French and Indian War and Virginia, Pennsylvania and Maryland border issues

I really wanted to look on the web for more information about the French and Indian War. I have a hunch that maybe the Ward family was somehow involved. I probably should order a book from the local university and read up on it. I will have to add it to my ever growing to do list!

Yahoo Groups or GenealogyWise?

I really wonder which one is used more.... I joined a few more Yahoo groups for genealogy. I had to unsubscribe from the Transitional Genealogists forum because they do not have a digest version and I was getting bombarded with email. I really like the APG forum and for the most part the discussions are really useful. I like the fact that GenealogyWise is only for genealogy. I need to see if there is a writer's group on GenealogyWise.

Politics everywhere? Volunteer guidelines needed

Why is it that people sometimes have all the answers but don't want to do the work? It is a wise idea to have those with accumulated knowledge write some type of guidelines so newcomers know what they are getting into. This is especially true for Genealogy Societies. The details can be hashed out corporately with all involved in implementing them. From the business world I learned the value of job guides and writing them. When I was challenged by new responsibilities in a volunteer organization it was helpful to write a set of written volunteer guidelines. That is the way every one knows what is expected and people don't have hurt feelings. Also, every one starts on the same page. Processes and procedures can be ironed out later.
Your thoughts? My educational process has taught me the advantage for both student and teacher of a well written syllabus and the same goes for the well written set of volunteer guidelines. So from the business perspective and educational experience perspective the concept of volunteer guidelines would help to ease some of the tension that exists in some Genealogy Societies. Please note that I am not specifying any one Society but that volunteer guidelines let people know about preexisting expectations in a Society.

William Pitt Riddell Confederate Records found on Footnote!

I was thrilled when I discovered that Footnote.com had digitized the Confederate records of William Pitt Riddell. He was the chief surgeon at the hospital at Houston Texas during the Civil War. He was captured and had to promise not to associate with the Confederates in New Orleans where he taught Chemistry at Louisiana State University. His brother John Leonard Riddell was the postmaster and Chemistry professor at Tulane University. William and John Leonard had another brother who was also a doctor: George Riddell who resided in Chippewa Falls, Wisconsin. George is my direct ancestral line.

Is it Safe to Let Our Kids Play Outside?

I have been struggling with this issue. As a mom I want to let my child experience some freedom yet I live in a urban setting and am unwilling to let him venture out alone. The rental population is transient and constantly shifting. In an apartment setting you may not know all your neighbors and door-to-door sales people are abundant. We have had car break ins and mine was stolen a few year back.

When I was a kid in Racine, WI. My cousins and I would walk down the street to the local dimestore and get candy. It was a small town and everyone always looked out for each other. My grandparents lived in the area for over 40 years.

It is rather unsettling that we no longer feel safe in our own neighborhoods. How many of you parents let your kids go out an play without directly supervision?
Do you think there is more crime or we hear about it faster because of the influence of TV and the Internet? How do you judge when they are old enough to go outside and play alone?