Raising Kid's in the age of the internet !

As a parent of children that are now your age (30's).  I feel that you as parents of children in this instant everything and online 24/7 have some real challenges ahead.

First thing, your kids are your kids and you are the parents. Don't try to be their friends. There is plenty of time for that when they hit their twenties.

Try to avoid using technology as a baby sitter. I truly believe that it is creating a generation of children that have very short attention spans.

Limit the time on phones, tablets and tv.  Force the kids to play together. If a fight breaks out let them solve it unless it gets out of hand.

Let them walk to school. Only drive them in bad weather.  Believe it or not it's actually safer for them to be outside than on their computers.

Force them to play outside. They need the exposure to the dirt and allergens in order to help prevent serious allergies.  We never had peanut butter allergies during the 60's and 70's. 

Put them to bed one half hour earlier than you want and offer them a chance to stay up an extra half hour if they read a book made of paper. If they don't it's lights out.  Did I say BOOK !   Not a tablet or phone.   Never have technology in the bedroom. There will be plenty of that when they reach their teens.

At a point around 11 to 13 years of age let them pick their own bed time.  I gave mine an alarm clock and  told mine that the first time they were late for school  or their marks started to drop, I owned their "bedtime" till they were 18. They were never late.

They have always had access to a computer and video games. We controlled every aspect of when , what they played for games, internet and tv.

We restricted how many hours a day they had access to the internet.

There are excellent child restricted wifi access devices. We have one for our grand kids age 3 and 6. 

This is the product ....    https://kidswifi.com/    It works perfectly.

The world we have today is going to be a lot more difficult to raise a child with technology. It's everywhere.

But you have to tell your children that you are in charge and that you will make the decisions. Don't back down on that. Kids will tug at your heart and try to manipulate you.

 Don't be a helicopter parent... Let your kids fail if need be but be there to help them up.

Take your kids camping and hiking.  It's good exercise for them and you !

Most important........ be the parent and not the friend !! 

Mothers, Fathers and Caregivers on Cellphones

OK, this is a controversial statement and for that I apologize in advance!
While I feel this issue primarily applies to younger women it does apply to some men as well.
This is an observation "Mine" and while not indicative of all women.

Over the last number of years I have noticed that women have adapted to the
cellphone technology quite well. So much so that they continue to text and drive.
I drive a larger model pickup truck so I can see into the cars and see the texting etc.

But as bad as that issue is, that not my beef here !!!

Over the last 15 years I have traveled many parts of the US and Canada and it applies to both countries.

What I am seeing is women walking their kid's with the cellphone in one hand trying to push the stroller as well as trying to hold the hand of a second child.
Taking the kids to the Park then taking on the cellphone the entire time.
Grocery shopping with a kid or two in the shopping cart and trying to talk on the cellphone.
Going through the cash trying to pay credit or debit while talking on the cellphone the entire time totaling ignoring the cashier.

I understand the addiction to cellular technology as I love it as well but come on.



People spend the time with your children and not on your phone as they grow up so fast.
If you want to understand where I'm coming from you only have to listen to
the song by Jim Croce " Cats in the cradle". While the song is about a dad who did not
have time for his son when he was a youth, this applies to you moms with cellphones as well.

My observation is supported by some posts below.

http://www.nj.com/news/index.ssf/2008/08/too_much_cell_phone_use_by_adu.html

http://www.medicaldaily.com/cell-phones-are-distracting-too-many-parents-disrupting-communication-kids-270937

Does Man Need to go to Mars ?

Does man need to go to Mars. The is yes but not to look for life !!!

This past week the Mars Rover Curiosity landed allow man to have an even better view of the Red planet in High Def this time.

Ever since mankind was in it's infancy, man as either want to explore space or fear it. Ever since I was a kid man has done nothing but explore space. And what a time it has been.
From the first Mercury and Gemini rockets to the Apollo missions to the moon then the Space Shuttle                and the International Space Station.                                                             AP Photo


The one ton lander will explore the crater named "Gale". looking for signs of life.

Now,  what if it does find life.  So what ! Life lived on Mars and may have even spawned life on earth from meteor collisions.

Again so what !!!

NASA needs to spend it money on getting man to Mars in order to set up a colony on Mars.
Why do this you ask?  To create a safe haven for mankind should earth become uninhabitable in the future.
So we will be able to generate breathable air, able to build green house's to grow crops.

So it is time to start working on get man to Mars.

