A couple years ago I successfully convinced my wife that we should get iPhones. Since then we could not have been happier with them. My wife is now an iPhone junky and I use it often to read books and search the web. It is a great tool especially when you are out and about and you need to look up something, or in those cases when you have a couple minutes to wait and need something to do. I often also will sit on my living room sofa and look up some information or read the news with my breakfast. It is a convenient tool in that I don’t have to get my laptop out and haul it around. The one issue I’ve always had with it, however was the screen is still very small. While very usable, a bigger screen would be nice for those breakfasts or times lounging on the sofa.

A couple days ago Apple announced its iPad. I was very excited as I always though that a lightweight 7-10 inch device would be great for the situations I mentioned above. It wouldn’t be great for those times when you are out and about, but that is what my iPhone is for. I envisioned a device that I could read like I do the paper, or use in the kitchen to look up recipes while I am cooking. Turns out that was what Apple delivered. Great right? Not in my opinion, I was very underwhelmed.

The iPad does allow you to read books, newspapers and websites; it is a great size and very light. The price is good too. I do feel that apple kind of took the simple road when it comes to features. The iPad is simply a more powerful bigger iPod Touch. Not a bad thing, but not what I was hoping for deep down. The first major issue is that the iPad does not support Flash. I personally hate Flash and wouldn’t mind if it didn’t exist. Many sites however rely on it. Flash is everywhere on the Internet. You cannot call a device “the best way to experience the Internet” and not have it compatible with such a large number of websites.

My second issue is the fact that there is no camera. I would have loved to see a forward facing video camera to allow video chat. I really feel this technology is right around the corner from being popular. I’m really hoping the next iPhone includes it and feel the iPad would have been a great way to debut. I understand that cell phone companies do not want it to slow down their networks, however there is no reason why we shouldn’t be able to have a feature we can use over wi-fi.

The third issue I have is screen-size. This is probably the one thing that I could live with, but I would have like to seen something a little bit better. I’m not talking about the physical dimensions of the screen, but rather the resolution. The screen is a 1024×768 screen. Not bad, but most websites are at least 800px wide. If you are using the device in portrait mode, the websites will not be able to fit on the screen at full size. Having said that, safari on the iPhone is a very good browser and is good at resizing, but I would have liked to perhaps see something with around 900 pixels on the shorter side.

I really don’t think I will be getting an iPad any time soon. Perhaps the next generation will offer some of these features, but for now, I already have everything I need in my iPhone. I look forward to seeing what other companies do to respond to this. I don’t think the iPad is the start of a tablet revolution, I also don’t think it’s the end of one either.

Now that our son is getting a little bit older we can take him to a movie every once in awhile. For the most part he can sit still and get through the movie as long as the movie interests him somewhat. He has been asking us to go see Disney’s newest movie, The Princess and The Frog. Going in to the movie I was very excited by the fact that Disney went back to what made Disney movies so great in the golden ages. Over the last 15 years we have been force fed stories that aren’t bad, but aren’t great. Movies like Meet the Robinsons, Cars and Chicken Little seem to be more about technical merit than charm. I remember back in the ’80’s and ’90’s you could pick out a Disney movie without hesitation. There was just a special quality that other studios could not repeat. In today’s technological based world, most Disney animated movies differ little from those made by other studios such as Dreamworks.

The Princess and The Frog features hand-drawn animation and plenty of music; the formula which made movies such as The Lion King and The Little Mermaid into classic treasures. The movie is set in 1920’s New Orleans. This time period allows for the incorportion of some great jazz style music throughout. The music is fun, lively and is for the most part always accompanied by some great colorful animation. This is the first Disney movie since the Lion King in which I would consider buying the soundtrack.

The characters in The Princess and The Frog are colorful and unique. They do tend to draw on some stereotypes, but never in a derogatory way. I particularly like the villain of the movie, a voodoo man who has made so many deals with the devils that he has very little soul left to deal. In addition, one of the characters meets their untimely end which turns to be out one of the most touching moments I have experienced in a kids movie in a long time.

I would absolutely recommend this movie to those looking for some parent – child time at the movies. I look forward to seeing it again in the future and adding it to our collection. The only thing I was disappointed in was the fact that it cost us $35 dollars to see the movie at a 9:30 am showing. I walked out thinking…wow if we could have waited, we could have bought the blu-ray version … twice!

In light of the earthquake in Haiti, we are taking some time to discuss emergencies and how to deal with them. One of the things I have hearn so much on the news over the last two weeks is how families have been seperated and many don’t know the status of their loved ones. As part of your family emergency plan, make sure to have an out of town contact or two that your whole family can reach. Make sure each family member knows the number and has the means to call them at any time. If in an emergency it is hard to get through, be patient or try text messaging as opposed to calling. If you don’t have a cell phone, memorize the number and always carry a pre-paid calling card or some change with you.

