tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-83210702170661943812024-03-19T03:09:17.389-05:00Quasar KidsKid-friendly learning content.Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06880238623046868198noreply@blogger.comBlogger177125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8321070217066194381.post-22750827700436999452015-07-26T18:05:00.000-05:002015-07-26T18:06:42.137-05:00Mira's Announcement Sunday, July 26th, 2015<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://quasarkids.wix.com/Learn" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;" target="_blank"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEinp8yS_-JWMbyFnaE4NZuCZekVAplNprQVZkFaTChF6cklzVW4GCzGOUXAbP91lI4mhC70qE5GbLwXgKENh6yhy-Ox4xfB2BepHCXLx7wgIIhrrm0uuuMyQiz1L0fVbc36r-kw0C-lrmr6/s320/Mira+Ad.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
Check out <a href="http://quasarkids.wix.com/Learn">QuasarKids.wix.com/Learn</a> for some learning activities!Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06880238623046868198noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8321070217066194381.post-25542016746203528412015-07-20T10:21:00.000-05:002015-07-20T10:23:08.867-05:00Quasar Kids Learn!<iframe align="center" allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="315" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/AdRqKOnc6g0" width="560"></iframe><br />
<br />
<div style="text-align: left;">
Quasar Kids is blasting off! Orion and Mira have been working hard to learn more about their universe while documenting their adventures. They are currently out exploring the deep sea trying to collect and categorize new and old sea creatures and sea things. This expedition is a challenging one, but the two aquanauts are confident that they will have plenty of cool discoveries to share when they return! The <a href="http://quasarkids.wix.com/learn" target="_blank">Quasar Kids Learn website</a> has been updated to include a new learning game and it also has a few items on display at the <a href="http://www.cafepress.com/quasarkids" target="_blank">Quasar Kids Spacestation Mall</a>. <br />
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<b><span style="font-size: large;">Reading</span></b><br />
<br />
Take your rocket ship to <a href="http://www.amazon.com/author/kristikosina">Amazon.com</a> and discover five adventures from the books, <a href="http://www.amazon.com/dp/B00MJC8QAI/" target="_blank">Quasar Kids: Alphabet, Numbers, Colors, and Shapes</a> and <a href="http://www.amazon.com/dp/B00MJC8OBY/" target="_blank">Quasar Kids: Space A-Z</a>. Each adventure uses colorful illustrations to portray various phenomena, objects, plants, and animals that the main characters, Orion and Mira face. Keep your eyes peeled for their new adventure, <a href="http://quasarkids.blogspot.com/2015/06/quasar-kids-learn-new-book-update.html" target="_blank">Quasar Kids: Under the Sea</a>, coming soon.<br />
<br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><b>Learning</b></span><br />
<br />
To practice what has been discovered while reading, the <a href="http://quasarkids.wix.com/learn#!learn/ckty" target="_blank">learning area</a> includes fun interactive flash cards for the alphabet, numbers, colors, and soon shapes. The letters are illustrated to look like plants, animals, and things around us. The numbers help kids practice number recognition and counting. The colors reinforce color identification. Once the shapes section is complete, it will help kids practice identifying shapes in their surroundings. More will be documented as Mira and Orion complete their new adventures!<br />
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<span style="font-size: large;"><b>Playing</b></span><br />
<br />
The <a href="http://quasarkids.wix.com/learn#!play/cu7x" target="_blank">games section</a> has a couple of interactive learning activities to practice further. There is a memory game that reinforces color identification and a sight words activity that helps kids learn how to spell and say some of the words that are in Orion and Mira's adventures. Watch for new interactive learning games in the future, like a shape sorter!</div>
Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06880238623046868198noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8321070217066194381.post-30136162635546980842015-07-17T14:13:00.002-05:002015-07-17T14:16:56.590-05:00Review: Starfall Learning App<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://www.starfall.com/" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;" target="_blank"><img border="0" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhSwjxXdYX57NcVGXGjHj5JKdODQTIfHhOCe4GT7kqCCUwrpNorpl2kA37WqcHMTGVj9aXSPTIG9yaklWVYIvWz4MY-Wrzxgkb5Zqfafj-aonrZbcbHVlCjJM49TNcaaXHcBJ8bN0fod4kW/s320/Starfall+menu.png" width="320" /></a></div>
In the years leading up to school enrollment, many parents wonder what they can do to help their children prepare. Searching the internet for age-appropriate learning materials can be a cumbersome task with the various curricula, worksheets, and mobile applications available on the market. Many of the free mobile applications only include a few learning activities, which young learners may play a few times and then move on. The public school standards in reading, writing, and arithmetic may seem daunting to parents, but there are resources available ease the learning process and close the skills gap. Starfall is one such app that is up to the task of preparing young learners for school.<br />
<br />
<b><span style="font-size: large;">Cost</span></b><br />
<br />
Cost can be a prohibitive factor in acquiring learning resources for your child. Such resources range from top-dollar Pre-K curricula on desktop websites to freeware skill practice mobile apps. In the middle, there are premium web and mobile applications, like Starfall, that are fairly easy on the pocket book. Not only is Starfall economically priced at $35 per year for use at home, but this package includes quite a bit of high quality activities for the price. If you cannot afford the annual home membership, Starfall has some of its activities available for free. However, to take advantage of all that Starfall has to offer, I recommend springing for the full home membership. Starfall also has premium classroom and school-wide packages available too for teachers who also want to benefit from Starfall's success.<br />
<br />
<b><span style="font-size: large;">Ease of Use</span></b><br />
<br />
For a toddler, the Starfall tablet app is the easiest to use. The touchscreen allows my three-year-old son to easily play the learning activities, since the buttons are large enough to handle his somewhat clumsy and frantic touchscreen tapping. Tablets also allow the material to fill the screen in a readable and aesthetically pleasing manner. Starfall has taken the smartphone size into account when designing their activities too. My toddler can use this smartphone app while we are out and about and still gain just as much from it as the tablet version. But, given the option, he will always prefer the tablet, because it is much larger and easier to see. Both the mobile applications are preferable to my toddler over the website version. This is only because my son does not have much experience yet with using my laptop computer and its built-in touch mouse. Older children and those with more experience using computer mice will have a better experience with the website version.<br />
