Strollerderby : New York

Morning News - Palm Pre Launch Date Announced

Brett Singer — Wed, 20 May 2009 13:00:00 GMT

This is important to a lot of people, although it isn't IMPORTANT in the way that, say, something important is important. Know what I mean? Anyway, the long awaited, much hyped, and often blogged about Palm Pre will be available for our greedy little fingers on... timpani, please... June 6. Of this year. What's a Palm Pre, you ask? A new cell phone that may or may not be better than the iPhone:

If you want the phone you'll have to sign up for Sprint, which could be a deal breaker for me. I had Sprint for home phone service in college, and they used to do the following: send a bill every two months, then charge late fees because I was a month late. This happened for a year until I finally switched to something else. (This was back before everyone had a cell phone, and land lines were more important. Thus endeth the history lesson.) I realize this was not, as they say, last Tuesday, but from what I've heard, Sprint's service is still only so-so. So... we'll see.

Now, on to really really REALLY important news -- "Ghostbusters 3" may start filming this Winter, according to Dan Aykroyd. According to the L.A. Times and Entertainment Weekly,"the franchise film is expected to feature a 'new generation' of ghostbusters." So its like the new "Star Trek." Well, more like the new "Get Smart." Which isn't nearly as cool, but I guess it's OK. My kids loved the first movie, as do I of course, but I doubt this new one will be any good. Money, though, it will make. You heard it here first. In a semi-related story, wrestler John Cena quoted the original film recently, saying "It's chaos, the sky will fall. Cats and dogs living together." Not an exact quote, but pretty close. That will likely be the only time you will ever see me talk about "pro" wrestling in Morning News. I promise.

Anyone else think that the state of California is just plain weird? Not to be a judgmental New Yorker, but it seems like there's always something wacky going on way out West. For example: "California voting on budget crisis measures," sayeth CNN. Again, not saying everything on the East Coast is peaches and cream. But we rarely have mudslides, and we don't have ballot propositions. Also, our governor has never played Mr. Freeze in a movie. "It's going to be a cold time on the old town tonight." Really, Arnold? Really?

Michael Steele, the head of the Republican National Committee, wants fellow GOPers to "attack" President Obama more often. Classy. Steele, who publicly apologized to Rush Limbaugh back in March, also said that "Obama's first several months [were] 'a reign of error'" and "that the Republican 'renaissance has begun.'" Not to be partisan, but how do you figure? Even a Republican friend of mine -- OK, it's my dentist -- said that we've got to give Obama more than a few months before we decide what kind of job he's doing. Seems reasonable to me. Of course, one person's "reasonable" is another person's "wimpy."

Speaking of President Obama, some people are not letting his spech at Notre Dame go without a fight, or at least a lot of fire and brimstone. Father Jonathan Morris is very upset at the President, and at Notre Dame for giving him an honorary degree. Because really, when you think about it, the biggest problem in the world today is the fact that our Democratically elected President believes that abortion, which is already legal, should stay legal. What a radical.

Remember Abduwali Abdukhadir Muse? Doesn't ring any bells? He was the kid -- they think he's a teenager, so I can call him a kid -- from Somalia who was caught and charged with piracy. PIRACY. Not downloading "Wolverine" piracy. Not fun Johnny Depp "argh, Mateys" piracy. ACTUAL piracy. On the high seas. Crazy. He's in New York now (I guess we do have some weird stuff here) and has been indicted on charges 10 counts, "including piracy and conspiracy to seize a ship by force and to take hostages," according to the New York Times. What must be going through his mind? Doesn't speak the language, probably only sort of knows what the heck is happening. Very odd.

Last but not least, a nice little NYC story. A newspaper seller was handed an envelope with $1000 cash in it. There was also a note that said, "From Chris and George." The paperman, Jerome Kabore (pictured above), has no idea who Chris and George are. He started wearing a sign that says "Thank you so much Chris and George," just in case whoever it is comes back. Read the whole story here, it's nice.

Morning News - Astronauts Watch Star Trek In Space

Homebirthing Advocate's Baby Dies During Homebirth

Mom Puts 9 Year Old Girl On Craigs List For Revenge

Boy Accidentally Shoots Self With Forgotten Gun

Five-Year-Old Runs Away Via NYC Subway

Hannah Tennant-Moore — Tue, 14 Apr 2009 19:00:00 GMT

A five-year-old boy had quite a nerve-wracking adventure yesterday, after he slipped away from his mother while she was buying coffee near a subway station in the Bronx. The mother and son were just underneath an elevated (as opposed to underground) station, which perhaps accounts for a bit of the boy’s alarming impulsiveness—there’s nothing romantic about walking down into the city’s steaming bowels, even for a kid.

As his mother paid for her coffee, the five-year-old sprinted up the stairs to the platform, slipped under a turnstile, and boarded a Manhattan-bound train, all before his mother knew where he’d gone. She immediately alerted authorities, who were unable to locate the boy until he had ridden the 1 train to its final stop in Manhattan—that’s 34 stops.

Little Samuel Sosa was not harmed, thank goodness, but I certainly hope he has exhausted his interest in running away. Whatever he might have thought about the train as he saw it wheezing into the station from below, an hourlong train ride to an unknown destination could not have been all that magical for a tiny boy.

