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Recent Comments:
AmEx yanks merchant privileges from author who denies Holocaust {WalletPop}
Oct 22nd 2009 8:29AM Elizabeth, there is a huge difference in people choosing not to support the Dixie Chicks because of their stupid comments and this case with AmEx.
This would be similar in AmEx refused to let Dixie Chicks accept AmEx credit cards to buy her album because of what they said.
Do you want banks deciding when to lend you money (and that is what a credit card is - an extension of credit) based on your political beliefs?
Hey, Balloon Boy's Dad, How's This Working Out For You? {ParentDish}
Oct 21st 2009 9:07AM Nope - not cynical at all. Although I called this one wrong, I think the in general he should have been given teh benefit of the doubt.
The argument presented that he should have been calm and collected (if it were real) does not hold water.
Yes, he played us, but his reactions was normal even if it was staged.
More Math, Less Fun; Is Playtime in Peril? {ParentDish}
Oct 17th 2009 11:24AM They experts CAN and SHOULD say that there is too much focus on academics even in the early grades (through 4th grade).
It is absolutely absurd that my 3rd grader is getting the same information that I got in 8th grade. He cannot synthesize the information. The BEST he can do is memorize it for the short term and repeat back for the test.
Focus on reading and math in the early grades and incorporate as much play as possible. But make some of it productive play as mentioned above. That is how children LEARN in the early grades.
And lets not forget the importance of fostering a LOVE for learning. I want RIGOROUS testing, but I want it age approrpiate. And I suspect that if we did this - we'd have better test scores in the later grades.
Hey, Balloon Boy's Dad, How's This Working Out For You? {ParentDish}
Oct 17th 2009 11:10AM I think it would be more likely that he was making it up if he did respond as asked. ONLY someone who HAD NOT been through such an ordeal would respond in the way you suggest.
Of course he is tired of it.
Cynical much?
Is Kanye West MTV's biggest monster, or is it all for show? {TV Squad}
Sep 14th 2009 10:53AM Not a stunt, and part of what has everyone so upset in the not so thinly veil of racism that was so evident. Follow that by Diddy's comment about no problems in the next category because it was "all in the family"....add to that the escalated racism issue (due to politics) and you have understandable outrage!
Missing Boy Found in Secret Room {ParentDish}
Sep 10th 2009 10:15AM The story I read said that the boy lived in the house and roamed freely on the property and was only HIDDEN in the wall - not that he LIVED there.
I tend to side with the mother because I just do not think that most people carry vengence to the point of hiding for two years. She may be wrong, but I suspect she TRULY BELIEVES that her child was abused.
Grandparent Rights - State-by-State Rulings {ParentDish}
Sep 10th 2009 10:12AM Grandparents do not have rights. Any courts that makes them up and gives visitation to grandparents over the objections of parents are wrong.
That doesn't mean that that aren't crappy parents denying relationships to some wonderful grandparents, but for a court to override the wishes of the parents is just wrong.
So Much For Penmanship, School Replaces Cursive With Keyboarding {ParentDish}
Sep 1st 2009 7:36AM They should teach cursive to START with. Their little hands and minds are better suited to the curves and loops of cursive than print. Then they should teach printing in 2nd grade where they pick it up immediately and it takes little practice.
And by third grade they should be heavily into keyboarding. 3rd grade is the time when research shows they are adepts and have the other skills necessary for keyboarding anyway.
We have to think of WHY penmanship was important. Writing conveys thought. If you can't read it, then it doesn't matter. But the majority of writing is now done on a keyboard.
I have absolutely NO problem with this and in fact I am pushing my school to start keyboarding earlier. By the time kids are in 4th or 5th grade they have taught themselves an improper way to use keyboards (usually using only 3 fingers on each hand) and it is next to impossible to RETRAIN them.
The key here is that kids need to be WRITING more. And writing on a keyboard is fine with me.
What Can I Get You Folks? -- Your Waitress or Your Friend? {Slashfood}
Aug 6th 2009 10:10AM Somebody fire this girl - from both her restaurant job and her attempts at writing.
Japanese Trend: Pregnancy Photos {ParentDish}
Aug 5th 2009 4:34PM This is not a new trend. I worked as a photographer and we did pregnancy photos all the time.
I think the upswing started when Demi Moore posed pregnant on Vanity Fair.
