14 years ago
29 Apr 2009
Kidzania
Está a chegar uma cidade em miniatura, Time Out Lisboa
Vai abrir dia 7 de Maio um parque temático único. Catarina Figueira aguça-nos o apetite com uma descrição detalhada sobre este paraíso infantil.
KidZania. Retenha este nome porque vai ouvir falar muito nele nos próximos tempos. Não, não se trata de um brinquedo novo, nem de um jogo de computador revolucionário ou, como o nome poderia remotamente sugerir, um brinde dos pacotes de batatas-fritas Matutano. A KidZania é nada mais, nada menos do que uma micro-cidade dentro de uma outra cidade, feita e pensada milimetricamente à escala dos miúdos. O espaço onde foi erguido este parque temático situa-se no centro comercial Dolce Vita Tejo, na Amadora, e começará a receber os primeiros habitantes no próximo dia 7 de Maio.
Transpondo as portas, os miúdos vão encontrar uma cidade que ocupa 6500 metros quadrados e onde existem avenidas e edifícios, lojas e fábricas, autocarros e ambulâncias, como em qualquer cidade à séria. Apesar dos protagonistas serem as crianças (o público-alvo situa-se entre os 4 e os 12 anos), esta cidade é friendly com os adultos, ou seja, os pais podem entrar, participar em algumas das brincadeiras dos filhos (mas sem exagerar, vá) ou simplesmente ficar a observá-los do exterior de cada pavilhão. Se o seu filho tiver mais de oito anos, pode optar por ir à sua vidinha e descansar os olhos nas montras, com a certeza de que o miúdo está bem entregue. Seja qual for o caso, pais e filhos recebem uma bracelete electrónica de segurança que permite que ambos se encontrem facilmente sem ser necessário dar 50 voltas ao parque ou fazer ecoar o nome da criancinha no altifalante.
Este parque temático, assinado pela Chamartín Imobiliária, baseia-se no conceito de edutainment (“brincar aos adultos”). Mal comparado, pode-se dizer que a KidZania é a versão século XXI do Portugal dos Pequenitos, um espaço onde os miúdos vão poder vestir a pele de 60 profissões e começar logo ali a traçar vocações.
O primeiro passo é fazer o check-in no aeroporto. Depois é como se o tempo desse um salto de gigante e transformasse as crianças em adultos num abrir e fechar de olhos, permitindo-lhes fazer coisas de gente responsável, como guiar um carro num circuito automóvel, vestir a farda de um bombeiro ou de um polícia, fazer uma cirurgia, ser jornalista de televisão, actor numa peça de teatro ou esteticista, abrir uma conta num banco ou fazer o seu próprio hambúrguer no McDonald’s. Já viu o dinheirão que vai poupar em testes psicotécnicos?
À chegada à cidade, que tem uma economia própria, cada miúdo recebe um cheque de 50 kidZos (a moeda oficial), que depois de trocados no banco podem ser utilizados para pagar um gelado, ir ao cabeleireiro ou alugar um carro. Como a ideia é transmitir aos mais pequenos algumas noções de gestão, quando o plafond estoirar os visitantes terão de exercer outras profissões para estabilizar a carteira. De regresso à sua cidade verdadeira, os miúdos levam para casa o fruto do seu trabalho, como a história que escreveram na Edição de Livros da Plátano, as fotografias que tiraram no estúdio da Sony ou o artigo que escreveram para a Visão ou para o Expresso, algumas das empresas que se associaram a este projecto.
Apesar de estar integrada numa superfície comercial, a KidZania está apetrechada com zona de restauração, enfermaria, sanitários e serviço de atendimento ao cliente. E pode apontar este sítio como um espaço a ter em conta para a próxima festa de aniversário dos seus filhos.
É verdade que dá vontade de ir já a correr, mas convém refrear o entusiasmo: é que as entradas para a KidZania estão esgotadíssimas durante todo o mês de Maio (fins-de-semana incluídos), pelo que só em Junho a cidade poderá receber novos habitantes.
KidZania, Dolce Vita Tejo (Amadora)
Vai abrir dia 7 de Maio um parque temático único. Catarina Figueira aguça-nos o apetite com uma descrição detalhada sobre este paraíso infantil.
KidZania. Retenha este nome porque vai ouvir falar muito nele nos próximos tempos. Não, não se trata de um brinquedo novo, nem de um jogo de computador revolucionário ou, como o nome poderia remotamente sugerir, um brinde dos pacotes de batatas-fritas Matutano. A KidZania é nada mais, nada menos do que uma micro-cidade dentro de uma outra cidade, feita e pensada milimetricamente à escala dos miúdos. O espaço onde foi erguido este parque temático situa-se no centro comercial Dolce Vita Tejo, na Amadora, e começará a receber os primeiros habitantes no próximo dia 7 de Maio.
