The Second Twinpanic/Covidpanic Crossover You Didn't Know Was Possible

The San Diego Tribune brings us the story of 91-year-old twins who are riding out their social isolation in style. They particularly enjoy heading out on their balcony for their retirement complex's distant socializing...

“We come back into the apartment with a big smile on our faces every day,” said Joyce, who said she loves to “make a big racket” at the rallies by banging a metal bowl with a spoon. Her sister Jackie calls the events a “big shot in the arm” for the healing power they have.

The Twinpanic/Covidpanic Crossover You Didn't Know You Wanted

From Chhattisgarh, India, we have this tale of twins in the time of Coronavirus:

The pandemic caused by a new virus may have brought the world to its knees, but that has not deterred a couple in Chhattisgarh to name their newborn twins as ‘Corona’ and ‘Covid’.

The couple has not completely given in to either sort of panic:

However, the couple said they may change their decision later and rename their kids.

Good idea.

They Would Have Gotten Away With It If It Hadn't Been for the Identical Twins...

Using DNA testing to learn your ancestry has been all the rage recently. I've been skeptical of it for various reasons, and I have a new reason to add to the list.

A pair of identical twins submitted their DNA to various ancestry services. The CBC reports on the results, and it isn't pretty for the testing companies. The services gave divergent results for the two twins, despite the fact that the data was 99.6% similar, according to the companies themselves.

Something wildly imprecise must be going on with the methodology to give a problem like this. If you think about it, fraternal twins, or even different-age siblings should obtain the same answers. But at least there, one could imagine a different amount of "French" DNA, for example, being passed along. Still, that gives you an idea of why there's a margin for error. This just seems flat out error.

Not Quite 100 Years ago...

It's shocking to realize that women have had the vote less than 100 years. VOTE TODAY!

Why Are You Splitting Up These Twins?

New York had an article earlier this fall about a Long Island school with eleven sets of twins in kindergarten. Go look at it; it's basically an excuse for a bunch of cute pictures. What drew my attention, however, was this quote from the principal:

Ellen Postman, the school’s principal...split up all the siblings into separate classes, encouraging them to make new friends rather than lean on each other. “And then,” she adds, “they’re together at recess, when they go out to the playground, and they can share their new relationships.”

See, here's the thing. That's a nice theory.  But we did a lot of reading before putting our twins in kindergarten, and it's simply not true. On balance, twins in kindergarten do better in the same class. Now, if you're reading this and are thinking, "my twins did better in separate classes," well, yes, I said "on balance." It makes sense to make decisions based on the individual needs of twins. Let me give you a ranking of how well-placed people are to evaluate those needs:

1. The twins themselves
2. The twins' parents
3. Teachers
4. Principals 

It's revealing that this is also a ranking of how likely people are to think that twins should be in the same class.

Intactivist Florida Mom Avoids Jail: The Price: One Foreskin

Recently, the intact debate has surfaced in Florida, an ironic state for this debate to rise up, considering it's shape. I deeply sympathize with this mom's attempt to save her son, whose penis everyone has been legislating. Somehow, for women, it's their body, but for men, it's not so. Men -- newborn males, specifically -- have zero rights concerning the loss of this important membrane. The U.S. backs bans of similar surgeries for infant girls, but pediatric urologists are running rampant with their scalpels, unchecked and unremitting.

At the risk of exposing private facts about our sons' privates, I throw in my lot with Chase's mom. Our boys are both intact, and I've been proud that I did not give in to current Western cultural standards and have them cut. I had no compelling personal reason (such as religion, or a medical need) to do so, and in fact had several reasons not to. Of course I respect parental rights, but object that current parental rights override the rights of the body owned by a son, from birth.Why? I'll tell you.

First, it's a trauma. Do not doubt the pain involved in flaying off  most of a membrane intended to protect the member. I couldn't bear the thought of causing my sons pain, and loss of an essential part before they'd barely found their voices. I believe my sons' bodies are their own, and that no one should  t take away part of them before they even knew what was happening.

Second, I abhor the overselling of an idea to the masses strictly for the purpose of amassing wealth. Dupont took formula -- an invention intended to supply babies who were motherless, or whose mothers were milkless, with vital nutrition. Then they sold the world on its efficacy, in fact its superiority. The ridiculous knows no boundaries in what misconceptions capitalism effects. Here, the masses are blindly lining the pockets of pediatric urologists for unnecessary, painful, damaging "surgery."

Third, the Cleanliness idea is a myth. This makes no sense to me, being that everything else on the planet stays cleaner if left in its original wrapper. A foreskin is there for a biological reason, and that is to keep the member clean. A circumcised child is at risk for infection because of the cut, and the fact that dirt and urine get on the penis. Even with two sons, in 5 years we have not had even one incidence of infection, nor even diaper rash, on their members. You do not have to do anything special. You get no benefit from circumcision that you don't get from simply keeping it clean. It is a wound that requires care and causes more problems in the first weeks than circumcision claims to solve.

Fourth, there is a risk of botched circumcisions. Though these are rare, they are devastating.