Want to see a 360 degree picture from Mars ?
http://www.photojpl.com/curiosity-landing-site-on-mars-first-hd-panorama-of-gale-crater/-/s4fkBPaSqJ/    

Will the US Second Amendment and the NRA be the downfall of the USA

This week a gunman breaks into a Aurora Colorado movie theater during a screening of 'The Dark Knight Rises" and kills 12 people and injures 58 people.

We have all heard these headlines by now.

What really gets me, is the weapons he used,. police found him in full riot gear and carrying three weapons, including an AR-15 assault rifle, which can hold upwards of 100 rounds, a Remington 12-gauge shotgun, and a .40 Glock handgun. A fourth handgun was found in the vehicle. All the guns were bought legally .
What kind of country allows the purchase of an AR-15 assault rifle with large clip magazines?
One that has the NRA which I feel has become a third political party in the US.!!!! One that lives and dies by the Second Amendment to the United States Constitution!!!!!
The United States does not have the political will to end the sale of these weapons and judging by the attack ads during this 2012 election year may never have . 


Here is an example of why gun control in the US will never happen !!!!! Courtesy US News

NRA Takes Aim at Weapons Treaty

The powerful American gun lobby worries about the reach of a global pact on conventional arms.

Delegations from almost 200 countries convened at the United Nations this month to come up with a new treaty that would regulate international trade in conventional weapons. The effort, supported by the Obama administration, has very vocal opposition: the American gun lobby.



While I for one am divided about the right for a person to own a weapon for self defense,  I have no doubt that no one should have the right to own an assault rifle.


The USA has started it's downfall, look at the mass shootings listed below that seem to have started with the age of information. 



July 20, 2012: At least 12 people are killed when a gunman enters an Aurora, Colo., movie theater, releases a canister of gas and then opens fire during opening night of the Batman movie “The Dark Knight Rises.”

Nov. 5, 2009: Thirteen soldiers and civilians were killed and more than two dozen wounded when a gunman walked into the Soldier Readiness Processing Center at Fort Hood, Texas, and opened fire. Army psychiatrist Maj. Nidal Hasan is charged with 13 counts of premeditated murder and 32 counts of attempted premeditated murder.

March 10, 2009: Michael McLendon, 28, killed 10 people — including his mother, four other relatives, and the wife and child of a local sheriff’s deputy — across two rural Alabama counties. He then killed himself.

April 16, 2007: Seung-Hui Cho, 23, kills 32 people and himself on the Virginia Tech campus in Blacksburg, Va.

April 20, 1999: Students Eric Harris, 18, and Dylan Klebold, 17, opened fire at Columbine High School in Littleton, Colo., killing 12 classmates and a teacher and wounding 26 others before killing themselves in the school’s library.

Oct. 16, 1991: A deadly shooting rampage took place in Killeen, Texas, as George Hennard opened fire at a Luby’s Cafeteria, killing 23 people before taking his own life. 20 others were wounded in the attack.

June 18, 1990: James Edward Pough shoots people at random in a General Motors Acceptance Corp. office in Jacksonville, Fla., killing 10 and wounding four, before killing himself.

July 12, 1976: Edward Charles Allaway, a custodian in the library of California State University, Fullerton, fatally shot seven fellow employees and wounded two others.

Aug. 20, 1986: Pat Sherrill, 44, a postal worker who was about to be fired, shoots 14 people at a post office in Edmond, Okla. He then kills himself.

July 18, 1984: James Oliver Huberty, an out-of-work security guard, kills 21 people in a McDonald’s restaurant in San Ysidro, Calif. A police sharpshooter kills Huberty.

Aug. 1, 1966: Charles Whitman opened fire from the clock tower at the University of Texas at Austin, killing 16 people and wounding 31.

Trayvon Martin

Here I sit in Zephyrhills Florida for the winter and the news of late is about the shooting death of  Trayvon Martin.  While this only happened about  50 miles away from us, it seem like we are right there wit hall the national coverage.
George Zimmerman claims that the man attacked him. So how did the bullets end up in his back.  This was cold blooded, I wana be a cop murder. This guy was nothing but a cop wana be. He wasn't accepted by a police department so he became a Neighbourhood watch captain with a gun no less.
This kid was in the wrong spot at the wrong time with the wrong person.  He was a racist who planned to shoot this kid. He basically said so on the 911 call.

Hell the picture shown of George Zimmerman is him in prison garb !!!!  Where is his boy scout picture ?

From the MSNBC  news:
A woman who says she and her roommate witnessed the final moments of Trayvon Martin's life told Dateline NBC that George Zimmerman had "his hands pressed on his back" and "never turned him over or tried to help him."

