Monday, May 31, 2010

Proposal to Permanently Increase VUSD Class Sizes = DISSERVICE TO OUR STUDENTS & Higher Incarceration Rates

COPY OF EMAIL SENT TO VUSD BOARD MEMBERS - May 31, 2010:
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May 31, 2010

Re: Proposal to Permanently Increase Vista Unified School District (VUSD) Class Sizes = DISSERVICE TO OUR STUDENTS & Higher Incarceration Rates

Dear Honorable VUSD School Board Members:

Your proposal to permanently increase the already over-sized classes, in our District, would be a tremendous disservice to our students. The legacy of your tenure on the Board would be a marked turning-point of rapid decline in both our students’ performances, and high school graduation rates.

Education is an INVESTMENT in our society’s FUTURE – and unfortunately it is SHORT-SIGHTED thinkers who do not understand this. The educational systems in other industrialized (and long-term and forward thinking) nations, of Europe & Asia, “get it”, as should you.

KNOWLEDGE is Power. So, please take a moment, to click this link (below), and educate yourself about a study commissioned by the U.S. DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION, and other studies, from additional reputable and respected sources. Here is the link http://www.classsizematters.org/fact_sheet_on_upper_grades_CSR.pdf (please read in its entirety) and these three excerpts:

…”After controlling for student background, the only objective factor that was found to be
correlated with higher student success was class size, not school size, not teacher
qualifications, nor any other variable that the researchers could identify. What was even
more striking is that these achievement gains were more strongly linked to smaller
classes in the upper rather than the lower grades.”…

and

…”In an analysis of more than 200 school districts, researcher Harold Wenglinsky of the
Educational Testing Service concluded that for eighth graders, smaller classes were
associated with higher rates of achievement in math, as well as a much improved “school
social environment”, as measured by factors such as higher attendance and lower rates of school vandalism.”…

and

…”A national survey found that 75% of high school dropouts in the United States said that providing smaller classes with more individualized attention would have improved their likelihood of graduating from high school”…

YOU, who currently sit on the VUSD Board, will be responsible for increased High School Dropout rates, which is not just a number – but is…our future! “The Vista Unified School District had a grades 9-12 dropout rate of 23% in 2007. The national grades 9-12 dropout rate in 2007 was 4.4%.” Source: http://www.education.com/schoolfinder/us/california/district/vista-unified-school-district/#learn-more / NCES. You are tasked with significantly LOWERING this number – closing the gap – not igniting it, to increase exponentially. Ours’ is ALREADY exponentially higher than the nationwide average. A decision, by the Board to INCREASE class sizes, would quickly exacerbate this PROBLEM – therefore it is NOT an acceptable option.

Higher dropout rates would lead to an increase in INCARCERATION RATES.

The larger classes will also inherently lead to increased discipline problems, and will result in our teachers being put in the position of RIOT control.

Cause and effect, YOUR recent proposals have ALREADY negatively impacted thousands of students, here are a few examples: http://www.vistata.org/schooleventcancellations.html

Be responsible for making the VUSD newsworthy on positive merits; and not the negative ones which have found us national publicity*, over the past couple of decades.

PLEASE work as a team on BEHALF of your school district, and YOUR students, to exceed our expectations. The Districts’ achievement and success will come from you, our Board Members, thinking ‘outside the box’ to finesse this complex issue – for a positive outcome.

Thank you for your consideration, and we hope that you make an EDUCATED decision, to NOT INCREASE our already OVER-BURDENED (34-38+) CLASS SIZES.


