How To Grow Your Geek: Parenting and More!

HTGYG Show #122: Neil DeGrasse Tyson and Trek Nation

susiethegeek — Mon, 23 Jan 2012 21:55:45 +0000

In this episode, I discuss Neil DeGrasse Tyson, his place as a wonderful science communicator and his fantastic podcast StarTalkRadio. His interviews with Whoopi Goldberg and Nichelle Nichols leads to my discussion of the documentary Trek Nation, from the Science Channel.

Trek Nation is the journey of discovery that Rod Rodenberry went on to discover his father Gene’s vision and place in history as the father of Star Trek. Have your kids watch a few episodes of Star Trek TOS and Next Generation, then watch this documentary together!

And finally, send us your recommendations for iPad apps we should try out, now that we’ve gotten one!

Please email me with your own comments at howtogrowyourgeek-at-gmail-dot-com, or call my voicemail number at (678) 235-GROW (4769) and leave your thoughts. And last but not least, you can follow me on Twitter at SusietheGeek or the show at HowToGrowGeek!

Theme music courtesy of Jonathan Coulton

Promo: SofaDogs and Great Hites

I’m Protesting SOPA/PIPA, and you should too!

susiethegeek — Wed, 18 Jan 2012 04:01:01 +0000

Hi folks – although it doesn’t look like it here, I’m protesting SOPA/PIPA too! (What are these things? Read this article here!)

Dear Congress, It’s No Longer OK To Not Know How The Internet Works

I’m just too lame in my WP Fu to be able to easily black out my site, so I decided to blog a quick post and give you info sites to visit for more information!

The Official Strike against SOPA site

And here’s how to strike if you agree! Follow me on Twitter @susiethegeek for more info – I’m not putting anything political up on @howtogrowgeek.

HTGYG Show #121: Jimi & Isaac, School Project Materials and Having a Good Craft Closet!

susiethegeek — Thu, 12 Jan 2012 21:40:16 +0000

In this episode, the first thing I do is review the new book by Phil Rink – Jimi & Isaac 1a: School Soccer. This book is a wonderful story of how trying something new and changing up habits is a good thing which can lead you to discovering talents you didn’t know you had! You can pick it up here at Amazon – please support independent authors that you like! Thanks to Phil for the book, and we look forward to more in this fun series, aimed at upper elementary and middle schoolers.

Air-dry clay, cardboard, acrylic craft paints and printed pictures
Then I discuss two different topics that work well together – supplies for school projects and having lots of craft supplies for cold, dreary afternoons with bored kids. I list basic supplies to have on hand that are good for all ages, and then talk about how we’ve used some more advanced supplies in craft projects and how that can be helpful for those school dioramas and models. Check out these pics for some of the projects I mention.

Geronimo Stilton puppet made from polymer clay, pipe cleaners, construction paper, tape and a wooden dowel

Polymer clay organelles in a glycerin soap cell model
Please email me with your own comments at howtogrowyourgeek-at-gmail-dot-com, or call my voicemail number at (678) 235-GROW (4769) and leave your thoughts. And last but not least, you can follow me on Twitter at SusietheGeek or the show at HowToGrowGeek!

Theme music courtesy of Jonathan Coulton

Promo: Technorama and Tuning in to SciFi TV

HTGYG Show #120: Happy Holidays – Hunger Games and Ebenezer Scrooge!

susiethegeek — Wed, 21 Dec 2011 19:50:34 +0000

This week, I recommend the book The Hunger Games by Suzanne Collins, rant a bit about SOPA, wax poetic about the accents in a production of A Christmas Carol, and give advice about remembering others less fortunate in this holiday season!

Please email me with your own comments at howtogrowyourgeek-at-gmail-dot-com, or call my NEW voicemail number at (678) 235-GROW (4769) and leave your thoughts. And last but not least, you can follow me on Twitter at SusietheGeek or the show at HowToGrowGeek!

