Range Fire!!
So, tomorrow begins a 3 day range fire exercise for our unit. Should be fun. I actually mean that, I really look forward to firing the rifle. Not so much the pistol, sorry to say I am sort of bad with a pistol, although I have gotten better. With the rifle though, I grew up shooting birds with a Crosman AIR-17, a bb/pellet gun that looks like an M-16.
My first time firing a real M-16 at Ft. Benning, the drill sergeant chewed my ass. "Your fundamentals are all fucked up, just fuckin' ate the fuck up". Then he saw me shoot, and I was damn good, after that it was "Well, your shit it still be fucked up, but you keep firing like that and it don't matter none!". I was one of three people out of 51 in our platoon that shot expert (36 or higher out of 40) on the range on qualification day.
Since then I have earned the Expert In Competition badge in state competition. You can wear the EIC badge in lieu of the actual marksmanship badge, which is pretty unique, only a few people each year earn them.
Belly and I fired 100 rounds of .223 (5.56 civilian style) at the indoor range for familiarization tonite. That should help out some this next few days. Well, time to pack up. Wish me luck!
Listen Here You Dog Faced Pony Soldiers!
Tuesday, May 31, 2011
Monday, May 30, 2011
Blast From The Past: Gravel Flop
On my 7th birthday I was given one of the best gifts a boy could ever have gotten: a chrome frame Mongoose BMX style bicycle, with mag wheels, and two "Suzuki" button up pads, one on the handlebars, one on the crotch bar. My cousin Carl, who is about 10 years older than me, gave it to me, through my father, who had to weld the frame in an area that had broken.
What made this sort of birthday present even more spectacular was that, growing up on a farm, I had endless possibilities when it came to BMX activities, from riding the bike down to the creek to go swimming with friends, to ramping the bike off of all sorts of different items to see how much air I could get.
It was the latter that got me into trouble one day. I was probably 9 or 10 years old at the time. It was a hot summer day, the kind that would find me riding around on my bike at the farm, wearing only cut off jean shorts, and shoes/socks. For the days event, I had set up an old car tire and some boards leading out of the shed, and I would ride to the back of the shed, then get up a head of steam, and ramp off the boards.
This was working quite well, so I added another car tire to try and get even more air. I rode again to the back of the shed, peddled with all my might, ramped up the boards, lifted on the handlebars, and UP UP in the air I went... much higher than previously.
The next thing I knew, I was hitting the ground in a very painful belly-flop, knocking the wind out of me quite literally. With no shirt on, the gravel tore into my skin, so the secondary screaming pain after getting over the initial shock was the horrific burning where the tiny rocks had embedded into my skin. I can remember looking up through a tear stained gaze and seeing my front wheel bouncing along further down the driveway, and it was then that I realized what had happened: the front wheel had come off in mid jump. And unlike what most people figure would happen, the bike did NOT embed itself into the ground forks first. With the front wheel gone, the bike lost stability, and went sideways, throwing me off.
I ran up the driveway to the house sobbing uncontrollably, and my grandmother, always the caretaker, immediately started tending to my chest and stomach, using cotton balls and... RUBBING ALCOHOL! Third horrific painful shock of the day. Not sure if you've ever had someone put rubbing alcohol on a fresh cut, but it is not in any way pleasant. I would recommend hydrogen peroxide next time. I sat in the house for a couple of hours, watched cartoons, nursed my wounds, a big portion of which was my pride. About 2 hours later I went out to get my bike, thankfully it wasn't damaged, but it took me nearly 20 minutes to find my tire, which had rolled all the way down the interior driveway and across one feedlot into the bushes.
Within a few days the gravel had worked its way out of my skin, and there were no real lasting ill effects of my nasty spill. One of the more interesting notes about all of this was that when my uncle Nick was about my age, he had ridden a 10 speed for the first time down the really steep gravel road south of the farm, didn't know how to stop, and had taken a far worse spill than I did. He believes he still has gravel embedded in his skin to this day. Youch... glad I wasn't going that fast.