Zimmerman's lawyer, when shown part of the interview being aired Sunday night on Dateline, emphasized that his client would be claiming self-defense.



While Florida has beautiful weather and we love the people, you got to look at the stupid laws they have here.

Stand you ground !   -    Everyone has a gun, no wonder they need this law.  So stupid. Self defense is self defense, you don't need this law.

Riding motorcycles without helmets !  -  Natural selection do not repeal this law.  How else are we going to rid the planet of gangster bike groups like the Hells Angels.

Riding in the back of pickup trucks ! -   See above minus the Hells Angels.

Unmarried couples may not commit “lewd acts” and live together in the same residence. !  - Get with the times...   Common Law is like marriage...you won't get it anyways. .

It is illegal to sell your children. !   No kidding, why would you want to sell your kid's, I would have given them away for free.... 




A woman who says she and her roommate witnessed the final moments of Trayvon Martin's life told Dateline NBC that George Zimmerman had "his hands pressed on his back" and "never turned him over or tried to help him."

Zimmerman's lawyer, when shown part of the interview being aired Sunday night on Dateline, emphasized that his client would be claiming self-defense.

How TV has changed over the years !

Cancellation of TV shows !

     I have decided that I am sick of TV shows being cancelled.  
Last year I invested time in NBC's  "The Event"  ( IMDB rated 7.1)  and  Fox's Chicago Code  ( IMDB rated 7.2) and "Lie to Me" ( IMDB rated 7.9) which many people thought was a great show.   
All   "Cancelled" 


     This year its ABC's " Pan Am" ( IMDB rated 7.0).  It took a few episodes to appreciate this show. Who decide on the ratings for the networks.  Nielsen Ratings? They use electronic devices by the use of Set Meters connected to your TV to see what channel you are watching at a particular time.  These people are paid for this service, so in turn have a need for extra income.  Do they have time to watch TV because they maybe working two or three jobs.  I would not typically say they are middle class homes but lower middle class and may not be reflective of the demographics watching the shows.   

      This procedure of not using proper ratings mean that a lot of really good shows are getting axed.  Why not setup up a survey type system where users register with a ratings agency and a demographic profile is completed.  Then they do surveys ( Nielsen diary) of the shows they watched and when whether it be live or recorded.


People it's time to complain to the networks that their rating system is no good and needs to be changed.


Bill

Florida 2012

Well when the bell struck the New Year that signaled that it was time to leave the snow behind and head to Florida. We were traveling with our friends AJ and Sheelagh in their Winnebago motor home. We communicated with FRS radios.

The trip started out well with above freezing temperatures and early morning sun.

That did not last long as rain started almost immediately.  By the time we made it to Windsor Ontario the winds were quite strong and the wind chill started to drop.

By the time we got south of Toledo the temperature was below freezing and snow squalls where making driving tough. Finally we stopped for dinner in Troy at a fantastic little family restaurant called Lincoln Square Restaurant at exit 73 in Troy Ohio next to the Super 8 motel.  When we came out and got back on the highway the roads were very icy.  Fortunately the ice did not last long and we made it to Franklin , south of Dayton for the night. Parked in the local Super Walmart for the night.

Next morning started out well but almost immediately the snow squalls started and made visibility near zero and turn the roads to a sheet of ice.  After about 15 minutes of this I decided to pull off at an exit 32 north of Cincinnati. This was the first time I had tried to brake.  The trailer started to slide to the right on me, the beginning of a jack knife. I immediately decided to abort the action and moved back over into my lane and told AJ on the radio so he did the same. After a looking for another exit that was not icy and seeing many accidents I pulled over on the side of the highway at the 275 bypass. AJ kept going and told us that the next exit was good. So we started again and got off in Sharonville exit 15 and had breakfast at the Cracker Barrel where we decided to call it quits and AJ decided to continue.  We checked into the Red Roof Inn at 10:30am. Made for a long day of TV.  As AJ had not activated his US cellphone we did not hear from them the rest day or night. TV had reported a 35 car pile up south of Cincinnati .

Next morning was sunny and cold, so we got an early start.  The roads were good but as we approached Corbin exit 29 the traffic came to a dead stop.  There was an accident involving a trailer and pickup truck similar to ours.  It had jack knifed and rolled over.  By the time we got close enough to take pictures they had up righted the trailer and had the truck on a tow truck flat bread.  We could not quite figure out what happened but my best idea is that he was cut off by some one entering from the on ramp. Too bad one couples winter holiday down south is over.
We continued  over the mountains and finally heard from AJ at that time by phone and they were ok.
The rest of the day was uneventful but long, we had  started at 7:30am and made it to south Georgia about 9PM. We had almost caught up with AJ and Sheelagh only 35 miles ahead of us.
Next day we made it to Zephyrhills Florida.
We have been here a week and the weather has been great.  Boy do I love winter.



