News and notes and things I found interesting:
* The LA Times has an interesting story about the “pre-pre-primaries” for the 2008 presidential campaign. Apparently prospective candidates are schmoozing those with deep pockets and political passions in Hollywood, mostly Democrats of course. If this article is correct, it looks like the ’08 campaign will look a lot like the last couple – names like Clinton, Gore, Kerry, McCain… No fresh faces here.
* Personal responsibility continues to decline. Even in her apology, one of the worst mothers in America continues to blame her behavior on “mental illness.” Fortunately the judge, while sympathetic, said she had to take responsibility for her behavior. Here’s the story.
* A lot of people in Oklahoma think that Tasha Henderson is a horrible mother, psychologically abusing her daughter. Others think she’s right on, showing tough love and creative discipline. Henderson made her 14 year old daughter stand at a busy Oklahoma City intersection with a poster that read: “I don’t do my homework and I act up in school, so my parents are preparing me for my future. Will work for food.” Mom stood with daughter, and the spectacle caused quite a stir. Sure beats the parents that don’t give a rip about how their spoiled kids do and act in school.
* A British school is under fire for offering pregnancy tests to girls as young as 11 years old – without telling their parents! Apparently it is an increasingly common practice for secondary schools in the UK to administer morning-after pills and provide contraception to students. One school in Mansfield arranged an abortion for a 14 year old without ever alerting her parents. Can you imagine a high school here setting up elective surgery for a 9th grader without consulting her parents? Talk about liability! Talk about a Nanny State! I guess Big Brother knows best.