Friday, November 25, 2011

My Dollar Tree Shopping Spree

I purchased 8 items for only $8 (not including tax) at the Dollar Tree all of which were made in the USA.  I saw a lot of other items that were made in the USA when I was there.  I really like the Rubbermaid bowls I mixed hair dye in them and they did not stain.  I have not used any of my other purchases yet.  I will update this post with reviews when I use them.  You can find your nearest Dollar Tree using the store locator.

The National School Lunch Program is Outdated and Tomatoes are Fruit

The nutritional guidelines for the National School Lunch Program haven’t been updated in 15 years. During this time, obesity rates among children skyrocketed. One-third of American children are either overweight or obese, with rates of diabetes and other health-related issues also showing dangerous increases. Children receive about 40 percent of their daily calories from school lunches, so there is a connection.

The proposed changes to HR 2112 will not make schools serve a wider array of vegetables.  A version of the spending bill released late Monday would not enforce school lunch standards the Agriculture Department proposed earlier this year including limiting the use of potatoes (a starchy tuberous vegetable) on the lunch line, putting new restrictions on sodium (high sodium intake and low potassium intake can lead to high blood pressure) and boosting the use of whole grains (whole grains aid digestion). The legislation would block or delay all of those efforts. 

The bill could allow tomato paste on pizzas to be counted as a vegetable, as it is now. 
SDA had wanted to only count a half-cup of tomato paste or more as a vegetable, and a serving of pizza has less than that.  To be more precise a serving of pizza only has 2 tablespoons of tomato paste on itCounting tomato paste as a vegetable is silly to begin with since tomatoes are fruit.  Couldn't vegetarian pizza be served with a side salad in order to have enough vegetables?
 
Nutritionists say the whole effort is reminiscent of the Reagan administration's much-ridiculed attempt 30 years ago to classify ketchup as a vegetable to cut costs. This time around, food companies that produce frozen pizzas for schools, the salt industry and potato growers requested the changes and lobbied Congress.

What gets me is that all of these people are very well educated and yet some of them don’t know a tomato is a fruit not a vegetable.  Health is based on science and math and to quantify a fruit in the vegetable category is just wrong.  Although in the case of Nix v. Hedden in 1893 the court ruled that for the purposes of taxation a tomato is a vegetable the court also acknowledged that scientifically a tomato is a fruit. 

"This agreement ensures that nutrient-rich vegetables such as potatoes, corn and peas will remain part of a balanced, healthy diet in federally funded school meals and recognizes the significant amounts of potassium, fiber and vitamins A and C provided by tomato paste, ensuring that students may continue to enjoy healthy meals such as pizza and pasta," said Kraig Naasz, president of the American Frozen Food Institute.

Seriously potatoes, corn, and peas (he just had to pick the starchiest vegetables).  Sure, starchy vegetables are part of a balanced diet but so are leafy vegetables, sprouts, flowers, roots and other non-starchy vegetables.  I personally limit my intake of starchy vegetables.  I am not saying I don’t like potatoes and corn or eat them I just limit my intake.  But I hate peas and in my biased opinion they should never be served to anyone (That’s right, you don’t have to eat every vegetable to be healthy).
 

USDA spokeswoman Courtney Rowe said Tuesday that the department will continue its efforts to make lunches healthier.

"While it's unfortunate that some members of Congress continue to put special interests ahead of the health of America's children, USDA remains committed to practical, science-based standards for school meals," she said in a statement.

According to The New York Times, the food industry spent $5.6 million lobbying against the new rules. 

 

The following is the text from H.R. 2112 that pertains to this issue as passed by the House and Senate: 

Sec. 743. None of the funds made available by this Act may be used to implement an interim final or final rule regarding nutrition programs under the Richard B. Russell National School Lunch Act (42 U.S.C. 1751 et seq.) and the Child Nutrition Act of 1966 (42 U.S.C. 1771 et seq.) that--
(1) requires crediting of tomato paste and puree based on volume;
(2) implements a sodium reduction target beyond Target I, the 2-year target, specified in Notice of Proposed Rulemaking, `Nutrition Standards in the National School Lunch and School Breakfast Programs' (FNS-2007-0038, RIN 0584-AD59) until the Secretary certifies that the Department has reviewed and evaluated relevant scientific studies and data relevant to the relationship of sodium reductions to human health; and
(3) establishes any whole grain requirement without defining `whole grain.'