Theme music and Chiron Beta Prime courtesy of Jonathan Coulton

HTGYG Show #119: Need a Gift? YA Books and Some Video Games for the Holidays!

susiethegeek — Mon, 12 Dec 2011 19:55:58 +0000

In this episode, I recommend a number of YA books and a couple of video games, in case you need a few gift ideas for your little geek! Here’s the list of books reviewed (not all pictured above):

Leviathan, Behemoth and Goliath (The Leviathan Series #1-3) by Scott Westerfield

Incarceron and Sapphique by Catherine Fisher

The Alchemist ( The Secrets of the Immortal Nicholas Flamel #1) by Michael Scott

The Red Pyramid (Kane Chronicles #1) and The Throne of Fire (Kane Chronicles #2) by Rick Riordan

The Summoning (Darkest Powers Series #1) by Kelley Armstrong

And these games I recommend – I’ve not played them yet, but the reviews are good, and we’re getting them!

Little Big Planet 2 by Sony (PS3)

The Legend of Zelda: Skyward Sword by Nintendo (Wii)

Theme music courtesy of Jonathan Coulton

Promo: Adventures in SciFi Publishing and Tuning in to SciFi TV

HTGYG Show #118: Keeping Our Kids Safe, at Home and Online!

susiethegeek — Fri, 02 Dec 2011 22:11:14 +0000

This episode, I once again tackle a sensitive subject – keeping our kids safe. With all of the press about child predators and sexual abuse, we need to teach our kids what is appropriate behavior with other people, and what shouldn’t be tolerated and should be reported. Also, our kids need to know how to be safe online, both using the internet safely, whether observed or using a parental control program like SafeEyes. Finally, how to teach kids in order to protect their privacy while being online, in both social media sites, chats and gaming.

*Correction – I stated that SafeEyes had been purchased by Norton, but it actually was purchased by McAfee. I also see that it has been given the Good Housekeeping Seal of Approval, so it has some really good recommendations out there!

The national Sex Offender registry can be found here, but you should also search for registries in your specific area!

Theme music courtesy of Jonathan Coulton

Promo: Technorama and Podculture

HTGYG Show #117: Talking About Sexuality, Respect, and Growing Up – GULP!

susiethegeek — Mon, 14 Nov 2011 21:48:38 +0000

This episode, I start to tackle how to talk to your kids about sexuality, respect, and growing up, and how to know when your kids are ready to talk about this stuff! Yup, I mean talking about not only where babies come from, but also how they get there, what kids whisper about on the playground, and laying the groundwork for keeping communication going as your kids grow. This discussion is based on my experience with my own life and kids, as well as what I learned studying developmental psychology in college and grad school. I welcome your comments, stories, and suggestions – especially with tweens and teens, since I’m getting to that stage!

Theme music courtesy of Jonathan Coulton

Promo: The Babylon Podcast and Tuning in to SciFi TV

HTGYG Show #116: Halloween Fun: Costumes, Makeup and Pumpkins!

susiethegeek — Sat, 29 Oct 2011 23:51:08 +0000

In this episode, I share some ideas for Halloween costumes, makup tips, including a great intro makeup voicemail from our friend and makeup artist Lizzie, and some cool pumpkin ideas. We got some great ideas, including no-sew and last minute options here at Family Fun magazine, and some fun geeky costume ideas using boxes here. There are also some fun ideas here at Costume Idea Zone

Here are a few links to some cool pumpkin videos, including a steampunk jack-o-lantern how-to and some freaky falling and smashing pumpkins below!

Please email me with your own comments at howtogrowyourgeek-at-gmail-dot-com, or call my voicemail number at (678) 235-GROW (4769) and leave your thoughts. And last but not least, you can follow me on Twitter at SusietheGeek or the show at HowToGrowGeek!

