Search Results for: blog the world according to mini me

Senseless Name Calling

Naming a newborn; it’s one of the most challenging and controversial decisions parents are faced with during their lifetime. Challenging because you are in sole control of strapping a child with the moniker he will likely live with until he’s six feet under. Controversial because the world is your judging your choice, and we all know how cruel others can be. I’m not big on parents who purposely call attention to themselves by bestowing strange names on their innocent offspring. Remember:  Talula Does The Hula From Hawaii, ESPN and Peanut? Who does that to a child? Of course, I wonder … Continue reading →

What Does “Single Payer” Mean?

There has been talk about a “single payer” system for health insurance. What does that actually mean? How does that relate to the Affordable Care Act? Here are some facts that answer these questions. What does “single payer” actually mean? According to the Physicians for a National Health Program, (PNHP), the phrase single payer means: Single-payer is a term used to describe a type of financing system. It refers to one entity acting as an administrator, or “payer”. In the case of health care, a single-payer system would be setup such that one entity – a government run organization – … Continue reading →

The New Controversy Over Thimerosal in Vaccines

The U. N. Environment Program is considering a ban on thimerosal. It is a preservative that is used in vaccines in developing countries. The American Academy of Pediatrics endorsed what the World Health Organization has said – that it should not be banned. An organization called SafeMinds disagrees. What is thimerosal? According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC): Thimerosal is a mercury-containing preservative used in some vaccines and other products since the 1930’s. There is no convincing evidence of harm caused by the low doses of thimerosal in vaccines, except for minor reactions like redness and swelling … Continue reading →

The Meatball’s Here

So, yeah, Snooki’s mini meatball is here. Stop the presses! And by presses, I mean actual news media, which should be warning people about a massive hurricane that’s taking aim at a very vulnerable part of the United States, but instead, is wasting time, money and life-sustaining oxygen chatting about a reality TV star giving birth to a baby boy. And not just any reality TV star, a sex-crazed, fist-pumping, potty-mouthed MTV celeb best known for her displays of public drunkenness, debauchery, and string of douche bags boyfriends. Did I mention she’s a mom now? “Jersey Shore” star Nicole “Snooki” … Continue reading →

Parents and Vacation Time

With Independence Day falling on a Wednesday this year, many parents with jobs outside the home, took off Thursday and Friday to extend the holiday weekend. Others simply exercised a week’s worth of vacation to spend uninterrupted holiday time with their families. Are you enjoying time away from the office right now? If so, consider yourself lucky. According to a new study, the United States is one of only a handful of developed countries in the world that doesn’t require companies to give their workers time off. In other cases, workers are given minimum vacation time that cannot be transferred … Continue reading →

New FastPass Technology Tested at Disney World

Disney World’s always trying to improve, and one of the big complaints many guests have, at least at certain times of year, is the long lines for rides. That’s why the FastPass system exists: it allows Disney World to offer interested guests shorter wait times while making money off the idea. As part of their constant quest for improvement Disney World is trying to upgrade their FastPass system, according to The Disney Blog. They’re currently testing the next generation of the queue-jumping arrangement in the Magic Kingdom, and it involves RFID. RFID stands for radio-frequency identification, the process of using … Continue reading →

Poll Finds Americans are Uneasy About Mixing Religion and Politics

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A poll done by the Pew Research Center shows that Americans have become increasingly uneasy with the idea of mixing religion and politics. The reason for this has a whole lot to do with the battle over birth control coverage in employer sponsored health insurance. The Pew Research Center, according to it’s website, is “a non-partisan fact tank that provides information on the issues, attitude and trends shaping America and the world.” It conducts public opinion polling, and other types of empirical social science research. The Pew Research Center does not take positions on policy issues. It just gathers data … Continue reading →

Not-So-Merry Christmas Traditions

According to my 7-year-old, the Grinch could take lessons from me on how to ruin Christmas. So, without further ado, here are just some ways to have an un-Merry Christmas: Lesson #1: No one in the house gets to open presents on Christmas morning until he/she eats at least a few bites of the special holiday breakfast Mommy lovingly prepares. Lesson #2: All family members must pose for at least one photo in front of the tree while wearing Christmas pajamas prior to ripping into holiday loot. Lesson #3: One (and only one) gift can be opened on Christmas Eve. … Continue reading →

The World According to Mini Me

Maybe it’s the hair, the eyes, or the fact that we’re both females with similar DNA, but from a very young age my daughter has been told that she looks just like me. Me, as in her very old mother, not me, as a child. Personally, I think she looks exactly like I did as a 7-year-old. Oddly, my mother doesn’t see the resemblance at all. A couple of years ago, someone asked us if we were sisters. Granted, the person asking was a very, very elderly woman, but that didn’t stop me from kissing her feet. Needless to say, … Continue reading →

Medicare Part D Will Be Less Expensive in 2012

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People who are using Medicare as their health insurance are going to see a reduction in the average price of Medicare Part D next year. This is, in part, due to the changes that are a part of health care reform. Despite this, many Republicans are pushing for a privatization of Medicare. The Obama administration has announced that Medicare beneficiaries will see the average price of the Medicare Part D drug plan decrease, slightly, in 2012. Starting next year, the average cost of Part D will charge seniors around $30.00 per month, (according to the Department of Health and Human … Continue reading →