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I am a huge fan of Negroponte’s uberlly successful project, the XO laptop.  I bought one last year.

Unfortunately, the initial  operating system, Sugar, was difficult for my daughter and I to navigate.  I am smart but not that smart. Alana soon found my laptop to be much easier than her own. Her XO sat for much of the year and then Sugar 8.20 was released. Without much fanfare or confusion, I updated the operating system and began navigating through the new version of the activities. I was instantly impressed. I could now use the applications/activities without getting a headache!

Together we have programed a ballerina to jump and talk (in Alana’s voice).  Alana can browse the internet and play games on PBSKids.org. She laments that her XO is the only XO inher neighborhood so she can’t use the chat activity yet. She now looks forward to using her laptop.

This year it is easier than ever to order an XO. Amazon is handling the  fulfillment of your order, which is great! I encourage everyone to get one for their child (if only to satisfy Alana’s desire for a chat buddy). I believe that the little laptop has big lessons and offers great opportunities for parent and child interactions.  Most of all, I champion the projects global impact on thousands of children. Most of whom would not have regular interactions with a computer and now have a laptop of their own.

An excellent opportunity to give! The One Laptop Per Child organization will give an XO laptop to a child in Afghanistan, Cambodia, Haiti, Mongolia or Rwanda when you purchase one. http://laptop.org/

Reviews for the XO laptop….

GIVE.GIVE.GIVE.GIVE.GIVE.GIVE.

The NYT says….

I was on the verge of a breakdown or a breakthrough!  I made it through y’all!

 Allow me to toot my own horn for just a minute. I manifested a smoke free life, the perfect apartment for Alana and myself and the funds to keep it all moving! I am estatic and am prepared to put in the work to continue the ball rolling in the direction of independence and wealth.

 Next; A CAR!  Yippeee

is dark brown aka African-American. Her name is Maddy and is known as the “Frog Princess.”

The Frog Princess, huh? Isn’t that the story of a princess/prince who is an actual frog? The plot involes a frog who can sew, cook and create a heavenly abode her potential mate just can’t get over her being a frog? Or in this case an African-American chambermaid…….

Disney is not spilling the beans of the story line. They are providing some pictures from their corporate event which unveiled the project and this official news release.

Who is Maddy? How closely is the story modeled on the traditional frog princess/prince tales? Are we to take a hint from their other princess of color stories and sigh, wince, grit our teeth for the worse? Do we allow for the possibility that Disney has finally gotten its formula to work for folks of color? It is possible for Disney, after 70 years of developing fairy tales for America’s youth, fairly deliver, in integrity and respect, an African-American princess who will be loved by people of all colors?

I have to say, I am really not sure about this one. The potential is there but according to information found on-line there is also a great possibility that this can be a huge debackle. The traditional frog Princess/Prince is a tale of finding a good mate without investing too much on looks. In one version a mother has her three sons ask their potential mates to spin flax and who ever does it best will be her most beloved daughter-in-law.

Why is Maddy the Frog Princess? Could it be those European beauty standards get in the way and therefore she has to make her impression on a prince through hard work?

Gritting teeth…..Here is the cast as reported from a casting call:

• Maddy - A 19-year-old chambermaid.
• Charlotte La Bouff - A 18-year-old spoiled, southern Debutante and Diva.
• Dr. Duvalier - An African American Voodoo magician/fortune teller. The villain of the movie.
• Mama Odie - An elderly, 200-year-old Voodoo priestess/fairy god-mother.
• Ray - A lovesick Cajun firefly.
• Louis - A Jazz singer alligator.
• Prince Harry - A gregarious, fun-loving European Prince, in his early twenties.
• Lawrence - Prince Harry’s pompous valet.
• Big Daddy La Bouff - Wealthy, Southern plantation landowner and father of Charlotte La Bouff.
• Eudora - Maddy’s mother. In her fifties. Used to be Charlotte’s nurse maid.
• George - The La Bouff family’s cook.
• Little Arila - Maddy’s little sister. She’s little, but very smart

Maybe, the European male character doesn’t have that much to do with Maddy and he doesn’t take her to the ball in the end. There are other possibilities.

I have one question for the person who decided to call the villain, Dr. Duvalier: “Were you high?” LOL Papa Doc, I am screaming! I guess you are not expecting too many Haitian immigrants to complain about that one huh? UUhhmmm, Disney Executives, holla at me if you need help keeping this one clean……

Let me state right here and right now, that I want Disney to succeed. I really want to be able to give my five year old a copy of the Frog Princess. I do not want to give the impression of being unduly harsh. I am not a huge fan of Disney, but I have been to Disneyworld and Disneyland and really want those of us from the African diaspora to fit into American culture like everyone else. Oh wait, who really fits into American culture?

Cheers to high hopes for Maddy who was given a nickname instead of a proper name……

Papa Doc (shakes head, seriously though they’ll change it right?)

In recent months my attention has been overwhelmed with a persistent effort to redefine my life paradigm, essentially me. I know my psychological health is of the utmost importance for my daughter, myself and the Universe. As I become stronger and more able to my full and authentic self, I often ask how I can impart the lessons I have learned to my five year old daughter.

Of course, our children often learn to perceive the world from their parents. Thus, a happy disposition and hopeful attitude toward life gives your child the ability to approach their life experiences with these tools. In addition to the perspective I offer her, I would also like to surround her with toys, books and movies that can offer her a reinforcement of my ideals.

I am realizing that when you set an intention, the Universe quickly answers. I was at Barnes and Noble (Park Slope, Brooklyn) last night for a hot second. The B69, which I needed to get home was not due for another half hour. I went to get a coffee at the Starbuck’s there. Most of the mega-store locations in NYC are bi-level and I dared not descend the escalator to the adult fiction or children’s sections, I’d miss the bus that only runs twice an hour and be forced to take a car service and waste $12 -15.

Anyway, they have a big table upstairs that is full of the neighborhood’s most popular children’s book. One was a beautifully illustrated picture book called Zen Shorts. It caught my eye because of the cherry blossoms and panda with an umbrella. Not having time to read the entire book in the store, I grabbed it and read it on the bus, which incredibly enough, was right on time. The book is just what I was looking for.

I appreciate Jon J Muth’s brilliance in offering traditional Zen concepts on a level any child can absorb. Zen Shorts created a space for my daughter and me to discuss the concept that sometimes “good” things may turn out to be not so “good” and “bad” things may not be so “bad.” I was also amazed the book kept Alana’s attention. If she is not satisfied with her bed time book she usually asks for another and when she really loves a book we have to read it two or three times.

She did not ask to read it twice; but we did have great conversation. She was pleased with her understanding. It was good for me to experience again, the joy of actively giving Alana life affirming tools, which empower her to better navigate her experiences.