So you’ve got a short day today and a long weekend ahead. Sounds like the perfect time to kick back and enjoy some of our favorite videos from this past week.
First up, what might look like nothing more then a kid’s game, but is in fact some of the most fun you can have on a PlayStation 3. LittleBigPlanet 2 isn’t on shelves yet, but all of us here at Digital Dads are eager to give it a try and Clarence (our resident gaming guru) watches this video daily for creative inspiration.
You all know that guys like gadgets right? One of our favorite and the hottest out there at the moment is the iPad. But, while you can do a lot of great things with it, this guy realized that you could do a lot more with the addiction of one of the best and simplest inventions of all time: Velcro!
And while all the rage might be about the death of print and the rise of tablet based magazines, that doesn’t mean that some people are not getting innovative and trying to save print. 48 Hour Magazine caught our attention when it was first announced and while we are not sure if this is going to be a one time thing or an ongoing experiment, we love that they captured the first issue in this mini documentary.
Last, but not least, with the summer movie season in full swing and everyone around here a big time lover of going to the movies we have to share this piece of DIY awesomeness. We don’t know how they did all the 3D effect, but when the director of the real Iron Man movies tweets out a link to a video you know it has got to be good. Watch this “trailer” for a movie that should be made and you’ll see why.
Ok, we lied and have to give you one more video in celebration of Memorial Day Weekend. No one else could quite show their American spirit like the Muppets can.
Do you know what an AED is? Do you know if your children’s schools have them?
While our kids probably don’t have to worry about suffering a heart attack, what can strike anyone is Sudden Cardiac Arrest (SCA) which is the sudden, unexpected loss of heart function, breathing and consciousness. It kills approximately 250,000 people each year in the U.S. alone, more than from colon cancer, breast cancer, prostate cancer, auto accidents, AIDS, firearms, and house fires combined. Have I got your attention? Good, then read on.
Last year a friend of mine talked to me about how Congress had placed a priority on sudden cardiac arrest by declaring National CPR/AED Awareness Week the first week of June each year. The goal is to raise awareness for SCA and encourage our nation to prepare by learning CPR and how to use an AED.
While I had seen an AED before I didn’t realize the stats on how crucial they are for saving people of all ages. Once I became aware of them, I now see them all over the place, but I don’t find them as often as I would hope to.
The problem with them is that they are not cheap and average around $1,000 per unit. Improvements are being made all the time so hopefully that price will start to drop as demand raises.
Until then, would you like to win a free AED for your school?
Students from elementary school through college are invited to write, film, star in and edit their own short (3-5 minute) videos promoting the importance of recognizing cardiac arrest and the use of CPR and AEDs. Entrants are encouraged to be creative and have fun with their submissions. The SCA Foundation panel of judges will review videos for overall message, creativity, originality, student participation, and likelihood to raise awareness about saving lives threatened by sudden cardiac arrest. Finalists for all categories will be posted on the SCA Foundation’s website and its YouTube Channel and promoted to schools nationwide.
The deadline for submissions is May 31, 2010 so get them in today!!
We are going to start a new segment here on Digital Dads that highlights some of our favorite videos that hit our radar this week. Since we are a diverse group of guys you never know what we might highlight as this weeks batch of videos will showcase.
If you ever have suggestions, drop us an e-mail and let us know what you’ve been digging. We always love watching great videos.
First up, the trailer for the new video game Call of Duty: Black Ops. We are big fans of the series and while there have been some shakeups behind the scenes of this game, this first full look is top notch and we can’t wait to play it at the end of the year and kick some ass.
Still not wired enough from all that action? Then take the next three minutes to dive inside the head of a World Cup Soccer Player from Nike. You don’t have to even like soccer to appreciate this.
We don’t want you to have a heart attack from all the action, but if you do I’m sure none of us would mind being saved by one of these two lovely ladies. All kidding aside, first aid is something every Dad should know and if you have never taken a class consider one from the Red Cross today. But, for now watch this instructional (no kidding) video from Fortnight Lingerie.
