Strollerderby : peanuts

Finish Line - Pirates Are Back

Brett Singer — Sat, 18 Apr 2009 02:15:00 GMT

One of the fun parts of blogging (especially for Babble, which has the greatest blogs on this or any other planet) is being surprised by the reactions to a post.

Case in point: Shannon's Pirates Are Not Appropriate for Kids (and Other Ranting), which generated a lot of chatter. Who knew?

I would have thought that Jeanne's brilliantly titled post Breastfeeding Debates: Just a Tempest in a Sippy Cup? would have created more comments. Then again, it's hard to argue with the statement, "Do we really care what another mother does with her boobs?" (I do, but I'm a guy. Wait. Ignore that sentence. Everyone do what you want to do with your boobs. They belong to you. Oooo boy.)

Hannah tells us about a petting zoo that, frankly, sounds a bit scary. (Would You Take Your Kids to a Petting Zoo with Lions, Tigers, and Bears?) Then again, I won't go on Space Mountain at Disney World. So maybe I'm not the best judge.

Jen asked a good question with The Holiday Dilemma: When Parental Gift-Giving Goes Too Far. Easter presents. Who knew? I'm still trying to convince the wife that we can get Easter baskets for the kids even though we're Jewish. So far all I've managed to do is buy (and eat) a lot of Peeps.

Jen also gave us The Five Peanuts TV Specials That Never Should Have Been. Personally, I'm in favor of more and more Peanuts specials, and I even enjoy the mediocre ones. (I even like "Arbor Day.") This proves that sometimes we disagree and that there is no Babble Hive Mind.

Mike questioned the notion of Terrible Twos with Terrible Twos: Myth or Kicking. Your. A@!? Personally, I found two to be easier than three. Of course, neither of my children are teenagers yet. If they're anything like me, I'm thinking Terrible Thirteens, Fourteens, Fifteens...

Madeline gives us her take on Dr. Laura with Stay-At-Home Moms are the Best, Aren't They! Madeline starts with "Oh, for God's sake, Dr. Laura, put a lid on it." But then she says that she really agrees with everything the Doc says. OK, no she doesn't. Just wanted to see if you were paying attention. The comments are numerous and terrific: for example, "Whatever" says that "Maybe my daughter is in daycare, but at least she won't grow up acting like a sanctimonious ass-hat." I want to start a band named "Sanctimonious Ass-hat." Ah, goals.

As for myself, I took a more lighthearted approach to pirates by telling you about the release of Tina Fey's Sesame Street appearance on DVD. (Special thanks to Jezebel for the linkee dink.)

What will next week bring? I don't know but I promise you one thing -- I will do everything in my power not to use the phrase "linkee dink." No idea where that came from.

Boy Calls 911 When Mom Drives Drunk

Finish Line - April Fools And More

Chris Brown As Charlie Brown

Brett Singer — Wed, 15 Apr 2009 23:00:00 GMT

Mad Magazine isn't nearly as funny as it used to be. Part of that is because I'm much older than I once was, but I really do think that the quality has definitely fallen off in the last (gulp) couple of decades.

But this time they nailed it.

In three strips, with spot on artwork, Mad published "You're a Bad Man, Chris Brown." See Chris visit Lucy for psychiatric help! See Chris tell Linus how he wants to punch the Little Red-Haired Girl! And see Snoopy, the World Famous Criminal Attorney, throw up his hands in defeat because his client can't keep his mouth shut.

OK, it's not fall out of your chair hilarious. And it's never good to make light of situations like what happened with Chris Brown and Rihanna. But being able to make any comedy out of something like that is tough, so I like to give credit where it's due.

You're a Bad Man, Chris Brown (Mad Magazine)

Why Teens Are Quick to Blame Rihanna

Half of Kids Surveyed Think Rihanna Had it Coming

Homebirthing Advocate's Baby Dies During Homebirth

The Five Peanuts TV Specials That Never Should Have Been

Jen Chaney — Tue, 07 Apr 2009 11:58:00 GMT

"It's the Easter Beagle, Charlie Brown" airs tonight on ABC, allowing us Americans to mark yet another holiday by laughing at Linus's refusal to accept reality. (If you want to hang on to your security blanket, fine. But believing in the Easter Beagle given your high IQ? That's pretty borderline, kid.)