Bill

The loss of a pet.

Shadow as a pup the night we brought him home

He was just a dog, a pet as some would say.   While today when I took him in to the vets office for the last time to be put to sleep. He was nothing but family.

You would never put down your kid's or your parents/ grandparent.  But why your dog.

For "Shadow" at age 16 years and two months it was the end of the road.

My son Shawn with Shadow at Killbear Provincial Park 

He was almost totally blind , about 90 percent deaf.   He had dementia , and would pace a room for hours on end totally lost till he would collapse from exhaustion.   His bladder could not hold pee for more than 4 hours, so almost every night he would pee on the kitchen floor and then walk and sleep in it.  We would cut off his water and food around 8pm for the night and take him out for a pee at midnight and he would still pee.   When he would go out for a walk which was almost every day, that evening and the next day he would be sore and exhausted, wining from pain.

It was time to do this, just not today or any day.   I did not want to do this because it did not feel right in my heart.

Shadow  today with his tin of Salmon

Today his last day he slept in till about 10:30am.  At lunch time Deb made Salmon sandwhiches and she gave him the tin ...  which he just loves.   He was in heaven early.  Around 2pm I took him out for a longer than normal walk, it was cool but sunny out ( he loved the sun) and let him sniff everything he wanted.  He was happy.   I brought him in and gave him his favorite treats " Snasages"  a few of them ...   what the hell.  Then he was off to sleep till about 3:45pm and I woke him up to take out for a pee as we were getting ready. 
At 4 pm we put him in the car for the 10 minute drive to the Vet's office.   When we got there , I took him out on the gorgeous property with a small lake out from for a pee and maybe a poop.   He never did a poop, but pee he did at least five times.   At 4:30pm we were in the vets office in the little room with my wife the vet and an assistant. They had to shave his leg to find a vein but could not so have to move to another leg.  This time she was successful.  We both gave Shadow a kiss as she pushed the plunger on the needle.  In seconds he stopped squirming and while looking up at us he passed away.

I was devastated along with my wife , I decided to head out the front door and have a good cry on my own.

That dog was family and we loved him like our own children.  It's been only two hours now and my eyes are still welling up.



We love you Shadow    we will miss you always!  

Muammar Gaddafi Dead !!!

Muammar Gaddafi  killed in Libya this week by rebels, now the UN wants an investigation to see if he was murdered.  Come on, the guy killed tens of thousands of his own people.  It was time to let the people he terrorized for over 40 years to decide his fate. If that was a bullet to head, so be it. I was proud that we offered air support instead of boots on the ground to the rebels, now it's time to let them decide their future on their own.   I hope they get the freedom and democracy they fought so hard for.


My thoughts.......
Bill

Change the next generation ... Riots in London !!!! Flash mobs in Philadelphia ....

I think the time has come for my kid's generation ( in their 20's) to rethink what the last two generations have proven to be wrong.  Time Outs !!  and negotiating with children does not work.

  Kid's don't respect their elders nor themselves anymore. They have a total sense of entitlement and a right to do what ever they want.

 Bring back the wooden spoon and the belt or as they say corporal punishment.

   People know what child abuse is...   a belt on the hands or ass is "Not" child abuse.  A smack in the head or a punch in the body is....

  My parents raised me with corporal punishment and "never" remember getting it when I did not deserve it.  I am glad I got it because I have good moral and strong abilities and  I'll tell you I deserved it. I was the definition of a hell child as my friends can attest.

  I raised two children who are strong, kind, educated and independent. Neither of whom would be on those streets in London as a rioter.
  But both know what a wooden spoon (plastic made in China now ! ) and a belt is.  My daughter never got the belt but was good friends with the wooden spoon, my son talked to the belt a few times.

  Do "NOT" just use corporal punishment. It is meant as a last resort when you give them three warnings ...   number four is time.

  The time has come to make the changes and let parents raise their kids and not expect society  or teachers to do it.

It time for parents to be parents and not friends.  Become friends when they start post secondary education.  They will appreciate it and so will society.

What I think !
Bill 

Bill & Deb's Awesome Adventure - Day 14

Well here we are 14 days in to our trip and we are camping in Port Richey Florida.

