HARRY CHAPIN 1942 - 1981

On Thursday, July 16, 1981, just after noon, Chapin was driving in the left lane on the Long Island Expressway at about 65 mph on the way to perform at a free concert scheduled for later that evening at Eisenhower Park in East Meadow, New York. Near exit 40 in Jericho he put on his emergency flashers, presumably because of either a mechanical or medical problem (possibly a heart attack). He then slowed to about 15 miles (24 km) per hour and veered into the center lane, nearly colliding with another car. He swerved left, then to the right again, ending up directly in the path of a tractor-trailer truck. The truck could not brake in time and rammed the rear of Chapin's blue 1975 Volkswagen Rabbit, rupturing the fuel tank by climbing its back and causing it to burst into flames.
The driver of the truck and a passerby were able to get Chapin out of the burning car through the window and by cutting the seat belts before the car was completely engulfed in flames. He was taken by police helicopter to a hospital, where ten doctors tried for 30 minutes to revive him. A spokesman for the Nassau County Medical Center said Chapin had suffered a heart attack and "died of cardiac arrest", but there was no way of knowing whether it occurred before or after the accident. In an interview years after his death, Chapin's daughter said "My dad didn't really sleep, and he ate badly and had a totally insane schedule."
Even though Chapin was driving without a license, his driver's license having previously been revoked for a long string of traffic violations, his widow Sandy won a $12 million decision in a negligence lawsuit against Supermarkets Generrl, the owners of the truck.
Chapin's remains were interred in the Huntington Rural Cemetery, Huntington, New York. His epitaph is taken from his song "I Wonder What Would Happen to this World". It is:

Oh if a man tried

To take his time on Earth

And prove before he died

What one man's life could be worth

I wonder what would happen

to this world

This information was provided by wikipedia http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Harry_Chapin

MUSIC HISTORY JULY 16

1934 - The NBC Red radio network premiered the musical drama, "Dreams Come True."

1959 - The Coasters recorded "Poison Ivy."

1966 - In London, Eric Clapton, Jack Bruce and Ginger Baker formed the band Cream.

1966 - The Lovin' Spoonful's "Summer In The City" was released.

1969 - The Who's "I'm Free" was released.
1972 - Smokey Robinson and the Miracles gave their farewell concert in Washington, DC.

1973 - Bob Dylan released the soundtrack to "Pat Garrett & Billy the Kid."

1976 - Loggins and Messina broke up.

1980 - The film "No Nukes" premiered in New York, NY.

1981 - Harry Chapin died in a car crash at the age of 38. He was on his way to a benefit concert.

1996 - Dolores O'Riordan of the Cranberries accepted an undisclosed settlement after a London newspaper reported that she appeared on stage without panties.

1999 - The Beach Boys appeared on NBC-TV's Today

Toddler Killed by Python : Justice for Shaianna

Marion Pellicano Ambrose

A few months ago I wrote a story for Paranormal Pub called “The Pet Python”. http://delayedreactionlounge.blogspot.com/2011/05/pet-python.html

Never in a million years would I have believed I’d see the same title as a news headline with an innocent, toddler for a victim!

Officials remove the 8 foot python that killed a two year old

Tragically, 2-year-old Shaianna Hare was strangled Wednesday by her family's 8-foot-long pet Burmese python. Shaianna was already dead when paramedics arrived at about 10 a.m. according to Lt. Bobby Caruthers of the Sumter County Sheriff's Office.

Charles Jason Darnell, 32, the snake's owner and boyfriend of the child’s mother, said he discovered the snake missing from its terrarium and ran to the toddler’s room, where he found the snake wrapped around her. Darnell said he stabbed the snake several times until he was able to pry the child away while someone else called 911.

"The baby's dead!" the sobbing caller from the house screamed to a 911 dispatcher in a recording. "Our stupid snake got out in the middle of the night and strangled the baby." "She got out of the cage last night and got into the baby's crib and strangled her to death," the caller said.

Authorities removed the snake from the home Wednesday afternoon. Once outside, the snake was placed in a bag and placed inside a dog crate. The snake was still alive.

