You Go Google!

I applaud Google for taking a stand against censorship and intellectual property rights in China in light of the recent security breach at Google and 34 other Silicon Valley companies. Censorship by the Chinese government and a cyberattack on the g-mail accounts of human rights activists pushed Google to act. Personally, as an American citizen, I never really thought much about censorship and security on-line when I logged into Google. I had no idea that the Chinese government had placed restrictions on content that could be pulled up on Google’s search engines at its Chinese mainland site:  Google.cn. Now I’m not so naive.

However, that has all changed now as—at the time of this writing—Google is operating freely and without any restriction on content in China. Within minutes of the information firewall imposed by the Chinese government going down, citizens of China were able to download previously hidden information and images on Tibet and the 1989 Tiananmen Square massacre. How long will this freedom of information last in China? Not long I predict. 

In addition to stopping censorship on its search engines, Google is considering pulling out of China completely.  Will Google, and other American companies with Chinese interests, continue to sit back and let Communist China dictate restrictions on how an American company should operate? Doesn’t America stand for Freedom? That should apply to Internet freedom as well. 

I am hoping that change is possible and the lure of revenue will not draw Google back in. Censorship and cyberattacks are just plain wrong. Unfortunately, the Chinese citizens are the losers in this game. If Google stays the course and leaves China, the current free and open Google search engines vanish. If Google backs down and continues to censor information, the Chinese government will gain yet another victory and place further restrictions and limits on Internet searches in mainland China.

Google is blazing a path here. Western companies operating in China have long bent their own morals and rules to accommodate those of Communist China. Google stood up and said “NO!” 

There are some who will say it’s okay to change the operating rules for the Chinese government, and we should just work out some sort of a deal with China. This has undoubtably been going on for a long time already. But is it really possible to negotiate with an unyielding Communist government? Just ask those who witnessed, died in, or survived the 1989 Tiananmen Square massacre, which the Chinese government has continuously attempted to cover up. 

Freedom of information or censorship? Which would you choose?

My Japanese Favorites

Yes, I realize this has nothing to do with surviving suburbia. It falls under escaping suburbia. My recent, and really quite unexpected, travels to Japan over the past few years have yielded a few favorite encounters from a culture I never thought I’d explore and experience. Here is my short list of discoveries:

•  Zen gardens and Shinto shrines in the middle of Tokyo.
•  Old ladies in kimonos with their hair dyed pink, purple, or blue tottering around on their wedges.
•  The heated and musical Japanese toilets.
•  Little bows.
•  Eating the closest duplication of my Grandmother’s homemade raised sugar doughnuts at the New Otani Hotel. How did they get her recipe?
•  Japanese maples dripping leaves into ponds filled with Koi.
•  The beauty and serenity of Kyoto.
•  The crazy music and bells and whistles that play in the subways when the doors of a train are closing.
•  Vending machines selling cans of hot coffee and tea on all of the street corners.
•  Feeling like a blonde goddess in high heels and a bright pink coat as I towered over the masses of Japanese clad in neutral black and khaki.
•  Spotting Mt. Fuji from my hotel window on the morning of my departure from Japan.

Tips For Air Travel with Kids

What do you do when faced with an 11 hour flight to the other side of the world? This is daunting enough for an adult but add a couple of kids into the mix and things get a bit chaotic. Having recently completed such a trip across the Pacific from Minnesota to Japan with my sister and her two small children, I can say that we all survived very well. But advance planning is key!

Here are a few tips I’ve picked up over the years traveling with my kids as well as on my most recent trip with my young niece and nephew:

•  Arrive extra early at the airport. This is especially true in light of the attempted bombing of that Northwest Airlines plane on Christmas Day. Expect longer than usual lines and delays going through security.
•  Find some good (and somewhat healthy) kid food before you board the plane. I’ve found it’s always best to feed the kids before getting on the plane. The kids meals on flights are sometimes nasty and they will usually just pick at an adult meal. If McDonalds is your only choice, do it.
•  Let them run around. Probably a no-brainer bit of advice. Let them ride the escalators, run around a corner of the gate area, climb the stairs. Anything to get that energy out. A quick visit to the restroom is also a good distraction.
•  Bring another change of clothing. Not only in case your luggage gets lost. My kids would end up soiling themselves before we even boarded the plane. Packing  a clean and dry outfit beats sitting in soggy pants all the way to Toronto.
•  Distract them. Once on board and into their seats, pull out something for them to do. Depending on their age of course. To help their ears during take-off: For little ones, suckers or Life-Savers candies work great for take-off. Bottles or nukies for the babies. My rule of thumb is once you are up in the air, distract them until they fall asleep, which they usually will. iPods and portable DVD players are necessary devices, especially for those long international flights.
•  Have extra distractions once those batteries die out. It never fails. 7 or 8 hours into a flight the charge dies on the iPod and computer. No more music or movies. Now what? This happened on my last trip. My niece and I toured the plane many times. We delved into the many snacks that we had brought along. We pulled out the sticker books and as a last resort, we read the same three Sesame Street books continuously for an hour. Elmo never bores a 14-month old! Thank goodness sleep prevailed again and saved me from another hour of Elmo!
•  Bribery. I’m totally guilty of this tactic. If all else fails . . . a special treat once they get onto the ground is always enticing and may even stop the whining and fit-throwing!

