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Gender stereotyping and toys
(69 Posts)My friend has a 4 year old son who will be starting school in September. He is very keen on Barbie and has a Barbie of his own. On a recent shopping trip for trainers, he was smitten with a pair of Barbie trainers. He has also seen a Barbie lunchbow at nursery school and is desperate to have one.
his mum says that he is interested in all things pink and glittery, not just Barbie.
Her dilemma is that, being aware of how older children might react when her son starts school, she did not feel able to buy him the shoes or the lunchbox, but could not explain to him why this was.
Whilst I understand her point (and personally I cannot abide Barbie anyway) I think it's really sad that she had to make this decision. What do others think? And how have other parents dealt with similar situations?
Oh that's a toughie. I want to say buy the Barbie - if a girl wanted Bob TB you wouldn't hesitate. Couldn't he have the Barbie things at home. I really wouldn't let him take them to school.
I really don't know what I'd do.
Starling, what a dilemna! One idea for your friend, for now: Why not buy the trainers tomorrow. By September when school starts, the little man will have grown out of them anyway, or they will have have disintegrated, and she can do a rain check then.
My eldest boy is almost 4, and is mad keen on all things pink, glittery, and sparkly. He loves dressing up in pink negligees and fairy costumes at playgroup - he gets a bit of stick for this, but it's generally managed OK. Recently choosing candles for a cake he chose barbie pink candles. I don't have a problem with this, but I wouldn't do anything to create problems for him. I would not buy him a Barbie, (he's never asked and I can't stand them either. I try to be fairly neutral in this area, but kids can be very cruel, and you have to protect them. There are lots of 4.5 yr-old girls at nursery with him, and if he arrived one day in, say, a frilly tutu, they would tease him mercilessly.
I never say to him - this is a girl thing, and this is a boy thing. He has dolls, pushchair, dollies cot, cooker, etc. at home, and that is fine. But you have to draw the line and protect them from teasing. Maybe try and encourage them in other directions - my son loves pink, but if asked his favourite colour he will say green.
I know of a 5 year old that has had his passion for all things 'girly' indulged to a ridiculous point. His mother works full time and buys him whatever his heart desires when she is home. He has a whole wardrobe of girls dressing up clothes including Minnie Mouse and a full Bridal outfit, unfortunately things are getting to a serious point and I dread to think what the future holds for this young man.
How sad. She is doing the right thing but because of the prejudices other parents might have taught their kids he will get grief. People like this don't deserve children.
I had a row with my uncle once because he didn't want my male cousin to have a toy pram because it was a "girl's" toy!
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My mum bought my then 6yo nephew a Barbie for Xmas when he requested it. His mum was expecting a baby and he wanted the one with ?Shelly, the baby so he could put them in the jeep with two of his Action Men and have a real family.
In my daughter's ballet class there is one boy out of about 25 students. I think it's a real shame that more fathers (and yes, having talked to the mothers it is the fathers that object) don't want their boys to learn the balance etc which can stand them in good stead in the future.
Could your friend take him for a walk 'conveniently' past the school when they are coming out so he can see what the other kids are using currently. Maybe your friend could make pointed comments such as 'that looks a good lunchbox, how about we find one like that for you?'
Kids soon work out for themselves what makes blend in with their peers. If your friend's son really is adamant about a Barbie lunchbox then I'd say let him have one, but make sure she buys a cheap one, because I'll bet that within two weeks of being at school he'll want something different. If he doesn't, then good luck to him - there's a kid that knows what he likes and likes what he knows!
Suew, what a lovely story, seems like that little boy has a very mature approach!
I think the problem is people don't want their children to be gay. We all want our children to be happy whatever they turn out to be but we all still want our children to be 'normal'. There I said it - barrage of abuse this way please.
Most fathers want their boys to grow up to be big, strong, men, to get married and have families of their own, I suppose the natural, 'normal' way but when things start to go a wee bit pear shaped at a young age, maybe the alarm bells start to ring. I'm sure people still think that you can be 'turned' gay which as we all know is not true.
I'm quite convinced that my friend's son already has very definite 'problems' in this department. Don't want to go into too many details.
Suew, that is a lovely story, it really brightened up my day.
I don't particularly want my son to be gay either: people are still very ignorant and bigoted about lifestyles different to their own, and Rhiannon is right to highlight a parent's concern that their child has an easy passage through life by not standing out in any way.
But I'd be much more anxious about my son and my relationship with him in later life if he turned out to have racist or homophobic views, or grew up to be a wife-beater, drug-dealer, loan-shark, mugger etc.
My gay friends treat their parents extremely well, that's for sure, despite all having gone through a miserable time coming out to their families. Two of them are also parents, so the old concern of "but I wanted grandchildren" can be overcome...
starling, this is such a tough one; if he has a strong enough character to cope she could let him go to school in the barbie trainers with the barbie lunchbox and deal with it himself - if he can be cool about his preferences and not get upset they wouldn't tease him for long but if he reacts they will and children can be so spiteful.
how big is the school? how good is playground supervision? starting big school is quite an anxious time for a 4-yr-old and if he isn't allowed to have what he wants, it could be worse than having it... could they be confident that any bullying would be squashed? could she talk to the reception class teacher about it?
it's a dangerous road to go down, the girls things/boys things one - especially since it usually seems to be considered cute if a little girl wants eg bob the builder things...
you didn't say if is he interested in other things as well or just pink and glittery ones?
Janh - he is interested in other things, but his favourite toys, clothes etc tend to be colourful ones - nothing unusual about that, I guess.
As to whether he has the strength of character to withstand the inevitable teasing he would get going to school dressed in Barbie regalia, that's difficult to say, as he hasn't been exposed to that sort of reaction before. He is what I would call a slightly eccentric child in that for the most part he makes his own mind up about what he wants to do and is not particularly interested in other people's suggestions. I think he is the type of kid who might end up being a bit of a loner by choice, if you see what I mean.
His mum is a primary school teacher and therefore has plenty of first hand experience of how mean kids can be to those who they perceive as being different. I think therefore that her priority is to protect him, although I know she does not want to enforce any stereotypes on him.
Marina, can I just say that I agree entirely with your point that there are much worse things that your child can be than gay. And I don't think that sexuality can be influenced by the sort of toys and clothes that a child has. I have a number of male gay friends and none of them spent their childhoods wearing dresses and playing with dolls.
Starling, been thinking. Don't like to suggest telling white lies to children as a rule, but in this case it might effect a compromise between self expression and protection against teasing:
How about suggesting to your friend: Saying Barbie trainers 'only come in girls sizes', but you can find a pair of Barbie socks that would fit. Socks would be a bit more discreet (and cheap) than trainers - and you could tuck a spare pair of ordinary socks into his school bag, so if he was teased, he could, if he wanted to, change. I used to tell my son that Mothercare had a special 'sports' section when at 5 years, he had a worrying tendency to request socks and 'T' shirts from expensive sports shops.
I think Emmams idea about a walk past the school is a very good one, too. I'd definitely do that pronto.
On the other hand, you don't want to imply it's silly to like girls things. Robinw, how sad that that the little boys your daughter knew were not allowed to play with dolls houses. Glad you found a way round it!
For a 4 year old, it's an eternity from now to September, Barbie might be usurped by Action man -who knows. I'd be inclined to go with the flow for now and buy the odd bit of Barbie, but also get him together with lots of school-aged boys and girls eg in park playgrounds,so he gets a general feel for what's in and what's out.
So gay men behave like women do they? Do people believe these ridiculous stereotypes, and why do we have this idea that women behave in a certain way in the first place and gay men take on these attributes?! I still can't believe we live in a society where we think gay men dress in women's clothes and all gay women wear denim! And we shouldn't have "men's" things and "women's" things anyway, apart from the obvious physical differences eg women having to wear a bra!
Jbr, you do like to get aggressive on strong issues don't you. I always await your comments!
Unfortunately Jbr yes you're right people do believe these ridiculous stereotypes. Remember it wasn't very long ago that homosexuality was actually an illegal activity in England. People have to adjust their ideas and values and I'm sure by the next generation gay people will be accepted in a better way.
Just like my own generation the 30-somethings who have always accepted black and asian people as equals (but I challenge you to speak to a 70 year old on the same subject and listen to their point of view).
At 92 years old a Great Aunt of my husband's died last year, she was brought up with servants (her words) in the house and accepted this as normal. How life changes.
Some gay people do fit the stereotype which is why it sticks I suppose. Just like some people seem to think the Irish are thick, the Scots are tight the list of stereotypes is endless.
