An Amazing Infant Swimming Survival Video

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Anyone with young kids and a pool worries about pool safety. Too often we read about pool tragedies. A friend of mine sent me a link to this amazing video of an infant that was taught pool survival skills. As a parent it is hard to watch at first but is incredible (and you will see a very big smile on this cute little guy at the end of the video).

This infant was taught survival swim techniques through an Infant Swimming Resource (ISR) program. I visited the ISR website at www.infantswim.com and searched for local ISR-certified instructors in Ventura County. I came across a local instructor in Newbury Park at www.CaliforniaWaterBabies.com.

Of course the best approach to pool safety is prevention. Some common sense tips:

  • Put a fence around your pool.
  • Don't leave the little ones unattended.
  • Don't get distracted, as accidents can happen in a split second.
  • Put an alarm on your pool gate.
  • Put a lock on your pool gate and check it daily.
  • Don't leave toys in the pool that could entice a little one to jump in.

For more tips visit www.californiawaterbabies.com/prevention.html.

President Obama, Let's Ditch Daylight Saving Time! Please!?

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Please, oh please, President Obama, let's eliminate Daylight Saving Time!  Pretty please!?

Daylight Saving Time stresses me out.  Every year we lose an hour of sleep and, at least in my family, it takes weeks to get used to it.  Think about it.  At 1:59 a.m. on the 2nd Sunday of March, we lose 1 hour of sleep.  4% of our day is taken away from us.  That hurts!  It took a monumental effort to get the kids out of bed on Monday, and again on Tuesday.  Now everybody's tired and cranky.

Aside from the sudden sleep loss, the single largest annoyance is changing over the clocks...on 4 computers (well, 3 of the 4 changed on their own...thanks Microsoft), everybody's watches, the microwave, 3 wall clocks, the automatic sprinklers, the coffee maker, two alarm clocks and of course the car clocks.  Ah yes, those car clocks.  Why is it that changing the car clock is so difficult?  Toyota, you guys are smart, but why is the car radio so complex that I have to pull the manual out to figure out how to change time on the clock?  It takes me like a month to get to it.  And I know I'm not alone.

Daylight Saving Time does not "save" anything, it just shifts daylight.  We still have the same number of daylight hours.  Daylight Saving Time now lasts nearly 8 months out of the year, from the 2nd Sunday of March to the 1st Sunday of November.  How about if we just stay on Daylight Saving Time year-round??  That would certainly eliminate all of the bi-annual annoyances!  Apparently this has been pursued before in Colorado, but some lame Federal law prevents states from doing this.

Better yet, let's follow the lead of Arizona, which has not observed DST since 1967.  Why?  Because it's hotter then heck in Arizona and DST results in more power usage.  I would be willing to bet that California spends more on power too as a result of DST.  Strange that Federal law would allow a state to exempt itself from DST but not choose year-round DST.  Hawaii also does not observe DST, not like they need more daylight over there!

DST is popular in North America and Europe but most of the Middle East, Asia and Africa do not use DST.  The list of DST naysayers includes China, Hong Kong, Japan, Kuwait, South Korea, Taiwan, Thailand, Vietnam, the Philippines, India, Indonesia, Singapore, Iraq, Saudi Arabia and most of Africa, among other places.  Iran and North Korea also do not use DST, for whatever that's worth.

So in the meantime, I'm still stressed out and tired.  I know that I forgot to change at least one clock or watch and at some point this is going to mess me up and make me late for something.

Feels good to get that off my chest.  I feel better now.

Rostropovich the Rock Star Cellist Performs "Dance of the Elves"

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Russian cellist Mstislav Rostropovich was known as one of the greatest cellists of the 20th century.  He was born in 1927, moved to the U.S. in 1974 and died in 2007.  He was a masterful musician; truly a "rock star" of his generation.  Rostroprovich completely nails David Popper's "Dance of the Elves" in this 2 1/2 minute video.

Obama, Bush, Clinton, Reagan, Kennedy, FDR Inauguration Addresses

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Obama gave a great inaugural speech today with appropriate tone - sober, yet still optimistic and reassuring to the American people.  There were no "Ask not what your country can do for you.  Ask what you can do for your country." or "The only thing we have to fear is fear itself." zingers, but it is worth watching, more than once. 

Given the historic significance of this day, I felt compelled to assemble the following collection of inauguration speeches, including Obama, Bush (2001), Clinton (1993), Reagan (1981), Kennedy (1961) and FDR (1933) for your viewing pleasure.

16 Movies That I Can Watch Over and Over and Over Again

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One of my favorite pastimes each year is to watch the 1983 classic, "A Christmas Story." Something about the adventures of little Ralphie, his little brother, his doting mom and his quirky pop (Darren McGavin) that keeps me glued to the screen. Doesn't matter what's going on around me; I'm just drawn to it.