On my 7th birthday I was given one of the best gifts a boy could ever have gotten: a chrome frame Mongoose BMX style bicycle, with mag wheels, and two "Suzuki" button up pads, one on the handlebars, one on the crotch bar. My cousin Carl, who is about 10 years older than me, gave it to me, through my father, who had to weld the frame in an area that had broken.
What made this sort of birthday present even more spectacular was that, growing up on a farm, I had endless possibilities when it came to BMX activities, from riding the bike down to the creek to go swimming with friends, to ramping the bike off of all sorts of different items to see how much air I could get.
It was the latter that got me into trouble one day. I was probably 9 or 10 years old at the time. It was a hot summer day, the kind that would find me riding around on my bike at the farm, wearing only cut off jean shorts, and shoes/socks. For the days event, I had set up an old car tire and some boards leading out of the shed, and I would ride to the back of the shed, then get up a head of steam, and ramp off the boards.
This was working quite well, so I added another car tire to try and get even more air. I rode again to the back of the shed, peddled with all my might, ramped up the boards, lifted on the handlebars, and UP UP in the air I went... much higher than previously.
The next thing I knew, I was hitting the ground in a very painful belly-flop, knocking the wind out of me quite literally. With no shirt on, the gravel tore into my skin, so the secondary screaming pain after getting over the initial shock was the horrific burning where the tiny rocks had embedded into my skin. I can remember looking up through a tear stained gaze and seeing my front wheel bouncing along further down the driveway, and it was then that I realized what had happened: the front wheel had come off in mid jump. And unlike what most people figure would happen, the bike did NOT embed itself into the ground forks first. With the front wheel gone, the bike lost stability, and went sideways, throwing me off.
I ran up the driveway to the house sobbing uncontrollably, and my grandmother, always the caretaker, immediately started tending to my chest and stomach, using cotton balls and... RUBBING ALCOHOL! Third horrific painful shock of the day. Not sure if you've ever had someone put rubbing alcohol on a fresh cut, but it is not in any way pleasant. I would recommend hydrogen peroxide next time. I sat in the house for a couple of hours, watched cartoons, nursed my wounds, a big portion of which was my pride. About 2 hours later I went out to get my bike, thankfully it wasn't damaged, but it took me nearly 20 minutes to find my tire, which had rolled all the way down the interior driveway and across one feedlot into the bushes.
Within a few days the gravel had worked its way out of my skin, and there were no real lasting ill effects of my nasty spill. One of the more interesting notes about all of this was that when my uncle Nick was about my age, he had ridden a 10 speed for the first time down the really steep gravel road south of the farm, didn't know how to stop, and had taken a far worse spill than I did. He believes he still has gravel embedded in his skin to this day. Youch... glad I wasn't going that fast.
Ever Wonder What 20,000 Paratroopers Look Like?
This photo was taken at the annual four-mile Division Run May 16, 2011, at Fort Bragg, N.C. All of the divisional brigades were home for the first time in a long time, which allowed more than 20,000 soldiers to participate in the run. Reminds me of years ago while in basic training at Ft. Benning, when all of the soldiers participated in a 5 mile run. While it looked pretty awesome, these types of runs are like hell on earth if you are near the back of the formation, when the "accordion" effect kicks in, with people stepping on your heels. Still, impressive sight.
This photo was taken at the annual four-mile Division Run May 16, 2011, at Fort Bragg, N.C. All of the divisional brigades were home for the first time in a long time, which allowed more than 20,000 soldiers to participate in the run. Reminds me of years ago while in basic training at Ft. Benning, when all of the soldiers participated in a 5 mile run. While it looked pretty awesome, these types of runs are like hell on earth if you are near the back of the formation, when the "accordion" effect kicks in, with people stepping on your heels. Still, impressive sight.
Sunday, May 29, 2011
TV Worth Watching?
As most people with children know... as parents, you are stuck watching a variety of programs that range from mildly entertaining to overwhelmingly irritating. As I compiled a list of shows that my two little monsters watch on a regular basis, it occurred to me that they have pretty much ultimate control over our television set, except for maybe 2 hours each day, where bell draws the line and takes over (which still irritates lil N' who, by her body gestures, thinks of this as the end of the world).
