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The Top 20 Summer Family Vacations Page

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Latest Top 20 Summer Family Vacations News

Obamas take a boat ride during Gulf Coast vacation - Oregonian

(AP) — PANAMA CITY BEACH, Fla. - Catching a glimpse of porpoises, President Barack Obama and his family went boating Sunday as part of a weekend trip to the Gulf of Mexico that was designed to showcase the ...

Savoring Summer On A Coastal Classic - Chattanoogan

Bald Head Island, just a few nautical miles off the coast of North Carolina, in the Atlantic Ocean is not your usual beach resort. Oh, it has water sports: kayaking, windsurfing, fishing and crabbing. You can turtle ...

Top Tomato 2010 contest winners - Washington Post

Rosemary Lawler and her husband, Thomas, are equal-opportunity tomato lovers. Early Girls, Big Boys or cherry, "I'll use any ones I have," the Leesburg resident says. Thing is, they have so many at this time ...

Top U.S. water parks, Part 1 - Examiner

Nothing spells out the word F-U-N better than water parks. (Or beat the summer heat!) It's also an excellent way to plan a family vacation around, and Madison residents are lucky in that they live so close to the ...

President Obama looks to boost Gulf tourism with family trip to Florida on Saturday - New Orleans Times-Picayune

Times-Picayune archive When President Barack Obama and his family hit the Florida beaches this weekend, this is a likely scene: white sand, blue water and plenty of company, local officials are hoping. The president will ...

Top five reasons not to buy a Hardtop Convertible - Examiner

Like a modern day version of The Black Death, this plague has already ravaged Europe. Despite published reports of rampant mechanical problems and ridiculous engineering compromises not seen since the Eisenhower ...

Obama Looks to Boost Gulf Tourism with Family Trip - msnbc.com

WASHINGTON (AP) - President Barack Obama is heeding his own advice to American vacationers, taking his family to the Gulf Coast this weekend to help the sagging tourism industry. The president will arrive Saturday and ...

Townhall News Obama looks to boost Gulf tourism with family trip - Town Hall

President Barack Obama is heeding his own advice to American vacationers, taking his family to the Gulf Coast this weekend to help the sagging tourism industry. The president will arrive Saturday and spend ...

Obamas take solidarity vacation to Gulf Coast - AlterNet

US President Barack Obama traveled Saturday to Florida's Gulf Coast for a weekend family trip intended to show solidarity with a region struggling after the massive oil spill. US President Barack Obama, First Lady ...

Have some family fun before summer's done - Cleveland Plain Dealer

Susan Glaser, The Plain Dealer The sun is setting on another summer â so get out there and enjoy the final weeks of the season. These girls are playing in Lake Erieâ s surf on Beach 6, one of 11 at ...

Voting Question: What do I do on my birthday when this happens?

So today is my 20th birthday and so far this day has been great up until around 7pm. I was waiting the last 6 months planning the perfect first day into my 20s and a great day and everything was good up until a few hours ago, when my cousins (I live with them) found out a acquaintance of theirs kids and family past away in a fire this morning at 10am. They met this family briefly just last weekend for the first time at a clothing store and the women (the women of the 3 kids that past away this morning) was talking to my cousins about clothing shopping for her kids before they go on a holiday vacation this summer. My little cousin who is 13 met the women and her kids briefly at the store to and now she is all shooken up about it saying this is a bad day. I feel bad because this happened but I don't know what to do about it. I mean I feel shellfish about the way I'm reacting to it because I just want my family to be happy on my birthday and this happens and now they are all depressed and crying about everything now, I wish this didnt have to happen on this day, I wish this didnt have to happene every. This is the 2nd bad birthday in a row from last year. I wish I could do something to make it better. And condolence to the family, they were in the biggest fire in Seattle in the past 10 years. I feel so bad for the family, but I really don't know how to react with my family about it, Idk how to deal with people who passed away, its like I want to cry or to talk to someone about it but I cant. In a way this is a lesson to me that this is what happens to adults, things aren't always going to go your way on your birthday because being in my 20s means there's going to be challenges in life and this is my first big one on my birthday. On top of that my older cousin (in her mid 30's) and some of my neighbors ] went to the women and her family/friends to support them through this hard time and now I'm left to babysit all of my neighbors children and have to comfort my little cousin about this. I'm confused and there's no one else to talk to about it. I guess this is what being a adult is, dealing with tough spontaneous things like things and going through them. more

Resolved Question: PARENTS IN LAW, LIVING WITH US??!!!!?

my fiance and i are suppose to get married this summer. Im 20 and he's 30. He's indian and im african. In my culture, parents-in-law living with there children is NOT NORMAL. but to indians its completely normal. He promised my mom and my family in the beginning that this would never be an issue, and he would make sure i have privacy. now he's changing up his mind. My fiance has a brother. I told him that his parents should live with his brother. Because his brother did not live with his parents for the first 6 yrs of his marriage and he had complete privacy from his parents. I told him because i'm young, and because its not from my culture... i need some privacy and space for atleast the first 5 yrs. And that it would be too much pressure on me. (esp because indian mother in laws expect alot from their daughter in laws). He recently got a job overseas. And now he's saying that his parents will live with us for 3 months and with his brother for the rest of the three months. And we would also spend every vacation (he recieves a paid vacation every four months) and on top of that, we would spend summer living under his parents roof. EVERY SINGLE YEAR. THATS ALMOST 4-5 months of the year spent with his parents. this is driving me crazy. i told him that if he wants to make our marriage work, he cant put this much pressure on me, and we need to establish ourselves first. i told him for the first 5 years we shouldnt, and maybe after we could discuss it. ive made many sacrifices for him, but he seems to be really selfish about this one. He told me that if i couldnt accept this, we couldnt be together. more

Voting Question: what should I do about my daughter?

