Congratulations to President Obama for getting the Health Reform Bill passed!!

So What's in it for the average American?
Reporting
Pat Kessler WASHINGTON (WCCO) ―

The Senate is now well on its way to clearing the health care reform bill before Christmas. Early Monday morning they voted to move forward toward a final vote on the bill.

The Senate plan expands health care insurance to 30 million additional Americans. It creates non-profit insurance exchanges where the uninsured could shop for the best coverage, while the government would subsidize lower-income Americans to help them buy insurance.

What's been tough about the debate is that it's been hard to know what's in the bill because it was changing every hour. Now we're beginning to see it more clearly. Both the House and Senate bills share certain items that could dramatically change American health care.

Under the proposals:

• Insurance companies cannot deny you coverage or raise your premiums if you have a pre-existing medical condition.
• They cannot drop your coverage if you have high medical bills.
• Young people can stay insured on their parents' insurance policy to age 25 or 26.
• Large companies would be required to cover their employees, or pay a fine.
• More people who are poor could get coverage through Medicaid.
• Insurance would be mandatory for almost everyone. If you are too poor to buy insurance, there would be government subsidies.

This is a huge bill with many costs. The price tag is nearly $1 trillion over 10 years, paid for through spending cuts and tax hikes.

• There's a medical device tax that could hit Minnesota's medical alley, totaling $20 billion.
• Seniors enrolled in Medicare Advantage programs, which let patients get their benefits through typically more expensive plans from private insurance companies, could lose some of those extra benefits. There wouldn't be any cuts to standard Medicare benefits, however.
• A 10 percent tax on tanning booths and a tax on cosmetic surgery.

The House bill has very restrictive language about the use of public money for abortions, which the Senate doesn't like. In turn, the Senate won't accept a public option, which is the centerpiece of the House bill.

These are differences that will have to be resolved in the reconciliation process, before a final bill is returned to both chambers of Congress for another vote.

Loves it!!!

Well..Due to the icy weather..the fam was not able to leave Abilene for our little trip to Dallas. I-20 was actually closed off! Have you ever heard of such a thing!!Let me remind you ..I am not in South Dakaota, or Minnesota..I am in Texas!!..Closed off,WoW!! Well like my favorite cousin says...such is life I guess. Anyway... While it was cold and icy outside..We were still full of love and warm hugs on the inside.

WTF.. Is this about Toni? I mean I had to rewind this lip action a couple of times out of sheer shock! Being a woman I must conclude that Mrs. Braxton, soon to be Ms. Braxton with a divorce looming after this sh@&t.. knew exactly what she was doing with Trey Songs, and further more was glad to be doing it while her Hubby was sitting front and center during the 2009 Soul Train Music Awards Yesterday. At this point, my only question I pose is to her old man.. WTF did u do that would make a sista put u on blast for the world to see? Hmmm.....

Cute Winter Booties

Juicy Couture Wheeler Wedge Bootie

Foi Bootie


I got up this morning thinking about what I would like to post on my blog, when I ran across these bad mama jammas..lol!!!! I couldn't past up the opportunity to post these cute winter ankle booties. I love them!!

Passing over the mighty Mis-sis-sippi River, while driving through Vicksburg.

By request... Here are a few length shots.. To celebrate my five year locaversary.. Yay!!

These products works wonders on natural hair. I was introduced to the root stimulator oil sheen spray through a friend .. Thank you Isaida aka "Mommy dearest". This product keeps the locs shiny, without any oily build up. Luv it!!! I found this new natural hair care product while on one of my many strolls through Wally world(aka walmart). It's called Marula natural hair and scalp oil. What I like about it is that my hair feels moisturized all day after a few mists in the morning. It doesn't hurt that it smells wonderful due to all the natural oils! These two products are a definite two thumbs up in my book:-)

Deep thinking in process, while enjoying the rays of the sun in West Texas.

It's my five year Locaversary!!!

