tinypliny - 09/03/08 19:29
@metalpeter: I just read your comment and something else came to mind. I was walking home from Guercio's a few days back and I was at the crossing in front of Lafayette high school. There was this little boy - around 9-10 years old purposely dribbling his ball across the road and stopping every motorist going past. I thought it was a one time thing and he was just crossing the road and playfully dribbling his ball. BUT NO. He was at it a whole half hour or maybe more! I could see him still stopping cars and annoying the hell out of drivers as I reached the roundabout. It was just so bizarre. He was doing all of it on purpose. Now what if a motorist had not been paying attention and had come zooming through the intersection? Was the boy looking for trouble? He was certainly old enough to understand that what he was doing was wrong.

I see this sort of behaviour as examples of poor parenting. I know it's a little harsh but what you are reflects on your kids. If you are irresponsible, so will your kids. You could argue that parents can't forever be watching kids and I agree. But if your kids respect you, then your constant presence would not even be required. If you have been a good parent then respect alone would make good habits a way of life, rather than a way of forced education. Environmental influences (including parental guidance and care) weigh in a lot on behavioural attributes of an individual.

tinypliny - 09/03/08 19:09
A few days back, in response to my question on when it's right to judge politicians on their family and personal issues, (e:zobar) commented that it's okay when they make it an agenda/selling point for themselves. I agree. Did Palin make an agenda/selling point out of good parenting? Is she not practicing what she is preaching? If yes, then this is a nasty turn of events for her campaign, indeed.

If not, I would say that it's her family and thus it's her business, just as Hoyt's affairs are his business.
While it's not for us to say (or even point fingers), it definitely is high time she shook herself out of this ill-informed reverie and change her stance on sex education - having seen its effects first-hand.

@(e:janelle): I see your point of view. The approach to sex education matters a LOT. Just going through the motions and reciting stuff from a pamphlet or viewing a video has never been and never will be effective. For any education to be effective (Abstinence/safe sex/whatever), good parenting and quality time with kids is an ABSOLUTE necessity. It takes a lot to be an educator. Lip-service just doesn't cut it. :/ You could push out safe-sex education and condoms with the whole state behind you and yet have teenage pregnancies. It all boils down to how much time you are willing to spend with your children and how much of a guidance and role-model you are to your kids. If you don't worry about when they are coming home and what kind of company they keep, then I am afraid no sex-education, however intense, is ever going to help.

metalpeter - 09/03/08 18:56
Here is my problem with not teaching kids about sex in school, it is just silly. It is like when you have a kid and they cross the street what do you tell them look both ways. You learn that before you know a green light means go and red means stop. The reason that is taught is because if you teach them to only cross at a light the second a toy or ball goes into the street they won't know what to do so like a kid they chase the ball into the middle of the street and if they are lucky they live and if not then the there buddy gets to watch his friends brains get splatered in the middle of the street. The same thing is true about sex. When that sexy boy or girl likes them and they are willing to go behind the bleachers they are now the kid who brings a Knife to a gunfight. I'm not saying you should say go out and have sex. But when it happens the kids won't know what to do to be safe.

ajay - 09/03/08 18:44
I think "karma" might just edge out "ironic", but it's too close to tell. Maybe we can call it "karmic irony"?

janelle - 09/03/08 12:00
I really don't find it that ironic. I think whether you as a parent encourage abstinence or choose to teach the basics of safe sex, your teenage son or daughter can end up with a pregnancy on their hands. It's just particularly unfortunate for her due to her public life and public stance on abstinence education.

This isn't to say, I support abstinence only education, because I don't. More safe sex education please.

jason - 09/03/08 10:24
Yes, the conservative position on sex ed is untenable. There are times, on both sides, when ideological orthodoxy trumps common sense. What's that southernism? You can hope in one hand and shit in the other, and see which one fills up first.

dcoffee - 09/03/08 09:59
Learn about Birth Control in school!! Gasp!! What do you want these kids having sex! My daughter is not having sex before she is married.. oops.

Oh, and if she gets raped she better have that baby too.

museumchick - 08/27/08 14:09
That was an insightful article. I will have to pass that around the office sometime soon.

dcoffee - 08/26/08 09:45
interesting

tiburon1724 - 08/26/08 13:03
yeah a little too close to me for comfort too. I was looking at a house for sale right there when I was house hunting too. I decided against it because it was I think the second house next to the apartments at the corner of Colvin, rather have some distance from apartments in the city.

paul - 08/25/08 12:10
at least of wasn't a random killing :)

metalpeter - 08/01/08 18:24
Just have to comment on that 1st picture he looks like he is doing the DR. Evil finger thing and demanding the wrong amount of money. I don't know what the rock thing means but have seen it other places or heard of it, most recently at the Garden walk someone had a Celtic or is the Keltic cross and there where rocks on the base of it but not sure what it means.

dcoffee - 08/01/08 12:34
Awesome, The graveyard cleanup is a bit more awesome though. I don't understand what's wrong with people who molest grave sites. I applaud you for taking action.

tinypliny - 08/01/08 10:16
I love cemetaries. They are so peaceful and inspiring.

drew - 08/01/08 08:55
Rocks for everyone? or just kids? What is the significance?

janelle - 08/01/08 08:46
That's awesome about the cemetery!

We're going to Boston to see my family's really old graveyard and I'm really grateful that it has been preserved for (dorky) ancestors like me to go look at and wonder about the people in it.