"It's a tragedy," Sumter County Sheriff Lt. Bobby Caruthers said outside the home. Authorities said it's "a definite possibility" that the python may have been trying to ingest the girl. Blood was found on the mattress and teeth marks were found on her head.

Darnell did not have a permit for the snake, which would be a second-degree misdemeanor, according to Joy Hill, a spokeswoman with the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission. The snake was said to be malnourished, weighing only 13 and a half pounds, when a full grown python should weigh 140. Officials believe the snake had not been fed in over a month. 

The Humane Society of the United States said including Wednesday’s death, at least 12 people have been killed in the U.S. by pet pythons since 1980, including five children.

On Thursday, a Florida jury found Jaren Hare and Charles "Jason" Darnell guilty in the python strangling death of Hare's 2-year-old daughter, Shaianna. The couple was found guilty of all charges, including third-degree murder, manslaughter and child neglect. Hare and Darnell could be sentenced to 35 years in prison.

Pythons are not native to Florida, but some residents keep them as pets, especially Burmese pythons, which can grow to more than 15 feet and weigh more than 150 pounds.  When the snakes become too large, some owners release them into the Everglades and other wild areas, Florida officials say. One killed an alligator and then burst when it tried to eat it.

"It's becoming more and more of a problem, perhaps no fault of the animal, more a fault of the human," said Jorge Pino, a state wildlife commission spokesman. "People purchase these animals when they're small. When they grow, they either can't control them or release them."

The fast-growing population of snakes has been invading southern Florida's ecosystem since 1992, when scientists speculate a bevy of Burmese pythons was released into the wild after Hurricane Andrew shattered many pet shop terrariums. Scientists don't have an accurate estimate of how many pythons are in Florida, but estimates range from thousands to hundreds of thousands.



Shaianna



Caylee



So here’s what we want to know:

*Do you believe the jury was correct in throwing the book at these parents and finding them guilty of murder, manslaughter and child neglect?

*Do you think the perceived lack of justice in the Casey Anthony case had anything to do with this jury’s decision?

*If you disagree with this jury’s verdict, what would your verdict have been?

WANNA LAUGH?!?!

Tony Walker 
Did you see the news footage of Obama on his recent trip to England?
While he was there he went on the royal carriage with the queen. As they were riding one of the horses farted.
"Mr. President I am so sorry about that. As you realize there are some things over which even the queen of England has no control."
Obama replies, "Think nothing of it your majesty. In fact if you didn't say anything I would've thought it was the horse."

FOODHUNTER'S GUIDE:CHECK IT OUT

 Marion Pellicano Ambrose

Since I first started blogging for Delayed Reaction Lounge, I’ve had the privilege of examining many other blogs and websites. One of my favorites is The Foodhunter’s Guide. Every day I look forward to a post with pictures of amazingly yummy looking dishes like Blueberry Ricotta Cake ( http://www.staceysnacksonl​ine.com/2011/07/best-damn-​blueberry-ricotta-cake-eve​r.html  )  or Pasta Woodsman Style ( http://www.foodhuntersguide.co​m/2009/02/my-first-videopasta-​woodsman-style.html ) To fully appreciate this site, you have to know a little about the foodhunter herself!  She writes:

 

“I'm a Philadelphia transplant who grew up in a neighborhood where fresh ingredients and local markets were always a stone's throw away. Eating dinner together every night was a ritual and even though we didn't always get along, we came together over meals....”

The foodhunter graduated from Temple University with her degree in journalism and received her graduate degree from Drexel University. It seems she writes as well as she cooks! Talented lady!

I saw a post a few weeks ago. It mentioned a cake that sounded so awesome, I had to try it. The recipe wasn’t listed so I emailed the Foodhunter. Within 24 hours, she sent me the recipe and a personal note. We chatted on “message” a few times since then. She’s really a lovely person and very knowledgeable about cooking and baking! All the things she posts look so fresh and home-style! It makes me think of the grandmother everyone wishes they had! (I must point out that I have NO IDEA how old she is. As a matter of fact, I think she may be just the right age for DRL – 40 something!)

I’m including the recipe for Chocolate Almond Layer Cake with Cannoli Filling and the link to her page. I hope you will enjoy her blog as much as I do! Happy baking!

