Kids and video games

This is a pretty bad story about how dangerous video game networks are for kids.  According to the story, video game networks are full of predators.

http://kdvr.vid.trb.com/player/PaperVideoTest.swf

All video game consoles have parental control systems that can protect kids.  For example, for the few times that our son plays on the Xbox, only people on his friends list can see if he is online and chat with him.  If anyone sends him a friends request, I have to approve it before it will be authorized.

Parents need to know about how to protect their kids when they go online.  Here are some helpful links for parental control on the various video game systems

Xbox

PS3

Wii

Shidonni

Shidonni has a great idea.  You can have your child (or you) draw a picture.  Then you can have a stuffed toy made out of it.  I think that this idea is better than the toys you get at Build-a-bear.



[via Gizmodo]

Please, Baby, Please

Please, Baby, Please is a fun book by Spike Lee and his wife.  This book have some great rhymes about how much energy toddlers have.  Our kids like it a lot

Disney Princesses on Ice

This past weekend, I took our oldest daughter to the Disney Princesses On Ice at the HP Pavilion, and she had a blast.  It was great seeing her light up when each of the princesses came out.

But, the show raised some questions for me:

1. All of the princesses tend to go by their name (ie, Ariel, Jasmine, Snow White). Why is Sleeping Beauty known as "Sleeping Beauty"?  Her name is Aurora.


2. Most of the princes have a name. (i.e. Ariel's prince is named Eric; Sleeping Beauty's prince is named Philip; Belle's prince is named Adam)  But why is Snow White's princes is just named "The Prince"?

Rose, White and Blue Parade

This weekend we had a good time at the Rose, White and Blue Parade in the Shasta /Hanchett neighborhood of San Jose.  The parade seems like the type of parade that normally happens in smaller towns.  The kids were able to sit in front and have a clear view of the floats, the classic cars and the other participants.

We will definitely be going next year.

Dressing kids: Dads vs Moms

This post has a pretty funny, but pretty true, graphic describing how dads and moms dress kids

LifeLock

A few months ago one of our family members had their computer taken. This computer had her financial information, and other important information like usernames and passwords. She eventually got the computer back. About a week later, there was $1100 of charges to her PayPal account.

While I was visiting, I set her up with a LifeLock subscription. I also signed my wife and I, and our kids up for a sibscription.   I want to make sure that no one using any of our identies.  LifeLock does a few things for you

• Sets up fraud alerts with the credit reporting agencies, and every 90 days.


• Requests that subscribers names are removed from pre-approved credit offers


• Requests that credit reports are sent every year.


• Helps to contact banks if your wallet is lost or stolen


• Helps to detect identity theft.


• Will hire lawyers if you are ever a victim of identity theft

Most of those things you can do yourself.  I figure that paying LifeLock to do it for you, reduces the the things that I need to keep track of.