Free Republic

Makes "cowboys and Indians", or "cops and robbers" seem pretty lame.

A video believed to feature Pashtun school children in south-east Afghanistan recreating a terrorist attack has been posted on social networking sites. The 84-second clip appears to show a veiled boy bid farewell to his friends before approaching a group of children nearby and blowing himself up. Sand is tossed in the air to simulate the detonation as children fall to the ground. As the dust settles, their playmates gather round and pretend to identify the dead.

"Doodle-4-Google" is so much more than an art contest. Sure, the game, which received 33,000 entries last year, celebrates "the creativity of young people" by having them send in a drawing under the theme "What I’d like to do someday …" But, there's another component, as well. It also helps Google collect some very personal data on students K through 12. Along with the submission, the contest's initial Parent Consent Form asked for the child's city of birth (not current city, mind you), date of birth, the last four digits of the child's social security number, as well as complete...

NEW YORK (Reuters Health) – Children raised in homes heated by coal may suffer stunted growth from prolonged exposure to indoor air pollution, according to a study of families in the Czech Republic. By age 3, children who lived in households where coal was used for heat were about a half-inch shorter, on average, than those raised in homes that relied on other forms of heating fuel. The effect on growth was even greater for children exposed to both coal and cigarette smoke at home, according to the researchers, who report their findings in the Archives of Pediatrics & Adolescent...

On Monday, I wrote about my disappointment when one of my favorite websites, Cracked.com, published a limp exercise in apologetics called “5 Ridiculous Things You Probably Believe About Islam.” Any website posting one dopey article in three years is actually a hell of an accomplishment. I just hope its the last one of its kind. But I’m not confident. Here’s why: This week, one of my blog readers sent me an article from The Jewish Press by David Lev called, “It’s a Bird, It’s a Plane, It’s Superman – Set To Join Muslim Superhero Crew.” They knew I’d be interested...

WASHINGTON (Reuters) – The government is officially announcing on Friday an expanded program that should provide 140,000 to 150,000 children from low income families with supper meals, a senior Agriculture Department official said. A federal program aiding such children, many with parents away from home until late in the evening, has been in operation in 13 states and the District of Columbia, but USDA Under Secretary Kevin Concannon told Reuters in an interview that "this afternoon the official announcement goes out that the program will be available in all 50 states." The expansion, authorized in the Healthy, Hunger-Free Kids Act...

"To prove that they had registered their "motor vehicles," each rider would have had to attach a license plate to their human-powered transportation that would read "BICYCLE," reports NJ.com. ... “My intention was never to impose a burden or additional costs," Tucker said in a statement. "My goal was to at least begin a discussion of how best to protect elderly pedestrians. No idea is perfect, but protecting elderly pedestrians deserves attention." Tucker says that her bicycle-plate bill was inspired by several senior citizens who called her and complained about kids on bikes. "

Here’s my video clip of the month so far, with a hat tip to Gene Expression. The writer tells us that: Self-control is the ability to inhibit an immediate course of action in the pursuit of a longer-term goal or to consciously override a base urge. Some people show far more inhibitory control than others. This trait is very stable — indeed, inhibitory control in children, which can be assessed using the famous “marshmallow test,” is predictive of their score on scales of impulsivity as adults. (The marshmallow test must go down as one of the cruellest experiments in psychology...

Planned Parenthood Launches New Sex Ed Program for Kids The Planned Parenthood abortion business is continuing its mission to attract more eventual customers but using sexual edPlanned Parenthood Launches New Sex Ed Program for Kids eucation to build relationships. http://www.lifenews.com/2010/12/30/planned-parenthood-launches-new-sex-ed-program-for-kids/

Having fun with guns.

With Christmas only days away, and shopping malls packed, many Americans are scrambling for last minute gift ideas for kids, especially those older children, nephews, and nieces on your list. Here’s one idea: Give the gift of freedom and responsibility – a gun. Most states allow teenagers to own and possess long guns, and those 18 years of age and older to own, possess, and open carry handguns . . .

