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Clicktoy: A Virtual World For Toddlers
2008-04-08 06:54:00
If you're like me, then you have children who like to climb into your lap and press buttons on your computer. Their interest in technology is certainly something I want to encourage. I've tried V-Tech products and My First LeapPad, yet they still seem a bit advanced for my kids. Well, I have finally discovered an age-appropriate computer program for toddlers. It's called Clicktoy. This is the first computer program I have found that successfully entertains children as young as 12 months. The creators refer to it as "a safe computer playpen." Essentially, the program opens a virtual 3D environment for kids that can be explored by pressing any key.Note that last part... they can press any key, so you don't even have to worry about them accidentally exiting to the computer's desktop. Every button does something different, from interacting with characters to changing the weather. Clicktoy will soon unveil many different worlds, though the first program is called The Meadow. That is...
More About: World , Virtual , Virtual World , Toddlers

It Had To Be Done
2008-04-07 04:44:00
This is how I deal with noisy babies who won't let me work. She had it coming.

R.I.P. Chuck
2008-04-06 02:01:00
One of the greatest actors of all time, Charlton Heston, passed away this weekend at the age of 84. My mother made me the geek I am today by letting me watch Planet of the Apes, Soylent Green and Omega Man at a tender age. I always dreamed I'd meet him one day and, after respectfully calling him Mr. Heston, he'd say, "Call me Chuck ." They really broke the mold with this guy.
More About: Pop Culture , Nostalgia

Lil' Geeks of the Week
2008-04-05 19:11:00
My husband will be so jealous, as the week's Lil' Geeks like to wargame with their dad! Paul sent me these awesome pics of his adorable boys. First, Ethan is shown painting some miniatures at the workstation he "shares" with his dad. Ethan's little brother patiently stands by:After letting the paint dry, Ethan is ready to wipe out some goblins at Balin's Tomb! Thumbs up, indeed:That is some fine geek parenting right there, Paul. Kudos!Do you have a pic/video of your kid(s) geeking out? Send it to me at and we'll put him/her on the site!
More About: Week

Toddlers Can No Longer Marry In Arkansas
2008-04-04 07:02:00
Yes, you read that correctly. The state of Arkansas has just repealed a law that mistakenly allowed anyone under the age of 18, even toddlers, to marry with parental permission. Legislators meant to instate a law that made 18 the minimum age. Instead, they removed the age limit completely. D'oh! Representative Will Bond, a Democrat, was the sponsor of the bungled law and he just asked his colleagues to "throw me a rope and bail me out here." It's called proofreading, Will! I'm sure you have someone on staff who can do that for you. According to Rep. Bond, no children have married in Arkansas as a result of this mistake. He also added, "First cousins, of course, are still fair game." I'm kidding! He didn't say that. I love Arkansas, really. Home of the Boggy Creek creature.
More About: Marry , Toddlers

What Is Really In Your Kids' Happy Meals?
2008-04-01 14:27:00
If you watched the news today, then you probably already know the answer to that. If you haven't heard yet, then I hope you aren't squeamish!Yes, McDonald's has just been busted in a huge Chicken McNugget scandal, thanks to this video.
More About: Kids , Happy , Meals

Imagination Movers CD Giveaway!
2008-03-31 07:01:00
Listen up, everyone! We're starting the first ever Geek Parenting contest today. I have five (5) Imagination Movers CDs to give away. That's right, five lucky readers will receive a free copy of Juice Box Heroes. Contest Rules: - Leave a comment on this blog entry to be automatically entered. - Contest ends on Wednesday, April 9. - Winners will be randomly chosen and announced on Friday, April 11.About the album: Walt Disney Records has now released JUICE BOX HEROES, a generous kids? menu of seventeen of the IMAGINATION MOVERS' most popular music hits, including satellite radio chart-toppers such as "I Want My Mommy" and "Farm." Also, young fans of the Imagination Movers? music videos currently airing on Disney Channel's Playhouse Disney can look forward to the debut of Disney Channel?s IMAGINATION MOVERS television series later this year! Good luck in the contest! I'm sure you'll all love this CD. We took a five-hour roadtrip with the kids this weekend and the...
More About: Pop Culture