As Peanuts cartoons go, "Easter Beagle" is a relatively decent one. I mean, Marcie's perpetual confusion about how to dye Easter eggs is a pure delight by itself. But as connoisseurs of all things Charlie Brown well know, those animated specials started to dip swiftly in quality not long after this one first aired in 1974.

So in order to help you and your little ones appreciate the finer nuances of "It's the Easter Beagle, Charlie Brown" -- and to make "A Charlie Brown Christmas" and "It's the Great Pumpkin, Charlie Brown" look even more genius than they already do -- I present the Five Peanuts TV Specials That Never Should Have Been.

5. "It's Arbor Day, Charlie Brown" (First aired: 1976)

By this time, CB and the gang had already covered Christmas, Halloween, Thanksgiving, Election Day, Easter and Valentine's Day. I love trees as much as the next person, but when the Peanuts gang sinks to Arbor Day, you know Charles Schulz and co. are scraping the bottom of the holiday special barrel. To their credit, though, they never played the most desperate card in the holiday deck, thereby saving us all from "It's Flag Day, Charlie Brown."

4. "What a Nightmare, Charlie Brown!" (First aired: 1978)

Right out of the gate, the title is pretty terrible. But that aside, there's something a little odd about basing a Peanuts special on Jack London's "Call of the Wild." (And no, I'm not joking.) The fact that Snoopy gets into some vicious dog fights (see video) makes this cartoon potentially frightening for very young kids, but potentially entertaining to anyone who ever insisted that all "A Charlie Brown Christmas" needed was "more dog sled action."

3. "Charlie Brown's Christmas Tales" (First aired: 2002)

This one was invented solely to juice ratings for "A Charlie Brown Christmas," allowing the annual holiday classic to extend into an hour-long TV extravaganza. But "Christmas Tales" is clearly nothing but yuletide filler. To borrow from a question Lucy asks her blockheaded pageant director in "A Charlie Brown Christmas": "Can't you tell the difference between a good holiday special and a poor holiday special?" Yes, Lucy, we can.

2. "Snoopy's Getting Married, Charlie Brown" (First aired: 1985)

A wedding episode is always a blatant grab for ratings. But I think for everyone when I say that Charlie Brown should never, ever utter the following words: "Wake up, Snoopy ... it's time for the bachelor party."

1. "It's Flashbeagle, Charlie Brown" (First aired: 1984)

Wow, where to even begin with this one? How about with Peppermint Patty's attempt to imitate Jane Fonda's aerobics moves and sing her own version of Toni Basil's "Mickey," which, honestly, has to be seen to be believed? (And P.S.: What are Lucy and Schroeder doing to that pommel horse in the middle of this clip?)

Or does the utter ridiculousness that is "Flashbeagle" really start and finish with Snoopy busting out some hardcore '80s-era dance moves? It's hard to say. But I do know this much: the world is a better place when Snoopy stays perched on his doghouse and lays off the legwarmers.

A Cure for Peanut Allergies?

Hannah Tennant-Moore — Mon, 16 Mar 2009 18:29:00 GMT

Researchers are cautiously optimistic that they may have found a way for children with nut allergies to reintroduce the popular legume into their regular diets. Two new American studies, which mirror earlier British findings, offer hope that kids who are born with allergies to peanuts need not be denied the tasty goodness of a PB&J sandwich for their whole lives.

In one study of 33 children, participants were given gradually increasing daily doses of nuts, beginning with just one-thousandth of a peanut and eventually increasing to 15 nuts. The majority of the kids have had no allergic reactions to the treatment, with five children being able to consume nuts at their leisure. However, four kids had to drop out of the study due to allergic reactions.

Another study of 18 children used a placebo to test the effectiveness of this treatment. All of the children who had been given a placebo over the course of 10 months developed allergic reactions to a real dose of nuts, while all of the kids who had been given the actual therapy were able to eat 15 peanuts without incident.

Clearly, these are small numbers of children in only two studies, so researchers plan to test out the treatment on a much grander scale before making any official assessments. In other words, do not try this at home.

Photo: New York Times

Salmonella Might Be In Second Peanut Plant

Brett Singer — Wed, 11 Feb 2009 04:26:00 GMT

The AP is reporting that samples from a second Texas plant owned by The Peanut Corp. of America have a "presumptive positive" result. What'd they find? Salmonella.

