Search Results for: blog pop culture goes high tech

Is Technology Messing with Christmas Traditions?

Just how tech savvy is Santa anyway? Does the big guy in the red suit really communicate via a small smartphone? Are traditional paper letters to the North Pole on the brink of extinction? Are PDFs and instant messages the preferred method of sending one’s Christmas wish list to Jolly ol’ St. Nick? Say it ain’t so. Call me old-fashioned, stodgy, or a stalwart traditionalist, but I’m not a fan of the litany of new high-tech ways kids can communicate with Santa Claus. I don’t want my daughter emailing Santa, nor do I want her faxing, tweeting, Skyping, or texting … Continue reading →

Hello Kitty Goes High Tech

This may be the only time you will ever see me reference my young daughter in the same post alongside Mariah Carey and Britney Spears. But when it comes to Hello Kitty there might not be a bigger fan. The famous female singers may have more money to spend on paraphernalia featuring the fictional feline, but my daughter is not far behind (click here to see her posing in her latest Hello Kitty jacket) and what’s more, the loyalty my offspring has shown to the big headed cat in her lifetime is something Carey and Spears have yet to illustrate … Continue reading →

Fashion Goes High Tech

It’s not everyday that you see the name Liz Claiborne prominently displayed at Best Buy. But, in a move that has fashion combining with function, the Liz Claiborne brand is teaming up with the electronics outlet store to introduce a new line of consumer electronic accessories. According to the company, the new collection is tailored for the “stylish woman on the go.” It includes an extensive line of laptop bags and sleeves, business totes, cellphone cases, MP3 cases and camera cases made from a variety of fabrics, including luxe leathers, and materials with metallic and patent finishes. The new line … Continue reading →

Pop Culture Goes High Tech

I have blogged about the power of YouTube in previous entries, but this latest incident truly proves how powerful the medium has become. Police in New Zealand say they were able to catch a thief thanks to a video posted on the popular Internet video sharing site, YouTube. According to officers, the man was taped circling the store, stealing a laptop computer, slipping it into his overcoat, then stepping out of the store unnoticed. Or so he thought. Shortly after the thief took off, his performance in the store was posted on YouTube – set to “The Pink Panther” music … Continue reading →

Does Your Daughter Like Dolls?

My young daughter owns a Barbie. A single sneaker clad Barbie that sits untouched in the corner of our family room. The reason the iconic doll is even in our home is that she came with a trio of peeing and pooping puppies. My 5-year-old doll-loathing daughter happens to love dogs and went gaga when she discovered that she could get her hands on a bunch of potty training pups. The only problem: In order to get a family of urinating dogs, my daughter would have to (gulp!) buy an actual (gasp!) Barbie (gag!) doll. Barbie’s Potty Training Pups are … Continue reading →

Pervert Ruins My Daughter’s Christmas Tradition

My daughter has been writing letters to Santa since she was two years old. I’ve documented the sweet tradition on this site with parental pride and a touch of sadness knowing that her childhood belief in an oversized gift-bearing elf would not last forever. Little did I know that my daughter’s annual holiday letter writing tradition would come to a screeching halt before she learned the truth about Kris Kringle. Thanks to a pervert in Maryland, my sweet, innocent, Santa-loving five-year-old may not get a reply from Mr. Claus this year. The pervert responsible for ruining this joyous tradition is … Continue reading →

Preventing Carbon Monoxide Poisoning

Carbon monoxide is a danger to people and pets — it is an odorless and colorless gas that can lead to sudden illness… and death. It comes from the fumes produced by burning or combustion, like car and truck engines, stoves, lanterns, generators, and heating systems. In enclosed or semi-enclosed spaces, carbon monoxide can build up and poison the people (or pets) breathing it. Common symptoms of carbon monoxide poisoning include: Headache Dizziness Weakness Nausea and/or vomiting Chest pain Confusion In severe cases, carbon monoxide inhalation can lead to loss of consciousness and death. Why is carbon monoxide so dangerous? … Continue reading →

Culinary Trends: 10 Up and Coming Chefs

You won’t find these folks on Food Network any time soon. Today’s up and coming chefs focus on just a few simple, but key elements. Things like eating slow (as in the slow food movement, not the pace at which you masticate), eating local, and mastering basic techniques are all top priorities on these chefs’ lists. You’ll find creativity paired with the best ingredients–and people are taking notice. If you watch the restaurant and food industry, you’ll note that as far as a culinary career goes. . .it seems that stardom kind of kills it. While Rachel Ray is nowhere … Continue reading →

“Mirror, Mirror on the Wall…”

Who says the queen in “Snow White” has dibs on the only magic mirror around? Not designers at Accenture Labs. The company is being hailed for creating a “magic mirror” that gives ordinary people access to extraordinary views. The mirror provides a computer-enhanced shot of what you might look like in the future. But not only does the mirror age you it also takes into account the bad habits some of us have. For example, if you are a junk food junkie, a smoker, a heavy drinker or live a sedentary life the “magic mirror” incorporates that information into the … Continue reading →

Extras – Scott Westerfeld

At the end of “Specials,” the third book in the “Uglies” trilogy, Tally has decided to keep an eye on the world and make sure that as the people start enjoying their newfound freedom of thinking, they won’t make dumb decisions that will ultimately destroy their environment. She clearly remembers learning about the days when people burned trees, and doesn’t want civilization to return to such a backward state of thinking. In “Extras,” the spin-off to the series, we meet Aya. A young woman who lives in Japan, she’s part of a whole new culture, one that no longer inflicts … Continue reading →