by admin | May 17, 2018 | Blog, Toy Reviews
BattleBots is one of the best family shows on television. After a year hiatus, thankfully Discovery Networks (Discovery and Science Channel) decided to revive the show. BattleBots like a mashup of mixed martial arts and a monster truck battle. Two remote controlled robots are put into a bulletproof cage and let loose on each other until one bot dies. There are fireworks and head on collisions, loose wheels flying, flame throwers and screaming and laughter and … I could go on and on.
We were invited to be guests at live taping of the show in Long Beach, California. I went into the old airplane hanger happy to escort my 11-year-old robotics-obsessed son to the event. I had no illusion that I, too, would have a blast. I was so wrong. It was one of the most entertaining events I’ve been to with or without my kids. Now we are excited to see how the season plays out. Who will battle who? What damage will be inflicted? What crazy antics will we see? We can’t wait.
There is so much I loved about BattleBots. Old people compete against young people. Men versus women. Kids and families against large BattleBot crews. Some have competed for years. Others are newbies in their first battle ever. There was a 15-year-old girl sitting in front of me with a giant pink bow in her hair. She was as enthralled in the action as my son. And what’s cool is that on a basic level BattleBots are just good entertainment. But the show also highlights how physics, engineering and robotics all play a vital role in the design of these massive 250 pound machines.
The Sharkoprion team
The names of the bots are inspiring. Some favorites are Sharkoprion, Huge (with the best tag line: We’re Kind of a Big Deal), Ultimo Destructo, Petunia, Minotaur and Kraken. We were lucky enough to sit next to Peter Lombardo from the Huge team. My son spent three hours picking Peter’s brain about robotics and building. And to his credit, Peter patiently and enthusiastically responded to each and every question. It was like they live in this universe were science is the coolest thing there is, and it was so awesome to witness.
You can catch Battlebots on both the Discovery and Science channels. Season 3 began on May 11 so check it out to see which bot survives until the end. The show airs at 8 pm.
My son Emmett’s review for your kids:
Battlebots is a TV show where groups of people make big robots. They use different blades and weapons to try to make the other robot immobile. They are in this big square ring with hammers and blockers on the sides. You try to drive around and hit the opponents with a weapon. You win if your opponent stops moving and becomes stuck.
Anyone can do it, and you can build what you want. There are so many different things that can happen. It’s fun seeing what different tools each robot has. It’s just a fun environment. It was so cool to see the inside of every robot. In real life they are actually big, not as tiny as I thought.
It’s always unpredictable and crazy seeing each bot that someone works so hard on gets blown up. No one cares. It’s just fun to compete. It was amazing to see how someone can completely destroy the opponent, rip them apart or melt them. It’s just really entertaining.
by admin | May 12, 2018 | Dear Family Coach
An Uncooperative Bar Mitzvah Boy and a Budding Rapper for 05/12/2018
Dear Family Coach
Dear Family Coach: My son is scheduled to have his bar mitzvah next year, and it’s a very important event for our family. Unfortunately, he doesn’t see it that way. He never practices; he drags his feet to Hebrew school; and he has said repeatedly that he doesn’t care about Judaism. What can I do to change his attitude? – Kosher Pickle
Dear Kosher: This is a tough one because it involves faith and family and so many things you clearly hold dear. However, you’re pretty limited in what can be done. I’m guessing you’ve explained why his bar mitzvah is an important event. He likely knows the significance of the ritual and the history of the Jewish people. And yet, none of that has swayed him. At this point, you have two choices. You can continue to beg and bribe him until he finally makes it to the event. But you can’t complain if he doesn’t wow the crowd. The other option is to do absolutely nothing.
Updated: Sat May 12, 2018
An Uncooperative Bar Mitzvah Boy and a Budding Rapper for 05/12/2018
by admin | May 12, 2018 | Dear Family Coach
An Uncooperative Bar Mitzvah Boy and a Budding Rapper for 05/12/2018
Dear Family Coach
Dear Family Coach: My son is scheduled to have his bar mitzvah next year, and it’s a very important event for our family. Unfortunately, he doesn’t see it that way. He never practices; he drags his feet to Hebrew school; and he has said repeatedly that he doesn’t care about Judaism. What can I do to change his attitude? – Kosher Pickle
Dear Kosher: This is a tough one because it involves faith and family and so many things you clearly hold dear. However, you’re pretty limited in what can be done. I’m guessing you’ve explained why his bar mitzvah is an important event. He likely knows the significance of the ritual and the history of the Jewish people. And yet, none of that has swayed him. At this point, you have two choices. You can continue to beg and bribe him until he finally makes it to the event. But you can’t complain if he doesn’t wow the crowd. The other option is to do absolutely nothing.
