Bordering on brilliance…
There you have it!Archive for October, 2007
Haters, Real Tragedy and Social Responsibility
I saw originally saw this article on AOL’s Black Voices. Although the story is, in fact, quite sad, what compelled me to post it were the comments of the readers. Many have focused their jealousy and hatred on celebrities such as Oprah and overlooked the tragedy at hand.
I’ve attached not only the story as written by the NY Daily News, but the actual link to Black Voices. Being short of opinion, like I usually am, my two cents is at the bottom of this piece.
Oprah Winfrey ’so sorry’ for abuse nightmare at academy
Monday, October 29th 2007, 4:00 AM
A tearful Oprah Winfrey begged for forgiveness Sunday as she met the parents of students at her all-girls academy, which is reeling from lurid allegations of sexual abuse.”I’ve disappointed you. I’m so sorry. I’m so sorry,” the talk show queen told families in an emergency meeting at the South African school in Henley-on-Klip, south of Johannesburg.Oprah canceled appointments and flew to South Africa twice in the past few weeks after allegations that one of the matrons fondled a girl and that other pupils had been physically abused.One pupil has said a matron grabbed her by the throat and threw her against a wall.
Girls have also said the “dorm parent” swore and screamed at them, assaulted them and sexually fondled at least one girl.
The alleged incidents came to light when one of the pupils ran away from the school because the reported abuse had become intolerable.
South African police and the Family Violence, Child Protection and Sexual Offenses Unit are now investigating.
Oprah, who has spoken openly about being abused as a child, gave the girls her personal telephone number, her e-mail address and her postal address so that they could contact her around the clock.
In addition to the matron suspected of being involved, Oprah also placed the principal and at least one other matron on leave two weeks ago. Only the principal was on paid leave, South African media reported.
The Oprah Winfrey Leadership Academy opened in January to provide quality education to underprivileged girls.
Surrounded by high-profile guests including Nelson Mandela, Oprah described the day the $46 million school opened as “the proudest, greatest day of my life and a dream come true.”
Black Voices:
My never to be humble opinion:
It is very sad when one in a position of authority takes advantage of
children of any age. Let’s not be sidetracked by the fact that the
school was founded by Oprah. That doesn’t change the severity of what
has transpired and the betrayal of the accused.There are many generous
individuals such as Oprah, Bill Gates, Paul Allen, and many other very
wealthy individuals. For some reason, less affluent people tend to
express an attitude of entitlement toward them. Suggesting that they
have an obligation because they can afford it, is unjust. For those
who have been greatly blessed financially and choose to use their
money and time to do for others, their generosity should be
appreciated. Much of the rest of the population is very stingy with
their money and time giving very little, if any of theirs.Many people
argue that the affluent get tax breaks for their efforts. Often it’s
not as much as you’d think, and not dollar for dollar what they
donate, so in essence, they are still spending their money. The rest
of the taxpayers also get tax deductions for donations whether
monetary or items like clothing, household goods, etc. And still,
how much do they donate in comparison. How much of your time and
money do you contribute for others outside of your immediate
social/familial circle?
Sweet, Halloweenie Popcorn Balls…Yummy Too!
Squid and I made this together yesterday. It was quick, easy to make, quite tasty and make for ugly eating as it is sticky and chewy.
This recipe is great because you can pretty much add whatever you like. We chose a combination of various nuts, seeds, dried fruit, marshmallows and carmel chips, but you can also make it with just popcorn.
Ingredients:
- 12 cups popped popcorn
- 3 cups mixed dried fruit, variou nuts, carmel bits, marshmallows, roughly chopped
- 1-1/4 cups granulated sugar
- 3/4 cup brown sugar
- 1 cup corn syrup (we used light)
- 1/2 cup water
Directions:
- Toss popcorn and mixed fruit, nuts, etc.
- Oil waxed paper-lined baking pan and a metal giant spoon, fork. Set aside.
- Bring sugars, corn syrup, and the water to a boil over medium-high heat in a medium saucepan fitted with a candy thermometer.
- Reduce heat to medium and cook until mixture reaches 260 degrees.
