Jonathon Morgan
BlackBerry for Kids - Educational or Addictive?
It may look like a funky-colored smart phone, but this gaudy gadget doesn't make calls or send emails, and can't connect to the Internet. The new Text & Learn from Leapfrog is designed for kids who covet their parents "CrackBerry" -- so they can imitate mom and dad while exploring "core learning concepts" (like days of the week, recognizing letters, etc). My four-year-old -- who likes to email her grandmother on my iPhone -- would adore this toy, and some tech-savvy parents think the Text & Learn would be a hit with their kids as well. One mom told the NY Daily News: "I would definitely consider getting one for Pete -- in the vain hope it would keep him away from my cell, which he thinks is the seventh wonder of the universe."
However others disagree, dismissing Leapfrog's claims that "Busy three-year-olds will love to 'play'" as "just plain wrong." Kathy Stiegel, a Maryland mom of two, is keeping the toy away from her kids because: "There's so much in the real world to learn and so many basic human skills to develop."
While it does technically teach computer skills, this is essentially similar to any other electronic learning device -- except that it looks like the beeping, buzzing, appendage you'll find permanently affixed to the email addicts among us. Is the Text & Learn the gateway drug to a life of obsessive electronic communication, or just a cute toy that prepares your child for the reality of a world run by gadgets?
David After Dentist - "Is This Real Life?"
If you didn't know poor 7-year-old David had just been to the dentist, you'd think he spent the last two days over-indulging at Burning Man. Gassed to the max from oral surgery, the little guy does his best Cheech & Chong impression while spacing out to an imaginary Grateful Dead soundtrack stuck on repeat in his mind. Dude, it's so trippy.
"Dad, is this real life?" David queries from the back seat of the family car.
"This is real life," his dad reassures him.
David's dad relives the glory days, chuckling at his little stoner. But the fun turns funky when the youngster sees what I can only assume is an army of flying pink elephants commanding David to "get off of their cloud!" That, or he's suddenly struck with an unbearable case of the munchies.
The video is a little creepy -- should parents be posting videos of their vulnerable children? -- yet oddly adorable and absolutely hysterical.
Update: Now the video has it's own soundtrack. Check it out below.
"Dad, is this real life?" David queries from the back seat of the family car.
"This is real life," his dad reassures him.
David's dad relives the glory days, chuckling at his little stoner. But the fun turns funky when the youngster sees what I can only assume is an army of flying pink elephants commanding David to "get off of their cloud!" That, or he's suddenly struck with an unbearable case of the munchies.
The video is a little creepy -- should parents be posting videos of their vulnerable children? -- yet oddly adorable and absolutely hysterical.
Update: Now the video has it's own soundtrack. Check it out below.
Erykah Badu Names New Daughter 'Twitty Milk' (Maybe)
When Erykah Badu went into labor this weekend, she and boyfriend Jay Electronica were determined to detail every moment in the run-up to their impending bundle of joy. The proud parents-to-be broadcast the birth in real time on Twitter, the super-trendy micro-blogging site, so friends and family could check in on the baby's progress.
"Labor has begun," Electronica wrote (or "Tweeted"). "Everybody stand back. No hospitals. No doctors. No medicine. We're waiting for the midwife to show."
But the best update by far was penned by Badu, who posted "we named the baby twitty milk." I'm pretty sure (or at least I hope) she was joking -- though it wouldn't be shocking if Twitty truly is the named bestowed upon the new addition. Badu's two older children (with former partner André 3000 of OutKast) are named Seven Sirius and Puma Rose.
I also love the way Electronica surmised the overwhelming sensation of new fatherhood -- after the birth he simply blogged: "Feb. 1 2009 my first child, my daughter born at 130 PM exactly. It's the happiest day of my life." Couldn't have said -- or Tweeted -- it better.
Celebrity Baby Names
Erykah Badu
Erykah already has two children named Seven Sirius and Puma Rose, so when the singer announced on her Twitter page that she'd named her new daughter "Twitty Milk," we thought she might actually be serious.
Getty Images
Jennifer Garner and Ben Affleck
The couple brought home a baby sister for Violet, and named her Seraphina Rose Elizabeth. According to Laura Wattenberg, author of The Baby Name Wizard, "Seraphina is an old saint's name that comes from the biblical seraphim, a type of angel." Sounds like Affleck and garner have high hopes for their wee one. Hope she can live up to her big name.
