Why the White House Sinkhole Isn't Funny

Why the White House Sinkhole Isn't Funny

The sinkhole in the White House lawn is no joke. It is glaring evidence of a serious threat to American infrastructure and drinking water. As temperatures rise and the population continues to grow, urban, suburban and, heck, even rural stormwater runoff is becoming a serious problem throughout the entire country…

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WWIII: Whose Side Are We On?

WWIII: Whose Side Are We On?

Russian interference in favor of Donald Trump in the 2016 elections has been confirmed, apparently motivated by Russia’s desire to invalidate American sanctions and human-rights protections. Despite denials of collusion between the Trump Campaign and Russia, a few weeks ago the Trump White House made clear that it would not impose Congress-mandated sanctions against Russia…

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Society Supports Sexual Harassment: Admission is First Step to Recovery

Society Supports Sexual Harassment: Admission is First Step to Recovery

Of course I am appalled by any grown man hitting on a 14-year-old; but, hey, it happened to me repeatedly from the time I was twelve. I relinquished (I refuse to say 'lost') my virginity at 14. My best friend in middle school was sexually promiscuous, which everyone (including me) swept under the carpet or gossiped about. At least three of my high-school friends were severely hit on or actually had affairs with married men. Just 200 years ago…

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Children, Music, and Vegetables...
Education, Children, Music, Essays Melissa Rooney Education, Children, Music, Essays Melissa Rooney

Children, Music, and Vegetables...

I hated practicing piano when I was a kid, but I am now convinced that learning music is as important to development as eating vegetables. If you have the resources, including getting awkward and asking about scholarships from local musicians/teachers, determine the instrument your child most enjoys and start lessons (group or individual) when they can sit still for 5 minutes. I promise neither of you will regret it…

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Hindsight Premonition: The Death of Kenny Batts
Inspiration, Relationships, Essays Melissa Rooney Inspiration, Relationships, Essays Melissa Rooney

Hindsight Premonition: The Death of Kenny Batts

It’s eerie, the hindsight premonition that often follows a death, even a very sudden one. When I heard our friend’s ex-father-in-law Warren’s voice message around 9:30 last Friday night, I immediately thought something was wrong with Kenny. Then I checked my cell phone and saw that Kenny had called just a little while earlier…

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Why You Should Have a Pond

Why You Should Have a Pond

Pond installation can be back- and time-consuming work, and a long-lasting one like mine can cost over $1000.00 (liner, pump, filter, rocks). But it doesn't have to be this way. You can purchase inexpensive, small-pond kits, or you can build a pond out of a plastic toddler swimming pool simply by…

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Fun Science: Easy Hands-on Chemistry Lesson
Children, Education, Essays Melissa Rooney Children, Education, Essays Melissa Rooney

Fun Science: Easy Hands-on Chemistry Lesson

This is a picture of my 6YO son's “back-to-school Magic Crystals”, obtained after immersing dolostones in vinegar (with a little orange food coloring). I've never made mushroom crystals before, so we were both truly enthralled. Dolostones (which can be purchased from Educational Innovations) are dolomite rocks, which are primarily composed of calcium magnesium carbonate or CaMg(CO3)2…

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Your Village

Your Village

In organizing children’s events this summer, I’ve talked to several science museum directors and staff, mostly about how to ensure that people actually attend the events. It’s not a matter of young people wanting to be there. It’s a matter of their parents getting them there. Turns out it’s one of the biggest challenges for education directors across the country…

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The Danville Science Center - A Unique Experience for Kids of All Ages
Children, Education, Community, Relationships, Essays Melissa Rooney Children, Education, Community, Relationships, Essays Melissa Rooney

The Danville Science Center - A Unique Experience for Kids of All Ages

I spent last Saturday bonding with young people, pre-school through high-school, via my hands-on children's book readings at the Danville Science Center (DSC). While driving to Virginia from my home in Durham, NC, I worried that my kids, who accompanied me, would get bored in one place all day and would consequently interfere with my program and my sanity. Boy, was I wrong!

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Middle- and High-School Strings Students Amaze at Animazement in Raleigh, NC, this Weekend
Education, Children, Community, Relationships, Travel, Essays Melissa Rooney Education, Children, Community, Relationships, Travel, Essays Melissa Rooney

Middle- and High-School Strings Students Amaze at Animazement in Raleigh, NC, this Weekend

Yesterday, the Duke University String School's Youth Symphony Orchestra yesterday performed an Anime Symphony (entitled Space Brothers) at the 2016 Animazement Convention in Raleigh, NC. The symphony was written, designed and conducted by renowned Japanese movie composer and record producer Toshiyuki Watanabe, who flew in from Japan just for the event…

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