Transpondo as portas, os miúdos vão encontrar uma cidade que ocupa 6500 metros quadrados e onde existem avenidas e edifícios, lojas e fábricas, autocarros e ambulâncias, como em qualquer cidade à séria. Apesar dos protagonistas serem as crianças (o público-alvo situa-se entre os 4 e os 12 anos), esta cidade é friendly com os adultos, ou seja, os pais podem entrar, participar em algumas das brincadeiras dos filhos (mas sem exagerar, vá) ou simplesmente ficar a observá-los do exterior de cada pavilhão. Se o seu filho tiver mais de oito anos, pode optar por ir à sua vidinha e descansar os olhos nas montras, com a certeza de que o miúdo está bem entregue. Seja qual for o caso, pais e filhos recebem uma bracelete electrónica de segurança que permite que ambos se encontrem facilmente sem ser necessário dar 50 voltas ao parque ou fazer ecoar o nome da criancinha no altifalante.
Este parque temático, assinado pela Chamartín Imobiliária, baseia-se no conceito de edutainment (“brincar aos adultos”). Mal comparado, pode-se dizer que a KidZania é a versão século XXI do Portugal dos Pequenitos, um espaço onde os miúdos vão poder vestir a pele de 60 profissões e começar logo ali a traçar vocações.
O primeiro passo é fazer o check-in no aeroporto. Depois é como se o tempo desse um salto de gigante e transformasse as crianças em adultos num abrir e fechar de olhos, permitindo-lhes fazer coisas de gente responsável, como guiar um carro num circuito automóvel, vestir a farda de um bombeiro ou de um polícia, fazer uma cirurgia, ser jornalista de televisão, actor numa peça de teatro ou esteticista, abrir uma conta num banco ou fazer o seu próprio hambúrguer no McDonald’s. Já viu o dinheirão que vai poupar em testes psicotécnicos?
À chegada à cidade, que tem uma economia própria, cada miúdo recebe um cheque de 50 kidZos (a moeda oficial), que depois de trocados no banco podem ser utilizados para pagar um gelado, ir ao cabeleireiro ou alugar um carro. Como a ideia é transmitir aos mais pequenos algumas noções de gestão, quando o plafond estoirar os visitantes terão de exercer outras profissões para estabilizar a carteira. De regresso à sua cidade verdadeira, os miúdos levam para casa o fruto do seu trabalho, como a história que escreveram na Edição de Livros da Plátano, as fotografias que tiraram no estúdio da Sony ou o artigo que escreveram para a Visão ou para o Expresso, algumas das empresas que se associaram a este projecto.
Apesar de estar integrada numa superfície comercial, a KidZania está apetrechada com zona de restauração, enfermaria, sanitários e serviço de atendimento ao cliente. E pode apontar este sítio como um espaço a ter em conta para a próxima festa de aniversário dos seus filhos.
É verdade que dá vontade de ir já a correr, mas convém refrear o entusiasmo: é que as entradas para a KidZania estão esgotadíssimas durante todo o mês de Maio (fins-de-semana incluídos), pelo que só em Junho a cidade poderá receber novos habitantes.
KidZania, Dolce Vita Tejo (Amadora)
28 Apr 2009
Luke's goodbyes
Luke: Tu dás um abraço, eu dou um abraço. Tu dás um beijinho, eu dou um beijinho. (You hug me, I hug you. You kiss me, I kiss you.) After saying goodbye to Mark, we then blow kisses. Any mistake, and the whole process needs to start from the beginning...
26 Apr 2009
São Nuno, o Condestável
Pois, é Santo agora (vejam a rapidez da wikipédia!). E a freguesia de Santo Condestável, em Campo de Ourique, onde morei, já era santa porquê?
25 Apr 2009
Koinobori
Onde vais, vento?
Oficina: Os jardins que o jardim contém
Construir mangas de vento com a forma de carpas (koinobori). A carpa é um peixe que nada contra as correntes fortes, simbolizando por isso a energia e a perseverança. No Japão são içadas para festejar o dia das crianças. As carpas voadoras vão-nos ajudar a descobrir a direcção do vento.
Oficina: Os jardins que o jardim contém
Construir mangas de vento com a forma de carpas (koinobori). A carpa é um peixe que nada contra as correntes fortes, simbolizando por isso a energia e a perseverança. No Japão são içadas para festejar o dia das crianças. As carpas voadoras vão-nos ajudar a descobrir a direcção do vento.
When we got to Gulbenkian, with the kids curious to find out what a wind sock was, Luke says: I can smell a wind sock already!. Well, fortunately, the koinobori don't smell like ordinary socks... Making them was very nice, but hard work! Especially keeping the kids focused...
Quiosques
Não sei como, há épocas em que perco um montão de notícias. Eis o que aconteceu ao quiosque infamemente roubado ao Jardim das Amoreiras. Estava fechado porque, disse-me quem o geria, a renda da Câmara não era suportável. Fechou em 2007 e o jardim ficou mais pobre e abandonado. Deixou de haver gente e movimento junto ao parque infantil, que agora se encontra degradado. Um lugar tão simpático, simplesmente roubado! Diz que vão pôr outro, mas porque é que não temos direito ao que tinhamos, histórico?
