Another ONE?

Oh OK, twist my arm.

Happy Halloween

Happy Halloween

from the Media Matters Family

"Sunday Blues"

I am one of few people I know that really enjoy my work. Yes, it is stressful and sometimes I don't want to be here because I just don't think I could do another day, but I really like what I do and can't imagine doing anything else at this point. I find this article interesting to say the least.


Many Experience Sunday Night Anxiety

DENVER -- Sunday nights are supposed to be a time for relaxing, but for many people it is one of the most stressful times of the week.

"I never sleep on Sunday night very well because I'm worried about going to work on Monday morning," one worrier told KMGH. "My job is very stressful and you kind of have to gear up for Monday and getting back into that."

After sitting at their desks all workweek long, people can't help but look forward to the weekend, KMGH reported. But once it comes, it can go by fast.

By the time Sunday night comes around, it's all but over and that is when the panic sets in for many people.

Wright said keeping active on Sundays will keep people's minds off heading back to work or school.

Perhaps the best advice for beating Sunday night anxiety is to create a ritual you really look forward to. It can be as simple as watching a favorite TV show each week. Another suggestion is to make Sunday family game night.

Interviews......

Such a mind exhausting adventure into the realm of trying to get promoted or just a plain job for that matter. After 7 years with my company I am trying to get a promotion. I had an interview on Tuesday. I swear you go brain dead. I can think of all the great skills, knowledge, and qualities I possess for this promotion before the interview. Once you are in the interview process you go brain stupid. "Why do you think you are the right person for the job?" uh-umm? I don't know. Of course. I know the systems, I work with a variety of things that give me the qualification and blah blah blah. "uh-umm duh." I was so exhausted after that I went to bed at 7:30 that night. I was so drained. Well we should find out who gets the job by this afternoon or tomorrow. There are 4 candidates total. I do feel I am the most qualified, but don't we all?

Interesting Study

Study Suggests Possible Link Between TV Viewing and Autism in Children

Too much TV time for toddlers may trigger autism, according to a study by Cornell business professors.

Over the past few decades, there's been an amazing increase in the number of children diagnosed with autism. Some experts think this is due to broader diagnostic criteria for autism. Some point to vastly increased services for autistic children. Others think that something in the environment is triggering an autism epidemic.

It occurred to Cornell University management professor Michael Waldman, PhD, that the increase in autism cases came at the same time as increased opportunities for very young children to watch TV. Could it be, he wondered, that the explosion in children's TV programming, DVDs, VCRs, and video/computer games is behind the explosion in autism diagnoses?

Waldman asked his colleagues in the medical world to look at the issue. Nobody would. So he assembled a research team and did the study himself -- using tools more often seen in economic studies than in medical studies. The results bolstered his suspicions

"We are not claiming that we have definitive evidence. But we have evidence that is awfully suggestive of a link between TV watching and autism," Waldman tells WebMD. "Someone should nail this down one way or the other."

Story

This article also had links to other articles on autism

Early Signs of Autism Identified in Infants

April 29, 2005 -- Canadian researchers say they can recognize the early signs of autism autism in children as young as 6 months old, and they hope their findings will lead to better early treatments for the disorder.better early treatments for the disorder.

There is strong evidence that autism has its origin in abnormal brain development early in prenatal life,abnormal brain development early in prenatal life, write the authors.

Specific markers include making infrequent eye contact, not smiling in response to smiles from others, and, in older children, exhibiting delayed language skills.

Because of our son's brain problems autism is a concern for use. I breathe a little easier knowing he doesn't exhibit any of the "specific markers" listed above.

Video Games? Not So Bad.

Video Games good for kids? Study says yes.

WASHINGTON -- Video games, often viewed by parents and teachers as the enemy of learning, may be good for kids after all.

The speed, color and action of the small screen can be harnessed for education, given enough investment in research. And that's not the conclusion of some band of slackers.

The theory is that games teach skills that employers want: analytical thinking, team building, multitasking and problem solving under duress.

Unlike humans, the games never lose patience. And they are second nature to many kids.

There is a lot more on this story at the link above.


I have always believed that video games helped eye-hand coordination. I don't like the violent games but I do like the ones geared toward fun and child's play. My daughter learned how to play video games and began to surpass her mom who had been playing them over 20 years. I am looking forward to getting my son involved with them also. I am one big kid at heart. I love my Playstation. Yes, I know there are better models out there now, but I am happy with what I have. I love Frogger, that's my favorite game I have on my Playstation.

Smartest State?

Question posed to you?

