Editorial Product Review: :There are two types of Schoolhouse Rock fans. Type A: those who--inspired in the '70s and '80s by 'Conjunction Junction' and 'Interjections!'--went on to become grammar gurus, copyeditors, and computational linguists. And type B: those who--less inspired by grammar than by catchy refrains--can still sing lines that today sound less than P.C.: Though Geraldine played hard to get (uh huh), Geraldo knew he'd woo her yet. He showed his affection, Despite her objection, And Geraldine hollered some interjections! (Geraldo, if you'll recall, is a ...
Editorial Product Review: :From 1973 to 1985, a generation of kids watching Saturday morning television learned the function of conjunctions and the preamble to the U.S. Constitution with the help of an animated series called Schoolhouse Rock! The brainchild of executives at McCaffrey and McCall Advertising, the three-minute segments combined whimsical cartoons with catchy music (rock was only one of the styles) to help kids learn seemingly dry topics as easily as they could learn popular songs. Multiplication Rock tackles the multiplication tables, covering numbers 0 through ...
Editorial Product Review: :Once upon a time kids learned many of their school lessons in the three-minute episodes of Schoolhouse Rock. These educational cartoons came on during the commercial breaks of the less-than-edifying Saturday morning fare in the 1970s, and despite their healthy content, kids stayed glued to the screen to sing along to the somewhat psychedelic cartoons. Countless children hummed their way through social studies. The Preamble to the Constitution is much easier to remember when it's set to music. And everyone who saw the cartoon ...
Editorial Product Review: :Science is an important but complex subject that often seems overwhelming to kids. Science Rock takes a nontraditional approach to this subject, entertaining kids with upbeat music that features lyrics absolutely packed with information. Simple, accurate descriptions of the human body's digestive, circulatory, central nervous, and skeletal systems, along with explanations of energy sources, the solar system, and gravity provide the thematic material for eight rock- and blues-inspired songs that kids find immediately appealing. Especially effective are the description of the central nervous system ...
Editorial Product Review: :From 1973 to 1985, a generation of kids watching Saturday morning television learned the function of conjunctions and the preamble to the U.S. Constitution with the help of an animated series called Schoolhouse Rock! The brainchild of executives at McCaffrey and McCall Advertising, the three-minute segments combined whimsical cartoons with catchy music (rock was only one of the styles) to help kids learn seemingly dry topics as easily as they could learn popular songs. Multiplication Rock tackles the multiplication tables, covering numbers 0 through ...
Editorial Product Review: :The world of finance bewilders many adults, so it's not surprising that kids often find it incomprehensible. Money Rock tackles subjects like budgeting, taxes, interest, and the stock market with simple definitions, fun animation, and lots of catchy music. The country-inspired 'Dollars and Sense' explores the concept of interest with respect to saving and borrowing, '$7.50 Once a Week' teaches money management, and the bluesy 'Where the Money Goes' covers living expenses and how to control them. A vaudeville act featuring 'Tax Man Max' ...
Editorial Product Review: :A delightful tool to help kids learn their letters, Richard Scarry's Best ABC Video Ever finds Busy Town pals Huckle and Lowly Worm discovering that it's Alphabet Day at school. Their teacher, Miss Honey, invites her students to join in a spirited rendition of 'The Alphabet Song.' Next comes a series of 26 vignettes developed around each letter and cleverly intertwined with Sergeant Murphy's investigation into the mystery of some stolen bananas. Simple, sweet, and as entertaining as it is instructive, this production exemplifies ...
Editorial Product Review: :There's lots of buzz in this stage performance by Barney and the gang at Radio City Music Hall. The musical extravaganza has plenty of bright colors, great sets and props, super costumes, and even an airplane. What's more, there's a story: a character called the Winkster takes the Barney bag, which is full of magic. Barney and company have to teach him to share in order to get the bag back. Among the live songs are 'The More We Get Together' and 'Mr. Knickerbocker.' ...
Editorial Product Review: :Richard Simmons, the great motivator, presents another light-intensity, low-impact, high-energy workout in the style of his popular Sweatin' to the Oldies series. Again live music is the focus--this time 1980s dance hits such as 'Celebration,' 'Flashdance,' 'Gloria,' 'She Works Hard for the Money,' and 'Call Me.' Just like in the Sweatin' videos, Simmons leads a large class of people of both genders and all shapes and sizes--all having the time of their lives dancing, singing, and cheering (their noisiness may grate on you after ...
Editorial Product Review: :Some of Barney's friends are building a sand castle, and the Purple One treats them to a magical tour of a real one. The day is full of wondrous horses, a dance around the maypole, a tea party, a meeting with the king, and a visit with Twynkle the elf. Songs in this imaginative special include 'Castles So High' and 'Polly Put the Kettle On.' --Tom Keogh
Small and light enough for a shirt pocket, Samsung's Helix YX-M1 is a one-stop audio entertainment center with an XM radio, a digital music player, and room for 50 hours of tunes, but it comes up short on battery life.
