Antarctica: On thin ice

HALF MOON ISLAND, Antarctica (CNN) -- Iceberg Alley is an aptly named narrow channel on the western side of the Antarctic Peninsula.
The water is afloat with glassy splinters, hardly bigger than an ice cube, ranging up to colossal tabular icebergs, some the size of several football pitches.
Cruising down this channel in subzero temperatures, it's difficult to imagine Antarctica may be suffering from the effects of global warming.
But these giant breakaway icebergs may in fact be signaling the continent's meltdown.
Icebergs originate from ice sheets, which form on land from millions of years of snowfall. As the ice gravitates towards the sea, it naturally breaks up. But scientists say the ice around the Antarctic Peninsula is disintegrating at unprecedented rates and blame warmer weather.
In the last 50 years, this region has experienced a 2.5C increase in average temperature. That is a faster rise than any other place in the southern hemisphere.
Walking along the pebble beach at Half Moon Island, Chris Edwards, a geologist from Scotland, says the changes are obvious. "I am horrified by the amount of red snow algae I am seeing now, which means we're down to 'old snow.'"
Edwards suggests that's a tell-tale sign of a serious change in weather patterns.
"Evidence like this is everywhere. For example, the Northeast Glacier used to be buffered on to Stonington Island. It's retreated 40 meters (45 yards) in the last 35 years. Now, there's no ice ramp attaching it to the mainland."
This month is the launch of International Polar Year (IPY) -- an ambitious scientific effort involving over 200 projects -- which will study exactly these types of geological changes. Researchers will investigate reductions in ice sheets and explore the impact on sea levels and marine ecosystems.
Birgit Sattler, a microbiologist from the University of Innsbruck, Austria, highlights the need to raise awareness of these issues.
She is conducting a month-long scientific project into glaciers around Port Lockroy, a former whaling station which is now a British research center.
"The Antarctic eco-system is very sensitive and tiny climate changes have dramatic effects. There are far longer vegetation phases now. Plants are growing at much higher altitudes. It's really important to tell people about this."
Before the research papers of the IPY's scientists are published, for those living on the southern polar cap, climate change is already palpable.
Rick Atkinson is Base Manager at Port Lockroy. He has been working in Antarctica for more than 20 years.
"We have to recognize what is happening here. When it's meant to snow, it starts raining. That's not normal."

