And what better way than through Muppets? They've been bringing joy to kids for years, and still put a smile on my face to this day (although the rest of the Sesame Street gang kind of creeps me out - why don't they get any older?!). Whether it's the celebrity appearances, bad puns, or inspirational music, there's something Muppet-related that will make everyone happy.
Even emo kids. *
Go cry now.
*emo link is not suitable for actual kids. Everything else is totally G-rated.
Friday, August 21, 2009
Thursday, August 13, 2009
These Kids Today....
Just when I thought there was no hope for them, I had my attention drawn to the fact that kids today are more involved than ever in the world and people around them. By special request, here are a few things that your kids can do if they want to know how they can help others. It helps to have a general idea of how they want to help. Are they concerned about the environment? Do they want to work with animals? Kids with special needs? Sick children and their families? The elderly? People with cancer, or AIDS? There are so many different groups who just need some of your time.
I am personally a fan of kids donating time to visit at a nursing home - a lot of the folks who are there don't have many visitors, and I know for a fact that most old people love kids.
If you don't think there's anything that you can do, these sites may inspire you. There are a few repeats, but I think this just drives home how much need there is out there. Remember to check out any charity your child may want to volunteer for, to be sure that your child will get the most out of their volunteer experience.
Link 1
Link 2 more of the crafty ways kids can donate things and time
Link 3
Link 4
Link 5 This is more for teens and adults, but still helpful
Link 6 This one is more area-specific, but contains good ideas that are applicable anywhere in the country.
I am personally a fan of kids donating time to visit at a nursing home - a lot of the folks who are there don't have many visitors, and I know for a fact that most old people love kids.
If you don't think there's anything that you can do, these sites may inspire you. There are a few repeats, but I think this just drives home how much need there is out there. Remember to check out any charity your child may want to volunteer for, to be sure that your child will get the most out of their volunteer experience.
Link 1
Link 2 more of the crafty ways kids can donate things and time
Link 3
Link 4
Link 5 This is more for teens and adults, but still helpful
Link 6 This one is more area-specific, but contains good ideas that are applicable anywhere in the country.
Saturday, August 8, 2009
And now, on a much more serious note-
Most of the links I post have to do with silliness and and strangeness, with smatterings of usefulness in between. But there is another side to the internet that isn't as heavily publicized as the lighter side of things.
The Internet is a place for people to connect. People who would otherwise feel shy and isolated can meet and chat with others who feel the same way. You can learn a lot about the way people think and feel just by browsing around social networking sites and message boards. People come together for one reason or another, and just like in real life, friendships and relationships grow from there. Some people see the internet as a false substitute for real human interaction, but for some people, this is the only way they can have real human interaction. The internet can be a dangerous place, where people with bad intentions can disguise themselves as someone they are not, but it can also be a place where people finally feel free enough to be who they really are, with no disguises and no hiding. It is also a place where people who feel like they have nowhere else to turn can find that other person in the world who has been through what they have, so that they know they aren't as alone as they might feel.
No surprise links this time, here are a few websites to check out to see the more personal side of the internet.
PostSecret
This site does contain some adult material.
People send in their secrets, whatever they feel they need to say but can't, as long as it fits on a postcard. Some of the secrets are silly, some are sad, some are triumphant and uplifting, but all of them make you wonder, could this be someone I know? Check back on Sundays, that's when the new secrets go up, and the old secrets are gone forever.
Can I Sit With You?
This link leads to the site's mission page, but some of the stories told on other pages have adult material.
I didn't realize until 5th grade that people could dislike me intensely, for no reason, but when I had to learn that lesson, I learned it fast. There are few things in life that are as devastating as being picked on, or socially awkward at school, because kids can be extremely cruel... and it seems like the more educators and parents try to stop it, the more creative and seriously damaging the harassment can become. School is a self-contained, extremely pressure-filled social environment that can seem all-important when you're in the midst of it. This site gives an insider's view (from both the bullies and the bullied, surprisingly) of some of the things that have happened to people at school - some of the things are good, some are bad, but all are illuminating. If you have children in any phase of school, you might want to take a look at this.
These are just two examples of how people connect with others online. There are a multitude of support groups and message boards for every conceivable situation, so if you think you're alone - you're not. If you have a favorite, please leave me a link in the comments.
The Internet is a place for people to connect. People who would otherwise feel shy and isolated can meet and chat with others who feel the same way. You can learn a lot about the way people think and feel just by browsing around social networking sites and message boards. People come together for one reason or another, and just like in real life, friendships and relationships grow from there. Some people see the internet as a false substitute for real human interaction, but for some people, this is the only way they can have real human interaction. The internet can be a dangerous place, where people with bad intentions can disguise themselves as someone they are not, but it can also be a place where people finally feel free enough to be who they really are, with no disguises and no hiding. It is also a place where people who feel like they have nowhere else to turn can find that other person in the world who has been through what they have, so that they know they aren't as alone as they might feel.
No surprise links this time, here are a few websites to check out to see the more personal side of the internet.
PostSecret
This site does contain some adult material.
