An Open Letter to Matt and Melissa Graves, I am so Deeply Sorry for the Loss of your Son Lane

My heart is breaking, and I cannot stop crying.  I do not know you, Matt and Melissa Graves, I was never blessed to meet your sweet boy Lane, but I was up all night thinking about you and your family.  I have never laid eyes on you- but I cried -uncontrollably as if you were a close friend or family hearing the news that your precious angel was ripped from your family by a predator.  As I sat on my couch last night watching CNN in the background facing the devastating back to back tragedies this week in Orlando- the young talented and up and coming singer from the Voice Christina Grimmie killed after a concert at the Plaza Live Friday night. The gunman killed himself after shooting her. Then the devastating tragedy when early Sunday, a gunman killed 49 people and injured more than 50 others at the Pulse nightclub- and I listened to each of the survivors ask why them, and each of their families speak about their sons and daughters, brothers and sisters, loves- taken because of hate, intolerance, and plain evil. Then- wallowing in the sadness of humanity your story came on.  A family, just like mine- set to vacation at "the Happiest Place on Earth" Disney World with your family.  I imagine myself there, in your shoes... waking up early exploring the Disney Parks which is always a long day of fun and excitement for the whole family.  I picture you there tired, relaxing by the lake with your precious family.  I imagine my daughter Brooklyn, who is also two- and how happy she would have been after seeing Mickey and friends, and the joy she has playing in the water. I imagine the content feeling you have as a family being together, cherishing these memories- a lifetime dream of every child- and a joy to so many around the world... and then I imagine the horror that unfolds next- and I cannot breathe.

I cannot see what you saw, I cannot feel the fear and horror your family experienced.... but I cannot get the image replaying in my imagination out of my head.  I cannot imagine the next few hours sitting in your hotel room- replaying every single moment of "what ifs" and what you would do over if you could rewind time...but, you can't.   I shared your story on my facebook page and wept as I tossed and turned and could not find the ability to sleep thinking of you and your torment- thinking of your precious baby boy- and thinking of my own children and what would I do if I was in your shoes.

I woke up today, to see most people, like myself were in horror and empathetically sending prayers to your family...I was saddened, shocked, and frankly, irate to see how people chastised you on social media- saying "if only you would have watched your kids".  As if they are perfect, as if they have never made a mistake, as if they had never wished they could turn back time.  I was not there, I do not know your story or all of the details, I can't help but go through every scenario in my head- having multiples - trying to comfort one, watching the other, trying to relax after an exciting and tiring day, trying to get a "terrible two" to listen, ... I can't even go to the bathroom without walking back to the walls being colored, maybe you were trying to get them out of the water; or maybe you had the innocent presumption You were right there next to your child- watching them-so everything would be fine, but it wasn't.

People point to the signs that were posted (none mentioning risk of alligators- just warnings not to swim).  Honestly, if I myself was at a 5 star resort in Disney World- I would think only that the signs were there to prevent drowning without a lifeguard present, or avoid liability of law suits-- I myself might have gotten in the water after a hot day in the Floridian Sun, or thought, "we are right here, watching them, what could go wrong?" Media says it is the first time it has ever happened there. Maybe that makes me ignorant, or naive- but no one could have predicted that.  For the people who sit on their high thrones of couch perfection - an outsider looking into your life, and your family - with a magnifying glass casting judgement- YOU are the perfect parents, with perfect children, and YOU have never made a mistake...doubtable, but sure if you want to believe that... but for the rest of us- who are not "perfect" I certainly being one of them - we ALL make mistakes and some are silly things we can look back and laugh on and others- such as this are not so fortunate, and you have to pay the ultimate tragic price. Kicking you when you're down is not only unnecessary, it's cruel- and those people -they do not speak for the rest of us- I am SO SORRY and you're  NOT alone.     I don't even know if you saw the sign, I don't even know if that matters- you cannot change anything, although I am certain you desperately wish you could.

I understand they recovered Lane- and you will now have to go through laying your two year old son to rest, explaining to your older children he will not be coming home.  You will never see him get married, you will never see him graduate from HS and College, you will never see him realize his dreams- all the things that you plan on and imagine the day they place your child in your arms after being born.  You lost your baby boy, just as the parents of those who lost their 49 innocent children.    This has been a devastating week for Orlando, for the United States, and for each of you and your families.  I wish I could turn back time, I wish I could undo this hurt and pain you feel, I wish I could bring your baby boy back- and all of the recent victims. Nothing any of us say or do can bring them back.  I send you- all of you- my deepest condolences, I send you my prayers, I send you my hope for peace.