- Carefully pour the syrup over the popcorn mixture. Stirring to make sure everything gets coated. Let sit for 1-2 minutes (it’s hot!)
- With oiled hands (or spray with cooking spray), grab a hunk and shape your balls. We made ours the size of baseballs, but you can make them any size you want. Plans them on the baking pan(s) and cool completely…admittedly we ate the first ones hot.
- Store in an airtight container for up to 4 days.
<<side note: the sugar, corn syrup mixture is quite hard once it’s cooled and hard to clean. To dissolve the mixture, let pan and utensils soak in hot water.>>
The Haunting
On Saturday the Halloween celebrations commenced…
Well I couldn’t find the link for this year’s production of Dracula at Meydenbauer. Anyway, my best friend Kim brought her 5 year old son for his first ever ballet production. He was in costume and really excited for Dracula. Apparently he wasn’t aware what ‘ballet’ really meant, so after about the 3rd scene that were a bit on the ‘Sound of Music’ side, he loudly asked when the dancing was going to be over. When they got to the scary parts, he really enjoyed it.
So after an early dinner, Keven, Alyssa & I were on the road to Buckley to do the haunted corn maze. <<link attached>> Now THAT was fun! It’s been a long time since I’ve been to a good haunted house, so over the past few years I’ve been a bit on the Scroogey side about going. I’ve done the corn maze in Marysville and have thought how creepy it would be to do it at night. So this year I was looking around online for a nighttime corn maze. I found it about the same time I started hearing ads for it on the radio.
The website recommended buying a fast pass online ahead of time and without guarantee of getting in as the last 2 weekends prior to Halloween are unbelievably busy. We were totally winging it, and prepared that we may get down there and have to turn around and come home. When we arrived at 7:40, there were a lot of people, but not a horrendous amount. The ticket line indicated that tickets were being sold for the 10:00 tour. So Keven went to check on the fast passes and we were able to get in at the head of the line for fast passers at 8:00! While we were waiting there were a couple of kids performing, one of which I think may have tried out for American Idol. One of the kids was this 11 year old boy who could dance hip-hop like you wouldn’t believe. It was addictive watching him go.
8:00 rolled around and it was our turn to go. I was really hoping it wasn’t going to be really corny or dumb, but they did a damn good job. It’s long too, taking 20-30 minutes to make your way through and there is quite a variety of things to tingle your senses…strange noises, chain saws, ghosts, and all kinds of questionable characters walking through the path with you or coming out of the corn…sometimes jumping out at you. There are spots that are totally quiet which heighten your senses as you wait for the next unexpected thing. There are also other things like the indoor maze that is completely pitch black and you feel your way through it…at points things like feathers brush against your face, others squirted with cold, I’m going to assume, water. There are other mazes, rooms, etc. with strobe lights which created another very odd effect, especially when you’ve just been in the dark. At the end of the tour there is a maze created in chainlink and with another strobe light.
When you’re done with that one, there is another corn maze you can do un-toured and you take your own flashlights. There are separate maps of routes you can take. It is completely pitch black in there and the corn is much more dense than the one we did. We didn’t have a chance to get to it since it closed earlier than we realized.
Overall it was a lot of fun and better than most haunted houses I’ve been to. I highly recommend it. It is a bit on the pricey side, about the cost of a ticket to the Puyallup Fair, but definitely well worth it. If you get a chance to go, do it…at least once.
I’m Tuned In…
Lately I’ve had a lengthy commute home after work. Often I’m too brain fried to listen to music, especially after listening to it all day. So one evening on my way home I was hunting around for talk radio on the good ole AM. I wasn’t running across anything besides sports and commercials. Finally at one point, someone was talking and the guy was giving a caller advice, and being my nosey self, decided to take a listen. Turned out it was Dave Ramsey. I’d never heard of him before, but he is sort of the Dr. Laura / Dear Abby of faith, family and finance. The guy has made and lost millions and formulated a financial strategy of sorts to get people out of the old financial hole with common sense. I like what he has to say and gives everyone very sound advice.
If you get a chance, check it out.
