Coucoumellisms

Raising boys: Your family, our culture Meeker, M. (2008). Boys Should Be Boys, Washington DC, Regnery Publishing Inc. By Rebecca Walberg, a Winnipeg-based writer and policy analyst Meg Meeker, an American pediatrician, wife, and mother, has written a second book about parenting that will be very unpopular with those devoted to the premise that there are no natural differences between boys and girls. But for those who believe that mothers and fathers play different, complementary and essential roles in the raising of children, Boys Should Be Boys is an insightful and thought-provoking look at what sons need from their parents, and how families and our culture shortchange many young men. Dr. Meeker’s first parenting book, Strong Fathers, Strong Daughters, published in 2006, discussed the importance of the father-daughter bond to young women. This time, she turns her attention to boys, from preschool until young adulthood. Parents who have raised both will already know some of the dif...

I have been dreaming, nay, YEARNING for oh, 2 years now at least, to turn this sadly utilised area of my kitchen into something much nicer, under which I could hide the recycling (maybe even the garbage); at which I could maybe sit and do some work, or if not, at least stand and do some work; and on which and over which I could store pencils, papers, journals, magazines, mail, bills to pay, cell phones, etc. In general, I would turn it into an organized catch-all, so that my countertop would be free to serve for what it was designed... as a place to, ahem, prepare and serve meals. A woman gets really tired of always having to push stuff aside to prepare meals, or clear off the counter, move stuff temporarily, or just prepare it in the midst of the clutter. It's hard to keep a counter clean when it serves as a catch-all for countless papers, coupons, newspapers, toys and tools. I got really excited when I saw this. It's the idea of having an office area in the kitchen. The shelv...

More full baskets Originally uploaded by Coucoumelle Dominic (with his head cut off), Gabriel and Maryssa, with full baskets.

George the Mini-Ent with kids Originally uploaded by Coucoumelle After the storm that went through here at the end of June, some of the branches that hadn't fallen yet, started to crack and were going to fall. These ones were close to Hydro lines, so Hydro Québec came and cut them down. But we had to clean up the mess afterwards. Of course, even in the midst of hard work, there is always some time for fun. We had the visit of some mini-ents, straight from Middle-earth. Here you have George (Nicolas named him) chatting with the kids.

Many self-absorbed liberals would rather pamper themselves than have children. As a result, conservatives are doing a better job at propagating their (ideological) species Peter Schweizer, National Post Published: Wednesday, July 30, 2008 Today's liberalism is completely wrapped up with the notion of self. The legacy of the 1960s "if it feels good do it" ethos is alive and well. Modern liberals often embrace these teachings and incorporate them in the way they live their lives and maintain their relationships. For dramatic proof, go to the streets of a liberal enclave like San Francisco, Seattle or Vermont. There will be plenty of expensive boutiques, antique dealers, health spas, sushi bars and upscale coffee shops. But you won't see very many children. The reason is not that right-wingers have dumped buckets of birth control pills into the San Francisco municipal water supply. The simple fact is that many on the liberal left today just don't want to have childr...

In February of last year, a woman in Britain hung herself after aborting her twins. Emma Beck's suicide note contained a despairing cry for help: "I should never have had an abortion. I see now I would have been a good mum. ... I told everyone I didn't want to do it, even at the hospital. I was frightened, now it is too late. I died when my babies died. I want to be with my babies -- they need me, no one else does." Then, in September, a woman died during a botched abortion after being left alone by the practitioner under anesthesia and without anyone in the Massachusetts clinic who was trained in CPR. In fact, one study shows women who go through with abortions have "a 248 percent greater risk of suicide, accidental death or homicide in the following year." I think that's more than enough to be truly concerned, not only for the babies aborted, but for the mothers themselves.

Who better to spoil perfectly laid-out plans better than your own flesh and blood? Who can make themselves a better nuisance? Who can wait until you have just finished a job to wreak havoc on all your hard work? I try to keep a semblance of order here. But random acts of terrorism keep distracting me. Like the yogourt on the armchair this morning, and the linen closet door gaping open with half the bedcovers on the floor in front of it this afternoon. Or the endless spills of food and drink on the floor, and the kleenex soaking in the cat's water... Not to mention running after said terrorists themselves to, ironically, ensure their safety. What about my sanity? And my husband wonders what I have to be stressed about...

