H mouths off at the HuffPost

HuffPost Style

Ouch!

Kristi Noem Dismisses Her HuffPost Hottest Freshman Title As "Unfortunate"

www.huffingtonpost.com

Well, this is unfortunate. It appears that Huffington Post's newest "Hottest Freshman," Representative Kristi Noem (R-SD), is not elated by the accolade.

2 hours ago ·  ·  · Share

• 2 people like this.
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    H: I"m sick of female politicians being referred to as "hot." I'm no fan of Palin but a "MILF?" With Noem, once again a woman's value is reduced to her sexuality.

    about an hour ago · 
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    HuffPost Style It has nothing to do with being female. The last "Hottest Freshman" was Rep. Aaron Schock, a man.

    about an hour ago · 
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    H: You can say it has nothing to do with being female but I think it is different for a female. When a man is called "hot" it is a light joke, a badge of sorts. When a woman, in power, is referred to as "hot" it is demeaning of her intelligence and accomplishments, sometimes even an powerless threat.
    
    Perhaps this is simply my POV, but girls and women are expected to be everything these days and often only accepted for one thing.

    2 seconds ago · 

LTR to PBS kids re: Sesame Street & Etc.

Hello PBS Kids,
I wrote the following letter to KUER-TV Salt Lake City, and I thought I'd send it to you as well. "It would be great if Sesame Street was on at other times of the day, perhaps later in the morning? 4:00/6:00 a.m is a wee bit early for my 5 year old. She is in kindergarten when it is on on KBYU. She is home today and the first thing she asked is if she could watch Sesame Street. An aside: she is deaf and so much of PBS's children's programing is animated and doesn't really help her learn to read lips or even listen. We need more real people teaching experiencing real things. Flying dragons, talking dogs and stuffed hyper-active dinosaur costumes don't help. Usually the TV is off, which is perhaps the best thing for her. I really miss the older, less frantic Electric Company (we own the DVDs), the warm and gentle Mr. Rogers and of course the steady and enlightening Reading Rainbow." Why is almost 100% of PBS's programing un-real, using animation or fantastic situations (space travel, time travel, talking animals, super-hero children). We cast our votes for future programing that is simple, attractive, kind, smart, gentle and entertaining, created by and cast with real people. Thanks for listening. Hailey

FB is for Forget'bout Bedtime.

Sorry to read you won't be there...but a mum of six (??is this right??) needs her R&R. Enjoy!

Hailey  October 22 at 8:53pm

Thanks for the info. Cool that you've kept up with Hamlin kin. I only have five... you sound like my dad, he always says "How many do you have now? Ten?"

Melissa October 22 at 8:55pm

I was on the Alumnae Board for a couple years....very fun actually. Five--I am so jealous!

HaileyOctober 22 at 8:13pm

Do you live in SF?

Growing up I knew a lot of older women who had 1 or 2 children and told me they regretted they didn't have more. That left an impression on me. The only person I knew with more than 3 was Paula Mc. who I thought was a bone fide automaton nut. 5 is often more work than I realized it would be, especially since I'm kinda a lazy loner. (Lazy when it comes to housework. It depresses me.) Things are clearing out though, this is a pivotal year. S (oldest, 17) is a senior in HS and M (youngest, 5) is in kindergarten. They are cool, sweet kids. My husband is one of 10-12 (2 died at birth). He would have been fine with 2. His parents ARE nutters and didn't ever master the parenting thing. He says they followed the squid model, very "hands" off. He wants to be a penguin.

THE LETTER: to Oprah re: Rona

One day Rona said, "HAILEY! YOU need to write to OPRAH about this class!" I agreed. She went on to compliment me in all sorts of ways, which I appreciated, but only raised the bar a few feet, her specialty. Letter writing is easier said than done. Now my first ever letter to OPRAH! is done. Voila:

Oprah talks about how dreary exercise is...that is because she hasn't been to Rona's spin class yet. Simply put: The WORLD'S GREATEST SPIN CLASS is at the 800 North Gold's Gym in Orem, Utah -- Oprah should come & join in the fun!