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Robin, I pity your children. I thought I had found a sensible website but it seems not. I left another site because someone said similar things. "effeminate" means behaving like a woman, as though women all behave the same. I give up!!
Well, my nearly six year old loves Barbie. When his sister got two Barbie cars for Christmas they fought over the pink one. He looks fantastic in Barbie shoes too. while I know its just something he likes and means nothing for the future, I dont care anyway. We dont encourage the girl stuff or discourage it, if he likes something he plays with it. And I really really wouldnt care if he was gay when he grows up, (as long as one of my kids produces grandchildren lol!!)- and my husband doesnt care either.
Jbr what's wrong with the term effeminate. Robin's right there are loadsa gays who express themselves by being OTT camp and prancing. Not sure why they think that's how women are, but they do.
I see the point you are trying to make, as to classify all women ( or all men ) as one all consuming term is clearly wrong. However not everyone knows the correct definition of the word 'effeminate', or has looked at it from that point of view before, therefore to criticise robinw's parenting skills because of misuse of the English language is a bit wrong too... Surely it would be better to educate rather than vilify, don't you agree? It would be a rather boring website if everyone knew everything and all had the same opinions so stay and open our minds a little...!
Jbr, to backtrack a little. The orginal problem posted here was as I understand it:
A mother has concerns that her son will be teased if he starts school wearing Barbie regalia. She is a primary school teacher, so knows what can go on. The boy has not been exposed to this type of reaction before. She does not want to reinforce gender stereotypes, but her priority is to protect him and help him face a specific situation, namely his first day at big school.
Lots of the following suggestions posted here - mine included -are addressing this specific issue, not giving general house rules or views on gayness or gender stereotyping.
However much we as cool, PC adults think being gay is fine and dandy, however much we give our children boys and girls things to play with at home(not calling them boys or girls things of course,) we are not going to be sitting next to this little boy, waving our liberal flags, in the classroom on his first day at school.
Well said Tigermoth, and Lil it is true what you both say, all things in life have 2 sides to it, not what we are "made" to think.
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Starling, I personally think the little boy should be allowed to express himself. It is indeed sad that his mother feels that she has to 'protect' him in this way. There is far to much conforming and in conforming the myth continues that all boys like x and all girls like z and never shall the two intertwine.
Children can be cruel it is a fact of life. If it is not boys liking pink, its not having the 'right' trainers, having glasses, red hair or being fat etc., etc., I wonder how many people who advocate not allowing his having Barbie things would propose that 'fat' children diet, red haired children dye their hair, spectacled children wear contact lenses etc., etc.? Being allowed to express himself the little boy will make up his own mind and grow out of it (or not) but trying to stop him may, however well intentioned, simply cause more problems.
I wonder whether the decision is as much about what other parents think as how other children will treat him(?). Maybe if little boys and little girls were able to express themselves(even when their enjoyment manifests itself in something not considered appropriate in wider society) these bizarre ideas of what is 'normal' would perhaps be broken down.
P.S I personally loathe Barbie dolls!
Winnie, I can see where you are coming from, but few children are perfect specimens, are they? Red hair, glasses, being fat etc are far more commonplace amongst children than boys in Barbie trainers. Also it's a one-minute decision to buy or not to buy a pair of barbie trainers. It's not half as hard as insisting that your 4-year old goes on a long term diet or gets used to inserting contact lenses, for instance. Anyway that's a bit off the point.
Protecting your child from the reaction of his classmates,to my mind at least, does not mean refusing him all barbie stuff. It means preparing him so he knows without a shadow of a doubt that on his big first day at school, other barbie-wearing classmates are likely to be girls. And he has already seen what girls and boys at his school wear. And if, say, he wears his barbie stuff to a childrens playground beforehand, he'll have some idea of other children's reaction to him. If he still then insists on barbie, fair enough, but at least if he's then teased at school, it won't come as a complete surprise. And perhaps packing a spare pair of trainers, for instance, to give him the option to change if he wants to on the day. Or giving him a bit of barbie, ie socks, to begin with and if he he's OK about the school reactions, then giving him trainers a week or so into term. That to me is what protecting him really means.
Yes, of course he should be allowed to express himself for all the reasons you mention. But I think he should be given as much knowledge as possible, too, otherwise we are trying to impose our own liberal views on a child at a very vulnerable time.
Yeah very true Tigermoth, it's a case of liberal mindedness and shunning of stereotypes is fine, but meanwhile back in the real world....I do regret to say that but it's true.
It's such a shame in this society of ours that barbie trainers can cause such an issue, where as in certain other countries any trainers would be welcome for any child pink or not. Sorry, going off the subject AGAIN... ( but it's such a meaty issue, so much to go into...!)
I really hope that my sons will always feel that they can express themselves in whichever way they wish. I'm have a very wishy, washy liberal 'whatever' attitude to most things / have many gay friends and abhor prejudice of any kind BUT I was bullied at school and it was horrible and I honestly think that if my boys wanted something which might attract the attentions of bullies then I would probably persuade them against it (whether it's barbie trainers or something else.)
I'm afraid it doesn't matter how PC you might be....kids can be cruel, and the playground isn't always the nice place it should be.
Tigermoth, I do agree with you that children need to be armed with information before being let out into what is new territory for them. Yes, starting school is indeed a very vulnerable time for them (and us).You are quite right in advocating a third way. I hope I wouldn't be so naive as to think that my children never needed some protection. Children grow up so very fast in todays world. However,I then have to wonder how we change such deeply entrenched ideas if we are not prepared to allow our own children to stand out and be 'different', aren't we simply sending out extremely mixed messages and confusing things further? In my experience - limited as it may be - children handle the truth much better than a conspiracy of silence and half truths, even when the truth is not particularly pleasant. I don't advocate telling children 'everything', of course children should be allowed a childhood, but issues such as this can be explained in simple terms. I would hope that a happy, secure child would be much better equipped to deal with the ups and downs of life - that hit everyone whatever their age - than a child confused by the mixed messages he/she is receiving from their guardians/parents.
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I agree with you both Jbr and Rhiannon. It annoys me that we think there is something wrong with males wanting to like feminine things but girls can be masculine and they are labelled a "tomboy". If we want to tackle this gender stereotyping properly then the people who make these products should stop making glittery pink things for girls and khaki coloured items/guns etc for boys. However there is no incentive for this - it is all to do with money and there is big money in Barbie, Bob the Builder etc.
I hate Barbie myself and I'd not buy my child male or female it and I'd just say no because I'd tell him/her that it was too expensive. This sidesteps any issue about whether the child should have it or not because it is male or female. If the child really wanted it then he/she could save for it out of pocket money/birthday money, by then they'd have probably changed their mind. I feel too many kids get what they want on a whim these days.
Speaking of gays - I do know a few and one thing I don't like is some gay types who like to idealise women in frilly dresses, loads of make-up and high heels. I think this comes out of repression and that some males do like these things. Maybe we should return to the 18th century of dandies when men could dress up more. I just wish that the feminine side of women was emphasised more (ie the nurturing side) rather than the rather trivial aspect of what kind of clothes they wear. Also it is insulting to women that their clothes are "funny" just because a man wears them. I don't mean pantomime costumes though - they are funny on a male or female. Maybe it is just because some women's clothes are silly anyway. My husband thinks that basques/stockings etc look really stupid (on a woman that is). Perhaps it is because 'men's 'clothes are generally more functional that they can be worn by either gender.
I would applaud anyone to be different and not go down the happy little consumer track of buying what toy producers want them to, wearning sports clothes, eating microwave meals etc etc. Anyway going off the subject somewhat here ....
I have a confession to make... I would never, never allow my children to 'express themselves' with toy guns!!! I know, hypocritical after all I wrote earlier, but we are all human.
Starling, why not suggest to your friend that she buys her son a 'non-Barbie' lunchbox to start school with. Then she could tell him that she will buy him a Barbie one in a few weeks - if he still wants one after a month of being at 'big' school, good luck to him!
Winnie.....me too. And after all I said earlier as well. so much for easy going.
Winnie, Twinsmum, and me. Guns, urgh. Are you not relieved that there is no male equivalent of that nightmare emporium "Girl Heaven"? Can you imagine what a cynical marketing team would try and cram into an outlet called "Boy Hell"? Camouflage paint, plastic limpet mines, magnifying glasses to frizzle ants perhaps?