Fifth, I understand that a cut member chafes for decades against clothing, desensitizing it and reducing men's sexual pleasure.

Sixth, this pain right after birth is a betrayal which is remembered. The body, the muscle, remembers. This can cause a rift, according to some, in the mother-son bond.

Lastly, it can always be removed, but can't ever be put back. 

I strongly encourage mothers of boys to read the sites below, which I have found invaluable in raising my boys. As a proponent of Attachment Parenting, I believe that intact and uncut is best for the boys.


I hope that every mom reading this will consider keeping their sons intact rather than cutting them immediately, that you will wait at least a little while, live with it, and see how you feel about it later. If later, problems develop and you decide to go through with it, then you will have made a decision after having a chance to get to know your beloved son, whole and intact.

http://www.drmomma.org/2011/10/circumcision-identity-gender-and-power.html

http://attachmentparenting.org/principles/principles.php

http://www.naturalfamilyonline.com/go/index.php/15/12-no-to-circumcision

Today in twin history: Royal Twins!

Today, December 11, 2014, Prince Albert II and his wife Charlene welcomed crown prince Jacques and his twin sister Gabriella. Though Gabby was born first, Jacques will be taking the throne of Monaco.

Great Fathers of Twins: Elvis Costello

A few years ago, Elvis Costello was on Sesame Street singing "A Monster Went and Ate My Red 2," a re-working of his song "(The Angels Wanna Wear My) Red Shoes." I saw this recently and thought, "He must have small kids." Sure enough, he and jazz artist Diana Krall had twins in December 2006. The new title seemed to be somewhat of a stretch, but honestly, no more so than the old title. In fact, I've come to prefer this version to the original. Attempts to get the kids to prefer this to Chicka Chicka Boom Boom (which they've been reciting/singing incessantly) have been less successful; at the pool the other day, they were singing a mash-up of the two songs.

Eau de Twin

The web site io9 alerts us to a new study that further confirms the research that identical twins smell alike. From what I can tell, this has been known for a while, but previous research did not account for the fact that twins might smell alike from living in the same household, so this study used adult twins who lived apart. Also, previous studies used dogs to sniff, but this study used humans, which just seems weird.

Super Bowl Twin "Insperation"

"A set of 9-year-old twins from Roxbury, Riley and Erin Kovalcik, wrote a letter last week to Seattle Seahawks fullback Derrick Coleman, the NFL's first legally deaf offensive player, calling him their "insperation" (sic) as they shared the same disability."

Quote of the Day

"Why didn't anybody stop us? Why aren't there more regulations about this sort of thing? What fool in their right mind would put me in charge of a baby? Two babies?"

-Miles Vorkosigan, from Lois McMaster Bujold's Diplomatic Immunity

How are toddlers like professional soccer players?

You can tell them apart usually, but it's trickier when they're running away from you.

"Norwich City's identical twins Josh and Jacob Murphy will wear different colour boots to help boss Chris Hughton distinguish between the two."

"It's not so much in close proximity, because there is a difference between the two and they have different playing styles so I can tell them apart."

I like that "playing style" is a differentiating factor. The ways I tell apart our boys include things like gait, or what they're saying, more often than anything like "rounder face."

The Nerdiest Twins in the NBA

I just came across this awesome interview with Robin Lopez of the NBA's Portland Trailblazers. His twin brother, Brook, plays for the Brooklyn Nets.

How many comics do you own? 

Not as many as Brook. He’s pretty much collecting everything DC Comics publishes right now. I have two or three titles I’ve collected and tried to complete those runs.

It gets nerdier than that, but the best Q&A (as called out by Deadspin) is this one:

What are your top three favorite wizards?

Gandalf’s definitely on the list. Trying to pick my favorite Harry Potter wizard, I can easily go with Dumbledore. I always liked Professor Lupin. I’ll put him on the list. [A day after the interview, Lopez asked via his publicist to take Lupin off his list and replace him with Hermione Granger.]

I got to pick a Disney wizard. Can I pick Angela Lansbury in Bedknobs and Broomsticks?

If I re-do my 10 sets of excellent twin athletes, they bump the Morris twins for this answer alone.

Twins in two years!

Forget about twins born on different days. What about these lucky girls?

As partygoers were ringing in the New Year across the Greater Toronto Area, a Mississauga mom was busy giving birth to twin daughters. And though the twins were born eight minutes apart, they’ll share different birthdays – and different birth years.

Proud mom Lindsay Salgueiro delivered the last baby of 2013 at Mississauga’s Credit Valley Hospital before giving birth to the first baby of 2014.

Read more here.

Who is A.J. Jenkins?

One day, I was fiddling with my phone and Jack walked over and said, "Can you play the ABC song on your phone?" I viewed that as a challenge, did a quick search, and soon the boys were enjoying a YouTube version the ABC song on the phone.

Eventually, I wanted my phone back, so I fired up YouTube on the PlayStation 3 and directed them there. I noticed that the same user, "KidsTV123," had uploaded other phonics videos, and that the songs were credited to "A.J. Jenkins".