Finally, we wanted to end on a bit of a chilled out note with a life in the day of John Mayer. Love or hate his music, this video shot mostly by him on a Canon 5d mkII earlier this month is visually awesome. Of course now we are all wondering what the flaming drink towards the end is and where we can try one. Any ideas?
Like this new feature? Want to share something else cool with us? Leave a comment to let us know!
While it may never get all the attention that Mother’s Day does, the day of the dad is fast approaching and this year we want to make sure to help everyone find the best gifts for the special father in their life.
Digital Dads will be posting a series of lists in coming weeks listing some of the best gifts we like in a variety of categories including:
Gadgets & Technology
Cooking
Movies
Music
Books
Our goal is to highlight a variety of products and gifts beyond the same old tie, or custom coffee mug. Sure, those are fine for a couple of years, but then they get old and we want to help you find unique gifts that the guy will love, because we’d love to get them ourselves!
Stay tuned for them to hit the feed over the coming weeks and if there are other types of Dads that you need some help finding gifts for, leave a comment and we’ll try to help out.
In case you’ve forgotten, Father’s Day is June 20th this year.
There are cat people in the world and there are dog people. While I have no problem with cats and grew up with many of them in our house, I am most definitely a dog person.
Our dog Roxie is an important part of our family. We found her through Petfinder and adopted her when she was a puppy. Bringing a dog into a house is not the easiest thing in the world, but the rewards for it are amazing.
This week is National Dog Bite Prevention Week (who knew?) and I thought I’d give my personal tips on the basics to staying safe with dogs.
Never pet a dog that you don’t know. When approaching a dog on a leash, ask the owner if it is ok to pet the dog or not.
Before approaching any dog, hold out your hand with the palm facing up to let the dog sniff you and check you out. This lets them know you are not a threat.
If the dog is eating or chewing on a bone, don’t bother them. Especially don’t sneak up behind them while they are doing this. You are likely to startle the dog and they may snap at you.
Don’t judge a dog by the bread they are. All dogs are good dogs and if the dog is not behaving properly it is because they have not been trained properly.
Little dogs bite too
While you shouldn’t be scared of dogs, never assume that the dog is friendly. Especially if they are off leash and not near an owner. Proceed with caution, but not fear.
At the end of the day, the most important rule is to be smart. I’m still bothered by hearing a friend one time tell their child, “just remember that dogs are dangerous.” Hearing that broke my heart because we should never instill that sort of fear in someone about anything. Yes, dogs can be dangerous, but so can every other animal in the world. We should teach caution but not fear.
What other tips would you advise for parents to teach their kids about dogs?
Last week I attended my first dance competition with my daughter. It was a lot of fun to see girls of all ages strut their stuff on the stage and do an amazing job at it. The talent in these young ladies was amazing to see.
What I wasn’t ready for was seeing young girls in fishnets, tight boy shorts and thigh high leather boots. The teased hair, fake eye lashes and gyrating bodies on stage. I talked about this on Cast of Dads #18 and was glad to hear that the other dads were equally upset by it.
Now, don’t get me wrong. I am the farthest thing from an uptight prude. But, as I sat there in the audience and watched the 6 & 7 year old teams shake things they didn’t have and perform moves that were more appropriate for a stripper pole then a school stage I had to stop and wonder. Why are we letting our kids do this? Worse yet, why were there parents in the audience hooting and hollering every time they did an extra sexy move? How is it that suddenly slutting up our girls is ok with parents?
If you need a visual to make this real for you, take a look at this video below. It hit the web yesterday and after Jessica Gottlieb wrote about it, I knew I had to share my thoughts. Keep in mind that the girls in this video are seven and eight years old.
I can appreciate the girls dancing skills (they are super talented in that video) and I’ve heard the arguments of “they are just costumes”, but all of it still pisses me off. If you can’t handle watching the whole thing, the last 20 seconds or so will be enough to make you scream.
I have a daughter. I see the way she is marketed to. I’ve taken her shopping and seen the outfits that hang on display. Most of it is fine, but so much of it is far from that. Sure, sex sells, but do we need to be selling it to girls so young that they haven’t even developed yet? There is no reason for that.
