American Currents First Annual Newsmaker of the Year: The American People - Nikki Lorenzini

We are pleased to announce the first annual American Currents Newsmaker of the Year.  This year, we have chosen a group as opposed to an individual. The Newsmakers of the Year are the American People. They were not chosen for their trials and tribulations during the Great Recession, or for struggling with unemployment.  Instead, we found ordinary Americans going out of their way to help one another. And for that, we honor them. 

 For the past week, I was trying to think back on 2010 to see if there was any person or people that were the biggest news makers for me. Mark Zuckerberg didn't really impress me. I have been using Facebook for 5 + years, so there was nothing new there. Obama is doing his job, Tiger Woods actually admitted he had his affairs, lost his wife, and tried to come back to golfing. Mel Gibson has just about lost it, and Avatar scored big. There were fires, floods, and an oil spill. I could easily say the people who went in to help those victims are influential, but I'm not choosing them because we can always assume that there will be people there to help in major times of need.

I will be going with the news makers who never made major news. These are the people who were the most influential to me: the citizens who do more than what they are called to do.

Last month, I went to a township meeting for the town I live in. The local grocery store got an award for helping out the township with all of their functions, and donating the things that were needed during city sponsored events. The store also contributed to a fund to aide the families of fallen police officers. Then there was a gentlemen who got an award for saving a girl's life who was suicidal and was going to jump off of a local bridge into a creek. I ended up talking with him later that night, and he was saying how he had two small children waiting for him at home to be taken to school. He had brought the young woman into his car and insisted that he take her somewhere, since she refused to go with the police. Another man was honored for helping catch a man who had robbed a local jewelry store.

I am sure that there are plenty of people in the country that are like the above mentioned. They help aid the police and other emergency response teams. I am sure that when the average citizen wakes up in the morning, they only expect to go on their normal routine or the day that they had planned. No one expects to be diverted, especially when their is a life or death situation that might need immediate attention. In fact, who is that attentive while they are driving to spot a girl contemplating jumping off of a bridge? Or who leaps into action to help stop a robber? I am sure we never expect to be put in those type of situations. That is why my news makers of 2010 are the heroic and brave citizens who jump into action in the moment when they are not expecting to do so.

The Battle Between "Merry Christmas" and "Happy Holidays" - Nikki Lorenzini

This year, I have been hearing talk about the so called "War on Christmas." People who do not celebrate Christmas are offended over the phrase, and those who do are upset at the dismissal. I seen a website that showed how "Pro Christmas" companies were by the amount of times they mentioned "Merry Christmas" in advertising, and asked that those who don't, are boycotted.

As a Christian, I am truly conflicted over this controversy. On one hand, I am all for keeping the phrase Christmas around. I am confident in what I believe, and what Christmas is supposed to stand for. When I hear people "complain" (which is never, it is just portrayed to me via the media), it does cut to the core a bit since people do not get up in arms about Hanukkah or Kwanzaa.

There is also the problem that even though Christmas is a religious holiday, it also has turned into a secular holiday, in which, over the years, trading gifts became synonymous with the birth of Christ, and then slowly overshadowed it. Now it seems that it has become both an American holiday in which people buy gifts for each other, throw parties, etc. I think the lines of religious vs. secular have now become blurred, and what was once a religious holiday has now become PC so everyone can be at ease celebrating. I am not sure when this has happened, when a holiday that was supposed to be celebrating the birth of Christ was turned into a shopping extravaganza. Ever since I have become a Christian, the whole idea of receiving gifts during this time has totally turned me off. I know I am probably the exception with this.

In Philadelphia, at the City Hall, they have a Christmas Village where there are different vendors there selling their wares. There was a big to do there where people wanted "Christmas" to be taken down. It was for a few days, then put back up because people were made it was taken down. I went there about a week ago. Besides having over priced ornaments, it really didn't get me in the spirit. So having "Christmas" up or not, I  really don't think it would of mattered. The commercialism has gotten totally in the way of the season.

I will not get offended if someone tells me, "Happy Holidays." In fact, I have come to realize that "Happy Holidays" is an all encompassing phrase, not only to include Hanukkah, Kwanzaa, Christmas, but has the non-religious, including New Years and Thanksgiving. Two holiday's that we all can enjoy, despite religious affiliations. When I am told "Happy Holidays," I will just return it with "Merry Christmas," and understand that they might not believe in the same Christmas as I do.

Slimming Down - Nikki Lorenzini

It has been two weeks since I have updated you guys about my Weight Watchers trek. The week of Thanksgiving I lost 9 lbs. Yes, 9, which put me down to a total 25 lb weight loss. Not sure how I did it. That was with me gorging on an ice cream sundae, Thanksgiving dinner, and barely any exercise. I am still baffled.

 

Then the website yelled at me. Saying I am loosing too much, too fast. So I ended up gorging on food purposely this week. Was horrible at tracking my food, and frankly, I tried not to care. After 3 weeks of my diet, I felt horrible acting this way. Really horrible. Not a horrible in the sick feeling. Horrible as in, I can't believe I acted that way after working so hard. There were days when I woke up not even hungry because I was so full from the night before. Not a fun feeling.

 

Even with that, I was still able to loose another 9 lbs this past week. Now I am up to almost 35 lbs lost. I am still baffled by that, and I am still waiting for myself to plateau. I only wish I could enjoy this more.

 

Besides that horrible feeling, my pants are actually feeling better. My co-worker told me the other day that my clothes don't look any different. I told her it was because I always wore long, loose tops, and never bothered getting new pants. Just squeezed into the ones I had. I have been more motivated to take the stairs instead of the elevator when I have to go into the basement at work. I actually feel better, and partly because I can breathe without feeling the need to work at it. That was only after loosing 25 pounds.