Island hopping off your own steam

LONDON, England (CNN) -- Imagine a holiday where you come home with not only a tan, but also an enormous sense of achievement.
Swimming between islands for 3-6 kilometers (1.8-3.7 miles) every day for a week might not sound like much of a holiday, but it's a concept that lures hordes of keen swimmers to do just that on their time away from the office.
Australian-born 36-year-old Simon Murie turned his love of swimming in open waters into a business in 2003.
His company, SwimTrek, now takes people on swimming adventure holidays in 10 different destinations. The company's motto is: "Ferries are for wimps, let's swim!"
British lawyer Sally Cook went to Croatia with SwimTrek one year ago, at around the time of her 30th birthday, which, she says, felt like a momentous occasion.
Facing natural forces like the tide, the wind and the sea was an amazing feeling, she says.
"Bizarrely, this somehow gave me an amazing sense of calmness and equanimity. It was like, OK. Great. I can relax now I know my place in the universe," she says.
"For me, swimming in open water makes me feel like I am completely embracing life, facing my fears and being reminded just how insignificant I am all at the same time."
With a former Sydney lifeguard Australian father who loves swimming in the sea, and an English mother who enjoys river swimming, Simon Murie says his love for open water swimming developed at an early age.
The biggest difference between pool swimming and open water swimming, he says, is that in the open water you never know what the conditions will be like.
"There's a big difference between swimming in a pool and swimming in open water. It's much easier in open water if the conditions are good. There's higher buoyancy. But if the conditions are bad, a whole new swimming style is needed," Murie told CNN.
In 1999, he swam the width of the Hellespont, the stretch of water in Turkey that divides Europe and Asia. Organizing the swim involved a week's worth of paperwork. The swim itself took just over an hour.
Although just 3 kilometers (1.9 miles) wide, the challenge comes because the water flows in both directions. One side comes from the Black Sea; the other is from the Mediterranean. It's also a busy shipping channel.
The swim spurred Murie into thinking he could be a guide for people who wanted to swim bodies of open water.
In 2002, Murie swam the width of the English Channel and a year later his business was born.
The most popular destinations are those in the Mediterranean -- namely the Greek Islands and Croatia -- where conditions are pretty good for open water swimming.
"It's based on the idea that you have a sense of journey. You swim from one island to the next. It's a lovely feeling turning up to an island off your own steam," Murie says.
"You spend the night on an island, get up the next day, walk to the edge of the island and swim to another island. That's basically what SwimTrek is about."
On average, swimmers travel 3-6 kilometers a day (1.8 to 3.7 miles) and between 20-25 kilometers (12.5-15.5 miles) in the whole week. Early on in the week, swimmers are filmed while swimming and later the footage is examined with a guide to assess where their stroke and technique can be improved.
In Croatia, swimmers normally do two swims a day because the islands are closer together than in, say, Greece, where swimmers travel up to five kilometers (3 miles) in one stretch.
Which destination is the best depends entirely on the person, says Murie, and the company helps people to decide which location will suit them most.
Each trip is broken into two or three groups, depending on swimming ability. Each group has its own escort boat or swimming guide.
The company gives swimmers a training plan so they can prepare for three or four months before their trip begins.
"Speed doesn't matter. It's all about whether you can do the distance. And there's always the option to get on the boat, have a break and a cup of tea before carrying on."
The ages of those who take part range from early 20s to swimmers in their 70s, says Murie. And the mix of ages adds a nice dynamic to the trips.
"The beauty of swimming is that age is not a barrier. It's a sport you can do until you are very old."
There's also a balanced mix of men and women.
He says that as with any type of open water swimming there are risks, but his company does a lot of research to ensure the trips are to areas where the worst harm could be a minor jellyfish sting.
Ten people who have been on trips with SwimTrek have gone on to swim the English Channel. Murie says he tries to add a few new SwimTrek destinations every year. Next on the list is one that goes from Spain to Morocco.
"You get an amazing sense of achievement. People far exceed what they think they can do. Because there's a group dynamic, you push yourself to achieve," Murie says.
"It's great to see people move on in the sport and progress. People look at the map and can see where they have swum. They get really fit during the week, too."

Swing City

By the time you read this, minds will no doubt have been made up as to which is cooler, this year’s film version of Miami Vice or the vintage 1980s television original. For most Miamiphiles, though, the point is moot: The arrival of the movie, two decades after the celebrated show completed its run, simply underscored the city’s enduring status as a nexus of style. Whoever you think makes the more nuanced Crockett, the more complex Tubbs, the sleek art deco and neon backdrop of South Beach continues to play a starring role. Propelled by Miami’s popularity, the city is experiencing what’s been described as a golden age of architecture, with some of the world’s finest architects designing eagerly anticipated civic, commercial and residential spaces. The rapid growth is a double-edged sword, however, when it comes to golf. Given the various demands on real estate here, the greater Miami area hasn’t attracted the profusion of new course construction seen almost everywhere else in Florida—home to more than 1,200 courses, the most of any state in the country. On the other hand, several of Miami’s iconic golf resorts—Doral, Turnberry Isle and The Biltmore—are reopening this fall and winter after extensive renovations and have never looked better. A paucity of golf is not the problem in Miami; it’s the abundance of so much else—hip restaurants and nightclubs, modish hotels and pools—that may overwhelm you. So break out the T-shirt-and-blazer ensembles and start growing that stubble.Where to play
DORAL GOLF RESORT & SPA, BLUE **** 1/2 The Blue Monster, as it’s universally known, is one of those larger-than-life courses, though the reason for its renown is a running debate. Yes, certain holes are legendary, particularly the 437-yard par-four eighteenth, an object lesson in risk- reward, with water running along the entire left side and pinching in at key places. But, some argue, that’s mainly because Doral has hosted a televised PGA Tour event annually since 1962, the year after it opened; and besides, the decision to stage the tournament at the expansive Doral Golf Resort & Spa has much to do with logistics. The Blue Monster, this line of argument goes, can no longer even be considered monstrous, as it stretches "only" 7,100 yards from the back tees. I say rubbish. In addition to the copious water hazards and some 120 bunkers, the course is defended forcefully by the frequent winds. The layout boasts some great par threes, including the 237-yard fourth. Furthermore, the resort staff is adept at moving golfers around Doral’s five courses (which receive 150,000 rounds a year), and walking—a rarity in Florida golf—is allowed. Finally, the Blue Monster recently underwent a four-month renovation, during which the greens were resurfaced to roll more smoothly and the bunkers rebuilt to restore some of Dick Wilson’s tricky strategic elements. 4400 N.W. 87th Avenue, Miami; 305-592-2000, doralresort.com. Yardage: 7,125. Par: 72. Slope: 130. Architect: Dick Wilson, 1961. Greens Fees: $225-$250.