Anyways, I figured I'd come up with a rating scheme, only as scientific as what my own brain can concoct (so not all that scientific). Overall Kids Appeal is how much my two little ones seem to like the show, Overall Storyline Appeal To Adults is how well grown ups can handle the shows plot and characters, and Overall Ability To Endure Music For Adults is how well grown-ups can handle listening to the music without being completely annoyed, especially by the really crappy catchy jingles that get stuck in your head. Higher scores are better, on a scale of 1 to 10.
Nick Jr
Olivia
Overall Kids Appeal: 9 - Lil N' LOVES this show, I'd say it is one of her top 3 right now. Lil maN doesn't pay much attention to it unless (you'll see a theme here) there is singing or dancing or both going on.
Overall Storyline Appeal To Adults: 8 - Now, mind you, this isn't comparing this show to something like Myth Busters or Saturday Night Live or NCIS, this is a comparison strictly between kids shows listed here. Olivia actually does have a generally interesting plot as kids shows go.
Overall Ability To Endure Music For Adults: 8 - The theme song is easy to listen to, and they don't have much in terms of repetitive music within the show.
Fresh Beat Band
Overall Kids Appeal: 10 - both little ones LOVE this show, as evident by the breakdancing they get into during certain parts of the show when the actors are singing and dancing.
Overall Storyline Appeal To Adults: 7 - I would have given this a far worse rating early on, when all Nick could do was overload us with commercials about this show, but watching it isn't nearly as bad as the commercials indicated.
Overall Ability To Endure Music For Adults: 4 - The songs are pretty dorky, and some can turn into a juke box of the mind, that gets irritating.
Dora The Explorer
Overall Kids Appeal: 8 - Both seem to enjoy it.
Overall Storyline Appeal To Adults: 6 - while some of the stories are just plain ignorant, such as, lets save the magic babies, who, by the way, can fly, but we have to transport them through dangerous areas on the ground in a stroller, they aren't horrible by any means to watch.
Overall Ability To Endure Music For Adults: 6 - somewhat catchy but not as irritating as most.
Go Diego Go
Overall Kids Appeal: See Dora
Overall Storyline Appeal To Adults: See Dora
Overall Ability To Endure Music For Adults: See Dora
Dino Dan
Overall Kids Appeal: 7 - Lil N' enjoys it, Lil maN doesn't really pay attention.
Overall Storyline Appeal To Adults: 4 - I don't know why but this show annoys me, I can't really sit through it unless I'm doing something else.
Overall Ability To Endure Music For Adults: 7 - not much musical content other than the theme song.
Little Bill
Overall Kids Appeal: 3 - neither seem to get into this show.
Overall Storyline Appeal To Adults: 2 - To say a kid's show is boring is probably a general consensus on most of these shows, but Little Bill goes beyond boring to just plain dreadfully bland. It is hard to believe Bill Cosby has anything to do with this show, the writing input is just awful.
Overall Ability To Endure Music For Adults: 4 - Mostly a collection of urban elevator music.
Max And Ruby
Overall Kids Appeal: 5 - Lil N' seemed to like it in the past, but lately I haven't seen them watch it much.
Overall Storyline Appeal To Adults: 4 - It never changes much: Ruby is trying to do something to get a badge as a bunny scout, and Max appears to be screwing that up, but no, wait, in the end he was actually helping. This is the general theme of almost every show.
Overall Ability To Endure Music For Adults: 5 - not heinous, not appealing, just sort of there.
Wow Wow Wubbzy
Overall Kids Appeal: 9 - both seem to like the show
Overall Storyline Appeal To Adults: 8 - catchy fun show, with inventions and funny adventures.
Overall Ability To Endure Music For Adults: 8 - even with the end of show songs that are on, they are light hearted and fun.
The Backyardigans
Overall Kids Appeal: 8 - made up adventures in the back yard for a group of goofy characters, both kids like that.
Overall Storyline Appeal To Adults: 8 - ever changing stories, enough new episodes to keep things fresh.