This emergency contact can also serve as a place to meet up in the case of a major emergency. If you feel more comfortable, create a network of 2-4 contact spread across the country so that no matter where disaster strikes, a contact should always be available for assistance.

In light of the earthquake in Haiti, we are taking some time to discuss emergencies and how to deal with them. The following is a list of supplies the Red Cross recommends you keep on hand for such an emergency. The complete article can be found here: http://www2.redcross.org/services/disaster/0,1082,0_3_,00.html

Water

Store water in plastic containers such as soft drink bottles. Avoid using containers that will decompose or break, such as milk cartons or glass bottles. A normally active person needs to drink at least two quarts of water each day. Hot environments and intense physical activity can double that amount. Children, nursing mothers, and ill people will need more.
Store one gallon of water per person per day.
Keep at least a three-day supply of water per person (two quarts for drinking, two quarts for each person in your household for food preparation/sanitation).*

Food

Store at least a three-day supply of non-perishable food. Select foods that require no refrigeration, preparation or cooking, and little or no water. If you must heat food, pack a can of sterno. Select food items that are compact and lightweight. Include a selection of the following foods in your Disaster Supplies Kit:
Ready-to-eat canned meats, fruits, and vegetables
Canned juices
Staples (salt, sugar, pepper, spices, etc.)
High energy foods
Vitamins
Food for infants
Comfort/stress foods

First Aid Kit
Assemble a first aid kit for your home and one for each car.

(20) adhesive bandages, various sizes.
(1) 5″ x 9″ sterile dressing.
(1) conforming roller gauze bandage.
(2) triangular bandages.
(2) 3 x 3 sterile gauze pads.
(2) 4 x 4 sterile gauze pads.
(1) roll 3″ cohesive bandage.
(2) germicidal hand wipes or waterless alcohol-based hand sanitizer.
(6) antiseptic wipes.
(2) pair large medical grade non-latex gloves.
Adhesive tape, 2″ width.
Anti-bacterial ointment.
Cold pack.
Scissors (small, personal).
Tweezers.
CPR breathing barrier, such as a face shield.

Non-Prescription Drugs

Aspirin or nonaspirin pain reliever
Anti-diarrhea medication
Antacid (for stomach upset)
Syrup of Ipecac (use to induce vomiting if advised by the Poison Control Center)
Laxative
Activated charcoal (use if advised by the Poison Control Center)

Tools and Supplies

Mess kits, or paper cups, plates, and plastic utensils*
Emergency preparedness manual*
Battery-operated radio and extra batteries*
Flashlight and extra batteries*
Cash or traveler’s checks, change*
Non-electric can opener, utility knife*
Fire extinguisher: small canister ABC type
Tube tent
Pliers
Tape
Compass
Matches in a waterproof container
Aluminum foil
Plastic storage containers
Signal flare
Paper, pencil
Needles, thread
Medicine dropper
Shut-off wrench, to turn off household gas and water
Whistle
Plastic sheeting
Map of the area (for locating shelters)

Sanitation

Toilet paper, towelettes*
Soap, liquid detergent*
Feminine supplies*
Personal hygiene items*
Plastic garbage bags, ties (for personal sanitation uses)
Plastic bucket with tight lid
Disinfectant
Household chlorine bleach

Clothing and Bedding
*Include at least one complete change of clothing and footwear per person.

Sturdy shoes or work boots*
Rain gear*
Blankets or sleeping bags*
Hat and gloves
Thermal underwear
Sunglasses

Special Items

Remember family members with special requirements, such as infants and elderly or disabled persons

For Baby*

Formula
Diapers
Bottles
Powdered milk
Medications

For Adults*

Heart and high blood pressure medication
Insulin
Prescription drugs
Denture needs
Contact lenses and supplies
Extra eye glasses

Entertainment

Games and books

Important Family Documents

Keep these records in a waterproof, portable container:
Will, insurance policies, contracts deeds, stocks and bonds
Passports, social security cards, immunization records
Bank account numbers
Credit card account numbers and companies
Inventory of valuable household goods, important telephone numbers
Family records (birth, marriage, death certificates)
Store your kit in a convenient place known to all family members. Keep a smaller version of the supplies kit in the trunk of your car.
Keep items in airtight plastic bags. Change your stored water supply every six months so it stays fresh. Replace your stored food every six months. Re-think your kit and family needs at least once a year. Replace batteries, update clothes, etc.
Ask your physician or pharmacist about storing prescription medications.

