Rabbit Ears Signal Tweek Now Available

I'd like to get one of these specialty rabbits.

I would try and see if this kind of rabbit ears works better

with the new digital age for TV.

National public sector strike likely to go ahead

From the Irish Times

Here we go, hre we go, here we go!

Clear Plan For Action To Prevent Homelessness Among Youth

There is an interesting program on the scene regarding youth, who are now 18 years and permitted to leave foster care. These youth now are being chosen to participate in programs to help them get a hand-up into adult society.

For a long time, many professionals in the field, as well as foster care teens themselves, have realized the hard fought struggle there is when no one is there on the other side of state supported children and youth. One might ask, "Where will these kids live?" or "How do they develop their own community of support?" It's a serious problem if you happen to be a teenager out on your own after the state has cut you free.

One cannot easily walk over to a cozy neighborhood, plunk down money for rent with only a reference from a social worker saying, "We are no longer responsible." Sure, some foster kids have a relative to turn to. Some have been able to work and save a little money. But, a sizable share of foster care youth have few things going for them: no place to stay, no continual supply of food, no friends to hangout with, no transportation nor money for the bus, no clothing to put into drawers and on hangers, no soccer ball to kick around the alley or park, no TV, no phone. They have, literally, only the clothes on their backs, a few dollars given by the state and the smile as their social worker shakes hands, then, turns to walk to her nearly new car to complete paperwork.

There is a seemingly sudden interest in foster care youth. This is a good thing; a good start. There is a national govenors' task force trying to find workable solutions. I'm not buying the program they advocate in its entirty. Portions, though, are worth approach, such as higher education. There really is no 12 step solution. There is no step-by-step approach out there to address the many nuances of moving into adult society, such as: location of the teen, stereotyping of foster children, attitudes and perceptions by the youth being tossed around the system followed by being tossed onto the street.

Survival and overwhelming fear for the average foster care kid is what he or she definitely carries daily. Below is a report written in order to share with us, what California is doing in order to assist the adult, who has just left foster care. I do like the effort and the money being set aside for these kinds of programs. I do not yet see effect. We could do a lot better for children whose only hope is listed on a piece of paper. But, we must consider, that a good share of the population of youth leaving foster care will see a new program, as more hoops to jump through. More uncertainty. Less real truth. That's inescapable under any method of assisting children given survival by the state.

from the National Govenors Association -
California's Plan

Youth Transitioning Out of Foster Care
California was one of six states chosen to participate in the National Governor’s Association (NGA) Policy Academy on Youth Transitioning Out of Foster Care. The Academy, which began in June 2006, provided a unique opportunity for teams of state leaders to work with national and state experts, to improve outcomes for youth transitioning from foster care to adulthood.

The Issue
The transition to adulthood and economic independence can be challenging for any adolescent and generally occurs over many years and with substantial support from family and friends. In fact, about half of youth ages 18-24 in the United States live at home and nearly two-thirds of young adults in their early 20’s receive economic support from their parents. In contrast, most youth in foster care “age out” of the system when they turn 18, often with only minimal preparation and without ongoing supports that would help them become happy, productive adults.

California has approximately 26,000 foster children 16 years and older. Once emancipated from the system, these youth will face daunting odds. Research has shown that over half of foster youth drop out of high school, 25% become homeless, nearly 60% are unemployed, many suffer from post-traumatic stress disorder and too many leave the system without any connection to an adult, family or community.

California’s NGA Policy Academy Goals
Under the leadership of the California Department of Social Services, the NGA California team brought together county and state leaders from multiple public systems—child welfare, mental health, employment, education, corrections—as well as private providers, philanthropy, youth and advocates. Three fundamental goals for transition aged youth were identified:

Permanence—Every youth will have lifelong connections with family and supportive adults.
Education—Every youth will have a quality education, a high school diploma and support in pursuing postsecondary opportunities.
Employment—Every youth will have work experience and training opportunities that will prepare them for and place them in living wage employment and careers.

California’s NGA Policy Academy Recommendations
Through an inclusive inter-disciplinary process focused on addressing the challenges faced by transition aged foster youth, the Policy Academy provided an opportunity to assess current efforts in California, make recommendations and implement change to systematically address key challenges and improve transition outcomes. This process resulted in a set of recommendations that will be released in the spring of 2008. Central to these recommendations
is a new vision for California’s Independent Living Program—a vision of cross-system integration and service delivery able to meet the individual needs of each youth. Progress to date on the recommendations has included a statewide foster youth career development and employment summit held in January 2008, NGA team education recommendations integrated into the work of the California Foster Youth Education Task Force, and planning for a Breakthrough Series Collaborative (“BSC”) to help counties in California put the new Independent Living Program
vision into action.

source, National Govenors Association

A Song for Halloween by Fire Horses

The Ballad of King Boz

Words, Music and images by Alan, Rory,Yogi

Thanks to Blue Moose, Mary, Ady, St. Senan's, the Cornmarket Project and Dermot F for support.
Copyright Fire Horses (A.Butler, R.Stafford) October 2009

Lisbon Treaty - People Before Profit

What Is Anxiety Disorder

An anxiety disorder is a serious mental illness. For people with anxiety disorders, worry and fear are constant and overwhelming, and can be crippling.

General symptoms include:

• Feelings of panic, fear, and uneasiness,
• Uncontrollable, obsessive thoughts,
• Repeated thoughts or flashbacks of traumatic experiences,
• Nightmares,
• Ritualistic behaviors, such as repeated hand washing,
• Problems sleeping,
• Cold or sweaty hands and/or feet,
• Shortness of breath,
• Palpitations,
• An inability to be still and calm,
• Dry mouth,
• Numbness or tingling in the hands or feet,
• Nausea,
• Muscle tension,
• Dizziness.

