Sunday, February 21, 2010

Behind the Bear


Bo has been watching "Letter Factory", made by Leapfrog, virtually every evening. He is able to identify all letters in the alphabet and state the sound made by each letter. I think that is very impressive for being just two years old.


Jamie and I decided he was ready for the next step. We purchased a new DVD called "Talking Words Factory", also made by Leapfrog, for Bo. He was thrilled.


The problem was that he wanted to watch the new video as soon as we got home. We try hard not to let him watch television until after dinnertime as that is all he wants to do from that point forward. Yesterday he was being really horrible. Tantrum-city. He REALLY wanted to watch the new video.


I wasn't having any of that. I told him he could watch it after dinner and tried to take the video away from him. He freaked out on me, pulled the DVD from my hand, and ran into his room. He came out again about 30 seconds later without the DVD. I decided to let the matter wait; I could always go and retrieve it after he calmed down.


We made dinner and ate. Bo was being his usual good self once more. I had promised, however, to let him watch the DVD after dinner. As dinner was winding down I decided to go get the DVD. I walked into his room, expecting to see the video laying somewhere about. Not so. I started looking in some non-obvious spots; on his bookshelf, in his crib, in his toddler bed. Nothing. Nada.


I walked back into the kitchen and asked Bo if her knew where his new movie was.


Bo: "Uh-huh."


Dad: "Where is it?"


Bo: "By Bear."


Dad: "The DVD is by your bear?" Bo has a bear-shaped chair.


Bo: "Uh-huh."


So I walked back into his room and looked behind the chair. Viola! Movie.


My son has learned to hide things. Lovely.

Monday, February 8, 2010

Satire


Sarah Palin is BRILLIANT.
That is the only possible explaination for her recent bull-run through the news. A few days ago we were treated to the public outing of Chief of Staff Rahm Emmanual calling progressives who were opposed to conservative Democrats "retards." Sarah Palin jumped on that daisy as quick as she could skin a grizzly bear, calling his words "indecent," "sick" and "offensive." Her task was slightly complicated by Rush Limbaugh using the same word unapologetically a couple days later. Limbaugh, stated Palin, was merely "using satire."

That is why the above picture, courtesy of Daniel Kurtzman, is so brilliant. The 2008 vice- presidential hopeful, seen here speaking to a Tea Party convention, had the foresight to indirectly mock President Obama's use of teleprompters. What better way to bring attention to the important teleprompter issue plaguing the United States than by going low-tech during the speech to highlight that way good Republicans would handle things if they were in charge.
Just imagine the Hocky-Mom-From-Wasilla turned President-of-the-United-States speaking with world leaders at a summit. Better yet, imagine how motivated Iranian President Ahmadinejad would be to denuclearize.
"Mr. Ahmadinejad, in Alaska we have a saying..."
/dramatic pause, trying to peek at the notes written on her hand
"...anyone who seeks nuclear weapons is a retard. Meant satirically, of course!"