Very welcome change in the weather.   Nice area, the people are great but dam those little no seeums (gnats).  Got many bites on my arms

As you can see from the pictures we are happy with the change.

Bill & Deb's Awesome Adventure - Day One

Well after a 12 hour drive we made it to Lexington Kentucky.   The roads were great so that made it easy.  And Deb kicked in some  hours driving....  thanks Deb. 
Here it is 11 PM EST and we sit in the hotel getting ready to rest up for our next part of the trip down I75 to Florida.

Retired !!!

Today is the day.... my last day at work.   It seemed like such a long day even though it wasn't. 

I sort of feel like I'm on vacation, I just need to figure out that I'm never going back.

Well this real long trip should do just the trick. 

Now to the next adventure !!!!!

The Time has Come !!!!

Next week I finally hang up the keys !!! After working for 38 years, I'm finally going to be free to do what ever I want !!!

Retirement .................

We are heading south to Florida on Sunday the 16th of January.

I'll post pictures an story's of our travels which should last up to four months.

It's been a long time .. but since then.

I've worked my butt off the last year doing the G8 and G20 Summit here in Canada and am getting ready to retire soon. Exactly 3 months and 17 days to go before then. During that time we need to get our trailer all ready to go south to Florida & Texas on the 23rd of Jan. 2011.

Well I'm a great uncle ....

My niece Becky had a baby this past weekend on July 4th. Ava Louise was 7 lbs 6 oz. This is great for Becky and Graham . But it made my sister Karen and her husband grandparents. Better them than me, I'm not ready to be a grandparent yet. Are ya listening Krysti !!

Doesn't beck look marveled at what she and Graham have created !

You will make a great mom...... Welcome to the world Ava

Fathers Day 2009

Well this is the last Fathers Day of this decade. I lost my father at the beginning of this decade on May 13th 2001 to cancer at the young age of 69. Here it is 8 yrs later and only seems like last week.

Remember one thing I found out after dad died that father have a tendency to be the one taking the pictures not the one in the pictures. Get lots of pictures and video's, it's too late once they are gone.

Happy Fathers Day !!!

Florida 2009

Well we've been to Florida and back. Had some great weather...temperatures in the low 80's and sunny everyday.
I love Florida, the people are so kind and love Canadian's.

But common American's, every ad on TV or radio was for either a personal injury lawyer, drug company or car company. By the time I was left, I had enough of the ads.

There must be someone else with money to advertise !

Bill

Christmas 2008

Well Christmas has come and gone for another year. A wow what weather. From knee deep snow the day before Christmas to heavy rain and almost nothing today, the day after boxing day. I had a good holiday. Santa brought me a new cordless drill and tickets to go see Trans Siberian Orchestra last night. The concert was amazing. These people are so talented. The lighting and pyrotechnics were out of this world. And the concert last 2 and half hours.... what stamina. I got promoted on on Christmas eve, so that finally puts to an end the goal I've been seeking for 26 years. But retirement is just around the corner, so it's a little late in coming.
Here's hoping 2009 will be a much better year than 2008 ever was !!!

Bill

So what now..... The government we voted for or the one we didn't ?

So whats with our Canadian politicians. They just can't seem to acted like grown ups. I think that the Conservatives tried to pull a stupid stunt by dropping tax payer funding for the parties and now the other parties are hell bent on taking them out of office.

Well lets see what happens !!!!


Bill

Pelican

While sitting on the beach in Sarasota a Pelican stop by for a visit. Picture taken by a Nikon D70 with a Nikon 55-200 lens. March 2007

Moms close call !!

On Friday July 25th 2008 my mother had a minor fire at her house. She put a pot on the stove and went outside to chat with a neighbour. Soon she heard the smoke detector go off and ran inside to a kitche filled with smoke. She manged to turn the stove off and open a few windows. She went out on the front porch and sat down. She realized that she was not well and called my sister. My sister who is a nurse called 911 for a fire truck and ambulance. When they took my mom to the hospital it was only then that my sister realized that mom was having a heart attack.
After some tests it was revealed that she needed double bypass surgery. This was done on Wednesday July 31st 2008. Which would have been her 54th wedding anniversary. My dad died of cancer at age 69 back on mothers day 2001. Everything went well and she is due to be released Wednesday August 6th 2008. Another close call.

First Day

Well I finally did it. Started my first Blog. And I've got nothing to say. And trust me when I say that that is unusual. Just ask anyone who knows me.