Happy to help on this awareness campaign. All it takes is to just to remember to ask for the PSA test to be added to your blood workup next time you’re in for a physical. It’s no big deal.

Pints for Prostates is a grassroots effort to reach men with a critical message about prostate cancer screening using the universal language of beer.

Started by prostate cancer survivor and drinks journalist Rick Lyke, the goal of the program is to communicate with men in a friendly and non-threatening way about the need for regular prostate health screenings and PSA testing.

Recent studies have shown that PSA screening does a great job of discovering prostate cancer but doesn’t translate into many saved lives. Some prostate cancer is so slow growing, it does not cause death, but screening can’t predict how fast a man’s cancer will grow.

Without that knowledge, PSA screening can also lead to needless treatment that diminishes quality of life. Some men choose surgery or radiation treatment, and that can cause impotence and incontinence, at least temporarily. Others opt for “watchful waiting.”

The news is confusing to middle-age men who have been urged to get the test annually to reduce their chances of becoming a casualty of the No. 1 cancer killer of men.

Despite the American Cancer Society guideline that men start getting routine PSA screening at 50, Lyke thinks men ought to start at 40.

“If I had waited till I was 50, I would have been in serious trouble, he said. “The goal for Pints for Prostates is to make men aware. You at least need to know what your PSA is. What you do with that information is up to you. You have to talk to your family about it, and you have to talk to your doctor about it.”

[From Pints for Prostates » About]

We recently tried the Homedics Restore Water Purifier and Sanitizer. Based on the included documentation, it’s a good choice if you have concerns about the cleanliness of the water in your area. At the same time, we found there was no discernible taste difference between water purified by the Biomedics model versus our old fashioned Brita filter.

The Homedics “machine” is a new water filter on the market and provides both Brita-style filtering of water as well as ultraviolet light sanitization. The Homedics unit is proven to kill 99.9999% of bacteria, 99.99% of viruses and 99.95% of microbial cysts every time with a special UV bulb that will always deliver the required kill rate and will not f ade over time. At the same time, water purification and sanitization are extra steps that require some dedication and may seem more bother than they are worth, again if your water supply is very safe. Purification requires pouring water into the reservoir and letting it go through the filter two times before the 8 cup container is full. Then, you need to flip a switch to allow the sanitization feature that cleans the water to work, after which you push another button to turn on the electric light which is plugged into the wall. All this is a bit of effort if you have a family drinking multiple quarts of water each day.

UV sanitization does have many advantages over chemical sanitization, as reported by the National Drinking Water Clearinghouse.

• Has no known toxic or significant nontoxic byproducts

• Has no danger of overdosing;

• Removes some organic contaminants;

• Has no volatile organic compound (VOC) emissions or toxic air emissions;

• Has no onsite smell and no smell in the final water product;

• Requires very little contact time (seconds versus minutes for chemical disinfection);

• Does not require storage of hazardous material;

• Improves the taste of water because of some organic contaminants and nuisance microorganisms are destroyed.

We found the system pretty easy to use and self-explanatory, with the following performance issues and questions:

1. The lid fell off onto the counter as we tried to pour the last few drops of water into our glass. This appears to be a design flaw.

2. While the manufacturer has gone way out their way to install a fail-safe system into the machine so it won’t appear to sanitize if the bulb mechanism is not working, there is no way to verify if each human operator has sanitized the water. If you did live where clean water is a significant issue, this would be cause of major concern.

3. The filter type is different than the Brita system with less distribution, so you’ll have harder time replacing the filters every few months. (Brita is sold by Clorox so has very wide distribution.)

At about three times more for the sanitizer feature (vs Brita) and the added hassle to make it worth it, you should weigh the value in your area.

Finally someone has come up with the ultimate service for new parents who have no time, no clue, but lots of coin. Gifted At Birth (giftedatbirth.com) sends you everything you need to take care of baby every week, for three months after the baby is born.