Hi everyone..thank you in advance for your replies. I have a 20 year old daughter that has been in a relationship with a man she met on a summer vacation about 4 years ago. Since then, they have been in touch via email, facebook, and skype. She has gone to his country twice in a year to visit him. He came to visit her here once 3 years ago (but he was already in the states, just had to take a bus). Anyway, she says she loves him, but honestly, they fight a lot. She is always confused and crying, wondering if he is "the one". She's not focusing on school, and I tell her that should be her top priority. He wants her to come for the summer, and stay with him, so they can see if it "works"...my point is, "then what"? If it works, she would have to commit to him. That's what he wants. He's not moving to the states, because he has a job he likes and his family is there. He thinks that it's easier for her to pick up and move, because she has no real responsibility since she lives at home with us. They stopped talking for about 3 months, after he tried to persuade her to come, and she said no. She has been miserable ever since. She got back in contact with him, and now she's more confused than ever. I have nothing against the guy, I just think that she is being given an ultimatum that she shouldn't have to take right now. She's young, smart, and beautiful, and she has a lot of good years ahead of her. He's almost 27 years old, so he's ready for a commitment. I know that if she agrees to go for the summer, the next "expectation" he will have is marriage. If he talks her into moving there, she will be unable to work, as she doesn't have citizenship there. If she wants to attend college there, it will cost more, as she is foreign. What can I do to help her see that if he really wanted to make it "work" that he would put some effort in, and come here....she's been there twice already...please give me some advice more

Resolved Question: If you could tell the girls that made the pregnancy pact?

What you tell them? As summer vacation begins, 17 girls at Gloucester High School are expecting babies — more than four times the number of pregnancies the 1,200-student school had last year. Some adults dismissed the statistic as a blip. Others blamed hit movies like Juno and Knocked Up for glamorizing young unwed mothers. But principal Joseph Sullivan knows at least part of the reason there's been such a spike in teen pregnancies in this Massachusetts fishing town. School officials started looking into the matter as early as October, after an unusual number of girls began filing into the school clinic to find out if they were pregnant. By May, several students had returned multiple times to get pregnancy tests, and on hearing the results, "some girls seemed more upset when they weren't pregnant than when they were," Sullivan says. All it took was a few simple questions before nearly half the expecting students, none older than 16, confessed to making a pact to get pregnant and raise their babies together. Then the story got worse. "We found out one of the fathers is a 24-year-old homeless guy," the principal says, shaking his head. (Read "Gloucester Principal Stands by Story.") The question of what to do next has divided this fiercely Catholic enclave. Even with national data showing a 3% rise in teen pregnancies in 2006 — the first increase in 15 years — Gloucester isn't sure it wants to provide easier access to birth control. In any case, many residents worry that the problem goes much deeper. The past decade has been difficult for this mostly white, mostly blue-collar city (pop. 30,000). In Gloucester, perched on scenic Cape Ann, the economy has always depended on a strong fishing industry. But in recent years, such jobs have all but disappeared overseas, and with them much of the community's wherewithal. "Families are broken," says school superintendent Christopher Farmer. "Many of our young people are growing up directionless." (See the top 10 news stories of 2008.) The girls who made the pregnancy pact — some of whom, according to Sullivan, reacted to the news that they were expecting with high fives and plans for baby showers — declined to be interviewed. So did their parents. But Amanda Ireland, who graduated from Gloucester High on June 8, thinks she knows why these girls wanted to get pregnant. Ireland, 18, gave birth her freshman year and says some of her now pregnant schoolmates regularly approached her in the hall, remarking how lucky she was to have a baby. "They're so excited to finally have someone to love them unconditionally," Ireland says. "I try to explain it's hard to feel loved when an infant is screaming to be fed at 3 a.m." (Read "Gloucester Pregnancy Plot Thickens.") The high school has done perhaps too good a job of embracing young mothers. Sex-ed classes end freshman year at Gloucester, where teen parents are encouraged to take their children to a free on-site day-care center. Strollers mingle seamlessly in school hallways among cheerleaders and junior ROTC. "We're proud to help the mothers stay in school," says Sue Todd, CEO of Pathways for Children, which runs the day-care center. (See the people who mattered in 2008.) But by May, after nurse practitioner Kim Daly had administered some 150 pregnancy tests at Gloucester High's student clinic, she and the clinic's medical director, Dr. Brian Orr, a local pediatrician, began to advocate prescribing contraceptives regardless of parental consent, a practice at about 15 public high schools in Massachusetts. Currently Gloucester teens must travel about 20 miles (30 km) to reach the nearest women's health clinic; younger girls have to get a ride or take the train and walk. But the notion of a school handing out birth control pills has met with hostility. Says Mayor Carolyn Kirk: "Dr. Orr and Ms. Daly have no right to decide this for our children." The pair resigned in protest on May 30. Gloucester's elected school committee plans to vote later this summer on whether to provide contraceptives. But that won't do much to solve the issue of teens wanting to get pregnant. Says rising junior Kacia Lowe, who is a classmate of the pactmakers': "No one's offered them a better option." And better options may be a tall order in a city so uncertain of its future. — With reporting by Kimberley McLeod/New York Read more: http://www.time.com/time/world/article/0,8599,1815845,00.html#ixzz0eRghRCug more

Resolved Question: What are my legal options against a police officer who arrested my son and lied in court?