Lil' Geek Of The Week
2008-03-27 10:25:00
Good morning, true believers! This week's uncanny lil' geek is baby Logan. His proud mother Lisa writes, "Some people dress their babies in the attire of their college of choice... but we've got other plans for our little guy". I hope Lisa doesn't mind me taking a few liberties with Ye Olde Photoshoppe. I'm so happy to meet more parents who have named their precious geeklings after their favorite comic book characters! What's your child's mutant power?Do you have a pic/video of your kid(s) geeking out? Send it to me at and we'll put him/her on the site!
More About: Geek , Week

International Reb Brown Day
2008-03-26 10:15:00
In case you don't know, March 26 is known as "Make Up Your Own Holiday Day," so my proposal is to instill an International Reb Brown Day. This holiday would celebrate all things Reb, the world's greatest action star. Who is Reb Brown? Well, shame on those of you who don't know! Reb Brown played Captain America in the 1970's TV movies and Yor, the Hunter From the Future. He was also in such classics as Sssssss (with fellow dreamboat Dirk Benedict), Cage and Howling II: Your Sister is a Werewolf. MST3K fans probably know him best as Dave Ryder from Space Mutiny, of course. My husband and I are a bit obsessed with ol' Reb and would love to meet him one day... or at least obtain an autograph! I think Reb is semi-retired from Hollywood, but International Reb Brown Day could thrust him back into the spotlight.I just hope this holiday is more successful than my previous endeavors: Michael Dudikoff Day, Don "The Dragon" Wilson Day and Jeff Wincott Day!Here is a montage of Reb Brown mov...
More About: Pop Culture , Nostalgia

Geekiest Place I've Located With Google Earth Today
2008-03-26 01:03:00
Ha! Nothing escapes the all-seeing eye of Google . Nothing!
More About: Earth , Google Earth , Today , Place

How I Spent My Easter Vacation
2008-03-24 22:55:00
I hope everyone had a happy Easter ! Ours started out really well. When the kids woke up, we popped It's the Easter Beagle, Charlie Brown into the DVD player. Jason loves it when Peppermiint Patty screams. (Side note: What exactly is the nature of Marcie and Peppermint Patty's relationship?)By the time it was over, mommy and daddy were awake enough to unveil the gifts:Here is Jason's reaction to the surprise: Lois was decidedly unimpressed with the Easter Bunny's generosity:So, our only recourse was to take them to a nearby park dressed in chicken costumes:Overall, it was a pretty good Easter. Our kids are still too young to really get into any holiday, but I have fun spoiling them nonetheless. Perhaps the best part about Easter is that it gives me an excuse to post one of my favorite viral videos of all time, The Easter Bunny Hates You.If you haven't seen it before, please enjoy. Just don't let your kids watch it, 'cause I won't foot the therapy bills.
More About: Holidays , Vacation

Lil' Geek Of The Week
2008-03-21 10:16:00
Time again to showcase our Lil' Geek of the Week ! Geek Parenting reader Traci recently sent me a picture of her beautiful daughter. Here, the 3-year-old proudly stands next to her LEGO tower. You can't tell from this picture, but the tower is also on wheels. Skyscrapers on wheels? It's the way of the future! She shows tremendous restraint for a 3-year-old, don't you agree? Most kids would have knocked the tower down before mom goes for the camera. I hope that guy isn't thinking about jumping, though. Don't do it!Do you have a pic/video of your kid(s) geeking out? Send it to me at and we'll put him/her on the site!