His mother said she thought that the police response was “good and fast.” No word on what she thought about the hundreds of New Yorkers who were completely unfazed by a five-year-old hanging out alone on a subway car.

Photo: community.livejournal.com

Morning News -- Layoffs and Vampires Edition

Brett Singer — Fri, 27 Mar 2009 13:00:00 GMT

Friday, Friday, Friday! Let's get to it, people.

"Obama to Set Benchmarks in Fight Against Militants." So sayeth the New York Times. What's that conversation like? "Have we found Osama Bin Laden? No? Okay, what else you got?" Another headline from the Times: "Pakistani and Afghan Taliban Unify in Face of U.S. Influx." Oh goody. Sounds fun. Not.

Here in North America, it's layoffs, layoffs and more layoffs -- Google (200 people laid off), the New York Times (100 people laid off and most remaining employees taking a 5 percent pay cut), and the Canadian Broadcasting Company (800 jobs cut, hoping to sell some assets). Google? Really? That's not good.

Speaking of Canada ("C'mon, say 'about' one more time. Please?"), Garth Drabinsky was finally found guilty. Drabinsky was the head of Livent, the producer of the Broadway shows 'Ragtime' and 'Kiss of the Spider Woman.' I admit that I was somewhat giddy to read news of Drabinsky's legal demise; I used to work in theater and was fascinated by the brazen way he left the United States to avoid prosecution. Apparently Garth and his co-hort Myron Gottlieb pulled a Max Bialystock and kept two sets of books -- one fiction, one non. What I've never completely understood about schemes like this is why they keep them both. Wouldn't it make more sense to only keep the fake books? I don't want to give anyone ideas or anything. No word on whether or not Garth is wearing a cardboard belt. (I hope someone gets that reference.) Amazingly, Garth has been appearing on a Canadian reality show called "Triple Sensation" where he and some other people "look for young stars who can sing, act and dance." But not add. That's not needed. Despite Garth's conviction, there will be a season 2. I might need to find that show. (If you want to know the whole saga of Garth, click here.)

If you live in New York and ride public transportation, prepare to pay more. The MTA voted for a big fare increase and cuts in service. Hey, at least it's green.

Speaking of New York, Mayor Michael Bloomberg has resorted to quoting Popeye the Sailor. Desperate times call for desperate measures.

By the way, if anyone didn't know what I meant when I referred to funny car radio ads, here's an example. Except that this ad is for church. "Sunday! Sunday! Sunday!" Seriously. Check it out. Consider this your "Moment of Zen", Daily Show style.

And speaking of Comedy Central: I like Stephen Colbert, but naming a space station after him is stupid. The faux-conservative's fans "stuffed the virtual ballot box with 230,539 write-in votes, overriding the four official choices NASA offered," according to Wired.com. NASA can change their mind, but why did they put themselves in this position? Not exactly rocket scientists over there, are they? Oh. Oh! Never mind.

Finally, a fun little item from Gawker. Students at the Boston Latin School have been spreading rumors that the prestigious institute of pre-higher learning is infested with vampires. According to MTV.com, "The headmaster [had become] concerned that some students' safety might be jeopardized, particularly if they were accused of being members of the undead." (Maybe private school doesn't always offer the best education.) Police were called. Parents were alarmed. But school officials promised that it's not true. Then they turned into bats and flew away. (Note: They didn't really turn into bats. Although the rest of the story, as far as I know, is true.)

Thanks for joining me on Morning News the past two weeks. I'll be handing things back over to Madeline, but will continue to do a daily round-up of newsy goodness at DaddyTips.com. Have a great weekend, don't take any wooden nickels.

Image: SXC

Husband Loses Job, Wife Loses Respect For Him

UPDATE - Josef Fritzl Sentenced To Life In Psychiatric Institution

Oprah Gets It Right On Chris Brown

Soldier Gives Birth At Army Barracks

Heath Ledger's Daughter Gets His Oscar

The Dr. Phil And OctoMom Show

Lock in Your Kid's College Price NOW

JeanneSager — Fri, 06 Mar 2009 20:01:00 GMT

If Republican lawmakers in New York have their way, parents of kids as young as, well, as young as possible, could lock in now the price they'll pay eighteen years down the road for college tuition.

The twist? Your kid will have to attend a state or city school.

State lawmakers have proposed a pre-pay tuition program, which will allow parents with kids fourteen and younger to buy "credits," at today's tuition rate that will be redeemable when their kids go to college.

It's tempting. Tuition is ever-increasing. According to the most recent estimates from the College Board, families paid on average from $108 to $1,398 more for the 2008-09 school year tuition and fees than they did for 2007-08. They even have a handy dandy tuition cost projector on their site to really freak you out.

But my kid is three. I have no idea if she'll want to attend a State University of New York school in fifteen years. Who says she'll even want to stay IN the State of New York? What if she goes private? Or follows my husband's footsteps and attends college online? It seems a little unfair to lock her in to an institution she won't necessarily be happy attending for the sake of a little savings. True, the plan says families would get a full refund, but imagine the guilt trips on these kids: "Well, I saved all this money, and I had it all tied up in the state for fourteen years when I could have had it in an interest-bearing account, and now look what you went and did? So ungrateful . . ."

