A great, short profile directed by Spike Jonze

‘”What To Expect” is, then, finally, a self-fulfilling prophesy, because what to expect as an expectant mother today is to be bombarded with information about how you are doing it wrong—whether it is carrying a baby in your womb, pushing it out, or raising it.’

‘When it comes to IVF, in-vitro fertilization, nothing is normal. Your world is upside-down. Your doctor compliments your wife on her monkeys. Then, when every dollar and exertion has gone toward a single hour of hope, it begins to snow.’

This piece is incredibly sad. But it is hopeful also. The expansion of pet-based forensic science teams, the increasing intersection of psychological examinations of pet abuse and how it relates to bad home situations, and the use of animals for therapeutic practice are three wonderful things. A must-read.

Why are so many women willingly giving up their identities and letting their children take over? And are our children being overly coddled as a result?

This must be the best children's show ever.

Basically: It's sometimes amateurish, and there's troubling misogyny, but is that so bad? I say, and I think this is what Kevin is getting at, is that the age-old paradigm of adults worrying about young minds being influenced by media is a bit more complicated -- I think more than a new idea being introduced and etched onto a young mind by 'Twilight', the more likely circumstance is that the ideas therein subtly reinforce existing ideas that the child is already exposed to.

"This is the best invention of all and I can’t even hardly believe someone has finally taken the time to invent this. You’ve probably seen this at any local pizzeria located within an audioanimatronic aviary."

"A politically charged photography exhibition" -- she took away her subjects' lollipops and photographed them. Caught flak. Wanted "to convey that the children, if they knew, would be really upset about the way the world is going."

So far, my favorite of the "Takeaway Shows" series. This is why I love music, plain and simple. Absolutely amazing.

A "nefarious chicken-finger pandemic?" "It pains me that many children now grow up eating little besides golden-brown logs of kid food, especially in a time when the quality, variety and availability of good ingredients is better than ever."