If you’ve ever had a hard time articulating your objections to letting children watch TV, watch this. You’re now prepared!
Dimitri Christakis is a pediatrician, parent, and researcher whose influential findings are helping identify optimal media exposure for children.
By Kristen Wolfe
20 year-old student, retail manager, blogger
You thought I didn’t really notice. But I did. I wanted to high-five you.
Yesterday I had a pair of brothers in my store. One was maybe between 15 and 17. He was a wrestler at the local high school. Kind of tall, stocky and handsome. He had a younger brother, who was maybe about 10 to 12 years old. The only way to describe him was scrawny, neat, and very clean for a boy his age. They were talking about finding a game for the younger one, and he was absolutely insisting it be one with a female character. I don’t know how many of y’all play games, but that isn’t exactly easy. Eventually, I helped the brothers pick a game called “Mirror’s Edge.” The youngest was pretty excited about the game, and then he specifically asked me, “Do you have any girl color controllers?” I directed him to the only colored controllers we have, which include pink and purple ones. He grabbed the purple one, and informed me purple was his FAVORITE.
The boys had been taking awhile, so their father eventually came in. He saw the game, and the controller, and started in on the youngest about how he needs to pick something different. Something more manly. Something with guns and fighting, and certainly not a purple controller. He tried to convince him to get the new Zombie game “Dead Island” and the little boy just stood there repeating, “Dad, this is what I want, OK?” Eventually it turned into a full-blown argument complete with Dad threatening to whoop his son if he didn’t choose different items.
That’s when big brother stepped in. He said to his dad, “It’s my money, it’s my gift to him. If it’s what he wants, I’m getting it for him, and if you’re going to hit anyone for it, it’s going to be me.” Dad just gave his oldest son a strong stern stare-down, and then left the store. Little brother was crying quietly. I walked over and ruffled his hair (yes, this happened all in front of me). I said, “I’m a girl, and I like the color blue, and I like shooting games. There’s nothing wrong with what you like. Even if it’s different than what people think you should.” I smiled, he smiled back (my heart melted!). Big brother then leaned down, kissed little brother on the head, and said, “Don’t worry, dude.”
They checked out and left, and all I can think is how awesome big brother is, how sweet little brother is, and how Dad ought to be ashamed for trying to make his son any other way.
This piece was originally published on Kristen’s blog, www.sweetupndown.tumblr.com.
Nov 30
Zach Wahls, a 19-year-old University of Iowa student spoke about the strength of his family during a public forum on House Joint Resolution 6 in the Iowa House of Representatives. Wahls has two mothers, and came to oppose House Joint Resolution 6 which would end civil unions in Iowa.
The fight to to keep marriage equality in Iowa continues, help us support Iowans like Zach.
The sexual orientation of my parents has had zero effect on the content of my character.
Nov 30
My children are never getting this vaccine (or any other for that matter).
Read Dr. Mercola’s article on this:
Brittney gives an emotionally charged overview of what her life has been like for the past two years. She struggles daily with the fact her life has been forever changed. A doctor frightened her into taking the Gardasil vaccine by telling her she could get an HPV through a "possible" lab accident at college - where her blood could mingle with someone elses who had an HPV. She was never told HPV's are sexually transmitted diseases, and having no other information, she allowed herself to be given a vaccine she never needed. Now she wishes the TRUTH to be told - more testing of this vaccine is warranted before another young woman is injured.
During a Republican debate in Tampa, Florida, presidential hopeful Michele Bachmann (R-Minnesota) alleged that campaign contributions from drug company Merck—the maker of Gardasil—played “a pivotal role in Rick Perry’s 2007 executive order that mandated teenage girls in Texas be inoculated against HPV,” CNN reports.
The order did not go into effect, however, as it was later overturned by the legislature.
Still, it’s hard to overlook the potential for undue influence and conflict of interest. Perry responded that the company gave only $5,000 to his campaign.
However, Merck has contributed:
Furthermore, CNN reported that:
“Perhaps more importantly, Perry’s friend, former chief of staff Mike Toomey, spun through the revolving door to become a lobbyist for Merck in Texas, a position he held at the time of the HPV-related executive order.
… Perry’s actions benefiting donors from the pharmaceutical industry don’t appear to stop with Merck.
