What's Your Sign? Nope. Try Again.

Those who believe in astrology need to update their charts.

The ancient Babylonians based zodiac signs on the constellation the sun was "in" on the day a person was born. During the ensuing millenniums, the moon's gravitational pull has made the Earth "wobble" around its axis, creating about a one-month bump in the stars' alignment

Indeed, most horoscope readers who consider themselves Pisces are actually Aquarians. So instead of being sensitive, humane and idealistic, they actually are friendly, loyal and inventive.  Or not.

At the link, the following new alignments are offered:

Astrology buffs should be using these dates, reflecting where the stars currently are aligned:
Capricorn: Jan. 20-Feb. 16.
Aquarius: Feb. 16-March 11.
Pisces: March 11-April 18.
Aries: April 18-May 13.
Taurus: May 13-June 21.
Gemini: June 21-July 20.
Cancer: July 20-Aug. 10.
Leo: Aug. 10-Sept. 16.
Virgo: Sept. 16-Oct. 30.
Libra: Oct. 30-Nov. 23.
Scorpio: Nov. 23-29.
Ophiuchus:* Nov. 29-Dec. 17.
Sagittarius: Dec. 17-Jan. 20.

* Discarded by the Babylonians because they wanted 12 signs per year.

Link.

http://www.neatorama.com/2011/01/13/whats-your-sign-nope-try-again/

Snow, Snow, Everywhere

Is it growing warmer or it growing colder? In the US and in Europe it is hard to tell this year. As of now about 71% of the USA is covered with a layer of snow. Comparing earlier January amounts this is the highest in the last 7 years. 2010 was 56% with a low of 21% in 2006. Average snow depth has also increased proportionately in this time frame. The winters of 1976-77 and 1977-78 were the two of the coldest USA winters in recent times so we have a way to go yet. The winter of 2009—2010 in Europe was also unusually cold. Globally there were atypical snowfalls in several parts of the Northern Hemisphere. In January 2010, the northern half of Europe experienced its coldest winters since 1981—1982. The winter of 2010-2011 in Europe began with an unusually cold November caused by a cold weather cycle that started in southern Scandinavia and subsequently moved south and west over both Belgium and the Netherlands on 25 November and into the west of Scotland and North East England on 26 November. This was due to a low pressure zone in the Baltics, with a high pressure over Greenland on 24 November.

http://www.enn.com/climate/article/42226

Snow Present in 49 of the 50 U.S. States

Right now there is snow present in 49 of the 50 U.S. states:

After big snow and ice events in the Southeast, Plains, and Midwest this week, 49 out of the 50 states currently have snow on the ground – yes, even Hawaii, where snow falls in Mauna Loa and Mauna Kea all winter.

Thanks a lot, Florida. We almost had a perfect record. But you just had to go and be different, didn't ya?

Link | Photo courtesy of Google Maps

http://www.neatorama.com/2011/01/12/snow-present-in-49-of-the-50-u-s-states/

Stress : Conditions for Calmness

Try to remember some times in the past when you were totally relaxed. Maybe it was a recent vacation or a nice sunny weekend. What do these situations all have in common that might contribute to you being in a calm state? While you may have your own unique requirements, there are four common conditions that most people find contribute to calmness.

Physical Comfort
Pay attention to how your body feels and try to make it as comfortable as possible. Is your clothing comfortable? Is the temperature ok? Is your chair comfortable? Try to make changes to your environment to make yourself as comfortable as possible.

Fresh Air
Getting fresh air is a very important condition for calmness. This is one reason why the mountains or the beach are more relaxing than the city. Try opening a window to get a little fresh air.

Silence
People always try to find a quiet place to relax. As you go through your day, you are bombarded with noises. Traffic, people talking, babies crying, electronic equipment, radios and televisions all contribute to the noise pollution that can cause unnecessary stress. Eliminating noise from your daily life can help make you a calmer person. One way to do this is with noise canceling headphones or earplugs.