I can say we all arrived in Japan with minimal fussing and mess. No complaints, only compliments from our fellow passengers. Good luck on your next journey with your gang!

Stretching out after her flight from Tokyo

Please, Not Dick Clark!!!

I recall sitting around the television with close friends at a rental beach house in Cape May, New Jersey on December 31, 1999 watching the ball drop in Times Square on “Dick Clark’s Rockin New Year’s Eve” special.  We were all quite vocal in wishing the same thing a decade ago—Dick Clark really should pack it in! He looks terrible! Now 10 years later, he’s still at it at the ripe old age of 80. Being 80 doesn’t bother me, but the after-effects of his stroke a few years ago renders him unwatchable for me.

I’ve seen the trailers for tonight’s ABC programming and “Dick Clark’s Rockin New Year’s Eve” is on the docket (With Ryan Seacrest in fine print). I hope that Ryan does the bulk of the show tonight. I don’t think I can stand viewing poor Dick Clark mumble and stutter his way through forced dialogue. He is an all too vivid reminder of my own mortality. It’s time to pass the torch to the image of youth and vitality seen in Ryan Seacrest. Please Dick, step aside this year or I’ll be flipping the channel!

God vs. Hockey. Who Wins?

So far hockey is ahead.

This is my battle and no doubt a battle raging in many households here in Minnesota and elsewhere. When are all of the Sunday morning and Wednesday night practices and games TOO MUCH???

It is hard enough to drag the kids out of bed and into the minivan for the journey to church on a frosty November Sunday morning without the temptation of a much more fun and easier diversion of hockey or ballet or basketball (or pick your sport) practice. A battle always ensues. When did Sunday’s become fair game for coaches to schedule practices, rehearsals, and games?

I grew up in a town where the basketball or football coaches would have to answer to the resident Lutheran pastor (Missouri synod), who was equivalent to God, if they dared to dream of scheduling a practice on a Wednesday night or God-forbid a Sunday morning. It was grounds for excommunication!

Standards have changed in 25 years and living in a metro area that thrives on hockey and football. I have a hockey player, a ballerina, and a basketball player. I teach Sunday School and Wednesday night Confirmation classes. It is really a tough call. I sympathize with the parents of my students. In the past, church easily trumped sports and ballet practice without a doubt. But now that the Lutherans have decided it is okay to ordain gay clergy amongst their ranks, I now have an advocate on the side of Sunday sports. (Perhaps the Lutheran issues are a blog in itself and not worth touching with a 10-foot pole.)

So what does a church-going mother do? I believe in keeping Sundays for family. But as the kids get older and their activities more involved this gets more difficult with each passing year. I hate to admit that Sunday School has been skipped for a basketball game or hockey practice but Wednesday nights for Confirmation are sacred for the moment. 

When does it become too much? A child’s faith and lessons taught on Sunday mornings stays with them their entire life. Can you say the same about their chances at playing professional hockey or becoming a prima ballerina?

Escape to Hudson

Thank you so much for bearing with me on my H1N1 hiatus . . . I believe that we are swine flu free now and life has returned to our normal insane pace. So insane that I had to escape to my favorite town on the banks of the St. Croix river—Hudson, Wisconsin. Home of some of my favorite shops in the Twin Cities.

The main drag in Hudson is Second Street, and it is loaded with art galleries, clothing boutiques and handbag shops, restaurants, and jewelry stores. You could easily spend an afternoon wandering around, exploring all of the different stores. I’ve picked out a select few shops that you shouldn’t miss when visiting Hudson, Wisconsin. And tossed in a few restaurant recommendations in case hunger strikes during your Hudson shopping experience.

La Rue Marche

513 Second Street    www.laruemarche.com

The jewel of Hudson shopping . . . La Rue Marche offers an eclectic mix of women’s clothing, handbags, and jewelry for the young and young at heart. Owner Lisa Shortridge has an eye for unique pieces and her personal style shines through at La Rue Marche. I’m partial to the array of shoes—which are so beautiful they look like museum pieces but are so very comfortable and stylish you can wear them anywhere—and dresses ranging from cocktail gowns to cozy sweater dresses. 

Women of any age or pant size will easily find something trendy to fit into their wardrobe that is also easy on the pocketbook. Shortridge stocks a wide assortment of jeans of all sizes; a bounty of ballerina flats, wedges, gorgeous heels, and boots; and a rack of the cutest winter coats around. Bargain racks at the front and rear of the store also offer deeply discounted items. Lisa and her staff are incredibly attentive and will work with you to find the look that you seek. Lisa Shortridge also offers exclusive, private parties and wardrobe consultations at your home.

La Rue Marche never disappoints and always brings me back when I’m looking for something truly unique and fun!