Eulalia, Robinw and anyone else - did you see the Rod Stewart documentary last night? Now there's a man who's been round the block several 100 times with various "living Barbies", and the amount of make-up, frilly shirts, women's knickers and gorgeous necklaces he has worn over the years was really quite staggering. DH expressed the opinion that surely Rod Stewart *must* be bisexual, purely on the basis of reviewing his 80s wardrobe from twenty years on. I on the other hand thought how refreshingly colourful and attractive, and cheerfully self-confident old Rod looked, particularly compared to latter-day lads like the Gallaghers. Let's bring back dandyism for men, why should they be stuck with boring stiff fabrics? If lots more men who wanted to, felt able to dress up like Rod or Eddie Izzard, wouldn't all our big cities look more entertaining? None of which helps Starling's young friend cope with big school and a pink lunchbox. No chance she could get him a plainish one and they could customise the inside with Barbie stickers?
I think Robinw has a good point. Surely the point of all this Action Man/Barbie stuff is that girls are supposed to want to be the girliest and boys the most manly at this age. But not all children pass through the same phase at the same age. There are bound to be some precocious little boys who are attracted to feminine things from an early age simply because they are heterosexual. I can see the point about wanting little boys and little girls to have a clear idea of their gender (this is a different issue from the homosexuality question) because gender is something you can't change (without a lot of problems!) so it's best to live the best life you can with the gender you've got if at all possible. But frankly, I don't think my children need Barbie or Action Man to help them grow into good women/men.
I agree with the attitudes expressed by Tigermoth and others, but I thought the best suggestion was to buy him another lunch box and promise a Barbie one at the end of his first term - that way he'll know what the score is.
Good news, anti-gender-stereotyping-people! Girl Heaven (Bluewater) has closed down.
Marina, speaking as someone who has a garage stuffed full of men's (and women's) 60's 70's and 80's clothing, I have ample proof of how dandy-looking men were, back then. But some men still carry the torch. I used to run a clothes stall and oh, the times I had to help big hairly male Australians and Americans find an outfit for a 70's club night! What they were prepared to squeeze into beggers belief. You have not lived until you have helped a big 46" chest man wriggle into a size 16 womans shirt (good old stretchy nylon). I never, ever helped them into the trousers, though.
I just couldn't get enough frilly shirts, mens flares, etc to meet demand. And those men were such a soft touch, too. No haggling, they used to pay and walk away in a daze with the all the lurid stuff that none of my female shoppers would buy.
And then there were the retro clothing stallholders themselves. Dedicated followers of fashion, to a man. Some gay, some not. Together we used to drool over vintage Ozzy Clarke and Biba. None of them into barbie though!
Then, at the last company christmas party I went to, all the men were resplendent in brightly coloured shirts, ties and waistcoats, while the women sported little black dresses.
I too hate barbie and action man for the reasons Eulalia and others mention. Anyone else heard what happened in America a few years ago? A subversive group secretly swapped the voice boxes of talking barbies and action men. So action man said 'please take me shopping' while barbie said 'mobilise all units, we are on the attack'.
This is an interesting board. Its taken me a while to think where I stand on this. I believe that men and women are different and I think as our science progresses we are becoming more aware of how profound those differences are. In the womb there are major hormonal changes going on to make your baby a boy or a girl and this doesn't just affect their physical make up it also affects their mental wiring. However, just because men and women are different does not mean that we cannot be equal in status, although anthropological studies suggest that this is rarely the case both historically and in different societies today.
As far as letting my son wear Barbie trainers is concerned I would probably discourage him. I would probably discourage him from wearing a hairband or bracelets too. My reasons would be that at the age of 4 children need guidance from their parents as to appropriate clothing. I would also discourage my 4 year old from wearing a swimsuit in winter or a thick coat in summer. I would also be reluctant to let them wear a t-shirt that said "Kick me" on the back of it etc. etc. So I would worry about my 4 year old boy in his Barbie trainers being teased mercilessly.
It would be great if we lived in a world where gender based clothing didn't exist but it does and my first concern would be to help my child make the best choice for him.
Tigermoth, triple laughs all round - goodbye Girl Heaven and good riddance, I do remember that fantastic Action Man/Barbie soundtrack switch tale (and is the one about the American Tinky Winky allegedly saying, "I'm a fag" also true I wonder), and surely your boys must have the best dressing up box EVER. Wasn't fashion tactile and gorgeous 20-30 years ago?
Starling, you will have to tell us how your friend handled the issue in the end as there are a lot of mums out there worried as to whether he'll be OK in that playground. Not to mention wondering what we'd do ourselves, I still cannot make up my mind.
Marina, if my boys ever become interested in dressing up, yes I am a number one mum in this respect. So far, my oldest son has treated my erstwhile business and on-going hobby with great distain. The only 2 things he has ever craved from my 'collection' were 1: A tiger print vest so he could be Tarzan and 2: An old Rebok T shirt, because it had a sports logo. Men huh!
Mind you, I once had in my possession a Queen Elizabeth 1 costume, complete with ruffle, made for Peter 0'Tool. My husband tried it on for a laugh and completely fell in love with it and begged me to not to part with it. Lured him off it with promises of a vintage Levi Jacket.
Sex is the natural make up of your body and gender is the things that are imposed on you relating to your sex, eg men are providers and women don't/shouldn't work for instance. (just one example I could come up with!) That isn't natural, it is the way things are constructed. Masculine and feminine are not essential qualities to men and women, they are just the constructions which change depending on your society or country. I hope that makes some sense to someone! I know what I mean anyway.
These late nights are turning my brain to soggy cabbage!
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I'm really suprised about Girl Heaven. Although there are some strong views expressed here...I think in general there are many, many mums who absolutely love all that stuff. I have a wonderful, wonderful friend (who disagrees with me on most things) who will be devastated when I tell her. Not only is her little girl dressed head to toe in pink frill....she has ditched her former fairly formal style, and now spends most of her days skipping round in a huge selection of glitzy hair slides!
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Tomboy?? Another silly label, given to girls who act like boys, whatever that means, as though there is some natural way girls and boys will act. Everyone is an individual!
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Jbr, the thing is boys are more likely to act one way and girls another. Its been proven, pure and simple. Going back about 3 years, can anyone remember the brilliant tv programme The Human Body? It conducted loads of experiments with boys and girls, and men and women and came up with the simple fact that male and females are different, and that is all there is to it. I can't remember all the conclusions that were drawn - I know women are generally better at multi tasking and that men have a far better idea of spatial awareness for instance. One incident that did stick in my mind (and which I can now relate to) - they put groups of girls in one room and boys in another. They were all around 8 years of age I think. Each group had been given a task, for everyone to have one go of a toy and then pass it on. The groups were completely unsupervised, except for a hidden camera. The little girls did it with time to spare, each child taking a turn and then passing the toy on. The little boys lost interest almost straight away and started fighting, bickering or simply moved onto something else. Of course everyone is an individual, but gender also accounts for our behaviour. My little girl is just 3 and for the last 6 months or so has loved all things pink including Barbie. I can honestly say this is in spite of her upbringing, not because of it. Viva la difference I say!!
If you go by those stereotypes it means that anyone who doesn't fit them is "unnatural" in some way! I am crap at multi-tasking by the way!
Interesting discussion - sex...gender... are differences biological or cultural.. reminds me of my college days writing endless essays on the subject for gender and anthropology. I never did reach a final conclusion... biology and culture interact from the moment a child is born to create differences - mums and dads interact with boy and girl newborns differently, and as kids grow they see endless images of men and women to inform their identity. At the end of the day, I know it is perfectly possible for women to like and do pretty much anything men can (although peeing standing up gets messy) and men can like and do pretty much anything women can (save give birth, menstuate and breastfeed). The ultimate limitations are biological, but genders have a history that affects us. It matters to me what generations of men have made "being a man" into. It matters because I've either got to continue the tradition or change it - I can't just ignore it and pretend it doesn't exist. I'm not into traditional ideas of 'being a man' - limited to earning money and being a tough unemotional sort of chap, but making things different means being procactive (I think when we're either very relaxed or very stressed, we fall back into behaviours learnt when very young - e.g. gender stereotypes). And some trad 'blokey' things I love - e.g. footy. Re: toys - I would relax, don't force anything on a child, let them explore what they want, but always let them know that they are OK as they are, and are capable of pretty much anything they want (and have the ability for) - whether it's being a brain surgeon or a midwife - boy or girl.
As some wise bod once said... "don't worry if your 6 year old boy is obsessed with playing with guns. Worry if he's still doing it when he's 36".