For instance, drug-maker Novartis Pharmaceuticals has also contributed handsomely to the Republican Governors Association and it has also benefited from Perry’s support. Novartis has donated $700,000 to the RGA since January 2006, although it has only directly donated $5,000 to Perry’s own campaign. In 2009, Perry signed a bill into law mandating meningitis vaccines for all college students, a requirement he expanded again earlier this year.”
Link: http://www.ebaumsworld.com/video/watch/82029186/
DON’T EXPERIMENT WITH YOUR BABY
When rats were fed genetically modified soy, what percentage of the babies do you think died within the first 3 weeks? Find out the answer and what you can do to avoid GMOs by viewing the video below. Follow No GMOs and be a part of this worthy cause.
Jeffrey M. Smith, author of Seeds of Deception
The secret to mother-baby bonding might be breast milk, according to new research that determines that breast-feeding mothers are more likely than formula-feeding moms to bond with their infants in the months after they’re born. They also demonstrate stronger brain responses when they hear their baby cry, according to a study published in the May issue of the Journal of Child Psychology and Psychiatry.
Researchers at the Child Study Center at Yale University divided moms into two groups — nine breast-feeders and eight formula-feeders — and performed functional MRIs (fMRI) on them about a month after their babies were born.
While participants lay in a scanner and listened to clips of their own baby and an unknown child crying, researchers tracked what areas of their brains lit up. All mothers’ brains were more active when listening to their own baby’s cry, but the changes in the breast-feeding mothers’ relevant brain regions were far more significant.
Breastfeeding is the least expensive and most effective way to improve and protect your baby’s health, and now a first-of-its-kind study also suggests that breastfeeding may have a direct impact on a mother’s brain, promoting ‘maternal behavior’ and increasing emotional bonding between the mother and child.
This is not altogether surprising, since breastfeeding promotes the increased release of oxytocin, also known as the “love hormone,” or “bonding hormone.”
Mercola.com
Time Magazine May 20, 2011
Journal of Child Psychology and Psychiatry April 18, 2011; [Epub ahead of print]
Medical News Today May 30, 2011
Pediatrics May 29, 2011 [Epub ahead of print]
Birth: Issues in Perinatal Care May 20, 2011 [Epub ahead of print]
By Robert A. Rohm Ph.D.
Personality Insights, Inc.
I don’t watch much television; I simply do not have the time. However, when I do have the opportunity, one of my favorite programs is Judge Judy. I like her show because to me, she is a woman with a lot of “horse sense.” If you have ever watched the show, she is not only entertaining, she is also very smart. She has the ability to see who is being responsible and who is not in almost every situation. Her judicial decisions always seem to favor the person who is being the most responsible and honest.
Not long ago, someone butted in on her as she was speaking. Right in the middle of what she was saying, they interrupted her with their own opinion. Judge Judy pointed her finger at the person and said, “You need to remember that in this courtroom, I’m the boss, Applesauce!” Everyone laughed, including the bailiff. As I said earlier, she mixes good humor with her wisdom in deciding cases.
By the way, most of the cases Judge Judy tries are ridiculous and silly in nature. However, people are willing to go to court over some of the most ridiculous and silly issues! To me, that is the sad part of the show. And, in case you do not think that these situations happen in real life, you should spend some time with me or travel with me and observe some of the things I have seen. It would certainly be an eye-opening experience! Let me tell you about one such incident. Read the rest of this entry »
May 16
By Robert A. Rohm Ph.D.
Personality Insights, Inc.
As most of you know, I do a lot of public speaking. I recently sat down and tried to determine approximately how many different talks I have done in my lifetime. Conservatively speaking, I have done over 30,000 talks. By any stretch of the imagination, that is a lot of talking! I have learned a great deal about audiences and how to keep them interested in my topic. I have learned to be animated and use humor to keep my audience engaged while I am speaking. However, even though I have learned many techniques over the years, I must admit that I have occasionally been caught off guard by some unexpected occurrence. I believe those learning experiences have served to make me a better speaker and communicator. One such incident completely blew my mind!
When I speak, I like to use a handout because I have discovered that it helps the audience to follow along with me better. And, I have noticed that audiences enjoy having some notes to refer to when they get home. But, on one particular occasion, I realized that even though I may have the best handout in the world for my audience, it still might not work. Read the rest of this entry »
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Dr. Mercola is the founder of the world's most visited natural health web site, Mercola.com. You can learn the hazardous side effects of OTC Remedies by getting a FREE copy of his latest special report The Dangers of Over the Counter Remedies by going to his Report Page.
