Filed under: Fun & activities, Weird but true, Toys & games

So what do you do if you're really into roller coasters, but there aren't any nearby? Well, if you're Jeremy Reid of Oklahoma, you go ahead and build one of your own. While in college, Reid decided to build himself a wooden roller coaster in his parents' backyard. The single-passenger car climbs seventeen feet into the air and then drops down a fifty-four degree angle, reaching a top speed of twenty miles per hour. Riders experience gravitational forces ranging from -0.2G's to +3.5G's.

The finished coaster stands as a testament to his determination and ingenuity and as an unconventional entry on his resume -- leading to a job with a company that designed and built roller coasters. "What I did was make a video of what I'd built and I sent that to eight coaster companies," said Reid. "Those types of companies get a lot of people interested in roller coasters and riding roller coasters, but I was one of the few with actual engineering experience."

Be forewarned, however, if you're thinking of building something like this for your kids. While the total cost was less than six thousand dollars, the project did use almost three thousand board feet of lumber, seven thousand nails and screws, and four years' time. I think I'll stick to taking the kids to one of the four big amusement parks we're lucky enough to have here. If you're not so lucky, well, good luck with building one and send us pictures when you're done!

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Filed under: Money & work, Life & style, Celeb parenting

I've always liked Liv Tyler as an actress, but after reading this article from Cookie magazine, I think that I might like her as a person too. Her most recent film The Incredible Hulk hits the big screen on June 13, and she dishes about juggling a busy career as an actress with motherhood. Tyler is mom to one very cute Milo, age 3.

Tyler and Milo live what she calls a "gypsy" lifestyle, living on the road for months at a time while she works on a movie. Up until recently, that nomadic life included husband Royston Langdon. The couple officially announced that they were separating earlier this month.

Continue reading Liv Tyler on being a working mom

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Filed under: Newborns, Just for moms, Pregnancy & birth, Health & safety, In the news

The Federal Drug Administration is proposing a change to the way medicines are labeled with warnings for pregnant women. Doctors have been complaining forever that data was available that was not included on labels or that the information that was presented was confusing. Personally, I couldn't agree more. I am an admitted nervous nelly when it comes to being pregnant and worrying about harming my unborn child, so any additional information about the effects of something on my unborn child or breastfed child would be very helpful, and possibly ease my anxieties (oh, who am I kidding? We all know I'd be terrified to take the medicine anyway!)

Currently, the system is a series of categories that describe the level of harmfulness to a fetus. Category "A" on a label means no studies have turned up harmful effects, while an "X" means a substance should not be consumed or used during pregnancy. That seems relatively simple. The in between letters and categories, though, signify things like no data available or that there are conflicting results about possible harm. The new system would, in theory, would have three summaries on it, to include information about risk to the fetus, risk to the mother (from the disease) and the previously missing supporting data. Additional information would be provided regarding possible effects on breastfed infants.That sounds like a lot of reading!

According to the FDA, there are nearly 6 million pregnancies in the US each year, and pregnant women take an average of three to five prescriptions during pregnancy. That seems awfully high, but perhaps those numbers include prenatal vitamins. The new plan has the support of the March of Dimes, whose mission is to reduce birth defects. The president of the National Research Center for Women & Families also supports the change, but notes the new labeling system will be useless until proper research is done to prove which medicines are safe or risky for pregnant or nursing women.

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Filed under: Teens & tweens, Education, Religion & spirituality

Not once, not twice, but three times principal Richard Lopez sent out a notice stating that attendance at a baccalaureate service was mandatory for graduating seniors at Robertson High School in Las Vegas, New Mexico. For those not familiar with a baccalaureate (I wasn't), it is, according to wikipedia, an "event which features a speech or series of speeches given to a graduating senior class from a college or high school."

So what's the big deal, you ask? Wikipedia adds that "the speeches are often, but not necessarily, of a religious nature, almost invariably Christian." Given that the ceremony was to be held at Immaculate Conception Church and that an optional "senior mass" was also promoted in the notices, I suspect the event was indeed of a religious nature. I'll also mention that Robertson is a public high school, supposedly unaffiliated with Immaculate Conception or any other church.

Continue reading Church service required to get a high school diploma

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Filed under: Newborns, Pregnancy & birth, Celeb kids, Celeb parenting

John Ira Shepherd Hanson became the latest member of the harmonic Hanson family on Tuesday. Born to Zac Hanson, 22, and his wife Kate, the baby brought the total of second generation Hansons to five. Eldest brother Issac and wife Nikki are parents to Everett, 1, and are expecting their second child next month. Taylor and his wife, Natalie, have three children, Ezra, 5, Penelope, 3, and River, 20 months.

Zac may be a young dad, but he's certainly got his priorities straight: "I am so overjoyed to meet Shepherd," he recently wrote, "There is not an audience or concert that could ever stand up to the feeling of meeting your baby for the first time."

Can I get a collective... Awwwww. Now go, see if you can get MMMBop out of your head. I know I can't.

