Real Reform NOW!

Sustainable agriculture, organic, the "good guys"

Self-regulation of a billion dollar industry simply does not work. Given that caveat, I am upset that industry labels at large cannot be trusted, which is why I continue to shop with small businesses like organic South River Miso who have an eco-certified digital footprint (Twitter, YouTube Channel, Facebook, and website). For 3 decades I have watched their eco-footprint, applauded their wise land management and production, and continue to support them.

But unfortunately, billion dollar business cannot be trusted with self-regulation, as this most recent and shocking informations shows. Enter the bad guys--because they lie with their labels. From the Campaign for Safe Cosmetics:

Did you hear the news? On Tuesday, California’s Department of Toxic Substances revealed that a variety of nail polishes contain high levels of hazardous chemicals despite product labels claiming otherwise. These chemicals, dibutyl phthalate and toluene, have been linked to birth defects, asthma and other chronic health conditions.

Labels shouldn’t lie, and whether you’re a nail salon worker or taking your daughter out for a mani-pedi, you should be able to trust that the products you’re using are safe.

This is yet another example of industry self-regulation gone wrong—tell Congress it’s time to fix our broken cosmetics laws now!

The good news: Congress is finally paying attention. Last month the House held the first hearing on cosmetics safety in 30 years and is considering updating our 70 year old cosmetics laws.

The bad news: The big cosmetics companies are pushing hard and spending big to keep the broken status quo in place—and we need your help to push back! Help us tell Congress, enough is enough! We need real reform now! Our message is simple: Any new laws must get rid of the worst chemicals in cosmetics that can cause cancer or reproductive harm. They must also require companies to be transparent and honest about what’s in their products and they must include a strong safety standard to make sure decisions about ingredient safety protect the most vulnerable populations – babies, children, pregnant women and workers. New laws must also ensure that states, like California, keep their right to regulate toxic chemicals to protect people’s health.

P.S. We’re a lean, mean, grassroots-powered machine but are in the midst of a David and Goliath battle in DC--can you chip in $10 today to help us push back against the cosmetics industry’s multi-million dollar campaign to stop real reform in its tracks?

Check out the video that began the campaign. AND check out their YouTube Channel. Game changer, I promise you. Not to overwhelm you, but your cleaning products are toxic too, likely. But that's another post.

ONE INGREDIENT--ARGON OIL! GET SMART!

So here's the skinny. Make safe choices. In a tight economy, it might be hard to send $10 to a watchdog organization that works to make cosmetics safe. But you can make wise choices and choose to use cosmetics that ARE safe. I recommend Josie Maron's 100% pure Argon Oil; been using it for half a year and look younger than ever. Get over the industry's hype about oil; whether you have oily skin or acne, the oil works to balance, smooth, and improve your skin's overall texture. Begin simply and start throwing out the toxins you spread on your largest organ--your skin.

Related articles

• Countdown to Chemo with South River Miso (beatingbackcancer.blogspot.com)
• The Prez's Cancer Panel Weighs in on Cosmetic Safety (bellasugar.com)
• Regulation Station: Are New FDA Cosmetics Laws on the Horizon? (bellasugar.com)
• New Study: "Nontoxic" Nail Polish Contains Toxic Chemicals (treehugger.com)
• Cosmetics Regulation: Which Side Are You On? (bellasugar.com)
• The Latest Cosmetics Scandal: Toxic Nail Polish (ecowatch.org)
• The Campaign for Safe Cosmetics, news from the front lines (trilliumorganics.wordpress.com)
• Beauty Byte: Consumer Group Questions Carcinogenic Chemicals in Johnson & Johnson Products (bellasugar.com)
• Keep an eye on this... (greenviewplace.wordpress.com)
• Ask the Energy and Commerce Health Subcommittee to stand up for our health by Campaign for Safe Cosmetics (socialactions.net)

Cancer Biology Playlist

Krause's EdTech/Tutorials Playlist

Dianne Butler Krause is one amazing tech savvy instructional coach adept in technology integration. When I was perusing her educational wiki, I learned that you could create a playlist on YouTube. Of course, I should have know that already, but I am newer to YouTube, despite its ubiquity. I messaged Dianne to discover how she created this effect, and her answer was a playlist. However, the same interface is not available today.

Click right or left arrows to navigate playlist

There are many ways to aggregate videos, like VodPod, Vimeo, and similar Web 2.0 tools, but a playlist on YouTube for YT videos is easy beezy, so I tried it, and I like it, but with one caveat. To access the list of related videos, you need to click the arrows on the right or left side to navigate to the list.

