Thursday night and Friday morning will be a great time to view the Geminid Meteor shower. This year’s light show might be extra special. There might be a meteor shower from a lesser known comet, Comet Wirtanen, at the same time. If things go as predicted, stargazers might very well see 150 meteors per hour!
We just have to wish away those clouds. There will be no moon interference.
More information-National Geographic
http://www.roanoke.com/editorials/wb/317863
At least Roanoke will still have a local “paper of record
with a general circulation” after the first of the year.
It is unclear, at this point, exactly what course PWC and
the two cities can take to meet state regulations after
the pending close of the Manassas News & Messenger.
FYI – There is a Manassas/ Western Prince William Town Hall
meeting at 7:30 tonight in Manassas City Hall.
According to the notice, our state delegation will discuss items
coming before the next session. Those slated to attend
are: Senator Colgan, Senator Black, Delegate Miller, Delegate Marshall,
Delegate Anderson and Delegate Ramadan.
I think I would rather walk into a den of rattle snakes.
But thanks anyway, Steve.
Talk about war on women.
Maybe they will be there to roll out their latest design of chastity belt.
I can just feel the testosterone of “knowing whats best for the wimmins ” boiling up in the air.
Anyone preparing for 12/21?
Just a few hemlock cocktails in case the going gets rough, a little Mayan flute music, and some wiccan music for solstice.
The sky is clearing off. I have to get the ipad and go orient myself outside. Sky Walk is a good APP, Does anyone else know of one?
Would have liked to attend the Western Prince William Town Hall but there was a schools meeting and then a Birth Matters Prince William meeting, a group that advocates an evidence-based model of maternity care. Wish the media would shine a spotlight on a few of these birthing statistics in US, rather than that “first baby of the new year” photo (Google a phrase and you’ll get all 23, with references):
1. Each year, the US spends over $80 billion on childbirth — more than any other nation in the world. (number doesn’t include babies in NICU or re-admissions during the first month.)
2. 75 years of routine hospital birth have produced NO studies to show it is safer than having a baby at home with a skilled birth attendant.
3. Both homebirth and birth centers have been scientifically proven to be as safe or safer than hospitals with a skilled labor attendant (i.e. midwives, not doctors).
4. Of the 4.3 million babies born annually in US, a mere 5% represent natural childbirth.
5. America ranks 29th in the world for its infant mortality rate, the number of babies who die in their first year per 1,000 live births, meaning the US loses more babies than 28 other nations per year.
6. The US ranks 14th among developed nations for its maternal mortality ratio, the ratio of maternal deaths per 100,000 live births, meaning 13 other countries lose less mothers within 6 weeks of childbirth than the US does per year.
7. Over 90% of all infants in the US are born with drugs (e.g. narcotics from epidurals, pitocin, acetaminophen, etc) in their systems. NONE of these drugs have been tested for safe use in infants.
8. A 24-hour hospital stay, uncomplicated delivery in the US costs $8,000-10,000. This cost DOUBLES for a c-section.
9. ALL families in the US are charged newborn nursery charges, even if the baby NEVER leaves the mother’s room. This “routine” charge amounts to about $1.3 billion annually, for services that are NOT rendered.
10. 1 in 3 American women has an episiotomy. Episiotomies are medically indicated for less than 10% of all women. Over 1 million unnecessary episiotomies are performed annually in the US.
11. 1 in 5 births in the US are induced. 44% of women surveyed in 2002 reported their doctor wanted to induce. Only 16% reported medically-indicated reasons.
12. American women who elect epidurals are FOUR times as likely to have cesarean sections.
13. 32.8% of American babies (nearly 1 in 3) in 2007 were delivered by cesarean section. The World Health Organization recommends a c-section rate of less than 10-15% as acceptable.
While these statistics and illustrate the overmedicalization of American maternity care, the true injustice occurs when these views are exported across the world.
We as a country must reach beyond our own boundaries to embrace an evidence-based model of maternity care. We, as women, mothers, fathers and expectant families, must educate ourselves as to the true process of labor and childbirth, intervening only when necessary.