OK, a lot of savings. But that's what they make scholarships for (as my colleague Brett pointed out, Harvard is offering full rides to smart kids - some of them anyway). And loans - they worked for our president, why can't they work for our kids? Or maybe - and I'm just spit-balling here - the state lawmakers could instead see fit to work on shaving the cost of tuition so it can be affordable for every family and level the playing field for the poor and middle class families?

Image: SayEducate

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

Do Your Kids Watch The Super Bowl?

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Pittsburgh Schools Open Late Day After Super Bowl

Is The Peanut Allergy Scare Overblown?

Octuplet Mom Wants TV Career

Babble Talk: When It's Too Cold to Play

JeanneSager — Fri, 30 Jan 2009 17:23:00 GMT

I wanted to be all huffy about Kim Brooks' essay about raising her son in cold climes this week. After all, Bad Parent: Cold Comfort points a finger at Northeasterners like me as "bad parents."

But my righteous indignation falls woefully short. I hate the cold.

And before you get that Mommy tone of voice on and tell me "hate is a strong word, young lady," let me tell you - I REALLY hate the cold. What's more, I refuse to do fun things outside in the cold with my over-eager pre-schooler.

The pending invitation to a sleigh-riding party for one of her little friends' birthdays has me pinning my hopes on no shadow for that pesky groundhog next week. A born and raised New Yorker, I should be used to it - at least that's what everyone tells me. But like Brooks, I often rue the day I left Virginia with its barely there winters and its elongated summers. I could blame it all on my asthma, aggravated by the cold, but that's truly only a fraction of my distaste for winter.

I hate driving in it - especially now that I'm a mother. Gripping the steering wheel while she chatters in the backseat, I've used the "shut up" words - the words I never, ever wanted to say in front of my daughter - out of pure fear. Before, it was only me who could be hurt; now it's her life at stake. It makes it harder to get out of the house for those indoor/away from home activities that Oz shared in her list of what to dos in winter.

I hate tromping through the snow, the cuffs of my pants filling with chunks of slush, the water wicking up my jeans and leaving my calves cold and chafed. I hate the wind, whipping past my face and leaving my cheeks chapped and raw. I hate shoveling, the back-breaking work a reminder of all the childhood school cancellations ruined by afternoons spent in the yard making paths to the bus and paths to my father's shop.

Even the so-called fun - the winter sports - don't hold a candle to a good book and a soft spot on the couch. I'm resigned to my inner klutz, which has made skiing, snowboarding, snowshoeing and the like utterly impossible and utterly unenjoyable. Time spent on the ground, rubbing my sore tush, could be better spent, I figured, inside making blanket forts and baking cookies.

And still, my daughter - like Kim's little boy - stares plaintively out the window. She begs to be released from the confines of the house for just a little while to run and jump with the dog in the wonderful world of white.

And I say no.

I'm waiting for her to grow up a little, to be old enough to be trusted outside alone for a little while (we do live on a back road, in a quiet neighborhood, so that day will come). So Kim, if you're a bad parent; I am too. But hopefully our kids will be just as bad - and grow up to hate the cold!

Anti-Abortion Group Up In Arms Over Krispy Kreme Abortion Donuts

Cole Gamble — Tue, 20 Jan 2009 17:30:00 GMT

It started off such a sweet idea. In honor of Barack Obama’s historic inauguration, Krispy Kreme decided to offer free donuts to everybody on January 20th. As their press release stated:

"Krispy Kreme Doughnuts, Inc. (NYSE: KKD) is honoring American's sense of pride and freedom of choice on Inauguration Day, by offering a free doughnut of choice to every customer on this historic day, Jan. 20. By doing so, participating Krispy Kreme stores nationwide are making an oath to tasty goodies -- just another reminder of how oh-so-sweet 'free' can be."

The American Life League, an anti-abortion activist group, saw this sweet deal as an attack on defenseless unborn fetuses. These pastries had a baby-killing agenda. These were ABORTION DONUTS!

Is Kripsy Kreme offering free abortions with the free donuts? Can you pick up a baker’s dozen of abortions at any convenient donut shop on Jan. 20th? Surely these donut-glazing Nazis must be doing something horrendous to earn ALL’s righteous scorn.

According to the ALL’s President Judie Brown:

"The next time you stare down a conveyor belt of slow-moving, hot, sugary glazed donuts at your local Krispy Kreme, you just might be supporting President-elect Barack Obama's radical support for abortion on demand…

Want to know how you picking up your free donut today will help kill “over 50 million preborn children”? ALL wants you to know.

- including his sweeping promise to sign the Freedom of Choice Act as soon as he steps in the Oval Office, Jan. 20.

"Just an unfortunate choice of words? For the sake of our Wednesday morning doughnut runs, we hope so. The unfortunate reality of a post Roe v. Wade America is that 'choice' is synonymous with abortion access, and celebration of 'freedom of choice' is a tacit endorsement of abortion rights on demand.

"President-elect Barack Obama promises to be the most virulently pro-abortion president in history. Millions more children will be endangered by his radical abortion agenda.

"Celebrating his inauguration with 'Freedom of Choice' doughnuts - only two days before the anniversary of the Supreme Court decision to decriminalize abortion - is not only extremely tacky, it's disrespectful and insensitive and makes a mockery of a national tragedy.

