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8 reasons for cloth diapering

Paul Banas — Wed, 28 Jul 2010 22:13:56 +0000

Usually, I don't like to copy/paste reasons for doing anything from a manufacturer. However, these reasons just seem so obvious that they merit posting. More and more parents are turning to cloth diapers for the benefits they provide to their baby and their baby’s environment. Full disclosure, we did NOT cloth-diaper our babies. We bought into the corporate side of the argument and the now-discredited study that showed no environmental difference between cloth diapering and disposable diapers. That might have been a "possible" argument before the advent of new systems that use very thin disposable liners to keep the poop off clothes and the reusable underpants. It's almost worth having another baby just so I could do it all over again the right way, rather than living with the guilt that keeps me up all night about all that landfill (kidding).

1. Better for the environment

Over 27 billion disposable diapers go to landfills every year in the United States. They take hundreds of years to decompose, releasing methane gases.

8 reasons for cloth diapering

Paul Banas — Wed, 28 Jul 2010 22:13:56 +0000

1. Better for the environment

Over 27 billion disposable diapers go to landfills every year in the United States. They take hundreds of years to decompose, releasing methane gases.

Cal Ripken To open Modern Media Man Summit

Paul Banas — Tue, 27 Jul 2010 17:28:38 +0000

and I'll be speaking too on Day 2! Modern Media Man Summit is proud to announce that baseball’s all-time Iron Man, Cal Ripken, will be where he spent his baseball career–in the opening line up–when he joins in the first ever men and dads blogging conference in Atlanta Sept. ... During his opening visit, M3 is offering the first 20 purchasers of VIP ticket package using the Code RIPKEN in all caps, a chance to save $200 on the cost of the weekend’s events, but also entrance into a drawing where one lucky winner will receive the chance to have an individual photograph with the baseball legend. [From Cal Ripken To Throw Opening Pitch At M3 Summit | M3 Summit ]

More to come on this ground-breaking event.

Warning: new Facebook scams may be bigger lures for parents

Paul Banas — Thu, 22 Jul 2010 20:58:25 +0000

I've been in the internet for 15 years, worked in data security at Visa, and most recently at Yahoo!, and still I was "phished" by a Yahoo! ID scam a few weeks ago. It was pretty tame stuff. The scammers sent an email with another phishing link to my entire address book, but did not appear to do any other damage before I changed my password.

With all the data we all keep, not to mention the data of our "friends," it's best to always stay guarded when tempted to enter your password online.

Here's the new ones going around, courtesy of Mashable:

Four time NASCAR Sprint Cup Champ Jimmie Johnson is a Dad

Paul Banas — Thu, 08 Jul 2010 23:31:04 +0000

Wait until he has to chase a toddler around the living room.

Four-time and defending NASCAR Sprint Cup Series champion Jimmie Johnson is now a dad.

A baby girl was delivered to Johnson and wife Chandra Wednesday. Both mother and daughter are doing fine, according to a Hendrick Motorsports spokesperson.
[From Jimmie Johnson Is Now A Dad]

New world record: New Dad at 79

Paul Banas — Sun, 04 Jul 2010 04:30:44 +0000

There's a new kid on the geriatric dads block, and has a new son. He had to beat out a man a year younger and more virile than he was to win the record. At 79, Raymond Calvert is the world's oldest new dad.

I hope I'm still humping like this at 79, though it's a bit hard to believe that no special drugs were involved, unless you count his 25 year old partner.

Calvert and 25-year-old girlfriend Charlotte became proud parents of tiny Jamie Rai ten weeks ago.

Little Zac Hanson (of The Hansons) to Be a Dad again

Paul Banas — Fri, 02 Jul 2010 19:11:47 +0000

It seems like this guy should be about 40 by now. But I guess he was the little tiny Hanson in the boy band. And now little Zac is all grown up and a dad two times at just 24.

Another baby is on the way for Zac Hanson!

The pop rocker, 24, and his wife Kate are expecting their second child, he revealed Thursday on nationally-syndicated radio show Kidd Kraddick in the Morning.

A Great Dad: Gilles Marini?

Paul Banas — Thu, 01 Jul 2010 20:32:02 +0000

What’s the most important thing your own dad taught you about fatherhood?

My father was a really hard-working man. So he taught me how to be a man. That was really his job. And by a very young age, I learned from him that working was a part of being a man. That’s why I was never scared of work. I think I worked from about age 7 on and never really stopped. I owe him so much. I will never be a third of the man he was, but I’m going to keep trying.

[From A Great Dad: Gilles Marini | GoodyBlog]

9 things for kids NEVER buy used

Paul Banas — Wed, 30 Jun 2010 22:44:35 +0000

it's almost always a good idea to shop used, especially for kid stuff, since they grow out of it so quickly. However, there are things best left behind on your trip to the neighborhood garage sale.

Cribs and children’s furniture - Only because you may not be aware of safety recalls. If you buy, be aware.
Car seats - a good, new car seat can be very cheap. With used, you don't know the quality of the seat and padding which degrades greatly in an accident, with use, or by being dropped on the ground. Heaven forbid, your child ever needs the protection of a car seat, but if he or she does, you want it to work.

Warning Labels on Choking Foods?

Paul Banas — Thu, 24 Jun 2010 01:27:07 +0000

The American Academy of Pediatrics, the nation’s leading pediatricians’ group, is calling on the Food and Drug Administration to require warning labels on foods that are known choking hazards, and to evaluate and monitor food for safety. The Academy says that food should be subject to monitoring in the same way as toys.