I'm suddenly reminded of the school in PA that gave out laptops to students and then were watching them at home via the webcam built into the computers. http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2010/02/18/harriton-high-school-spie_n_467491.html

Why is the park unsafe? Can you just sit outside with a book or something so that there is an adult outside?

How I met your mother coupling Gavin and Stacey (they might not have all the seasons for those last two)

I can remember the consulting OB to the birth center where Thing 1 was born saying, "we'll work with you whatever your choice, but we firmly recommend that parents be on the same page with the decision. it will be staring back at you for the next several years." :tongue_smilie: I was firmly against it, DH was very mildly of the "why wouldn't we" mindset. I described it somewhat roughly ("you'll have to stand there with our brand new infant while someone cuts off part of his penis") and he simply said, "if you feel that strongly about it...." The Mothering magazine article by Paul Fleiss came out a couple months after Thing 1 was born and I had left it in the bathroom. DH ended up reading it and came out waving it around, angry that it had ever been "routine." He's a pretty great guy.

I've seen that at some restaurant before. I just considered it a "here we've done the math for you" thing. That doesn't bother me nearly as much as the "18% gratuity will automatically be added to your bill for parties over 6" or whatever. Thing 1's hockey team went out for lunch one day between games - we all showed up at the same time and were sat all over the place (but largely had to to ourselves, as not too many people were at this pizza place at 230 in the afternoon). Despite having 12 separate checks, we all had gratuity added, and not all of the families noticed, so some added more tip besides. I happened to notice that the bill seemed high and read it carefully and then let everyone know.

I wonder if they reapportion at home or something? Or do they bring all the envelopes just in case (so you're not just working with the "grocery" envelope and falling short because you've picked up medication and entertainment while out. If I were using that system, that's what I'd have to do - spend from the largest portion envelope and then get "repaid" from the other envelopes at home.

http://www.macworld.com/article/156720/2011/01/gps.html THis is from last January, but it might give you some ideas. There is also this: http://www.apple.com/iphone/built-in-apps/maps-compass.html

Even if you let her go? I think that's the key bit here. You wouldn't put your kid in a car with another adult when you don't know where she's going. However, this dad put his kid in a car with other people without knowing where he's going. Seriously, though, would you label it kidnapping after the fact if your kid was going out with Marge down the street and she said she was taking them to the mall and on the way home they stopped at McDonalds (as an unplanned stop)? That's taking her someplace that you don't know she's going. You did, however, give Marge permission to take your kid somewhere. Maybe my thinking is skewed here, but it seems illogical to me to put a kid in a car with other adults (with signed permission slips, mind you) and the turn around and call the police because you don't know where he is. I can imagine the police officer asking "why didn't you find out where he was going before you put him in the car??"

I'm a fan of hyperbole and everything, but I don't think much of this would fly, honestly. The child was dropped off with these people by his father. He wasn't kidnapped - one parent (and to read some of the threads here, the one who has the final say) decided that even with the limited information, this was still an acceptable choice for his child. This child wasn't taken from a park, or picked up by a known adult and driven to places unknown with a parent's consent. He wasn't kidnapped. He was provided with supplies from home and a hearty "have a great time, sluggo!" from Dad and off he went with people he's supposed to trust. People can scream media and police and be angry at the church all they want, but right now - none of that applies. He was given permission, complete with signed forms (again - you waived liability for an unknown activity??), by his parents. Now, if said parents contact the church and demand to know where their child is now (because they want to know what's going on) and the church doesn't let them know where their child is, then I can see getting the police involved (not 911, but a serious phone call to the police). Of course calling the police means getting the police involved in a church matter and not everyone is willing to deal with that.

Five THOUSAND dollars to go to NYC?? For how long?? In addition to the fundraising methods, I'd be looking at ways to reduce costs.

My 11 year old boy likes: Angry Birds Cut the Rope Tangled Hit the Apple Zombie Highway (definitely preview this) - he also likes "Gun Builder" or something like that. I didn't want to skip it on the grounds that it's not "girlie" (maybe your daughter likes weapons?). Siege Hero (nearly identical to angry birds in terms of task) Zombie Farm (this is cartoony cute - and is similar to Farmville - you're planting zombies) Turbo Grannies He'll also check in on Dragonville I think Angry Birds is the only one he plays that we've paid for. My 8 year old likes Bookworm and we paid for that - he thought that $3 was a reasonable price for a game he likes :) It's my ipod touch that these games are on - he doesn't have his own or there might be even more gun builder things on there.