This just keeps getting worse.

The news is currently being reported as a "maybe," and the AP story says that no products from the plant were shipped to consumers. Personally I have a hard time believing that. Not that I have any knowledge of the situation beyond what I've read. I'm just suspicious.

This line made me furious: the plant in Plainview, Texas "had operated unlicensed and uninspected for nearly four years." How exactly does something like that happen?

Are you still giving your kids peanut butter and jelly? Or have you switched to cream cheese or some other sandwich spread?

Source: AP via Yahoo! News

What Will Tainted Peanut Butter Really Do To Our Kids?

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What Will Tainted Peanut Butter Really Do To Our Kids?

JeanneSager — Fri, 23 Jan 2009 13:29:00 GMT

The first - and I doubt the last - lawsuit has been filed in the tainted peanut butter scandal.

A mother from Vermont says her seven-year-old son had to be hospitalized from salmonella poisoning after eating Keebler's sandwich crackers, which were filled with a peanut butter spread. Seven weeks later, she says the boy is still recovering.

The makers of the Keelber crackers, Kellogg's, have voluntarily recalled products containing peanut butter that may or may not be tainted, but based on the dates in Gabrielle Meunier's affidavit, young Christopher ate his snacks several weeks before news broke on the possible outbreak and recall.

Like the spinach and tomato scare of 2008, this one has hit home - these are foods my family eats on a relatively regular basis (more so the veggies than the crackers, but peanut butter is a staple in our house). I went rifling through our cabinets when I heard the news and came up with nothing, but who knows what she already powered through (like Amy's kids and those Clif bars).

So what should parents be watching out for? According to the CDC, "most persons infected with Salmonella develop diarrhea, fever, and abdominal cramps 12 to 72 hours after infection. The illness usually lasts 4 to 7 days, and most persons recover without treatment."

Lest you think this is a simple few days of noxious diarrhea, Christopher Meunier is recovering, but not every kid is so lucky.

Kids are actually the most likely candidates for salmonellosis (salmonella poisoning). The rate of infections in kids under five is five times higher than the rate of infection in any other age group, and children, the elderly and immunocompromised are the most likely to have severe reactions. The CDC estimates that approximately 400 persons die each year with acute salmonellosis.

So, now that I gave you your mega scare for the day, how about a jelly and cream cheese sandwich?

Image: Costco

Gifts I Want That I Can Pretend Are For The Kids

Brett Singer — Mon, 22 Dec 2008 22:00:00 GMT

One of the things I like about being a parent is the fact that it allows me to regress with impunity. For example, a childless man who plays with Legos? Creepy. A father who plays with Legos? Aw, that's so sweet. He's such a good dad. With that in mind, here are a few gifts that I want this holiday season that I can pretend are really for the children. If they're lucky, I might even let the kids play with them.

Star Wars: The Force Unleashed – when we got a Wii, one of the first things I thought of was, "I want a game that lets me use the WiiMote like a sword." When I heard about a new Star Wars game that would allow you to use the WiiMore like a LIGHTSABER, I realized that this was potentially a dream come true. A dream I didn't even know I had. Namely, that I could use the WiiMote like a lightsaber. Hello? How many times did I imagine that I was Luke Skywalker, battling Darth Vader, denying he was my father as I swung my lightsaber in defiance? (Yes, Han Solo was cooler but Luke was a Jedi and was a more attainable goal – you weren't going to be as cool as Han, but you could definitely be like Luke. OK, I was a kid with self-esteem issues.) The idea that I can do this as an adult and get away with it because I have a son is almost too cool to imagine. Reviews of the game on Amazon are mixed, ranging from "pretty good" to "Worst. Game. Ever." There are a few "all my childhood dreams realized" comments on there. Until I actually play the game, I'll stick with those.

To make the nerdy experience truly complete, there is the Thrustmaster Glow Saber Duo Pack, which sounds like the name of a sex toy from a Woody Allen movie but is actually a Wii accessory where you insert the WiiMote into a glowing piece of plastic and wave it around like a lightsaber.