Theme music courtesy of Jonathan Coulton

Promo: The Signal and The ScapeCast

Film was made by Devin Graham, with music by Stephen J. Anderson

HTGYG Show #115: Buffy, Dr. Horrible, Dark Matters and … Rocky Horror?!?

susiethegeek — Fri, 14 Oct 2011 20:52:59 +0000

Getting ready for Halloween? Want some good scary media to share with your geeky kids – and to know for what age groups are these media appropriate? Here, I discuss Buffy the Vampire Slayer, Angel, Dr. Horrible’s Sing-Along Blog, H.P. Lovecraft’s stories, the Arkham Horror board game and even Rocky Horror Picture Show. And at the end, I review the new Science Channel TV show Dark Matters:Twisted but True, which tells scary stories and the science and history behind them.

Theme music courtesy of Jonathan Coulton

Promos: Marc Gunn’s Irish & Celtic Music Podcast and The Chronic Rift

HTGYG Show #114: Science and History Podcasts for Kids & Teens

susiethegeek — Sat, 08 Oct 2011 02:39:55 +0000

Hey everyone! This episode I talk about some of my favorite science and history podcasts for kids, teens and adults. By no means are these all that are out there, but these are some that I regularly listen to and enjoy! Here are the links!

Here’s Aaron and his Parsec Award! (Photo by Kyle Nishioka at kylenishioka.com)

Aaron’s World – A young boy shares his love and knowledge of dinosaurs – great for all ages!

Princess Scientist’s Book Club – Princess Scientist and her parents share the books that they’ve been reading.

Astronomy Cast – Pamela Gay and Fraser Cain present astronomical topics in easy-to-understand detail for non-scientists – and they’re fun to listen to as well!

Monster Talk – Blake “Doctor Atlantis” Smith, Ben Radford, and Karen Stollznow discuss cryptozoology – the study of animals that haven’t been proven to exist, such as Bigfoot, the Loch Ness Monster, and others. They also have fun with related topics such as ninjas and ghosts! Generally good for all ages – will usually have a tag if the episode contains content inappropriate for kids.

Science Friday – NPR’s reliable science news show, usually hosted by Ira Flatow, covers lots of current and relevant topics in the science world. They often have great interviews, and they also have fun videos on their site.

This Week In Science (TWIS) – Kirsten “Dr. Kikki” Sanford and Justin Jackson talk about lots of the current topics in science, and often have discussion and interviews with scientists and writers. Usually kid-safe, unless Justin is on a rant, and has great music.

Stuff You Should Know – General info podcast by the How Stuff Works website. Chuck, Josh and Jeri cover lots of great topics that you may have never thought about, such as “How Does Silly Putty Work?” and “How Does the Peace Corp Work?”

Stuff to Blow Your Mind – Science info podcast by the How Stuff Works folks. Robert and Julie discuss science news and innovations, a single topic at a time. A great way to catch up on things you didn’t know or missed in the news!

Tech Stuff – Tech info podcast, again by the How Stuff Works people. Jonathan, friend, podcaster, RenFair actor and writer for HSW, co-hosts this podcast with Chris, where they talk about computers, gadgets, the internet, and all kinds of tech topics. A great way to catch up on the new cool toys everyone is talking about!

Stuff You Missed in History Class – History info podcast by the How Stuff Works website. These ladies choose specific subjects within history, and discuss the “real deal” of what happened. Jack the Ripper, Catherine the Great, the Freedom Riders – you name it in history, these ladies have probably talked about it. Great for getting a kid started on a research project on a particular person or event in history!

Dan Carlin’s Hardcore History – This is for serious history buffs, but if you are, you’ll love how much detail and time is spent on each subject. Dan discusses lots of wars and conflicts, as well as particular periods in history and specific figures of note. His shows are infrequent, but worth the wait!

I hope you find some shows that you like or can use! I’ll have more selections soon, and we’re still looking for Halloween costumes and pictures!