"A misconstrued concept of 'choice' has killed over 50 million preborn children since Jan. 22, 1973. Does Krispy Kreme really want their free doughnuts to celebrate this ‘freedom?’ “

So now you know, donuts kill babies. Maple bars make Jesus cry. And some pro-life activists really, really, really, really, really, really crave attention.

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Pete Wentz: "I've Tasted Ashley's Breast Milk."

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

Banana Dildos and the 10 Worst Toys and Gifts This Christmas (part 1)

NY Proposes Taxing Non-Diet Soda

Miriam Axel-Lute — Fri, 19 Dec 2008 19:00:00 GMT

OK Gov. Paterson: I know you've got a wicked budget hole, and we all have to "share the pain." I also know that this country has a severe health crisis with escalating rates of diabetes, heart disease, etc. and that soda and related sugar-water drinks (or, more specifically, high-fructose-corn-syrup drinks) are bad for us and our kids.

But can we work through a few of the logical problems with your proposed "obesity tax" here?

1. It only applies to "nondiet" sodas (and fake juice drinks), thereby giving the implicit healthy stamp of approval to "diet" drinks full of artificial sweeteners, which cause many people a wide range of health problems, from dizziness to migraines, while to others they just taste gross. They also interfere with efforts to adjust to a healthier, lower-sugar diet. Not to mention that carbonated diet sodas still are acidic enough to eat away at kids teeth and still don't hydrate like water or provide nutrients like milk. Remember also that soda—diet and nondiet—is also a major source of people's caffeine fixes (and young kids having caffeine worries me more than their having sugar, frankly).

Basically, this just shows the folly of trying to decide on high what's healthy for people: it varies. I have some extremely health-conscious friends whose son is super allergic to tons of things—so right now he's eating a lot of Fritos (all corn, no cross-contamination). If you tried to tax "junk food," for example, you'd be hitting them hard.

2. Like any sales tax, this going to fall most heavily on the poor, who buy a lot of soda often because it's what's sold at the corner store. Study after study has shown that living in a "food desert" is a primary cause of unhealthy eating choices. Without changing that, adding a tax is like raising the gas tax without investing in public transportaiton. (If the tax is high enough to make bodega owners stock healthier drinks instead, we might see some benefit, but I'm skeptical.)

3. Recent studies have shown that it's possible to be both fat and fit. You say you don't want to make kids feel bad for being overweight. So don't. Instead encourage the good stuff, which is what will really make the difference: access to healthy food and drink, enough sleep, and exercise (recess! later school start times! healthy foods in schools! walking and biking to school!). I know that won't balance the budget. I'm sorry.

Photo by Qfamily.

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When Do You Make the Kids Give Their Toys Away?

JeanneSager — Fri, 12 Dec 2008 15:26:00 GMT

I remember the year my dad told us we were going to have to give up our Hess trucks. Apparently this is a New York thing (or at least a Northeast thing), but Hess trucks were THE toy to get every Christmas.

Being told we had to hand over the Hess prize for some poor little kid who wasn't getting a visit from Santa was kind of like being told the big guy didn't exist. My brother and I were devestated.

Weeding through my daughter's toy box for stuff to drop at the used toy exchange for the needy kid, I decided I'd give her a bye another year. She needs to learn about giving to others, but at three, I'm willing to limit the lesson to helping me make the food delivery to the local pantry. She doesn't need to learn the toy lesson just yet.

To be honest, we never really gave up our toys. In the habit of picking up a couple extra Hess trucks every year in case my grandmother ran short on her usual list of gifts, my Dad had extras stashed away right next to the two set aside for my brother and I. When he learned a local family was in need of some holiday cheer, he pulled from his stash and asked my Mom to do the wrapping.

He told us we'd be making a difference for little boys who might not get much else that year. He told us just how proud he was of us for being so giving. We weren't perfect; even hindsight won't color me an angel. I was a little kid, and I had little kid thoughts. But I remember the pain ebbed as quickly as it came. We watched little boys tear open the wrapping paper and drive those trucks around the room, "vroooming" like it was nobody's business, and we didn't once complain. Of course, we had our trucks under the tree on Christmas morning, my dad just grinning like he'd pulled off the Christmas caper.

He did something; he made me remember it. He turned out a kid who makes sure she does the angel tree and the toy exchange, drops food off at the pantry when she has a few dollars to spare. It's a tradition I don't just want to pass on to my daughter - I will. Because corny and hokey as it is, that's still my version of the Christmas spirit. This year, we'll do the food drop-off together. I'll give the toys she no longer uses a good scrubbing while she's asleep and drop them in the toy bin while she's at school.

Maybe next year, she'll be ready for us to do it together. And who knows, maybe I'll hold back one toy to slip under the tree - a treat for the kid who makes me proud.

Image: Hess Toy Store

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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

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Madonna Rules The Roost From Across The Pond

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Madonna Pisses Off Guy, Pulls Lourdes Out of School

Why Are The Grown Up Costumes For Women So Slutty?

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Is Sarah Palin the next Oprah?

