Democracy

I enjoy voting. I believe I've voted in every election since I turned 18. Maybe missed the occasional primary. I know I missed the one for Illinois governor when it was between Blago, Vallas, and Burris, because I didn't like any of them. 

I only voted early once, four years ago, and it took much longer than it does at my usual place, where I’m in-and-out in ten minutes. I like being part of the process on the official day, anyway. I like wearing my sticker and being a good example for my kids. Today I was the 454^th voter, at 11:30 a.m. Sounds like a good turnout.

However, I am annoyed that my polling place is in a church. My last place (same house, different polling place) was also a church. That one was of the Giant Wooden Cross on the lawn type. The current one is the Big White Pillars in front type.  Either way, annoying. Separation of church and state, anyone? I know they don’t generally get paid for the inconvenience, and there "aren't enough public locations" otherwise, or whatever, blah blah blah. But it’s crap, and I don’t like it.

Back in the olden days, I voted in an elementary school, across the street from my condo. It was great: leave the house, vote, get into car, drive to work. Then they moved it to the middle school 2 blocks away. Grumble.

One of my friends in Chicago voted in a car dealership several times. I think that’s hysterical. Plenty of room, not particularly crowded on a Tuesday. Works great. No, I'm not sure whether it was for an American company.

So. Here’s hoping the disenfranchisement, ballot fraud (Really, Ohio. I hope someone goes to jail for that.), and other assorted bullshit don’t make this country an embarrassment. Because despite the electoral college, voting is still my favorite civic duty.

Good news on the school lunch program

Here's the update we sent out to the school parents this week:
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The district has chosen our school for a pilot program in the HealthierUS School Challenge (HUSSC). We are applying at the bronze level. District-wide, we are already meeting several requirements at this level, including nutrition education, PE classes, and our wellness policy. The lunch menus for March, April, and May will be changed to make them align with the HUSSC guidelines.

If the pilot is successful (meaning that the number of lunches sold is equal or higher than in previous months), this program will be rolled out to the other elementary schools in the district.

The menu changes include:

• White milk choices will change from skim or 2%, to skim or 1%. Chocolate milk will remain at 1%.
• Whole grains must be served three times a week. Examples include brown rice or whole wheat hamburger buns.
• Dark green or orange vegetables will be added every week. For example, romaine salad or sweet potatoes.
• Beans will be served at least once a week.
• Fresh fruit will be offered at least once a week.

----------------------------------------------

So. Progress is good. I'm happy that we are making these changes without an impact on the budget. However, I have to say, there are a few menu items that perhaps need tweaking. My favorite day is next week. It is "Cheese pizza, romaine garden salad with dressing, mixed fruit, brown rice." Oh, those little kids will just be gobbling up their brown rice that day! Obviously a whole wheat pizza crust would be a better fit, but either it's too expensive or not available from our supplier right now.

There's also a side dish called "Toasted Oatsies." Yeah, essentially Cheerios. A bit odd. My daughter spy tells me that they are fairly popular, though, so that's cool.

Progress on improving the school lunch program

So, a few weeks ago I presented the school board with the petitions that I and my many helpers canvassed around, collecting 428 signatures. Our district has about 3200 students in 7 schools, so I feel like that was a respectable amount.

Despite having my partner-in-change (Laura) with me and our friend and ally (Dana the village trustee) and one other mom who came to support the cause, I was nervous. Hate the public speaking. There were lots of other people there, though! If you've never been to a board of education meeting, I have to say there's a lot you can learn there. It was "The State of the District" presentation night, so there were teachers, the middle school principal (who I didn't know and didn't recognize, which is just as well, which you will see if you read my speech, below), some AAUW people asking for a grant, the local newspaper reporter who was there to do an article on LAURA AND ME, WOOOO, WE ARE FAMOUS, MAN - front page article! Lots of people.

So as always when I'm nervous, I had to read straight off the page. Sigh. Oh well, I am proud of the positive tone, which did not go unnoticed by the superintendent, who remarked on it and on the fact that this was the first grassroots initiative brought to him in his seven years at the district.

This evening I meet with the Asst. Superintendent for Finance and Operations to discuss who will be on the committee. I can't believe this is really moving forward!

Here's my speech:

[introductions]

We believe the district's wellness policy has done a great job of eliminating junk food as a teacher reward, in fundraising, and at school functions. In the latest [district newsletter] it states that the district is prioritizing wellness. It seems like the next logical step is to address the inadequacies of the lunch program.

As you are perhaps have heard, we put together a petition to show you that our community is interested in improving the quality of the lunches served at our schools. PRESENT PETITIONS and DECLARE NUMBER (428 signatures). [Read text of petition]

During discussions that were sparked by this effort, we have learned that we have a community filled with people who want to volunteer their time to improve various aspects of the school nutrition program.

• We have an executive chef who wants to partner with the schools (chefs move to school program that Michelle Obama started).
• We also have parents at several schools who would love to start a school vegetable garden, which would enable students to try truly fresh and local foods.

