To give this subject an added dimension, I just watched the Oprah show (7/17) and the guest was a teenage boy named Justin Berry, an honor student, who became involved into an internet porn group when he was 13 years old and bought a webcam. He had his own money because at that young age, he was a website designer. Over the next few years, his situation evolved into him becoming a drug addict, doing graphic acts in his bedroom for enormous amounts of cash and gifts, and eventually (as an 18 year old adult) making and promoting porn films. Kurt Eichenwald, a NY reporter was doing research on a related topic and figured out what was going on and helped save Justin. Justin had saved five years worth of online messages, pictures, etc. from his nightmare. The reporter took all this information and turned it over to the FBI. The men that were involved in running this pedophile ring were: Lawyers. Pediatricians. There were many others, but I’m so upset after hearing this, I can’t remember, But there are many, many highly regarded professionals who have their hands all over our children in their daily lives; similar or the people as are involved in trafficking. It’s so entrenched in society. According to Oprah, Justin is going into Witness Protection because he has had his life threatened because these men don’t want this endless supply of money taken from them. But the Wiki site said that Justin now goes around the country trying to educate people on webcams and children. If your child has a webcam in her or his room, throw it out. Don’t ask questions. Don’t take excuses. As Justin said, the most common reason anybody, including children, uses a webcam is sexually and financially related. Here is the Wiki site: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Justin_Berry

I just hate the fact that this board does not allow us to correct a post once it’s submitted. I said >>> One of the reasons it has lived on for such a long time is just because of the the sexual aspect, <<< And I meant to say it’s NOT just because of the sexual aspect…

>>>Is it only girls? Do they kidnap boys as well? By Frannie Em<<< Yes, yes, yes. Sadly, it is boys and girls, Frannie Em. P.S. to my post: Although I give ABC credit for doing this show, one occasional show on 12-13 year old prostitution is not nearly enough. This situation is so deeply entrenched in our society that it needs an ongoing campaign to bring and keep it in the public eye until these predators are wiped out. One of the reasons it has lived on for such a long time is just because of the the sexual aspect, but the money. Young, innocent children bring in lots of money and it’s a result of supply and demand.

>>>A word about the scope of this problem: The FBI has been so concerned about the rise of domestic trafficking of children that for the past five years…<<< This upcoming show is only a tiny part of the problem. It goes so far beyond the prostitution angle of 12-13 year olds. Have any of you ever seen “Human Trafficking,” a movie that was on cable tv in 2005 starring Donald Sutherland and Mira Sorvino? “The statistics are shocking. The story is grim. And the biggest market for women and children sex slaves is the United States, much to our shame. … Keep in mind, the type of persons who can afford to do this are primarily upper middle class professional men who have nefarious appetites to do the worst possible acts of mankind. The last few minutes are the most important of the entire film where Mira Sorvino’s character states clearly the facts and why this is allowed to go on, because there is a market for it particularly here in the United States.” The past five years? As usual, they have had their collective heads in the sand. It’s been going on for a lot longer than five years. To my knowledge part of this problem is that those at the very highest level of this horrendous crime are mostly men who are well-respected in their communities, who nobody would ever suspect, men who have the means and the connections to perpetuate this, and who are protected because of their reputation. And don’t kid yourself. If ABC had truly done their homework they would know that these childrent are not necessarily 12 and 13. Many are much, much younger. We read about young children disappearing all the time. This country needs to wake up. They didn’t all run away.

I have been a faithful Suze Orman watcher for years. She is the only person I’ve ever heard that is honest and tells people the truth about money. She’s better than any “financial advisor” I’ve consulted and we can all benefit from her advice. She has certainly helped keep me in line and long ago taught me to ask if I “need” it or if I just “want” it. The segment on her show “Can I Afford it?” continues to amaze me with how many people want to buy what they want, no matter how expensive it is, when they are already way overextended on credit card and other loan debt. Love, love, love Suze for telling it like it is.

My comment went to the wrong place. I was referring to your comment about the abyss.

Frank, it’s patriotism of the first order in this woman’s book, too. You took the words right out of my mouth.

I need it to be between 50 and 75 degrees, no more, no less, and I’m a happy camper. So I had to choose Other.

Peggy Sue, You said it, girlfriend!!

There was something about this commercial that made me a bit nauseous. Yes, life is flying by but the only thing that said to me was that I just wasted precious minutes watching it.

Thanks for the suggestion, Kitty. I haven’t been on the board for a while so I consider myself lucky that I’ve never had to read his past childish rantings. And now I know to skip them in the future.

>>getting easy divorce.<< Mark, I find your response glib and insulting. An easy divorce? Obviously, you’re not counting the emotional pain, the physical abuse, and so much more that women put up with before they finally figure out how to get the divorce while they are still alive, as well as pay their bills, raise their children, find their self-esteem and all the other “easy” things your remark implies.

Not only do I use google the most, but I’ve also stopped saying things like, “look it up,” “do a search,” etc. Now I just say google it. ;)

I always hated my big, size 8.5 feet, thought they were gigantic compared to my sister’s and girlfriend’s size 6. Then I met hubby and shortly thereafter, we were sitting next to each other with bare feet and he said to me, I love your dainty feet. His are size 13! How shocked I was to hear that! Since then I look at my tiny feet with love. It’s all relative! :)

Thank you for your beautiful words, Fluffy.