NEW - Website Caution for Parents!!! - Chatroulette

Today I was watching Good Morning American and this news piece came on about a disturbing new website that is gaining popularity very rapidly called Chatroulette. (I do not normally pass or forward info like this around because all of us get so much of these "scary"/caution emails all the time, but this one is for real and it is very upsetting.)

However, This could be very serious and dangerous for our kids and the experts saying that "our kids" probably already know about this site and have or are using it AND there are no restrictions on who or how it is used and it is free. This means that anyone from anywhere at anytime can go online with a webcam and go "live" with anything they want...no questions asked and it can be viewed...no questions asked nor any age restrictions required. The reporters that were involved with this news piece stated that a large number of the 'live chats' they encountered were sexually explicit, and other things that cannot be mentioned. One reporter mentioned that she saw kids that appeared to be as young as ten or eleven on this site.

Here is a quote from the ABC NEWS article from Feb 13, 2010 "Chat rooms are about as old as the Internet. Either strictly in text or, more recently, via video hookup, they've been used for years to solve problems, hold meetings, geek out over shared obsessions and, yes, sniff out anonymous sex. Enter Chatroulette. Suddenly, this ancient Internet activity has been retooled for the social-media-obsessed 21st century. Here's how it works: You don't need to sign on to anything, just go to the site with your webcam-equipped computer to find yourself face to face with a total stranger somewhere else in the world." http://abcnews.go.com/Technology/chatroulette-talking-strangers-internet/story?id=9822879

I have posted the GMA links so you can either watch the story or read the full article.
"Chatroulette: Talking to Strangers Is Cheap and Often Racy
While Promise of New Web Site Is to Connect Strangers, the Practice Can Be Something Creepier"

http://abcnews.go.com/GMA/

http://abcnews.go.com/Technology/chatroulette-talking-strangers-internet/story?id=9822879

What is new?

I have not posted in a long time because I have been so busy with my work with Dillon International. I hope I can start blogging again and share more information that may be helpful to other moms in this area. Please let me know if there is anything that you would like to know more about.

I write a weekly blog post for Dillon International at http://www.dillonadopt.blogspot.com/

I have also updated my family/adoption blog with new pictures and tales from our lives. Some you may find humorous. http://www.pckoreanadopt.blogspot.com/

I think that I will switch my family blog to another site and name that will reflect our family better since we are no longer in the adoption process.  This blog address is http://www.pcwfamily.blogspot.com/

Once again, please let me know if there are any topics that you would like to have more info about and I will try to find it for you.

Cherri

WHAT IF I CANNOT AFFORD HEALTH INSURANCE

HERE ARE A COUPLE OF RESOURCE IDEAS IF YOU CANNOT AFFORD HEALTH INSURANCE FOR YOUR FAMILY

Insurance for children under age 19. Family Income must not exceed 200% of the poverty level

http://www.kansashealthwave.org/
This is a state sponsored insurance that provides health, vision and dental insurance for children whose families meet income guidelines. The children may not currently have insurance coverage to be eligible.

Please review the qualifications page at:
http://www.kansashealthwave.org/hwqual.asp
200% of 2008 Federal Poverty Level - Monthly Income for Household Size
1=$1734
2=$2334
3=$2934
4=$3534
5=$4134
6=$4734
(All eligibility factors, including income guidelines and premiums, are subject to change)

These income numbers go up incrementaly for additional household members. They will also deduct a $200 per month for all work related expenses for each family member who is employed.

OPTIONS OTHER THAN TRADITIONAL INSURANCE:

There are a variety of health care costs sharing ministries available to Christians. Here are a few of the links to these options. It might be worth your time to check into these.
http://www.chministries.org/

http://medi-share.org/

http://www.samaritanministries.org/

There may be more, but these are the three that I am most familiar with.

DOUGLAS COUNTY RESOURCE LIST

CLICK ON IMAGE FOR LARGER VIEW

Are you prepared for a disaster?

This is the time of year that I like to review a disaster preparedness plan. Here is the like to Douglas County's Department of Emergency Management. This is the link to their home page and a PDF handbook on disaster preparedness. I hope that you will review this information and checklists.

http://www.douglas-county.com/depts/em/preparedness/em_preparedness.aspx

http://www.douglas-county.com/depts/em/preparedness/em_disasterprephandbook.aspx

Tired of Negative Media coverage on the Economy?

I know that the nation is having economic trouble, but I am kind of tired of hearing about how bad it is all of the time. I would like a realistic update rather than the "gloom and doom" I hear day in and day out. I get a newsletter from Dave Ramsey. Here is an article that he sent in today's newletter.

http://www.daveramsey.com/etc/newsletters/company/022709.cfm?ectid=cnl0903.2_06#1

I hope that this will be a balanced report on the economy.

Grocery Adds

I am going to post links to some of the area grocery store's weekly adds that are online.




http://www.checkersfoods.com/


http://dillons.inserts2online.com/customer_Frame.jsp?divID=615&drpStoreID=00068

More to come soon.