Quiosques: Largo Camões, Príncipe Real e Praça das Flores enchem-se de "sabores lisboetas" dia 12
Lisboa, 03 Abr (Lusa) - Os quiosques de "sabores lisboetas" do Largo de Camões, do Príncipe Real e da Praça das Flores abrem ao público no próximo dia 12, depois de um investimento de 120 mil euros em restauros e equipamentos.
Limonadas, mazagran, chá frio, orchata, leite perfumado com canela e limão, xaropes de capilé e de groselha - "mesmo groselha" -, vinho do Porto, licor Beirão ou moscatel serão algumas das bebidas disponíveis nos novos espaços concessionados à jornalista Catarina Portas e ao arquitecto João Regal, que procuraram recuperar o conceito dos populares quiosques de refrescos dos séculos XIX e XX.
"Partimos dos quiosques abandonados e pensamos que esta oferta se adequava aos tempos de hoje, para substituir as bebidas engarrafadas que têm cada vez mais corantes e conservantes", explica Catarina Portas à Lusa.
A acompanhar, o público poderá optar por empadas de galinhas, rebuçados de ovo, queijadas do Preto de Sintra ou por uma vasta selecção de sandes caseiras, de que são exemplo as de pasta de grão com bacalhau desfiado, queijo de cabra com pasta de azeitona, queijo flamengo e marmelada tradicional ou pasta de sardinha.
Entre as poucas marcas à venda, todas "portuguesas e com história", contam-se a Água das Pedras, a água de Luso (servida com o xarope para que seja o cliente a escolher o nível de concentração, "como antigamente") ou as sombrinhas de chocolate da Regina.
Quanto aos preços, Catarina Portas garante que serão "muito democráticos", uma vez que um quiosque do género é "para toda a gente".
Os novos estabelecimentos resultam de um minucioso trabalho de remodelação de três estruturas degradadas, onde foram investidos 60 mil euros.
"O que deu mais trabalho foi o do Largo de Camões, que estava nas Amoreiras e estava muito estragado. A base era em tijolo e não tinha graça nenhuma, optámos por refazer essa parte. No Príncipe Real, substituímos as janelas de alumínio por outras de madeira", conta a jornalista.
O equipamento interior, como as máquinas de gelo ou de café, custou um valor semelhante, já que foi feito à medida ou implicou a compra de modelos raros nas grandes superfícies.
Os quiosques estarão de portas - ou janelas - abertas quase todos os dias do ano, entre as 07:30 e as 24:00, fechando uma hora mais tarde no caso do Largo de Camões.
Apesar de o público poder conhecer os espaços a partir do dia 12, a inauguração oficial decorre no dia 14.
Lisboa, 03 Abr (Lusa) - Os quiosques de "sabores lisboetas" do Largo de Camões, do Príncipe Real e da Praça das Flores abrem ao público no próximo dia 12, depois de um investimento de 120 mil euros em restauros e equipamentos.
Limonadas, mazagran, chá frio, orchata, leite perfumado com canela e limão, xaropes de capilé e de groselha - "mesmo groselha" -, vinho do Porto, licor Beirão ou moscatel serão algumas das bebidas disponíveis nos novos espaços concessionados à jornalista Catarina Portas e ao arquitecto João Regal, que procuraram recuperar o conceito dos populares quiosques de refrescos dos séculos XIX e XX.
"Partimos dos quiosques abandonados e pensamos que esta oferta se adequava aos tempos de hoje, para substituir as bebidas engarrafadas que têm cada vez mais corantes e conservantes", explica Catarina Portas à Lusa.
A acompanhar, o público poderá optar por empadas de galinhas, rebuçados de ovo, queijadas do Preto de Sintra ou por uma vasta selecção de sandes caseiras, de que são exemplo as de pasta de grão com bacalhau desfiado, queijo de cabra com pasta de azeitona, queijo flamengo e marmelada tradicional ou pasta de sardinha.
Entre as poucas marcas à venda, todas "portuguesas e com história", contam-se a Água das Pedras, a água de Luso (servida com o xarope para que seja o cliente a escolher o nível de concentração, "como antigamente") ou as sombrinhas de chocolate da Regina.
Quanto aos preços, Catarina Portas garante que serão "muito democráticos", uma vez que um quiosque do género é "para toda a gente".
Os novos estabelecimentos resultam de um minucioso trabalho de remodelação de três estruturas degradadas, onde foram investidos 60 mil euros.
"O que deu mais trabalho foi o do Largo de Camões, que estava nas Amoreiras e estava muito estragado. A base era em tijolo e não tinha graça nenhuma, optámos por refazer essa parte. No Príncipe Real, substituímos as janelas de alumínio por outras de madeira", conta a jornalista.
O equipamento interior, como as máquinas de gelo ou de café, custou um valor semelhante, já que foi feito à medida ou implicou a compra de modelos raros nas grandes superfícies.
Os quiosques estarão de portas - ou janelas - abertas quase todos os dias do ano, entre as 07:30 e as 24:00, fechando uma hora mais tarde no caso do Largo de Camões.
