It’s money that makes the world go round August 31, 2007

Money over health, even.

This article in the WP today: http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/20523460/ talks about the ways and reasons that the baby formula industry quashed the governments attempts at increasing the rates of women who choose to breastfeed.

The government health agencies are well aware of the risks of formula and the benefits of breastfeeding. The reality is that there is a significant segment of the population that doesn’t know this. The reason they don’t know is because the formula companies work very hard keeping it that way.

Oh yeah, all the formula ads say in the fine print “Breast is best” and then go on to say how their product is just as good. It’s not. In fact, it can be detrimental to a baby’s current and future health. When cigarettes became popular, they were smoked, I assume, for various reasons including the relaxation benefits, the “cool” factor and other reasons. The immediate benefits outweighed the long term risks (addiction, cancer etc). No one cared about the long term effects. In my opinion, we are seeing the same thing happening. The formula companies like to promote the “benefits”: no pain, less colic (not true), mom’s ability to leave the baby (don’t even get me started on this one), dad can be involved…blah blah blah. And in making these “benefits” sound so good, no one cares about the immediate and long term effects on a baby’s health.

Guess what? There’s no tangible money in breastfeeding. There for, proponents of it don’t have the resources to hire lobbyists and pepper tv and magazines and billboards and dr’s offices, and hospitals with advertising and giveaways. All we can do is scream loud and long until our mouths are smothered by the hands of those with money.

What can’t I live without? August 17, 2007

I was tagged (two weeks ago, ach!) for one of those posts that tell about me. (Hey, I remember that weekly meme that Tah got me hooked on a few years ago. Then it up and closed down. THat was always good for an entry)

Anyway, I am supposed to list the things I can’t live without. No necessities, no obvious things like car or house, cause like, Duh! That wouldn’t be very interesting!

In no particular order:

1. My computer

My computer has most of my life on it. My desk is the brain of the household. All, and I mean ALL of the pictures of the kids are on here from the time Nick turned about 2 and we went digital. If my computer (and storage drive) were devastated, I would be as well. In addition, I don’t have a hardcopy of an address book, so that’s in here too.

2. The internet

Yes, separate from my computer, the internet is a bit different. It allows me to have contact with the world. To find info on any subject that comes to mind in the blink of an eye. I use it for research, gaming, socialization, tv/movie viewing on occasion too.

3.Not to mention, blogging. I wouldn’t blog if no one but me was reading it, honest. It’s the feedback that I get in comments that makes me want to come and say more. Cause someone, somewhere, cares enough to listen to my blathering. Not only that, writing things out brings clarity and peace, and provides something tangible to look back on and reflect. So much of life is forgotten. My blog is a way to try to prevent that.

4. My faith. Which, rather more to the point, I could not “die” without it.

It keeps me growing as a person, provides hope in times of hopelessness and comfort in despair and lonliness. It has provided an extended family that I have needed to lean on more often then I would like. It also frees me from the fear of death, from the fear of it–not the sadness at what/who I leave behind.

That’s about all I can think of. I am thinking how different my list would have been a few years ago. TV would have been on it certainly. Now, as much as I enjoy it, I could live without it. IF I have my computer and internet anyway.

August Happiness Challenge August 3, 2007

I was reading on another blog, that directed me to ANOTHER blog, and it mentioned this.

Every day in August (well, you know, maybe not EVERY day) you write about something that makes you happy. In doing so, I would hope to focus more on the positive things in life, the little things and the big things that make life worth living.

Since this is the second, I’ll do two:

1. My personal relationship with God. Even when I’ve been so mad that I give him the silent treatment for several weeks, he’s still right here with me, waiting for me to get over it and get a clue. Best. Friend. Ever. (and I don’t even know the half of it, I’m coming to realize)

2. Slightly less cliche’: Driving through rural TN.  It’s soooo amazingly beautiful on so many levels. Today I drove to Newport via a windy country road. In that stretch of 30 miles, I drank in the mountain vistas (even covered by the haze, still awesome), I envied the palatial “estates”, and I appreciated the stark contrast of the poverty of this area. From beauteous views, and grand homes to appreciate them, there right next to the road (where the view is obstructed by trees and hills) are the “homes” that should be condemned. Picture every black and white photo you’ve ever seen of a farmstead in the 20’s/30’s. Only thing that has changed is the car out front. Somehow, even in our technicolor world, they still are shades of grey. Their roofs appear to be sliding off,  the windows  are broken, there are screen doors with peeling paint that don’t quite shut and have a hole in the screen, there are dirty little urchin children who are happily playing, blissfully unaware of the squalor that is their home. Someday they won’t be so innocent.
This trips make me aware and thankful of all that I DO have. So.much.more.