Date: Mon, 11 Dec 1995 20:24:21 -0500 From: didom@usa1.com (Claude DiDomenica) Subject: The CAT Chronicle for 12-8-95 ISSN 1084-5585 THE CAT CHRONICLE ----------------- * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE * * December 8, 1995 * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * Children's Animated Television (CAT) is a 501-C-3 non-profit organization that produces educational videos for children and teens on contemporary social issues such as AIDS, diversity, violence and GLB teen self esteem. As a public service, CAT provides a BBS, a weekly newsletter and a Web site for the Family of the Future: http://www1.usa1.com/~furball/ Through the use of all available technology, CAT's mission is to become a center for progressive family values, thinking, philosophy, ethical commerce and education. * Please note a full color version of this newsletter is available on the World Wide Web: http://www1.usa1.com/~furball/newslett/newslett.html Quote of the Week: "One person's obscenity, is another's work of art..." ---Quai Chang Furball --------------------------------------------------------------------- CAT Currents... ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ CAT KUDOS!!! The following was spotted in the December issue of "Netguide" magazine by Bessie, our Executive Director: The Gay, Lesbian and Bisexual Youth Advisor Fantastic articles from Children's Animated Television, this page's sponsor, including "Dealing with Homophobia" and "Take Your Time Coming Out" Special thanks to Mike, our volunteer GLB Youth Advisor!!! CAT WEB DESIGN... For a nominal sponsorship fee, CAT will design and put on-line a Web page. Recently, CAT added an "Ident-A-Tot" Web page. To check it out: http://www1.usa1.com/~furball/Ident-A-Tot/ Or you can access through our Child Safety and Parenting page: http://www1.usa1.com/~furball/jeffsam/ MAKE A CHRISTMAS WISH TO SANTA... Our Child Safety and Parenting volunteer Jeff Sam has created a special Web page for you to make a wish to Santa. For a limited time, you can leave a message for Santa about your special Christmas wish. We made our own special CAT wish to Santa! Please visit the Child Safety and Parenting Page before December 25 and we hope you wishes comes true!!! Parent's Corner... ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Tip of the Week: The right toys for the right age The following is a list of toys to coordinate with a child's age, plus the tasks which usually accompany that age group. Birth to 6 months: Tasks- * Begins to seek attention and contact with people * Learns to swat, reach for, and grab objects * Follows objects with eyes * Smiles at faces, voices, and mirror images Toys- * Rattles, soft animal toys, squeeze toys, soft blocks, chiming balls teething rings, unbreakable mirrors, texture balls 7 to 15 months: Tasks- * Likes to empty containers * May imitate others * Begins to sit alone, then crawls, pulls to a stand and walks holding onto furniture. May walk alone * Learns concept of object permanence Toys- * Balls, pop-up boxes, simple wheeled toy cars, activity boxes and cubes roly-poly toys, large plastic pop beads, nesting cups, simple floating toys for bath, large crayons for scribbling, stacking ring cones 15 months to 2 years: Tasks- * Stacks blocks * Sorts objects by shape and color * Begins imaginative play * Runs and climbs * Becomes interested in playing alongside peers * Can use simple art supplies, such as big crayons, brushes and clay Toys- * Stable ride-on toys, pull and push toys, simple puzzles, shape sorters Hammering toys, shovel and pail, soft baby dolls with simple accessories, stuffed toys, toy phones, musical instruments, simple dress-up clothes, cars, trucks, and trains, picture books, child sized equipment such as a play kitchen 2 to 3 years: Tasks- * Engages in more complex fantasy play * Can master more complex creative skills * Has a greater attention span * Can push self on wheeled toys Toys- * Tricycle, wooden blocks and interlocking blocks, dressable dolls,=20 chalkboards, puzzles, art supplies such as clay, chalk, crayons, sturdy markers, finger paints, and construction paper 3-5 years: Tasks- * Runs, jumps, climbs, and balances * Has better finger control; can pick up small objects, cut on a line with children's scissors, etc. * Is familiar with shapes and primary colors * Begins to share and take turns * Engages in group pretend play Toys- * Small wheelbarrow, small bicycle with training wheels and foot brakes, puzzles of ten pieces or more, puppets, dress-up clothes, art supplies, including an easel, first board games with few rules and simple scoring, small realistic toy cars Good luck finding those Christmas sales!!! Jeff Sam Volunteer Child Safety & Parents Coordinator, Co-Sysop of Dr Furball's BBS and