Life is a plethora of choices I love calling life a smorgasbord. You can go to this table and have a little bit of this, and go over there and have a little bit of that, then dive at the dessert bar.  Today I feel like talking about a big part of the human smorgasbord, and guiding young people. Todays is sex education day. No not sex, AHHHHHHH help help!  Being a health instructor I do see many things that bother me, and are half-truths presented at the entire picture. That is unethical at least, and a bold lie at worst.

Sex education would be very easy if we were amebas, you eat, you split into two, eat more, and split in two again. Even if we were dogs it would be easy, female dog reaches estrus, male dogs smell it, come hit that, then puppies are born.  Do we humans get it that easy, NNNNOOOOOOO! But we can keep perspective on it. I teach sex as I do life. It is another set of choice you will have to make, the more true information you have, the better your choices will be.  So I am going to “fail” abstinence only sex education.

Before any of you release the attack dogs on me, remember I said abstinence ONLY education. First lets examine where healthy sex education and abstinence only education agree. Sex education for young people does and should encourage abstinence. No pregnancy, no infections, no other issues. Now we will branch off where we disagree and where ab-only education fails.

The journal of adolescent health showed that 85% of young people break the until marriage oath. ( people under 20) Not having any other education than don’t do it until married guess what, they go straight to unprotected intercourse. Well we know what is going to happen with unprotected intercourse. So what happens next? Government and busybodies go up in arms over the teen pregnancy rates, and demand more abstinence education to stop the screwing.  The same journal article shows that billions are spent on ab-only education, thing is we the people are financing more and more failure.  Promoting something that is a proven failure confuses me. See no sex, heard no sex, speak no sex is not human nature, and to ask a young person, or any person to fight millions of years of hard wiring is ludicrous. 

The options? Abstinence does include (coughing) masturbation. (whew I said it and the sky did not fall). It is a very valid choice for young people, and is not evil, nor will you go blind. Your body is not filthy, your thoughts and urges are not dirty. They are part of being human. It is really no different that eating or breathing. So you are not going to hell or going to go blind. 90% of all people admit to having done this, 10 % lied about having done this.

Even with in the realm of young persons first romantic relationships it is a sound choice. All kid these days have cell phone, why not call each other while alone, and talk about XXX? Even if they go so far as to (bleep) in the same room, they can agree to a "one must be dressed" contract. They gain the human intimacy, they get the urge out of the way, no pregnancy, no infection, no harm. To counter the argument that this will lead to intercourse faster than abstinence. No, the young people are not thinking in all or nothing. It actually teachs young people negoation and relationships skills. (J Am Psychoanal Assoc. 2008 Mar;56(1):123-46.)

The next option is (if I can say it), “going down.” (wow  I have a filthy mouth today huh? smile) Again they can have a one-person dressed agreement and the others gets to be the “treat.” This does carry more risks, as we are now as high as lottery odds of infection or pregnancy, not zero. It can be mixed with option one to give more things to do other than have intercourse.

Of course next we hit the on the hot topic of news shows. Condoms. There is a mountain of research that demonstrates that this barrier is 98% effective when used properly. They always have been 98% always will be 98%. You get to be far more intimate with your partner, and the risks are now 2 in 100. Actually you still have a higher risk of a car wreck than infection or pregnancy.  Of course those are mathematical odds, children of broken condoms will attest to that.  The odds are not better than outer-course, they are better than unprotected sex, big difference.  But in the universal scheme of things it is far far safer than unprotected sex.

So with young people having options they know of they can make better choices. Virgin until married is a valid choice, being a responsible person with your body is also a choice, neither is completely wrong or completely right. As a health fitness profession I am ethically bound to provide accurate information to empower people.