Some conservatives argue that the federal government shouldn't tell children what to eat. In a summary of the bill, Republicans on the House Appropriations Committee said the changes would "prevent overly burdensome and costly regulations and ...provide greater flexibility for local school districts to improve the nutritional quality of meals."  I agree. 

Considering all the important and good things this appropriations bill provides funding for including extending VA loans through 2013 the school lunch issue is insignificant.  H.R. 2112 does not force children to eat unhealthy food.  Sec. 746 does not limit the amount a vegetables that can be served for school lunches:
“Sec. 746. None of the funds made available by this Act may be used to implement an interim final or final rule that--
(1) sets any maximum limits on the serving of vegetables in school meal programs established under the Richard B. Russell National School Lunch Act (42 U.S.C. 1751 et seq.) and by section 4 of the Child Nutrition Act of 1966 (42 U.S.C. 1773); or
(2) is inconsistent with the recommendations of the most recent Dietary Guidelines for Americans for vegetables.”

Parents, schools and communities have a choice as to whether or not they let America’s children eat junk.  H.R. 2112 gets the government out of the way so schools can more easily implement nutritious lunches.  Here is a list of 10 things a PTA can do to improve student nutrition.  Since children receive about 60 percent of their daily calories from meals other than school lunches, changes can also be made at home.  I am starting another blog on eating low calorie on a budget in the coming weeks.

Sources:

Wednesday, November 2, 2011

CORPORATE GREED and Crappy Car Insurance

No fault insurance state laws violate human rights, The 14th Amendment of the U.S. Constitution and The Declaration of Independence.  There seems to be a trend in this country of devaluing human life after birth.  With all the emphasis on the right to life from conception, no one seems too concerned about life after birth.  What is the value of a human life (body)?  According to no fault states the value of a human being is $0.  That would make the value of a human being less than a pound of crap (which retails for about $20 per lb. in Florida a no fault state).  Eyesight alone is worth $250,000 dollars according to AIG’s break down of what you could expect in payment for losing the use of different body parts.  The cost to clone a human could conceivably soar above $100,000.  An Indiana University study even suggests that it is possible that the human body could be worth as much as $45 million. If you consider the value of all your bone marrow ($23 million) and DNA ($1.3 million per gram), you can see how high the overall value of the human body is.  Our bodies contain our life and are our most valued property.  All humans are endowed with the right to have life and receive just compensation for damage to our most valued property, ourselves.   The following is a continuation of this topic written by a very dear friend of mine:
Another example of corporate greed that has not been addressed is the Auto insurance industry.  NO Fault states are popping up left and right.  Let me provide some information about NO FAULT Insurance.  Since I was a victim of an auto on pedestrian type of accident in Florida, I will focus on Florida’s auto insurance law.  Florida is a partial no fault state. The no-fault portion of driver’s coverage pertains to bodily injuries, meaning that in the event of an accident, each party is responsible for their own medical bills and other costs related to the injuries sustained in the accident.

In turn, your right to sue the other party is limited.

Florida auto insurance laws require all drivers to carry property damage liability and personal injury protection (PIP) policies. Property damage liability covers the damage you cause to another's property, and you must carry a minimum of $10,000 in coverage.

Your PIP covers your injury-related expenses, regardless of who was at fault in the accident. Covered benefits include some compensation for necessary medical expenses, lost wages, lost services, and funeral expenses.

$10,000 worth of PIP is required, although you may be able to increase your benefits by purchasing more. Some drivers may choose to decrease their premium by applying a deductible to the coverage or by excluding the loss of wages benefit.

Florida auto insurance laws may also require that certain drivers carry bodily injury liability. This coverage helps pay for the cost of injuries you cause to another in an auto accident. Drivers with previous accidents or violations may be required to carry this type of coverage.

