Just in case you aren’t aware, I am a news junkie. My fabulous = me curled up on the couch with pajamas, coffee, CNN BBC / CBC, laptop (because I like to read at the same time) and a cozy throw. Like now!

You’d assume then, that I know what new is, right? Right! Well, you’d be wrong, because I’ve found myself constantly thinking over the past several weeks –> THAT IS NOT NEWS! That is so NOT important! Tell me something that matters!

I am going to assume that CNN knows more about ‘what news is’ than I do. Therefore, I can only assume I know very little about what news is!

Apparently news is:

Custom made wool coats by J. Crew for the Obama girls, evidently a wise choice of clothing due to it’s affordability to the average American. If that’s accessible, I am a monkey’s uncle. When was the last time J. Crew drew mock-ups and created a one of kind coat for your kid?

I don’t want to know about the Obama’s shopping choices, I want to know about President Obama’s foreign policy choices. The coats are lovely, the girls are lovely, but they aren’t news, are they? It’s not important… it just doesn’t matter. It might deserve a mention on Inauguration Day, to fill in the gaps between star sightings and Bush bashing. I don’t think it deserves repeated airtime 4 days later! Stop it with the stinking coat coverage CNN. I don’t care about the periwinkle wool, the coral/pink combination, the frugal yet stylish satin ribbon ties. Do you?

I do care about the more than 400 children that died in Gaza over the past few weeks. I want to know and understand more about little Samar who was shot in the back at close range by Israelis defense forces. Her family was ordered to leave their home, then while the women and children exited waving a white flag all but Samar and her grandmother (who were both wounded), were shot dead.

This man stood on the street of Canmore, Alberta on December 31st, 2008 (it was minus -20). He was protesting against Israel’s occupation of Gaza. Notice the right side of the box it reads: This will NOT make the news! Sadly, he was right. I wonder how the rest of the world feels when we talk about ribbons and fashion, and ignore atrocities?

I’ve recently switched to watching the BBC and CBC (Canadian Broadcasting Corporation). They’re not perfect, but they are at least reporting stories of substance … mostly.

3 of the top 10 stories at CNN.com today:

Caylee Anthony’s grandfather reported missing, later found.
Kelly Osbourne in ‘medical facility’
Sasha’s smile could be a guide to our future

3 of the top 10 stories at BBC.com today:

Green light for US stem cell work
Deadly missiles strike Pakistan
DR Congo seeks Nkunda extradition

3 of the top 10 stories at CBC.ca

Obama meets with Democrat, Republican leaders on stimulus plan
FDA approves embryonic stem cell trial for humans
Rwanda arrests Congo rebel leader Laurent Nkunda

Dear Lord, please tell me that things haven’t gotten so terrible that the leader of the free world is going to rely on the smile of a seven year old to guide us into the future! Please!

And CNN … you promise NEWS … it’s time to ’shit or get off the pot’! –> Sorry Anderson even though you’re hot, I have to move on!

MK xo
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We have two winners:

#1: Andrea from ‘The Laughs will go on‘

#2: Outside Voice

All blog posts for the contest were printed and put in a big plastic tupperware bowl. Mr. MK chose winner #1 and Lizzy who should be in bed asleep choose winner #2.

Please email me to claim your prize –> kim (at) mommyknows (dot) com

The folks at Bandai recently sent me Sam a big box of the new Power Ranger Jungle Fury toys to try out. Talk about excited. I took advantage of the situation by making him promise to be good for three whole days, before he could pick one of the three toys to ‘have and to hold’ from this day forward. Really that’s how much he loves Power Rangers.

Of course he wasn’t good for three whole days, but he did try. Just the mention of the Power Rangers could get him walking the straight and narrow pretty darn quick. Oh the power of the parental bribe! Thank you Bandai promotion folks you’ve made at least three of my days easier.

Of course, he chose the biggest and the best of the three toys. The Power Rangers Jungle Fury Jungle Master Megazord (argh … megazord makes me want to say that). Even I have to admit that Megazords are pretty cool. With this particular Megazord, you start with one toy (with a motorized thunder punch – punching is good if you are a megazord battling for the world against evil) and it morphs into three (yes THREE), cool animal zords –> … oh forget it … I’ll just show you instead.

This is the MEGAZORD (argg!)

Then you have to grab him …

And yank on him …

And twist him …

And in no time at all (if you’re a 4 – 9 year old boy), you’ll have three! Antelope Zord, Gorilla Fury Zord and Emperor Penguin Zord (and a penguin launcher!).

It’s very, very popular around here and is now hidden away from Georgia each morning. Yes, that would be the Georgia who likes to scatter the Zords around the house for her lucky brother to scavange around for, when he comes home from school.