<br />
<b><span style="font-size: large;">Learning Activities</span></b><br />
<br />
The learning activities that attracted my attention originally were the learning-to-read skill development activities. Some of these are available on the free versions of the website and mobile applications, which is how I was able to test them out with my son before I made my final decision to purchase the full home version. Starfall includes various recognition activities with letters, numbers, colors, and shapes. There are numerous books that highlight words as they are being read aloud by Starfall. There are many videos and songs for young children to observe, dance, and sing along to as they learn. Vowels and phonics are introduced. The math includes songs, numbers, geometry, measurement, addition, subtraction, multiplication, and division. Starfall also divides their activities into first grade and second grade for a more focused curriculum. As an added perk, learners can even create their own avatar, which is inserted into many of the included learning videos. My son likes to adopt a pet cat that eats pizza and plays with his avatar!<br />
<br />
<b><span style="font-size: large;">Does it work?</span></b><br />
<br />
The activities are intuitive for a toddler to follow. Starfall has a simple and colorful design with gentle positive reinforcement, which is important in keeping very young children motivated to learn. My son can drag and drop letters to spell a word. The directions are simple and the app rewards success. If a mistake is made, the application gently reminds the young learner of the rules or the prompt. Most of the activities don't have a limit for how many wrong answers one can have, which eliminates the anxiety in getting the correct answer every time. Starfall's instructional design allows its learners to feel as though they are playing, rather than learning; even though they are doing both. My son has only been using this application for three months, but I can see a drastic improvement in his reading comprehension and mathematical awareness. He is certainly well on his way to being ready for school in the coming years in part because of Starfall's application.<br />
<br />
<b><span style="font-size: large;">What is missing?</span></b><br />
<br />
Science is one subject that schools could focus more on, instead of mainly reading, writing, and arithmetic. Science comprehension is an important part of our understanding of our world and our youth could benefit from interactive scientific exhibits and hypothesis testing games that mobile application developers could create. Starfall noticeably lacks a science category and some of the activities, like the one on Earth Day, only have a passing mention of scientific facts and ideas. Writing practice is another skill that is not fully realized in the Starfall app. While there are videos and activities that show how to write a letter, there is not a way for learners to actually practice writing letters and numbers; unless parents and teachers print out the writing practice worksheets available on the website. But Starfall could just as easily develop and incorporate a more fully-featured writing skill development section into their application. There are other simple applications out there, like LetterSchool, that have this concept down. To enhance their product further, Starfall should consider adding dedicated science and writing sections. I think these two sections will add even more value to their fantastic product.<br />
<br />
<b><span style="font-size: large;">Final Thoughts</span></b><br />
<br />
I am impressed with the amount of activities that are available for the price. It's easy for a toddler to use if they have a mobile device. It's fun and most importantly, it does help toddlers learn. So, when looking for ways to help prepare your young child for school, Starfall more than adequately fills their learning needs for an economical price. Plus your child will demand to play Starfall, which will put your mind at ease since they are playing a learning application that helps them learn. If you own a smartphone or tablet, I highly recommend considering the annual home membership. There is always room for improvement, so I look forward to seeing what Starfall has in store for the future.Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06880238623046868198noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8321070217066194381.post-28036790643798522252015-07-14T19:28:00.000-05:002015-07-14T19:28:08.840-05:00Quasar Kids - Sight Words Activity<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://71879c2ca15e1d60fdaa62ab2ecb733c960285bc-www.googledrive.com/host/0BwQfnbFgaidlfmIwRDF1UXkza3NtQ2I5emctRUF5SGxHMnJ4eHByM3MwcDRYdnN1Z3lZbU0/" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;" target="_blank"><img border="0" height="211" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiGZueAiPz6-T3v7VtZbpEBwk-NRZveK8abd2lSpcRdlDmpcnaZNj1UpdeyBc1YCL4vz0eSTLeTb5JmuFF219voxb54GZzuDvVeuVRk4PRbdnql7-nOfAF4WuIUDPNCZyYoWvKFkMc27jgh/s320/Menu.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
Here is a <a href="https://71879c2ca15e1d60fdaa62ab2ecb733c960285bc-www.googledrive.com/host/0BwQfnbFgaidlfmIwRDF1UXkza3NtQ2I5emctRUF5SGxHMnJ4eHByM3MwcDRYdnN1Z3lZbU0/" target="_blank">sight words interactive activity</a> for your two to five year old children to help them say and spell some of the words that are in the Quasar Kids books. It is located on my companion website, <a href="http://quasarkids.wix.com/learn#!play/cu7x">QuasarKids.wix.com/learn</a>. <br />
<br />
There are three-letter and four-letter words. Upon entering each page, each word will be spoken to help kids hear the word sounds. To play, drag the letters from the top row down to the missing spaces to complete each word. If a letter is misplaced, an incorrect buzzer will sound. If the letters are placed correctly, a ding sound will play and the word will be spoken again. Then the next word will appear. There are only five to six words per section and you will be able to revisit each section as many times as desired. Once complete, you can go to the main main and press the red exit button or you may press the "X" on the toolbar at the bottom right side of the activity.<br />
<br />
This activity plays on desktop computers, tablets, and smartphones. If you have any suggestions for improvement, please let me know. I am always happy to make upgrades. Thank you for your interest in Quasar Kids!Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06880238623046868198noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8321070217066194381.post-71689142721709173962015-07-14T16:05:00.001-05:002015-07-14T16:12:26.370-05:00Meet the Quasar Kids!<br />
<a href="http://quasarkids.blogspot.com/p/quasar-kids-series.html" style="clear: left; display: inline !important; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;" target="_blank"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgyyc6KEbjBvI3228nVa9NkdUi6f9gha23P7QVhqwqEOa2HBZAWn6VZBn-52pxIXOvbEwYFKtbhvFUY2iZ_coBx8Aqqnw76SAdaa9Pz36I0JSvxDPy2bG7U1aNAm6_FL3hnp38nX_NXSxzh/s320/Orion.png" style="text-align: center;" width="219" /></a><b><span style="font-size: large;"><u>Orion</u></span></b><br />
