Dance Asia 2009: “Asia in Movies:  Action, Camera & Dance Away!”

The 5th annual Dance Asia showcase features soundtracks and dances from different regional movies. Six Asian dance groups will be performing pieces from major blockbusters from their culture including a special tribute to the bollywood phenomenon with “Jaai Ho” from Slumdog Millionaire and many others.

Location: John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts: Millennium Stage
Address: The intersection of New Hampshire Avenue, Virginia Avenue, and Rock Creek Parkway, NW
Metro: Foggy Bottom/GWU (Orange and Blue lines)
Free shuttles are available, departing every 15 minutes from 9:45 am until 12 midnight.
Admission: Free
Reservations: Not required
Admission: Free
Reservations: Not required

Target Family Fun Fair

Target will host a Family Fun Fair from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. at Sidney Harman Hall. It will be open to the public throughout the day and will feature family-friendly activities for children of all ages.  Young people and their families can stop by for games, crafts, activities, giveaways, demonstrations.  Guests can even snap a photo with Shakespeare himself! Performances of The Taming of the Shrew will take place at 12 p.m. and 8 p.m. on Saturday, August 29 in order to accommodate the day’s activities. 

“Project Shakespeare: As You Like It” hosted by Shakespeare Theater Company’s Education Department, will include activity stations where young people can experience the excitement of theatre first-hand. Young people can audition, design sets and costumes, rehearse scenes and walk the red carpet. “Project Shakespeare: As You Like It” activities will be held in The Forum of Sidney Harman Hall.

Location: Sidney Harman Hall, 610 F Street, NW
Address: 450 Seventh Street, NW
Metro: Navy Memorial (Yellow and Green lines) or Gallery Place/Chinatown (Red, Yellow, and Green lines)

One thing I’m looking forward to is AFI showing “Who Framed Roger Rabbit”. It was my favorite movie when I was 10 years old. Being able to see it in the big screen is going to be a real treat like when I saw “Breakfast at Tiffany’s”.  It is part of its Totally Awesome 3: More Films of the 80s. Showtimes for “Roger Rabbit” are: Friday, August 28, 4:45; Sunday, August 30, 5:15; Tuesday, September 1, 9:10; Thursday, September 3, 5:00

U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission
Office of Information and Public Affairs
Washington, DC 20207

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
August 27, 2009
Release # 09-330 

Firm’s Recall Hotline: (877) 246-7257
CPSC Recall Hotline: (800) 638-2772
CPSC Media Contact: (301) 504-7908 

Quiksilver Recalls Girls’ Hoodies with Waist Drawstrings Due to Entrapment Hazard

WASHINGTON, D.C. – The U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission, in cooperation with the firm named below, today announced a voluntary recall of the following consumer product. Consumers should stop using recalled products immediately unless otherwise instructed.

Name of Product: Roxy Girl “Very Nice” Cotton Hoodies

Units: About 500

Distributor: Quiksilver, Inc., of Huntington Beach, Calif.

Hazard: The cotton hoodie has a waist drawstring that could pose an entrapment hazard to children. In February 1996, CPSC issued guidelines (pdf) to help prevent children from strangling or getting entangled on the neck and waist drawstrings in upper garments, such as jackets or sweatshirts.

Incidents/Injuries: No injuries have been reported.

Description: The cotton hoodie, which zips in front and has a drawstring at the waist, came in gray with blue lining and cherry with lavender lining. They were sold in girls’ sizes SML-XL. ROXY is printed on the front of the gray hoodie and on the neck label on both colors. The style number, B487857, is printed on the inside care label near the waist.

Sold at: Nordstrom, Macy’s, Quiksilver Stores and various surf, sport, and other retailers nationwide from April 2009 through August 2009 for approximately $40.

Manufactured in: China

Remedy: Consumers should immediately remove the drawstrings from the hoodies to eliminate the hazard or return it to the place of purchase or to Quiksilver for a full refund.

Consumer Contact: For additional information contact Quiksilver, Inc. toll-free at (877) 246-7257 between 9 a.m. and 5 p.m. PT Monday through Friday or visit the firm’s website at www.quiksilverinc.com

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
August 27, 2009
Release # 09-334 

Firm’s Recall Hotline: (877) 506-2213
CPSC Recall Hotline: (800) 638-2772
CPSC Media Contact: (301) 504-7908 

Baby Jogger Recalls Strollers Due to Fall Hazard

WASHINGTON, D.C. – The U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission, in cooperation with the firm named below, today announced a voluntary recall of the following consumer product. Consumers should stop using recalled products immediately unless otherwise instructed.

