meta-dad

Have You Seen CNN Lately?

FlipClips

FlipClips are individually crafted flipbooks, created using your own digital video. Start by uploading a video under 30 seconds in length. They accept most common digital video formats, including MOV/QT, AVI, DV, MPEG4, MPEG2, Motion JPEG, and 3GPP. This means you can upload stuff from a DVD (MPEG4) or your digital camera (DV, AVI, or Motion JPEG) to the site.

FlipClips are available in three styles, and are made using only the best materials around.

(Via FlipClips.Com)

Semi-Random Meta-DAD Giveaway! | The Answers

1. What was the original name for Curious George? Curious George’s original name was Fifi. (Via KidReads.Com)
2. Where did author Ludwig Bemelmans write his first book and what was it? By the end of World War I, Bemelmans was a U.S. citizen. He returned to New York and continued to work in hotels and restaurants. Since his arrival in America, Bemelmans had been honing his artistic skills, taking art lessons when he could afford them… Bemelmans’ first children’s book, HANSI, was published by Viking in 1934 but we may recognize him as the quintessential author of the travels of a little French Orphan named Madeline. (Via KidsRead.Com)
3. Where did A.A. Milne purchase the stuffed Edward Bear that would soon after become his famous muse? Pooh was purchased at Harrod’s department store in London and given by A.A. Milne to his son Christopher Robin on his first birthday, August 21, 1921 and became the central character of the famed Winnie the Pooh stories. He was called Edward (proper form of Teddy) Bear at the time. (Via ClassicPooh.Com)

Related Links;
Pete’s Tavern | Grammercy Park, New York City
Harrod’s of London

Semi-Random Meta-DAD Giveaway!

I’m rooting for you. I want you to win this thing, really. No one was able to get last month’s giveaway questions, so we will continue in the category of Childrens Literature — but I am upping the ante. Whoever answers these three questions correctly will win two video game titles.

The Rules: Unfortunately, this give-away only works if you are in the United States – sorry Canada, sorry Mexico, sorry rest of the planet, nothing personal, I’m just not interested in paying too much for the postal. Let’s see how it goes. I am going to ask three questions and the first one to get them right wins the prize. I will post the winner when the contest is over.

The Prize: The Game Titles include: Ultimate Spiderman, Tony Hawk Underground 2, Wolfenstein, Doom III, Call of Duty. This is a friendly give-away and I will not field any questions about the prizes beyond this information. If you win but do not find a game that you like or can play, I will hang onto to it and offer it to the next contest. Just to be clear, the Winner will get to choose two video games and it will be sent it via U.S.P.S.

Best of luck.

The Questions:

1. What was the original name for Curious George?
2. Where did author Ludwig Bemelmans write his first book and what was it?
3. Where did A. A. Milne purchase the stuffed Edward Bear that would soon after become his famous muse?

Child Aviation Restraint System (CARES)

CARES (Child Aviation Restraint System) is an innovative belt-and-buckle child airplane restraint that attaches directly to the airplane seat belt and makes an airplane seat safe for kids 22-44 lbs.

These youngsters are old enough to be in their own seats, but are too small for the seat belt alone to protect them. Their bodies cannot withstand the jolts that are common in routine transportation, much less emergency situations, and they flail forward or slide beneath the seat belt if they are not held securely in place.

Compared to the dreaded and insufficient lap strap, this is a appealing harness solution for toddlers but this parent can’t get beyond the sticker shock ($75.00 U.S.D.). Not to understate the simplicity of the design but that’s a lot of money for a couple extra straps – cut the price-point in half and you would find it hard to keep these in stock.

(Via KidsFlySafe.Com)

Huge Mattel Toy Recall

You might want to have a seat for this one — the list is long. It seems Mattel’s Chinese manufacturers have yet to master assembling any type of toy that has a magnet attached to it. The list of recalled toys with lead poisoning has just grown again and something tells me that this is not the end of it.

In related news, a strange twist of fate happened when Zhang Shuhong, the V.P. of the responsible toy manufacturer Lee Der Industrial Co. committed suicide shortly after the initial Mattel recall happened a few weeks ago.

Here is the general grouping of toys that have been announced today in the recall by the CSPC -

• Barbie and Tanner – hazardous magnet
• Batman – hazardous magnet
• Polly Pockets – hazardous magnet
• Doggie Daycare – hazardous magnet
• One Piece – hazardous magnet
• Sarge cars – lead in paint