@Cindy B
Very informative. Most of that information is new to me and gives me a bit to think about. What is Birth Matters about?
@Lyssa
Mrs. NTK and I are getting together the evening of December 21 with another couple who are old, close friends to drink some good wine and have a great dinner, and we’ll buy whatever take-out food our kids want. One of our kids has a driver’s license now and can pick us up if we enjoy the fine wine too much. We exchange visits and wine dinners at each other’s homes every year. They are Massachusetts Democrats and we’re conservative Republicans, but we still have a great time together.
On Saturday, I’m going to sit in my leather recliner with a glass of bourbon and watch my Blu-Ray of “2012” to see what I missed while enjoying the company, food and wine on Friday evening.
@Cindy B
I remember Bill Cosby’s old line about childbirth when he said that the mother isn’t supposed to take any drugs but the father can have all he wants.
Our younger kids were born at the Prince William Hospital’s Birthing Center and we were very pleased with them. That place is an asset to have in the community. Neither Mrs. NTK nor I have ever smoked, and she didn’t touch a drop of alcohol or anything else she was supposed to avoid while pregnant. I refrained from opening any of our better bottles until she was able to partake.
Like the wedding industrial complex, couples can get swept up into the birthing industrial complex. Birth Matters simply introduces anyone to evidence-based care, so they can make their own decisions. The monthly meetings of the Prince William Chapter are at Manassas Midwifery on Dorsey Circle across from Prince William Hospital, 2nd Thurs of each month at 6 pm, bring a dish to share. It’s for anyone, of any age, who wants to learn more, from teen girls to grandmothers to the men in their lives.
http://birthmattersva.org/?page_id=481
Google Rosebud Doula for the best childbirth education classes around at the Freedom Aquatics and Fitness Center, led by Amy Bookwalter. Keep meaning to write about her, been on the backburner since spring!
I’m also into blessingways rather than baby showers. You can still give meaningful and practical gifts, but the emphasis is on supporting family-to-be in their journey.
Manassas Midwifery just opened a sister office, Dumfries Midwifery in Dumfries. They both have Centering Pregnancy circles, and just got a grant for Centering Parenting, which take mom and baby through the first year (infant mortality is measured through the first year, so this helps bring that statistic down.)
Horrendous news from a Connecticut elementary school.
More than 20 children and adults shot to death.
@Moon-howler
I was up at 2:30, suddenly realized that the sky was clear, and that nothing was stopping me from simply going outside
So..I went. Turned and looked up. I have never seen a sky so clear.
In five minutes, I saw 5 shooting stars……while standing in the middle of the West End of Henrico. I can only imagine what it was like in the dark.
FINALLY, I’ve seen a meteor shower. Very cool.
Cheer! Clap!!
Too much time in submarines?
Just kidding.
It was too cold for me to even care. I looked earlier, like around 10./ I had heard they might show up early. Nothing. Then I just didn’t care any more.
My son saw 3 in City of Manassas. I expect there will be some more tonight.
I just watched President Obama’s press conference regarding the child killings on Yahoo news. Before being able to watch, I had to sit through an advertisement for Cascade dish washing soap where three smiling homemakers discussed how happy they were with this soap. They smiled and laughed and sold a product while American parents and an American President cried. I’m disgusted with an economic system that capitalizes on grief and sadness to sell, sell,, sell and more sell.
Punchak, I can’t talk about this dreadful shooting. It is too upsetting. Parents don’t send their children to school to be killed. Nothing the school could have done would have stopped this hideous tragedy.
Right now, I don’t want to hear about anyone’s effen gun rights or the mentally ill. The two are a deadly mix.
I am sure now someone will want to arm all the students and the teachers.
To talk of politics or policies of any sort now would be wrong.
It is time to mourn.
To not talk about it is wrong too. We talked about Tech. We haven’t done jack.
Yes it is Cargo.
@Moon-howler
Well, Moon, what do you think?
Hennity mentioned something to that effect on his radio show this PM!