Wow... It has been a while since I updated.. But betta late than none at all I guess.lol!! These past few months have flown by.. It's almost scary.. Seriously. But anyway I have been busy completing my first semester at Abilene Christian and just really learning to adjust.. It's all good though. I actually really love the learning process. Last month was my locaversary!! This makes five years with dreads. I use to shy away from that word.. But today I say it with Pride!! Big ups to all the natural sistas out there holding it down!. I've come up with a project for myself. I'm looking out for the baddest azz fro around in my parts of west Texas. They are kind of hard to find.. But I am sooo determined..I'm bouts to get in them trenches. Hopefully I'll have some awesome pic to post in the next few weeks.

Back to School time...again !

Just stopping for a quick rest after taking care of school stuff!

Well... Summer is officially over for my four boys and I. Today I packed all the back packs with the supplies and highlighted bus routes.This fall my oldest Yabal will be in the eighth grade,Shalam will be in the seventh, Naphtaliy will be in the third , and Yaiyr will be in the first. They all say they are ready for the new year. Let's just hope it stays that way...lol!!! Yeah.. I'm definitely going to have my hands full this year...There is a little change for me as well. I transfered this fall from a two year college, and will be attending Abilene Christian University this fall.... So being busy will be an understatement for me this year... But I'm ready to take flight... So here we go.......

This is my Aunt Lela..the last living legend from my grandmothers
generation...isn't she beautiful ?.She is like 82 years old, and looks
like she is in her fifties....if this is what old age will be like for
me... Then it will be a blessing ....for real!!

My beautiful mother and sisters; LaVonda and Katrice

The" McLarty Reunion 2009" in Saint Louis, Missouri.

Six flags pose! We all ready to get our fun on....I am in the orange
top and white shorts...

"McLarty Family Reunion 2009"

I just got back from my family reunion festivities held in Saint Louis, Missouri this past weekend. Man...We were kept extremely busy! Friday we had a meet and greet. Saturday, we posed with bugs bunny, and hit the rides at six flags. Ok.... Confession I did not ride anything ya'll..lol...I enjoyed being comfortably
on the ground but my adventrous family took care of business... Ya know? And of course no family reunion is complete without the Sunday picnic. We all had a blast and can't wait to repeat this again next year! Pictures will be posted soon.

I Loooove the beauty & versatility of Natural hair!

Just thought I'd post a few pictures of some beautiful natural hair...Healthy hair should always be a hot trend...ya know?!!

Fall Hair Trends...

This shaving the head business is NOT a easy look to pull off. While I am a fan of being natural...I'm not sure how much of this scalping I'm really feeling. However here are a few sistas really embracing the look....

My Morning Breakfast Routine!

I loooove Breakfast fruit smoothies! They are healthy, low in fat, and just plain delicious. Listed below are a few of my favorite ones. They help me stay light on my feet and mentally alert....enjoy!

cups sliced fresh peaches, nectarines, and/or apricots
1 cup fat-free milk
1 6-ounce carton peach fat-free yogurt with no-calorie sweetener; or one with real sugar if you don't mind a few extra calories.

1 cup small ice cubes or crushed ice

1. In a blender, combine fruit, milk, and yogurt. Cover and blend until smooth.

2. Gradually add ice through hole in lid, blending until almost smooth. If desired, garnish each serving with fresh fruit. Makes 4 (1-cup) servings.

Double Blue Berry Smoothies: Prepare Just Peachy Smoothies as directed through Step 2, except substitute blueberry yogurt for peach yogurt and 1-1/2 cups fresh or frozen blueberries and 1/2 cup fresh or frozen blackberries for peaches.

Double Red Berry Smoothies: Prepare Just Peachy Smoothies as directed through Step 2, except substitute strawberry yogurt for peach yogurt and 1-1/2 cups fresh or frozen sliced strawberries and 1/2 cup fresh or frozen red raspberries for peaches.

Fruit Smoothie Pops: Prepare peach, blue berry, or red berry mixtures as directed through Step 1. Omit ice. Pour mixture into 14 compartments of freezer pop molds. (Or pour into 3-ounce paper or plastic cups. Cover with foil. Make a slit in the foil of each. Add sticks.) Freeze for 4 to 6 hours or until firm. Makes 14 pops.

