Speaking About Creativity & Imagination in Halloween Costume Designs

It is truly amazing to see how creativity in the spirit of Halloween flourishes up here in Canada. Even your pets can  be part of the trick or treating charades! Yes, I took my niece to  trick or treat and I was literally rolling in laughter and was hit by  pure astonishment. I saw a few dogs dressed up to impress and the creativity that spawned through this event was very diverse and vast . A little “bling” or properly draped scrap of fabric can easily transform your pet into any celebrity, cartoon character etc. I was very wary when I saw a few pets became “entangled” in their own costumes and this made me ponder about safety issues in relations to pets. So i decided to research a bit on safety issues for pets. Here is what I came up with from a website: http://www.halloween-safety.com/halloween_safety_pets.html

Halloween Safety Tips for Pets

1) As much as your dog or cat may beg for some of your Halloween candy, always remember that chocolate is deadly to them in any amount.

2) If you work in a pet store, remember that this is the time of year that can be deadly for black cats. Some sick people who play at being what they’ll call a Satanist will buy them to “sacrifice” If you can, don’t take any black cats or sell them during October.

3) The wrappers, such as tin foil, can get stuck in your pets digestive tract and make them ill or cause death. There are plenty of recipes for making home made dog and cat treats, you can always make them on a Halloween note.

4) Dogs can have lethal tails, wagging all over the place. Don’t leave any lighted candles or Jack-O-Lanterns where they could be knocked over by a swinging tail or by a curious cat. Not only could your pet start a fire but they could severely burn themselves in the process.

5) If you are going to dress your pet in a costume, keep in mind that unless the dog or cat is extremely receptive to this kind of thing, you could be causing it discomfort and stress. Some animals don’t mind at all but others do not want to be bothered with this kind of thing. They’ll be under enough stress with the festivities going on outside and people at the door constantly so don’t cause them any more nervousness then you have to. You may love to dress in costume but then, you aren’t a dog or a cat.

6 ) If you put a mask of some type on your animal, make sure that the eye holes are big enough for them to see peripherally. Animals depend on their vision to let them know what’s going on and even the nicest dog can get snippy if he can’t see what’s around him. In fact, masks really aren’t a good idea.

7 ) If you are having a indoor party, make sure that you put your dog or cat in a room where they won’t be disturbed. Unless your pet is ultra friendly and doesn’t mind loud noises, music and lots of people you should keep them separate for the night. Also, be careful your cat or dog doesn’t dart out through the open door as you hand out candy. Best bet is to just put them in a room with some food and water for the night and check on them once in a while to let them know everything is fine.

Any one care to comment on other safety tips or dangerous practices  during Haloween?

Posted by Ajay

Halloween Costumes

Growing up in Ohio, Halloween always had a special meaning. There are haunted houses to visit also parties to attend and all kinds of special events.  Going to elementary school gave me some of the most memorable times of dressing up in a costume .to me a costume should be scary not funny but to each his or her own when choosing a costume. The store bought costumes I find to be inadequate for the most part unless one goes to a costume shop which is a far cry from buying a costume in a drugstore or store such as Wal-Mart ect.

Home made costumes give me great joy and pride. Starting in Elementary school I would make my costumes out of the oddest things. I went as the Incredible Hulk one year and how this costume was achieved was for my to use green food coloring to color my skin green and take my shirt off. This scarred people. To see a green person with his shirt of flexing muscle and roaring like Lou Farigno. My favorite was a gory mummy costume whereas I used Fake blood and covered my torso in it and had a mummy rubber mask. The point is you can make better costumes using your Imagination and spend far less than a prefab costume.

BY Marvin Turpin

Halloween Costumes for Little Girls…..

I am not a person who blushes easily. I have a high tolerance for certain humor and appreciate off color remarks. I wear jeans and stilettos and fitted, tailored clothing. However, I have to say that the Halloween costumes that are available for little girls are…how can I say this…inappropriate? It’s incredible what these kids are wearing…when did witches become slutty? And who decided that Raggedy Ann should look like a woman on the Vivid casting couch? (Vivid is high end adult entertainment)…these are little girls. When I was six (and again at seven) I was Princess Leia from Star Wars…complete with the buns in my hair and the long white gown and I’m fairly sure my mother’s curling iron was my little “light saber”. I was NOT Princess Leia from Return of the Jedi. Miley Cyrus’s 9-year-old sister was a dominatrix at the 2009 Dream Halloween event in Los Angeles. Is that even legal?