Now here's a good idea... nothing more complicated than making sure that the woman is completely aware of exactly what she is doing and of possible side-effects. Last Abortion Clinic in South Dakota Closes after Law Requires Patients be Informed of Possible Side Effects Thursday July 24, 2008 SIOUX FALLS, SD, July 24, 2008 (LifeSiteNews.com) - On Monday, July 21, eight women arrived at the Planned Parenthood office in Sioux Falls in South Dakota for abortions, but were instead met with locked doors and a hand-written note indicating the only abortion clinic in South Dakota was closed. Planned Parenthood closed its doors after their abortionists, who are flown in from other states, refused to work under the new law that went into effect last Friday. The law orders abortionists to inform patients of the humanity of their babies and that the procedure could affect their mental health two hours before the abortion is set to be performed. The law also provides that abortionists can be s...

It started out a few months ago, when Maryssa and her friend came back from the corner store with a huge bag of candy. The friend's grandmother had given them money to buy candy, apparently. Then the two oldest boys discovered their money was missing. $20 dollars had been taken. Turns out, the two girls took the boys' money and went out to buy candy. Maryssa has taken her own money to do this before, but never someone else's, and she also sneaks candy, or did. So I figured it was her idea and her friend just went along with it. Not commendable, but understandable. Maryssa was duely punished, paid back the $20 dollars and was not allowed to play with her friend for a week. Then just recently, we went to get some ice cream with said friend. Dominic had found some silly thing that he was playing with, and suddenly it went missing at the ice cream parlour. We looked for it all over, and couldn't find it. He cried and cried in the car on the way home. Maryssa's friend sa...

Enjoyed this article too... From Crime to Virtue by George Jonas in the National Post. Would I jail abortionists? No. I'd just refrain from decorating them. I think abortion is an abomination, but I've no urge to jail people for everything I abominate. I leave that to my "liberal" friends. I actually believe the state has no business in the bed-chambers of the nation, not even when they turn into death-chambers. Putting unborn children to sleep is a family matter. Maybe even born children --but let's not go there. Actually, let's go there for a moment. In ancient Sparta parents used to toss their substandard children off a cliff called the Taigetos. Some may have done so with regret, but Spartan society had no use for physically infirm children. We find this shocking. Read it all .

Well, here's some happy, positive news for us Christians and those of other faiths... Tuesday, July 15, 2008 Christian & religious families happier, less likely to divorce By Michael Foust / Baptist Press NASHVILLE, Tenn. (BP)--Men who attend religious services regularly are more likely to have happy and stable marriages, more likely to be involved with their children and less likely to divorce, new research says. Additionally, mothers who attend church weekly are half as likely to have children out of wedlock, the study says. The research by the University of Virginia's W. Bradford Wilcox analyzed data from three national surveys: the General Social Survey, the National Survey of Families and Households, and the National Survey of Family Growth. The research also drew partially from data in Wilcox's book, "Soft Patriarchs, New Men: How Christianity Shapes Fathers and Husbands." "Religious men (and their wives) enjoy happier marriages, they are less likel...

Played the last game of the season for the adult recreational league tonight. We happened to play against the team that has a guy on it who, all three times we have played against them, has managed to really stand out. In a bad way. He thinks he's better than everyone else. He commands his team, tells them what to do, acts like he's really good, and then makes mistakes. He's not bad, he's a fairly good player, maybe even one of the better ones on his team, but he's nowhere near as good as he seems to think he is. And he plays rough. Noone likes to play against him because he doesn't seem to care if he hurts you or not. One of the guys on my team got hurt. He couldn't stand up. People were going to carry him off the field, but then the referee blew twice. Half-time. So we just let him sit there to catch his breath and relax before getting off. Mister Big-shot started getting all excited and wanted us to get him off the field right away. No matter that people ...

'Gay' man sues Bible publishers $70 million for emotional distress because homosexuality cast as sin Posted: July 09, 200810:52 am Eastern© 2008 WorldNetDaily Bradley Fowler (RightPundits.com) A homosexual man who has a blog on Sen. Barack Obama's campaign website is suing two major Christian publishers for violating his constitutional rights and causing emotional pain, because the Bible versions they publish refer to homosexuality as a sin. Read more... Because umm.... most Bibles don't ? Homosexual or not, you gotta agree, this is just plain, well... stupid!

Alone among developed countries, Canada has no abortion law. Is 'settling' for a non-decision any way for a democracy to behave? ANDREW COYNE July 9, 2008 ANDREW COYNE--> Also at Macleans.ca: The real scandal is the order itself Let us work to abolish this dubious, vaguely offensive tradition This is not about abortion. This is about democracy. It is about how we decide things, and by what rules, and how we treat each other when we disagree. Indeed, it is about whether we are allowed to disagree; whether dissent on a contentious issue is respected, or even recognized; and whether, in the face of clear evidence over many years that an issue is not settled — that it was never settled — a democracy should be allowed at last to debate and decide it. Like a democracy. The furor over Henry Morgentaler's appointment to the Order of Canada, on the other hand, now that is about abortion. There may be some who object out of a disinterested concern for fairness, on the principle th...

