First Lady Michelle Obama plants a garden with Big Bird and Elmo as part of Sesame Street's 40th season. Photo by Richard Termine I've always been a big "Sesame Street" fan, but it took me a long time to truly understand how good it is. As a kid, I thought it was just entertainment. Sure, I learned about letters and numbers and sharing and things, but it was mostly a fun show full of characters so vivid they felt like friends: there was a helpful monster who avoided contractions, a filthy curmudgeon, a meticulous bachelor and his infuriatingly perky roommate, an omnivorous monster with impulse control problems, a surprisingly cuddly vampiric numerophile, and a little kid who happened to be an eight-foot-two-inch-tall bird -- and his (still invisible at that point) friend. Now, as a mom, I think I'm finally able to fully appreciate "Sesame Street" for what it is: the most loving, carefully crafted, far-reaching educational project on the planet. If you've never considered how big "Sesame Street" is, that might sound ludicrous. But consider its goals and its impact. Back in 1969, when it debuted, it was designed to help urban, low-income, and minority preschoolers be more prepared for school (though its appeal ended up being far wider than that). Studies have shown that it succeeded. In addition to teaching letters and numbers, "Sesame Street" also teaches kids to have a positive attitude toward learning in general. But the show teaches even greater social lessons. Beyond the obvious ones like sharing and telling the truth, it has a deeper message of tolerance, empathy, diversity, and acceptance. Today, 140 versions of the show exist around the world, each crafted to suit its local audience in format, curriculum, and tone. In South Africa, "Takalani Sesame" features an HIV-positive Muppet. On Egypt's "Alam Simsim," an inquisitive female Muppet encourages girls to break gender stereotypes. And in recent years in America, the show has helped children of military personnel deal with parents' deployment and homecoming, and has helped teach kids affected by the dismal economy how to cope. In its four decades, "Sesame Street" has changed with the times to keep up with entertainment styles, educational demands, and social needs. Today, as the show celebrates 40 years of excellent educational television, millions of kids and parents will tune in to a new season that will focus on things like healthy eating and green living, but without fundamentally changing from its original educational goals. I'm looking forward to seeing what they'll do, though I haven't seen much of the show lately (and, admittedly, the last time I watched, I found Elmo rather annoying). My daughter is still too young for TV, but I'm excited about rediscovering my old friends with her when she's a little older. Suggested Sites... Sesame Street - official site of the show that's won an astonishing 122 Emmy Awards. It’s All New and Better Than Ever as Sesame Street Turns 40! - Sesame Workshop outlines the changes you'll see on the next season of "Sesame Street." Muppet Wiki: Sesame Street - Muppet enthusiasts' knowledge of all things Sesame. The New York Times: Sesame Street - a highbrow look at kids' TV. Reaching the Next Generation With 'Muppet Diplomacy' - CNN article on "Sesame Street's" international message of understanding and tolerance.

Directory categories: Sesame Street, Sesame Street Characters, Jim Henson, The Muppets, Children's Television

Archived under: Anniversaries, Children, Children´s TV, Education, Entertainment, Muppets, Sesame Street, TV

