A new study claims genetic tests available in the U. S. for detecting high risk of breast cancer may miss some mutations that indicate the disease. An additional test, available in Europe, but not the U. S., can detect gene changes the U. S. test can’t. The researchers say there are a lack of clinical […]
Forbes recently published a list of “The 20 Most Important Tools Ever.” I always find these sorts of lists interesting, even though I often (as in this case) disagree with many of the choices. (I view knifes and swords as variants of the same thing, not deserving two separate entries, for example.) Not making the
Scientists at Temple University have shown experimentally for the first time that children as young as ten months can associate a word with an object, even though it has to be an object in which they have previously shown an interest. Older children can associate words with both objects that interest them and those that
The LA Times had a nice story about Oxo tools a couple of weeks ago. (Thanks to FOOD Blog for the sighting.) I’ve been a big Oxo fan for years, and was glad to see the coverage. (I’d own all of their products if we weren’t a lesbian family with one stay-at-home-mom, paying federal taxes
Mamazine points out a great column by San Francisco Chronicle columnist Jon Carroll, on the American Family Association’s [sic] boycott of Ford for “[supporting] a social agenda aimed at the destruction of the family.” Carroll says, in part: The gay and lesbian parents I know are too busy to have an agenda, unless the agenda
It’s the first day of spring, and despite the lingering cold here in the northeast, I find my thoughts turning to branches and blooms. I’m looking forward to starting a garden with our son soon, bringing to life some of the ideas he’s read about in Planting a Rainbow and Growing Vegetable Soup. For those
The big news this week was the decision by Catholic Charities of Boston to shut down its adoption services instead of adhering to state laws requiring them to consider same-sex couples as prospective parents. The Massachusetts Department of Social Services gave Catholic Charities approximately $1 million in reimbursements for its adoption-related work in fiscal year
Is it just me, or do the Fisher Price “Rescue Heroes” remind anyone else of the Village People? Every time I see them in a toy store, I keep wanting to line them up in “YMCA” poses. According to Fisher-Price, sometime before age four my son is supposed to graduate from toys like the Little
My son loves music, and he loves books. I’m always excited, therefore, when I can find books about music for the pre-school age group. A modern (1995) classic, Caldecott winner Zin! Zin! Zin! A Violin, by Lloyd Moss is a gem. One by one, the book introduces various instruments, as each lends its sound to
Karen at Blogging Baby has pointed out an article on financing adoption, courtesy of Adoptive Families magazine. It’s a long list of ideas, from people who’ve actually used them: pinching pennies, refinancing one’s home, taking a loan from one’s 401k, and even selling items on eBay. If you’re looking to adopt (or need to pay