<br />
Hello! My name is Orion Stargazer and I like to go on adventures. I like to explore my neighborhood, find creatures underwater, and meet aliens in outer space. I love learning everything I can about the people, animals, plants, and things I encounter. Much of the time, I see shapes and colors out in the wild. Sometimes I even see letters in the living things. I even like to count and alphabetize when the opportunity presents itself. <br />
<br />
Some of my favorite things are:<br />
<br />
Food: Flying Saucer Pizza.<br />
Drink: Absolute Zero Strawberry Banana Slushy.<br />
Animal: Leo, my awesome dog!<br />
Color: Green, like my eyes.<br />
Activity: Exploring the unknown.<br />
<br />
<br />
<a href="http://quasarkids.blogspot.com/p/quasar-kids-series.html" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;" target="_blank"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjCnfzH_qOTZbTTZThgO5fZcKEopqVSe_-R7w3Dzs0-RrFrVjOcub4l4UdC3oiuld0uxVA8lNxGVp0uEL1cpy9-cVs__NBjwK51KZ3qp_vykh3Kymk3TRBHwAeaQzkZZyWDePbGVV8p2VqO/s320/Mira.png" width="320" /></a><b><u><span style="font-size: large;">Mira</span></u></b><br />
<br />
And...I am Mira Universe! I am Orion's best friend and fellow explorer. I work at the Carnation Fixation store with my mom from time to time during the busy seasons, like Valentine's Day and Mother's Day. Most of the time, though, I hang out with Orion and make cool discoveries.<br />
<br />
Some of my favorite things are:<br />
<br />
Food: Wormhole Spaghetti.<br />
Drink: Spiral Galaxy Fruit Punch.<br />
Animal: Yolanda, my yak.<br />
Color: Dark Matter Purple.<br />
Activity: Saving Orion from his shenanigans.<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
You are welcome to <a href="http://quasarkids.blogspot.com/p/quasar-kids-series.html" target="_blank">join us</a> on our adventures! We always enjoy company since you may help us solve challenging problems that we face. Maybe you will learn new things about the universe too. See you soon!Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06880238623046868198noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8321070217066194381.post-83270384025910248482015-07-13T09:45:00.001-05:002015-07-13T09:52:58.661-05:00Meet Marine Seabreeze!<a href="http://quasarkids.blogspot.com/p/quasar-kids-series.html" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;" target="_blank"><img border="0" height="260" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhCeawQVaWL37VPwirgLdUlphaIUvN_21jPt5L7ce7LwH082jF5z_s3miSfDooGe1G32kAQ-iFxyQtLYCMpCsmwe7TE01KIKsEy8wQuozEnAf_PWqhosTd8KC-rEstX9JsCa9dm0C81gf8n/s320/Meet+Marine+Seabreeze+KK.jpg" width="320" /></a><br />
Meet Marine Seabreeze. She is a Bermuda class search submersible, equipped with a state-of-the-art artificial intelligence that can detect the smallest creatures nearby; and she is stronger than she looks. Marine will be a huge help in Orion and Mira's next adventure, "<a href="http://quasarkids.blogspot.com/p/quasar-kids-series.html" target="_blank">Quasar Kids: Under the Sea A-Z</a>." Coming soon!Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06880238623046868198noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8321070217066194381.post-58053935536918918482015-06-08T13:01:00.002-05:002015-06-08T13:03:25.223-05:00Quasar Kids Learn & New Book Update!<span style="font-family: inherit;">I updated my companion website <a href="http://quasarkids.wix.com/learn" target="_blank">Quasar Kids Learn</a> a bit in preparation for working on and releasing my new book Quasar Kids: Under the Sea A-Z near the end of this summer! Like the others I have created, there will be both print and Kindle edition. </span><span style="font-size: 15px;">The name of this new story was contributed by my friend, Marianne McKenzie!</span><br />
<div>
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span>
<div>
<div>
<a href="http://static.wixstatic.com/media/bc7177_03f34cef0980466cb79c60b6dfd7032f.jpg_srz_p_207_256_75_22_0.50_1.20_0.00_jpg_srz" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><img border="0" src="http://static.wixstatic.com/media/bc7177_03f34cef0980466cb79c60b6dfd7032f.jpg_srz_p_207_256_75_22_0.50_1.20_0.00_jpg_srz" /></span></a><span style="font-size: 15px;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">Quasar Kids: Under the Sea A-Z is an illustrated story depicting the undersea adventure of Orion, the aquanaut. He visits the Quasar Sea Lab to learn more about underwater creatures that are being studied in their natural habitat. An accident occurs and all of the creatures escape. Orion makes it his mission to find and catalog the alphabet of sea animals and plants to restore order, and to make some new discoveries while he is at it.</span></span></div>
<div>
<span style="font-size: 15px;"><br /></span></div>
<div>
<span style="font-size: 15px;">I am also working on adding new learning content to Quasar Kids Learn. Currently, I am developing an interactive sight words activity using the illustrated content that I created for my first Quasar Kids book, Alphabet, Numbers, Colors, and Shapes. Young children will be able to join Orion in an interactive environment to <a href="http://quasarkids.wix.com/learn#!play/cu7x" target="_blank">practice</a> what they read about in Orion's adventures. Keep a look out for the exciting new changes this summer!</span><br />
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Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06880238623046868198noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8321070217066194381.post-39786374417946377092014-06-30T13:41:00.000-05:002014-06-30T14:21:38.219-05:00VTech Innotab 3S vs. Nabi Jr. vs. Nintendo 2DS<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiQoEZgujgC3Va-NelbmNrwcqYMigrHed7Y0f75tSs3F93QF6eDo9aa43tKYPxIYTIV6oTG9leGze4NO32GHRHjGteiGcQWtqslLHyFZkS8TsVgTfpuSZ98BLsD4Wy8Iq343gO6JF79fBlv/s1600/Tablets+white.png" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiQoEZgujgC3Va-NelbmNrwcqYMigrHed7Y0f75tSs3F93QF6eDo9aa43tKYPxIYTIV6oTG9leGze4NO32GHRHjGteiGcQWtqslLHyFZkS8TsVgTfpuSZ98BLsD4Wy8Iq343gO6JF79fBlv/s1600/Tablets+white.png" height="189" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Nabi Jr., VTech Innotab 3S, Nintendo 2DS <span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 10.5pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-fareast-font-family: 宋体; mso-fareast-language: ZH-CN; mso-font-kerning: 1.0pt;">© </span>Kristi Kosina</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Raising a toddler in the twenty-first century is still as
challenging as ever with tantrums in public over toys, throwing up in car seats
without a change of clothing, and only wanting potato chips when offered a
healthy meal of vegetables and meat. In
2014, a new challenge to parenting is dealing with what technology your child
will have, because let's face it, technology is the way of our future and our
kids are our future. Ever since my son,
Warren, could hold my smartphone in his tiny hands as an infant, he's been
fascinated with the world of technology.
