First Smart Girl of the Week

I have been thinking for awhile that girls today need some GOOD role models.  I’m someone who says live and let live most of the time, but that doesn’t mean that I want my daughter looking up to Lindsay Lohan for lessons on how to live her life.  I want to put a spotlight on those girls out there who I would love for my daughter to end up like.   Sure, ending up like Jessica Simpson might be nice.  She’s pretty, has lots of money, and is, well, kind of talented.  But she doesn’t go down in my book as being the smartest.   And when one thinks of a possible Presidential nominee being someone like Sarah Palin, we really need to put the spotlight back on brains.   So here we go, the first Smart Girl of the Week is…Cara Santa Maria!

Cara first caught my attention when I read her article on Science and Religion.  It is a very smart look at the fine line between the belief in science and evolution and the belief in Religion.  This is an issue that is on my mind a lot lately.  I, as a progressive, am sick of seeing conservatives bash Science like it's something still to be questioned.  For example, we have congressmen saying things like, "The science should not even be in the debate, right?  The Science needs to get out of Washington DC and out of the Parliaments and get into the labs.” (Rep. Jack Kingston of Georgia, Republican if you were wondering.)  

Cara said this about another congressman with this kind of outlook, "I'd like to see John Shimkus censured.  And here, it's not about an ethics violation, it's about ignorance to a position that you're in and it really scares me that this man wants to head an energy committee when he is citing Genesis as to why global warming is not going to affect us in this country." (From her appearance on “Parker Spitzer” in December)

And to that, I said, “Right on sister!”  So beyond the fact that I agree with her politics, she has the degrees to back herself up.  Here’s a short bio about Cara:

Cara is from Texas and from her own admission has, “Always been a fan of Science” and competed in several science fairs while in school.  She has an undergraduate degree in Psychology with a minor in Philosophy from the University of North Texas, a masters degree in Neurobiology, and is working on her PhD in Clinical Neurobiology.  Some of her most recent research includes studying the neurophysiology of blindness and working with the Zebra Finch to study Neurogenesis.  She has appeared on “Larry King”, where she held her own as the ONLY woman on the panel next to Dr. Drew and Dr. Amen.  I really enjoyed her appearance on the aforementioned “Parker Spitzer” because when Kurt Loder was talking about how nice a government shut down would be, Cara mentioned she was a ‘Progressive’ so she’d like to see some progress in Washington. 

Well, Cara, as a progressive, I hope you keep writing and working to bring Science even more into the mainstream!  Women like you are greatly needed as role models for our youth, as well for parents like me to remind us that our kids’ education means so much. 

Follow Cara on Twitter:  @CaraSantaMaria

Just a Thought About Outsourcing

I'm watching yesterday's Rachael Maddow and she's talking about outsourcing being bad for America.  While generally I agree, is there a difference between outsourcing and needing service in different parts of the world?  Like a global company that needs Chinese, Spanish, French, or Japanese speaking agents sending jobs overseas not to save money, but to cater to their clientele.  Is that necessarily wrong?  Another question...if we had better education and taught our children to speak those languages, would we be more competitive to KEEP those jobs?  Deep thoughts, deep thoughts...

You don't know, Jack!

When asked about climate change and evolution, Republican Congressman Jack Kingston of GA says, "I came from God, not a monkey" and "The science needs to get out of Washington DC and out of Parliaments and get back into the labs." No, Jack. You got that all wrong. It's religion that needs to get out of DC and back into the dark ages so that we can progress as a society. Smart policy is made by learning facts and using them to change things for the better. Not by interpreting magical thinking from a 2000 year old book.

Why I had to change my phone number

So as some of you know, I've been getting weird texts and calls on my cell phone and round the same time my mailbox was broken into.  So I've changed my number, email me if you want it.  If this is just a coincidence, fine, I will let it slide.  But let me say this, I'm a smart girl and I've done my research.  I have the names of the people who own these numbers, address, names of their family members, and more.  Do not FUCK with me or my family again or I will use this information how I see fit.  That could include anything from selling it on the internet to giving it to my favorite local sociopath.  Okay...margarita time! 

Stop the Fucking Insanity!

However much I would LOVE to blame the (in my opinion) ridiculous, laughable, extremist, violent Tea Party for this tragedy, I'm going to stop.  The right blames the left, the left blames the right...everyone just stop. People are DEAD. Lets think about this for a minute. The first amendment and it's free speech are very important in this country. However just because you CAN say whatever pops into your head doesn't mean that you HAVE to. With this, let's just all learn to be responsible with our free speech. I'm pledging to do this, will you?

Untitled Rant

The big news yesterday was that the unemployment rate is down to 9.4%!  I was so happy that I did a little dance in my living room when I read the news.  Then later one of my conservative friends said, “See, the new congress is getting things done already!”  -insert eye roll here-   First of all, these are stats from December, you know when that Lame Duck was still in charge?  Second, all the new congress has done is read the constitution and talk about Health Care Repeal.  When did they have time to pull their heads out of their asses and do anything about jobs?  

By the way, this reading of the constitution thing really fucking bothers me!  Not the actual reading of it, but the attitude behind it.  Here come all the newbies ‘schooling’ the democrats on what the constitution is.  My prediction is that they get to the 14^th amendment (equal protection clause), realize that it’s written to include ALL humans (including racial minorities, women, and gays), quickly roll up the document and exclaim, “Nevermind that, let’s talk about taking health coverage away from sick kids and cancer patients!”  Of course, this prediction is assuming that they can get past the first amendment.  But that's okay, I personally don't really need a second amendment. 

I'm on to you, Tom Coburn!!

I've been ignoring the news this weekend because I've been pretty snowed by my cold medicine, so I decided to do some catch up reading.  I came across this article about the new congress coming in and this quote made me pretty mad:

"There will not be one American that will not be called to sacrifice" under the needed spending cuts to deal with the deficit, Coburn said on "FOX News Sunday."  That's Republican Senator Tom Coburn of Oklahoma.  Yes, the same Tom Coburn who tried to block the 9/11 responders bill.

When we talked about sacrifice during the debates of raising the taxes on the rich, that was 'taking away liberties', being 'unamerican' and 'socialist'.  So when they decide to cut help to the poor or middle class (medicare, unemployment and veterans' benefits, social security, headstart programs, wages for teachers, police officers, and firemen) then it's just, 'we all have to sacrifice'.  Uh huh, I see where you're going with this...I will believe your statement of 'not one American that will not be called' when you start cutting the corporate welfare that is defense spending.