More Music For Your Geeklings...
2008-03-20 18:54:00
While I'm on the subject of music for little ears today, I just wanted to point you over to Wired's GeekDad blog. GeekDad just added a cool new podcast feature called HipTrax, which will regularly showcase geeky songs that are appropriate for the whole family. HipTrax #1 features songs from Jonathan Coulton, MC Lars, and Harry and the Potters (pictured right).  Listen to it here!
More About: Music , Pop Culture

Imagination Movers - Juice Box Heroes
2008-03-20 16:48:00
We just received the new Imagination Movers album in the mail today! As I mentioned a few weeks ago, anyone who orders Juice Box Heroes during the month of March will get an autographed booklet. Check out ours - they even personalized it:Isn't that awesome?! If you are enjoying the Movers' videos on Playhouse Disney, then you have to get this album. All the songs your kids are learning are on here, including the theme song, "Farm" and "Seven Days a Week." Though I wish Brian and I could take credit for it, our two-year-old has learned the days of the week thanks to the latter song.
More About: Pop Culture

R.I.P. Dave Stevens
2008-03-18 02:50:00
By Brian CottrellAs an avid comic book and pulp reader, I am sad to learn that artist and writer extraordinaire Dave Stevens has lost his fight with leukemia. One of his most well-known creations was the wartime hero the Rocketeer, who battled both criminals and the evil Nazis with his sexy girl Jenny.  Rest in peace, friend. Your works will always be some of my favorites. In lieu of flowers, Dave's family would like people to make donations in his name to the Hairy Cell Leukemia Research Foundation.
More About: Nostalgia

Movie Poster Birth Announcements
2008-03-17 03:13:00
Looking for a cool birth announcement that will stand out from the rest? 5 Star Baby is a new site that offers customized announcements that look like movie posters. Of course, your baby will be featured as the star and will even receive glowing reviews from critics, like "The Year's Best Baby!" Other details on the announcement can include:Parents listed as ?Producers?Variety of ?Critic?s Quotes? about your babyTitle of ?movie? (can be anything you'd like)Date, time, weight and height of babyDoctor listed as ?Director?Filmed in? the Hospital the baby was deliveredSiblings, Grandparents, Godparents, Aunts, Uncles, Cousins and ANY other special people who you want includedMade Possible with a grant by God?Catering? by the mother?Stories? by Mother Goose?Subtitles in ...? any additional language?Soundtrack? on Waaaahhhh!!! recordsRated B for Boy, Rated G for Girl, or Rated T for Twins?Costumes? and ?Props? listed?Now Showing? in your city of residenceIt's funny, I looked all over t...
More About: Movie , Movie Poster , Poster , Birth

Lil' Geeks Of The Week
2008-03-14 08:58:00
It's time again to showcase some geeky siblings! Geek Parenting reader Mary-Frances just sent me this adorable picture of her geeklings. I think it accurately depicts 21st century adolescence, don't you? I just love how pensive her son looks here. I don't know if he's playing a game or filing the family's taxes. Thanks for sharing, Mary-Frances!Do you have a pic/video of your kid(s) geeking out? Send it to me at and we'll put him/her on the site!
More About: Geeks , Week

New Incredible Hulk Trailer
2008-03-13 13:42:00
Check it out:Let's see... take out Edward Norton, William Hurt and Tim Roth, then replace them with Casper Van Dien, Lance Henriksen and Jeff Fahey. Voila! You have yourself a Sci-Fi Original movie!Or am I being to hard on the new Hulk ? What are your thoughts on this trailer? Personally, I'm gonna hedge my bets on Iron Man and The Dark Knight.
More About: Trailer , Pop Culture , Incredible

Geekiest Place I've Located With Google Earth Today
2008-03-10 09:06:00
It's a bird! It's a plane! It's... intrusive satellite imagery, courtesy of Google !   I located Superman Square with Google Earth this morning, which currently has the famed Superman statue on display (pictured right). As you can see, the aerial shot of the monument reveals that Supes is proudly standing in the middle of an "S" shield. Meh, I thought it was cool.
More About: Google Earth , Today , Pop Culture

Lil' Geek Of The Week
2008-03-08 00:24:00
It's time again to show off our Lil' Geek of the Week ! You may recognize Callum from last year, when I posted an awesome video of him dancing around to Monty Python. Callum's mother tells me that they are currently remodeling their porch as a shrine to their old-school gaming roots. Check out their awesome work so far! I'm just a wee bit jealous I didn't think of this:What does this have to do with a little Callum, you ask? Well, the 3-year-old didn't recognize Pac-Man when he saw his parents painting it on the wall. So, they introduced him to an online version of the classic game, which was caught on tape. It's adorable: What a cutie! I love his British accent and his little SpongeBob shirt. See there? How could everyone overseas hate America when we give them SpongeBob Squarepants?Be sure to stop by Musings of a Modified Mummy, which is written by Callum's own mummy. Do you have a pic/video of your kid(s) geeking out? Send it to me at and we'll put him/her on the site!

