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By Janet Evans
Monday, Sep 1 2008, 05:15 PM
I’ve mentioned before that my son and daughter-in-law live in Colorado (transplants from Franklin, by way of Pittsburgh) and that they brew beer. They grew their own hops this year and just brewed some Pale Ale with them.
I had never seen fresh hops and when I visited them earlier this month found the pods, growing like ivy on their back fence, to be beautiful.
They sent me photos last week of the ripe pods.
Here is some information on hops, in case you are unfamiliar with what you have been drinking in that beer...
"Hops are the female flower cones of the hop plant (Humulus lupulus). They are used primarily as a flavoring and stability agent in beer, and also in other beverages and in herbal medicine. The first documented use in beer is from the eleventh century. Hops contain several characteristics favorable to beer, balancing the sweetness of the malt with bitterness, contributing flowery, citrus, fruity or herbal aromas, and having an antibiotic effect that favors the activity of brewer's yeast over less desirable microorganisms. The hop plant is a vigorous climbing herbaceous perennial, usually grown up strings in a field called a hopfield, hop garden or hop yard. Many different varieties of hops are grown by farmers all around the world, with different types being used for particular styles of beer."
"The first recorded reference to hops was by Pliny the Elder in his Naturalis Historia. The first documented instance of hop cultivation was in 736, in the Hallertau region of present-day Germany, although the first mention of the use of hops in brewing in that country was 1079. Not until the thirteenth century in Germany did hops begin to start threatening the use of gruit for flavoring. In Britain, hopped beer was first imported from Holland around 1400; however, hops were initially condemned in 1519 as a "wicked and pernicious weed". In 1471, Norwich, England banned the plant from the use in the brewing of beer, and it wasn't until 1524 that hops were first grown in southeast England. It was a further century before hop cultivation began in the present-day United States in 1629. " from Wikipedia
Early season hop growth in a hop yard in the Yakima Valley, Washington with Mount Adams in the distance
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By Janet Evans
Thursday, Aug 28 2008, 11:47 AM
I bet you want a reason to say “Hello, how are you doing?”
Here’s one…
Send them a link to this blog post:
Back to School: 10 Great Web Apps for College Students
For a lot of college students, the new semester is just around the corner. Last year, we created a long list of great Web 2.0 tools that we thought would be helpful for college students.
But given how fast things develop on the web, we thought we would revisit this topic again this year and look at some of the most useful Web 2.0 tools that have the potential to help students do better in school, collaborate with their fellow students, and save them time.
From Read Write Web
Continued HERE
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By Janet Evans
Monday, Aug 11 2008, 11:50 AM
Pearl Street, Boulder, CO
I just returned from a week in Boulder, Colorado. I’ll be spending some time writing about some of my experiences there off and on during the week.
On Saturday’s there is a beautiful organic green market. The produce is out of this world. The colors fabulous. We found the freshest all white corn…which I haven’t see around here in ages. Carrots in shades of orange, red, yellow and gold. Beautiful, ripe, juicy peaches. Honey that looked like it was just scooped out of a hive from inside a tree, with comb included. Every type of green and herb you can think of and a beautiful array of wildflowers.
Many, many people in this area ride bicycles. It’s a way of life. And talk about clean. It looks like someone scrubs the landscape everyday. It’s spectacular.
One of the things I noticed while I was there was that there are a lot of what I’ll call free spirits. A lot of people doing their own thing. I like that very much, to an extent. Boulder is full of very artistic people. Pearl Street runs through a section of downtown. For blocks it is an outdoor festival of people, day and night, seven days a week. There are all types of shops and restaurants, which have outdoor seating. It is a very casual and inviting environment. It just draws you in. If you have any type of talent (or even think you do) you are welcome to set up in the middle of one of the squares and show it off, and hope to make a few bucks while you are at it. You’ll find all sorts of talent…jugglers, piano players, violinists, guitarists, Australian didgeridoos, American Indian wind instruments, acrobats, every day…all day.
Ah, yes…free spirits…a section with one of those fountains that has holes in the pavement where you don’t know when the water will pop up. With children running through having a great time. Mom’s sitting on park benches watching the children…people all around. Some mom’s breastfeeding off to the side. People, as usual, talking on cell phones. Tourists with cameras.