Is this when I start sawing my wrists? Do I now sound like Hannity? ARGGHHHHH
@Moon-howler
Btw….. and this is NOT in relation to the current shooting, arming teachers has been mentioned for years. Just to let you know.
I am aware of that. Most teachers don’t want to be armed.
I’m all for 2A, but I will never forget my bullying, threatening and massively-built 6th-grade math teacher. He terrified me. Granted, teachers back then got away with a lot more than they can now, but I could just imagine him brandishing a pistol rather than the paddle he waved around anytime anyone crossed his imaginary and ever-shifting line.
You are right, Emma. Hitting every ball out of the ball park this morning!
We have had that in PWC. Some idiot (I think out of the PE dept at middle school) decided to scare the visiting 5th graders by showing them what was done to kids who didn’t comply….and pretend shot a student. Judgement a little lacking?
Teaching certification doesn’t confer good judgement. Not everyone gets it. That’s a little too captive audience for me.
I don’t think the 2 A is without limitations.
Sadly, there was a lone shooter who entered a school, and caused great grief to many, and instilled fear into others. Look at the misinformation that came out about this one event. From reports that the Mother was a teacher, to there were more than one shooter involved. And, this was from a lone shooter in a situation that was secured very quickly. The investigation will reveal many facts over the coming months. And the media is being professional about the misinformation.
Compare that to the reaction of some individuals, and some media outlets with the Benghazi attack – something that occurred in a less structured area of the world (war zone), the number of shooters that we may never know. Yet, some think all the answers should have been known before the questions were even asked.
Where are these people now – demanding answers – demanding the CT State Police to issue information. Is it that it was easy to politicize the Benghazi attack – something that happened around the world, and did not affect many people?
I saw the meteor shower! I went out to get the paper around 5 am Friday and looked up for less than 5 minutes before I saw it. Amazing!
Arming teachers, or janitors, or administrators would be idiotic. For one thing, you’d be forcing many of them to do something they didn’t want to, which isn’t conducive to becoming proficient with a gun. Second, a lot of them would be terrified of the weapon, which would create a truly dangerous situation. And who would be sued when the teacher shot someone by mistake? I can’t think of a more dangerous suggestion, other than arming the children.
@Pat.Herve
FAbulous comparison Pat!!!! Totally agree.
@middleman
No one is advocating that teachers, etc, be forced to arm.
What has been advocated is setting up a program that allows school personnel to arm themselves, including any training that is required.
If a security guard or cop shoots someone by mistake, who is sued or charge? It would be the same situation, depending upon the circumstances of the incident. These people would not be law enforcement. They would respond by protecting the children in their class or by responding from an office, depending upon where they are and their responsibilities. Armed teachers would not “hunt” the shooter, but have a firearm available for defense if the shooter comes to their classroom.
Is this idea perfect? No. Is it worth discussion? I think so. Moon hates it. It has been done elsewhere.
I think that you mis-wrote? “… other than arming the children.” Did you mean “teacher?”
Every time I read “being advocated” I get killer rage myself. Who is advocating it? Why don’t I advocate that every NRA member stick an M-16 where the sun doesn’t shine? Does that make me an advocate? The bottom line is, you don’t know what you are talking about. That is just a little too much multi-tasking.
I just resent like hell the public being cheap AGAIN and wanting to put yet another chore on the tewacher. I don’t care if Chief Deane retires and becomes a teacher. He shouldnt have to be an cop also.
You are right. Moon hates it. Moon has good reason to hate it.
If the public wants someone armed in the schools, no freebies. PAY for it. Teachers aren’t the good will mission truck. I bet there would be no extra pay involved. I mean combat pay. Enough people are having to do that unarmed as it is.
@Moon-howler
Um…yes. It does make you an advocate for your position and ideas.
What do you mean, I don’t know what I’m talking about? I know exactly what I’m talking about. I’m talking about teachers being allowed to defend themselves and their classes….NOT being security guards.
I also support the idea of putting armed security. I don’t have a problem with that. But, until that armed security arrives…what do you do? I would like teachers to be able to defend themselves and their class. Heck..give them tasers. Or harden the classrooms. Or emergency exits in every classroom. Something.