* An example of EMBARRASING NATIONWIDE PRESS for the VUSD School Board thanks to a current VUSD School Board member (Jim Gibson’s ‘15 minutes’ of fame on TMZ): http://peaceloveandshopping.blogspot.com/2009/05/jim-gibson-of-vista-unified-school.html


Sent to VUSD Board Members:
Steve Lilly stevelilly@cox.net; stevelilly@vusd.k12.ca.us

Carol Herrera flyingnun22@aol.com

Elizabeth Jaka putkids1st@yahoo.com; ElizabethJaka@vusd.k12.ca.us

Angela Chunka angelachunka@yahoo.com; angelachunka@vusd.k12.ca.us

Jim Gibson JG@enova.us; jimgibson@vusd.k12.ca.us


cc:
North County Times – Reporter Stacy Brandt
San Diego Union-Tribune

Wednesday, February 3, 2010

New Hosting Company for PeaceLoveAndShopping.com

We are in the process of changing the web hosting company for our site - and we are GIDDY with EXCITEMENT.

As our 'old' Hosting Co., "Host Department", HAS DONE HORRIBLE THINGS TO OUR SITE, over the past 3 years. For example, when the hosting company got hacked/ sabotaged - and we had NO Site, NO SERVICE at all for a few WEEKS ! Argh ! And currently, some of our (product) photos that we uploaded years ago - have reverted (beyond our control) to the original generic default pics - which have NOTHING TO do with PeaceLoveAndShopping.com

Thank you to our customers for your patience.

We will undertake re-creating our Site anew !

In the meantime, please continue to enjoy and shop the 'old' version of our site - you can still place orders - which are SECURE THROUGH PAYPAL.


www.PeaceLoveAndShopping.com & www.CafePress.com/peaceshopping

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Wednesday, December 30, 2009

Check someone off your list today Sale Items & More - HOLIDAY EDITION ‘09 E-Zine Please pass it on…

This is the PLAIN text version of our MONTHLY newsletter / e-zine - to receive the PRETTY HTML version - with photos, etc - drop us an email: Sales@PeaceLoveAndShopping.com

PeaceLoveAndShopping.com E-zine

A Peaceful and Fun Place to Shop !

DECEMBER 2009 Holiday eDITION
Peace is getting Cooler by the day ! best viewed in html, if possible

CHECK SOMEONE OFF YOUR HOLIDAY GIFT LIST - TODAY !

New QUOTE OF THE MONTH:

There was never a good war or a bad peace. -Benjamin Franklin

What’s HOT!
Amethyst geode slice pendant… we’ve seen them in magazines and stores for HUNDREDS… silly them – get yours from us for LESS !

(only 1 available – so don’t miss out)
Please click on the photo to order!

December’s SALE ITEM
OF THE MONTH
FROM OUR CafePress Shop:
Save $5 (exp. 12/31/09)
COZY & Cute !
Click on the Photo to Order!
Sizes S - 2x ! In Pale Pink or Light Steel

It's hip. And it zips. Which means you can look great and stay toasty-warm in this soft zip-up fleece hooded sweatshirt from Hanes. And when things heat up, it slips off with quick pull on the jam resistant zipper. Side-seamed for a feminine fit.

Bibliophile Babble
’s PEACEFUL PLACE…to read (a new feature of our E-zine):

What we’re reading:

The Guinea Pig Diaries: My Life as an Experiment by A.J. Jacobs

What we’ve enjoyed & recommend:

Manhood for Amateurs: The Pleasures and Regrets of a Husband, Father, and Son by Michael Chabon.

What do YOU Recommend? If we share your book recommendation/review in our next newsletter, we’ll send you a FUN PeaceLoveAndShopping Magnet FREE (as in, REALLY REALLY FREE – NO CATCH – so, spread the word!)!
Email us your book recommendations: jackieoh@cox.net

Our Exclusive Canvas Tote –
Re-usable – FUN!
Practical Too – USE AS A
HOLIDAY GIFT BAG…that’s also a gift!

Click on the Photo to Order!

MANY MORE Great PeaceLoveAndShopping.com EXCLUSIVE items – and
HOLIDAY GIFT IDEAS…are available in our CafePress Shop

We love it when you share us with your friends!
Thanks for Spreading the Word!

The Gift Certificate
Gift Certificates AVAILABLE!
Can't decide? Let them choose

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THINK HOLIDAY GIFTS !

Featured HOLIDAY GIFT Suggestion:
The Goddess Ring

For Mom, Sis, Best Friend (or you!)