Chocolate Almond Layer Cake
2 cups sugar
1-3/4 cups all-purpose flour
3/4 cup cocoa
1-1/2 teaspoons baking powder
1-1/2 teaspoons baking soda
1 teaspoon salt
2 eggs
1 cup milk
1/2 cup vegetable oil
2 teaspoons vanilla extract
2 teaspoons almond extract
1 cup boiling water

Heat oven to 350°F. Grease and flour two 9-inch round baking pans.

Stir together sugar, flour, cocoa, baking powder, baking soda and salt in large bowl. Add eggs, milk, oil, almond and vanilla; beat on medium speed of mixer 2 minutes. Stir in boiling water (batter will be thin).

Pour batter into prepared pans.

Bake 30 to 35 minutes or until wooden pick inserted in center comes out clean. Cool 10 minutes; remove from pans to wire racks. Cool completely. Frost Chocolate Buttercream Frosting
1/2 cup (1 stick) butter or margarine
2/3 cup Cocoa
3 cups powdered sugar
1/3 cup milk
1 teaspoon vanilla extract

Melt butter. Stir in cocoa. Alternately add powdered sugar and milk, beating to spreading consistency.
Add small amount additional milk, if needed. Stir in vanilla. Cannoli Filling

3/4 lb ricotta cheese
1 cup powdered sugar
1 tsp vanilla

Whip together until smooth; adding more sugar is filling is too thin.

 https://www.facebook.com/#!/foodhuntersguide

See you on the Foodhunter's Guide Page!

LEIBY KLETZKY

Tony Walker

Here in NY, Brooklyn to be exact, an eight year old boy was kidnapped and murdered this week.
The boy bugged his mother to be allowed to walk (to camp I think it was) by himself. His mother convinced him to meet her halfway then she would walk the rest of the way with him.
She mapped out a route and went over it with him.
Sure enough on the very first try the boy made a wrong turn and got lost.
He asked a man he saw, a man he didn't know, to help him.
The man told the kid he would drive him home.
This man kidnapped the boy.
Their meeting was outside a dentist's office who had security cameras record the whole thing. Investigators saw the tape, got the man's name from the dentist, then went to the man's house. When they got there they asked the man where the boy is and the man pointed to the refrigerator. Some body parts of the boy was in there. The rest of the boy was found in a dumpster a few miles away.
Is anyone outraged at the mother???
The boy bugged her to walk alone?? He's eight!!! Tell the boy he is too young. End of story!
Hey kid, I'd rather you cry now than me crying later!!!
When we were kids we all walked around alone at that age. I know I did. But unfortunately times have changed.
I saw one report that said the boy was special needs. None of the other reports I saw said that but if it's true that makes this even worse.
Call me cold, but I feel the mother is a huge part of the blame here. Sorry.
What do you guys think? Do you place any blame on the mother? Do you leave your kids alone at that age? If you do, tell us where you live.

A.K.A. SOCIOPATH

Dawn Boyle

"BUZZWORD" - SOCIOPATH
 
If you have been following the Casey Anthony case or turned on the news, sociopath has been out there. It actually has been around since the 1930's. Sociopaths and psychopaths are the same thing. The original name for the disorder was "psychopath" but people and the media confused "psycho" with "psychotic". That is when the name was changed to sociopath.
 
Over the past few days I have done some research on sociopaths. It started by my wonderment of Anthony getting off for murdering her daughter. Made me want to understand how someone could be able to have done what she did (I truly believe she murdered her daughter) and act the way she has acted. I have spoken to a number of people, mostly mothers. It blows my mind as a mother myself, how she could have done (whatever it was) to her daughter and not blink an eye. That she either had a child "missing" OR dead but found the strength to get on out there and party like a rock star is beyond my realm of thinking.

A MEETING OF THE MINDS (THE REDHEADED ONES THAT IS)

DRL Writers, Patty, Marion and Barbara

A meeting of the DRL Redheaded Writers was held on July 12^th.    