Here comes the GOOD Giveaway part –>

I am a good mom (honest) and blogger (really MommyKnows), therefore, I didn’t let my boy have all three toys for himself as Bandai intended. There has to be a limit, right? I thought about giving him the remaining two for Christmas, but that isn’t why the Bandai peeps sent them to me, is it? So I am going to give the other two Ranger toys away to two of you. They’ll make great bribe items or Christmas gifts for you too (or any other holiday you might happen to celebrate).

Jungle Master Bat Ranger (black one) and Rangers Jungle Master Rhino Ranger (white one).

To be eligible to win you must comment on any CURRENT post between now and December, 1st, 2008 @ 9:00 pm MT. You may comment every day. You may double your chances by blogging about the contest on your blog and then coming back here and leaving the url of your post in a comment on a CURRENT post or on this post. I will randomly choose two winners from all the comments.

I will announce the winners as soon as possible after the contest closes (give me an hour or two). You must come back here to see if you have won and claim your prize. You might want to set a reminder to come back here … A LOT of prizes go unclaimed.

Good Luck!

MK xo
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*****

If you have a Power Ranger fan in your house, here is some promo information you may find useful.

Bandai is excited to announce the launch of the Power Rangers “Feel the Fury” Sweepstakes and Movie Theater promotions!

Fans can enter at www.bandai.com/powerrangers/feelthefury/ to win one of three grand prizes, including:
- 1 Grand Prize Winner to receive a 2 minute toy aisle shopping spree worth $1,000
- 2 Winners to a 2 minute toy aisle shopping spree worth $250
- 10 Winners will each receive a Power Rangers Jungle Fury Mega Mission Helmet signed by the Red Ranger
All entries must be received by Dec.12, 2008

Also, look for the Power Rangers at a movie theater near you this Fall!

Visit select movie theaters across the US from October 31st through December 4th to see the Jungle Fury Mega Mission Helmet in action and learn about the Power Rangers “Feel the Fury” Sweepstakes!

In select theaters get a “Power Rangers Fun Pack” with the purchase of a child’s movie ticket for G and PG movies! The “Power Ranger Fun Pack” includes a Power Rangers Temporary Tattoo, Jungle Fury Wish List and Jungle Fury Scratcher that reveals discounts on all your favorite Power Rangers toys!

The Toys, Buzz and “Power Rangers Fun Packs” will be in select movie theaters in Boston, MA; Brownville, TX; Chicago, IL; El Paso, TX, Fort Smith, AK; Honolulu, HI; Los Angeles, CA; Miami, FL; Minneapolis, MN; New York, NY, Philadelphia, PA; San Antonio, TX; and San Diego, CA.

Winner is: Jaime –> email me @ kim (@) mommyknows (dot) com.

After Georgia put Sunlight dish soap in the fish tank, and KILLED the fish.

I was more than happy to drop her off at school.

She was upset, and has told me several times that, she is, “sorry for killing the fish”. Truthfully, I think that she was more concerned about my anger than the dead fish (I’ve have repeatedly cautioned her to stay out of the fish tank). She did ask me where the fish went (I flushed it while she was doing time out on her bed). Thinking I’d freak her out, I told her, “I’m going to fry it up and make you eat it for supper”. Without missing a beat, she informed me “It’s not enough, I’m a BIG eater”. It’s true … she is a big eater and it was a really small fish (2″).

She’s like Dennis the Menace the female version. Any naughty kids in your life?

All comments and back-links for this post will be entered to win a $10 Starbucks Gift Card (includes shipping and handling) in my ‘Have a Coffee on Me’ Contest. If you comment and blog about the contest you’ll receive two entries (too easy). I have a whole ’schwack’ of Gift Cards to give away, so make sure and come back often for a chance to ‘have a coffee on me’.

MK xo
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Make sure you get over to crabmommy and read her exclusive interview with Sarah Palin. I can’t stop laughing.

I am annoyed after reading this article at babble.com today.

First, I want to say this, “AHHH! Life is so tough for some people –> no sushi, peanuts, cat poop or booze for a whole nine months!”

I could go on and on about the inaccuracies and generalizations, but I won’t, I just want to focus on one!

Myth # 6 – Alcohol exposure leads to Fetal Alcohol Syndrome and mental retardation.
According to the author:

Oh, relax! All of the children described in the original paper on FAS were born to severe, chronic alcoholics. While some researchers argue that any alcohol is bad, others (including Britain’s Royal College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists) say that an infrequent glass of wine with dinner is nothing to worry about. Believe it or not, there’s even some severe, chronic alkies whose pregnancies come out fine (although being a severe, chronic alkie is never advisable). Do the research and come to your own personal decision.

GIVE-ME-A-BREAK!

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