I won’t say anything more than that I hope he can be as good and present a father as he can be to both of his kids.

Round two of diaper duty for Levi Johnston!

After fathering son Tripp, 3, with ex-fiance Bristol Palin, the news-making Alaskan, 21, is going to be a dad again, his rep confirmed to Us Weekly on Tuesday.

[From Levi Johnston: Yes, I'm Going to be a Dad Again - UsMagazine.com]

If you haven’t seen Harvard Beats Yale, get it and watch it with your kids. As much a documentary about this amazing game played in 1968, it’s a look backward at a different time. The director of this documentary, Kevin Rafferty, spends easily a third of the interviews with the players discussing the anti-war movement in 1968, the politics of the two different campuses and the sexual revolution.

I won’t give away the ending, but even knowing the score because it’s in the title, does not diminish the suspense going into the final minutes of this documentary.

Using both old color film from the game and the color commentary by the Yale and Harvard players, the key moments of the game are relived with the benefit of 40 years of experience by all involved. Yale, the superior team by all accounts, as such a commanding lead that the Yalies goof off during half time and most of the way into the fourth quarter because a Harvard comeback isn’t even possible in their imagination. Each player on both sides relives especially the last minutes as if the event was a religious experience or some shifting of the cosmos.

Almost all of the players are charming, humble, and generous in their assessments of the game and their roles in it. And, of course, it being Harvard and Yale, they make offhand references to famous people they were dating at the time (Meryl Streep) or rooming with (George Bush, Al Gore). Tommy Lee Jones was an offensive tackle on the Harvard team of 1968 and has a major role in the film, though his are dreary appearance since he appears grumpy about the story for some reason.

The film is also a fun football highlight reel of some stunning college ball for those of us Jonesing for some Monday Night entertainment during the long months of Spring and early Summer.

Kids will be pulled into the story because of it’s David and Goliath like story and ending, and dads will enjoy the look back at a simpler time in America when all the men wore hats and these two all-boys schools had male cheerleaders.

I’ve been waiting for this gadget forever, though unfortunately now about six years to late to use it to monitor my son’s crib. The
iZON is one of many new monitors finally making the scene that use WIFI and the internet to bring images back to you rather than short distance broadcasts. Devices like this have existed for at least three or four years, but were all built on preposterous business models involving a big upfront cost followed by a long term monthly hosting charge.

iZON and some others are finally using the magic of open connections on Skype or WIFI networks to do the same thing. While the $129 MSRP for the iZON is not small, it’s a one time cost (apparently a more feature-packed subscription plan was dropped). And, in this case, the iZON uses the magic of the iPhone and iPad iOS to bring the video to you wherever you are in the world.

But there are quite a few other reasons this is a magical little toy. From the moment you start opening the box, you know that people who love design are involved. The packaging, which secures the mini-camera, is actually fun to open with sliding doors and intelligently designed stabilizer holders. The camera itself is also pretty to look at. It’s a simple and small white tower only about four inches high. It’s base is magnetic, so you can position the camera at an angle if you wish, making the iZON look like a mini Tower of Pisa.

The instructions though were my favorite part. They are about four steps long and dead simple to follow if you are at all familiar with hooking your phone up to your home WIFI network. All you do is plug in the iZON, connect your phone or iPad to it’s WIFI signal, sign in to the iZON system, and then log back into your own home WIFI again. That’s it. No hiccups. In literally 60 seconds, I was watching myself on video on my iPhone (I have read other mixed comments in Amazon reviews however, so your home network may not be as easy).

The video is crisp, but with VGA and 1.5 Mbps, don’t expect High-Def cinema quality. Additionally, video quality degrades with lower light, though the camera is meant to take pictures in rooms lit as dimly as with a common 7.5 watt nightlight.

The iPhone interface is easy to use and allows you to set up the camera to start up with sound or light triggers. You can also record up to 30 second movies onto your phone or on to a private YouTube account.

Video delay can be up 20 seconds which might be frustrating if you’re witnessing a crime that has already happened, or worse, a baby who is in distress. A faster near real-time update to the software is expected in Spring 2012.

MSRP: $129.95

Tech Specs

GreatDad.com Review Policy: The featured product for this review was provided to us, at no cost, by the manufacturer or representing PR agency for the sole purpose of product testing. We do not accept monetary compensation for reviewing or writing about products. We only review products that we have personally tested and used in our own homes, and all opinions expressed are our own.

The GreatDad blog has been a wasteland for the last few months and I apologize for the lack of interaction. Family life goes on, the kids keep growing up, and I keep having reactions to things, but haven’t had time to blog. Instead, we’ve moved and relaunched a magazine (the venerable Pregnancy magazine lives again!). And still, there have been doctor and dentist appointment, parent teacher conferences, as well as 7 colds (2 for kids and me, and one for my wife) and one 4 day long bout with the the norovirus, a noxious vomiting virus that affects some 20 million people each year I’ve come to learn.