Peanuts Holiday Collection (It's the Great Pumpkin, Charlie Brown / A Charlie Brown Thanksgiving / A Charlie Brown Christmas): This one isn't as embarrassing as the other two. The various Peanuts holiday specials have, in my opinion, stood the test of time better than any others. The animation is pleasantly low-key, the voice acting isn't obnoxiously loud and the kids actually sound like kids, and there are no stupid adults around. It's sentimental without being saccharine, funny without resorting to lowbrow comedy (nothing wrong with that but it's nice to see something different everyone now and then), and its great when you can enjoy something from your childhood with your kids without being forced to explain to them why you like it.

Marvel Transformers: It's unclear how I managed to not hear about these amazing new toys. It could be because I'm an adult. But I don't like that explanation. How can something as unbelievably cool as an Iron Man Transformer action figure not have been on my geeky radar? I might have to turn in my Platinum Nerd Card. In all seriousness – well, not ALL seriousness, this isn't a very serious topic – these look cool, appear to be in stock at Amazon, and would provide hours of fun for me, I mean MY CHILDREN. So come on. Fill my stocking with superheroes!

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Holiday Rich or Rehab: Whatever Happened to the Voice of Charlie Brown?

Jen Chaney — Tue, 16 Dec 2008 15:32:00 GMT

Every year, most of us watch "A Charlie Brown Christmas." Every year, we hear good 'ol Chuck ask the timeless question, "Isn't there anyone who knows what Christmas is all about?" But do we ever stop to ask who provided the voice for that animated bald-headed kid?

Well, in this week's Rich or Rehab, I do. Here's the story of Peter Robbins, a guy who can accurately be described this way: Of all the Charlie Browns in the world, he's the Charlie Browniest.

Robbins got his start in show business at age 7, playing small roles mostly in television shows ranging from "Rawhide" to "The Munsters." In 1965, when he was 9, he got the role of a lifetime: He signed on to voice Charlie Brown in "A Charlie Brown Christmas." Clearly he was good at the gig. He spoke on behalf of the unpopular kid in the zig-zag shirt in four more animated specials -- including 1966's "It's the Great Pumpkin, Charlie Brown" -- and the movie "A Boy Named Charlie Brown."

Meanwhile, he was still popping up occasionally in other TV series, like "F Troop" and "Get Smart." But Robbins ultimately had to abandon his lucrative blockhead job in 1969 because his voice broke. (Damn you confounded puberty!)

It's unclear exactly what happened to Robbins immediately thereafter, but NPR reported a couple of years ago that he now works in the real estate business, managing several apartment buildings in Van Nuys, Calif. I find that kind of hilarious given what Lucy says she really wants during "A Charlie Brown Christmas":

Lucy Van Pelt: I know how you feel about all this Christmas business, getting depressed and all that. It happens to me every year. I never get what I really want. I always get a lot of stupid toys or a bicycle or clothes or something like that.

Charlie Brown: What is it you want?

Lucy Van Pelt: Real estate.

Robbins is now 52 and reportedly single (you know, in case any of you are lookin'). He made an appearance at San Diego's Comic-Con earlier this year; you can see an interview he recorded at the pop culture festival here. Maybe it's just me, but I find it comforting to know that Charlie Brown's life has turned out to be mostly good and, seemingly, rarely associated with grief.

Images: twelveone. geeky.music; NPR.org

Related Links:

Holiday Rich or Rehab: Whatever Happened to Randy From 'A Christmas Story'?

Top 10 Kid Christmas Special Moments That Make Parents Cry

Rich or Rehab, Holiday Edition: Whatever Happened to Zuzu?

They Say: Pregnant Women Can Eat Nuts

JeanneSager — Fri, 12 Dec 2008 13:28:00 GMT

Once you're done snickering class, I'll begin. Because unfortunately for you (or fortunately - if you happen to be pregnant), a new study has found pregnant women eating peanuts has little affect on the allergies developed in their offspring.

The report from the British Food Standards Agency Committee on Toxicity says pregnant women with a family history of hay fever, eczema and food allergies can eat all the peanuts they want. Unless they're allergic themselves - of course.

The new look at peanut allergies comes on the heels from a Harvard Medical School expert's statements that parents have been taken over by nut hysteria. According to the BBC report on the new advice, Harvard's Professor Nicholas Christakis apparently cited "a gross over-reaction to the magnitude of the threat" posed by food allergies, and particularly nut allergies."

Parents, overreact? Not us. Oh wait, is that a nut in my daughter's bowl of all natural, high fiber, whole grain, organic sticks and twigs? Shut down the area. We need a decontamination unit, stat.