My toddler has been exposed to technology for about two years now and he
has become very comfortable with technology use. I would even say that Warren is on track to
being more technologically literate than his grandparents. So, my husband and I figured that if we ever
hoped to use and enjoy our devices, then it is a must to invest in devices for
our child. The following is a review of
some of the popular choices currently available on the market for children.<br />
<br /></div>
<h3>
<span style="font-size: large;">
VTech Innotab 3S</span></h3>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br />
The Innotab 3S is a blue and white device that has a few
color options for toddler-proof covers.
It comes with a few pre-installed apps like the Magic Beanstalk game,
calendar, calculator, and a drawing app.
It also includes an app to allow parents to communicate back and forth
with their child with text, drawings, clipart, and voice recordings. Parents can download a separate app on their
smartphone from Google Play to communicate with their child. The Innotab 3S includes an external slot for
VTech game cartridges directed toward specific age groups with learning
objectives and different interests. It
also includes a rotating camera to take pictures that can be customized with
funny clipart pictures of hats and glasses.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<b>Cons: </b> The user
interface is quite slow when transferring between applications. There is no way to increase functionality
with outside apps, so children are limited with the few included apps and the
expensive $15-$30 game cartridges if parents are willing to pay for extra
content. There is no option for volume
control, so if you take this device out in public, be prepared for your child
to keep it in the loud setting.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<b>Warren's Review:</b> When
my husband and I buy new cartridges for my son, he is very interested in the
Innotab 3S and will play with it for a few days. However, he quickly loses interest in it
since there are other more fully-featured devices available to him.<br />
<br /></div>
<h3>
<span style="font-size: large;">
Nabi Jr.</span></h3>
<div align="left" class="MsoNormal">
<br />
The Nabi Jr. is the cute
little white tablet that comes with a thick red bumper for
toddler-proofing. My son can customize
the back of the device with alphabet accessories that were bought separately. It includes dozens of pre-installed learning
apps that reinforce the alphabet, handwriting, colors, numbers, and hand-eye
coordination. Parents can also install
the Amazon Appstore for access to popular apps like Netflix and Disney Jr. It operates using the Android operating
system and the Mommy/Daddy mode functions much like Android smartphones. Parents can even send music, pictures, and
home videos to the Nabi Jr. for their child's entertainment. There is also a mini SD card slot for memory
expansion to store apps, music, videos, and more. It also comes with a pre-installed rotating
camera that takes low-quality pictures to spark your child's interest in
photography and selfies.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<b>Cons:</b> When initially
setting up this device, there is a mandatory credit card charge of $1.00 to
accept Nabi's privacy statement before using the device. Within five months of using the Nabi Jr., the
WiFi antenna stopped working and it had to be sent into customer service to be
replaced. Nabi's customer service was
friendly and quick in replacing the malfunctioned device since it was still
under the one-year warranty. Upon
receiving the replaced device, I had to pay the mandatory $1.00 privacy charge
again. The Nabi Jr. doesn't have
parental volume control for when taking this device out in public and my
toddler refuses to keep the volume down.
So, we end up not letting our son take the Nabi Jr. out in public. Also, due to the economic pricing of this
device, the internal memory and processing speeds are too low to play some of
my son's favorites, like Despicable Me's Minion Rush game.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<b>Warren's Review:</b> My
son prefers the Nabi Jr. over the VTech Innotab 3S since access to the Android
operating system and the Amazon Appstore offer varied functionality similar to
Mommy's and Daddy's devices.<br />
<br /></div>
<h3>
<span style="font-size: large;">
Nintendo 2DS </span></h3>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br />
I blame my husband for this one. My husband, Brian, is an avid gamer and thus
desires to pass down the gaming lifestyle to our child. Plus, Brian would rather not hand over the
controller or handheld deivce each time our son sees him playing a game. So, to make everyone happy, Brian researched
handheld gaming systems that are great for toddlers and he came up with the
Nintendo 2DS. He went with the flat 2DS
versus the folding 3DS since it would be more difficult for a toddler to break. The 2DS does not have a folding joint for a
toddler to bend and over-extend, which may break it.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
The 2DS is similar to the Innotab 3S in that game cartridges
with similar pricing can be bought to extend game play. However, that is where the similarities
end. The 2DS games are more fully featured
since Nintendo is responsible for the content and have been a global gaming
leader for quite some time now. The
games vary from toddler-friendly to mature audiences, so parents may want to
pay attention to labels and game content before purchasing. Plus, there are more game cartridges than
VTech offers. The 2DS allows internet
access and expandable functionality with downloadable apps, like Netflix and
YouTube. The upper limit for volume on
this device is lower than the Innotab 3S and the Nabi Jr., so parents could
allow their child to take this device out in public without too much of a
disturbance in quiet areas, like a doctor's waiting room.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<b>Cons:</b> The setup of
this device is a bit more involved since the 2DS was not specifically created
for toddlers. Yet, there are parental
controls to alleviate content concerns.
If possible, I have not figured out how to prevent Warren from creating
hundreds of empty folders and placing apps in random folders to never be seen
again. Though, if this is the worse he
can do with the device, that's not too bad.