Have a committee to oversee applying for grants and other programs that would benefit the nutritional and physical well-being of the students. We propose that the committee should consist of

• the middle school principal
• one of the elementary school principals
• parents from each school
• the Food Service Director
• and a Board of Education representative

The first set of goals includes:

• Increase the amount of whole grains and fresh fruits and vegetables
• Decrease the amount of HFCS and hydrogenated oils
• Give input when the new lunch contract is under discussion
• Enforce the Wellness Policy during lunch at the middle school

We are also interested in expanding the role of the school district in promoting fitness, including walk and bike to school initiatives and a district-level wellness fair to showcase ideas for healthier families.

We know that solving this problem will entail creativity and flexibility to meet the nutritional guidelines and not overshoot the budget, but we are confident that large improvements can be made without straining the district's finances.

Thank you.

World domination and subversive activity

Sometimes there is a quote that you hear too often, yet it resonates so deeply that it never really gets old.

Never doubt that a small group of thoughtful, committed citizens can change the world. Indeed, it is the only thing that ever has. -- Margaret Mead

As I mentioned, I'm heading up the PTA Wellness Committee this year. I had two big goals (Start a walking to school program and do something to improve the lunch program), and one not-so-secret goal (start a school vegetable garden).

Our district has a wellness policy that has met with a lot of parental resistance. In part: No chips, cookies, candy, soda for daily snack items or class parties. No food of any kind for teacher rewards. No candy or bake sale fundraisers. (Although we still have a "cake walk" once a year. Go figure how that gets approved.) I have no issues with any of that.

And yet, despite the wellness policy, the lunch program, as in many schools, is repulsive. No fresh fruit or vegetables. At all. I read in USA Today recently (I know. It was an accident.) that only schools and pet food use that grade of meat. Gross. There is a breakfast item called the SuperDonut that gets a lot of negative parental comments. "It's fortified," says the food vendor. Umm. Yeah.

So, I met one of our village trustees, Dana, who just happened to stop me to chat after a school board meeting. I attended that meeting to ask whether there were plans for any lunch program revamping. While talking with her, I realized that nothing would ever happen unless all the schools start working together. I mentioned this to our school's PTA president as well. Next thing I know I'm heading up a meeting next Thursday night, and we are inviting all the parents from all seven schools in the district to attend. I hope the news is spreading well. It seems to be. All hail the God of Email.

On top of that, Dana told me of an eco-grant program the village has. I plan to apply for a grant to start our school vegetable garden, but I probably should get the principal on board first. Also, she and I are both interested in getting foreign language instruction in the grade schools. I think I'll need to hang out with her more!

All this world domination and subversive activity is taking away from my exercising/reading/blogging/lounging time, which frankly wasn't such a large line item to begin with.

Summary of State of the Union address

I just *knew* I shouldn't promise future posting! I forgot about the State of the Union address, and I have to say, hearing our president say "No torture! Health care reform! Parents, take responsibility for your kids' education! Banks -- we are watching your skanky asses. Let's keep jobs in America!" just really puts me into a Zen state.

Photography tomorrow. I swear.

Oh, hallelujah for today

For the first time in my children’s lives, they will have a president that doesn’t need to stick out his tongue in fierce concentration when tying his shoes.

I haven’t discussed politics that much on my blog, because the white-hot hatred I have for Bush is beyond discussion. For 8 years I have changed the channel when that moron* opened his mouth. To have a president that doesn’t shame me as a citizen – truly, something to be celebrated.

Both 2000 and 2004 were painful elections. Not just the blatant fraud, but the thought that over 50% of Americans were so gullible and, frankly, ignorant. I was afraid this past Election Day that somehow it would happen again.

So, Boo? Nea? It’s the beginning of another chance for America. A dawn of an age where perhaps we can undo the damage of the last 8 years. Perhaps repair our relations with other countries. Perhaps travel abroad again without a pained expression on our faces.

"Free at last! Free at last! Thank God Almighty, we are free at last!"


*Apologies to morons everywhere.

Eat locally, Obama family!

"Eat the View! is a campaign to urge the Obamas to replant a large organic Victory Garden on the First Lawn with the produce going to the White House kitchen and to local food pantries."

Wow! Brilliant! How have I not heard of this petition before?

Blagojevich: 'Nothing but sunshine hanging over me'

Yeah, another Illinois governor arrested. Yawn. How many does that make now?

"The actions by federal authorities came a day before Blagojevich's 52nd birthday." -- that's going to put a damper on the festivities. Did you know his first name is Milorad? Poor thing.

Polling completed on October 13, 2008 put Blagojevich's approval rating among
Illinois voters at 4%. Blagojevich ranks as “Least Popular Governor” in the
nation according to Rasmussen Reports By the Numbers. On October 23, 2008,
the Chicago Tribune reported that Blagojevich suffered the lowest ratings ever
recorded for an elected politician in nearly three decades of Chicago Tribune
polls.

source: wikipedia -- Read the whole entry if you have time. It's comedy gold. And updated with the arrest already! I'm impressed.

