It is a fairly common thing to see the following online: free Ipod, free laptop, free digital camera, free money. What person does not like something that is free?

The dictionary says that the word ‘free’ is the following:
a. Costing nothing; gratuitous
b. Publicly supported

Many of these ‘free’ items that are offered can be seen in emails, pop ups, or banner ads on a multitude of websites. Of course, the word ‘free’ has always been an infamous buzz word in advertisements for many years, perhaps many milennia as well. When a person is approached with a product under the pretense that it is free, naturally that person would be happy to accept the item. Many of the items offered for free online are for items that are expensive luxuries.

The disturbing part of this situation is that it is a gimic. Once the person is drawn into seeking out how to receive the free item, they are asked to choose a few programs, some costing money and requiring a subscription. However, the actual item that was free says that no purchase is required to obtain it. This is disturbing in a few ways. For one, if the offers are not completed, then the person who signed up will never receive the gift. This contradicts the whole concept of the word ‘free’. It is misleading.

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Wedding Cake topper at Walmart

Found this while shopping at Walmart around here. I could not help it – too hilarious to pass up and not take a picture of.

Now, I love to listen to music. However, I am finding it difficult to listen to music with my son present. For example, Lady Gaga’s “Love Game” ( http://blip.fm/~7u6se from Blip.fm. It is free to listen to. Lyrics found at MTV.) song is upbeat and catchy, but if you truly listen to the music, you will find some things that you might not want your children to hear.

Excerpt from Love Game:

Let’s have some fun, this beat is sick
I wanna take a ride on your disco stick
Don’t think too much just bust that thick
I wanna take a ride on your disco stick

The term ‘disco stick’… well, that is self-explanatory. In fact, when my boyfriend first heard the above verse, the kids were with it. He turned the station immediately. When my son recited Flo-rida’s “Low” (lyrics from MTV found here), it did not seem so bad, but the innuendo is there.

I admit listening to this without children is fine, but this music is now quickly spreading to radio and television and easy for little eyes to see. I almost feel like I have to use parent control all the time. It sounds dramatic, but is this the type of message we want to convey to children? Yes, I could shut it off and I would, but what about the other children? There are countless songs today. How much is considered too much? Is just turning it off enough or do you need to explain why before you do?

I got to go to my son’s teeball. I missed his first year, but vowed not to miss many games this time. In fact, I went to a practice of his and enjoyed it just as much as his game. The teeball these days are much different from what I remember. Everyone gets to bat, and run all of the bases. There are no outs, even if the batter is tagged out. There is no score. It is kind of fun and to try to get the kids more comfortable with the field, batting, throwing, and a few basic rules.

Below are some pics of Angel. I took these with my cell phone, so excuse the quality.

Angel With his new helmet and bat

Angel running to home plate

Angel in the dugout

Angel at third base