 

Now my next step is to look for a gym.

Happy Thanksgiving

Last year, Nikki shared with us some of her favorite Thanksgiving memories.  A lot has changed over the last twelve months, and we thought it would be nice to reprint Nikki's article from last year.  Happy Thanksgiving!

Thanksgiving is a time where family and friends get together to gorge out on food. Usually in my house, its just me and my immediate family getting together. But, one of my favorite Thanksgiving memories happened about four years ago. Earlier that year I had started going to a church in my neighborhood and I got really plugged into their young adults group. Every other Friday, they had a girls bible study. I became friends with all of them, and I was happy because I finally found some decent friends. So, at the beginning of the month, I got a crazy idea: have a potluck dinner at my house and invite all the girls. All 20-plus girls fit into my parents 4 bedroom, 2 story, middle class suburban home which has never seated (or was built to seat) 20 people in one room at once to eat a meal together.

I bought the turkey, all 25 pounds of it. Mind you, this was the first turkey I was making on my own, and during my then 23 years on the earth, never once watched my dad prepare the turkey. And, being cheap, I bought a cheap pan. Needless to say, there was turkey grease in my oven and I was out more money to buy another pan. I was cursing the dollar store pan, especially when I was strolling into the supermarket fighting with the lines. Then my friends started coming. And coming with all with their food. I don’t think I've ever seen that many pies in my life. The kitchen was getting over run with food, and it was starting to spill over into our dining room, which was already jam packed. The table that we had in our kitchen disappeared into the dinning room in between our dining room table with 3 folding tables being circled by a hodgepodge of chairs which even included heavy metal patio chairs. The food was great, and the turkey turned out well, despite me being overthrown of carving duty (being Italian and talking with both my mouth AND my hands- with a hug knife- not a good combo).

The best was when we were all able to sit around and actually tell each other what we were thankful for that year. It was more that just the food (which is a GREAT bonus), but it was more to see all of the good that was happening in our lives - to actually think of what we are thankful for. And at the end of the night, all 25 pounds of turkey were devoured, we had minimum left overs, I had plenty of help cleaning up, and I had proof that more than 20 girls can get together for a night and get along. I had a few get-togethers at my house since then. I've had barbecues, Christmas parties, and random get-togethers, but something about shoving all those people in one room makes people still talk. Even this weekend, my friends and I were talking about it when we got together and drug in furniture from my backyard. I know for some people this will be the norm today, and if that is the case, that is absolutely wonderful- and I mean that. There is something about surrounding yourself with people that you care about and being thankful for what you have. So no matter how many people you are meeting with, and even if you are sitting in lawn furniture in your dining room, try and make a memory of it. It’ll be worth it when you are still talking about it in years to come. 

Nikki's Journey Continues

I officially ended my second week of Weight Watchers. How has it been? I want to say it has gotten easier. Well, in one aspect it has gotten easier: me adjusting to eating less has gotten easier.

 

However, this is the week that I just didn't want to care. I didn't want to care that I shoved my face with a box of mac and cheese and a pack of Tasty Kake cupcakes (but I resisted, only had a cup of mac and cheese and no cupcakes). I also went to Friendly's, had a mint cookie crunch sundae, and didn't realize how bad it was. I mean, I knew sundaes were bad, I just didn't realize how bad. I'm just glad I didn't eat the whole thing.

 

Then I got sick. I ended up getting laryngitis and rested as much as I could. That ruled out me doing my exercise routine: going on a walk that lasts about 60 min. I was just plain ol' lazy. After getting used to walking, I kind of missed being so active and missed getting out of my routine.

 

So far, I am realizing that it is actually pretty easy to start a habit like this. Sure, it is really, really easy to break a habit. To start a habit, sure, it can be hard, but when you know you have a goal to reach, I am pretty sure that helps you jump start it. It also helps knowing that you are actually spending money to help you get on the right track.

 

Weight lost this week: 4 lbs

Overall weight lost: 14 lbs

Weight left to loose: 41 lbs

Starting a New Journey - Nikki Lorenzini

Last Tuesday I joined Weight Watchers. Yes, I joined the many people who have vowed to lose weight. However, I am not one of the normal ones, at least I don’t think. I actually joined the day after I came back from my cousins wedding in New Orleans, and I was one of the bridesmaids (don’t most people want to lose it before?). I also made a point to sign up before the holidays. My reasoning being, if I can do it during, then I can definitely do it after.

My goal: to lose 55 pounds. Crazy you might say. As you look at my picture, you might not think I don’t need to lose that much. If I can be so honest, my one pet peeve is people saying, “You don’t need to lose that much weight,” or, “You’re not that heavy.”  Yes, you might not think that, but I wear clothes to hide the extra pudge. However, you are not the one walking around with an extra 55 pounds, and being out of breath when you walk up a flight of stairs, with your legs feeling like jello. These 55 pounds might not seem too much in the sphere of things, but it is a lot to me. I am 27 years old. Young compared to most, old when I’m talking to my Sunday school kids. I would like to say that I want to lose this weight for vanity sake, but I am confident in the way I look. I also haven’t dated in 4 years, so the hope of picking up a man with my new, skinny looks isn’t my top priority.

So vanity aside, I need to do this for my health. 

