Dear "Earth" magazine: Thanks, and also not so much with the thanks

It all started a few days ago. I got a confusing call from someone asking why the Giant Timeline Play Mat is not $19.

Huh?

Turns out that the December issue of Earth magazine mentioned the Giant Timeline but misprinted the price. Earth is the flagship publication of the American Geological Institute, and covers "the latest happenings in earth, energy, and environment news." It has a readership of about 50,000. Wonderful, magnificent, count me in. I just wish those 50,000 didn't have to tango with this typo.

So, if you're an Earth reader, here are my two pleas:

1. It's $39 these days, not $19. Sorry. I do have other stuff for about $19. (See my Amazon storefront.)

2. Can you scan in and email me a copy of whatever coverage they gave to Charlie's Playhouse? I can't lay my hands on the December issue. I even sneaked in to the Brown University science library to find it but they don't have that issue yet. I'm desperately curious to see it.

Thanks. It's not $19.

Kids just *get* natural selection (Chapter II)

Caleb (6): "Mommy, why does the cat always rip apart the couch like that?"

Me (43): "That's how he sharpens his claws."

Caleb: "Why does he need to sharpen his claws?"

Me (seeing an opportunity to wrangle the conversation over to evolution): "Well, why do you think?"

Caleb: "Because cats are hunters? They can get more mice with sharp claws?"

Me: "Right! And what can the cats who get more mice do?"

Caleb (sensing that Mommy is off on her whole Darwin kick again): "Ummm... natural selection!?"

Me: "Well, sort of, but how would that work? If you're a cat whose belly is always full and you feel good, do you think you'd live longer or shorter than another cat who can't really catch mice?"

Caleb: "Longer, yeah! The ones with sharp claws are awesome!"

Me: "And then if you're living longer and healthier, what might you be able to do?"

Caleb: (Stultified expression)

Izzy (9, eavesdropping): "You have kittens, Caleb! And the kittens have sharp claws just like you do! And then they can get more mice and be healthier."

Me: "Right, and it all leads to us having a shredded couch."

Caleb: "Hooray!"