They’ll even help you choose the right items for your lifestyle (green, idiot-proof….). All this for the low low starter price of only $124. If you live in Manhattan, a postpartum doula wiil come to you to explain how everything works, including the baby. Outside the diamond-studded boundaries of NYC, however, it will be a burly UPS guy who won’t have a clue.

You have to admire the moxie of a company that can make the promise to figure out what you need every week and imagine that you’ll just outsource it all. Maybe some well-heeled people are that overwhelmed, but they might also be in denial about how much parenting you actually need to do when you are a parent.

Warning: their site has the dreaded homepage music that can wake your co-workers, your sleeping spouse, or the baby!

Christmas (ugh!) will be here before you know it, so let me be the first to suggest taking that photo this weekend instead of waiting until late November.

Our budget doesn’t allow a pro photographer this year and I like to think of myself as pretty handy with a camera. I know at least I can take a picture as well as the photo guy at the department store. With new digital cameras that take 100s of photos for free, there’s no reason most people can’t do this as well.

My wife always loves the finished product, but she always laughs at me for two things: my equipment and my setup.

First, she thinks it’s amazing that I bother with a tripod and also that I clean my lens obsessively with a little blower brush. Anyone who does much photography knows though that a tripod really frees you up to shoot at slower speeds which means more control over light and depth of field. A blower brush means less wiping of the lens, which can introduce little scratches that will permanently scar all of your photos.

Secondly, she always wishes I’d get out of the box of always shooting out holiday shot in the same way with the same props. She’s partly right on that — we all need to break out of the rut, but there are some time-tested suggestions on taking photos if you want to get good results. Here are a few of my favorites:

1. Ready for your close-up? Whether you crop later or start close in, you want to fill the frame with your subjects. It’s less important to capture their knees (unless they have super cute ones) than it is to focus on faces.

2. Keep your background neutral and blank. Light colors are best. Avoid trees in the background unless they are just providing a green background. Cityscapes are nice, but it’s better to see the Empire State Building peeking out behind someone’s shoulder than it is to capture all of midtown, for example.

3. Use natural light. Shoot outdoors if the weather allows taking advantage of either early morning or late afternoon light. Photographers refer to this as the “golden” or “magic” hour, the hour or so after sunrise and just before sunset when the light is less harsh. Plan your shot also so that your subjects will not be staring into the sun while standing in front of your perfect background.

4. Shoot at eye level. If you’re taking a picture of little kids or babies, don’t shoot from above. Get down at their level, which will motivate them to interact with you and the camera. Move away from the viewfinder so they can see your eyes.

5. If you’re taking a picture of a baby, consider using a prop that will give people an idea of his or her size.

6. Dress everyone in contrasting colors, rather than busy patterns.

7. Consider sepia or black and white over color

Now here are my own personal routines that my wife wishes I’d shelve, but which have worked for nine straight holiday shots. First, while we live in temperate San Francisco, I dress my kids in heavy coats, scarves and Santa hats. Yep, every year. Second, since before they were born, I’ve used a kitschy little Santa toy that they have held in their hands as a prop. Third, I’ve placed both kids side by side and had them mostly facing forward and smiling at the camera. These photos are never going to make the Museum of Modern Art, but they accomplish my main mission: to capture the kids at a moment of time, happy and together, which is what we can hope every Christmas memory will be.

I met Gina Wismiller at the ABC Kids Show a few weeks ago and I liked her product because it resonates with the situation in our house. My daughter is nine years old and still plays around like a kid. She likes to wear dresses, but like any kid, she wants to be ready to take advantage of any climbing/jumping/tumbling activity. However, when she’s wearing a dress or skirt, that’s not possible. Therefore, she’s quit wearing the skirts and dresses in the closet, much to the disappointment of my wife who spent money and time finding them for her.

Enter the Monkey Bar Buddies, a kind of over the underwear short that girls can wear under their skirt. Part of the magic is in the name and the packaging which talk directly to little girls, making the product fun, but providing the security to be little kids and dres-wearing at the same time.

