The Gosselins vs. Les Dionnes

Late Saturday night (or very early Sunday morning if you are a time junkie) I was surfing online while talking to friends having Entertainment Tonight buzzing in the background. They were talking about the Gosselins (John and Kate Plus 8) and the perils of their lives…infidelity, neglect, exploitation and the like…

Entertainment Tonight had a Child Development Psychologist on and though I forget her name she had poignant observations. She understood why the reason of the show’s popularity and noted that the show was a “legalized freak show”.

My ears perked up at those words, my brain clicked and I made the connection immediately… The Dionne Quintuplets!

How different is John and Kate Plus 8 than what happened to the Dionne Quintuplets? The answer… Not much.

Essentially in both cases the children were/are being put on display solely for entertainment and financial purposes. The children were/are being exploited.

However there are slight differences…

For those of you who are unaware the difference is that Oliva and Elzire Dionne had their children declared wards of the King and had them taken away by the government. The Dionnes were targeted as unfit parents. The Dionne Quintuplet’s Guardianship Act, 1935 kept them in the government’s care for 9 years. It was realised that there was a profit to be made by marketing them as a tourist attraction. They were moved into a nursery across the street from their parents’ house that was complete with an outdoor playground and public observation area. I am sure if television and TLC existed back then they would have at a show called “Oliva and Elzire Plus 10” (Since the Dionnes also had 5 other children that were NOT taken away from them, just the quints)

The Dionne quintuplets were conceived NATURALLY from one single celled egg.

Jon and Kate decided to exploit their children by their own means, the government was never involved.

Also Jon and Kate’s brood were conceived by fertility treatments therefore ‘tis no miracle when they shove 20 ovums up your vag, in hopes that one or two will stick. In their case, 6 decided to lease her uterus for 9 months. Wow! What a medically induced miracle, just the kind to make the execs at TLC salivate with dollar signs in their eyes. Think of the possibilities! Think of the ratings! Think on the children… oh wait, they didn’t.

As stated before both groups of children are being exploited for financial gain, one in a completely horrendous way (Government taking children and turning them into a side-show) and another in a heinous way … Parents seeing their children and mini-bank machines.

Well perhaps their marital problems are due to greedy decisions.

Karma anyone?

To read more about The Dionne Quintuplets, check out their wikipedia page at http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dionne_quintuplets

Jon and Kate Plus 8: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jon_and_Kate_Plus_8

Dionne Quintuplets Image from : http://www65.statcan.gc.ca/acyb05/acyb05-04/img/acyb05-04_0016.jpg

Jon and Kate Plus 8 Image from: http://popculturepredictions.files.wordpress.com/2009/01/jonkate8_s12.jpg

Updates Soon!

I know I haven't had much to say for a while;

Life has been crazy,
and I have been lazy!

Will update soon!

What the Eff?

I am so shocked by this, I cannot even think of a catchy title… Oh wait, yes I can:

Alberta aka USA-Junior (well the Southern part anyway)

There are talks about the new legislation in Alberta which would allow parents to take their children out of their classes if the subject-matter turned too detrimental. Detrimental meaning anything that has to do with religion, sexuality or sexual orientation.

Premier Ed Stelmach states, "This government supports a very, very fundamental right and that is parental rights with respect to education."

Education Minister, Dave Hancock adds, "With respect to values, religion and sex education have always been areas of concern for parents, and they've always been areas parents have had the right to be notified about and to exempt their students from,"

Frank Brusker, Head of Alberta Teacher’s Association had the most intelligent insight on the subject. He stated that if parents did not want that kind of education they have a couple options, “One would be home schooling or private school,” he adds “For a public school to start excluding based on religious preference, I think it is a mistake.”

Not to mention it would be hard for teachers to avoid the topic of evolution when teaching a geography or science class.

Should parents have the right to withdraw their kids or prevent them from learning about sex-education and evolution in a public school? I personally think not. Did anyone even consider doing a survey to see what the students thought on the matter, or is this a REAL Women Canada underlining? The students are going to be the ones at risk here.

What if a teenage girl wants to learn about sex-ed but her god-fearing parents think it will make her promiscuous, because we all know the female body is a disgusting and dirty thing, to which the more we know about ourselves, the more likely we are to use it for evil.

When a student was asked that same question [Should parents have the right to withdraw their kids or prevent them from learning about sex-education and evolution in a public school?] this was her answer, “Not in a public school” and when asked to elaborate she added, “Because I think religion is your own belief but public school, religion has nothing to do with public school.”

Well said, I say! Parents should listen to what their children are telling them before going on a tirade.

One parent had this to say, “I myself don’t believe in evolution. So if it was taught in the school I would definitely want the right to pull my child out of the classroom.”

Mind you, the information that was in the article made no mention really of the sexual side of things. It is important for students to have PROPER sexual education as well as inclusive education on sexual orientation. But this is just one more thing the governments thinks/and wants it can control.

NDP leader Brian Mason had the best quote of all “This government just spent 25 million dollars of tax payers money to give Alberta a new image. All they’ve done is make Alberta look like Northumberland and sound like Arkansas” (Hilarious! In my opinion and so very true)

The new legislation could be passed in a few weeks, I will keep you posted.

Article: http://technology.sympatico.msn.cbc.ca/News/ContentPosting?newsitemid=cgy-bill-evolution-law-alberta-classes-teachers&feedname=CBC-TECH-SCIENCE-V3&show=False&number=10&showbyline=True&subtitle=&detect=&abc=abc&date=True

Image: http://www.healthstones.com/dinosaurstore/dinosaurskeletons/tyrannosaurus/tyrannosaurus.jpg

“Recession” is the New “Dog Ate My Homework”

When Recession Happens, Women Suffer.