What is it that makes certain movies watchable, over and over again? For me it is a combination of certain factors...funny, touching in some way, sincerity, humor that can be incredibly dumb but you can relate to it in some way, nostalgia and certain unique, memorable moments (check out clips at the bottom of this post for a few favorites).

Perhaps the clearest distinction of these 16 magnetic movies is an "underdog" element that keeps me coming back for more.  They all are endearing to me in their own way.

To be clear, this is NOT a list of all-time best movies.  Perhaps a couple of these would make that list (Shawshank and Forrest might make the cut).  This is a list of films that have the ability to retain my interest and amusement after multiple watchings.

So with no further ado, here is the list of the other 15 "Movies That I Can Watch Over and Over and Over Again":

Forrest Gump (1994) starring Tom Hanks. This is one of my all-time favorite movies with so many classic, memorable scenes that I can watch this movie anytime. Some of these scenes are shown at the end of this post.

Back to the Future (1985) starring Michael J. Fox is just such a great movie. I just love the skateboard scene (see bottom of this post).

Shawshank Redemption (1994) starring Tim Robbins and Morgan Freeman. This is one of the few non-comedic (not to be confused with non-comedogenic) movies on this list. Although this movie is about life in a prison in the 1940s, the story and acting is engaging and uplifting, interspersed with sadness and the stark reality of the situation.

Tommy Boy (1995) starring Chris Farley and David Spade as a duo trying to save a company. This movie has me in constant stitches.  And it has the funniest "2 guys singing in a car" scene ever (see video below).  Classic, just classic.

Groundhog Day (1993) featuring Bill Murray and Andie MacDowell. Just love the way Murray's character reacts to, learns from and changes his ways by living through the same day over and over again.

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The Popular "Mom Song" Sung to William Tell Overture

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This is Anita Renfroe's popular summation of what a mom says in a 24 hour period into 2 minutes, 55 seconds, sung to the tune of the William Tell Overture. The lyrics are shown below after the video. Visit www.anitarenfroe.com to learn more about her.  (Is it my imagination or does she have a close resemblance to Sarah Palin?)

And here's another very nice rendition of the song by Patti Harshey:

"The Mom Song"

Get up now
Get up now
Get up out of bed
Wash your face
Brush your teeth
Comb your sleepyhead
Here's your clothes and your shoes
Hear the words I said
Get up now! Get up and make your bed
Are you hot? Are you cold?
Are you wearing that?
Where's your books and your lunch and your homework at?
Grab your coat and gloves and your scarf and hat
Don't forget! You gotta feed the cat
Eat your breakfast, the experts tell us it's the most important meal of all
Take your vitamins so you will grow up one day to be big and tall
Please remember the orthodontist will be seeing you at 3 today
Don't forget your piano lesson is this afternoon so you must play
Don't shovel
Chew slowly
But hurry
The bus is here
Be careful
Come back here
Did you wash behind your ears?
Play outside, don't play rough, will you just play fair?
Be polite, make a friend, don't forget to share
Work it out, wait your turn, never take a dare
Get along! Don't make me come down there
Clean your room, fold your clothes, put your stuff away
Make your bed, do it now, do we have all day?
Were you born in a barn? Would you like some hay?
Can you even hear a word I say?
Answer the phone! Get off the phone!
Don't sit so close, turn it down, no texting at the table
No more computer time tonight!
Your iPod's my iPod if you don't listen up
Where are you going and with whom and what time do you think you're coming home?
Saying thank you, please, excuse me makes you welcome everywhere you roam
You'll appreciate my wisdom someday when you're older and you're grown
Can't wait till you have a couple little children of your own
You'll thank me for the counsel I gave you so willingly
But right now I thank you not to roll your eyes at me
Close your mouth when you chew, would appreciate
Take a bite maybe two of the stuff you hate
Use your fork, do not burp or I'll set you straight
Eat the food I put upon your plate
Get an A, get the door, don't get smart with me
Get a grip, get in here, I'll count to three
Get a job, get a life, get a PHD
Get a dose of,
"I don't care who started it!
You're grounded until you're 36"
Get your story straight and tell the truth for once, for heaven's sake
And if all your friends jumped off a cliff would you jump, too?
If I've said it once, I've said at least a thousand times before
That you're too old to act this way
It must be your father's DNA
Look at me when I am talking
Stand up straighter when you walk
A place for everything and everything must be in place
Stop crying or I'll give you something real to cry about
Oh!
Brush your teeth, wash your face, put your PJs on
Get in bed, get a hug, say a prayer with mom
Don't forget, I love you
And tomorrow we will do this all again because a mom's work never ends
You don't need the reason why
Because, because, because, because
I said so, I said so, I said so, I said so
I'm the mom, the mom, the mom, the mom, the mom!!
Ta da!!!