The Internet affords children endless opportunities to get into serious trouble, downloading what they shouldn't download, looking at what they shouldn't be looking at, and getting ideas about what they shouldn't be getting ideas about.

But the good news is that if your kids are like mine, they may be doing some or all of those things...but there's another ise for the Internet that's attracting their time and attention.

It's called teaching.

That's right?your kids are most likely teaching other kids how to do things that interest them.  The online world, especially YouTube, has turned into an academy without walls, entrance fees, or final exams.  The instructors, just like the students, are barely into double digits.

Take my ten year olds (please!).  My twin sons, Isaac and Walter, are variously interested in unicycling, origami, juggling, magic, Minecraft, jailbreaking their iPods, and similar subjects.  Much of what they've learned about these topics has come from YouTube videos.  Much of those videos are written and produced by other kids.  Which inspired my sons to put up their own instructional videos.

Now my sons are in a race with their friends for viewers and followers on their three YouTube channels, MyWalter101, BillyBobRandom12345, and OrigamiAndMagicBrothers.   As a proud parent, naturally I want you to visit their channels and see what they're doing.  But more than that, this is a unique phenomenon.

You couldn't get the average kid to stand up in front of an audience and talk about his or her favorite topic.  Or demonstrate a magic trick, or a guitar chord, or a hack on an iPod.   Never gonna happen.  But allow that same kid the privacy of his or her living room, the use of a camera built into a smartphone, and the opportunity to upload a two- or three-minute instructional video on any given topic, and you've got solid gold.

As a result, there exists today an underground, invisible network of children taking turns as teachers and students, sharing with each other the skills, ideas, secrets, and technological breakthroughs they cherish.  This university without walls or national boundaries is, without exaggeration, unparalleled in human history.  Children have always been at the mercy of parents, teachers, and school administrators when it comes to the question of how, what, and when they learn.  Now the game has changed and the power has shifted to kids.

Obviously parental supervision is required; you don't need me to tell you just how dangerous and inappropriate the online world can be.  What's most exciting about this phenomenon, however, is the fact that children are taking initiative to become teachers and sharers.  They are not looking to make money doing this?although few would deny the desire to have 5 million followers and the fame (and perhaps fortune) that would accompany such success.  They're doing it for the love of the video game, hobby, hack, or technique they're demonstrating to the world.

It's fascinating to imagine the new world that will arise when these online teachers reach adulthood.  Their ethos is cooperation instead of compensation; amateurism instead of professionalism.  How will they make a living?  How will they translate the teaching skills they are acquiring into a livelihood?  I don't know, but chances are, some of them will figure it out.  And then they'll post their learning on YouTube, or whatever sharing technology exists at that time, and give the world the benefit of their knowledge and experience.  Why not?  They'll have been doing it for their whole lives.

About Michael Levin

Michael Levin, founder and CEO of BusinessGhost, Inc. (www.BusinessGhost.com), has written more than 100 books, including eight national best-sellers; five that have been optioned for film or TV by Steven Soderbergh/Paramount, HBO, Disney, ABC, and others; and one that became "Model Behavior," an ABC Sunday night Disney movie of the week. He is the father of Walter Levin (MyWalter101) and Isaac Levin (BillyBobRandom12345). The boys' joint YouTube channel is OrigamiAndMagicBrothers.

New York City's sometimes progressive mindset coupled with its frigid winters also helped make it a big focus for a new soy oil market: Bioheat®. This heat source combines home heating oil with biodiesel, resulting in a renewable, cleaner-burning fuel.

"Biofuels are welcomed in this part of the world and embraced by home heating oil representatives," says Lewis Bainbridge, soybean farmer from Ethan, S.D., and farmer-director for United Soybean Board. "Everyone is working together to promote Bioheat."

Last weekend was rained out, so Haunted Island will open this weekend at 6 p.m. October 19 and 20 at Credit Island, 2200 W. River Drive, Davenport. It will include a bat presentation at 6:30 p.m., hayrack rides from dark until midnight, and a bonfire with a storyteller. Concessions will be available. Admission is $12; $8 for ages 4-11; free for ages 3 and under.A $2-off coupon is available online. Proceeds benefit the Friends of Credit Island.

Friday Family Fun

This weekend - Family Friday Nights

Join us for Family Friday Night at Red Hawk Golf and Learning Center, 6364 Northwest Blvd. Enjoy family golf on our par-3 course, pizza, popcorn, lemonade and a movie.
6pm - 9pm. Fee: $2.50

In the United States, women are assaulted or beaten once every nine seconds; worldwide, one in three women have been battered, raped or otherwise abused in her lifetime, according to women's advocacy organizations.

"That means most of us - while grocery shopping, at work or at home - come across several women a day who have either been abused, or are currently enduring abuse," says Linda O'Dochartaigh, a health professional and author of Peregrine (www.lavanderkatbooks.com). "It's a terrible fact of life for too many women, but if there is something we can do about it and we care about fellow human beings, then we must try."

There are several abuse resources available to women who are being abused, or friends of women who need advice, including:

• TheHotline.org, National Domestic Violence Hotline, open 24 hours a day, 365 days a year, 1-800-799-SAFE (7223)

• HelpGuide.org, provides unbiased, advertising-free mental health information to give people the self-help options to help people understand, prevent, and resolve life's challenges

• VineLink.com, allows women to search for an offender in custody by name or identification number, then register to be alerted if the offender is released,  transferred, or escapes

• DAHMW.org, 1-888-7HELPLINE, offers crisis intervention and support services for victims of intimate partner violence and their families

Perhaps the best thing friends and family can do for a woman enduring domestic abuse is to be there for her - not only as a sympathetic ear, but also as a source of common sense that encourages her to take protective measures, O'Dochartaigh says. Before that, however, loved ones need to recognize that help is needed.

O'Dochartaigh reviews some of the warning signs:

• Clothing - Take notice of a change in clothing style or unusual fashion choices that would allow marks or bruises to be easily hidden. For instance, someone who wears long sleeves even in the dog days of summer may be trying to hide signs of abuse.

• Constant phone calls - Many abusers are very controlling and suspicious, so they will call their victims multiple times each day to "check in." This is a subtle way of manipulating their victims, to make them fearful of uttering a stray word that might alert someone that something is wrong. Many abusers are also jealous, and suspect their partner is cheating on them, and the constant calls are a way of making sure they aren't with anyone they aren't supposed to be around.

• Unaccountable injuries - Sometimes, obvious injuries such as arm bruises or black eyes are a way to show outward domination over the victim. Other times, abusers harm areas of the body that won't be seen by family, friends and coworkers.

• Frequent absences - Often missing work or school and other last-minute plan changes may be a woman hiding abuse, especially if she is otherwise reliable.

• Excessive guilt & culpability - Taking the blame for things that go wrong, even though she was clearly not the person responsible - or she is overly-emotional for her involvement - is a red flag.

• Fear of conflict - Being brow-beaten or physically beaten takes a heavy psychological toll, and anxiety bleeds into other relationships.

• Chronic uncertainty - Abusers often dominate every phase of a victim's life, including what she thinks she likes, so making basic decisions can prove challenging.

About Linda O'Dochartaigh

Linda O'Dochartaigh has worked in health care is an advocate for victims of child abuse and domestic violence.  She wants survivors to know that an enriched, stable and happy life is available to them. O'Dochartaigh is the mother of three grown children and is raising four adopted grandchildren.