Don’t get me wrong, I’m proud of our country overall and there are many, many positives about being American. But they aren’t widely reported because they aren't “good TV”, meaning high ratings.

Why don’t we share the GOOD stuff? So much attention has been given to downright ridiculous people and events especially this year. Given the state of our world, I am ashamed at the global laughing-stock America has become. I honestly hope other countries ignore this stuff and don’t report it. Perhaps they have their own embarrassments to occupy their trash TV shows. Among many unbelievably stupid time-wasting people and events, the first few that come to mind: The Octomom, Balloon Boy, The Birthers, Jon and Kate. WHO CARES???

Hey, world neighbors, I promise to not watch or listen to any more news about this type of American "jackassery" and I hope you will do the same! Let's have a global boycott of ALL the so-called “reality” shows. Whose “reality” is this stuff?

Just when I thought I’d seen the dumbest thing on TV (last week’s Balloon Boy coverage—we turned it off whenever it came on), last night I saw a TV commercial that says to me we are truly sinking beneath the weight of our own stupidity in this country. I saw a short TV commercial about how to sneeze correctly. Do other countries have to teach their citizens how to sneeze by showing them TV commercials? If so, then I am embarrassed not just to be an American, but to be an Earthling.

It would be funny if it wasn’t so pathetic. Here’s what was shown: A fat guy gets on an elevator and as the doors close he sneezes a huge wet sneeze directly onto the control buttons. A mom and kid enter the elevator and the kid pushes the germy elevator button then holds his mom’s hand. A loud voices announces that they have just been exposed to germs because the fat guy didn’t sneeze correctly. As the man is about to sneeze again the kid hands him a tissue to sneeze into. They all use hand sanitizer and a message reminds us to cover our sneezes.

OK, what happened to people teaching their kids from infancy on to turn away or use a tissue or sneeze into their elbow? When did we stop teaching this to our kids? Was it about the time so many adults started using meth and having babies but not parenting them? Or spending so much time talking on their cell phones instead of watching their kids?

How about we all go back to acting like grown ups and doing the right thing, in at least this one small area?

Here’s how: As a mom or dad, as soon as your baby is born, WATCH your kid all the time*. When you see they are about to sneeze, say “cover your sneeze” and hold a tissue or something up to their face. If you didn’t catch them before the sneeze, as they sneeze say “cover your sneeze next time” and wipe their nose. Repeat 1-1 million times until they catch on and cover a sneeze. Praise them for getting it right—“great job covering that sneeze”. Even when they reach age 10 you still have to remind them when you see them winding up for a sneeze (they will say “yeah, Mom you told me a million times” but you and I know they weren’t going to cover) and continue praising. When you have grandkids, start again, even if their parents are doing it too. You can't pay too much attention to kids!

*It’s sad to have to say this, but “watching” does not just apply to the sneeze thing. It also applies to the following:

--When they are putting their grubby hands all over merchandise in stores, especially if the merchandise is expensive and/or fragile

--When they are trying to grab someone else’s stuff or push ahead in lines

--When they are climbing on sofas or tables, etc. anywhere outside your own home

--When they lean over a baby’s stroller and are about to touch the baby unless it is your baby

--Whenever you and your child are in the same postal zip code

We visited WaltDisneyWorld in Florida last week. If I had a dollar for each time I saw a parent NOT watching their kid, I could probably pay for each of our T3DS members to visit Mickey Mouse! Sad but true.