We need to remind young people, actually all people. It is your life, it is your body, you are in command, you own your decisions. Not some government official, not some yap dog on TV, not some local official, not someone who wants to screw you, nobody is more qualified to say what happens to your body. Everyone has an agenda including you, but we know where the lines are and where when they are crossed.  Anyone who tells you that you are not qualified to make your own choices is not on your side. They are only interested in their own agenda. The first thing any manipulator will do is limit your choices. Life is not that small, don’t let the small brains convince you other wise. Informed consent is your right, and anyone with your best interest in mind will see you have it.

Honesty is such a lonely word every one is so untrue, honesty is hardly ever heard and it’s mostly what I need from you…..Billy Joel

I am sure most of us here know that honesty is a two way street.  Not just in the sense of you give it and you get it. I am meaning building an atmosphere where it is just the norm, not big lectures on it, not drama about it, people are just honest because it builds on it’s-self and we have a good thing going.

Supervisors and parents are the start of the atmosphere on honesty. There are two roads one can take. This will show what I mean by honesty being a two-way exchange.

Work scenario, Martha a young junior associate gave the wrong quotes to the Smith firm during the presentation. She caught the mistake as soon as she returns to the office. She approaches you and admits how she underbid horribly by confusing Smith with another account. 

Do you contact Smith has soon as possible explain the situation, and renegotiate the contract with Martha involved to help correct her error?  Do you see it as a one time learning mistake, or do you accept responsibility that maybe you pushed Martha too soon?

Or do you hit the fan, dress down Martha as the stupidest, most incompetent, blonde bitch Barbie doll to ever walk into your office, and offer her a dunce hat, with a flashing light.

Well if you do the latter congratulations, you just lost that person. No she may not walk right then, but her heart is out the door. You will never see her best effort again, she will never ever come to you again with any problem. Good managers have the reputation as someone with everyone else’s problems. Why, because your coworker trust you to solve them, and protect their dignity.  So Martha will be taking her services elsewhere, enjoy seeing her smiling face on the cover of fortune 500, and you did not get any of those commissions.

Now a more important scenario, eight year old Jimmy runs in and tells you he hit a baseball through Mr. Jones window.

So what do you do? Well Jimmy need to learn respect and responsibility. You grab him by the hair, take your belt and beat Jimmy’s ass as long and as hard as you can.  It is tradition, right? You were beaten and you are fine, right? Kids need self-discipline, right?  He will never forget this lesson I bet.

Congratulations, you are damn right!  He will never forget this lesson. You just lost your child, way to go.  Your child is human and does not want to be beaten, but guess what, the odds of not getting beat are much better not being open and honest with you. Why? Simply because telling you the truth guarantees a beating, lying and hiding gives a chance of no beating, any smart kid will choose to try and not get a beating.  So now your child does not trust you enough to tell you about a broken window, your child will defiantly not trust you with anything important, like sex, drugs, guns, and other growing up issues. Congratulation parent of the year, take a bow.  The boy who cried wolf concept works in reverse too. Your child might do things to get a beating to get your attention but that is a separate issue.

No you are not your child’s best buddy that is just as bad. Yes, responsibility must be accepted, the child must correct the situation, and yes you will guide them. Normal life mistakes can be fixed with out abuse or belittling.  You have a prime learning opportunity here. You can review money and how it works, you can review how nice or not nice Mr. Jones was about it and doing the right thing is in spite of others. Apology and thank you letters?

With older kids you can even show how windows attach to houses. You could play CSI with your kid and calculate the air speed velocity the ball came off the bat to fly that far to shatter a window in that pattern.  Your job is to help a kids become an emotionally mature person that can face life, set the example necessary.  Condoms are convenient, children are not.

If you want to be in charge of people the first qualified person must be you.  Collaborative leadership is not weak appeasement. Excellent leaders give a framework that all those around you can follow, they are someone people come to for all types of advice.  If you are so narrow minded as to only lead by the stick, you will find the captains chair too much for you. Your best people will leave you for those who lead by the carrot. To be apart of something special, be someone special.