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Whale go BOOM! Here's a scenario for you: It's Thursday, November 12, 1970. You're in Lane County, Oregon, and decide to get a start on the weekend by spending a delightful afternoon in the lovely little coastal town of Florence. Perhaps you're with that special someone, hand-in-hand, taking that clichéd "walk along the beach." You notice there's a bit of a funny smell in the air -- something like rotting fish -- but it's not enough to deter your enjoyment. Suddenly, in the middle distance, you hear a mysterious explosion. "That's odd," you think. "What could be blowing up?" Sand begins to rain down on you; an odd sensation, but not unpleasurable. But then you start to notice that that "sand" is way too icky, sticky, gooey -- and smelly -- to be merely sand. You're no expert, but you have a sickening sense that those gelatinous bits that are suddenly covering your body aren't jelly, either. What you've managed to luck into is the day the Oregon Department of Transportation tried to dispose of an eight-ton sperm whale that had washed ashore on the Florence beach. Having little experience with dead cetaceans, the wise authorities of the State Highway Division decided that the best way to get rid of a rotting whale carcass was not to bury it in the sand or to tow it away. No, their solution was to take a half-ton of dynamite and blow the poor creature's remains sky high. The idea was that the whale would be rendered into bite-sized pieces, providing local carrion-eaters with meals for weeks and saving the state a bundle of dough in disposal charges. Unfortunately, that plan of attack didn't go so well. Instead of disintegrating the blubbery blob, the explosion left the whale mostly intact, while hurtling whale parts up to a quarter mile from "ground blubber." Lucky spectators found themselves speckled with cetacean bits, chunks landed perilously close to nearby buildings, and one massive fleshy piece crushed a car. The story remained something of a local legend for two decades, until columnist Dave Barry wrote about the incident. While many dismissed the story as merely an urban legend, Barry was able to prove the story happened through the use of one of the many video clips that, in the intervening years, have become available on the Internet. In the nearly four decades since the event, the Oregon Parks and Recreation Department has changed its whale-disposal policy: they no longer blow them up. They either bury the whales where they land, or "relocate" them to another beach. It's a shame, though, because you really can't watch a video like this too many times. Suggested Sites... The Exploding Whale - the title really says it all. The Infamous Exploding Whale - putting Oregon on the map. NPR: Reporter Tells Story of Exploding Whale, Again - Paul Linnman recounts the day blubber fell from the sky. You Tube: Exploding Whales - who knew there were so many of them? Wikipedia: Exploding Whale - background on the earth-shaking event.

Directory categories: Whales, Urban Legends, Explosives, Demolition, Florence, Oregon

Archived under: 1970s, Animals, Anniversaries, Beaches, Flops, Marine Biology, Urban Legends, Videos, Weird Stuff, Whales, Wildlife

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This might be satisfying, but it wouldn't exactly be polite. Violators beware! (Photo by Mark Wallace) Once upon a time, the term "etiquette" referred to knowing which fork one used at the dinner table (the one on the outside), or which side of the sidewalk a gentleman should walk on when escorting a young lady (the side closest to the curb). Lately, etiquette's become something of a dirty word, though. At best, it evokes a nostalgic sentiment for the "good old days;" at worst, a general distain for a kind of archaic protocol that seems to have no place in the modern world. And while it's true that, nowadays, few people outside of historical reenactment societies need to know the proper way to leave a calling card, the art of civility and good manners is not yet obsolete. Consider the Internet troll who launches a flame war on your comments page. What's the proper way to tell them to mind their own beeswax without making yourself look like a fool? Then there's the sticky situation of how to politely deny your diabetic relative's request for marijuana. Not to mention the ever-important question of how to convey to the woman you've just walked into your apartment building after a date that you're not a rapist. No, this isn't Amy Vanderbilt's or Emily Post's brand of etiquette (even though Miss Vanderbilt’s “Book of Etiquette” was published on this date in 1952). But even in a post-Lewinsky world, it seems we still have some need for decorum (as so aptly demonstrated by the formal rebuke of Republican Representative Joe Wilson after his "You lie!" remark during the State of the Union speech). So turn off your cell phone when attending the theater, don't text while at the movies (we can still see the glow of the screen even if the ringer’s off), turn your radio down at the drive-thru, and send your thank you cards via e-mail  -- just make sure to claim it's in the name of saving the environment, and not because you're too lazy to buy a card, write a message, find a stamp, lick the envelope, and send it. Suggested Sites... Emily Post’s Etiquette Daily - http://www.etiquettedaily.com/ The Urban Etiquette Handbook - the answers to all your modern conundrums -- like who walks the bride down the aisle when there are two of them. Dear Prudence - Slate's advice column on manners and morals. The Core Rules of Netiquette - how to deal with forwards, flaming, and the dreaded caps lock key. Modern Manners Guy - podcast about modern manners issues.

