It's been almost a month since Gerry and Kate McCann left their three year old in a Portuguese apartment while they dined, out of sight, at a tapas restaurant.  Almost a month and still there's absolutely no leads and no clues as to where Maddy might be.  When this story first broke, I was angry at her parents.  Who leaves three toddlers in a hotel room, alone, at night?  And, at that time, I made a comment that these children were treated with less care than one would give to a suitcase filled with $100,000. 

Little did I foresee that money would become an even bigger talking point in this case.

J.K. Rowling, David Beckham, and numerous CEOs have pledged money to reward funds and tip lines.  The last number I saw was in the realm of 3.3 Million dollars to "find Madeleine".  I realize that what I'm about to say may be harsh, but I think it needs to be said.   --- Does anyone really believe that money is going to return Madeleine to her parents?  Do you think the kidnapper is going to say, "Well, damn.  I really do love Harry Potter..." or "David Beckham donated money!?  Wow, Maddy must be important."?  In actuality, I think you'd have a better chance of getting Madeleine back by offering to give the kidnapper or tip generator a sneak peak at the yet to be released "Deadly Hallows" (the next and final Harry Potter book).  Because, in reality, what kidnapper is going to give back the child for money?  I would imagine that the vile human might make the connection that claiming the reward might send him/her to jail!  And, for the person who might get the money by leading authorities to this precious little girl... would you really accept money for reuniting a family?  Have we really sunk to the a societal low where someone thinks, "Well...I wasn't going to look for Maddy, but now that there's three million available, I just might pay attention?"  Or, worse... find her body and demand the reward money?  I guess my real question is: Do we really think money is the cure for everything?  Is it really going to bring Madeleine back?  And, what does it say about all of the other missing children who didn't/don't have celebrities funding their reward coffers?  What message does it send? 

Alexandria Winship-Wright is just as cute as Madeleine.  She is three.  She went missing on April 27th, 2007.  Alexandria was last seen at home on April 25, 2007 at 11:15 a.m. Her ears are pierced. Alexandria may go by the nickname Ali. She was last known to be wearing blue jeans and a long sleeved blue and pink flowered shirt.   --- Her parents aren't doctors and they weren't on vacation in an exotic location, but I'm guessing her parents miss her just as deeply as the McCanns miss Madeleine.

Sariyah Adorno was eight months old when she went missing.  She went missing with a 16 year old named Lucia.   Lucia and SaRiyah were last seen on February 25, 2007. They may be in the company of an adult male. They may still be in the local area, or they may have traveled to New York City or North Carolina.

These kids don't have entire countries looking for them.  These kids don't have the sponsorship of prominent celebrities.   But, you can find more information on them here: http://www.missingkids.com/...

Over 2,000 children are abducted EVERY DAY in the United States.  It's a pity that these children aren't given the same status as Madeleine. 

My twelve year old daughter came home with her seventh grade yearbook.  It's always an exciting day.  She sat down next to me, so that we could look at how much the kids have grown since the previous year, and we were chatting about how fast life goes by. 

Then...it happened.  I turned to the back of the yearbook.  Where friends might leave messages of summer folly or future plans,  I saw the following three entries:

1.  "Hey Chubster!  Have a good summer."

2.  "You need to lose some weight."

3.  "Hope you lose a few pounds.  Have fun!"

I was stunned.  I would say I was speechless, but that was only momentary.  I moved right through speechless to livid.  I looked at my daughter, my heart filled with sadness, and asked, "Do you think you're overweight?"  She said that she didn't.  I said, "Why would you allow someone to say or write these things about you?"  Then, I quickly apologized because I realized that she couldn't control the actions of these three, otherwise "nice" boys.  After reassuring her that at 90 pounds and five feet tall, she was well under the recommended BMI for her age.  Not only that, but she's well under the average growth curve for her age/height/weight.  She said, "I know, mom! It's okay. That's just what they say to some of us who aren't perfect."

*boggle*

Who the heck do these boys think they are?  What kind of misogynistic nonsense is this? Who gets to define "perfection"?  When did a young woman's value become calculated in pounds?  And, why are our girls allowing the boys to treat them like this?  Our girls should STOP picking themselves over, as I know young girls do, because it's only giving the boys license to put their two cents in.  Our girls need to build the esteem to look at ANY boy who would write that in a yearbook and say, "You suck as a friend!"  There's a part of me that wants to instruct my daughter to leave yearbook commentary about their...ahem...manhood (or, as the case may be, lack of it).  But, I realize that's not going to help.  However, to all the mothers of sons (and I am one, too) reading this: we need to make sure that our boys know this is NOT acceptable behavior.  It's not okay.  And, as mothers of daughters, we need to make sure our girls know it. 