Apesar de o público poder conhecer os espaços a partir do dia 12, a inauguração oficial decorre no dia 14.
Mais:
Quiosques desactivados reabrem com novo conceito, DN, Fev 2009
Quiosques de Lisboa abrem hoje as 'janelas' para o público, Destak, Abr 2009
Capilés de volta ao Largo Camões, Jornal de Notícias, Abr 2009
Transferência do quiosque das Amoreiras envolta em polémica, Público, Fev 2009
Quiosques desactivados reabrem com novo conceito, DN, Fev 2009
Quiosques de Lisboa abrem hoje as 'janelas' para o público, Destak, Abr 2009
Capilés de volta ao Largo Camões, Jornal de Notícias, Abr 2009
Transferência do quiosque das Amoreiras envolta em polémica, Público, Fev 2009
22 Apr 2009
21 Apr 2009
Susan Boyle
Unbelievable! How did I miss it? - Watch it here.
How Susan Boyle won over the world, Ian Youngs, BBC News
Last weekend, Susan Boyle was just a face in the crowd.
This weekend, clips of her singing on Britain's Got Talent have notched up almost 50 million views on YouTube.
Her face appears on the front pages of papers in Britain and beyond, she has been offered a seat on Oprah's sofa and has been told she is as good as guaranteed a worldwide number one album.
The rise of the 47-year-old woman from Scotland has been a true global phenomenon.
Last Saturday, viewers saw Boyle, with double chin, unkempt hair, frumpy appearance and eccentric demeanour, step onto the talent show stage and proclaim her dream of being a professional singer.
The judges rolled their eyes and the audience pulled incredulous faces. Onlookers, on set and at home, were rubbing their hands at the prospect of another hopeless, deluded loser being crushed by a withering Simon Cowell insult.
Then she opened her mouth and sang I Dreamed A Dream from Les Miserables.
Her voice confounded all expectations - the judges' eyes bulged, the crowd went wild and Boyle became an instant star.
Ever since, the "fairytale" has travelled the globe and interest in the church volunteer has snowballed.
It is the story of a talent unearthed, but that does not fully explain why she has become such a sensation.
Boyle has shattered prejudices about the connection between age, appearance and talent. She has proved that you don't have to be young and glamorous to be talented, and recognised as such.
The YouTube millions have cheered on the underdog, and seen in her the possibilities for their own hopes and dreams.
Immediately after her performance, one of the judges, Amanda Holden, said they had been "very cynical", and that the performance was the "biggest wake-up call ever".
Another judge, former newspaper editor Piers Morgan, appeared with Boyle on CNN's Larry King Show.
"I'm sorry because we did not give you anything like the respect we should have done when you first came out," he told her. Referring to her appearance, he said: "We thought you were going to be a bit of a joke act, to be honest with you."
Boyle would have a best-selling album and a world tour by the end of the year, whether she wins Britain's Got Talent or not, he assured her.
And mentioning fellow judge Simon Cowell, Morgan added: "It's fair to say that his eyes have been going ker-ching ever since Susan's performance."
Blogs, newspaper columns and talk shows have been full of discussion about why Boyle has sparked such a reaction.
Lisa Schwarzbaum, writer for US celebrity magazine Entertainment Weekly, said the performance was a powerful reality check.
She wrote: "In our pop-minded culture so slavishly obsessed with packaging - the right face, the right clothes, the right attitudes, the right Facebook posts - the unpackaged artistic power of the unstyled, un-hip, un-kissed Ms Boyle let me feel, for the duration of one blazing showstopping ballad, the meaning of human grace.
"She pierced my defences. She reordered the measure of beauty. And I had no idea until tears sprang how desperately I need that corrective."
Her post has been followed by comments from scores of readers saying they watched the clip repeatedly, with the same emotional response.
"I cried SO hard," read one. "There's something so beautiful about reaching your dreams... and knowing that age means nothing."
Another wrote: "I cry because she reminds us to hope, to never lose track of our dreams, to keep putting one foot in front of the other no matter what others say or think. She gives us hope."
"Fairytales don't come any more satisfactory than this," wrote columnist Melanie Reid in The Times.
"The sisterhood of the plain, those of us who will never look like Girls Aloud, nor even Girls Aloud's grandmothers, are cheering as never before.
"Susan Boyle is the ugly duckling who didn't need to turn into a swan; she has fulfilled the dreams of millions who, downtrodden by the cruelty of a culture that judges them on their appearance, have settled for life without looking in the mirror."
Miranda Sawyer, writing in the Daily Mirror, questioned why image was less of an issue for male singers.
"No woman gets to perform publicly unless she looks like Mariah Carey," she wrote. "If you're a female singer, you are required by showbiz law to appear sexy at all times.
"Poor Madonna and Kylie are desperately keeping up appearances, holding back the years with Botox and face-fillers just so they're allowed to continue with their careers."
The Sun newspaper has given away a free Susan Boyle souvenir poster. US talk show host Jay Leno performed an impression of her on his show.