Currently, Warren is unable to wake the device up from sleep mode since
it is a sliding switch that he seems to be unable to figure out for the
meantime. So, my husband or I have to
wake it up for him every time he wants to use it. Be careful with the YouTube app since the
child-safe lock is not 100% and my son can still find objectionable
content. Also, we invested in the only
rubber cover we could find in an attempt to toddler-proof the 2DS. The cover is only a thin piece of rubber, so
if Warren drops the 2DS on tile or throws the device like he randomly does, the
device may be more prone to break. I
suggest buying the extended warranty on the 2DS since it is likely that a
toddler will break this device.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<b>Warren's Review:</b> The
Nintendo 2DS is his favorite of the three.
The duel screens give him more to interact with and he can easily access
YouTube and Netflix to watch kids' entertainment and learning videos.<br />
<br /></div>
<h3>
<span style="font-size: large;">
Final Thoughts </span></h3>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
All three devices come with or have a slot to purchase a
stylus for ease of use. However, my
toddler does not seem to need or know what to do with a stylus, so that feature
is currently unnecessary. The cool thing
about having more than one tablet or device is that if the battery drains on
one, the child can just use another device.
However, this may also cause problems if the child doesn't understand
why the parent is taking away the device with a dead battery. As with any addicting piece of technology, parents
may want to monitor how long their kids use technology. Parents should offer a variety of learning
activities and exercise opportunities that are separate from these handheld
devices to encourage mental and physical development. Yet, an understanding of technology can be
beneficial in solving tomorrow's problems, so I say "play away!"</div>
Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06880238623046868198noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8321070217066194381.post-28143126963412024052014-06-03T03:45:00.002-05:002014-06-03T03:45:48.344-05:00Quasar Kids Learn Companion WebsiteCheck out my new companion website, <a href="http://quasarkids.wix.com/Learn">QuasarKids.wix.com/Learn</a>!<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://quasarkids.wix.com/Learn" target="_blank"><img alt=" Learn" border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj1NUpLmQU8Mvr-J4r-f3ENPy27wmOzZyy45pWIpwgtfM8qw0JUnT7Uw8lGuzx1z3Su7YrAJdytxrlE5Hn6Nz2UYwW7hST8Wl44Ji60W5y0OEquwg_3wmWZmcIKBWe93F_RejFPvnzCRE6m/s1600/QK+Learn+Logo.png" height="213" width="320" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
I've created flash cards for my toddler so that he can learn the alphabet, colors, numbers, and shapes. I'm in the process of adding new content, so check back frequently for updates!</div>
Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06880238623046868198noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8321070217066194381.post-27130903789898858092013-10-31T16:30:00.000-05:002013-10-31T16:30:41.485-05:00Frankenkitty<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhl5BvdJCF4GxKq5mNlOEC4aL_xIxXLK3XQlZsDA8APsAO2-lPa4IYvhgLyVi3DIkls5hdTBLWl8YuK9ZXnT3omsPWmgGqjPGyRhgl4EWE4-pNGaTDvupy2qBI-ZqwXWehhgTSqqJuln2WL/s1600/1381519977122.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img alt="" border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhl5BvdJCF4GxKq5mNlOEC4aL_xIxXLK3XQlZsDA8APsAO2-lPa4IYvhgLyVi3DIkls5hdTBLWl8YuK9ZXnT3omsPWmgGqjPGyRhgl4EWE4-pNGaTDvupy2qBI-ZqwXWehhgTSqqJuln2WL/s320/1381519977122.jpg" title="Frankenkitty, kitty, Halloween" width="244" /></a></div>
It is a sunny fall day in Bainbridge Island.<br />
A beautiful and fluffy kitty sits on the window sill all tanned.<br />
She purrs as her master takes a brush to her glorious mane.<br />
The Persian nibbles on a nearby vibrant purslane.<br />
In the next window sits a fresh pumpkin pie.<br />
The kitty swats at a buzzing fly.<br />
Her gaze is alerted to the yard's edge.<br />
A squirrel scampers by with a gala apple wedge.<br />
Suddenly, Ms. Vivian darts across the forest green grass in a flash.<br />
The target runs away in a mad dash.<br />
It hops bravely onto the slippery street.<br />
Ms. Vivian hopes this squirrel and her could meet.<br />
Movement to her left causes her to turn her head.<br />
A car unapologetically hits her. She is dead.<br />
Her master comes out and reaches for his prized kitty.<br />
Such a pity.<br />
A light bulb appears up above.<br />
He picks up his kitty with his glove.<br />
"Don't worry, Ms. Vivian. I will give you a new head.<br />
I'll put you back together with needle and thread."<br />
Throughout the night the doctor sews.<br />
He takes extra care on her new nose.<br />
He hooks her up to a metal rod<br />
And turns on the electricity as he plays god.<br />
He then focuses energy on the bolts,<br />
Grinning at the bright blue volts.<br />
The master eagerly flips off the huge switch<br />
And impatiently waits for the tiniest twitch.<br />
Disappointment sours his only hope.<br />
He slowly begins to untie the rope.<br />
He hears a soft but familiar purring,<br />
Then notices his creation is stirring.<br />
"It's alive! It's alive!"<br />
He has figured out the immortal revive.<br />
His precious kitty opens her eyes.<br />
But she isn't the same. He cries.<br />
"The procedure was perfect and fastidious.<br />
What have I done. You're hideous.<br />
Get out you mangy cat!"<br />
He shoos her outside with a baseball bat.<br />
Feeling unloved, Ms. Vivian wanders aimlessly out in the cold.<br />
She listens to the harsh nature sounds with the ears of a Scottish Fold.<br />
She is hungry and searches for scraps,<br />
Missing her master's lap and taking warm naps.<br />
She finds a poor animal and sinks in her teeth.<br />
She feels a growing power that new life continues to bequeath.<br />