At $16, they are affordable, especially if it’s the difference between wearing those dresses in the closet or leaving them hanging.

Another excellent article by Jane Brody of the New York Times on the importance of talking and communicating with your baby, including looking him or her straight in the eye. Prior generations didn’t have distractions like iPhones and Blackberries and parents talked to their kids. Now, we have to avoid the temptation to text, and talk instead.

Ms. Jacoby’s general advice to parents: “Reward your little one’s communicative attempts with your heightened attention to his/her conversation. Be prepared to put down your cellphone and look them squarely in the eye as they share their thoughts with you.”

Communication begins as soon as a baby is born. The way you touch, hold, look at and talk to babies help them learn your language, and the different ways babies cry help you learn their language — “I’m wet,” “I’m hungry,” “I’m tired,” “I hurt,” “I’m overwhelmed” and so forth.

“Talk to your baby whenever you have the chance,” the American Medical Association advises parents. “Even though he doesn’t understand what you’re saying, your calm, reassuring voice is what he needs to feel safe. Always respond to your newborn’s cries — he cannot be spoiled with too much attention.”

The American Speech-Language-Hearing Association urges parents to reinforce communication efforts by looking at the baby and imitating vocalizations, laughter and facial expressions.

“Talk while you are doing things,” the association suggests. “Talk about where you are going, what you will do once you get there, and who and what you’ll see.”

You might say things like, “Now we’re going to put on your socks,” “We’re going in the car to see Grandma,” or, “When we get to the playground, I’ll push you on the swing.”

[From Personal Health - Parents Need to Tune In and Engage a Young Child With Talk - NYTimes.com]

A recent study in the Journal of Applied Development and Psychology says that in families with two working parents, dads have a greater impact on children’s language development than moms.   The key thing is to keep talking and engaging your kids at all ages, avoiding all the other electronic stimuli that doesn’t teach kids, or adults, how to really interact.

The start of a new school year also brings the start of cold and flu season, exacerbated by slimy fingers touching everything in sight. If your child is sick, how do you know when it’s time to rearrange your schedule and keep him or her home from school. Every situation is different, but you can start by asking these five questions

1. Groggy and listless? If your usually happy camper doesn’t seem like himself and it’s hard to get smile, let alone a giggle, this is a good indicator that this isn’t a normal day.

2. Lack of appetite or thirst? If your child really wants to eat or drink nothing at all after a full night’s sleep, this isn’t normal and it’s his body’s way of keeping food out.

3. Diarrhea of vomiting? While you might soldier on with a case of diarrhea, it isn’t normal for little kids and is a sign of something more serious. Ditto, vomiting.

4. Any symptoms of a contagious disease like strep, flu, pink eye, chicken pox, or the like? No matter what your other responsibilities for the day, you do not want to be responsible for infecting the rest of the class.

5. Fever over 100.4? This is a good indicator something more serious is going on.

All of these signs suggest that at the very least your child would be more comfortable hanging out with you for the day rather than struggling through a day of school. You should also consider a call to the doctor if get more serious.

In terms of trusting the school to watch over your sick child for the day, a final gut check might be whether you’d want another kid as sick as yours looks spending time with your child all day at school.

What’s good for the head may be bad for the sperm, says a new study in Fertility and Sterility. Half of the users of Paxil, out of 35 men tested, showed DNA damage to their sperm. DNA damage in turn would result in decreased fertility.The study author, Dr. Peter Schlegel, M.D., thinks that all selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs) may have this effect since they work in similar ways. Hope-to-be dads should discuss their use of these drugs and the possibility of temporarily stopping their use while trying to get pregnant with their partner.

What are your favorite kids’ books that still haven’t been made into a movie. Comments section is open below!

