I just read about a repeat sex offender who is on the lamb. It would appear that this person is considered extremely dangerous and at risk of offending again. Vancouver Police warns of high risk sex offender on the loose
This is one area of our criminal justice system that I just don't understand. This particular individual has a long violent and deviant history, why on earth should he ever be released especially when they fear he is at a high risk for re-offending. I personally don't think that individuals who perform these kind of crimes can be rehabilitated.
Why does our system put others at risk? I just don't get it. Being a mother of three daughters you can imagine my concern. My girls use the public transit system to get around. They all work late shifts and have been known to have to take transit home after a shift. I have tried to instill in my girls about being ever vigilant about their personal safety and to be on the alert for anything peculiar. Reminding them to stay in well lit areas and again taking all the necessary precautions. But even with all of that, you just never know. If a deviant such as this James Patrick Benson wants to harm someone he will.
There is something wrong with a system who gives more rights to a criminal such as this and my girls have to travel with the fear that he is out there....possibly tracking and preying on his next victim.
He has NO rights as far as I am concerned. He lost all his rights when he murdered that woman back in 1997. What I find even more disturbing is that he was only 17 at the time. He is a very sick individual, I pray they catch him soon, lock him up and throw away the key.
Sunday, February 27, 2011
Thursday, February 24, 2011
Wednesday, February 23, 2011
The Ripple Effect.....
I was watching the news last evening and I found myself getting frustrated. Frustrated with the state of the world economy and how the media are feeding us all the doom and gloom.
The news this evening was telling us that we have to prepared for higher gas prices due to the unrest in the middle east. They say that the increased gas prices will filter down and basically affect food prices and everything that you and I need to sustain ourselves. They also were telling us that this will all happen around summer time.... well fancy that. Summer time, a time when most families like to travel. Some of us have taken to driving as we can't afford the already high air fares. But now they tell us that we will be hit at the pumps. These higher gas prices will also affect ferry rates, all this at a time when those who are making the decisions know they will capitalize on the increase travel.
So how does this affect our economy. For starters, when money gets tight folks don't travel...and if they don't travel, tourism suffers and so on. If toursim suffers, businesses suffer and are forced to close their doors or lay of staff. The laying off of staff impacts the local economies. If you don't have people working in your town your town and it's infrastructure suffers.
This is exactly what has happened in fishing towns, mining town, forestry towns. The ripple effect. I see it first hand where I live.
Case in point. Our provincial government were hoping that the Olympics would have a lasting effect on our economy. It didn't really materialize the way they had hoped. Partially due to our strong dollar. The economists tell us that our friends south of the border aren't visiting as much. They aren't getting the deals they use to and hence they aren't coming. And now with gas prices people aren't travelling as much and our local economies suffer because of this.
So back to the news media. I have read so much about the oil and who owns what and how it's moved. There are a small few who control the oil market. It is those few who set the market price, but it is the masses who suffers for it. The media's job(who I might add are supported directly and indirectly by the oil barons)is to convince the public that we have to brace ourselves for higher oil prices. That it is inevitable that it will happen and that it is a given that it will happen around summer vacation. Well I'm sorry I don't buy it.
I don't buy what the media are trying to sell me. Can I do anything about it most probably not. But I will try to do what I can in my own little way. I can conserve energy...make my trips to the store more efficient rather than making two trips try and make one. Use my push mower rather than the gas mower....cut my hedges by hand rather than using the gas trimmer.....learn to grow my own produce....build a greenhouse....can more produce.
After listening about the oil situation and how it will have the ripple effect...the news anchor went on to tell me that my hydro prices will go up again. I just had a 15% increase in my hydro bill this winter, I was shocked at my hydro bill, it was outrageous! I don't see myself getting a 15% increase, so with the gas, food, and hydro going up what is left? Not much! Entertainment is last on my list.....ripple effect once again.
This ripple effect touches all aspects of our lives. From the basics of food, health,keeping a roof over our head, to education, job loss, and the impact on local economies....nothing will go unscathed.
There's a part of me that just wants to put my head in the sand and hope this will all go away. Then there's the other part of me that is thinking in 10 years I want to retire ...but the way things are going I don't see that happening.....I think I will be nursing myself into the grave.
The news this evening was telling us that we have to prepared for higher gas prices due to the unrest in the middle east. They say that the increased gas prices will filter down and basically affect food prices and everything that you and I need to sustain ourselves. They also were telling us that this will all happen around summer time.... well fancy that. Summer time, a time when most families like to travel. Some of us have taken to driving as we can't afford the already high air fares. But now they tell us that we will be hit at the pumps. These higher gas prices will also affect ferry rates, all this at a time when those who are making the decisions know they will capitalize on the increase travel.