Then I see it…The three-year old looking little girl running through the fountain, back and forth over to the benches to her mom, who was near the crowd. And I cringe. This is not a back yard. This is a very public place. This is Boulder, Colorado…where the unsolved murder of JonBenét Ramsey is still lurking. Yes, this is free spirited Pearl Street, with the free spirited mom, who isn’t thinking about the internet age, and the cell phones with cameras as her little girl, naked, is running through the water in the fountain. Innocent? Of course. Just a little girl on a hot day…but this is not a commune. This is not a back yard.
Young moms and dads…you can’t be so free spirited when it comes to your children, not in public places…not anymore. You are watching your child, yes. But you don’t know what evil person is also watching. You don’t know who may have, in one split second, taken a photo of your little girl or followed you home.
This is where I am glad I am most conservative of all. I just have to ask, “What were you thinking?”
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By Janet Evans
Sunday, Jul 27 2008, 05:56 PM
It’s that dreaded time of year. Back-to-school clothes shopping time. You can almost hear the “Jaws” movie theme music playing in the background as it creeps up on you. It can be stressful for parents, not only because of the enormous cost of clothes now, but also because your teens tell you they just can’t have "anything" to wear to school. They have to be in fashion. And, not only that…it’s unfortunate, but some of these kids are being watched and judged by each other and by what they are wearing. So, while it’s stressful for parents, it’s also stressful for teens.
Guess what? There's a new trend this year. It’s one that might make parents happy. It’s called “Cheap.” Because of economic times being harder on everyone, teens are going the thrifty way.
A Deloitte survey set for release this week found that 71% of parents nationwide expected to spend less on back-to-school shopping this year than they did in 2007.
Luckily, the economic woes have ushered in the hottest trend of the season: Thrifty Chic.
"It's kind of like the red badge of courage for teenagers to have something they got cheap," said Richard Giss, a partner in Deloitte's consumer business practice in Los Angeles. "I think it's a direct result of the economy."
Wal-Mart is suddenly cool, and teens are proudly shopping off-price chains such as Marshalls and Ross Dress for Less. Hipsters scour L.A. thrift shops, searching for vintage clothes. Goodwill and Salvation Army stores are "very in," said Kathryn Finney, chief shopping officer at the Budget Fashionista.
At Crossroads Trading Co. people can sell up-to-date styles and collect 35% of the appraised retail value in cash or 50% in trade.
"We buy all day, every day," said Emma Covington, manager of the Costa Mesa store.
Some kids are doing the unthinkable -- sewing.
"The DIY movement is becoming a big trend," Finney said. "There are videos on YouTube telling how to cut up your shirt and make a skirt out of an old pair of jeans."
Sandra Elyassian of Beverly Hills is working with a $200 budget this year. The UC San Diego sophomore has already spent part of it at Old Navy and plans to dole out more at Forever 21. She also likes the thrift shops.
"I make my way to Melrose on the weekend," Elyassian said. "If I need some cheap shopping I know exactly where to look."
Elyassian is something of a pro at this; she is among a group of teens who make a little extra shopping money by providing intel on teen trends to market research firm TRU.
Maddie Mayerson has a similar gig with Team Look-Look, a group of 14-to-35-year-olds who are paid to take surveys and act as field reporters, bloggers and photojournalists for Look-Look Inc.
"Shopping is my life," said Maddie, who lives in Tarzana and turns 16 on Tuesday. "I love fashion magazines, I love trend-watching, I just really love style."
This year, the Brentwood School junior wants leggings to add to her collection, the perfect fall handbag (something slightly smaller than an overnight bag), more vintage T-shirts and flat boots. Her favorite ensemble: a T-shirt, leggings and moccasins.
The T-shirt, which serves as a short dress, typically costs $5 to $20, Mayerson said.”
Does this sound like something that may catch on in Wisconsin? Thrift shop shopping? We’ll have to wait and see. In the meantime…expect to see a lot of coupons arriving in the mail this year from local retailers.
Read the complete article from the Los Angeles Times HERE.
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By Janet Evans
Saturday, Jun 28 2008, 09:36 AM
Hot Mom's Club - Alex Woodard
It’s one thing to want to have children and look your best, eat healthy, be as fit as you can, and be happy. What woman wouldn’t want that? That can only make you a better parent.