This is not going to be one of those scream at society pieces, because I firmly believe that it is the job of the parent to not let this happen to their own kids. It is up to you to say, “no you can’t wear that” and explain why something is inappropriate. We can scream all we want, but when I heard those other parents cheering on the girls on stage (just listen to the video) it made me shake my head in shame. I wanted to stand up and turn around and ask point blank, “what the hell are you doing?”
One thing, that this personal experience has taught me is that I’ve got to be more involved if Emily is going to continue doing dance. I had never seen the routines she was working on, until they were on stage. I had seen the costumes ahead of time and they were fine. But, if she had come home with some of the outfits that I saw other girls in what would I have done? I’ve been thinking a lot about that and I know for sure I wouldn’t have allowed her to do it. That would not have been easy as I know dance is turning into a bit of a passion for her, but I would have needed to do it.
My daughter is growing up with a deep rooted self confidence. I want her to know that whatever she ends up looking like that she is her own person. That she is beautiful, smart, awesome and unique. There is nothing wrong with being sexy and flirtatious. That is part of the fun of being a human and while I’m scared to death of when she figures that out, I know it is part of growing up.
Parents, you are the last line of defense here. The old saying that sex sells is a fact and we all know it. That is never going to change, but does sex have to sell in your house? No, it doesn’t. This is a problem that parents are allowing to happen. Complain all you want about what is happening in our world, but the more active you are as a parent and not allow things like this to happen the better we all will be.
Update: As of this afternoon, it looks like all copies of the video have been removed from YouTube, so the embed below won’t work. Can’t say that I’m dissapointed in this, but it does kill a little experiment I was going to do with my daughter.
This Sunday is Mother’s Day and that means a special day for all the mothers in your life. While it may be just another Hallmark Holiday, it is a great day to spend with family and make the most of it.
You’ve only got a few days to get a gift and while you should already have something, we wanted to give you a few last minute ideas that if are not speedy enough for this year, consider it for some time in the future. These of course go beyond the typical flowers and a card (which will always work) and make it all a bit more original.
Pamper her with a gift certificate to a local spa. Most have special packages or will build a custom one for you. Others will have gift cards for multiple massages which are always appreciated. This is the sort of gift that many women will never buy for themselves, but have always wanted to try.
Photos are always a great gift, but think beyond just a frame and a single picture. Digital frames have gotten cheaper and more powerful. Not sure which one to get? Try using the Amazon.com Digital Photo Frame Knowledge Center to pick out the best one for your needs. It is also easier then ever to make calendars, books and other gifts through a variety of services. If you are looking to frame a special photo professionally, I’m a big fan of using Imagekind to get them done and have been very happy with their work.
While breakfast in bed is always a keeper (and extra fun with little kids), sometimes it is even better to take her out to breakfast or brunch on Mother’s Day. Use a service like OpenTable to find a restaurant that has openings in your area.
If she loves music, movies or technology then consider getting an engraved iPod. Having it engraved takes it a step beyond just being another gadget and shows that you were thinking of her when you bought it. Get it early so that you can pre-load it with some of her favorite content.
Most moms want one thing above all else and that is time. Give it to her by not letting her do anything for the day. Make the meals, clean the house, do the laundry. Let her just relax and enjoy not having a to-do list for the day. If you want to take it a step further consider hiring a cleaning service to come in and clean the whole house.
Channel your inner child and make her something from scratch. Be smart about it though and don’t just whip something up at the last minute because you forgot. Take the time to really do it right. Make a nice card with printed out photos, write a poem or make her a video. There are so many options here and if it feels right and means something to you, then it will mean something to her.
If all else fails there is still time to order unique gifts from some online retailers. Personally I’m a big fan of Red Envelope and Uncommon Goods for gifts that are different then most.
The key is that you make it a special day for her. It isn’t about the gifts, but rather a celebration of how much you love your wife and mother.