10 Superhero Comic Books Your Kids Should Be Reading
2008-03-06 00:56:00
There was a time when parents warned their kiddos that reading comics would rot their brains. Okay, some people still say that, but I'm sure a lot of you would love for your kids to put down that Xbox controller and just read something! The fam and I are in the local comic shop every Wednesday like obedient comic nerds and I'll let the uninitiated in on a little secret... comic books really aren't for kids. Case in point: Supergirl. I'm not referring to older teenagers, of course, as I'm sure plenty of the mainstream books are suitable. However, tweens and younger should be relegated to the comic shop's (appallingly) small kiddie section. Don't worry, your geeklings will dig this stuff, too! Both DC and Marvel have age-appropriate titles that feature your kids' favorite superheroes. Best of all, they are self-contained stories, so your kids won't get lost if they miss an issue or two. (Saves you money in the long run, that. Trust me, collecting is a disease.)I heartily reco...
More About: Comic , Kids , Books , Reading , Top 10

I Heart The Imagination Movers
2008-03-03 20:37:00
If you have a kid who watches Playhouse Disney, then you have already been bombarded with Imagination Movers videos. If you don't know who they are, you are missing out! The Imagination Movers describe themselves as "the Beastie Boys meets Mister Rogers" and I can't think of a better description, so I'll just run with it. Rich, Scott, Dave and Smitty sing about kid-friendly topics in a way that won't drive you completely insane. We just bought their DVD, Stir It Up, and we all love it. However, Brian and I still can't agree on who the head Mover is. I say Rich, he says Scott. These are the kinds of pointless arguments our neighbors probably hear when they are outside.On a more serious note, the band is originally from New Orleans and they lost almost everything they owned in Hurricane Katrina, including homes, instruments and recording equipment. So, if you enjoy their music, you should show your support and buy something from their online store! Speaking of which, the Imaginat...
More About: Pop Culture , I heart , Heart

That's Nice... Is There A Kill Switch?
2008-02-28 12:22:00
Behold, the newest animatronic Elmo that you will be strongly encouraged to buy this holiday season:This was a demo of Elmo Live from Toy Fair 2008. What you didn't see in the video is the part where a 1996 Tickle Me Elmo barged in and said, "Come with me if you want to live."Elmo Live will be enslaving the planet available in stores this October for the low, low price of $60.
More About: Switch , Nice , Kill

Lil' Geeks Of The Week
2008-02-28 00:09:00
Huzzah! It is time again to feature our Lil' Geeks of the Week . Today, we have two sword-wielding cuties to showcase. Jack is on the left, dressed as Link from The Legend of Zelda. On the right is his brother Harry, who makes a fine paladin. Jack and Harry's parents have done a smashing job rearing geeklings, as you can see. The boys look like they're ready for battle in an enchanted Hyrulian forest. Do you have a pic/video of your kid(s) geeking out? Send it to me at and we'll put him/her on the site!