Part one here:  http://direwolfghost.multiply.com/journal/item/32

My two favorite Democrats are happy that Hillary finally stepped aside and Obama is going to be the nominee.  Becky is really hoping Obama picks Richards as VP. Especially since news about that one guy writing pedophile books. On the other side she hopes McCain picks Romney, because, well we live in Idaho, McCain is guaranteed four electoral votes, Ron Paul and his 25% is the only one that can mess up McCain out here.

Our big state election will be between Larry LaRocco (D) and Lt Gov Jim Risch (R) for the “retiring” senator Craig. Making Michael Crapo (cray-poe) our Sr Senator. Unless Crapo steals money or has sex with someone other than his wife, that is one of the safest seats in the nation. Republicans want him in important committees as he will be there until he dies.

The other election of interest is for congressional 1, we live in district 2 and I tell my wife that, but she loves to hate this guy.  District 1 runs from the Nevada line North through Owyhee County, all of Canyon County and western Ada county (Meridian), and the panhandle to the Canadian border. We are three to five miles east of the cut off in district two Congressman Simpson of Idaho Falls is our rep.

The individual pictured above makes my wife’s skin crawl.  He got elected (by only 1300 votes) in spite of fellow Republican house speaker calling him an idiot on the news. Congressman Bill Sali actually said on the state house floor that breast cancer is caused by abortions, to a breast cancer survivor. Becky is so pro choice don't even debate it around her, but pay for your own. On Sali’s wiki article some anonymous poster keeps referencing to some non-academic reviewed web site article claiming there is indeed a correlation between abortion and breast cancer. One day that is there, next day gone, then back again. It would be entertaining except for the fact Sali actually believes that breast cancer is really caused by abortions. That is just beyond ridiculous, there is no real evidence of that at all, and to insult women like that, to insult common sense, to insult the office.

My lovely wife in all her Democratic glory (me smiling affectionately, smiles) strongly supports Child Health Insurance Program “CHIP.” Wifey supports the free breakfast and lunch program for school kids, a federal program. Supplemental income for child/day care for low income, so they can work. She supports universal health care that is her really big issue for being pro Obama, his plan is similar to the Germans. (I made no jokes about concentration camp health care, see I am a good husband, smile) Of course Sali has not supported rural schools, and it is no mystery how he votes on the previously mentioned issues. She could deal with him if he was a regular Republican, (she thinks highly of Kempthorn) but her description of Sali starts with fat ass f-ing prick, and gets worse. Oh no wait that is stupid, fat ass f-ing prick. Sorry got it mixed up, grin.  (But we are in district two dear.)

I wonder if my son is Democrat because most teachers are?  Democrats run the teachers union (don’t argue with me my love you know this to be true). 

My spouse and I agree where it counts. She is the hardest working person I have ever met. She is also very unselfish, very loyal, and lives to spend time with family.  She is strongly pro science but accepts intelligence to the universe. Man is God’s image, man uses tools and science why wouldn’t God?  

She wonders why those south of the border can come here and take jobs and are rewarded for it, have babies and get citizenship and more F-ing welfare. That money is for her children and their future, go build you own future. (yeah tell those fools baby woo hoo!) Her grandmother had to learn English to pass citizenship tests (Norwegian). She wonders why can’t the people at the fast food place speak clear English, the fuzzy drive through speaker is bad enough without some thick accent or mental case unable to say burrito.

She is fighting the school on uniforms and forced bilingual education. Supports vouchers because it looks as if our daughter will be in private school because of those policies. 

I know Republican women say “Once you go GOP you will forever love me” but I am content with my blue chick in a red state. Conservative Democrat, grass roots work ethic, and family values feminist, I will take her any day of the week. (No I am not saying that because I am in the dog house, grin) (She might come out with "My life with a Libertarian, can't you people unite? or My Agnostic Dyslexic Husband Questions the Existance of Dog)

MUAHAHAHAHAHA!

I can laugh now safely. Our daughter can home with her project from art day. Here is how it went.

