Bad Boot Camps!

Sometime last year, I began to read an incredible blog called 63 Days. The author describes her blog this way:

In the 80’s, "boot camps" for troubled teens became the new treatment dejour for parents at their wits end. However, after numerous allegations of severe abuse, untrained staff and several deaths, these camps came under much scrutiny. Steve Cartisano ran the most notorious of these camps, called Challenger Foundation. I was 15 when I was kidnapped from my bed and taken to Challenger. 63 Days is the story-in-progress about my brutal experiences there, my subsequent escape and the aftermath. This is my story, this is my life.

It is a truly horrifying story to read. Some people don't believe her and have left nasty messages. I don't doubt that she's telling the truth. I have seen too many stories like this one. I watched the TV show called Brat Camp and, frankly, I am totally unimpressed with this as a tool in helping a troubled teen turn his or her life around.

It can be downright life threatening. Read the blog. Look for other stories like the one for which I provided a link. I think we need to do away with these places. Yes, we need facilities for disturbed and delinquent kids, but not boot camps!

3X Thursday:

1. How much TV (movies not included) would you say you watch a week? What type of programs do you watch?

I would estimate I watch anywhere from 15-25 hours of TV a week, depending on if I watch the early morning news or not.

2. What are your favorite shows? Are there certain programs you just can't miss?

Shows I can't miss: Lost, Survivor, The Amazing Race, Invasion
Other favorites: Cold Case, CSI, Criminal Minds, Battlestar Galactica, Surface, Nanny 911, Animal Cops, Animal Precinct, American Justice, Cold Case Files

3. Even if you're not a big TV watcher, are you taking the time to watch any Olympic coverage this week and next week? If so, which sports are you interested in watching?

I am particularly interested in figure skating, snow boarding, hockey, and all the skiing events

Bonus Question for Comments: What's your movie watching like at home? Do you watch a lot of movies? Do you have a Netflix/Blockbuster type thing going? If so, do you like it? Why/why not?

We usually watch at least a movie a week from Blockbuster and justed joined the online service a day before I read all the bad press about Netflix "throttling" its heavy use customers. I guess we'll have to wait and see how things go with Blockbuster...