Strollerderby : Madonna

Morning News - Government Issues New Fuel Standards

Brett Singer — Tue, 19 May 2009 13:00:00 GMT

In an effort to reduce automobile emissions, the Obama administration is planning to issue "a new national standard for cars and light trucks that incorporates California’s tough auto-emission rules." The President will likely announce these new rules today (Tuesday). The New York Times says that "As a result, cars and light trucks sold in the United States will be roughly 30 percent cleaner and more fuel-efficient by 2016." No one will have any money to buy them, of course. Well, maybe by 2016 we will.

Mel Gibson's girlfriend (not to be confused with his wife) has posed in lingerie. The New York Post has photos. Oh, and get this -- she's pregnant! (A commenter at the Daily News' web site says "mazel tov!" which is, frankly, hilarious.) Ah, Mel. How's it going, you anti-semitic hypocrite? Oops, did I say that out loud?

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu wants to get peace talks with the Palestinians back on track. BUT he won't endorse a Palestinian state. Bibi (that's Netanyahu's nickname, I didn't make it up) was at the White House to chat with President Obama.

You know what's great about religious people? They're so tolerant. Like Charlotte Allen, who wrote the following in the Los Angeles Times: "I can't stand atheists -- but it's not because they don't believe in God. It's because they're crashing bores." Why do I think that Charlotte would be the first to shout "discrimination" if anyone said something against Christians? Feh.

Apparently Angelina Jolie is all angry at Madonna for trying to adopt another Malawian child. Assuming this is true, I have a question for Ms. Jolie -- when did you become the queen of the world? “Angie sees what she and Brad Pitt do as being about saving a child, but she thinks Madonna does it for publicity," an "insider" told Us Weekly. I really do wonder if these "insiders" and "sources close to the star" actually exist. Can gossip magazines just make stuff up like that? Even if they can, isn't it unbelieveably tacky? I know, dumb question.

File this one under "for what it's worth": Next time bloggers get accused of sensationalist journalism, let us remember how the news of Mitchell Weiner's death was reported here on Babble. Allow me to quote myself: CNN reports that a "New York middle school assistant principal who was hospitalized with the H1N1 virus died Sunday. BUT he might not have died of swine flu. Compare that to the New York Post: yesterday's front page headline was "SWINE DEATH." But if you bothered to read the story, the second paragraph said "Complications besides the virus likely played a part in Mitchell Wiener's death." Even the usually sober Bloomberg News went with "New York Has First Swine Flu Death." They quoted a hospital spokesperson as saying that "Wiener had swine flu and no other pre-existing medical conditions that the hospital knows of." BUT then CNN reported the following: "An assistant principal who died after being hospitalized with the H1N1 virus did have an underlying condition, the New York City's health commissioner said Monday." So who is the more responsible reporter? That would be ME. The blogger with no resources other than my rapier wit and hands that are either typing or changing a stinky diaper. HA! Take that mainstream media!

Finally, Woody Allen won $5 million from American Apparel. The Woodster sued the clothier with the creepy ads because they used his image without first getting permission. I'm no fan of Allen's personal life, but in this case he was right and I'm glad he won. I still wish he hadn't, you know, married his own daughter. But we're none of us perfect, I suppose.

Image: Amazon

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The Orphan Trade and International Adoption

Madeline Holler — Tue, 12 May 2009 19:26:00 GMT

E.J. Graff has investigated and written extensively about international adoption, and what she has found is hardly a feel-good story of child rescue. Rather, she concludes that hopeful parents from wealthy nations (the U.S., European countries, Australia) have created a market where babies are bought and sold.

Here's what she has to say, in a New York Times editorial, about international adoption and Madonna's latest attempt to add to her family.

But in trying to adopt a child who already has a family, Madonna is inadvertently exposing the seamier underside of international adoption: the fact that, too often, the amounts of money that Western adoption agencies spend in poor countries is helping to defraud, coerce or kidnap children away from families that wanted to raise them to adulthood.

Graff writes that happy families created in the adoptive countries have, in countless instances, left anguished ones in search of their missing children. Even more heartbreaking is that families who search for -- and, against all odds, eventually find -- their stolen children aren't necessarily reunited with them. So has been the case of a number of children born in Nepal and adopted in Spain.

In a slideshow on Slate, Graff tells the stories of some of the families who were affected by an often corrupt international adoption system.

So how has this happened? With millions of abandoned babies and toddlers throughout the world, how could a baby-selling market thrive? For starters, those millions of babies? Total myth, Graff writes.

From Slate:

Westerners have been sold a myth that poor countries have millions of healthy abandoned infants and toddlers who need homes. But it's not so. In poor countries, as in rich ones, healthy babies are rarely orphaned or given up—except in China, where girls have been abandoned as a result of its draconian one-child policy.

Yes, tens of thousands of needy children around the world—many languishing in horrible institutions—do need families. But most children who need new homes are older than 5, sick, disabled, or somehow traumatized. Quite reasonably, most prospective Western parents don't feel prepared to take on those more challenging kids, preferring to wait in line for healthy infants or toddlers.

The result is a gap between supply and demand—a gap that's closed by Western money. Adoption agencies spend sums in-country that are enormous compared with local per-capita incomes. In poor countries without effective regulation or protections for the poor, that can induce locals to buy, coerce, defraud, and kidnap healthy children away from their birth families for sale into international adoption.

To use the language of globalization, orphans are sometimes "manufactured": Children with families are stripped of their identities so that Westerners can fill their homes....

Families who lost their children aren't the only ones who suffered. More than one adoptive family has found out -- once their child learned English -- the circumstances they truly left behind, including a mother, father and siblings.