Grrrrrr...I need to go chill out. 

http://www.cnn.com/2007/TEC...

Very interesting. 

In a tank of three, female sharks, a baby shark was born.  I know you're thinking, "But...female sharks can store sperm."  Yeah, that's what I thought, too.  But, not in this case.  The three sharks were brought to the tank as sexually immature pups who'd never been with male sharks.  And, the kicker: the baby showed NO genetic signs of having a father. 

Oh. My. Gosh.  It's a virgin birth.

Unfortunately, as soon as the little one emerged, it was killed by a sting ray.  DOH! 

Still... just goes to show that nature will always find a way.

http://www.youtube.com/watc...

"22 logical fallacies committed by religions/religious people."  This shouldn't offend anyone, although- I'm sure it will.  The video was made by an atheist who was frustrated by the rate at which theists would commit fallacies in debating.  It pokes a bit of fun at atheism to show atheists and theists how desperate the arguments become (at points). 

I was flitting around on youtube and watching some Jeff Foxworthy videos.  Because I was bored, I started composing little jokes - in my head- that were Bako specific.  I know that there are probably lists out there, already, but I wanted to see what the B-Bloggers could come up with.  SO.... away we go!

If you go to Los Angeles to get some fresh air...you might live in Bakersfield (YMLIB).

If you use the term "O-eighters" and know what it means...YMLIB.

If you put on socks, shoes, and grab a water bottle, before going out to get your copy of the Californian off your driveway, in July... YMLIB.

If someone asks you for a buck and you point them toward the Crystal Palace...YMLIB.

If you plan "movie night" around the "rolling black out days" on your PG&E bill...YMLIB.

....continue

There seem to be many misconceptions about what atheism is.  In an effort to correct those misconceptions, I thought I'd highlight a few points about atheism (and being an atheist).

1.  Atheism is a position one takes  that god(s) do not exist.  Some atheists do not believe in ANY gods.  Some atheists disbelieve in most gods.  Some atheists are only atheist in regard to one god.  Therefore, I would be willing to bet that everyone reading this blog is an atheist to some extent.  If you don't believe in the Norse God, you are an atheist.  If you don't believe in Thor, you are an atheist.  If you don't believe in Allah, you are an atheist.  If you don't believe in Vishnu, you are an atheist.  American atheists, because we live in a nation where the majority of the population believes in the Judeo-Christian god, are generally labeled atheists because they've gone one step further in their denial of gods and have included the Judeo-Christian god. 

2.  Why do atheists not believe in god(s)?

The reasons vary from atheist-to-atheist.  It may help to gather ten of your friends and ask them to tell you why they believe in god.  I'm sure you'd get ten different answers and all of those answers could spawn further investigation.  It's the same for atheists.  We disbelieve for any number of reasons.  Primarily, though, atheists do not believe in gods because there is insufficient evidence to prove their existence. 

3.  Are atheists also agnostics?

Atheism and agnosticism are different concepts.  Atheism is a statement of your belief.  Agnosticism is a statement of how certain you are in those beliefs and what you know.  Therefore, someone might be both an atheist (no belief in god) and an agnostic (having found insufficient evidence for god through knowledge and study).  Atheists will rarely make the case that they are 100% certain god(s) do not exists because it's a bit like saying you're 100% sure there's not a teapot orbiting Jupiter.  You can't know for sure, but you can, using probability, reason, and rational thought, rule out the existence of such an object/being. 

4.  Do atheists want to eradicate religion?

Some do.  Most don't.  Most would be satisfied if theists would simply recognize that their belief does not give them undo status or entitle them to respect that wouldn't be given to any other human being.  Quite frankly, if your religion (or fear of punishment from god(s) and hell) is the only thing preventing you from committing heinous acts against your fellow man/woman, then please...by all means, continue to practice your religion.  However, not all people require a threat of eternal damnation or any one of the many deities to tell us what is acceptable behavior.  Human culture, society, and evolutionary psychology and biology, have put limits of behavior in place...and did so millenia before "religion" arrived on the scene.   Furthermore, just on a personal note: if it ain't' broke for you, don't fix it.  If your beliefs give you comfort and peace, and a morality that you couldn't get elsewhere, then I say "work it!" 

