Search Results for: blog the magic hat by mem fox

What’s Most Important?

Author Mem Fox has created a furor recently by declaring that putting infants in child care is tantamount to child abuse. Of course the comments received critical reaction from working mothers. Recently I was reviewing a book called Before your Teenager Drives you Crazy, Read this! Author, clinical psychologist and parenting expert from New Zealand, Nigel Latta said ‘who we are at 3 years of age is who we are at 26, and odds on at 56 and 86 as well.’ In other words, a child’s personality is shaped during those early years. Surely that should convince couples to make … Continue reading →

Wombat Divine – Mem Fox

Wombat from down under is here to share a sweet Christmas tale with us. It’s a week before Christmas and Wombat is so excited. He loves the lights and the presents, he loves the Christmas caroling – but best of all is the Nativity play. Wombat has been waiting to be old enough to be in the play, and this year, he finally is. He rushes off to the auditions, anxious to take part. When he gets there, he sees all of his animal friends gathered together. Emu is making a list of the actors and their parts. When she … Continue reading →

More Thoughts on the Disney-Lucasfilm Buyout

Now I’ve had some time to think about it, I have more sophisticated thoughts about the Disney-Lucasfilm buyout. The idea that I’m struggling with the most is that Disney wants to keep releasing more films every few years into infinity. One day soon, the original trilogy will be buried under a pile of new films, and I just feel so strange about that. According to George Lucas, the script treatments for episodes 7-9 are totally original; they won’t follow any specific plots from the novelized extended universe. Disney’s most likely going to follow Lucas’ scripts, but if it keeps making … Continue reading →

Genealogy Podcast Roundup – Week of May 28, 2012

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Once a week, the Genealogy Podcast Roundup brings you brand new episodes of podcasts that focus on a wide variety of genealogy related topics. This is where to go to see if your favorite genealogy podcast has released a brand new episode. It also is where to find genealogy podcasts that are new to you. Genealogy Guys released episode number 237 on May 27, 2012. In this episode, hosts Drew and George go over some genealogy news. This includes: an announcement that they will be at the Southern California Genealogical Society’s Jamboree, new webinars from RootsMagic, updates from FamilySearch, additions … Continue reading →

Animal Folktales: Drakestail

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This is a special story for me — when I was in sixth grade, I took part in a storytelling workshop at my local library. Of the kids at my library who participated, I was chosen to go and tell my story again at the main branch of the county library system. Of those storytellers, three were asked to go on local cable and tell their stories a third time. It was my first exposure to the magic of being a storyteller — and I have loved sharing stories ever since. This is the story I learned. Drakestail was a … Continue reading →

Richard Widmark Dead at 93

It was announced today that actor Richard Widmark died in his home Monday after a long illness. In the statement issued by his wife Susan Blanchard, she said, “it was a big shock, but he was 93.” Widmark started his show biz career in radio drama and theater before moving to the big screen. And when he moved, boy, did he move. His film debut was as the cold hearted killer Tommy Udo, who pushed an old lady in a wheelchair down a flight of stairs to her death in 1947’s Kiss of Death.. For that role, Widmark received an … Continue reading →

The Dream Shop – Katharine Kenah

It’s too hot to sleep, and Pip wishes she could be somewhere cool. Her cousin Joseph once told her that if she closed her eyes and thought about wooden horses prancing backwards, she would find her way to a magical shop where you could buy dreams. She decides to give it a try, never imagining what would happen next. She finds herself in a wonderful store filled with magical things. Anything she put in her cart, she would dream about. She picks out a baby pig and is making her next selection when she sees Joseph in the store too. … Continue reading →

Apple TV Gets a Bold New Update

Affectionately called the Apple paperweight by even the most loyal of Apple fans, the Apple TV was a device that started off with great promise but then just sat there doing nothing. Critics complained that Apple TV wasn’t really necessary even for die-hard fans. Steve Jobs hopes to change all that with the reveal of a major feature update to the Apple TV. During Steve Job’s keynote address at MacWorld (in which the very interesting MacBook Air stole the stage), he revealed an improvement that will make the device much more useful. The old Apple TV was basically a TV-based … Continue reading →

Mr. Willowby’s Christmas Tree – Robert Barry

How can one Christmas tree bring joy to seven households? Mr. Willowby’s Christmas Tree is an old favorite that children love. Mr. Willowby is a millionaire. His Christmas tree arrives by special delivery. It’s the biggest tree he’s ever seen. In fact, it’s so big that the tree bends at the top. The butler solves the problem by chopping off the top. Instead of throwing it out he gives it to the upstairs maid. The small tree top is actually too big for the maid’s room and she snips off the very top. She sets it out in the trash. … Continue reading →

Britney’s Home Away From Home In Fire’s Path

I’m not referring to the pop star’s sprawling beachfront Malibu pad that she shares with her two sons (when she’s allowed to see them). I’m talking about Brit’s rehab digs–Malibu Promises. The rehabilitation center to the stars (other unsuccessful alum include Lindsay Lohan) was forced to move staff members and about 20 patients as flames from the massive Southern California wildfires crept closer to the facility. Promises CEO told news reporters staff members evacuated everyone from the premises after the power went out and they could see flames coming over the mountain. Patients were reportedly relocated to an “upscale hotel” … Continue reading →