Zhu-Zhu Pets?

What will they think of next?

Those electronic pets from the past keep coming back to haunt me. Apparently they reinvent the things every few years, whether in digital or robot form, and the kids go crazy for them.

The kids are enamored for about a hour before they get bored and wander off, wanting to do something else.

The best toys are still the ones that lead to hours of creative fun, not the ones that do limited tricks that the kids get bored with.

Save your time in line, go get the kid some toys to build stuff with, or to make artwork with.

Those last.


Today is:

Advent Begins -- Catholic Christian, often observed by other Christian denominations as well

Feast of Great Expectations

Festival of the Sons of Saturn

International Day of Solidarity with the Palestinian People

National Chocolates Day

Newspaper Day

Parliament Night

St. Cuthbert Mayne's Day

St. Saturnius' Day

Square Dance Day


Anniversaries Today:

Erwin Rommel marries Lucie "Lu" Mollin, 1916


Birthdays Today:

Jon Knight, 1968
Kim Delaney, 1961
Cathy Moriarty, 1960
Jeff Fahey, 1956
Howie Mandel, 1955
Garry Shandling, 1949
Chuck Mangione, 1940
Peter Bergman, 1939
John Mayall, 1933
Diane Ladd, 1932
Vin Scully, 1927
Madeline L'Engle, 1918
Adam Clayton Powell, Jr., 1908
C.S. Lewis, 1898
Busby Berkeley, 1895
Louisa May Alcott, 1832
Christian Doppler, 1803


Today in History:

Jews of Augsburg, Germany, are massacred, 1349
(Sometimes, it seems, the more things change...)
King Philip II devalues Spanish currency, 1596
(See above...)
Sir James Jay invents invisible ink, 1775
Dessalines & Christophe declare St Domingue (Haiti) independent, 1803
First Italian opera in US, "Barber of Seville" premieres (NYC), 1825
Thomas Edison demonstrates hand-cranked phonograph, 1877
The first motorcycle race ever is held in Surrey, England; the distance was one mile and the winner was Charles Jarrot in a time of 2 minutes, 8 seconds, 1897
The first US patent for inventing the traffic lights system is issued to Ernest Sirrine. 1910
Fire destroys most of the buildings on Santa Catalina Island, California, 1915
The first surgery (on a human) to correct blue baby syndrome is performed by Alfred Blalock and Vivien Thomas, 1944