I think the primary use would be for when the parents aren't there. And then return to, "He played for an hour after school and wouldn't let me play at all, so now it's my turn." "Nuh uh, it was only 30 minutes because then so-and-so called..."

If you set time limits anyway, I can see the use. We didn't in our house, but my dad was the primary user anyway. I don't think it'd necessarily be abdicating responsibility. Especially given that it'd only work if you were already good at ignoring plea-bargaining.

ita, on Numbers tonight the woman I hate mentioned that she teaches krav maga at the Y. I rolled my eyes.

(Not very spoilery.)

For example: The drawer lock I thought would keep little hands off the sharp things. Owen ran into the living room carrying a steak knife today.

I am reminded of my grandmother's house, where they put latches on all the kitchen cabinets when the great-grands started coming, but didn't put anything on the drawers. So the above-the-counter cabinet with tupperware in it? Locked. The knee-high knife drawer? Wide open. Always makes me laugh. In a horrible way, of course.

My god, Dana, it's like 2003 all over again, with the trendiness of krav. That's three mentions (including the Tyra show) in one week.

I totally like it, but I wonder how long until they work out how to hack it.

We weren't so good at hacking, mostly because of the fear of GOD instilled in us by our father. The younger cohort of kids was another matter.

The old school way my mom controlled the TV was by locking a teeny padlock through the little hole in the plug prong. I wasn't about to learn how to pick locks. (Although I have to admit I'm kinda interested in learning nowl...)

Hec, will you tell JZ she has email/JZ, you have email.

Dana, why do you hate that gravel voiced woman? Because she left Rescue Me? I loved the Don and Charlie breaking pasta at the end.

That tv thing looks like it does what Our time management software does at the library. Why do we have it? 1) I am not the parent 2) people need to share public resouces 3)honestly, most kids are pretty good about getting off the computer - adults argued with us and teaching adults to share - so annoying.

none of those things work for home use.

That's got to be a regional difference, Beth, because at the NYPL, the next person signed up is watching that second hand tick around until they can tell the person on the computer that their TIME IS UP. I'm sure there are occasional spats, but I've never seen a problem. Except when someone tells me time is up five minutes ahead of time. Eff you, buddy, I've got shit to do!

Edit: By which I mean, I've never seen the staff have to get involved, because people police each other.

ita, if you get a chance this weekend, I posted a thing for a show in one of those announcement threads. It's wonderful and I think you'd really enjoy it.