I will try to be brief: While my son and I were visiting his high school this summer for a meeting with the football coach and guidance office, a police detective approached us. The detective asked if I could bring my son to police headquarters to discuss an incident that occurred on July 4th. We immediately went to police headquarters and talked to the detective outside, He asked if he could speak with my son alone, for which I objected. He then stated that my son was NOT under suspicion for ANY crimes, and was simply seeking information about a July 4th incident. My son indicated that he didn't know what occurred on July 4th and couldn't offer any information. The detective was insistent about speaking with my son alone. I objected, but my 17 yr old son offered to speak to the detective alone, since he didn't have anything to hide. Well, what resulted from this was my son being photographed and fingerprinted against his will. My son told me what happened, and I immediately requested answers from the detective. Two days later, the detective called my home and requested that my son return to the police department for more questions. When I told him I would not bring him back, on the advice of our attorney, the detective informed me that my son was going to be arrested for a crime that occurred on July 20th. The evidence used to make the arrest was the photograph the detective took of my son two days prior. Please note, my son had a clear record prior to this arrest. My son had to endure weeks in a juvenile detention center before we could go to trial. Unknown to the detective, the following facts existed: 1) My family returned home from a two week vacation on July 19, and I was able to account for my son's movements for the entire day on July 20. 2) The police report and the victim's statement indicated that the person who committed the crime has a close cut hair style. On July 20th my son had long twisted hair about 8 inches long. I provided video and photographs from a wedding my family attended on July 18 some 500 miles away. My son cut his hair five days prior to meeting the detective because he was getting ready for football season. 3) During the time of the incident he was charged with, he was on his Facebook account chatting with numerous friends. This information was provided at trial by certified records from Facebook. To sum this up, my son's trial showed how the detective lied on numerous occasions. His testimony at trial didn't match his written statement or the testimony of the victim. The victim and the detective called each other liars during the trial. Thankfully, the trial judge found the detective's actions were deceitful and not creditable, and my son was found not involved in the crime. My wife and I want to seek legal action against the detective, as my son lost over four weeks of school as a result of being in a juvenile detention center; missed out on his football season (my son is among the Top 5 sprinters in the state of Maryland); and was a mental and financial drain for us. Can we do anything? Thank youFor the person who insist the information I provided is false, my son's case number is JA-09-1414 in the state of Maryland. Everything I stated in my question can be substantiated. I posted my question in the hopes that I can obtain useful information as to my next course of action.To answer the question as to why I went to the police station and let the detective speak to my son: Because I feared the police/detective would have simply picked my son up at some later point and taken him to the police station and called me after the fact. I felt I was cooperating fully, and since my son assured me he was not involved in anythig, we had nothing to worry about.Order of Events: 8/10/09 - Date when my son & I went to high school, was approached by the detective, and when my son spoke with the detective. Detective was waiting at the school. Per his testimony at trial, he contacted the school ahead of time and the school informed him that my son and I were going to be there. 8/12/09 - Date my son was arrested. 8/13/09 - My son was detained and sent to juvenile detention center to await merit hearing (trial). 9/8/09 - Original date of trial. Trial was postponed until October 13 to allow our attorney to obtain records from Facebook. 9/1509 - My son was released from juvenile detention center under Electronic Monitoring. Merits Hearing (Trial) is again postponed until 11/5/09 to allow Facebook time to produce Certified Records of my son's account. 11/509 - Merit Hearing (Trial). My son was found Not Involved (Not Guilty) of all counts. Judge also reprimanded detective for his conduct in handling this case.Other Dates: 7/4/09 - During the July 4th fireworks celebration in our town, a young man was robbed of his skateboard. My son was at the celebration with his girlfriend, and the person accused of the robbery was a former friend of my son. This was the reason the detective claimed why he wanted to talk to my son. 7/20/09 - A person was assualted and robbed of his cellphone by a group of young men in the same area as the skateboard incident. Based on the testimony of the detective, he believed my son was involved because of his past friendships. When my son spoke to the detective on 8/10/09, he was never asked about the incident on 7/20/09. His entire written statement was one paragraph that stated he had no knowledge of what happened on 7/4/09. The detective showed the victim a picture of my son on 8/11/09, and the victim indicated my son "could have been" one of the people who attacked him and stole his cell phone. This was the detective's basis for arresting my son.The importance of the hairstyle is that my son's hair was about 7-8 inches long, styled in a twist. The victim's police statement indicated the attacker had a short, close cut hairstyle. My son cut his hair on 8/5/09, 16 days after the incident, because he was getting ready for football season, and he couldn't afford paying $50 every three weeks to have his hair styled. The Facebook records were critical because it showed my son was home with me at the time, and was on his computer. Our attorney need to show it was impossible to be at the crime scene, which was three miles from my home, and on his computer chatting with friends.As for the detective lying: During the trial, detective indicated that he went to the victim's home to show him photos of possible suspects. However, the victim testified he went to the police station and looked at some photo books. On 8/11/09, the detective showed him a photo of my son and said "he believes we have the right guy". At that time he picked the photo of my son. All of this is on record and part of the trial testimony. Also, when I arrived at the police station with my son, I asked the detective if I need to have my attorney here, or if my son was under suspicion for anything. He said "no". But he testified that he informed me my son was a suspect. This was challenged during cross examination, and he eventually recanted some of his previous testimony, where he "assumed" I was informed of the information. more

Resolved Question: What should I be doing to lose weight better as a teenager?

Hi, I'm just an overweight teenage nerd (as in I've spent my long weekend doing next week's math homework and watching/reading physics lectures), and I'm just looking for some weight loss help. I've tried multiple times in the past to lose weight, and I'm just going to give some examples of what I've tried to see if that helps anyone figure out what I'm doing wrong. I'll also try to make a TL;DR at the end. Last year was going to be my freshman year, and that summer I had hoped to lose as much weight as possible. It was my first real time truly trying, so I probably messed it up quite a bit. I had summer school gym at the end of summer, which was a month of 3-4hrs a day, 4 or 5 days a week, so I could get a gym credit. I thought that would be enough, so I just waited until then to start. I was trying my best to exercise and eat right, but I never noticed any change. From not noticing any weight loss, I pretty much gave up for freshman year, and planned to start next summer. This year, over the summer, I spent the first month exercising probably 6days a week for 1-2hrs pretty rigorously at our local gym, at least more than at summer school. Over the course of this month, I once again barely noticed a difference, but my eating habits may be to blame, even though I tried eating healthier. In the second month of summer, I fell out of going to the gym because I wanted to sleep-in past 9-10am, and my mom couldn't get me to the gym anymore. I was my normal lazy self that month, but towards the end of it I noticed that even though I hadn't been eating healthily I had lost a few pounds, which surprised me. I figured that I had to build muscle up, and after a while it would start to burn the fat. So now, I wanted to really get back to the gym, but I only got about a week in before we went on our family vacation, which pretty much destroyed any weight loss progress. After the vacation, I got right back into the gym, and with school started now, I get gym in school for about an hour and then another 1-2hrs 3-5days a week. Since the vacation, I've only been going to the gym for about 3weeks, but I still notice virtually no weight loss. I've only been able to lift 5-15 more pounds on the gym's machines, too. At the gym I normally use the elliptical, at the highest level I can last for 20-ish minutes, the exercise bike, at highest level I can last for 20mins also (also doing spurts of extra fast pedaling), and the various machines the gym has for arms, legs, stomach, and back muscles. My diet is quite poor at the moment, I don't enjoy most foods, and eat whenever I'm bored or not distracted. I still drink quite a bit of soda (diet coke and mt dew.), which I'd hope to stop drinking. But I also drink quite a bit of water, so if I can find a better way to transition, I'd be fine with water. I've heard of all the diet foods/pills that make you feel full, but never tried them because I assume they may not be health/not work. Another thing that I thought may be the problem, is that after the gym, I normally spend my time browsing the internet or watching TV. I find sports to be pointless, so what should I do after the gym to not let it go to waste? One last thing that I thought could be to blame, at least partially, was just family genes. My mom was average as a kid, but got more overweight into adulthood, and her side of the family is mostly skinnier. My mom's family also are gym fanatics, but still have relatively weak muscles (especially arms), compared to other people that go to the gym as much as they do. My dad's side is pretty average to skinny. I believe I may have gotten most of my mom's side's genes. =/ What else can do/consume that will help me? I know that exercising and eating healthy are the top things you can do for weight loss, but I'm having a hard time eating right, and I'm losing faith in excising even though I saw how it worked partially in the past. TL;DR: I've tried to lose weight in the past by just exercising and eating healthier, but I was constantly hungry unless distracted, so it hasn't worked well, and going to the gym has barely built up muscles/helped me lose some weight. What else should I try to lose the weight? Thanks!I doubt it's a growth spurt, I've been very slowly growing for a while now. It's taken about 1.5-2yrs to grow an inch, but I'm hoping I will hit a growth spurt because I come from a tall family and have just been growing steadily but slowly. more