I just wanted to take a day to encourage everyone to keep those who have been affected by the devistating earthquake in Haiti in your thoughts and prayers. It’s easy to just ignore it since it doesn’t really affect most of us at all. Natural disasters are no one’s fault and just happen. They can happen to any part of the world at any time. Put yourself in their place and think about how you would feel if your children had been killed by the quake, or how you would feel if you couldn’t get in touch with loved ones. Most of us are very fortunate to live our lives as we do. Do what you can to support these people and help them to get back on their feet.

Over the next week, I will be posting some tips on how you can help. I will also share some resources on how you can prepare for tragedies like this. If you have any information you would like to contribute, please e-mail us at info@dailydads.com

We are a little over a week into 2010 now. How many of you are still working out trying to fulfill that New Year’s Resolution? Over the last 6 months I have put together a 10 minute ab workout that has really done a lot of good. It’s not overly difficult, but provides toning exercises for all your ab s and core muscles. I have included some videos I’ve found on YouTube to help you out. Here it is…enjoy!

1. Sit-ups - Start with sit-ups. Many people have moved to doing crunches only, but I feel that the sit up is still a great exercise. When I started this workout, I tried to get around 30 in. The key for me was to situp at a normal pace, but move a little more slowly on the way down. Work your way up by adding 5 or so sit ups per week.
2. Plank – Now that you have those abs warmed up it’s time to build that stability. The plank exercise involves resting on your toes and forearms. Make sure to keep your body straight. To start hold it for 30 seconds. Work your way up to a couple minutes, or a couple reps of 30 secs a piece.
3. Crunches – Keep your feet flat on the floor and put your hands behind your head. Raise your shoulders of the ground. Leave your lower back touching the ground. Come back down. Do 3 sets of 10-15 reps each.
4. Leg Lifts - This can be done one of two ways. For both lie on your back and place your arms at your side and keep your legs straight. The first variation involves lifting one leg up in the air and bringing it back down. While you are bringing the leg down lift the other. Do 3 sets of this 10 reps per leg (20 total reps per set). The other variant involves lifting both legs in the air and holding them there for 30 seconds. Repeat this 3 times and feel the burn in your lower core.
5. V-holds or V Crunches - This is another one in which you can vary your method. The first method involves sitting on your butt. Left your legs up off the ground and keep them bent at the knees so that your body makes a v shape with a little line on the end (your lower legs). Hold this pose for 30 seconds. Repeat this 2-3 times. The other variation involves getting in the same starting position. Instead of holding the position, in one motion, straighted your legs and lower your back towards the ground. Do not go all the way down, but just enough to feel the burn and come back up. Do 3 sets of 10 at a steady pace. If you keep it slow you will be more effect than if you rush through each rep.
6. Oblique Twists - To Start get in the same position as a V-hold described above. Hold a weight, medicine ball or cuff your hands together and turn from side to side. Do about 10-15 reps per side for 3 sets.

It is important to remember that while these exercises will help you get those six pack abs, they will not do it alone. In order to see the muscle definition, you must do a lot of cardio work and eat healthy to trim away the fat. Everyone has a six pack, with most of us you just can’t see it. Don’t expect to see the muscles, you will however feel the difference when you move and to an extent even when you feel your stomach.

I recently saw the movie Avatar at a local IMAX theater. Despite already seeing the movie back in the 90’s (Dances with Wolves cough cough), I was truly blown away by the way the 3D effects along with the sound brought out the intensity of the situation. The last couple movies I have seen at the theaters have been in 3D. By looks of it, 3D is back and here to stay. The one thing about Avatar that I quickly realized was that once it is out of the theaters, it will be just another movie. Sure it will look pretty on Blu-Ray, but the experience will just not be the same with out the 3D visuals.

This week at the Consumer Electronic Show, several companies were debuting 3D televisions. This frustrates me. I just barely caught up to converting all my TV’s to flat panels…..OK you got me, I can’t wait for newer technology. In my mind the newer the technology the better. I look forward to viewing movies in 3D from the comfort of my living room. Even more so I can’t wait to get my hands on some 3D video games. I remember the feeling when I played my Nintendo 64 for the first time and saw the 3D graphics (not viewing in 3d, just a 3 dimensional world). My heart pumped with every new world I got to explore. I think bringing a 3D viewing experience to games will give me that feeling again….until it wears off…again. In the very least it will be a new experience.