Still, others argue that shutting down international adoption ignores the needs of children who truly are abandoned or facing a childhood of institutional living. Four others who work in adoption or study the laws and consequences weigh in on the international adoption in the Times "Room for Debate" feature. Some argue, like Graff, that a lack of oversight and regulation has created this baby market. Others defend Madonna and other families who look overseas for children, saying forget politics, forget money, these kids just need a loving home.

Be sure to check out antiracistparent.com for arguments against Graff's conclusions.

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Possible Father of Malawian Orphan Opposes Madonna Adoption

Brett Singer — Sun, 03 May 2009 19:00:00 GMT

James Kambewa might be the father of Chifundo "Mercy" James, the girl that Madonna wants to adopt. And he's decided that he can take care of her. He feels that his little girl should be "raised as a Malawian", according to BBC News. So Madonna should step off.

I say "might" because it's not clear that the man is, in fact, Mercy's dad. In an interview with 'The Early Show' on CBS, he said that "he wore a necklace bearing his daughter's name around his neck, even though he had never seen her in person." He said that he wants "to take care of her, and I'm capable to take care of my baby." A big question, of course, is why Mercy was in an orphanage if she had a parent "capable" of raising her.

The whole thing is getting somewhat silly. Personally, I think Madonna should be able to adopt Mercy James, because that would mean a much better life for the girl. A court ruled that the adoption wasn't legal (Madonna's appeal will be heard on Monday), but if that's true, how was she able to adopt David Banda?

I'm not going to get into a debate about Malawian legal matters. I just think that it would be too bad if this little girl is forced to live in an orphanage when she could have moved into the lap of luxury. Especially if the only reason her dad came forward is because there were TV cameras around.

Source: BBC

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Is Madonna a Bad Parent?

SunnyChanel — Tue, 21 Apr 2009 17:00:00 GMT

Note to self – always get your personal chef to sign a confidentiality agreement. Madonna is learning this lesson the hard way. Eric Ienco, Madonna’s former chef and house manager, has publically spoken out and questioned the quality of the material girls’ maternal instincts.

The timing on this? Not so good. Madonna is currently attempting to adopt Mercy James from Malawi to join her adopted son David and son Rocco and daughter Lourdes.

In the revelations to the National Enquirer, Ienco claims that Madonna spends only about thirty minutes per day with the children. He stated, “that's why it's a puzzle she wants to adopt again. She's hardly ever with her children. She's got two full-time nannies and one part-time nanny. So why adopt a kid if somebody else is raising them?"

What is Madonna doing instead of hanging out with her three kids? Ienco tell the Enquirer that:

"She gets up and has a coffee, then she does two hours of yoga. Then there's two hours of Pilates and exercise. That's six days a week. After that, she deals with her e-mail, her calls and the rest of her business. And after that, she spends maybe half an hour with the kids. If Lourdes comes in and says, 'I want to see Mom,' she is told, 'She's doing yoga' - and Lourdes knows she can't disturb Mom. Madonna puts herself before her kids. When she adopted little David, he arrived at her home from Africa - and three hours later, she left to do Pilates. Wouldn't you think she'd want to spend the entire day with her new son?"

Along with her equestrian pursuits, beautification regimes, spiritual quest and being one of the most famous pop stars on the planet, it’s a wonder she’s even able to fit in just that 30 minutes of kid time a day.

What is the minimum amount of time do you think is acceptable to spend with the kids per day? And is Madonna a bad parent for not spending more time with her kids, even though she is providing for them in many other ways?

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Source

Does Madonna Spank Her Kids?

Brett Singer — Wed, 15 Apr 2009 01:00:00 GMT

Somewhat buried in the news about Madonna's adopted son David Banda meeting up with his biological father in Malawi was this little tidbit (this is David's dad Yohane talking about his chat with David):

He told me his mum likes riding horses and that he too rides horses. Then he told me a story when one day he and his brother, Rocco, rode horses and fell. He told me his mum spanked him because they are not supposed to ride horses on their own. (Emphasis added)

Whoa, Nellie! Hang on a minute. Madonna spanked him?

Well, maybe. When I first saw this, Shannon pointed out that sometimes little kids exaggerate. I've never hit either of my children but my oldest once informed someone that I had. Somewhat out of the blue, I might add. Luckily it was a person who was inclined to take my word for it (a relative). But if it had been a teacher, I don't know how that would have gone over.

Still, it's interesting to think about. Do you think Madonna spanks her kids? Or maybe she has the nanny do it? Or is David just a little kid exaggerating?

Source: PerezHilton

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Madonna Adoption Denied, Appeal Filed

Brett Singer — Sun, 05 Apr 2009 14:00:00 GMT

A Malawi court ruled on Friday that Madonna could not adopt 4-year-old Mercy James because she had not been a resident of the country for 18 months.

As my son sometimes says, "I didn't see that coming."

Why do I say that? Well, here's the thing. She already adopted a kid from Malawi. David Banda. Remember him? Cute kid, rides horses, visited his hometown with Madge so he could hang with his biological dad?

According to the Telegraph, the rule about adoptive parents being residents of Malawai for 18-24 months was waived back in 2006 to allow Madge to adopt David. Now a local judge is concerned about setting a "dangerous precedent" if she is allowed to adopt again.

Except that the precedent was already set! You let her do it before! When you train puppies, or discipline children, you try to be consistent. I know that's an oversimplification, but isn't it silly to talk about "dangerous precedents" when you already did the thing that you now say you are worried about?

That could be why Madonna has decided to appeal the ruling. I don't know much about the law, and I know even less about Malawian legal issues (to be fair, I probably know more about brain surgery than I do about Malawian legal issues), but it seems to me that she's got a pretty good case. Because they let her adopt David Banda in 2006. Did I mention that?

