Stimulant, Packaged
 Kemps and Caribou have partnered again and are introducing – caffeinated milk! Target market? Busy moms who want some calcium with their caffeine. Just make sure to keep it from Junior or he’ll really be bouncing off of the walls. But really is this a new and revolutionary idea? My Swedish grandparents essentially drank it every morning. They’d fill their cups with cream and then put a splash of Butternut coffee in it. There you go light beige caffeinated milk – they were way ahead of their time. And don’t the French have their café au lait? This would just be Lait au Café.

School House Rock the Vote

As a child of the 70’s I knew EVERY School House Rock song by heart that was played between “Hong Kong Phooey” and “Land of the Lost” each Saturday morning. Did it do any good? YES! Years later those little ditties stuck with our 7^th grade Social Studies class so well that every kid got a 100% on a quiz. Our teacher asked us to memorize the Preamble and write it down. No problem! You could hear kids humming “We the People…in order to form a more perfect union…establish justice, ensure domestic tranquility- ee-ee .” Our teacher was baffled, he wondered if we had cheated. Then the whole class broke into song and sang the entire thing to him verbatim. We weren’t cheaters; we just watched a lot of cartoons.

And “I’m Just a Bill” gave you a clear understanding and empathy for what that sad sack bill goes through– he just knew someday he’d be a bill. “I hope and pray that I will, but today I am still…just a bill” Well, the oh so timely School House Rock: Election Collection comes out with a special election edition today. (Disney, $20)

George Carlin passed away at age 71.  Although he was best known for his adult humor, he was also one of several narrators of the Thomas the Tank DVD’s. (in heavy rotation at our house and I’m sure many of yours).  I had previously joked that I imagined him snapping and saying the “Seven Words That You Can Never Say on the Island of Sodor.” 

(I also did not realize that he also was the voice of the organic fuel selling VW bus, Fillmore, in the “Cars” movie. He only had a few lines).  

Ah, but no one could do the thick fake Scottish brogue for Thomas the Tanks twin engines Donald & Douglas like Mr. Carlin.

Rest in “Peep Peep!”  George.

Just received this in my babble.com newsletter.

50 Best Sesame Street Moments.

We all need a few smiles and being the Henson-phile that I am, I felt compelled to share.  So proud to be from the first generation raised by Muppets.

Take a lunchtime looksie. Are there any glaring omissions?

I’ve begun to notice some unintentional arm definition as a result of lifting  2 year old Ben and hauling around baby Vivi in the baby carrier (and some unintentional lower backaches too).

That’s nothing compared to Sheff Otis’ intentional workouts with his seven, yes that’s seven kids. This article was featured in Sunday’s Source. Hat’s off to Sheff  for having so much energy.  He gets to spend some quality time with the kids while teaching them that exercise is fun.

“Dadiator” article here .

Watch the video here

And read more about the busy Otis family of 9 at their blog here .  Some highlights? Reading about their international adoption process (3 of their 7 are adopted). And Sheff’s “Vasectomy song”.

Okay, it’s hard to compare to Sheff - but how do you incorporate exercise with your kids?

I’m wondering if I’m coming late to this party, but I was recently introduced to a Yo Gabba Gabba! clip on YouTube. It’s about a hungry monster and some snacks who feel left out. It rocks. We don’t have cable, but it looks like the kiddie show premiered on Nick Jr. on Aug. 20.

Anyway, check out a hilarious clip here. For some background on the show and characters, click here.

I know several adults who like the show, but can anyone report on how well it goes over with the target audience?