Man, I can't wait!

5 Signs President-Elect Obama Is a Geek

I'm so excited! Many members of my family and friends are also geeks! I, however, am only somewhat geeky. Although having created my first Google map for work (tutorial) certainly is making me feel like a run for the Alpha Geek status of my household. I can take N down for wiki development, FrontPage, etc., but I think he holds the upper hand for Excel formulas.

OK, I'm sounding more geeky by the minute. I do have all my telephone and address lists in Excel. That's probably a bad sign. Hmmm. Also, there's this blog.

The siren's call of the opinion page

[from here]

I have enjoyed political cartoons since way, way back. I remember not understanding a lot of them. I also read Mike Royko from when I was old enough to read until his death (in 1997, Goz). Since having kids, though, I stepped back from staying as informed as I had been. A big part of that, of course, was bringing kids into the post-9/11 world. Being a parent is terrifying enough when your country isn’t the target of the crazies.

But now! Now is an exciting time to start paying attention again. Here’s a good source for your daily fix, if you enjoy them, too. And I've vowed to start listening to more NPR again.

Bump

From http://www.kentucky.com/947

National Obama Day

Did you notice the sun is shining more brightly today? The trees, they are so vibrant. The birdies, they sing so sweetly. Verily, it is the dawn of a better time.

If you haven't seen it yet, treat yourself to the victory speech.

Big Day

Last week we counted political lawn signs. Obama won 2 to 1.
Yesterday Boo’s kindergarten class voted. Obama won 3 to 1.

Let’s hope he wins for real today. I’m hoping for a definitive victory by 10 pm so we can all get a nice restful night’s sleep. Not like that 2000 election.

My predictions? By the end of today:

• My nails will be very short.
• I will have consumed several beers.

I’m actually downtown today for some training, so let’s just see how crazy it gets down here. I’m expecting a fairly normal day, since I’m not driving, and I hope to take an early train home.

Why the bailout passed

It took me a few weeks. It’s no secret that our dearly hated president has been looting our country for 8 years on behalf of his bastard rich friends. Yet it took me some thinking time. What’s with this pathetic bailout? How does this work? I can be slow at times.

The republicans realized that Obama will win the election. So they set us up. They lined their pockets and guaranteed the next president’s failure in one move. Eleventy-seventy godzillion dollars for themselves, and the bankruptcy of our nation at the same time.

Finally the bailout makes sense.

We simple womenfolk

I've had several men tell me that they actually know women who will vote McCain/Palin because they were Hillary supporters, and they still want to vote for a woman. Uh. Really? I hereby give you a belated IM conversation that I had during the Oct. 2 Biden/Palin debate.

Friend: Is it just me or does it bug you how she calls everyone by their first name.
Bluestem: everything she does bugs me. but wait! we have girlie bits! we have to vote for her!
Friend: I prefer to call them my lady parts
Bluestem: but do you vote with them?
Friend: It's hard to make them pull the lever, but I practice when my husband is out of town
Bluestem: har!
Friend: It will be difficult as Child #1 wants to come vote with me.
Bluestem: oh, awkward.
Friend: But Mommy, why do you have to wear a skirt to vote? Just wait honey, you'll see.
Bluestem: "it's part of the democratic process"

Seriously, I can't imagine a Hillary supporter saying that she would throw all her political beliefs into the shitter, just to continue to vote for a woman. How illogical.

The statue of liberty and machine guns

Perhaps I’m overly sensitive to these things, but I found it in very poor taste that these three machine-gun toting men were posing for photos with our Lady Liberty this past Monday.

Is it for some pathetic flag-waving rah rah calendar? Look for it in stores soon -- "2009 Calendar - Liberty means never having to say you're sorry"

Send word if you hear about this exciting new product.

Bluestem talks politics

Everyone else is talking about politics so much that I feel like I don't have to cover any of the chaos. However, baywatch twittered this McCain article, and it's a must-read.

Cheatsheet for the new bailout bill

You know. In case you got confused.

Oh for crying out loud

35 As a 1930s wife, I am Poor Take the test!

139 As a 1930s husband, I am Very Superior Take the test!

OK. I like a cute little online quiz as much as the next person. I do. But of all of all the unbalanced, revisionist-historical, bullshit quizzes. I mean, I’m sorry, honey, I *want* to be more subservient. Really. I just can’t quite do it.

But how do he get credit for paying attention to the kids and household chores?! Sure, that’s cool now. But in the 1930’s? I’m thinking the neighborhood husbands would have strung him up.

You know, that thing we are involved in, over there

My poll on “What’s going on in Iraq now?” garnered the votes of
A war: 0
A U.S.-led occupation:3
A police action: 1
Other: 2

I asked the question because of a somewhat heated debate with my husband recently. Just today NPR used the word “war” again, referring to the Iraqi situation. CNN and the Chicago Tribune still use the term. I guess it’s just a handy shorthand, if incorrect.

So, you who voted “other,” please explain in the comments section. What is it?