PARADE.COM OFFERS CONTROVERSIAL POLL ON UNDERRAGE DRINKING

It turns out the debate about lowering the drinking age remains a contentious one. Last week, the August 12 issue of PARADE magazine raised the important question: Should the current legal drinking age be lowered from 21 to 18? Parade.com conducted a poll on the matter and, after 12,500+ votes, the poll is at a dead heat, 50%/50%. The Parade.com message board was flooded with more than 530 reader comments, reviving the age-old debate. One Parade.com reader writes in, "If we are old enough to die at 18, then we are old enough at 18 to drink. What we need is proper education and responsibility on when and how to drink. Cultures that have drinking (under 21) don't have the types of problems the U.S. has. Keep an open mind and think outside the box." Another counters: “The issue here is whether anyone who drinks alcohol at any age is sober and safe enough to operate a motor vehicle in a manner consistent with public safety on our nation's roads and highways. If a person is 18 or 68 years of age, I do not want to be a passenger in that person's vehicle if that person is drunk where my life would be endangered. If one wants to drink booze, whatever the age, that person is going to have to reap the consequences for whatever actions result from the drinking.

A poll conducted in 2005 found that 78% of the public opposed a lower age. In the last three years, legislators in Vermont, New Hampshire and Wisconsin have introduced bills to lower the age (though only for military personnel in Wisconsin and New Hampshire). None of the bills became law.What do you think?

Join the hot debate at Parade.com:http://www.parade.com/articles/editions/2007/edition_08-12-2007/Teen_Drinking

Multi-tasking Overload

Here's a topic any busy mom can relate to....Multi-tasking overload. Have you completely screwed something up because you had too many balls in the air? Well I have and frankly I think I've been thrown into multi-tasking overdrive and I think I need to take a break. As the summer gets closer, I'd love to finally take the summer off for a change and have a maternity leave...without the maternity part. Are you a multi-tasking mom who is ready for a break too? I'm not saying quit your job...just ready for a vacation from technology, parties, activities and work! Sound Off and let us know about your hectic life and tell us what you'd like to do if you could finally take the summer off!