She brings her prized kill to her master's door,<br />
Hoping to restore the love from before.<br />
The door opens and her master yells.<br />
The dead deer has rotting skin and horrid smells.<br />
The doctor takes his bat and lunges at his creation.<br />
He notices there was an unforeseen mutation.<br />
Ms. Vivian realizes that she must attack back.<br />
Clearly, her master is displeased with her shared snack.<br />
She bites him in the arm,<br />
Not really wishing harm.<br />
But she doesn't know what else to do.<br />
Something else is what her master turns into.<br />
He's just as ugly,<br />
But not as snugly.<br />
His skin rots like the deer's.<br />
He is now a monster, he fears.<br />
"Okay, Ms. Vivian. You can come on home."<br />
But she leaves him and goes off to roam.Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06880238623046868198noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8321070217066194381.post-10803807232983363092013-09-22T22:01:00.000-05:002013-09-22T22:01:32.780-05:00Great GrandparentsFrom a time long ago<br />
Their faces are aglow,<br />
When great grandkids are born.<br />
The short time is a thorn<br />
In their old achy hips;<br />
There's a curl in their lips.<br />
The great circle of life<br />
Is full of fun and strife.<br />
The journey's filled with hope.<br />
In the end do not mope.<br />
Remember the good deeds<br />
And watch the young plant seeds.<br />
Remember the tales told.<br />
Celebrate young and old.Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06880238623046868198noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8321070217066194381.post-13065875593175166742013-07-28T01:43:00.000-05:002013-07-28T01:43:44.287-05:00A Young Dreamer<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhJI7GS6hnmB-nqJ5rFIanAGUYPFBx_Sdo4XWP5q9zCZHFn9pab-zu-XxavnkQDinNJzq6oUXwuJ4Onvcwk6enuUm9HWMqRNlkv31xBJRaNYxri0daTQf_-rtOKU-kbBuyjh7ioLz8oPDgk/s1600/PicsArt_1374992503877.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhJI7GS6hnmB-nqJ5rFIanAGUYPFBx_Sdo4XWP5q9zCZHFn9pab-zu-XxavnkQDinNJzq6oUXwuJ4Onvcwk6enuUm9HWMqRNlkv31xBJRaNYxri0daTQf_-rtOKU-kbBuyjh7ioLz8oPDgk/s200/PicsArt_1374992503877.jpg" width="111" /></a></div>
As I lay you down to go to sleep,<br />
I wonder if you count any sheep.<br />
Do you dream about colors and shapes,<br />
Or dinosaurs and heroes in capes?<br />
Are there cats and dogs, or bats and frogs?<br />
Are there zebras and wild hogs?<br />
Or, hardy pirates who save the day?<br />
What about a musical blue jay?<br />
Do you dream of Mommy and Daddy?<br />
Or the leprechauns on Saint Paddy?<br />
Are there good princes and unicorns,<br />
Golden finches and sharp dragon horns?<br />
Are there witches eating candy corns?<br />
Or cuddly bunnies who love to play?<br />
What about white horses chewing hay?<br />
I kiss your forehead without a peep,<br />
As you dream or see black during sleep.Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06880238623046868198noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8321070217066194381.post-85345966334876655782013-07-04T11:29:00.001-05:002013-07-04T11:31:01.733-05:00Happy Independence Day!<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhAD_eNelXnHIjRlqAqOWdJMqfi4j0lUUl9l8BCUxlDe77HjbRcpSKKsC_uPvwnutT2A4j5LjD1dfVl1ZGw2OrotPH5nUDFGylbupNgtjqu1ig3hMOYcbxs5Lu0NFP5aGIU2MUpkZKEqRen/s1362/PicsArt_1372954903141.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img alt="" border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhAD_eNelXnHIjRlqAqOWdJMqfi4j0lUUl9l8BCUxlDe77HjbRcpSKKsC_uPvwnutT2A4j5LjD1dfVl1ZGw2OrotPH5nUDFGylbupNgtjqu1ig3hMOYcbxs5Lu0NFP5aGIU2MUpkZKEqRen/s200/PicsArt_1372954903141.jpg" title="Independence, Fourth of July" width="200" /></a>Citizens wave flags of reds, whites, and blues.<br />
We see fireworks and parades and enjoy barbecues.<br />
It is summer time in this grand country of ours.<br />
We visit friends and family and gift patriotic flowers.<br />
It is a celebration of our country's freedom<br />
From the oppressive British kingdom.<br />
In 1776, a declaration was signed.<br />
After this, constitutional law was designed.<br />
There were fifty-six signers and thirteen colonies.<br />
Let's give a round of applause to our founding daddies!<br />
America declared that all of its people<br />
Hold self-evident truths that we are all equal.<br />
Life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness are our rights.<br />
For freedom is what our country continually fights.<br />
We are a patriotic country governed<br />
for the people, by the people. This we have earned.<br />
So let the fireworks fly on this Independence Day.<br />
"Happy birthday, America," is what we say!<br />
<br />
<br />
Sources:<br />
<br />
<a href="http://www.census.gov/newsroom/releases/archives/facts_for_features_special_editions/cb13-ff14.html">http://www.census.gov/newsroom/releases/archives/facts_for_features_special_editions/cb13-ff14.html</a><br />
<br />
<a href="http://www.archives.gov/exhibits/charters/declaration_transcript.html">http://www.archives.gov/exhibits/charters/declaration_transcript.html</a>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06880238623046868198noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8321070217066194381.post-19085373082181428842013-06-09T11:57:00.001-05:002013-06-09T11:57:59.518-05:00Summer Fun<div dir="ltr">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhcCzw0XJNNlc7ykCIBizgYzF5eBNG-G4AlaRLuC5Xi2OGOsFtKNyT2OuES0ipNB1GQ4VYGCQ3uIskQAEBNQQ_Fp8fy-4CuH02x9-kCKZsVFX6XllURD4LwhqWWip85JHfowwxf8F1rAcr2/s1600/Untitled16.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img alt="" border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhcCzw0XJNNlc7ykCIBizgYzF5eBNG-G4AlaRLuC5Xi2OGOsFtKNyT2OuES0ipNB1GQ4VYGCQ3uIskQAEBNQQ_Fp8fy-4CuH02x9-kCKZsVFX6XllURD4LwhqWWip85JHfowwxf8F1rAcr2/s200/Untitled16.jpg" title="Summer, butterflies, sun, flowers" width="200" /></a>School is out.<br />
All of the kids shout.<br />
The sun shines bright.<br />
Teams play soccer with their might.<br />
Chase the soccer ball.<br />