Excuses. Excuses.

The front page article in the Toronto Star on Friday April 24, 2009 was entitled “Employers fire mothers-to-be”. In short “Recession used as an excuse for surge in pink slips for pregnant workers despite human rights law”

There is an increase in the number of pregnant woman getting fired by employers in Ontario. They use these tough economic times as their excuse. It is happening to women in all sectors, from the minimum wage jobs to the senior positions at the head of a company.

Katherine Laird, the executive director of Ontario’s Human Rights Legal Support Centre, an “agency funded by the province to provide free legal services to people experiencing discrimination” [1]states that she hasn’t seen this kind of discrimination through the last two recessions and past 30 years in the human-rights field.

“It’s outrageous and illegal” she adds.

There has been an increase in pregnant woman calling and inquiring about their rights. These women are fearing for their jobs and some have been informed that there will be no job waiting for them once their maternity leave is over.

Some sleazy bosses have been overheard talking about pregnancy being the reason for the dismissal but then backtrack once confronted.

A few of the women may even lose maternal benefits if they do not have a certain amount of hours worked before going on their mat leave.

Consuelo Rubio, who is the manager of client services at the centre, said pregnant women that work commission aren’t being given any work or sales calls to make. She continues by saying that “Employers are crying about the recession and saying, ‘This is so terrible for us’. Well, what about all these workers who are going through the financial crisis too? The recession is not only affecting employers, it’s affecting mothers with children, it’s affecting disabled people – even more so because a lot of these people can be even more vulnerable financially.” [2]

There is also an increasing number of calls from injured workers and differently-abled people. In fact, there is an investigation with a Peterborough firm that produces car bumpers and other plastic parts. The firm laid off workers in the beginning of the year. Eighteen of whom had at some point claimed disability benefits or on modified work assignments due to previous injuries. The 18 “healthy” workers were called back from layoffs.

Kate Sellar, a lawyer at the centre says “Bad economic times aren’t a license for employers to discriminate against pregnant women and workers with disabilities”[3]

This is very true. This entire concept is obviously disgusting. When and where will it end? Sometimes you think women’s rights have progressed so far only to be pushed back decades. I actually think now is an important time for feminism and fighting for equality. We seem to be going back and why have to ask ourselves why. Why is this happening and more importantly, why are we letting it happen?

I strongly believe that the few universities that have, or are considering eliminating their women’s studies programs/majors are also using the recession as an excuse and a poor one at. Does it make sense? No because cutting the programs [but keeping the classes, just removing the MAJORS] has been speculated to only save the university $100,000 annually. That seems like a grain of sand on a beach with the cumulative debt is between $25 - $45 million.

The recession is being used as an excuse in these two instances, but where is it going to show up next?

Check out the article at: http://www.thestar.com/article/623726

Image from: http://www.uam.ucsb.edu/Pages/pregnant_woman.html

[1] “Employers fire mothers-to-be” http://www.thestar.com/article/623726
[2] “Employers fire mothers-to-be” http://www.thestar.com/article/623726
[3] “Employers fire mothers-to-be” http://www.thestar.com/article/623726

Fail Blog: 10 Ways to Go Green at Home

I just clicked this link from MSN/Sympatico.ca since I was interested in being greener in my home environment however their helpfulness is rather ridiculous because it only tells you how to be green by buying crap. Also they way it was present on the homepage made no hint of it being in the "Shopping" section.

While the ideas are decent the constant barrage of consumerism is not.

Check it out yourself:

http://shopping.sympatico.msn.ca/content/shp/?ctId=6249&ptnrid=164&ptnrdata=1640403

Few comments:

Buying a water filter? What is wrong with tap water? Nothing. Don't forget to use reusable aluminum bottles.

Buying organic clothing is fine, but would it not be a better idea to buy used clothing from second-hand and charity shops instead? Oh right I forgot, you cannot capitalise by putting an ad on the site for a local charity shop.

Use eco-friendly cleaning products? What is wrong with baking soda and vinegar? It is much greener and essentially cheaper. There are numerous websites about effective cleaning products with many items that would already be stocked in your pantry/refrigerator.

Buying $50-60 reusable grocery bags? Expensive much? Reuse the plastic bags you get from the stores over and over again. Buy the ones they have stocked in the store for [usually] around $1 and/or look at second-hand shops.

I hope this was insightful however for the conscious green mind; the tips that were given are common knowledge.

Full Equality Achieved!

Feminism is no longer needed. As of today, April 1st 2009, Women and men all over the world have equal status.

"Phew... finally." A famous feminist sighs with relief whilst wiping her brow with a hankie.

This is a time to relax everyone!

Oh.. did I mention that this happened on April 1st 2009....

Yes I did. What else happens on that day?

Oh right!






APRIL FOOLS!

Offensive Facebook Group

Well.. I find it offensive.

Why is this a group on Facebook? AND what is with the pic? I didn't think images of nudity were allowed on Facebook...

A few years ago for Ss & Gs I made a "Pete Wentz and Admirers of His Lucious Wang" group on a dare. It was a joke thing but escalated into a huge membership. I had warned members NOT to post the actually nudie pics of him. Eventually someone did and the group was shut down. Then I received a letter from Facebook stating if I ever did anything like that again I would get my profile deleted. So far I have been an angelic Facebook user...

So why does this dingus get away with it? Penises vs. Vaginas?

FACEBOOK SEXISM!