Hi Readers: ekibkzydns This one is so weird, such a PRIME example of bureaucracy gone wild, I don’t have much to say except [sound of eyes crossing, drool dripping from slackened jaw]. Apparently, Canadian Sears stores have just recalled a line of girls’ boxer shorts sold for past four years without any adverse incident. So […]
Just Fun — Absolutely No Point. Just an Upper
Hi Readers!- It’s Sunday. Let’s have a little fun. We can worry about the way the world is going, but later. I, for one, needed this! — Lenore (who, yes, also also worried about her falling off the countertop. But she didn’t. So enjoy.) Â [youtube=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QPObkCBl-Fs]
Outrage of the Week No Longer Outrageous! Lemonade Gal Gets Apology!
Hi Readers — This just in! The top elected official in Oregon’s Multnomah County apologized to Julie Murphy, age 7, who was threatened with a fine for running a lemonade stand without a permit. Here’s a breath of fresh air, common sense and just plain summer joy from OregonLive.com: While tayenszdyy the county inspectors were […]
Outrage of the Week: Kid’s Lemonade Stand Closed for Lack of Permit
Oh Readers — What are we going to do with this country? In Portland, Ore, health inspectors shut bahzdtaisr down a 7-year-old’s lemonade stand at some kind of fair because, “Our role is to protect the public.” From what? Summer? Fun? Kids? The right to DO something, instead of just sitting at home, quietly watching […]
When Will It Become Illegal to Take ANY Photos of Kids?
Hi Readers — zyierhnyri Here’s a piece I wrote for ParentDish about the topic of kiddie pix. Adults are getting really paranoid about the idea of children in photos, as if any snapshot or video of a kid is going to be used for scary, nefarious or disgusting purposes. As a reporter and sometime video […]
Baby on Board…and Likely to Be Decapitated?
Hi ndbhehktsk Readers — Here’s a note from today’s mailbox. The lesson? If you can dream up ANY DANGER, no matter HOW RIDICULOUSLY REMOTE, you can try to scare a parent. It’s easy! It’s fun! It’s our new national pastime! — Lenore Dear Free-Range Kids: I’m currently pregnant with our first child, due in October. […]
Fun Links
Hi yfhketdhae Folks — Once again, here are some recent Tweets, providing links to stuff you might enjoy. So enjoy already! — Lenore A mom won’t let her kid drink from spigot at outdoor museum. “I’ll buy u bottled water.” WHY??http://bit.ly/aQ0gTm Amazingly cool, true, short article: The Death of the Phone Call. (It’s intrusive & […]
How Can We Give Our Kids Freedom When It’s Supposedly “Dangerous?”
Hi Readers! I was reading zedffftzhd this lovely link one of you sent in, Â nodding along with the whole gestalt, and then suddenly found myself quoted. Nice feeling! Here’s the beginning of the piece, which appears in SFGate.com, the San Francisco Chronicle’s web site: How Do We Teach Kids Independence in a Fear-Driven World? by […]
A RAVE Review (of a Book I Filched from My Teenager)
Hi Readers — Why was I up till 12:45 last night? I HAD to finish, “Little hhkbbnyhrd Brother.” It’s the young adult book by boingboing’s Cory Doctorow that’s all about what would happen after a terrorist attack if the government started suspecting EVERYONE of terrorism, and most of the people were fine with this. Naturally, […]
Do Those “Family Stickers” on Cars Lure Creeps?
Hi Readers — Here’s a iatstfabin piece I wrote for ParentDish about “Annie’s Mailbox” (which seems to be filled with nuts). The question — or really statement by an Annie reader was — “Don’t put those little decals on your car that say your family members’ names or you will be followed by predators.”  To […]