SAN FRANCISCO -- The National Organization for Women filed complaints against local Hooters restaurants Thursday, but not for exploiting its scantily clad waitresses by subjecting them to leering and groping customers. The subject this time was Hooters' catering to children. The restaurants in San Francisco, San Bruno, Sacramento and Orange County are classified as "adult entertainment" establishments but also serve minors, NOW's California chapter said in papers filed with police and prosecutors. What's more, the organization said, Hooters provides child menus, high chairs and booster seats, and sells T-shirts in children's sizes that identify the wearer as a "Future Hooters...

There is a coloring book by atheists who claim to love Christmas. The creator was on FoxNews on Sunday discussing an Atheist Christmas Coloring Book aimed at kids. How can an atheist love Christmas?!? Here is the clip on YouTube from Fox&Friends http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fqig3FIBB8Q The atheist Christmas coloring book is online here http://www.mindposts.com/uncategorized/celebrate-a-rational-holiday-with-the-atheist-christmas-coloring-book

TAMPA, Fla. - There are new concerns for parents, as a common household spice is now being abused by teenagers to get high.  Video of kids smoking, eating and drinking large quantities of nutmeg to get high can be found all over YouTube.com. According to various online reports, Nutmeg contains Myristicin, a compound that can cause euphoria and hallucinations. Potential side effects from getting high off Nutmeg include: vomiting, dizziness and convulsions. When shown some of the YouTube videos, random people on the street were shocked to hear this was happening.  "What other kind of seasoning could you possibly try...

YORK, Pa. - They lived outside society, hidden from the world in a squalid row house with no heat, electricity or running water. They had no birth certificates, no schooling, no immunizations or evidence of medical care - nothing whatsoever to prove their existence. Police in this south-central Pennsylvania city are still piecing together how the parents of five children - ranging in age from 2 to 13 - managed to conceal them for so many years. And why."I don't know what would possess them at all," said detective Dana Ward Jr., who tracked down the children after a child-welfare...

Chubby elementary school children in Flagstaff, Ariz., have more than just bullies to worry about. If they’re too fat, their school will notify their parents. Starting in the fall, students in the Flagstaff district will be weighed and measured at school. Students who are found to be overweight, marginally overweight, or underweight will have a letter sent home to their parents, which will include graphs showing a range of appropriate weights for a given age and height. Barry Hess, the vice chairman for the Arizona Libertarian Party and former Libertarian Party Arizona gubernatorial candidate, describes the Flagstaff school district’s decision...

Loco parentis: schools to send parents “your kid’s too fat” notes by Walter Olson on November 22, 2010 Joining the obesity-as-public-health-issue crusade, Flagstaff, Arizona schools will begin weighing all students, after which they will send home warning notes to parents of kids who fail to conform to desired weight ranges. Apparently about half of students are expected to fall outside those ranges. [Arizona Daily Star, which likes the idea; Daily Caller] .......

He's the leader of the free world, and he's won a Nobel Peace Prize. But only now, by one measure, is Barack Obama finally truly famous: He's written a children's book. Obama actually wrote "Of Thee I Sing" in 2008, after he was elected but before taking office, publishers said in September. On the cover of "Of Thee I Sing" is a whimsical drawing of Malia and Sasha, skipping along with Bo, their beloved dog. "Have I told you lately how wonderful you are?" the book begins. It proceeds to celebrate 13 American heroes and heroines. "Have I told you...

More than 1,100 groups signed a letter distributed Thursday on Capitol Hill that asks House members to immediately pass a childhood nutrition bill when they return next week. Signers include food, beverage and supermarket companies; public health, education, anti-hunger, faith-based, children's, women's, minority groups; and unions. They want the House to pass a $4.5 billion bill that cleared the Senate by unanimous consent just before the August recess.

Christie Reform Agenda Restores Fiscal Discipline and Ends Abuse of Property Tax Dollars, While Keeping Money in the Classroom Where It Belongs Trenton, NJ – The Christie Administration today announced it is moving forward with a comprehensive plan to enact fiscal discipline and promote the prudent use of scarce property tax dollars by capping salaries for superintendents. The regulations, announced in July, will result in a salary reduction for more than 360 school superintendents who serve school districts with low numbers of students. “In these difficult economic times, when fewer resources are available for our schools, it is not acceptable...