Name of Product: Baby Jogger City Mini Strollers

Units: About 41,000

Distributor: Baby Jogger LLC, of Richmond, Va.

Hazard: The stroller’s restraint buckle could break or unlatch allowing the child or infant to fall out.

Incidents/Injuries: None reported.

Description: This recall involves Baby Jogger City Mini single and double strollers. “City Mini” is printed on the stroller. Item numbers and date codes included in this recall are listed in the chart below along with stroller colors. The item number is printed on a sticker on the rear wheel crossbar. The manufacturing date code is engraved on the frame behind the rear wheel axle crossbar or on the back of the frame on the upright bar between the right rear wheel and the seat.

Item Number and Color
Feb. 28, 2009)
67102 Blue/Gray
67103 Red/Black
67104 Gray/Green
67105 Stone/Black
67109 Orange/Gray
67170 Black
67172 Blue/Gray
67173 Red/Black
67174 Gray/Green
67175 Stone/Black
67179 Orange/Gray

Manufacturing Date Codes: 2007.11.1 through 2009.2.28 (Nov.1, 2007 through Feb. 28, 2009)

Sold at: Juvenile products stores, mass merchandisers, and department stores nationwide and on various Web sites including www.amazon.com from November 2007 through July 2009 for between $220 and $400.

Manufactured in: China

Remedy: Consumers should immediately stop using the recalled strollers and contact Baby Jogger to receive a free replacement restraint buckle and installation instructions.

Consumer Contact: For additional information, contact Baby Jogger at 877-506-2213 between 8:30 a.m. and 6 p.m. ET, email the firm at recall@babyjogger.com, or visit the firm’s Web site at www.babyjogger.com

One of my new favorite podcasts is the Woman’s Hour in BBC Radio 4. Today’s show covered induced lactation. I have heard of this for women who have surrogates and want to feed the baby after they’re born, but the really interesting part was the male induced lactation which I’ve never heard about.

When I was pregnant my attitude was I was going to breastfeed, but if it didn’t work out I’d do formula. Then Bebe came and feeding her wasn’t as easy or “natural” as I thought it would be. Also I felt that I failed to provide for her the first thing that was needed from me as a mom. It was a rough first week where I would get up and feed her every 2-3 hours. Our routine went like this:  try to get semi-comfortable on the dounut because I was constipated, adjusting the Boppy pillow and Bebe for optimum (or so I thought) nursing position, then get a latch on. I’d end up feeding her sometimes for hour-2 hours just to make sure she’d be fed and sometimes still have to supplement with formula which husband have to give because I was so angry. Angry because after all that effort and pain it still wasn’t enough. After Bebe finally went to sleep my boobs would be so sore I would have to put hot water bottles on them.

After a little over a week of this when Bebe was not gaining enough weight our pediatrician recommended going to the Breastfeeding Center located in the same building. If you ever need to do a consult go with Pat Shelly she literally saved my sanity. She will work with you and her straighforward, nonsense style was exactly what I needed at that time. She will not guilt trip you if you decide not breastfeed.

Eventually I ended up pumping exclusively (which I still do almost 6 months later). That’s what worked for us. Bebe gets milk (sometimes formula if a bottle is not ready) given to her from mom and dad.

There’s a wonderful article in BabyTalk  magazine a few months ago from 3 different women about nursing. One who does exclusively, one who does both, one who doesn’t. I will try and put it up later.

So whether you are breastfeed,  give formula, or pump you are providing for your child and that’s all that matters.  

Here are some links to help you get started.

The Breast Feeding Center. See Pat Shelly for a consult. She also makes house calls! Their store has everything you need for feeding. They also carry a variety of wraps, and have classes.

Le Leche League Very informative breastfeeding site.

Lansinoh: I use their bags for storing my milk. Can stand upright and has a 2 zip locks.

Medela: I use the Freestyle at work and rent the Symphony for home. If you plan to pump at work Freestyle is the best. It literally fits in my small hand. The double pump and hands free option ensures I can keep working during that time and be done in 10 minutes. Only drawbacks is the vibrations are awkwardly loud and the pump parts always have to be detached when you clean them. Symphony who do not have to detach the pump parts everytime you clean them (though I do every few days when I sterlize them), it’s silent, and smoother sucking action. Only drawback is it takes up a lot of counter space.

For those of you who do not breastfeed and are proud of it here’s an article called “The Case Against BreastFeeding” from the Atlantic Monthly for you.

With all this talk of boobs don’t forget August is also National Eye Exam Month. Which reminds me I’m overdue to get my eyes checked!