Getty Images
Nakoa-Wolf Manakauapo Namakaeha Momoa
Former "Cosby Show" queen Lisa Bonet takes top honors for now with their newborn babe. Bonet says that the child "was born on the stormiest, rainy night, so Nakoa (warrior), Mana (strength/spirit), Kaua (rain) and po (dark). Multiple middle names? Could become a trend for 2009?
Bobby Bank, WireImage
Princess Tiaamii
British "glamour model" Jordan (aka Katie Price) and "former pop star" Peter Andre named their daughter Princess because it was "unique." When the name was announced in 2007, The BBC reported that Jordan had wanted to call her Tinkerbell, but there were too many famous dogs with that name. Because that's really the only reason not to go with Tinkerbell.
Getty Images
Jermajesty Jackson
Amazingly, this is not a child of Michael. Jermajesty is the son of Jermaine Jackson Alejandra Oiaza. And they say Mike is the crazy one.
Bauer-Griffin
Barron Trump
The only thing that would make this name better is if it were Barron Von Trump. But alas, the middle name of the spawn of Donald and third wife Melania is William. Still, with dad's money and mom's bone structure, the kid is basically American royalty even if his name is Pubert.
Bauer-Griffin
Tu Morrow
Rob Morrow may have been trying to revive his career when he named his daughter Tu in 2001. (Tu Morrow. As in "see you") It may have worked. Though Morrow's first TV series, "Northern Exposure", was canceled in 1995, he currently appears on "Numb3rs." Maybe Shelley Long should have a baby and name her Tu. (Tu Long? Get it? Oh never mind)
Eric Charbonneau, WireImage
Moxie CrimeFighter
Penn Jillette and wife Emily clearly decided that they want their little girl to grow up to be a magician just like daddy. That way she can make this awful name disappear.
Ethan Miller, Getty Images
Harley Quinn
Kevin Smith named his daughter after the Joker's sidekick in Batman comics. If he and wife Jennifer have a boy they can name him The Riddler, Clayface, Scarecrow the possibilities are endless.
Bauer-Griffin
b>Kal-El Coppola Cage
Speaking of children named after superheroes, Nicholas Cage (née Coppola) and wife Alice Kim went with Kal-El, which every geek knows is Superman's real name. Little-known fact: it's also an ancient Hebrew phrase that, loosely translated, means, "My parents are rich and I will never have to hold a real job."
David Westing, Getty Images
"Labor has begun," Electronica wrote (or "Tweeted"). "Everybody stand back. No hospitals. No doctors. No medicine. We're waiting for the midwife to show."
But the best update by far was penned by Badu, who posted "we named the baby twitty milk." I'm pretty sure (or at least I hope) she was joking -- though it wouldn't be shocking if Twitty truly is the named bestowed upon the new addition. Badu's two older children (with former partner André 3000 of OutKast) are named Seven Sirius and Puma Rose.
I also love the way Electronica surmised the overwhelming sensation of new fatherhood -- after the birth he simply blogged: "Feb. 1 2009 my first child, my daughter born at 130 PM exactly. It's the happiest day of my life." Couldn't have said -- or Tweeted -- it better.
All the President's Children - Inauguration Photo Gallery
Inauguration Kids
Congratulations First Family! All eyes were on Barack and Michelle Obama as he made history as #44 and America's first black president. We at ParentDish are starstruck by Malia and Sasha, who have joined a most exclusive club of toddlers, children, teens and young adults: All the President's Children.
Getty Images
The Obama girls were easy, breezy and totally adorable on their father's inauguration day. Malia, 10, wore a double-breasted periwinkle-blue coat with a blue-ribbon tied in a bow at the waist. Seven-year-old Sasha wore a matching outfit in pinks and corals; both coats were from Crewcuts by J. Crew.
Getty Images
George W Bush takes the oath for his second term in 2005, as his wife Laura and daughters Jenna and Barbara stand with him at the podium.
Getty Images
Former Vice President Dick Cheney and wife Lynne watch the 2005 inauguration, flanked by their youngest family members.
Getty Images
Jenna Bush shows her University of Texas Longhorn pride at an inauguration party in 2005.
Getty Images
Jenna didn't fair so well during her father's first inauguration in 2001 -- this famous photo shows a nearly embarrassing wardrobe malfunction.
Getty Images
Chelsea Clinton kisses her father Bill as he cedes power to George W Bush at the 2001 inauguration.
Getty Images
Chelsea got a dance with dad when he was inaugurated for his second term in 1997.
Getty Images
Chelsea Clinton doing some on-the-ground reporting in the run-up in the days leading up to her father's inauguration as the 42nd president in 1993.