Its like my daughter’s school. They lock all the doors. They have a camera at the front door. They see you on camera and buzz you in. Into an open hallway.
The security there is security theater. It does nothing except tells the office people that someone IS coming in. There is, at least, that. But the “resource officer” is somewhere else. So, if you want security….build security.
How about a fence? Around the front door….and that is where the guards sit. Get past him..and you are still locked outside of the school.
You are recommending for someone else something you have never done yourself.
In that respect, you do not know what you are talking about. After teaching 10 years perhaps we can have this discussion.
Anyone here use Instagram? I’m glad that I never did this. Happy being a 20th century luddite.
http://news.cnet.com/8301-13578_3-57559710-38/instagram-says-it-now-has-the-right-to-sell-your-photos/
Instagram said today that it has the perpetual right to sell users’ photographs without payment or notification, a dramatic policy shift that quickly sparked a public outcry.
The new intellectual property policy, which takes effect on January 16, comes three months after Facebook completed its acquisition of the popular photo-sharing site. Unless Instagram users delete their accounts before the January deadline, they cannot opt out.
….Under the new policy, Facebook claims the perpetual right to license all public Instagram photos to companies or any other organization, including for advertising purposes, which would effectively transform the Web site into the world’s largest stock photo agency.
Another policy pitfall: If Instagram users continue to upload photos after January 16, 2013, and subsequently delete their account after the deadline, they may have granted Facebook an irrevocable right to sell those images in perpetuity. There’s no obvious language that says deleting an account terminates Facebook’s rights, EFF’s Opsahl said.
Facebook’s new rights to sell Instagram users’ photos come from two additions to its terms of use policy. One section deletes the current phrase “limited license” and, by inserting the words “transferable” and “sub-licensable,” allows Facebook to license users’ photos to any other organization.
A second section allows Facebook to charge money. It says that “a business or other entity may pay us to display your… photos… in connection with paid or sponsored content or promotions, without any compensation to you.” That language does not exist in the current terms of use.
Google’s policy, by contrast, is far narrower and does not permit the company to sell photographs uploaded through Picasa or Google+. Its policy generally tracks the soon-to-be-replaced Instagram policy by saying: “The rights you grant in this license are for the limited purpose of operating, promoting, and improving our services.” Yahoo’s policies service for Flickr are similar, saying the company can use the images “solely for the purpose for which such content was submitted or made available.”
Cargo, are you on facebook?
I keep my facebook stuff primative. I don’t like it but its a way to keep up with relatives.
We have posted family pictures (dead relatives mostly) but not from instantgram. Are those at risk also?
Cargo, is your daughter in school this week and have any special precautions been taken there?
I think police and schools are concerned about copy-cat behaviors.
This problem is much wider than schools. Whom do we arm to keep someone from shooting up a movie theater? Casino? Mall? Is everywhere that more than 5 people congregate going to have to have an armed escort? Past some point shrugging your shoulders and asking “what ya gonna do?” doesn’t pass the smell test. I don’t know what the answer is: a constitutional right must be jealously guarded but smart people should be able to arrive at some solution….
@Cargosquid
I meant what I said- the only thing more idiotic than arming teachers would be to arm the students.
If the best we can do as a nation to address this problem is to facilitate gun battles in the classroom, then we should post police officers or armed guards in classrooms- not teachers. I would hope we could do better than that, though.
@Moon-howler
As for Instagram..you know what I know. That was all I have about it.
Katie’s school has not told me anything about doing anything different.
@middleman
I was misunderstanding you…that’s all.
Well, we’ll see what comes of this. Too many people hate the idea of responsible people defending themselves. Got to have that uniform.
Just as a curiosity…. what’s the difference between a school employee that is trained to carry and an armed guard? I can understand your police statement but an armed guard is nothing more than a civilian in a uniform with basic gun handling skills and a class on deadly force. My concealed carry class was more thorough than my qualification to be an armed guard.