 Having 3 of our talented crew of writers in the same city at the same time was an occasion we just couldn’t help celebrating! Patty, Barbara and Marion met for a few hours discussing important issues and making some critical decisions. One important issue that was resolved with expert decision making skills was dessert. Patty chose the double chocolate brownie (large by the way) while Marion and Barb shared the dessert trio (apple cobbler, bread pudding and double chocolate brownie). It’s easy to see why DRL is such an outstanding blog with decisions like this being made on a daily basis!

Another issue that was brought up was salaries. We voted to give ourselves a huge raise. Barb suggested we simply add another zero to our present salary. The resolution was unanimously approved raising each of our salaries to $0000.00 from $000.00 per month. We can all say we make a four digit salary per month now!

I must say, we missed our other DRL family members, but Dawn and Jenn are blondes, Robert always wears a hat or a hood so I don’t know what the heck his hair color is, Jillian is too mysterious to publish anything but her lips and Tony… well, he may have been a redhead at one time! We’ll have to ask him!

One of these days we plan to have a full staff meeting. At that time we’ll have many decisions to make. What restaurant for dinner? Boating or sunbathing? Wine or margaritas? Decisions, decisions! Whatever we decide, I know we’ll have a blast because I know these wonderful people I work with at DRL are the smartest, kindest, funniest and most caring people anyone could hope to know. I’m privileged to be a part of this blog and I hope that someday soon I will get to meet each of my DRL family members in person. Until then, I’ll just enjoy hanging with them at Delayed Reaction Lounge! 

PARANORMAL PUB: The Body Under the Bed, A TRUE Story

Johnny’s fiancé told him she changed her mind that night. She didn’t want to get married and she didn’t want to be with him. Vietnam had already taken its toll on him, but this was the final blow. He climbed on his motorcycle and drove it right into a brick wall. He was dead on impact.

I only knew Johnny as the man across the street with the piercing blue eyes. I was only 11 and when he used to wave and smile, I got a funny feeling in my stomach. He was very handsome and muscular and was always zooming off on his motorcycle. When I heard that he was dead, I felt a kind of shock. I couldn’t believe I wouldn’t see those blue eyes again.

The dreams started not long after. I would be standing by the side of the road and Johnny would be looking right into my eyes as he drove into the brick wall. There would be blood and body parts everywhere and I would just stand there. I’d wake up in a cold sweat and couldn’t go back to sleep.

They got worse. I started to imagine his body was beneath my bed. I’d wake up screaming. I could smell the decay. My sister and my parents would come running, but I couldn’t be consoled. Night after night; the dream, the terror, the stench. I thought it would go on forever.

After a few months, my sister convinced my parents that I needed professional help. They were discussing whether or not to take me to a psychiatrist. This was the 60’s. You didn’t see a psychiatrist unless you were really over the edge. My parents hesitated and I began to pray.

I prayed that God would release me from my terrors and that Johnny would rest in peace. I prayed that I could have my life back and that Johnny could move on to his afterlife. At this point, I was pale with dark circles beneath my eyes. My hair was dull and my eyes had no spark. I began to look like a corpse myself.

Then one night, I woke from my sleep. A bright light was shining in my bedroom door. The door opened slowly and the light grew even brighter. Suddenly I saw the image of Jesus slowly entering my room. He was smiling at me as He came to my side and got down on one knee. He bent down and reached under my bed, pulling Johnny’s body out gently. He took Johnny in his arms, cradling him like a child and stood up. He smiled a warm and loving smile once more, turned, and walked out of my room. The door closed and the light slowly faded. I pinched myself to see if I was really awake – I was. Funny, I wasn’t afraid, I wasn’t in shock. I was surprisingly calm. I lay back down and slept.

The next morning, my parents looked at me in confusion. My cheeks were pink, my own blue eyes bright. My hair was shining and I looked happy and healthy. My prayers were answered. After that night I never had the dream again. I’m able to think of Johnny without fear or terror, just with fond memories of his beautiful blue eyes and winning smile. I know he’s finally at peace.

OVER CHARGED....

Tony Walker

I don't know if this is nationwide news or not but here on Long Island this is pretty big news.

Did you hear about the couple who were being overcharged by the electric company for at least 10 years... then when they proved their case the courts denied them because the courts felt they should've been more conscious of what their bills were? The courts said these people took too long to report this problem! Is it me or is this crazy???