Lately, there seems to be too much attention given to the fad of “hot moms,” “hot mamas,” “sexy mamas,” you name it.
O.K. you want to go out with dad, and dress up and look sexy…nothing wrong with that.
But do you need to look like a “hot mom” when you are going to the PTO meeting, too?
When you are sitting with your 12-year old son at a teacher’s conference, is that how you want to portray yourself?
Or would you want your child wearing a t-shirt at the meeting that said my mom is hot? Do mom's really buy this stuff for their kids to wear?
I’m just wondering.
I don’t get it.
Perhaps it stems from Hollywood celebrities who are having children.
It’s one thing to feel good about yourself, or to want to make your husband proud to be with you, and especially to be proud of yourself, but it’s another to make your children embarrassed to walk with you.
I find a music video where a child is telling their mom that she’s a “hot mom now” a little odd.
I've got news for you Alex...most mom's aren't "hot." And their kids love them.
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By Janet Evans
Wednesday, Jun 25 2008, 05:37 PM
I happened to come across this blog regarding 12 Beers You Should Only Drink In College and noticed that there are three or four Milwaukee beers on the list.
“Everyone loves college. You live in a building full of your friends and the opposite sex sans parents for months, with a veritable smorgasbord of food, parties and alcohol to distract you from worthless schoolwork. But the sacrifice is that you’re broke. Still, you have to get drunk. What do you buy? Here’s a list of beers that encourage you to do your homework so you can afford the good stuff after graduation. But for now, you drink these purely out of circumstance.”
Ð
That’s what the “Campus Squeeze” says……
It’s a scary place, parents….be afraid…be very afraid….
It was just easier before their were blogs and websites...it was easier when you asked your college student how things were going and the just said, "Fine, can I have some money?"
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By Janet Evans
Sunday, Jun 15 2008, 09:05 AM
By Janet Evans
Tuesday, Jun 3 2008, 11:35 AM
 "There is a fifth dimension, beyond that which is known to man. It is a dimension as vast as space and as timeless as infinity. It is the middle ground between light and shadow, between science and superstition, and it lies between the pit of man's fears and the summit of his knowledge. This is the dimension of imagination. It is an area which we call the Twilight Zone."
Pampered Princesses ç here
Is this just a Southern problem or is this nationwide?
Beauty pageant moms living through their daughters is bad enough.
But to waste time on this is beyond comprehension.
Yes, we want to teach our children to take care of themselves. Doing that in today’s world means first and foremost exercising, eating right, and getting enough sleep. And, as a parent you should be spending quality time with your children. There are a lot of better ways to do that than making a Stepford child by sitting in a spa all day. These moms must be planning that their daughters will marry wealthy men and they will have maids and cooks and never have to lift a finger.
Somehow I think an afternoon of making a favorite recipe with mom, learning how to repair or build something around the house with dad, camping, hiking , biking, volunteering, anything...is going to help these girls learn to "take care of themselves" better than a day at the spa.
How sad for these girls.
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By Janet Evans
Sunday, Jun 1 2008, 08:05 AM
In honor of National Children’s Day today, I want to share a “recipe” I’ve kept in the front of my cookbook for over 30 years. It always reminded me of who I was cooking for, and about how my own life was when I was a child….
How To Preserve Children
To Preserve Children, Take:
1 Large Grassy Field
½ Dozen Children
2 or 3 Small Dogs
A Pinch of Brook
Some Small Pebbles
Flowers
A Blue Sky
Mix the children and dogs well together and put them in the field, stirring constantly. Pour the brook over the pebbles. Sprinkle the field with flowers. Spread over all a deep blue sky and bake in a hot sun. When thoroughly browned, remove and set in bathtub to cool.
and now, from President Bush....
National Child's Day, 2008
A Proclamation by the President of the United States of America
America has a duty to provide its children with the support and skills they need to become the next generation of responsible leaders. On National Child's Day, we underscore the importance of fostering the love, encouragement, and protection that empowers our children to become happy and successful adults.
Children are a precious gift who need the love and support of family and friends to lead lives rich in promise and fulfillment. Parents are the most vital part of a child's life, providing them with the guidance and discipline to make the right choices and understand the consequences of their actions. Family, teachers, and others inspire our youth to use their talents and to become confident and caring adults. Religious and community leaders also have a role in teaching values and encouraging children to love their neighbors just as they would like to be loved themselves. Together, we can all help our children be prepared to meet life's challenges and realize the great promise of our country.