Amazing! Maravilloso!

If you know several people who have hit a deer more than once, you may live in Canada. If you have switched from "heat" to "A/C" in the same day and back again, you may live in Canada. If you can drive 90 km/hr through 2 feet of snow during a raging blizzard without flinching, you may live in Canada. If you install security lights on your house and garage, but leave both unlocked, you may live in Canada. If you carry jumpers in your car and your wife knows how to use them, you may live in Canada. If you design your kid's Halloween costume to fit over a snowsuit, you may live in Canada. If the speed limit on the highway is 80 km -- You're going 90 and everybody is passing you, you may live in Canada . If driving is better in the winter because the potholes are filled with snow, you may live in Canada. If you know all 4 seasons: almost winter, winter, still winter, and road construction, you may live in Canada . If you have more miles on your s...

We (the youth of CLC) are starting a novena to St. Joseph petitioning for the conversion of Henry Morgentaler and all other supporters of the culture of death. A novena involves praying for nine consecutive days for the same intention through the intercession of a particular saint. Novenas are incredibly powerful, and St. Joseph, being so close to Mary and Jesus, is a particularly powerful saint. This novena was also chosen because Saint Joseph is the patron saint of Canada, and the patron saint of a happy death. Please join us in saying a simple prayer each day for nine days. Also, pass this on to any friends, family, or fellow pro-lifers who might be interested. We plan on starting the novena on Friday (July 4) and it would be great if everyone could say it together. However, if you don’t get this email until later don’t hesitate to say it on your own. Every prayer counts! Thank you! For Life, Prayer to Obtain a Conversion O glorious patriarch St. Joseph, who merited to be called ...

So, I go to Tim Horton's yesterday, (because I'm Canadian eh?) for a coffee and a donut for Nicky. I order my coffee, and I have my re-fillable mug on the counter (because despite the fact that I am killing the earth by irresponsibly having too many kids, I am conscious of garbage and waste and whatnot and as I have mentioned before, I dis-like the disposable mentality of this disposable society, where people as well as things have become disposable and not much different from fast-food, to be consumed, forgotten and thrown out). The girl asks me what size I want. So I lift up the mug, show it to he r, and say "a large, it's a 16 oz." Then she asks me if it's to go or for here. I say to go, figuring she must be talking about the donut and my muffin, because obviously the mug is to go . After Nicolas has finally decided which donut he wants, she arrives at the counter with the donut in one bag, my muffin in another bag, and a coffee for me in a disposable...

Today's first reading: Book of Amos 3,1-8.4,11-12. Hear this word, O men of Israel, that the LORD pronounces over you, over the whole family that I brought up from the land of Egypt: You alone have I favored, more than all the families of the earth; Therefore I will punish you for all your crimes. Do two walk together unless they have agreed? Does a lion roar in the forest when it has no prey? Does a young lion cry out from its den unless it has seized something? Is a bird brought to earth by a snare when there is no lure for it? Does a snare spring up from the ground without catching anything? If the trumpet sounds in a city, will the people not be frightened? If evil befalls a city, has not the LORD caused it? Indeed, the Lord GOD does nothing without revealing his plan to his servants, the prophets. The lion roars-- who will not be afraid! The Lord GOD speaks-- who will not prophesy! I brought upon you such upheaval as when God overthrew Sodom and Gomorrah: you were like a brand...

Première lecture d'aujourd'hui: Livre d'Amos 3,1-8. Écoutez cette parole que le Seigneur prononce contre vous, fils d'Israël, contre tout le peuple qu'il a fait monter du pays d'Égypte : Vous êtes le seul de tous les peuples de la terre que j'aie choisi d'aimer ; aussi je vous demanderai compte de tous vos crimes. Deux hommes font-ils route ensemble sans s'être mis d'accord ? Est-ce que le lion rugit dans la forêt quand il n'a pas de proie ? Le lionceau va-t-il crier du fond de sa tanière sans avoir rien pris ? L'oiseau tombe-t-il dans le filet posé à terre sans y être attiré par un appât ? Le piège se relève-t-il au-dessus du sol sans avoir rien attrapé ? Sonne-t-on de la trompette dans une ville sans qu'un danger menace le peuple ? Un malheur arrive-t-il dans une ville sans qu'il soit l'oeuvre du Seigneur ? (Car le Seigneur Dieu ne fait rien sans en révéler le secret à ses serviteurs les prophètes.) Quand le lion a rugi, qui...