Star, bang to rights on being the mum of a boy. I wasn't really a "tomboy" (excuse the offensive terminology LOL) but unlike robinw I was allowed lego, meccano (plastic version!) and other non gender-specific toys. I loved dressing up and had dolls but honestly didn't go through a really girly phase that I remember.
My thing with Girl Heaven was that I felt it was a cynical attempt to cash in on this phase and that it relied blatantly on pester power. If I had a daughter who wanted frills and things of course she could have them but I think there are plenty of other toyshops etc where there is a bigger, more balanced range of toys: Barbies, My Little Pony etc alongside less frou-frou stuff. I just felt a bit queasy looking in the window...
Robinw, I've always been a tomboy too (am now an engineer), and I've never been into shopping (hate wasting so much time hooray for catalogues!). I do worry though that if I have a girl I won't know how to do pink! Do you think its hereditary!!
BTW, in my sons nursery they have a little baby doll with detailed sculpted male genitalia. Great eh?
Al this talk of girls and boys toys has reminded me of a mini dilemma I face. I was very much into all things dolly as a girl. My mother saved and labelled all my dolls and dolls house furniture, carefully wrapping them in tissue paper and string. I now have these boxes and suitcases im my loft. She categorised them according to size 'tiny dolls' not-so tiny dolls' 'small dolls' etc. The labels and the way they are wrapped up are as memory-jogging to me as the dolls themselves.
I'm sure my sons would love to see them and play with them. But they are not so far into dolls, much, and I don't think they would treat them with respect. They are just toys, when all is said and done. What do you think I should do?
Lil, I too was a tomboy, always played football, never played with dolls. I distinctly remember my first day at school, when I was 'made' to push a dolly in a pram up and down the room, thinking 'why'. Both my daughters are into anything pink and glittery (esp Barbie), they love playing hairdressers and moms & dads. Eldest won't play football as thats for boys. It's all been a bit of a culture shock!
Sometimes 'giving in' to an unusual request, can eliminate the problem. My son (almost 4) has been desperate for some jewellery for quite some time, but I haven't wanted him to walk about with pink barbie beads, or whatever, and get teased, and I haven't found anything suitably 'boy-ish'. Anyway at the swingpark on Sunday a friend wound some straw into a circle, and my son decided this was a bracelet, and went into raptures of gratitude to her for making him a bracelet! Anyway, I discussed with her my dilemma, and she suggested a friendship bracelet, would probably pass muster with both boys and girls at nursery. I duly spent ages making one on Sunday night - he wore it for a couple of hours on Monday, and hasn't mentioned bracelets since!
Jbr - I don't go by stereotypes, and as for the idea that people who don't fit in are "un-natural" in some way, I don't think my posting even came near to suggesting that!! What I am saying, is that boys and girls, and men and women are different - not better, just different. And in order to really be able to provide equality of opportunity, be it at home in a family situation, at work, whatever, I think that we need to recognise this.
Kmg, my son used to love all things 'alien' including jewellery. He has a fine collection of alien and slightly heavy-metal-looking monster rings and used to wear a christmas cracker bead necklace customised with three plastic luminous skulls strung along it. What a love!
Should you be interested, 'Claire's Accessories' and similar shops have lots of this stuff, and those machines that spew out plastic capsules with a toy inside also come up with the goods.
I do like the sound of your hand made friendship bracelet though. A contemporary take on the traditional daisy chain.
I remember wanting to belong so badly to the local boys gang, that they gave me three little tests to see if I could qualify, No .1 Climbing the highest tree to the top No2 See if I could chew worms! (I did pass that one actually) Yuk!No 3 To see if I could pee the highest on the wall, (I failed miserably much to my sorrow!) Have always hated men after that !!!!!!
message withdrawn
Barbie trainers or not? Starling, please can you ask your friend if she's decided - school starts in a few weeks!
Hi Tigermoth - I've had a name change (problems with registration).Anyway, she didn't get the trainers, although he still asks about them - he doesn't easily forget these things. he is wearing some traditionally 'boyish' trainers at the moment.
His mum's strategy seems to be to keep the glittery stuff (of which he has quite a collection now) for 'at home', which he seems happy enough with for the moment, and has not yet thought to question why this is.
swords and guns for boys?-i think i tend to be a bit too pc. if i deprive my son of these will he become obsessed and be a mass murderer when he's older?? anyone got a pyschological analysis of this??!!
We (my brother and I) were not allowed toy guns, catapults, swords etc. as children and will do the same with our own. From a v early age it was explained to us that the real things hurt people and that it wasn't good even to pretend to do so. I guess we would sometimes pretend with bits of stick or something but it just wasn't an issue - we had plenty of other things to keep us amused and haven't turned into rampantly violent people through lack of expression as children; perhaps the opposite.
My 4 year old daughter, has asked for a pink bedroom, fine, but she wants an action man duvet cover!!! Ever since she found a miniture toy resembling action man, she's been interested. I will probably get her an action man if she's still interested at Christmas, as I think Ken is a bit naff.
With regard to depriving kids of things such as guns, I wouldn't worry about not giving them, I think psychos are born psychos!!
PS. What about these massive water gun things are they bad?
I remember playing with my brother's action man as a kid, I loved the tank and helicopter, but also had Sindy dolls too. My brother and myself also had great fun with those light sabres, from when Star Wars was around the first time (showing my age here), which of course are very much like swords.
I think if you are going to let your kids watch tv shows and movies that portray fighting, with guns, swords, fists or whatever, then it's a bit hypocrytical to turn around and say to them that they can't have them as toys.
Jac - I do hope you are not serious when you say psychos are born psychos????
Sweetie, thanks for replying. Just like to know these things!
Big Nose of SE London.
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Decent fuel price drop on the cards
Comment on this storyThe factors that control the fuel price, mainly exchange rate and international crude oil prices, have a tendency to change like the weather but in recent times we've had our fair share of not-so-perfect storms.
However, if this month's trends continue we could actually be in for a petrol price decrease of more than 60 cents a litre at the beginning of September.
Analysing the unaudited fuel price data released by the Central Energy Fund in mid-August, the Automobile Association is predicting better times ahead for local motorists.
"International petroleum prices have continued to moderate since late July. In addition, the rand/US dollar exchange rate has remained within a narrow band and is showing signs of a slight strengthening in favour of the Rand. These two positive factors have resulted in a large over-recovery on petrol in particular," the AA stated.
The over-recovery ranges between 59 and 65 cents a litre in the case of petrol, while diesel sees a more modest over-recovery of 15 cents.
This could lead to one of the biggest fuel price drops that we've seen in recent times - as long as the exchange rate and oil prices continue for play in our favour for the balance of August.
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subset: commoncrawl


text:
Gangnam Style – The Sensation
"Gangnam Style" is a Korean pop single by the South Korean rapper and musician Psy. Psy officially released the song on July 15, 2012, as the lead single of PSY 6, the singer's sixth album. Upon release the single opened to the number one slot on the national record chart of South Korea - Gaon Chart. On YouTube the song became a major hit and was viewed many million times. On November 24, 2012, it surpassed Justin Bieber's Baby as the most viewed song in YouTube history. As of December 7, 2012, Gangnam Style has been viewed 901 million times on YouTube and Baby has been viewed 809 million times.
The phrase "Gangnam Style" is a Korean coinage that pertains to the lifestyle of the Gangnam District of Seoul. The district is spread over an area of 15.27 sq miles and is one of Seoul's most affluent parts. Gangnam District houses the headquarters of some of Korea's biggest corporations including Samsung, Hundai, and LG. Gangnam holds about 7% of Korea's GDP and Psy's song is a satirical look at the wealth disparity in Seoul.
The funny, flashy dance moves that Psy sports in the music video are its greatest attraction. Psy has performed these moves on numerous occasions since the launch. On the Ellen Show, in trying to teach Britney Spears the moves, Psy said "Dress Classy, Dance Cheesy".
Worldwide Recognition
The song, "Gangnam Style" and the music video went viral in August 2012. The influence of the song on popular culture since then has been immense. "Gangnam Style" received rave reviews - the song's catchy beat and PSY's amusing dance moves took the world by storm. PSY has since the release been invited to live performances and award ceremonies across the world. He was invited to perform these dance moves on shows such as The Today Show and The Ellen DeGeneres Show. The song also won PSY the New Media award at the American Music Awards.