I also attended Dad 2.0, the first successful attempt to bring a lot of blogging and media dads together to discuss the cultural and commercial role of dads in the internet age. And what a time that was, meeting and catching up with friends from Dadlabs.com, MrDad.com, Howtobeadad.com, TheSpohrsareMultiplying.com and many others. We drank too much but enjoyed being around a bunch of guys who all share the same belief in the importance of fathers.

I’m back, with no less pressure in my day job, but a desire to keep on writing about things that matter to me as a dad, especially since my editors won’t let me write about anything on pregnancy.

See you around.

The Hunger Games is out this weekend, and the only other media property getting as much buzz is the premiere of the long-awaited Mad Men (see the GreatDad review of the Hunger Games).

While every 11-year old has read this book, along with many way-over 11 year olds, the graphic violence in the book is disturbing to protective dads like yours truly. The book, after all, is the story of a fight to the death put on annually by the leaders of a dystopian society. The players in the “game” are all just kids and do succeed in killing each others with arrows, spears, and old fashioned sticks and stones.

It’s one thing to read a book like Lord of the Flies, and another all-together to see Piggy wandering half-blind as he stalked by his classmates. That’s my memory from my adolescent viewing of the movie of that title, the images of which haunt me if I think about them. And that’s what I’m worried about for my just-turned 12 daughter.

The Hunger Games is getting a “Pause 13″ rating from Commonsense Media for quite brutal scenes of violence: children being speared to death or having their heads smashed in.   As this article mentions, it’s one thing to read about these things and another to see them happen on screen. From what I can tell, this sounds a lot more violent than Harry Potter and I’m tempted to say that my daughter shouldn’t see it at her age.

In canvassing other families, however, I get different reactions. Some applaud how involved and protective I am of my children. Some barely hold back a snigger for my prudish and unrealistic parenting in the face of modern media. Still others refuse to take a stand, believing that their kids can just what is and isn’t too much for them.

The kids are getting older and I can start to think beyond what will keep them alive, fed and clothed day to day. So, for the first time in a several years, I actually have a few resolutions for the new year:

1. Stop yelling at the kids. I actually don’t yell at them very often at all, but my son feels that we yell at him all the time. He’s the slowpoke in the family and he needs constant prodding to stay on track and get out the door on the family timeline rather than his own. Let everyone else yell, though. I will try to contain the stress and “gently” pry the LEGOs out of this hand and point him toward putting on his shoes rather than raising my voice. There really is nothing other than danger that should make you raise your voice to the people you love. That’s of course, easier to say than to practice, but maybe if I write it on a post-it on my computer screen and say it as a mantra, I’ll be able to keep it top of mind.

2. Compliment everyone I see. I read this somewhere a day or two ago, but can’t remember when, but will steal the idea outright. The writer was suggesting that most resolutions are set up to fail since they are about giving up stuff you like (smoking, eating, drinking) or about doing something you hate (going to the gym). Saying one nice thing to everyone you meet is easy and painless and often creates immediate rewards. It’s so obviously a good resolution, I resolve to adopt it every year!

3. Get back to playing piano. I took up piano at age 48 to motivate my daughter to learn to play at the same time. Now both kids play and practice 30-60 minutes a day, while my playing has dwindled to nothing. Their persistence should and will be a motivator to me.

4. Develop a real social media plan and stick to it. Even if it’s only the “10 minutes a day” approach, GreatDad.com need more consistency in social media. GreatDad has 5600 followers and only 4400 followees. I’ll work to reduce that delta. Apologies to my Triberr buddies as well. I’ll do more retweeting in 2012.

That’s it and enough. I have a few other personal projects that are goals for 2012. It promises to be a big year, especially since we will relaunch Pregnancy Magazine as digital publication in February!

Happy New Year!

I hate taxes as much as the next dad, but taxes are sometimes good. They raise prices and change behavior, such as smoking. And often, legislators best efforts to tie taxes to consumer education (anti-smoking campaigns) or health effects (cancer research) are reversed when new legislatures need the cash to fund other pet projects (remember when lotteries were only to be used to fund education?) Often too, they are regressive, affecting poor people disproportionately. Price elasticity is real however, and anything that gets people off the sugar drink habit has to be good. People are still free to drink a Coke now and then, but are de-motivated to drink Coke for breakfast, lunch and dinner, which is sometimes the case.

PARIS — France’s top constitutional body on Wednesday approved a new tax on sugary drinks that aims to fight obesity while giving a boost to state coffers.

The Constitutional Council approved the new soda tax, announced in August as part of the government’s fight against obesity and within the framework of a broader austerity programme, after it was passed in parliament last week.

The tax, which works out to one euro cent per can of drink, is expected to bring in 120 million euros ($156 million) in state revenues.

[From AFP: France approves soda tax]

Disagree? Let me know!