Try not to fall.<br />
It is really hot.<br />
Time to find a shady spot.<br />
It's humid from a morning rain.<br />
All our energy will drain.<br />
Wash dirty hands in the sink.<br />
Ahhhh...a nice cold refreshing drink.<br />
Eat some barbeque.<br />
Enjoy the sunset view.<br />
Read or watch some TV.<br />
How much fun will this summer be?</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06880238623046868198noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8321070217066194381.post-8800565401407141202013-05-17T14:13:00.001-05:002013-05-17T14:20:38.758-05:00Veggies!<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjRhGJXsNHKB-0kajkyRGs_kcfZF8sO0VEcVsX0q5igk8tdtwsFTljA0oEUJ92eZfe5zoGPFT5jtacN9xVr0Z2Dzo7CCYgRtDJBxZV-TKgV3xGM_UReruwkBijp6aMWe3_HoCKNDhHDaPFv/s1600/PicsArt_1368817344117.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="" border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjRhGJXsNHKB-0kajkyRGs_kcfZF8sO0VEcVsX0q5igk8tdtwsFTljA0oEUJ92eZfe5zoGPFT5jtacN9xVr0Z2Dzo7CCYgRtDJBxZV-TKgV3xGM_UReruwkBijp6aMWe3_HoCKNDhHDaPFv/s200/PicsArt_1368817344117.jpg" title="veggies, vegetables, butternut, squash" width="200" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Butternut Squash, courtesy Kristi Kosina</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div dir="ltr">
Eat a veggie,<br />
Said Aunt Reggie.<br />
You dodge them if you're lucky,<br />
Because they are yucky.<br />
It isn't too bad, Mom said.<br />
Eat some sweet potato bread.<br />
Eat some broccoli with your chicken.<br />
You'll eat veggies scream'n and kick'n.<br />
Eat a carrot,<br />
Squawks a parrot.<br />
Eat some spinach<br />
In your sandwich.<br />
Eat a tomato and a zucchini.<br />
Add onions to your hotdog weiny.<br />
Even if your parents are stealthy,<br />
Veggies are healthy!</div>
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Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06880238623046868198noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8321070217066194381.post-10201341027815199122013-05-06T10:18:00.000-05:002013-05-06T10:18:11.406-05:00Math Monday: Percentages<div dir="ltr">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhQy87HNbC8w7aCTHGvxuE-UU-AxLJUl-Bv5Q212UdWJ-ykXFZKsLFkW41ICC6efM_4cASaCv6nesilzOyPzEflAz2s2oiNrGeUC2OA1TIam019qiOtOKcaovQf5M3I9JbxHdPtFFsKXu-T/s1600/PicsArt_1367853141665.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img alt="" border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhQy87HNbC8w7aCTHGvxuE-UU-AxLJUl-Bv5Q212UdWJ-ykXFZKsLFkW41ICC6efM_4cASaCv6nesilzOyPzEflAz2s2oiNrGeUC2OA1TIam019qiOtOKcaovQf5M3I9JbxHdPtFFsKXu-T/s200/PicsArt_1367853141665.jpg" title="Percentages, Percents, Math" width="200" /></a>What is two in six?<br />
Percentages are used in statistics.<br />
Data results are what they show,<br />
Like the average fall of snow,<br />
Or how many people have brown eyes,</div>
<div dir="ltr">
Or how many thruths and lies,<br />
Or how much salt is in an ocean,<br />
Or how many trains are in motion,<br />
Or the amount of baseball hits,<br />
Or professional bowling splits,<br />
Or how many days are sunny,<br />
Or how many comedians are funny.<br />
I eat two of six strawberries that are red.<br />
Two of six is about thirty-three over a hundred,<br />
Or thirty-three percent. Now you try!<br />
Find out where percents apply.</div>
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Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06880238623046868198noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8321070217066194381.post-58683612577675405752013-05-01T23:52:00.001-05:002013-05-01T23:52:01.233-05:00Question The Stars<p dir=ltr>Question the stars.<br>
Ride a horse.<br>
Test drive cars.<br>
Learn code of Morse.<br>
Taste food that's new.<br>
Learn a new tool.<br>
Spray your hair blue.<br>
Scuba dive in a pool.<br>
Dance to your own beat.<br>
Study science and math.<br>
Create something neat.<br>
Follow your own path.</p>
Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06880238623046868198noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8321070217066194381.post-16046053179561236182013-04-27T12:13:00.001-05:002013-04-27T12:14:39.773-05:00The End of The Road<p dir=ltr>Given two days of life.<br>
Oh, the strife.<br>
I don't know what to say<br>
To make the pain go away.<br>
Cancer doesn't know it's a baphoon.<br>
It is way too soon.<br>
Doctors have been wrong before.<br>
Your years to live could be more.<br>
Just in case, what to do?<br>
Maybe gaze at a movie or sunset view;<br>
Ride roller coasters or go skydiving;<br>
Or spend time with family who are now arriving.<br>
There really isn't one activity to erase the pain.<br>
This situation is insane.<br>
Cancer doesn't care,<br>
Even in it's face, you stare.<br>
Battles are lost and won.<br>
I know this hasn't been fun.<br>
You're a fighter.<br>
If only medicine was mightier.<br>
Loved ones will be okay.<br>
Your suffering may end one day.<br>
Until then, continue fighting for every day that is new.<br>
Please don't be blue.<br>
In our hearts, your love, care, and intelligence, you always fill.<br>
We love you and we always will.</p>
Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06880238623046868198noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8321070217066194381.post-51568187174419807372013-04-24T23:55:00.001-05:002013-04-24T23:55:56.929-05:00Dry Spell<div dir="ltr">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjm_HEly2dc0rUooOSatQqKkHaxLAMmoP5vEnqOksOA_pWMouDK7TrDBzPk5LiOzQF7DrSeRL7SnywlviPIgcncwXLjlTiWBv6hh-DSPL5dfpXRLzrNQ9JnETbnzHUbw4kXY-QBTDTeL_0-/s1600/PicsArt_1366865277842.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img alt="" border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjm_HEly2dc0rUooOSatQqKkHaxLAMmoP5vEnqOksOA_pWMouDK7TrDBzPk5LiOzQF7DrSeRL7SnywlviPIgcncwXLjlTiWBv6hh-DSPL5dfpXRLzrNQ9JnETbnzHUbw4kXY-QBTDTeL_0-/s200/PicsArt_1366865277842.jpg" title="flower, ladybug" width="200" /></a>A ladybug lands on a flower.<br />
Two beauties are before you this lovely hour.<br />