Voting Question: Am i working too much for my age? or should i take it easy and enjoy life more?

Im a 20 year old college student, im not much of a partier, but i do enjoy hang out with my friends and having normal "good"girl fun. But ever since i began working at my current job (june 2008-present) i havent had time for much. I am either too tired or im working shifts that take up most of my day. As a college student i am getting grants and basically going to school for free, my books are also paid for with my financial aid. all i really need money for is gas, my cell phone bill, and my car insurance. Minimum of hours i need is 20 (part-time) well back in January i was promoted from a cashier to a shift supervisor. and i was an idiot and accepted it! the pay is great but the responsibilities and pressure im constantly feeling is horrible. when i was first asked if i wanted the position i sat with my manager in her office and we agreed i would be a part time supervisor, so i could balance my 27hrs of school with 24hrs of work. so that what influenced me to do it. but i never even worked 3days she instantly scheduled me 4days. claiming they needed me more in order for the current management staff to take turns and go on vacation!! to i was working about 32hrs a week, and going to school 27hrs i was basically pulling 60hr weeks for the last few months of my semester. on my week of finals she topped it off by scheduling me 40hrs. but then about a few weeks later she was transfered to another store and a new manager came. this was around last may. since i was taking summer classes, and i felt exhausted i requested to only work 2days (16 hrs) a week. he agreed and i was happy, because i finally had time for a life, and to breath. well that dream was short lived when he began hassling me to work more... everytime i saw him he would say when can you start working a 3rd day. as a shift you need to. so i cracked and gave up a 3rd day. i was ok with that tho. but as my semester was ending he starts again asking so, when can you work 4days. i said im part-time and would prefer to not work much because it could risk my eligblity for my govt financial aid for school. so he left me alone... for about a WEEK!! then asked if i could work a 4th day to allow the asst manager to have a day off because she was depressed that her cat had died (this was during my finals week at school) i made up a lie to get out of it. but the during my first week after my summer term ended i was scheduled 4 days. i shrugged it off because i wasnt in school and it still left me with 3days of freedom. but then one of my days off i was called in at first i said no, but then my asst manager kept calling and calling. i ended up going. and later found out that she was talking about me behind my back saying "i dont understand why she cant work she is not in school" But hello i am intitle to a life right? well anyways i let that one slide, and ever since my manager has been scheduling me 40 hrs, my classes begin on monday (6days from now) and im scheduled to work for the rest of my break. therefore my summer vacation is over as offical over as of today. and even when i begin school for the first week i'll be working 4days. i am tired of my job, and the fact that i have no time to even breath. when ever i want to ask for a day off my asst manager hassles me and questions why? why? why? like 1000 times. she always wants to know what i am doing so she can call me in. and alwasys makes me stay later. she even had the nerves to request that i take a semester off of school so i can destress myself and work more!!! what the flip?! how dare she. plus dont they realize that THEY are the ones stressing me out!!! I haven’t even written the half of it! If I told you the other things I have to deal ahhh!! Its way too much to type, let alone read!! 75% of the time as im driving to work i am crying!! because i am dreading being there! i feel anxiety and depression more and more as the weeks go by. and its hurting my relationship with my family, boyfriend, friends and even myself. i feel like i have reached my breaking point. I feel like im sec. away from having a panic attack. And I feel as if my chest is tightening. I know I shouldn’t complain because there are 1000000 of people who need the job and money. But I feel like im gonna lose it any day now. Am I being overworked? Should I fight through it and put my foot down? Or am I to the point when I just need to quit (after I find another job)? more

Resolved Question: Trouble Moving Out of My Parents' House?

