Archive for May, 2008

I posted here: After the California Supreme Court, is California in play for 2008? after the decision while Liberty Counsel was seeking a stay, and protect marriage was on track to a end run in modifying the state constitution making marriage between a man and a woman have more legal authority than acts of the legislature and outside of the ruling of the court. The court will need to act to place their ruling on a stay.

Since that post, Lawyers on both side have prepared for legal battles. The Attorney General has urged the court not to delay marriages.

How this will effect other states in uncertain but Governor of New York plans to recognize them, although they can not take place in his state. Ten other states has asked court to delay ruling. Legal issues and challenges arise on what other states are to do to reconcile their laws and out of state marriages. So this issue has already began to go national before the first wedding.

And This post from Politico Gay marriage issue not over yet suggests Obama is on the wrong side of the issue if he is to capture states that he did not win against Hillary.

Popularity: 24% [?]

Apparently in Minnesota, some organizations are trying to teach people how to be helpful; How can one help? A distraction from the issue causing the frustration. For example if the church is having a party;

“excuse me, did you know the church is having a party, they will have food, games and those things that kids get to jump in.”

May or may not work, depends on the child, but that is a sincerely helpful thing to try. If the invitation to a party distracts the child it is hard to return to a tantrum.

Popularity: 23% [?]

But, first I would like to go into some more detail about this When parents should let their children tantrum in public post and the circumstance that brought me to that conclusion.

At the swap meet, there was a particular stall where the salesman worked on selling his products (toys) to the children. A few other stalls picked up on his technique. As you may have inferred he suspected that if the children really wanted something they would make their parents buy the item for them. And while the parents shop they often let their children look at other stalls. If you went to the side and watched him he really worked at getting the children to want the item then told them to tell their parents, tantrum after tantrum took place, not all parents purchased the item but enough that he continued with his slick sales to children while their parents were looking at nearby stalls.

Ok, that is what got me thinking about this whole concept of never allowing a tantrum in public. BTW it was not me that noticed his technique, I was with another parent who pointed it out to me; that parent let his children have a tantrum in front of the sale person more than once, on the third trip the salesman recognized the child that would be allowed to yell and not buy anything and left him alone.

After thinking about it, there are stores who display products for children, and I will pick on 7-11; because me and my children have an understanding about that store, which is: no stuff animals or overpriced toys, anything purchased their is for immediate use if we need milk for tomorrow something for tomorrow lunch etc no … we have plenty of time to get to a grocery store by tomorrow, we are in a convenience store only to save time.

Liars who promise things to your children, make them earn it, and cheat the kids out of it. Ok this happens way to much, it turned into a problem (made me sensitive too it) when people in the extended family did it; then to make matters worse (for me not the children as when I became aware of the problem I took steps to solve it) they told the children to have their dad buy it. So having it promised, having earned it, being told the only chance to get it is when your dad takes you to the store … needless to say they felt if they were not going to get it with me, then and there, they were never going to get it; ya she acted up, did not get it, learned that some people are liars (which I have never done), and that if they act up with me we leave the store and get nothing, reality.

I said this happens way to much … Some trivial matter that Natalie had to do but had reasons not to want to do and she verbalized it at a neighboring apartment building were one of her friends lives. Noticing Natalie not doing what she was asked appeared to try to help and said “Do what your dad says and I will buy you and Ice cream.” I ignored the comment of the older sister of my daughter playmate, after Natalie verbalized, I told her she had to and we did what we had to. The offer to buy ice cream was a lie.

The evil in me wanted to next time ice cream was being purchased tell her playmate that his sister promised Natalie one and you can have the one that was promised to Natalie. I say the evil in me because the circumstance clearly suggests that his sister thought she was doing a helpful, good and correct thing. It was done in confidence like she knew how to deal with younger children; It was done as confidently as she would of said 2 plus 2 equals 4. Makes me wonder if Natalie’s playmate has any confidence in what grown up say. Ya it would be evil of me to Deny him an ice cream because those around him have no clue, if anything he suffers the most.


Not to seem hypocritical but just because a child acts out you can not read much into the situation; I can read plenty into the neighbors comment because of how it was said and as it turns out was in fact a lie. But if say a child acts out not wanting to go to school what can you really determine other than what is clear the child has a issue with going to school he can not handle. If you disagree Please read this post. Ya that child is going to have an issue, How does a 5 year old reconcile the need to do what authorizes tell him while he knows in his being that authorities do not always do what is right.

