew from the study without making any announcement because it anticipated another poor showing.

Ya think?

But, wait--

Federal officials deny the charge. Mark S. Schneider, the commissioner for the Department of Education’s National Center for Education Statistics, says the decision was made after a number of other countries decided not to participate. “We looked at the countries who are participating, our scarce resources and our overextended staff,” says Schneider, “and we decided to give it a pass.”

Ironic choice of words, don't you think?

The full article is here.

Ex Duco

This is the source for the English word educate. It means to lead out of (one's self).

That was never truer to me than it is this week. We have begun our school year here, and it is definitely leading me out of self.

For starters, this year marks my sixth year homeschooling. (That is amazing to me!) Most of you who are homeschooling know that every year is different. (This year is especially different in that I am adding another child to my roster of students. I am now teaching 6th, 7th, and 12th-ish grades.) For me, each year is different, and also intimidating. Each time I consider all that is to be accomplished with each child, I am overwhelmed. I think to myself: There is simply no way I am going to be able to make all this happen!

You know what? Without the strength of Christ, my fears are well founded--I can't accomplish the year ahead in my own strength. Luckily, I am reminded by good training and good friends, that we serve an awesome God.

So, I have decided to anchor myself to Phillipians 4:13--I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me--and trust that God will be the same God this year that He was, and will be throughout eternity.