Now, I don’t want you to get the impression that I have a problem with kids dressing up…I don’t. And I don’t have a problem with little girls dreaming about being in gowns and makeup and jewelry. But I have a problem with the whole “Little Bo Peep” costume that is…. well it’s SEXY. Was Little Bo Peep supposed to be a vixen? According to the NY Post article that is below, there is actually a costume out there marketed to 8 year olds…. it’s a sailor suit that is called ”The High Seas Hottie”. There is some sort of unwritten rule that Halloween is the one day out of the year that girls of all ages can get away with dressing up as slutty as possible…. it’s very scary to see it happening to little girls.

Stacey

1. http://www.usmagazine.com/stylebeauty/news/miley-cyrus-sister-slammed-for-wearing-dominatrix-halloween-costume-20092910
2. http://www.nypost.com/p/news/local/manhattan/slutty_halloween_costumes_for_kids_SRwRcSfA1Q1eigdQRAOsyL

If the Networks were around in 1773

Posted by: Laura Silva

A New Approach to Media and Reporting

About a week ago I saw a presentation of a journalist who is attempting to reintroduce independent journalism financed largely by its consumers. The major point is to balance revenue from consumers sufficiently with advertising revenue so that the new company can maintain its reporting independence and re-focus on issue that really matter. It would be going back to the original model of subscribers actually paying for the news, not just the delivery of the paper. It will be interesting to see if that catches on. On first look I think this is a very good attempt of getting us news again that truly matter. Here the link to their website: http://www.pressforthepeople.com/.

The founder can be seen in this video. He speaks while he is walking down Boerne’s Main Street.

Norman

Healthcare – To change or not to change….

As an agent who has sold health insurance for over 20 years, I am 100% for national healthcare.

There are differences as to the whys for those who are against any change.  Some state that they don’t like the government involvement, I say Medicare, Medicaid and Social Security are all Government run and while they are burdened financially, they are not a poor choice and most  doctors operating in the US would be on the plan with a national healthcare plan in place.

I have seen the movie “Sicko” by Michael Moore and yes it is a propaganda film, but with some very interesting angles.  “The French have one of the best national health care systems in the world”, but a little research revealed that 80% of all French citizens also purchase a supplemental health plan.

On the “we don’t need any changes” side of the debate there are the current insurance industry proponents.  From a recent article below,  the magazine “Benefits Selling”,  the author is touting the health savings accounts and the wonderful advantages as noted below:  

By Tim Bireley | Published October 1, 2009 From the October 2009 Issue

“Consumer-driven health care growth data is indeed noteworthy —  the industry group America’s Health Insurance Plans reports enrollment in health savings plans, for instance, enjoyed a 31 percent increase in 2008. The explanation for the phenomenon is entirely logical. For one, in tight economic times like these, price is king, and the combination of high-deductible health plans coupled with health savings accounts has yielded an appreciable savings to companies and employees alike. The biggest jump in the AHIP numbers came from small companies having between two and 100 employees. Firms that size are arguably most susceptible to the downturn; they’ve seen sales shrink and many have had to contemplate cutbacks in everything from headcount to benefits. For managers, the 20 percent to 40 percent premium savings on health benefit costs possible under new programs like these are more than a boost – they are a lifeline that can avert layoffs.”

These plans may be great for those who have access as they can be a great option for many people, however if someone is not working, uninsured and or has a pre-existing health issue then they are not likely  to acquire any of the plans.  They may have some guaranteed issue options like the ones in Florida, however these plans are very, very limited in benefits and I would not offer them to any person seeking coverage (that is an errors & omissions liability claim waiting).   For one thing the plans only cover about $500 year in prescriptions, about $25,000 annual maximum benefit.  The high deductible plans the agent is referring to in the “Benefits Selling” magazine are one of the last alternatives people have to paying the currently high premiums. A link to an insurance industry news publication is: lifeandhealthinsurancenews.com

In an email that is circulating the web,  a retired attorney in Texas has submitted his opinion that the healthcare reform is a method for the government to take over the whole process and this is unconstitutional.