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Filed under: Teens & tweens, Money & work, Weird but true

I can hear the defense now: "But that's not real food!" At least, that's what I'd say if I were busted trying to buy my school lunch with counterfeit money. Priscilla Carlisle's son tried to pay for his meal with bogus bills and now his mom is in custody. It seems that authorities found a "money factory" at the boy's home where his mom had more funny money, stolen credit cards, and their neighbor's mail.

Thirty-five-year-old Priscilla Carlisle confessed to being the ring leader of a criminal operation. Inside her home, police found dozens of credit cards, handwritten social security and driver's license numbers, and stolen mail. "We have been missing mail," said neighbor Alfonso Crawford. "My brother missed mail. I missed mail but we just never assumed it would happen in our neighborhood."

While mom is currently in jail, there is no word yet as to whether or not the teenage boy is facing any charges. I guess the moral of the story is that if you're going to run a crime ring out of your home, make sure the kids aren't going to rat you out.

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Filed under: Money & work, Fun & activities

When I was a struggling college student, I could put two dollars into my gas tank and drive my car for a week. Two dollars today wouldn't get us much farther than the nearest expressway. Families everywhere are grounding their summer travel plans either in protest of the quickly inflating gas prices or because they just can't afford to go anywhere.

Postponing your summer travel plans doesn't have to be a major disappointment. Just think of the silver lining -- no kids arguing in the backseat, no fighting your spouse for control over the air conditioning, no waking up in a tent in the middle of the forest realizing how much you miss your own bed. Instead of a vacation, plan a family staycation instead.

Continue reading Can't afford a vacation? Try a staycation instead!

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Filed under: Just for moms, In the news, Environment, Home remedies, Extreme childhood

I don't know about in this country, but in Italy apparently they are. Of all the fears I have for my son, perhaps the one that gets to me the most is that I will turn my son into a mama's boy. Is there anything I want more than to keep my son around me for the rest of my life, to have him as a constant companion I can love and protect? Uhm, yeah--but that would be h-e-double-hockey-sticks for his social life.

According to a recent article in Psychology Today, Italian men between the ages of 30-34 are twice as likely to stay at home with mom than other men that age. In October 2007, Italy's economic minister, who was apparently fed up with all these sons still living with their mothers, made a bold move to try to "get those big babies out of the house." The response from Italians? Outrage!

Italians cite the economic difficulties in Italy (and probably everywhere) for grown men staying at home. As one person put it, at least the sons have shelter. Mention is also made of the long cultural history Italians have of close family ties. Detractors might say this keeps a son from ever truly growing up. Others say it is perfectly normal for an unmarried--and especially unemployed--son to remain at home until either of those factors change.

So what do you think? Do the Italians have it right, or are they living in the past (and, if so, is that such a bad thing)?

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Filed under: Toys & games, Gadgets & tech, Shopping & recalls

The U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission has announced the recall of about 152,000 "Sky Champion" Wireless Indoor Helicopters due to a fire hazard. The rechargeable battery can ignite, causing the whole thing to become a flaming fireball zooming around your living room.

The "Sky Champion" indoor helicopter comes with a transmitter that controls and recharges the helicopter. It is made of foam and plastic and measures about 7" by 3". The transmitter measures about 6" by 4". You will find ""BH26047" printed on the tail of the recalled helicopters and "WIC 551777" and the UPC code 630990006005 printed on the packaging.

The helicopters were made in China and imported by Tradewinds International Enterprises Inc., of San Francisco, Calif. They were sold exclusively at Walgreen's stores nationwide from June 2007 through November 2007 for about $20.

If you have one, you should immediately stop playing with it and contact Tradewinds for a full refund. Don't take it back to Walgreen's as they will not accept returns or issue refunds for the helicopter.

For more information, contact Tradewinds toll free at (888) 583-4908 anytime or send an email to returncoptersl@aol.com.

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Filed under: Celeb parenting, Toys & games, That's entertainment

Celebrities, by their very nature, crave attention. Some of them can't seem to get enough of it and go to great lengths to make sure they stay in the public eye (see Britney Spears). But some famous people keep their private lives private and quietly go about being wonderful people without drawing attention to themselves. One such celebrity is actor Kirk Douglas.

For eleven years, the 91-year-old Douglas and his wife Anne have been giving their time and money to make sure that school kids in Los Angeles have a fun and safe place to play. Through the Anne and Kirk Douglas Playground Award, the Hollywood old-timer and his wife have supported the creation of 401 public school playgrounds. For each dedication, Douglas takes a trip down the brand new slide. "What nobody acknowledges is that every dedication I risk my life," he jokes. "I'm getting too old for this."

Douglas says the inspiration for their philanthropic work came from his German wife's desire to give back to her adopted country. "When we got married, she was very anxious to become a citizen. And when she became a citizen she felt: 'I had to do something for my new country.' "

The Douglas' have given back in many other ways - through the Douglas Foundation, they built a homeless shelter for women and created the Anne Douglas Center for Women - but Kirk says that the playgrounds have been his most important work. "Let's face it: The world is in a mess and young people are going to inherit that mess. So we should do all we can to help them," he says.

The Douglas' are now stepping down from the Playground Award but hope others will continue the work. "The program could benefit the entire country," Douglas says. "I think every individual should take a more personal action about their surroundings."

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