Ok, here it goes. I'm 23 years old and I currently live at home with my parents. I went out of town for undergrad for 4 years, to a top 20 institution. After graduation, I was promised by my parents that I can take a year off before applying to medical schools. That year has gone by, which wasn't really a vacation/break but more like doing slave work for the family. 6 months went into being my brother's wedding planner (a lot harder than it seems) and the other 6 months went into being a campaign manager for my dad who was running for a really important election (he won, only thanks to my help). I used to spend hours and hours working on his campaign, way more than him, I would have to be glued to my computer all 6 months in case he needed something. Regardless, I have been home the past year and was an ANGELIC child for a 23 year old. I don't drink, don't party, I would always be home and if I went out they would know where I was (and by going out that means going to the mall at 6 pm and I would be home by 9 pm, when malls close of course). I finally realized they had too much control over me and I had enough of it. My high school friends were home for the summer so I began hanging out with them, going out to eat and sometimes to bars, staying out late until 2 or 3 am. My parents started going crazy, they would call a billion times and even drive out to where I was to make sure I was where I said I was... I am definitely ready to move out of the house and get on my own feet and HERE'S THE PROBLEM. My parents have been financially supporting me all my life, I have never had a job and technically never earned any money. However, I am ready to go out in the world and stand on my own 2 feet, I want to learn these things and be independent before I get married and then have my spouse to answer to about where I am and who I am with. Even while I was in college out of town my parents made sure they knew where I was at all times, especially on Friday and Saturday nights. My parents are terrified of their daughter moving out, not because they would be lonely but because it would ruin their reputation and they would have to answer to people about where their daughter disappeared to. They do anything and everything to stop me from leaving...here's an example: -Immediately empty my bank account as soon as I tell them I might leave. -Take away the car when I tell them I want to get a job. -Confiscate my cell phone when they find out I am talking/texting friends late at night or when I'm in "trouble". -Now it has come down to one parent being at home at all times to ensure that I don't leave, and they leave the alarm on so they hear a beep if I even open the door of the house. It has been 2 weeks and I haven't even had a breath of fresh air, aside from what I can get from my window on the 2nd floor of the house. ALL I WANT IS TO GET OUT OF HERE!!! I am currently studying for the MCAT and my goal is to go to medical school come this December. In the meantime, however, I want to be free and not have to answer to people about where I am all the time. I personally don't think it's fair for them to control me so much, I mean, they won't even let me try to be independent and when I threaten to leave, they basically kidnap me and lock me up in the house. ANY ADVICE ON WHAT I SHOULD DO??? I FEEL LIKE I AM STARTING TO REBEL JUST TO MAKE THEM MAD AND TO ENJOY LIFE, KNOWING THAT I AM IGNORING THEIR CALLS AND GOING PLACES WITHOUT TELLING THEM WHERE I AM GOING. I NEED ADVICE ON HOW TO GET OUT WITH LITERALLY NOTHING BUT THE CLOTHES ON MY BACK!!! By the way, I am Pakistani and Muslim. My parents are blessed in America, my Dad makes a few million dollars a year working as a physician. They think that because they support me I should have to listen to everything they say...so they assume they can buy their child and buy obedience. Please give me advice!!! I am so sick of being locked up (right now I have no phone, no car, no television, and no fresh air!!! I bet soon enough they will disconnect the internet...they've done that before for an entire month. They used to only feed me once a day, leaving food outside the door. I need to get out but people will just say you're so old and 23 you should have left a long time ago. THEY WON'T LET ME GO!!!) I'm going crazy. Sorry this was so long, it's just so complicated I felt like I had to explain everything (and there is a lot more). I hope there are people out there willing to offer advice and maybe talk some more with me. *Sigh* Thanks for listening.Oh, and I have a mild form of epilepsy (totally controlled by medicine) and was diagnosed with a pituitary tumor a few months ago. So when I say I want to leave they also tell me to go out and just try to get medical insurance and I will see how hard it is with my diseases. It really hurts my feelings that they use my illnesses against me (which are beyond my control, there is nothing I did that would cause these medical issues).Oh, more things I remembered last night: -I love medicine & biology but I don't really want to pursue a career in medicine because it would be too difficult...however, they tell me I have to go into medicine and nothing else. -My mom goes through my room (every nook and cranny) whenever I leave the house. She's so nosy that she even goes through the trash when I take it out to the garbage cans. She will secretly take it out and go to the side of the house and go through all the trash, finding receipts or notes. -My mom keeps all these personal things of mine that she finds in the room, such as notes from friends, personal medical records, receipts, and jewelry that she thinks guys bought for me. Every time I get in trouble she blackmails me with those things and threatens to tell my Dad if I don't straighten up. It sure is a pain having to find a billion hiding places for all my personal items when I leave the housefor 10 min just to get Taco Bell or go to Wal-Mart. more

Resolved Question: I need a makeover before school >.< please help me?

I asked this before and didn't get a decent answer so im sorry if you don't like it People see me as a freaky tomboy (freaky because I hang with the 'goths') I wear big band t-shirts jeans and whatever shoes I find first in the morning well im sick of it inside I am not a person that don't like bright colors and its making me seem that way I like hot pink and black also neon green and black I dye my hair random colors during the summer (right now it is black with pink and blue high lights) anyway I want to wear clothes that fit me better (ive lost 20+ pounds since march/april) I wanna be who I am on the inside I wanna wear make-up but not natural colors I want bright pretty colors (but NOT like a clown) I have to use the eye shadow sticks though anyway can you send me to some links? how can I change my big t-shirts into something cute (I really like my shirts) accessories? maybe some cute skirts (knee length) nice hair style its touching the top on my shoulders and bangs to my lips I dont want short short hair is there somewhere I can find cute stuff to go in my hair? my BF is coming back to the US in Nov. (he lives in the UK in london we met online and he came to visit me and come on vacation with my family =D) oh and I'm 18 so nothing childish thanks in advance Oh and please if you wanna help me email me on here I really need help more

Resolved Question: Wanting to change the way everyone sees me as for school?

People see me as a freaky tomboy (freaky because I hang with the 'goths') I wear big band t-shirts jeans and whatever shoes I find first in the morning well im sick of it inside I am not a person that don't like bright colors and its making me seem that way I like hot pink and black also neon green and black I dye my hair random colors during the summer (right now it is black with pink and blue high lights) anyway I want to wear clothes that fit me better (ive lost 20+ pounds since march/april) I wanna be who I am on the inside I wanna wear make-up but not natural colors I want bright pretty colors (but NOT like a clown) I have to use the eye shadow sticks though anyway can you send me to some links? how can I change my big t-shirts into something cute (I really like my shirts) accessories? maybe some cute skirts (knee length) nice hair style its touching the top on my shoulders and bangs to my lips I dont want short short hair is there somewhere I can find cute stuff to go in my hair? my BF is coming back to the US in Nov. (he lives in the UK in london we met online and he came to visit me and come on vacation with my family =D) oh and I'm 18 so nothing childish thanks in advance more

Resolved Question: Anyone want to play a baby name game?

