Why thank you.:) As a matter of fact, I love most things Disney. Since my sons have long since moved into the world of making fart sounds with their mouths and knitting their brows over schoolwork, I find it satisfying that they can still have a moment of excitement before seeing Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix, or getting ready to go to the midnight party and read the last book. However, I wasn't ONLY referring to Harry Potter when I was talking about wonder. I was talking about ANY experience in life that brings a sense of excitement or anticipation or yes, magic and wonder (no matter HOW it may make anyone else feel, everyone feels different things for different events, and there's nothing at all wrong with that). There are enough grim things to deal with in life. A little mystery and enchantment can't possibly be a bad thing, no matter where they come from.
Nothing has been spoiled for me. I don't believe I intimated that anything had. In fact, I can't wait. I was merely expressing some frustration with certain people feeling the NEED to spoil anything, in any way, for someone else. As I said, I have no desire to see any spoilers for Harry Potter, although during the first season of Heroes I read every spoiler I could possible root out. Different experiences, I suppose.
...what possible perverse pleasure anyone could get out of spoiling something wonderful for other people. I sometimes go looking for spoilers, but for something I am really, really looking forward to, I won't do it. I LIKE to anticipate, be surprised, feel the "magic," however you wish to put it. I know, so don't look, but I just can't help feeling sorry for people who walk through life with all the wonder ripped out, and feel that everyone else deserves to have theirs ripped out, as well. Whatever anyone thinks of Harry Potter, anything that encourages reading, imagination, excitement, and wonder is something worth preserving intact.
I have a Sorting Hat replica I won from hollywood.com years ago, and yes, I will be wearing it to the midnight Harry Potter party, looking ridiculous, embarrassing my kids, and loving every minute of it. LoL. Enjoy life, you only go around once.
This is exactly what I have done for my 14-year-old. I also block certain things at the router level, just in case, but the software really does make things easier, especially with time management and levels of filtering. I only check the log maybe once a month, since at this point there is zero reason for me not to truust that he only goes where he is allowed to go. It also simplifies things with my 6-year-old, as they can have different XP user logins with VERY different access restrictions, which isn't too easy to accomplish with just XP User Accounts alone. I remember not feeling comfortable telling my mother ANYTHING at all, even after she very calmly and voluntarily took me to the doctor at 15 for birth control (which wasn't even necessary for another year lol, but then, my mother didn't trust me much, ergo that was the issue between us). I have made a concentrated effort to talk to my kids about everything, let them know that I trust them, but that I WILL verify from time to time what they are doing, as that is my JOB as a parent. In return they, for the most part, are very open with me as well, and I hope to continue on this trend.
My experience was a bit different, although I absolutely believe it's possible not to lose anything after cutting out soda. I used to be a big Coke and Cherry Coke drinker. I decided to cut ALL soda out and switch to Crystal Light/carbonated water/water. 20 pounds just FELL off in less than two months without me changing a single other thing. My older son (who is struggling a bit with his weight also, more from growing more than 8 inches and 3 1/2 shoe sizes in a little over 6 months lol than anything else) also dropped a few pounds and was more energetic.
I found that pretty amazing, and have barely had any type of soda since then. Probably another of those cases of differently metabolizing systems...
Well, I never said he wouldn't be able to do those things before college, for heaven's sake. I said I don't feel those things are necessary at 13. Just like I don't think playing video games on a school night is productive, especially if the school grades are not presenty at acceptable levels. As children age, they are able to do more things, and mentally ready for those responsibilities. It's pretty silly to assume that something I won't allow my 13-year-old to do would hold the same for an 18-year-old, or even a 16-year-old, for that matter, thereby unleashing him out onto the world as a "n00b." I am pretty damn sure he knows a lot more about computers than most kids his age, and you don't need endless IM, MySpace, or any other ridiculous fad that rolls along to do that. *rolls eyes*.
Yeah, at that age they just aren't capable of making those kinds of decisions. My son is 13, and he has his own computer set up on a wireless network in his room. There has never been anything malicious on it because one, there is CyberSitter installed on it (best investment I ever made, especially as far as the time limit goes.), and two, he only has access to a restricted account, so he cannot install ANYTHING on the computer...period. Also, there is no IM software installed, as I feel there is no need for that yet. He chats with friends on the game Runescape or on the phone, and as far as I am concerned that is enough for his age. Viruses are the last thing I worry about on his computer. I wish more parents took their job seriously and actually pay attention to what their children need at certain ages, versus what "everyone else" is doing.