CAT's Co-Webmeister Internet Address: jsam@usa1.com Please visit Jeff's Sam's Child Safety and Parenting Web page: http://www1.usa1.com/~furball/jeffsam/ GLB Youth Advisor: ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ CAT's current video project is on GLB teen self esteem. Our goal is to help put a stop to the unacceptably high rate of GLB teen depression and suicide. We also believe there is a direct correlation between low self esteem and unsafe sex practices. To this aim, as a public service we present to you the GLB Youth Advisor... Internet protest called for!!! This week, I bring you URGENT news, forwarded to CAT by GLAAD. CAT urges all people concerned with freedom of information and expression to join in the "National Day of Internet Protest." Gay, lesbian, bisexual and transgendered youth should be especially concerned with our government's attempt to censor the Internet. By the way, in honor of the radical right who is prompting congress to censor the last bastion of freedom on earth, please visit "Name That Fascist": http://www1.usa1.com/~furball/fascist/ -=3D-=3D-=3D-=3D-=3D-=3D-=3D- GLAAD Supports National Day of Internet Protest The Gay & Lesbian Alliance Against Defamation wholeheartedly supports and encourages members of the gay and lesbian community to participate in the National Day of Internet Protest, which will be held on Tuesday, December 12th. The community has a great deal to lose with this decision, and will be taking away a vital resource for gay and lesbian youth, who are already the most isolated sector of the community. To participate, please read on: CAMPAIGN TO STOP THE NET CENSORSHIP LEGISLATION IN CONGRESS On Tuesday December 12, 1995, Join With Hundreds of Thousands Of Your Fellow Internet Users In A NATIONAL INTERNET DAY OF PROTEST PLEASE WIDELY REDISTRIBUTE THIS DOCUMENT WITH THIS BANNER INTACT REDISTRIBUTE ONLY UNTIL December 20, 1995 CONTENTS Internet Day of Protest: Tuesday December 12, 1995 What You Must Do On Tuesday December 12, 1995 List of Participating Organizations Where Can I Learn More? INTERNET DAY OF PROTEST: TUESDAY DECEMBER 12, 1995 Outrageous proposals to censor the Internet demand that the Internet Community take swift and immediate action. We must stand up and let Congress know that we will not tolerate their attempts to destroy this medium! Please join hundreds of thousands of your fellow citizens in a National Day of Protest on Tuesday December 12, 1995. As you know, on Wednesday December 6, 1995, the House Conference Committee on Telecommunications Reform voted to impose far reaching and unconstitutional "indecency" restrictions on the Internet and other interactive media, including large commercial on-line services (such as America Online, Compuserve, and Prodigy) and smaller Internet Service Providers such as Panix, the Well, Echo, and Mindvox. These restrictions threaten the very existence of the Internet and interactive media as a viable medium for free expression, education, commerce. If enacted, the Internet as we know it will never be the same. Libraries will not be able to put any books on-line that might offend a child somewhere. No "Catcher in the Rye" or "Ulysses" on the net. Internet Service Providers could face criminal penalties for allowing children to subscribe to their Internet Services, forcing many small companies to simply refuse to sell their services to anyone under 18. Worst of all, everything you say and publish on the net will have to be "dumbed down" to that which is acceptable to a child. As Internet users, we simply must not allow this assault against the Internet and our most basic freedoms to go unchallenged. On Tuesday December 12, the organizations below are urging you to join us in a NATIONAL DAY OF PROTEST. The goal is to flood key members of the House and Senate with phone calls, faxes and email with the message that the Internet community WILL NOT TOLERATE Congressional attempts to destroy the Internet, limit our freedoms and trample on our rights. Below are the phone, fax, and email address of several key members of Congress on this issue and instructions on what you can do to join the National Day of Protest to save the Net. WHAT YOU MUST DO ON TUESDAY DECEMBER 12, 1995 1. Throughout the day Tuesday December 12, please contact as many members of Congress on the list below as you can. If you are only able to make one call, contact House Speaker Newt Gingrich. Finally, if the Senator or Representative from your state is on the list below, be sure to contact him or her also. 2. Urge each Member of Congress to "stop the madness". Tell them that they are about to pass legislation that will destroy the Internet as an educational and commercial medium. If you are at a loss for words, try the following sample communiqu=E9: Sample phone call: Both the House and Senate bills designed to protect children from objectionable material on the Internet will actually destroy the Internet as an medium for education, commerce, and political discourse. There are other, less restrictive ways to address this issue. I urge you to oppose both measures being proposed in the conference committee. This is an important election issue to me. Sample letter (fax or email): The Senate conferees are considering ways to protect children from inappropriate material on the Internet. A vote for either the House or Senate proposals will result in the destruction of the Internet as a viable medium for free expression, education, commerce. Libraries will not be able to put their entire book collections on-line. Everyday people like me will risk massive fines and prison sentences for public discussions someone somewhere might consider "indecent". There are other, less restrictive ways to protect children from objectionable material on-line. This is an important election issue to me. 3. If you're in San Francisco, or near enough to get there, go to the Rally Against Censorship from Ground Zero of the Digital Revolution: WHEN: Monday, December 14, 1995 12:00 - 1:00 PM WHERE: South Park (between 2nd and 3rd, Bryant and Brannon) San Francisco. SPEAKERS: To be announced BRING: Attention-grabbing posters, signs, and banners that demonstrate your commitment to free speech and expression, and your feelings about Congress. FOR UPDATED INFORMATION (including rain info): http://www.hotwired.com/staff/digaman/ ### THIS IS VERY IMPORTANT ### 4. Mail a note to protest@vtw.org to let us know you did your part. Although you will not receive a reply due to the number of anticipated responses, we'll be counting up the number of people that participated in the day of protest. P ST Name and Address Phone Fax =3D =3D=3D =3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D= =3D=3D=3D =3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D =3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D= =3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D R AK Stevens, Ted 1-202-224-3004 1-202-224-1044 R AZ McCain, John 1-202-224-2235 1-602-952-8702 senator_mccain@mccain.senate.gov D HI Inouye, Daniel K. 1-202-224-3934 1-202-224-6747 R KS Dole, Robert 1-202-224-6521 1-202-228-1245 D KY Ford, Wendell H. 1-202-224-4343 1-202-224-0046 wendell_ford@ford.senate.gov R MS Lott, Trent 1-202-224-6253 1-202-224-2262 R MT Burns, Conrad R. 1-202-224-2644 1-202-224-8594 conrad_burns@burns.senate.gov D NE Exon, J. J. 1-202-224-4224 1-202-224-5213 D SC Hollings, Ernest F. 1-202-224-6121 1-202-224-4293 senator@hollings.senate.gov R SD Pressler, Larry 1-202-224-5842 1-202-224-1259 larry_pressler@pressler.senate.gov R WA Gorton, Slade 1-202-224-3441 1-202-224-9393 senator_gorton@gorton.senate.gov D WV Rockefeller, John D. 1-202-224-6472 n.a. senator@rockefeller.senate.gov Dist ST Name, Address, and Party Phone Fax =3D=3D=3D=3D =3D=3D =3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D= =3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D =3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D = =3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D 6 GA Gingrich, Newt (R) 1-202-225-4501 1-202-225-4656 2428 RHOB georgia6@hr.house.gov 14 MI Conyers Jr., John (D) 1-202-225-5126 1-202-225-0072 2426 RHOB jconyers@hr.house.gov 1 CO Schroeder, Patricia (D) 1-202-225-4431 1-202-225-5842 2307 RHOB 18 TX Jackson-Lee, Sheila (D) 1-202-225-3816 1-202-225-3317 1520 LHOB 6 TN Gordon, Bart (D) 1-202-225-4231 1-202-225-6887 2201 RHOB 4. Forward this alert to all of your wired friends. WHERE CAN I LEARN MORE? At this moment, there are several organizations with WWW sites that now have, or will have, information about the net censorship legislation and the National Day Of Protest: American Civil Liberties Union (ftp://ftp.aclu.org/aclu/) Center for Democracy and Technology (http://www.cdt.org/) Electronic Frontier Foundation (http://www.eff.org/) Electronic Privacy Information Center (http://www.epic.org/) Wired Magazine (http://www.hotwired.com/special/indecent/) Voters Telecommunications Watch (http://www.vtw.org/) LIST OF PARTICIPATING ORGANIZATIONS In order to use the net more effectively, several organizations have joined forces on a single Congressional net campaign to stop the Communications Decency Act: American Civil Liberties Union * American Communication Association * American Council for the Arts * Arts & Technology Society * Association of Alternative Newsweeklies * biancaTroll productions * Boston Coalition for Freedom of Expression * Californians Against Censorship Together * Center For Democracy And Technology * Centre for Democratic Communications * Center for Public Representation * Citizen's Voice - New Zealand * Cloud 9 Internet * Computer Communicators Association * Computel Network Services * Computer Professionals for Social Responsibility * Cross Connection * Cyber-Rights Campaign * CyberQueer Lounge * Dorsai Embassy * Dutch Digital Citizens' Movement * ECHO Communications Group, Inc. * Electronic Frontier Canada * Electronic Frontier Foundation * Electronic Frontier Foundation - Austin * Electronic Frontiers Australia * Electronic Frontiers Houston * Electronic Frontiers New Hampshire * Electronic Privacy Information Center * Feminists For Free Expression * First Amendment Teach-In * Florida Coalition Against Censorship * FranceCom, Inc. Web Advertising Services * Friendly Anti-Censorship Taskforce for Students * Hands Off! The Net * Inland Book Company * Inner Circle Technologies, Inc. * Inst. for Global Communications * Internet On-Ramp, Inc. * Internet Users Consortium * Joint Artists' and Music Promotions Political Action Committee * The Libertarian Party * Marijuana Policy Project * Metropolitan Data Networks Ltd. * MindVox * MN Grassroots Party * National Bicycle Greenway * National Campaign for Freedom of Expression * National Coalition Against Censorship * National Gay and Lesbian Task Force * National Public Telecomputing Network * National Writers Union * Oregon Coast RISC * Panix Public Access Internet * People for the American Way * Republican Liberty Caucus * Rock Out Censorship * Society for Electronic Access * The Thing International BBS Network * The WELL * Voters Telecommunications Watch (Note: All 'Electronic Frontier' organizations are independent entities, not EFF chapters or divisions.) -=3D-=3D-=3D-=3D-=3D-=3D-=3D- Mike Reddin Volunteer GLB Youth Advisor for Children's Animated Television Internet Address: wxman@pcix.com Mike has an area on our Web site dedicated to GLB youth: http://www1.usa1.com/~furball/glb/glb.html "The problems faced by GLB youth are a national disgrace and tragedy" ---Claude DiDomenica The disABLEd Corner ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ A CHRISTMAS MIRACLE Most of us have some sort of religious faith, whether it be Christian, Protestant, Catholic, Islam, Buddism, Hindu, B'Hai, or Judaism. Most of us believe in some sort of supreme being, no matter what name we use. I happen to be Catholic, and call Him God. In this, the holiest season in many religions, we should take some time to reflect on what is possible with God's help, no matter how bad we feel our lives are... One of the first things we do when we are in trouble is pray. We ask God to help us out of trouble. Too few people, when having a good day, pray to thank God for the good day. We are content with only praying when we need help. "Why doesn't God answer our prayers?" is a common question when we do pray for intercession. God does answer all prayers. But sometimes the person isn't listening for the answer, and sometimes the answer is "No". We must remember that God will always give us what we need, not what we want. We must also realize that, sometimes, God will greatly surprise everyone. For some time I have been aware that I am dying. The prognosis was that the cancer had invaded my heart, and had weakened it beyond salvation. I was given less than a year, and told to make my final arrangements. I visited the funeral home made those arrangements. I visited my attorney to set up my Last Will and Testament and DNR=20 (Do Not Resuscitate) order. My family prepared, as best they could. My doctors, a dedicated team at the Cleveland Clinic, one of the world's finest medical institutions, searched for a way they could safely give me a heart transplant. The chances of the cancer invading the new heart were very high, and made the risk of transplant failure unacceptable. Somewhere around the beginning of December, I knew that it was time to pray for a Christmas miracle. Figuring it couldn't hurt, I added it to my daily prayers. I asked God, if He so willed, to give my family a Christmas miracle. I wasn't even specific about what miracle I needed. I left that up to God... Within seven days, God answered, and gave my family their Christmas miracle. On my most recent visit to my primary physician, new tests were done, and the tumors in my heart have disappeared...completely, without any surgery, without chemotherapy. Gone. Totally and completely. It astounded my doctor, who re-evaluated the tests, and confirmed it. I thought it was great, because doctors' egos need to be deflated every once in a while! Something like this make doctors feel like they really don't know everything there is to know about the human body. I recently heard a most appropriate bit of humor: "What is the difference between a doctor and God ? God doesn't think He is a doctor." The point of this story is that, no matter