Stimulants
Caffeine, nicotine, sugar and other drugs all act as stimulants on the human body. You will never be able to fully relax if you are charged up with sugar and caffeine. Try switching to water, herbal tea or a diet caffeine-free soda.

http://www.braingle.com/mind/761.html?r=1101

CDCAN REPORT #010-2011: GOVERNOR WILL PROPOSE OVER $12.5 IN CUTS - OVER $750 MILLION CUTS TO DEVELOPMENTAL SERVICES; $1.7 BILLION TO MEDI-CAL; $1.5 BILLION TO CALWORKS AND MORE

To respond to this, please contact CDCAN first. The information is at the bottom of the post. Thank you all!
~Jane
------------------ FWD ------------------
Hi all,
 
If you and/or someone you know (or everyone you know!) writes a letter to the governors office and your legislators, perhaps we could at least minimize some of the cuts that are occurring to families of children with special needs.  These families are all ready struggling as there were cuts the past few years but this is getting to the point were some families are going to end up on the streets, or giving up their children as the cuts get deeper and deeper and more programs some single parents will find themselves in the position of having no one to watch their special needs child so that they can work to support their family.  As a group parents of children with special needs are loud enough to "make some noise" so lets get heard!!!
 
Dian
 
Dian Elaine Schneider
Resource Specialist
H.E.A.R.T.S. Connection FRC
3101 N. Sillect Ave., Suite 115
Bakersfield, CA  93308
661.328.9055 ext. 256
Fax -
661.328.9940 
"What lies behind us
and what lies ahead of us
is tiny compared to
what lives within us."
        -Ralph Waldo Emerson

----- Original Message -------
Staff,
This will be a difficult year. It is important that we keep our "families" informed.  Please encourage parents to write letters and contact their representatives before services are cut.  They should tell reps what these cuts will mean to their children's lives.
Susan

-----------------------
Subject: Re: CDCAN REPORT #010-2011: GOVERNOR WILL PROPOSE OVER $12.5 IN CUTS - OVER $750 MILLION CUTS TO DEVELOPMENTAL SERVICES; $1.7 BILLION TO MEDI-CAL; $1.5 BILLION TO CALWORKS AND MORE
CDCAN DISABILITY RIGHTS REPORT

#010-2011  – JANUARY 10, 2011  MONDAYCALIFORNIA DISABILITY COMMUNITY ACTION NETWORK: Advocacy Without Borders: One Community – Accountability With Action - California Disability Community Action Network Disability Rights News goes out to over 55,000 people with disabilities, mental health needs, seniors, traumatic brain & other injuries, veterans with  disabilities and mental health needs, their families, workers, community organizations, including those in Asian/Pacific Islander, Latino, African American a
To reply to this report write: MARTY OMOTO at martyomoto@rcip.com
WEBSITE: www.cdcan.us
TWITTER: www.twitter.com  - "MartyOmoto"

 

REMEMBERING THE LIFE OF TOMMY YERBY OF MORGAN HILL

         

California State Budget Crisis: GOVERNOR BROWN PROPOSES OVER $12.5 BILLION IN MASSIVE PERMANENT REDUCTIONS INCLUDING $750 MILLION CUT TO DEVELOPMENTAL SERVICE; $1.7 BILLION CUT TO MEDI-CAL, $1.5 BILLION CUT TO CALWORKS PROGRAMS

ALSO CALLS FOR VOTER APPROVAL IN JUNE SPECIAL ELECTION TO EXTEND TEMPORARY TAX HIKES FOR FIVE YEARS

Proposed Cuts Will Have Major Impact On Children & Adults with Disabilities (including Developmental), mental health needs, the blind, seniors, their families, low income workers, community organizations, facilities and workers who provide supports & services across State

 

SACRAMENTO, CALIF

  (CDCAN) [Updated 01/10/2011

  10:50 AM

  (Pacific Time)]

  -

  Governor Jerry Brown is calling for over $12.5 billion in massive permanent reductions to a wide range of state funded programs, including regional centers, In-Home Supportive Services,

CalWORKs,

Medi-Cal, SSI/SSP, mental health and more.

