Hazing Can Be Very Harmful

Hazing is a nationwide issue that has received a vast amount of publicity within the last few years. This controversial issue is common among many sports teams and college bodies, and it is not something that should be overlooked.

Hazing is harmful in so many ways. It can long-term mental health problems, and it can even be deadly in some cases.  Recently, colleges have been cracking down on the epidemic. Hazing is not just among students, it's even recognized as an issue among adults.

Some people don't even know they're being hazed. If you know someone or are involved in any of these situations, stand up to the hazers and report it to a higher authority. Hazing is illegal and if you or anyone involved in it can face a serious punishment. College students have been expelled and in some cases they have been arrested for the acts they were involved in.

Here's examples of very serious hazing methods everyone should be aware of:

Physical Abuse

This is most common among sororities and fraternities. Although, it is common among sports teams as well. Scenarios in Greek life include being paddled or punched and kicked while the new members are helpless. In sports it can involve rookie athletes being put up against much older and stronger athletes. For instance in the sport of football, a rookie may have to take a few hits from bigger teammates. These events can physically injure someone and in some cases result in death.

Emotional Abuse

Emotional abuse can cause anyone long-term distress. Another common practice in sororities is insulting the new members by picking out their physical flaws. Other initiation methods include getting naked or being forced to dress up in degrading clothing. This is grounds for bullying and harassment. In any moment you notice someone getting harassed in the workplace, outside the classroom, or on a sports team, you should immediately report it.

Extra Work

No matter who you are, you should never be forced to do someone's work, unless a higher authority assigns it. It can be a task as small as gathering all the equipment after practice because you are the rookie. Or it can be doing all the chores in the Greek house, and doing everyone's homework. Again, these can cause unnecessary stress and put you behind with your own workload. Stand up for yourself in the event your feel you are being hazed.

Maggie Lawrence lived away from home during her undergrad education. While she never faced hazing issues, her college consistently cracked down on the epidemic. Currently she is researching a new educational experience by taking online classes. One of the programs she has researched is the Pepperdine MBA Online Program.

I've Got Such a Sweet Son!

Spam commenters are really irritating, but one good thing about all those irritating comments is that I'm reminded of old posts I had completely forgotten about.  Here's one from April 2007:

I took the boy to school this evening so he could go on the band trip to Boston. They had to be there at 5:00, but then had a lot of waiting around and checking of luggage and stuff before they could actually leave. I decided I might as well hang out with him, since he is going to be gone for 5 days. While we were waiting around, he repeatedly hugged me. I think maybe he was trying to make up for all the hugs he's going to miss, though he is a regular hugger. There was a time several years ago when I told him that he was always going to hug me, and he was going to like it. I thought I had to mention that because people told me that kids grow up and don't want to hug their moms anymore - especially in front of their friends. I guess I didn't have to worry about that, he never gets tired of hugs. One time today he was hugging me and turned to his friend and said, "This is my mom. I'm hugging her, and I'm not ashamed of it. So there." What a goofball! You've gotta love the kid.

One last hug, and he climbed aboard the big bus for Boston.

Everybody say, "Awwww."  I really do have a sweet son, and he still likes to hug his mom - even now that he's a junior in college.  He just gets to do it a little less often because he doesn't get to see me very much.

We Do Like Our Deck, But

We always planned to have a raised paver patio with a pergola, but when it was time to put in the patio, there was the possibility we'd be moving (even then), and a deck was easier for the guys to build.  So we got a deck, and we love our deck.  I've been looking at all the steps involved with installing a paver patio, and I see why building the deck was the smart idea.  First there's the preparation - excavation, setting the grade, compacting.  Then a base of crushed stone needs to be laid followed by sand to make a nice base for the patio pavers,which then have to be careful arranged in the pattern you want, all the while paying strict attention to the alignment of the rows and the straightness of the joint lines.  And that's not even the end of it.  There are more steps to getting that perfect patio.

