Children's television must rely on merchandising

A masterful article at Guardian UK Why Children's Television Must Rely on Merchandising. It's a battle and constant discussion we're always having with suppliers, licensees, studios, and creative folks that's all part of the big picture, "how do you make money in children's television." The shock on people's faces when we were doing Wishbone and told them, "No, PBS doesn't pay to produce the episodes," was constant. It barely paid for the kibble. Take a read. It's a fascinating study. Thanks, Guardian.

Zooburst

Found this very cool, fun site thanks to the folks at read write web. It's called Zooburst, and it lets you create your own 3D pop up book. You can upload your own images or use theirs, and they have a nice design to the ones they have available. Not only does it play as a flash movie, but it also plays as a 3d image through your camcorder...kinda looks like you're holding the book in your hand.

It's in its very early stages, so there is a bit of a learning curve, and a few things - like character dialoge--not working quite yet--but it's real close and very fun. It is accepting new users on a slow roll out basis, but I got it right away. So good luck. It's definitely worth playing around with and definitely has some fun potential for adults...um, I mean kids...

Bill Moyers Journal

See if you can find the time to take a look online at Bill Moyer's last Bill Moyers Journal.. He is retiring from broadcasting after four decades, though apparently it will be kept alive in an online life. One of the saddest parts of not working on a PBS show anymore was missing out on hearing Bill Moyer's speak at the PBS conventions. Not only were they the most insightful, enriching, and empowering moments of the week, but he always made himself available to talk to anyone afterwards. He is a truly remarkable, articulate, empathetic man who knows how to cut through the media rubble more clearly than anyone.

The first story is exactly the heart of what Bill Moyer's cared about most: people. Iowa Citizens for Community Improvement shows the other side of a movement in the country that sees the need for change and does something about it without the politics and anti government spewing a few other groups the media is more fond of sharing these days.

The second is a wonderful interview with Jim Hightower. I can't believe he's right here in Texas. The heart of which may be described as a quote from his mother, "Two wrongs don't make a right but three left turns do."

And finally, there is an interview with Barry Lopez, the award winning author who talks about nature, spirit, and the human condition.

It will be time well spent.

Boys, Books, and Teen Brains

We've talked with partners for a long time about "books for boys." Why don't they read? What do they want to read? Does it matter that they're not reading? What can we write that they WILL read? There are a couple of articles with some intriguing insight, including today's Nicholas Kristoff op-ed piece in the Times, The Boys Have Fallen Behind. The Center on Education Policy confirms that boys have fallen behind in reading in every single state. Some argue “The world has gotten more verbal...Boys haven’t.”

The answer may surprise some. ..."Encourage lowbrow, adventure or even gross-out books...Indeed, the more books make parents flinch, the more they seem to suck boys in."

Kristoff shares a very cool idea, the website, guysread.com, that offers useful lists of books to coax boys into reading, and they are helpfully sorted into categories like “ghosts,” “boxers, wrestlers, ultimate fighters,” and “at least one explosion.”

And while we're looking at the boys/reading dynamic, take a look at NPR's look at the differences in the teen age brain and the adult brain. It may answer more questions than just why boys don't read. It's a fascinating article that may explain why your kids are doing what they're doing and that they might not have any idea WHY they're doing what they're doing. Their frontal lobes are not fully connected, and that leads to a lack of insight, excitability, and their being self centered. Sound like some one you know? Or knew?

Maybe they should read a good gross out book?

The Kids are All Right

A beautiful pause in the health care debate from Thomas Friedman in the NYT today, reminding us that there is hope that we're doing some things right thanks to the kids of recent immigrants. See http://www.nytimes.com/2010/03/21/opinion/21friedman.html

He wrote:

Gotta say, it was the most inspiring evening I’ve had in D.C. in 20 years. It left me thinking, “If we can just get a few things right — immigration, education standards, bandwidth, fiscal policy — maybe we’ll be O.K.” It left me feeling that maybe Alice Wei Zhao of North High School in Sheboygan, Wis., chosen by her fellow finalists to be their spokeswoman, was right when she told the audience: “Don’t sweat about the problems our generation will have to deal with. Believe me, our future is in good hands.”

As long as we don’t shut our doors.

You can read about the Intel Contest here: http://www.societyforscience.org/STS/