Newport focuses on keeping visitors happy

NEWPORT, Rhode Island (AP) -- Luxurious mansions built as summer homes for the fabulously rich share a ZIP code here with the International Tennis Hall of Fame, which sits mere minutes from the church where John F. Kennedy got married and crystal blue waters that wrap around the city.
Newport has long embraced its status as a premium tourist destination, drawing more than 3 million visitors a year. But facing growing competition from other cities for limited tourist dollars, and amid a downturn in visitors, officials are concentrating on keeping guests happy -- and coming back.
A new hospitality training program in the city aims to do that by taking shopkeepers back to basics, teaching them how to help tourists locate hard-to-find public bathrooms and parking, and reinforcing the importance of attending to customers' needs.
"You can't control gas prices, war in Iraq," said Keith Stokes, executive director of the Newport County Chamber of Commerce, which is spearheading the initiative. "Those are things that you really can't focus on. What you can focus on, what you can improve, is the positive visitor experience."
It may sound elementary, but it also underscores the importance of hospitality in a city whose attractions include Gilded Age mansions once inhabited by the Vanderbilt and Astor clans; Touro, the oldest synagogue in the nation and heralded summertime music festivals dedicated to folk, jazz and other genres.
Several of the indexes used to measure the health of the tourism and hospitality industry, such as admission to attractions, have declined as destinations around the nation wrestle for their share of the market.
City Councilman Charles Duncan said he's concerned that certain employees in Newport, especially younger ones, aren't as courteous to customers as they should be.
"I don't think they understand that tourism is one of our biggest commodities here -- and Rhode Island's biggest commodity," said Duncan, who sponsored a City Council resolution supporting the program.
"You don't have to be toothy nice, you know what I'm saying?" he said. "You just be polite, for heaven's sake."
Businesses and city staffers that regularly encounter tourists will be coached on providing basic information about the city, like where to find parking, lunch spots and public bathrooms, which often lack adequate signs.
While year-round Newporters generally know answers to those questions, the city's shops and restaurants depend heavily on seasonal workers, often out-of-town students or people from overseas who may be almost as new to the city as day-trippers.
Officials say the initiative isn't about fixing any major problems with Newport. Stokes said the city doesn't receive any more complaints than it used to or than other cities get.
"I don't perceive anything to be broken," said Evan Smith, president of the Newport County Convention and Visitor's Bureau. "I just think we have room to be better."
Business owners say they appreciate the importance of customer service and already practice what the chamber preaches. Several merchants said they liked the concept of the program, even if they weren't sure it was for them.
"Every city employee should be well-versed in giving directions and helping people," said Bill Rommel, owner of the Arnold Art Store and Gallery.
Bob and Cindy Wernicki, of Griswold, Connecticut, had one of their first dates in Newport more than 20 years ago and still make regular visits. They said they enjoy their jaunts here -- even though parking is occasionally atrocious, and even if some restaurants have jacked up prices.