On September 20, 2012, "Gangnam Style" was recognized by Guinness World Records as the most "liked" video in YouTube history – as of December 7, 2012, the video has 5,731,675 Likes. It comes as little wonder that PSY won four awards for the song at the Mnet Asian Music Awards held in Seoul, South Korea in November 2012. The video also was awarded Best Video at the MTV Europe Music Awards held in Frankfurt, Germany, in November 2012. In the US, the song has also stayed #2 on Billboard's Hot 100 for 7 consecutive weeks.
On October 27, 2012, South Korea's Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism announced the government's decision to award PSY the Okgwan Order, a 4th grade Order of Cultural Merit. In September, the Gangnam District of Seoul awarded PSY and named him an Honorary Ambassador. On October 24, 2012, PSY was recognized by the United Nations as an "International sensation."
The YouTube 100 id a chart of the top music videos featured on the site in terms of the traffic they attract. At teh close of December 2012 Week 1, Psy's Gangnam Style was still on Number 1. Another Psy number, Hyuna had made it to number 4.
Famous People And Quotes About 'Gangnam Style'
Celebrity |
Who's Who |
Quote |
Barack Obama |
President of the United States |
"I think I can do that move. But I'm not sure that the inauguration ball is the appropriate time to break that out. Maybe do it privately for Michelle" |
Jim Yong Kim |
President of the World Bank |
"I love Gangnam Style, my 3 year-old son dances around doing Gangnam Style all the time" |
Song Sang-Hyun |
President of the International Criminal Court |
"I am afraid I could not stay within say, 10 minutes even if I were to speak in Gangnam Style" |
Tara Sonenshine |
Under Secretary of State for Public Diplomacy and Public Affairs (USA) |
Of course, we all know about Gangnam Style. Well, the man behind it, PSY, went to Boston University and the Berklee College of Music |
Lee Hsien Loong |
Prime Minister of Singapore |
Posted a Singaporean parody of "Gangnam Style" produced for Children's Day on his Facebook |
Jackie Chan |
Actor |
PSY is a role model who proves that dreams do come true |
Robbie Williams |
Actor |
P.S. Try watching this and not smiling I dare you |
Justin Beiber |
Singer |
Heyyyy sexy laaady |
Katy Perry |
Singer |
Help, I'm in a Gangnam Style K-hole |
Britney Spears |
Singer |
I am LOVING this video – so fun! |
Scooter Braun |
Talent Manager |
How did I not sign this guy!? |
Parodies and Performances
The "Gangnam Style" song became a major source of parodies and reaction videos in 2012. A number of different groups, bands, and individuals have all performed to the snappy number. By early November 2012, the song reached the number one slot of record charts in more than 30 countries including Australia, Canada, France, Germany, Spain, and the United Kingdom.
Australia - Big Brother Australia created a commercial with the housemates dancing to "Gangnam Style" to promote the 2012 series.
Australia - George Christensen, Representative for the seat of Dawson danced to Gangnam Style in Mackay, Queensland.
Singapore - Lim Swee Say, a minister in Prime Minister's Office did his own Gangnam Style jig at Marina Bay, Singapore
USA - Midshipmen from the US Naval Academy came up with one of the best known parodies of the song. A spokesman from the United States Naval Academy said that "The video is creative and humorous, but it also took a lot of planning and teamwork"
USA - An Obama Gangnam Style parody was released by Barack Obama impersonator Reggie Brown and was well received by the web audience.
USA - Ban Ki-Moon, Secretary-General of the United Nations performed the song moves at the United Nations Headquarters in October this year.
USA - In a recent Asian business trip to promote the Nexus 7, Google's Executive Chairmaan Eric Schmidt danced to Gangnam style with Psy.
India - Bollywood actors Amitabh Bachchan and Shah Rukh Khan from India performed the moves to Gangnam Style live on the popular game show KBC - India
Sri Lanka - After the West Indies won the 2012 ICC World Twenty20 Cup, the whole team celebrated with a mid-pitch "Gangnam Style" dance and Chris Gayle danced to the number many times during the tournament.
UK - David Cameron, the Prime Minister of the United Kingdom, and Boris Johnson, the Mayor of London, danced to the tune of Gangnam Style at Chequers Court, Buckinghamshire in October.
Saudi Arabia - The Saudi Gangnam Style video went live it was criticized for featuring Saudi Arabian young men dressed in Keffiyeh but leaving out any women. The parody was shot in the city of Riyadh and attracted over three million view. Douglas Ernst of The Washington Times wrote, "Now we can add "Gangnam Style" dancing to the list of things the ladies miss out on while the men have all the fun"
Egypt - Disalata: Hobba Egyptian Style, a parody video was shot at various places in Egypt showcasing many important centers such as the Great Pyramid of Giza and has over a million views.
Turkey - Mangal Style by "Hayrettin" was widely and was also featured in CNN Türk.
Russia - In the Siberian region of Kemerovo, people dressed like Bigfoot and danced "Gangnam Style" to celebrate the birthday of Bigfoot. The television channel, Russia Today, called the celebrations "Yeti-style"
Philippines - During the presentation of the beauty pageant Miss Earth 2012, some contestants such as Miss Czech Republic, Miss Brazil, and Miss Philippines danced "Gangnam Style"
China - "Transfer Style" an anti-scam parody was produced by Shanghai to raise awareness of telecom swindlers. The Shanghai Daily wrote, "The whole story is reenacted in a humorous manner, similar to South Korean phenomenon Psy's global hit".
According to CNN, however, the best Gangnam Style Parody is the one called Mitt Romney Style. By December 7, 2012 the parody by CollegeHumor had over 26 million views on YouTube.
Uniting The World – Gangnam Style
With this one number, 34-year-old Psyis set to become a millionaire. Earnings from YouTube ads, iTunes downloads, and television commercials come pouring in. Psy and his team are likely to earn at least $8.1 million this year, according to estimates. Only about $60,000, however, is likely to come in from South Korea. Psy's song has had an unprecedented effect in uniting the world.
Psy was recognized by the United Nations as an "International sensation" on October 24, 2012. According to news reports from Reuters, U.N. Secretary General Ban Ki-moon met Psy and discussed the power of music to overcome intolerance and great differences. On October 23, 2012, when the UN secretary General met Psy at the United Nations Headquarters, he expressed his desire to work with the singer. He observed that the South Korean musician has an "unlimited global reach" and said, "I hope that we can work together using your global reach." Shortly afterwards, PSY was appointed as the goodwill ambassador of the United Nations Children's Fund (UNICEF).
U.S. Ambassador to Korea Sung Kim wrote about Psy and the hit song "Gangnam Style" as the "perfect example of the growing ties between the U.S. and Korea." In his blog, the ambassador also said that the singer "is probably the most famous person on earth right now." The American embassy gave Psy an "O" visa reserved for people "who possess extraordinary abilities in the sciences, arts, education, business, or athletics, or who has a demonstrated a record of extraordinary achievement in the motion picture or television industry and has been recognized nationally or internationally for those achievements."
"There are no languages required in the musical world. That is the power of music, that is the power of the heart. In this era of instability and intolerance we need to promote better understanding through the power of music". - Ban Ki-moon


text:
Thursday, January 29, 2015
Friday, September 26, 2014
Monday, March 17, 2014
Bali Best Eggs 12:00 AM
So, the first time I went to Ubud, my hubby took me to a very memorable and beautifully vintage place.
The name is Igelanca. |
Totally homey! Love it! |
I've been here lots of time, and tried almost everything. Everything taste superb! So dont hesitate. Just try everything, cause they are all yummy! The value for money is also the best.
So, overall, this is my favorite resto across the island.
Okay, thank you for reading. :)
Saturday, March 8, 2014
Nau Capsule Hostel Bali 1:46 AM
You can imagine when I said dorm/shared rooms, or if I mention backpacking hostel, the first thing that come to mind is crappy. Like, messy, stinky, unusually shabby... kind of crappy. But this one is unexpectedly tidy and organized. Don't believe me? I'll let the pictures speak for themselves.
The facade is quiet quirky, rite? It was made from recycled Bintang bottles |
This is the veranda |
That is me and Romain (a French guest of the Hostel) hanging out in the Lobby, busy with our own gadget. |
The private room |
This one is my favorite! Tadaaaa.... Capsule room. |
And, by the way, I can get all these beautiful photos, thanks to the architect and the hostel management.
Also..... despite my personal relationship with the architect, I think he did a very great job!
