Posted on May 19th, 2013 by lskenazy
Readers — Please spread the word, especially to nervous parents: If 2013 keeps going the way it has BEEN going, crime-wise, we are about to experience the LOWEST MURDER RATE SINCE 1906. That’s according to Rick Nevin, an economic consultant and anti-lead activist. (See his chart, below.) THE LOWEST MURDER RATE in OVER A CENTURY? Yes [...]
Filed under: Breaking news, GOOD News, Miscellaneous | 44 Comments »
Posted on May 12th, 2013 by lskenazy
Hi Readers — especially, today, moms! While you eat your burnt toast and funky eggs in bed (something, by the way, my kids never did for me), here’s news to brighten your day and life, from a Washington Post article: “Five Myths About Missing Children.” It’s by David Finkelhor, who was an extremely helpful and [...]
Filed under: Breaking news, Eek! A Male! (and Stranger Danger), Miscellaneous | 14 Comments »
Posted on May 7th, 2013 by lskenazy
Readers — Like the rest of you, I am shaken by the story of the three young women held hostage in Cleveland for years. Like you, I’m guessing, this brings up other stories — of Elizabeth Smart, Jaycee Dugard. I hope you will understand I am not dishonoring their trauma by trying to keep it [...]
Filed under: Breaking news | 58 Comments »
Posted on May 6th, 2013 by lskenazy
Readers – Here’s a sit-up-and-go-yikes oped by Thomas Friedman of the The New York Times. Friedman sort of specializes in these, but this one talks in particular about how we are facing a “401k future.” That is: Unlike the salad days of long-term jobs and pensions, we’re in a new era of morphing and even [...]
Filed under: Breaking news, Miscellaneous, Other Places Other Eras, Zingers and retorts | 24 Comments »
Posted on May 4th, 2013 by lskenazy
Readers — Here’s a story to make your weekend: A school in Seattle cancelled classes after months of dreary weather so kids could enjoy the sunshine and PLAY. I was going to say maybe other schools will catch on, but heck — maybe other companies will, too! Bosses: Think how energized, creative and GRATEFUL your [...]
Filed under: Breaking news, GOOD News | 40 Comments »
Posted on May 1st, 2013 by lskenazy
Readers: This is a story about an unpredictable scientific reaction — and an all too predictable school over-reaction. According to the Miami New Times blog: Kiera Wilmot got good grades and had a perfect behavior record. She wasn’t the kind of kid you’d expect to find hauled away in handcuffs and expelled from school, but [...]
Filed under: Bad Laws, Rules and Verdicts, Breaking news, School and Zero Tolerance and Bullies | 61 Comments »
Posted on April 23rd, 2013 by lskenazy
Readers — The Boston Marathon bombing has brought us an outbreak of sanity in the mainstream media. For instance, there’s this piece from CNN.com by Dr. Charles Raison. (For God’s sake — even his NAME means “reason” in French!) He argues that our brains haven’t evolved to parse the difference between a likely danger and [...]
Filed under: Breaking news, Miscellaneous, Uber Safety | 5 Comments »
Posted on April 16th, 2013 by lskenazy
Readers — This note came in response to the post below this one, which was about how we often leap from tragedy to blame, in order to give ourselves a sense of control. That leap is pretty basic superstition: “If I just do/don’t do X, my kids will be safe.” It’s like wearing a rabbit’s [...]
Filed under: Breaking news, Miscellaneous | 99 Comments »
Posted on April 15th, 2013 by lskenazy
Readers, surely, not every horrifying event begs a Free-Range analysis, but I did want to say one thing about the Boston Marathon bombings. Beyond simply expressing my disgust and sadness, I’d note that, like so many tragedies, this one was absolutely unpredictable. No one attending did anything remotely ill-advised or imprudent, yet some found themselves [...]
Filed under: Breaking news, Miscellaneous | 19 Comments »
Posted on April 5th, 2013 by lskenazy
Readers — I just got off the phone with a mom in Pennsylvania whose tiny school district has allotted $100,000 for new security measures without even knowing what it will spend the money on. This district dropped about 10% of its teachers last year for lack of funding, but it is so freaked out by [...]
Filed under: Breaking news, Media Madness, Miscellaneous, School and Zero Tolerance and Bullies | 91 Comments »