Taking the long route to Sydney

LONDON, England (CNN) -- If you think traveling overland on a bus from London to Sydney sounds like something exclusively for 20-something backpackers, think again.
In September, 38 people will embark on a trip that does just that, and one in four passengers onboard will be aged over 50.
The group -- one-third Irish, one-third English and one-third Australian -- will be the first to do the trip covering 20 countries and organized by London-based company Ozbus.
The idea is the brainchild of Mark Creasey, an Englishman who backpacked around the world a few times in his 20s, including one trip from Sydney that was largely overland.
"Back then you couldn't go any further than Thailand because all the borders were closed," he told CNN.
A few years back Creasey, 37, began hearing about people who were traveling independently on overland routes from Australia to the United Kingdom.
"I got the atlas out and looked at it. Apart from Burma (Myanmar), all the other countries that were once closed can now be traveled through."
Two years ago, Creasey started researching whether he could make a business out of the idea.
"When you think about the amount of backpackers who travel between the UK and Down Under it's vast," he says.
The company launched on January 2 this year, and within three and a half months, the first trip was fully booked.
Creasey and his team have done reconnaissance missions of the entire trip, in two parts, building relations with local agents in each country. There will be three crew members on the trips.
"There's been an awful lot of planning because of the magnitude of the trip. There's an awful lot that can -- and probably will -- go wrong," he says.
"There's been no framework of reference to compare it to. There's another company that does it on a one-off basis and goes only as far as Singapore."
The group taking part in the inaugural 12-week trip in September is made up of a mixture of people, with three aged between 18 and 20, and a quarter aged over 50.
"There aren't too many students. I think it's probably too expensive for them," says Creasey.
"A lot of people over 50 have expressed interest in it. I think that's because it's novel. It would appeal to people who have paid off their house, their kids have left home and they're looking for an adventure that's a little bit different."
The group leaves from London. They then take a ferry across the English Channel and travel across Europe through France, Germany, the Czech Republic, Austria, Hungary, Romania and Bulgaria.
From there, they head to Turkey, Iran, Pakistan, India, Nepal, China, Laos, Thailand, Malaysia, Indonesia and East Timor.
They will travel on the same bus the whole way. Once they get to East Timor, group members fly to Darwin, but the bus goes on a boat. From Darwin they get back on the bus and drive down to Sydney, the final destination.
Creasey says he has some concerns about traveling through Iran because of sensitive relations between it and a lot of western countries who are worried about Iran's nuclear program.
"We're monitoring the situation. We're a bit worried about Iran but hopefully we won't have to change the route," he says.
"Luckily there are alternative routes the whole way through. Whilst it's a bit of a headache, we won't be putting people at risk."
Trips cost £3,750 ($7,500). From January, Ozbus will offer a Sydney to London trip.

