Thank you David for giving a dam...for trying to make a difference in this world.

Yes, we as adults have a lot of responsibilities. We need to change our values back to what "used to be important"...we need to set a good example for young people. We need to be less GREEDY. We need to take our children to church...we need to pray before eating together. We need to listen to our children, know where they are and who they are with.

We need to stop giving trophy's to everyone who plays. It isn't an entitlement..it's something to be earned.

When a young person goes through our Juvenile Court, part of their probation period is serving at the Homeless Center for a period of time. It's an excellent program....gives everyone a closeup look at what can happen.

My dad used to say "if you aren't part of the solution, you're part of the problem."

Thanks for a great post!

David - I agree adults should reclaim authority over children, but not by force - by example. Kids aren't stupid. They can see the hypocrisy in "Do as I say, not as I do." If adults can't obey their own rules, why should kids have to obey them?

When my son was a teenager, he was out with some friends. My husband and I decided to go to a movie and get a bite to eat afterwards. When we returned, our son was home. He was angry because he didn't know where we were or when we'd be home. It made him realize how we felt sometimes about him. After that incident, he made a point to tell us where he was going and when he'd be home - and we showed him the same courtesy.

Alffe - I agree with you about changing values. If we allow our kids to be raised by television and those who sponsor television, they will only learn how to consume - and the goal is to consume as much as you can without regard for anyone else. It literally makes me sick to my stomach to watch those "Christmas" shoppers on the day after Thanksgiving pushing and shoving to get inside, then fighting each other to buy merchandise. I'd much prefer a loving hug over a DVD player. Merchandise can break and get old - a good hug can last a lifetime.

The bar has been raised so high. Kids have more and bigger obstacles to overcome than we had growing up. Even if they can afford a college education, it doesn't always guarantee a good-paying job after graduation. I wonder if it's even possible for kids nowadays to have the ability to make a living and raise a family of their own in a clean way.

In our church service we have a time to share our joys and concerns. One of the parishioners shared his great joy on learning that their grandson in steaming home on the Enterprise and is out of harms way...will dock on 12-15 so I thought of you KathyM.

Oh Alffe, I'm so happy for that man. Please tell him to give his grandson a hug and a "Welcome Home" from me too. It's probably a good thing my father is no longer with us. If he were, it would take me the entire week to get him to release his embrace on my son.

Common children's vaccine recalled By MIKE STOBBE,
AP Medical Writer
Wed Dec 12, 5:48 PM ET



More than a million doses of a common vaccine given to babies as young as two months was being recalled Wednesday because of contamination risks, but the top U.S. health official said it was not a health threat.

The recall is for 1.2 million doses of the vaccine for Hib, which protects against meningitis, pneumonia and other serious infections, and a combination vaccine for Hib and hepatitis B. The vaccine is recommended for all children under 5 and is usually given in a three-shot series, starting at two months.

Drug maker Merck & Co., which announced the recall after testing showed a sterilization problem in a Pennsylvania factory, said concerned parents should contact their child's doctor.

"The potential for contamination of any individual vaccine is low," said Merck spokeswoman Kelly Dougherty.

Dr. Julie Gerberding, head of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, echoed that in a news conference.

"This is not a health threat in the short run, but it is an inconvenience," she said.

Dougherty could not immediately say whether the contamination seen at the factory involves a virus or bacteria. She said if someone were vaccinated with a contaminated shot, "There is a risk they could develop an infection." But she did not provide more details.

The recall is likely to heighten a debate over childhood vaccines and their safety and whether too many are required. Some parents are distrustful and suspect some vaccines of being linked to autism, although scientific studies have not shown such a connection.

This week New Jersey took a controversial step toward becoming the first state to require flu shots for preschoolers after a health advisory board backed new vaccine requirements over opposition from parents.

Merck, based in Whitehouse Station, N.J., is one of the few drug makers that produces a significant number of vaccines.

While the company took a black eye with its September 2004 withdrawal of the painkiller Vioxx due to increased risk of heart attacks and strokes, the company has been performing well recently. On Tuesday, it gave an upbeat assessment in its annual briefing for analysts.

Five weeks ago, Merck reached a deal to settle up to 50,000 Vioxx lawsuits for $4.85 billion, an amount expected to save the company millions in trial costs.

Its stock price has more than recovered from its post-Vioxx slump, a two-year-old restructuring plan is going well and profits are up. For example, Merck posted a 62 percent increase in its third-quarter profit as revenues jumped by double digits.

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Associated Press Business Writer Linda A. Johnson contributed to this report.