Juggling

Ah, it's been a month and a half since I've written, and my #5 nephew is chiding me. The truth is the more balls that we get spinning in the air, the more often the blog ball gets left in the basket. So all I'm going to write is a list of projects and items of merit that have been keeping us busy since the last post.
(in no obvious order of importance, but ALL important)

• Hurrah! The Practical Guide to Grandparenting has received the final edits from us and is now in the hands of the proofreader. Still scheduled for release on February 19th.
• Our editor left her job, with the last two chapters unedited. I believe I had a mini-stroke. (she finished them free-lance: Hooray Alyssa!)
• Our one and only granddaughter lost her first tooth! She received $5 for this feat, and immediately started wrenching on the next loose one.
• We got an honest to goodness real life literary agent! Grace Freedson's Publishing Network is shopping our next manuscript, even as you read!
• #2 son had his first concert last night, playing guitar in the North Carolina State University Jazz Ensemble. It was really cool to watch; made up for the 3 hour drive...
• BOGO the Dingo learned not to eat a pepperoni from the garbage can when it's attached to a mouse trap. She's still giving me The Look.
• Before mentioned literary agent has asked for our next next manuscript proposal. We are scrambling to produce.
• I made preliminary investigations into starting a bona fide business. Am now writing a business plan...must be why I took all them there accounting and business classes long long ago. Maybe.
• #3 Son has his first performance next Sunday. He is a trombonist in the Greensboro Youth Orchestra, which is only 45 minutes away.
• I got ALL the floors swept. Downstairs, that is.
• I am still going to physical therapy 3 times a week for my poor shoulder. I am up to lifting one whole pound now. Went to the dr. today, got a cortisone shot and another month off work. sigh.

Okay, that's not all but it's enough.

Happy Veterans Day, and Thank You! You know who you are:
Bill, Dad Hewitt, Uncle Roger, Rick, Jim, Bob, Pike, Chuck #1, Chuck #2, Michael, Steve, Campbell, and whoever I missed that's going to let me hear about it. You have all sacrificed to give us the freedom that we tend to take for granted. Thank you, and God Bless.

Robin

Judge OKs 'Hitler Youth' Buttons?

NEWARK, N.J. — Two students in northern New Jersey can wear buttons featuring a picture of Hitler youth to protest a school uniform policy, a federal judge ruled Thursday.
Okay, now I realize this is a First Amendment case, and my stew isn't with the judge.

What is wrong with these parents?

You give your kids a Hitler Youth button to wear because you don't approve of school uniforms?

First of all, I'd like to know what there is about the school uniforms that offends you. No designer jeans allowed? Can't show off the fact that you paid $175 for that pair of sneakers that you bought for little Michael? Worried that no one will be able to tell just how special your kid is if he's dressed the same as the rest of the pack?

Let me digress. My kids wore uniforms to school, and I'll tell you the reasoning that was in place at that time: some of the kids were dirt poor, while others were from wealthy homes. By requiring uniforms the school cut out a lot of petty meanness, because rich kids tend to look down on poor kids.

Flash forward to today's schools. Uniforms in today's schools are being implemented for one scary reason: gangs. Rich and poor alike, schools are being infiltrated by gangs at an alarming rate, and all the gangs tend to adopt a specific article or style of clothing to show their allegiance.

On to my second question: Why in the world would you equate the Hitler Youth to your child's right to clothing choice? Are you saying that because little Tony can't pick out what to wear to school, he won't be able to think freely? That the school is forcing him into servitude to the government? Do you even have a clue what the Hitler Youth were?

And now for my prediction, folks. Flash forward, about 10 years from now: The scene is a college auditorium, where a politician has just finished the Q & A session after a forum. You guessed it- there's Michael or Anthony, grinning like a village idiot while he uses his Right to Free Speech to disrupt the forum, attract the campus cops, and shout that now immortal line (you guessed, didn't you?)

"Don't Tase me, Bro!"

Sheesh.
p.s. I had to do it- I ordered the bumper sticker. Thanks, Bill O'Reilly!

Robin
www.HewittsBooks.com

Jena Six, of course!

Okay, I wasn't planning to comment on this, but I've been reading various news articles on the web and haven't seen these questions anywhere...
What kind of dangerous, fierce, life-threatening tough guys are these six kids supposed to be, if all six of them can jump a "poor white kid" and only give him a concussion and a few bruises?
A newspaper in Alexandria, La., The Town Talk reported in frequently asked questions about the Jena Six that the students known as the Jena Six were all originally charged with attempted second-degree murder and conspiracy to commit the same, according to LaSalle Parish District Attorney Reed Walters. Those charges came after Justin Barker was hit and then repeatedly kicked by a group of students at the high school on Dec. 4, 2006.
He was knocked unconscious and suffered several injuries to his face during the attack and was taken to a hospital where he was treated for three hours, according to the newspaper.