Why Cisco got it right, and Yahoo got it Wrong! (My 2 cents)

As the modern workforce continues to evolve and globalize, more and more companies are evaluating a telecommuting strategy to save costs and lower carbon emissions as well as to retain top talent.  I am very proud to work for Cisco a company who paves the way to create new technology and "Changes the way we live work, play and learn" and creates technology that helps improve productivity, reduce costs and pave the future and embracing the culture of telecommuting.  It was shocking to me to see Yahoo taking a huge step back on this front:  the new policy will not only forbid occasional telecommuters from utilizing their home offices, but those who currently have arrangements to work at home regularly will now, according to Mayer, be expected to make the trek into the office each day. And the company is not expecting to extend leniency to those who might have just cause to stay at home. One news report via Web site AllThingsD.com, stated that Yahoo “employees who work from home must comply without exception or quit.”

I believe this is an approach to a bigger issue an unspoken but highly identifiable problem: yahoo is stagnant in the technology world. In the end,  if yahoo fails, people will point to the end of telecommuting as one of the justifications. If yahoo succeeds, people will point to this decision as a major driver of success. Either way it has nothing to do with the effectiveness of telecommuting.  The companies mission and focus is the TRUE issue, yet this decision is causing a chasm of outrage and support on both sides. Regina Ciardello of SMB Magazine spoke out in her most recent article stating, "As someone who makes a living via working out of her home office, I was honestly appalled by this decision. I voiced my displeasure on my Facebook page, sharing an article on this subject in which I stated: “This is bad for business, bad for morale, and promotes an unhealthy work-life balance.”


So has Yahoo!'s battle been all rosy?  Let's look at their history- Yahoo! grew rapidly throughout the 1990s. Like many search engines and web directories, Yahoo! added a web portal. It also made many high-profile acquisitions. Its stock price skyrocketed during the dot-com bubble, Yahoo! stocks closing at an all-time high of $118.75 a share on January 3, 2000. However, after the dot-com bubble burst, it reached a post-bubble low of $4.05 on September 26, 2001.  In the years that followed things steadily went down hill.  The company struggled through 2008, with several large layoffs.

 In February 2008, Microsoft Corporation made an unwanted bid to acquire Yahoo! for USD $44.6 billion. Yahoo! formally rejected the bid, claiming that it "substantially undervalues" the company and was not in the interest of its shareholders. Three years later, Yahoo! had a market capitalization of USD $22.24 billion.  Carol Bartz replaced Yang as CEO in January 2009.In September 2011, she was removed from her position at Yahoo! by the company's chairman Roy Bostock, and CFO Tim Morse was named as Interim CEO of the company. In early 2012, after the appointment of Scott Thompson as CEO, rumors began to spread about even more looming layoffs. Several key executives, such as Chief Product Officer Blake Irving left.  On April 4, 2012, Yahoo! announced a cut of 2,000 jobs or about 14 percent of its 14,100 workers. The cut is expected to save around $375 million annually after the layoffs are completed at end of 2012.  In an email sent to employees in April 2012, Thompson reiterated his view that customers should come first at Yahoo! He also completely reorganized the company... but by  May 13, 2012, Yahoo! issued a press release stating that Thompson was no longer with the company, and would immediately be replaced on an interim basis by Ross Levinsohn, recently appointed head of Yahoo!'s new Media group.  On February 24, 2013, Yahoo! sent a memo to their employees asking that all employees, including those who work at home, work in Yahoo! offices starting June 2013. In the memo, "Yahoo! claims to be taking these steps in order to improve communication and collaboration efforts amongst their own employees" [Wikepedia], but the question remains, are they truly taking a look at their position in the market and the real issues at hand?




Business Insider had a FANTASTIC presentation which depicted the future of work place, and "the death of the office as we know it".  I am lucky to long be a part of a company who not only utilizes these techniques, but helps to create it.  Every company has a bell curve of employees, although many wonderful, there are always a few bad apples.  These poor employee can lurk in a cubicle or in their home... it is my opinion, coming to an office does not make you committed.  I personally am committed regardless of my location, as many of my colleagues and customers are as well.  Those who are dedicated can be so regardless of their location.  I have personal bias, as I worked in one of our biggest Cisco campus offices for 8 years, before I moved to work remotely and telecommute for the past year.  Upon recent reviews with my manager and his compliments in regards to his views and my customer's annual review I realize that if you are passionate and dedicated then it should not and will not matter where you are, and your level of productivity will be 100%.  My customers work all over the United States, the cost of flying to see them would be unparalleled, yet I am readily available to be their direct liaison to our customer day or night (or late night) as needed.  Utilizing the very tools we have helped to build, partner or acquire from Web Ex to Telepresence, IP Telephony to e-mails care of our Routing and Switching, right down to my Linksys wireless router and everything in between.  Many of my clients do not know where I work, many don't even know I moved unless we mention it in conversation, and those who do know, do not care because my level of relationship support has not faltered.  I feel my work life balance has improved, and my productivity has been enhanced due to my ability to not take time away commuting and things of that nature.  But, don't take my word for it, let's look at some studies and facts.