And to anyone out there who has a pregnant wife right now and might be expecting their first child. You really can’t forget Mother’s Day. Trust me, that you’ll win extra brownie points for getting her a gift this year and it’ll make for a special memory so do it right.
To all the moms out there reading this, all of us here at Digital Dads thank you for being moms and being who you are! We love you all.
In case you hadn’t heard the news, Apple released a new product called the iPad.
If you over simplified the description of what one is, you could call it a big iPhone and while that isn’t far from the truth it is really not an accurate description. It is their first true tablet computer and one that I believe does have a place in your family and I wanted to highlight some of the apps for it that we are already enjoying.
Now, please remember that it hasn’t even been out for more then two weeks and these are only the ones that we’ve discovered or have been told about that are made for the iPad.
There are a ton of great apps that were released before the iPad that are family friendly and they will work on the iPad, but I wanted to focus on applications that have been built to take full advantage of the new platform rather than just working. I’m also not including prices because I know many have special pricing when I bought them and could change at any time. All links will go directly to the iTunes store.
In no particular order:
Netflix
You will need to have a Netflix account in order to utilize this, but what is great is that a portion of their library is now available for live streaming to a variety of devices including the iPad. So as I laid on the couch last weekend recovering from knee surgery with a couple of clicks I was watching Singles in my lap on this application.
Artist’s Touch One of my students at the University of San Francisco told me about this program so I checked it out because I knew the kids (and me) would want to be able to sketch and draw. Out of all the applications we have tried, this is the best for simple doodling with enough options to really let an artist grow in it. Allowing you to choose from a variety of papers, textures, colors and creation tools, I might never get the iPad back from Emily ever again. One word of advice, unless you are a finger painting master I suggest buying a Pogo Stylus that my friend Whitney Hoffman told me about. It does a great job working as a stylus and the ones that come with a Nintendo DS don’t work. I know because I tried! *laugh*
The Weather Channel
Every morning now when the kids ask us, “what is it going to be like today?” we tell them just to look at the iPad. If you share your location with it, the local weather comes right up and clearly shows in animated pictures what the day and the week ahead looks like. If you want more detail it also has live streaming video weather, radar and other goodies.
Epicurious We love to cook and every family should spend time in the kitchen together. Pulling new content from the web keeps this app full of fresh recipe ideas with big, bold pictures and shopping lists. Although you can’t print them out yet (a failing of the iPad, not the app), I could easily see us setting this on the counter in a cookbook holder while we made dinner. They have the ability to star favorite recipes, so we’ve been going through starring some new ones to try. Great way to get the kids involved in what you are eating.
Doons
Laura and the kids love to play casual games and this has quickly become one of their favorites. You are presented with a screen of funny faced blocks and you must shoot up new ones to make groups of three or more and they will fall away. As you level up, it of course gets harder and harder. Simple fun that as long as a child can match colors they could play this.
Tumbles
Based on the wildly popular Scope or Pop’em style of game, this takes it further by taking advantage of the accelerometer in the iPad and physics. You can now tilt, tap and move around the balls on the screen to line them up before popping them. I’ve gotten so many laughs out of watching Laura tilting the iPad around and around while playing this game. It is her all time favorite style. While, not my cup of tea, I do like that it has a head-to-head option so that we can play against each other.
Labyrinth 2 HD Remember those old wooden boxes in class, that you turned the knobs to navigate a ball through a maze without falling into to holes? Well that is this, but in addition to the classic vibe, has been updated with lasers, fans and trap doors. I love watching the kids try to figure out the puzzles and trying over and over until they figure it out. Sounds easy, but it isn’t. Frustrated me in no time! I’m not much a puzzle fan.
Marvel Comics
I don’t want to start a DC vs. Marvel fight or anything like that and personally I’m rooting for a third party like Panelfly to push forward and come out with one big comic reader, but for now this is the app to get. The panel by panel reading takes care of the “I don’t know what order to read in” that Emily told me is why she doesn’t get comic books. One warning though, they make it super easy to buy more and I found myself spending a chunk of change in no time, which I haven’t done on comics since I was a teenager.