More Bad Halloween Costumes for Kids

The Smurfs Turn 50

Jay Thomas Reunites With Out of Wedlock Son

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Preschool Admissions Competition Seems Recession-Proof

Kate Tuttle — Mon, 17 Nov 2008 18:30:00 GMT

At a time when businesses from real estate to cofee shops are suffering from the economic downturn, one industry seems to be weathering the storm. According to an article in the New York Times, pricey private preschools in New York are still flooded with applications, along with phone calls from off-the-charts nervous parents hoping to enroll their offspring in the bottom rung of the elite educational ladder.

The piece's main focus is on filmmaker Marc Simon, a documentarian whose movie Nursery University chronicles the highs, lows, and overall mania of families trying to get into such bastions of underage excellence. Simon's previous work includes After Innocence, a Sundance award-winning fim that followed formerly imprisoned men after DNA evidence has set them free. The new movie, which may prove even more intense in subject matter, aired last weekend at the Margaret Mead Film and Video Festival at the American Museum of Natural History in New York and is slated for a theatrical release next spring.

As the Times article describes it:

Here are a mother and father squabbling over whether to say in the application that their child hopes to “engage” or “explore” the school’s cultural activities. Here are mothers, fathers, even nannies furiously speed-dialing various preschools, over and over, the day after Labor Day, in the hopes of breaking through busy signals just to get an application. Here is another mother worrying about whether she will be the only prospective parent donating a gift worth less than $500 to the auction of a school where she hopes her daughter will be admitted.

Those of us who live in even slightly less competitive cities, parenting-wise, may find it hard to imagine, but as the article points out, just as even paranoiacs sometimes really do have enemies, even the most neurotic New York parents may be correct in judging the slimness of their chances of acceptance into some of these schools. And don't expect the recession to make things better; according to one adminstrator featured in the film, none of the schools she knows of is reporting any downturn in applications.

New York Election Day 08 Babies

Brett Singer — Fri, 14 Nov 2008 23:00:00 GMT

New York Magazine ran photos of seven babies born in New York hospitals on November 4, 2008 – you know, Election Day. It's a companion piece to a looong essay by Kurt Andersen about "Obamaism" that is almost completely over the top in its irrational exuberance over Obama's victory and then comes back to be at least within striking distance of planet Earth. (Here's a link if you're curious.) The seven children pictured were born much earlier in the day, so tying them to the election is a teeny bit of a stretch – I was thinking at least one kid would have been born at 11:30pm or something. Also: none are named "Barack" (or even "Barry").

For me, this was mostly this was an excuse to post pictures of cute babies. Because no matter which side of the aisle you're on, you have to admit that babies are cute. I thought it would be nice to end the week with an "aww."

Here are four of the seven:

Fanta Touré, born 8:47 a.m., 6 lbs. 3 oz., Harlem.
In spite of myself I kind of like the name "Fanta", despite the fact that it is also the name of a third-tier soft drink. And "Fanta Touré" is definitely one people won't forget.

Sophie Ella Ruddy, born 5:11 p.m., 7 lbs. 6 oz., Lenox Hill.
I picked this one because its one of those great baby photos where the kid looks like she's about 35 years old already. So cute.

Yamilek Francisco de-Oleo, born 7:43 a.m., 7 lbs. 1 oz., Harlem.
I think I saw the same facial expression on a McCain supporter's face the morning of November 5.

Ava Gagnon, born 10 a.m., 6 lbs. 7 oz., Lenox Hill.
Great name – sounds like a French actress. That hat – oy. The things we put on our kids' heads.

For the full gallery of seven NYC Election Day babies, go to nymag.com.

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Eliot Spitzer Cleared of Prostitution Charges

Brett Singer — Fri, 07 Nov 2008 18:00:00 GMT

It has been decided that former governor of New York Eliot Spitzer – aka the Tainted Gov – will not face criminal charges for repeatedly visiting a prostitute.

The New York Times reports that the reason is because, well, the Johns usually don't get charged. "It’s not surprising,” said Andrew B. Lachow, who once ran the public corruption unit in the United States attorney’s office in Manhattan that has for months been investigating Mr. Spitzer. "There just wasn’t much there that would have called for prosecution."

Now wait a minute.

What happened to if you do the crime, you do the time? Isn't this an open and shut case? I realize that everyone is entitled to a defense, and that trials cost money. But when you get caught red-handed, and when everybody else involved is facing criminal charges, isn't this just a tad unfair?

In other words – if it's hard out here for a pimp, shouldn't it be hard for their customers as well?

The Times article continues: "From the outset, the story of Mr. Spitzer and his patronage of the now-defunct Emperor’s Club V.I.P. read more like a moral tale than a legal one." OK. But he broke the law. Right? "In laying out his decision not to prosecute Mr. Spitzer, Michael J. Garcia, the United States attorney in Manhattan, said he had three main rationales: Mr. Spitzer had apparently not used any public money or campaign funds for his trysts; there was insufficient evidence that he had broken the law in how he had structured payments to the call-girl ring; and, finally, it was not the policy of his or other federal prosecutors’ offices to charge the customers in matters of prostitution."

The real kicker is the last one. Basically, visiting a prostitute is illegal, but if you get caught, you probably won't face any punishment.

The good thing – sort of – is that this doesn't appear to be special treatment for Spitzy, according to attorney Patricia A. Pileggi, a former prosecutor. The financial reasoning behind not charging him is vaguely complicated; to me it sounds like he did what they would accuse him of, but perhaps it would be too difficult to prove in court.

