The Water Cooler Week-in-Review

Good, clever, fun stories to share at the "water coolers" of your life.

Parenting submitted by John Wunderli

If you're thinking, "I want to teach my kid to ride bike, but limit the number of times I run down the street like a hunchback and limit trips to the ER," this is the Christmas gift for you.

Christmas submitted by Nancy French

Though he might need to learn a thing or two about gratitude, this Slate columnist makes a good point about avoiding gift cards this year for Christmas.  (If I'm on your gift-giving list, however, I'll receive the plastic, baby!)

Gaming submitted by Nancy French

This from the "counter-intuitive file:"  The American Psychological Association is now saying video games have beneficial effects, improving dexterity and problem-solving – and are useful not only to kids but also surgeons.

Music submitted by Jean Kingston

If you liked her on Britain's Got Talent, you might be pleased to know that Susan Boyle's new album is out and selling like hotcakes!

Parenting submitted by Jean Kingston

Ever wonder what some of the characteristics of happy families are?   Here's an article that lists five.  (The good news in this economy?  Being rich is not one of them.)

Money submitted by Jean Kingston

During this Christmas season, is it possible to teach your kids the value of money?  This article says the holidays are a "pefect teachable moment."

Music submitted by Nancy French

Allison Iraheta, from American Idol, releases her debut CD, Just Like You, by performing “Don’t Waste the Pretty” (with acoustic accompaniment by David Immerman). Listen to this great tune many parents of teen girls will definitely want on their daughters' iPods!

Movies submitted by Greg Whiteley

Wes Anderson's (Rushmore, Royal Tenenbaums) Fantastic Mr. Fox is a moving kid's film probably better suited for adults.  It offers an exquisite stop motion aesthetic with a great performance by George Clooney and a story whose underpinnings extol the complications of marriage and duties to family.   Leave the 6 year olds at home.  Take your chances with 7 and above.  Nothing inappropriate.  Just a sensibility that is a little slower paced and sophisticated than the Disney/Pixar/Dreamworks kid's stuff.  This review is spot on.

Issues submitted by Tom Walsh

World AIDS Day brought wonderful news from a place that has been a symbol of failure. South Africa has the world’s largest number of people infected with HIV -- 5.7 million. In fact, by 2015, nearly one-third of all children in the country will have lost one or both parents to AIDS. It’s largely because the country suffered for years under leadership that denied or minimized the reality of HIV. The good news:  that has now changed in a dramatic and irreversible way. The country’s new leadership is embracing the truth and rushing to save lives as fast as it can. We should mourn those who were lost to foolish ideas, but celebrate those who will live because a great nation has now accepted the challenge to care for its people.  Read more here.

Sports as suggested by Nathan Whitaker

Marion Jones has certainly made mistakes - and was incarcerated for them - but has a compelling message:  “It’s important for people to know that it’s possible to make a mistake in your life, but it’s what you do after the mistake that people are going to remember you by.  Are you going to make whatever negatives that happened in your life a positive?"  She's looking to continue - and rebuild - her platform to reach others with a positive message.

More Sports as suggested by Nathan Whitaker

I was living in North Carolina when Dean Smith retired from UNC as the winnest college basketball coach.  As a Duke and Florida fan, I'm sure I should have been happy then as well as yesterday, but had the same sense of melancholy when I heard that FSU's Bobby Bowden was retiring. The sports world is poorer for it each time it loses someone who brings as much character on and off the field (and court) as those two gentlemen did.