It's possible that the adoption was denied because of Madonna's recent divorce from Guy Ritchie. The Telegraph quotes a government official as saying that, "Our official policy is that we do not encourage our children to be sent into broken homes." Because being raised by a single parent is clearly much worse than living in an orphanage. Never mind the fact that this particular single parent is wealthier than most of the people on the planet. And while I agree in general with human rights groups who have been saying that "whisking a single child off to a fairytale lifestyle in Hollywood" is not the answer to the world's problems, it's also not the worst thing that could happen to a kid from an impoverished country. (It's also worth noting that Madonna lives in England, not Hollywood. But whatever.)

I should point out that this is not, in my opinion, a major issue in our world today. But everything Madonna does is news, and while I don't care much about her music (or her movies, which, except for "Desperately Seeking Susan" are considerable unwatchable), I have to give her credit for commanding attention with every move she makes. I'll also give her props for starting a charity, Raising Malawi, to help other orphans in Malawi. According to the Telegraph, "She has already built a multi-purpose community centre at Mphandula village, 30 miles from Lilongwe, which looks after more than 8,000 orphans from scores of villages in the area." That's a lot of kids. So, in the language of her adopted British homeland, good on ya, mate. (Or something like that.) Of course, as Shannon pointed out, it's fine for Angelina Jolie to adopt a kid every other week, but Madonna we have a problem with. That's another topic, but one worth mentioning.

What do you think? Should Madonna be allowed to adopt Mercy James?

Source: Telegraph

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What Do Madonna and Peanut Butter Have in Common?

JeanneSager — Tue, 31 Mar 2009 20:32:00 GMT

With the plight of children in Malawi back in the news (thanks Madge!), a little part of me hopes some extra attention will go the way of the groups working to help fight malnutrition in the poverty-stricken African country.

It's never boasted a pointy cone bra, but Project Peanut Butter is a trendsetter in its own right. Created by Mark Manary, M.D., a pediatrician at St. Louis Children's Hospital and a professor of pediatric medicine at Washington University School of Medicine, the non-profit has revolutionized feeding protocols for malnourished kids in Malawi.

The miracle drug? Peanut butter, a paste that's easy to swallow, rich in nutrients, high in protein and lipid dense. Dubbed "ready-to-use therapeutic food," peanut butter can be stored for months with no refrigeration without spoiling. It doesn't need to be cooked (so homes without gas or electric can use it). And it can be easily transported by truck to the rural villages of Malawi, where seventy percent of the children go hungry every day.

Until recently, twenty-three percent of children in the country died before their fifth birthdays (unless, of course, a mega-celebrity swooped in to rescue them). Thanks to Project Peanut Butter, that number is dropping.

Since most of us can't pull a Madonna, Project Peanut Butter accepts donations to help the kids.

Image: Project Peanut Butter

Morning News: Hormonal Women the Answer to Economic Recovery

Madeline Holler — Tue, 31 Mar 2009 13:00:00 GMT

Perhaps President Obama and his economic advisors have been thinking about this economic recovery all wrong. Instead of giving money and loans to banks and businesses, they should give it to the people who could really inject some cash into this economy: women. Specifically, hormonal women.

A new British study claims to show that women way overspend when they ovulate and that they do the real damage a week before their periods start. So one minute the gals are cranky and crampy, the next they're all "oh, look at those pretty shoes." We hate studies like this.

This will piss a (very) few premenstrual women off: "Guiding Light" is getting axed. The longest running soap opera (70 years if you count its run on the radio) just isn't attracting viewers like it once did. (Who knew it was even still on the air?)

Know what show isn't getting axed and has far more viewers than we'd even like to imagine? Glenn Beck's on FOX News. This guy is such a screaming, ranting, dangerous racist, it's unbelievable that he gets to have a TV show -- and suddenly, lots and lots of coverage (which, we realize, we're adding to here ...).

He probably even drives a Hummer, the vehicle that represents this most recent economic, carbon and car-size exuberance. The Hummer bubble has burst as well. The GM brand is searching for a buyer. Maybe the auto giant's now former CEO (fired by Obama ... yikes!) would be interested.

Other perks of the well-to-do, but this one isn't going away: buying one's way into college. In fact, it's now easier than ever for the college-bound with parents of means to get into fancy schools, even if they're crappy students, even if there's a waiting list a mile long for better students of lesser means. Ahhhh. Now that's some economic news we can wrap our minds around!

Here's what else money can buy: four-year-old Mercy Grace! She's the Malawian girl Madonna is trying to adopt. Folks in Malawi are being critical of this generous and entitled and well-meaning super star, so it looks like little Mercy will join the family later rather than sooner as a judge has delayed his decision.

Hundreds of school campuses in California are at-risk for outbreaks of childhood illnesses such as measles and mumps, according to the LA Times. Most of these schools are in more affluent areas, so yours truly is enjoying the breeze up here on the moral highground.

We would also like to share the best and worst shampoos, according to NBC's Today Show. Not surprisingly, what appeared to be a bar of soap made the worst list.

Oh, and fat babies are at risk for becoming fat toddlers. So get those chubberkins on a diet!

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Madonna/Angelina Dichotomy: Why is Adoption Okay for One Star but not the Other?

Shannon LC Cate — Sun, 29 Mar 2009 19:00:00 GMT

This is something I just don't get. Why is it that Angelina Jolie is supposed to be a saint for adopting children from poor countries while Madonna is criticized for same?

All the pros and cons of international adoption aside (it has well justified groups of both supporters and detractors), it seems that when Jolie swoops into a country and adopts a child, she is considered to be, well, some kind of Madonna, whereas when, er, Madonna goes to Malawi and adopts, leaving an NGO to support the entire country's children in her wake, she gets all kinds of push-back from the press who bother to ask international adoption critics what they think. For example, a UK charity, Save the Children spokesperson commenting on Madonna's plan to adopt a Malawian sister for David said "You cannot literally take every poor child who may only have one parent living, or no parent living, across the world and transport them all into Kensington in London. It's not a solution." Well, duh, hence Madonna's NGO.