The release of Spike Jonze’s Where the Wild Things Are brings to mind two thoughts: “Holy crap, this is totally going to suck” or “This is going to be the greatest kid’s adaptation ever!” Time (and box office results) will tell which side of the spectrum it will fall on, but for the time being, here is a list of some of the best and worst children’s book adaptations. Let us know what movies are on YOUR “best” and “worst” lists!

The Good

1. The Chronicles of Narnia: The Lion, the Witch, and the Wardrobe (2005)

Book adaptations don’t come much better than this. The acting is wonderful, the effects are stunning and the script flows almost as nicely as the novel itself. While the performances from the children playing the Pevensies are great, I honestly can’t picture any two people more perfect to play the White Witch (Tilda Swinton) and Aslan (Liam Neeson).

2. Charlotte’s Web(1973)

While the 2006 live-action(ish) version is stellar on its own, one can’t help but love the original. Classrooms across the world got a taste of Wilbur and Charlotte’s world and have gone back for seconds ever since. If you’re looking for the ultimate story of life to show to a young kid, Charlotte’s Web is your best bet.

3. The Jungle Book(1967)

How many of you got “Bear Necessities” stuck in your head when you saw this? Admit it — you did! Baloo and Mowgli are among Disney’s icons, and rightfully so: The songs are catchy and the animation is so perfect, it’s as if the story was picked from your brain and put on the big screen. Not many films can say that.

4. Willy Wonka & the Chocolate Factory (1971)

The 1971 original is a classic. Gene Wilder as Willy Wonka, the demented chocolate-factory owner, is one of his best performances to date. Despite being a children’s book adaptation, the “scary tunnel” scene was ranked No. 74 on Bravo’s 100 Scariest Movie Moments list.

5. James and the Giant Peach (1996)

What happens when you cross the wonderful children’s book author Roald Dahl with the visionary animator Henry Selick? You get this fantastic film. The best part about watching this is that it not only entertains children viewers but also the adults as well. It is truly picture perfect.

Honorable Mentions:

The Iron Giant (1999) – If you don’t bawl like a damn baby every single time, you’re heartless.

The Princess Bride (1987) – It seems wrong not to include this on the list. It’s a total classic.

The Bad

1. The Cat in the Hat(2003)

While I want to blame Mike Myers for this crap, I can’t (at least not entirely). While the book was pretty wacky, the film was not. The characters you knew and loved from the book just weren’t interpreted well for film — not to mention the distinct lack of color in all of the characters except the Cat.

2. How the Grinch Stole Christmas (2000)

Not even Ron Howard could keep this movie from the massive suck. The original animated 1966 film was done so well that there was really no reason for a remake. The “tweaks” in the new version were extra-unnecessary, and Jim Carrey was even more over-the-top than usual.

3. Ella Enchanted (2004)

Cary Elwes was in one great kids book adaptation (The Princess Bride) but he couldn’t save this one. Unfortunately, a clever children’s book is turned into a run-of-the-mill romantic comedy a la Disney. If you want to see Anne Hathaway in a pretty dress, stick to The Princess Diaries.

4. Curious George (2006)

I’m not sure there was a kid who didn’t read these books. Unfortunately for the movie, it seems more like a movie about the Man with the Yellow Hat (voiced by Will Ferrell) than Curious George himself. Half the fun of this series was seeing what shenanigans George got into. Who cares about a man bitching about his bright yellow suit?

5. Eragon (2006)

You’d figure that a book written by a kid would make for an ideal adaptation. Sadly, that wasn’t the case here. The cast gives horrendous performances — which is sad considering Jeremy Irons is in it — and the film’s plot couldn’t be further from the book’s. There’s a reason why they canned the rest of this film series.

Honorable Mentions:

Jumanji (1995) – Even Robin Williams couldn’t save this movie, and that says something.

The Secret Garden (1987) – What’s the point of adapting a book if you’re going to destroy the plot?

By Tessa Petrocco, Hollywood.com Staff. REPRINTED WITH PERMISSION.

What are your favorite kids’ books that still haven’t been made into a movie. Comments section is open!

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