two twisted headlines and enlightenment on the Metro

Fewer Students Drinking, Smoking
(Please note that the headline left out snorting, ingesting, skin-popping and main-lining. And BTW, how can researchers truly measure this? Since it's a survey, I'm sure the students were toking and chugging from a 40 while filling in the blanks, laughing their butts off.)




Chocolate bars infused with fish oil among latest candy trends
(Notice they didn't say "among latest SUCCESSFUL candy trends")









Happy Flag Day!

It’s been quiet this week – but that’s all right.

I had an interesting Metro ride yesterday – there was a group of teenagers riding the same train I was, and they were all there for the same reason. They’re involved in a national group that sponsors Upward Bound programs, and other programs that give at-risk youth more opportunities to prepare for college.

Hearing them talk about their backgrounds, it really helped me put things in perspective. One girl was from California as well as one of 12 kids, from a single-parent home. She wants to be a pediatrician. Another girl wants to be a radiologist (she’s from Wyoming).

I learned a lot from these kids (I hate to call them kids, but as I get older, there’s a lot more of them out there). I didn’t know half of these programs even existed, but you know what? I’m glad they do. They deserve them.

I’m slowly realizing how much of my life has been spent focused on the things I didn’t have…and I’m a real yutz for doing that. My God – my parents did a lot for me, and they did everything they could to help further my education and my goals. They didn’t always know what to do, but they tried to learn from others, and weren’t afraid to ask questions. I can’t imagine what it would be like to not have that at home when growing up. I’m just glad these kids (again, sorry…I think “young people” is a hokey term) have this program.

One thing they said that really disturbed me? OK…here it goes…the two girls I visited with said part of their schedule was visiting with their state’s senators and representatives. They also said that some of them didn’t really recognize the importance of programs like this and weren’t sure that federal funding should be given to them.

WHAT?????

How dumb can these legislators be?

The girls were pretty philosophical about it – they looked at it this way: these people never had to use it, so they don’t know how much it can mean to a prospective college student that doesn’t have the same advantages as an average, middle-class American kid.

Think about it – you’re a child among 12 siblings. Right there should tip you off. Having to stretch money among 12 kids is not easy AT ALL. You have to scrimp and save for the essentials, and things like college are in the misty distance, and not an option for everyone. It’s possible that many of the kids in that family are working part-time jobs so they can get things for themselves or provide for the family while they go to school. Sometimes, things get so bogged down that these kids don’t finish high school, or else don’t go beyond it.

In this day and age, a high school education doesn’t mean what it used to. Heck, sometimes a college degree doesn’t mean anything if you weren’t guided through the process from day one. So if opportunities present themselves to at-risk teens who want to succeed and have a future, why not use them? Why shouldn’t our country support people that want to better themselves, but have many hurdles to overcome? It’s an investment in the future.

OK, point made…

Now, so people don’t think I’ve gone off the deep end and think I’ve gone totally serious, here’s one more wonderful thing.

By the way, I love science when it’s used for totally bizarre ends…in this case, it’s very bizarre indeed.

Have you ever wondered what happens when you mix Diet Coke and Mentos (the Freshmaker)?

Me neither.

However, the people at this website have, and they want to tell you all about it. Just click on the link above, and there’s video there that will surely pique your interest. I can honestly say that this combination was something I never gave a tinker’s damn about, but I’m glad that the knowledge is there and people aren’t afraid to pass it around.

So in the name of science and furthering education, I remain…
Sudiegirl