Friday 21 September 2007

Be the Change


Millions of people around the world are embracing the Web 2.0 phenomenon of
"Social Networking", creating profiles on popular sites like Facebook,
LinkedIn, and MySpace. Change.Org is a cool website that represents a bold
new step in online community-building, combining the exciting format of
virtual networking with the a higher purpose of charity and social activism.

The only important question to ask yourself while creating your personal
profile on Change.Org is "What Do You Want to Change in the
World?" Members of this pro-active website can meet people all over the
world who are working to protect Nature, prevent and fight diseases,
promote peace, change politics, and address other local and global
issues. Make a Difference!

Visit the website here

from Cool Tricks and Trinkets

Saturday 15 September 2007

Are We There Yet?




Moms and "Mr. Moms" everywhere will want to bookmark this parent-friendly website. MomsMiniVan.Com is filled to the brim with "101 Car Travel Games & Road Trip Ideas for Kids" that will keep the little ones entertained during school runs, carpools, and family road trips.

Parents can browse through Mom's Minivan to find car games and ideas for toddlers, babies, and kids of all ages. With the help of fun games like String Finger, Car Bingo, and Counting Cows, those long trips to grandma's house will a lot more peaceful.

http://www.momsminivan.com/

...from the Cool Tricks and Trinkets Newsletter

Friday 7 September 2007

...three more quotations


The third-rate mind is only happy when it is thinking with the majority. The second-rate mind is only happy when it is thinking with the minority. The first-rate mind is only happy when it is thinking.
- AA Milne

I think that God in creating Man somewhat overestimated his ability.
- Oscar Wilde

Any word you have to hunt for in a thesaurus is the wrong word. There are no exceptions to this rule.
- Stephen King

Vintage Smoking Ads


These days it is common knowledge that smoking is a deadly habit, which
claims the lives of millions of people every year. Not too long ago,
however, smoking cigarettes was widely seen as a sign of sophistication,
sex appeal, and even good health!

"Truth in Advertising", a virtual gallery of vintage cigarette and tobacco
advertisements, demonstrates the extensive efforts of cigarette companies
and advertising agencies to sell such a preposterous and lethal
notion. The ads on this site are from a particular time period during the
1940's and 1950's, known as "The Age of Innocence", when the outlandish
marketing by tobacco companies included endorsements from medical doctors
and other jaw-dropping claims.

http://www.chickenhead.com/truth/index.html

...from the Cool Tricks and Trinkets Newsletter

Thursday 6 September 2007

School 1967 vs 2007

Scenario: Jack goes quail hunting before school, pulls into school parking lot with shotgun in gun rack.

1967 - Vice principal comes over to look at Jack's shotgun. He goes to his car and gets his shotgun to show Jack.

2007 - School goes into lock down, and FBI is called. Jack is hauled off to jail and never sees his truck or gun again. Counselors called in for traumatized students and teachers.


Scenario:
Johnny and Mark get into a fist fight after school.

1967 - Crowd gathers. Mark wins. Johnny and Mark shake hands and end up best friends. Nobody goes to jail; nobody is arrested; nobody is expelled.

2007 - Police called. SWAT team arrives. Johnny and Mark are arrested and charged with assault. Both are expelled even though Johnny started it.

Scenario: Jeffrey won't be still in class, disrupts other students.

1967 - Jeffrey sent to office and given a good paddling by the principal. He returns to class, sits still, and does not disrupt class again.

2007 - Jeffrey is diagnosed with ADD and given huge doses of ritalin. Becomes a zombie. School gets extra money from state because Jeffrey has a learning disability.

Scenario: Billy breaks a window in his neighbor's car and his Dad gives him a whipping with his belt.

1967 - Billy is more careful next time, grows up normal, goes to college, and becomes a successful businessman.

2007 - Billy's dad is arrested for child abuse. Billy is placed in foster care and joins a gang. State psychologist tells Billy's sister that she remembers being abused herself, and their dad goes to prison. Billy's mom has affair with psychologist.

Scenario: Mark gets a headache and takes some aspirin to school.

1967 - Mark shares aspirin with principal out on the smoking dock.

2007 - Police called. Mark is expelled from school for drug violations. Car is searched for drugs and weapons.

Scenario: Pedro fails high school English.

1967 - Pedro goes to summer school, passes English, goes to college.

2007 - Pedro's cause is taken up by state. Newspaper articles appear nationally explaining that teaching English as a requirement for graduation is racist. ACLU files class action lawsuit against state school system and Pedro's English teacher. English banned from core curriculum. Pedro is given a diploma anyway but ends up mowing lawns for a living because he cannot speak English.

Scenario: Johnny takes apart leftover firecrackers from 4th of July, puts them in a model airplane paint bottle, blows up a red ant bed.

1967 - Ants die.

2007 - Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco and Firearms, Homeland Security, and FBI called. Johnny is charged with domestic terrorism. The FBI investigates parents; siblings are removed from home; computers confiscated. Johnny's dad goes on a terror watch list and is never allowed to fly again.

Scenario: Johnny falls while running during recess and scrapes his knee. He is found crying by his teacher, Heather. Heather hugs him to comfort him.

1967 - In a short time, Johnny feels better and goes on playing.

2007 - Heather is accused of being a sexual predator and loses her job. She faces three years in state prison. Johnny undergoes five years of therapy.