Was just watching a movie with DD then we heard the screeching of tyres and lots of screaming and yelling out the front of our house.  Miss 3 from next door was on the road as always and nearly got hit by a car, luckily it wasn't a speeding vehicle like it could have been since we live in Hoon's Terrace (they really should set up a speed camera along this street, they'd make a fortune) but luckily it was a slow travelling vehicle.

Dad started abusing the driver, the driver started abusing Dad, Mum slapped Master 7 across the back of the head and started yelling at him for not watching Miss 3 closely enough, then Dad slapped Miss 3 across the back of the legs for being on the road, then screamed out to Miss 13 (who was inside and unaware of it all) for not paying attention to what the 'baby' was doing! Meanwhile the parents were out in their front yard anyway so they should have been able to see she was on the road.  She's always on the road.  As is Master 7.  They're never pulled up on it.

So I'd like to know how the children are to blame? Why can't parents take responsibility for what their children are doing? It was so close to being a disaster!  Makes me mad when the children are blamed for things out of their control.  A 3 year old and a 7 year old who have never been told not to play on the road know no different, and it beats me how the 13 year old was dragged into it and what she did wrong!  Grr, I'm a little angry at them for not watching their kids.

Dick Cheney and George W. Bush were having breakfast
at the White
House. The attractive waitress asks Cheney what he
would like, and
he replies, 'A bowl of oatmeal and some fruit.'
And what can I get for you, Mr. President?' the
waitress asks.
>>George W replies with his trademark wink and slight
grin, 'How about
a quickie this morning?'
'Why, Mr. President!' the waitress exclaims. 'How
rude! You're
starting to act like Mr. Clinton, and you've only been
in your
second Term Of Office for a year! ''
As the waitress storms away, Cheney leans over to Bush
and whispers,
'It's pronounced 'quiche'.'

EXCERPTS FROM ACTUAL  COURT  TRANSCRIPTS These are from a book  called Disorder in the American Courts, and are
taken, word for word,  from actual court  transcripts: ATTORNEY:  Are you  sexually active?
WITNESS:    No, I just lay   there.   ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~  ~  ~   ATTORNEY: What gear were you in at the moment  of the impact?
WITNESS:    Gucci sweats and  Reeboks.
 ~  ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~   ~ ATTORNEY: This myasthenia gravis, does it affect your memory  at all?
WITNESS:    Yes.
ATTORNEY:  And in what ways  does it  affect your memory?
WITNESS:     I  forget.
ATTORNEY:   You forget? Can you give us an example of  something you forgot? ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~  ~  ~ ATTORNEY: What was the first thing your  husband said to you that morning?
WITNESS:    He said, "Where  am I, Cathy?"
ATTORNEY: And  why did that upset  you?
WITNESS:    My name is   Susan!
 ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ATTORNEY: Now doctor, isn't it true that when a person dies in his sleep,
he doesn't know about it until the next  morning?
WITNESS:   Did  you actually pass the bar  exam?
~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~   ~ ATTORNEY: The youngest son, the  twenty-year-old, how old is  he?
WITNESS:    Uh, he's  twenty-one.
 ~ ~ ~  ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~  ~  ~ ATTORNEY: Were you present when your picture was  taken?
WITNESS:   Are you shitt'in  me?
 ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~   ~ ATTORNEY: So the date of conception (of  the  baby) was August  8th?
WITNESS:     Yes.
ATTORNEY: And what were  you doing at that  time?
WITNESS:    Uh....I was gettin'  laid!
 ~  ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~  ~ ATTORNEY: She had three children,   right?
WITNESS:   Yes.
ATTORNEY: How many were   boys?
WITNESS:    None.
ATTORNEY: Were there any   girls?
WITNESS:   You're kidding, right? Your Honor, I think I  need  a different
attorney. Can I get a new  attorney?
~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~  ~ ATTORNEY: How was your first  marriage  terminated?
WITNESS:    By death.
ATTORNEY: And by   whose death was it terminated?
WITNESS:    Now, whose death do  you  suppose terminated it?
~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~  ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ATTORNEY: Can you describe  the  individual?
WITNESS:    He was about medium height  and had a beard.
ATTORNEY: Was this a male or a  female?
WITNESS:      Guess.
 ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~  ~ ~ ~  ~ ATTORNEY: Is your appearance here this morning pursuant to a  deposition
notice which I sent to your attorney?
WITNESS:    No,  this is how I dress when I go to  work.
~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~  ~ ~ ~ ~ ~  ~ ATTORNEY: Doctor, how many of your autopsies  have you   performed on dead
people?
WITNESS:     All my autopsies were  performed on dead people.  Would you
like to  rephrase that question?
~  ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~  ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ATTORNEY:  ALL your responses MUST be oral, okay? What  school  did you go
to?
WITNESS:     Oral.
~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~  ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~  ~ ATTORNEY: Do you recall the time that you examined the   body?
WITNESS:    The autopsy started around 8:30  PM.
ATTORNEY:  And Mr. Denton was dead at the  time?
WITNESS:    No, he was sitting  up on the table  wondering why  I was doing
an autopsy on   him!
~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~   ~ ATTORNEY: Are you qualified to give a urine  sample?
WITNESS:   Huh....are you qualified to ask that  question?
 ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~  ~ ~ ~ ~  ~   And now, the best for   last...   ATTORNEY: Doctor, before you performed  the autopsy, did you check for a
pulse?
WITNESS:   No.
ATTORNEY: Did you check  for blood  pressure?
WITNESS:    No.
ATTORNEY: Did you check  for  breathing?
WITNESS:    No
ATTORNEY: So, then  it is possible that  the patient was alive when you
began the  autopsy?
WITNESS:     No.
ATTORNEY: How can you be  so sure, Doctor?
WITNESS:     Because his brain was  sitting on my desk in a jar.
ATTORNEY: I see, but could  the patient  have still been alive,
nevertheless?
WITNESS:   Yes, it   is possible that he could have been alive and
practicing  law.