Once again the middle class gets screwed without a kiss.

Where is the punishment for the electric company??? How many of you know exactly what you are paying for when it comes to your utilities?? What about the poor little old lady who is still living by herself on a fixed income? You're telling me she knows exactly what she is paying for? She has no idea! She's paying what the utilities are telling her!

This poor couple have been working their whole lives, paid over $10,000 too much and are told it's their fault???

Someone got a check under the table so that most of Long Island won't sue the bastards for being overcharged.

What do you think? Do you agree with the courts decision?

WANNA LAUGH?!?!

A man walks into a bar and speaks to the bartender. "I bet you $500 that I can piss in this cup from across the room." The bartender looks at the man like he was nuts and says with a laugh, "Ooook buddy. You got a deal." So the man walks over to the other side of the room, pulls down his zipper and just lets it fly. Piss goes everywhere; on the bar, on customers, all over the bartender, but not a drop lands in the cup.

The man walks back over to the bartender. The bartender says, "Ha ha ha. Well pay up." So the man pays him, turns around and begins to laugh hysterically. The bartender asks, "You just lost $500, why are you laughing?" The man turns around and says to the bartender, "Well you see that man over there." The bartender says, "Yeah." He replies, "

Well, I bet him $10,000 that I could piss all over your bar and you, and that you would be happy and laugh about it!"

NO PAIN NO GAIN

THOUGHTS FOR THE DAY

Patty B

I Exercise - run my mouth,push my luck, & jump to conclusions

If it weren't for the fact that the TV set and the refrigerator are so far apart, some of us wouldn't get any exercise at all. 

"Fitness - if it came in a bottle, everybody would have a great body".  ~Cher

Aerobics:  a series of strenuous exercises which help convert fats, sugars, and starches into aches, pains, and cramps

Exercise is a dirty word.  Every time I hear it, I wash my mouth out with chocolate. 

CANCER PERSONALITY

                                                            June 21st o July 23rd

Cancer is the fourth sign of the astrological year and is known by its astrological symbol, the Crab. Cancer individuals are intelligent, organized, generous, home-loving, and tenacious. They are also devoted to family members and provide enormous emotional support.

Below you’ll find general characteristics for the Cancer man, woman, child, lover, and friend. At the bottom of this page, you’ll find links to articles with detailed personality profiles for every day that falls under the Cancer sign. Read on to see if the characteristics ring true for you or the Crab in your life.

The Cancer Man

Cancer men can be loving and attentive one minute, remote and unreachable the next. They have the potential to be a bohemian or a family man. They are adaptable to family life, which means a great deal to them. They cherish their children and often take an active role in their upbringing.

Cancer Information Element: Water Quality: Cardinal Planetary ruler: Moon Birthstone: Pearl Flower: Larkspur Color: Silver Key characteristic: Emotion Strengths: Intuitive, nurturing, maternal Challenges: Controlling, bossy, manipulative

The Cancer Woman

The Cancer woman has a strong maternal instinct and the desire to make her home a place of domestic bliss. They have great loyalty to family members and close ties to their mothers. They also have a large circle of friends and associates. The typical Cancer woman looks beyond her career or home-centered activities to find interests through which she can contribute to others.

The Cancer Child

Children born under the sign of Cancer are quiet, reflective, and prefer to be seen and not heard. They may have a difficult time being part of a group, allowing themselves to be dominated by more aggressive youngsters. Parents of Cancerian children need to be especially helpful in their social development, teaching them to assert their individuality and independence. These children are rarely discipline problems, though they can become excessively moody and depressed during adolescence.

The Cancer Lover

Cancerian individuals are extremely romantic and passionate people. They enjoy all the traditional rituals of wooing and winning a sweetheart and usually opt for marriage or a long-term relationship. They make loyal mates and will champion their spouse's career and expect the same in return. These individuals are keenly attuned to the needs and wants of their partner; they are exceptionally sensitive lovers.

The Cancer Friend

With their gentle and caring spirit, Cancerians are the ones to whom others turn with problems, worries, and life-choice concerns. Despite their ability to support and nurture their pals, they do not make friends easily. This may be because they take friendship seriously and don't bother to indulge superficial associations. They are often shy people who wait for friendships to develop instead of actively pursuing them.