Flexibility:  Due to  the nature of some jobs, such as retail cashiers or airline pilots, telecommuting might never be an option for them, but for many positions, technology has made this work style a viable alternative and sometimes even a preferred way of doing business. "Teleworking is best suited to jobs that are information-based, predictable, portable or that demand a high degree of privacy and concentration," said Marcia G. Rhodes, the spokeswoman for World at Work, an international human resources company.  New tools and employer tech support have made it convenient for employees to stay in touch with their managers and colleagues, and customers through calls, instant messaging or video conferencing. Customer service representatives might be able to take calls from home or a coffee shop just as easily as they can from an office. Lawyers can review patent contracts from home using a secure server system. Even doctors are using technology to help them diagnose patients remotely, and thus save lives.

Time:  Technological advancements have made it easier for people to connect across vast distances, making face-to-face meetings less necessary -- or at least less frequently required. If you don't have to drive to see your colleagues or your clients, you can dramatically reduce your time spent in the car, leaving additional time for work or personal tasks creating a better work-life balance.  According to a 2003 Bureau of Transportation survey, the average commuter spends about 26 minutes on a one-way trip to work, and a majority of commuters drive their personal vehicles [source: U.S. Department of Transportation]. That means that commuters, on average, spend about 52 minutes or nearly an hour a day in the car traveling to work and back home. This means that the average American spends more than 100 hours commuting to work each year, longer than the standard two weeks of vacation given to most employees [source: U.S. Census Bureau: Facts & Features].

Go Green:  In addition telecommuting helps the environment:   According to the U.S Environmental Protection Agency: Climate- not using your car for just two days a week can reduce greenhouse gas emissions by about 1,600 pounds (725 kilograms) per year.  In 2008, Cisco teleworkers prevented approximately 47,320 metric tons of greenhouse gas emissions from being released into the environment due to avoided travel.  The average distance for round-trip commutes varied among global regions: employees in U.S. and Canada reported on average a 30-mile round-trip commute; Asia Pacific employees cited a distance of about 14 miles; Japanese employees cited a 26-mile commute; employees in emerging markets commute an average of 16 miles; and European employees reported a 46-mile commute.  Cisco employees report a fuel cost savings of $10.3 million per year due to telecommuting.

Save Money:  Not commuting to work helps the environment along with saving you time, but it can also save you money. While the money that you save will vary depending on your commute, you can calculate your relative savings easily. Just take the average price per gallon of gas, your car's average miles per gallon and then your daily commute distance. For example if you own a 2009 Honda Accord that gets about 24 miles per gallon with combined city and highway driving, and your average weekly commute is about 50 miles, then you could save several hundred dollars a year on gas alone [source: Fueleconomy.gov].
Not having to drive your car to work on a daily basis can help you save money in other ways, too. For example, you likely won't have the number of miles of wear-and-tear on your car. You might also save on parking expenses. Additionally, you might not spend as much on clothing or dry cleaning; and instead of going out to eat, you even might eat lunch more frugally from your own kitchen, and have healthier options to boot!

Saves your Company Money:  The potential for increased employee productivity would a plus for many because employees who telecommute are not in the office as often as regular employees, thus companies might be able to scale back its office space, which could reduce the company's rental expenses  These smaller spaces may also come with lower utility bills. In addition to office space, telecommuters probably don't use as many of the free perks that companies offer in-house. Many offices offer free coffee, tea and even snacks for employees in the office. These costs might be able to be reduced because a fewer number of employees would be taking advantage of them [Wilsker].  Benefiting a company's financial situation can mean more stability for the business and for its employees.