“Mommy I made a picture of you.”

“You made a picture of mommy, awww, let me see.”

“It’s a pig!? You think mommy is a pig?”

“Yeah oink oink oink”

Poor Becky looked like she was about to cry. She had to regroup and excuse it as a kid thing. It was a very nice pig, circles cut out of construction paper for body, head and piggy nose.  Of course I was totally supportive, and was in no way about to bust out laughing.  BAWHAHAHAHAHA! I also kept all comments to myself, snickering. Would a sane husband really walk up to his wife and ask her to squeal like a piggy? Why do all women have the exact same "watch it buster" look?

Yesterday was also my sons 6^th grade end of year send off. It was pleasant, all had pizza and soda with other snacks. They handed out awards, my son got most likely to be an author, and a commendation from the principal. Not bad.

Geez, all this and we are just now at the half way point? This was the easy half, ABC &1-2-3. No cars, dating, drugs, grades for career placement, each year gets more important as we go on. EEE GADS!

Other than no Gifted education this year, the year went by ok. It was my son’s least favorite year.  We got along with his teacher well that made it better.  The only call we got from the school was when the nurse was lecturing about sex education, and made a mistake, my son caught the mistake and corrected the teacher in front of the class.  The nurse was wigged out because someone that young should not have that type of knowledge. The teacher and principal calmed her down, and told her we both have health degrees. Nobody got accused of inappropriate stuff.

Sex education! AACCK! The only sex ed we got in school was a shaking pointy finger saying “don’t fool around.” Yeah that worked well, my Jr year every girl in the senior class was pregnant, no I am not kidding. We just tell him what is what openly and honestly. We do strongly encourage abstinence because of the logic in that. No pregnancy, no disease, no other issues. It is easier to do college without a kid, and once you have a career you will appear highly attractive to potential mates.  He makes funny sarcastic comments any time a sex scene happen on TV or in a movie. “They ruin a perfectly good show with sex, and some girl waving her butt, lets get back to the show.”  It is so funny but, that will change soon, and I will miss it.

I am very proud how we always get compliments on how well our kids behave and are fun to be around. I hope to keep it going. Who invented parenting anyway? No vacation, no sick leave, and you do not get performance feedback for 18 years! What a silly system. I will be 89 years old, and still worry if they are ok. Sigh!

Remember that classic Star Trek episode where the Enterprise is taken over by an android called #1, and taken to planet Mudd, where they encounter Harry Mudd yet again.  They find out that Mudd is not responsible for situation and he is as prisoner as much as Kirk and others are.  The con man got swindled.

They discover the androids are going to take over by "serving" others and giving everyone exactly what they want. Kirk and Spock are of course very concerned because the plan will work. Spock sees this as a very logical way to conquer people, they will be subdued before they realize what has happened.  People will be absolutely dependant on the androids for survival. People would no longer have food, freedom to travel, or even weapons. No way to assert their will.

Many people seem to think that government and leaders are responsible to hand out "stuff" for the good of all.  Many seem to want the androids in real life, then they can be fat and happy, and watch more tv. Of course we have no androids, but we have those who will pretend to serve and subdue until you no longer have the will or ability to assert your legal rights.

It often seems the trend today is to rename issues or legislation with deceitful opposite of what they really are.  Like calling opportunity a new government program that will favor the few, and handicap the rest.

When I go into a job interview the employer wants to see measurable, tangible qualifications and accomplishments. We all keep our resumes in the positive light, but fairy tale flights of fantasy will get you thrown out of an interview in disgrace. However we are allowing politicians to apply for jobs with LA LA Land resumes, and poorly hidden agendas. (If not flat out lies) Agendas that are not providing opportunity to "we the people."

Back to the Star Trek episode the Enterprise crew confused the androids with nonsense and e non sequiturs " I am a liar, everything I say is a lie!" Which is the truth, but can't be the truth because everything is a lie, but yet it is true that you lie.