I am awfully sympathetic to the view that that children should, whenever possible, stay in the countries and/or communities of their birth and be cared for by their own relatives or at least community members who share their cultural origins. I chose domestic open adoption to make sure my own kids would not lose contact with their biological and cultural origins. But I'm also sympathetic to the fact that Madonna, having adopted one child from Malawi, sees the need for him to have another member of his family share his background. I'm a transracially adoptive mother of two, (rather than one) for similar reasons.

There is some pretty good evidence that the orphanage where Jolie adopted son, Maddox, is corrupt in its practices, perhaps manufacturing "orphans" for lucrative international adoption placements. Madonna's adoption of son, David (who retains his original surname, Banda), was a case in which no one pretended the child didn't have living relatives--indeed he has a father who apparently visited David in the orphanage regularly and agreed to his adoption. Madonna has taken David to visit his biological father on several occasions since his adoption. In fact, she seems to be doing international adoption as well as it can be done.

Now mind you, I pity any child raised by a celebrity, regardless of how she ended up in the family. I can't imagine a much worse environment for a kid, except perhaps an orphanage--but even that would depend on the orphanage. I'm neither advocating, nor poo-pooing Jolie or Madonna's adopting ways. And I'm not a big fan of either of them. I simply don't understand why the media treats them so differently when it comes to their children.

Is it age? Madonna is fifty while Angelina is 30-something. Is it public image? I didn't think Jolie's celebrity identity was all that squeaky clean before she started having kids, am I wrong? Maybe people just don't like Madonna. Maybe they just like Jolie.

Then again, maybe the strong light cast on Madonna's first adoption, in which questions were raised about the biological father's consent and the laws of Malawi has allowed people to see the complexity of international adoption in a way that Jolie's less publicized adoption details do not. But the fact is that all adoption is fraught with controversial details and questions about what is truly in a child's best interest. All adoptions raise the spectral question of how to help all the children who are left in need, and not adopted; of how to help parents and communities keep their own children and raise them to healthy adulthood. No adoption is pure and uncomplicated. Not the purest, least complicated one. Madonna deserves no more criticism than I do, or than any adoptive parent does. But all members of wealthy societies--adoptive parents or otherwise--need to take a look at their own culpability in perpetuating systems and governments that render some parents and children so desperate that adoption becomes their best option.

UPDATE: A-Roid Admits It

Brett Singer — Tue, 10 Feb 2009 04:00:00 GMT

UPDATE: A-Rod (A-Roid, A-Fraud - I still like The Rod, but it's not sticking yet) has admitted to ESPN's Peter Gammons that, you know, he did it. Children everywhere are... actually, I don't think children care about this at all.

When I was a young Yankee fan, my guy was Reggie Jackson. All I cared about was how he played. Granted, it was a different time, but despite all of the posturing from commentators I don't think kids care much about whether or not The Rod was juicing. Maybe I'm wrong.

Original post follows:

*-*-*

SI.com is reporting that Alex Rodriguez, whom I usually refer to as "The Rod", tested positive for two different anabolic steroids, Primobolan and testosterone, back in 2003. (Make up your own joke about Alex taking testosterone.)

What does this have to do with parenting? Well, somewhat like the Plaxico Burress gun incident ("Safety? What's a safety?"), kids who are into sports, and even those that aren't, will hear this news. What do you tell them? If you go with the "tut-tut" sanctimony of Major League Baseball and the seemingly endless parade of columnists and talk show hosts, then you have to tell them that The Rod is a big fat cheater. That's the word that has been assigned to steroid users. Cheaters. At least it’s a word that even little kids understand. You know, because it's childish.

If you want to go with a calmer explanation, you could say that The Rod made a mistake and we don't have all the facts yet. (Probably better to call him A-Rod, since I'm the only one that calls him The Rod.) Columnist Chris Ballard says that "All of A-Rod's achievements, past and future, will be tainted." First of all, what if the report was wrong? I'm not saying it was, but sometimes reporters, sources or no, make mistakes. Also, we're slamming the guy for doing something that may not even be against the law because he "tainted" the "purity" of baseball. That seems like a pretty bad message to send to kids, frankly.

Ultimately, baseball is a game. Professional baseball, like all professional sports, is a business. In recent years it has become a huge business, one that allows someone like The Rod to earn almost $30 million in one year. That's just his salary, by the way. He probably made a lot more in endorsements, autograph signings, and other things. Sports figures are no longer on the same playing field as the rest of us, if they ever were. (Pun unintended.) Kids should be allowed to enjoy the game without the braying sanctimony of adults who appear desperate to believe that baseball is more important than it is. Sports can bring great enjoyment to fans young and old. When you try to pretend that these people are something more than human, any fall from grace will be a huge disappointment.

For the record, I am a lifelong Yankee fan and I never liked The Rod. (Give me Scott Brosius any day of the week.) I also don't much care about steroids. I think Major League Baseball helped create this problem by preferring profits to players' health; there were multiple times when guys were obviously juiced up and no one said anything about it, sanctimonious commentators included. And I never thought I'd say this, but I'm a little bit glad that my son isn't a big baseball fan. Explaining Plaxico's gun was easier than this will be.

Image/Source: SI.com

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As the Cookie Crumbles: Losing the Baby Weight is Easy, Fun!

Madeline Holler — Tue, 03 Feb 2009 15:30:00 GMT

Here's my problem with taking diet and fitness tips from trainers of the stars: how hard could it be to make Gwyneth Paltrow skinny? I mean, she's skinny. Where's the magic? As for whipping Madonna into shape, has she ever NOT been in shape? When you're the personal trainer of these women, you can pretty much mail it in.