Spring is definitely upon us.<br />
But weird weather causes a fuss.<br />
Sprinkles tempt the lust for rain.<br />
Then there's a gust of wind as tiny water puddles drain.<br />
The birds gather in the grass,<br />
Getting their fill of bugs, alas.<br />
The same can't be said of a lake in drought.<br />
Perhaps more rain will come in a tropical bout.<br />
Until then, sprinkles will have to do.<br />
Rain, where are you?</div>
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Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06880238623046868198noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8321070217066194381.post-50515625289415574952013-04-23T00:14:00.001-05:002013-04-23T00:14:45.304-05:00Vestigial<p dir=ltr>Vestigial organs, what a waste!<br>
They are problem-laced.<br>
They were useful long ago,<br>
But now their use is low.<br>
Wisdom teeth are taken out.<br>
Tiny mouths shouldn't pout.<br>
Yes, there is a smaller smile,<br>
But we'll heal after a short while.<br>
As with the teeth, the appendix helped with salad greens;<br>
But appendices burst by any means.<br>
The gall bladder helped with slowly digesting fats.<br>
Our ancestors went a day before finding meals with their bats.<br>
Some people are born with tails,<br>
Which make it awkward to sit on pails.<br>
We go through natural selection.<br>
As we evolve, parts go through un-selection.<br>
Someday we won't have to worry about wisdom teeth, gall bladders, appendices and tails.<br>
Evolution seemingly never fails.</p>
Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06880238623046868198noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8321070217066194381.post-21994933121231869222013-04-17T23:43:00.001-05:002013-04-17T23:43:11.448-05:00The Future<p dir=ltr>The world is a scary place.<br>
Wars and evil are commonplace.<br>
Childhood is where it all starts.<br>
Let them enjoy the arts.<br>
Let them dream.<br>
Let them balance on the high beam.<br>
Let them explore the sciences around.<br>
Give them music so they'll sing a loud sound.<br>
Give them drumsticks to click and clank.<br>
Give them mathematics by handing them a piggy bank.<br>
Teach them the ways of the past.<br>
Let them dance and have a blast.<br>
Let them speak their mind.<br>
Give them pets so they'll be kind.<br>
Let them draw a colorful cartoon.<br>
Fill them with curiosity about the moon.<br>
Give them water toys so they'll squirt.<br>
Hug them close when they hurt.<br>
They make mistakes that we often suture.<br>
Our children are the future.</p>
Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06880238623046868198noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8321070217066194381.post-66062296684671468692013-04-14T00:07:00.001-05:002013-04-14T00:07:11.756-05:00Osmosis<p dir=ltr>Take a half pickle and stick it in a glass.<br>
Fill it with water that is pure.<br>
The pickle fills with more water mass.<br>
It's bigger and juicier for sure.<br>
Now make a glass of water and salt,<br>
And add the other half pickle.<br>
The veggie sags and it's all my fault.<br>
Science makes my laugh box tickle.</p>
Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06880238623046868198noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8321070217066194381.post-43455563464224277062013-04-12T22:51:00.001-05:002013-04-12T22:51:57.615-05:00Goodnight, Prom People!<p dir=ltr>It is a magically colorful and bright night.<br>
We dress up. Mom's dress is a pretty sight.<br>
We drive to the Prom to dance and eat.<br>
There are so many glorious people to meet.<br>
Of course, the party truly begins when I arrive.<br>
We enter the pillars and hear a pianist play live.<br>
The women swoon at the sight of me.<br>
I wave back and giggle at the lovely ladies, teehee!<br>
I walk and talk while lights glitter around.<br>
I prance and dance at the hip-hop pop surround sound.<br>
The oatmeal cookies and strawberry shortcake<br>
Are yummy, and so is the grape slushy I take.<br>
I dance and dance and dance.<br>
I glance at the romance as we all dance in this ballroom expanse.<br>
To my left and right, pictures flash<br>
It is now the time that I shall dash.<br>
I yawn and rub my tired eyes.<br>
When we have fun, time flies.<br>
Make good decisions and don't stay out too late tonight.<br>
Prom people, goodnight!</p>
Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06880238623046868198noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8321070217066194381.post-31957639187381472942013-04-10T10:47:00.000-05:002013-04-10T10:47:23.092-05:00Word of the Week: Sphere<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjXMO02lHkV88hRBhv5kXXVYz5t_Ytwx3FyrZzcdaTBoI421Hy5YWkJFeENcy5UHjhHVdniCMkZxRhjAVY8hWP86J3UjZqDPstUEaLLt_wv0UAZIVYeyZ9zyb0pbx6b5cAlhfAtuk19z_ud/s1600/PicsArt_1365608537352.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img alt="" border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjXMO02lHkV88hRBhv5kXXVYz5t_Ytwx3FyrZzcdaTBoI421Hy5YWkJFeENcy5UHjhHVdniCMkZxRhjAVY8hWP86J3UjZqDPstUEaLLt_wv0UAZIVYeyZ9zyb0pbx6b5cAlhfAtuk19z_ud/s200/PicsArt_1365608537352.jpg" title="Star, Sun, Sphere, planet, ball" width="200" /></a></div>
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A ball is a sphere,<br />
And so is the sun.<br />
We have a soccer ball here,<br />
We kick it to have fun.<br />
Spherical planets revolve.<br />
The volume is four over three <br />
times pi times "r" cubed. Now solve!<br />
An eye is spherical. Don't you see?</div>
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Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06880238623046868198noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8321070217066194381.post-55639420169347296432013-04-09T00:11:00.001-05:002013-04-09T00:11:29.601-05:00Opportunity<p dir=ltr>When a door closes shut,<br>
Another opens up wide.<br>
It could be a sad time, but<br>
Don't let that pride hide.<br>
Open that door up explore.<br>
To life, there is certainly more.</p>
Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06880238623046868198noreply@blogger.com0