Umm, yeah.  Sounds like putting in a paver patio is a job for the experts.  They guys at System Pavers have been laying stones for 20 years, and they know what they're doing.  To back it up, they offer a 30-day satisfaction guarantee or you money back and a 25-year guarantee on their installations and pavers.  If within Twenty Five Years of the completion of the work, the workmanship of the installation fails to conform to their installation quality specifications or there is a defect in the product, they will, at their election, repair or replace the products.  The stones are guaranteed not to break or crack.

The interlocking paving stones from System Pavers come with over 50 colors, shapes, and sizes to choose from, making it easy for people to find and express their own styles.  Looking at the pictures on the website, I'm seeing lots to love.  Sure, we really love our deck, but those paver patios are awesome!  Absolutely gorgeous.  Seriously, be sure to look through the images in the gallery.

Maybe we'll get a paver patio with our next house?  So many of the available houses have nothing but a tiny concrete patio, so we'll definitely have to do something.  Why not call System Pavers and see what they can do?  It's definitely worth checking into.

How about you?  Are you thinking about putting in a paver patio or driveway?  Just fill out the form on the website to request a free in-home consultation with a design specialist and see what System Pavers can do for you.

Pray They Love It

Somebody is coming to look at our house tomorrow.  Pray they love it and want to buy it.

I spent the day straightening up and cleaning around here so that everything looks great.  Not that it looks all that bad normally, and we've spent time getting all kinds of extra stuff cleared out.  Still, I live here, and I tend to stack my papers, books, and all the other stuff I'm supposed to be working on right next to me on the couch or on the floor where they're easily accessible.  Mail comes in and gets stacked on the table.  The kitchen gets cluttered and filled with dirty dishes from cooking.  Laundry gets hung to dry. Etc., etc...

Today I cleared out all of that- except for these movies here next to me that need to go downstairs with the rest of the movies.  I dusted the furniture, swept and vacuumed the floors, wiped down bathroom sinks, cleaned the kitchen sink, and just generally cleaned and straightened the whole house. 

Now that I've done all that, what I need you to do is pray that the people who come to look at it love it.  (I mean, why wouldn't they?)  Maybe they want a deck on their next house, and we've got a really nice one.  To go with our really nice move-in-ready house.

Review: Chris Mann Roads

A year ago Chris Mann was nervously awaiting his audition for reality show The Voice.  This year he releases his debut album Roads with Faircraft/Universal Republic, a new label formed by renowned producer/music executive Ron Fair.

When I was offered the chance to preview this CD, I jumped at the chance - not because I'd ever heard of Chris Mann, but because of his picture on the album cover.  (Is that wrong?  I mean, he is nice to look at.)  But besides that, I enjoy discovering new music and new artists.

Now that I've listened to the CD through, twice so far, I can say that Chris Mann's voice is absolutely amazing!  They say you can't judge a book by its cover (or a CD by its), and that's true - this CD is way better than anything I could have imagined.  Chris Mann describes his style as classically based pop music.  Yeah, that's it.  He takes some familiar songs like Lady Antebellum's Need You Now and Willie Nelson's Always on My Mind, and gives them a deeper, richer feel.  I like it.  A lot.

There are some new songs on this album, two of them co-written by Mann, and a re-imagining of the Frank Sinatra standard My Way.  It's an eclectic group of songs that somehow fit together well.  Right now I think my favorite track is Unless You Mean It.  Don't ask me why.  I can't really put it into words, but I can see a reality show crossover.  This would be a perfect song for Dancing With the Stars.  It would be a very hot dance.

For more information on Chris Mann and his music, be sure to visit the official Chris Mann page. I learned that I may just have seen Chris Mann before, just not on The Voice.  He worked on Glee for a while and appeared as a member of the Warblers.  That wasn't what Chris was born to do - this was what he was born to do, and he does it very very well!

Roads will be available in stores and online October 30, 2012 - that's tomorrow for those of you who are paying attention. Be sure to grab your copy either in one of those stores or on iTunes or Amazon. You'll be glad you did!