Overall Ability To Endure Music For Adults: 8 - each show has new songs and dances, the theme song isn't all that appalling.
Yo Gabba Gabba
Overall Kids Appeal: 9 - I don't know what it is about this show that gets both kids excited.
Overall Storyline Appeal To Adults: 7 - So there is a giant studded red dildo as one of the characters, something that would likely have baggage checkers wondering what DJ Lance is up to at the airport, even so, the stories are kind of funny in a "WTF?" sort of manner.
Overall Ability To Endure Music For Adults: 7 - "There's a party in my tummy, so yummy, so yummy!!" The "WTF?" is in effect again, in a good way.
Ni Hao Kai-lan
Overall Kids Appeal: 7 - Lil N' likes this show more than Lil maN.
Overall Storyline Appeal To Adults: 5 - "Uh oh, so and so is mad. Let's find out why". This doesn't seem to change much. There are also problems with the overall presentation of "Chinese" to Americans, considering that the language isn't labeled correctly.
Overall Ability To Endure Music For Adults: 6 - Songs within the show aren't all that long, so it is just the theme song you have to endure.
Wonder Pets
Overall Kids Appeal: 8 - This was a 10 at one time for lil N', now they both watch it but not with the intensity that she used to.
Overall Storyline Appeal To Adults: 7 - Aside from wondering WTF the parents of these animals are up to, and how social services doesn't take their kids away, the different stories about baby animals in trouble aren't all that bad.
Overall Ability To Endure Music For Adults: 7 - "What's gonna work? TEAMWORK!" Catchy little jingles that are funny to repeat.
Team Umizoomi
Overall Kids Appeal: 6 - It may be just a little too advanced for them.
Overall Storyline Appeal To Adults: 5 - I don't know what a dress that creates patterns is all that useful for.
Overall Ability To Endure Music For Adults: 5 - two four six eight lets do the Ubi Shake? Dumb.
Miss Spider Sunny Patch Friends
Overall Kids Appeal: 4 - Not sure why, they just don't really care for this one.
Overall Storyline Appeal To Adults: 5 - plenty of characters, centered around silly catch words like "everybuggy" and so forth.
Overall Ability To Endure Music For Adults: 7 - Not a lot of singing during the show, just the theme song to deal with.
The Upside Down Show
Overall Kids Appeal: 10 - lil N' LOVES this show, but it is on so late she doesn't get much of a chance to ever see it.
Overall Storyline Appeal To Adults: 8 - bell would probably disagree, but I find this show to be stupidly funny.
Overall Ability To Endure Music For Adults: 8 - Even the theme song doesn't contain a lot of music.
Blues Clues
Overall Kids Appeal: Story of two shows... 10 for Steve, 6 for Joe, even for the kids it is that way.
Overall Storyline Appeal To Adults: 8 for Steve, 2 for Joe. Something about Joe is just... insincere, he comes off as totally fake.
Overall Ability To Endure Music For Adults: 8 - "We just got a letter, we just got a letter" It was fun to watch lil N' sing this song for probably a year.
Oswald
Overall Kids Appeal: 4 - too bland for even the kids.
Overall Storyline Appeal To Adults: 3 - the show is... sort of depressing.
Overall Ability To Endure Music For Adults: 5 - I never even see the show anymore, not sure if it is on or not.
PBS
Sesame Street
Overall Kids Appeal: 8 - lil maN LOVES it, for some reason lil N' isn't into it all that much anymore.
Overall Storyline Appeal To Adults: 8 - while my attention span isn't as short as the kids' is, the 1 to 3 minute short scripts aren't bad.
Overall Ability To Endure Music For Adults: 8 - enough differentiation to help make it through for just about anyone.
Super Why
Overall Kids Appeal: 7 - here recently lil N' has been getting into this, may be an age thing.
Overall Storyline Appeal To Adults: 4 - I can't find much to even remember about the show, this is one that sort of disappears into the background for me.
Overall Ability To Endure Music For Adults: 8 - Again, can't remember how the music goes.
WordWorld
Overall Kids Appeal: 8 - lil N' likes to announce what it is she is looking at.
