Mayor Seeks to Lower a Barrier for Food Stamps – New York Times The waiver now being sought by the city, which is expected to be approved by the federal government, would affect adults ages 18 to 49 who are not responsible for a child or incapacitated relative and are not physically or mentally unfit for work. The federal welfare overhaul of 1996 imposed a three-month limit on food stamps in any three-year period for this group, known as able-bodied adults without dependents. The overhaul allowed states to request a waiver of the three-month time limit for residents of areas…
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Another Country: Navigating the Emotional Terrain of Our Elders This is the last paragraph of the first chapter: Freud taught our generation the importance of parental love. We know that parental love is formative, but no one has taught us about the importance of grandparental love. Especially as we get older, the bonding and nurturing go both ways. Connections help our children, our parents, and us, now and in the future. Only by caring for our parents will we be able to ask our children for help later. And only because of our children’s love of the old will they…
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This year’s Altar of Repose at Holy Moly. It symbolizes Christ in the tomb, and a vigil takes place that lasts at least a couple of hours (theoretically, until midnight on Maundy Thursday of Holy Week). It’s dark, and lovely, and sad, and beautiful. There’s even a monstrance with a big Host wafer in it; we’re pretty High Church at Holy Moly and like things done proper. Via: Flickr Title: Maundy thursday By: GinnyRED57 Originally uploaded: 13 Apr ’06, 8.52pm CDT PST
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Meet Mrs. Goose, our newest parishioner at Holy Moly. She’s a bit shy and more than a little defensive; she’s got five or six eggs and has chased at least one friendly greeter off, hissing and flapping her wings. One Sunday morning she may wander in the open door, and then the Sunday School ladies will be in a quandary about what to offer her kids for Christian Education. Via: Flickr Title: Life By: GinnyRED57 Originally uploaded: 13 Apr ’06, 7.01pm CDT PST
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I can’t help but be reminded of a stupid mountain lion character that was a hapless foil of Bugs Bunny’s. When Bugs asks “How many lumps?” he’s holding a big wooden mallet. The stupid mountain lion always answers “Oh, t’ree or four” and immediately gets pummeled, even when wearing a saucepan as a helmet. The lumps swell and lift the cooking pot off his head. Funny when you’re twelve, still funny now. This couple seems to be in the same mold – about as stupid, and getting almost as many lumps for it. Apparently, she started out with just one,…
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ionarts The start of the Gloria was more ceremonial than alarming. The opening orchestral jolts were not delivered with the expected energy. However, the first entry of the full chorus projected so much power that I was “electrified.†In the Laudamus Te, Shafer demonstrated that he could do anything with this huge body of voices. The movement was effervescently performed, with a marvelous lightness of touch. The singing was so gorgeous that the audience impetuously began to applaud at the movement’s end. My friend Debbie sings in the Washington Chorus, and I enjoy our long cozy chats by phone about…
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Immigrants Rally in Scores of Cities for Legal Status – New York Times Talk of the marches has been burning up the airwaves on talk radio and cable news networks and has appeared in Internet blogs and conservative publications. Rich Lowry, the editor of National Review, described the protests with marchers carrying foreign flags as “ominous” in “their hint of a large, unassimilated population existing outside America’s laws and exhibiting absolutely no sheepishness about it.” Brit Hume, the news anchor on Fox News, described the marchers, particularly those carrying Mexican flags, as “a repellent spectacle.” Really, Mr. Hume? Your perception…
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Pendant Transmitter Button For Your Medical Alarm – Shop At Alert One? With this system, you can receive incoming phone calls – and it’s waterproof, so the pendant or wristband can be worn in the shower or bath. Battery lasts 3-5 years. Discreet and private – no one needs to know you’re wearing it.
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My team leader pointed me in the direction of an interesting article in the Sunday Times about technological solutions to the problem of looking after elders who need a little extra help so they can stay in their own homes as long as practicable. My husband David might find some of the really high-tech stuff interesting, but I’m more interested in the simple, least intrusive solutions. Personal autonomy and empowerment are important, in my view. I’m not interested in an electronic nanny or a computerized tattletale system. Chicago Tribune | Keeping track of Dad Clearly the biggest worry associated with…
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Boing Boing’s Xeni Jardin passed this one along – I’ve been waiting for Sy Hersh to drop another shoe ever since his post Abu Ghraib speaking engagements, when he warned of even bigger Big Bad Stuff to come. And advised an interviewer that if he had a second passport, to keep it handy. You know… if Hersh is accurate about this story, the United States of America is contemplating using nuclear weapons against Iran, as one of many possible options (or threatened options) to pre-emptively end their own nuclear weapons program. If this country drops the Bomb, it will no…