Getty Images
Then newly inaugurated Vice President Al Gore celebrates with his son Albert in 1993.
Getty Images
Amazing 60-Year Pregnancy
Medical Conditions, Weird But True
Surely after nine long months of labor most pregnant women get sick of the constant cracks from friends and coworkers about how they're "so huge!" or "ready to pop." Huang Yijun put up with it for 60 years. That's how long the 92-year-old woman from southern China carried her unborn child inside her belly.
Sadly, this bizarre condition resulted from a devastating tragedy. In 1948, when Huang first became pregnant, doctors told her that her baby had died in the womb. But the procedure to remove the fetus was expensive -- approximately $150. That was too much money for Huang, leaving her with only one option: Move on. "It was a huge sum at the time -- more than the whole family earned in several years so I did nothing and ignored it," it was reported in The Sun.
The mystery was only uncovered when Huang recently visited her physician, complaining of stomach pain. Her doctor was shocked to discover not only that her fetus had not decayed, but that she'd managed to persevere through such exceptional medical circumstances.
"I couldn't believe my eyes when I discovered she had a baby in her belly," Dr Liu Anbin at Qingshen hospital said. "I've been a doctor for more than 40 years and it's the first time I have seen something like this." Doctors are now trying to determine if they can or need to remove the fetus.
Let's pause for a moment and consider Huang, who has been "with child" since 1948. Amazing. "It's very rare that Huang can be so healthy," said Xu Xianming, director of the Obstetrics and Gynecology department at the hospital.
Amazing Human Anomalies
Largest identical birth
While Preana, Audreana, Natalie and Melody aren't the world's only identical quadruplets, the chances of four identical babies is 1 in 11 million.
Getty Images
Smallest baby to survive
Rumaisa (on the left) weighed only 8.6 ounces when she was born.
Getty Images
Tallest man in the world
At approximately 8ft 3in tall, Leonid Stadnyk is the world's tallest human.
Getty Images
World's shortest man
At only 2ft 4in tall, 19-year-old He Pingping is the world's shortest human.
Getty Images
World's tallest woman
At 7ft 7in tall, Sandy Allen was the world's tallest woman until her death last month.
Getty Images
3rd smallest baby
Zoe managed to survive after weighing only 10.8 ounces at birth. She was the 3rd smallest baby in US history.
Getty Images
15.2-pound baby
This enormous baby was the largest ever in his home country of Indonesia, and one of the biggest babies on record around the world.
Getty Images
World's oldest man
When this photo was taken in 2002, Yukichi Chuganji had made it to the ripe old age of 113.
Getty Images
World's oldest woman?
Miriam Amash claims to be 120 years old (meaning she would have been born in 1888!). Her age is still being confirmed.
Getty Images
Sadly, this bizarre condition resulted from a devastating tragedy. In 1948, when Huang first became pregnant, doctors told her that her baby had died in the womb. But the procedure to remove the fetus was expensive -- approximately $150. That was too much money for Huang, leaving her with only one option: Move on. "It was a huge sum at the time -- more than the whole family earned in several years so I did nothing and ignored it," it was reported in The Sun.
The mystery was only uncovered when Huang recently visited her physician, complaining of stomach pain. Her doctor was shocked to discover not only that her fetus had not decayed, but that she'd managed to persevere through such exceptional medical circumstances.
"I couldn't believe my eyes when I discovered she had a baby in her belly," Dr Liu Anbin at Qingshen hospital said. "I've been a doctor for more than 40 years and it's the first time I have seen something like this." Doctors are now trying to determine if they can or need to remove the fetus.
Let's pause for a moment and consider Huang, who has been "with child" since 1948. Amazing. "It's very rare that Huang can be so healthy," said Xu Xianming, director of the Obstetrics and Gynecology department at the hospital.
Bristol Palin's Future Mother-In-Law Arrested
Sarah Palin's ex-Vice Presidential campaign is edging ever-closer to a Jerry Springer episode -- her daughter Bristol's future mother-in-law has been picked up for drugs.The Internets were abuzz during Palin's campaign with talk of the governor's then 17-year-old daughter's surprise pregnancy, but seemed generally supportive of Bristol and her 18-year-old beau, Levi. She bravely chose to have the baby, while he quit high school to get a job and support the fam -- and thus potential political disaster was reimagined as courageous young people taking a stab at the American Dream.
But it seems Levi's mom isn't the upstanding citizen her son appears to be. Sherry Johnston has been arrested on drug charges -- but not "sorry officer I smoke a doobie from time to time" drug charges. According to reports, grandma-to-be is on the hook for six felony counts, including "second-degree misconduct involving a controlled substance," which is what they hit you with for manufacturing and distributing narcotics. Ouch.
