Stay At Home Moms: Dismissed, Devalued But Determined

When my mother went to work all those years ago, she faced the subtle (sometimes not so subtle) disapproval of her peers. Today I find myself in the very same position… for precisely the opposite reason. I stay at home with my children, working out of my home for a variety of unlikely bosses in all manner of occupations. Teacher. Writer. Counselor. Nurse. Mother.

I’m not sure who was the first to put together this job description of motherhood, but it’s one of my favorites… and accurate enough to douse the baby fever of anyone who reads it. Who would take this job? No pay… no vacation… complete and total responsibility for the lives (and choices) of every child you bring into this world. It is like no other relationship you will ever have. In fact, it seems most of the trouble with our society today is that too many women take on this task unthinking… without having any idea of what will be asked of them by that pair of eyes staring so intently into their own.

Who Pays For Medical Mistakes? You Do!

Health care reform is all over the news, and while the politicians argue about controlling costs, public insurance options and the impact on business, the real dangers to patients go unnoticed. Experts at the National Institute of Medicine report that as many as 98,000 Americans die each year as a result of preventable medical errors. And this rate is on the rise.

A mandatory, nationwide reporting system for such errors is not part of the Obama administration plan though it surely should be. As the daughter of a nurse who worked in a city hospital for over 25 years, I have a “trust yet verify” attitude toward medicine. There are working doctors (nurses too) who my mother to this day will not allow to treat her (or any of us). She’s instilled in me the idea that my health is as my responsibility as any doctor’s.

Free Tips Just For Business Tweeters

I had a problem with my Twitter account today… and it was right then and there, as I scanned the help pages to try and find an answer that I came face-to-face with the truth. I like Twitter… its become a part of my morning ritual. Somehow, when I wasn’t looking, it snuck right in there.

Today everyone’s talking about Twitter… and despite my best intentions I admit to becoming accustomed to seeing those 140-character bits of information from the people and organizations I follow. As a communicator by trade, I’m absolutely amazed at the ability to join in on a conversation with anyone, anywhere in the world. To follow events as they happen. When in history have we EVER had such access?

A recent study by a team out of Penn State has found that 20% of tweets are brand specific. Someone either asking about a product or providing feedback and giving companies a rich source of information.

Businesses of all sizes are coming around to giving Twitter its due… though it remains a scary, sometimes confusing place. Which is why there are “social media experts” aplenty who will tell you how to make the most of the newest arrival to the online scene. Truth is, just a bit of common sense and good manners will do you just as well as all the high-priced advice. Maybe better.

Crossing The Line At The Wrong Time

This is one of those posts where I must apologize in advance for the topic I’m about to raise. On some level I’m astonished that human beings have made it this far without destroying ourselves.

If you haven’t seen this around the internet over the last few days, count yourself lucky. Being in the advertising field I’ve heard plenty about the controversy generated by the tasteless and downright nasty 9/11 ad for the World Wildlife Fund (WWE) created by a Brazilian ad agency, DDB Brazil, and run (once) in a local newspaper.

If the visual isn’t unsettling enough, the copy delivers the final punch: “The tsunami killed 100 times more people than 9/11. The planet is brutally powerful. Respect it. Preserve it.“

That such an ad was concepted and presented… drafted and a visual created… then run in a newspaper without someone raising a red flag is downright

Some Super Fabulous Engagement Bling

As you may have noticed if you’ve caught some of my earlier posts as well as my work on the now-defunct AJSgems blog, I’m one of those people who just loves jewelry. I can go into a fine jewelry store just to look… to ask questions and to learn more about colors and cuts.

It’s not all about owning it… because I don’t have much… it’s about the beauty of the stones… the intensity of the colors… the way a different cut can transform a stone… the combination of metals and gemstones that are worthy (IMO) of a moment of appreciation. Just as you might for a classic painting, stunning bit of architecture or a fine wine.

Which is why I was thrilled to come upon the wonderful piece in HELLO! Magazines‘ Brides section featuring photos of the engagement rings of today’s royals. What a great glimpse into the jewels of today… especially since these pieces will be worn day in, day out by these women.

