mcmama's comments

The epidemic of online child sexual crimes

10 Jun 2006 05:58 PM

This is an excellent article. With the summer months here, we have had a number of children and teens joining us and looking in on our discussions. I have cautioned a few to please be careful about giving any personal information about themselves in our forums or with private messages.

We are a safe community of caring people, mostly parents, but we are also a public forum. I strongly encourage parents to keep an eyeview on what their children and teens are doing online, and advise young people to not share your e mail or other personal information in posts. You really never know who is watching - and predators lurk on forums and public sites looking for people to exploit. We're not immune. Let's be careful, please.

Twenty-Five Years of AIDS

06 Jun 2006 07:10 PM

Thank you for this article. My brother died of AIDS. He just kept denying to himself that he was at risk, and then when he was sick he kept denying to himself that he was sick.....

There are some fabulous treatment programs out there but connecting people to them is hard - getting people to deal with the reality is hard - and the global thing is downright scary.

Kelo vs. New London Eminent Domain Evictions May Be Near

06 Jun 2006 04:49 PM

Thanks for your comments. Yes they did take the vote, and the people are to be evicted. There is a similiar problem in Riviera Beach, Fla. No one disputes there that there is blight - the question is, just as you say, are the targeted properties representative of the blight, or is it just a land grab to get the waterfront property for development.

Other states, including florida, have changed their laws to curtail eminent domain abuse. Connecticut has not. There was legislation, and it just sat there until it died this session. Rev it up again, Jamie!

Post Memorial Day Gripe for Military Spouses

05 Jun 2006 06:24 PM

Maybe a new day needs to be proclaimed. The Friday before Mothers day can be overlooked. And a lot has happened since Reagan was president.

Closing the daycare on spouse appreciation day? That is just crazy. Says whoever makes those decisions really doesn;t have a clue about real life.

Boys & Guns

24 May 2006 11:06 AM

The ingenuity of some of the boys in my child care home never failed to amaze me. Legos, blocks, sticks, fingers, etc. You name it they shot it.

My oldest boy is very anti gun. Always has been. But even he has a set of star trek phasers which he still plays with in college. Lately when the cat attacks his foot, the value of water pistols has become apparent to him. Phasers on stun was always his version of gun play.

When a relative took both boys target shooting, the oldest was very uncomfortable and bored. The youngest LOVED IT! He is a teen and when he grows up, he wants to do more of that sort of thing. Meantime, he has phasers too for when his brother comes home - and a super soaker to tame our wild kitty (no exaggeration, that beast needs it - he challenges the spray bottle and the water pistol but runs when he sees the super soaker) - and regularly plays paintball in the woods with other kids on organized outings. Doubt he will be a hunter, as he really has a soft spot for animals. But a rifle to DEFEND his animals may not be out of the question!

If you are allowing gun play, or acquiescing to it, you have to set some guidelines for what is appropriate and what is not. And that alone is a great learning experience

Are You Buying or Selling Your Home? Consider the Benefits of A Home Warranty.

12 May 2006 09:39 PM

This is a great reminder - I have sold homes with these and they really are wonderful for both buyer and seller. The buyer saves serious money on repairs during the first year, and the seller has peace of mind.

One family saved $800 on repairs to the air conditioning. The warranty cost $400.

Our Kids are So Bright They Glow in the Dark! (Or how to build a high school on a Superfund Site)

10 May 2006 06:36 AM

Unfortunatly, it's a whole bunch of someones, Teresa. This is business as usual in New Jersey. It is criminal.

The governor who set this up resigned in disgrace over giving a job for homeland security to a guy who was unqualified, and who very likely had a sexual relationship with him. Criminal activity and influence peddling permeate every level of public policy here.

Some of these local school boards have been trying to get the department of education to pay attention to the problem of building schools on known toxic sites for years. Now that the secret is out, suddenly they are getting a response.

Just my tax dollars at work - in the state with the highest property tax rate in the nation.

On the Subject of Breasts

08 May 2006 05:45 PM

Why wouldn't a guy comment on this? And you have commented very well.

You say "we" nursed, and your wife might say something else about that! But the fact is, a father's support is very important for breastfeeding to work. Thanks for opening up such a great discussion

07 May 2006 10:19 AM

I am really looking forward to reading more about the different requirements in different states. I was struck by the definition here of a church school being sponsored by a church, so it could be at a home. In my area, there are many observant Jewish families who organize "back yard camps" during the summer for recreation tied to traditions and values. I haven't seen this approach with home schooling, as we have some very good yeshivas and private schools. But I think it is an interesting and flexible way to obtain a religious education while keeping it legal.

I will be interested to read what other states have similiar laws.

Yale Undergrads: The Best, The Brightest, The Taliban?

07 May 2006 09:50 AM

Gee whiz, Lisa, you don't think people can change??? Sheesh!!! If only we could give all the terrorists in the world an Ivy League education!!!!! Oh what a world this would be!!!

This has sparked some very serious debate at Yale among students. Sort of interesting that Yale does not allow ROTC on campus, but disallows tourguides to comment on the presence of a former Taliban member. At least the free speech is flowing both ways online and in student publications and debates.

My son is eligible for a legacy at Stanford, assuming he would be admitted - and there, they could fill the freshman class 3 times over with just legacy admissions. Even so, no one is starting a foundation to give him 40,000 a year for a college degree at an Ivy league quality school. Just gotta get the grades and keep up the 529 and file the Fafsa and apply for every scholarship he can. He's interested in diplomacy and languages.

Hmm. Maybe if he were an interpreter for a terrorist organization he could have a free Ivy League education too!!!