I just came across a little blurb about a new product - Lysol To Go. At first I wasn’t sure why I would want to take my Lysol spray with me - anywhere. I am not that germ-aphobic. But then it dawned on me, my kids are older.

The number one reason this product is awesome, especially for newer parents - are you with me? - diaper changing tables in public restrooms. Need I say more?

So, if you’ve got a little one, you may want to stash one of these in your diaper bag. I wish this handy little Lysol To Go was out when my kids were in diapers - oh, the memories!

Photo by aol.com

Would you want to eat here? After reading this article at AOL, I am finding my local restaurant choices to be a bit boring.

I wonder if they have a children’s menu?

I was recently introduced to PopCap Games by one of my readers, Aimee.

It seems that PopCap Games can be found at popcap.com. Ok - online games, nothing too new and exciting about that. But yet what Aimee said intrigued me. Apparently 5,000,000 users play PopCap games each month. And of these PopCap games players 78% are women and the average player is married with at least one child.

Why are women attracted to PopCap games? What is the draw? Of course I had to check it out. In her email, Aimee briefly outlined some of the PopCap games at popcap.com - Bejewelled, Peggle, Chuzzle to name a few. These games are mind challenging - brain games, if you will. I have heard of these, but never actually played them. Aimee even went so far as to say that in addition to being entertaining, playing these games are good for your health. Huh? Apparently, studies have shown that playing a casual game (which is some type of technical term for what PopCap games really are) can lower stress levels. Basically, the games give you the opportunity to take a “mental break”.

At popcap.com you can play PopCap games online free or download the Deluxe versions to your computer for free. If you love the game you can then then purchase the complete version of the game for unlimited play. I only played the games online so can’t provide much insight into the downloadable versions. I also notice that you can purchase these games for download to your iPod (check for compatiblity) - a perfect time passer for when you have to wait.

The bottom line - PopCap Games are addicting. I enjoyed the Mummy Maze, Bejewelled, and Book Worm. And then I had to tear myself away. If you set your own timer while you play you may reduce stress. But if you play the day away, all of your other responsibilities will still be waiting!

Definitely worth bookmarking.

Parents need to show this math video to their kids! In a day and age where we idolize celebrities because of superficial traits like looks and sporting prowess, this video showcases “intelligent talent”. Kids need to understand that smarts is a good quality to have. You will be amazed at Arthur Benjamin’s math talent - enjoy Mathemagic!

Today I read the New York Times with a very heavy heart. There has been another school shooting massacre at the Northern Illinois University. An unnamed gunman opened fire in a lecture hall, killing five students and injuring sixteen before killing himself. At this time it appears that the shooter was a former graduate student at the University. (Update - the killer has now been identified as Stephen P. Kazmierczak, age 27, and four of the victims have been identified as Daniel Parmenter, age 20, Catalina Garcia, age 20, Ryanne Mace, age 19, and Julianna Gehant, age 32.)

As a parent, I feel helpless. Schools and universities were once considered safe environments in which children could make the transition to adulthood. What is happening to that sheltered place? What can be done to stop it from happening over and over again? Why are children falling at the hands of their classmates? And what is happening to society that people cannot manage their anger or inner demons?

This was not the only depressing story in this morning’s National news. The New York Times featured two other stories that caught my eye and broke my heart. One story was headlined Attacks on the Homeless Rise, With Youths Mostly to Blame and the other When Strains on Military Families Turn Deadly. All three stories have one common theme - brutal acts of crime committed by young people.

Why? Have violent tv shows, video games, and movies desensitized today’s youth? Or are the pressures too heavy to handle? Or are we not teaching our children the skills to cope with stress or at least the knowledge to recognize that they need help and that help is available?

And what about the victims? How do families come to terms with the fact that their loved one was taken from them randomly because of someone else’s rage?

It is just all so senseless.