School Bullying has gone WAY too far!

I am really sick of high school kids committing crimes and then having it downplayed by the school district‘s labeling it “bullying“. When kids are going around assaulting other kids, sexually harassing them, etc…These are CRIMES adults go to jail for! Stop downplaying this problem by calling it “bullying” and address these crimes against our children for what they truly are–and for you school administrators that downplay this issue–shame on you! You’re not fit to be in charge of any child in a public school environment! Either man up and take care of the thugs or the litigation will after your districts pay some heavy fines! If it’s not stopped there, these kids may end up in prison anyway and you are the ones that wanted a “village” to raise the child…Well man up and do your bloody part! It’s happening under YOUR watch!

Here is a link to a story that should anger every parent whose child has ever been a bullying victim:

http://www.fox10tv.com/dpp/news/mississippi/family-special-needs-student-attacked
This boy is a special needs student. He is paralyzed on one side of his body and has cerebral palsy.  Granted the kid threw a soda can at his attacker after the senior called him a name but we do not know what the victim’s mental age is and such–or even if he had good aim with the can.  If the can was empty, there was no reason to react in such a fashion.  The bottom line is, as a senior, this young man should have been mature enough to set the example for the other students and  to not go off as he did on a person with a disability.  PERIOD. Sorry but while I do think the Stokes boy needs to learn to ignore such crud that is said to him and probably have some anger management therapy, there is absolutely NO EXCUSE for the senior using the force he did to levy such an injurious and brutal attack.

I can assure you that if I were the principal of that school, that senior would at least be in ISS for a while…

I am not a big fan of Fox, CNN or any of the major news networks but when I see this stuff in more than 1 report, and the info matches up on the networks, I am most likely going to express my opinion on the matter.

 

Nana Goes to the Sanctuary

The woman learned long ago that the words to this song hold very deep meaning for those who listen intently to it. With her pen in hand, she ventures up to her mountain again–and this time she won’t leave it until the arrows that are pulled from the quiver of her pen have found their target. The vision is there, but going deeper to get it is sometimes a challenge. It is often harder to follow through, but she will because this is a matter of finishing something–not starting anew. Some things are too important to not let the pen have its way. She learned long ago that those who should have stood by her were the very ones who stood in her way–hence the change of number and change of company. It paid off with a new gig… Have a great week! I hope you all dance…

And this is where one can find me–if one looks hard enough! 😉

And here’s a video to brighten your day…

https://www.youtube.com/watch?NR=1&v=RV-Z1YwaOiw&feature=endscreen

 

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Where is the Justice for the Homeless Around Here? Part II

In the first part of this entry, I talked about how the oil boom and the economic upswing in the area has affected those on low and/or fixed incomes. I am now going to add two links that will put a human face on this problem for you.  One family lives in a storage room and an elderly mother and daughter live in their van.

http://www.kwes.com/story/19579272/extreme-measure-mother-and-daughter-have-taken-to-have-a-roof-over-their-heads

http://www.newswest9.com/story/18850195/drastic-measures-o?hpt=us_bn8

There are many, many more out there who are affected by this price-gouging.  That is exactly what this has come to.   Even hotels/motels are over-priced in this area and if  you don’t believe me, check out the rates for them–and if you’re planning to travel to the East via I-20, go to places like Big Spring, Colorado City, Sweetwater and Abilene to spend the night. It will blow your mind how much cheaper the fees run in those towns for the same chains, that’s for sure.

It is bad enough that FEMA is bringing trailers in.  Seriously people, how much worse does it need to get before this nation enacts laws that prevent this type of behavior? I’m sure if the books were audited, they’d find that many aren’t even reporting the actual earnings from this price gouging as well.  I think a special investigator needs to be brought in on this with regard to the rental management practices of the two companies that own all the apartments in the area.

This problem has affected single parent families, minorities, women and the elderly and if that is not reason enough for the federal government to step in and stop this form of housing discrimination in its tracks, I do not know what is.  Most people affected by this make $35K (working families with children)  or are on a fixed income. They should be able to afford the rent, but cannot.

An actor pointed out to me  that most countries in the civilized world have enacted laws to prevent this type of behavior. Well why haven’t we?  This is not an issue for politicians to come here to make empty promises to people who are in desperate need either. We don’t need more of that.  We need leaders who will take up the mantle and force those who are doing this to these people to do the right thing.  Winter is coming and I can assure you that the emergency rooms will  be full of patients with all kinds of illnesses thanks to these profiteers.

To the ACLU:  Where are you?  To the U.S. Attorney General’s Office:  Where are you?  To those who should be leaders heralding the march to do the right thing: WHERE ARE YOU?  To the International Media: WHERE ARE YOU?

