Search Results for: blog and so it begins

MTA Begins Pilot Program to Help Pregnant Commuters

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The Metropolitan Transportation Authority (MTA) has launched a pilot program designed to encourage customers to offer pregnant, disabled, and senior riders a seat. The program is modeled after a program that has been used in London. It will be the first program of its kind in the United States. MTA already provides disabled customers with “priority seating” on busses and trains. While riders are required to relinquish seats in those areas under federal regulations and MTA rules of conduct, new courtesy buttons can help riders better identify which customers need seats. The campaign also encourages customers, as a matter of … Continue reading →

Focus on the Candidates – Rand Paul

This blog is part of the series that focuses on the candidates who are running for President of the United States in 2016. This blog focuses on Rand Paul. Rand Paul is the son of Ron Paul (who ran unsuccessful campaigns for President of the United States in 1988, 2008, and 2012.) Rand Paul is running for President of the United States in 2016, and is also running for Senate in Kentucky at the same time. Rand Paul was elected as a Senator of Kentucky in 2011 and he would need to be re-elected in order to keep his seat … Continue reading →

Passover 101

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Those who are not Jewish might have some difficulty trying to understand what Passover is. It seemed like a good idea to put together a quick “Passover 101” that people can easily share with confused (but well meaning) friends and neighbors. Instead of explaining it over and over again, you can simply send them the link to this simplified description. Passover is an eight-day festival that is celebrated in early spring. It begins on the 15th and ends on the 22nd day of the Hebrew month of Nissan. The coinciding secular dates will not be the same every year. There … Continue reading →

South Carolina Votes Against State-Based Exchange

Quite some time ago, the Governor of South Carolina, Nikki Haley, decided that her state would not create its own health insurance exchange. Now, the South Carolina House of Representatives have officially voted against a state-based exchange. People who live in the state will still have access to a federal exchange. In September of 2011, the South Carolina Department of Insurance received a federal Planning Grant of $1 million. The purpose of the money from a Planning Grant was to help a state begin working on a state-based health insurance exchange. The governor established the South Carolina Health Planning Committee … Continue reading →

After Much Bickering, Mississippi Begins Work on Exchange

A total of 20 states have had their plans for a health insurance exchange approved by the Department of Health and Human Services. The state of Mississippi has had their application put on hold, until the state’s Governor and Insurance Commissioner managed to agree about the type of exchange Mississippi will have. The Affordable Care Act requires all states to have a functioning health insurance exchange that is ready to go by January 1, 2014. A total of 20 states have gained approval. (or conditional approval) for their plans for an exchange. The majority of them selected a state-based health … Continue reading →

Homeschool Blog Focus: Brighton Park

  Brighton Park is a 2012 Circle of Moms Top 25 Homeschool blog, a Siemens Top 50 Farm Blog, and was recently featured in the Jan/Dec 2013 issue of Hobby Farm Home Magazine. Meet Katie Katie is the face behind Brighton Park.   Katie is a pediatric speech language pathologist.  Her homeschool curriculum is a hybrid of Catholic/Waldorf, or as her kids call it “Crafty Catholic”. She is a mom of five beautiful children, including twins with special needs. In addition, she is a yoga teacher, crafter, gardener, decorator, and backyard chicken keeper.  She loves inspired homeschooling and artful homemaking. You … Continue reading →

The Difference Between Saving and Investing: An Important Distinction for Kids to Learn

You can save or you can invest. It is a distinction that many adults struggle with as a concept. How then can kids understand the difference, and why is it so important? Most kids who are introduced to the concepts of money tend to be conservative. They like to hoard as much of their money as they can and save up for things. That is a great phase that can be utilized by parents, caregivers and teachers to teach the value and the responsibility of money. Unfortunately, most kids do not get any instruction past those initial lessons. Many experts … Continue reading →

4 Tips to Help You Keep Your Resolution

As I blogged yesterday, my New Year’s Resolution is to lose weight – again.  The thing about making weight loss a resolution is that so many people do it (especially after all those holiday pounds!), but many fail to follow through. What can you do to keep your resolution?  There are a few hints from psychologist John Norcross on how to keep those resolutions: Believe it can be done. That’s right – don’t let the haters keep you down, saying “You can’t do that.”  Believe in yourself that you can succeed. Be realistic. I am never going to weigh 120 … Continue reading →

Lending a Helping Hand

“Charity begins at home.” If I had a dime for each time my parents used that expression while I was growing up, I’d be rich enough to start my own charity. Its repetition was annoying, but effective nonetheless. My brothers and I learned the value of loyalty, and the importance of taking care of the people close to you. Now that I’m a parent, I try to provide opportunities for my child to lend a hand at home, so that when it comes time to help others outside our inner sanctum, she jumps at the chance without giving it a … Continue reading →

Staying Safe During Hurricane Sandy

The wind is howling outside, the rain is pouring down in sheets, trees are whipping around, and during this brief time when the power has been restored, I wanted to reach out to everyone who may be in the path of this “Frankenstorm,” as it is being called. We too are in its path, and have prepared as well as we could. Whether you have to evacuate or shelter in place, it is important to keep your health and safety in mind. I’ve witnessed some who prioritize comfort and entertainment over health and safety, and this is never a good … Continue reading →