PLUS: “Kindie rock” booming; top 10 video games franchises of all time
Obese Children Face Frightening Adulthood — About a third of all U.S. children ages 2-19 are classified as obese, according to a new governmental report. If such children don’t change their eating or exercise habits, they could face some sobering realities. About 112,000 people die every year from obesity-related diseases, and obesity accounts for about $150 billion worth in health care costs, according to the report. With obesity levels for our children at all-time highs, experts say those numbers are bound to increase; and many experts believe life expectancy will likely go down. (ABC News)
If It’s Too Loud, You’re Out of Preschool — What are young people—really young people—listening to these days? Kindie rock. Guess what? Their parents are, too. While the rest of the music industry is struggling, music made for kids is booming—and it’s a long way from Barney’s “I Love You” song. The genre has a full-blown concert happening (May’s three-day Kindiefest), and its practitioners range from former mainstream artists such as They Might Be Giants and Dan Zanes (of Del Fuegos fame) to homegrown acts such as Eddie’s Attic and Secret Agent 23 Skidoo. While kindie rock may be meant for folks still wearing footie PJs, some of its biggest fans are music-savvy oldsters. The songs are—dare we say it—pretty sophisticated. “I was told when I started that a kids’ song had to be sweet and repetitive, but I found that’s not the case at all,” says Justin Roberts, who will release his seventh kindie CD Jungle Gym in June. “I write stuff that makes me feel something; then I hope kids will like it, too.” (Time)
Top Video Game Franchises of All Time, According to Guinness World Records
1. “Halo”
2. “Call of Duty”
3. “The Legend of Zelda”
4. “Guitar Hero”
5. “Metal Gear”
6. “Super Mario Brothers”
7. “World of Warcraft”
8. “Gears of War”
9. “Super Smash Brothers”
10. “Grand Theft Auto”
Source: USA Today
Quote: — “You’re coming of age in a 24/7 media environment that bombards us with all kinds of content and exposes us to all kinds of arguments, some of which don’t always rank that high on the truth meter. With iPods and iPads and Xboxes and PlayStations — none of which I know how to work — information becomes a distraction, a diversion, a form of entertainment, rather than a tool of empowerment, rather than the means of emancipation.” -President Barack Obama, during a commencement address at Hampton University. (Fox News)
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