I'm not anti-prostitution. I think it might – MIGHT – even be a good idea to legalize it. (That's a much bigger issue, obviously.) But right now it's against the law. Shouldn't the guys who do it be charged?

Source: NY Times
Image: also NY Times

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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

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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)

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Is Your Daughter a Princess?

JeanneSager — Sat, 11 Oct 2008 15:29:00 GMT

My daughter informed me a few weeks ago that she's Princess Pooty Pants. For those of you not familiar with this member of the Disney hoochie patrol, she's never made it on screen. She's been banished to the back of the kitchen. Where Cinderella would be if she had bad gas and butt as big as her wicked stepsister.

Yes, the big girls are always the baddies in kids movies. Which is why I've had a harder time than some moms accepting the princesses into our lives. But unlike my mother, who refuses to buy my daughter anything royal on principle (although somehow Tinkerbell has flitted through by batting her tiny wings), I've swallowed my own demons in favor of making my daughter happy.

She doesn't get everything she wants, but the princesses are the lesser of a number of evils in the world - the bimbo Barbie among them. I'd even invite Belle to join Miss Pooty Pants for a playdate if she was a kid from around the block. Any girl who knows her way around a library and calls a big beast out when he's being a baby can sit in my corner. Hey, they both talk to inanimate objects; it could be the beginning of a beautiful friendship.

I've dug around and found some bits of gold inside the princess fairy tales. There are girls who kick some butt and girls who love to read.

Sure, there are skinny mini "oh, I'm so delicate, I need a man to help me" girls in there too. And when my daughter plays that game, I do my best The Rock eyebrow and remind her she's brave and strong. And that's the end of that. The rest, I let fly. I'm not inviting the whole parade into my living room, but I'm not ready to throw a bunch of poofy dresses out with the bathwater either. Indulging in the princess fantasy is just that. Fantasy. There is plenty of time for growing up, for dreams of learning to speak Chinese and fix computers so she can make a real living.

But she's not 13 or 18 or 23. She's 3. Watching a 3-year-old wander up to the local dairy princess (yes, we have those in upstate New York) and stare, wide-eyed, at a farm girl who drives a tractor with her pink Lugz and spouts off facts about the importance of getting enough calcium, I'm OK with her thinking princesses are cool. Because I can show her examples of princesses living out big dreams. I can supplement the Disney princesses with any woman who is out there kicking butt and reading books because at 3, she's still just as impressed with what Mommy says as she is with an animated character on the bottom of her cereal bowl. Only, Mommy's here, not at the bottom of that bowl.

Mommy's telling her that Princess Pooty Pants is just perfect for her - even if she's got some Daddy-type gas.

Image: Disney

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Another 8 year old on the terrorist watch list

Brett Singer — Sat, 13 Sep 2008 20:00:00 GMT

So remember the 7 year old kid who had the same name as someone on the terrorist watch list?

Here's an 8 year old kid who has the same name as someone on the terrorist watch list.

This time, we have video of the boy and his mother testifying before Congress.

"Since 2005, when James was 5 years old, the Robinson family has had to deal with the delays and hassles of having a son who has been consistently misidentified when traveling."

Despite her experiences, Denise Robinson is "a strong proponent of the watch list" and feels that we all have to "accept some inconveniences" in order to keep our country safe from terrorists. However, she thinks the list has been "mismanaged." Considering the fact that, without looking, I found two examples of children who had been detained multiple times because their names appeared on the list, that could be the understatement of the year.

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Naked Harry Potter pics hit the web

Brett Singer — Fri, 12 Sep 2008 14:00:00 GMT

Let's call it – The Full Muggle.

Some intrepid theatergoer snapped blurry cameraphone shots of Daniel Radcliffe nekkid onstage in 'Equus', currently on Broadway at the Broadhurst Theatre. Here are a couple of the pics:

Some fans that are flipping out over this. Some comments from the Daily News article:

The snapshot shows Radcliffe, 19, standing totally naked in front of co-star Anna Camp, who is also bare to the bone.
The scandal surrounding the teenage star's nudity has helped ticket sales with advance box office receipts topping $3 million.
Fans buying tickets vented their outrage at the sneaky snapper.
"They're turning art into pornography," said stage technician Rachel Juozapaitis, 27.
…
"Someone has violated his privacy," said Susan Zimmerman, 32, an NYU graduate student.

Um, not exactly. Someone – admittedly, someone kinda pervy – took pictures of something happened on a Broadway stage and posted them online. Porn? Violation of privacy? I don't think so.

"It's just wrong, he still has to do some more Harry Potter films for the kids."
…
"He didn't sign up for this, now it's for all time, forever on the Internet. What about all the Harry Potter children?"

Ah, yes. The children. Methinks very young children are unlikely to surf to these shots on their own, and I don't think any parent will show them to their kids. Even if they did (which would be nuts), there's not much to see. (That's a comment on the photo quality, not Mr. Radcliffe's, um, bangers and mash, as they say in the U.K.)

As for "he didn't sign on for this," the play calls for his character to be fully nude, and if he thought that someone wouldn't take pictures of it, Daniel needs to get out more. So, you know, sure, it's kinda lame, but the level of fan outrage is a bit kooky.