Best boulangeries in Paris

Travel + Leisure) -- When it comes to iconic baguettes, flaky croissants and melt-in-your-mouth pains au chocolat, the French capital delivers.
Croissants
The shop: Vintage glass panels frame the façade of Maison Kayser (14 Rue Monge, Fifth Arr.; 33-1/44-07-17-81; closed Mondays), a destination boulangerie in the Latin Quarter. Eric Kayser turns out 60 different breads each day, among them the Malesherbes, a square-tipped baguette. His finely crafted viennoiseries -- France's traditional breakfast pastries -- are as notable as his breads. The Kayser café is the perfect spot for a light lunch; a plat du jour, desser and coffee are about $15.
Don't miss: His croissants, decadently plump, with a golden exterior that flakes at the merest touch and a meltingly tender center.
Sourdough loaves
The shop: On weekend mornings, expect to find a queue snaking down the sidewalk from Dominique Saibron's contemporary glass, wood, and stone emporium, Le Boulanger de Monge (123 Rue Monge, Fifth Arr.; 33-1/43-37-54-20; closed Mondays). Fans (you'll be one!) can't get enough of his petits pains aux lardons et comté, slim, chewy rolls with bits of bacon and melted Comté cheese, or escargots cannelle, cinnamon-filled pinwheels of croissant dough with a buttery crumb topping.
Don't miss: The best-selling pain bio au levain, a delicately tangy organic sourdough loaf.
Miche
The shop: Master baker Lionel Poilâne died several years ago, but his daughter Apollonia keeps the business flourishing. At this original (and decidedly diminutive) wood-paneled headquarters of the world-famous boulangerie Poilâne (8 Rue du Cherche-Midi, Sixth Arr.; 33-1/45-48-42-59; http://www.poilane.fr/; closed Sundays), the bread is still baked in an antique wood-fired oven just downstairs.
Don't miss: The big, round miche; this dense sourdough loaf made from stone-ground flour can be decorated to your specifications and makes a fabulous gift. The rustic, free-form apple tart is another perennial favorite.
Baguettes
The shop: Philippe Gosselin, Grand Prix winner of the city's Best Baguette in Paris award, supplies bread and croissants to Jacques Chirac and the Elysée Palace. A classic baguette at Gosselin (125 Rue St.-Honoré, First Arr.; 33-1/45-08-03-59; closed Saturdays) is made from white flour, water, sea salt and leavening and has irregular air holes throughout from natural fermentation. "The baguette is the bread of Parisians," says Gosselin. "It has a life span of just six hours."
Don't miss: The shop's lunchtime array of baguette sandwiches, from ham-and-Gruyère to shrimp-and-avocado.
Pain aux raisins
The shop: Established in the firmament of great Paris bakers for the past 30 years, Basile Kamir is also one of the most influential. An advocate for things done the old-fashioned way, he lobbies for using stone-ground organic flours, forming loaves by hand, and long rising times. His Moulin de la Vierge (166 Ave. de Suffren, 15th Arr.; 33-1/47-83-45-55; closed Thursdays) is steeped in nostalgie, with vintage glass and ornate moldings.
Don't miss: The excellent pain aux raisins, a sumptuous swirl of soft croissant dough, eggy pastry cream, and raisins.
Pain au chocolat
The shop: A striking Art Deco boulangerie complete with starburst light fixtures, 1930's mirrors, and curved display cases, Boulangerie Bechu (118 Ave. Victor Hugo; 33-1/47-27-97-79; closed Mondays), in the heart of the chic 16th Arrondissement, is also a tearoom. Christian Marceau's retro d'or ficelle, a skinny, crisp variation of his "retro-style" pale-gold baguette, makes a perfect breakfast with apricot jam and café crème.
Don't miss: Pain au chocolat orange, an addictive variation on the classic treat, with citrusy notes enhancing the dark chocolate or the unusual, yet delicious, coco-banane, with lush flavors of coconut and banana.
Croissants aux amandes
The shop: After a visit to Père Lachaise Cemetery, resting place of Piaf and Proust, stop at La Flûte Gana (226 Rue des Pyrénées, 20th Arr.; 33-1/43-58-42-62; closed Sundays and Mondays), where Valérie, Isabelle and Marianne Ganachaud, daughters of the legendary Bernard Ganachaud, produce the house's venerable baguette.
Don't miss: Croissants aux amandes, originally conceived as a way to use day-old croissants, with an almond cream-and-kirsch filling, and brioche vendéenne, a template for the ultimate brioche, buttery with a hint of fresh vanilla.
Fougasse
The shop: A short walk from the Eiffel Tower, earnest young boulanger Thierry Dubois is baking his way to a growing reputation among the diplomats and doctors of the Seventh Arrondissement. At his peach-hued Pain D'Épis (63 Ave. Bosquet; 33-1/45-51-75-01; closed Saturdays), Dubois offers a range of specialty breads -- baguettes, boules and ficelles -- all from the same unique mixed-flour dough, a line that he calls Royale.
Don't miss: The fougasse, a ladder-shaped loaf dosed with olive oil and baked with fillings that change daily -- black olives one day, chèvre and tomatoes the next.
Planning a Caribbean getaway? Don't miss Travel + Leisure's new Ultimate Caribbean Hotel Guide.

Taking the kids to Washington, D.C.