Overall Storyline Appeal To Adults: 5 - I understand the theme but it gets old pretty quick.
Overall Ability To Endure Music For Adults: 6 - theme song is a bit irritating but not overly offensive to my ear sensibilities.
Martha Speaks
Overall Kids Appeal: 5 - kind of boring
Overall Storyline Appeal To Adults: 3 - see above, if it is boring for them, it is really boring to me.
Overall Ability To Endure Music For Adults: 5 - can't even place the theme song right now.
Curious George
Overall Kids Appeal: 5 - aside from lil N' getting a kick out of the monkey doing something, not much to go with here.
Overall Storyline Appeal To Adults: 5 - stories are diversified enough to keep from getting a lower score.
Overall Ability To Endure Music For Adults: 7 - songs aren't all that catchy.
Sid The Science Kid
Overall Kids Appeal: 9 - singing and dancing gets both of them involved.
Overall Storyline Appeal To Adults: 7 - classroom activities are diversified, along with home settings.
Overall Ability To Endure Music For Adults: 6 - theme song gets a bit long.
Clifford The Big Red Dog
Overall Kids Appeal: 4 - neither seem too much into this.
Overall Storyline Appeal To Adults: 2 - boring
Overall Ability To Endure Music For Adults: 7 - can't even place it
Barney And Friends
Overall Kids Appeal: 8 - *sigh* they love it
Overall Storyline Appeal To Adults: 1 - sorry barney, there is very little I can find about your show that is intellectually stimulating.
Overall Ability To Endure Music For Adults: 1 - VERY annoying, just plain dumb.
Caillou
Overall Kids Appeal: 2 - again, neither seem into it.
Overall Storyline Appeal To Adults: 1 - whiny kid needs a spanking if you ask me
Overall Ability To Endure Music For Adults: 4 - annoying
Bob The Builder
Overall Kids Appeal: 7 - construction equipment and building stuff, what more can be said?
Overall Storyline Appeal To Adults: 6 - hell Robot Chicken did a spin on it, that has to count for something.
Overall Ability To Endure Music For Adults: 6 "WE CAN BUILD IT"
Dinosaur Train
Overall Kids Appeal: 9 - both love it.
Overall Storyline Appeal To Adults: 8 - decent storylines, and a paleontologist at the end to talk about the dinosaurs in the show? not bad
Overall Ability To Endure Music For Adults: 8 - catchy and fun
Disney
Mickey Mouse Clubhouse
Overall Kids Appeal: 10 - can this be an 11? It is both their favorites. Thank GOD for the DVDs on long trips.
Overall Storyline Appeal To Adults: 8 - plenty of "goofy" characters.
Overall Ability To Endure Music For Adults: 8 - theme song may be catchy but it is fun.
Handy Manny
Overall Kids Appeal: 8 - Tools that talk, building stuff, they like that.
Overall Storyline Appeal To Adults: 6 - a bit boring but enough characters to keep it from getting overly so.
Overall Ability To Endure Music For Adults: 7 - theme song is all there basically is for music.
Imagination Movers
Overall Kids Appeal: 8 - was a 10 to lil N' at one time, thank GOD not so much anymore.
Overall Storyline Appeal To Adults: 3 - I find the stars to be really annoying, especially the boring uncle character.
Overall Ability To Endure Music For Adults: 1 - HATE the theme song, and the music is really really annoying.
Special Agent Oso
Overall Kids Appeal: 9 - lil N' loves it.
Overall Storyline Appeal To Adults: 3 - stuffed bear that is apparently dense as a brick but somehow is a super hero?
Overall Ability To Endure Music For Adults: 1 - they get stuck in your head like a nail pounded into your skull, did someone just stab my earhole with a musical knife?
So, yah, our kids see quite a few of these 'educational' shows each week. Doesn't seem to hurt them at all, lil N', by all accounts, is apparently the smartest person in her class at daycare.
