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Toothless One

Posted by html404 on March 18, 2010
in Uncategorized

Yesterday’s Wordless Photo was of “Guy Smiley” after losing his second tooth. His first tooth he lost a couple of years ago when he and his brother were goofing around in their room with a skipping rope. They had looped it around their top bunk guard rail and he somehow caught his tooth in it and pulled it right out! I mean, look at this tooth. (I apologize for the photo quality; our camera just does not take very good up close shots and it looks like there’s some ink on it from the jar it’s been in.) As an aside, if anyone has any camera recommendations, I would love to hear them.

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His second tooth came out naturally due to the adult tooth coming in. Still no sign on the side that came out unnaturally, too soon.

In our house we have had a couple of children who have really made the losing a tooth process an ordeal to remember! Tears ove r losing a tooth, no matter how much we tell them that it is normal and natural. Tears over the blood, tears of fear, tears that it hurts and who knows what else they’ve said. Perhaps it is with these children we should have succumbed to doing the tooth fairy with them!? Making it a fun thing. That’s just hindsight, though.

With a couple of children my mom or I have been sneaky when we’ve checked a loose tooth, so when we actually checked the tooth we have pulled it! Initially, it stunned the child, but you know what? The next time they had a loose tooth, they either wished for my mom (who lives in Canada) or have asked me to do it again!

Guy Smiley was very happy as you can see from his photo, but that wasn’t always the case. He was just very thankful after the ordeal was over and it was easier to eat again!

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Wordless Wednesday – Toothless

Posted by html404 on March 17, 2010
in Uncategorized

Toothless 001

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Demographic Bomb

Posted by html404 on March 16, 2010
in DVDs & CDs

Demographic Bomb

I forgot to mention in Saturday’s post that we requested these two dvds –Demographic Winter and Demographic Bomb – from our interlibrary loan department. I love that we can save money or at least preview items before we commit to adding them to our family’s resource library.

Demographic Bomb is the sequel to Demographic Winter. Where Demographic Winter was about the decline of the human family, Demographic Bomb is demography is destiny. “Where Demographic Winter predicted the financial crash of 2008, Demographic Bomb reveals how it is just beginning.” (Taken from the back of the dvd, but slightly paraphrased).

It is truly amazing that demographers knew that we were heading for a population decline back in the ’60s and 70’s when the overpopulation idea was highly publicized with the book, “The Population Bomb,” which had 13 printings by 1970. The Population Bomb was publicized by non-demographers and media.

I was impressed by how important the demographers viewed children to the future of the world’s economy. It was refreshing, actually.

We need 2.13 children to replace the population according to the 2007 CIA Fact Book. Currently 90 countries have fertility rates less than 2.13. As the narrator of Demographic Bomb asked, “Anyone wonder if we’ve created these economic consequences?” And one demographer stated that a civilization turned against children is the revolution we are living in. How sad. But the proof is in the pudding, so to speak, since there has been a 50% decline in fertility in the last 50 years and the United Nations is still pushing to decrease those levels, especially in poor countries, because they want to eliminate poverty and control the population.

I don’t know what you think of this, but I find it disturbing. And here is the American Heritage Dictionary’s (English Language) definition of Population Control:

“Population Control. Noun: a government program to limit or slow population growth…as by birth control education, the wide availability of contraceptives, and economic incentives.”

How many of us have been duped by this government program? And to think that it all started here in the United States and is now affecting the whole world. When will it end?

Quotes from the dvd:

“With the rise in concern about the population bomb, the field was suddenly awash with money.” ~ Mathew Connelly, Columbia University, Author of Fatal Misconception

“We must have population control at home, hopefully through a system of incentives and penalties, but by compulsion if voluntary methods fail.” ~ Paul Ehrlich, Standford University, Author of The Population Bomb

“It’s an odd thing that an entire civilization would turn on children, but in many respects that’s the revolution that we are now involved in.” ~ Allan Carlson, President, The Howard Center

For more information, please visit www.DemographicBomb.com

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Danny the Dragon DVD

Posted by html404 on March 15, 2010
in DVDs & CDs

I received the following DVD free in exchange for writing a review. While I consider it a privilege to receive free products to review, my review is my honest opinion and thoughts of the book. Danny the Dragon Book, except it is a video showing the pages of the book while an actress reads the story and a sign language instructor gives the signs so that deaf children can enjoy the story as well.