With politicians it is the opposite. Politicians are throwing non sequiturs at us, and the only way to defeat them is logic. Action is the only real, measurable, and comparative truth we have. If you are measured by reality on your job, why not hold politicians to the same standard?

Government really only wants to serve to take away, more we require of government the less we can do for ourselves. Even if we only lose 1% of our freedoms per year based on the starting point, we are slaves within a century.

Something that has always made me uncomfortable on May 3^rd is that my wife’s and my father’s birthday are on the same day.  It has gotten a bit worse over the years and drives me batty. 

First off my parents no longer are married and do not live together, actually they do not speak and have disowned each other.  My father and Becky do not really get along either, and my step mom and Becky are not going to be close. All tolerate each other and work to get along for the sake of the rest of us. We appreciate and understand this.

Each year about a week or two before this day my father will ask if we are coming to his house to celebrate birthdays.  Of course one would ask this it is only logical.  What makes it awkward for me is that I am my father’s only son, and hate to not be there. However obviously I am my wife’s only husband. (Unless she has news for me ha ha) I hate the thought of leaving someone out on their day.

I do feel I have a stronger obligation to my spouse. Her comfort, safety and well being are my responsibility. So it is a given one would indulge their spouse on their birthday.  Most of the time my wife wants my mom to come over, and they go shopping and have dinner at a restaurant. That is a very reasonable request for one’s birthday, and my mom likes doing that. 

However me knowing this I dread the call from my father, and begin to think of alibis to decline going to his house without insulting.  I know he would be unintentionally hurt knowing Becky wants to see my mom (her mother in law) and not bring the grand kids and such and celebrate at his house.  But again my obligation is to my spouse first. I send a card, and gift, and am sure to call him. I also place high on the list to get see him soon. It is the best I can do, but I still feel bad.

I really need to stop the alibi thing, because it is dishonest in all reality. It might be a white lie to save feelings, but if something has lie in it’s name, that makes what it is academic.  Grey area is for politician and defense lawyers who play games something is true, or it is not true. I should just suck it up and say what her plans are, what I intend to do, and when I plan on seeing my father again. Polite but “this is how it is” sort of thing.

I did not set out to marry someone with the same birthday, I did not cause my parents to part ways, so any issue is not my fault. My father has a large stepfamily to spend this day with so there is no loss.

Of course lying is not any solution. How can I be a good spouse, a good father, a good health professional, or even a good person if I am a liar?  If you tell lies, the only logical conclusion is that you get exposed as a liar. Then any thing you have said, any thing you say, or anything you say in the future is questioned because those who must count on you exposed you as a liar.  (Crying wolf)

I it seem there really is not any moral dilemma, just correct action, and me cutting through the crap.

HUMMMM.. With all the election stuff, seems all over blog land people are asking and thinking about character, morals, & ethics. News reports of "family values" politicians playing around with call girls, and stuff. CEOs looting company assets and retirement plans to line their own pockets.  Politicians making promises we know are bogus, but yet allow them to do their plan, and somehow forget to hold them to their half.

Like with Clinton (the mister) as soon as you think of him, you then go right to the Monica thing.  Though neither he or she ( the misses) will confirm it, some folks who are personally close to the Clintons imply they have an open marriage. That changes the rules alot. Except you should not play at work, geez. 

It seems with politicians, and those who are looking to romantically date or simply befriend someone it is like you are extending "character credit."   Then with a normal marriage the wave of euphoria wears off, and you realized you married a human, who can drive you up a wall.  Then politicians to dumb human things, other do down right dirty illegal things feeling they are above the law. Reality sets in over time no matter what.

Watching westerns character was a big part of the story.  Back then people fought and died over reputation, honor, and the like. Many samurai stories adapted well as westerns because of that theme.  A John Wayne character saying "me and him go back a long ways" said a lot more than just the words. 