"Background information" Your name is Sophia Willow Carson, you graduated early from high school as valedictorian, with plans of going to medical school. After Graduation for your undergraduate degree from UCLA, you have to find a medical school to go to. What school do you attend (It must have a medical program): When attending school you two men who you both care deeply about. Their names are, Justin Edward Miller, who is on his last year of school to become a kidney specialist. You get along great with him, and your conversations go on forever. The only downside is that he has no sense of humor, and he is a tad bit arrogant. PICTURE OF JUSTIN EDWARD MILLER- http://www.guydorianart.com/images/GuyB_WHS1.jpeg The other man that you are in love with, you met while on a run through the park, he bumped into you and asked you to go grab a coffee with him. You guys get along so well. The only downside is that your parents and friends don't like him. He works as a teller in a bank down the street from your apartment. His name is Daniel Charles Booth. PICTURE OF DANIEL CHARLES BOOTH- http://www.thecinemasource.com/moviesdb/images/Josh_Duhamel%20-%208%20-%20Turistas.jpg Who do you choose: You and whatever man you choose date for 6 more months before he pops the question while on a vacation in Paris on the top of an Eiffel tower. You of course say yes. You wait a few more months before you two set a wedding date. Do you choose the Fall, Spring, or Summer: What are your wedding colors: On your honeymoon to Fiji, you guys have the best time of your life, soon after you arrive home you discover that you are pregnant. Will you find the sex of the baby out before the delivery date: You have a beautiful baby girl. You and your mother are having a bit of a disagreement, so in order to hopefully settle things you name the baby's first name after something that is important to her.And you are very concerned about the plannet and nature, so you give the baby a natureish middle name: BABY GIRL- http://www.thekidswindow.co.uk/images/CMScontent/Image/Baby%20Dress.jpg You and your husband really want another baby, so you decide to try for a boy. After months and months of trying you and your husband cannot become pregnant, so you decide to see a fertility expert, after thousands of dollars and three treatments you discover that you are pregnant with triplets! Three girls. You are sick of common names so you decide to give the babies unusual but cute first names and middle names that tie into your families, what are they: TRIPLETS - http://www.capturedbycarrie.com/blog/wp-content/uploads/2008/01/triplets2.jpg Wow now you have your hands full with 4 babies. You and your husband talk about it and you decide that you are done having kids, at least fo a while. Much to your misfortune, when your new babies are only 18 months old you find out that you are pregnant with a baby boy. At first you are angry with all the morning sickness, but soon befoe the baby is born you are the most excited you have ever been. You have always wanted to travel to India, so you decide that you want to give your new baby an indian first name, and a middle name that deals with your best friend. Initials must be matching, what is the babies name: NEW BABY BOY- http://bp0.blogger.com/_1t5MdOawl0s/RzsBNlKZf2I/AAAAAAAAAFM/vr1x9VMiKnU/s1600-h/show3.jpg You and your husband decide that you are definately done with having kids! Although your husband is a little bit bummed about having only one boy, but you are absolutly against having more children. Onece your oldest daughter graduates from high school, you and your husband are yearning for another baby, so you decide to adopt twin boys from Russia, their names are: RUSSIAN TWIN BABY BOYS- http://bp0.blogger.com/_1t5MdOawl0s/RyqDIhISkeI/AAAAAAAAADg/mtcEn71HSbo/s1600-h/IMG_8229.jpg http://bp2.blogger.com/_1t5MdOawl0s/RyfJ8xISkaI/AAAAAAAAAC8/Ewr2LNlSm2Q/s1600-h/IMG_8101.jpg good luck! more

Resolved Question: I REALLY NEED HELP ON ENGLISH HOMEWORK, I WILL GIVE BEST ANSWER, AND 20 PTS....?

1. Is Sam going to sleep early tonight: (1 point) declarative imperative exclamatory interrogative 2. Do your homework assignment: declarative imperative exclamatory interrogative 3. Today is Tuesday: (1 point) declarative imperative exclamatory interrogative 4. Hooray you won the game: (1 point) declarative imperative exclamatory interrogative 5. Sit down and eat your lunch: (1 point) declarative imperative exclamatory interrogative For questions (6-10) Decide if the following groups of words are complete sentences, fragments, run-on sentences, or two complete sentences. 6. James at home: (1 point) complete sentence fragment run-on sentence two complete sentences 7. Susie spends a lot of money shopping for shoes: (1 point) complete sentence fragment run-on sentence two complete sentences 8. A very scary and nerve-wracking event took place last night the entire neighborhood lost power for three hours: (1 point) complete sentence fragment run-on sentence two complete sentences 9. It was an exciting day for little Bobby it was his first day of school in the new town he had moved to last summer with his family after his dad changed jobs recently after the company he worked for went out of business the owner was forced to shut down: (1 point) complete sentence fragment run-on sentence two complete sentences 10. When Seymour, Mrs. Nelson’s new dog, saw all of the children playing, he wagged his tail with glee: (1 point) complete sentence fragment run-on sentence two complete sentences In each sentence, decide if the underlined words are the simple subject, simple predicate, compound subject, or compound predicate. 11. Little Mary bathed early and went to bed soon afterward. (1 point) simple subject simple predicate compound subject compound predicate 12. Children are usually happy when summer vacation begins.(1point) simple subject simple predicate compound subject compound predicate 13. Baseball, football, and basketball are Tommy’s favorite sports. (1 point) simple subject simple predicate compound subject compound predicate 14. Mom bought all of the groceries. (1 point) simple subject simple predicate compound subject compound predicate 15. Joey and Dani sang, danced, and performed. (1 point) simple subject simple predicate compound subject compound predicate 16. Which of the following would make the best topic sentence for a paragraph about hurricane supplies? (1 point) Bottled water is a necessity Hurricane Andrew destroyed many homes Bleach can sanitize water if it is necessary It is important to stock up on the necessary supplies before hurricane season. 17. Which of the following would make the best topic sentence for a paragraph explaining how to change a baby's diaper? (1 point) Take off the dirty diaper first Changing a baby's diaper can be challenging task at first, but it becomes easier with practice Men hate to change diapers The baby squirmed all over the changing table and then she grabbed the dirty diaper. 18. Decide which sentence would make the best concluding sentence for this paragraph: During the summer vacation, the school grounds became littered with all sorts of trash. The student council members began a project to clean the grounds. Soon everyone was pitching in, including the teachers and other members of the community. (1 point) New officers were elected for the student council. People were careless over the summer vacation. The grounds were cleaned up in record time because everyone worked together. The school security officers were on vacation during the summer. 19. Decide which sentence would make the best concluding sentence for this paragraph: Kathy had a special date so she wanted to buy a new top to match her jeans. She visited the local department store to look for one. After rejecting quite a few for different reasons, she narrowed her choice down to two. She tried the two tops on over and over again. Still, she couldn t decide. Finally, she called her friend to come to the store to ask her opinion. She also liked both tops. One seemed to be as cute as the other. (1 point) Kathy went to different store Kathy bought both tops Kathy did not go on her date Kathy chose the one that her friend liked 20. Which detail sentence does not belong in the following paragraph? Joelle and I spent the day at the beach. It was a beautiful, sunny day without a cloud in the sky. We swam, we played beach volleyball, and we barbequed. The weatherman predicted storms for tomorrow. We had forgotten sunscreen so we were sunburned when we got home, but the fun we had was worth it. (1 point) It was a beautiful, sunny day without a cloud in the sky. The weatherman predicted storms for tomorrow. Joelle and I spent the day at the beach. We had forgotten sunscre11.) bathed early and went to bed soon afterward, is underlined 12.) Children is underlined 13.)Baseball Football, and basket ball are underlined 14.) Bought: underlined 15.) sang,danced and performed is underlined. more

