What a great topic! As a child in the 50’s & 60’s, we always found things to do without our parents help. We were NEVER in the house unless being punished or the weather was too awful. We lived in a blue collar inner-city neighborhood with no ammenities (pools, playgrounds, organized sports) but we played day in & day out. “Be in when the street lights come on” was my parents’ mantra & we squeezed every minute out of that time that we could. Today, you take a kid to a park & they want to know “what should I do”, it boggles my mind. Maybe having TV’s & computers in their bedrooms along with the video consoles has made kids unable to be imaginative. We had no baseball bat, no problem, use a broom stick… No $60 skate board, make one from old roller skates & left over wood. We had nothing, but we had parents who wanted a better life for us than they had. Somehow we baby boomers forgot how much fun it was to play board games or do jigsaw puzzles with their own kids. And the next generation didn’t bother with those things, “cooler” toys were coming on the market. Many kids today are too over-scheduled. I played in the band as a kid, because I wanted to, not because mom & dad thought I should. I still play to this day & I am approaching 60 quicker every year. Kids are still kids, nothing there has genetically changed, but give them the opportunity to be creative while they’re young & it will serve them well all their lives…

I am supporting Obama & continue to do so. While he didn’t win my State’s primary (NJ), he still managed to get 48 (of 107 available) delegates by getting 44% of the vote. I first saw & heard Sen. Obama when he gave his speech at the Democratic Convention. Before he finished I made the comment to my partner that “I would love him to run for president”. I shudder at the idea he lacks experience. George W. Bush was only the governor of Texas before being elected to the Presidency. And the Gov. of Texas has less authority than virtually any Governor’s office in the US. Also, our founding fathers designed a new government & managed to preside over it quite well (some better than others), so I believe a deep respect for the US Constitution, love of the US & surrounding yourself with a good Cabinet & advisors are far more important than how many years you have in governing experience. I like Hillary very much & will vote for her if she is the nominee, but I fell the country is longing for something & someone different & to me, that is Sen. Obama.

Penny, you might have your daughter try local universities which do medical or scientific research. Having worked in medical research for a time, some college & university research programs often welcome (but may not pay the best) people interested in assisiting for the summer months. JMHO.

I just watched the Charlie Rose Show on PBS & learned of this website. I think it is terrific & plan to visit often.