A while ago I posted about the somewhat unnecessary criticism of everything the President does while in office in regards to the president’s swingset. Now, people are criticizing the Obamas for planting an organic garden at the White House. The Daily Show with Jon Stewart brought this “controvery” to my attention. (Apparently Stephen Colbert did a story on it too.) The Mid America CropLife Association apparently thinks that Michelle Obama planting a garden that won’t use chemicals is going to make people stop buying food that is grown with chemicals. Here is a copy of a letter they sent to “Mrs. Barak Obama” that was leaked out the a blog called La Vida Locavore.
So, this seems reasonable. They are just pointing out that in America we have a good food system. But what is wrong with people growing their own food?
Apparently, not everyone can grow their own food, so no one should. {Shakes head.} In an e-mail the MACA sent out to its constituents sent out to their supporters their true feeling are revealed.
I am not an advocate of organic gardening. I don’t care either way. I believe that food can be grown well with or without chemicals. What just really gets my goat is that the Obamas are not going around saying you have to live organically. They just wanted to plant a garden to promote healthy eating and this group, the MACA, that seems to be supported by plant chemical producing companies goes and makes a big issue out of it and misses the point of the garden, healthy eating.
In case you were wondering who is a member of the MACA, here is a list from their website.
As pointed out on the Food and Water Watch blog, it is especially interesting that they call it “conventional gardening” when people were gardening chemical free for centuries! Now, the organic side is just as biased towards being chemical free as the MACA is towards using chemicals, but the fact that this is an even an issue just makes me feel sorry for the Obamas who are trying to just live a normal life and promote healthy eating.
And, the notion that the White House garden is what is going to lead to people rejecting chemically grown food is ridiculous. I like that the White House grow organically, but the cost of organic food is going to keep me out of that market.
Also, the notion that the White House garden is what will out organic food on the map is also mis-guided. More and more stores, such as Jewel, are constantly increasing their organic sections and this is what putting organic on the map more than the White House is.
Both sides just need to celebrate the idea of growing food and eating healthy rather than focusing on the methodology all of the time.
The two best news shows in the country have covered this issue. Here are the clips.
He starts discussing the garden about half way through.
I’m excited for Idol tonight. We should finally get two songs per contestant. I was only slightly surprised to see Adam Lambert n the bottom two last week. He is slowly becoming a one trick pony. He takes songs and sings them over the top in a very unique way.
I don’t know if cabaret is the correct word, but there is a style to it. Now, he sings those songs really well, but from what I have seen on YouTube he has already made a living singing songs in that style.
What I would like to see from him tonight would be to come out with his first song and do something different than what he always does. I am not exactly sure what that means, but I think we will know it when we see it. If he does a song like that and one of his normal songs, he should be sitting pretty.
Danny Goke is probably the front runner because he does seem a little more marketable than Adam. Danny has some variety in what he can do and he can probably sing just as well as Adam. He doesn’t have the same stage presence as Adam, but that can be developed. I think Danny just needs to good songs. Probably I would start with a safe well know song and then come back with something a little more challenging. I have a feeling he will be safe as long as he doesn’t bomb either song.
Kris Allen and Alison Iraheta to me are on the same level which is one step down. I would probably rank Alison over Kris because she is a better singer, but Kris has a better audience relationship. These two need to go big or go home tonight. That probably means different a different approach for each of them though.
Kris needs to show some vocal strength tonight. He also should through in one song those shows he isn’t just a pretty boy. I don’t know what song that would be, but he can’t just sing two big sappy love songs.
Allison needs to get in touch with her teenage self. No songs about lifelong love or anything like that. We know she can sing those, we have seen her do it, I want to see her find a song she can connect with and then share that connection with the audience. In a perfect world she would sing “should’ve Said No” by Taylor Swift or maybe a reba mcentire song. Maybe “Come to My Window” but that may backfire.
All in all, I agree with the judges. This is the closest race in Idol history. Especially now that we see Adam is vulnerable. I believe only two champs, Kelly and Carrie, were never in the bottom three, so he can still win, but it seems to be anyones game now.
On The Daily Show tonight Jon Stewart shared a click of Rick Sanchez on CNN interviewing a republican senator from South Carolina, Rick DeMint. Sanchez is asking him about the Arlen Spectar switch to the democratic party and he gives some ridiculous answer, and Sanchez calls him out. Here is a transcript:
Sanchez asks about Specter’s reasoning for the switch:
DeMint gives a ridiculous answer:
The freedom tent? Really? That was a typical nonsense political answer and usually reporters let politicians off the hook with that, but today Sanchez took Continue Reading…
Since I was a kid I have always wanted to be president. I don’t see that happening now since I have made no real effort in that direction, but you never know. However, if that ever happened, what I would not like is the amount of scrutiny every little decision incurs. For example, the Obama’s bought a swing set (actually I think it was a gift according to his 60 Minutes interview) for the kids. It is located outside of the oval office window so the president can see them playing. I love that the Obama’s are maintaining a family atmosphere. In the 60 Minutes interview he talks about spending time with the kids and the family while still running the USA. What a guy.
Anyway, out of all of this, one blog post has decided to analyze if the swing set was green enough. I am all for the environment, but I think analyzing the president’s swing set might be a little too much. There are bigger issues to tackle than this. I guess everyone has their own angle and their own lobby, but if I were president, the last thing on my mind would be, is this the most green swing set. I would be thinking, which of these swing sets look the most fun. I guess that is why I am not the president.
Tweet: Had to spend an extra $1 at #Ace because I couldn’t use my $5 “Reward” coupon for a $3.99 purchase and couldn’t find anything for $1.02.
So, I went to Ace Hardware to buy a switch for the basement stairwell. I wanted a black flat switch, which they didn’t have, so I got a white flat switch. The switch coast $3.99 and I had a $5.00 Ace Rewards coupon. I got to the register and the total was $4.27. The cashier informed me that I had to spend $5.00 before tax in order to use the reward. So, I went to find a candy bar which cost $.99. I went back over to the register and now I had only spent $4.98. I asked the girl just to charge me $.02 and she said she couldn’t do that. So, now pressed for time, I went and grabbed another candy bar. This brough my total fo $6.14 (I think) and so I had to pay them $1.14.
In the end, I got a $4 switch for about $1, but I still find it absurd that I have to spend the full $5 in order to use the coupon.
So, if you were tagged, you are supposed to write your own list and tag 25 people including the person who tagged you. I say, do what you like.
I love teaching. However, it is way more work than I ever imagined it would be and I have a tremendous amount more respect for the good teachers I have had.
I love being a parent, but it is way more work that I ever imagined it would be (people always tell you it will be hard, and I beleived them, but you don’t know until you are there yourself.) I have a tremendous amount more respect for my parents now that I have a son.
I love Star Wars. I don’t know why. I know it (probably) isn’t real but the pageantry and the grandeur and the philosophy of it all is just so mesmerizing. It truly is an Oprah.
I have ADD and probably have my whole life. I was not officially diagnosed until I was 23, and knowing that I have it makes it easier as a teacher to deal with students who also have ADD (even if they don’t know they have it.) I also take drugs for ADD and, at least for me, they work.
I do not currently have a job next year and this weighs on me more than I let on or want to think about.
All I really want out of life is to do something that matters. I don’t know what that will be and I don’t know if I will know what it is (it may already have happened) but I will keep working at it until I die.
My son is named for Sir Isaac Newton (perhaps the single most important person of the millennium) and I think this is awesome and I don’t know if Gina will ever truly appreciate how much I appreciate and love her for allowing that. Continue Reading…