Oh, er, where was I? So Moms, lay back, take it easy. Eat a peantu butter and jelly sandwich if you feel the need. Or maybe some Reese's Pieces . . . or how about some peanut brittle? What the heck, just go nuts.

Image: BBC

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Kitchenista: Cupcake Porn

Adrienne Martini — Thu, 03 Apr 2008 18:00:00 GMT

Usually, my goal with these Kitchinsta posts is to point to easy recipes that mere mortals -- the ones who are trying to get dinner ready while a kid hangs on your leg and the cat barfs in the corner -- can do. But there are those special moments where you just want to fling yourself into a full-fledged fantasy. For those special times, I give you pure, XXX cupcake porn.

Chockylit's Cupcake Blog is a one stop shop. The pixs -- like the one at right -- can make anyone all wet (with drool, natch) and tingly. But the recipes also make your pulse race. Like this tutorial on frosting. Or this one for Sweet & Salty Honey Peanut Cupcakes. There's even a Gluten-free option. I'm all trembly just typing about my cupcake lust.

Mmmmmm. Don't stop the cupcakes. Don't stop.

Strollerderby Playdate: Anyone Have An Epi-Pen?

Kelly Mills — Fri, 04 Jan 2008 12:03:00 GMT

Wow, school is almost back in for us. I'm happy-sad about it, but I do sort of regret that we did not do many playdates for the wee one this break. Nor have I done much playdating blog-style, because what with the big meals and the family crap and blah blah blah, I'm lucky I could read the dosage on the bottle of Advil, let alone check out anyone's blog.

But in a gallant stab at returning to normalcy, I've come up with a date for y'all. Its on one of our hot topics: kid allergies. There's all kinds of theories about what causes allergies out there and so on, but I must confess this is the first time I'd heard Jimmy Carter's name dropped. It makes sense. Anyone who does that much good in the world, building houses for people and all must have some dark karma he's trying to purge. And causing kids to go to the hospital is pretty bad karma.

You might even recognize this blogger, because he is one of our own, meaning he's taken the dark oath and had the pentagram carved into his chest. And he's a funny guy who often drops the kind of musical references I can relate to, thank god. (So tired of the kids talking--make that texting--in language I don't understand about bands I've never heard of and who are probably too loud.) Anyhow, he sacrificed his blow-up doll for his kid, so you know he's going for a world's best dad trophy too. Check out his conspiracy theory on allergies, and bring your inhaler.

Kids Are Developing Peanut Allergies Much Younger

Kelly Mills — Wed, 05 Dec 2007 00:01:00 GMT

Researchers found peanut allergies are showing up in younger kids than before, and they don't know why. In a study of 40 kids, the median age of first allergic reaction was 14 months for those born between 2000 and 2005, compared to a median age of 22 to 24 months in kids born between 1988 and 1999. Doctors urge parents to avoid exposing susceptible kids to peanuts until they are older, because as one says, "When kids are older, it can be easier to manage bad reactions. They can tell you right away if their mouths feel funny. For that reason alone, it's worth delaying exposing your child to a peanut product, especially if a child is at high risk."

But hold on a minute--could it be that by limiting exposure, we're helping create these allergy problems? That was one theory in this article I posted about a while back, anyway. I love it when our caution turns out to be the thing that invites the plague upon us. 'Course we should still follow the doctors' advice here, because I doubt anyone wants to test that theory in a potentially fatal way. For now, PBJ can just remain food for thought.

Weekly Check-Up: Scary Allergies on the Rise Because We're Too Careful?

Kelly Mills — Thu, 01 Nov 2007 17:06:00 GMT

Once a month we bring snack for my daughter's class of 20 kids. Because of allergies, the list of forbidden foods includes dairy, nuts, strawberries, and wheat. Which means the kids can have rice cakes, and cut fruit, and veggies, and...did I already mention rice cakes? While I'm glad to know he needs of allergic kids are being taken care of, I was stunned by the number of foods on the danger list. Turns out that allergies, like the deadly peanut one, are on the rise in the younger population. But I was even more surprised to learn why more kids are having these reactions, because it seems like it could be due to our collective cautious parenting.