5.  Why do some atheists want to eradicate religion?

Atheists are, generally (I'm speaking in generalities and your mileage may vary), very pragmatic and rational people.  We tend to make decisions based on empirical evidence and the scientific method.  We tend to appeal to logic over emotion.  We tend to be great thinkers who enjoy the process of learning and the gathering of knowledge.  We like to test our hypothesis.  Religion, in general (again), asks you to suspend logic on a great many issues and put "faith" in it's place.  Religion asks you to, first and foremost, "soften your heart" or "allow *insert deity here* to open your heart"...it appeals to your emotions.  Theists often make claims that can't be tested or proven.  And, when it's pointed out, by the atheist, that the theist claim isn't provable, the theist nods and says "that's why we have faith".   Speaking as an atheist... this is probably the most annoying and aggravating answer.  So...with all that in mind, some atheist wish religion would take a back seat to rational thought and empiricism because it's better, in the mind of the atheist, to believe in the empirical.  It's better, in the atheist mind, to apply critical thinking and logic to ALL areas of life and not suspend it for certain "untouchable" subjects (like religion). 

6.  Are you saying that there are no intelligent theists?

No.  I'm saying that there are people who suspend logic and rationality when it doesn't mesh with their religion.  That doesn't automatically make them less intelligent.  Nor do I think of such a person as less intelligent. 

7.  Aren't you really just mad at God?

No.  How can I be mad at a non-entity?  It would be about as effective as getting mad at that teapot orbiting Jupiter. 

8.  Isn't your life cold and meaningless without God/religion?

Actually, quite the contrary.  Religion deals with the infinite and the unknowable.  The focus seems to revolve around "what happens in the next life" and makes that the foci.  Atheists recognize that life *is* finite and you only get one shot at it...so you better live it to the fullest and do something that makes life better for the next generation.  There's a biological imperative to make this world a better place for our offspring.  There's also a finite time that we have to love and be loved.  So, atheists, or at least, the ones I've known, tend to love unconditionally and fully because there's little point in reserving love or passion for the afterlife- it doesn't exist (the afterlife, that is). 

9.  Aren't you really just afraid of God and want to live a sinful life?

Are you afraid of the purple, spotted hefalump that I just sent to your house to torture you?  Of course not! There's no purple spotted hefalump to be afraid of.  As for leading a sinful life, which sinful behaviors are we supposed to avoid?  The sins outlined in the Bible?  Okay... let's take Leviticus... cursing my parents (probably done that), trimming my beard (don't have one), planting wheat and barley in the same furrow (nope! I'm good!), eating pork (damn!), wearing mixed fiber cloth (AHHHHH!), and... jeeeez, what ISN'T  a sin?  That list is smaller.  For the record, though, I don't kill people. I don't covet (much... yeah, I wanted my neighbor's pool for a bit last summer).  I don't lie (that actually drives me nuts!). 

10.  What happens if you're wrong?

Pascal's wager...exxxxxcelent.  If I'm wrong, then I will have been wrong.  What if a Christian is wrong? What if they wasted years of time worshiping the wrong God?  What if Vishnu is "the real God"?  What if it's Allah?  What if it's Thor?  What if you've got the right God, but "you did it wrong!"?  What if you were supposed to be Amish?  What if you were supposed to be LDS?  What if you were supposed to observe the Seder?  This could go on all night...

If I'm wrong and I come to stand before some god for an accounting of my life, then I'll have to deal with the consequences.  I can accept that there's a possibility (however small I believe it to be...and we're talking infinitesimal percentages) that I'm wrong. ;) 

larger view

My really, really, really bad understanding of Spanish is trying to say, "Yay! The white/English boy!", but I'm sure I butchered it (Spanish is the worst of the four languages I speak). 

Anyway... just wanted to share this pic, taken by my son's preschool teacher, on May 5th. :)

Let it never be said that he's being raised in a cultural vacuum. 

Woof and I were talking about Mother's Day cards.

We started riffing' on the cards that Hallmark doesn't make (for Mother's Day). LOL  Motherhood, as any mother wil tell you, is almost a crap shoot.  You make the best of the situation with the tools at hand.  No mother is without some regret.  And, every child probably has something that they'd LOVE to see in a Mother's Day card... but, just can't find.

So, with a healthy dose of humor...what are the  Hallmark cards that really SHOULD be made?

