I met Karl Rove at a book signing a few weeks ago. My mother in law was over the moon that I got to go. My mother was less than impressed. (But I’m pretty sure she loves me anyway.) He was a very nice man. Here is a very dusty scan – I think it looks like I’m goosing him. I swear I did no such thing.

For those of you who don’t know me, I have a penchant for the creepy. Halloween is my favorite day of the year. I periodically feel a … need, if you will, to shoot something bloody.

I’m working on a new series right now. Imagined crime scenes.

Don’t look at me like that, we all have our quirks. Mine just happens to be a wee bit macabre. Most people enjoy my murdery photos though.

The Center for Science in the Public Interest has announced that it will bring suit against McDonald’s Corporation over the use of toys in Happy Meals. California has already banned the practice of putting toys in meals.

Why?

Because when you offer a toy with your fast food, you make kids fat.

The big argument here they’re making is that children don’t understand marketing and are therefore more susceptible to it. I can concede that point. Any parent will attest to the plague of toy commercials that brainwash your child into NEEDING the toy of the week. (One more reason I’m happy that my house does not have cable tv, nor even the ability to tune in local stations) My husband calls some cartoons 30 minute marketing ploys. He’s not wrong.

But here’s the kicker: Children don’t spend money. Children don’t get in the mini van, drive themselves to Mickey D’s and fork over the four bucks for a Happy Meal. Sure, they may pester their parents. They may beg and plead. Yes, they have influence. But who makes the ultimate decision to purchase the meal?

Parents. Parents have the ability to say no. Parents have control over the what their children eat, watch and do. Or at least they should. Because if they don’t, if children really do “wear the pants”, as a Twitter pal put it this morning, there are much bigger problems than whether or not those kids are “fat”.

Happy Meal toys are not the problem. Suing McDonald’s is ridiculous.

Ah, the blog. I tried this once before and it didn’t get very far. My goal had been to post once a week. Well, I tried.

So here I am, trying again.

Just remember that if you don’t like what you find here, you have the right to stop looking 🙂