Every Monday, Wednesday & Friday at 9:15 a.m. (sharp!) the party begins. The lights are low, the fans are on and the music on the stereo is sped up. Hip-hop, Rock, Funk & the latest pop music, is Loud! Rona is already talking about the latest celebrity gossip and news.

Rona's personal style is stunning: big blond hair, flashy nails, tight colorful clothes, big smile, LOUD voice. Her teaching style is Brutal. She has us Spriiiiiiint!, clap, yell, lean to the left/right, dip, wave, scissor kick, arrow down, jump, imagine all sorts of cycling scenarios & sweat like mad.

There is really no easy way out of that class and yet a group of regulars comes every week. We have become friends and call each other by the nicknames Rona doles out, Taz, Peanut Butter, Cinderella for example. The group is a mix of people who want to loose weight (most have, Rona used to weigh over 220), competitive athletes, college students, stressed professionals and stressed out mothers. People come almost an hour early to reserve a bike. One woman never missed a class throughout her pregnancy, with twins!

Recently Rona hosted a party for 2 favorite regulars, for their 55th birthdays! There were balloons, treats, gifts and silly party hats in class. There are parties for Halloween (with costumes) and Christmas (with gifts). The best fete was probably for Rona's surprise birthday, complete with disco balls, special gifts, gourmet cupcakes & singing. The room is regularly decorated with random seasonal decor, lights and a rogue glittered gnome.

I never miss a class & although my legs & butt are hard as rock, I go for my mind. I am a happier, healthier, calmer & better person for attending Rona's class.

Looking forward to hearing from you!

Kudos for KSL!!!

Thanks to everyone who told me about this story on KSL-5. The Cedar City family's plight is exactly the same as ours. Now that my computer is back on my desk I finally am able to look up the story. Here is the link:
http://www.ksl.com/index.php?nid=148&sid=5047066

The following is my comment:
Thank you KSL for covering this story!

My son Nathan also needs a second implant. We fought the fight with SelectMed as well. (They are indeed SELECTive.) On the day of the final appeal the Let Them Hear attorney flew in from CA, we had a journalist there, I showed a video and had a brief presentation... it took 11 months to get to that point and then, surprise surprise, my phone rang as we were driving out of the parking lot and we were told that just that day they had changed their policy regarding cochlear implants. Nathan was 5 at the time and was so happy! He, and his sister, were born with a condition that caused their hearing to deteriorate. Their hearing issue is our family's only major health issue.

The 11 months cost him the ability to differentiate many sounds and his speech is very affected. During that time he was angry, destructive and very lonely. His is still frustrated and often isolates himself. He spends a lot of time with books.

As small business owners our insurance rates went up and up as our coverage went down. It was especially frustrating for us since we didn't qualify for medicaid and would have to completely deplete our savings, and borrow money, at the time we were told it would cost us $80,000 for one implant. Time was also of the essence since people learn to speak/hear best in early childhood. Hearing, in general, is an invisible and discriminated disability. The hearing aids ($2000 each) and batteries really add up. When we appealed for hearing aid coverage, for our infant, we were told they are cosmetic.

Another issue in Utah is the Utah Schools for the Deaf and Blind. KSL please visit the Utah County preschool facilities. 25 year old, broken, NOISY trailers. Please chat with the entrenched, retrogressive administration. Ask about the USDB's budget and especially about weak services for the lucky Utah children who have implants, especially compared with other states' programs.

Thanks for listening!

E is for Ettiquette OR L is for Late OR T is for Tardy Thanks.

That's kinda a Rocky & Bullwinkle title. This post is not about new furniture or cute clothes... just cleaning up and posting so that I can remember what I said/did. ---> BORING for most.

In May 07 I went to SF and visited 2 schools for deaf children: The Auditory Oral School of San Francisco. (Man, I wish I could dot that "i" with a heart!) at 1234 Divisidero, 94115 and also the Jean Wiengarten Peninsula Oral School for the Deaf in Redwood City
I have finally written those thank you notes. Late is better than never. Here it is, each modified slightly:
Hello ML & KS, Hello JC,
It was a pleasure to tour your program in May 2007 (!) I have wanted to write since to say thank you for sharing your insight, experiences and inspiration. I have also wanted to write something grans and glorious about progress in Utah. Things are progressing and your examples are making a difference -- so without waiting another day [or getting detrailed by a cancelled house tour, IEP mtgs, traveling to SLC for speech, dealing with USDB, job changes, 5 children...] I want to write and tell you: THANK YOU!

