new year, friends, changes, 2010, holiday

Finally, justice is served-A top judge in Brazil rules in favor of David Goldman.

David Goldman      

Brazil's top judge rules for American father in custody feud
Posted: 23 December 2009 0833 hrs

BRASILIA - Brazil's Supreme Court on Tuesday ruled in favour of an American father seeking the return of his nine-year-old son after a long and bitter custody dispute with the child's Brazilian caretakers.

The decision by Gilmar Mendes, the chief justice of Brazil's high court, to throw out the appeal clears the way for US-Brazilian boy Sean Goldman to be returned to his New Jersey father.

David Goldman has waged a five-year battle to be reunited with son. The boy was brought to Brazil by his mother in 2004, where she divorced Goldman and remarried before dying last year, leaving Sean in the care of his Brazilian stepfather.

A federal court in Rio de Janeiro ruled last week that Sean should be handed over to his father at the US consulate by late Friday.

But as Goldman arrived in Rio to be reunited with his son, another Supreme Court justice ordered Sean to remain with his Brazilian relatives until the high court could take up an appeal lodged by the boy's Brazilian grandmother.

Goldman was in Brazil for what was expected to be the final stage of the years-long feud, hoping to bring his son back to the United States.

Read more

Reunited this month during a brief visit, hoping to regain custody.

father, fatherhood, children, custody, divorce, abduction

This past week a mother on twitter[@military_mom] suffered a devastating and tragic loss. Her two year old son, Bryson, fell into their pool and drowned. Her eleven year old found the child and called paramedics, while Sherri was out of the house feeding her chickens, according to an article by Florida Today.  

mom, bloggers, twitter, death, children, safety, pools

A Chattanooga boy named Hayden Wright, aged 4, managed to get into some serious mischief early Tuesday morning. In fact, little Hayden was found drinking a beer, wearing a girl's dress (more on that later) and had stolen another family's Christmas presents. His mom, April Wright, 21, says that she's just not sure how little Hayden managed to get into so much trouble while she dozed.

Hayden was found on Tuesday morning at 1:45 a.m. as he wandered around drunk in the streets of his neighborhood. Officers reported that the little guy was wearing a girl's dress - one of the five wrapped Christmas presents he stole - and with a half a can of cold beer. The little guy was able to go through the unlocked front door of a neighbor's and pilfer through the gifts under their tree. In fact, he opened one and put on the dress it contained!

Hayden and his mom both were taken to the hospital, and he was treated for alcohol consumption by having his stomach pumped. Thankfully, Hayden is doing just fine now, and wasn't harmed (or kidnapped) during his nighttime adventures.

Sadly, Hayden's mom claims that Hayden "runs away to find his father," who happens to be in jail at the moment. It doesn't seem probable that the little man is running away (not at such a tender age); but, it does sound like he's full of mischief like most kids his age. Some of the most opportune times for kids to get into trouble is in the middle of the night, when parents are sleeping. Hayden's mama even demonstrated on camera the safety devices that are installed to help prevent him from leaving the house. But most parents can admit that if you have a precocious child, you know that even little ones can jailbreak and leave the house - or wreak havoc inside the house.

Child protective services met with April Wright, and concluded that she is able to keep Hayden, despite Tuesday's incident. Wright feels both "embarrassed and like a failure" after the remarkable event. Hayden, well, seems just fine.

Don't believe this week's Fail? Watch the bizarre tale, below:

Photo: Hayden Wright/Channel 9 News Chattanooga

4-Year-Old Runs Wild
A child roams the neighborhood, beer in hand

Full version
Experts React to Wild Child
Experts discuss child who drank beer and stole

Full version

Christmas, children, toddler, safety, divorce, parenting

STORY HIGHLIGHTS

* NEW: Oklahoma judge extends temporary restraining order on controversial abortion law
* NEW: Judge denies state's motion to dismiss case, putting measure on hold until February
* Law would post details online about every woman who gets an abortion in the state
* Lawmaker: "It's important public policy to stand on the side of sanctity of life."