This wasn’t what we expected since it isn’t a “real” video like they are use to and our children were disappointed at first, but that didn’t stop them from asking to watch it again.

As Mrs. Turbin stated in her interview she created this DVD for the benefit of Blossom Montessori School for the deaf as well as for Literacy and Education and is donating all the proceeds from the sale of the DVD to these causes. Tina Turbin is also involved with causes for Celiac disease and gluten free education.

The Danny the Dragon DVD is due out in April and will be available at http://www.dannythedragon.com/buy/

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Interview with Author Tina Turbin

Posted by html404 on March 15, 2010
in Books, DVDs & CDs, Giving Back/Charity

This interview was conducted before I received any of Mrs. Turbin’s Danny the Dragon products.

FF: I am looking forward to reviewing your products.

TT:Thank you for doing them!

FF: I just have a few questions about your upcoming DVD that is due to be released in March. Official street date is April 14th actually.

FF: Is the DVD an animation or does it have real actors?

TT: Neither, the DVD is the book read aloud by an actress and the DVD has sign interpretation for the deaf.
I am donating the money to the Blossom Montessori School for the deaf as well as for Literacy and Education.

FF: What ages is the DVD geared towards?

TT: 2- 9 years but I have attended many schools with it and the young teens sure love it!

FF: Is there a particular reason that you decided to make a DVD of Danny the Dragon?

TT: Kids love to watch things on TV and computers and I was also asked that I create one off of the book. I also wanted to make something for the deaf as well.

FF: Does the DVD deviate from the book? If so, how?

TT: Not at all. The exact story.

FF: You have included sign language in the DVD. Did you have a personal reason for doing that?

TT: I visited a school to do a reading of my Danny the Dragon book and the school works with kids from very young all through High School and they had a number of deaf students. Carol Downing did the sign while I read to these lovely children. These kids amazed me, the staff inspired me and I walked away from that day with a new view on many aspects, and so did my photographer who came with me for the reading. I got in the car and my ideas starting rolling away on how I could help or do more. I first attended a fund raiser and donated to that and that was not enough. So now we have the DVD as well.

FF: And were actual deaf actors involved? ( please see above)

FF: How was that experience for everyone who participated in the making of the DVD?

TT: We all felt a deep sense of commitment doing it and truly enjoyed working on it. The end was an accomplishment well worth the time and the kids love watching it over and over.

FF: It is great when authors, celebrities and businesses support different causes in the work they are doing. You support the Celiac Foundation and now the deaf; what made you decide to choose these two organizations?

TT: CELIAC: I am passionate about raising awareness to Celiac Disease and the many adverse effects that gluten produces in many children and adult bodies- and even animals! One in every 120-130 people have this disease which means about 2.35-2.85 million Americans to this date have not yet been diagnosed. It takes an average of 4-10 years (depending on who you reference) to be properly diagnosed and in the meantime other auto-immune diseases can begin and a whole mess evolves. People find out about celiac or gluten intolerance and start researching it themselves and bring the topic up to their doctors, after many years of tests and troubles to no resolution. I was one of these people! Also, many kids with autism are taken off of gluten for a very good reason. Much more is on my resource site about these topics: http://GlutenFreeHelp.info DEAF: (Explained above)

FF: I think I have exhausted my question reservoir for the time being. I appreciate the privilege to review your book and DVD, as well as the opportunity to interview you.

TT: I thank you VERY much and you can learn a bit more about me at this site: www.TinaTurbin.com

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A Distant Melody – Revell Book Tour

Posted by html404 on March 14, 2010
in Books

I received the following book free in exchange for writing a review. While I consider it a privilege to receive free products to review, my review is my honest opinion and thoughts of the book.

A Distant Melody

A Distant Melody was written by Sarah Sundin, a new and upcoming authoress. After I finished the book, I couldn’t help but compare her to one of my all-time favorite Christian fiction authors, Lori Wick. A Distant Melody engaged me; I didn’t want to put the book down and even declined free pancakes at IHOP on National Pancake Day to stay home to finish it. It is over 400 pages long and I finished it in record time – I didn’t even pull an all-nighter to keep reading.

A Distant Melody is a a heartwarming-heartwrenching story set in the time of World War II. Mrs. Sundin’s detail and research of B-14s had me asking my husband questions about them so I could see if I was picturing correctly how the crew operated.

