A ticket.

Back in April of 2006, a Chicago suburban mother was charged with murder when she shook her 3 month old baby to death.

She pleaded out and was “punished” with a $500 ticket, 4 years of probation, 2 months of home confinement and free counseling. She had spent 127 days in jail after her arrest, but I have no doubt if this wasn’t an infant and it wasn’t her “possession”, people would be insulted by the lack of humanity in the message this sends. Cases like these send child advocacy back 500 years.

So, why don’t we just extend abortion rights until the end of the first year? What’s the difference? Why bother with the courts even pretending like this is a crime?

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Ah, the cell phone, the great diversion for fussy babies and cranky toddlers the world over. What parent hasn’t handed their tot the cell phone so they could do their grocery shopping or order a non-fat latte in peace? Heck, we even have made it habit of giving our old phones to the kids when we upgrade — there must be at least two or three Motorolas at the bottom of the toy box. Apparently that’s not such a hot idea — by law, the FCC requires that even deactivated phones still be able to reach 911 emergency services. Did you know that? I sure didn’t.

A 4-year-old in the Chicago suburbs found that out through trial and error, and was so delighted to have someone pick up on the other end that she called back — 287 times. The police were finally able to get the girl’s location when on the last call she indicated she was having a Big Mac Attack and they convinced her to give her address so they could deliver it. But instead of a Happy Meal the folks in blue brought a stern lecture for Mom.

I was really hoping they would have reported what kind of phone it was so I could go get one — the battery must have a hell of a long talk time.

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