New Citizen Alert! Had a big 'ol honkin' group of people come to the 'ol biblioteca to take the oath today to become brand-spankin' new US citizens. Our Teen Council members coordinate this at least once a year. Welcome to our new citizens and props to our teens!
Health and EntertainmentPublicist: Mischa Barton 'making improvements' via NPR Topics: Arts & Entertainment on 7/21/09 OK, nobody has come right out and said it, but the fact that they didn't indicates it's probably a mental health issue. I don't know much at all about Ms. Barton. What I want to say is, if it is a mental health problem, bravo for having the courage to take care of it before it gets out of hand. And double-kudos to those who have let the lass have privacy.
Pharmacists can't refuse Plan B pill, appeals court says via PewForum.org All News Feeds on 7/8/09 "Pharmacists are obliged to dispense the Plan B pill, even if they are personally opposed to the "morning after" contraceptive on religious grounds, a federal appeals court ruled Wednesday."
While I respect a person's individual beliefs, the pharmacists trying to refuse medications are not following the ethics of their profession. Even though I hate some of the things my library customers ask for, if it's legal and in my power, I can't refuse to look for it. Follow your professional ethics, please!
International Report
10 Mexican police officers held in killings of 12 federal agents via CNN.com Recently Published/Updated on 7/18/09
Face it, our neighbors to the south are in one helluva pickle with these drug cartels and government corruption. And, living in the US kidnapping capital, I can say without qualification that the violence is spreading across the border. It scares the crap out of me. This is just one small drop in the bucket, but bravo to those who caught the killers. It was a brave thing. Keep working on it, Mexico.
Fugitive U.S. white supremacist captured in Israel via CNN.com Recently Published/Updated on 7/14/09 "A fugitive American white supremacist was arrested Monday in Israel, ending an international manhunt that began in 2007, Israeli and U.S. officials said."
Hallelujah. Let's keep fighting the good fight against hate. And find out what would make a person like that.
Africans reach out to Obama via text messages via CNN.com Recently Published/Updated on 7/11/09 I just think this is just cool. Individuals in a continent torn apart by poverty and civil war have an avenue, however tiny, to plead their case to one of the most powerful men in the world. It may not be much, but it's a small step.
US PoliticsAlthough I did not want him for president, when Sen. McCain stands up for the right thing people listen. Well done, senator.
"With each failure our conscience is stung, and we resolve to do better," he said. "Each time we say, 'never again,' whatever our flaws, whatever dangers we face, however sharp our debates, we must remain a country with a conscience..."I will tell you, if you inflict enough pain on someone for a long enough period of time, that person is going to tell you anything that they think you want to hear in order to make the pain stop," he said...He said even if torture did elicit useful information that would help keep the country safe, the tactic is almost always wrong."
Food For ThoughtOn of the more thoghtful and well written blogs is Dave Pollard's How to Save the World.
In a recent posting entitled 4 World Changing Questions, and 12 THINGS YOU CAN DO TO MAKE THE WORLD A BETTER PLACE. Dave asks, on a personal level:
In a recent posting entitled 4 World Changing Questions, and 12 THINGS YOU CAN DO TO MAKE THE WORLD A BETTER PLACE. Dave asks, on a personal level:
1. "What one additional capacity or skill, more than any other, do you think you need to acquire or learn, to equip yourself to make the world a better place, and why? What is the single best way for you to acquire or learn (or motivate yourself to learn) that additional capacity or skill?"
2. "What one additional action, more than any other, do you think you can take, personally, to make the world a better place, and why? "
3. "What one additional action, more than any other, do you think you can take, in your community, to make the world a better place, and why?"
4. "What one additional action, more than any other, do you think you can take, in your job or enterprise, to make the world a better place, and why?"
For each question Dave asks "What's really holding you back from doing so? What can you do to get past this block?"
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