TomKat's baby, and don't forget Mission: Impossible: III

Am I the only one bothered by these stupid 'celebrities' using a baby as a media publicity blitz for a new movie? Seriously, when Tom Cruise and Katie Holmes "hooked up", everybody and their dog knew it was because they both had movies to promote. I can live with that, it's Hollywood. They create and make up gossip and relationships all the time (Brittany, Lindsay, Paris...) but when you throw a baby into the mix, that's pretty low and desperate. Any great actor or actress would rely more on their work, not stupid stuff like jumping on Oprah's couch and having a sham relationship with a (artificially inseminated?) baby.
(Because if you work anywhere in Hollywood, that kat's been out of the bag long ago).

Reuters: Cruise says Holmes is a Scientologist

Sibling differences...

I did something that I normally don't do often. I had an hour phone conversation with my (only sibling) brother on random issues ranging from family get-togethers, conflicts, to raising kids. After hanging up I thought to myself (again) "How in the world do you grow up with somebody but be completely different" --literally opposite sides of nearly everything. It all comes down to this: I'm even tempered, and he's George Costanza.
He, like me has a daughter except his is 2 years, while mine is 9 months. I really wonder how they're going to turn out when they grow up. Will his daughter see through him and leave home without too much of his influence? Or will she be a smaller version of him. Will my daughter grow up to be level, or will she turn out to be neurotic. God, genetics are a scary thing...

National Center for Biotechnology Information: Why are siblings so different?

Dr. Spock: Why Are Siblings So Important?

When do babies decide to be right or left-handed?

It’s somewhat of a mystery, I wanted to know, and honestly couldn't figure this out. So I Googled it and found out it's around 9 months - which happens to be my daughter’s age! I taught her how to feed herself Cheerios and small bite sized food with her left hand (I'm left-handed by the way) a few weeks ago, but on some occasions she still uses her right. I really wonder if this is a learned-observational trait or something "hard-wired" in their brain like genetics. I know this sounds weird, or even self-glorifying, but I really want her to be left-handed because right-brain people I know and have worked with tend to be more creative. And being a creative person myself, of course, I want my spawn to be creative! Just as I’m sure a scientist would want their kid to be Einstein 2 (electric boogaloo). I know that there are exceptions to this right brain, left-brain idea, and I’ve read studies debunking this idea (or myth as some have called it). But through college (Art school), work (creative profession), and students I teach AP drawing classes to... a whole lot of them are left-handed. To me, I think there is a correlation there. Saying there isn’t like saying rain doesn’t come from clouds.
And what if my daughter does turn out to be left-handed or worse non-creative? Well, I wouldn't be too disappointed. Just as long as she's smarter than Einstein…

HealthTouch: NORMAL GROWTH AND DEVELOPMENT OF INFANTS

AARP, Leave me alone. Part 2

My problem continues with AARP and their, what I would call harassing, invitations to join them. I wrote about this problem some time ago, but their letter campaign has recently gotten worse. I average about 2-3 letters a week, addressed to me. Just to be clear, I’m nowhere near my 50’s. I think the reason they have been so pushy the last few weeks is because my birthday was last week. Anyhow I just about had it so I called them yesterday to put an end to it. It went something like this (When a “real” person finally answered):

Ethel: (Name changed to protect Ethel’s identity) AARP, May I help you?
Me: (Guy in early 30's) Yes, I’m having a problem receiving invitations from you. Can you please take me off your mailing list?
Ethel: Are you a member?
Me: No, I’m not. I’m about 2 generations away.
Ethel: You can still join. We have junior memberships for those who want to help the cause…
Me: “Cause”, I didn’t realize this was “the resistance”.
Ethel: (Continues without hearing)…for senior issues like free prescription drugs.
Me: Why, so they can have more money to gamble in casinos or play bingo?
Ethel: What was that?
Me: Never mind, can you please take me off your mailing list?
Ethel: What’s your membership number?
Me: I don’t have one; I’m not a member…I just want to get off your mailing list.
Ethel: You have a membership number on your letter, just above your name…
Me: My God, I’m already recruited!! But I’m only 30-something, not 50-something…
Ethel: (Sinister deep evil voice, with an echo) You’ve been chosen to join the resistance, regardless of your choosing, so we can lobby the government for free prescription drugs, comp rooms in Las Vegas, and ‘buy one get one free’ coupons for Hometown Buffet…Hee-Hee. Ha! Ha!....

No she didn’t actually say that last line. But in my mind that’s what I heard when she tried to convince me to join. I did get off the list, eventually.
If you or anybody you know is getting these letters from AARP and wants them to stop. You can call Ethel at 1-888-OUR-AARP (1-888-687-2277). Tell her I said “hi”.

Honestly - who really eats "Peeps"?

When I was a kid, I use to get these horrid things pre-packed in my packaged K-mart Easter Basket. I can remember the day I bit into one and spit it out, and then again the following year, and then nearly every year after that. Like if they would ever come up with a new and improved version. It never happened, and I'm pretty sure it never will. I did find one use for them; stick them in the microwave for a minute and watch. They inflate (like in that video game Dig-Dug) and then explode! Just watch it inflate for a while and then open the door so it doesn't explode. The mess is pretty nasty to clean up.

