airdvr

You guys never heard of Silicon Valley, I take it. Details? Please don't dent the planet. Destinations by Roxanne

Consider this. As one of the most educated, well-spoken, rising stars of a corporation, you are quickly promoted to management. During that interview, someone asks if you would like to be CEO some day. You say, no, you don't have enough experience. 3.5 Years later, when you are jockying for that job as CEO, someone says they remember 3.5 years ago when you said you didn't have enough experience, and therefore you must not have enough experience now. Please don't dent the planet. Destinations by Roxanne

Consider this...you want to apply for a job, say CEO of a multibillion dollar corporation. You send in your resume. You have a whopping 3.5 years of experience. What do you think the chances are you'll get that job? Please don't dent the planet. Destinations by Roxanne

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4gexyfVpFMU&feature=related Please don't dent the planet. Destinations by Roxanne

You can have all of those except cheap Please don't dent the planet. Destinations by Roxanne

Beautiful man...just beautiful. Please don't dent the planet. Destinations by Roxanne

You'll get nothing and like it! Please don't dent the planet. Destinations by Roxanne

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SUlbBRpYO-M Please don't dent the planet. Destinations by Roxanne

"Hey! We're all gonna get laid!" Please don't dent the planet. Destinations by Roxanne

That's just my point. It never matters what happened just prior to the filming, only what's in the film. I'm sure the victim is just such a saint Please don't dent the planet. Destinations by Roxanne

Then why was he not charged with "something else he had done prior"??? I get that part and I get that he lied on the report. Still, you have to wonder if they guy did something up the line to provoke the cop. Not saying it's right, but I don't think the video tells the whole story. Please don't dent the planet. Destinations by Roxanne

Again you don't see what happened in the minutes prior to this. Please don't dent the planet. Destinations by Roxanne

Something doesn't fit here. I'm not condoning the actions of the cop but the problem with little snippets of video is they don't show the whole story. I can't help but think the cops were targeting this individual for something else he had done prior to the cameras rolling. There are 20 cyclists he could have done the same thing to but he was gunning for this particular rider. Please don't dent the planet. Destinations by Roxanne

Please don't dent the planet. Destinations by Roxanne

Please don't dent the planet. Destinations by Roxanne

I didn't participate in the poll. I merely pointed out the huge amount of commitment and compassion required to raise a child with DS and that many, due to the comlexity of medical problems will be MR. I also stated that I would not want the responsibilty. Fortunately I wasn't faced with that decision with my 2 kids. I cringe when I see people oohing and aahing over little kids with DS. They are clueless. Please don't dent the planet. Destinations by Roxanne

You misunderstood my statement Bill. I beleive a 10yo child who wants to have a DS child is misunderstanding the amount of personal sacrifice involved and might even live to regret the decision, if it were possible to genetically engineer it. Much like a child who wants a puppy but grows tired of it after the novelty has worn off. I never referred to any DS child as a puppy. Your wishes to NEVER have her in a home are admirable, but may not be practical. Don't forget, I live with a 20yo DS child who is also MR. Already we see signs of agressive behavior. Rox works in a setting that has many older DS adults. They have issues that are better dealt with in an environment that provides 24 hour supervision. It's nice that you have a bank account...it'd have to be a huge amount of money to make certain she'd never be placed in a home. Please don't dent the planet. Destinations by Roxanne