As you’d expect, there are some jaw-dropping diamonds and other precious stones to be admired. There’s white gold and standout platinum shining along

Poll: Do You Like The Change From Sci-Fi to SyFy?

It’s so reassuring to see that there are others who stop and think about some of the same (some would say irrelevant) things I do…

The most recent source of lingering annoyance for me came this past July with the change of name of one of my go-to channels. All of a sudden it was good bye cool, sensible Sci-Fi, and hello to awkward looking, nerdy, though copyrightable SyFy. I don’t want to imagine greater… I was doing just fine before thank you, and as a writer I feel some bit of responsibility to the English language… a feeling obviously not shared by the execs in the world of network television.

I can’t see myself getting used to the new “brand” anytime soon… it just seems goofy… alien. According to the network the idea is to represent a broader mix of programming… but it seems also to apply an added layer of dorkiness sci-fi fans hardly need.

At least I can take comfort in the fact that there are other highly observant souls out there who see fit to comment on these matters. Consider the exceptional piece by AJ DiChara (Sci-Fi Channel’s New Name— sly or fly?). I love the poll at the end, and encourage anyone interested to take it.

Not that it will change anything mind you… those savvy execs over at the network aren’t aware of, or worried by, any dis-satisfaction with the new look.

But if you’re struggling (or you like) the new look, cast your vote here, it’ll make you feel better.

Finally A Simple Explanation Of Health Care Reform

Not sure about you all, but find myself confused by the health care debates taking place in this country. Everyone’s shouting… mis-information plays on fears and no one really minds a change, so long as it doesn’t cost anything. Sometimes it’s amazing that mankind has gotten this far…

Anyhow… enough of that. Here’s a great little slideshow I came across during my internet wanderings that does a wonderful job of explaining things. I got a lot from this… and think you would too. I encourage you to take a few minutes and go through the presentation… a surprisingly simple, unbiased and understandable summary of the issue.

Healthcare Napkins All

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Why Good Data Is So Critical To Good Astrology

It might sound strange for an astrology blog to focus on data, especially when astrology is so often dismissed by the experts as a pseudo science… yet paying strict attention to the data we use for our birth charts, or to cast charts for any event, is critically important. If the data is wrong, the interpretations are wrong and the chart is useless.

If you take nothing else from this post — always, always, always check and recheck your data. Do this before you do anything else.

Consider the most basic of all astrological studies — the birth chart. Just as our physical body is what the outside world sees of us… our birth chart (also known as a natal chart) is a picture of our inner world, taken at the exact moment we entered this world. Your birth chart shows the traits and talents and challenges

There’s Nothing To Fear… But The Media Itself

I’m as concerned about the economy, my own livelihood and the value of my home as the next guy… but the unrelenting barrage of media attention on this topic is getting ridiculous. 

I was always taught to give credit where it’s due, and the seed of this idea came to life in my own thoughts while reading a piece by Paul Greenberg that appeared earlier this week in Jewish World Review. While he makes a lot of great points about optimism, and leadership, the ones I’ll touch on here focus on the doom and gloom economic reports delivered by the nightly news and mainstream media.

Greenberg’s points would certainly take the wind out of the sails of my ever-eager local anchor team…

Mercury Isn’t The Only Retrograde In Town

While messenger Mercury gets all the attention when it comes to retrograde motion — the appearance of moving backward in the sky from our viewpoint here on Earth — most people don’t realize that all the other planets (except the Sun and Moon) have retrograde periods as well. To understand retrogrades, it’s best to view them as a cycle that begins as a planet slows down and comes to a stop (that station) and includes the time spent moving in the opposite direction, as well as the slowdown and stopping points that send the heavenly body forward once more.

Think of the planet as the what, but the tone of the retrograde comes from the sign occupied by the planet. If you were born with a retrograde planet (or planets) in your chart, than these periods will be especially important. As for the rest of us, the influence of a retrograde will have personal meaning only if it involves a planet that’s strong in your chart… Saturn for example. You may also feel the impact of the retrograde if the planet in question is moving over another planet or point in your own chart.

Retrogrades generally are periods when you need to slow down… as the planets above are doing. They are time of change… changes in things, in minds, in