The baby is due on Saturday, so it seems Sherry will be able to hold her grandson before she's tossed in the slammer (assuming she's not strung out). No word from the Palin's on how this affects their opinion of the future in-laws, but it can't be good.
Jolie-Pitts Get One Step Closer to Perfection
Celeb Kids, Life & Style, Celeb Parenting
Jolie-Pitts - One Step Closer to Perfection
Just when it seemed you'd read every sappy tidbit about the picture-perfect Jolie-Pitts and their nigh-on-holy parenting prowess, it turns out these immaculate specimens are even more flawless than originally assumed. But no matter what they tell reporters, the Hollywood power couple don't exactly practice what they preach.
James Devaney/WireImage.com
Brad recently told Hello! magazine that he and his family are too cool for fancy Christmas presents, saying: "We do exchange gifts, although we don't feel any pressure to make them big or expensive gifts."
Getty Images
And not only that -- the reason the kids don't ask for the latest cheap, plastic, Elmo-inspired gadgets is because they don't watch American cartoons, thereby avoiding all the "manipulative" ads run by toymakers.
Getty Images
Which, to be fair, is nice to hear. After all, in tough economic times, it's refreshing that even the wealthiest families taking a sensible approach to the holiday madness.
Or, it would be, if the Jolie-Pitts weren't just spouting off about their holier-than-thou approach to child rearing. 'Cause, as it turns out, Angelina can be quite the spendthrift.
Getty Images
Angie recently ordered a 2009 Ducati 1100s Monster for her hunky hubby's 45th birthday. The bike isn't available yet for us mere mortals, but when it is this hot ride will set you back $12,000.
Ducati
And you may remember in September of last year, when blogs were buzzing with the news that Angelina had bought daughter Zahara a mini Valentino braided leather shoulder bag (to match the grown-up version she was carrying at the time -- then worth $1695).
JustJared.com
Not that the Jolie-Pitts are horrible people (I mean, what else would you do with hundreds of millions of dollars to spend?) -- but next time you're bummed because your family doesn't live up to Brangelina's unattainable standards, remember that their squeaky-clean celebrity image is just as much PR spin as it is reality.
Getty Images
Angelina Jolie with Shiloh, Pax and Zahara walking in New Orlean's French Quarter in 2008.
Chris Wolf, FilmMagic
Brad Pitt carrying Shiloh and Zahara at the Lenval Hospital in Nice, where Angelina gave birth to twins Knox and Vivienne in July 2008.
Lionel Cironneau, AP
Brad Pitt with Maddox during the Italian Grand Prix at Mugello in June 2008.
Claudio Giovannini, AFP / Getty
Cartoon bunny attempts suicide, real-life children follow suit
A 12-year-old from Shanghai tragically committed suicide this week -- but one bookstore isn't blaming bad parents, exam pressure, or playgrounds bullies. Instead they're pointing the finger at a children's literature.
"Bunny Suicides," a cartoon book meant to be "darkly humorous," depicts the trials and tribulations of a quadruped with a death wish -- a cute little bunny that tries to end his life using a guillotine, a jet engine, a toaster, and a myriad of other offbeat mechanisms for offing himself.
Sure it's gruesome, but is it really inciting suicide? The city has seen a rash of attempts by young people this past week, and while some local stores claim the book is clearly a joke (albeit a morbid one), Bookuu Book City yanked it from their shelves -- worried that it might give kids ideas they could try at home. Bookuu's owners have replaced the darkly comedic comic with self-help books aimed at teens with depression and other mental problems.
Seems like kids pushed to suicide by a hand-drawn rabbit might have deeper issues worth addressing, but that doesn't make the subject matter any easier to swallow. Is "Bunny Suicides" over the line?
Blogger List
Meet Our Writers
- Susan Avery
- Honey Berk
- Patty Bontekoe
- Rachel Campos-Duffy
- Gary Drevitch
- Monique El-Faizy
- Colleen Egan
- Jeremy Gerard
- Amy Hatch
- Christopher Healy
- Tom Henderson
- Elizabeth Humphrey
- Melissa Kossler-Dutton
- Meryl Levin
- Sandy Maple
- The Name Lady
- Ellen Rooney Martin
- Jennifer Schonborn
- Brett Singer
- Lenore Skenazy
- Susan Stiffelman, M.F.T.
- Susan Wagner
- Sabrina Weill