To learn more about Cancer and other Zodiac signs, check out
http://www.astrology.com.au/astrology/12-signs-of-the-zodiac/cancer.html .

HARRY POTTER PREVIEW IN LONDON - WICKED COOL!!!

Marion Pellicano Ambrose

The Harry Potter “faithful” stood in Trafalgar Square, umbrellas and wands in hand, waiting for the premier of Harry Potter and  The Deathly Hallows- Part 2. They had come from all over the world to pay their final respects to a young wizard whose adventures began before many of them were born. Many had been camped out for three days, waiting for the last movie in the Harry Potter series. Besides wands, many wore scarves around their necks depicting the different “houses” of Hogwarts School. Some even had small lightning bolt marks on their foreheads just like Harry’s.

One 14 year old Swedish fan was asked why he would wait in the rain for hours on end to see the premier.  “I've grown up with the stories and this is the last chance I'll have to do this properly," he said. "It's a way of saying goodbye to a part of your life. It's really exciting to be seeing the movie, but I don't want it to stop."

His comment made me think of something my own daughter told me. “Harry Potter and I grew up together. He’s as much a part of my life as my own friends.” And for many young men and women, this is so true!  The conclusion of the Harry Potter phenomena is the end of an era. The memories of all the events in the books and movies, watching Harry, Ron and Herminie grow from kids to adults, and passing through the same difficult stages of life at the same time, has forged a bond with many young people. Now that the last chapter is written and the curtain will come down on the last movie, they are likely to feel a sense of loss and mourning.
In a few days, Americans will dress in robes, wrap scarves around their necks and draw lightning bolt scars of their foreheads! They will carry wands, eat Bernie Botts Every Flavored beans, and head to the movies to see Harry Potter and The Deathly Hallows – Part 2.The Harry Potter series has become a part of history and a symbol of our present culture. Generations to come will read and enjoy the books and view the movies, but never again will a generation grow up with right along with Harry, Ron, and Herminie. 

I guess we’ll just have to wait and see what talented new author will come forward to inspire and amaze a new generations of waiting fans.

WANNA LAUGH?!?!

 

Tony Walker

Tonight I came home from a Drop Dead Comedy rehearsal.

As I entered my house my wife yelled, "TGIF!!!"

I looked at her & said, "S-H-I-T."

Puzzled, she just looked at me, smiled, & again yelled, "TGIF!"

Again I looked at her & said, "S-H-I-T."

Now she's mad. "What's your problem?" She asks, "Why aren't you happy? THANK GOD IT'S FRIDAY!"

I reply, "SORRY HONEY IT'S THURSDAY."

KIDPOWER: TIPS FOR PARENTS

Marion Pellicano Ambrose

Just because school is over
 doesn't meanbullying stops!

As I did my research for my article on bullying, I came across an excellent site that offered links to many articles and information on books on the subject. I wrote and asked permission to reprint this article on DRL because I was impressed with it. They immediately gave their blessing and we are grateful for their kindness. I also recommend their new book for parents (“Bullying – What Adults Need to Know and Do to Keep Kids Safe”  ) I hope you will find this article and the book as helpful as I did.

http://delayedreactionlounge.blogspot.com/2011/05/its-wicked-world-when-bullying-kills-re.html 

http://www.kidpower.org/index.html

Bullying Prevention

Eight Effective People Safety Actions Adults Can Take 

By Irene van der Zande, Kidpower Executive Director

(Please Note: For copyright information and reproduction guidelines, please click here.)Download PDF for printing or sharing

Bullying can be prevented and stopped if enough adults take action. Everyone deserves to feel emotionally and physically safe at school, at home and in the community. Here are eight effective People Safety actions from Kidpower that you can use to protect the young people in your life from bullying.

Bullies find strength in numbers

1. Address Bullying – It’s not Harmless

Bullying behavior – whether it’s through threatening words or gestures, physically hurting, name-calling, mimicking, harassing, or shunning (isolating someone) – is a destructive force in the lives of too many kids.

