The economic downturn may change the way our kids play. It might even be for the better. The Washington Post reports from the annual Toy Fair in New York that this year's breakout toy hits aren't the Wii's and Furby's and cars that drive on walls.
Instead, the fair features lots of familiar games and toys in new and improved (and Disneyfied) versions. Babble's live-blogging the Toy Fair so check back later today to get a close-up of 2009 recession/depression style fun.
The bad news is, childhood obesity isn't in a downturn. The good news is, cholesterol levels of children and teens isn't crazy high like a lot of researchers and doctors had anticipated. The better news, gobs of kids won't have to be put on cholesterol lowering medications which would have been just nasty.
Once and for all: put down the flashcards! A new study shows that encouraging rote memorization of historical facts in schools is what makes Americans all look so stupid in man-on-the-street interviews on Jay Leno. While just teaching the facts doesn't give historical dates and events any sort of context, fact regurgitation is testable. Which is the evil push-pull in American education, particularly with requirements like No Child Left Behind.
A South Carolina sheriff has decided not to charge Olympic medalist/swim god Michael Phelps in an incident where he may or may not have been inhaling from what could have been a bong. There wasn't enough physical evidence and, turns out, Phelps's apology doesn't actually count as a confession.
And for all the swooning Americans are doing over First Lady Michelle Obama's dresses and photos, Reuters decides she's not a fashion icon. Something about Michelle not having a "locked-in fashion look." Wow. Now we really like her!
The founder of an Islamic television station in upstate New York, which was supposed to help counteract Muslim stereotypes, has confessed to beheading his wife. Interesting MO.
The storyline has two moms! ABCs "All My Children" proudly presents daytime TVs first lesbian wedding -- with, no less, mother of the bride Erica Kane, the before-you-were-born character of Susan Lucci (OK, maybe not that old, but you watched her at the babysitter's, right?).
From soap operas to breast implants: a model-turned-boxer in the U.K. won't be allowed to compete in the Olympics because of her breast implants. Turns out, there are boxing rules banning them -- for fear of injury. Weird where some sports choose to draw the line.
The Internet was all a-Twitter yesterday, thanks to a new privacy policy on Facebook. The mega-social network site clarified on a blog post that FB basically owns its users. They're keeping it all -- except, of course, breastfeeding photos. Those nasty things you can have.
Photo: WaPo