(CNN) -- A judge in Oklahoma extended on Friday a temporary restraining order on a law that would post information online about women who get abortions in the state.

In extending the restraining order, Oklahoma County District Judge Daniel Owens denied the state's motion to dismiss the case, putting the measure on hold until a February 19 hearing.

Abortion rights supporters are extremely concerned about the intrusiveness of the questions, and fear that identities of women could be compromised, especially in small communities.

"It requires doctors to ask and submit answers to at least 37 intensely personal questions. There are details in those questions about rape, incest, abuse, relationship problems and emotional health," Stapleton said. "I think women can be identified."

  The article goes on to say that Senator Lamb, who cosponsored the law says:

legislators drafted the measure using portions of a Guttmacher study. "Some of this was gleaned from the Guttmacher Institute," he said. "It's not Draconian."

"If we collect this evidence, we can better treat, we can better counsel, we can better provide alternatives," Lamb said.

The law also bars women from seeking abortions solely because of the sex of the fetus, with fines up to $100,000 for doctors who "knowingly violate" it.

If the law does go forward, the state Department of Health is to have the Web site up and running by March 1, 2011. Doctors are to begin submitting completed questionnaires 30 days later.

Read more

As a pro-life Catholic, I tend to think this law is unnecessary, except for the portion blocking women from seeking abortions solely based on the sex of the fetus. However, why should doctors be required to post the information online? Though, it would make the information more accessible for others who want to learn about reasons why women get abortions and could help pro-life advocates determine ways to prevent unwanted pregnancies based on those answers, it does seem a bit of an invasion of privacy.

I believe if the information is taken voluntarily and women are given the chance to provide this information at their will the information would be just as useful and valuable. I do not see the need for the law requiring the online posting? Once this precedent is set, who's to say that other medical information won't be required to be posted online, which to my understanding is part of the pending health care reform legislation. The democrats who are supporting this claim that posting records online will make patient records easily transferable for patients and doctors, thus improving medical care. However, once again I find this type of legislation unnecessary and invasive, but could be done voluntarily.

Perhaps someone can better explain the reason for posting abortion and medical information online, as I don't see a reason for it to be mandatory? What are your thoughts on this law?

women, rights, health care, abortion, prolife, medical

Image via Wikipedia

I came across this new site today via the press release below and thought it was worth sharing with Little Bytes News readers. It is a new web tool that will help make finding family activities in different areas easy to view and share your experiences with others. While it is fairly new, the content is still a bit limited as far as places to go and things to do. For example, when I put biking for families with small children nothing came up in my area, although I know there are several locations that would be appropriate if someone wanted to take their young family out for a biking outing. To learn more about this web tool read the following press release about Venturepax. Check it out and let me know what you think. (Disclosure:This is an unpaid post as most of my posts are. I am sharing resources you might find useful.)

New Web Tool Makes Experiencing Outdoor Recreation Easy

Shared stories, interactive information inspire the exploration of nature.

Cincinnati, OH (PRWEB) December 21, 2009 -- Venturepax.com, an online outdoor recreation portal making the outdoors more approachable for families, officially launched today. Venturepax makes it easy for busy families to reconnect by going outside together. To plan an outdoor activity and fully enjoy the outdoors, a family can search the database to get ideas of ventures, find a location of interest, and read up on all the details pertaining to the selected experience. Ventures posted on the site are unlimited in scope; it can be a 30-minute jaunt, a day trip, or a week-long journey.

By encouraging families to share their open-air outdoor recreation experiences Venturepax offers a detailed archive built collectively by other families displayed on an interactive map. User-tips, stories and reviews inspire families to navigate the great outdoors and experience lasting memories together.

“Venturepax is my dream of stronger families put into action,” says Danny Stull, Founder, Venturepax. “My hope is to create a website which makes the outdoors a bit more approachable; where families of all different types can post their own ventures, as well as find new ones to take. More families in motion is what we’re all about.”