Prepare pops as directed; freeze for up to 1 week.

Where does the time go....

This is my future Veterinarian. He just loves to study animals of all kinds. The funny thing is..It feels like, just yesterday I was bringing him home from the hospital...now he is 11 and taller than me...

Ok...These shoes are Fierce!

I would definitely rock the Nets!


sky-high heels



platform


nets

Racial Discrimination rears its ugly head ...

I'm disgusted that I even have to blog about this mess..but this ridiculously sobering article reveals the ugly racial divide, that still flows through the hearts and minds of some people here in America. Even with an African American President being elected to the oval office,and despite the advances African American people have achieved in the fight for equality....this ish..clearly shows our work towards shattering the glass ceiling of hatred and ignorance must continue.






"White only"Pool in 2009?
by Jazznews » Thu Jul 09, 2009 4:54 pm

Jim Crow revisited...

A group of 60 campers in Philadelphia went swimming at a private pool and when the minority children got in the pool all the caucasian kids got out. The pool attendants told the black children that they didn't allow minorities there and told them to leave. The camp had paid $1900 to the swim club for the privilege of swimming there. The club suspended their membership and said they'd refund the money.

...Campers remain unsure why they're no longer welcome.

"They just kicked us out. And we were about to go. Had our swim things and everything," said camper Simer Burwell.

The explanation they got was either dishearteningly honest or poorly worded.

"There was concern that a lot of kids would change the complexion … and the atmosphere of the club," John Duesler, President of The Valley Swim Club said in a statement.

While the parents await an apology, the camp is scrambling to find a new place for the kids to beat the summer heat.

Natural Moisturizing hair recipe...

This is a natural recipe that my locks absolutely love with a passion!! It wouldn't be right if I didn't pass along this simple but wonderful recipe. Believe me ...your hair will thank you!

Jojoba Hot Oil Treament
Ingredients
2 teaspoons jojoba oil
1 teaspoon soybean oil
Directions
Combine ingredients then warm gently on low heat. Test temperature on inside of forearm. Massage mixture into hair.Wrap hair in a hot towel or cover with shower cap or plastic wrap for 15 minutes. Shampoo & rinse out. Reciped may be doubled for very long hair.

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Science fiction meets reality, kind of wild...but interesting!

This article is a bit wordy, but worth the time it takes to read it.




Atom Smasher!
By Clara Moskowi


Squarks, photinos, selectrons, neutralinos. These are just a few types of supersymmetric particles, a special brand of particle that may be created when the world's most powerful atom smasher goes online this spring.

The Large Hadron Collider (LHC) at a particle physics lab called the European Organization for Nuclear Research (CERN) in Geneva, Switzerland, will very likely change our understanding of the universe forever. The 17-mile-long underground particle accelerator will send protons flying around its circular track until they smash into each other going faster than 99 percent of the speed of light. When the particles impact, they will unleash energies similar to those in the universe shortly after the Big Bang, the theoretical beginning of time.

Scientists don't know exactly what to expect from the LHC, but they anticipate its energetic collisions will create exotic particles that physicists have so far only dreamed of.

Many researchers are hoping to see supersymmetric particles, called sparticles for short. Sparticles are predicted by supersymmetry theory, which posits that for every particle we know of, there is a sister particle that we have not yet discovered. For example, the superpartner to the electron is the selectron, the partner to the quark is the squark and the partner to the photon is the photino.

Closing in

Recently, researchers at Northeastern University have clarified what kind of sparticles the LHC might find. There are about 10,000 possibilities for the pattern of the first four lightest sparticles that might be created, said Pran Nath, a Northeastern theoretical physicist who is working on producing sparticles at the LHC. But after studying experimental astrophysical data, and the predictions of certain theoretical models, Nath and his collaborators, Daniel Feldman and Zuowei Liu, reduced the number of possible patterns down to 16.

"If these assumptions are correct, we can say in what order these sparticles will be created," Nath told SPACE.com. "So we tried to look for the signatures of these sparticles."