People send in their secrets, whatever they feel they need to say but can't, as long as it fits on a postcard. Some of the secrets are silly, some are sad, some are triumphant and uplifting, but all of them make you wonder, could this be someone I know? Check back on Sundays, that's when the new secrets go up, and the old secrets are gone forever.
Can I Sit With You?
This link leads to the site's mission page, but some of the stories told on other pages have adult material.
I didn't realize until 5th grade that people could dislike me intensely, for no reason, but when I had to learn that lesson, I learned it fast. There are few things in life that are as devastating as being picked on, or socially awkward at school, because kids can be extremely cruel... and it seems like the more educators and parents try to stop it, the more creative and seriously damaging the harassment can become. School is a self-contained, extremely pressure-filled social environment that can seem all-important when you're in the midst of it. This site gives an insider's view (from both the bullies and the bullied, surprisingly) of some of the things that have happened to people at school - some of the things are good, some are bad, but all are illuminating. If you have children in any phase of school, you might want to take a look at this.
These are just two examples of how people connect with others online. There are a multitude of support groups and message boards for every conceivable situation, so if you think you're alone - you're not. If you have a favorite, please leave me a link in the comments.
Sunday, August 2, 2009
Words escape me
Have to send a card, but don't know how to say what you really want to say?
Need the perfect saying for your personalized gift?
I like to add quotes from people much smarter/wittier/more cynical than me, then bask in the reflected glory of having found the perfect words. It's fun, try it!
Need the perfect saying for your personalized gift?
I like to add quotes from people much smarter/wittier/more cynical than me, then bask in the reflected glory of having found the perfect words. It's fun, try it!
Friday, July 31, 2009
Literary links
Things about me:
1) I love the internet
2) I love to read
3) I love free stuff
free + reading + internet = awesomeness.
I still like regular books, but eBooks are completely portable, the ones from Project Gutenberg are completely free, so I'm saving money and trees at the same time!
Just that one link will keep me busy for months. It still is, actually, and thanks to Project Gutenberg, I'm well on my way to having read all of the best 100 books ever written. ("Best" is purely a matter of opinion, of course.)
If you have a Palm device, you can download books and read on the go with Plucker. I have a Centro, and I love using Plucker - it lets me read wherever I am, without having to carry a book (or another reading device, like a Kindle) around.
Don't have a lot of time to spare, but still want to read a good story? Check out here.
Still don't have enough time to read? Try these.
There you go - you now have no excuse to not read every day.
And if you want to keep track of everything that you've read, try Goodreads.
1) I love the internet
2) I love to read
3) I love free stuff
free + reading + internet = awesomeness.
I still like regular books, but eBooks are completely portable, the ones from Project Gutenberg are completely free, so I'm saving money and trees at the same time!
Just that one link will keep me busy for months. It still is, actually, and thanks to Project Gutenberg, I'm well on my way to having read all of the best 100 books ever written. ("Best" is purely a matter of opinion, of course.)
If you have a Palm device, you can download books and read on the go with Plucker. I have a Centro, and I love using Plucker - it lets me read wherever I am, without having to carry a book (or another reading device, like a Kindle) around.
Don't have a lot of time to spare, but still want to read a good story? Check out here.
Still don't have enough time to read? Try these.
There you go - you now have no excuse to not read every day.
And if you want to keep track of everything that you've read, try Goodreads.
Thursday, July 30, 2009
Wednesday, July 29, 2009
Happy Birthday!
In honor of my favorite little sister's 29th birthday today, here are a bunch of links relating to birthdays!
This one is really great, it tells you what happened on your birthday in history. This one is also interesting, it lets you search the day in history you want to view. There isn't any filter, though, which makes it a bit busy.
The New York Times site lets you buy a reproduction of the front page of any newspaper, all the way back to 1851, and also gives historical events for your day.
On This Day lets you choose from the categories that you are interested in (like sports or music), and also links to a page where you can buy personalized "Memory Pages", for just a day, or even a whole year -which might be a great gift idea for those milestone birthdays! Like next year...
Speaking of next year, here's a site that gives a ton of information, including your American Indian Zodiac sign, your birth date on 5 different calendars, how many seconds you have been alive for, and how many BTU's your birthday candles would give off.
Due to some Internet connection issues, that's all for now, except for this.
Happy Birthday!
This one is really great, it tells you what happened on your birthday in history. This one is also interesting, it lets you search the day in history you want to view. There isn't any filter, though, which makes it a bit busy.
The New York Times site lets you buy a reproduction of the front page of any newspaper, all the way back to 1851, and also gives historical events for your day.
On This Day lets you choose from the categories that you are interested in (like sports or music), and also links to a page where you can buy personalized "Memory Pages", for just a day, or even a whole year -which might be a great gift idea for those milestone birthdays! Like next year...
Speaking of next year, here's a site that gives a ton of information, including your American Indian Zodiac sign, your birth date on 5 different calendars, how many seconds you have been alive for, and how many BTU's your birthday candles would give off.
Due to some Internet connection issues, that's all for now, except for this.
Happy Birthday!
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