Every since my children started school (the oldest is now 13 and in the 8th grade), games, either computer or console, or even hand-held, are strictly off-limits on school nights. Only board games are allowed, and then only after homework and chores. Also, each child is allowed to choose 2 half-hour TV programs to watch, for a total of two TV hours, or else a movie. Some nights they don't choose any TV, and they either want me to read aloud to them, or listen to music. Friday nights, Saturdays, and Sundays games are allowed anywhere from 1 to 4 hours, depending on weekly behavior. This has worked very nicely in our household, with no whining, crying, or rebellion, homework and other chores are done since there isn't anything for their eyes to glaze over for, and lots of talking occurs at the dinner table with the television off. So many families have little or no communication or expectations nowadays, it kind of saddens me. I am not the strictest of parents by ANY means, in fact, I have very few rules, but those rules I feel are important, I make sure to STICK WITH. Consistency and clear expectations, once again, trump being "friends" with your own child, or letting electronics do your parenting for you.
How utterly crass and unprofessional. My ex worked as a manager at a Radio Shack in Connectict for nearly 10 years before finally quitting in disgust after the company literally tried to suck the soul and lifeforce out of him. Their policies have been atrocious for years, low pay, as many hours as they think they can get you in for and still MAYBE have time for sleep, racist tendencies and now this ultimate in laziness and unprofessionalism. I feel for these people, and hope they get some kind of justice or at least recognition from this incident.
On topic, my apartment has mostly flourescent lighting, but the few lamps that I do have all have CF twisty bulbs in them, and I try to use them as much as possible. My electric bill tends to be almost negligible anyway, maybe $31 a month, especially in the winter, but I have noticed a savings of at least $5-$7 a month.
I definitely call bullshit on this one. IE7 totally breaks my site, which is very compliant standards-wise and works fine in just about every other browser. IE7 goes right into the bucket where I left IE6 laying, brought out only to test web sites (and now, apparently, to re-test previously fine websites when I have to fix them). Thanks, Microsoft!
That's so weird. I absolutely don't doubt what you are saying, but I recently picked up a cheap Dell just for my kids to use. One of the first things I did was remove McAfee so I could install a different AV/Firewall before the computer was allowed online, and I had no issues removing it at all. I think I got a message telling me to remove the Security Center FIRST, so that's what I did, and the rest was cake. I also double checked that all folders/processes/etc had been removed afterward, and they were. I wonder if it's just all the CRAP that Dell puts on the computers in the first place, that all working together causes some of the issues? I spent more time removing useless junk from the computer than I did getting everything set up in the first place. lol.
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Why thank you. :) As a matter of fact, I love most things Disney. Since my sons have long since moved into the world of making fart sounds with their mouths and knitting their brows over schoolwork, I find it satisfying that they can still have a moment of excitement before seeing Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix, or getting ready to go to the midnight party and read the last book. However, I wasn't ONLY referring to Harry Potter when I was talking about wonder. I was talking about ANY experience in life that brings a sense of excitement or anticipation or yes, magic and wonder (no matter HOW it may make anyone else feel, everyone feels different things for different events, and there's nothing at all wrong with that). There are enough grim things to deal with in life. A little mystery and enchantment can't possibly be a bad thing, no matter where they come from.
Nothing has been spoiled for me. I don't believe I intimated that anything had. In fact, I can't wait. I was merely expressing some frustration with certain people feeling the NEED to spoil anything, in any way, for someone else. As I said, I have no desire to see any spoilers for Harry Potter, although during the first season of Heroes I read every spoiler I could possible root out. Different experiences, I suppose.
...what possible perverse pleasure anyone could get out of spoiling something wonderful for other people. I sometimes go looking for spoilers, but for something I am really, really looking forward to, I won't do it. I LIKE to anticipate, be surprised, feel the "magic," however you wish to put it. I know, so don't look, but I just can't help feeling sorry for people who walk through life with all the wonder ripped out, and feel that everyone else deserves to have theirs ripped out, as well. Whatever anyone thinks of Harry Potter, anything that encourages reading, imagination, excitement, and wonder is something worth preserving intact.
I have a Sorting Hat replica I won from hollywood.com years ago, and yes, I will be wearing it to the midnight Harry Potter party, looking ridiculous, embarrassing my kids, and loving every minute of it. LoL. Enjoy life, you only go around once.
This is exactly what I have done for my 14-year-old. I also block certain things at the router level, just in case, but the software really does make things easier, especially with time management and levels of filtering. I only check the log maybe once a month, since at this point there is zero reason for me not to truust that he only goes where he is allowed to go. It also simplifies things with my 6-year-old, as they can have different XP user logins with VERY different access restrictions, which isn't too easy to accomplish with just XP User Accounts alone.
I remember not feeling comfortable telling my mother ANYTHING at all, even after she very calmly and voluntarily took me to the doctor at 15 for birth control (which wasn't even necessary for another year lol, but then, my mother didn't trust me much, ergo that was the issue between us). I have made a concentrated effort to talk to my kids about everything, let them know that I trust them, but that I WILL verify from time to time what they are doing, as that is my JOB as a parent. In return they, for the most part, are very open with me as well, and I hope to continue on this trend.