“The Bill will also eventually force private insurance companies out
of business and put everyone into a government run system.  All decisions
about personal health care will ultimately be made by federal bureaucrats
and most of them will not be health care professionals.  Hospital
admissions, payments to physicians, and allocations of necessary medical
devices will be strictly controlled.  In part of his speech…
However, as scary as all of that is, it just scratches the surface.
In fact, I have concluded that this legislation really has no intention of
providing affordable health care choices. Instead it is a convenient cover
for the most massive transfer of power to the Executive Branch of government that has ever occurred, or even been  contemplated. If this law or a similar one is adopted, major portions of the Constitution of the United States will effectively have been destroyed.”

As you can see from the readings that scare tactics are being used by those opposing any change with the current inefficient, overpriced,  sometimes inaccessible “Superior” system we have in the US.

The latest in Congress and addressing some of the issue is the fact of Antitrust law exemptions.  It is my understanding that only the MBA, the NFL (and the insurance industry????) have the Antitrust exemption and it appears that the insurance industry has been given free rein to monopolize and control most all aspects about insurance access and premiums (with limited state controls) while charging outrageous premiums and paying outrageous executive salaries.  Congress is voting on that issue shortly.

John P

Media Bias? By: Laura Silva

Just because you saw it on the TV news or read it on a news website doesn’t mean it is exactly as reported or even true in some cases.  There is a significant difference between a news story and a news report and even a report can be biased by leaving out certain facts that can sway people’s perception of the events.  Bias can be demonstrated in simply choosing to report the comments of an individual from a street poll without sharing an opposing view implying that it is fact.  Photographs can also slant the report.

Let’s look at some headlines from today to demonstrate how news can deliver different views of the same facts. 

Here is an example from Reuters News and FOX News.  While the headlines are almost identical, you can see the photos from the stories portray the President quite differently.  Reuters has the President looking quite regal with a confident facial expression and the warm lights behind him.  The FOX News photo shows an awkward angle and posture of the President with a pole in the shot and a grimace on his face.

Reuters Headline: Obama Declares Swine Flu A National Emergency

Reuters Photo:

http://www.reuters.com/article/newsOne/idUSTRE59N19E20091025

 

 

 

 

 

 

FOX Headline: Obama Declares H1N1 Flu ‘National Emergency’

FOX Photo:

 http://www.foxnews.com/politics/2009/10/24/obama-declares-hn-flu-national-emergency/

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

International Media is also an interesting source of news reporting discrepancy and bias.  Let’s take a look at some different views of the US Journalists arrested in North Korea:

North Korean News Story:

KCNA Detailed Report on Truth about Crimes Committed by American Journalists

“The preliminary investigation proved that they had a confab on producing and broadcasting a documentary slandering the DPRK”  “At the trial the accused admitted that what they did were criminal acts committed, prompted by the political motive to isolate and stifle the socialist system of the DPRK by faking up moving images aimed at falsifying its human rights performance and hurling slanders and calumnies at it.”

US News Story:

Reporters: We were ‘dragged’ back to N. Korea

“Two American television reporters imprisoned in North Korea  for months say communist soldiers “violently dragged” them back when they returned to Chinese soil after briefly crossing into the reclusive country.  “The two said some parts of their captivity were too painful to revisit publicly, but their experiences “pale when compared to the hardship facing so many people living in North Korea or as illegal immigrants in China.”

Sometimes the media is biased to promote a certain political view or to either expose or hide something in order to sway public opinion.  It falls on the media consumer to discard, counterbalance or supplement the messages in order to weed out propaganda.

Fox News and the White House

Robert Greenwald, the director of ‘Outfoxed’ was recently interviewed about Fox News and the outspokenness of the White House regarding the TV channel as a propaganda organization of the right wing:

Let’s hope that more and more people get educated and learn to make distinctions between news and propaganda. It is ok to have political commentary, even if it represents a distorted view of the world. However, if even news shows attempt to drive points of view instead of separating reporting from commenting, and the selection of the news is extremely biased, there is something severely wrong with that media outlet.