Demi Moore famously joined the fan club. Scottish First Minister Alex Salmond has congratulated her. She is odds-on favourite to win Britain's Got Talent.
A star has been born. Whether she will leave a dent on our prejudices about age and appearance remains to be seen.
Last weekend, Susan Boyle was just a face in the crowd.
This weekend, clips of her singing on Britain's Got Talent have notched up almost 50 million views on YouTube.
Her face appears on the front pages of papers in Britain and beyond, she has been offered a seat on Oprah's sofa and has been told she is as good as guaranteed a worldwide number one album.
The rise of the 47-year-old woman from Scotland has been a true global phenomenon.
Last Saturday, viewers saw Boyle, with double chin, unkempt hair, frumpy appearance and eccentric demeanour, step onto the talent show stage and proclaim her dream of being a professional singer.
The judges rolled their eyes and the audience pulled incredulous faces. Onlookers, on set and at home, were rubbing their hands at the prospect of another hopeless, deluded loser being crushed by a withering Simon Cowell insult.
Then she opened her mouth and sang I Dreamed A Dream from Les Miserables.
Her voice confounded all expectations - the judges' eyes bulged, the crowd went wild and Boyle became an instant star.
Ever since, the "fairytale" has travelled the globe and interest in the church volunteer has snowballed.
It is the story of a talent unearthed, but that does not fully explain why she has become such a sensation.
Boyle has shattered prejudices about the connection between age, appearance and talent. She has proved that you don't have to be young and glamorous to be talented, and recognised as such.
The YouTube millions have cheered on the underdog, and seen in her the possibilities for their own hopes and dreams.
Immediately after her performance, one of the judges, Amanda Holden, said they had been "very cynical", and that the performance was the "biggest wake-up call ever".
Another judge, former newspaper editor Piers Morgan, appeared with Boyle on CNN's Larry King Show.
"I'm sorry because we did not give you anything like the respect we should have done when you first came out," he told her. Referring to her appearance, he said: "We thought you were going to be a bit of a joke act, to be honest with you."
Boyle would have a best-selling album and a world tour by the end of the year, whether she wins Britain's Got Talent or not, he assured her.
And mentioning fellow judge Simon Cowell, Morgan added: "It's fair to say that his eyes have been going ker-ching ever since Susan's performance."
Blogs, newspaper columns and talk shows have been full of discussion about why Boyle has sparked such a reaction.
Lisa Schwarzbaum, writer for US celebrity magazine Entertainment Weekly, said the performance was a powerful reality check.
She wrote: "In our pop-minded culture so slavishly obsessed with packaging - the right face, the right clothes, the right attitudes, the right Facebook posts - the unpackaged artistic power of the unstyled, un-hip, un-kissed Ms Boyle let me feel, for the duration of one blazing showstopping ballad, the meaning of human grace.
"She pierced my defences. She reordered the measure of beauty. And I had no idea until tears sprang how desperately I need that corrective."
Her post has been followed by comments from scores of readers saying they watched the clip repeatedly, with the same emotional response.
"I cried SO hard," read one. "There's something so beautiful about reaching your dreams... and knowing that age means nothing."
Another wrote: "I cry because she reminds us to hope, to never lose track of our dreams, to keep putting one foot in front of the other no matter what others say or think. She gives us hope."
"Fairytales don't come any more satisfactory than this," wrote columnist Melanie Reid in The Times.
"The sisterhood of the plain, those of us who will never look like Girls Aloud, nor even Girls Aloud's grandmothers, are cheering as never before.
"Susan Boyle is the ugly duckling who didn't need to turn into a swan; she has fulfilled the dreams of millions who, downtrodden by the cruelty of a culture that judges them on their appearance, have settled for life without looking in the mirror."
Miranda Sawyer, writing in the Daily Mirror, questioned why image was less of an issue for male singers.
"No woman gets to perform publicly unless she looks like Mariah Carey," she wrote. "If you're a female singer, you are required by showbiz law to appear sexy at all times.
"Poor Madonna and Kylie are desperately keeping up appearances, holding back the years with Botox and face-fillers just so they're allowed to continue with their careers."
The Sun newspaper has given away a free Susan Boyle souvenir poster. US talk show host Jay Leno performed an impression of her on his show.
Demi Moore famously joined the fan club. Scottish First Minister Alex Salmond has congratulated her. She is odds-on favourite to win Britain's Got Talent.
A star has been born. Whether she will leave a dent on our prejudices about age and appearance remains to be seen.
20 Apr 2009
Coral, crochet and maths
Crochet Coral and Anemone Garden
Hyperbolic Crochet Coral Reef, The Institute for Figuring
Hyperbolic Crochet Coral Reef, The Institute for Figuring
Crochet model of hyperbolic plane
Hyperbolic Space online exhibit, The Institute for Figuring
Hyperbolic Space online exhibit, The Institute for Figuring
Margaret Wertheim:
TED interview - Crocheting in hyperbolic space
TED Talks - The beautiful math that links coral, crochet and hyperbolic geometry
TED interview - Crocheting in hyperbolic space
TED Talks - The beautiful math that links coral, crochet and hyperbolic geometry
19 Apr 2009
3000 visitors!