They are crazzzyyy with Indonesian's Mega Mendung batik pattern! It's all over their walls!! |
Monday, February 10, 2014
The Art of Killing Free Times 2:40 AM
Well, some people have similar personalities, some others are completely the opposite. Some might think my kind of people (kekekekk) are cowards. But, well, if you ask me, I think meddling with people's business is somewhat impolite. And, talking about things that we are not a hundred percent sure about, is stupid.
There are always two sides to every story. Right or wrong can be subjective sometimes. And it is true that some things are (without no questions) absolutely wrong. I mean, like.... Taking Someone's Life... For me, whatever the reasons, whoever you are, no matter how bad the situations are, Murdering a person is just wrong.
But things like Corruption... I mean, of course it is wrong! You can not just go around stealing things from poor people. That part, I completely agree. But to put corruptors in jail? Well, it might sound unusual to you, but I don't think corruptors should be put in jail. Yes, they should be punished of course! Just not by imprisonment though. I think it is too easy for therm... just sleeping around and eating free things from our tax money. (no way! i did not pay tax to be used that way!) I would love it better if the government told them to do social punishment for the rest of their lives. For example : Being a janitor or a street sweeper. And... to add to that... just take all the things they have (as a compensation for the country's loss) Like their houses, cars, etc. Anyone agree?
P.S Ah... Killing free times, writing blogs, and putting thoughts into something concrete... Love it! Haven't done it for a long time. yay!
Thursday, December 5, 2013
Ouch! Chopped! 9:50 AM
So, after (seriously) a lot of thoughts, I decided to cut it short. I'm feeling like starting anew with my hair. Cut all the bad parts off, and grows better plus healthier new ones.
Monday, November 18, 2013
Bali Belly 아리랑 8:02 AM
Oh my GOD!!! I feel like my blog is some stranded, unclaimed, full of spider web, rustic storage! I am so sorry, dear blog, for i do not visit you often. I am busier than ever! I know I always said that as an excuse, but I am busier than ever!
Bali is raining all the time nowadays. After almost 2 months without rain here, in Denpasar. Now, it is drenched and soaked in rain after rain.
Ah, anyway... now that I am here...
I want to recommend my new fave restaurant in town. The food here is super delicious!!! The size of it is GIGANTIC (that's what my hubby said, and he loves to eat!). And for a meat-eaters, this is like heaven.
The name of the restaurant is Arirang. It is a Korean restaurant in By Pass Sanur, owned by a very kind Korean man. Lots of Korean that visit Bali came here. And that is, actually, what attracted me at first.
The price range is affordable. You only need to preapare around IDR 150k for two people, and I can assure you that your stomach will explode. The Dak Gan Jeong is perfect, and it cost only 55k with (like I mentioned above) gigantic size.
For those who visit Bali and stay around Sanur, this restaurant is totally recommended.
P.S this blog becomes more and more like a food blog. Kekekekk...


text:
When you need cash in a hurry, you will find plenty of lenders ready to loan you money at exorbitant rates. Unscrupulous loan brokers routinely prey on small-business owners who find themselves in need of fast cash. But there are other options for getting the money you need quickly—and relatively cheaply.
To read the full story at AllBusiness.com, click here.
Want to improve the way you run your business? Entrepreneurs, academics, and consultants from diverse industries offer practical advice on a variety of topics each business day.
To submit a tip for consideration, first check our archive of previous tips to make sure you're not repeating a tip someone has already contributed. Then send the tip to Small Business channel contributor Michelle Dammon Loyalka. Because of the volume of material she receives, she may not respond to each individual.


text:
Humanities & Neuroscience Project
Since 2001, the Academy has developed seminars and public events designed to spread word of scientific advances and to bring together researchers in the sciences and the humanities. (A "Humanities & Neuroscience Fellowships" page details our support for researchers doing ongoing studies.)
Advanced Program of Ancient History and Art
An international summer course of advanced education created by the Academy and by the University of Rome's H2CU. APAHA trains junior scholars in advanced approaches, with first-hand exposure to archaeology.
Compagnia di San Paolo Professorship
This Professorship is held by a distinguished visiting scholar from Italy in the fields of History of Art, Musicology, and Italian Studies, teaching within Columbia departments.
The Academies Project at the Italian Academy
This project, APIA, is the first website entirely dedicated to the history of scholarly and artistic academies from the Renaissance onward. APIA aims to organize scattered data about academies, their members and their output; to create a network of scholars and readers; to enhance the contemporary conversation about the significance of academies; and to build on their lively patrimony of intellectual innovation, discovery, and creativity.
Law and its Manifestations
The Academy, in conjunction with the Heyman Center for the Humanities, supports research and seminars to look at law and its images, and at the relationship between law and nature in theory, philosophy, history, and religious thought. (View details of the 2011 and 2012 conferences supported by the Academy.)
An agreement with SISSA, the Scuola Internazionale Superiore di Studi Avanzati in Trieste, includes an exchange of visiting researchers and cooperation on joint conferences designed to explore the content and evolution of the Universe, and particularly dark energy.


text:
Printable Area
By Debbwl on April 22, 2009
Photo by gailanng
Photo by gailanng
"Great gift idea that I saw this on T.V. and put here for safe keeping."
Serving Size: 1 (49 g)
Servings Per Recipe: 12
"These caramels were fast and easy to make. I have a suggestion to make individual caramels that are super easy to handle. I used a silicone mini-muffin pan and filled each one about 1/2 to 3/4 full. After sitting in the refrigerator for about 15 minutes they popped right out and I dipped each one in melted dark chocolate. It makes a perfect 2 bite candy. They look like professional chocolates you buy in a store. I will upload a picture as soon as I can."
"I will add another 5 star review!! This is so quick to make and the flavor is delicious. I made this to use in making peanut clusters/turtles. I put peanuts in the bottom of a candy paper cup, then topped with the hot carmel and then put in the frige for about 10 minutes. Then I added melted milk chocolate on top of the caramel and peanuts, yummy!!! Thanks for sharing the great recipe. Made for PRMR Tag Game."
"Adding a liberal sprinkling of Kosher or sea salt across the top immediately after pouring the molten caramel into the pan makes this recipe even better. People literally beg me for the recipe."
"I won't leave a star yet as I couldn't get them out of my pan! I also tried putting it on tin foil (after finding that 'trick' online) but still couldn't get them out. Next I'll try pan spray. I did try parchment paper once and that worked OK. I also read a tip that said to leave it for 24 hours before cutting as that reduces stickyness. It would have worked if the foil would've come off.
Also-I cooked it for 1 more minute (for a total of 7) and was sure the butter was melted ahead of time so all incorperated well. I dipped some in dark chocolate which was tasty!
NEW NOTE- I have doubled this recipe (which used a whole can of Sweetened condensed) and cooked for 12 minutes with great success. When I do that I use a 9x13" pan. I found that using parchment paper works great! I use a small smear of butter/margarine in the corners as this keeps it down and so I don't have to worry about it shifting as I pour. I then leave for 24 hours on the counter as this seems to cut down on the stickiness. I cut with an oiled knife as well then dip in dark chocolate. YUM!"
"I cannot believe how easy these were to make and just how delicious they are - the real deal! I tried cutting them after 7 min which was too early and then after 20 min in the fridge which was almost too late. I had caramel flying all over the kitchen and was using the poultry scissors! Next time I will try to cut them after about 12 min in the fridge, better too early than too late."
"I've never made caramels in my life, but this was really easy! After checking several other microwave recipes online, I concluded that it might be a good idea to increase the time slightly, as I have a 950-watt microwave. The recipe doesn't specify (and I have no idea if it was something that should've been obvious---I really am a serious noob in the kitchen!), but I decided to melt the butter first, then add the rest of the ingredients and mix it all thoroughly. I think the bowl I used is at least a 2-qt, possibly 2.5-3qt, microwave-safe glass. I set it for 7 minutes, taking it out every 2 minutes & 33 seconds to stir. I also added the barest pinch of salt, and after the last round in the micro, added 1/4 teaspoon of vanilla. After chilling it, it sliced up perfectly and tastes delicious! Thank you so much for posting this recipe!"
"These are quite tasty caramels and you can't beat how easy they are to make. Caramels are one of the things I've tried to make that never turned out right so I figured I'd give these a try. The first batch I forgot to line my pan with foil which was a bad, bad thing because they stuck to the pan and wouldn't come out at all. They also didn't set up enough. So I made a second batch, remembering to line the pan with foil (and sprayed the foil with non-stick spray) and I microwaved it for 8 minutes. The second batch was much better! I sprinkled half the pan with coarse sea salt as I love salted caramels. My only regret with the second batch is that I didn't realize till after making it that we were out of waxed & parchment paper so I had no way to wrap them up. I just put them in our candy dish. So now of course they're all stuck together. These are definitely worth trying; I'd suggest following the recipe as written for the first batch and then tweak the cooking time as needed from there to get them set up the way you like. Oh - the recipe doesn't state what size pan to use either; the first batch I used a 9x13 pan and the caramels were too thin so the second batch I used a 7x11 pan and they're still a bit thin for my preferences but acceptable at this thickness."