Resolved Question: Poll i know its random just copy and paste then answer?

In the year 2008;; Did you kiss anyone? Did you date anyone? Did you get to kiss someone when the ball droped? Did you lose any friends? Did you gain any friends? Did you do something new? Did anyone important to you die? Did you change? Are you happy with the year 2008 over all? Whats the best thing that happened to you? Did you fall in or out of love? Are you happy the years over? Are you going to change something about yourself this year? Do you think 2009 will be a better year then 2008? Did you go on a summer vacation? Where? Did you lie to your parents? Did you get into a fight ? not a physical one Did you leave the country? Did you have a good birthday? Did anyone in your family get married? Do you think you grew? Did you dye your hair? Who do you think you were on the phone with the most? Did anyone sing to you? Did you sing to anyone? Did anyone tell you they loved you? What did you drink and eat the most? Did you change your top friends at least 8 times? on fb Did you change your profile picture at least 20 times ? on myspace or fb Did you get a tattoo? Did you vote? (mock elections or not just say which) Did you make a new years resolution ? If so what? Think you’ll date someone in 2009? Where were you be when the ball dropped? Do you think you will make new friends in 2009? Are you hoping to meet someone special in 2009? How do you feel, another year has passed you by? Thanks! more

Resolved Question: How do I get my boyfriend to understand?

Ok I've been having some really difficult family issues lately, and my boyfriend KNOWS. Anyways, in short, my dad had an affair which soon after finding out my Mom left to go back to the Philippines for a year or so and they seperated but said they were definitely getting a divorce. So that, on top of my immature boyfriend (other instances besides the one I'm asking about) kind of got me down. Then this summer I was going to go to Vegas to visit my Mom (she came back and was going to live in Vegas for awhile. So I basically haven't seen her for a year and a half.) when all of a sudden a couple days ago she just came back to our apartment in Panama (where we've been living for the past 3 years) it shocked me and I was really needing someone to talk to. So I called my boyfriend (he's away on vacation) and said "Baby I'm depressed I need to talk." and he said "I'm eating right now, I'll call you in 20 minutes." then he called 3 HOURS later. I'm so fed up with him, he is acting like he is the victim and doesn't understand why I'm mad. I've explained to him rationally, and I don't know how else to put it besides breaking up with him. Is that stupid of me to do? What do I do? I feel like he doesn't care. more

Resolved Question: Sims 3 Ideas?

- Sims have more age levels baby-toddler-kid-preteen-teenager-young adult- adult-elder ( with more days in them) - Toddlers can now go anywhere with the family (in the car, and anywhere else with a stroller and car seat) - Bigger Houses - You can now watch Teenagers and kids go to school ( have there schedule, make there classes, have teachers, principals, and classamates, lunch time, recess for kids, study hall, and subjects) - Sims can now drink when there eating - Sim Teens and kids can have projects and reports due on a certain date - Sim Teens, kids, and young adults can get grounded from parents - When buying clothes, its not in big amount of money ( like a top is $200, make it like $20) - More variety of food ( and more specifty) - Sims can now lay on there bed doing there homework or watching tv ( on stomach) - Sims can now visit neighbors and friends by walking or by car - When at the grocery, can get specific food like (eggs, milk, water, snacks, frozen food seperatly) in a caridge and a toddler seat incase toddler is along. - Other sims can now contact there friends or family with a cellphone when there not home - More Realistic Jobs ( Eye doctor, gynecologist, singer, song writer, producer..) - More Aspirations - You can now actually make food from scratch instead of watching your sims do it themselves. - Sims can now have real sicknesses ( Cold, Fever, etc.) - More realistic (functional) objects ( printer, flower pots, drawers, cell phones, etc.) - They can drink bottled water - They can go to the mall with friends or family together ( with more people in it. Instead of like 5 sims, make it 50 sims plus npc's.) - Sims can go get there hair done and nails - There can be amusement parks ( carnivals, fun places) with FUNCTIONAL rides ( bumper carts, ferries wheels, rollercoasters, and other places) - Real Fast Food Resturants- Mcdonald, Burger King, Wendys, and others. ( With EDIBLE FUNCTIONING FOOD) - Sims can now customize their hair styles ( Girls= Hairbands, ponytail, curly, straight ( with curly iron or FUNCTIONING hair tools) Guys= haircut styles) - Sims can now have doctor and dentist appointments ( functioning and real seeing when having tooth pulled or having a shot) - Sim teenagers can now go through adolensence ( Liking others, making choices, etc.) - In Building mode= sims can have skylights to houses, more gardening tools, etc.) - Sims who have cars can now fill there cars with gas at the gas station when tank is empty - Parents can now teach there sims how to drive ( age stages= teenage to young adult) - Sim Adults can now play the lottery to win million to a billion dollars - Sims can go to movie theaters ( LIVE AND FUNCTIONING) can buy popcorn, drinks, or anything with friends, family or all together - Can have a DVD Player and buy rentals at movie stores - In the summer sim kids to young adults can have summer vacation for 3 weeks in sim time. - The clock is now in minutes instead of seconds (except when there sleeping time goes to seconds and speeds up till morning) - When sims wake up at 6:00am, it is now morning instead of at 7:00am - Sims can have braces when going to the dentist - Sims can have a walk-in-closet - Sims can now live in a culdesac (round circle or dead end with houses around) or in a private driveway (with a neighbor at the otherside) - More realistic skin tones - When a sim mom is pregnant can now rush to a hospital instead of giving birth standing up - Sims can live in apartments (functional and paying rent) - Sims who are in school or college can now choose after school activites (see next idea) - After School Activites= HipHop Dance Class, Step, Choir, Chess, Art, fashion, sports, etc....) - Sims can celebrate hoildays on there sim calender! ( Halloween, Thanksgiving, Easter, Christmas, New Years, St.Patrick, and more) (or make an expansion pack for that) - Sims can eat ice cream during summer and spring - Can now choose more specific clothing ( have a tie, this or that pants, etc..) - More split-leveled houses - Sims can now have an ethnictiy and race ( Black, African, Spanish, Irish, Russian, Asian, You name it!) - Sims couples can now go on anniversarys every time there marriadge day comes - Sims have functional bicycles, scooters, skateboards, bus) -**Most Important** have seasons, pets, vacations, and colleges too like Sims 2 (can be expansion packed, or in the game all together) - Sim couples who are married can now get divorced and sim couples who are bf and gf can break up anytime - Can have lawyers - Health Insurance - When Sims Sleepover can now have the option to make your guest sleep instead of them staying up all night - Sims have the choice to smoke or not ( Teenagers can experience that in adolensence.) - Have REAL SPECFIC FUNCTIONING STORES= Walmart, Target, Best Buy, Toys-R-Us (Dosen't Have to have those names but have those kind of stuff) - Toddlers can now go to daycare instead of being home with nanny - Sims who are still in school must go through their grades ( Preschool=Toddler, 1st-6th=Kids , 7th-9th= PreTeens, 10th-12th=Teenagers, College= YoungAdults.) - When going on vacation you can now see your sims in the airplane traveling still controlling them. - Have Freckles depending on your ethnecity or race. - When sims who are in school comes home with homework they have diffrent subjects to complete (Math, English, Social Studies, etc..) And can actually help them with the homework - When a sim dies can have a funeral. - When its a sim's b-day can go to places like the amusement parks or resturants instead of having a party at home. ( And functional ability to have gifts from friends and family)What do you guys think of this? And where can i tell maxis about these ideas? more

