Do you want fries with that?

First of all, I would like to apologize for my misleading title; this has nothing to do with fries.  However, it does has to do with extras, like fries.  EXTRA:  PLEASE LOOK AT NOT ALL PROTESTS ARE CREATED EQUAL.
And now for the actual post!

Junior Theme is in full swing, and thus I am utterly confused.  I went about my "Why" question as if it were sarcastic, like "Duh, Autism shouldn't be considered a childhood disorder even though it impacts people their whole lives" rather than "I'm going to answer the question 'Why is Autism considered a childhood disorder when it impacts people their whole lives.'''

So I am redirecting my research from where it has been focused the last week.  I spent a lot of time researching Autistic adults rather than the reasoning for the child-focused attention it recieves.  So now, I am researching the history and authorities during different time periods, rather than stats and facts.  So far so good; how is your research going?  Hope it's going well!

What Should I Title This? (Junior Theme Day 1)

Everyone has their "isms."  My sister has a Chloeism of picking her outfit the night before she wears it.  My dog has a Mikeism of barking at very inconvenient times.  Me?  My Glennaism is being indecisive.

This has been an ongoing problem at places like restaurants, clothing stores, and libraries.  "I like the blue one... No, no, no I don't like that one- I'll try the red.  Or maybe the green?"  Some decisions are never decided, they just hang there in my head.  Example:  Hmm, which example should I use?  There are too many to count.

This state of uncertainty may be uncomfortable, but is FAR better than actually making an important decision; buyers remorse, anxiety, and self doubt ensue.  Yet, today for the first time in a long time, that didn't happen.

Today I picked my Junior Theme general topic: Autism.  I am still deciding between "why" questions, but the fact that I actually made a decision in a timely manner is invigorating!  Maybe it is a sign or maybe the sun and moon are aligned in a certain way or something, who knows!  More likely, it is something I am genuinely interested in and know very little about.  So Curiosity overcame the long established Glennaism.  Here's hoping Curiosity comes your way, too.

8.9

Please join me when I send thoughts and prayers to those devastated by the natural disasters in Japan.  A summary of today's events can be found on the links below:

• CNN video...http://cnn.com/video/?/video/world/2011/03/11/natpkg.japan.day.of.quake.cnn 
• US Geology Survey...http://earthquake.usgs.gov/earthquakes/recenteqsww/Quakes/usc0001xgp.php

To aid in relief efforts,
...Text REDCROSS to 90999 to make a $10 donation
...Donate at redcross.org
...Donate at http://www.globalgiving.org/projects/japan-earthquake-tsunami-relief/

Thank you.

Not All Protests are Created Equal

Just to our north, in Madison, Wisconsin, public workers are protesting to protect their collective bargaining rights.  Collective bargaining is defined by Merriam-Webster as "a negotiation between an employer and labor union usually on wages, hours and working conditions."  For over two weeks, thousands of people have slept inside the state capital, standing (or laying on) their ground.  The Christian Science Monitor reports that the public servants' actions reflect most American's opinions: they want collective bargaining.  The protests themselves seem to be at a stalemate, as both sides are taking action but neither one stronger than the other.  A big problem: 14 Democratic representatives (whose presence is required to vote on the proposed bill that is being protested) are taking refuge in unknown Illinois motels.  At this point, there is no clear answer.  To hear both sides of this unresolved issue, please watch this video from CNN.

Across the ocean, a different protest wages on:  one against Libyan leader Muammar Qaddafi.  Hundreds have been killed as people rebel against his 40+ year long regime.  An interview with Qaddafi about the conflict is HERE.   Anti government protests across the country have been swift and strong, says the New York Times.  It also reports:

Colonel Qaddafi lashed out with a level of violence unseen in either of the other uprisings, but the rebels fought back and won tribal leaders and an increasing share of the military to their side, seizing the eastern half of the country.

Overall, the situation is not a good one.  People are dead in the streets and families are seeking refuge as their ears ring with the cracks of machine gun fire.  For a detailed explanation of what is going on, please watch this video.  VIEW WITH DISCRETION.

News outlets label both occurrences as "protests," but do they do so accurately?  My opinion: no they do not.  Unless they include the thousands of adjectives that separate these events, news sources do not do either bloody, peaceful, dangerous, hateful, organized, effective, national, fair, or terrifying "protest" justice.  

Protests in the streets of Libya.

Protests at the State Capitol in Madison, Wisconsin.