And so it is that I'm annoyed with Cookie magazine's February "Smart Cookie/Mother of Invention" Tracy Anderson. We're supposed believe in her because Madonna and Gwyneth pay her to work out with them. And if that's not enough, Anderson herself is a testament to her fitness secrets. Problem is, her personal story is rather frightening:

After inhaling milkshakes and chocolate and packing on 60 pounds during her pregnancy, Anderson followed her own program. She was wearing smaller clothes than ever ... SIX WEEKS LATER.

Maybe I'm in denial -- I'm eight weeks post-partum and still in my fat pants -- but that's 10 pounds a week. If Anderson didn't give birth to a water buffalo and lose 40 pounds overnight, I'm thinking that's some pretty drastic weight loss and the article should include the fine print on Slim Fast ads: results not typical.

Experts? You tell me.

Anderson doesn't exactly share her hot-mom-workout secrets, as the headline promises (Hot Mama Workout," states the cover; "learn the secrets ..." goes the sub-hed). You'll have to get her DVD for details.

Looking back: I was on blogger maternity leave for six weeks -- so corporate! -- and I didn't have a chance to congratulate Cookie on a pretty fabulous December/January issue. I'm totally serious.

On the cover was the lovely and relatable (in print, at least) mom Brooke Shields. She talks about the challenges of living on opposite coasts from her husband, which leaves her as a single mom most of the time. The girls stay with her in New York, where, in addition to going to preschool meetings and tucking them in every night, she shoots her TV series "Lipstick Jungle" [Update: um, delicately put, that juggle just got a whole lot easier. The show has been canceled.] and manages to do one of the worst of all parenting deeds: play My Little Pony with her girls.

The issue's take-away piece is family movie night recommendations, complete with flow chart that combines purpose, dinner and the personality you most resembled in high school to spit out a rental you and the kids will love!

Best of all, there's a reading list of a personal favorite, the fabulously smart and funny and sysiphean Sandra Tsing Loh.

4 Ways Birth and Breastfeeding Will Ruin Sex

Cole Gamble — Mon, 26 Jan 2009 16:29:00 GMT

Okay, I’m a guy so I don’t have much to input about sex after birth from a woman perspective. Personally I’m for it and really down with pregnancy sex. Too personal? Okay. Men, however, worry about what sex will be like after the big show. And this can also differ quite a bit due to the form of birth: c-section or front door. I am familiar with the Madonna Complex: when a man watches the baby comes out of his wife’s vagina he has a hard time seeing said vagina as a sexual object, instead viewing it more like a mommy tool or portal (and not a sexy portal either).

But a guy’s perspective isn’t going to help you, as it turns out many women lose their desire for sex after birth too.

So for the lady’s perspective, we turn to Hilda Hutcherson, M.D., gynecologist and author of What Your Mother Never Told You about Sex. Hilda cites four main culprits for less sex after birth, some physical, some emotional.

#1 Prolactin

When a woman breastfeeds her body boosts her prolactin levels. Prolactin is a hormone that kills your sex drive. For some reason your body does not want you having sex while your breastfeeding. Could it be a way of nature telling you to wait on making another baby until the first one is a little older? Whatever the case, as long as you breastfeed you won’t have desire to knock boots, so says Dr. Hilda.

#2 Mommy on the Brain

Now that you are a mother your focus switches off your relationship with your partner and onto your relationship with your baby. Taking on the role of mommy, you may stop seeing yourself as a sexual being.

#3 Bad Body Image

You probably saw this one coming. Many of you feel funky about your post birth body. Things got stretched out; baby weight is still hanging around. No matter how much your partner tells you you’re desirable, you just can’t believe it.

#4 Fatigue

Yep, babies are freaking exhausting. Hell, two year-olds are really exhausting. And when you’re that exhausted a vigorous romp is the furthest thing from your mind.

What do you think? Is Dr. Hilda full of crap and are you post-birth ladies getting it on with no problems?

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Babble Podcast for December 15, 2008

Brett Singer — Tue, 16 Dec 2008 13:12:00 GMT

Here is the seventh Babble Podcast.

You can either listen right here

or download the MP3 file by clicking here.

On today's episode:

1.    Quick news update:
       - Shoes thrown at the President. It's not funny. Well, it was a little funny. And strange.
       - Big time fraud report: Bernard L. Madoff, Marc S. Dreier, and Rod Blagojevich.
         Rod isn't really a fraud case, I guess. But it fits.

2. The Week in Blog
- Kid hangs with an orangutan, a medic alert bracelet that's fashionable, Kerri Russel stripping.Well, not stripping exactly. Strips down. Whatever, just listen.

3. Comment of the Week
- Can we tie Rod Blagojevich to Obama? No? Can we try?

4. The Last Word
- Memo to McCain supporters: he lost. Obama won. Election's over. Deal with it.

Notes on this podcast:

Songs parodied:

- Hey There Delilah, Plain White T's

Just the one this week, but it is an epic tale of true love between a New York Yankee third baseman and one of the most popular pop stars of all time. Both of whom have young kids and should probably stop being so irritating in the public eye. All the time.

Posts mentioned:

Toddler Befriends an Orphaned Baby Orangutan

Bronx, Zuma Don't Make Top 2008 Baby Names List

A Guy’s Take on Stay at Home Moms and Dads (Part 1: The Cons)

Babysitter Made Pornographic Film With 2 Year Old

Students Watch Autopsy of Teen From School

Sweet Angel Child's Bracelet

Stuffed Alphabet Set

Stylish Medical Alert Bracelet

Details: Keri Russell Strips Down

Confirmed: She's Pregnant!

Kate Winslet Keeps Nude Scenes Real

Morning news: What's the Matter with Illinois?