So why did I post it here? Honestly? I just wanted to use the phrase "The Full Muggle." Sorry.

Go to this site if you want to see all the pics.(Link via the Daily News.)

Source/image: nydailynews

non-naked pic: telegraph.co.uk

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Should It Be Legal to Abandon Babies in Safe Places?

Hannah Tennant-Moore — Fri, 12 Sep 2008 12:30:00 GMT

The story of a newborn baby who was found on a Newton, Massachusetts doorstep piqued my curiosity about laws concerning abandoned babies. In this particular case, police wished that the woman or parents who abandoned the baby had known about the Massachusetts law that makes it legal to surrender babies at a “safe haven” (hospitals and police or fire stations) in the first seven days of an infant’s life.

This got me to wondering about the pros and cons of legalizing baby abandonment. The overarching concern is clearly the baby’s survival, which is more likely if the child is left in a safe place. But does legalizing baby abandonment mean that desperate mothers will be more likely to leave their newborns, rather than seeking medical attention and going through the process of legal adoption?

Nancy Larraine Hoffman, the legislator who authored New York’s uniquely forgiving abandoned baby laws, recently addressed these issues in an op-ed. Here are the stats she presents about baby abandonment:

Most cases involve a teenager who may be a victim of rape—almost certainly of statutory rape. She may have been in denial about the pregnancy herself, and probably told no one if she did suspect she was pregnant. She is overwhelmed with fear. The best chance to save the baby's life is to show compassion for the mother, regardless of how irresponsibly she acted. Threats to find and punish her will only push other girls away from help and raise the risk that babies will not be found.

This is the thinking behind New York’s Abandoned Infant Protection Act, which makes it legal for a mother to leave a baby in “any safe place.” Hoffman argues that any mother in the position of abandoning her child is likely terrified of authority figures, and will not go to one of the “safe havens” that figure into many state’s abandoned baby laws. But if a woman is assured that she will not be punished, she is likely to place the infant in a safe, populated place.

Hoffman argues that letting these young women off the hook in exchange for saving a baby’s life is a “pretty good trade-off.”

What do you think? Does this law encourage child abandonment or save lives?

Photo: BBC

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7 year old on terrorist list

Brett Singer — Thu, 11 Sep 2008 15:30:00 GMT

A 7-year-old boy was detained at JFK airport in New York because his name was on a terrorist watch list. More accurately, his name is the same as someone else who is on a terrorist watch list. The fact that he was, you know, 7, didn't factor into the decision to keep the entire family in a locked room for an extended period of time.

Twice.

On two occasions, Alex and his family were kept in a holding room upon arrival at Kennedy International Airport from London because his name apparently matched a name on the list.

Alex was born in 2000.

“They hauled us out of the line and into a holding room,” said Ms. Harris. “It’s 8 o’clock on a Saturday night and they said, ‘We have to call Washington to have him cleared.’ And I’m like, ‘Just who do you suppose is available in Washington at 8 o’clock on a Saturday night?’ ”

It took more than two hours before Alex, a United States citizen like his parents and twin brother, was free to go. That was in late 2006. Six months later, the family arrived again from London, around 11 p.m.

Again, Alex was detained, his mother said, even though she carried his birth certificate and Social Security card.

“I said, ‘Look at him. He’s clearly not a terrorist. He’s 7!’ ” she said.

I'm all for fighting terrorism, but if this doesn't prove that a lot of the effort being expended is misplaced, I don't know what does.

Source: NYTimes, Image: ACLU

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How to Fire Bad Teachers

Hannah Tennant-Moore — Tue, 29 Jul 2008 21:03:00 GMT

When Anthony Lombardi took over as the principal of a below-average public school in Queens, New York, he began a controversial practice to improve student performance: he fired bad teachers. Within a few years, the percentage of fourth graders in Lombardi’s school who could read at grade level went from 37 to 90.

According to Slate, studies show that predicting whether a teacher will be effective in the classroom based on his or her résumé is nearly impossible. And once teachers are hired, teachers unions essentially ensure them a job for life. Lombardi’s approach to ridding his school of bad teachers was to implement new standards for teacher performance, including comprehensive class outlines and random classroom visits from the principal. Incompetent teachers were given an option: either request a transfer or receive an unsatisfactory rating and the subsequent (wildly unpleasant) two-year review. Lombardi weeded out a third of his school’s teachers in this way.

The obvious problem with this method is that, while Lombardi improved his own school, other below-average public schools picked up the teachers he had deemed unsatisfactory. So, how to improve the whole system so that every school is stocked with good teachers?

Lombardi suggests an apprenticeship program: instead of granting teachers union membership their first day of class, make them go through an in-school training program, followed by a rigorous evaluation. Only teachers who pass the evaluation will be granted union membership and lifetime employment. Researchers have already prepared a detailed proposal of this plan.

The difference between a good teacher and a bad teacher can mean the difference between going to college or dropping out of high school. It is high time we subjected teachers in all public schools to rigorous evaluations.

Photo: Reason.com

Sad footnote to sad story

Brett Singer — Fri, 25 Jul 2008 16:30:00 GMT

31-year-old Timothy O'Connor was speeding past the funeral procession for firefighter Martin Simmons (pictured). When pulled over, he told police that he was trying to get to the front because the funeral was for his grandfather.