(Tribune Media Services) -- Make faces at the oh-so-cuddly panda cub or inspect a moon rock. Cheer on a big-league baseball team or practice spycraft.
Who says a learning vacation can't be fun? Maybe the kids griped when you suggested heading to the nation's capital rather than the beach this spring (they were studying American history this year, after all). But that was before they knew how much fun they could have.
Washington, D.C., is a lot more than boring monuments and stuffy museums. In fact, Washington may provide just the right blend of hands-on museum activities, outdoor fun, hip shopping and kid-friendly restaurants and hotels. (Visit http://www.washington.org/ for the best weekend hotel deals, and remember that most museums are free!) Besides, you can regale the kids with tales from your trip here as a kid. (Remember that eighth-grade trip?)
There's probably no better time than spring to visit, either. It won't be the cheapest time of year for a Washington trip, but it also won't be so hot and humid that the kids will beg you to skip seeing the Declaration of Independence at the National Archives in order to make a beeline for the hotel pool.
There's just one problem. No matter how many days you've got, you won't be able to see everything Washington has to offer. You'll make yourself and the kids crazy if you even try. Instead, let each member of the family choose one must-see site. The historic planes and spaceships at the National Air and Space Museum? The giant panda cub Tai Shan at the National Zoo? The chance to climb to the top of the Washington Monument? Reserve free tickets ahead of time by visiting www.nps.gov/wamo. Book a tour of the White House and the Capitol by contacting your congressman (http://www.house.gov/).
Wherever you go, locals say the best way to get around is via Metro (http://www.wmata.com/). I'm also a fan of the Old Town Trolley Tours (http://www.oldtowntrolley.com/) that stop at all the major tourist sites and allow you to get on and off all day.
Just make sure to leave plenty of time to play Frisbee on the National Mall, see the Lincoln Monument at night, check out the weird and wonderful gargoyles at the Washington National Cathedral (http://www.cathedral.org/) and share a terrific pizza (locals say Pizzeria Paradiso is the best; http://www.eatyourpizza.com/). Show the kids the Vietnam Veterans Memorial and tell them how many Americans protested that war. Cheer on the Washington Nationals at RFK Stadium, or drive to nearby Baltimore to watch the Baltimore Orioles play at Camden Yards.
If the kids are old enough, encourage each one to plan one day of the trip. You'll be amazed at where they lead you! Check out the kids' areas on the Web sites for the Smithsonian (www.smithsonianeducation.org/students), the White House (www.whitehouse.gov/kids) the National Zoo (www.nationalzoo.si.edu/audiences/kids) and the House of Representatives (www.clerkkids.house.gov/congress/index.html).
Guidebooks such as "Frommer's Washington D.C. with Kids" and Fodor's "Around Washington, D.C. with Kids" can also help. See what special activities and workshops are offered during the time you plan to visit.
In addition to the major sites, consider activities that tap into your kids' interests-of-the-moment:
The littlest artists will love The Hirshhorn Museum and Sculpture Garden's "Gallery Tales for Tots," which introduces kids to modern art through storytelling and the chance to create their own masterpieces. The museum (http://www.hirshhorn.si.edu/) also has programs for older children and art labs for teens. The National Gallery of Art (http://www.nga.gov/) hosts drop-in workshops for kids and "postcard" tours in which children are given packets of cards with pictures of objects they can find in the museum.
Future spies and spycatchers can take KidSpy classes at the International Spy Museum (http://www.spymuseum.org/), where they can also test their code-cracking skills. Late this spring, your child can take on the role of an intelligence officer searching for a missing nuclear device about to be sold to a foreign country. Does your kid have what it takes?
Doctors in training can check out the bullet that killed Abraham Lincoln, a pool of live leeches and the world's largest collection of microscopes at the National Museum of Health and Medicine (http://www.nmhm.washingtondc.museum/), located on the campus of the Walter Reed Army Medical Center.
Presidents-to-be can take one of the kid-friendly Washington Walks tours (http://www.washingtonwalks.com/), including one at the Lincoln Memorial that introduces children to a young Abe Lincoln and another at the Franklin D. Roosevelt Memorial as seen from the eyes of Roosevelt's famous pooch, Fala.
Kids celebrating bar mitzvahs and bat mitzvahs should see the exhibition Remember the Children: Daniel's Story at the U.S. Holocaust Memorial Museum (http://www.ushmm.org/). It tells the historically true story of a fictional German boy named Daniel, following Daniel from his middle-class home to Auschwitz.
Animal lovers can talk to volunteers at the National Zoo and even help out at the on-site farm. Check out the Asia Trail, which just opened in the fall and not only is the new home for the zoo's famous pandas but also for sloth bears, fishing cats, clouded leopards and even a Japanese giant salamander.
Young actors and actresses have their pick of productions to see, and more than 30 area theaters offer a free ticket for each child 17 and under with each adult ticket purchased. (Visit the League of Washington Theaters at http://www.lowt.org/.) The Kennedy Center (http://www.kennedy-center.org/) has a special family theater, while the National Theatre (http://www.nationaltheatre.org/) touts special free children's entertainment each Saturday. The Kennedy Center is also featuring the Shakespeare in Washington festival through June.
History nuts can talk to costumed interpreters at George Washington's plantation home in Mount Vernon (http://www.mountvernon.org/), located 16 miles south of Washington, and see what 18th-century rural life was like, from the slave quarters to the mansion to the colonial farm site. There are plenty of hands-on activities for kids. (Ever try rolling giant hoops?)
The kids will be too busy having a good time to realize how much they're learning. Good job.
(For more Taking the Kids, visit http://www.takingthekids.com/, where Eileen Ogintz welcomes your questions and comments.)