Causes of an Anxiety Disorder:

The exact cause of anxiety disorders is unknown. As scientists continue their research on mental illness, it is becoming clear that many of these disorders are caused by a combination of factors, including changes in the brain and environmental stress.

Studies have shown that severe or long-lasting stress can change the balance of chemicals in the brain that control mood.

Other studies have shown that people with certain anxiety disorders have changes in certain brain structures that control memory or mood.

In addition, studies have shown that anxiety disorders run in families, which means that they can be inherited from one or both parents.

Moreover, certain environmental factors -- such as a trauma or significant event -- may trigger an anxiety disorder in people who have an inherited susceptibility to developing the disorder.

Source: Web MD.com

What is Oppositional Defiant Disorder

In children with Oppositional Defiant Disorder (ODD), there is an ongoing pattern of uncooperative, defiant, and hostile behavior toward authority figures that seriously interferes with the youngster's day to day functioning.

All children are oppositional from time to time, particularly when tired, hungry, stressed or upset. They may argue, talk back, disobey, and defy parents, teachers, and other adults.

Oppositional behavior is often a normal part of development for two to three year olds and early adolescents.

However, openly uncooperative and hostile behavior becomes a serious concern when it is so frequent and consistent that it stands out when compared with other children of the same age and developmental level and when it affects the child's social, family, and academic life.

There are really no concrete risk factors for ODD.

Source: American Academy of Child and Adolscent Psychiatry

What is Conduct Disorder

Conduct disorder is a disorder identifying children experiencing certain behaviors at home, school or out in the communtiy.

Conduct disorder affects 1 to 4 percent of 9- to 17-year-olds, depending on exactly how the disorder is defined (U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, 1999). The disorder appears to be more common in boys than in girls and more common in cities than in rural areas.

Children with conduct disorder repeatedly violate the personal or property rights of others and the basic expectations of society. A diagnosis of conduct disorder is likely when symptoms continue for 6 months or longer.

Symptoms of conduct disorder include:

• Aggressive behavior that harms or threatens other people or animals;
• Destructive behavior that damages or destroys property;
• Lying or theft;
• Truancy or other serious violations of rules;
• Early tobacco, alcohol, and substance use and abuse; and
• Precocious sexual activity.

Children with conduct disorder or oppositional defiant disorder also may experience:

• Higher rates of depression, suicidal thoughts, suicide attempts, and suicide;
• Academic difficulties;
• Poor relationships with peers or adults;
• Sexually transmitted diseases;
• Difficulty staying in adoptive, foster, or group homes; and
• Higher rates of injuries, school expulsions, and problems with the law.

Who is at risk for conduct disorder:

• Early maternal rejection;
• Separation from parents, without an adequate alternative caregiver;
• Early institutionalization;
• Family neglect;
• Abuse or violence;
• Parental mental illness;
• Parental marital discord;
• Large family size;
• Crowding; and
• Poverty.

Source: SAMHSA

What Is Bipolar Disorder

From high to low. From mania to depression. From recklessness to listlessness. These are the extremes associated with bipolar disorder, a mental illness characterized by mood instability that can be serious and disabling. The deep mood swings of bipolar disorder may last for weeks or months.

Today, a growing volume of research suggests that bipolar disorder occurs across a spectrum of symptoms, and that many people aren't correctly diagnosed.

It's not known what causes bipolar disorder. But a variety of biochemical, genetic and environmental factors seem to be involved in causing and triggering bipolar episodes:

Biochemical:

Some evidence from high-tech imaging studies indicates that people with bipolar disorder have physical changes in their brains. The naturally occurring brain chemicals called neurotransmitters, which are tied to mood, also may play a role. Hormonal imbalances also are thought to be a culprit.

Genetic:

Some studies show that bipolar disorder is more common in people whose biological family members also have the condition. Researchers are trying to find genes that may be involved in causing bipolar disorder. Some studies also show links between bipolar disorder and schizophrenia, pointing to a shared genetic cause.

Environment:

Environment also is thought to play a causal role in some way. Some studies of identical twins show that one twin has the condition while the other doesn't — which means genes alone aren't responsible for bipolar disorder. Environmental causes may include problems with self-esteem, significant loss or high stress.

* I wanted to define Bipolar Disorder, as the disorder was discussed in relation to those in prison with a mental illness, bipolar being one such.

Source: MayoClinic.com

What Is Antisocial Personality Disorder

Antisocial personality disorder is a type of chronic mental illness in which your ways of thinking, perceiving situations and relating to others are dysfunctional.

• When you have antisocial personality disorder, you typically have no regard for right and wrong.
• You may often violate the law and the rights of others, landing yourself in frequent trouble or conflict.
• You may lie, behave violently, and have drug and alcohol problems.

Although the precise cause of antisocial personality disorder isn't known, researchers have identified certain factors that seem to increase the risk of developing or triggering antisocial personality disorder, including:

• Being diagnosed with childhood conduct disorder.
• A family history of antisocial personality disorder or other personality disorders or mental illness.
• Being subjected to verbal, physical or sexual abuse during childhood.
• Having an unstable or chaotic family life during childhood.
• Loss of parents through death or divorce during childhood. Antisocial personality disorder is relatively uncommon.
• It affects about 3 to 5 percent of men and 1 percent of women.

Source: MayoClinic.com

The Lisbon Treaty-Extract from Your Extended Guide

This is an extract (page 3) from The Lisbon Treaty, Your Extended Guide published by The Referendum Commission.

I want to draw attention to the last point:

"The European Council has also issued a solemn declaration on social issues including workers' rights. This is a political statement and is not legally binding."

This is why I am voting NO.