It’s utterly confounding to realize that you may be able to find a site that offers the kids’ movie you want for free – but the screen is likely to be surrounded by suggestive drawings or photos that link to pornographic content.

How do you say “outrage”? For most of us baby boomers who were told next to nothing about sex – and probably had a tough time explaining it to our kids – this is an almost unimaginable challenge to the belief that it’s important to protect children’s innocence.

In a 2012  New York Times article, “When children see Internet pornography,” a young boy is quoted as asking his parent, “Mom, why do women like to be choked?” The article also contains a few links to programs for trying to manage this dire trend – though most experts say it is impossible to completely shield your kids from it.

In a 2015 article, “Parenting in the age of online porn,” experts say statistics are not so far indicating a younger generation that’s out of control sexually – teen pregnancy is down, sex among ninth graders is down. Gulp – ninth graders. When one mother discovered a previous search phrase on her computer for “child porn,” her older son told her he’d been looking for porn made for children because he wanted to know what his body was supposed to look like at his age. There’s that beautiful innocence.

Some therapists feel this epidemic of easily accessible pornography is extremely damaging to children and young teens. Yet the jury is apparently still out among other therapists on just how bad the long-term effects will be.  But there’s no question pornography can cause confusion, worry and/or fear even when children are able to process what they see with responsible, caring adults.

If we could legally stop advertising to children on Saturday morning cartoons, surely we can stop porn vendors from “advertising” on children’s content websites. Come on, legislators. Get with it.

Well, grandmothers, be deeply aware of the dangers when you search the Internet for free movies for your grandchildren. And do your due diligence on intelligent ways to handle it if it comes up with one of them.

A new book for potential dog parents is now available for free download – it’s National Dog Week this week. If you’re a pet owner, you know how much a dog can do for your mental and physical health. For anyone feeling unsure about adopting a dog, this little e-book gives you lots of reasons why you’ll be glad you did.

Dogs make great companions, keep you healthier and all that. But did you know dogs can serve as encouraging, non-judgmental audience members to help nervous speakers improve their presentation skills?

Here’s a quote from the opening of the book, Build a Strong Bond with Your Dog: For a Healthy Mind, Spirit, Body & Community written by Kristen Levine:

…at American University’s Kogod School of Business, anxiety-prone students practice giving presentations to dogs in order to overcome their nervousness. The school claims that, “Addressing a friendly and nonjudgmental canine can lower blood pressure, decrease stress and elevate mood — perfect for practicing your speech or team presentation.”

Think about how that might work for sharing your frustrations with your dog. Hmmm. I almost adopted a dog a few weeks ago. Wonder if this book is a sign… Read more at www.kristenlevine.com.

Related articles

• The Impact Dogs Have on Physical and Mental Health
• The TSA Wants You To Adopt The Dogs That Failed Training!
• Understanding Dog Body Language

My daughter and son-in-law have been in France for the last few weeks. Which reminds me of this excellent tour guide service I learned about a few months ago at a France tourism event.

Artventures Paris is a transportation and incoming services company based in the Paris region, founded in 1998 by Didier Jordan, a French professional licensed guide for over 20 years. He and his staff are dedicated to providing the discerning traveler with the best possible travel experience in France . You can see the great and the not-so-well-known sights, and you’ll hang out with French people who love having tourists visit (which not everyone does!).

The company specializes in private tours – sightseeing, museums and a multitude of creative excursions from Paris – and custom-tailored tours around France with a focus on art and wine. Wish we were planning one now! Stay in a castle and eat gourmet dinners with one of their luxury tours to these regions: Paris Ile-de-France, Normandy, Loire Valley, Brittany, Burgundy, Alsace, Champagne, French Riviera and Provence.

Feel safe and be fully informed with licensed, experienced guides, and enjoy the comfortable leather seats while you ride. Whether you’re on a romantic trip with your beloved or you and a group of friends (up to 30) want to tour together, whether you speak fluent French or none, Monsieur Jordan will personally introduce you to real people in France and, together, they will all take good care of you.

Related articles

• Family Travel: Guide to Paris

I always tell people – well, when the subject comes up – I could die (assuming, of course, it’d be quick and painless) happy while engaged in any of these three activities:

• doing aerobics (especially while also singing to great music)
• having sex with my beloved (no comment needed)
• sleeping (with advance notice if possible, Lord)

Wouldn’t it be great if we could choose how and when we would die? Yeah, who wants to die, right? Medical developments are making it look more and more like we may be able to live to a hundred or more – and not that far into the future. Read this long but well-researched article from The Atlantic magazine called “What happens when we all live to 100?” And stay tuned for future posts on that topic.

Meanwhile, would you rather die at home than in a sterile, unfeeling hospital? Most of us would. Would you rather have your personal dignity intact than be stuffed full of hoses and pipes and drips and needles? Most of us would. This September 29, there’s a webinar you might want to listen in on: “The Good Death: An Exploration of Dying in America.” Read more about it here.

Yes, despite dealing with increased (some more, some less) physical issues, people tend as they age to feel better about themselves and their lives. Like good wine and cheese that get better with time,  human beings can improve with aging.

More than 1000 senior adults, chosen randomly and across ethnic variations (not volunteers who might have self-selected as people doing well) reported themselves “happier and more content with their lives than those in their 20s and 30s, despite their physical ailments,” according to a study published in the August issue of the Journal of Clinical Psychiatry.