Bodily injury liability (BIL) carries a minimum of 10/20. (That's $10,000 per person for injuries you cause to the other party, up to $20,000 total.) However, these are only minimums, and higher limits are recommended not required. Drivers who aren't required by law to purchase BIL are strongly urged to consider doing so for their own financial protection.

Florida auto insurance companies will also offer optional coverages such as collision, comprehensive, and uninsured and underinsured motorists coverage.

How Florida car insurance rates are set
The price of Florida auto insurance is decided by the behavior of the state's drivers as a whole. Florida auto insurance companies take the cost of providing insurance for Florida drivers (this includes settlements and legal fees) and divide it up among the drivers.

But these costs aren't spread around evenly. Instead, the percentage you pay is decided by things like your driving record, your age, where you live, and the kind of car you drive.

How Florida car insurance affected me
I am wheelchair bound.  I already have a preexisting condition of a spinal chord injury. I was being pushed across the street in my wheelchair when my companion and I were physically struck by a vehicle making a U-turn into the crosswalk.  No ticket was given by the officer and the driver was allowed to leave.  The driver suffered no injury.  The officer and the driver were annoyed with the entire situation.  My wheel chair was demolished and to this date my companion and I are still in pain.  A pedestrian in Florida has NO RIGHTS.  In the year 2010, Florida received 82.6 million visitors.  This number contains foreign visitors to Florida.  In Florida, Daytona Beach is a popular destination.  Since Daytona Beach is hard packed sand driving is permitted on the beach.  There have been numerous deaths (some of whom were young children) caused by vehicles being driven on the beach.  There have been numerous debates as to whether this tradition should continue.  DUH!  This is a no brainer.  Every human has the right to life and if that life is taken from them their families must receive just compensation.  The Daytona city council voted to keep this tradition “alive”.  Life is not precious in the state of Florida.
As presented on ABC’s World News (11/1/2011), in the decade between 2000 and 2010, the number of foreign overseas tourists travelling the world grew by an astounding 60 million. In 2010, 26.4 million tourists visited the U.S.  It is expected that the bulk of tourists visiting the U.S. will travel from Brazil, China and India. When I was visiting Disney World in Florida, I constantly felt like I was playing Russian roulette when crossing the street.  How many deaths will have to occur in the U.S. before we wake up and see that the insurance industry is shafting us with automobile coverage?  Why are we paying a monthly premium for pathetic coverage?  The ability to opt out should be made available to every driver.  I would rather invest my premium money in an interest bearing account than have an insurance company take my money and they receive the profit from investing my money.  Wow! Talk about GREEDY CORPORATE AMERICA!

Another horrific chain of events occurred on October 25, 2011 because of a negligent driver.  A Florida driver plowed into two women as they waited on the sidewalk at a bus stop.  One victim is in critical condition, but the other woman died on Wednesday.  Police said the car crossed over three lanes of traffic before hitting the women.  Police also said, Shane Nicole Trevino, 31, and another woman were waiting at a bus stop at Colonial Drive and Edgewater Drive when a car driven by Steven Maroney, 20, jumped the curb and hit them.  The impact was so severe, the windshield of the car was shattered and one of the women’s shoes was found 20 feet away.  Obviously this driver plowed into the women in broad daylight since the incident occurred at 4:30 p.m.  Because of Florida’s automobile insurance laws little, if any will be provided to the victim and the deceased woman’s family.

So, who is benefitting from such a lax law?  The GREEDY insurance company is the beneficiary.  For example, a monthly premium is charged but they pay out practically nothing for their negligent drivers.  I received absolutely nothing for my injuries nor did my companion.  My health insurance only paid for a limited amount of therapy sessions.  My companion is an athlete but she has not totally recovered from her injuries.  So, her athletic career is on hold.  In addition to Florida being a no fault driving state, the following states are also included as no fault states ( DC, FL, HI, KS, KY, Mass, MI, MN, NJ, NY, ND, PA, UT)