MMP - you were the 3000th visitor!
Not bad for a blog that is not listed, nor "searchable" (not crawled by search engines). Ok, the fact that I open the browser with this does help...
The kids camera
Here's a beautiful sample of the kids photographic skills, with the VTech Kidizoom Multimedia Digital Camera - thanks to Auntie Fiona for these Christmas presents!
18 Apr 2009
The colour of farts
Mark: Não é verdade que os puns são castanhos? Ou são verdes?
(Isn't it true that farts are brown? Or are they green?)
(Isn't it true that farts are brown? Or are they green?)
18
Here's a post for André and Ruaridh: can't believe I've got two nephews that are 18. Great party for André, last night!
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Backgrounds, borders and ornaments — Adorn your books with hundreds of hand-illustrated artistic accents.
Import Photos, Blogs, and More
Slurp your photos — Automatically import your favorite shots from Flickr, Picasa, and SmugMug with the BookSmart Slurper.
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Slurp your photos — Automatically import your favorite shots from Flickr, Picasa, and SmugMug with the BookSmart Slurper.
Slurp your blog — Have a blog hosted by Blogger, LiveJournal, TypePad, or WordPress.com? Slurp your posts into a book in seconds.
GroupBook — Invite friends and family to submit photos for your book, and import them directly into BookSmart.
iPhoto integration — Instantly access photos from your iPhoto library.
Find out more — Want to know what else you can import? Check out our related FAQs.
15 Apr 2009
11 Apr 2009
London, Easter 2009 - day 4
First stop: Natural History Museum. We got no queue at the side entrance, which was a big bonus (the main entrance always had huge queues and we had seen a big enough queue at the side entrance, on both days we went to the Science Museum). Entering that way, we headed first to the volcanoes, earthquakes, etc, at the Red Zone, but gave up quickly as it was not very suitable for the kids age. So, down to the Green Zone, where we wandered among birds (saw some dodos!), primates and trees (it's a bit of a blur...), heading towards the Central Hall. Big stop at the shop, of course, and thanks Fiona for the presents! Then finally the Blue Zone with the dinosaurs (mobbed, again!) and mammals (blue whale). Crappy lunch at the museum and finish off with the Creepy Crawlies, which were rather good. And emerge for some air!!!
Second stop: a bit of fresh air! St James's Park, Buckingham Palace and Green Park (see Royal Parks). A bit of a disaster as Mark hurt himself at the playground.
10 Apr 2009
London, Easter 2009 - day 3
The Science Museum again, but this time much better.
First stop: brief visit to Making the Modern World.
Second stop: Who Am I?. On the photo, Mark has just won the game "sperm race" and made a boy. That must make me a grandmother...
Third stop: Wallace & Gromit present a World of Cracking Ideas. Really great!
More W&G:
Fourth stop: nice lunch at a nearby tapas place. Great to be able to get away from the heat and lack of air.
Fifth stop: Deep Sea 3D at the IMAX. The kids didn't like the glasses we had to wear, and Neil and Fiona didn't feel confortable, so it was not a great success, but I liked it.
Sixth stop: Pattern Pod, a very interesting hands-on gallery to explore patterns and learn about symmetry. The best were the kaleidoscope figures the kids could make, as can be seen in the photos.
9 Apr 2009
London, Easter 2009 - day 2
Today's highlight... or should I say lowlight? - The Science Museum. Nothing against the museum itself, but the day was just not great. The weather was pretty grey and wet and that is why we decided on indoors. To start with, we had to queue outside and it was mobbed. Then we went to the basement for some storytelling, Icy Cool Adventure, and the kids just ignored what they were told to do by the storyteller (it is supposed to be interactive...). Then, when we were exploring The Garden, a hands-on kiddies section, we had to be evacuated as there was a fire alarm. It has to be said that the evacuation was pretty smooth, and everybody was calm, but it was a pain to have to wait outside for quite a while, with fire engines as sole entertainment, and we ended up missing our IMAX session, with Adele and Iona. Ok, we were refunded, but it was still a pain. When we went back, and while Neil dealt with the refund, we briefly visited Making the Modern World, but the kids were not convinced exhibits were not to be touched... The model trains, with buttons to get them moving, saved this exhibition! Then, we headed straight for the launchpad, which would have been great were it not for the mob, the heat, the noise. We did see a show there, about Newton's laws (with some explosions to amuse the kids), which was good, but the kids were by then tired and restless. So, home, James!
8 Apr 2009
London, Easter 2009 - day 1
Gorgeous day, blue sky, sun. Diana memorial playground, Kensington Gardens, Hyde Park. Parks, trees, flowers, birds, ducks, swans, squirrels, pedal boats. Absolutely great!