Relocation and Retention:  As aforementioned increased productivity and savings can benefit both the company and the individual, however so does the possibility for an employee to relocate while keeping his/her current job. For example, let's say an employee's spouse's job is transferred to a city across the country (As was my case). The employee may thoroughly enjoy working for his/her current employer, but for family/personal reasons must move to the new location. A company that offers telecommuting might be able to retain this seasoned and productive employee working for them. This situation offers benefits for both the employee, who still has a job, along with the employer, who doesn't have to train a new employee and retains possibly the best person for the position.  On the other hand, however, this also means that employers might be more likely to look outside of their geographic region for new employees.  You can hire and acquire better people that more fit what you are looking for if a commute is not an issue, thus widening your hiring pool.

Reduce Stress:  The problems with a physical commute, such as getting stuck in traffic, can be a huge stress for people.  Telecommuting can have stress-lowering implications for employees. For many people, the hardest part of their work day is getting to and from the office, this can allow those employees to commute fewer days in the week, lowering stress. According to a study sponsored by Hewlett Packard in the United Kingdom, participants' heart rates and blood pressure levels rose to levels higher than those of experienced fighter pilots going into combat during their daily commutes [Hewlett Packard].

Flexibility in Schedule:  Flexibility in work schedule can allow an employee to hone in on the best work time for him/her and his/her clients. This could mean starting a little earlier, perhaps the hour you would have spent stuck in traffic in your car. For those that are morning people, this might be your most productive or creative time of the day. This can also be a benefit for those that have many clients in different time zones [Rhodes].  Additionally, a flexible work arrangement could also allow employees to take advantage of doing errands during off-times when others might be in the office. Going to the bank at 10 a.m. could save an employee time and stress. An employee might also do this with exercising. If your optimum exercise time is 3 p.m., you can take a jog then and work later to make up for that time [Gordon], and yet come back to work more productive and focused than ever.  There are numerous studies which prove the benefits of exercise and corporate exercise.  According to a British Research Study six out of 10 workers said their time management skills, mental performance and ability to meet deadlines improved on days when they exercised. The amount of the overall performance boost was about 15 percent, according to the findings, which were presented this month at a meeting of the American College of Sports Medicine in Nashville, Tenn.  "The people who exercised went home feeling more satisfied with their day," says study author Jim McKenna, a professor of physical activity and health at Leeds Metropolitan University in the U.K.


Boosts Productivity:  Many employees feel that they could be more productive outside of the office -- away from distractions such as that "chatty cathy" cubicle colleague or the social aspect of the office. "The one reason that is most surprising is that employees want to do this (telecommute) because they are frustrated by how difficult it is to do their work in the office," according to the Wilsker survey.

Taking away the distractions can make people more productive, but holding employees more accountable for their productivity can also have an effect. Wilsker notes that "even though employees may be present in the office in front of their computers, there is no way of knowing whether they are actually working". According to a 2005 study, employees who accessed the Internet at work reported spending about 3.4 hours per week accessing non-work related sites [source: Websense].  Since many telecommuting jobs do not revolve around the time spent, but instead how much you can produce for the company, it could make employees more efficient with their time. "I find that people are more productive because they are task-oriented, not time-oriented and think that 'I need to get my job done,'" Wilsker said.

For many companies it can affect their bottom line.  Per Cisco case study in June 2009 titled " Cisco Study Finds Telecommuting Significantly Increases Employee Productivity, Work-Life Flexibility and Job Satisfaction".  Cisco conducted the survey in late 2008 to evaluate a number of telecommuting topics, including commuting patterns, technology barriers, work quality and productivity, environmental impacts, and advantages and disadvantages of the flexible lifestyle, as well as overall employee satisfaction.

1,992 Cisco employees across five regions (Asia Pacific, emerging markets, European markets, Japan and U.S./Canada) participated in the study.  The summary of that survey is Cisco is achieving new levels of efficiency and effectiveness by enabling people to work together no matter where they are located. In fact, according to Cisco's Internet Business Services Group, the company's global strategic consulting arm, the company has generated an estimated annual savings of $277 million in productivity by allowing employees to telecommute and telework. In addition, with the steady adoption of enterprise-class remote connectivity solutions like Cisco® Virtual Office, the recently announced Cisco OfficeExtend, and virtual collaboration tools like Cisco WebExTM, Cisco anticipates that employees and employers will continue to see a rise in the benefits associated with telecommuting.


Cisco's Next-Generation Workforce

• Cisco employees spend about 63 percent of their time communicating and collaborating.
• 40 percent of Cisco employees say they are not located in the same city as their manager.
• The average Cisco employee now telecommutes 2.0 days per week. 
• 60 percent of the time saved by telecommuting is spent working and 40 percent is spent on personal time.