So how does this affect our economy. For starters, when money gets tight folks don't travel...and if they don't travel, tourism suffers and so on. If toursim suffers, businesses suffer and are forced to close their doors or lay of staff. The laying off of staff impacts the local economies. If you don't have people working in your town your town and it's infrastructure suffers.
This is exactly what has happened in fishing towns, mining town, forestry towns. The ripple effect. I see it first hand where I live.
Case in point. Our provincial government were hoping that the Olympics would have a lasting effect on our economy. It didn't really materialize the way they had hoped. Partially due to our strong dollar. The economists tell us that our friends south of the border aren't visiting as much. They aren't getting the deals they use to and hence they aren't coming. And now with gas prices people aren't travelling as much and our local economies suffer because of this.
So back to the news media. I have read so much about the oil and who owns what and how it's moved. There are a small few who control the oil market. It is those few who set the market price, but it is the masses who suffers for it. The media's job(who I might add are supported directly and indirectly by the oil barons)is to convince the public that we have to brace ourselves for higher oil prices. That it is inevitable that it will happen and that it is a given that it will happen around summer vacation. Well I'm sorry I don't buy it.
I don't buy what the media are trying to sell me. Can I do anything about it most probably not. But I will try to do what I can in my own little way. I can conserve energy...make my trips to the store more efficient rather than making two trips try and make one. Use my push mower rather than the gas mower....cut my hedges by hand rather than using the gas trimmer.....learn to grow my own produce....build a greenhouse....can more produce.
After listening about the oil situation and how it will have the ripple effect...the news anchor went on to tell me that my hydro prices will go up again. I just had a 15% increase in my hydro bill this winter, I was shocked at my hydro bill, it was outrageous! I don't see myself getting a 15% increase, so with the gas, food, and hydro going up what is left? Not much! Entertainment is last on my list.....ripple effect once again.
This ripple effect touches all aspects of our lives. From the basics of food, health,keeping a roof over our head, to education, job loss, and the impact on local economies....nothing will go unscathed.
There's a part of me that just wants to put my head in the sand and hope this will all go away. Then there's the other part of me that is thinking in 10 years I want to retire ...but the way things are going I don't see that happening.....I think I will be nursing myself into the grave.
Tuesday, February 22, 2011
Teachers and Our Children......
I will share with you what I posted. I've edited my comment and added a few more thoughts. I would love to hear what your thoughts are on this topic.
Like any profession you have your good and your not so good and unfortunately sometimes your bad. As for teachers overall I think they do an amazing job. Not only are teachers responsible for teaching our children but they have to deal with so much diversity and adversity. Sometimes they are forced to wear many hats. They have to be parent, social worker, and student advocate. At times children come to school in their pajama's because their parents either can't afford clothes or couldn't be bothered to ensure their children were properly dressed. Sometimes, those poor children go to school with empty stomachs...how well do you think a child can learn when they are troubled by their grumbling stomachs. Or what about those truly unfortunate children who live in homes where parents are addicts or where abuse occurs. How well do you think a child can learn. Teachers have to deal with all of this and more. It's not just about teaching them the ABC's. They spend a large portion of their time dealing with social issues. Why, because a good teachers sees the child as a WHOLE....not just as someone filling a space. In order for the child to learn they have to be open and ready to learn.
I have seen teachers time and again dip into their own pockets to get supplies for their classroom...I have seen teachers go above and beyond for their students to give them the extra bit they need.
I have heard many parents say they use the school as a daycare...what does that say about the parents and how do they respect their own children.
Teachers play a HUGE role in our children's lives. I have heard of stories about that one special teacher who went the extra mile for a student. I am one of those stories. I was privileged to have 3 teachers who did that for me....three teachers that made the world of difference for me. Teachers that believed in me and what I could do.....they pushed me...they challenged me....they made me think outside of the box....I was so close to dropping out of high school, had it not been for the kindness of a teacher I don't think I would have graduated.
Yes teachers are only in the classroom 10 months of the year...but they do not get paid for the summers when the children aren't in class. Many teachers due to the poor salaries have to take extra jobs in the summer to make ends meet.
While we are on about salaries...what kind of society are we when we will pay a football, basketball, baseball, hockey player millions of dollars to throw a ball around and do some tackling. What DO we as a society value.....please don't tell me that a professional player is more valuable than someone who we entrust to educate our children. Do you not see that OUR children are OUR future!
Here is a link to Meredith's comment about teacher's on Facebook.
http://www.facebook.com/home.php#!/note.php?note_id=666995678863&id=71209634
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