However, being only 27 years old, I know that I need to get this weight problem kicked. It might only be 55 pounds, but I don’t want it to eventually be a 100+ pounds. I remember being in grade school and shocked when I got in the 100+ range. I really don’t want to go in the 200+ pound range. I am only 5’1”, so imagine that on my tiny frame. I know that in the years to come, it will get increasingly hard to lose this weight. Well, that is what I have everyone who is older than me telling me. I know the side effects: diabetes, problems conceiving, high blood pressure, etc. I definitely do not want my future plagued with medicine.

This is coming from the person who absolutely loves eating, cooking, and baking, and also forgetting I have a gym membership. I always thought that the people who were in the gym for hours (or at least seemed for hours), were crazy muscle heads. I’m realizing that I don’t have to spend hours on end in the gym. I live in the suburbs where I can easily go for a walk, or go to the park and talk a walk.  Start with the minimal and work myself up to something more, like running. Well, I hope to start running one day. 

Every week I hope to have an updated blog with how I am doing. So far to date, in the week I have been doing it, I have lost 10 pounds. Not too bad for someone who loves food. 

Take Nikki Out to the Ballpark - Nikki Lorenzini

I am currently sitting in my room watching the Phillies getting killed by the Giants. Okay, it is only the fourth inning, but the score is 2-0. I look on Facebook and see people’s status updates on their teams, talk to co-workers and hear how Phillies fans hate Ross, how much they are in love with the Phil’s, how they dress their babies up in the gear in hopes to raise a lifetime fan. I am no different. I posted on Facebook saying how I’ll have to be put on heart meds because of the way that Phil’s work on my heart. 

It makes me think why there are so many die heard sports fans. I understand getting involved in a TV show, a book, a movie. It’s more easy to relate to. But sports? With sports, there is so much drama. If you’re a fair weather fan, you’ll love “your” team when they’re doing well and hate them when they’re doing badly. For the die-hard fans, you’ll show up for the games despite what’s going on around (I’ve been to my fair share of games in the rain, including thunderstorms underneath metal). We have promoted sports players on a special level, almost like mini-gods. We go to sporting events early to tailgate, spend $7 on a beer, $5 on a hot dog, $25 on the cheapest ticket possible. Then we complain that everything is so expensive, and wonder why they are getting paid that much, yet we still come out.

But what is the special love affair with sports? Is it because we only wish we could play like them? Or is it because we’re in a day and age that is obsessed with fitness and being active that we are amazed with the people who almost embody that? Up until recently, it only seems that we only started getting involved with sports player’s lives, with the help on Tiger Woods. Is it because sports are relatively drama free we get so involved with them? 

While I ponder this, I’ll be sitting on the edge of my bed, fingers crossed, that the Phils make it to the World Series for the third year in a row. 

How Can They Hack You? Let Me Count the Ways. . . - Nikki Lorenzini

Recently, a researcher was able to pull up information for 170 million Facebook users. Ron Bowes, who compiled the information, was quoted as saying: “I realized that this is a scary privacy issue, I can find the name of pretty much every person on Facebook.” He was able to pull the names and Web addresses of people’s profiles that were not listed as “private.” From what I have read, people are pretty upset, seeming that their privacy is now being invaded.

My opinion: Your privacy is fine! Yes, people have a right to feel threatened when they think their personal space has been invaded. When it comes to sites like Facebook, MySpace, Twitter, etc., though, people willingly put their lives out there. I always saw these sites as a place to reconnect with people from high school/grade school, post pictures for family I cannot see regularly, write silly status updates, etc. However, I choose to play it smart when it comes to the Internet. I keep the personal information I post limited. I only have my email address and the city I live. In fact, I think I actually have my email on private as well.  I refuse to put any of my phone numbers or my address. I do not vent about work or other people on my Facebook. If I do not want my mom to see or read it, it’s not going up. It’s not worth risking my job or reputation or privacy to put things that might be questionable or cause for fears about getting into the wrong hands.

Sure, Bowes was able to get people’s names and pictures. However, we store so much more information out there that we should actually fear people getting a hold of. How many of us do online banking? How many of do online shopping? How easy is it to whip out a credit card and pay for something on EBay or Amazon and keep the card number stored? I am sure people are able to hack into those companies’ systems. I know people’s Facebook and MySpace accounts have been hacked, and I’ve heard stories of credit card numbers being stolen from stores.

So how easy do you think it would be for the two groups to join forces and hack into one of those systems? If that happens, I believe there is a legitimate reason to fear for Internet privacy. Until then, please be smart when you are putting your life on the Internet line.

Could We Have a Little Decorum, Please? - Nikki Lorenzini

How rude! Where have all our manners gone?

A simple thank-you when you receive something, a “bless you” when you sneeze, holding the door open for the people who are behind you. Seem like simple and easy things to do, right? So often people just let the door slam in my face when I am right behind them. Sure, I am short, but does being 5'1" make me invisible? I see people in the hallway at work, and I am lucky if I am able to get them to mutter a “hi.” I send text messages with no response to acknowledge someone received it, e-mails that go ignored, and people do not respond when I ask “Do you have anything to go downstairs?”

Granted, there are times when I live in total oblivion and come across as rude, myself. There have been times when I was in my own little world and I didn’t notice anyone behind me and I let the door shut on someone. I am now noticing more people who seem to throw their manners out the window. It seems rare that I receive thank-you cards, e-mails, or even a simple “thank you.” I couldn’t honestly tell you when the last time I wrote someone a thank-you note for a gift. Sure, I did when I had co-workers change my tire for me on New Year’s Eve, but is the thank-you note (even if it’s in e-mail form) going out of style? Or am I just being too old-fashioned and afraid of coming off as ungrateful?