  

He will also propose placing on a special election ballot in June for voter approval a five year

  extension of over $8 billion in temporary tax increases set to expire this year that were enacted in February 2009 as part of the 2009-2010 State Budget passed four months early.

  

The Governor will propose this morning over $12.5 billion in spending cuts including over $750 million in cuts to developmental services (regional centers and developmental centers), $1.5 billion cuts to

CalWORKS, the state's "welfare to work" program that includes many parents and children with special needs, $1.7 billion in reductions to

Medi-Cal.

  No details were provided in the press statement.

  

In addition the Governor will propose a cut of about 8% to state employee pay.

  

In a press statement issued this morning, Governor Brown said that the spending cuts

"…will be painful, requiring sacrifice from every sector of the state, but we have no choice. For 10 years, we've had budget gimmicks and tricks that pushed us deep into debt. We must now return California to fiscal responsibility and get our state on the road to economic recovery and job growth."

 

The Governor proposed spending reductions both for the current budget now in place – referred to as "mid-year" cuts that the Legislature would need to take action on immediately in the next few weeks – and also proposed cuts and other measures to be enacted sometime during the 2011-2012 State budget year that begins July 1, 2011.

  

All of the Governor's proposals require approval of the Legislature.

 

More details when the Governor begins his press conference.

 

VERY URGENT!!!!!

PLEASE HELP CDCAN CONTINUE ITS WORK!!!
JANUARY 10, 2011  – YOUR HELP IS NEEDED

 

CDCAN

Townhall Telemeetings, reports and alerts and other activities cannot continue without your help.

To continue the CDCAN website, the CDCAN News Reports.  sent out and read by over 55,000 people and organizations, policy makers and media across California and to continue the CDCAN

Townhall Telemeetings which since December 2003 have connected thousands of people with disabilities, seniors, mental health needs, people with MS and other disorders, people with traumatic brain and other injuries to public policy makers, legislators, and issues.

 

Please send your contribution/donation (make payable to "CDCAN" or "California Disability Community Action Network):

 

CDCAN

1225 8th Street Suite 480  -  Sacramento, CA 95814
paypal on the CDCAN site is not yet working – will be soon.  

MANY, MANY THANKS TO CALIFORNIA ASSOCIATION OF ADULT DAY HEALTH CENTERS, VENTURA COUNTY AUTISM SOCIETY, RESPITE, INC., LOS ANGELES RESIDENTIAL COMMUNITY SERVING DEVELOPMENTALLY DISABLED ADULTS LARC RANCH, FEAT OF SACRAMENTO, EASTER SEALS OF SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA, EMMANUEL AND FAMILY, MICHAEL DIMMITT, PEOPLE FIRST OF SAN LUIS OBISPO, BOB BENSON, the Pacific Homecare Services, Toward Maximum Independence, Inc (TMI), Friends of Children with Special Needs, Southside Arts Center, San Francisco Bay Area Autism Society of America, Hope Services in San Jose, FEAT of Sacramento (Families for Early Autism Treatment), Sacramento Gray Panthers, Bill Wong, Tri-Counties Regional Center,  Life Steps,  Parents Helping Parents, Work Training, Foothill Autism Alliance, Arc Contra Costa, Pause4Kids, Training Toward Self Reliance, Californians for Disability Rights, Inc (CDR) including CDR chapters, CHANCE Inc, Strategies To Empower People (STEP), Harbor Regional Center,  Asian American parents groups, Resources for Independent Living and many other Independent Living Centers, several regional centers, People First chapters, IHSS workers, other self advocacy and family support groups, developmental center families, adoption assistance program families and children, and others across California.