I mean really. Attempted murder? Conspiracy to commit murder? I don't mean to belittle the poor kid's bruises, but when I was his age I got worse fare fighting with my sister. Matter of fact, when she and I were well into our thirties she confessed that during one of our "spats" I had broken her nose. Unwilling to give me the edge of victory, she walked 3 miles to the nearest drugstore and bought a tube of "cover-up" makeup to hide her battle wounds...let me tell you, even though I had 4 inches in height and probably 20 pounds on her, if there had been six of her I'd be dead. Not bruised, not concussed, but dead.

Which brings me to my second question. When was the last time you heard of an attempted murder where the "victim" spent three hours in the emergency room? If you've been in any emergency room lately, then you know that it's a good idea to pack a lunch before you leave the house! I broke my ankle last summer, and spent over six hours in a small town ER- and there were no blood gushers of heart attacks to be seen. Not to mention, no unconscious beaten students (see photo # three). BTW, I was thrown from a horse once and got a concussion- I spent 2 DAYS in the hospital!

Now for the third question. Just how many self-serving crooked D.A.s are there out there? I don't think I was alone in thinking Mike Nifong was an exception to the rule; now I'm wondering if this is prevalent throughout the South, or throughout the country.

I never thought I'd say these words, but here it is:

Go Al Sharpton!

Let's support the Jena Six, and make sure these charges get dropped (or at the very least, reduced). Then, how about a federal investigation into the town of Jena, and LaSalle Parish District Attorney Reed Walters?
C'mon, Big Al. We know O.J.'s waiting on you, but how about sticking around awhile in Louisiana a while and seeing this thing through?

p.s. Sorry about the nose, Pike.

Robin www.HewittsBooks.com

Don't Tse Me, Bro!

Okay, by now the whole world has seen the college kid getting zapped for not shutting up. Andrew Meyer, age 21, has received his 15 minutes of fame, and then some. Here are my questions about the incident:
Hey Andrew, what's your GPA?
Have you taken a Social Science class yet? How about Government? Civics?
How are you paying for college?
Why do you have so much time on your hands that you can plan and execute your little acts, then run home and post them on your website?

Hey, Mr. and Mrs. Meyers, are you proud of your son today?
Did you ever try and teach him how to behave?
Did you teach him that it would be funny to say "blowjob" to a U.S. Senator?
Did you work hard so he could go to college?
Have you called a lawyer yet, so your poor baby can file a lawsuit for not being allowed to act like an idiot in public?

By the way, Andrew; that wasn't a "Protest" or a "Rally" you were at. It was a simple Forum. I guess you didn't have time to take History 101, either...

I have 4 kids in college, and another heading there next year. I hope none of them ever meet an Andrew; I know for a fact not one of them would dream of acting like him. They are attending college to get an education, to achieve their dreams. They do have some spare time after homework and studies, but they use that time to work for spare money, or to practice their hobbies- none of which includes disturbing the peace. Or acting like a buffoon in public.

Andrew, can you spell "Buffoon"? Sure you can!

Robin

Go to www.HewittsBooks.com and see how we have (almost) 5 in college-- For Free!

A Kudzu Dream

I came across this article from the New York Times in Sunday’s paper : “Mali’s Farmers Discover a Weed’s Potential Power”. http://www.nytimes.com/2007/09/09/world/africa/09biofuel.html?em&ex=1189396800&en=0653a7244f33ba52&ei=5087%0A

Apparently there’s an obnoxious weed that has grown forever in Mali, and now they think they can make it into biofuel. Instead of pulling it, farmers are now cultivating it between their rows of vegetables, in hopes of a windfall of cash if the experiments prove fruitful.

Now, this got me thinking (Doug always shudders when I say that) if they can use that poor weed in Mali, why doesn’t someone give a shot at Kudzu here in the South?

Introduced from Japan as an ornamental in 1876, Kudzu was planted everywhere to stop erosion. What nobody realized was that the climate in the southern US is a bit different from that in Japan. Kudzu can grow a foot on a good day, and 60 feet a year if you’re not looking. If you’ve ever driven through the south, you’ve seen how it encompasses everything in it’s way. If you’ve never been south, then you have to see to believe. Take a look at these photos by Jack Anthony, and you’ll understand: http://www.jjanthony.com/kudzu/

Can you imagine the repercussions of Kudzu biofuel? I don’t mean the obvious relief from our dependence on foreign oil; I’m thinking more of the domestic economic impact beyond the relief at the gas pump.

Unemployment would bottom out. There would be careers not only in farming, processing, and trucking but also in the fields of refining and technology. The auto industry would once again flourish, as well as vacation destinations and boat sales.