As most people with children know... as parents, you are stuck watching a variety of programs that range from mildly entertaining to overwhelmingly irritating. As I compiled a list of shows that my two little monsters watch on a regular basis, it occurred to me that they have pretty much ultimate control over our television set, except for maybe 2 hours each day, where bell draws the line and takes over (which still irritates lil N' who, by her body gestures, thinks of this as the end of the world).
Anyways, I figured I'd come up with a rating scheme, only as scientific as what my own brain can concoct (so not all that scientific). Overall Kids Appeal is how much my two little ones seem to like the show, Overall Storyline Appeal To Adults is how well grown ups can handle the shows plot and characters, and Overall Ability To Endure Music For Adults is how well grown-ups can handle listening to the music without being completely annoyed, especially by the really crappy catchy jingles that get stuck in your head. Higher scores are better, on a scale of 1 to 10.
Nick Jr
Olivia
Overall Kids Appeal: 9 - Lil N' LOVES this show, I'd say it is one of her top 3 right now. Lil maN doesn't pay much attention to it unless (you'll see a theme here) there is singing or dancing or both going on.
Overall Storyline Appeal To Adults: 8 - Now, mind you, this isn't comparing this show to something like Myth Busters or Saturday Night Live or NCIS, this is a comparison strictly between kids shows listed here. Olivia actually does have a generally interesting plot as kids shows go.
Overall Ability To Endure Music For Adults: 8 - The theme song is easy to listen to, and they don't have much in terms of repetitive music within the show.
Fresh Beat Band
Overall Kids Appeal: 10 - both little ones LOVE this show, as evident by the breakdancing they get into during certain parts of the show when the actors are singing and dancing.
Overall Storyline Appeal To Adults: 7 - I would have given this a far worse rating early on, when all Nick could do was overload us with commercials about this show, but watching it isn't nearly as bad as the commercials indicated.
Overall Ability To Endure Music For Adults: 4 - The songs are pretty dorky, and some can turn into a juke box of the mind, that gets irritating.
Dora The Explorer
Overall Kids Appeal: 8 - Both seem to enjoy it.
Overall Storyline Appeal To Adults: 6 - while some of the stories are just plain ignorant, such as, lets save the magic babies, who, by the way, can fly, but we have to transport them through dangerous areas on the ground in a stroller, they aren't horrible by any means to watch.
Overall Ability To Endure Music For Adults: 6 - somewhat catchy but not as irritating as most.
Go Diego Go
Overall Kids Appeal: See Dora
Overall Storyline Appeal To Adults: See Dora
Overall Ability To Endure Music For Adults: See Dora
Dino Dan
Overall Kids Appeal: 7 - Lil N' enjoys it, Lil maN doesn't really pay attention.
Overall Storyline Appeal To Adults: 4 - I don't know why but this show annoys me, I can't really sit through it unless I'm doing something else.
Overall Ability To Endure Music For Adults: 7 - not much musical content other than the theme song.
Little Bill
Overall Kids Appeal: 3 - neither seem to get into this show.
Overall Storyline Appeal To Adults: 2 - To say a kid's show is boring is probably a general consensus on most of these shows, but Little Bill goes beyond boring to just plain dreadfully bland. It is hard to believe Bill Cosby has anything to do with this show, the writing input is just awful.
Overall Ability To Endure Music For Adults: 4 - Mostly a collection of urban elevator music.
Max And Ruby
Overall Kids Appeal: 5 - Lil N' seemed to like it in the past, but lately I haven't seen them watch it much.
Overall Storyline Appeal To Adults: 4 - It never changes much: Ruby is trying to do something to get a badge as a bunny scout, and Max appears to be screwing that up, but no, wait, in the end he was actually helping. This is the general theme of almost every show.
Overall Ability To Endure Music For Adults: 5 - not heinous, not appealing, just sort of there.
Wow Wow Wubbzy
Overall Kids Appeal: 9 - both seem to like the show
Overall Storyline Appeal To Adults: 8 - catchy fun show, with inventions and funny adventures.
Overall Ability To Endure Music For Adults: 8 - even with the end of show songs that are on, they are light hearted and fun.
The Backyardigans
Overall Kids Appeal: 8 - made up adventures in the back yard for a group of goofy characters, both kids like that.