More:
7 Apr 2009
Easter in London
Warning to navigation: this post will be frequently updated and therefore will be shifted up and down in the blog. Boring but useful - this blog was born as a travel log!
Posts labelled UK 2009:
Cracking ideas
Dinosaurs or Deep Sea?
Big Ben - not for us foreigners!
Kew again
Animal Adventure
Is it a bird? Is it a plane?
Guard Mounting
Hungry pelicans
Diana Playground Refurbishment
The Royal Parks
Science in London
Enchanted Easter Garden
Natural History in London
Introducing Animal Adventure
At last, Easter at Kew!
SEA LIFE London Aquarium
Cracking ideas
Dinosaurs or Deep Sea?
Big Ben - not for us foreigners!
Kew again
Animal Adventure
Is it a bird? Is it a plane?
Guard Mounting
Hungry pelicans
Diana Playground Refurbishment
The Royal Parks
Science in London
Enchanted Easter Garden
Natural History in London
Introducing Animal Adventure
At last, Easter at Kew!
SEA LIFE London Aquarium
Plan:
Day 1: Science Museum (schedule) or Royal Parks
Day 2: Science Museum (schedule) or Royal Parks
Day 3: Wallace & Gromit and IMAX at the Science Museum (schedule)
Day 4: Natural History Museum and Royal Parks
Day 5: Kew Gardens (Easter Egg Hunt)
Day 6: London Zoo (going by waterbus)
Day 7: whatever we didn't manage to do before
Day 1: Science Museum (schedule) or Royal Parks
Day 2: Science Museum (schedule) or Royal Parks
Day 3: Wallace & Gromit and IMAX at the Science Museum (schedule)
Day 4: Natural History Museum and Royal Parks
Day 5: Kew Gardens (Easter Egg Hunt)
Day 6: London Zoo (going by waterbus)
Day 7: whatever we didn't manage to do before
Other ideas, if we have time (see also links - bottom right):
British Museum
EasterSkate ‘09
Hamleys
HMS Belfast
London Duck Tours
London Eye
London Transport Museum
National Gallery
Original London Sightseeing Tour
SEA LIFE London Aquarium
Tate Gallery
Tower of London
V&A Museum of Childhood
Victoria and Albert Museum
British Museum
EasterSkate ‘09
Hamleys
HMS Belfast
London Duck Tours
London Eye
London Transport Museum
National Gallery
Original London Sightseeing Tour
SEA LIFE London Aquarium
Tate Gallery
Tower of London
V&A Museum of Childhood
Victoria and Albert Museum
SEA LIFE London Aquarium
From GoLondon:
Sea Life London Aquarium relaunched in April 2009 after a multi-million pound refurbishment. It is one of Europe's largest displays of global aquatic life and includes one of the world's biggest collections of Cownose rays, a glass tunnel walkway encased in a gigantic whale skeleton and a Shark Walk finale.
New species have been introduced so in addition to thousands of fish, guests will encounter green turtles, seahorses and octopuses.
Sea Life London Aquarium relaunched in April 2009 after a multi-million pound refurbishment. It is one of Europe's largest displays of global aquatic life and includes one of the world's biggest collections of Cownose rays, a glass tunnel walkway encased in a gigantic whale skeleton and a Shark Walk finale.
New species have been introduced so in addition to thousands of fish, guests will encounter green turtles, seahorses and octopuses.
Peter Piper's Practical Principles of Plain and Perfect Pronunciation
PREFACE
Peter Piper, without Pretension to Precocity or Profoundness, Puts Pen to Paper to Produce these Puzzling Pages, Purposely to Please the Palates of Pretty Prattling Playfellows, Proudly Presuming that with Proper Penetration it will Probably, and Perhaps Positively, Prove a Peculiarly Pleasant and Profitable Path to Proper, Plain and Precise Pronunciation.
He Prays Parents to Purchase this Playful Performance, Partly to Pay him for his Patience and Pains; Partly to Provide for the Printers and Publishers; but Principally to Prevent the Pernicious Prevalence of Perverse Pronunciation.
Peter Piper, without Pretension to Precocity or Profoundness, Puts Pen to Paper to Produce these Puzzling Pages, Purposely to Please the Palates of Pretty Prattling Playfellows, Proudly Presuming that with Proper Penetration it will Probably, and Perhaps Positively, Prove a Peculiarly Pleasant and Profitable Path to Proper, Plain and Precise Pronunciation.
He Prays Parents to Purchase this Playful Performance, Partly to Pay him for his Patience and Pains; Partly to Provide for the Printers and Publishers; but Principally to Prevent the Pernicious Prevalence of Perverse Pronunciation.
P p
Peter Piper picked a peck of pickled Peppers:
Did Peter Piper pick a peck of pickled Peppers?
If Peter Piper picked a peck of pickled Peppers,
Where's the peck of pickled Peppers Peter Piper picked?
Peter Piper picked a peck of pickled Peppers:
Did Peter Piper pick a peck of pickled Peppers?
If Peter Piper picked a peck of pickled Peppers,
Where's the peck of pickled Peppers Peter Piper picked?