Being who I am, I did a Google search to see what information I could turn up about either. KidsTV123 has a pretty basic web site where you can buy songs or videos (the videos worked pretty well for keeping the kids distracted on the plane). As for A.J. Jenkins, very little is available about him on-line. A quick search turns up mostly links to his songs or posts wondering who he is.

But Google searching is an art form, and I was able to come up with a few facts through more complicated searches.

1) His name is "Alistair J. Jenkins" and he lives in Japan.

2) There used to be a Wikipedia page for him, but it failed Wikipedia's "General Notability Guidelines" and was deleted, because Wikipedia is run by jerks. Seriously, he has over a billion views on YouTube, and he's not notable enough for you, Wikipedia? Anyway, according to the (former) Wikipedia article, he is French, which seems surprising. There are also some things that seem inconsistent about the article, such as the fact that he started uploading to YouTube in 2012 (it was 2009), and the idea that he was born in 1964, started writing children's music at age 48, and released his first children's song in 2003. I expect higher standards from you, Wikipedia User Raiders696969!

3) As seen in the K Song, he is friends with "EricSurf6", another Westerner living in Japan. I tweeted at EricSurf6, but I have yet to hear back.

Casting Call

Received via e-mail; passed along without endorsement...

Hi, I am wondering if you can share this with your readers.

Thanks

Michelle

Good People Casting

goodpeoplecasting.com

WE NEED TWINS!

NOW CASTING A SAG NATIONAL COMMERCIAL FOR A MAJOR SPORTS APPAREL BRAND!

Good People Casting (http://www.goodpeoplecasting.com) is now casting female IDENTICAL twins for a MAJOR sports apparel commercial. It's a SAG national, which means a potential for a big payday!

We're looking for identical twins who look 15-26 and are cool and athletic.  Would love to see twins with distinct features like lots of freckles, gap teeth, cat eyes, super long hair below the waist. Although not required, if you play sports, let us know!

Can be anywhere in the US!

MUST BE AVAILABLE THESE DATES

CASTING- Now through May 15th (we'll simply need a short interview, depending on where you are, we'll either have you come in to our studio or do a Skype interview)

CALLBACKS- May 17th

FITTING- May 21st

SHOOT DATES- May 22nd

We will contact you with audition/interview time and place!

TO SUBMIT:

Email ALL the information requested below ASAP to:

info.goodpeoplecasting@gmail.com

Be sure to include:

1. Your name(s)

2. Contact phone number(s)

3. At least two photos of you and your twin- must cleanly show your face and body type! (jpg format please)

4. If you have any experience playing sports, let us know here.

5. Please put in the subject of the email: TWINS 

Thanks!

Great Mothers of Twins: Carolyn Hax

Twinpanic.com wishes Happy 10th Birthday to Carolyn Hax's boys.

Petraeus-gate: The Twin Angle

So, like much of America, I'm trying to understand what the heck happened with General Petraeus, the woman in North Carolina he apparently was having an affair with, the woman in Florida he allegedly wasn't, the FBI agent who sent shirtless pictures to the woman in Florida, etc., etc.

So does this picture of Petraeus with his arm around Jill Kelley, the woman in Florida, mean anything? It might, if it were a picture of him and Jill Kelley. Instead, it's a picture of him with his arm around Natalie Khawam, Jill Kelley's identical twin sister.

So there you go. There's always a twin angle. (Except when there's not.)

No, no, no

Someone wrote into Carolyn Hax's chat with the following issue:

My sister has a beautiful 4 year old daughter. She's pregnant again - and about a month ago she found out she was pregnant with twin girls. Meanwhile, our brother and his husband have been talking more seriously about starting a family; years ago my sister told them she would consider being a surrogate or egg donor when they were ready to discuss it. Yesterday, my sister told me that since she found out about the twins, she has had the crazy idea of exploring the possibility of my brother and brother-in-law adopting one of the girls.

Among the responses:

• "Has either of you talked to any twins? I imagine they'd be strongly opposed to the idea. I don't have a twin myself, but two of my kids are, and that leads many of the adults we meet out in the world to point out that they also are twins. Then come the stories of how amazing it is to grow up that way, with your better-than-best friend." (From Hax, a twin mom herself)
• "Um, babies aren't cookies. You don't give your brother one just because you've got two."
• "I have twins also and their bond is incredible, so much so that the "Parent Trap" bothered me because I couldn't imagine parents splitting twins up. I think it would have to be difficult to discover that your cousin is actually your twin."
• "As a twin: NO. Do not encourage this idea. My relationship with my twin sister is by far the defining relationship in my life."
• "I'm a twin with a twin brother and reading this question just gutted me. We've had our ups and we've had our downs, but I would be horrified if someone had split us apart at birth. I can't even contemplate it, no matter how well seeming the idea appears. DON'T DO IT! Please."

Twins in the Media

The new show Political Animals is an interesting, movie-quality series with top stars, from Ellen Burstyn to Sigourney Weaver. This political roman a clef changed enough details to fake it. One detail: the former first lady/Secretary of State/presidential hopeful played by Weaver has twin sons: Bud & TJ, played by unrelated actors, and born "3 minutes apart" according to a scene in episode 2.