Embrace your/her inner-goddess…

FUN and comfortable – she’ll wear it everyday! A special daily reminder of the Goddess she really is.

Handcrafted in the U.S., each one has a special heart inside. Available in Sizes 6, 6.5, 7, 8, 9 & 10 (limited quantities remain in stock).

Earrings - Handcrafted In Our Studio
(One-of-a-Kind)
Peace Sign Anklet

Believe/Butterfly Sterling Silver Pendant
"Enlightenment" Necklace – One-of-a-Kind

Tree of Life – Knowledge Sterling Silver Pendant
Hanukkah begins Friday, December 11th! Beautiful and unique Judaica & Hamsa Gifts Ideas - In stock – and ready to ship ! (of course…fear not…we have 8 nights to give). Also think, Bar and Bat Mitzvah gifts.

THINK HOLIDAY GIFTS !

Amethyst & Crystal
Earrings - Handcrafted In Our Studio

Stop by our Page and become a FAN today!

A Peaceful and Fun Place to Shop !

Questions? Contact us at: sales@peaceloveandshopping.com

CHECK SOMEONE OFF YOUR HOLIDAY GIFT LIST - TODAY

Monday, November 9, 2009

Site Back Up - Yeah - Stop By - For Holiday Gift Solutions

Our Site is back up! It was temporarily down...due to technical problems with the host company (beyond our control).

Stop by - for Holiday gift giving solutions!
Unusual and one-of-a-kind
FUN gifts!

and
Payments are ALWAYS safe & secure with Paypal

Tuesday, November 3, 2009

November 09 E-Zine - NEWS About Our Site Holiday Sale & Gift Ideas

PeaceLoveAndShopping.com E-zine - This is the BLOG Edition...in plain text. To receive our HTML / PRETTY version, with photos, etc. - Pls send us an email: jackieoh@cox.net

A Peaceful and Fun Place to Shop !

Happy
Thanksgiving!
nOVEMBER 2009 eDITION
Peace is getting Cooler by the day ! best viewed in html, if possible

CHECK SOMEONE OFF YOUR HOLIDAY GIFT LIST - TODAY !
Announcements:

Upcoming Shows:

If you’re in the San Diego County Area, come and see us, in person!

Congregation Beth Am Book Fair

Sunday, 11/15 – 8:30 a.m.-1:30 p.m.
Mention this email – and receive a free gift, with your purchase!

Congregation Beth Am,
in the Social Hall
5050 Del Mar Heights Rd.
San Diego, CA 92130
New QUOTE OF THE MONTH:

Always do right -- this will gratify some and astonish the rest.
- Mark Twain

November’s SALE ITEM
OF THE MONTH
FROM OUR CafePress Shop:
Save $5 (exp. 11/30/09)

TOO CUTE! For the Baby or Baby-to-Be !

PeaceLoveAndShopping Infant Bodysuit
100% Cotton, Many Sizes to Choose From!
Avail. in 3 Colors
Click on the Photo to Order!

MANY MORE Great PeaceLoveAndShopping.com EXCLUSIVE items – and
HOLIDAY GIFT IDEAS…are available in our CafePress Shop (and NO technical problems there!)

At UCSD Campus, La Jolla, CA.
Photo by Jackie “Oh”! 10/24/09

Bibliophile Babble
PeaceLoveAndShopping.com’s PEACEFUL PLACE…to read (a new feature of our E-zine):

What we’re reading:

The Men Who Stare at Goats by Jon Ronson

What we’ve enjoyed & recommend:

Official Book Club Selection: A Memoir According to Kathy Griffin by Kathy Griffin

The Lost Art of Gratitude: An Isabel Dalhousie Novel by Alexander McCall Smith.


What do YOU Recommend? If we share your book recommendation/review in our next newsletter, we’ll send you a FUN PeaceLoveAndShopping Magnet FREE (as in, REALLY REALLY FREE – NO CATCH – so, spread the word!)!
Email us your book recommendations: jackieoh@cox.net

Our Exclusive Canvas Tote –
Re-usable – FUN!
Practical Too – USE AS A
HOLIDAY GIFT BAG…that’s also a gift!