With all due respect, I beg to differ. I happen to be one of those "compassionate individuals". I've worked with people with disabilities most of my career. Most people with DS are their own guardian, or under the guardianship of family members, not "wards of the state". Many live independently, have jobs, and fulfilling social lives. Those homes that you mention are not "tucked away" but integrated into the community, with caring neighbors. At least that is how things are in the agency I work for. Don't get me wrong, there are still a lot of things to be done and it is a constant uphill battle against looming budget cuts. But you know what? This is the area I'd rather see my tax dollars going. As for whether I would abort a fetus with DS or not, I don't know. I'm not a mother, and I never will be one. You have to consider that there are many serious medical concerns that go along with DS. One of them is Alzheimer'z Disease. In the past, people with DS simply didn't live long enough for this problem to surface, because they died at a young age of heart disease. But thanks to the advances in medical science, they live longer lives and we see the beginning stages of dementia in literally every single one of them as early as their late thirties but definitely in their late forties, early fifties. I guess my point is that each case is unique, and each parent should be able to make their own decision about keeping the pregnancy or not. Edited to add: A person becomes a "Ward of State" if the legal guardian deceases or withdraws without appointing somebody else to oversee the person's affairs. In my 17 year career I've never seen this happen. I don't know what state you live in but in Ohio there are plenty of corporate guardians. You're trying to tell me that every person in your care is his own guardian or has the parents as guardians? They must not be very profound. Where does the money come from to pay your salary?...to buy food and clothing and pay for the care of these people? If it isn't out of their pockets or their family's pocket, in my eyes they are a ward of the State. They might not technically fit your definition but they are cared for with tax dollars. I'm not saying that's a bad thing, but it is not the independent life you describe. Please don't dent the planet. Destinations by Roxanne

I think many people do see very young DS kids as "cute", and they really are. Problem is DS adults are not "cute". They'll either become a tremendous burden on the parents or a ward of the State. Fortunately for us there are people who have the compassion to handle the situation. I am not one of them. Tucked away all across this country are "homes" for these people staffed by compassionate individuals and funded by you and me. I've visited them and it's not pretty but they make the most of it. Where it really gets interesting is when Medicare gets involved and is tasked with "protecting" their rights. I could tell stories that would make you shake your head. As for the 10yo, sometimes I think it goes along the vein of getting a puppy. 10yo's think that way. Please don't dent the planet. Destinations by Roxanne

Who cares what the reason for cheating is? You don't fix problems in your relationship by cheating. You fix problems in your relationship by working on the problems in your relationship or getting out of the relationship. Cheating because you're "not getting what you need out of the relationship" is an immature way of dealing with a problem. I agree. It's not an excuse, and it's inexcusable. Nevertheless it takes 2 to tango and it happens all the time. My only options to the poll are killing someone. Trust me, I used to fantasize about it. Actually, she married the jerk she was boffing so my fantasy actually went towards killing him so she would have to live with the pain. Is that so wrong? BTW...can I give you my ex-wife's number so you can explain your POV to her? Please don't dent the planet. Destinations by Roxanne

As a victim of this very scenario I have to say there's always blame on both sides. Why is your SO cheating on you? What isn't she getting from the relationship that she needs? Please don't dent the planet. Destinations by Roxanne

I'm sorry to sound harsh but what you've got here is a classic case of the do-gooders helping someone who really didn't deserve it or appreciate it. I'd like to see what those Habitat homes look like 4-5 years down the road. Please don't dent the planet. Destinations by Roxanne

Meet Melissa. She's 20 years old. She was never expected to live past 1, has had a multitude of open heart surgeries, and is mentally retarded due to one of those surgeries. On a scale of 1 to 10 in MR terms she's a 7. Not all DS kids are but there are certain surgeries where the blood flow must be clamped off, and the result is usually severe MR. She's not mine, she was adopted by Rox when she was 6 mos old. I've known her for about 2 1/2 years. She'll forever be a 3 yo. She still believes in Santa and the Easter Bunny. She requires full time 24/7 care and probably won't live much past 40. Could/would I have done what Rox did? I'm ashamed to say that I wouldn't have. She's alot of work. There are programs in our county for her but the funding has been put on hold by the state. If you're considering having a Down Syndrome child know a few things... They are loving and gentle and wouldn't hurt a soul...most of the time. As they get older they can get a bit dramatic and agressive. You will probably end up being the full time caregiver for the rest of your life. This means finding a sitter for everything you want to do that doesn't involve small kids. Big commitment. Please don't dent the planet. Destinations by Roxanne

Since nobody's posting I'll submit a big pair Please don't dent the planet. Destinations by Roxanne

Will Varner -I got influence. I'll dog you, boy, wherever you go. I'll break you. Ben Quick -No, you won't. You'll miss me. Please don't dent the planet. Destinations by Roxanne