"Brilliant! tastes just like fantail caramels, and in 6 mins! I didnt cut mine in time, and they were hard in the fridge, but I broke it into pieces and put the bits in a fancy silicone ice-cube tray. 30 secounds in the micro, and I had fancy caramels, that re-set just fine!
a must-have Xmas recipe!
made for Aussie swap august 2010"
"After a few tries I finally perfected it. I added a tsp of vanilla at the end of cooking and poured into a buttered glass dish and on 1/3 put sea salt, 1/3 chopped pecans and the last 1/3 left plain to keep everyone happy. Before they were completely cool I cut them into squares and used cooking spray on the little spatula I was using. Using the glass dish took longer to cool but it was worth the wait! I cut them again when cool & they came out easily and i put them into mini foil cupcake/candy cups and put them in a tin and separated the layers with wax paper. DELICIOUS & CROWD PLEASING!! So good & so easy you won't mind trying it a few times to get it right. My new Christmas or anytime candy!!"
"My twist was to brown the butter first based on successful results with other kinds of foods. I incorporated many reviews by doubling the recipe (cooking for 12 mins, stirring each 2 mins), topping with Kosher salt, & placing in fridge 12-15 min then cutting. Then I left in cool room overnight & re-cut (well-scored from cutting night before). I used greased glass pans that worked very well. NOTE that the mixture is boiling and bubbling ferociously at the end of 12 mins if you double (and presumably at the end of 6 mins for 1 batch) - I used a large glass measuring bowl with a handle, so I didn't have to risk burning my hand or losing my grip on hotpads - plus it has a pour-spout so it conveniently poured into the dishes. Great - but extremely addictive - caramels (and that was using non-brand milk & corn syrup)!"
"So easy and so very good. I'm looking forward to making these again with add-ins. I did add a pinch of salt and used a 9x9 pan. I think next time I'll use an 8x8 just to make thicker pieces. I can't believe how easy and tasty these are. Thanks so much for posting!"
"This recipe is excellent. It is essentially the brown Mexican candy that is found in many Mexican restaurants in Texas. I would be careful though about going the full six minutes. Mine is ready to pour in 4 mins. The first time I made it half of it was all over my microwave, because I cooked it the full 6 mins. I knew it was ready after 4, but I wanted to follow the recipe exactly. Another pointer is that you don't cool it in the refrigerator. That will make it way too hard."
"These are awesome! If i could give it 10 stars i would. Incredibly easy and incredibly good. It was hot here in SD so i couldn't really let them set on the counter top, it was only making it stickier. I stuck them in the freezer, they set wonderfully cut them up, wrapped them, stuck them in the fridge. Next day they were great, and not too hard to chew. I also added 2 tsp vanilla at the end and sprinkled some sea salt ontop. This ones a keeper."
"Super easy and yummalicious! I made these twice. The first time they turned out perfect. The only change I made was to keep it in the microwave for 6.5 mins. I also added 1.5 tsp of vanilla after it was done in the microwave. The second time I made them I used 33% fewer calories Karo. Wasn't sure if it would work for this recipe or not. They tasted great, but the texture was odd. This was lesson learned and I thought I'd pass it on: I would recommend not using the lesser calorie brand and sticking with "regular" Karo. Thanks for posting this wonderful recipe. :-)"
"These were so easy to make it's crazy and awesome! I would recommend adding a little salt to the caramel at the beginning of the process. Also, after you have completed "nuking" it I would add some vanilla extract and stir it in. Then... they would be perfect! I made cutouts and covered them with dark chocolate. To die for!"
"Quick, easy and delicious. I used Recipe #73863 for the milk and turned out great. Be sure to cut and package before it sets. I had started dinner and then got to the packaging. Very difficult so put it back in the micro for 30 sec. and that helped."
"These were so easy to make and were thoroughly enjoyed by the DS's music recreation group, soft, stretchy and chewy. I set the mix in a 8x8 tin and got 42 little squares. Thank you Debbwl, made fir Edition 9 - Make My Recipe."
"Oh My, I cannot believe that I have not rated this awesome, wonderful, tasty, delicious, incredible and lets not forget the simplicity of it. I am on my 4th batch. The flavor is fantastic. You out there who thinks that it is too simple to be delicious, be careful of your thoughts and try it you will only lose 6 minutes of your time. The last time I made these tasty little critters I put in pecans. Oh my over the roof!! Pat Merwin"
"I am simply blown away by this recipe. I'm picky about my caramel but this was fantastic. I actually melted my butter in a giant bowl (because others said it bubbled a lot) and then put in the sugars. Then I realized I accidentally put in double the butter so I reluctantly decided to just double the recipe instead of starting over again. SOOOOO glad I did! I used my 1100 watt microwave and put it in for 12 minutes, stirring every 2 minutes. I did put it in for 1 more minute after that, for good measure. Then, I added 2.5 teaspoons of vanilla (after reading others' reviews, I thought it would be a good idea) and 1 cup of chopped pecans (wish I had more though!). I poured it into an 11x8 glass pan lined with parchment paper (sprayed with PAM as well, for good measure!) and put it in the fridge for about 30 minutes. When I took it out, it was absolutely perfect and beautiful. I cut it up into squares and put them in an air tight container. If my husband and I can use self-control, they will hopefully last a couple days. =)"
"I found this recipe on Pinterest and had to go to the store right away for the ingredients to make some! Cooking it was very easy! Make sure to put it in a roomy glass container to microwave it bc it will puff up a bit and overflow. I stopped the candy at 6 minutes, and poured it into silicone molds; coming out of the microwave it had thickened a lot but the color seemed light, I figured it probly wasn't done yet but I wanted to test the recipe so I poured them and cooled them. They are very tasty but I can still taste the sweetened condensed milk, and not *quite* caramel-y, and my microwave is pretty powerful. The good thing is though that the recipe is small enough quantity that these will still be gone in a matter of hours and I will make another batch and increase the time a couple minutes. Even with that being said I still give 5 stars bc you can not predict time and wattages on other people's microwaves. I think in the recipe though, it should be added that times may vary, and give a description of how it should look when done. They had to be in the fridge for a while to firm up enough to pop out, and I live in FL so they quickly warmed up out of the fridge. I made some with pretzel goldfish in them and some with a sprinkle of kosher sea salt and they are both FANTASTIC. I think I want to try marshmallows next! super amazingly yummy. Will be making this recipe forever."


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In the next 25 years, the number of Americans living with diabetes will nearly double, increasing from 23.7 million in 2009 to 44.1 million in 2034. Over the same period, spending on diabetes will almost triple, rising from $113 billion to $336 billion, even with no increase in the prevalence of obesity, researchers based at the University of Chicago report in the December issue of Diabetes Care.
The number of those with diabetes covered by Medicare will rise from 8.2 million to 14.6 million, the researchers predict. Medicare spending on diabetes will jump from $45 billion to $171 billion.
"If we don't change our diet and exercise habits or find new, more effective and less expensive ways to prevent and treat diabetes, we will find ourselves in a lot of trouble as a population," said the study's lead author Elbert Huang, MD, assistant professor of medicine at the University of Chicago.
"Without significant changes in public or private strategies," the authors wrote, "this population and cost growth are expected to add a significant strain to an overburdened health care system."
The new estimates are far more rigorous, and more troubling, than previous predictions.
Contact: John Easton firstname.lastname@example.com 773-702-6241 University of Chicago Medical Center Source:Eurekalert |


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How fickle our love for a plant can be.