What about holding doors open for people. Is it so uncool to be polite to a stranger anymore? I find myself horrified when I notice that I let the door slam in someone’s face by accident. Holding the door open might not seem like a big deal until you have your hands full and might not be able to grab it on your own … or if you are helping someone who needs assistance walking and could use an extra hand to keep the door open. Many a time I seen women with a child in a stroller have to struggle to open doors until I can run over and help them. I used to see this when I worked at a supermarket. I always made a point to at least ask women who had kids or the elderly if they needed help out to their cars.

I heard of someone the other day who sneezed in his hands, did not wash them or use hand sanitizer afterward, then went for a plate of cookies. Okay, I get that people get colds, get sick, sneeze and cough. However, I do not get the people who decide not to wash their hands to halt their germs from spreading. Also, not washing your hands after using the bathroom? There are enough reasons to get creeped out by bodily fluids -- why add this on top of it? I don’t expect people to go OCD about germs and being clean, but I would like to know that people are doing the basics to at least keep themselves germ-free.

There are so many little things I get irritated by when people seem not hold up their end with good manners. I am not sure if I am being too old-fashioned, but is it too much to ask to have someone respond “hi” when they make eye contact with you and you say “hi”? I am sure the whole manners thing is changing with all this new technology. I have it automatically embedded in my head to reply to my manager’s e-mails at work when things get done. Oh, but the annoyance of when I do not get one back from someone else when I need help and it’s been done. How about when I send a text message saying I am going to call someone later, and I don’t receive a text back saying ok, I go into overload mode and resend the text about 3 times just as in case they didn’t get the first 3.

So, are our manners going the way of the dinosaurs and not being replaced by anything, or am I just being too old-fashioned?

Great Game! ... But Where Are the Dead Pelican Cards? - Nikki Lorenzini

BP came out with a board game back in the 1970s. It was called the BP Offshore Oil Strike. Four players search for oil while building platforms and constructing pipelines. The object of the game is to be the first to make $120 million. There are hazards in the game as well: players may suffer a large-scale oil spill and have to cover the clean-up costs. Hazard cards say things like: "Blow-out! Rig damaged. Oil slick cleanup costs. Pay $1 million."

Does this sound familiar?

The game has eerie similarities to the oil spill in the Gulf of Mexico right now. While it's tempting to think this is just an ironic twist of fate, it seems odd that an oil company would produce an oil version of Monopoly. The game came out during the oil crisis of the 1970s, so maybe it was a way of drumming up support for more US-based drilling? Or was it just another kooky marketing ploy? I know Hess has their trucks that they sell every year at Christmas, but who the heck at BP thought of putting out their own version of Monopoly?

Why would anyone at BP think this was a good idea in the first place? While I'm sure BP knew a spill like this could possibly happen, I don't think if they really believed it was likely they would have forecast it with a board game like this. On the other hand, there certainly have been other examples: according to the BBC, more than 7,000 spills (large and small) have occurred in the Niger Delta between 1970 and 2000.

Whether you're inclined to put together conspiracies or not, you have to admit it's a pretty strange thing when a game turns into reality.

A Good Man Is Hard To Find ... Online - Nikki Lorenzini

As I write this, I have my Plentyoffish.com account up. Yes, I hang my head in shame: I am using Plenty of Fish. I check it just about every other day -- that’s if I remember to check it. Recently, no one has written to me. Sure, when I first opened it back in November, I had a few takers. One I texted back and forth for a few days, the other one I chatted on Aim for a few weeks, with nothing lasting beyond that. I know of people who were able to get dates like crazy, and called this website a glorified booty call.

When I signed up, it was a spur-of-the-moment thing. It was before Thanksgiving, I was hanging out with one of my friends, and lo and behold, I had an account. I always said I would never have an account with any dating website. I laughed at people who signed up on them. I rationalized my account, though: I will do this as a trial run; if I get enough action on this but no real takers, then I actually might pay for Eharmony or the like.

As time went on, I got the typical “You’re like a goddess who fell from heaven” messages (this was actually a line from one of them). I also got the typical nothing past a “Hi, how are you,” or a message so grammatically incorrect, I couldn’t read it. I sent my fair share of messages to guys I thought seemed decent enough, but only one guy responded.

I found a co-worker, an ex, someone I used to attend church with, someone from high school, and one of my friends all on the site. It almost seemed like the Facebook of the dating world.

So far, my trial has been a bust.

I changed my profile a few times, and I’ve been trying to keep it short. I state the stuff I like, which includes but is not limited to knitting, sewing, and Phillies games. I give a somewhat general idea of the music I like (stating that: The Beatles are my favorite, and I once saw Yanni in concert. I’m not a big fan of rap or country.). But maybe this is the clincher which is keeping the guys away: I state what I would like in a guy.

Okay, seems harsh to say, right? This is what is stated: Some good Christian guy, who also believes that chivalry is not dead. I would also like a guy who is involved with their church and ministry and also plays guitar. Is it really a turn-off to know what type of guy I would want? I'm not picky as to looks or material things.

Do I hear you groaning in embarrassment for me? I mean, I am actively involved in my church, helping with several different ministries there, and I travel about 35 minutes each way to get there (even though there are churches within a 5-minute radius of where I live). Is it a problem to be that picky as to a guy that I would want? Or should I not put it out there like that?

All in all, I am not overly worried about my dating life at the moment. Being 27 and single does have its down sides. That’s why I make an effort to keep busy with friends and family and my church. As for the online dating, I think I need to find another pond.

Gambling with Welfare - Nikki Lorenzini

California has a problem that does not really surprise me: their welfare cards work in the ATMs in the casinos. Smirk as you may, this might just help perpetuate the stereotype that people on welfare squander their money. For more background on this problem, read here.