Half Price Toys at Target

Movie Review – "Delgo"

Announce Your New Addition With Panties: Male Perspective

New Zealand Girl Treated Successfully With Cord Blood

Rite Aid Says They Will Stop Selling Expired Baby Products

Past Podcasts:

Babble Podcast for December 8, 2008

Babble Podcast for November 24, 2008

Babble Podcast for November 17, 2008

Best of FameCrawler: Week of December 5th

Whit Honea — Fri, 05 Dec 2008 21:00:00 GMT

Tom Cruise Has Creepy Ideas

What's In Christina Aguilera's Locket?

A-Rod Cheating on Madonna With Melissa Britos? (Photos)

Matthew McConaughey Going Bongo in Brazil

Britney's Hidden Messages: Bringing New Meaning To The Term 'MILF'

MC Breed Has Died

Gwen Stefani and the Men in Her Life - Photos

Jennifer Hudson's Brother-In-Law Arrested For Murder Of Family

NBC is Pissed: Britney Cancels Performance at Last Second

Clay Aiken is a Push-Over

From Fat To Fab: Ricki Lake Lost 140 Pounds!

Guess Which Gossip Girl Is Pregnant?

Alex Rodriguez Writing Love Poems To Madonna

Brett Singer — Mon, 17 Nov 2008 19:00:00 GMT

Ah, The Rod. He makes it almost too easy.

The New York Post, along with every other media outlet on the planet, reports that The Rod has found his muse. No, it's not Derek Jeter. It's Madonna. He's writing her (hang on, I need to stop laughing… OK. OK, I'm back.) love poems.

What must that sound like?

madonna
I am in love with u
I am intrigued by all the things that u do
please teach me how I can be a better jew
madonna

Love, Alex

I've said it before, and I'll say it again – oy vey.

Now, to be serious for a minute, both Madonna and The Rod need to calm down. I don't really care if they're dating. OK, I care a little bit, since I enjoy making fun of The Rod, and as a Yankee fan, I would greatly prefer it if he concentrated more on PLAYING BASEBALL than on whatever the hell he's up to off the field. But both of these people have young children. Madonna's daughter Lourdes is old enough read the papers, and so is her son Rocco. Why would you want to put your kids through this crap?

There's always the chance that Madonna has, in fact, lost her mind. According to various sources (including our very own Famecrawler), Madonna instituted strict rules for when daddy Guy Ritchie has the kids. For example:

Their hands should be regularly cleaned with disinfectant spray if they are in public places.
They should not be bought toys that are spiritually or ethically unsound.
Guy should not discuss the separation with them.
All water they drink, even when it is to dilute organic juice, should be Kabbalah water.

I bet Halloween at her house is real fun. Maybe too much publicity is the least of these kids' problems.

Source: NY Post (also image), Famecrawler

Rocco Ritchie wears Yankee shirt, Guy Ritchie weeps

Madonna Rules The Roost From Across The Pond

The Obamas wear cheap clothes

Madonna Pisses Off Guy, Pulls Lourdes Out of School

Why Are The Grown Up Costumes For Women So Slutty?

Another non news photo

The Candy That Time Forgot

Is Sarah Palin the next Oprah?

More Bad Halloween Costumes for Kids

The Smurfs Turn 50

Jay Thomas Reunites With Out of Wedlock Son

Sarah Palin Gets Pranked By Canadian Radio Hosts – Video

Best of FameCrawler: Week of November 14th

Whit Honea — Fri, 14 Nov 2008 21:00:00 GMT

John Travolta Bald With Love

Who Is Barack Obama? 50 Things You Didn't Know

Will.I.Am: It's a New Day (Video)

Watch Out For Your Soul, Britney: Madonna's HUNGRY

Secret Message in Taylor Swift Lyrics: Pregnant or Not, She's Really Pissed

Rihanna Pregnant With Chris Brown's Baby?

Photos: First Daughter Sasha Obama

Caylee Anthony Remains Found?

Remember The Pregnant Man? He's Knocked Up Again!

Will Smith, Oprah and Obama: The Crying Game (Video)

It's Sunday Rose On Oprah

Presidential Perks for Obama Kids

Best of FameCrawler: Week of October 31st

Whit Honea — Fri, 31 Oct 2008 20:00:00 GMT

Photos: Matilda Rose Ledger Turns 3!

Michael Jackson Is Flat Broke

The Hudson Family Tragedy

Isiah Thomas: My Kid Needs Help, Not Me

Travis Barker's Burn Pics

Jennifer Hudson's Family Confirmed Murdered; Nephew Kidnapped

Matt Damon Takes an Acting Break

I Guess It's Over: Madonna Set to Bury Guy's Memory. Literally.

Barack Obama Variety Show on SNL - Video!

This Just In- Jon Stewart Having Campbell Browns Baby

Suri Cruise Has A Private Gym!

"GI Baby" Finally Meeting Dad After Sixty-Three Years

JeanneSager — Tue, 28 Oct 2008 21:32:00 GMT

Sixty-three years and an ocean separate them, but the English daughter of an American GI is finally going to meet her dad.

Heather Pearson was one of the tens of thousands of babies born to American soldiers serving overseas during World War II. Her mother was swept up in a whirlwind courtship with Private George Rish, married in March 1944 and became pregnant with Heather. Then Rish was called up to the front lines.

When the war ended, he called for his wife to join him in America, but passions had cooled. Heather's mom, Mary, decided to stay put in England. The couple divorced, and agreed not to contact each other again. You've got to hand it to them, they handled themselves with a lot more grace and decorum than Madonna and Guy. But what about their daughter?

Heather grew up with her mom, stepfather and a host of half-siblings. Her only link to her father was a faded black and white wedding photograph until an American cousin contacted her over the summer. The cousin, Dena, said her mother was George Rish's sister. Her mom had been looking for George's daughter for years, and when she died, Dena took up the cause. Rish, who is now 87, says he didn't have the resources to look for his daughter. Remarried after he returned from the war, he adopted a daughter with his second wife. Like Heather's mom, he made a new life.