Seems the only real truth is action. There is truth in dishonest action. What someone does day to day is the reality of who they are. People do first what is important to them, the rest is just details. Some guy who says his wife and kids are important, but is at the bar until 11 every night, makes you wonder. Where a guy who is at home with his family never has to say anything. 

In fitness you know how much time we spend talking about fitness? HAHAHA! If people could move their bodies as much as they move their mouths we would be the healthiest nation on the planet.  We could run the Kenyans into the ground, and out lift the Eastern Europeans.

I wonder how many stupid sob stories judges get from repeat offenders? How sorry, how stupid, how it will never happen again, three arrests ago.  Maybe I could get on the pop culture bandwagon with my life coaching, and market instant character repair. Here you are now a good person on a silver platter, yippy hurray!  "Here is Betty, she used to do drugs and beat her kids, but after 30 days on my program, she is a saint."  I think part of who we are is the restitution we pay others and to our selves. Like fitness, I have no magic bullets.

As I got older, maybe not wiser, but definitely older, I find it rewarding to walk the walk.  I am so far from a saint it is ridiculous but I do believe there are certain things we must challenge ourselves to do and to become to be human beings.  Pop culture talks of building self esteem, and helping others build theirs. That comes from real accomplishments. No you can not be the best and fastest all the time, but you can get yourself to the game. If you do what it takes day in and day out the odds say you have to come out a head.  If you do what you feel passionate about you really can't lose.

Ok, something I never thought I would dread, and don't dread in most ways, did manage to happen yesterday.

My son told me a dirty joke!

Never mind him! I am not old enough for for him to be telling dirty jokes! AAAAAHHH!

He is always telling me "hey dad want to hear a joke?" Typical school yard stuff, that has not changed for years he tell me the classic oldies. What is funny is him intrepreting the jokes for me, from his point of view.

But yesterday! When the joke started with "This space alien walked by two nuns" Any joke with nuns is doomed from the start.  He saw my expression change with two nuns, then warned me it might be a bit risque~, yes he uses words like risque~.

Before he tried to explain it to me, I manged to cut in and remind him that it is ok with me, but many others will not appreciate this humor, and to be very careful. I do not want a call from the school. 

I know boys become young men, but geez, there is never prep time for parents to adjust!

Ok for the record I am not against love, romance, gifts, mushy, cuddley, gooey kissy stuff that comes with romance.  I even sit through chick flicks, and know who Matthew McConaughey and George Clooney are. What sucks about Valentines day is why would you just get soemthing for your beloved one freaking day a year? What moron would stay married with that idea?

It seems more normal to buy her something because she occupies your mind, haunts your senses, and you see her each time you close your eyes.  Your world begins and ends through her, and her essence brings you life. Not "Oh shit, if I don't get her something, she will never go down on me again!"

Know what else sucks about Valentines day? They double the price of freaking roses. Those shysters can shove that idea in a place you do show the world!  Normally $13.99 will get a dozen good roses, but this week, NOOO! freaking $39.95! Buttheads!  So I got wifey a spring time mix for $12.99 and she loves them, so neener neener flower shop!

If I hear one more jewelry store claim I am not in love, not manly, have a microscopic penis, will never get laid, and am the worst husband that ever walked the planet because I did not buy her a diamond, I am going to go postal! My spouse would be a bit ticked to have that much spent on a diamond. Spouse would rather catch up an account, tuck it away for a child, or save it for the vacation, not spend $1,200.00 on a diamond she will only wear now and then.

I hate this holiday!  

As most people that know me understand that I am not religious. However I also do not smoke, do dope, and rarely drink. I say if what you do do don't do does not bother anyone else what does it matter?

Speaking as a secularist, I was actually upset over the court case and challenging God in the pledge of allegiance.  And for an atheists to challenge it?? It would make more sense of a Buddhist or the like to be upset over "God" rather than an atheists. I do not feel it is shoving God down your throat because God is a personal choice and the relationship people have with God is an individual thing. One can simply replace God with a word they feel fits better. One nation under law or something like that. Those that want God can have, one that don't, don't have to either.