http://www.vrg.org/nutrition/adapyramid.htm

Thought I'd share a song I sang to my little person when she was first born.  I've just come across it on Ares and downloaded it!

"The moment I saw you,
I wanted to hold you
And keep you warm
On a cold grey morn.

The moment I held you
I wanted to kiss you
And welcome you here
On the day you were born"

The Moment I Saw You by Graham Nash and Nicollette Larson

It's amazing what you find when you go searching for songs isn't it? I was actually looking for a different song entirely!

Very helpful articles indeed.  I think they should be brought up a little more often so they aren't just forgotten about.  Perhaps a section that brings up random articles would be useful? Maybe there is one and I haven't found it yet.

What got me a little upset though was that some of the comments were given low ratings! I know it doesn't matter, but it really struck me that even comments such as great article thanks for sharing, or I can relate to this, thank you for sharing, were given 2 or 3 or 4 stars! I really feel there is no need for it.  Is there a reason that comments need to be rated anyway? I know why the advice does, but honestly I think the way these comments are graded is rediculous and can see why people would take it personally.

Once again though I think that if older articles that were 4 stars or above popped up as random links every so often they wouldn't just be left like they are.  There are lots of wonderful advices on here that I would never have found except for going to advice then clicking a random page number to see what's there.

Just my thoughts on it anyway.

http://www.livenews.com.au/Articles/2007/09/10/Slap_junk_food_cereal_with_GST_obesity_experts

This news article is about exactly that, GST hitting children's junk cereal with GST to combat obesity.  The obesity epidemic is reaching incredible levels, and everywhere I go it's sad to see how many children even under school age are unable to play freely due to their size. At the beach last week I witnessed a family whose child was unable to chase birds because after just a few steps she was out of breath and needed to sit down.  She was probably under school age since it was a school day, but may not have been.

I understand there are many factors, including thyroid conditions, which can lead to childhood obesity but the main cause of it is parents feeding their children junk food.  I don't know how many times we are out shopping and witness an already over-weight child being given a donut to keep them in the trolley, followed by a flavoured milk shake which high in sugar even if it is reduced fat milk that's used, then later given a happy meal because it's too late to take them home and cook their dinner.

Increasingly children are starting their day with these junk food cereals, which as the news article states are closer in composition to chocolate biscuits and lollies, then they go off to school with lunch box items which include LCM bars, muesli bars, fruit bars, any number of items that are on the shelf now and are aimed at busy working mums as a quick and easy way to pack a lunch box.  They claim to be healthy yet they often contain more sugar than lollies and chocolates.  They come home and have fast-foods because mum and dad haven't finished work until late.

