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A Chemistry Kit with No Chemicals

Last night, The Daily What featured a children's chemistry set called Chemistry 60 which boasts "60 fun activities with no chemicals." Sadly enough, I was not surprised. You already know my thoughts on this matter. It's actually a pretty clever marketing technique when you think about it. Because most children's chemistry kits available to consumers today are quite similar to Chemistry 60 in that they do not contain any inoffensive, potentially dangerous materials (aside from small parts which may be considered choking hazards). By outwardly admitting — and boasting — its lack of actual chemicals, the manufacturer has gained substantial publicity of viral proportions. You can be sure that J and I will be purchasing for our kids chemistry sets that contain actual chemicals.  :-)...

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That’s How!

When I was a little kid I used to dream up crazy characters and scenarios being acted out inside the wonderments of the world. Tiny artists residing inside cameras. A chorus of fairies inside musical instructions. Actors behind the boob tube. Isn't a child's imagination so much greater than real life? I was reminded of my innocent years when I stumbled upon That's How!, a children's book by Christoph Niemann, an illustrator whose work has graced the covers of New Yorker, the Atlantic, and the New York Times Magazine. The book, which will be released May 10, 2011, explains how complicated objects of the world work in humorous and wonderfully imaginative ways. Not only are the illustrations cute and clear-cut, I love the idea behind the book itself...

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Because She Loves Me Most

I once read that a baby will cry hardest to her mother (or the primary caretaker) because, just like adults, babies reserve their most passionate and deepest emotions for those they love most. Our household is a perfect example of this. When Claire is around me, she WILL make it known if she is displeased in the slightest bit. Whining, fussing, crying, tantrums, you name it. But when she is in the care of others she is more subdued and much less vocal. She will also only take short naps when I am watching her — which I can only guess stems from her desire to spend as much waking time as possible with me. My SIL has the pleasure of getting 2-hour...

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April 21, 2011

I have not been a big fan of James Cameron's latest films (I tried soooo hard to like Avatar. I really did! But, after three failed attempts at trying to watch the movie without falling asleep, I have called it quits.) but I remain a huge dorkus over his earlier masterpieces. Aliens. The Abyss. And who can forget The Terminator and Terminator 2? I bawled like a baby the first time I watched T2.It was the very first movie I shed tears over — no joke. Well, any true fan of the Terminator franchise is familiar with Judgment Day. The day when the machines rise up against humans. The day when computers try to take over the planet. The beginning of the...

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