Thank you for your kind comments, we were neighbors for 8 years when I lived in Rancho Santa Fe and ate VJ Donuts and watched the surfers. Have a great Thanksgiving, we try.

Carmel: Your son trained as an equine because he’s a rich kid. Whats he doing now? You really believe six hours of dance classes a week for a nine year old is fine? PE in school hasn’t gone anywhere. What kid doesn’t cut grass or shovel snow to make a few bucks? The only stress that Brads kids have are parents that won’t leave them alone.

Frank I am telling you the truth I would love to stop these dance lessons tomorrow they cost a small fortune you even have to buy the trophies if they win a competition. There is absolutely nothing in dance for me other than the pleasure of seeing my children happy. I do not watch them practice, I am not a big dance person. You assume too many facts and then make your conclusions based on your own wrong assumptions. My life is not dance.

I have faith in the power of women to get the ERA amendment passed. Let the women who own this web site and this web site www.wowowow.com become the voice for the ERA amendment. Other powerful women should join in as well. In the 30 years since the last attempt many things have changed and now there is a Democrat President and Congress and they all preach equal rights. The amendment should start from the beginning since the old amendment if ratified now will only bring lawsuits. Don’t worry about the opposition and this shouldn’t be a name calling contest. Since women now serve in combat there are very few excuses for not having the amendment. Men wouldn’t want to be drafted either and there is no draft. Let this country show the world that we believe in democracy for women and men and they both have equal rights. There is no better time than now and women should concentrate on the passage and not concentrate on the negative past. This is a new day in America and all people should have equal rights and opportunities under the laws. Women have to start this and then the men will join in. There can be no stopping women in 2009. There should be a group of very prominent women quickly and quietly organized to announce an immediate effort in January to get the ERA amendment passed. Today, as opposed to 1980, there are many women with the money who are able to mount this campaign whether they are actresses, politicians, corporate heads or other wealthy women. Where are the elected women in congress hiding and why don’t they bring on this amendment? Hello!!?? There should be full page ads taken out in newspapers and on radio and television a few weeks before the inauguration along with other publicity making all women aware of the need for the amendment and telling the President and Congress to make this a first priority since the majority of the country - women - have second class status. How can this country or a Secretary of State Rice or Clinton preach and call for women’s rights when women in America are not equal to men. Women should rise up to challenge the new congress to immediately pass the amendment or else. Or else those who do not vote to pass it will be challenged by women candidates in the congressional and senate elections in 2 years. As a man I doubt these male politicians have the nerve to not vote for passage (unless they plan to retire). The next step are the states, where Governors and state legislature representatives should also be challenged to ratify the amendment quickly or else. Or else many of these people will face challenges from women in 2009 state elections and the 2010 elections. The women in Congress must join in and take a leading role, Democrats, Republicans, liberals and conservatives, we are talking about human rights. Women have to convince other women that the time is now. I believe that with a surge of effort and publicity coupled with a sound plan and leadership the amendment can be passed by Congress by March 1, 2009 and ratified by the states before summer or at the latest before the 2009 state nominations and elections. Black and white women elected President Obama and the women in Congress. There is a time for everything under heaven and now is the time to see if these elected officials believe in equality for women as well as men.

Frank, My opinion must have meant something to you…………otherwise why did you respond. You could have just ignored my comments. I don’t think I read anything about his children competing in pageants……or making themselves up to look like they are 20 years old……(If that had been the subject of discussion I would be inclined to agree with you). It wasn’t. It was about 2 little girls taking lessons for 6 hours a week. If you had approached his comments about his children in a generalized conversation that would be one thing. But you choose to personally attack him with very little information to base your comments on. When my two sons (many years ago) were in High School they both swam on the Swim Team. They also played Water Polo. They spent app. 15 hours a week in the swimming pool for practice sessions plus many hours for swim meets. . Children who participate in sports and other activites spend many hours a week in their individual tasks. I just found it very strange that anyone would attack a parent when they are sharing the activites of their children with other people on this site.