GreatDad Blog

GreatDad.com has E-Books!

Paul Banas — Mon, 05 Jan 2009 21:18:39 +0000

After many requests, we've finally gotten it together and put some of the articles on top subjects in a series of ebooks , downloadable in PDF so you can read them in a Kindle, iPhone, Blackberry, or old-fashioned PC. You can even print them out, and take them to the bath. They are available for top dad subjects: Five toilet training tips Six baby sleeping tips Dad's sex secrets for pregnancy and beyond Baby names Every Guy's Guide to What to Expect When She is Expecting by Grant Eppler All are free when you subscribe to our newsletters, except the last, which is hilarious and helpful, and significantly less expensive than the paperback version.

For Oregon dads - Crater Lake snowshoe trek

Paul Banas — Sun, 04 Jan 2009 05:32:47 +0000

If you've never been snowshoeing, you probably imagine you'll crunch effortlessly atop acres of snow in your tennis-racket-like snowshoes, just like Yukon Cornelius, the blustery prospector who subdues the Abominable Snow Monster in "Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer." But when my husband and I took our three children to Crater Lake on a squally Saturday in December, we grown-ups sank into the snow, flipping the powdery stuff into the faces of those who walked behind us. ... All three leapt up after falling, threw themselves down to make snow angels and buried themselves as if the snow were sand at the beach (brrr).

11 Birthdays - a good book for 8+ girls

Paul Banas — Sat, 03 Jan 2009 04:13:06 +0000

It is the story of a girl named Amanda who always has her birthday with a boy named Leo. ... I think this book is for ages nine and up. I think that Wendy Mass is a great writer and I think she should write other books too!

Sony MYLO Personal Communicator - a good alternative to iPhone and iTouch with some different benefits

Paul Banas — Tue, 30 Dec 2008 23:42:18 +0000

Unlike an iPhone though, it is set up to make free Skype calls (to other Skype users and for a charge to regular phones) right out of the box (iPhone users must download special software and configure). ... But the best part is the integration with popular sites like AIM, YouTube, FaceBook (with Facebook Notifier) and ShoutCast, making this a fun electronic toy from the moment you open it up. ... Tin-ny sounding speakers (but not any more so than most devices this small) This may also be a good solution for kids who want portable internet access but don't want to be tethered to a telephone plan.

Ghost Town out on DVD 12/28/08

Paul Banas — Mon, 22 Dec 2008 04:03:25 +0000

This is the the story of a socially awkward dentist who has a near-death experience that allows him to act as a bridge between the living and the dead. Just the fact that he can see many people around us who are actually dead creates a lot of confusion and funny situations, as does the fact that they are dressed (or undressed) as they were at the time of their death. ... While there isn't any real sex or violence in this film, one of the main characters is open about his infidelity, there are some direct sexual references, as well as some infrequent profanity (f**k and s**t) , making this movie inappropriate for kids younger than twelve.

Stay at home dad dinosaurs?

Paul Banas — Mon, 22 Dec 2008 00:33:48 +0000

In about 90% of bird families, mom and dad bird share parenting duties. ... It seems the 21st century dad has nothing on Tyrannosaurus and Allosaurus. DINOSAUR DAY CARE DADS A new study shows some male dinosaurs may have been the primary caretakers of their young [From Science News / Dinosaur Day Care Dads ]

Dad rules: surviving Christmas - Times Online

Paul Banas — Sun, 21 Dec 2008 23:30:32 +0000

Here are some funny dad rules for surviving Christmas, especially the one about doing something really nice to kick things off, listen to people say "you shouldn't have," and then "don't" for the rest of the holiday. ... 2 Obviously, you want to arrive early so as to bag rooms before your sister arrives, but don’t drive children in the daytime, or you’ll arrive stressed and covered in crumbs. ... 8 Go to bed early and don’t make festive innuendos such as “I’ve got to stuff the turkey”, or “I’d better get to bed.

Eagle Eye out on DVD on 12/28/08

Paul Banas — Sun, 21 Dec 2008 15:35:59 +0000

The pyrotechnics here are stunning with definitely some new car chase scene ideas you have not seen before. Directed by Steven Spielberg, and starring Shia Laboeuf (Transformers) and Michelle Monaghan (Mission Impossible 3), Eagle Eye is a paranoid conspiracy movie that pits two unwitting innocents against the Department of Homeland Security when they are set up to be the agents of an assassination plot. In classic manner for this type of film, they race against time to foil the plot.

Best last-minute gift ideas for moms

Paul Banas — Sat, 20 Dec 2008 00:45:12 +0000

Just a few days left to get your shopping done. Here are some ideas if you're short on time. ... Books are a great idea because

From our friends at Grandparents.com - favorite scenes of all the best Christmas movies

Paul Banas — Fri, 19 Dec 2008 18:04:19 +0000

And for cynics, read today's excellent article in the New York Times on the sad dismal life of George Bailey in It's a Wonderful Life . The writer, Wendell Jamieson, opines that the world would have actually been a better more prosperous place without George, citing his felony theft, upstate New York economic trends, and the dismal conformist life that George in which George is forced to find meaning. ... As I mentioned in a previous post, our family enjoyed the short 22 minutes Shrek the Halls for its brevity, slapstick and adult humor, and insight on the real meaning of Christmas (as Donkey says, "It's not Christmas until somebody cries.").