New Mexico made it impossible for people to dip into their welfare accounts via ATMs, and so has a Las Vegas ATM firm that supplies more than 1,000 U.S. casinos. A company spokeswoman said it was really easy to block such transactions. Makes me wonder why the state of California hasn’t thought to block these types of transactions.

States are starting to move towards paperless systems of providing government benefits. It seems like a good idea, right? You can track who is spending what and where. I am sure people abused the welfare system in the past with their checks, and I hope the government caught this and that is why this system was put into place. So why would the states be able to put more restrictions on debit cards now? I am sure some things would be hard to prove, but when people are possibly using their welfare money for smoking, drinking, and gambling, isn’t that an abuse of the system? And doing it where it can be tracked is an outright slap in the face.

Granted, I am sure there are plenty of people who would love to have a job and go to work. But there are some things that are luxuries and others that are necessities: food, yes; clothes, yes … but your pack of Marlboro Reds? Not really. I am sure that this is going around everywhere. I know from experience that if you use your food stamps and WIC checks, the system won’t process food that is not approved. Why didn’t the state think this one through?

Where Have All the Children Gone? - Nikki Lorenzini

Isabella Ruth Miller-Jenkins has been missing since January 1, 2010. She is from Bedford, Maryland, and since disappearing she has turned 8. This was a possible family abduction and she could be with her mother.

Jozlynn Mari Martinez is currently 2 years old and has been missing since February 22, 2010. She is from Grand Rapids, Michigan and is listed as a “non family abduction.”

These are just two of the many missing children that are listed as missing on the Website for the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children. Where I live, we get flyers in the mail that we regard as junk mail. I see them when I stand in line while waiting at the site-to-store at Wal-Mart. My question is: where are these children’s news stories at?

Currently it is Kyron Horman’s turn. Natalee Holloway has been in and out of the news for the past 5 years. Laci Peterson and her unborn child dominated airwaves and print for months back in 2005. These missing people got their share of national media coverage. Back in 2009, a Bucks County woman, Bonnie Sweeten, tried to kidnap her children and take them to Florida. This case made a big splash in the Philadelphia area. It makes me wonder how or why these cases get such national coverage while other children to missing -- are currently missing -- and there hasn’t been a peep.

About 797,500 children under 18 were reported missing within a one-year period. One child goes missing every 40 seconds. When I hear stories like this, it makes me think: Where’s the justice for these kids? Where are their nationwide news stories? There are programs like the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children, which have helped recover more than 151,000 children since 1984. But what about the remaining children that are missing? Is it because certain children are born into the “right” families who have the money or are clever enough to get on the news? Who are willing to take the time and keep on pushing the police, the news crews, etc., to keep a search going? There were about 203,000 children that were the victims of family abductions. Why would a parent not push the courts for better custody terms? To have the courts become more strict with custody?

These are probably just the questions of a naïve 27-year-old who doesn’t have any children. But my heart breaks every time I see those missing children pictures when I am in Wal-Mart and I wonder where their nationwide coverage went.

Safe Summer Fun - Nikki Lorenzini

According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, about 400 people die each year from the heat. The National Weather Service says that excessive heat was the number-one weather-related killer between 1994 and 2003 -- beating out floods, lightning, tornadoes, hurricanes, winter storms, and extreme cold.  Everyone is at risk for getting sick from the heat, but children and the elderly are most susceptible. How can you tell if you are getting sick from the heat? Nausea, dizziness, flushed/pale skin, heavy sweating, and headaches are all signs of heat illnesses. According to the Red Cross, if you are suffering from any of these illnesses, you should move to a cool place, drink cool water, and apply ice packs or cool wet cloths to your skin.

Here are some tips from the Red Cross for how to stay cool during the summer months:

- Wear light-weight, light-colored clothing. Lighter colors reflect some of the sun’s energy. Also, wear hats or use an umbrella.

- Drink lots of water! Drink constantly even if you don’t feel thirsty, and avoid drinking alcohol and caffeine, which tend to dehydrate you.

- Avoid high protein foods because they will increase metabolic heat.

- Avoid strenuous activity, but if you can’t avoid it, do it between 4 and 7 a.m., which is the coolest part of the day.

The Web site of the American Academy of Pediatrics has a list of summer safety tips. Here is a quick list.

For pool safety, make sure there is a fence at least four feet high around the whole pool, with the gate opening out from the pool that has a self-close and self-latch. Never leave children unattended in or near the pool or spa area. Large inflatable pools are usually exempt from local pool fencing requirements, but an extra fence might a good idea, since children can lean on the soft sides and fall in.

On bug safety, use of scented soaps, perfumes, or hairsprays will attract the bugs. Stagnant pools of water, uncovered foods, and gardens in bloom have a higher population of bugs. DEET is needed to prevent insect-related diseases such as ticks that can carry Lyme Disease and mosquitoes that carry West Nile Virus. Ten-percent DEET provides enough protection for about two hours. For more information on child safety, visit: http://www.aap.org/advocacy/releases/summertips.cfm  .

If you’re a sun lover, keep an eye out and use your sunscreen. SPF stand for Sun Protection Factor and it refers to the product’s ability to block the sun’s harmful rays. For example, SPF 15 allows you to be in the sun 15 times longer without being burnt. Dermatologists recommend using an SPF 15 or greater year-round for all skin types. People with fairer skin and who burn easily may want to use a higher SPF for additional protection. You will want to use a cream or lotion, because oils do not contain a sufficient amount of SPF. Also, use a broad-spectrum sunscreen that protects against UVB and UVA rays. UVA rays penetrate deeper into the skin and are the reason in premature aging and wrinkling of the skin.