My Administration continues to support programs that help prepare America's youth for the opportunities ahead. The No Child Left Behind Act requires that every child have access to a quality education. We have made significant progress toward that goal across the country, with students achieving record math and reading scores. The America COMPETES Act, which was built upon my American Competitiveness Initiative, helped strengthen our goal of staying competitive within the global economy. The Helping America's Youth initiative, led by First Lady Laura Bush, encourages adults to work to help our young people reach their full potential.
On National Child's Day and throughout the year, we honor the boys and girls of America and show our gratitude to those who work to support them. This day is a reminder to us all that our commitment to children helps make our country a better place.
NOW, THEREFORE, I, GEORGE W. BUSH, President of the United States of America, by virtue of the authority vested in me by the Constitution and laws of the United States, do hereby proclaim June 1, 2008, as National Child's Day. I call upon all our citizens to celebrate National Child's Day with appropriate ceremonies and activities. I also urge all Americans to dedicate time and energy to educating our youth and providing them with a safe and caring environment.
IN WITNESS WHEREOF, I have hereunto set my hand this thirtieth day of May, in the year of our Lord two thousand eight, and of the Independence of the United States of America the two hundred and thirty-second.
GEORGE W. BUSH
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By Janet Evans
Tuesday, May 27 2008, 07:30 PM
My twenty-something son dated and married his lovely high school sweetheart.
My thirty-something daughter didn’t. She dated in high school and dated in college, too. She had a relationship after college. Life was busy, work was hectic. And Mr. Right was nowhere to be found. At least, not in plain sight.
When she told me some of her friends had tried internet dating and she was considering it, I wasn’t happy about it. Too dangerous, I thought....and I still do. But she, just as at least one of her friends that I’m aware of, met her husband during the process.
So, why is it so difficult to meet that “someone special” if you don’t meet them in school or in the workplace?
If you're single would you, or have you used an online dating service?
If you're a parent, would you be worried if one of your children used one?
I'm still not crazy about the fact that my daughter used one, but I'm crazy about my son-in-law. Funny thing is, it ends up that he didn't live too far away from my daughter, and some friends in her work circle new him, and never thought of introducing them to each other. Go figure.
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By Janet Evans
Wednesday, May 14 2008, 06:45 AM
"Asked why he ordered two escorts, Ralph said he thought it was the thing to do when you win a "World of Warcraft" tournament.
They told the suspicious working girls they were people of restricted growth working with a traveling circus, and as State law does not allow those with disabilities to be discriminated against they had no right to refuse them. The $1,000 a night girls sensing something up played "Halo" on the Xbox with the kids, instead of selling their sexual services. Ralph's ambition is to one day become a politician."
Read the story
13 Year Old Steals Dad's Credit Card to Buy Hookers × here
~~~~~~~~~~~~~
That's right...it sounds like it came out of the movie Risky Business
Ralph has too much time on his hands....playing games.
Maybe he needs some quality time with his parent's.
A politician?
He might want to consider moving to New York to begin his political career.
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By Janet Evans
Sunday, May 11 2008, 05:00 AM
"The Mom Song" (sung to the William Tell Overture)
Get up now
Get up now
Get up out of bed
Wash your face
Brush your teeth
Comb your sleepyhead
Here's your clothes and your shoes
Hear the words I said
Get up now! Get up and make your bed
Are you hot? Are you cold?
Are you wearing that?
Where's your books and your lunch and your homework at?
Grab your coat and gloves and your scarf and hat
Don't forget! You gotta feed the cat
Eat your breakfast, the experts tell us it's the most important meal of all
Take your vitamins so you will grow up one day to be big and tall
Please remember the orthodontist will be seeing you at 3 today
Don't forget your piano lesson is this afternoon so you must play
Don't shovel
Chew slowly
But hurry
The bus is here
Be careful
Come back here
Did you wash behind your ears?
Play outside, don't play rough, will you just play fair?
Be polite, make a friend, don't forget to share
Work it out, wait your turn, never take a dare
Get along! Don't make me come down there
Clean your room, fold your clothes, put your stuff away
Make your bed, do it now, do we have all day?