SHEER ADDICTION (formerly known as Tamara)

513 Second Street    www.sheeraddiction.com

Located in the back of La Rue Marche is the fabulous SHEER ADDICTION jewelry shop. Tamara Schafhauser creates an amazing line necklaces and bracelets for her Junk Jewels collection. She mixes semi-precious stones with unique pieces of metal collected from markets around the globe. (I have some of her creations with bits from Paris as well as Dallas Texas.) She also has her signature metallic initial necklaces, which are simple yet incredibly stylish and can be paired with any of her other pieces. No two creations are exactly alike. For an eclectic range of jewelry designs, check out SHEERADDICTION.

Et Cetera

507 Second Street    www.etchudson.com

Looking for an interesting hostess gift, wedding present, or Christmas gift? Et Cetera is the place for you. This shop offers a mix of paintings, candles, baubles, and housewares that anyone would love to receive. A favorite of my daughter and I is the Sid Dickens memory tiles that line one of the walls of the shop. Although it was early November when I last visited, Et Cetera had pulled out all of the Christmas trimmings and gorgeous glass ornaments.

Lavender Thymes

512 Second Street   

This trendy boutique offers an array of somewhat spendy girly tops and stylish jeans with price tags to match. Half of the shop offers the Thymes line of skincare products, Crabtree and Evelyn soaps and lotions, greeting cards, gourmet food, and jewelry. A fun little shop to poke around in.

Knoke’s Chocolates

216 Locust Street    www.knokeschocolates.com

This confectionary is just north of the main shopping street in Hudson. Owner Dave Knoke, who can usually be found behind the counter of his shop, offers hand crafted chocolates including truffles, caramels, English toffee, mints, and turtles. I’m a huge fan of the boxed truffles that are delicious and make great little gifts for teachers. Knoke’s is definitely worth a stop!

Élan Clothing and Gifts

218 Locust Street    www.elanofhudson.com 

This is a grown-up woman’s store by far when compared with La Rue Marche or Lavender Thymes. The clothing sold at Élan is also beautiful but more geared toward work and with a more conservative feel. The sizes and cuts are much bigger, and they don’t carry petites. They also have a wonderful bargain rack on which I’ve found a gorgeous red strapless gown that fits like a glove. They have a nice selection of wrap dresses, sweaters, and boots.

Dilly Dally in the Alley

218 Locust Street    www.elanofhudson.com

Behind the cash register at Élan lies a staircase. Follow that staircase down and you will discover a sweet little gift shop at the foot of the stairs—Dilly Dally in the Alley. This shop is well stocked with fun wine glasses, earrings, local T-shirts, journals, and fun odds and ends. I think it’s a great place to find a baby or wedding shower gift or something special for your best friend or a favorite sister-in-law. Plus the ladies who work down there are super nice and very helpful.

San Pedro Cafe

426 Second Street    www.sanpedrocafe.com

My favorite reprieve from shopping is the San Pedro Cafe. This restaurant is straight out of Belize in more ways than one. Their zesty Caribbean menu offers a selection of wood-fired pizzas, sandwiches, and fresh fish. You can’t go wrong with a selection from their rotating Chef’s Specials. San Pedro Cafe doesn’t take reservations so plan on a short wait unless you arrive early for lunch.

Pier 500

500 First Street   www.pierfivehundred.com

In my opinion the summer is the best time to visit Pier 500 simply because you can eat 

al fresco on their patio and watch the boats sail by on the St. Croix. Unfortunately the outdoor eating days are over for awhile. Luckily the vast inside bar and cozy dining room surrounding the fireplace is very inviting with excellent American cuisine and an extensive wine menu. 

I hope that you will get a chance to explore some of my favorite places in Hudson Wisconsin. Happy shopping!

Duck Hunting . . . Why?

I was woken up at sunrise on Saturday morning to the echo of gunfire. I briefly was confused and wondered why in the world guns were going off around our chain of lakes. Then I remembered . . .  silly me, it’s the start of duck hunting season. That lovely season where hunters—boys and girls as well so I’m told—are out waiting in the water and on the edge of lakes and ponds to take aim, fire, and shoot at ducks. Ducks. Why do we still have duck hunting in Minnesota? 

Maybe the bigger question is why do people still duck hunt in Minnesota? Do we have such an abundance of ducks that their flocks must be culled? I haven’t noticed masses of ducks floating on the lakes or flying in the air. I understand deer hunting with the masses of deer that will starve unless the herds are thinned out, but duck hunting perplexes me. I don’t think many families around here are starving and in dire need of duck meat. Is it really fun rising well before dawn on a cold, wet Minnesota morning to stake out your place in some marshy bog to shoot down little ducks? 

As a runner and dog walker who uses the trails around the lakes and through the woods, the start of these hunting seasons always puts me on edge. I don’t like guns going off around me or the warning signs that bow and arrow deer hunting season has started so watch out! I feel like I should don my blaze orange (if I owned any) to take the dog on his morning walk.

I’m certainly not a hunter, nor is anyone in my family, that’s why I’m hoping someone will enlighten me on the joys of duck hunting. In the meantime, I’ll wear my earplugs so the gunfire won’t wake me up too early in the morning on the weekend.