I read most of it...but I just couldn't anymore. I was so choked up that I couldn't tell DH why I was crying! This was so sad....now my contacts are all messed up! Thanks for posting this. God Bless those little ones and their familes.

Unfortunately, this is not new news. The problems with Zodiac and Hartz flea products are well documented - just google them. Although the EPA stepped in to regulate some of their products, other OTC flea medications continue to poison pets: "Flea control products now on the market include seven specific "organophosphate insecticides" (OPs). OPs work by blocking the breakdown of the bodyÂs messenger chemical, acetylcholine, thereby interfering with the transmission of nerve signals in the brains and nervous systems of insects, pets and humans alike. In the presence of OPs, acetylcholine builds up in the body. The resulting interference with nerve transmissions is of such a magnitude that it actually kills insects. In overdoses, OPs can also kill people and pets. But even with normal use of flea-control products containing OPs, pets and children may be in danger. The seven OPs are chlorpyrifos, dichlorvos, phosmet, naled, tetrachlorvinphos, diazinon and malathion. They are the active ingredients in dozens of pet products. A comprehensive list of products appears in Table 1. It includes major pet pesticide brands, such as Alco, Americare, Beaphar, Double Duty, FordÂs, Freedom Five, Happy Jack, Hartz, Hopkins, Kill-Ko, Protection, Rabon, Riverdale, Sergeant, Unicorn, Vet-Kem, Victory and Zema. " http://www.nrdc.org/health/effects/pets/execsum.asp http://blogcritics.org/archives/2007/05/17/061347.php http://www.epa.gov/opp00001//factsheets/flea-tick.htm http://www.epa.gov/pesticides/factsheets/hartzq_a.htm http://www.hartzvictims.org/2005/12/ http://www.thepetguardian.com/html/flea_tick_control.html http://www.sdearthtimes.com/et0696/et0696s4.html

I remember walking to the corner store with my sister and best friend--as early as ages 5, 6, and 7--and for a dime we filled small paper bags with candy like licorice whips, candy necklaces and cigarettes, and that hard caramel on a stick. Then we walked home, sat on the front porch, spread out our goodies and traded. Frances, I Remember sounds lovely. Poignant, too. What will my own children remember? ps--Frances, I didn't want to piggyback onto the introductions thread, but my standard schnauzer, too, is a sweetheart. He is so intelligent and obedient. He's been pampered since day one, so I think it must just be part of the breed. He's not at all an alpha dog, so I wonder if that contributes to his wonderful nature.

I've never read anything by Josephine Cox as the 'Northern (English) poverty, rape, incest . . . love' are not really my thing, but she was an extremely popular writer over here. My DD when working in a large London PR firm was asked to 'represent' her but I think the costs involved were too high . . . and I'm sure she didn't need the extra publicity. I remember DD phoned and asked me what I had read of JC's as no-one in the office was familiar with her work. Ginny, I would suggest you just borrow a book to see if the style/content is something you might enjoy. Obit Josephine Cox