I was just reading an article about how fewer teens are working jobs.

The thinking is that some parents feel it is better for teens to focus on their studies.  Some parents are apparently also concerned about the social stigma of having teens work.  It gives the impression that the family needs the kids to work.  Here is the link:  Link

I had a paper route from the age of 6-15 and then got a job at Cinnabon when I was 15.  I was actually just helping my sisters with the paper routes in the younger years.  But I had my own route that I had to do during all kinds of weather when I was 10.  The only way I was able to stop doing the paper routes was by working the Cinnabon job.  I can’t help but to think that it helped teach me responsibility.

Do you think a parent should require their teens to work between the ages of 16-18?

Al Sharpton is in the news because he is being investigated by federal authorities concerning money he raised for his 2004 presidential campaign.

Al Sharpton “suggests that the latest investigation is retaliation for his civil rights advocacy, specifically a demonstration he led at the Justice Department weeks ago to demand federal intervention in the Louisiana ‘Jena Six’ case.”  Here is the link:  Link

Do you think federal authorities would investigate Al Sharpton to get revenge for the Jena 6 case?

Franco Zeffirelli, an Italian film and opera director, has offered to help act as the Pope’s image consultant.

Franco is concerned that the Pope comes across as “cold.”  He also feels he needs a new wardrobe.  Here is the link:  Link

Do you think it is the job of the Pope to come across as warm and caring?

Would you raise your child the same way your parents raised you?

Imagine that you are going to see a movie.  Imagine that these are the movies that are playing:

1.  Alvin & Chipmunks

2.  August Rush

3.  Fred Claus

4.  Golden Compass

5.  I am Legend

Which do you go see?

Roy Den Hollander is suing a few nightclubs for holding “ladies night.”  The women are given reduced or no charge for entering the club while the men have to pay.  The policy is to help get more women attending the clubs.

The nightclubs claim that it is no different than restaurants letting children eat free or “early bird” specials for the elderly.  Here is the link:  Link

Do you think it is discrimination to offer better rates based on sex or age?

It is that time of the year again.  Apparently the majority of people have now regifted.  Here is the link:  Link  I was shocked the first time my wife told me that people actually regift.

Would you feel less important if you found out someone you love gave you a present that was regifted?

Here is the link:  Link

How many 5 year olds could you take in a fight?

I was just reading an article about a local community that is having white people moving out as black people move into the community.

The schools are performing well.  The black people that are moving in are “mostly middle and upper-middle-class.”   The principal of the local school feels the community doesn’t have a gang problem.  She feels “It has a race problem.”

The demographics of the community have changed dramatically:  “Since 2002, black enrollment has risen 32 percent, while white enrollment has dropped 32 percent.  In 1990, 70 percent of the district’s students were white. Today, 65 percent of the district’s 19,369 students are black.”  Here is the link:  Link

Do you think it is racist for white people to move out of a community as large numbers of black people move into the community?

A survey indicated that those who pull all-nighters in school have lower GPAs than students who never pull all-nighters.  Here is the link:  Link

When I was working on my undergraduate, there were times when I was pulling an all-nighter almost every week.

Have you ever pulled an all-nighter for school?