My wife is very organized when it comes to making a pre-holiday shopping list. We shop it very carefully and, because it is a fairly lengthy list, we keep to it closely.

I did depart from the list for one item. I happened to see “Risk” in the game aisle, and thought it might be a good idea to bring in this classic warfare strategy game to the household.

Skippy and his friend attempted to set up the two-player game a few days ago. They were at it for quite some time, and by the time they were done, they had to leave and come back to it later. The board was taking up a lot of room, so I took it all down, much to the consternation of the boys and my Wife.

Having brushed up on the rules, I recalled that the rules for three were much easier to follow than the rules for two. I had figured the next day I would join in. The boys came home with a friend, though, and she sat in as the third while I supervised, adjudicated, and laughed. The game was great fun, and ran so long that I ended up stepping in for the young lady, who had to leave. I took over, and set about kicking a little butt. We broke then for dinner, and the boys ganged up on me. I was summarily beaten, and the boys lined up to go mano e mano (well, kiddo e kiddo).

Unfortunately, by this time, the game had gone on for nearly 7 hours. Now it was a grudge match, and the boys refused to give up. We ended up taking digital photos (Skippy’s new camera) so we can recreate the board again and they can see just who will be the victor.

I figured Skippy and I might try it out, play once or twice, and he’d learn a bit about strategy. I never thought this would be the X-Box killer.

I’m thrilled, and actually quite excited to see who wins. I also can’t wait to take on the winner. I also have to teach Wanda, who saw the excitement and wants to be a part of it. I may start with this link- How To Win At Risk (about.com)

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James led a long, difficult life. At the end, though, it seemed he had found some peace. Blessings to his family in this difficult time.

From what I hear, you were a good guy placed in difficult circumstances. God bless us all. No one should lose a family member at this time of year.

For those of you with daughters, the Always website has resources to help you deal with the difficult conversations you may have to have when she hits puberty. There are resources for Moms and Girls. There is even a link to common questions regarding menstruation.

I do take issue with the fact that the section for parents is entitled For Moms, which of course assumes that Mom would be the one having this conversation. Do I think that might be for the best? Sure. Do I feel confident that every young lady has a woman as a resource? No.
That issue aside, I’m pleased to know there is a place I can go to get help with difficult questions. I know there will be so many.

CANDLES GLOWING FOR YOU ALL

Originally uploaded by Barb46.

With the holidays sure to keep me busy, I didn’t want to miss the opportunity to wish all of my newest friends a happy holiday season.

Peace should be upon you all, and all of those whom you love. Be safe and well, and I shall return in a few days.

I left after my performance at the Christmahanukwaanzakah Concert, as I had other prior commitments.

After my departure, it appears the concert degraded into pandemonium and backbiting. Time Magazine is considering retracting their Person of The Year award to the blogospere as a result. Check out Neil’s coverage of the events as they unfold, as well as feedback from the participants.

The RIAA is through with chasing you for what your children are downloading. They know you don’t have the dough. Now they’re after your children. I guess they figure the kids have more potential income over their lifetime.

The fact that the RIAA is chasing after these folks is disgusting in and of itself. There are organizations dedicated entirely to making copyrighted material available without consent of the owners. The RIAA has chosen to chase moms and children. Why? Because they are least likely to have the means to fight, and more likely to accept a fractional settlement to dispose of the case.

I’m a huge proponent of protecting intellectual property. I don’t think we do this by bankrupting families. This is unnecessarily mean. Perhaps they will, as Scrooge did, discover the error of their ways.

via techdirt

Technorati Tags: riaa napster

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If you haven’t seen this video, you’re missing out. I have been singing it all week. I won’t embed it here because it’s not work and family safe, but there is a link below.

The video was originally aired on Saturday Night Live, with the naughty bits bleeped out. A bunch of captures of it hit YouTube, and it was ve.ry popular. However, when I clicked over the other day to show a friend, it was gone, with the standard ‘removed because of copyright.’ I was crestfallen.

Imagine my joy when I got back to YouTube to check again and found it posted. Imagine my confusion when I realized that it had been posted by NBC! Imagine my elation when I found it was the original, uncensored version, with the naughty bits intact!

Finally, someone gets it. Bravo to NBC for having the foresight* to see that this content may well drive viewers to their
broadcast, and for having the stones to use the internet to show unadulterated content.

*insert your own compound word pun here.

Technorati Tags: media, opinion

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NOTE- I thought I had posted this, but I left it in draft. Sorry about that, and having it not be too timely as it’s published.

I was over at Caffeine Marketing (which I have in my Bloglines) and I came across a post discussing the New Partners advertising campaign. New Partners is a dating service, and they have chosen two of our America’s toy icons for their advertisements.

You can’t tell here, but if you check them out, from the look of the ads I would imagine they have not gotten an endorsement from Mattel. I’m certain that these ads, while funny, are not the message they would want associated with their toy. I know that I would not want my daughter to see them, no matter how much she loves keeping every Barbie in the house naked. No matter how much Ken-on-Barbie smooching I hear behind the closed door, I know she would not understand these ads, and at 9, I wouldn’t want her to understand.

I wouldn’t call it socially irresponsible, but I certainly don’t think it’s good marketing, or strong modeling for youth.

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Come over and check out The First Annual Blogger Christmahanukwanzaakah Holiday Concert at Citizen of the Month. I’m performing a piece, which you can hear OVER THERE (note the eagerness with which I send you there!) or, if you’re just THAT lazy, you can get it here.

Updated: It’s awesome! I’m just getting started listening, but it’s funny, heartfelt, and joyous. Neil did an awesome job organizing it! (There are pictures too!)