You know a story is good when the characters come alive to you. After all, that is a huge part of what makes a book a great book. I am already looking forward to the second book.

One thing I will say is that it was pretty predictable in some parts, but other parts had me on my seat – obviously, since I couldn’t put it down. And that’s not to say that there weren’t little things that I didn’t agree with or that could have been left out; there were and I know that most would argue that these “little” things were in keeping with the time of World War II. To that I say, “To each his own.”

“Available March 2010 at your favorite bookseller from Revell, a division of Baker Publishing Group.”

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Demographic Winter

Posted by html404 on March 13, 2010
in DVDs & CDs

We have all been exposed to the notion that the world is being overpopulated. Some of us may have even believed that or still do. However, there is a growing number of professionals, economists and professors in particular who are no longer believing that this propaganda is as newsworthy as new data comes to light. They have evidence that the world’s population is decreasing. “Demographic Winter is a documentary about the decline of the human family and how our children will carry the burden of the world.” (from the cover of the dvd) We have been waiting quite a while to watch this, probably since it first came out and I am so glad that we finally got to view it.

Demographic Winter

As nations have fewer and fewer children, the consequences won’t necessarily affect current generations, but the generations to come. The less children born, the more the world’s population becomes an aged population. This will result in less workers paying social security and taxes when the aged are retired and no longer working. What lasting affects will this bring to our children and their children and so on? That answer we will hopefully find in the sequel Demographic Bomb, which I will review on Tuesday, so stay tuned.

The problem is not just in depopulation, but the lasting economic repercussions that we should be aware of and fear the most, especially for our children and grandchildren’s sakes.

Quotes from the dvd:

“It’s happening in rich and poor countries…it’s happening throughout the Eastern and Western hemisphere, North and South…Birthrates are plummeting throughout the world.” ~ Philip Longman, Senior Fellow, New America Foundation: Author of The Empty Cradle

“Adam Smith said that economic prosperity comes from population growth, and depression…is associated with declining populations…this could lead to very serious consequences.” ~ Gary Becker, Nobel Prize for Economics, 1992

Demographic Winter is a SRB Documentary. For more information, please visit www.DemographicWinter.com/index.html

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It’s Birthday Time!

Posted by html404 on March 12, 2010
in Family Stuff

Tomorrow it’s birthday time again at our house. We had one birthday in January, three in February, now our only March birthday is today. One of our family traditions is to let the special birthday person choose their birthday meal and dessert. On Saturday’s birthday menu is taco salad, pound cake with strawberries and whipped cream! Yummy! Didn’t the birthday girl choose a delicious meal?

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Image: FreeDigitalPhotos.net

I believe some presents have already been given due to the excitement of certain siblings, but we will be giving our daughter some money as she has expressed an interest in starting her own business. Budding little entrepreneur!

A new family tradition that started with one of our birthdays in February is choosing a movie to watch. Our son chose some goofy animated movie, but our daughter chose The Wizard of Oz with Judy Garland. The old version. We tend to like the older versions of books and movies. I haven’t watched The Wizard of Oz in years, so it will be interesting to see what our children think and what discussions come from it. Now, for other Christians reading this, we don’t agree with everything in the movie, but there are some things that we all can take from it. In defense of the good witch and bad witch, we will probably turn that into a discussion of the battle of the good and evil that is present in the world today, even though we know scriptures speak against witchcraft and sorcerers.

Since I don’t know the demographics of my readers yet, I find that when I talk about personal stuff I want to over explain our family’s position. Either that or I just automatically assume I am speaking with an all Christian audience, but I know that can’t be true. So I hope you all keep commenting and sharing your thoughts with me so I can get to know you all better. But know for the most part, I will be writing mostly about product reviews for the very reason I mentioned at the beginning of this paragraph!

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Love of Books

Posted by html404 on March 11, 2010
in Uncategorized

Love of Books

If you haven’t guessed by now, our family loves books and I have to admit that I love it when they even fall asleep with a book! I also can’t go wrong with another sleeping baby picture by the response last week’s photo got. 😉

I also love Wordless Wednesday because it feels like I get caught up by simply posting a photo! Any one know who thought that up in the blogging world? I decided that I needed to conform just so it would help me over the midweek hump and give me a mini break from having to write up a post. I haven’t decided yet if that’s pathetic or smart, but am really leaning towards the smart!?

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