Were you born in a barn? Would you like some hay?
Can you even hear a word I say?
Answer the phone! Get off the phone!
Don't sit so close, turn it down, no texting at the table
No more computer time tonight!
Your iPod's my iPod if you don't listen up
Where are you going and with whom and what time do you think you're coming home?
Saying thank you, please, excuse me makes you welcome everywhere you roam
You'll appreciate my wisdom someday when you're older and you're grown
Can't wait till you have a couple little children of your own
You'll thank me for the counsel I gave you so willingly
But right now I thank you not to roll your eyes at me
Close your mouth when you chew, would appreciate
Take a bite maybe two of the stuff you hate
Use your fork, do not burp or I'll set you straight
Eat the food I put upon your plate
Get an A, get the door, don't get smart with me
Get a grip, get in here, I'll count to three
Get a job, get a life, get a PHD
Get a dose of,
"I don't care who started it!
You're grounded until you're 36"
Get your story straight and tell the truth for once, for heaven's sake
And if all your friends jumped off a cliff would you jump, too?
If I've said it once, I've said at least a thousand times before
That you're too old to act this way
It must be your father's DNA
Look at me when I am talking
Stand up straighter when you walk
A place for everything and everything must be in place
Stop crying or I'll give you something real to cry about
Oh!
Brush your teeth, wash your face, put your PJs on
Get in bed, get a hug, say a prayer with mom
Don't forget, I love you
And tomorrow we will do this all again because a mom's work never ends
You don't need the reason why
Because, because, because, because
I said so, I said so, I said so, I said so
I'm the mom, the mom, the mom, the mom, the mom!!
Ta da!!!
by Anita Renfroe
"On this 100th anniversary of Mother's Day, the woman credited with creating one of the world's most celebrated holidays probably wouldn't be pleased with all the flowers, candy or gifts. 
Anna Jarvis would want us to give mothers a white carnation — she felt it signified the purity of a mother's love.
Jarvis, who never married and never had children, got the Mother's Day idea after her mother said it would be nice if someone created a memorial to mothers.
Three years after her mother died in 1905, she organized the first official mother's day service at a church where her mother had spent more than 20 years teaching Sunday school.
Today, the former Andrews Methodist Episcopal Church is the official shrine to mothers around the world. On Sunday, the shrine will celebrate the 100th anniversary, giving each mother attending a special service a white carnation."
[...]
"According to the U.S. Census Bureau, there are 83 million mothers in the United States. More mothers now work out of the home and the number of single-mother households has tripled to more than 10 million since 1970. What has allowed Mother's Day to become celebrated on the second Sunday in May in 52 countries is "everyone has a mother," said Sally Thayer, a trustee of the International Mother's Day Shrine in Grafton. "It's a wonderful thing to celebrate."
from Yahoo News
Mother's Day Celebration Celebrates 100 Year Anniversary å here
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By Janet Evans
Sunday, May 4 2008, 10:30 PM
A reader writes:
Dear Janet,
I read an article yesterday in the NOW paper about Whitnall needing a drug sniffing dog, because drugs and alcohol are a problem. My question is where are the parents who should know what their kids are doing, so drugs aren't a problem? They bring up the dance where kids were drunk. Where did they get the alcohol? I am getting tired of hearing everything wrong with society is the school's problem, why not put some responsibility on the parents?
Maybe it is because the parents are drinking. At a couple of [my child’s] Scout[ing] end of year events, parents were drinking in front of the kids. I know drinking at [Scouting] things is prohibited, but that didn't stop the parents. I suppose I could go on and on, but I won't to you.
[A Franklin Parent]
~~~~~~~~~~~
"I guess what I'm looking at is that they're screaming at us that we have a drug issue," [Board member]Anderson said. "I understand we're working on it, but they're asking us … to (take) action." [...]
"I'm embarrassed for you," [Whitnall] district resident Jim Gilboy said. "This has been going on for as long as you've been on the board. I'm embarrassed that you're not getting more cooperation from your administration to address the problem. It sounds like lots of baby steps and no aggression."
Drug-sniffing dog joins Whitnall efforts í here
STAR-BULLETIN / DECEMBER 2004
At the private Academy of the Pacific (Maui), golden retriever Custer and his handler,
Whitney White, give a demonstration on how the dog finds illegal contraband in a locker.