There would also be a boom in real estate – as you can see from the photos, Kudzu owns over 7 million acres in the South. Why, think of all the as yet undiscovered historical sites will be uncovered!

I think I'm going to present this idea to the next General Assembly. As soon as I hack a path to the car...

America's Promise

This morning I want to bring your attention to a great organization that is working to build the future of America. The America's Promise Alliance is the nation’s largest multi-sector collaborative dedicated to the well-being of children and youth, and is based on 5 Promises to the children of our country. Following is a summary of the 5 promises, excerpted from the Alliance website:
1) Caring Adults: Caring adults are the cornerstone of a child’s development, and One-third of teens and 20% of younger children lack quality relationships with their parents.
2) Safe Places: All children need to be physically and emotionally safe wherever they are, and Between one-fourth and one-third of all young people “never” or only “sometimes” feel safe at school and in their communities.
3) A Healthy Start: All children need and deserve healthy bodies, healthy minds and healthful habits. 65% of young people say they wish they knew of more stores and restaurants that sold more healthy foods and drinks.
4) An Effective Education: All children need the intellectual development, motivation and skills that equip them for successful work and lifelong learning. 60% of 10- to 21-year-olds say their schools should give them more preparation for the real world.
5) Opportunities to Help Others: All children need the chance to make a difference in their families, at schools and in their communities. Half of parents of young people say they rarely discuss current events with their children.

As we commemorate the 6th anniversary of the terrorist attack on September 11, 2001, I challenge each of you to take a moment to remember not just the tragedy of that day, but also the way we as Americans united together afterwards. Let us again join hands, reach out to a child, and make them a promise. Or five.

Please visit The America's Promise Alliance website at http://www.americaspromise.org/apa.aspx and see how you can help build our future. America's future.

Is UBI a Leno Fan?

It occurred to me that it was only 2 days after Freddy T threw his hat in the ring on the Tonight Show that the first tape from UBL showed up. Coincidence? Perhaps not!
As many of you have surely noticed, Bin Laden has obviously hired an image consultant. Despite his denouncing the Democratic Majority for supporting funds for the war, it's pretty plain to see he's seething with jealousy that he himself can't throw his turban into the ring.
UBL has apparently hired John Edwards' hair dresser, as evidenced in his newly trimmed and dyed beard. A closer look will show that he's obviously now wearing designer sheets: a clear signal that he's taking Hillary's fashion sense to heart.
We all know the name game thing with poor Obama, but don't you think UBL is now trying to mimic that "from the heart" feeling in the mannerisms he now projects?
I think I'm going to keep a sharp eye on todays "new" video. I heard from an undisclosed source that UBL has a new scheme up his sheet. He's ordered all the old "Gomer Pyle, USMC" shows on DVD, and is studying them frame by frame. He's figured out that if he can crank up a good imitation of Jim Nabors, he can then kidnap Huckabee and step into the race. On the Tonight Show, of course.
Unless we all convert to Islam.

Bribing Children

I read an article that discussed a state legislative proposal to reward children for good grades with money. Get all A’s? Great, have some cash. Your tax dollars would be at work to raise the average GPA. (Quick thought: if it worked, and everybody started making A’s and B’s, would somebody start complaining about rampant grade inflation?) I listened briefly to a talking-heads back-and-forth (allegedly discussing the pros and cons) on TV. One guy suggested that this was a slippery slope, that the next step would be to pay people for obeying laws or acting moral. He might have a point, but there are already inducements to obey the law and act morally, namely prison and hell (or a similarly discordant plane of after-life).

My initial reaction to the story was a wince. This idea is so bad, it hurts. But then I started thinking, have I ever bribed my own children? Well, of course I have! When they were infants, there was the bribe of goodies to take their first steps. Later, I offered cash rewards if they would read a certain number of books over the summer. Do I still offer this? No. My point is, this bribery worked well for a few summers. And I understood that the thirst for reading was either going to take root quickly or it would never take root (how’s that for a mixed metaphor?).

And you know what, maybe some children don’t believe they can get good grades. Maybe the cash reward system will make them re-think their potential. My only caveat: just as I no longer pay my kids for reading, the cash for good grades should be limited to one or two years per student. If they don’t understand the benefits of good grades by then, if those study habits haven’t taken root, then the money would simply be going to helping a school’s collective GPA and test scores, which in the era of No Child Left Behind makes me wonder if that’s the underlying reason for this push. That is, pay the kids to make good grades so the school can stay in business to teach the kids. Ouch, my head hurts.