Updated: Sat May 12, 2018
An Uncooperative Bar Mitzvah Boy and a Budding Rapper for 05/12/2018
by admin | May 12, 2018 | Dear Family Coach
An Uncooperative Bar Mitzvah Boy and a Budding Rapper
Dear Family Coach
Dear Family Coach: My son is scheduled to have his bar mitzvah next year, and it’s a very important event for our family. Unfortunately, he doesn’t see it that way. He never practices; he drags his feet to Hebrew school; and he has said repeatedly that he doesn’t care about Judaism. What can I do to change his attitude? — Kosher Pickle
Dear Kosher: This is a tough one because it involves faith and family and so many things you clearly hold dear. However, you’re pretty limited in what can be done. I’m guessing you’ve explained why his bar mitzvah is an important event. He likely knows the significance of the ritual and the history of the Jewish people. And yet, none of that has swayed him. At this point, you have two choices. You can continue to beg and bribe him until he finally makes it to the event. But you can’t complain if he doesn’t wow the crowd. The other option is to do absolutely nothing.
Bar mitzvahs are supposed to be meaningful, and if they’re not, what’s the point? Why force him to work toward something that means little to him? Why spend all that money and all that time planning an event?
If you back off, your son might decide he is actually more interested. And if he doesn’t, then there’s a possibility he will decide to follow the tradition and have a bar mitzvah as an adult. At that point it would be significantly more meaningful. Force-feeding religion often backfires because it feels more like a punishment than a gift. So give your son time, and exercise patience. I know it’s not ideal, but it may well work out better in the long run.
Dear Family Coach: My daughter is 16, and she’s decided she wants to be a professional rapper. At first I didn’t take this very seriously, but I recently came upon several notebooks of her rhymes. They’re profane and gross, and they make no sense. She has played a few local shows and insists her music will be her ticket to an amazing life. What can I do to stop this? — The Fresh Mom of Despair
Dear Mom: Your daughter is 16. That’s the heart of the age when teens experiment with their voice, their wardrobe, their thinking and their behavior. Sometimes teens have crazy fantasies about their adult life-to-be. It doesn’t mean it will all stick. So for now, let her rap. Let her write awful lyrics; let her curse; let her perform and do shows. She’s expressing herself, and that’s not such a bad thing. Even if you don’t approve of her vehicle of expression, she is probably better off letting it out than keeping it in.
If it’s even remotely possible (aka it wouldn’t embarrass her), try going to see her in action. Even if you think she’s terrible, find something you admire. Be proud of her charisma and confidence to stand before people and express herself. She will likely be overjoyed you showed an interest.
Truth be told, this is a real opportunity for you to deepen your relationship. Talk to her about her music. Ask her about the lyrics and what inspires her. Make clear that as long as her grades stay up and she doesn’t lose focus on academics (keeping her options open), you will support her. Who knows? Maybe the next Nicki Minaj is living under your roof.
Dr. Catherine Pearlman is the author of “Ignore It! How Selectively Looking the Other Way Can Decrease Behavioral Problems and Increase Parenting Satisfaction.” To write to Dr. Pearlman, send her an email at [email protected]. To find out more about Dr. Catherine Pearlman and read features by other Creators Syndicate writers and cartoonists, visit the Creators Syndicate website at www.creators.com.
An Uncooperative Bar Mitzvah Boy and a Budding Rapper
by admin | May 12, 2018 | Dear Family Coach
An Uncooperative Bar Mitzvah Boy and a Budding Rapper for 05/12/2018
Dear Family Coach
Dear Family Coach: My son is scheduled to have his bar mitzvah next year, and it’s a very important event for our family. Unfortunately, he doesn’t see it that way. He never practices; he drags his feet to Hebrew school; and he has said repeatedly that he doesn’t care about Judaism. What can I do to change his attitude? – Kosher Pickle
Dear Kosher: This is a tough one because it involves faith and family and so many things you clearly hold dear. However, you’re pretty limited in what can be done. I’m guessing you’ve explained why his bar mitzvah is an important event. He likely knows the significance of the ritual and the history of the Jewish people. And yet, none of that has swayed him. At this point, you have two choices. You can continue to beg and bribe him until he finally makes it to the event. But you can’t complain if he doesn’t wow the crowd. The other option is to do absolutely nothing.
Updated: Sat May 12, 2018
An Uncooperative Bar Mitzvah Boy and a Budding Rapper for 05/12/2018