Does this mean everyone will now let their kids go? :D Perhaps church leadership is assuming that you're going to trust them because of actions in the past? Or that you're supposed to trust them just because they are church leadership?

http://www.snopes.com/medical/toxins/resolve.asp That and the fact that we seem to be allergic to Tea tree oil puts Melaleuca off my radar.

I have a cousin who does. She was pregnant at about the same time I was with my first and we ended up in a situation (of her doing) where she had a very hungry baby and no formula because she had somehow decided that wasn't her responsibility (the baby's bag with everything in it had been placed in her mother's car after the baptism, and her mother had to go pick up a cake on the opposite side of town - Cousin's only responsibility, in her own mind, was transporting the baby to the restaurant). Her boyfriend ended up furious ("What do you mean you don't have any bottles? NOTHING??!") and ran to the drug store for formula and a bottle while COUSIN sat there with a "Baby will just have to wait - none of this is my fault" attitude. I mentioned that this problem wouldn't happen if she'd just nurse him and she looked at me HORRIFIED. She said, "He tried that in the hospital and I pushed him away. That's disgusting." Of course, that girl also asked me if it was okay to engage in 5Ex while pregnant. She was concerned the baby would be able to see Boyfriend's equipment. :001_huh:

I don't remember when the song came out, but I know I heard it frequently in the car with my mom. It could be worse, I've alternated between having "Groove is in the Heart" and Bayside's "I and I" stuck in my head for the past several days.

I immediately thought of that when i saw her post and couldn't remember if those were actually the lyrics from the song, so I had to go look it up :)

So, you've been to paradise. Have you ever been to you?

Morally or legally? THere are certain professions that are considered "mandated reporters" who are legally obligated to report evidence of abuse or neglect. Medical professionals (nurses, doctors, EMTs, etc), frequently teachers, children's camp directors often, etc. A neighbor isn't considered a mandated reporter. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mandated_reporter

i know the pre-tax/post-tax discussion happened here in greater Phoenix because depending on what part of the city you're in, the sales tax is different (speaking of the whole area: Phoenix, Scottsdale, Anthem, Tempe, Chandler, Mesa, Glendale, Peoria, etc). So, if you're a server at the Chilis in Scottsdale serving a burger and coke to someone, you'd make more in tips than a server in Phoenix serving the exact same food at the exact same menu price because the sales tax is higher. Or, we'd be expected to tip more on one side of the street than the other because of boundaries.

I've seen them on TV (I think The NYC Law and Order did one once - I remember an elevator in the apartment). My impression was that it was associated with wealthier families who could spare the medications (and were taking more).

It's the "God as Magic Genie" thinking - it bothers me a lot too (but as an agnostic maybe I don't really have a dog in this fight?). But yeah. You pray for something and God just gives it to you, right?? That's what supposed to happen. And if you rub this lamp, all your dishes will be done. Poof! This idea that prayer leads to a winning sports team means that either one team prayed less? Or is it just that the other team prayed REALLY HARD and REALLY FAITHFULLY too, but the answer to their prayers was, "no."

FOr what it's worth, I think a standard potato is a complex carbohydrate (not a simple carb). So, baked potatoes aren't necessarily bad. Often what's wrong with potatoes is what we do with them. The closer things are to their original state, generally, the better they are for you. So: Whole potatoes baked or steamed are better than french fries Brown rice is better than white rice Whole wheat bread is better than white bread (please also note that bread that is light brown in color and called "wheat bread" is not the same as "whole wheat bread" you need to read the ingredients and see if the only flour listed is whole wheat flour rather than "enriched wheat flour" which is the current fancy label for white flour). And so on.

The CDC does have a "getting caught up" vaccine schedule - depending on the age of the child, certain things aren't needed, or are needed on a different schedule. That's a good starting point. http://www.cdc.gov/vaccines/recs/schedules/child-schedule.htm - the catch up schedule

I agree with a previous poster and wondered if the pastor would be willing to do a small ceremony/exchange of vows in his office or similar on the morning of the wedding that's already scheduled? Then nervous bride could get married with her groom and his parents and siblings, plus bride's parents and siblings with her. FWIW, someone should probably also mention the idea of being "announced" at the reception - I think nearly every wedding/reception combo we've been to has done this. The guests are all at the reception hall having nibbles and mingling and at some point the wedding party shows up (usually having been delayed by photography) and are announced by the MC/DJ. Also, I know it happens all the time, but 18 seems young! Is she certain she wants to get married if she's that worried about walking down the aisle?

Some of the realtor.com listings include property tax information in the listing. I know we've looked at that when considering where to move.