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See? This Is Exactly What I Was Talking About

See? This Is Exactly What I Was Talking About

Some lawmakers in Texas and the lieutenant governor are now working on legislation to allow teachers to bring guns to school and allow for gun training for those teachers. Even ignoring how absolutely awful that idea is, this is exactly what I meant yesterday when I talked about fucked up priorities.

In 2011, Gov. Goodhair Rick Perry cut $4 billion from the Texas education budget, resulting in the layoff of thousands of teachers, larger class sizes, and, as a natural result, a worse education for many public school students in Texas.

So we can't provide the funding to keep all our teachers and reduce class sizes, but we can provide the funding to arm and weapons-train teachers (many of whom don't even want the training)??? Are you fucking kidding me?!?!?!?!

I need out of this state. Fast.



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Nine Quick Thoughts (9 mms?) About Guns

Nine Quick Thoughts (9 mms?) About Guns

Some of the utterly stupid comments I have heard lately have led me to post my thoughts on the on-going national debate about guns and gun violence. Instead of continuing to yell at my radio, television and computer screen, I'm putting some of my thoughts here. I have many more than these, but this is a good start:

1. If you don't understand the difference between gun control and/or restrictions and an all around ban on gun ownership, you don't need to be part of this national discussion. Clearly you are prone to hyperbole and lack comprehension. There is no reasoning with someone like you. This, like many discussions, is not something that should be decided by the lowest common denominator of folks. Let the adults talk while you sit in a corner threatening to take your ball and go home. 

2. That being said, if you are passionately fighting for the right for people to buy assault rifles, something is wrong with you. Really. The only thing you hunt with that effectively is humans. 

3. On a related note, if you think you need an assault rifle to protect yourself for when/if the government comes after you, you are not just paranoid, you are stupid. Your assault rifle will do nothing against the federal government. It has an entire  military at its disposal. Do you think you have a right to missiles and drones, too? I mean... C'mon!

4. If you are arguing to arm teachers in public schools but are not arguing to pay teachers more, reduce class sizes, and make sure that every student has updated and accurate books, your priorities are fundamentally fucked up. 

5. On that note, my kids aren't going to any school where anyone other than a police officer is armed. If the principal or any teacher is armed, we are staying far away. There are many reasons why the idea of arming school personnel is beyond stupid (so far beyond), and maybe I'll get into them all later. But, seriously, if you don't see the absolute fallacies in the arguments for that, you're probably beyond hope anyway. 

6. The answer is never more guns. No, patrons with guns would not have saved more people in the dark, crowded movie theater in Aurora. It would have led to more casualties. Stop playing this dream scenario in which every person who has ever gone to a gun range can all of the sudden turn into Dirty Harry or a trained sniper in an unexpected, panic, emergency situation while surrounded by innocent people who you should avoid accidentally shooting. I mean, really. I have friends who are trained military and police personnel—people who gun train on a normal and often basis as a necessary part of their jobs—and they would not act perfectly (and in some cases even well) in that situation. But now you think any Joe Blow off the street could? Get real. Oh, good for you! You always get the center of the target at the gun range... the non-moving target with nothing surrounding it, in a controlled scenario where you can take your time and relax. I'm sure that circumstance mirrors what would happen if you had to take out a crazed gunman. /s

7. As noted in point 1, I don't want to take your guns away. If you're a hunter or antique gun collector, by all means, have guns for that purpose. Hand gun(s) at home for personal protection? That's fine too, if that's your thing. But certain kinds of guns, no one needs to own. And in certain quantities, you aren't collecting, you're stockpiling. I don't care if you think you're getting ready for a race war or government invasion. My safety should not be threatened to coddle your paranoia. 

8. Read the Second Amendment. Then when you're done, read some Supreme Court case law interpreting the Second Amendment. Then, when you're done with that, read the First Amendment and case law on that. One thing you should notice right away? Even the most conservative justice (Scalia) says both rights are subject to reasonable regulation. 

9. I bought the "wrong" kind of Elmer's glue (cement glue) at Target last week and had to have my ID scanned and background checked to verify that I was (1) old enough, and (2) hadn't bought too much of it in a recent period. Same happens to Pop Culture Dad every time he buys his Allegra-D. Think about that. 
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A Brief Word About the Rock N' Play Recall

A Brief Word About the Rock N' Play Recall

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As you may or may not have heard by now, The Fisher-Price Rock N' Play sleeper was recalled for mold exposure issues.

Now, before you start freaking out that those evil people at Fisher-Price were selling a baby product containing mold or oddly designed to allow mold. No, they didn't. Yes, Fisher-Price received 600 reports of mold. Yes, sixteen babies were treated for respiratory issues, coughs and hives after sleeping in the product--all of which is very unfortunate. But you know what? None of this is Fisher-Price's fault, and I am quite frankly surprised there was a recall because of this issue.

How in the world do you as a parent put your newborn child in a product on a daily basis and never think once that maybe just maybe it needs to be cleaned frequently? I mean... c'mon. This product is cloth and foam. Babies drool. They sweat. They pee. They poop. Everywhere--and most certainly any place you have them lying for long periods of time.

Look, I get it. You're busy with your newborn and you're really tired. Some of you brand-new mothers may not even have taken a shower for a week. But this is your newborn baby we're talking about. Why aren't you making sure the environment in which you plan to have your brand-spanking new infant sleeping is clean at... oh... I don't know... all times? If your sleeper gets wet, whether by spills or baby's bodily fluids, clean and dry it. If you've been using it every day for a few days... Um... how about... maybe... I dunno?... clean and dry it?