My husband popped-up almost immediately with:

"Thanks for not leaving me in a hotel room, when I was three, to go out for drinks."

I did a boo-hiss-laugh.  It's a bit "too soon" for that one, but...it's kind of on the mark.  Here are my suggestions:

"HAHA! My face DIDN'T stick like that!"

"Thanks for forcing me to eat my peas.  And, thank you for the napkin that I always wrapped them up in before throwing them in the garbage.  And, thanks for not looking in the wadded up napkin in the trashcan."

"Are we there, yet?"

"Thanks for getting the grape kool-aid powder out of my very blond hair when I thought it would make great shampoo."

*picture of a wooden spoon on the front of the card* " THANK YOU, MA'AM! May I have another." - Mom...if you're reading this...sorry!  I had to do it. 

....please, contribute.

http://www.inthenews.co.uk/...

The parents of a three-year-old British girl missing in the Algarve have issued a fresh appeal for information.

Madeleine McCann went missing from her family's apartment bedroom in Praia da Luz on Thursday evening.

Since then her parents, Kate and Gerry McCann, have spoken of the "anguish and despair" brought by their daughter's absence.

They discovered her disappearance on returning from a meal at a nearby tapas restaurant, having left their three children in the bedroom of their apartment while they ate.

Mr and Mrs McCann, both 38-year-old doctors, found the bedroom's windows forced open and the door ajar – although nothing had been taken from the room.

Yes, ladies and gentlemen.  Mommy and Daddy left a THREE YEAR OLD with two, two year olds and went out for cocktails and dinner.  To their credit (HEAVY SARCASM), they did "take turns checking in" every "half-hour or so".  Um. Yeeeeeeeah.   Right.   

Forget abductions (which, in a moment, will seem even more ironic)...what about a two year old falling off the bed and bonking his/her head on the floor or a nightstand?  What about one of the two year olds puking in bed?  What was the three year old supposed to do in an emergency?  What if, and MY kids have done this AT HOME, the three year old woke-up and freaked out because mom and dad weren't where they usually are?  My husband and I were sitting on our patio, just enjoying the night air, a few years ago, and Jake (now ten, then four) woke-up and FLIPPED OUT when he "couldn't find us".  Who's to say that little Maddy didn't wake-up, find her parents MIA, and "go looking"?? Who's to say she didn't drown IN THE MARINA that was, as has been described, mere FEET from the door?

Now... now the parents are claiming that they felt "stalked" earlier in the day.  *BOGGLE*  Let's pretend their being honest... if you felt "stalked", would you leave your TODDLERS alone in an apartment to go out for nibbles? 
I'll leave out my feelings about what the parents have done, in response, to this missing child.  But, let's just say that I don't think going to MOTHER'S DAY MASS, and doing the pomp and circumstance, of having a 13 year old altar girl give you FLOWERS, for 90 minutes, would be *my* move.  Then again, I wouldn't leave my toddlers alone in a foreign country, at night, so I could go party. 

*hrmph* 

I know that I usually don't post personal stuff on here... but, I'm really feeling blue this evening.  I've been thinking about Mother's Day and realizing that what I want more, than anything else, is to somehow be able to watch my little ones play at the park.

I have lupus.  It's pretty severe and has kept me house bound (with the exception of a few minor occasions where I slip out to a doctor's appointment or other indoor location).  What I can't do is go anywhere "fun" with my kids.  No playgrounds (too much sun and too much chance of catching something).  No pushing them in the swings.  No sitting on a bench, with a book, while they play - as children should...because, with my body acting the way it is, how would I possible chase them down if they decided to run-off? 

So... I've been looking at swing sets and climbing/slide sets to put in our backyard...with the thought that I could just sit inside and watch them through our bedroom slider.  I can't believe how much these things go for!  Does anyone know of some place, in town, where we might find a sturdy, safe swing set-up for less than $1,000?  Cosco and Sam's have great stuff, but...wow... that would eat our budget into oblivion.  Home Depot has some neat kits,... maybe I'll send DH (dear hubby) over to check out their kits.  But, I'm open for other ideas. 

Hey guys,

I hate to be the buzz-kill, but I don't think we're going to be able to pull off movie night for May.  I'm physically broken... casualty of Wii (and lupus).  Woof's got company coming.  So, I think we'll shoot for the end of May or beginning of June.  Maybe we can do a quick, weeknight coffee meet-up for May?