I received an Earpeace, a pair of noise reducing earplugs a few weeks ago. The Earpeace are an addition to the field of earplugs for adults to cut down the noise while outside or at a loud event such as a concert. They attempt to lower the overall volume while not muffling sound the way foam earplugs do. Independent tests (Michael and Associates) put reduction of sound pressure at 75%. EarPeace delivers 11+ to 17+ decibels of protection. This means that 80% of people will get more than 11 decibels of protection and 20% of people will get more than 17 decibels of protection.

In my tests at a loud concert, I found that they do decrease volume, but to my ear, there was some loss of crispness in the sound though I was still able to enjoy the music and to relax knowing I wasn’t killing what is left of my ears. I wish they made these for smaller kids since we often take our kids to concerts in the parks where the decibel level is just really painful for young ears.

These make a thoughtful gift at $12.95.

I feel guilty every time we take our kids to a loud concert. It’s easy for adults to think it’s not too loud, while actually allowing damage to little ears. For $20-$30 you can protect your ears and theirs as well.

POSTSCRIPT: I went to see Mission Impossible, Ghost Protocol, last night. It reminded me that earplugs and noise reducers are not just for concerts. I’m going to start carrying them in my jacket so I have them when I go to the movie theater as well.

GreatDad.com Review Policy: The featured product for this review was provided to us, at no cost, by the manufacturer or representing PR agency for the sole purpose of product testing. We do not accept monetary compensation for reviewing or writing about products. We only review products that we have personally tested and used in our own homes, and all opinions expressed are our own.

It’s December 23rd and still time to answer a Craiglist ad for a new horse, pet pig, or used rabbit cage. Here’s our advice on six pets not to get:

1. Tarantula – Sure, they are cute, furry, and cuddly when you take them home, but wait until your son lays one on your face while you’re taking a post-football Sunday nap. Your heart attack won’t be as embarrassing as what you’ll do in your pants.

2. Snake – Yes, they also look great in the pet store when you’re thinking of how your ex-wife will react. But, trust me, they are a lot less fun when the wily creatures find a way out of the snake cage, free to wander through the walls and heating ducts of your house, ready to jump out at you.

3. Baby Croc – Ever hear of the alligators in the New York sewer system, some of which managed to crawl backwards up the pipes to take bites out of the rears of people sitting on the toilet. Even if it’s the goofiest urban myth imaginable, I still don’t like the image or increasing the probability of it happening.

3. Pony – Unless you have a driver to take your child to the stable a few times a week and a trust fund to cover the stable bills, this is not a gift any sane parent should consider.

4. Cat – Cats are the devil’s embodiment on earth, here to tease us while planting deep, dark thoughts in our brains, while they aren’t plotting to suffocate us while we sleep. Invite one into your home at your own peril.

5. Eboli Virus – It’s alive, active, and hard to kill. Sounds like a perfect pet for young kids then? Think again.

6. Dog – We love dogs. They are smart, loyal, and wonderful burglar alarms. But if you ever want to take another vacation, without a dog strapped to the roof a la Mitt Romney, think again. Even if you never vacation anywhere beyond car range, spending all your free time out walking a dog with a plastic bag of warm feces in your hand is no way to spend middle age.

7. Gerbil – Mess to clean with constant odor. They enjoy drawing blood from fingers just trying to pet them. Worse: a ferret.

Two suggestions:

1. Ant Farm – Ants make no noise and just eat through the jelly included in the ant farm. When they die, no one cries.

2. Miniature frogs – These frogs, like the ones from Wild Creations,

The kids are at home this week and next, and it is hard. As much as I’d like to believe in it, there are no “great dads” or even good dads. There are moms and dads who try every day to manage their own demons and stresses to be the best parents they can be. My wife often says I get too preachy about being a good parent, and she is somewhat correct. Because I have a work at home job, and can spend a lot of time with my kids, I do have the moral high ground in helping with homework, forcing them to eat daily carrots (their only vegetable) and keeping them at piano practice way longer than they want to. And I don’t have to do all that after 9 hours of working with a boss I can’t stand. Even so, on long holidays, even I can get testy with them, especially my younger boy who everyday is asking for more GoGo dolls or another LEGO because he’s bored (and this 4 days before he’s zooming in on the big Christmas score).

The big challenge for me is to keep reminding myself that a 7 year old isn’t the same as an 11 year old and neither are the same as an adult. Each person, toddler, child, teen, mom and dad are seeing the holidays through their own prism, expectations and rose-colored glasses. I have to kick myself several times a day to not yell, not get impatient, not be empathetic since they are not all Zen Buddhist monks with no worldly cares or wants.

But some days, all you can do it count to ten and try not to be the least mature of the bunch. That’s my personal goal for today, tomorrow, Saturday and Sunday. Then I can go back to trying to be supremely patient and understanding once the stresses or Christmas are over and all that is left is the glow, and the wrapping paper to toss out.