Productivity and Collaboration

• Approximately 69 percent of the employees surveyed cited higher productivity when working remote, and 75 percent of those surveyed said the timeliness of their work improved. 
• By telecommuting, 83 percent of employees said their ability to communicate and collaborate with co-workers was the same as, if not better than, it was when working on-site. 
• 67 percent of survey respondents said their overall work quality improved when telecommuting. 
• An improved quality of life through telecommuting was cited by 80 percent of survey respondents.
• Telecommuting can also lead to a higher employee retention rate, as more than 91 percent of respondents say telecommuting is somewhat or very important to their overall satisfaction.

Rami Mazid, vice president, Global Client Services and Operations, at Cisco stated "In the age of a global market, time and distance separates people and workspaces. Cisco has long recognized that telecommuting and collaborative technologies are effective in breaking down separation barriers and enabling the transition to the borderless enterprise. In addition, as demonstrated by our recent study, a properly executed program for telecommuting can be extremely effective at unlocking employee potential by increasing work-life balance, productivity and overall satisfaction." Cisco Video Story

There are many benefits to as mentioned above and as someone who also sits on CompTIA's "Advancing Women in IT Community Council" , and a new step mom I will say it goes even deeper than that for many working mothers (and fathers).  Despite being the first woman to become CEO of a Fortune 500 company while pregnant, Marissa Mayer is facing some particularly vocal criticism on parenting and "mommy" blogs for not understanding the plight of the working mother, according to Business Insider.   Many of the comments that impacted me the most were: "Dare I say that for a company trying desperately to innovate, Mayer’s ordering workers back to work seems neither progressive, inspiring or smart" Denene Millner at mybrownbaby.com wrote.Sara Welch at the BabyCenter blog stated, "I had high hopes that a young, female CEO — one who was openly pregnant when she signed on for the job — would bring a fresh perspective and some more, well, trailblazing.  This move seems completely out of touch with the modern workplace — one, I might add, that makes no bones of invading almost every second of life via blackberries, laptops and cell phones.Worse, it is totally out of touch with the very stretched lives of the vast majority of working parents who don’t have the benefit of a $300 million cash cushion and all of the work-life support that kind of money can buy." And from a blog post at phdinparenting.com:  "... Maybe it's just me, but a technology company that insists collaboration can only happen in person is an obsolete technology company"

Carina Reyes, manager, Operations, Cisco had this to say about her lifestyle at our company:
 "As a working mother of three children, I know firsthand the benefits of Cisco Virtual Office. Through high-quality voice and video, I remain engaged and able to lead global teams and programs with ease and avoid back and forth trips to the office. The seamless transition from work to the home has given me the flexibility to choose the schedule that best fits my work and my home. Juggling early-morning Europe calls, midday doctor's appointments and evening Asia meetings, I move with ease from one place to another. My family and I feel fortunate that I work for one of the best companies today that enables true work-life navigation."

In my humble opinion, in this ever modernized knowledge-based economy, what is important is getting the job done, not when, or where.

** This article represents my personal opinion, supported by research and studies**

Have a Heart: From around the world to Newtown

I am still in shock, and disbelief that such evil can exist in our world?  I drove home eyes streaming with tears as I put myself in the shoes of those families, just eleven days before Christmas, who lost their precious angels. I thought of the brave heroes who risked their lives to protect those innocent children.  I thought of the children who will never get to open presents from Santa this Christmas... who will never have their first kiss, their graduation, the chance to make a difference in the world.  It is hard to rationalize that which is not rational.  The breadth and scope of humanity is just a fleeting second, and for those precious gifts of God, much too short.  My heart breaks...

In memory of the recent tragedy in Newtown we are hoping to come together as a community in the thought that “those children are our children” and show the people of Newtown that we are in this together. So many of us watched the news with broken hearts and a feeling of helplesness. Here is the opportunity for all of us to show our love for Newtown, to let them know they are not alone. To let them know as they piece their lives back together that we are there to shed tears with them, prayer with them, and help in any way we can.

Here is what you can do: Cut out a paper heart, decorate it, and write a message of love (positive messages only please). Address them to Hearts of Hope and send one or many and mail them to:

Newtown Congregational Church 

14 West St, Newtown, CT 06470 

or

First Church Congregational

148 Beach Rd, Ffld CT 06824

This Christmas as I gather with my fiance, his mother, and two step daughters we will make and send these to show our love and support.  We are going to take these hearts and cover Newtown with our love from around the world. We are going to take these hearts and hang them up in local businesses, churches, and banks so that no matter where the people of Newtown go they will be surrounded by love and reminded that from hate rises love and support. That humanity is still very much alive and if we band together with love and hope in our hearts we can accomplish so much more. It really does take a village...