Have a fun and safe summer. If you have any other summer safety tips, please comment and share the summer love!

Upload Girl, She's Been Living in an Upload World - Nikki Lorenzini

As I write this, I am logged onto Facebook. I check it in the morning before I go to work. I log on during my lunch break. I log on after work at least once. Depending if I am doing Facebook chat, I can be online anywhere from 5 minutes to an hour. I found my best friend from grade school and ended up deleting her. I had people who found me from grade school but I dont’t even remember them, and had mutual friends who tried to add me when I never met them. I immediately add people when I have just met them. It seems like everyone’s lives revolve around our Facebook accounts.

I remember when I first signed up for my account. That was approximately 6 years ago. (Yes, that long ago!) When I first logged on, I did it kind of hesitantly. I didn’t want to have one because I thought “everyone” had one. That makes me giggle now. At the time, it was only for college students, Facebook only allowed you to upload photos, and there was no chat and no applications. Facebook was the safe alternative to MySpace (remember MySpace?), which seemed always to be on the news for something along the lines of children being kidnapped.  

Now it seems that Facebook has taken over our lives. It’s on the news for its privacy settings (and when we have an oil leak that could take months to clean up). 7-11 is teaming up with Farmville, one of the more popular applications on Facebook, to promote a line of Slurpees. I heard a story about a person actually receiving a kidney transplant contact via their Facebook status update, another of people getting married after meeting on Facebook, and a father and son reconnecting on Facebook. I’ve heard of people getting fired over pictures and statuses that were posted. Companies have their fan pages to help spread word of store openings, and charitable organizations have pages to show where your money is going.  

I look back to a time before Facebook. Granted, I am only 27 years old, but I can still remember when the Internet was just starting to come into people’s homes. I remember my first AOL screen name. That was dial-up, now we have Verizon Fios. MySpace never existed, we just had creepy chat rooms where you talked to a 50-year-old pedophile without even realizing it. Sure, MySpace and Facebook are probably a step up. I just do not think that our Internet profiles really need all this attention. Are we really so bored that our lives revolve around Facebook? To get to it via on our phones, our TVs, and, oh yeah, our computers? I guess I’m not any better since I’m blogging about Facebook.

I wonder if Mark Zuckerberg thought that Facebook would be such a huge hit, that even the news would have report about privacy settings. I mean, is anything really private on the Internet?

Memorial Day - Nikki Lorenzini

Memorial Day, formerly known as Decoration Day, commemorates the men and women who died while in the service for the United States. It was enacted to honor Union solders from the Civil war and celebrated near the day of reunification after the war. The first celebration was held by former slaves at the Washington Race Course in Charleston, SC, which was used as a temporary Confederate prison camp as well as a mass grave for the soldiers from the Union army. After everything had ended, freed slaves exhumed the bodies and reburied them properly in their own graves. On May 1, 1865, after the work had been completed, the local paper reported that a crowd of about 10,000 people went to the location and held sermons, singing, and a picnic.

Memorial Day was officially proclaimed on May 5, 1868 by General John Logan. However, the first state to recognize the holiday officially was New York, in 1873. By 1890, all the northern states recognized the holiday. The South refused to take part, and honored its fallen soldiers on separate days until after World War I. It was only then that the holiday changed from honoring just those who had died in the Civil War to include soldiers who died in any war. The name Memorial Day was first used in 1882, but didn’t become common until after WWII, and was finally made official in 1967. The following year, Congress passed the Uniform Holidays Bill, which moved three holidays to the dates they now occupy, and create three-day weekends, including Washington’s Day (now Presidents Day), Veterans Day, and Memorial Day.

Traditional observances include visits to cemeteries and memorials. There is a national moment of remembrance at 3 p.m. local time, as well as the practice of flying the flag at half-staff from dawn until noon. Members of the Veterans of Foreign wars take donations for poppies before Memorial Day. The significance of the poppies is from the John McCrae poem “In Flanders Fields.” The Indianapolis 500 is the longest tradition associated with Memorial Day, dating from 1911. The National Memorial Day Concert is held on the west lawn of the U.S. Capitol and broadcast on PBS and NPR. Memorial Day marks the unofficial start to summer.

Homelessness in America 2; Doing the Numbers - Nikki Lorenzini

According to the National Law Center on Homelessness and Poverty, an average of 700,000 to 2 million people are homeless every night. Who are the people these numbers represent? According to a December 2000 report of the US conference of Mayors, 44% of the homeless are single men, 13% are single women, 36% are families with children, and 7% are unaccompanied minors. Racially, 50% are African American, 35% White, 12% Hispanic, 2% Native American, and 1% Asian.

In 1996, the National Survey of Homeless Assistance Providers and Clients did a study on the state of people who are homeless. They found that single homeless individuals that year reported an average income of $348 during a 30-day period, which is about 51% of the 1996 poverty level of $680/per month for one person. 44% of homeless people did paid work during the preceding month, and 21% received some type of income from their family and friends. 66% percent had problems with alcohol, drugs, or mental illnesses and 7% had been sexually assaulted. There were 38% who said they had had someone steal money or other things directly from them, and 30% had been homeless for more that 2 years.