Unfortunately, I think it will be a long time before 3D becomes the standard. This week we have seen that three 3D channels are set to launch in the next couple years (ESPN, Disney and Discovery).  It’s a step, but in reality right now I see 3D technology at home no different that using it at the theater.  It will be fun once in awhile, but not all the time. The biggest hurdle is the fact that you must wear glasses. The glasses are needed to produce the 3D image, Unfortunately, what you get in terms of a 3D image, you loose in viewing the rest of the world around you. Many times at home movies, video games and even night time television is a social event. We get together with our friends or family members and sit around watching the tube and talking. It is a very come and go activity where at any time you can get up to do something, or talk to another person. These times will be incredibly awkward with 3D glasses. At least in the theater, our goofball appearances are hid by the darkness and the fact that everyone is tuned into the movie.

The glasses also may come at a steep cost. Many of the TV’s will not come with glasses so you will need to shell out extra. Each will most likely work in a different way, so what may work on one TV will not work on another. There also lies the problem where you may have guests over. They aren’t going to have to their own glasses, and given the cost, you probably won’t have an extra 3-5 pair just lying around for each TV you own.

3D technology is very exciting and is one step closer to a holodeck (for you Star Trek fans out there), but for now it is just a novelty. When science can come up with a way to produce a 3D viewing experience without the glasses, we will finally up the standard viewing experience from HD to 3D.

As parents we are faced with the question of how involved we should get with our kids dating lives. We must decide when it is appropriate for them to venture into this world and give the the guidance they need to be successful, responsible and respectful.

It is important that you are able to discuss dating and sexuality with your child and that they feel comfortable discussing it with you. It may be difficult for you especially when your child is of the opposite sex, however you should remember that you are the child’s parent and you are their best source of security and knowledge. It is always good to look around and as you and your adolescent view the romantic world, engage in discussion about it. If you see a couple kissing or holding hands, talk to your child and find out their reaction and thoughts are about it. Find out what your child believes a kiss or a hug means and if they are not quite on target, push them in the right direction.

Interpretation of events can play a big role in a young teenagers dating life. For example if they get a kiss on the cheek from a friend of the opposite sex, it may have meant to be compeltely not romantic, such as a thank you. It is important that you help your child understand the differences between these gestures so that they don’t get rejected or miss an opportunity.

If you are a single parent or even if you are married, leading by example is a great way to communicate with your child. Many times as parents, out words are taken by our kids in to their brain and flushed out before a thought is even produced. Kids do see examples however and tend to mimic them. It is important that you act respectful and loving towards your significant other. If your kids see you yelling at each other, they will see this as appropriate behavior and mimic that in their dating life.

When it comes to the issue of how old a child should be before dating, there is no written age as it is different for everyone. Kids start talking about going steady as early as 1st grade these days. You may not feel that your child is ready. As a parent you have that right to decide when it is appropriate and the conditions on which your child dates. The best way is to share your beliefs about dating and sexuality early so that your child understands and begins to share those beliefs.

All teens at one point or another will disagree with you. You must communicate that dating is an adult activity and that it is important that they show they can behave as an adult would, whether that means keeping up with school work, getting a job, being a safe driver or controlling emotions. Set out guidelines for them and when they reach those guidelines allow them to date.

As parents it is your right to decide how much independence to give your child. With each child it will be different and they will react differently to it. Just remember that your child is becoming an adult. When it comes down to their behavior, trust that you did a good job in raising them to this point and know that you have given them the knowledge to make the right decisions.

On New Year’s Day I had to run to the store to get some extra food for our dinner guests. I just needed a couple of items so I picked up one of those hand carts to help me carry around the items I needed. Once I had my items I went up to the counter to checkout. I always feel bad for those working on holidays. Most holidays I try not to go to the store as to not contribute to the problem, but New Year’s Day (especially in the afternoon) isn’t so bad since most of the action happens the night before. I always try to be extra nice and friendly to those working on holidays and I figured this should not be an exception. The guy checking me out was probably in his early 20’s maybe around 7-10 years younger than myself. After he took payment he asked if he could take my hand basket. I replied that I was walking right past the stack near the entrance/exit and I would return it; to which he replied with a stunned expression, “Are you sure?” I replied that I was and took my groceries. The clerk relpied with a “Thank-you, you are one of a kind my man”. I wished him a Happy New Year and was off. I set my basket in the pile by the door and walked out.

As I was walking I thought to myself how the smallest little thing could brighten someone’s day just a little bit. The fact that I was willing to take literaly 2 extra seconds to drop off the hand basket was enough to put a smile on the clerks face. Sometimes we just have to do the little things in life to make an impact. No one has to save the world, just do something simple and you can help make life that much better.

If you have any ideas that are simple but can help people out, please feel free to share. I will take the ideas and compile them into a post for future reading.