Write Lightning is a blog from writer Deb Thompson.
Everyone is welcome here.
(Some links or topics may not be completely kid-appropriate.)
Everyone is welcome here.
(Some links or topics may not be completely kid-appropriate.)
Wed, Jan 10 2007
Rosie O'Donnell and Donald Trump: WWE-like escalation
When I'm under the weather I tend to lose concentration easily and I also tend to notice things I wouldn't generally pay much attention to. The latter has definitely been the case with the recent apparent bickering between Rosie O'Donnell and Donald Trump. I've never met either of these people, but it strikes me that the squabbling being happily carried back and forth by various members of the media is reaching the point where something has to give. If you've been out of the country and haven't heard about all this, ABC gave us all an up-to-date timeline of the feud.
I can't help but notice an obvious similarity between this feud and the soap-opera-like story lines that have, sadly, taken the place of athletic ability in the world of pro-wrestling. Please, don't misunderstand. I'm not suggesting that Mr. Trump and Ms. O'Donnell are about to climb into a ring and then crawl back out of the ring just long enough to pick up folding chairs as weapons. I'm just wondering if the increasingly bizarre plots of the WWE personnel are enticing other entertainers to want in on the action.
If it's an act, it's not a very good one for teaching children to take the high road. Whether real feud or publicity stunt, I do hope that folks from both the O'Donnell and Trump camps make it clear at some point that these two well-known people are not encouraging young children to follow their example of name-calling and one-downmanship. I hope they will at least do that for the kids everywhere who are looking up to them as role models.
posted at: 12:37 | category: /Arts and Entertainment | link to this entry
When I'm under the weather I tend to lose concentration easily and I also tend to notice things I wouldn't generally pay much attention to. The latter has definitely been the case with the recent apparent bickering between Rosie O'Donnell and Donald Trump. I've never met either of these people, but it strikes me that the squabbling being happily carried back and forth by various members of the media is reaching the point where something has to give. If you've been out of the country and haven't heard about all this, ABC gave us all an up-to-date timeline of the feud.
I can't help but notice an obvious similarity between this feud and the soap-opera-like story lines that have, sadly, taken the place of athletic ability in the world of pro-wrestling. Please, don't misunderstand. I'm not suggesting that Mr. Trump and Ms. O'Donnell are about to climb into a ring and then crawl back out of the ring just long enough to pick up folding chairs as weapons. I'm just wondering if the increasingly bizarre plots of the WWE personnel are enticing other entertainers to want in on the action.
If it's an act, it's not a very good one for teaching children to take the high road. Whether real feud or publicity stunt, I do hope that folks from both the O'Donnell and Trump camps make it clear at some point that these two well-known people are not encouraging young children to follow their example of name-calling and one-downmanship. I hope they will at least do that for the kids everywhere who are looking up to them as role models.
posted at: 12:37 | category: /Arts and Entertainment | link to this entry
Kids in cars getting second-hand smoke
Rush Limbaugh grins from his photos this morning as he strikes a pose or two with a lighted stogie and speaks wearily of Bangor, Maine's new law against smoking in a car while children are present.
The Bangor law isn't the first. Other states and municipalities now restrict smoking in cars while children are in the vehicle. Last fall the Belmont, California City Council began steps to pursue an ordinance against just about all second-hand smoke, similar to one now in effect in the city of Calabasas, California.
I have subjective feelings about legislating morality for humans in areas such as smoking. I lived with second-hand smoke the first several years of my own life and am extremely allergic to cigarette smoke. It has been wonderful, in areas where the stuff is banned, to go into businesses and other places without feeling as though someone has a choke-hold around my windpipe. I'm legally an adult now. If the laws against smoking were eliminated today I could choose not to walk into establishments that allow smoking. I could stay out of cars where someone chose to light up. But I toddlers can't do that. And I always want to be on the side of protecting kids. These are tough issues. I just hope everyone will choose to keep their heads about them and do what is best for children without lawmakers having to turn the whole country into a police state just so that kids get the best chances for a healthy life.
posted at: 10:43 | category: /Health and Fitness | link to this entry
Rush Limbaugh grins from his photos this morning as he strikes a pose or two with a lighted stogie and speaks wearily of Bangor, Maine's new law against smoking in a car while children are present.
The Bangor law isn't the first. Other states and municipalities now restrict smoking in cars while children are in the vehicle. Last fall the Belmont, California City Council began steps to pursue an ordinance against just about all second-hand smoke, similar to one now in effect in the city of Calabasas, California.
I have subjective feelings about legislating morality for humans in areas such as smoking. I lived with second-hand smoke the first several years of my own life and am extremely allergic to cigarette smoke. It has been wonderful, in areas where the stuff is banned, to go into businesses and other places without feeling as though someone has a choke-hold around my windpipe. I'm legally an adult now. If the laws against smoking were eliminated today I could choose not to walk into establishments that allow smoking. I could stay out of cars where someone chose to light up. But I toddlers can't do that. And I always want to be on the side of protecting kids. These are tough issues. I just hope everyone will choose to keep their heads about them and do what is best for children without lawmakers having to turn the whole country into a police state just so that kids get the best chances for a healthy life.
posted at: 10:43 | category: /Health and Fitness | link to this entry