I have a small yard at the beach whose yard was an overgrown jumble when we bought it. I have spent the last several years pulling ivy and buttercups. I have been able to thin out the bluebells to a managable level but just these past two years I am suddenly overrun with False Lily of the Valley. I used to think it was lovely but it is so invasive and by late summer it's a dried up scraggly mess. It's in the grass and chokes out the sweet peas I used to be able to tuck in amongst the shrubs. I know for some gardens, it's a lovely ground cover but it's not working here. I'm not necessarily looking for eradication but I do need to know the best way to control it. Any suggestions or similar stories would be appreciated! |
Follow-Up Postings:
I have a small patch in my woodland gardens in the backyard where little else grows due to large fir trees and acidic soil. It doesn't spread much there. Possible ideas to help you: When removing try to get the root. |
Here is a link that might be useful: diggit tools
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Teacher Education
Nelson Thomas
Major: Education
Classification: Senior
E-Mail Address: email@example.com
The ASU community has given me so much over the years. From absolutely wonderful friends to outstanding professors, you guys have given me a home. And I am truly grateful. I am determined to express my gratitude not just in words, but also in action. Along with other initiatives, I am especially interested in improving our graduation and retention rates. This is why I would like to be your student senator.
I am compassionate, open, thoughtful and accountable. I believe that we can achieve anything when we come together with common purpose and mutual respect. Most importantly, I deeply care about your success as my fellow student. None of us know that tomorrow exists. I want to cherish the time that I have been given by serving you.
Mariah Sparkman
Major: Early Childhood- 6th Grade ans All Level Special Education
Classification: Senior
E-Mail Address: firstname.lastname@example.com
I believe being active in your university is a good way to play your part as a student. I also want to be able to show different views on early education and special education. I think by having a special education major on the student senate will bring light and more insight on the view of special education. I have been a cheerleader for 8 years of my life and one of those years included cheering at the collegiate level. I was also the drum major for my high school band for 3 years. I am a leader at heart and would love to help out the special education department by being a leader for them.
Megan Crabtree
Major: Teacher Education
Classification: Junior
E-Mail Address: email@example.com
I want to be a part of SGA because I feel like I could make a difference at the school and offer good decisions in representing out students.
I was inducted into Student Government in the fall of 2012 and it has been an amazing experience for me! I want to remain a part of Angelo State University SGA because it has allowed me the privilege of not only representing my departments needs, but also those of the entire student body. I believe that ASU has made a big impact on me over the two years I have attending this school and it has brought me great experiences but I feel the most important part of this school is the students. As your senator I will a voice for not only the education department, but the student body itself.
I feel that I am qualified for this position due to my ability to mediate situations, my ability to take other's point of view into account and also my responsible personality. I am open minded and will take into account every possible option when making a decision.
Amber Padilla
Major: ECH- 6 Generalist
Classification: Junior
E-Mail Address: email@example.com
I would like to be part of the SGA because I would like to be a voice for my peers and make a difference. I have a vivacious personality, hard working, determined. I know when to lead and when to follow.
-End of List-


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Can anyone tell me if there is a substantive difference between these two products and if so which one you suggest for shrinking Uterine Fibroids. The first one is SERRACOR- NK (http://www.biomediclabs.com/fibroids) produced by a lab specializing in enzymes. They sell the product in conjugation with some other things. The other is FibroidClear (http://www.fibroidclear.com/) which is all herbal. Serracor may be just the utilization of enzymes found in herbs but I can't tell. Anyone try either of these products? |
Follow-Up Postings:
You'd likely have an equal chance of success with either product, which is to say pretty much no chance at all. The description of how Serracor is supposed to work is ludicrous. The company claims its product has enzymes that work on "fibrous" tissue or "fibrin" (they seem confused about both terms). The problem is that fibroids are actually composed of smooth muscle, not fibrous tissue or fibrin, so the enzymes they claim are in the product would not shrink fibroids. Any enzymes you could take in pill or capsule form would be broken down by your digestive tract before they got into the bloodstream. Anything of that sort that could be devised to work on smooth muscle would attack other smooth muscle in your body and cause havoc. And if their enzymes attacked fibrin (a substance your body produces in making blood clots) you'd likely have severe uncontrollable bleeding. The comforting thing is that Serracor as described by the company is probably inert.* FibroidClear throws together a brew of herbs that has not been shown to do anything to reduce the size of fibroids. That company pretty much acknowledges this by listing only testimonials (no research) and putting in the standard disclaimer about how their product is not promoted to treat any disease. One thing both websites get pretty much right is that there are hormonal therapies for fibroids, which may work but come with potential undesirable side effects. Limited surgery (myomectomy) has come into increasing use as an alternative to hysterectomy and which is effective in numerous cases for relieving symptoms and/or preserving fertility. *note: this website has its facts wrong when it comes to a number of things about fibroids, including suggesting that they need to be eliminated because they're premalignant (they are benign tumors that very rarely are thought to exhibit malignant change). |
Here is a link that might be useful: Facts on fibroids (leiomyomas)
Sorry, the link I posted is about leiomyomas from a dermatologic standpoint. Here's one on uterine leiomyomas. |
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- Shopping Bag ( 0 items )
From the Publisher
The Protein Myth is a powerful indictment of the healthcare establishment for ignoring the evidence that could save the lives of millions of people. At the same time, it's a vivid portrayal of how our treatment of animals is ruining the health of the nation and stealing the publics' wealth. The Protein Myth shows that compassion toward other species is not merely an act of kindness. It is what is required to restore our health and move us toward a world without slavery, genocide or war.--John Robbins, author of The New Good Life: Living Better in an Age of Less, The Food Revolution, and Diet for a New America.
David Irving reveals the science which can eliminate our common chronic killing diseases. His blistering expose of the politics, institutions, corporations, and governments which are geared to thwart this life-saving message is a powerful read.
--Caldwell B. Esselstyn, Jr., MD, Author of Prevent and Reverse Heart Disease.
Reading and following the message in The Protein Myth could be the best health insurance policy you could buy for you and your family. This common-sense approach to health management will be the best investment you could ever make in your future.
--Howard Lyman, co-author of The Mad Cowboy, Plain Truth From the Cattle Rancher Who Won't Eat Meat; No More Bull; and President of Voice for a Viable Future.


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Results 1 to 3 of 3
June 16th, 2013 05:37 PM #1
Do you think the number of syllables are important in a name?
I've always favored shorter names. Seth, Miles, etc. The longest name on my list is Rosemary, and even then, I plan on calling her Rose or Rosie.
Now, this wouldn't be a problem - except my boyfriend's last name is only one syllable. I don't want to post it, but substitute the word "noise". Do you think one-syllable names with one-syllable last names are a no-no? If I absolutely have my heart set on Seth, should I use a longer middle name to balance it out?♂ Ellis Christopher / Asher Estlin / Seth Joshua / Gordon Thomas / Russell Joseph ♂
♀ Marilyn Kay / Joanna Kathryn / Tessa Diane / Nola Elaine / Christine Ruby ♀
June 16th, 2013 05:43 PM #3
Nahh... U get short and sharp or ones that flow.. Never makes much diff to me i like the name i will use it lol
*Britberry* Dani
Love thinking up name combos
Fave combos: ❤ Sawyer Phoenix Castiel?~Logan Elijah Mark~ Elijah Talon Jakob~ Xavier Kye (Kai) Roscoe~Spencer Devon Mitchell / Kairi Peyton Alana~ Marnie Isabeau Grace~ Wynter Amethyst- (Mysti/Thya''Thea'') Nova Madisyn~Cailyn Schuyler ❤
GP's: Castiel. Auron (Oren) Gunner, Orion, Roman, Zeke.
Not trying but thinking of the future..
"All you need is a little faith, trust, and pixie dust." -Peter Pan.
June 16th, 2013 06:40 PM #5
Ideally, first names and surnames should contain different syllables but rules are made to be broken! Some one-syllable fn and ln combos can sound awesome so it totally depends on the way they flow together. For example, John Wayne's name sounded ok (much better than his REAL name of Marion Mitchell Morrison. Yikes!). If he had changed it to something like Zane Wayne it wouldn't have worked out so well. If you have your heart set on Seth Noise, then use it. The sounds of the two names are different so the combo doesn't sound bad at all.
All the best,


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New Living Translation (NLT) | New International Version (NIV) |
29 The LORD Almighty is a wonderful teacher, and he gives the farmer great wisdom. | 29 All this also comes from the LORD Almighty, wonderful in counsel and magnificent in wisdom. |
Scripture quotations marked NLT are taken from the Holy Bible, New Living Translation, copyright 1996. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers, Inc., Wheaton, Illinois 60189. All rights reserved. (New Living Translation - The Bible Online) | Scripture quoted by permission. Quotations designated (NIV) are from THE HOLY BIBLE: NEW INTERNATIONAL VERSION®. NIV®. Copyright © 1973, 1978, 1984 by Biblica. All rights reserved worldwide. (New International Version Bible Online) |