Heather says she doesn't have any problems with that, never even really thought about her "real" dad until her own husband passed away. With her two children grown and parents themselves, she started to feel lonely. She made a few failed attempts at searching for her father on the internet, but came up short until Dena bridge the gap across the pond. She'll fly to the states next week to meet her dad. In the days leading up to the trip, she told the London Daily Mail she's both excited and overwhelmed.

It's one of those "wow, the wonders of the internet" stories, and one with a happy ending. Still, I'm a little sad for Heather. Her parents' dying flame kept her from ever knowing a part of herself. Joint custody battles are rough, but there's a reason they happen every day. Back in those days intercontinental flights were likely cost-prohibitive and overseas phone calls a rare treat, but couldn't some accommodation have been made for your child's sake? Was this simply the result of a different era, or another example of selfish parenting?

Image: Daily Mail

Brooklyn School Librarian Almost Loses Job For Being Too Proud of His Kid

Moms From Two Countries Bond Over Shared Sperm Donor

Jay Tomas Reunites With Out of Wedlock Son

Is Mandy Moore Being a Homophobe or a Normal Daughter?

Opposing Same-Sex Fostercare and Adoption: It's Not Just for John McCain Anymore

Rocco Ritchie wears Yankee shirt, Guy Ritchie weeps

Brett Singer — Thu, 23 Oct 2008 21:00:00 GMT

This is just silly.

Us Magazine is reporting that Guy Ritchie, who is divorcing Madonna and had NO PRE-NUP, is freaking out because his son was wearing a Yankee shirt.

"He's actually been crying over it," says the source on the set of Ritchie's upcoming drama 'Sherlock Holmes'. "He's in a terrible state but is doing his best to be on form at work."

The insider tells Us Ritchie "cannot believe" Madonna would let their son wear the shirt, given the fact that her close relationship with the slugger played a role in their contentious divorce.

Look. If it were a Mets shirt, or a (shudder) RED SOX shirt, I could understand Guy getting all worked up. But the Yankees? The most storied franchise in sports history? Come on.

On a slightly more serious note, if this report from an "insider" is true (who are these people who call tabloids at the drop of a hat?), what a self-centered bozo. He's off directing a major film, the Material Mom is on tour screaming about Sarah Palin, and his son is being raised by who knows who. The shirt? That's what he's worrying about?

As for A-Rod – sorry, THE Rod – he apparently attended Yom Kippur services with Madonna and her children. (Aside: next time you are with Madge, ask her what meshugeh ahf toit means. It's important.) This is because the Yankees aren't playing in October. Just wanted to point that out. ALEX. FOCUS.

Source: US

Guy Ritchie Already Found Somebody Else

UPDATE: Jon Stewart says "F*** All Y'All"

The Obamas wear cheap clothes

Another non news photo

Santa Claus says: Smoke More

Sarah Palin on SNL for real

New Obama Cabinet Position: Oprah as the Secretary of Feel-Good?

Is a happy ending massage cheating?

Should DirecTV Go Around Reincarnating Dead Child Stars?

Magic Garden out on DVD

Missing Teen's Dad Blames Xbox Game Call of Duty

Bill Murray asks about the Cubs

Disney movie to feature black princess

Will Madonna Have a Baby With A-Rod?

JeanneSager — Mon, 20 Oct 2008 00:43:00 GMT

She's divorcing her husband (and natural father of one of her kids), accusing him of saying she looked like a "granny," but Madonna says she's ready to have another child. With New York Yankees star Alex Rodriguez.

Say what? OK, try to keep up people.

A-Rod and Madonna denied they were having an affair back in July when he and wife Cynthia split. Rumors swirled Madonna and husband Guy Ritchie were splitting then, but they insisted it was all speculation. Fast forward to this month and, surprise, surprise, Madonna and Guy are getting a divorce (shocking, I know). Oh, and she allowed herself to be seen in public with Stray-Rod. Now Guy's dad is calling her beastly, her adopted son's father says she's not doing a good job parenting his kid, and the Daily Mail of London says she's ready (at 50) to have Alex's baby. Phewww.

That would make Madonna mom to four (five if you count the daughter she's in the process of adopting from Malawi) and Rodriguez a father of three. Setting aside the fact that she's 50 and might not be able to conceive (the material girl's got the money to make medical miracles happen people), does she really think this is the best parenting move? She's got three kids who have had to endure publicity of their births, clothes, and mother's sex life (very graphic sex life), and now she wants to add a baby brother or sister into the mix? With a guy she's dated for, oh, four months (sorry, I don't believe for a second that they were "just friends" back in July)?

Or is this just more Madonna, pushing everything over the borderline?

Image: New York Post (Madonna at a Yankees game with son David)

New Mom is 60, New Dad is Blind - And That's The Least of Their Worries

Angelina Buys Her Kid a Knife. What's Next, Maddox Jolie, Tomb Raider?

Lindsay Lohan Wants to Adopt, At Least She Won't be Passing on the Genes

Biological Father of Madonna's Adopted Son Very Concerned

Hannah Tennant-Moore — Sun, 19 Oct 2008 20:30:00 GMT

Yohana Banda, the biological father of Madonna’s adopted son David, is very worried about the boy's happiness. Although Banda and his second wife live simply in a thatched hut in Malawi, he thinks that three-year-old David may be happier living with him than with the most famous woman in the world.

Banda put David up for adoption after his first wife, David’s biological mother, died from complications in childbirth. He hoped that David would have a better life in the U.S., but, he says, “Now I see him in a big bewildering crowd in the street with people pushing and shoving, and many cameras around, and without a mother and father to hold his hand. I’m feeling bad for him.”

