At the same time, I've always been a fan of "Kids will learn to talk like adults best if they're exposed to people talking like adults".

Research says that's not true. Baby talk is actually easier to learn for babies, and its characteristics (which consonants are dropped, that sort of thing) are consistent across cultures.

Oh, and what happened to Big Bird? It must be that he or she got too busy to hang out with the gang on Sesame Street once he/she/it started attending Jedi Academy.

tommy, were you thinking of the Athabasca Tar Sands?

I think so.

Elmo rules in my house.

Not because of the show, but because the 'ticklemeelmo' balls I pick up at yard sales are Bartleby's favorite toys EVAH.

I have to say, watching him run around with his snoot vibrating and hearing that tinny little voice squeal "Wheee! This is FUN!!" cracks my shit all the way up.

Gosh. I hope his language skills won't be stunted.

There's no mystery as to why I find the same toy at every yard sale. A kid playing with it? Insanity inducing. The dog? Eh. Whatever.

In FACT. If any 'ista parents would like to tell their kids that Elmo has gone to a farm in the country, I'd be happy to pay postage on the little red wigglers. Profile addy is good...and it will be our little secret.

"Kids will learn to talk like adults best if they're exposed to people talking like adults". And Elmo so doesn't.

This. I'll get high pitched and gurgly around kids, but I also try to talk coherently (when I can, sometimes kids, like Emma, can just rob me of all coherent speech with the cute).

Research says that's not true.

Really? Huh. Fascinating.

Baby talk is actually easier to learn for babies, and its characteristics (which consonants are dropped, that sort of thing) are consistent across cultures.

Baby talk for babies, yes, but for children who can say sentences/phrases, exposing them to somebody whose phrases are intentionally ungrammatical? Elmo no like.

Oh, help. Canna concentrate on work and am busy researching disasters and near-disasters instead. I'm up to the Great Molasses Flood, and how humiliating to drown in molasses! Hecubus may be pleased to know how many pitchers I've found who have been hit with comebackers (including Mike Mussina, a shot that broke his nose, although it sounds like it could have killed him) and came back to be just fine.

Me hate Elmos' voice. Me understand Elmo loved by children and developmentally sound, but Elmo's voice make me want to kill Elmo.

Me miss lovable furry old Grover.

Hey yeah. Whatever happened to Grover?

I'm afraid I've missed some major story. Like Grover is in rehab, or has taken the cloth.

While Sesame Street changing always makes me a little sad because today's Sesame Street isn't exactly what I grew up with, these changes aren't arbitrary. Every one that I've heard of has been a well-thought out response to a valid concern. Maybe it's more protective than some pre-schoolers (and their parents) require, but considering I am still carrying around lessons I learned from Sesame Street 30+ years ago (specific things - I can recall the scene that illustrated them), I'm certainly not going criticize SS for being very careful about what lessons they are teaching.