Directory categories: Etiquette, Netiquette, Cell Phone Etiquette, Emily Post, Wedding Etiquette

Archived under: 1950s, Anniversaries, Authors, Books, Eating, Etiquette, Society and Culture, Telephones, Writers, dating

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Wonder if the Cream of Wheat man will ever be made CEO, like Uncle Ben was? What's the greatest invention to come out of North Dakota? The "Roughrider State" takes credit for the first parking meter, but in my humble estimation, Cream of Wheat is a far more notable contribution to world happiness. The hot cereal made its debut exactly 116 years ago, when a wheat miller in Grand Forks, ND, sold the first box. I've always liked my Cream of Wheat with milk and honey, but today's online foodies are showing me up with their creations. They're serving up the cereal with coconut milk, rhubarb, and even pumpkin and spices. We're also seeing a proliferation of recipes that use Cream of Wheat for non-cereal, non-breakfast purposes. While I can't vouch for the quality of these recipes, apparently Cream of Wheat can be a key ingredient for such diverse foods as filet of fish, chocolate bread, and dumplings. And for the category of "stuff I learned on the Internet that I never would have asked:" most dogs can safely eat Cream of Wheat. It's not the recommended use, folks, but there’s an eHow article devoted entirely to the question, "Can dogs eat Cream of Wheat?" The answer is yes, but you should remember that dogs, like humans, can have food allergies. Suggested Sites... About.com: Nutrition - find out why breakfast is the most important meal of the day. RecipeZaar - more recipes using Cream of Wheat. The History of Cream of Wheat - 116 years of hot farina cereal. Was the Cream of Wheat Chef a Real Person? - he was, and his name was Frank White.

Directory categories: Food and Drink, Eating Practices, Breakfast Recipes, Nutrition, Recipes

Archived under: 19th Century, Anniversaries, Brands, Cooking, Eating, Food and Drink, In Character, Nutrition, Recipes

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All aboard -- for romance! The year is 1977. It's late September, the weather is warm and inviting, and the conditions are perfect for cruising. Lucky TV audiences are about to be treated to "love, exciting and new," in the form of a madcap romantic sitcom with a nautical twist. "The Love Boat" is set about to set sail and she "promises something for everyone."  Indeed ... That first episode, airing on September 24, perfectly set the tone for the 248 to follow. All the major players were there: the unflappable Captain Stubing; Doc and Gopher, who usually spent more time wooing passengers than actually working; Isaac, the eternally cool bartender; and the constantly pert and perky Julie McCoy, your cruise director. Later, of course, we would meet Vicki, the precocious daughter of Capt. Stubing; Ace, the ship's photographer; and Judy McCoy, Julie's sister and her replacement as cruise director after actress Lauren Tewes was fired for drug use. Scandal and intrigue were always inevitable on board! Toss in a bevy of well-known B-list celebs (not to discount the sporadic and jaw-dropping A-lister), a deliciously catchy theme song, and storylines featuring a ménage a trois of love and romance, soap opera-esque drama, and madcap antics. Throw in the occasional musical number, and you've got an instant classic, with strong sea-legs to boot! Despite an initially lackluster critical reception, the show lasted until 1986 in its original form, with a sequel, a German remake, and a fourth TV movie (the first three were prequels to the initial series) following in later years. It's no wonder, considering "The Love Boat" was the brainchild of television legend Aaron Spelling, whose shows defined television in the '70s, '80s and '90s. Unforgettable classics such as "Starsky and Hutch," "Charlie's Angels," "Magnum P.I.," "Dynasty," "Beverly Hills 90210," and of course, "Fantasy Island" (which was tethered to "The Love Boat" on Saturday nights until 1984) are the epitome of "guilty pleasures." And why not? We all need a dose of frivolity and fluff every now and again. So on this, the anniversary of her maiden voyage, we invite you "to set a course for adventure, your mind on a new romance. Welcome aboard! It's love!" Suggested Sites... CBS.com: The Love Boat - watch complete episodes of "The Love Boat" online. Amazon.com: Love Boats by Jeraldine Saunders - the book that started it all. ABC News: The Love Boat, Where Are They Now? - see what the cast is up to these days. Princess Cruises - official site of the actual "Love Boat" cruise line. Love Boat Episode Guide - lists titles and air dates of all episodes of "The Love Boat."

Directory categories: The Love Boat, Love Boat: The Next Wave, Aaron Spelling, Cruises, Television Shows

Archived under: 1970s, 1980s, Anniversaries, Boating, Entertainment, History, Nostalgia, Romance, Sitcoms, TV

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