Click on the Photo to Order!

We love it when you share us with your friends!
Thanks for Spreading the Word!


Follow us on Twitter: @PeaceShopping
http://twitter.com/PeaceShopping Send us a tweet!


Stop by our blog: http://peaceloveandshopping.blogspot.com/
If you missed our email newsletter…or can’t find it in your inbox…a plain text version (no pretty pics) is posted monthly on our blog.

The GOOD and Bad News at PeaceLoveAndShopping.com :

The bad news…our Web Host (Web Site) company seems to have abruptly gone ‘down in flames’…obviously, BEYOND our control. As a result, access to our PeaceLoveAndShopping.com site is TEMPORARILY not available.

The GOOD news… MANY of our items are also available in our EbayStore! Please visit and bookmark: http://stores.ebay.com/PeaceLoveAndShopping4u

We are making every effort to bring our site back to you, SOON! When we return, our site will likely include a dramatic & exciting facelift…and we will continue to bring you FUN and unusual treasures. Please watch your inbox…We will keep you updated!

We apologize for this inconvenience. In the short term, please shop our Ebay Store, or if you have an item in mind – that you have seen previously on our site, please drop us an email: Jackieoh@cox.net We can send you a Paypal Invoice – and get your item off to you (or a loved one) – ASAP!

If you send us an email, to Sales@PeaceLoveAndShopping.com and you don’t hear back from us, please try this email address, temporarily as a back-up: jackieoh@cox.net

Thank you for your patience and loyalty.

-Jackie Oh!
www.PeaceLoveAndShopping.com


THINK HOLIDAY GIFTS !

Featured HOLIDAY GIFT Suggestion:
One-of-a-Kind (and it’s on SALE!)

Kung Pao WOW! Necklace – No MSG!
Contemporary Chinoiserie
SAVE $ 25 !!!
Plus FREE SHIPPING!
Sale Price expires 11/30/09 (only 1 available)

Stop by our Page and become a FAN today!

Please click on the photos to order!
THINK HOLIDAY GIFTS !

Sterling Silver Thoreau Tree of Life Pendant

CLICK ON THE PHOTOS TO ORDER – HOLIDAY GIFT SOLUTIONS!


Sterling Silver LARGE Peace Sign Heart Dangle Earrings


Sterling Silver Happy Hour Earrings – One-of-a-Kind
Lightweight, FUN GIFT IDEA

HOLIDAY GIFT SOLUTIONS!

MUSIC LOVER Freshwater Pearl Sterling Silver Earrings

A Peaceful and Fun Place to Shop !

Questions? Contact us at: Jackieoh@cox.net

www.PeaceLoveAndShopping.com & www.CafePress.com/PeaceShopping

Monday, October 19, 2009

New HOT Moroccan Hamsa Judaica Imports from PeaceLoveAndShopping.com



What is a Hamsa? It's an inter-faith symbol...significant to both the Jewish & Islamic Faiths

NEW Imported from Morrocco !



NEW Sterling Enamel Moroccan Hamsa (shown above) - Sterling Silver Pendant. Incredible 3-dimensional silver and colorful enamel detail. Note the symbolic circle / spiral of life, is also featured on this dramatic and substantial pendant. Imported from Morocco – this is a very special piece. Only 1 Available. STUNNING IN PERSON!
ALSO SOOOOOOOooooo COOL !


NEW to PeaceLoveAndShopping.com Old Moroccan 100 Francs Coin Earrings (shown above) – a fusion of cultures. The 5 pointed star of the Moroccan Flag, combined with the (6 pointed) Jewish Star-of-David. We think these earrings are TOO COOL! Generous sterling silver ear wire and details. They measure approximately 1 ½” from top of ear wires, to bottom of coin.
SO UNUSUAL ! Only 1 Pair Available.