One theory for the increase in allergies is that with our highly clean, sanitized, germ-free lifestyles, we have basically given kids' immune systems too much free time. Without the need to wage small battles against bacteria and other stuff, the immune systems start amping up a response to innocous things like wheat. And our zealousness at protecting kids from allergies themselves may actually cause problems. Countries that advise avoidance of peanuts early in life have seen the biggest increase in peanut allergies. One researcher is actually conducting a study with babies that have egg allergies and eczema, but no peanut allergy--he is going to give half the kids a snack containing peanuts, and then follow the children to see if the exposure actually prevented a peanut allergy.

And then there's one more factor in the cautious parent-allergy relationship: some parents may believe kids have an allergy when that hasn't actually been confirmed. In fact, "'Studies have shown that up to 25 percent of parents think their children may have a food allergy,' says Dr. David Fleischer, of National Jewish Medical and Research Center in Denver, 'but they've only been confirmed in about 8 percent.'" Good to know--maybe next year my kid's class will be able to ditch the rice cakes.

Allergen-Free Peanuts May Be Coming Your Way

Patti — Wed, 01 Aug 2007 13:23:00 GMT

As your kids get older, the peanut butter problem arises more and more often. Peanut-free schools, peanut-free parties, occasions where you aren't allowed to bring anything that isn't store-bought and sealed in its original packaging so the allergen information is clearly stated. It's a little (forgive me) nuts, but given that the number of kids who could possible die from just whiffing a little dust from your Snickers is increasing every year, it's probably the only approach to take.

Dr. Mohamed Ahmedna may go down in history as the patron saint of the nut-allergic. The North Carolina Agricultural and Technical University scientist has perfected a process to remove the allergenic toxins from peanuts, rendering them benign and returning them to the healthy little legumes they once were. The hypoallergenic peanuts would be as versatile within the food industry as conventional peanuts, only they won't kill kids quite so often. Praise the Lord and pass the jelly!

Snoopy Fashion Show to Hit Runway

MetroDad — Sat, 14 Apr 2007 15:31:00 GMT

Snoopy, the iconic beagle beloved by children all over the world, will be the subject of a colorful runway fashion show this September at th Bryant Park tents. Isaac Mizrahi and Betsey Johnson are among the designers that have signed on thus far to design Peanuts-inspired couture for the fashion show, proceeds of which will benefit the non-profit charity Dress for Success.

Apparently, this isn’t the first time Snoopy has been besieged with a vast designer wardrobe. According to the article in Fashion Week Daily, in 1988, Chronicle Books released Snoopy in Fashion, a photo-heavy based book that featured the chic pooch and his sister, Belle, modeling canine couture by 95 of fashion’s biggest names, including Karl Lagerfeld, Mary McFadden, Issey Miyake, Gianni Versace, Calvin Klein, Oscar de la Renta, and even L.L. Bean.

Personally, I always thought Snoopy was more of a Hilfiger man. And for more formal occasions, I kind of pictured him in a Brooks Brothers outfit. Shit, I can't even believe we're having this conversation. What has my life come to that I'm now actually thinking about the fashion choices of a stuffed dog? Good grief!

FYI...in the above photo, Snoopy and his lady friend are chilling out in some Miyake.

Kissing Babies May Cause Them to Develop Peanut Allergies

Karen Murphy — Mon, 05 Mar 2007 16:58:00 GMT

There's a girl at my children's school who has such severe nut allergies that the entire school has been declared a Nut-Free Zone and the school office is equipped with an EpiPen (which came in very handy once already). Given the fact that my kids can no longer pack a PB&J, I've wondered a time or two what possibly could cause an allergic reaction so severe that this angelic-looking 3rd grader could be dead in a matter of minutes after breathing the same air as someone who had recently eaten, say, a granola bar containing a few nuts. That's pretty damn severe, and has the entire school checking the ingredients lists on the granola bars we send with our kids.

It turns out there is a major connection between infantile eczema and nut allergies. It's now thought that the eczema rash is susceptible to absorbing additonal allergens, and planting a nice juicy wet kiss on a child with eczema after you've had your own PB&J can cause a sufficient amount of environmental peanut exposure for the child to develop nut allergies later on. Obviously, there are other methods of exposure, especially since peanuts tend to remain in trace amounts even after washing, but it's pretty scary that something so benign as a kiss may not be all that benign after all.