‘The Very Hungry Caterpillar’ Becomes Focus of Anti-Obesity Campaign

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Anti-Obesity Campaign takes on a new shape.

On March 20, the first day of spring, “The Very Hungry Caterpillar,” the legendary children’s book written by Eric Carle in 1969, will be sent for free to more than 17,500 pediatricians’ offices around the country in order to promote the “Eating Healthy. Growing Strong.” campaign, a movement designed to combat childhood obesity. Created by the anti-obesity campaign, The Alliance for a Healthier Generation, and the American Academy of Pediatrics, the books will be sent with growth charts and reading guide handouts in order to encourage both parents and doctors to have discussions about healthy eating habits, including nutrition and portion control, with the younger generation.

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America’s First Laughing Competition Guffaws Off Ground

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Contestants at America’s first laughing competition at will be judged
on the infectiousness of their laugh and how much muscle control
they lose in the process of chortling, guffawing and giggling.

It’s no joke: The United States’ first-ever laughing championship takes place Saturday in San Luis Obispo, Calif., and a few dozen gigglers, guffawers and chortlers will yuck it up in hopes of winning the coveted title of “California’s Best Laugher.”

We’re serious: It’s a laughing contest and the contestants will compete in events such as “Best Diabolical Laugh” and “Most Contagious Laugh” and face off in “Laughter Duels” to see who can make the other person crack up most.

And while just mentioning the contest is enough to make some skeptics start rolling on the floor in ridicule, it’s part of a serious effort by Albert Nerenberg to raise awareness of the power of laughter…

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Apple Changes In-App Purchase Policy to Protect Parents’ Credit Cards

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Children may be raiding their parents credit cards.

Apple has changed its policy for in-app purchases to prevent users, especially children, from accidentally purchasing virtual goods.

Previously, consumers have been able to make an unlimited number of purchases without entering a password for 15 minutes after a change was made using a password. Parents complained that this policy made it easy for their children to incur huge iTunes charges without understanding that they were spending money or asking for parental permission…

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Microsoft Kinect Sales Top 10 Million, Set New Guinness World Record

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Microsoft Kinect

Microsoft has sold more than 10 million Kinect systems for the Xbox 360 to retailers, the company announced Wednesday.

Kinect, a controller-free gaming system that competes with the Nintendo Wii and Playstation 3 Move, has been selling at animpressive rate since it launched in November.

During the first three months after its launch, this rate was fast enough to earn Kinect the title of “fastest-selling consumer device.” According to Guinness World Records, whichofficially confirmed the record today, Microsoft sold an average of 133,333 units per day between November 4 and January 3…

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Wondrous, Detailed Map of the Wondrous History of Science Fiction

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A Spectacular View of Science Fiction’s History.

Artist Ward Shelley’s brilliant map of the history of science fiction from 2009 is a kind of interestingness black hole whose event horizon captured me for several hours this morning as I pored over the diagram and the arguments it makes about the history and origins of science fiction. I don’t agree with every conclusion illustrated here, but thinking about them made me reconsider a lot of cherished beliefs…

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Warner Brothers to Offer Movie Rentals on Facebook

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Warner Brothers will rent “The Dark Knight” to American users over Facebook for the equivalent of $3 in Facebook’s currency.

Warner Brothers became the first major media company to offer a movie for rent on Facebook, a move that could position the social network to become a force in the digital distribution of movies, rivaling services like Netflix and iTunes.

 

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New Dating Website Helps You Find Someone Who Looks Just Like You

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Lookin’ good!

Because that’s what we’re all looking for, right? Christina Bloom is the founder of FindYourFacemate.com, which will open for business later this month. She says that she was inspired to build the website after people kept telling her that she and her ex-husband look a lot alike. So this website will use facial mapping software to match you up with someone like you..

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Discover the Hidden Patterns of Tomorrow with Futurist Thomas Frey
Unlock Your Potential, Ignite Your Success.

By delving into the futuring techniques of Futurist Thomas Frey, you’ll embark on an enlightening journey.

Learn More about this exciting program.