If the LHC produces sparticles, researchers will not be able to observe them first-hand because they will decay too quickly. The scientists can only hope to identify the signatures of supersymmetric particles by studying the jets of regular particles produced when sparticles disintegrate.

"It is important to know how the sparticles will be ordered in mass because different theories lead to different patterns," Nath said. "So this means that if we see those patterns, we may be able to extrapolate back to a theory."

The LHC will begin testing in April. It will produce the first preliminary data later this year.

Where have they gone?

When sparticles were first imagined, scientists wondered why we don't observe them in the universe now. The explanation, they think, is that sparticles are much heavier than their normal sister particles, so they have all disintegrated.

"The heavier an unstable particle is, the shorter its lifetime," Nath said. "So as soon as it is produced it begins to decay."

Creating sparticles requires an extreme amount of energy — the likes of which only existed shortly after the Big Bang, and perhaps in the LHC.

Physicists are not sure why sparticles don't have the same mass as particles, but they speculate that the symmetry could have been broken in some hidden sector of the universe that we cannot see or touch, but could only feel gravitationally.

Dark matter and strings

If supersymmetry truly exists, it could help solve a few nagging problems in physics.

For one thing, the theory may offer an explanation for dark matter — the mysterious stuff in the universe that astronomers can detect gravitationally, but not see.

"The most popular supersymmetric theories predict the existence of a stable supersymmetric particle, the neutralino," said Enrico Lunghi, a theoretical physicist at the Fermi National Accelerator Laboratory in Chicago. "This is an excellent candidate for dark matter. The problem is that we haven't seen any. It's another good reason for hoping to find supersymmetry at the LHC."

Neutralinos may be the lightest sparticles, so they might be able to exist in nature without decaying immediately.

Supersymmetry also helps resolve the fundamental problems between physics at the very small scale of particles (quantum physics) and physics at the very large scale, where Einstein's general relativity takes over.

"It's a necessary step in solving the discrepancy between the standard model [of particle physics] and gravity," Lunghi said. "It can be a very important ingredient in eventually having a theory of everything."

Additionally, if supersymmetry is proven correct, it could offer a boost to string theory, which includes the concept of supersymmetry. However, supersymmetry could still exist even if string theory is wrong.

"Supersymmetry can exist with or without string theory," Nath said, "but it would be very encouraging for string theory if sparticles are observed. If they don't find any sparticles then it's not good news for supersymmetry or string theory."

Unproven

Some scientists are skeptical about whether supersymmetry exists and whether LHC will be able to prove it.

"Supersymmetry is a very beautiful idea," said Alvaro de Rujula, a theoretical physicist at CERN, "but it's hard for me to believe that it is not only true in nature but exists at this energy. It may be true but inaccessible to this machine."

Even if the LHC produced sparticles, de Rujula said, it would only create a few of them and the signatures could be difficult to identify.

"People will jump to conclusions, but it won't be so easy to tell if they are really supersymmetric," he said. "It may take some luck to have a convincing case for supersymmetry at the LHC."

For many physicists, the possibility of not finding what they are looking for is exciting, too.

"It's better when we are wrong than when we are right," de Rujula said. "Things are really interesting when we don't understand them. That's a good position for a scientist."

Mobile blogging...

I am laughing at myself right now...trying to remember all my passwords...I need to come up with a system quicklike..lol!! If you have any suggestions...hit me up!

Independence Day...

These days...the beauty of independence...takes on a new idea for me. Independence is defined as meaning freedom from subjection to the influence or control of others. What I now understand..... is that being free to express oneself physically, mentally, and emotionally,( in a postive way of course) is crucial to the growth of the mind, body and soul. Oppression of others...wheather it be people or animals through uses of force may work for a momment...but it is not lasting, and further more you may not like the reactions of that oppressed individual once they have been released...lol! So..to make a long story short...I ...for one...salute the ideology of freedom!

A new Start..

I have decided to try out the blogging world. I love to write...so hopefully this whole shift will come naturally for me. This blog is likely to cover any and all topics ...in my lovely ...but sometimes wacky life.This week I will be looking into joining a dance class... Can't wait!!!