Peeps Research

Peeps Jousting 2006

Refrigerators that leak, Sears sucks and other gripes

There's nothing quite like having a brand new refrigerator leak and the "standard" warranty just expires on you. Yup, something a guy I use to work with called "Murphy’s Law". I swear, I was just about ready to ram my car into the local Sears store, or at least their "customer service" repair department, wherever they are (India? Alabama?.. same thing to me). A message to Sears- one thing you don't want to tell an upset customer is to buy an extended warranty for $250/per year when, these days, a new refrigerator cost almost that. I ended up calling a local appliance repair guy to fix it in 20 minutes for $155. Which, by the way, is crazy!! (I think P.I. lawyers will jump on that bandwagon for that kind of cash). On the way to work I was thinking - we can send a robot to mars and you can see my dog pooping in the yard on Google Maps, but they can't make a freakin' refrigerator that doesn't leak! What kind of world are we living in. Oh yeah, and never buy anything from Sears again. Not even tools or pictures with the Easter Bunny (I hate you now "Sears").

Sears Sucks!

Rip-Off Report: Sears

You and me baby, at the Getty

So my birthday was yesterday, which, like every year sends shivers through me wondering where time has gone (I honestly still feel like college wasn’t that long ago - in reality its been over 10). Since "age-day" was on a weekday this year I thought it would be fun to take the day off of work and do something mellow. So I took my daughter to the Getty here in L.A. for a day of culture, reflection, sketching, and meandering. It turned out to be a pretty interesting experience since I’ve never actually spent an entire day with my daughter somewhere without my wife. My wife can get her to do things I can't, like eat vegetables or change her diaper like a pit stop operator. Then there's the restroom issue, but thankfully they have this cool thing now called a "family restroom" which was a lifesaver. She was really quite good in her stroller while in the galleries, I was a little paranoid that she wouldn't be so quiet, but she's very inquisitive about people and her surroundings.

But the interesting thing about the whole day was the question I got from people in one form or another -"where's mommy?". I usually made some lighthearted joke about it and moved on. Although after some thought, it really is depressing that most dads aren't expected or normally don't spend a day with their kids - or maybe its just dads with an infant and/or toddler. Even afterwards telling people about it, I still get an odd reaction like I breastfeed from a man-boob or something strange like that. I can just imagine what kind of reactions stay-at-home dads get in public. Maybe they just slap people with their man-boob bra for asking stupid questions.

The Getty Center - Los Angeles

J.otto: Going to the Getty

Sesame Street Baby Videos

So it looks like Sesame Street is following Baby Einstein's footsteps and making video's for the 6 month and up crowd (the exception being that the production value looks much better). First of all, I'm not a big fan of infant videos like Baby Einstein (as I wrote a few months ago), but I'm not against selling the stuff for parents who decide to let their kids watch -even though I think Baby Einstein is mindless, cheaply done, and odd among other things- but whatever, that's the PARENTS choice. "Campaign For A Commercial-Free Childhood" (CCFC) the wacko's who think they know more than parents (who, by the way, are trying to sue Kellogg's and Nickelodeon from marketing snacks to kids) are now screaming at Sesame Street and partners for this new venture. My advice to CCFC, yeah, your cause is somewhat worthy but don't go after the makers - educate the parents. If parents like me don't buy, then something happens called "No Market", and then they go on to sell other things. Like Bratz dolls and Paris Hilton cartoons.

AP: Sesame Street Videos Spark Controversy

Sesame Beginnings

Campaign For A Commercial-Free Childhood

Rash, Butt Paste, and gDiapers.

Can somebody already please invent something better than a diaper?! I swear, some days I feel like just going to Sears and picking up a wet/dry shop vac to suck up poop off my daughters behind. Disposable diapers have been around, for what 40-400 years now? And regular cloth diapers are just plain nasty to clean, aren't good for parents like me who are always out and about, oh yeah- and they suck for the environment too (spotted owls can't nest in them or something like that...)

Last week my daughter had the nastiest diaper rash, I'm not sure what kind of experiences other parents have had, but this was pretty bad. Her little butt looked like she sat in a can of red paint. The pediatrician prescribed something called "Butt Paste". We laughed, of course, thinking it was an inside joke. Upon picking up the prescription at the pharmacy we were surprised to find out it is in fact called "Butt Paste". Anyhow, we've narrowed it down to either milk or too much fruit that gave her the runs (or medically known as “the squirts”), and the possibility of non-breathable disposable diapers. If you think about it (which I haven't really), that butt is airtight in there.


So we decided to try a part-time, semi-cloth alternative called gDiapers ($20.99 starter kit @ Whole Foods), a new unconventional diaper with cloth covers and a flushable inserts. I must admit, as a designer, the packaging and concept drew me in. It really is an ingenious idea as a middle ground between cloth and disposable diapers. The inserts are flushable and come with a toilet stir stick (But I still threw the liner in the diaper pail for fear it could cause a toilet back-up). They also claim you could "throw the liner in your garden to decompose".... uh, that's pretty disgusting to me and I don’t want the dog digging it up (or the neighbors to think we’re hippies and smell funny). So far, they're working but we're only using them at night for now. But if they leak or aren't super absorbent, those spotted owls are back to nesting in my daughter's diapers once again and I'm going to Sears.

gDiapers

"Sexy media a siren call to promiscuity?" Reuters story

Duh? Any adult or idiot who's ever been a teen knows this. I don't understand why University's do research on common sense cultural issues. It's like the obvious isn't "justified" until they spend a $3 million federal grant…

Reuters story

(Yes, I know that's "Saved By the Bell"- The show made Jesse go on to star in Showgirls. I think the University of North Carolina should do a study on that)