There are two groups who might get lost in the mix of homelessness. One is children and families. According to America’s Second Harvest, 1 in 5 people in a soup kitchen line is a child. The U.S. Census Bureau found 1 in 5 children (more than 12 million total) living in poverty. The child poverty rate in the U.S. is higher than it is in most other industrialized nations. In 1999, there were approximately 12 million American children who were hungry or at risk of hunger, according to the US Department of Agriculture. Requests for emergency food assistance from families with children rose by 16% in 2000, the highest increase since the 1991 recession. Almost 9 million children that in working poor families.

The second group is homeless veterans. They have served in WWII, Korean War, Cold War, Vietnam War, Grenada, Panama, Lebanon, Afghanistan, and Iraq, plus the military’s anti-drug efforts in South America. Nearly half of all homeless vets served in Vietnam. Two-thirds served at least three years, and one-third in a war zone. There are an estimated 107,000 homeless vets on any given night. The nation’s homeless vets are predominantly male, with about 5% females. They mostly come from urban areas, are single, and suffer from mental illness, alcohol dependence, and/or substance abuse. Homeless veterans account for about 1/3 of the adult homeless population.

There are several factors for their homelessness, from a shortage of affordable housing, a livable income, and access to health care. A large number of at-risk and displaced vets live with the lingering side effects of post traumatic stress disorder and substance abuse, in addition to lacking a support network. According to Understanding Homeless: New Policy and Research Perspectives, most housing money is devoted to helping homeless families or homeless women with children, with not enough money to help the homeless vets.

According to a report put out by the USICH:

23% of the total homeless population are veterans
33% of the male homeless population are veterans
47% served during the Vietnam era
17% served post-Vietnam
15% served pre-Vietnam
67% served three or more years
33% were stationed in a war zone
25% have used VA homeless services
85% completed high school/GED, compared to 56% of non-veterans
89% received an honorable discharge
79% reside in central cities
16% reside in suburban areas
5% reside in rural areas
76% experience alcohol, drug, or mental health problems
46% are white males, compared to 34% of non-veterans
46% are age 45 or older, compared to 20% non-veterans

Service needs cited include:

45% in need of help finding a job
37% in need of help finding housing

I Am Here - Nikki Lorenzini

Over the next month or so, I will be doing a four part series about homelessness in America.

I know that there are many faces and stories to the homelessness that is prevalent throughout our country. Often, these faces are ignored and just brushed away as drug addicts and alcoholics. However, I know that there is more to it than just that. I am sure if we just dig a little bit deeper that we can find more stories behind the faces that we so often just brush away. Here is just one.

Homelessness: the condition of a person who lacks a fixed, regular, and adequate night-time residence.

• According to a study of the National Law Center on Homelessness and Poverty, between 2.3 and 3.5 million people experience homelessness.
• According to a 2008 US Department of Housing and Urban Development report, about 671,888 were homeless one night in January 2007.
• The areas that had the highest rates of homelessness in 2007 were: Alaska, California, Colorado, Hawaii, Idaho, Nevada, Oregon, Rhode Island, Washington state, and Washington, D.C.

I am sure if you go into any major city, you will find someone sitting on the sidewalk and panhandling. They rarely ever get paid any type of attention. They get ignored -- brushed off as drug addicts, alcoholics, losers, or lazy. Rarely do people invest in their lives.

Who can blame us for not wanting to invest in them? We do not know who we are giving out money to; we do not know how they got there. More often than not, we assume that if we give them money, the homeless will use it to get alcohol or drugs. However, there is an organization in Austin that is seeking to change how homeless people are helped.

The T3 agency and Mobile Leaves and Fishes have come together to form the “I am here” project. It focuses on one homeless man, Danny, by taking him literally off the streets. He was placed on a billboard catwalk, which is 50 feet above I-35, for 48 hours.

Danny and his wife Maggie’s story started when they moved to Austin because Danny got a job as an ironworker. That job eventually ended and they were low on money and decided to move into the Salvation Army. While their stay there, they were robbed, losing all their possessions, including their ID and what money they had left. They ended up living on the streets.

With no money, they couldn’t replace the IDs they had lost, and without ID, they couldn’t get any jobs. Without any family to reach out to for help, they were forced onto the streets. Things got worse five years ago when Maggie suffered a stroke. She has been wheelchair-bound since. They ended up living in a tent in North Austin, and their sole means of a living was panhandling.

Then Danny was temporarily located to a billboard, which was donated by the Reagan Outdoor, by the T3 agency, and by Mobile Loaves and Fishes Foundation. The billboards featured the declaration: “I am Danny. I am homeless. I am here,” along with a number to which drivers could text $10 to donate. Each text would contribute toward a home for Danny and his wife.

The house would be a park model that is offered as a part MLF’s “Habitat on Wheels” program. This billboard campaign also directs people to visit www.iamheremlf.org, in order to help other men and woman living on the streets to move into homes.

For every 1,200 texts, one mobile home can be purchased. Currently, both Danny and Maggie are both off of the streets and staying in a hotel until their home is ready for them to move into it.

Websites of interest:

http://www.mlfnow.org/site/PageServer

http://t-3.com/news/press_releases/i-am-here

http://www.good.is/post/i-am-here-billboards-against-homelessness/

Laura Bush is OK with Gay Marriage and Abortion?

Nikki Lorenzini

Recently Laura Bush did an interview with Larry King while publicizing her new book, Spoken From the Heart. During the interview she stated that she is now supports gay marriage and is pro-choice on abortion, both of which policies her husband opposed during his presidency. I think that it is ironic that she is finally coming out with her different stances now she has a new book, and not while George W. was in office.

