**  Jeffrey Earl <jefferrata@YAHOO.COM> writes: **

> Heard a good piece during my morning drive, on NPR's
> "Morning Edition", which reminded me of recent talk
> here on the list about how the Vanagon/Westy is the
> perfect vehicle for getting kids (even grown-up kids)
> out into the woods. It was an interview of the author
> of a new book titled "Last Child in the Woods: Saving
>  Our Children from Nature-Deficit Disorder".

Heard this same piece..
 
  http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=4665933

It was featured in juxtaposition to this piece:

  http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=4663852
 
to the previous days interview with the guy that wrote
the 'What's Bad is Good for you" book... (the argument
that computer games, video, tv etc: are collectively 
enhancing our intellect/eye hand coord, critical thinking
problem solving skills etc:) 

I see both sides of the coin.. like everything else in life.. 
you need some balance, and some moderation.  

Just last night at dinner, my 5 yr. old asked me when 
we were going camping and where.  (although 5 mins
later, he also asked if he could play 'Marble Blast' on
the computer upstairs before bedtime :-) 

  http://www.garagegames.com/pg/product/view.php?id=3

Skipping this coming weekend (Mem. Day)  I hate going
with the hoards from Phx.  3 day weekends are some of
the best ones to actually stay 'in town' ;-)

Kaibab National Forest the following weekend to escape
the heat for sure!

  -tim

90 syncro westy (gotta get that A/C fixed!)
mesa, az

ps  *muchos gracias*  to all who chimed in on the R12 thread!!!