I wish I could bite MS's shiny metal ass.
My experience was a bit different, although I absolutely believe it's possible not to lose anything after cutting out soda. I used to be a big Coke and Cherry Coke drinker. I decided to cut ALL soda out and switch to Crystal Light/carbonated water/water. 20 pounds just FELL off in less than two months without me changing a single other thing. My older son (who is struggling a bit with his weight also, more from growing more than 8 inches and 3 1/2 shoe sizes in a little over 6 months lol than anything else) also dropped a few pounds and was more energetic.
I found that pretty amazing, and have barely had any type of soda since then. Probably another of those cases of differently metabolizing systems...
Well, I never said he wouldn't be able to do those things before college, for heaven's sake. I said I don't feel those things are necessary at 13. Just like I don't think playing video games on a school night is productive, especially if the school grades are not presenty at acceptable levels. As children age, they are able to do more things, and mentally ready for those responsibilities. It's pretty silly to assume that something I won't allow my 13-year-old to do would hold the same for an 18-year-old, or even a 16-year-old, for that matter, thereby unleashing him out onto the world as a "n00b." I am pretty damn sure he knows a lot more about computers than most kids his age, and you don't need endless IM, MySpace, or any other ridiculous fad that rolls along to do that. *rolls eyes*.
Yeah, at that age they just aren't capable of making those kinds of decisions. My son is 13, and he has his own computer set up on a wireless network in his room. There has never been anything malicious on it because one, there is CyberSitter installed on it (best investment I ever made, especially as far as the time limit goes.), and two, he only has access to a restricted account, so he cannot install ANYTHING on the computer...period. Also, there is no IM software installed, as I feel there is no need for that yet. He chats with friends on the game Runescape or on the phone, and as far as I am concerned that is enough for his age. Viruses are the last thing I worry about on his computer. I wish more parents took their job seriously and actually pay attention to what their children need at certain ages, versus what "everyone else" is doing.
Every since my children started school (the oldest is now 13 and in the 8th grade), games, either computer or console, or even hand-held, are strictly off-limits on school nights. Only board games are allowed, and then only after homework and chores. Also, each child is allowed to choose 2 half-hour TV programs to watch, for a total of two TV hours, or else a movie. Some nights they don't choose any TV, and they either want me to read aloud to them, or listen to music. Friday nights, Saturdays, and Sundays games are allowed anywhere from 1 to 4 hours, depending on weekly behavior. This has worked very nicely in our household, with no whining, crying, or rebellion, homework and other chores are done since there isn't anything for their eyes to glaze over for, and lots of talking occurs at the dinner table with the television off. So many families have little or no communication or expectations nowadays, it kind of saddens me. I am not the strictest of parents by ANY means, in fact, I have very few rules, but those rules I feel are important, I make sure to STICK WITH. Consistency and clear expectations, once again, trump being "friends" with your own child, or letting electronics do your parenting for you.
How utterly crass and unprofessional. My ex worked as a manager at a Radio Shack in Connectict for nearly 10 years before finally quitting in disgust after the company literally tried to suck the soul and lifeforce out of him. Their policies have been atrocious for years, low pay, as many hours as they think they can get you in for and still MAYBE have time for sleep, racist tendencies and now this ultimate in laziness and unprofessionalism. I feel for these people, and hope they get some kind of justice or at least recognition from this incident.
A bit offtopic, but congrats on the baby!
On topic, my apartment has mostly flourescent lighting, but the few lamps that I do have all have CF twisty bulbs in them, and I try to use them as much as possible. My electric bill tends to be almost negligible anyway, maybe $31 a month, especially in the winter, but I have noticed a savings of at least $5-$7 a month.
I definitely call bullshit on this one. IE7 totally breaks my site, which is very compliant standards-wise and works fine in just about every other browser. IE7 goes right into the bucket where I left IE6 laying, brought out only to test web sites (and now, apparently, to re-test previously fine websites when I have to fix them). Thanks, Microsoft!
That's so weird. I absolutely don't doubt what you are saying, but I recently picked up a cheap Dell just for my kids to use. One of the first things I did was remove McAfee so I could install a different AV/Firewall before the computer was allowed online, and I had no issues removing it at all. I think I got a message telling me to remove the Security Center FIRST, so that's what I did, and the rest was cake. I also double checked that all folders/processes/etc had been removed afterward, and they were. I wonder if it's just all the CRAP that Dell puts on the computers in the first place, that all working together causes some of the issues? I spent more time removing useless junk from the computer than I did getting everything set up in the first place. lol.