Do You Live In The Smartest State?
Rankings Based On 21 Education Indicators
POSTED: 11:40 am PDT October 17, 2006(link)

PHOENIX -- When it comes to intelligence, a new survey ranks Arizona dead last among the states.

For the second year in a row, an annual smartest-state ranking puts Arizona in the No. 50 spot.

In the smart-state ranking, Vermont comes in at the top, followed by Massachusetts, Connecticut, New Jersey and Maine.(I always knew I wanted to live on the East Coast)

1 Vermont
2 Massachusetts
3 Connecticut
4 New Jersey
5 Maine
6 Virginia
7 Montana
8 Wisconsin
9 Iowa
10 Pennsylvania
11 Nebraska
12 New Hampshire
13 Minnesota
14 Rhode Island
15 Kansas
16 New York
17 South Dakota
18 Maryland
19 Wyoming
20 Idaho
21 North Dakota
22 Missouri
23 North Carolina
24 Indiana
25 Texas
26 South Carolina
27 Colorado
28 Delaware
29 Florida
30 Tennessee
31 Kentucky
32 Arkansas
33 Washington
34 Ohio
35 Illinois
36 Oklahoma
37 West Virginia
38 Utah
39 Michigan
40 Oregon
41 Georgia
42 Hawaii
43 New Mexico
44 Louisiana
45 Alabama
46 Alaska
47 California
48 Mississippi
49 Nevada
50Arizona

Where are you?

Broncos Win Again!!!

6 weeks into the season and the Broncos are showing us, what us fans knew of course, what they are made of. I was beginning to worry for a little bit. The season started with a loss to the St. Louis Rams. No touchdown scored though by the winning team. The awesome Bronco defense kept the Rams to Field Goals only, 6 of them but no touchdowns. The following weeks we saw wins for the Broncos, still the defense leading the way. Plummer and his offense only seemed to get in the game by the fourth quarter. Well last nights game was a better improvement on the offense and Plummer was looking like the winning quarterback he has been since joining the Denver Broncos. The Broncos have played 5 games and have not let a team score a touchdown but one. That game was against the Patriots. Way to go DEFENSE.


I, living in Sacramento, don't get to see all the games I would like to but I have been lucky enough to see the first five. I don't know if I will be able to see next week's game because they are playing the Browns.

The Beginning of the End?

Could this be the beginning of the end for the Liberal Air America?

Air America Radio Files For Bankruptcy
Liberal Talk Show Network To Continue Operations

NEW YORK -- A month after denying rumors it would file for bankruptcy, Air America Radio did just that on Friday.

Air America started in 2004 and features liberal talk show hosts including political satirist Al Franken of "Saturday Night Live" fame and actress Janeane Garofalo.

Aaaahhhhh!

Now for a sweet story for once.

Panda Cub Opens Eyes At Zoo Atlanta

Zoo officials made the discovery during a physical examination of the 36-day-old unnamed female cub

She's probably able to see now," said zoo veterinarian Dr. Maria Crane. "We noticed she's paying more attention to her environment."

"She's a very solid cub," Crane said. "Her growth is nice and steady, and that's really a testament to how well Lun Lun is taking care of her."

Higher Taxes and the Middle Class

Middle Class, I would describe that as our lifestyle and income. I was listening to the Radio this morning and they were interviewing someone. Advisor to the Democratic party or something. All I caught was that this was an idiot I was listening too. He was talking about the debate that happened on Saturday between the governor and that idiot Angelides. He was talking about how Phil Angelides promises to cut taxes for the Middle Class. It got me thinking. I remember those same promises from the Gray Davis campaign too and I didn't not see a drop in taxes. I have actually had to pay state. If you want to convince me that there is a going to be a drop in our taxes I had better see it on my next years return for the state and let's see add sales tax to that and utility tax and then I might believe the Democrats are capable of lowering taxes. We all know what happened to Davis. I hear now that Angelides is going up and down the state doing a biographical campaign strategy, "Get to know your candidate." NO thanks! Vote ARNOLD. He's not that great but he is better than Angelides. NO on 87 we don't need a higher gas tax either.

Thoughts and Q&A

Is It getting worse or is just my imagination?

Buy American!!!!

Why does everyone want to talk to this woman?

I am just trying to get something in here. I have been slacking on my blogging. I have been so busy with other stuff. Baby Media Matter's is 5 months old now. He is doing so much more stuff with grabbing things and talking(cooing) and Daddy is home with him today and he called me and said that Baby MM rolled over. Yay!