Madonna’s divorce from Guy Ritchie has strengthened Banda’s concerns about David’s welfare. “This is a new and terrible thing to happen to him. I am too upset to think clearly,” Banda said.

Although this is clearly a unique case, Banda's concern raises interesting questions about the rights of biological parents to be involved in their children’s lives after adoption. Naturally, Banda cannot know what David’s private family life is really like without personal contact from Madonna. Do you think Madonna has an obligation to reassure Banda of David’s happiness, or are her family’s decisions none of his business?

Photo: Celebpick's Weblog

Morning News: McCain's Best Debate, But ...

Madeline Holler — Thu, 16 Oct 2008 13:00:00 GMT

On the one hand, last night's presidential debate -- the third and, can you believe it, final -- was John McCain's best. He got off a couple of zingers ("if you wanted to run against George Bush, you should have run four years ago"), used "air quotes" effectively (if you respond to that kind of thing, which we do), he introduced the personal story of a plumber/entrepeneur Joe to good effect, he actually looked at his opponent, smiled, shook hands vigorously.

He even said "good job" at the end of the night.

Yet ... yet. John McCain came across uncomfortable, tightly wound and also ... as a bit doddering.

McCain returned to Joe the Plumber one too many times. He said Obama voted against Stephen Breyer for Supreme Court justice when he meant Samuel Alito. One set of air quotes mocked a women's health exception for abortion. And he seemed to be saying, there at the end, that Sarah Palin's son was special needs because of autism (goes without saying, it's Down syndrome). Sadly for McCain, never before have we heard such convincing arguments from Obama that Ayers means nothing to him or his campaign. John McCain made that happen.

No surprise then that the markets are betting big on Obama.

But Karl Rove says that Obama still hasn't closed the deal, while acknowledging that if McCain indeed wins the election, it will be the most impressive comeback ever.

If you're stressed at all about the long-term effect of the financial markets meltdown, don't read this. Those recessions you remember after the tech bubble burst and following 9/11 were nothing compared to what's really in store.

The good news? If you've been saving to buy a home -- and for some reason resisted funky loan offers -- prices are still falling and will likely continue through 2009 and beyond.

Know who won't get hit with hard times? TV characters! Here's the reality check on what TV's favorite people would make in real life.

Real-life TV people David Duchovny and Tea Leoni are splitting up. Seems his sex addiction got in the way of their relationship. (At least Madonna and Guy Ritchie won't feel so alone.)

Here's something many a divorcee or dumpee can vouch for: losing a partner makes you depressed. Meanwhile, bonding with one releases a loyalty chemical.

Child development experts say parents who go on all those nanny shows aren't being loyal to their children. They say these programs, which showcase kids at their absolute worst, invade children's privacy and may cause long-term harm.

Don't tell Sarah Palin but a fish fossil discovered in northern Canada gives clues to patterns in evolution. And that's really all we have for Daily Palin, except that Barack Obama wouldn't say she's qualified to be president and John McCain still can't say how. OK fine, we have this little gem too: she denies that she's ever been negative about her running mate's opponent. Because if there's one thing we all want said about us it's that we pal around with terrorists! Does she listen to herself, like, ever? Oops. Last bit: she's pretty much lost all credibilty at back home in Alaska.

Finally, a speedy recovery to Nancy Reagan. She at the hospital recovering from a broken pelvis. Think she watched the debates? Or Nanny 911?

Photo: MSNBC.com

Best of FameCrawler: Week of October 10th

Whit Honea — Fri, 10 Oct 2008 20:00:00 GMT

Totally Biased Political Post Containing Cute Kids and Stuff (Video)

New Video & Photos: Angelina Jolie and Kids

Katie Holmes Tells Tom- I'm Leaving

Congrats, Emma! You Endured Pain In Childbirth! JOIN THE CLUB.

Bigot Bridget Bardot Mouths Off About Sarah Palin

Tina Fey is Sarah Palin on SNL: VP Debate (VIDEO)

Mark Wahlberg Talks to the Animals on SNL (VIDEO)

Ricky Schroder Talks About Son's Accident

Madonna Scares Me

The Truth About Angelina Jolie

JLo: I Had A Nervous Breakdown

John McCain Bingo!

Happy Birthday Madonna! Now That's a Multitasking Mom...

SunnyChanel — Sat, 16 Aug 2008 16:38:00 GMT

The day has come, the day we’ve all been waiting for, the day that Madonna, the mother of pop, turns the big 50. She has graced our planet with a half a century of songs, style and scandal (hello A-Rod!). With three kids in tow, you know she’ll celebrate this bench mark in some totally over the top fabulous fashion, although a twisted ankle may delay the real blow out until later in the month.

But all I can think is that her three kids can say that their mom goes by just one name, was once married to Sean Penn, went on a date with Michael Jackson, likes to kiss girls, hitchhiked naked, wore a cone bra, can do the that crazy pretzel yoga pose, channeled Evita, sold about 63 million records and has time to raise three kids, get all spiritual with hot Kaballah action and can piss off the Catholic church and Pepsi at the same time. I’m lucky if my kids can remember I can make a mean meatloaf. C’est la vie.

Best of FameCrawler: Week of July 25th

Whit Honea — Fri, 25 Jul 2008 20:00:00 GMT

Pregnant Man Shares Baby Photos & Baby Name

Angie and Brad Couldn't Get It Done on Their Own?

Mindy McCready: Miscarriage?

What is Wrong With Katie Holmes?

2008 Emmy Nominations: Five Drama Mamas

Sex Tape: A-Rod and Madonna!

Maggie Gyllenhaal on Letterman- He Wishes

Jennifer Garner's Baby Bump: She's Pregnant Alright

Bob Geldof's Daughter Peaches' Drug Overdose

Brad Pitt Pulls A Britney

Jennifer Aniston, Oh So Gracious

Ashlee Simpson's C-Section