I often look at religion like this. I do celebrate Christmas. When I hang up a picture of Santa Claus do I literally think a fat man in a red suit will actually fly around delivering presents? Well no, but it represents giving, family, happiness, self reflection. Same qualities people seek in their religion and relationship with God.

The taking the Ten Commandments out of the courthouse.  To an atheists would it not be the same as a picture of the Tooth Fairy in the court house?  Besides only about 40% of the commandments apply to court. Thou shalt not kill, thou shalt not steal, thou shalt not commit adultery, & thou shalt not bear false witness. If people did not do those things the court would not be very busy anyway, not much need of a court house to begin with.

Here in Boise we have a big light up cross over looking the city.  Some atheist from Chicago filed a suit over it. That really ticked me off.  He did not even live here, and again as an atheist why would it matter.  We all share the city, and a vast majority what the cross there. They look up on a bad day and see the light both literally and figuratively.  I am happy they found their religion. People need peace, joy, and hope, and the others of the city are entitled to it. It is not a Nazi swastika or a bird flipping finger. It far from offends me, and actually the door to door missionaries have bothered me alot More than a light up cross.

Prayer in school and Intelligent Design are separate issues from the PoA.  Others saying God in PoA is not a prayer, but an affirmation of beliefs of principles of our nation. Those who want God in it, say it as such, those that don't, don't. Neither side needs to force or make a huge deal about something simple.  Freedom of religion is freedom from it, but liek free speech, you do nto have a right to be unoffended. The fools who go looking to be offended to be on the news and make dumb drama, a different story fro a different day.

I hope our country goes back to a live and let live philosophy.

I know sometimes I really go off on the school system. I do respect most teachers, I really do. It is the public politics that torque me off to no end. Some mouthpieces out there are more worried about their agenda being taught to kids over any useful life skills. To sound JFK like, it is not what our young people should be doing, it is what are we doing for our young people?

When people who are clueless to the demographics and dynamics of your particular school set policy the only logical conclusion is disaster. No child left behind looks great on paper, a looks to make school responsible. Until you realize that schools are not given the resources to make these things happen. Then there is the wonderful fact of non-English speaking students.  Educated children do not appear out of thin air anymore than money does.

What ever happened to teaching kids useful things? Like how to manage a bank account? How an auto loan and home mortgage works.  What types of loans there are and how the interest works, and how you can save or get shafted for thousands of dollars? Math, science, history, and how government works?  The fact the founding fathers were not perfect, but they did demonstrate that with out rights to life, liberty & property, one is not free.

Seems more attention and lip service is given to weather Jonnie comes from a daddy/daddy home or a mommy/mommy home rather than just living and learning. Jonnie should not be harassed about it, but beyond that, who cares? Have qualified people ready if Jonnie has questions, but beyond that, if Jonnie has no issues, let’s not make any for him. There are not many life skill considerations given to single parents, and that is far more common than homosexuality. Sex is a part of life yes, who you are screwing is as much of a choice as your career, religion, political beliefs, ie another set of choices one will have to make, and will be part of who you are.  However we do not need to wig out over it, nor shove the ideals of the few down kids throats.  

I wont even touch Creationism and Science. Luckily most people are rational and realize you cannot get into MIT with a creationism background, nor would someone going to theologian school spend a lot of time on physics (typically). So a majority of the people blend religion and science quite well. 

The right to believe in one or the other is personal choice, we should agree to disagree, and realize it is more important we all have the right to pursue those beliefs. The old quote “I disagree with what you say, but defend your right to say it.”  Teaching kids to celebrate civil rights will help do away with all this politically correctness, racism, and other nonsense. Live and let live. Also free speech does not mean you do have a right to never be offended.  Idiots get to speak out too, luckily the truth always comes to light.

You play exactly as you practice, so why not teach the kids what they need to reach their goals, and let them play at life until their “game time” comes?