Here's my current playlist for Cancer Biology. Over time it will grow, and I welcome your suggestions for additions.

Related articles

• CancerQuest: Cancer Biology (beatingbackcancer.blogspot.com)

I'm Too Busy To Have Cancer!

Really. Truly.

So busy I forgot I even had it--for months.

When teachers at school kept asking me how I was, I didn't make the cancer connection. Even when they asked, "Really" to my "Wonderful-- never been better," I didn't tumble.

Sounds unbelievable, but it's true. I just don't see myself as someone with cancer. This is not escapism, denial, or any other ditzy thing. I just plain forgot about it.

School is busier and better than ever; I absolutely love my classes--I have the best students and cannot remember when I have enjoyed a year more, without exception. Even with the building construction, I have been so fortunate. I'm back in my favorite room, but leaving it for a mid-year relocation to my new permanent room, and it's a beauty. Large enough for my classes to do Project and Challenge-Based Learning in comfort. We are moving to a block schedule, reminding me of my days as the Lucy B. Moses Teaching Fellow, tutoring college juniors in Middle English and Chaucer on the block. With a robust school website, Moodle to organize my students' lessons, and Sapphire, a new student management system, and a great Professional Learning Community for PD, well, I am truly blessed and definitely very happy.

Gold Is Where You Find It

Life on the farm seems almost a blur; a new dog, a new cria, a new automatic Jug Waterer system and a frost-free pump. Can life even possibly get any better. Think not. The GALA Conference ~ The Magic of Llamas is approaching, with a committee luncheon meeting tomorrow followed by a gala dinner for my best friend whose birthday I forgot (gulp...guilty). Tonight dinner from scratch for friends I haven't seen in months of being busy.

At the heart of cancer is a mindset, I suspect. And much luck. Since my last cancer visit early this summer to the Perelman Center for Advanced Medicine, I have, quite honestly, forgotten I have cancer. Not that I was trying; just that I did.

And perhaps that's a good thing. I have been to busy living even to contemplate life's slowing down. I still lift heavy hay bales, still clean 4.5 acres of pastures, still get up at 4:30 AM to do my keeper of the farm thing, then drive 45 minutes to school, where I cannot wait to meet and learn and teach with my students.

When I arrive home, I repeat the feeding/cleaning process, take Allie for a long hour's walk/run, do the dinner thing, grade online...and try to get 8 hours sleep.

See, I told you I was too busy to have cancer.

A Big Birthday

About a week ago, I saw a commercial from the American Cancer Society. It's simple message, paraphrased: if you have cancer, every birthday is big. And nothing could be more true. Despite your diagnosis, cancer is the variable in your life. You never know what the next day, week, month will bring. You live with unpredictability inside a predictable prognosis. Cancer causes me to live differently, with more intensity that I have known in the past, and I can be pretty intense. Still, just in case my clock is ticking, I bought 2 new llamas and they arrive on June 28. Nothing wrong with growing my herd more quickly and living inside these wonderful moments.

Wonderful moments begin with friends. What's life without sharing it. My friend, colleague, and almost a daughter, Jennifer Brinson, created my first ever birthday party at school with my friends. It was a total surprise, and I loved every minute of it. Growing up with a summer birthday, I never had an in-school party. Once in grade school, my parents wanted to have one before school ended, but they were not allowed. Do we not always want what we cannot have. At last, I had my first school birthday party, one day early on the last day of school because my "daughter" arranged it. It was a perfect birthday, a big birthday, I want to thank the behind-the-scenes people who also made it special but wish to remain unnamed. If you are reading this, you know who you are and how much I appreciate you. Many thanks and happy returns of the day.

If you had told me I would spend the day at CLIU at their Teaching and Learning in Today's World: Lessons from the Field workshops--and I would love the day--well, I would not have thought so. Yet again, Jen made this birthday celebration perfect with her special signature of total thoughtfulness. I am really blessed with my friends, and if any of my Facebook friends who have sent me oodles of messages read this post, thank you so much for your thoughts and well wishes. You mean so much to me.

Related articles by Zemanta

• Cancer Schmancer: Three Years Old and More Determined Than Ever (healthcare.change.org)
• Cancer Cheerleaders at Work (beatingbackcancer.blogspot.com)

American Cancer Society
Cancer
Birthdays
Jennifer Brinson