Popularity: 40% [?]

Generally, as a parent, I respect other people and expect my children to as well. I don’t normally consider tantrums as acceptable behavior. However, the reality of the world is that non-parents often interfere with parents raising their children.

Kid Haters and Back Seat Parents has some etiquette suggestions for these people.

We as parents know that what is needed to correct bad behavior is to insure that the outcome of the behavior is not rewarding.

The situation I would like to point out is when somebody tries to sell something to the child in the hopes that the child will extort the parent to buy the item. While the child needs to learn that a tantrum does not work in getting what they want the sales person also needs to learn this … the solution to this is a direct confrontation with the salesman. “Why did you make the child cry! Do you like crying children! Are you going to give it to him for free now!” deal with the tantrum at the spot, don’t buy the product, and let both the salesperson and the child learn what is unacceptable behavior.


Store owners, if you don’t like kids in line asking parents to buy candy 1000 times put the candy at a level the adults can see them, not the kids (adults don’t like to bend down to buy candy). Other customers in line, realize that the store has deliberately placed the candy at eye level so the kids will ask for candy 1000 times, if you don’t like to hear it go to a store that is not setup to provoke kids … if you think about it, some stores always have kids crying while others don’t.

Popularity: 23% [?]

In West Covina Unified School Board meeting George Fuller played the Hitler card. If you are not with me you are Hitler. The Nazi side of the issue they want to promote families that have a mom and a dad, and the Nazis want a democratic vote of the Nazis of California to decide if SB 777 is a law that the Nazis of California want. Those on George Fuller’s side are eager to talk to children about being homosexual. Maybe somebody should send George Fuller a copy of “The Pink Swastika.”

George Fuller was asked to apologize and has refused … he can be found here:

Mike Spence’s WCUSD weblog

Hat tip wnd.com

SB777 forces schools to teach homosexuality in a positive light, one would infer that teaching about increased health risks with that life style would put homosexuality in a negative light.


Also on wnd.com Court-appointed advocate molests up to 20 kids

Popularity: 23% [?]

The follow chart does not show a clear relationship between global warming and CO2.

Although both Mars

and Jupiter are showing signs of global warming.

The overall effect on earth seems to be that as China releases more CO2 the price of fuel goes up … Charts will be posted soon showing the relationship.


Popularity: 21% [?]

Picked up from publicity from Hotair.com And New York times.

On a laptop at a kitchen table in this cheery Twin Cities suburb, headlines ripping into Al Franken, the satirist whose campaign for the United States Senate is seen as one of the most competitive in the nation, are written up day after day for “Minnesota Democrats Exposed,” a political blog created by a former Republican Party researcher.

Their post today: THE BIGGER PROBLEM: I BET TEAM FRANKEN DIDN’T KNOW FRANKEN OWNED STOCK IN HALLIBURTON AND “BIG OIL” COMPANIES

Popularity: 25% [?]

See Jeremiah Films post for more details.

Popularity: 19% [?]

May be early for this post, but the post “A de facto recession” was also early. Government numbers actually showed an anemic growth. These numbers based on GDP gross domestic product, include all sales of products in the US, which includes imports from China and gasoline.

The indication we have passed the worst is that home sales have increased. A natural effect of a dollar that has dropped against other currencies is to draw in investment from other currencies. But investors wait for the price to be at the lowest point. Well the waiting ended and sales of homes has gone up - its good to be a realtor again..

The price of fuel is still a problem, but if you recall the concern for the US economy after 9/11 and the sharp increase in fuel … what happened is the US is no worse off than other countries in dealing with high fuel costs. It is a level playing field.

So all in all, the job market, savings, hope for the future should all look fairly good across summer and into the 2008 election cycle.

Popularity: 25% [?]

I honestly don’t know how big the problem is with people getting out of jail and not having a place to go. Some jails let people go with $200.00 and these people may have been in jail for year don’t have a drivers license, or social security card so finding a job the first day is not likely.

Without a place to go they start to look scruffy by the second day, by the fourth day they need clean clothes and a bath. Now they are homeless and unless somebody invests in them they can not become productive members of our society.

The federal government is trying to address the problem with “The Second Chance Act of 2007″ I do not know what States are doing.

Popularity: 23% [?]