Good Morning and welcome to the week we officially can start singing holiday songs!

So, last week a study came out that showed the link between television ads for fast food and childhood obesity. Later in the week, the fast food industry said the study was based on old information.
Old information or new information, it doesn't matter. Sure, places like McDonald's and Burger King can can come out with statements about how healthy their choices are or how they have diversified their menu.
Sure, they have added something called 'Apple Fries' to their children's menu. They offer salads. Some offer baked potatoes. Some offer veggie burgers. OK, one offers a veggie burger, but it's also microwaved.
Blah. Blah. Blah.
The bottom line is the fast-food industry gets you hooked, then keeps you coming back with cute jingles and junky toys. No child would be happy to find 'Apple fries' in their meal. They want french fries. They want soda instead of water. They want as much junk as possible.
Then, as they finally calm down and are resigned to the fact they are stuck with 'Apple fries,' they can look over at mom or dad's tray and see french fries drowning in ketchup next to the salad with salt-laden dressing.
Yeah, that will work.
The bottom line is the ad makers are wrong. The giant King or quick songs do get children wanting to take a walk into a McDonald's. Once there, it's time for fat, salt, sugar and whatever else fine stuff they can jam in there.
They figure if they get the children to complain enough, the parents will give in and get a super sized meal.
How can anybody think this is good?



If you have any cool links or photos, send them along to onlindelco@gmail.com

GOOD MORNING, DELAWARE COUNTY!

Well, as we get down to the end of another school year, it's time to think about what to do during the summer.
Way back when, parents maybe went on a vacation for a week during the summer, did a couple of day trips, then let the children fend for themselves the rest of the summer.
It was fun to go away, but it was maybe more fun to spend the entire day with friends. Even if it was just sitting around in the shade, there was a simplicity to it that just seemed right.
Maybe there'd be a quick baseball game or football game. There was a lot of bike riding and running around.
You would eat breakfast, come back for lunch, then be back again at dinnertime. After dinner, there was more outside time until it got too dark to see.
Now, you can't let the children play outside, even on your front lawn, without keeping an Eagle eye on them.
There are too many dangers out there. The question is, are the dangers more now or are we just more conscious of them?
Well, I think the dangers have exploded as the years have gone along. Sure, there were plenty of predators out there in the 1970s, but maybe they weren't so out in the open.
We didn't have to worry about cars pulling up with somebody looking to hurt children. We didn't have to worry about so many people running around with weapons. We, and I mean both parents and children, didn't have to worry about such serious things.
Now, we have to have camps and planned activities for children. They miss out a lot now. We need to get back to simpler times.


If you have any cool links or photos, send them along to onlinedelco@gmail.com

GOOD MORNING, DELAWARE COUNTY!

Well, today is the big day. The buildup has been impressive. The pressure on some is out of hand. The work has been done. Except for a few things today, everything is ready to roll. The shirts are ready, the pamphlets are printed. There's no doubt the lines getting into the doors will be long and, of course, there will be more than a few annoying people.
That's right, it's time for the 'Third Grade Night of Music' at Garrettford Elementary School.
In this day and age when our President has made it virtually impossible to actually teach children and broaden their horizons, there is a little beacon of hope in the middle of it all.
Being not too musically inclined (although I know I can sing better than Axl Rose), it is nice to see children trying out music. After all, working to get better at an instrument will only lead to something better later in life.
Learning music can be just as daunting a task for some as learning a new language or trying baked tofu for lunch.
In the end, it's better for you. So, until 'No Child Left Behind' takes away all activities from students, it will be fun to listen to some voilins tonight.
By the way, heard this catchy tune over the weekend. It's an odd song, but, warning, once you listen it won't leave your head:


If you have any cool links or photos, send them along to onlinedelco@gmail.com