Additionally, it didn't take long for many more generous people to start online fundraisers for the victims and their families.

Here are five online campaigns you can contribute toward right away to help-sandy-hook-victims.  If you know of other online efforts to help the victims, please share them in the comments.

·        Sandy Hook Elementary School Fund: Chris DeLetto of Champaign, Ill., started this fundraiser on Crowdtilt, hoping to raise $50,000 in 30 days.

·        Help for the Sandy Hook Elementary School Families: Razoo's campaign started by Joe Waters is raising money for the Sandy Hook Parent Teachers Association.

·        Sandy Hook Elementary School Victims Relief Fund: This Crowdrise campaign, started by Ryan, is raising money for the school's PTSA organization.

·        Secure Schools: Becky Hoover launched this campaign to get security systems in place in all U.S. schools, including pass-key systems with cameras.

·        Wall of Love: This interactive website, designed following the tragic shooting, wants to show everyone affected by the tragedy that there is more love than hate in the world.

In the last few nights I have read many posts from parents saying they were going to hug their children a little tighter.  I urge us all to cherish the time we have with our loved ones, for we never know what can happen.  May we all find light in this darkness, and may God bless those who so needlessly lost their lives and bring comfort to those still on earth. 

Happy Birthday Barbie!

                                                       "I'm a Barbie Girl, in a Barbie World"
                                                             
So I was reading my daily, "On this Day in History" and noticed a familiar face, and global icon... Barbie. It was on this day in 1959 that the first Barbie doll went on display at the American Toy Fair in New York City, my home sweet home.

In the time that has transpired since, there has been a large mix of controversy, condemnation, and admiration  for the buxom blonde beauty.  Despite the controversy, and sometimes criticism, sales of Barbie-related merchandise continue to soar, topping 1 billion dollars annually by 1993. Since 1959, more than 800 million dolls in the Barbie family have been sold around the world and Barbie is now a "bona fide global icon", with a world of admirers. The question is, who is Barbie? Where did she come from? Is she a positive role model? Or is she just a fun toy for young women, dreaming of where they will live,  what will they do, and who will they be when they grow up? 

At a whopping eleven inches tall (and I thought I was short ;)) and cascading blond hair she was the first mass produced toy doll in the United States with adult features, and a body to boot.  Barbie was  and created by a woman named Ruth Handler, who went on to co-found Mattel, Inc. with her hubby in 1945.  She dreamed up the idea because her young daughter began to ignore her baby dolls, and played more with paper dolls of adult women.  Ruth predicted there was a niche for a toy that would allow young women to imagine their future (and that would be a massive understatement  accurately considering the enormous and timeless scale of success).

I have often wondered, who was she made to look like?    It turns out, Barbie's appearance was modeled on a doll named Lilli, based on a German comic strip character. Originally marketed as a racy gag gift to adult men in tobacco shops, the Lilli doll surprisingly became extremely popular with children. Mattel bought the copyrights to Lilli and made its own version, which Handler named after her daughter, Barbara. Mattel became a  sponsorship of the "Mickey Mouse Club" TV program in 1955, and therefore, became the first toy company to broadcast commercials to children. They ingeniously used this medium to promote their new toy, and by 1961, the enormous consumer demand for the doll led Mattel to release a boyfriend for Barbie. Handler named him Ken, after her son, which is a bit creepy if you ask me naming the son and daughter as boy friend and girl friend :P . Barbie's best friend, Midge, came out in 1963; her little sister, Skipper, debuted the following year.

Like many beautiful and successful women, over the years Barbie generate huge buzz, and a lot of controversy!  On a positive note, many women saw Barbie as providing an alternative to traditional 1950s gender roles and image of Stepford wives. After all, the world was her oyster, she had a huge series of careers, from airline stewardess, doctor, pilot and astronaut to Olympic athlete and even U.S. presidential candidate. Perhaps even Barbie was ahead of her time!  Others however, thought Barbie's never-ending supply of designer outfits, cars and "Dream Houses" encouraged kids to be materialistic. I personally had the "knock off version of Barbie's dream house"  more of an apartment then a mansion really.  It is no surprise however that Barbie's appearance caused the most controversy. "Her tiny waist and enormous breasts--it was estimated that if she were a real woman, her measurements would be 36-18-38--led many to claim that Barbie provided little girls with an unrealistic and harmful example and fostered negative body image".  As an olive skinned dirty blonde/brunette at 5'1" I can tell you that I am far lacking when it comes to Barbie's image of porcelain skin,  height or proportions.