Being the victim of a bully is an attack on a young person’s self esteem and joy in life. Being the bully allows a child to build behavior that will be socially and professionally destructive later in life. Witnessing bullying creates an upsetting distracting environment in which to play and work and learn.

Potential bullies, victims and witnesses can learn to be assertive rather than aggressive or passive in dealing with problems that they experience directly or that they see happening.

2. Make Bullying Against the Rules

Make sure that your child's school has a clear written Violence and Harassment Prevention Policy that everyone agrees to uphold. Pay attention when kids are acting upset with each other and take the lead in helping them develop skills for handling conflict.

Set an example for your children by not allowing people to bully you and by exercising the self-control necessary not to bully others. At home, work at stopping bullying behavior with the same commitment with which you’d stop someone from throwing all the dishes on the floor and breaking them.

3. Teach Kids to Act Aware, Calm, and Confident

Bullies pick on kids who act scared, oblivious, or defensive. An alert, assertive attitude can help possible victims and witnesses stop most bullying before it starts.

"We were just kidding around!"
is still bullying!

4. Teach Kids Target Denial Skills

Target denial is an official martial arts technique that means, "Don't be there!" Target denial means not giving a bully a physical advantage by being too close. For example, kids can move away from someone who they know is a problem.

Target denial means not giving a bully an emotional handle. One technique is to leave by smiling and waving and saying cheerfully, "No, thanks!" very calmly and sincerely instead of acting scared or angry.

5. Teach Kids the Protective Power of Words

Kids tell us that trying to just ignore it when someone says something mean to them doesn't really work. Stop serious name-calling with the same commitment you use when stopping serious hitting. Teach kids to protect themselves from hurtful words by imagining throwing them into a trashcan instead of taking them inside their hearts or their heads.

Teach kids not to let insults, rude behavior, or guilt trips trigger them into feeling intimidated or emotionally coerced by a bully. Kids need to learn how not to let what others say or do control their choices. They also need to learn how not to behave in emotionally damaging ways towards others. Teach kids how to set clear strong verbal boundaries in a respectful assertive way with people they know.

6. Teach Kids to Defend Themselves Physically

To be effective in using other bully prevention tactics, kids need to know that they can protect themselves physically. As a last resort when they cannot leave or get help, kids need to know if, when and how they can hurt someone else to stop that person from hurting them.

7. Teach Kids to Get Help

Be someone your kids can come to with their problems without fear of you overreacting or belittling them, or lecturing or getting mad at them. Even if the issues they bring might seem trivial to you they’re big to your child.

Most of the time kids just need someone to listen so they won't feel alone. Being able to talk about problems can help a child figure out what to do and put things into perspective – getting our kids into the habit of talking to us can also alert us to more serious issues.

Practice what to do in a variety
of bullying situation with your child.

8. Give Kids the Chance to Practice

Kids learn more by doing than by being told what to do. Programs such as Kidpower and Teenpower give kids the chance to develop skills that can change their lives in a few short hours. We also offer educational resources to prepare adults on how to present and practice these skills with their children.

Note: This article is an excerpt from The KIDPOWER Book for Caring Adults: Personal Safety, Self-Protection, Confidence, and Advocacy for Young People, which includes step-by-step explanations of how to practice the skills mentioned as well as over 100 pages about the underlying issues that need to be addressed, stories, and how to use People Safety skills to prevent and stop most bullying.

Kidpower’s new  e-book, “Bullying – What Adults Need to Know and Do to Keep Kids Safe” provides practical tools that adults can use right away to prevent and stop bullying behavior in their families, schools, and youth organizations. Written in an entertaining and accessible style, the vivid stories and step-by-step explanations of what to say and do are relevant for addressing bullying with all young people, from toddlers to teenagers, and are even useful in dealing with adult-to-adult bullying.

http://www.kidpower.org/store/e-book.html#bullying

REMEMBER: TAKE YOUR CHILDREN SERIOUSLY IF THEY SAY THE ARE BEING BULLIED!

Many parents regret saying the words: "Be a big boy.", "Suck it up.", "Stop being a baby.", "Just ignore them." and other cliches we say rather than face the situation and give our children the tools and self confidence they need to deal with bullying!

HE SAID.....