what your situation, no matter what crisis you may be experiencing, ASK GOD FOR HELP. You don't have to recite rote prayers over and over if you don't feel like it. Praying can be just like talking to someone, except the "someone" is God. If you really "need" the help, He will give it. Merry Christmas and have a happy and safe holiday season. Rev. Jim Sutter E-Mail: IRISH38@aol.com Web site: http://pages.prodigy.com/OH/zrjj15a/revjim.html What if??? ~~~~~~~~~~ Our President, Claude DiDomenica writes this weekly column to stimulate the minds of our youth and adults who haven't lost their "youthful imaginations..." What if... the Internet is censored??? First of all, I will probably go to jail for violating somebody's interpretation of "obscene speech," whatever that means... Just last week, I created the "Name That Fascist" page on the Web. The monsters behind the latest attempt to silence the opposition on=20 the Net are the usual rogues gallery of: Lou "Be Damned If You Are Gay" Sheldon Pat "Give Me Your 700 Bucks Club" Robertson Ralph "Paul Joseph Goebbels Reichsminister for Propaganda" Reed My above attempt at parody could come into question if these clowns get their way. Remember, only a small percentage (5%) of what is on the Net is pornography. It is a parents responsibility to police their children, not the governments' responsibility to police me! Claude DiDomenica The CAT Credo... ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Children's Animated Television (CAT) believes in a positive future for all children... CAT's philosophy is to help solve today's complex social problems through honest and open dialogue, education, information and compromise... CAT will produce video programs for pre-teens and teens to stimulate their minds, harness their creativity and imaginations to cultivate long-lasting answers to problems in their world... As a public service, CAT will also provide educational information using all available technology including a computer bulletin board, World Wide Web site and other electronic media. CAT will supply this knowledge for children, parents and educators to enable our society to develop ideas and solutions for a better tomorrow... Claude DiDomenica & Bessie Hadley Founders of Children's Animated Television July 15, 1995 --------------------------------------------------------------------- NOTE: The opinions expressed in this newsletter are not necessarily those of Children's Animated Television. Use any advice or information at your own risk. To subscribe to "The CAT Chronicle" via E-Mail: E-Mail to didom@usa1.com Subject: Subscribe CAT Chronicle CAT is a 501-C-3 non-profit organization and all donations are tax-deductible as allowed by law. Contact Information: Bessie Hadley Executive Director Children's Animated Television, Inc. 1492 Highland Ave, Suite 3 Needham, MA 02192 USA Voice: 617-449-9699 FAX: 617-449-2238 Dr Furball's BBS: 617-455-8415 node 1 617-433-0026 node 2 Internet: hadley@usa1.com Claude DiDomenica President of CAT and Sysop of Dr Furball's BBS Internet: didom@usa1.com CAT's WEB Home Page!!! http://www1.usa1.com/~furball/ * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * Get CAT's latest info releases from Software Creations BBS * * "Home of the Authors" * * <<*-*-*-*->> * * Internet Access: Telnet BBS.SWCBBS.COM * * <<*-*-*-*->> * * WEB Access: http://www.swcbbs.com * * <<*-*-*-*->> * * 2400/9600/14.4 USR HST/Dual Standard Public Access (508) 368-7036 * * 2400/9600/14.4/28.8 USR V.Everything Public Access (508) 368-6604 * * 2400/9600/14.4 USR HST/Dual Standard Member Access (508) 368-7139 * * 9600/14.4/16.8/28.8 USR V.Everything Member Access (508) 368-3424 * * <<*-*-*-*->> * * At Main Menu, type: J 178 * * for "Dr Furball's Educational & Philanthropical Conference" * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * --------------------------------------------------------------------- Copyright 1995 Children's Animated Television, Inc. All Rights Reserved This newsletter may be freely distributed as long as it remains intact and this notice is not removed. Please do not post on USENET, FIDONET, WILDNET etc. without permission of the conference moderator. # # # =3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D= =3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D= =3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D Children's Animated Television CAT a 501-C-3 non-profit organization Claude DiDomenica * didom@usa1.com * President of CAT Web Homepage http://www1.usa1.com/~furball/ Top 5% of ALL Web Sites! Providing hope and information for "The Family of the Future" =3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D= =3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D= =3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D