A real life depiction of a Barbie Doll and a real life 20 Year old 

Researchers at the University of South Australia scaled up both Barbie and Ken, and found that one in 50 men would have Ken’s proportions, whereas not 1 in 100,000 women would have anything close to Barbie’s: if she were a real woman, she’d have such a small waist that she’d like only have room for half a liver and a few inches of intestines. Her legs are 50% longer than her arms (average woman’s: 20%), and her neck is twice as long as an avererage woman’s, so she probably wouldn’t be able to hold up her head. She’d have a BMI of 16.24 (18.5 is the lowest end of ‘normal’) and likely not menstruate – scary truth, she’d tick a few boxes for a diagnosis of anorexia.

So the question remains is Barbie a good role model for young women?  Does her pursuit and success  in any career she endeavors despite her looks make her a role model for success, in spite of beauty...or because of it?   Can we assume that her image is the paramount vision of beauty, if succesful sales marks votes? Or can she be just one example of "beuaty" amongst an array of  beauty which comes in all different packaging of heights, weights, skin colors (Etc).

Should barbies be banned? The Iranian morality police made headline news when they extended the long reach of the law to dolls, and has activated an official ban on the sale of Barbies.  The ban on the little doll produced by the U.S.-based Mattel Company, as well as the accessories she comes with, is part of the response to tightened sanctions against the Islamic Republic by Western nations. Muslim clerics had already succeeded in banning the curvaceous cutie in Saudi Arabia in 2003, outlawing Barbie altogether by declaring her “offensive to Islam.”

But Islamic leaders in Iran have been complaining about Barbie’s “destructive cultural and social consequences” since 1996.  Now, Iranians are being introduced to a new couple, albeit virtuous siblings, to replace Barbie and her friend Ken. Meet Dara and Sara- complete with a little head scarf for the eight year old Muslim girl doll.

According to a release published Monday on the Iranian Islam for Today website, “The Muslim dolls have been developed by a government agency to promote traditional values, with their "modest clothing and pro-family backgrounds". They are widely seen as an effort to counter the American dolls and accessories that have flooded the Iranian market.”

The report goes on to quote Iranian toy seller Masoumeh Rahimi who allegedly welcomed the dolls, saying Barbie was “foreign to Iran’s culture” because “some of the buxom, blonde dolls have revealing clothing.” Allegedly, the toy seller said young girls who play with Barbie, a doll ‘she sees as wanton,’ could grow into women who reject Iranian values.  “I think every Barbie doll is more harmful than an American missile,” Rahimi was quoted as saying.

The release points out that each of the dolls is supposed to be eight years old, “young enough under Islamic law for Sara to appear in public without a head scarf. But each of the four models of Sara comes with a white scarf to cover her brown or black hair.”  According to the report, some 100,000 dolls have been manufactured – in China – and each will sell for 125,000 rials ($15) compared with 332,000 rials for a “genuine” Barbie and 25,000 rials for a copy.  Is this taking things to an extreme?  I suppose this is a matter of culture, ethics, and personal opinion, and would leave this for you to decide. Personally I worry whenever any kind of censorship occurs, who decides where it ends?

Then there is the old adage, any attention is good attention. Barbie drummed up even more controversy in 2011 when released a Barbie doll designed by Tokidoki, a Japanese-inspired lifestyle brand, and it  stirred up a controversy because the doll, which sports a pale pink bob, is covered with tattoos on her neck and shoulders.

No doubt, there are plenty of people who will object to the doll, but this is not a mainstream Barbie product intended for young girls. The $50 doll is being marketed to adult collectors. Only 7,400 were made and, according to the Tokidoki Website, they are all sold out.  It also isn’t the first time "Barbie" and "tattoo" have been uttered in the same breath.  As a "chick" who digs tatoos, and has one of her own, I'm a fan.

These days, there are plenty of other options on the market, such as the American Girl Dolls, promoting girls to "follow their inner star".  The dolls portray nine– to eleven–year–old girls of a variety of ethnicities. They are sold with accompanying books told from the viewpoint of the girls. Originally the stories focused on various periods of American history, but were expanded in 1995 to include characters and stories from contemporary life. A variety of related clothing and accessories is also available.  I think this is a great option to inspire young women and learn about the history of women's suffrage.