Venturepax uses technology to get families outside. In today’s uncertain economic climate and hectic lifestyles, many families can benefit by spending more time together – no better way to reconnect than with nature. The great outdoors offer a family-friendly backdrop for green and affordable activities. Venturepax encourages families to explore their backyard, hike the trails of a national park, or ride the waves of a river - any activity that is in nature. Venturepax’s mission is for families to unplug from the busy world and reconnect with one another outside.

“Some of my fondest childhood memories are of trips and activities that my family and I went on,” says Stull. “Once our venture started, we were always able to get past any differences we had and reconnect in a way that would have otherwise been impossible. Venturepax is the technology to collectively help other families do the same.”

Once a family returns from their outdoor recreation venture, they can interactively drop a pin on the map at which point photos and videos can be added along with stories and information on the venture such as, where to stay, what to bring, cost, and general tips. A family can then share this loaded pin through social networks, email, and blogs. For their next venture, families can search information other families have left to enhance their outdoor experience. Whether it is fishing, hiking, or any other sort of outdoor activity, a family can see precise locations on a map, tips and hints of what to look for on the excursion, along with many other valuable tools such as photos, videos and other users’ feedback of that venture. Venturepax is a free resource that makes taking and sharing ventures easy and fun for families.

Venturepax makes it easy for busy families to reconnect by going outside together

ABOUT VENTUREPAX
Venturepax is a mission driven outdoor recreation resource putting families in motion to take full advantage of the great outdoors. The goal of Venturepax is to make the outdoors a bit more approachable for families. The service provides an interactive website to share family outdoor experiences and search how, where and what other families are exploring. Venturepax grew from a love for outdoor adventures and the personal passion to reinvigorate family time from Danny Stull, Founder of Venturepax. For more information about Venturepax or to sign up, visit www.venturepax.com.

###

hiking, biking, outdoors, family, recreation, resources

parenting, children, toddlers, runaway, safety, kidnapping, custody

Oh you better watch out, you better not pout, you better not cry, I'm telling you why....Santa Claus is coming Online...Thanks to Mashable for sharing these great resources:

1. last-minute Santa Letters via email available at SaintNick.org. The site has a form where you enter the child’s name, age, location, how nice they’ve been, and their Christmas wish list. Once sent, an almost instantaneous letter from Santa will appear in your inbox which cleverly incorporates the data provided into a coherent, personalized letter to your little one from the big man himself.

2. Aimed at younger children who will be susceptible to such trickery, this Santa-themed iPhone app simulates a phone call from the man in red and could have two applications. It can be used to generate some pre-Christmas magic for a child speaking to Santa before the big day, or it may be a handy tool to get naughty kids to behave.

   There are three call options: 1. Santa praises the child for being on the good list with promises of Christmas surprises; 2. Santa issues a verbal warning for bad behavior; and 3. Santa suggests a lump of coal is en route unless they shape up soon. All are delivered in an “upbeat and positive” way, but you might want to pre-screen option three just to be sure you don’t traumatize the little tyke.

3. Finnish Santa video feed   Santa’s been nothing but professional on this Ustream feed, meeting and greeting kids in his comfortable home at the North Pole ably assisted by a couple of elves. The live webcam broadcasts during office hours, meaning you can tune in from anywhere in the world to see Santa in action between visitors. You’ll have to work out the time difference (it’s GMT+2) to catch Claus at work, but hopefully a live glimpse of Santa doing his thing will be worth it.
4. It’s an American Christmas tradition that’s gone global thanks to the web. Once a year since the 1950s, the North American Aerospace Defense Command turns its high-tech radar system towards the North Pole and follows Santa’s progress around the world as he delivers his present payload. To really get the kids hyped on Christmas Eve, you can go to the NORAD homepage and then track Santa’s journey thanks to a Google Earth team-up. You can also catch some snaps from the strategically positioned Santa-cams that grab pics of Santa and his reindeer as he makes his way across the night sky. Good luck trying to get the kids off to sleep after that.
5. Here are a few more places to connect with Santa and get your Christmas and holiday shopping done. Call Santa, or get a personalized video from Santa and find personalized party supplies, gift tags, invitations and stickers, or receive free Santa emails here, and find Christmas printables and activities for kids and parties.