The Sign of the Ram (1948)

This performance should have gotten Susan Peters more work and an Oscar nod…Unfortunately, those times were different. Maybe in the present she can get the respect she richly deserves.

 

This is probably one of the most important films in Oscar History–even though it never received a nod.  Susan Peters–who played the calculating, manipulative matriarch definitely should have received one.  There is only one performance that tops hers and that was that of Dame Judith Anderson in “Rebecca” years prior.

The performance of Dame Judith Anderson in the film “Rebecca” was also brilliant!

 

The  classic movie channels such as AMC or TCM show “The Sign of the Ram” very rarely.  They need to release it on dvd.  It never has been re-released–period! Not on VCR–nothing!  That is sad because the script writing was top-notch for the era and the acting was wonderful to watch.  The writers didn’t make the mistake of making this to where there was too much empathy for Leah St. Aubyn, that is for certain!  It definitely puts forth that there is a difference between disability and being “differently-abled” and it is tragic that the studios couldn’t see beyond Ms. Peters wheelchair to give her more work as they did for Lionel Barrymore when he became wheelchair bound.

I do realize that times were different, but I wanted to bring recognition to one of Hollywood’s “Lost Treasures”.  The Motion Picture Academy should give some sort of recognition to this film and to Ms. Peters.  For her to work after such an accident during those times should have at least gotten her some type of lifetime achievement award.  That would be nice to see, I think.

This script definitely left nothing out. It would be nice to see an updated version of this–not one with a lot of crap thrown in for adult ratings either–stick with the story as it was written–just update the dialogue and cast.  I think as far as the time period–it would be best to keep it in the 40’s or 50’s era due to the social issues brought up in the original film.  I would want Ben Cross for the part of Mallory, as he is an older gentleman married to the younger Leah–and I would make his character a bit more intimidating of Leah in the end once his suspicion of her is aroused…I don’t know who I’d want to play Leah though.  Christine would be another role that would be difficult for me to cast if I were the one behind this one…

 

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The LIght of My Day

This is my grandson Kevin–named somewhat after his dad–but the middle is different…LOL This little guy never fails to brighten my day. I have been truly blessed this year!

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Just a Few Thoughts from the Nanahood…RE: The Service Industry

As a mother and a grandmother, the future of this country and the people in it are of concern to me.  Is  this going to be about the upcoming election? NO.  I’m tired of hearing about that myself. I just have a question someone proposed to me that caused me to do some really deep thinking.

We saw all the “Occupy” stuff going on.  We saw all the frustration coming from all walks of life with regard to economics around here. I have to know one thing…HOW is it that in this country called America are there still waitresses only getting paid $2-2.25 an hour in some states and maids in hotels only getting $2.00-2.50 per room they clean?  That is serfdom people.  This is the same pay they got in the ’70’s.  It’s ridiculous  AND their tips are taxed.  Why are tips taxed? What is the point?  They were TAXED before they were given in the first place.  To me the government is double-dipping and it is holding people back from earning a decent living. THANK you Billy Reyna for pointing this out.

These pay levels are NOT a living wage. Why are multimillion dollar corporations like IHOP and Motel 6 getting away with paying like this?  Do you realize what this means?  Many families living on these wages are also getting state aid in the form of food stamps and such because NOBODY can live on it.  ON a good night in this town, a waitress is lucky to bring home $15 a night in tips.  For 8 hours of work, that is scandalous–even if you figure in the $2 + change pay scale.  This actually means that by paying a tip, you’re subsidizing the wages they SHOULD be getting.  A vast number of people  in the service industry certainly don’t all work in high-end establishments.

Can anyone on here live on the federal minimum wage alone? Hell no!  What makes these corporations think these people can live on $2 + tips only to have what little they make taxed all over again?   I think legislation should be passed so that these people do NOT have to share their tips with each other either, and they should at LEAST be paid minimum wage.  There were many times I had to wait on 2-3 stations where the person training me sat on their fanny and watched–yet I had to split the money I EARNED with them.  That’s not right. In fact, it should be illegal. YOU DO NOT see this happening ANYWHERE but in the service industry.

This country also needs to quit giving large tax breaks for moving the jobs overseas.  This country definitely needs to start taking care of its own given what I’ve seen lately. In fact a good incentive for them to keep jobs here would be to require them all to pay the workers OVERSEAS the same wages, give the same benefits and paid training they’d have to give to workers in the United States. That would stop a lot of this mess.

Americans deserve a higher standard of living–and the government has failed to protect the taxpayers by NOT addressing the pay issues within the service industry.  It is time to fix this mess and do the right thing. Well, I’m through with my venting for the evening. Gonna get some zzz’s now.  Have a great night!