Spinning off of International Women's Day, and some fascinating research I found about women in IT, or the lack there of in my blog Talk Nerdy To Me.  The question is more layered then I have time for in this blog.  A clever point is raised in the fluffy dramitzation of  Elle Woods, Sorority Girl gone IV League Lawyer in "Legally Blonde";  Should we judge a book by it's cover? To play devils advocate, do women need to "look" a certain way to prove their intelligence (ie the Hillary Clinton Pant suit?), or is our society beyond that... are we?  I'm not so sure.  

Dove's Real Beauty Campaign

In the end, love her, or hate her, Barbie's here to stay!  I truly can see both sides of the story.  I admire Barbie's ability to appeal to young women to dream big, and go after any career or position there hearts desire.  She is of course beautiful, but in my humble opinion beauty is in the eye of the beholder, and she is just one example, as so eloquently demonstrated by the Dove's Real Beauty Campaign!  Maybe if beauty really does come in all shapes and sizes, we shouldn't condemn Barbie for her packaging, after all it should be what's on the inside that counts. 

27 Million in the World are enslaved today- help STOP Human Trafficking

I never worry about action, but only inaction.

-Winston Churchill

Not very often, am I left seeing a movie, enraged and horrified. I am very glad I watched "The WhistleBlower"  http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0896872/ *which was an eye opening film, which quite literally left me feeling sick to my stomach after watching. A "based on truth" drama, based on the experiences of Kathryn Bolkovac, a Nebraska cop who served as a peacekeeper in post-war Bosnia and outed the U.N. for covering up the most vial and disgusting sex scandal. As a peace studies minor, and someone who once wanted to work for the UN I am   saddened, and left feeling utter shame for those involved in, and what was allegedly done to the poor women of war who were brutally tortured. I do not want to paint every member of this organization with the same brush, but for those involved, and those who covered it up (which in my heart I believe to be sadly true), you make me sick to my stomach, and I don't know how you sleep at night? Please see this movie if only to spread awareness to a horrendous issue. The estimated average is anywhere up to 4 million -20 million women and children around the world (approximately 14,500 a year) are being "human/sex trafficked"- and that might be an understatement.. Unicef reports that around the world, over one million children are being trafficked every year.  I have no words...


Martin Niemöller (1892-1984) was an ardent nationalist and prominent Protestant pastor who emerged as an outspoken public foe of Adolf Hitler and spent the last 7 years of Nazi rule in concentration camps. He is perhaps best remembered for the following poem:

First they came for the Socialists, and I did not speak out -- 

Because I was not a Socialist.

Then they came for the Trade Unionists, and I did not speak out -- 

Because I was not a Trade Unionist.

Then they came for the Jews, and I did not speak out -- 

Because I was not a Jew.

Then they came for me -- and there was no one left to speak for me.

If you think this doesn't affect you, you are wrong.  This affects all of humanity, regardless of race, nationality, or religion.  We are all citizens of the same world, and we can not sit idly by while injustice occurs.  If you can bear it, please read the sex traffic facts:  http://www.iast.net/thefacts.htm.  It is speculated $32 billion dollars of profits are made annually, but what is the price of ones soul who allows such atrocities to occur?  Who does nothing?

If you think you have come in contact with a victim of human trafficking, call the National Human Trafficking Resource Center at 1.888.3737.888. This hotline will help you determine if you have encountered victims of human trafficking, will identify local resources available in your community to help victims, and will help you coordinate with local social service organizations to help protect and serve victims so they can begin the process of restoring their lives. For more information on human trafficking visit www.acf.hhs.gov/trafficking

To learn some more information on Human Trafficking:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Human_trafficking

I literally was left feeling with a pit in my stomach, and the age old question, "I am only one person, what can I do to help stop this international horror?".  I could not sleep thinking about the harsh truths of reality.  I feel called to action, and I wanted to learn more, to do more... somehow, someway.  There are so many things which occur in our world, and we may or may not know about them, in the deep recess of our minds.  When someone shines a light on the harsh reality, and clears away blindness of ignorance, how can we do nothing?  Sometimes, the issue is we are unaware; sometimes it's just about educating ourselves, and those around us.  Sometimes it's about creating awareness and taking a call to action.  If after watching this movie you are not left wondering how can I help?

If you are thinking, I am just one person, what can I do? Read here:
http://www.soroptimist.org/trafficking/stopping.html

Organizations which help to combat this are: Not for Sale-
 http://www.notforsalecampaign.org/

The project to end human trafficking:
http://www.endhumantrafficking.org/

Coalition Against Traficking in Women:
http://www.catwinternational.org/

“Peace is not something you wish for; It's something you make, Something you do, Something you are, And something you give away.”- Robert Fulghum