When the Iraq war started most of the news organizations allowed themselves to become tools of pro-war propaganda. They failed to do their job to critically look at issues and present both sides of the story. It appears that the situation has improved a bit. However, the question remains: In a time where high ratings and advertising dollars are the prime driver for media, can the media afford to be neutral? What would have happened if more media would have been critical of the war? Would the conservative part of the audience have called them “un-patriotic” for that? Would they have lost advertising dollars because of it? Can the media afford to do what is right?

Gullible Media?

Last week it was the “balloon boy” hoax. And this week it looks like some too news hungry media outlets fell for another hoax:

 http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2009/10/23/fake-obama-thesis-story-g_n_332255.html .

Is it the constant fight for attention? We still do have enough serious issues in this country and around the world that are news worthy. Do we have enough readers/viewers/listeners for those kind of news? Judging by how hungry most media outlets are for sensationalist stories, they must not think much of their customers.

Then again, the masses were probably always interested in gossip. What is new though is that because of the speed of the medium and the need to be faster than the competition, many news providers are not as thorough anymore when checking their stories and sources. Sometimes, as in the case above, they do not even necessarily care too much about the truth anymore, if it supports the point they want to make. They need us – the public – to respond and help them stay honest.

Healthcare Bill Passable?

Congress is closer to passing a bill that reforms our nation’s healthcare. The new version being pushed by Pelosi will cost $871 billion, which meets Obama’s $900 billion cap and lowers the deficit. With full concentration on the issue, Congress has made record progress on creating acceptable healthcare legislation. One of the driving factors may be the upcoming recess for Congress in November. No congressman wants Obama to call for a special session during their time off. In short, Democrats and Republicans are going to have to continue making compromises to get farther along in making the legislation.

Strong Opposition

Several media outlets have covered the news; but Fox News has taken center stage in several opponents debates on the healthcare bill. In the article “ Senate Moderates Could Pose Problems for Reid on Health Care” several members of this group have expressed concern with the possibility that a government-run insurance plan could emerge from closed-door talks in the majority leader’s office — though they are not outright opposed to a public plan.http://www.foxnews.com/politics/2009/10/22/senate-moderates-pose-problems-reid-health-care/

The White House officials and Obama’s administration are furious at Fox News and accuse them of pushing a particular point of view. They made a call out to other media networks like CNN not to follow Fox steps and to declare them “not a news organization”. This has become a hot debate not only amongst Congress, Democrats, Republicans and the public; but media outlets too.http://www.foxnews.com/politics/2009/10/18/white-house-escalates-war-fox-news/

 Neutral

 CNN and the Associated Press have maintained a neutral point of view in the debate on the healthcare bill. Reporting only the facts about the steps being taken by White House officials and what measures congress is taking. In the article above, ”Public health insurance option on table as senate, white house officials try to fashion bill”, negotiators consider public option in Senate bill.    

http://www.newser.com/article/d9bge0102/public-health-insurance-option-on-table-as-senate-white-house-officials-try-to-fashion-bill.html#

 http://www.charlotteobserver.com/551/story/1012882.html

 In favor of Healthcare Reform

A few of the “news organizations” as Obama puts it, not following Fox steps and have reported the Presidents, both political parties views on the benefits of the bill are;  Yahoo, MSNBC,  and Life News amongst others. 

WASHINGTON – Historic legislation to expand U.S. health care and control costs won its first Republican supporter Tuesday and cleared a key Senate hurdle, a double-barreled triumph that propelled President Barack Obama’s signature issue toward votes this fall in both houses of Congress. http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/33290417/ns/politics-health_care_reform/

“There will be compromise. There will be legislation, and it will achieve our goals: helping people who have insurance get more security, more accountability for the insurance industry, helping people who don’t have insurance get insurance they can afford, and lowering the overall cost of the system,” aide David Axelrod said. http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20091018/ap_on_go_pr_wh/us_obama_health_care