Theme music courtesy of Jonathan Coulton

Promo: Technorama and Podculture

HTGYG Show #113: Arts and Music in Schools – Why They’re Important!

susiethegeek — Fri, 30 Sep 2011 20:46:24 +0000

This week, I discuss why keeping the arts and music programs in school is important – in my opinion. I talk about Kevin’s and Amanda’s choirs, their growing confidence, and their improving grades. I also have a couple of voicemails – Rapideye chimes in on school uniforms, and Gary discusses how he introduced his kids to mythology. Finally, I am asking for you to send in your Halloween costume ideas and picture – we’d love to see them and get ideas for Amanda!

You can find out about the IgNobel Prizes here, and watch the ceremony from last night here.

Theme music courtesy of Jonathan Coulton

Promo: SofaDogs and Great Hites

HTGYG Show #112: Dragon*Con: Parsecs, Stars and Goofiness

susiethegeek — Thu, 15 Sep 2011 21:14:35 +0000

Bob & Carl, Scifi Janitors

This episode, I talk about our experience at this year’s Dragon*Con. We enjoyed seeing the stars of Eureka, Warehouse 13 and Sanctuary, and heard about Amanda Tapping’s charity Sanctuary4Kids. We saw Bob & Carl, the SciFi Janitors in person, and Amanda became a big fan, and an official Janiteer. We had a wonderful Parsec ceremony – you can find the winners here! Amanda got to be the trophy girl, and showed that she can be funny too, by hamming it up a little as she presents awards. She later stole Phil Plait’s pretzels at the live AstronomyCast recording, causing him to look at me questioningly regarding her paternity! (I promise, John is her dad!) And I helped out with the live comedy4cast show, by doing a skit with Clinton. We had a great time this year, and really enjoyed seeing friends like Gary and Lizzie and making new ones!

Hi Gary and Lizzie!

Theme music courtesy of Jonathan Coulton

Promo: Technorama and Tuning in to SciFi TV

HTGYG Show #111: Back to School: Choosing a School, Uniforms, & Voicemails

susiethegeek — Wed, 31 Aug 2011 00:36:20 +0000

IF YOU GOT THE BAD RECORDING, PLEASE RE-DOWNLOAD!

In this episode, we talk about some back-to-school issues, including choosing a good school, school uniforms, and some comments from Gary.

Theme music courtesy of Jonathan Coulton

Promo: Adventures in SciFi Publishing and Tuning in to SciFi TV

HTGYG Show #111: Back to School: Choosing a School, Uniforms, & Voicemails

susiethegeek — Wed, 31 Aug 2011 00:28:06 +0000

IF YOU GOT THE BAD RECORDING, PLEASE RE-DOWNLOAD!

In this episode, we talk about some back-to-school issues, including choosing a good school, school uniforms, and some comments from Gary.

Theme music courtesy of Jonathan Coulton

Promo: Adventures in SciFi Publishing and Tuning in to SciFi TV

HTGYG Show #110: Mythical Creatures, MonsterTalk and Colorado Voicemails

susiethegeek — Wed, 17 Aug 2011 20:15:38 +0000

A lovely Chinese parade dragon

In this episode, I detail our tour of the Mythical Creatures exhibit at the Fernbank Museum of Natural History in Atlanta, guided by Blake “Doctor Atlantis” Smith of the MonsterTalk podcast, one of the official podcasts of Skeptic Magazine. Blake did a great job of giving us background information and possible origins behind the various mythical creatures we saw, including the kraken, mermaids, the Cyclops, and of course dragons.

Blake “Doctor Atlantis” Smith, discussing the “Feejee Mermaid,” and you can see Kevin front and center!

A quick note, if you are in the area, Fernbank is replacing the Mythical Creatures special exhibit with one about Darwin, beginning Sept 24. The description on their site: this special exhibition features live animals, amazing fossils and an array of scientific tools used by Charles Darwin.

Theme music courtesy of Jonathan Coulton

Promo: Technorama and Podculture