When police informed him whom the procession was for, he admitted to lying through his speeding teeth. What was the reason for the lame excuse? Well, the Racer X wanna-be was driving with a suspended license. But hey, first offense, right? Nope. He's had his license suspended 22 times.

Apparently he was speeding, "driving erratically and changing lanes without signaling."

I'm no legal expert but how exactly can you have your license suspended that many times and still be allowed to drive? Driving shouldn't be something that you are just allowed to do no matter what. Isn't that the point of having licenses in the first place? What does it take to get your license suspended, like, forever? What if he had hit another car – like the one carrying Martin Simmons' family?

At least Speedy admitted he was full of it when he found out whose funeral it was. Still, what a jerk.

Source: Newsday (and thanks to Brian for the tip)

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Dad drowns saving his son

Brett Singer — Fri, 25 Jul 2008 13:30:00 GMT

Martin Simmons, a firefighter from a Ladder 111 in Bedford-Stuyvesant, Brooklyn, drowned yesterday after saving his 10-year-old son Kevin from drowning.

The family was on vacation in Tahoe, and the boy had jumped into the water, which was very cold. He got a leg cramp and started to flail, and his father jumped in to save him. Then his brother-in-law, the boy's uncle, jumped in to help. Kevin and his uncle are fine; Martin died at the scene.

Simmons' firefighting partner Joe Honan said, in the Daily News, "We do that for strangers. Of course he'd do that for his own son." I think we all would, although not all of us run into burning buildings to help strangers.

This is just incredibly sad and I hope the poor kid gets counseling to deal with the loss of his dad, and the (undeserving) guilt he will likely feel. My dad died when I was young, and it just flat out sucks. Cliché as it sounds, my heart goes out to the family.

image/source: NYDailyNews

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When playgrounds attack, the sequel

Brett Singer — Mon, 21 Jul 2008 13:29:00 GMT

Well, it's not really a sequel, but this time I have a photo to back up the story from yesterday. So, to anyone who called me "Liar Liar Pants on Fire" I very maturely say, "NYAH-NYAH! I WAS RIGHT!"

Anyway, here's the story: Anne Casson's son received second and third degree burns on his feet after running into the playground without shoes on. NY Metro quotes the mom as saying, "At first, the hospital thought he got electrocuted…When we said, no, he was on the playground, they immediately went, 'Oh, the mats.'" While three other parents are suing New York City for millions of dollars, Casson went the advocacy route, trying to arrange meetings with Parks Department officials to make them aware of the problem. According to the story, they didn't seem terribly interested.

I've dealt with people from the Parks Department a couple of times working on events, and I have to say that they are some of the oddest human beings around. I'm not sure why, and obviously this is an extremely limited sampling. But they aren't elected officials, and with no voters to worry about, they don’t have the selfish motivation to listen to their constituents. I'm not excusing them, just saying that I'm not surprised.

It's worth mentioning that running around on any outdoor surface in Manhattan without shoes seems like a phenomenally bad idea. Then again, if the hospital staff – "oh, the mats" – knew right away what the problem was, how come nobody else did? So it's insane that nobody at the Parks Department gives a crap about the fact that the temperature of the mats used in children's playgrounds are going as high as a cooked chicken. I mean, look at that photo. Horrible. Even if the kids keep their shoes on, what happens if they fall down and slap their hands onto the mat? So I'm on Casson's side here, but I'm not letting my kids take their shoes off anywhere near those mats.

According to the commenters on yesterday's post, this is either a serious problem or another case of parental whining. What would you do if this happened to your kid?

image/source: MetroNY

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Woman goes to jail for adopting children to get money

Brett Singer — Sat, 19 Jul 2008 16:00:00 GMT

I know times are tough, but if I ever say to my wife, "Hey honey, I know how we can make some extra cash. Let's adopt a few kids!" I hope she dropkicks me into next week.

Judith Leekin, a 63-year-old woman, made over $1 million – yes, one MILLION dollars – from the subsidies offered to parents who adopt. She actually targeted "only special-needs children," because they brought the most money from NYC Children's Services. $55 a day.

So what's the problem? No law against adopting kids, right? Well, according to WCBS-TV, she was hideously abusive: the 11 children were, "handcuffed, battered, deprived of food and medicine and locked in a room." She never sent them to school, and hid them from anyone who came to her home. The money was used to keep up a "lavish lifestyle." This went on from 1988 until mid-2007; by that time she had moved the kids to Florida after adopting 11 children in New York City.

When first arrested last year, she denied the charges, and her lawyer claimed that she "loved and nurtured the children." Her biological son also defended her, saying that she was a good mom. A New York judge decided not to believe any of them, and she's been sentenced to "nearly 11 years" in prison. That doesn't seem long enough, but it was a plea bargain, so that's the way it goes.

So how exactly does this happen? No idea. She used fake names, went to different adoption agencies, and I suppose has some level of intelligence since she did things like forge report cards to appease NYC officials. An earlier story says that she might have been doing this since the 1970's, but that doesn't appear to factor in to this week's jail sentence.

Where are the kids now? Some are in foster homes, one is old enough to support himself and live alone, and another one may have died while in Leekin's care.

Nasty, nasty stuff, but at least she's been caught and punished.

image/source: wcbstv.com