~~~~~~~~~~~
Okay.... I can't say that I know the full story of Whitnall and the drug and alcohol problems at their schools. But I think the Franklin Parent who sent me the above email is on the right track. While it is true we don't want drugs and alcohol in the schools, and we have to make sure they are not there, we need to remember these kids who are abusing drugs and alcohol at school have got to be doing it at home too. Are their parents, and have their parents over the years, been supervising these children? Do they know their friends? Do they know where they are going? What they are doing? Where are their kids getting their money? Do these parents spend any family and quality time with their children? Are the parents involved in school? And about the alcohol being used by parents at Scouting functions. In all my years as a leader and being involved in both Girl and Boy Scouts I had never heard of alcohol at any scouting function. Granted, this was many years ago. Scouting functions are a time for bonding between parents and children. Not for socializing between parents. Someone involved in the organization of whatever Scouting event this was has lost touch and needs to get their priorities straight before they work with these events anymore. So are the public schools to shoulder the blame for the drug and alcohol problems? Or do parents need to get their acts together before they throw stones? Just who is responsible?
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By Janet Evans
Friday, May 2 2008, 10:48 PM
Maybe when it comes to that perfect gift for Mom….
You should go with your heart, and not with what some money hungry ad agency thinks....
Please don't get your mom this å
â
Just remember, shop this weekend and you can’t go wrong if you get your mom this
Mother’s Day is
next Sunday
May, 11th
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By Janet Evans
Tuesday, Apr 29 2008, 11:55 AM
For DEAD BEAT DADS (parents) in Wisconsin who won’t be getting their stimulus checks in the mail.
Especially the ex-husband of Karla Lehman, from the Fox Valley.
John Knaack, Appleton, owes his children $36,000 in child support.
He says that he is not "quite current on his child support."
He appeared on Fox News in Green Bay, needing a little cheese with his whine, as he complained that he really could use his check.
Poor, poor selfish man.
I’m sure his children could really have used some support over the years too.
Knaack thinks President Bush should "just keep the money if that's all that's gonna happen to it."
What a dad!
Check out the video Stimulus Check Intercepted íhere
And a short article and audio of Karla Lehman from Wisconsin Radio Network
Deadbeat Dad Is Mad íhere
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By Janet Evans
Wednesday, Apr 23 2008, 05:42 PM
 (CBS)
I have to admit, I just don’t get it.
All of these young parent-to-be’s who bolt to the obstetrician to get that first ultrasound and then make that decision as to whether they want to know if the baby is a boy or a girl.
First, I don’t understand the reasoning of every pregnant woman having this ultrasound in the first place. I called and spoke to an ultrasound tech at an OB-GYN’s office today and asked what was up with all of these ultrasounds that are given routinely now. See, I had heard that they are just too routine, and may not actually be as safe as once thought. She told me that they are a standard of care now at 20 weeks. But, of course, if everything is going well, they could be refused.
She said at 20 weeks, abnormalities could be seen, so it is beneficial. I asked what types. Any digits missing, malformed organs (hear, lungs, kidneys, intestines), Downs Syndrome (even though there is a blood test for that). Basically the growth and development of the baby is observed. Some medical issues can be taken care of before the baby is born.
One of the greatest joys in the delivery room as a parent, I think, is the moment your child is born and you ask, “Is it a boy or a girl?”
I know, “Oh, but I have to get the nursery ready…it has to be pink or blue.” And “I have to get those baby clothes ahead of time.” “I have to pick the perfect name…it’s too difficult to choose one for each gender.”
I just don’t know how we managed.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
There have always been ideas about how you could determine whether you would have a boy or a girl.
Times Online calls some of them Old Mother’s Tales:
— The mother-to-be must pick up a single key. If she lifts it up by the handle her child will be a boy, by the other end, a girl, and by the middle, she will have twins
— A wooden spoon or pair of scissors placed under the bed, or a pink bow under your pillow, will result in a girl
— Eat only the ends of loaves of bread for a boy. For a girl, eat only the middles
— Eating salty foods, meat and cheese is supposed to produce a boy. Eating sweet food and fruit is said to result in a girl
~~~~~~~~~~~~
Now studies have found that nutrition is playing an important part in whether a woman will have a boy or a girl - and specifically, that cereals and proteins, especially for breakfast, will most likely produce a boy.
