This and That

(My Mother’s Day bouquet of peonies, still going strong.)

This week was pretty quiet, and we are gearing up for the start of summer soon.  We’ll be spending the weekend with friends and enjoying the weather before it gets too hot.  Here are a few things that caught my eye this week.

Our local school board election was last Saturday, and the good people of my little city spoke loud and clear!  Here’s a great editorial by the local paper.

The fight for deregulation of Interior Design services in Texas continues.  Kelly Barnett, who spearheaded the campaign, explained via email: The Senate voted on our bill this morning.  The exam requirement was preserved, but the Senate will now give 4 years for NCIDQ (exam) passage instead of 3. While it was not exactly what we had hoped for (deregulation), at least all Texas RIDs (registered interior designers) will now have to “qualified by exam,”  no more “grandfathering.”  If you are a “grandfathered” designer, or know one, encourage them to join us in 2 years, when we fight for deregulation again, when the playing field will truly be “level.”  From here, the Senate and House bills will be reconciled, and Governor Perry will sign the bill as it becomes law September 1, 2013.  Not bad for our first “rodeo!”

Texas’ craft beer bills go before the House today, and they could drastically change the way craft beer is sold here.

Clothing retailers need to step up and demand safe factories for production.

The last survivor of the Bangladesh factory collapse shares her experience.

And Angelina Jolie was in the news this week, for choosing to undergo an elective mastectomy.  Here’s a glimpse, through pictures, of another woman’s journey through treatment for breast cancer.  (The photos are graphic, but so powerful.)

I hope you have a wonderful weekend!