Ashton Kutcher has a cause. It doesn't have to do with climate change or animal rights. It has to do with diapers. Yes, diapers.
Ever since becoming a dad, the actor/director noticed the gross injustice plaguing the majority of public bathrooms across the nation: there are never diaper change stations in men's public washrooms.
Kutcher tweeted about the inequality, promising a shout out on his Facebook page to the first business he came across with a change table in the men's bathroom.
So disgruntled was Kutcher that he used his celebrity to start a Change.org petition to bring attention to the issue. Two bills are now being considered in California.
He's not alone in his chagrin. New York State Senator, Brad Hoylman -- having changed his daughter on "“pee-covered floor next to a urinal” one too many times - has just drafted a bill that would see all new or renovated bathrooms in the state include changing stations in both men's and women's restrooms. And the relevant businesses, rather than the state, would fit the bill for the renos.
RELATED: How to Keep Little Bums From Squirming at Change Time
Of course existing buildings don't have to change, but you have to start somewhere and new builds and renos are the way to go.
And let's face it, this is not only an issue that concerns straight fathers. It affects increasing numbers of gay parents, too. The more pragmatic move would be to install more family bathrooms so that parents travelling solo or with more than one child in tow can get the job done without the incumbent headache.
After all, we are capable of space travel and even capable of engineering espresso in space. Why can't we get adequate baby changing facilities in all public bathrooms?
If Hoylman's bill gets the green light on April 17, it will go into effect immediately.
Are change tables necessary in men's washrooms, or is there a better solution?
Image Source: WikiCommons
A seafood restaurant in Nova Scotia is feeling the ire of the community after posting this statement on its Facebook page:
"Effective as of now, we will no longer allow small screaming children. We are an adult-themed restaurant that caters to those that enjoy food and are out to enjoy themselves. We understand this may upset some, but after careful consideration, we feel it's best for those (who) enjoy, appreciate and understand our business."
Realizing the folly of its ways, the Lobster Pound quickly deleted the offending post and issued a public and very convoluted apology, along with a vow to serve any hungry belly. But for some patrons, the sentiment left a lingering bad taste and a vow never to return to the popular restaurant.
RELATED: Pub Threatens to Make Your Kids Behave if You Won't
You can't please all the people all the time. But it seems like owner Richard Moore only backtracked because of the wrath directed at his business—and the ensuing worry for its livelihood—than any genuine regret over his stance. He claims the decision to ban children wasn't based on sales, then in the next breath he says:
"Please also note that restaurants that are licensed have a seating limit. I am looking into it but I'm pretty sure inspectors count every head regardless of age. Fire inspector the same. When you come in with a 'lil one in a carrier, they must be considered a dinner even if they can't eat yet."
This isn't the first time businesses have been in fisticuffs with young families. Of course I'm not a fan of "small screaming children" any more than the next person—no more, in fact, than the parents of said small screaming child.
But to suggest any person is not welcome in a public business is discrimination, no matter how you try to sugarcoat it.
Swap out "children" with "woman," or "gay" or "elderly" or any other segment of society and the discrimination is blatant. Are we really willing to support in restaurants the kind of segregation that was once commonplace in bathrooms and buses? It may seem like I'm reaching, but think about it.
Would you support a restaurant that clearly didn't want your children and babies there? Or are restaurants entitled to cherry pick its clientele?
If you haven't heard of Minecraft, I don't know what to say to you. Ever since it came onto the larger scene in 2011, the gamer's game is something of a cult for kids of a certain age. And it has its fair share of grown up fans, too.
Some 54 million copies later, Minecraft is a firm parent favourite, touted with developing kids' "math, logic, and readings skills."
Minecraft Addiction: The Signs and Symptoms Your Child May Need An Intervention
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