Most seniors have accumulated some level of wisdom, don’t feel they have to prove much of anything any more, and don’t often face as many life-changing decisions as younger adults. Remember how exhausting it was trying to figure out how to handle various situations – at work, in your family life, in your marriage/romantic relationship? Of course, the results of these questions might be different for seniors who are yet struggling to pay the bills in their later years. But for many, simply not having to keep up with a job or career – or keeping up with a much-loved career but feeling more secure in it – can feel liberating and relaxing.

Always nice to hear about the benefits of getting older. Read more in the article on Medscape.

Thank you, Timeout Chicago, for sharing this important information about such a deal on Uber travel good for rides generally in the 312 area code.  If you want to travel in Chicago in a square bounded by south of Irving Park, north of 71st Street and east of Western Avenue, you’ll automatically get the $3.12 fares through Friday at 10pm.

If you’ve been hesitant to try Uber, it’s time to jump in and give ’em a try. Around here, we use Uber regularly and have had mainly very positive experiences – on the whole better than some taxi rides.  With this kind of deal in this heat. why resist?

P.S. Tried it today, Thursday August 18. Worked fine. $3.12 for the ride but it was only available for UberPool at 6 pm. Turned out fine  because another person was going in the same direction at the same time, so there was no wait.

Summers in Chicago can be brutal. When temps reach 90-ish and humidity gets over 60%, we’re talking grim. Seniors and anybody with heart or lung conditions has to either stay inside or get door-to-air-conditioned-door service.

So how about making something delicious and light and COLD to eat? Order from Peapod if you can’t make it out to the grocery store, and try out a few recipe ideas created by Chef Anthony Stewart from Pritikin Longevity Center + Spa. They sound so good and look so beautiful! His chilled tomato, watermelon and basil soup, citrus fennel mango salad, and creamy banana ricotta ice cream all sound unique and refreshing and don’t require any weird ingredients. Check ’em out:

Chilled Tomato, Watermelon, and Basil Soup 

• 1 cup canned low-sodium plum tomatoes
• ¼ cup low-sodium tomato puree
• 1 cup chopped watermelon (seedless)
• ½ teaspoon chopped garlic
• ¼ teaspoon freshly ground black pepper
• ½ teaspoon orange zest *
• 1 tablespoon basil, chiffonade (cut into thin strips)
• Garnish:  Four sprigs of fresh basil

1. Using a grater or microplane, shave off the peel of an orange to make ½ teaspoon of shavings
2. The shavings are your zest, which add strong, wonderfully citrus flavor to foods
3. Use only the colored part of the peel, not the bitter white pith beneath

Combine all ingredients in a blender.  Blend well.
Chill.  Before serving, garnish each bowl with a sprig of fresh basil.

Nutrition Information (per serving): 35 calories, 0g fat, 0g saturated fat, 0mg cholesterol, 1g protein, 2g fiber, 15mg sodium.

Citrus Fennel Mango Salad 

• 2 Bulbs fennel julienne
• 1 Grapefruit (supreme)
• 2 Oranges (Supreme)
• 3 Mangoes (peeled & julienne)
• ¼ Bu Cilantro chopped
• 1 t chopped garlic
• 1 Red onion julienne
• 1 Red pepper julienne
• 1 Green pepper julienne
• 1 carrot julienne
• 1 # Lettuce (chopped)

Dressing:

• 1 T Low sodium stone ground mustard
• ¼ C Rice wine vinegar
• 2 T Apple juice concentrate

1. Combine all Vegetables in a bowl
2. In a separate bowl combine all ingredients for dressing and mix well
3. Add dressing to vegetables and let stand for 15 minutes
4. Serve on a bed of chopped lettuce

Banana Ricotta Ice Cream 

• 1 pound very ripe bananas (peeled, vacuum sealed, and frozen)
• 1 cup fat-free ricotta cheese
• 2 tablespoons orange juice
• 1 teaspoon orange zest
• ¼ teaspoon nutmeg, ground
• 1 teaspoon vanilla extract

1. Remove bananas from freezer and let sit for 5 minutes (until they begin to defrost around the edges).
2. Place ricotta cheese in a food processor and pulse.
3. Chop the bananas and add to the food processor along with all remaining ingredients.
4. Puree until smooth and creamy.
5. Scoop mixture into a plastic bowl and cover with food-grade plastic wrap, making sure the plastic wrap touches the top of the mixture. Place in the freezer for 15 to 20 minutes.

Bon appetit!

Speaking of New Zealand, as we were in the last post, here’s some cool news about Disney’s classic family film Pete’s Dragon. They’ve re-filmed it with spectacular, real-life locations in New Zealand serving as a backdrop. The film was shot over both of New Zealand’s main islands, the North and the South, showcasing the country’s diverse landscapes. 

Ever dream of traveling halfway around the world to see what’s on the other side? Australia is over there, and that’s a great place to visit. But it’s nearby neighbor, New Zealand, is its own uniquely inspirational destination. For women-over-50 traveling alone, it’s a really cool place to visit.

Check out the United site for direct flight times. Connect with the New Zealand tourism folks at http://www.newzealand.com/us/. Natives suggest you plan on spending a minimum of 10 days if you go; you’ll need at least that much time to get a feel for the country and the people. If you’re going to do NZ  and Australia at the same time – and why not since you’re already on that side of the world? – you should schedule yourself for a minimum of 3 weeks. That way you can be sure to enjoy the high points of both countries.