Film #136: Player Hating: A Love Story

The beginning of Maggie Hadleigh-West's newest documentary, Player Hating: A Love Story has Brooklyn's Crown Heights hip-hop sensation Half-A-Mill and his posse pressing the front doors of a local venue as bonafide guest listers. It's an in-line madhouse, and there's a crush of security at the threshold, and this is the heightened atmosphere Half-A-Mill desires. "I want my voice to be heard

Film #136: Player Hating: A Love Story

The beginning of Maggie Hadleigh-West's newest documentary, Player Hating: A Love Story has Brooklyn's Crown Heights hip-hop sensation Half-A-Mill and his posse pressing the front doors of a local venue as bonafide guest listers. It's an in-line madhouse, and there's a crush of security at the threshold, and this is the heightened atmosphere Half-A-Mill desires. "I want my voice to be heard

10 Scary Possibilities for Halloween

For Halloween, 2010, I offer clips (and, thus, suggestions) of the most mortifying cinematic offerings out there. Gird your loins, and here we go (and spoilers abound so BE WARNED): JIGOKU (Nobuo Nakagawa, 60). It's scarier without the subtitles, this unbelievable preview for a bloody tour through Hell. Watch it only if you're brave. QUATERMASS AND THE PIT/FIVE MILLION YEARS TO EARTH (Roy

10 Scary Possibilities for Halloween

For Halloween, 2010, I offer clips (and, thus, suggestions) of the most mortifying cinematic offerings out there. Gird your loins, and here we go (and spoilers abound so BE WARNED): JIGOKU (Nobuo Nakagawa, 60). It's scarier without the subtitles, this unbelievable preview for a bloody tour through Hell. Watch it only if you're brave. QUATERMASS AND THE PIT/FIVE MILLION YEARS TO EARTH (Roy

Parent Teacher Conferences

Schools and teachers set aside time for parent-teacher conferences during the school year so they can talk with parents and try to work together to help the student succeed. The National Education Association and the U.S. Department of Education advise parents to prepare for these conferences to make the most out of the time they have with teachers.

Before you go, make a list of things you want to discuss with the teacher such as how your child is doing at school – in his or her studies AND in relationships with classmates. Help the teacher understand your child’s special talents, interests and hobbies, how she or he learns, and any struggles with homework or any particular subject.

Be sure to ask the teacher for suggestions on how to help your child at home. It’s important to schedule a conference if problems arise. Your child’s grades might have dropped suddenly, or he/she may be upset about something that happened in school. You can also let the teacher know if something changes in home that may affect the student’s learning, such as a new baby, parental illness, a family move or divorce.

Keep in mind that the purpose of any parent-teacher conference is to help your child in school. As a parent, you are an important part in the partnership, working together with the teacher and your child to help your child succeed.

Children and Lying

What child hasn't helped himself to the cookie jar and denied doing it? Parents usually feel upset when they notice their child lying. But before we brand a child “a liar,” we need to consider the child’s developmental stage and the motives behind the lying.

Preschool children don’t understand the concepts “lying” and “telling the truth.” They also may “exaggerate” because they have trouble separating wish from reality. A child may say, “I am the smartest kid ever.” Adults need to understand what the statement means to the child - that she is confident in her abilities and values intelligence. This doesn’t mean she’s a liar.

Around the age of four, children can start to tell the difference between lies and truth and between wrong and right. This doesn’t mean they won’t tell an untruth, though!

Children lie for the same reasons adults do; to avoid getting in trouble, to feel powerful, to take advantage of a situation, to keep a secret, or to help a friend. By ages five or six, a child can tell whether a listener believes a lie or not. Between seven and eight years of age, they understand that not only what they say, but their motives behind what is said can be judged. At ten to eleven years of age children can lie successfully.

What can parents do? Leading by example is key. Children need to depend on adults to tell the truth. A recent survey, however, found adults admitted to lying more than ten time a week.

Also, when you find your child is lying don’t be quick to anger. Take time to calm down before dealing with the lie. Find out the message of and the motive behind the lie. Explain the consequences of lying and use consequences to help your child develop his or her conscience. Have you ever told your child a lie? What was it and for what reason?

KFOG Podcast - October 26, 2010

Today's Urban Astronomer talk with Irish Greg of the KFOG Morning Show features the North Star, Meteor Showers in November and December, some early shopping tips for the holidays, cool iPhone Apps, Jupiter and more. It's always a treat to talk with KFOG and share some astronomy tips with the listeners. Click here to listen.