Overall Storyline Appeal To Adults: 8 - ever changing stories, enough new episodes to keep things fresh.
Overall Ability To Endure Music For Adults: 8 - each show has new songs and dances, the theme song isn't all that appalling.
Yo Gabba Gabba
Overall Kids Appeal: 9 - I don't know what it is about this show that gets both kids excited.
Overall Storyline Appeal To Adults: 7 - So there is a giant studded red dildo as one of the characters, something that would likely have baggage checkers wondering what DJ Lance is up to at the airport, even so, the stories are kind of funny in a "WTF?" sort of manner.
Overall Ability To Endure Music For Adults: 7 - "There's a party in my tummy, so yummy, so yummy!!" The "WTF?" is in effect again, in a good way.
Ni Hao Kai-lan
Overall Kids Appeal: 7 - Lil N' likes this show more than Lil maN.
Overall Storyline Appeal To Adults: 5 - "Uh oh, so and so is mad. Let's find out why". This doesn't seem to change much. There are also problems with the overall presentation of "Chinese" to Americans, considering that the language isn't labeled correctly.
Overall Ability To Endure Music For Adults: 6 - Songs within the show aren't all that long, so it is just the theme song you have to endure.
Wonder Pets
Overall Kids Appeal: 8 - This was a 10 at one time for lil N', now they both watch it but not with the intensity that she used to.
Overall Storyline Appeal To Adults: 7 - Aside from wondering WTF the parents of these animals are up to, and how social services doesn't take their kids away, the different stories about baby animals in trouble aren't all that bad.
Overall Ability To Endure Music For Adults: 7 - "What's gonna work? TEAMWORK!" Catchy little jingles that are funny to repeat.
Team Umizoomi
Overall Kids Appeal: 6 - It may be just a little too advanced for them.
Overall Storyline Appeal To Adults: 5 - I don't know what a dress that creates patterns is all that useful for.
Overall Ability To Endure Music For Adults: 5 - two four six eight lets do the Ubi Shake? Dumb.
Miss Spider Sunny Patch Friends
Overall Kids Appeal: 4 - Not sure why, they just don't really care for this one.
Overall Storyline Appeal To Adults: 5 - plenty of characters, centered around silly catch words like "everybuggy" and so forth.
Overall Ability To Endure Music For Adults: 7 - Not a lot of singing during the show, just the theme song to deal with.
The Upside Down Show
Overall Kids Appeal: 10 - lil N' LOVES this show, but it is on so late she doesn't get much of a chance to ever see it.
Overall Storyline Appeal To Adults: 8 - bell would probably disagree, but I find this show to be stupidly funny.
Overall Ability To Endure Music For Adults: 8 - Even the theme song doesn't contain a lot of music.
Blues Clues
Overall Kids Appeal: Story of two shows... 10 for Steve, 6 for Joe, even for the kids it is that way.
Overall Storyline Appeal To Adults: 8 for Steve, 2 for Joe. Something about Joe is just... insincere, he comes off as totally fake.
Overall Ability To Endure Music For Adults: 8 - "We just got a letter, we just got a letter" It was fun to watch lil N' sing this song for probably a year.
Oswald
Overall Kids Appeal: 4 - too bland for even the kids.
Overall Storyline Appeal To Adults: 3 - the show is... sort of depressing.
Overall Ability To Endure Music For Adults: 5 - I never even see the show anymore, not sure if it is on or not.
PBS
Sesame Street
Overall Kids Appeal: 8 - lil maN LOVES it, for some reason lil N' isn't into it all that much anymore.
Overall Storyline Appeal To Adults: 8 - while my attention span isn't as short as the kids' is, the 1 to 3 minute short scripts aren't bad.
Overall Ability To Endure Music For Adults: 8 - enough differentiation to help make it through for just about anyone.
Super Why
Overall Kids Appeal: 7 - here recently lil N' has been getting into this, may be an age thing.
Overall Storyline Appeal To Adults: 4 - I can't find much to even remember about the show, this is one that sort of disappears into the background for me.
