Wednesday, August 13, 2008

A frog with a tail?

Here's something interesting we saw on our family walk the other day:



Cool, huh? Or at least cool for people like us who are as interested in the amphibian lifecycle. :D



During our vacation, my son Nicolas made a little nature documentary, which I've uploaded here. So you can see that I wasn't just making it up when I said he likes to do an impression of Sir David Attenborough when he's talking about biology. ;^)

15 comments:

James said...

Oh man, that kid is awesome! What a bright boy.

C. L. Hanson said...

Thanks James!!!

He had so much fun making this documentary!!! I expect he'll be producing his own indie science show by the time he's twelve. :D

All the crazy camerawork is my doing, and he was on his own for the script. Naturally he wanted to explain his pet theory about brambles being carnivorous plants. So you kind of have to take some of the "facts" in this documentary with a grain of salt. ;^)

(Unfortunately I think flikr only shows the first minute or so of it.)

The Exterminator said...

Well, if Nico can get himself a more competent producer and an artsier director, he'd be hitting the airwaves in no time.

I like him better than both David Attenborough and Bindy Irwin.

C. L. Hanson said...

Thanks Exterminator!!!

That would be so cool!!! My whole production concept for this video was "I'll follow him around the backyard with a camera and film whatever he says." Think what he could do with someone who knows something about directing! :D

MoHoHawaii said...

Instead of watching TV kids should be making TV. I loved this clip and was thoroughly charmed by your budding naturalist.

I loved his bramble theory. I've never met a kid who didn't like carnivorous plants.

I don't mean to gush, but you are clearly doing a kick-ass job as a parent.

John Evo said...

Your boy is GREAT, c.l.!

A little scientist in the making I believe.

C. L. Hanson said...

Thanks MoHoHawaii!!!

"Kick-ass" is perhaps bit of an exaggeration. ;^) Especially since I'm not sure what the modern consensus is on posting videos/pictures of one's kids to the Internet. It's just so cute, though, and I know I wished I could be in show biz when I was his age...

Thanks John Evo!!!

I hope so!!!

John Evo said...

c.l. I think we (as an internet culture) might have gone overboard in our "defense of children". I think it's very situational.

If, for instance, you have a blog that uses your family name, refers in posts to the areas you live in and frequent, and you post "JonBenet" type photos of your kid - you are irresponsible.

Then, there is blogs like this, and video like this, and I think - people don't know the meanings of complexity or subtlety if they think there is a problem here.

Take it for what it's worth. I may not be the best one to consult with for an opinion.

C. L. Hanson said...

Thanks -- I'm totally neurotic about talking about my kids on my blog because I want to be able to share family fun with my Internet friends, but I'm always second-guessing myself on what's okay to post about them and what isn't. My current system has been that anything that they'd be embarrassed about as teens or pre-teens is right out (eg. no potty-training stories, no matter how hilarious they may be...), + avoidance of IRL location info.

Rebecca said...

Utterly adorable. The accent is GREAT.

I think you've got a good handle on what's ok to post about your kids. There's one blog I used to read (I quit since I was only reading because the woman was SO UNBELIEVABLY IRRITATING, and I decided I didn't need to purposefully get irritated) where the woman is incredibly stupid about posting about her kids. Not only does she have naked photos (hello, embarrassment!), but if you are a diligent reader you can find the following information on her blog, either in text or pictures: Her children's full names and birthdates (I'm not sure if that's bad or not, but I don't think I'd put it up), the city they live in, the street they live on, what the house looks like (maybe even the number), where she shops, and what her kids' school looks like, among other things. Put it all together and - NOT OK. Her blog is pretty well-known, and I'm just waiting to hear that something terrible has happened after some crazy person read her blog and started stalking her.

C. L. Hanson said...

Hey Recca!!!

Exactly -- that's the sort of information I'm trying to avoid posting.

Regarding the accent, I can't get over how cute/funny I think his David Attenborough ipression is. Nico normally speaks English with an American accent, but not when he switches to naturalist mode. It seems to come from a combined interest in Science and theater: he likes to act out scenes from films and television.

Anonymous said...

LMAO!! I clicked on to the clip and Mr C didn't know I was doing so and couldn't see the screen. As soon as the clip started playing, Mr C was all "Nico!" He's our favorite naturalist. :-)

C. L. Hanson said...

Thanks Wry!!! :D

Julie said...

If you're looking for fun kids' music, Bare Naked Ladies album Snack Time has a great song about polliwogs. It's one of my favorites.

C. L. Hanson said...

Hey Julie!!!

Sounds like fun -- maybe I'll have a look. :D