@Cargo
My objection is for a teacher to be an armed guard and a teacher at the same time.
Be one or the other.
@Andyh
The problem is much wider than schools. But, the trend IS downward in violent crimes. “Mass” shooters appear to have increased, but the rate, according to some analyses, has not actually increased. Weird.
So..who do we arm? Um…. you. You have the right to keep and bear arms wherever the law and private property allows. In Virginia…that’s almost everywhere, including City Hall and the State Capitol. If the property is not posted…its allowed, unless one is asked to either leave or remove the gun. If you don’t do so..you are trespassing.
@Moon-howler
I forgot…yes. I’m on facebook… both as Cargo and in my secret identity….. 😉
But the only thing on there is some family photos completely unsuitable for commercial use.
You know, I am not sure if I know part 2 of the secret identity. You might want to drop that in email.
The forecast:
http://www.theospark.net/2012/12/interesting-that-this-long-range.html
be aware, do not surf this site if you don’t want to see scantily clad women. This link is safe.
@Moon-howler
Um…you know my secret identity. As in real…..
only part 1. not part 2. Do I ????
I’m not sure that arming millions of amateurs is any sort of useful answer. I’ve got plenty of guns. I carry from time to time. I’m a pretty good shot. However, I’ve got no useful tactical gunfighting experience. Even trained officers find this difficult – recall the NYC officers who killed several bystanders outside of the Empire State building. I don’t believe that turning public spaces into shooting galleries is any sort of deterrent.
We need to have a meaningful discussion about how to keep weapons from insane people.
Totally agree with what you said Andy. I don’t have plenty of guns but I have a few. Not all live at my house now. Some live closer to you in a safe. I had too many gkids around for me to be comfortable.
Yes, we do need to have the conversation about keeping weapons from insane people. I would like to commend the bloggers here on Moonhowlings. They have kept the conversation pretty civil and we are a very mixed bunch. I am proud of the conversation and exchange of ideas that have gone on here.
I particularly want to recognize Cargo….I think he knows why without me saying it. He has not gone all Rambo on us. Thanks, cargo, for doing your part to keep the conversaton real and sane, even though we rarely agree.
@AndyH
But….I don’t understand your logic. The only time that those guns would be used if a shooter enters a classroom. Then the shooting will commence regardless of whether the teacher/etc is armed or not. The idea is to prevent that scenario.
However, I completely agree that we have to control insane people.
@Moon-howler
Moon, I know that your intentions are good. And we have the same destination. However, we disagree about the vehicle and the road. And there are those on the gun banning side that are evil, misguided, control freaks.
Be aware, though. I am one of the peaceful ones. If the gov’t starts “going Rambo” at their end…and confiscating weapons…there will be shooting. People see this a defense of basic principles and inalienable rights. And those that think about this usually aren’t the ones discussing it on the internet. Again, we have cowardly politicians that either are seeing a crisis to exploit or think that they “MUST DO SOMETHING” and be seen doing it. Decisions…laws..made due to high emotion never turn out well.
I say this with all respect. Gun grabbing will be resisted. It WILL be seen as tyranny. And the nature of the country has changed. Millions of citizens now support gun rights. They are educated about their rights. In every instance of anti-2nd amendment articles that allow comments….even on liberal sites like Huffington Post and the Washington Post, anti’s are getting serious arguments and are sometimes outnumbered.
It won’t be like the previous times where gun bans were quickly enacted without resistance. Politicians had better tread a fine line and be careful.
On the other hand, if everyone is allowed to own a rife, a shot gun and a revolver, everyone has 2A rights.
There are no guarantees on some of these high powered weapons. I know darn well the framers weren’t including those. Were there even any repeating rifles before the Civil War?
If someone had a nuclear warhead, would the govt. “grab” it? I sure hope so.
allowing teachers to voluntarily carry is not a solution. No one will know which teachers have chosen to carry, so you can have situations where no teacher in the school has chosen to carry – so, no change. No improvement. And the first time there is an accident with a weapon that the teacher chose to bring to school, they will be hung out to dry.