I'm not having a go at anyone for being busy, working parents.  I'm one of those myself.  I just hope that by tacking GST onto these products, parents might stop and think about what they're giving their kids.  There are many healthy alternatives to these that don't need to take all day and all night to prepare.

Starting the day with weet bix is much better than starting the day with rice bubbles, unless you pile the sugar on the weetbix.  An easy alternative, that's better for everyone, is to cut fruit up such as kiwi fruit, banana, and strawberries.

Hoping you all have a wonderful day!

I cannot believe how disrespectful dog owners can be! Honestly, not all of them, not even most of them, but the ones who are ruin it for those of who have the sense and decency to keep our dogs quiet.  Mine has a muzzle and if he decides to bark, I take the muzzle out and he sees it.  That's usually enough.  If he barks while the muzzle is out he wears it.  For weeks now, I've been listening to our new neighbours' dog bark incessantly through the night.  I've called the council, the sent out forms to keep track of the barking and how long it goes for.  I took them in and today I rang them only to be told they're way too busy to look at barking complaints!!! So here I am again, been listening to dogs barking since 9:10pm and it's just constant, like they don't even stop to take a breath!  If you want to own a dog, take responsibility for the damn thing and leave the rest of us in peace!  Ok that's my rant over with but I wish they would shut their dogs up.

"If the economy is doing so well, why aren't we?" Despite the strong economy, buying a house is simply out of many people's reach. The high cost of groceries, petrol and childcare means many people feel like the economy is simply not delivering for them. What do you think? 

Watch Kevin Rudd's message on housing affordability here: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0dU02l8savA

Watch all Australian Labor's videos here: http://www.youtube.com/australianlabor

BITCHOLOGY

When I stand up for myself and my beliefs...
they call me a Bitch.

When I stand up for those I love...
they call me a Bitch.

When I speak my mind, think my own thoughts or do things my own way...
they call me a Bitch.

Being
a bitch...

Means I won't compromise what's in my heart.
It means I live my life MY way.
It means I won't allow anyone to step on me.

When I refuse to tolerate injustice and
speak against it, I am defined as a
Bitch.

The same thing happens when I take time for myself instead of being
everyone's maid, or when I act a little selfish.

It means I have the courage and strength to allow myself to be who I truly
am and won't become anyone else's idea of what they think I "should" be.

I am outspoken, opinionated and determined. I want what I want and there is
nothing wrong with that!

So try to stomp on me, try to douse my inner flame, try to squash every
ounce of beauty I hold within me.
You won't succeed.

And if that makes me a bitch, so be it. I embrace the title and am proud
to bear it.

B - Babe
I - In
T - Total
C - Control of
H - Herself

B = Beautiful
I = Intelligent
T = Talented
C = Charming
H = Hell of a Woman

B = Beautiful
I = Individual
T = That
C = Can
H = Handle anything

I'm exposing my child to all the things I want her to know as second nature.  We turn off lights as we leave the room, every light in the house including those in our lamps are energy saver ones, I talk to her about how to protect our environment and why it's important to do so.  I've exposed her to things that I want her to learn about which is not only environmental issues, I've read to her from the day she was born, we do activities that enhance her phonics skills, her maths skills, her science skills.  She knows how to use a computer and choose her activities.  I'm just sitting here now thinking she's so little, am I pushing her too far? I try not to focus so much on the learning such as maths, science and English but it's part of every day it's not something I set out to do intentionally.  I know in Northern European countries, their children don't start school until they are 7, turning 8.  By the age of 10 they are on a level in all aspects of school learning with our children at the age of 10.  They also have far fewer learning difficulties than we have here and we start our kids when they are 4 or 5!  This to me says that we are starting them on it at too young an age and we are in fact holding them back by teaching them before they're able to comprehend it.  The maths and science skills in particular of children in Northern European countries are much better than the maths and science comprehension of our children even though our children are learning it for longer.  This has me doubting myself in every way.  Am I being of assistance to her by teaching her these things? Or am I setting her up for learning difficulties later on? The unfortunate part is that I'm not going to know until she's in Grade 6 or something, then it will be too late to do anything about it.