Have any other great resources or sites to share to keep the kids happy during their Christmas vacation and holidays, please share them below in the comments. Thanks!

holidays, christmas, santa, letters, resources

UPDATED:

Muslim leaders said Friday the five American youths arrested in Pakistan for allegedly attempting to join the al Qaeda network were lured through the Internet into embracing terrorist ideology and that they will wage a cyber counterattack.

"This is a wake-up call involving our youths — Muslims and Catholics," Imam Mahdi Bray said outside the Islamic Circle of North American Center, the Northern Virginia mosque in which the men worshipped and participated in youth-group activities. "They see great injustices, and their emotions and passions are stirred, as they should be. … But we are determined not to let religious extremists exploit the vulnerability of our youth through slick, seductive and destructive propaganda on the Internet. We will respond in kind on the Internet. Silence in cyberspace is not an option."

Pakistani officials say the men allegedly asked an al Qaeda-linked group for training but were rejected because they lacked credentials.

They reportedly attempted first to contact jihadist groups in August through e-mails, then Facebook and YouTube. The men, ages 19 to 25, then went to Pakistan to set up meetings.


The men disappeared last month from the Washington, D.C., area. One left behind a militaristic video that prompted family members to contact the FBI.

Pakistani residents became suspicious of the young men and told police, who arrested them Tuesday in a home belonging to an uncle of one of the suspects.

parenting, parents, awareness, politics

How do you use the web to improve your life and/or make people happy?

Mashable is proud to present the Zappos.com Sharing Happiness Giveaway Contest!

To get into the spirit of the holiday season, we’re asking the question, “How do you use the web to improve your life and/or make people happy?”. One lucky recipient will receive a $3,000 shopping spree at Zappos.com.

To enter:

1. Leave your answer in the comments section below and/or,

2. Tweet out your answer with the hashtag “#SharingHappiness” (Be sure to leave the URL of yourTwitter comment in your comment on this post.)

Mashable will highlight some of our favorites on Friday and we’ll announce a winner on Wednesday, December 16th.

Here is my response as posted on Mashable:

contest, shopping, giveaway, mashable, zappos

1. Follow @KmartDealsnNews on Twitter from your personal Twitter account
2.  Issue a Tweet everyday using our hashtag: #KmartBLS
   

Tweet:
#KmartBLS for a Chance to Win a $50 Kmart Gift Card Everyday from 11/12- 12/23!
For more info: http://tr.im/kmartbls @KmartDealsnNews
Follow @KmartDealsnNews for a chance to win a $500 Kmart Shopping Spree! #KmartBLS
For more info: http://tr.im/kmartbls

We’ll be choosing a winner everyday only from tweets within a 24hr period – so each day is a new opportunity to win a Daily Prize! The more often you tweet #KmartBLS, the better your chances are to win! 

PRIZES
Daily winners will be chosen by random drawing and awarded a $50 gift card, everyday from 11/12 – 12/23. Winners will be notified by direct message, and must be following @KmartDealsnNews.

Grand and First prize winners will be chosen at random from eligible followers of the @KmartDealsnNews Twitter account at the end of the sweepstakes. One (1) Grand Prize winner will receive a $500 Kmart gift card, and five (5) First Prize winners will receive a $100 Kmart gift card. Winners will be notified by direct message, and must be following @KmartDealsnNews.

RULES
There is NO PURCHASE NECESSARY TO ENTER OR WIN, must be legal resident of the 50 U.S. and DC, 18 or older. Sweepstakes ends 12/23/2009. Visit http://tr.im/KmartBLSRules for official Rules.

Disclosure:
I am not receiving any compensation nor prizes for posting this message. I am hoping to win just like you!! Good luck! help spread the word!

Related:

• Enter the Zappos Sharing Happiness $3,000 Shopping Spree Giveaway Contest

contest, kmart, shopping, holidays