Overall Ability To Endure Music For Adults: 8 - Again, can't remember how the music goes.
WordWorld
Overall Kids Appeal: 8 - lil N' likes to announce what it is she is looking at.
Overall Storyline Appeal To Adults: 5 - I understand the theme but it gets old pretty quick.
Overall Ability To Endure Music For Adults: 6 - theme song is a bit irritating but not overly offensive to my ear sensibilities.
Martha Speaks
Overall Kids Appeal: 5 - kind of boring
Overall Storyline Appeal To Adults: 3 - see above, if it is boring for them, it is really boring to me.
Overall Ability To Endure Music For Adults: 5 - can't even place the theme song right now.
Curious George
Overall Kids Appeal: 5 - aside from lil N' getting a kick out of the monkey doing something, not much to go with here.
Overall Storyline Appeal To Adults: 5 - stories are diversified enough to keep from getting a lower score.
Overall Ability To Endure Music For Adults: 7 - songs aren't all that catchy.
Sid The Science Kid
Overall Kids Appeal: 9 - singing and dancing gets both of them involved.
Overall Storyline Appeal To Adults: 7 - classroom activities are diversified, along with home settings.
Overall Ability To Endure Music For Adults: 6 - theme song gets a bit long.
Clifford The Big Red Dog
Overall Kids Appeal: 4 - neither seem too much into this.
Overall Storyline Appeal To Adults: 2 - boring
Overall Ability To Endure Music For Adults: 7 - can't even place it
Barney And Friends
Overall Kids Appeal: 8 - *sigh* they love it
Overall Storyline Appeal To Adults: 1 - sorry barney, there is very little I can find about your show that is intellectually stimulating.
Overall Ability To Endure Music For Adults: 1 - VERY annoying, just plain dumb.
Caillou
Overall Kids Appeal: 2 - again, neither seem into it.
Overall Storyline Appeal To Adults: 1 - whiny kid needs a spanking if you ask me
Overall Ability To Endure Music For Adults: 4 - annoying
Bob The Builder
Overall Kids Appeal: 7 - construction equipment and building stuff, what more can be said?
Overall Storyline Appeal To Adults: 6 - hell Robot Chicken did a spin on it, that has to count for something.
Overall Ability To Endure Music For Adults: 6 "WE CAN BUILD IT"
Dinosaur Train
Overall Kids Appeal: 9 - both love it.
Overall Storyline Appeal To Adults: 8 - decent storylines, and a paleontologist at the end to talk about the dinosaurs in the show? not bad
Overall Ability To Endure Music For Adults: 8 - catchy and fun
Disney
Mickey Mouse Clubhouse
Overall Kids Appeal: 10 - can this be an 11? It is both their favorites. Thank GOD for the DVDs on long trips.
Overall Storyline Appeal To Adults: 8 - plenty of "goofy" characters.
Overall Ability To Endure Music For Adults: 8 - theme song may be catchy but it is fun.
Handy Manny
Overall Kids Appeal: 8 - Tools that talk, building stuff, they like that.
Overall Storyline Appeal To Adults: 6 - a bit boring but enough characters to keep it from getting overly so.
Overall Ability To Endure Music For Adults: 7 - theme song is all there basically is for music.
Imagination Movers
Overall Kids Appeal: 8 - was a 10 to lil N' at one time, thank GOD not so much anymore.
Overall Storyline Appeal To Adults: 3 - I find the stars to be really annoying, especially the boring uncle character.
Overall Ability To Endure Music For Adults: 1 - HATE the theme song, and the music is really really annoying.
Special Agent Oso
Overall Kids Appeal: 9 - lil N' loves it.
Overall Storyline Appeal To Adults: 3 - stuffed bear that is apparently dense as a brick but somehow is a super hero?
Overall Ability To Endure Music For Adults: 1 - they get stuck in your head like a nail pounded into your skull, did someone just stab my earhole with a musical knife?
So, yah, our kids see quite a few of these 'educational' shows each week. Doesn't seem to hurt them at all, lil N', by all accounts, is apparently the smartest person in her class at daycare.
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