by Roxanne -

True Cost of Gun Ownership

Michael Olenick’s post The Lesson of Newtown – Time to Charge for the True Cost of Gun Ownership (posted on NakedCapitalism) offers a pragmatic solution to the “gun rights or violence” dilemma. Olenick writes,

Rather than parsing the Second Amendment one more time there is an easier approach, one typically favored by conservative gun owners for other public policy issues: end cost-shifting. Force those who chose to own guns to bear the full cost of the mayhem their hobby unleashes. Ending the gun subsidies will eventually end the gun violence.

Olenick notes that,

This solution does not violate the Second Amendment: people are still free to own all the guns they want; they just have to pay full freight for the cost of guns to society.

Further he explains how his solution also leverages the right-wing’s propensity for use taxes:

Right-wing politicians seem to have equal zeal for taxation based on use and against cost-shifting, so it will be interesting to hear them defend why non gun owners should subsidize the massive cost of widespread gun ownership. I can’t wait to hear the Tea Baggers explain why the cost of open gun ownership should be externalized to the families of the slain children, those who survived, and all the other terrorized first graders, teachers, and parents in the country.

I realize that to many people their guns are precious. Guess what: I think my first-grade daughter is precious too. . . I know it’s brazen but I’m even willing to say our kids are a hell of a lot more precious than your guns.

Read all of his post here. The fact is that ethically, all rights are not created equal. Our right to life, safe schools, safe homes and safe neighborhoods trumps others’ right to own weapons.  Gun ownership violates these basic human rights – at a huge cost to our society. Gun owners should bear this cost.

You may also like Myth of Objective Reporting and Are Women Human?

by Roxanne -

Fast & Easy Holiday Decor

With the holidays upon us — I thought I would revisit this post from last year reminding me that there is alternative way to spend my time, resources and effort. We always have a choice.

If doing this seems like waaaaay too much time $$$ and effort, especially . . .

FrugalFarmhouseDesign

. . . when you’d rather be doing this –

HouseOfBliss

Then maybe it’s time for something new. Try a few of these simpler, easier ways to let your house know it’s holiday time, while still giving you time to actually enjoy the season.

Easier on your time and budget.

Easier on the environment.

Use this idea on any shelf, mantle or table, with pumpkins or ornaments

Griege

How about this?

Country Living
HouseOfBliss
FunLane.com
AptTherapy Evergreen Alternative

Or most simply

CelebratingMyHome

Decorating and set up – 5 minutes. Relaxing and enjoying – all month long.

Happy decorating!

You may also like Autumn at Botanical Gardens,  Christmas Dinner is Served and Don’t Worry – Be Happy.

by Roxanne -

Thankful Giving

This year celebrate a day of giving thankfully in a way that brings life, joy and happiness to you. For you, if that means being with family or friends you enjoy being with – wonderful.

But if this means a big, meat-heavy dinner with high fat and carbs, drinking or watching endless sports on TV – or worse, being with people you don’t enjoy – then do something different. Give thanks in a way that suits you.

  • Go walking in the woods – with a friend.
  • If the weather is warmer where you are, pack a sandwich, have a picnic.
  • Listen to music. Dance to it.
  • Drink hot chocolate or make yourself a pumpkin pie smoothie.
  • Light a fire in your fireplace or light candles.
  • Take the money you would have spent on Thanksgiving and drop a few grocery store gift cards at your local food shelf. Do it before Thanksgiving.
  • Learn more about hunger and what we can do to end it here.
  • Recognize that too much of what we have was was taken from others and was never really ours. Our wealth comes down through the generations, in part from a land grab from indigenous peoples along with the unpaid labor from more than 6 million people enslaved by whites. This transfer of wealth continues today. Read about it here and here.
  • Read a novel. Journal. Listen to the wind.
  • Cultivate gratefulness.
  • Cultivate solitude.
  • Listen.

With deep gratitude – Roxanne

by Roxanne -

Slim and Slimming Wardrobe

Always on the quest to simplify my life, I’ve been working with a smaller, easier wardrobe for some time.

Last year, traveling to and from Chicago – while studying for my doctorate – I learned to live with a 10-piece wardrobe. This worked quite well and the decisions I used to pare down to just ten pieces worked surprisingly well for the rest of my wardrobe:

  • Remove whole categories of clothing. For example, I no longer wear dresses, skirts or high heels. This also eliminates hosiery, slips and most shape-wear.
  • I eliminated blazers, high-loft tops (mohair sweaters, chunky knits) and hip length tops which add pounds.
  • Anything that shines, has sequins or shimmers adds pounds. That’s out.
  • Instead low-hip or thigh length cardigans and blouses can work as jackets over shirts and tank tops. Longer tops also create a long, flattering line over skinny pants and jeans.
  • Basics like a white shirt, denim shirt, black and white slacks and a gray cardigan go a long way. Think about what pieces are the “basics” in your own wardrobe.
  • Shorts and utility pants with zippers add pounds. Forget that! Stay with lighter weight, longer pants for warm days.
  • Clear, bright colors are flattering on me as are grays, taupes and browns. But pastels and olive-toned colors don’t work very well for me. Editing to one color intensity range immediately minimizes what is in my wardrobe – and insures that what I have can be mixed and matched through the seasons. It makes shopping easier too.
  • I don’t carry a purse or bag. This cleared out an entire shelf in my closet along with the expense.
  • Wear flattering, comfortable jeans in darker colors that don’t require belts. Another accessory gone. Darker jeans can work for casual looks but can be dressed up too. One pair of white slim-legged jeans adds variety.
  • Use scarves as jewelry. They add updated color and textures inexpensively. When traveling scarves can be used as shawls, sarongs and even purses.
  • No dry cleaning. Too many chemicals and another expense I don’t need.
  • No ironing. Machine wash fits my lifestyle and my suitcase. Besides, you can get beautiful, luxury-feeling fabrics that are machine washable. Even merino wool and silks are now machine washable. Who wants to spend time ironing?
  • Footwear consists of 3 pairs of shoes and a pair each of slippers, boots and sandals. I wear Earth shoes because they make my back and legs feel great when standing for long periods of time while teaching.
  • A water-proof, hooded raincoat and a wool car-length coat serve as outerwear year ’round.
  • Shop sales in January and July. Frequent local consignment stores. Classic styles on basics and quality fabrics will still be in fashion the following season.

This smaller, more flattering wardrobe frees up my resources and my time for more important things in my life. I’ll continue to pare back and make changes as I go. What about you? What works for you?

You may also like Simple Wardrobe and Richness of Simplicity.

by Roxanne -

Robama or Obomney? Wrong Question!

The question is not which candidate is better, Obama or Romney? Both are equally horrific and have amply demonstrated their inability to govern for the common good.

The question is “When are citizens of this nation going to demand campaign finance reform and term limit reform so that Big Oil and Big Finance don’t hijack both candidates (with Biggest Donations) for their own SPECIAL INTERESTS? Or stated another way, “When will we be tired of government controlled by an elite oligarchy?”

Why aren’t we asking this fundamental question and working to answer it?

Meanwhile, support the Occupy Movement (voice of the 99% – the rest of us) and vote with your dollars; buy Fair Trade products, local products, environmentally friendly products. Finally, continue to learn more.

You may also like Patriarchy is Violent and Luck or Privilege?