Weird Toy Of The Week
2008-02-26 12:22:00
If your kids are getting sick of that Easy Bake Oven, you might want to check out this pretend airport metal detector. It's called Scan-It and it allows children to "scan" luggage for, you know, metal. According to the makers of Scan-It, this toy is "a constructive, interactive and educational toy that makes the security screening process easy to understand and maybe even fun."If body cavity searches aren't fun, I don't know what is. Funnily enough, this machine does have a working conveyor belt and metal detector. You may also spot the Homeland Security threat meter on the machine. Yeah, that's just a sticker. Don't panic. Available now from Amazon for the low, low price of $24.95.
More About: Weird , Week

Star Wars According To A 3-Year-Old
2008-02-24 23:09:00
I just stumbled upon this video and it blew me away. Here, a very bright three-year-old explains the plot of Star Wars :That Darth Vader, he'll getcha! According to her father, this required no coaching on his part and she only saw the movie once. Hey, Star Wars may not boast the weightiest of plots, but I'd say this girl is advanced beyond her years. You have learned well my young padawan.
More About: Pop Culture , Nostalgia

Our First Zombie Walk
2008-02-23 17:00:00
Yesterday, Brian and I took the kids to see our first zombie walk. If you aren't familiar with this phenomenon, a zombie walk is when a large group of people walk down a street as a mob of Romero-esque zombies. They wear zombie make-up,  tattered clothes, etc. Good times. We would have participated, but there is no way that Lois and Jason would let us apply make-up to their faces. Also, I was concerned that they might get a bit nervous amongst the undead. As it turns out, they had a blast and I'm definitely getting the whole family into character next time! This particular zombie walk took place in Grapevine, Texas and it helped kick off this year's Texas Frightmare Weekend. If you live in the area, this horror convention will be going strong all weekend. The entire cast of Night of the Living Dead, Dawn of the Dead and Day of the Dead will be there. Of course, the man himself is also there - Mr. George A. Romero. We went to the zombie rendezvous point before the walk began...
More About: Walk , Zombie

Kid Inventor Contest
2008-02-22 11:44:00
Do you have a creative geekling between the ages of 6 and 17? If so, then you should encourage them to design their own toy! The 60th annual Wham-O Kid Inventor Contest is accepting submissions through the end of March. For the love of Pete, just don't submit something as sadistic as Wham-O's Willy Waterbug (pictured right). I've already discussed how that contraption scarred me for life. Wham-O is also the company that brought us the Frisbee, the hula hoop and the Slip 'N Slide. Hey, those first two are great, but the Slip 'N Slide? C'mon, that's just a wet piece of garbage bag. I know your kid can come up with something better than that!The grand prize for the Kid Inventor Contest is $2000 and the toy might be produced by Wham-O. For more information about the competition, including a full list of the rules, go here. Young Inventor Factoids:Louis Braille created the Braille reading system at age 15. George Nissen invented the trampoline at age 16.Robert Heft designed the...

Lil' Geek Of The Week
2008-02-21 16:47:00
It's time again to showcase our Lil' Geek of the Week ! Today, I'm proud to present Garrett. According to his mother Bridgett, he is quite the LEGO maniac. As such, she created an amazing LEGO cake for his birthday this year. Check out Garrett at his LEGO-themed party:Below, we have a closer shot of the cake. The studs are actually Rice Krispie Treats molded into a circular shape. Bridgett merely placed them on different-sized cakes and iced right over them. Isn't that clever? Sounds like a fun project for geek parents! That's an adorable young man and an awesome cake. Well done, Bridgett!Do you have a pic/video of your kid(s) geeking out? Send it to me at and we'll put him/her on the site!

Red Skies At Night, Red Skies At Night
2008-02-20 17:15:00
If you think you can keep your kids up late, there is going to be a lunar eclipse tonight. It won't happen again until 2010, so you might want to check it out as a family. I'm going to try to get a good shot of the "Blood Moon." Speaking of full moons, tonight is also when the U.S. government will shoot down a dangerous spy satellite with missiles. It seems a waste of tax dollars to me, though. Capwolf (pictured left) should be the only government agent taking out spy satellites during a full moon!*The missiles are scheduled to launch at 9:30 EST and the lunar eclipse should be nice and red at approximately 10:30 EST. Is it a mere coincidence that both of these events are taking place tonight? Probably, but I'm wearing my tin foil hat just in case.*In 1992, Marvel Comics inexplicably turned Captain America into a werewolf. They called him Capwolf and it was just as lame as it sounds. Today, you won't find much information about this dark moment in comic book history unless you h...
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