Skewered and excoreated even. @Pat
It will also make every teacher a moving target since it will be known that some teachers carry weapons.
If people that come up with that idiotic solution are in decision making positions, God help us all.
@Moon-howler
If everyone is allowed to own a typewriter and a pen, can pray at home, and can tell their neighbor the gossip…. everyone is being “allowed” to use the 1st Amendment.
The point is that MILLIONS of Americans committed no crimes with their firearms. We should not be penalized. 99.996% of Americans did not commit murder with their firearms in 2012.
@Pat.Herve
Having the school know…. is an easy fix. Are the security guards and cops being hung out to dry? Legal protections can be developed. Each case, like any case like that, would have to be investigated individually.
@Moon-howler
In a case of a shooter in the school, every teacher is ALREADY a target.
Millions of Americans don’t need to own rapid multiple firing weapons. They still have their 2A rights if they play with the toys of a lesser god.
Americans don’t have the right to say that you are an axe murderer in print so that all your neighbors think the worrst of you. You don’t have the right to watch child porn (not saying you would want to even.) You can’t run through Richmond yelling FIRE! FIRE! in every theater entrance.
You can’t bully the kid down the street who is mad at your kid either.
There are very definite limites to 1A rights also.
Bob Marshall’s bill to mandate armed teachers. Giving up wasteful spending on glue for holsters and Glocks. http://t.co/vsVxfX2X
No way! Bob Marshall can go screw himself. There is nothing he doesn’t have a stupid opinion on.
Mandate teachers to carry weapons. I hope everyone feels safer now.
I disagree with him. If you wish to MANDATE armed personnel, then hire actual guards or start a new branch of policing for schools.
“If he tries to fool with my Beretta, he’s got a problem,” – Joe Biden 2008
Ironic isn’t it…
Mandating armed teachers is wrong. Teachers should be able to volunteer if they want to take on the additional duty and responsibility.
Allowing adults to be armed but not permitted to discharge other than in the defense of life.
I would agree that we need to hire private armed security or hire conservators of the peace who exercise police powers on school property. I would prefer they not be part of the local county police force to decrease costs such as pensions. Contracted personnel such as our glut of unemployed veterans working for a company like BlackWater would be fine.
I dislike categorizing the AR as a weapon of war because civilian law enforcement uses it and I doubt they are at war with the public.
I see no issue with arming teachers – that want to be.
Hi marnin. Its going to cost money to have armed anyones at school. We have to decide if it is worth it. Whoever is selected, it would cost pension $$.
Do we really want someone guarding our children who we don’t feel is worthy of a pension? Again, you get what you pay for.
@Marinm
Hey there! Glad you could make it to the party!
@Cargosquid
I got you 6, Pumpkin! 😉
@Moon-howler
Pension? Let the guards be a private company. We can actually get more for our money if we don’t tie it up with pensions.
Can I just give a shoutout to the Skins! 5 wins in a row, now lead the NFC East! This week is HUGE, we win this and NY loses it’s going to be big. However, it’s VERY complicated, RGIII isn’t 100%…. so do we start him or Cousins? If we start Cousins, what do we do if we find ourselves down at the half?
Big, huge, pivotal, meaningful are just a few words to describe this week coming up in the NFL for DC. Who would have thought this would be where we were when we were 3 and 6?
It makes me, a life long Skins fan (for generations since my family came here from Sicily) very proud and quite honestly SHOCKED. We aren’t going to win the Super Bowl but man, it’s better than what we have been use to.
@Cargosquid
Agree Cargo, but how would that position be any different than a police officer? Just sayin…
Well no ones guarding them now so anything outside of more laws or signs would be an improvement.
The private company could determine if a pension or 401k is appropriate. I’m just saying if they are state or county employees I’d want them to be non pension to reduce costs. 1-4 per school is not cheap.
No, it isn’t cheap. I wouldn’t want anyone locked out of a pension that was a county or state employee. I will never agree to that. We already omit people using part time designations. I have no problem getting blackwater or whatever their new name is to guard schools.