Casting out our kids in oceans of the world

"Because I Said So" column in The Commercial Appeal

June 24, 2010

Abby Sunderland, a 16-year-old from California, recently ended her attempt to circumnavigate the globe when a wave broke the mast of her sailboat. Successful completion would have matched the record, which once belonged to Abby's brother Zac, currently held by 16-year-old Australian Jessica Watson.

There was endless debate before Abby Sunderland left, and since her rescue in the Indian Ocean, over whether she should have been allowed to attempt such a feat at all.

In May, 13-year-old Jordan Romero of Big Bear, Calif., became the youngest person to scale Mt. Everest, part of a growing trend of younger and younger adventure seekers. When he reached the peak, Romero used his cell phone to call his mother.

Kristy and I were surprised to learn this past week that our 12-year-old had signed on to Facebook. Calvin has weighed anchor and set his sails for a vast cyber-sea where unknown dangers lurk, prompting his mother and me to hold conferences and debates over how to best handle his foray into a new chapter of passive socializing. And it seems like only yesterday he got his first cell phone.

The computer in the home office is now a reason for worry for parents of my generation ... (read more)

Vacation filled with selective memories

"Because I Said So" column for The Commercial Appeal

June 10, 2010

Dateline: Florida panhandle, toes in sand.

I will turn this column around right now. Just a warning to you readers that if you can't behave, if you're raucous, inconsiderate or argumentative, I will turn around and take you all back home and we'll just forget about this week's column.

By the time you read this, I will be home from a family vacation to Inlet Beach, sandwiched serenely between Panama City and Rosemary Beach. Once again, we escaped from work, reality, school and the day in and day out of our every day. The stuff of real life.

Natural selection is a function of evolution. Selective memory is a function of parenthood. It's what allows us to take these four kids, sprung from my wife, and pack them into a womb-like minivan for a nine- to 10-hour drive (I missed a turn in Alabama) to the gulf coast.

Selective memory is how Charles Darwin was able to take his family aboard the H.M.S. Beagle every summer to the Bluefoot Resort at Galapagos Beach (I will research this further when I'm off vacation) ... (read more)

In social networking, 'unfriending' is popular option when coversation turns unfriendly

Lifestyle feature for The Commercial Appeal

June 5, 2010

Virginia Ivy, former Memphian and current resident of the Ozark Mountains in Arkansas, was raised with true Southern manners to believe that it is in poor taste to discuss politics, religion or money in social situations that are not specifically geared to those conversations.

"I started out on Facebook posting my political positions, but have since weaned off of it since I do not appreciate others' opinions opposite of mine when I am logging on for social stress relief," said the 39-year-old virtual manager for a New York corporate travel agency. "I un-friend people who post or link to hateful things."

Debate swirls over privacy concerns and information sharing on Facebook, but navigating the social network also leads to other questions, including those of etiquette -- what to talk about and how much to talk about it.

Certainly there is a decorum to be followed in face-to-face social situations, whether a dinner party, play date or actual date, but what of the fairly faceless medium of social media? Do the same rules apply and to what outcome? ... (read more)

First Tennessee Foundation

Corporate giving story for The Commercial Appeal

June 2, 2010

The First Tennessee Foundation recently spread good fortune across its namesake state with grants totaling more than $80,000 to 95 nonprofit groups through the foundation's Leadership Grants program. Memphis area organizations received $33,500.

The Leadership Grants program also encourages bank employees to serve on the boards of nonprofit groups and offers amounts of $500 to board members and $1,000 to board officers to be contributed to the nonprofit organizations of their choice.

In 2009, 72 First Tennessee employees participated in board service.

"If you went around our state and looked at the market presence in each of our major markets, for the most part they (employees) have been chairpersons of United Way, the chambers and involved with the universities," said Charles Burkett, president of banking with First Tennessee ... (read more)