These really aren't hard concepts. If all those words up there are just too much, let's make it really simple:

cloth and/or foam + moisture + lack of drying and/or cleaning = mold

This equation is true whether you're talking about the Rock N' Play sleeper or towels or... well... anything.

The fabric of the Rock N' Play is removable from the frame for a reason. So you can wash it. Heck, it even says on the instructions to wash before use. I guess they should have also added, "And whenever it gets dirty or wet. Hello?!"?

There is honestly no reason why this recall should have happened [much like the Bumbo recall, because it didn't occur to some parents that infant seat without straps + high locations such as a table for cripes' sakes = falls]. That was really sweet of Fisher-Price to coddle the parents who never think to clean their baby gear, and it's really cute that they even issued instructions on how to clean the product to get rid of mold. But, c'mon now. How can people even try to hold Fisher-Price responsible for this one?? Next people are going to be asking Fruit of the Loom to recall their bikini panties for not properly warning people to wash their asses before wearing the undies.

Side note: We used a Rock N' Play, which a friend of mine bought me, with PCT2. It was ah-maz-ing at putting her to sleep. Nearly every picture I posted on Facebook for the first three months of her life is in that sleeper. And ya know what? I cleaned that thing frequently. No mold. Gave it to a friend, who has been using it with her baby. Everything is a-ok on that front too. It's amazing what happens (or rather doesn't) when people take care of their things.

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A PSA About Kwanzaa

A PSA About Kwanzaa


I realize the last day of Kwanzaa was yesterday, but something must be said....

Some of the comments on a thread on Cafe Mom made me realize just how stupid some people are. The thread was "Does Anyone Celebrate Kwanzaa?" and many of the answers were "No. No one I know celebrates it because we are all Christian." Many of these responses came after comments (like my own) that Kwanzaa is not a religious holiday. But people apparently don't know how to read for comprehension. So let me repeat this here in simple terms:

Kwanzaa is not a religious holiday and is not observed to the exclusion of religious holidays. 

If you are a black American and Jewish, Kwanzaa doesn't replace Chanukah. If you are a black American and Christian, Santa will still come to your house, and your nativity scene can sit right next to your Kinara. And if you're a Pagan/Wiccan African-American, you can celebrate Kwanzaa and the Solstice.

Or, you know, you could not celebrate Kwanzaa at all. It isn't mandatory or anything. You won't lose your black card. But the "no, because we celebrate Christmas" excuse just shows your ignorance. 



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'Twas the Night Before Solstice/Christmas — Pop Culture Family Version

'Twas the Night Before Solstice/Christmas — Pop Culture Family Version

Note: Yes, I realize it is after the winter solstice and almost the night before Christmas. But I prefer the solstice. So substitute it for Christmas in your own heads, if you must.

'Twas the night before Solstice in the Pop Culture House,
and Mama's still shopping with the click of a mouse.
The stockings are still in the storage all boxed;
The only house without lights for three blocks.
The kiddos were avoiding going along to their beds,
Throwing popcorn around, putting food on their heads.
The hubs with his coffee, and I with my wine
were handling all of the chaos just fine.

From the front of our house, went a crash and a bang
I was sure that the girls had broken something.
I ran to the study to issue my wrath,
I'm sure I looked crazy as I let out a gasp.
Right there on our porch and blocking the doors
were dozens of boxes from our favorite stores
"What the heck did you order?????" asked Pop Culture Dad,
Sounding a bit more amused than was mad.
But who was our Secret Santa this night?
I looked for a delivery truck, no FedEx in sight.
And no UPS or U.S. Postal Service.
The silent cul-de-sac was making me nervous.

"There's Amazon and Target and Ulta and Frye's
and Banana Republic and even Best Buy!
Wait! Barnes & Noble and Carter's and Macy's!
And Baby Naarjtie! Honey, this is crazy!"
My poor husband apprised me with a rise of the brow
I had to think of an explanation, like, NOW.
"Sweetie, I swear. I did not buy all this!
Did you check the slips? Surely these are gifts.
I've been curbing my shopping—the recession, you know.
I only got gifts for our friends and my bro...
Oh! And our parents... and... your fam... and the girls."
My face went crestfallen as my story unfurled.
"Okay, so maybe I have a slight shopping problem;
But there's no way I'd bought this and then just forgotten!"
My love raised his eyebrows and gave me "the look"
Until he noticed that one box was a Nook.
"Is that a tablet for me?", he asked looking smug.
"Dunno. Check the box." I said, giving a shrug.
He tore open a box, looked for the packing slips,
then a saw a sly smile appear on his lips.
"Never mind. Carry on!", he said looking suspicious.
It was at this point, he began piquing my interests.
I tore open a box to determine who sent them.
Now it was my turn to start questioning him.
I wasn't going crazy and oddly I was glad
that half of the gifts were from Pop Culture Dad!
I'm not the only big shopper in our awesome pair.
In fact, I would argue that he lapped me this year.

I threw my arms 'round my handsome hubby' neck,
got up on my tiptoes and gave him a peck.
"I love that we sometimes are of one mind.
Now stop teasing me! My shopping's just fine!"

Sometimes you know when your partner's just right.
Happy holidays to all, and to all a good night!


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