Tony Walker

This should be front page news everywhere!!!

All is not lost!!

Not all the youth of today is caught up in fame and cashing in!!

A 23 year old kid could've made a ton of cash and been all over TV, yet chose otherwise. Some of you may be asking, "Who is Tony talking about? An astronaut? A fireman? A politician?" Nope. I am talking about the kid who caught Derek Jeter's ball.

In case you've been in Siberia, here's what I am talking about.

Derek (I am the closest thing to a perfect human since Jesus Christ) Jeter became the 28th man ever to reach 3000 hits in Major League Baseball. The 3000th hit was a home run. 

A 23 year old kid got the ball. Most people in today's society would hold out for the highest bidder and on as many talk shows as he could.

Not this guy. In fact, he did so little I don't even remember his name!

He did what any baseball fan would do. He asked to meet Jeter which he did. He was in the broadcast booth for a few minutes during the game, took part in Jeter's press conference, and that was it. He gave Jeter the ball.... WHAT? Say that again!! He GAVE Jeter the ball??? This guy said that this is Jeter's moment and he didn't want to take away from that. The Yankees gave him a ton of tickets, some autographs, and some other stuff.

That's what life is about folks. This kid will take his buddies, girlfriend, and family to a bunch of Yankee games and have the time of his life. Him and the people he takes to the games will have memories that will last a lifetime which is better than paying some bills a few thousand bucks would've gotten him, not to mention the headaches that come with sudden fortune. The money probably would've been gone in the blink of an eye anyway.

Hats off to what's his name for doing the right thing. In my book he has as much class as Jeter.

What do you think? Would you have held out for a big paycheck? Do you think the 23 year old is a fool or do you respect what he did?

WANNA LAUGH?!?!

I remember when Boyle had her first child. I went to visit her in the hospital. Staring at her boobies like I normally do, I asked if she was going to breast feed.

She said, "No way!"

"Why," I asked.

"Because it hurts when I boil my nipples!"

DEALING WITH DEBT

Dawn Boyle

Emergency meetings going on to hammer out a deal about the debt America is in. President Obama wants the tax cuts on America's richest to expire. There are also entitlement issues to deal with on the other side of the isle. The deadline is August 2. We are about to run out of money. Checks might not be cut for social security. The stock market may dive. The chances of mortgages or loans be issued are doubtful. There is no way we can default. It will cause thousands of people to be layed off.

 Republicans and Democrats need to stay at that table and figure out this 4 trillion dollar debt. ROLL UP YOUR SLEEVES! GET IT DONE!!!!

This deficit is a crisis - if interest rates rise Americans are totally screwed!

DISABLED BUT ABLE

Tony Walker


OK gang. I am pissed.

I hate to admit it, but I am a disabled person. I try my best to not be disabled but I am reminded every time I use my left foot to control the pedals in my car, every time I have to sit on a bath chair to take a shower, every time my son runs & I cannot chase him because I don't know how to run. However... I can still carry heavy equipment, I can keep up with the 2 guys who are helping me redo my kitchen right now, I can perform in live theatre, & I am better in bed than most men.

One thing I can do is drive a big truck, work special equipment that puts a telephone pole in the ground, climb a ladder, & work on the pole. I received 100% clearance from several doctors allowing me to do the job I had for several years. I busted my ass to get that clearance.

So why won't my employer allow me to do this job? Why would they put me on light duty which denies me overtime? Why would they call me a liability & make fun of me about it? Why would they make me inadequate & take money away from me... money that I need to take care of my family? Why would they force me out, deny my disability retirement request which forced me to collect Social Security, but then they messed with that too? 

I am not bucking the system.... it's pretty hard to fake a fake leg.

I've been through hell. I had cancer.

When will it end?!

Well guess what you bastards.... the end may be coming.

Check out this article.

http://www.bloomberg.com/news/2011-07-06/verizon-paying-20m-to-settle-disability-suit.html

After more than 3 years since I filed my lawsuit I finally have my first court date on July 19. Wish me luck!!

Disabled people are still abled damnit!!!

When I win my lawsuit I am stealing Boyle for a weekend.... a week.... a month... to do some big time celebrating!