XYZ xyz
X Y and Z have made my brains to crack-o:
X smokes, Y snuffs, and Z chews tobacco;
Yet oft by X Y Z much learning's taught,
But PETER PIPER, beats them all to naught.
X Y and Z have made my brains to crack-o:
X smokes, Y snuffs, and Z chews tobacco;
Yet oft by X Y Z much learning's taught,
But PETER PIPER, beats them all to naught.
6 Apr 2009
Kids birthday wish list #1
Skorpies red Junior Skates from Skorpion skates:
SKORPIES’ low center of gravity makes them extremely easy to balance on, giving the young novice skater confidence to learn.
SKORPIES are easily adjusted to fit the skater’s favourite shoes. The footplate adjustment nut, located underneath the footplate, has been especially designed to suit small fingers. This makes it extremely easy for children to just strap on and go!
Learning to skate couldn’t be easier and more fun on SKORPIES. To help you along the way we have produced a series of instructional videos to take you from the basic skills of “Getting Started” and “Stopping” to “Turning” and then more advanced skills such as “Slalom” and “Skating Backwards”.
SKORPIES’ low center of gravity makes them extremely easy to balance on, giving the young novice skater confidence to learn.
SKORPIES are easily adjusted to fit the skater’s favourite shoes. The footplate adjustment nut, located underneath the footplate, has been especially designed to suit small fingers. This makes it extremely easy for children to just strap on and go!
Learning to skate couldn’t be easier and more fun on SKORPIES. To help you along the way we have produced a series of instructional videos to take you from the basic skills of “Getting Started” and “Stopping” to “Turning” and then more advanced skills such as “Slalom” and “Skating Backwards”.
5 Apr 2009
At last, Easter at Kew!
At last, info about Easter at Kew:
Miller's Ark Animal Farm
Saturday 4 - Sunday 19 April
11am to 3pm (last entry 2.30pm)
Come and meet some of our friendly farmyard animals, including donkeys, Shetland ponies, lambs, goats, pigs, duck, rabbits and guinea pigs.
Regular handling sessions also enable children to meet their furry and feathered friends up close!
Sessions are at 11.30am, 12.30pm, 1.30pm & 2.30pm.
Easter Egg Hunt
Easter Sunday, 12 April
9.30am – 12.30pm or until the eggs run out!
Collect tokens from our three Climbers and Creepers characters - Buzzie Bee, Slipper and Venus - who are hiding in the gardens. Then hand in your three tokens to Kew's Easter Bunny to receive a box of delicious mini eggs.
Miller's Ark Animal Farm
Saturday 4 - Sunday 19 April
11am to 3pm (last entry 2.30pm)
Come and meet some of our friendly farmyard animals, including donkeys, Shetland ponies, lambs, goats, pigs, duck, rabbits and guinea pigs.
Regular handling sessions also enable children to meet their furry and feathered friends up close!
Sessions are at 11.30am, 12.30pm, 1.30pm & 2.30pm.
Easter Egg Hunt
Easter Sunday, 12 April
9.30am – 12.30pm or until the eggs run out!
Collect tokens from our three Climbers and Creepers characters - Buzzie Bee, Slipper and Venus - who are hiding in the gardens. Then hand in your three tokens to Kew's Easter Bunny to receive a box of delicious mini eggs.
Introducing Animal Adventure
Animal Adventure - now open! There's a video here, but it can't be shared yet.
Tree Top Zone
Start your adventure at Treetop Village and meet the red pandas and coatis who make their lives among the leaves. Kids will have the freedom to climb, swing and visit the lookout towers for a treetop view of the world.
Roots Zone
From the tops of the trees down to the roots, visitors will be led through the earth to explore an underground world. A network of tunnels lets kids explore, challenge their fears and meet underground animals in their own habitats.
Splash Zone
Our water-based zone near the café lets children play and learn how water gives life and the importance of conserving the environment. This area allows kids to become active in our mini stream, take a seat in our secret garden or be enchanted by some story telling in the tipi.
Touch Zone
Our Touch Zone lets children get hands on to groom and feed our goats and sheep as well as meet our donkeys, llamas and kune-kune pigs.
Start your adventure at Treetop Village and meet the red pandas and coatis who make their lives among the leaves. Kids will have the freedom to climb, swing and visit the lookout towers for a treetop view of the world.
Roots Zone
From the tops of the trees down to the roots, visitors will be led through the earth to explore an underground world. A network of tunnels lets kids explore, challenge their fears and meet underground animals in their own habitats.
Splash Zone
Our water-based zone near the café lets children play and learn how water gives life and the importance of conserving the environment. This area allows kids to become active in our mini stream, take a seat in our secret garden or be enchanted by some story telling in the tipi.
Touch Zone
Our Touch Zone lets children get hands on to groom and feed our goats and sheep as well as meet our donkeys, llamas and kune-kune pigs.
Natural History in London
While we wait to see them "live", here is the dino directory. Of course we will also try to see the Central Hall, the big blue whale, the volcanoes...
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