Resolved Question: Does anyone remember these days?

How Did We Ever Survive Our Childhood? My Mom used to cut chicken, chop eggs and spread mayo on the same cutting board with the same knife and no bleach, but we didn't seem to get food poisoning. My Mom used to defrost hamburger on the counter AND I used to eat it raw sometimes too, but I can't remember getting E-coli. Almost all of us would have rather gone swimming in the lake instead of a pristine pool (talk about boring). The term cell phone would have conjured up a phone in a jail cell, and a pager was the school PA system. We all took gym, not PE ... and risked permanent injury with a pair of high top Ked's (only worn in gym) instead of having cross-training athletic shoes with air cushion soles and built in light reflectors. I can't recall any injuries but they must have happened because they tell us how much safer we are now. Flunking gym was not an option ... even for stupid kids! I guess PE must be much harder than gym. Every year, someone taught the whole school a lesson by running in the halls with leather soles on linoleum tile and hitting the wet spot. How much better off would we be today if we only knew we could have sued the school system. Speaking of school, we all said prayers and sang the national anthem and staying in detention after school caught all sorts of negative attention. We must have had horribly damaged psyches. I can't understand it. Schools didn't offer 14 year olds an abortion or condoms (we wouldn't have known what either was anyway) but they did give us a couple of baby aspirin and cough syrup if we started getting the sniffles. What an archaic health system we had then. Remember school nurses? Ours wore a hat and everything. I thought that I was supposed to accomplish something before I was allowed to be proud of myself. I just can't recall how bored we were without computers, PlayStation, Nintendo, X-box or 270 digital cable stations. I must be repressing that memory as I try to rationalize through the denial of the dangers could have befallen us as we trekked off each day about a mile down the road to some guy's vacant 20, built forts out of branches and pieces of plywood, made trails, and fought over who got to be the Lone Ranger. What was that property owner thinking, letting us play on that lot? He should have been locked up for not putting up a fence around the property, complete with a self-closing gate and an infrared intruder alarm. Oh yeah... and where was the Benadryl and sterilization kit when I got that bee sting? I could have been killed! We played king of the hill on piles of gravel left on vacant construction sites and when we got hurt, Mom pulled out the 48 cent bottle of Mercurochrome and then we got our butt spanked. Now it's a trip to the emergency room, followed by a 10-day dose of a $49 bottle of antibiotics and then Mom calls the attorney to sue the contractor for leaving a horribly vicious pile of gravel where it was such a threat. We didn't act up at the neighbor's house either because if we did, we got our butt spanked (physical abuse) there too ... and then we got our butt spanked again when we got home. Mom invited the door to door salesman inside for coffee, kids choked down the dust from the gravel driveway while playing with Tonka trucks (Remember why Tonka trucks were made tough...it wasn't so that they could take the rough Berber in the family room), and Dad drove a car with leaded gas. Our music had to be left inside when we went out to play and I am sure that I nearly exhausted my imagination a couple of times when we went on two week vacations. I should probably sue the folks now for the danger they put us in when we all slept in campgrounds in the family tent. Summers were spent behind the push lawn mower and I didn't even know that mowers came with motors until I was 13 and we got one without an automatic blade-stop or an auto-drive. How sick were my parents? Of course my parents weren't the only psychos. I recall Donny Reynolds from next door coming over and doing his tricks on the front stoop just before he fell off. Little did his Mom know that she could have owned our house. Instead she picked him up and swatted him for being such a goof. It was a neighborhood run amuck. To top it off, not a single person I knew had ever been told that they were from a dysfunctional family. How could we possibly have known that we needed to get into group therapy and anger management classes? We were obviously duped by so many societal ills, that we didn't even notice that the entire country wasn't taking Prozac! more