GoodReader
While not the sexiest of apps, it is one of the most useful. Able to open up documents of every common type it also will connect with locations that you store your documents including Dropbox, Google Docs and iDisk. It sounds overly simple and not needed until you actually start using it and then that is when you realize you must have this.
I’m sure as we use it more, I will find more, but I wanted to give you some starter suggestions in case your house now has an iPad in it.
What applications have you found that you and your family like?
Hillshire Farm makes some great products that I’ve cooked with and enjoyed for years, so when they contacted us here at Digital Dads and asked us if we would be interested in trying some of their sausage and sharing it with our readers how could we say no?
Kielbasa is an interesting meat that can be used in a variety of situations from breakfast to dinner. If you didn’t read Chances breakfast recipe you should, but be warned it’ll make you hungry. We were sent two packages of Kielbasa and a cookbook that I can’t wait to try some new recipes out of. We thought it would be fun for Chance and I both to share a recipe and then let you win some sausage. (really not meant to be as dirty as it sounds!)
Here is my recipe for a quick, easy and tasty supper that is a breeze to make any day of the week. It is a little weird and a little different, but you can keep the ingredients on hand and whip it up when you suddenly have soccer practice and no time for anything else.
Fruity Sausage
Ingredients
2 packages Kielbasa
2 Large cans of Fruit Cocktail in heavy syrup
2 Boil In The Bag Brown Rice
Cooking Instructions:
Cut the Kielbasa into bite size chunks and place into a large frying pan over medium heat.
Cook until heated all the way through
Drain out as much of the fat as you can
Place the sausage back into the fry pan and pour in the two cans of fruit cocktail
Heat all the way through until the fruit is hot
Make the rice as instructed on the packaging
Place a few large scoops or rice on the plate and spoon over the fruity sausage mixture
The rice won’t be good left over, but the sausage and fruit will reheat just fine on it’s own
We want YOU to get something out of this in addition to 2 great recipes, so Hillshire Farm has agreed to give away a year supply of sausage to one lucky reader. This contest is open to US residents only and don’t worry about the size of your freezer, you’ll be getting coupons from the company rather then a stack of meat.
You can enter the contest one of two ways. Either rename this recipe for me since I had to make up one for this post OR post your favorite Kielbasa recipe in the comment field below and then I’ll pick a winner and announce it here on the site.
If you are looking for recipes, swing on by Hillshire Farm’s Recipe Page for a variety of options. If you try one let us know.
Stirring Up Wishes is Betty Crocker’s multi-year cause marketing program with the Make-A-Wish Foundation®, to help grant wishes for children with life-threatening medical conditions and bring magic to their lives. We are hoping you’ll consider making a donation today.
I had never heard of this partnership before I was asked if Betty Crocker through MyBlogSpark could send me a package including brownie mix, chocolate chip cookie mix and a branded Betty Crocker red spoon. In addition they offered to make a $25 donation to Make-A-Wish, so how could I say no? I get a fun night baking with the family and somewhere a child gets another wish granted. That is a win-win in my book.
Emily was inspired by the arrival of the package to create something new and we ended up making both, but before baking the brownies she put in clumps of cookie dough. I thought we were going to end up with a mess, but instead we ended up with an amazing mixture of Brownie Cookies. We liked it so much, that I know we’ve talked about making it again really soon.
But, this post is about how YOU can help Betty Crocker® grant wishes.
There are two ways to help:
You can support the Make-A-Wish Foundation online through the Give $5, Get $5 promotion. Until April 15, 2010, donate $5 to the Make-A-Wish Foundation to help make children’s wishes come true, and get $5 worth of downloadable Betty Crocker® coupons. Limit of $5 in coupons per person.
Next time you are at the grocery store, look for specially marked products and Betty Crocker will donate 10¢ to the Make-A-Wish Foundation, with a guaranteed minimum donation of $250,000 and a maximum donation of $500,000.
My mother-in-law has been active with Make-A-Wish for years and I’ve seen the great work they do so I hope you can take a moment to help with this great initiative.
is? Do you know if your children’s schools have them?
Stirring Up Wishes