Disclosure: I was provided with a copy of the album by One2One Network, and I am eligible for a prize drawing. All opinions stated are my own.

How to Warm Up on a Cold Day

Yesterday it was in the 70s.  Today it was 31° when I got up. Talk about a major temperature drop!  It did get up to 48° today, and I did turn the heat on before I went to bed last night, because they were talking about wind chills in the 20s this morning.  Wind chills!  I think winter is on the way...

Here are some ways to warm up on a cold day, without turning the heat up, which can get really expensive.

1. Bake something.  The heat from the oven will warm up your kitchen, and you'll have some yummy baked goods, too.
2. Wash dishes.  You know there are always dirty dishes - especially after you just baked - so warm up by getting your hands into a sink full of warm sudsy water.
3. Curl up on the couch with a blanket and a good book.  Who said you have to accomplish anything?
4. Curl up on the couch with a warm cozy cat. Or a computer.  Or both.
5. Exercise.  There's nothing like getting your body moving and your blood pumping to warm you up.  Even running up and down the stairs a few times will do it.
6. Drink a hot cup of coffee or tea.  It will warm you up from the inside.
7. And the most basic of all - dress appropriately!  Put on some socks and a sweatshirt. It's winter.  You're not supposed to be able to run around the house in shorts and a tank top.

I'm sure there are plenty more tips for getting warm and staying warm on a cold day.  Let me know your favorite ones.

I Should Drink More Wine

A while back I wrote a review for a wine rack I got from CSN Stores (now Wayfair).  I really liked the wine rack, but we didn't really have enough wine to put in it.  It was pretty empty with just a couple bottles of wine in it.

Well, guess what - it's now completely full, and we have even more wine that won't fit.  What happened was that I signed up for a wine club.  I thought it would be a good way to try different wines - especially since my main criteria for choosing wine seems to be whether or not it has a cool label.  They offered a nice introductory shipment that included 15 bottles of various wines for a very decent price. Then, every three months, I could get a new shipment of 12 various wines.  I think I went ahead and got 2 more shipments - one of them because I forgot it was time for a shipment until Fed Ex showed up at my door.  Of course, I didn't refuse it, because this is some good wine. 

However, I really don't end up drinking enough wine to justify being in this or any other Wine Clubs. What we have now will last us a good long time, which is why I had to cancel my club membership.  I can, should we ever actually drink all this wine, still order more wine from the company.  Or maybe find another wine club that doesn't give me quite so much wine!

Do You Know How to Sell Online?

I can build some basic web pages, usually starting with a template I like and then tweaking the HTML to make it do what I want and look the way I want.  I was really thrilled when I discovered CSS because I could do so many more things.  Did I ever tell you that part of the reason I started blogging was that I wanted to play with the blog design?  It wasn't that I actually had something I wanted to say!  Of course, I end up saying a lot more than I play with the design...

Anyway, mostly I've done personal web pages and web pages for our church, and I've done a few pages for some organizations.  Mostly it's all volunteer because I enjoy doing it, but that also means it isn't always at the top of my priority list.  I get to it when I get to it.  It's always fun to learn something new, though - like the time somebody wanted me to include a form on our webpage so people could register online.  I'd never done anything with a form before, but I pulled out my HTML book, and I figured out how to create a form.  Now, of course, Google makes it simple enough that anybody can do it.

One thing I've never learned anything about or had an opportunity to mess with (and there are lots, really) is shopping cart software.  Not having any kind of business where I'm trying to sell something, I've never had to learn how to sell online. I've never even sold anything on eBay - which is a different thing altogether, I know.  I really should do some research, because I've had a couple people ask me if I knew anything about it, and I've had to tell them no.  I can make their web pages look pretty, but I don't know how to make sure they can get the products to the customers.  Which is kind of the reason they want a web page in the first place...