I am really questioning whether these are her real viewpoints and instead of statements made only for publicity's sake. With her stance on gay marriage, she said, “I think that we ought to definitely look at it and debate it. I think there are a lot of people who have trouble coming to terms with that because they see marriage as traditionally between a man and a woman, but I also know that when couples are committed to each other and love each other that they ought to have the same sort of rights that everyone has.”

I feel that this topic has already been debated, has been debated since her husband has been in office, so I am not sure where she has been. My real question is: if she felt this way when W. was in in office, and if she is so passionate about it, why did she not take a stand during the 8 years she was in the White House? I might not particularly agree with Gay Marriage, but I sure do believe that people need to take a stand for what they believe in. She could have dramatically affected people’s lives if she had.

Now with her stance on abortion, I totally understand. I am not pro-choice, and I really haven’t come to terms yet with how I feel about abortions in medical situations when the lives of both mother and child are in danger. Bush said she did not want Roe v. Wade to be overturned -- "and I think it's important that it remain legal, because I think its important for people for medical reasons and other reasons."

Now, I do not know what her “other reasons” might entail. But I do know that there are two parts that came out of Roe v. Wade: That the right to abortion is determined by the stage of pregnancy, and states cannot prohibit it before viability, which is 28 weeks. The second part is where Bush is having her hang-up: the state cannot prohibit the abortion if it is necessary to preserve the life or health of the mother when used the appropriate medical judgment. Again, I am not sure why Bush couldn’t stand up for this cause when her husband was still in office.

I wonder if she knows how many people actually try to take a stand regarding this issue, and would loved for her to have taken a stand. Why should she feel like she has to sit quietly just so her husband’s policies wouldn’t have been challenged? Does she know that people mocked his decisions frequently?

Even if she did not do it publicly, I am sure she seen him daily, and could have pleaded her case behind closed doors. I just think that it is ironic that she has a point of view now that she has a book to sell.

Links of interest:

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2010/05/13/laura-bush-gay-marriage-s_n_574731.html

Goodbye

This is the last entry of American Currents. Instead of discussing politics or news headlines, we'd like to take this time to say goodbye and thank you to all of our readers.


Jeff Weiss
Last fall I decided to write a blog. Then I realized that I don't live a particularly exciting life and therefore I probably wouldn't write a particularly exciting blog. Because I keep up with current events and usually have an opinion just about everything, I thought perhaps a current events blog might be interesting. Then I thought, “Why would anyone care about my opinion on current events?” It was then that I came up with the idea of getting the opinions of several people from across the country about a different topic each day. That is when American Currents was born.

It's been a (mostly) fun six months since we first began putting together the pieces of the site. Thirteen bloggers have contributed at different times throughout the months; six of them have been around since the beginning.

So, to all who contributed their well written words and to all who took the time to read those words, I thank you!


David Loftus
Though I had doubts at the outset that this would last or go anywhere, I’m sorry to see “American Currents” come to an end. Even finding myself sweating out a quick handful of paragraphs after midnight (following a play rehearsal, say), I enjoyed it. Having to check behind the headlines and write something thoughtful nearly every night was a wonderful exercise in self-discipline -- sort of a cross between writing calisthenics and a kind of social prayer.

Having been a sometime columnist before (for a daily newspaper in a small Oregon town back in the late 1980s), I knew that a typical theme of my pieces would have to be: “it ain’t necessarily so.” Anyone who writes on a regular basis, especially on topical subjects or breaking news, will inevitably come to that refrain, because too many citizens (not to mention politicians!) rush to have an opinion -- no matter where or how they derive it -- before bothering to obtain the solid factual background on an issue.

A decent commentator should at least be sharp enough to see the holes in a developing story, if not offer a few alternative explanations for what might seem obvious … and usually does, to most people. Breaking news is too often another form of gossip, or at least an excuse for it, because it’s easier to bellyache about “those Muslims,” or “those right-wingers,” or “big government,” or “illegal immigrants,” or a thousand other boogey-men, than ponder the complex and sticky issues that truly govern our daily lives.

I don’t think I’ll be writing about breaking news on a regular basis again for a while, but if you’re interested in following my activities, watch my acting demo reel on YouTube:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xI22qjrRjN4

Read my in-depth book reviews at the California Literary Review:

http://calitreview.com/author/david_loftus

Go to the British Web site “Book Drum” to see my in-depth profiles of Ray Bradbury’s Something Wicked This Way Comes:

http://www.bookdrum.com/books/something-wicked-this-way-comes/9780575083066/index.html

and Milan Kundera’s The Unbearable Lightness of Being:

http://www.bookdrum.com/books/the-unbearable-lightness-of-being/9780060932138/index.html

Sometimes I even remember to update my own Web site:

www.david-loftus.com

Or if you want to be a Facebook Friend, drop me an e-mail and let me know how to link up with you.


Austin Lee
A Haiku:

A place to opine
On current national news
My dream had come true.


Shaun Hautly
It's sad to see a project like this come to a close. I own my own business and started it in the heat of a recession, and while it's amazing to have such freedom to start companies and projects in this country, it's also heartbreaking that no matter how noble a cause or good a product is, there's no guarantee of success. American Currents was (is?) a dedicated group of writers and thinkers who gave unique insight and reflection on hot topics in America. However, even with the drive and passion of all of us volunteers, the project did not succeed like we needed it to succeed.
It's been a fast 6 months, and a lot of pieces have been written by all of us. Sometimes under quick deadlines, and trying to balance writing with our jobs and careers. I will miss writing with these people. If you liked what I wrote and are interested in more, please check out my personal website: http://colonelshaun.com

Bye!


Nikki Lorenzini
I just want to thank everyone who came and read. Its been a great run, and I hope our paths cross again in the blog future!