And the Winner Is
Mothering magazine has unveiled the winner of their Breastfeeding Symbol contest. This symbol is in the public domain and can be downloaded for use “anytime, anywhere” (apparently a pro-breastfeeding slogan used by the Canadian government, who knew?).
It’s kind of cute, right?
via daddytypes
Sarah Waters
I’ve recently read two good novels by Sarah Waters. Her most recent is The Night Watch, set in 1940s London during and after the Blitz. Fingersmith, which was short-listed for the Booker Prize (I can’t get used to this Man business) in 2002, is also a good read. Amazon calls it “engrossing lesbian Victoriana,” but that really doesn’t do it justice though I’m sure it helps move the units.
Inventions
Parenthood has been very fruitful, inventions-wise. I haven’t yet seen my idea for a warm, breathing, human torso for infants to sleep on realized, but I am pleased to report that these banana guards are fantabulous. For guarding bananas.
Re: Floating Bed
I thought I came up with this idea in 1998. Or was it ’99?
On New Orleans
We recently made a trip down to New Orleans, our first since the storm. I’ve been wanting to write something about it, mostly about how I felt strangely detached from this place that I’ve always been attached to.
Actually, maybe that’s all I need to say about it. Meanwhile, the folks at the Times-Picayune have put together this animated map showing how the city flooded, which I found to be rather instructive.
Rebuild NOPL
Get yourself a Rebuild NOPL T-shirt. Or just send cash.
P.D. James
I just finished reading The Lighthouse, which is the latest mystery by P.D. James. At eighty-whatever, the old girl is still going pretty strong, and damned if I don’t want to know what happens in Adam Dalgliesh’s love life. James actually has one of her character’s reading The No. 1 Ladies’ Detective Agency by Alexander McCall Smith, which is a pretty good plug, so I plan on giving that a try as soon as it gets delivered to the Greenpoint Branch of the BPL.
Starck vs. Baby
Philippe Starck has teamed up with venerable British “buggy” manufacturer Maclaren (favored on the Upper West Side of Manhattan) to produce a new line of baby products. This is Starck’s second go at the baby market as he previously created a collection for Target that was rumored to be high on form and low on function (although one little girl I know did enjoy her sippy cup in cut plastic à la Baccarat). Here’s what Starck himself has to say about his new effort:
Our children are not yellow elephants,
pink ducks, violet mice, light purple whales,
green rabbits…
What should a woman as mother
have to transform to become
a psychedelic zoo keeper?
Why indeed?
Eka Pada Rajakapotasana
Tear Jerker
Last year I was pregnant around Christmas time, so I thought it was the hormones talking. But that ad where Baby Mr. Peanut unwraps his presents and finds the monocle, top hat, and cane is still getting to me.
Popularity Contest
Don’t be fooled by the clunky title, the Baby Name Wizard’s Name Voyager is actually a very elegant way to find out the popularity of a name from 1880 to 2004. Ann, for example, peaked in the 1930s at number 34.