Father's Day 2007

Tomorrow is Father's Day. I have to admit that on Mother's Day 2007, I went all out and purchased a cool present that I knew my mom would love. And she did love it. It was a Pudge Rodriguez 8-inch bobblehead. She takes in to Bingo nights now, just for luck (and to show off). It was Thursday this week that I remembered I needed to send off a Father's Day present. So, already it was late. I was going to mail it off today, but I forgot. I'll call tomorrow and wish my dad a happy Father's Day, and I'll tell him his present is on the way, but I think I follow the national average on this. People care more about Mother's Day that Father's Day. I think there was a recent poll to confirm this.

Know what, though? I've got the answer to all of the punditry questions. The reason this happens is that dads don't really care. And I'm a dad myself, so I know it at least reflects my own views. Oh, it's wonderful to get a Father's Day card, and even better a present. I enjoy it, I really do. And don't get me wrong, I fully appreciate the thoughts. But if I get nothing? No, it doesn't ruin my day. I would hardly give it a second thought. I think it means more to moms, and that's why people generally treat Mother's Day with more respect than Father's Day.

But, given that, I'd still like to wish all of the fathers out there -- Happy Father's Day!

~ Doug

It's Not Right!

I’d like to congratulate Jamie Lee Curtis for speaking up (er, writing) on The Huffington Post. Her topic of conversation was parenting, and her illustration was the lament of Paris Hilton to her mother, “It’s not right!” as jailors began taking her to prison.

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/jamie-lee-curtis/mom-its-not-right_b_51507.html


Said Jamie Lee, “It was a painful episode to watch. A young woman, begging her mother, the person who should have taught her right from wrong, to help her, to teach her the rules of life. It was a little too late.”

Funny, I had been thinking the same thing. I remember watching a news show about the Hiltons. There was a video of a pre-teen Paris dancing (scantily clad) on a table, gyrating her hips. And her parents were at the table! Here is where a parent would normally say, “It’s not right.”

Reality gets skewed when parents have an anything-goes approach to parenting. I hate to generalize, but it sure seems like today’s kids walk around with an air of omnipotence. And I suppose if their parents never say “no,” why shouldn’t they have an exaggerated sense of themselves?

It’s time to rein in the children. They need to learn they can’t have everything, especially their freedom if they break the law. That just wouldn’t be right.

(Visit Doug and Robin at www.hewittsbooks.com)

High School Graduation

It's Official. On Saturday Andy graduated from The North Carolina School of Science and Math, and is now officially a college student. He will be attending North Carolina State University on a full scholarship. His hard work and diligence is paying off in big returns ...

What else is official?

David is officially a Senior in high school, and is well into his one month vacation before he begins his college funding quest in July. He has almost decided on Appalachian State University, and should be starting there about the same time our book on how to make a carreer choice and get funding for college comes out.Congrats to our two youngest!

Do You Talk To Your Children About Intolerance?

I find the sign offensive.

“AMERICAN OWNED AND OPERATED!” it proclaims, in bold red and blue letters. It stands in a prominent location in front of the corner gas station, an obvious reaction to the new owner of the competing station across the street.

I’ve met the new owner in passing, and although we haven’t exchanged names or any other personal information, he seems to be as congenial and polite as any other gas station clerk. He always has a smile and a “Have a nice day” for every customer, which I believe is the main prerequisite for a successful business person. His skin is a bit darker than the local average, and there may be just a touch of an unidentifiable accent when he speaks. This apparently classifies him as UNAMERICAN for some folks in these parts.

The sign hits a nerve with me. I remember being about ten years old, listening to Grandma Annie telling stories about growing up in the early 1900s on an isolated island on the Canadian border. When she was 7 years old, the United States Government proclaimed there was to be a census taken of all the Indians (we didn’t get the Native American title until outsourcing to India became popular) of the Sault Ste. Marie Tribe in Northern Michigan.

Her father dutifully loaded the family into the boat, and traveled up the St. Mary River to Sault Ste. Marie, where the census was to be taken by the Bureau of Indian Affairs.

The line was long for the census, going out the door and down the street and around the block. Grandma waited all day with her father, pregnant mother, and 3 siblings.

As the good American citizens of Sault Ste. Marie passed the queue, they threw garbage at the Natives, calling them “the N word”. By the time they reached the front of the line, seven‑year‑old Annie was covered in spittle and rotten tomato. They registered with the government, and returned to their island home and simple life.

Grandma always finished the story with the admonishment; “So don’t you ever tell ANYBODY that you have Indian in you!” She married a proper white man, and spent her life “passing” as white (like no one would notice her darker skin and coal black eyes–not to mention that beak of a nose!). In 1924 the United States Federal Government gave Native Americans the right to vote–and granted them Citizenship at the same time.

Being ten at the time, I missed the impact of the story, ignored her warning, and basked in the glory and envy as I immediately told all my friends of my Indian heritage. It wasn’t until decades later that the sorrow of grandma’s tale hit home.

Robin