Any suggestions for what works best?  From what little research I've done, it looks like there are several options out there.  The trick is in finding the right plan and then being able to try it.  I don't know if they all do it, but this one at 1ShoppingCart lets you try it free for 4 weeks with no risk.  Of course I'm not going to try it unless I have something to sell, or somebody who wants to be able to sell online, but it's good to know the option is there should somebody ask again.

At Least It's Green (Sort Of)

I mowed the yard today, for what should be the last time this season.  75° in October, and I mowed in shorts and a t-shirt!  It was good to have a reason to get outside and enjoy the weather.

Back Yard

The yard does look better now.  At least the back yard looks pretty good.  It's nice and green.

The front?  Well, at least it's mostly green.  Or partly green.  The summer was so dry and hot that the grass went all brown and dormant.  Then when we started getting some rain, weeds started growing where the grass should have been.  The grass started growing, too, just not as quickly.  A lot of times mowing just meant chopping down the tall weeds and rogue grasses scattered through the yard - and it's practically impossible to see where you've been and where you still need to go.  I usually end up mowing over the same places just because I can't see.  I know I do.  If I could actually mow in a straight line, that might help.

Right now some of the weeds that first took over the yard - and were at least green - have turned brown and dead, and there is a bit of grass coming through.  Maybe there's some hope.  I'm sure there's something we should be doing to take care of it, get it ready for winter, and encourage the grass to come back, but I have no idea what.  I just mow.  And comfort myself with the knowledge that we're not alone in this.  Other yards in the neighborhood are in the same shape.

And while I'm mowing I'm also thinking maybe those smaller lots in Champaign won't be all that bad.  Instead of taking an hour or an hour and a half to mow the entire yard - depending how many times I stop to get a drink, blow my nose, or clean out my shoes - I might be able to mow in half an hour.  Or 45 minutes.  Of course, I won't get as much exercise doing it.

Dress Appropriately for the Weather

I changed the sheets today.  I did not put the flannel sheets on.  Thankfully it's not quite time for flannel sheets or electric blankets.  It's supposed to be 70° this week!  I even slept with the window open last night, and I'm planning to leave it open at least for the next couple nights.  I don't even care if it gets a little chilly!  (though it's not supposed to)

That's right - I really don't mind getting a little chilly when it's a natural chilly - as opposed to paying to be cold by running the air conditioner.  If it's actually supposed to be chilly, I can live with that.  Then it's time for those flannel sheets - and sweatshirts and socks.  I love fall weather and wearing warmer clothes.  The problem is when it's summertime, and I'm wearing summer clothes like shorts and tank tops and sundresses, and I don't think I should have to bundle up.  So I only turn the air on when I absolutely have to - like when it's in the 90's with high humidity for several days straight, or when the rest of the family complains too much.

A typical home air conditioning unit. (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

I did learn this summer that it's important to run the air conditioning at least once in a while, whether we need it or not.  The first time we turned it on this summer, it would not work.  Apparently, the motor froze up because we don't use it enough.  Thankfully we have a neighbor who worked for a company that specializes in heating and air conditioning systems, and he came down and checked it out for us.  He was able to get it going that night and then get a new part and fix it for us for a reasonable price.  That really helped us out and helped our neighbor out a bit, too.  It was a very hot summer, so even I appreciated it - and that's saying a lot!

I don't know if you've seen the commercial where the man in jeans and a flannel shirt is fighting with himself, trying to keep himself from turning the thermostat down?  He's too hot - obviously, since he's not dressed appropriately for summer - and he wants to turn the air conditioning colder.  Instead of putting some summer clothes on!  The commercial is trying to sell some kind of air conditioning system that would allow this guy to cool his rooms down so he isn't all sweaty in his flannel and jeans.  I think the point really is - dress appropriately for the weather, and you don't have to cool your house to the point of refrigeration in the summer, and you won't have to turn the heat up so much in the winter.  Just a few degrees either way can make a huge difference on your power bill.  Also, I don't think I'd dislike air conditioning so much if stores, restaurants and other public places would adjust the temperature so that it's comfortable for people who are dressed appropriately for the outside weather.