Hello blogosphere! 

First, let me apologize for my long absence.  There is no excuse other than the fact that I am lazy, which most of you already know anyway.  I am trying to get back on the blog horse and I would  like to announce my return with this small tidbit on today’s programming for children.

As you know, I have a 3 year-old at home who is allowed to watch some children’s programming channels each afternoon.  The main channel that M watches is Nick Jr. (formerly Noggin).  On the whole this is a great little network for kids and parents alike.  Programs like Dora the Explorer, Blues Clues, Yo Gabba Gabba,etc. do actually provide somewhat educational information for the kiddies.  For us adults they provide an endless supply of gay songs that stick in your head to help you through your otherwise dull work day. 

One of these normally educational programs that my daughter likes to watch is called Ni Hao Kai-Lan.  This is a show about a little girl from China and her little random animal-like friends.  The show teaches common words and phrases in Mandarin Chinese as well as Chinese culture and values.  Typically the show will select one word or phrase to focus on and that word or phrase will be repeated many times throughout the show.  If you have toddlers I am sure you have seen this program.  Well check this out…

I am home with M yesterday because she has Scarlet Fever…that’s right, I said Scarlet Fever.  You would think that I had just taken M for a ride in my hot tub time machine back in time to europe or the old west, but this disease bacteria still flourishes today if you can believe that.  More on Scarlet Fever in a future blog.  Back to my story…SO, M and I are home and I am letting her watch all of the television that she can handle because she doesn’t feel good, and I am trying to do a little work from home.  I hear the familiar opening theme song to Ni Hao Kai-Lan come on and I do a little asian-themed dance in my head.  I am sitting on the sofa about 1/2 listening to the television when I hear something that immediately grabs my attention.  It’s the word of the day, SNOW, or in Mandarin Chinese, xue. 

What grabbed my attention was not that I was excited to learn a new word in Mandarin, but that this word when spoken in the language, sounds a lot like the word, “SHIT” in English.  So I am working away when I hear Ni Hao say, “blah, blah, blah, SHIT, blah, blah”.  Naturally, my head whips up and my eyes narrow in on the television.  It’s the same double take we do when we hear what sounds like sex noises on television, or actually see nudity.  Whatever you are doing you stop in your tracks and watch…don’t say you don’t, because I know I am not the only pervert here (at least I tell myself that)…ANYWAY, Ni Hao now has my full attention.  As I watch the show they continue to say “SNOW”, but in Mandarin.  This word sounds so much like “SHIT” that I start laughing uncontrollably at the television because of the context in which they are using the word.  “Lulu has a basket full of “SHIT” and so on…I may have peed my pants a little…

And now…for your viewing pleasure…I proudly present, Ni Hao Kai-Lan and “SNOW”.  Your mission, should you choose to accept it: Is this Disturbing or hilarious?

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kB07xk9NZtQ