Lunch lady makes food "too good" for school

How is it that we have people in places of power with mentalities where when they see something outstanding being done, they think, "we need to push that down to our current nasty levels," instead of thinking, "we need to elevate our current nasty levels and learn from this outstanding phenomenon!"

http://www.thelocal.se/43656/

Possible new TSA scanners

Considering the lack of professionalism, integrity and empathy that seems to pervade the TSA across the country, I am hesitant to give them access to more power to invade my personal being and privacy. Unfortunately, no one in the government is standing up for the common folk against the TSA when the TSA violates a person's body, private property, emotional integrity and freedom to travel.

http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-2213892/Picosecond-Programmable-Laser-scanner-Next-generation-technology-read-molecule-body.html

Florida to set student goals by race

These educators have completely missed the consensus nowadays that socio-economic factors have a greater role on educational performance than ethnicity. There is quite a lot of data to support the consensus. So why Florida wants to do this is beyond me and misguided in more ways than one.

http://www.palmbeachpost.com/news/news/state-regional-education/florida-to-measure-student-goals-by-race/nSbNt/

Where is the outrage from the public?

Seriously, with all the reports happening in such frequency and volume, there should more of an outcry from the public as well as government.

http://www.digitaljournal.com/article/334182
http://www.newser.com/article/da1qe6tg1/leukemia-patient-says-she-was-embarrassed-by-security-pat-down-tsa-says-procedures-followed.html
http://www.upi.com/Top_News/US/2012/10/09/TSA-screeners-slacking-off-report-finds/UPI-32761349813389/?spt=hs&or=tn
http://presstv.com/usdetail/264925.html

Begging dolphin passed away

So sad:
http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/49155446/ns/technology_and_science-science/

Adorable puppy!

Need a pick-me-up?
http://jezebel.com/5945634/this-puppy-will-admonish-you-for-not-petting-him

Making vinegar

Hubby and I are regular wine drinkers. Unfortunately, we often can't finish a full bottle of wine before it becomes unpleasant to drink. So in the past, we've also wasted quite a bit of wine. So sad, I know. The good news is, I've found a way to use up leftover wine. Turn it into vinegar!

I use a lot of vinegar. I use it for everything from laundry to surface cleaning. So this is a great project for me. I am sure I can find lots of uses for the homemade vinegar, aside from just using it in food.

Basically, I took a crock and poured one cup of water with one cup of white wine and several tablespoons of Braggs vinegar. It's important to use vinegar that has not been pasteurized so that the bacteria that makes vinegar is still alive. Cover the container with cloth and I secured it with a rubber band. This keeps the bugs out and still allows the vinegar to breathe. Every two weeks or so, I would pour in another half a cup or full cup of white wine. It took about a month, but I now have a pretty good chunk of vinegar mother sitting on top of my homemade vinegar.

For more on the process, you can check out this link:
http://texascook.blogspot.com/2008/04/gourmet-vinegars-are-too-easy.html

Why extreme couponing means the rest of us pay more

No such thing as a free lunch. Somebody is paying for it one way or another.
http://redtape.nbcnews.com/_news/2012/09/07/13710824-the-truth-comes-out-ceo-says-stupid-consumers-deserve-hefty-fees?lite&google_editors_picks=true

Schools putting children into isolation rooms

How is this not a form of abuse? How can anybody in the right minds think this is an acceptable way to treat kids?

http://www.nytimes.com/2012/09/09/opinion/sunday/a-terrifying-way-to-discipline-children.html?src=me&ref=general

Further erosion of privacy

I think in the future, the concept of "privacy" is going to become alien to a lot of people. With all these systems and things set up to know everything there is to know about anybody, where are the checks and balances? Where are the rules to prevent abuse?
http://www.extremetech.com/extreme/135665-fbi-launches-1-billion-nationwide-facial-recognition-system

Video saves dude

Thank goodness that video was taken!
http://www.nytimes.com/2012/09/11/nyregion/video-of-police-altercation-may-take-key-role-in-civil-rights-suit.html?src=rechp