“In the quest to select a baby’s sex, success could depend on breakfast cereal and better nutrition, according to a new study that may offer some women another reason to eat their Wheaties. Mothers-to-be who skip breakfast and eat less are more likely to give birth to girls, while moms who consume more calories and a wider range of nutrients — including, specifically, those from breakfast cereal — are more likely to deliver sons.
That’s according to new research by British scientists that provides what they say is the first-ever evidence that a mother’s diet at conception may determine her baby’s sex. “
Read the rest of the article at MSNBC Mom’s Diet May Influence Baby’s Sex – Study Says à here
With this news coming out, I’m sure more women will stop skipping breakfast when they want to think about having a baby.
That’s a good thing.
Then there will be those that over do it and stock up on cereal and protein to try to have the boy. I just hope some women don’t start starving themselves before they become pregnant in hopes of having girls.
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By Janet Evans
Friday, Mar 28 2008, 06:30 PM
Hopefully, being the good parent that you are, you know where your teen is spending his or her evenings.
And you know his or her friends and their parents.
And, like most parents, you would never host an underage drinking party at your home.
But, what if your teen ends up at a home where a parent allows such a party?
A group of teens obtained alcohol somewhere, somehow, and brought it home, and the parent allows it.
What if your teen, arrives at this home, sees what is going on, knows s/he should leave, makes the wrong choice and decides to stay?
After all, so and so’s parent is there…
Your teen stays, drinks too much, and leaves, driving drunk.
Your teen has an accident and hurts, or unimaginably, kills someone.
Your teen made the decision to drink and drive.
That parent knew your child had alcohol, but didn’t know your teen was intoxicated or driving drunk.
Well, guess what?
“Wisconsin adults who allow underage drinking parties on their properties cannot be held liable if guests later get into drunken driving accidents, the state Supreme Court ruled.”
Now, this law is specifically in regards to adults who are not providing/serving alcohol to the minor. Wisconsin does have a law regarding responsibility in that case. This law was imposed regarding minors who brought the alcohol into the home where the parent did not know the minor left the home intoxicated. It also would apply if the parent was out of town and a minor held a party on the property.
What do you think about this?
Fair?
Especially if you are away and the teen throws a party?
Or, dead wrong?
It’s still your house, your kid, you are responsible for what goes on there. And, where there is alcohol and teens, there will be intoxication…it’s just a fact.
What say you?
Read about the case and the ruling on TwinCities.com
Supreme Court ruling prevents extension of alcohol liability å here
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By Janet Evans
Tuesday, Mar 25 2008, 06:35 AM
To vaccinate or not to vaccinate...
For someone like me, who took my babies to a pediatrician (not a family practitioner), read all the books, listened to the advice of others, and followed the "rules," vaccinating my children was a no brainer.
If I had to do it again, I would make the same decision.
It used to be parents who objected to vaccinations did so mainly for religious reasons.
Not so anymore.
There is the big "A" word out there....
Autism.
I agree, it's scary...It's a mystery....The unknown can make us make hard choices.
But in my opinion, as horrible as autism is, it is not proven that it is caused by vaccinations.
Until it is, I would never risk the chance of my child getting a complication, or risking death, from one of the diseases that vaccinations cover.
I would also never risk infecting others with a disease because I made, what I believe is a selfish choice, to not vaccinate my child.
I have never had a child who suffers with autism, nor suffered as a parent of a child with autism.
But, with all of the chemicals we are exposed to in our lives, in our food, in our water, etc. we can't be sure vaccines are the culprit.
"The parents who objected to their children being inoculated are among a small but growing number of vaccine skeptics in California and other states who take advantage of exemptions to laws requiring vaccinations for school-age children.
"The exemptions have been growing since the early 1990s at a rate that many epidemiologists, public health officials and physicians find disturbing.Children who are not vaccinated are unnecessarily susceptible to serious illnesses, they say, but also present a danger to children who have had their shots — the measles vaccine, for instance, is only 95 percent effective — and to those children too young to receive certain vaccines.
"Measles, almost wholly eradicated in the United States through vaccines, can cause pneumonia and brain swelling, which | |