The foundation that I started (Journey to Hear, to help deaf/HH children in Utah County) with 2 other mothers has been stalled for a variety of reasons. One mother moved to Logan (2 1/2 hours North) to join Karl White's new program [Sound Beginnings].

Recently we decided to pull our daughter (4) out of Utah Schools for the Deaf and Blind, hoping she will make more progress in a regular (hearing) pre-school rather than in the fractured USDB program. These decisions are hard to make and life interrupts...

Thank you again for taking time to talk with me, letting me tour your facilities, watch your enthusiastic teachers and especially for sharing your experience with me.
Sincerely,
H

LTR: S is for Slimy televison.

A neighbor and I were talking about Swingtown's trailer and how sick it made us feel. She said she wanted to write a letter, (I joked that I am developing a talent in that field.) I also mentioned that I saw an article in Newsweek about Swingtown.

Tonight C and I were discussing all sorts of things about the Gospel and having the light and then denying it. We worry about our children. After a while I broke into the chocolate chips and headed into my studio where the Newsweek from June 9, 2008 greeted me. Folded back with a few post-its/letter ideas stuck to the article. I googled CBS television and this is what I wrote:
.....................................................................................
A while ago I saw the trailer, during the day, for Swingtown. It made me ill. Is this a show about relationships between people or how to destroy individuals, let alone families? Is this the best CBS can do, or simply the lowest you can get?

There is a lot more to write about regarding what is on television... sanitized prostitution, sexualized children, revealing clothing, objectifying women, "authentic" deception, homosexuality as natural. Why not a show on shepherds and their sheep? CBS could advertise it as biblical!

Swingtown is one more example of why I don't watch much television or many movies. It is easy to resist because that kind of pervasive, smelly slime just brings me down and desensitizes me to what is good, beautiful in this life. Also, I really don't want television's prurient slime around my children, husband or in my home.

Thanks for listening.

L is for the Letter of the day, to USDB.

It probably doesn't come as a surprise that I write letters ... everyone does these days with emails and general bigmouthedness. This is my letter of today. Last week my letter was to the legislators about supporting an appropriation that would help USDB. Last Friday night there was a meeting with the Karl White (Sound Beginnings) and Tim Smith (USDB) camps. USDB came off as defensive, petty and they lied about several things. The situation is pretty ... pretty sickening.

The following is a letter I wrote and yet did not send. USDB, the staff, administration, teachers do NOT listen and do NOT want to change or improve their program. To quote the superintendent, "We have the best program there is. And until I see proof of a better program we're not changing." What a visionary; how progressive. By the way, USDB, in 1990, won an award from the AG Bell Association for best public deaf program. 18 years ago?! In any field that is a long time ago, in deaf education that is antebellum, even before the CI revolution!

This letter sounds fairly pleasant and yet ... C and I wonder how it would be received. Not very well, probably defensively. Never forgetting they have THE best program out there.

Hello L [M's (dedicated) teacher at USDB],
What size will the Valentine book [M needs to bring pictures of things she loves] be? I thought I'd cut/choose the pictures to fit the book. Also, several of my friends make books. All sorts of art books and simple heirloom/keepsake books. They have taught me and I'd be happy to show you, or Nichole, samples or instructions.

Also, I would love to talk with you (or anyone at USDB, Marilyn, Kim) about Karl White's proposal, what you thought of the meeting on Friday night. What do you think the future of USDB is? Would that be productive? I think the parents' perspective is very different from the school's.

I loved the comment from the father, if someone wants to help improve USDB why not accept the help? I have felt this same way with USDB and getting a new facility for the pre-school (with Journey to Hear); I've met one road block after another. I admire the way Dr. White looks at situations and figures a way around them. I don't want to put you on the defensive, I am not "venting," to use your term, just saying USDB is in a position to benefit from Dr. White.

Thanks for listening, [Yeah, right.]
Hailey