Do you really know your teen? Do you have a functional relationship or is it just a culinary or financial one? Are you able to communicate your values and experiences and have a young person be receptive to listening to you? Don't be too quick to answer.

About two weeks ago I was asked to be part of an online video project by Purple States called 50/50/50, where 50 bloggers from 50 states chime in on the economic crisis, immigration, and the media. The videos are being published over 50 days and the bloggers are encouraged to participate in an online discussion. So far videos from Alabama through Idaho have been published and, while there are only four women bloggers included in that group so far, there are more coming up later.

It happens. An story idea I thought was important and I did the work on is blocked by a Force Divine that is yelping at me at a high rate of speed, “You gotta do this, not that.” And I say “I can’t, looky I really worked on this…” and the Force Divine says, “Save it for next week, kid. We got business here.” And I say “Yeah, but…” and I am lost before I pronounced the “t” in but.  So this is free form and we’ll see where it takes us.

A post, "The Interview Obama Regrets, But We Love," has hundreds of hits from CNN and Google, telling of the nation's obsession with the Obamas, the nation's next First Family. Some surfers are especially fascinated with President-elect Barack Obama and Michelle Obama's daughters, Malia, 10, and Sasha, 7.

Halleluljah! The 2008 election is almost over. It's been exciting, inspiring, historic and incredibly contentious. Soon we won't be hearing anymore about John "Mr. Grumpy Puss" McCain and Barack "Mr. Tax and Spend" Obama or Sarah "We're Mavericks" Palin or Joe "I"m From Scranton" Biden. But before we move on to the next act in this political drama, let's take a look back from a media standpoint. In a campaign year when many Americans got their news from the internet: YouTube, Facebook, campaign websites and hundreds of blogs on the internet that helped shape public opinion and motivate voters, it would be a mistake to forget the power the mainstream media (MSM) still holds over shaping a candidate's image. Here are some Election 2008 MSM highs and lows.

Confused about new media? Wondering what all that streaming of TV shows online will mean to your regular viewing patterns? Curious about how the new media business models will affect how you consume news and entertainment? Never fear, if you're reading this post, odds are you probably know a little something about blogs, the internet and new media, but if you want to learn more, listen to my podcast interview with Julia Boorstin, the media and entertainment reporter for CNBC.

The Corn Refiners Association currently has two TV commercials abut the consumption of High Fructose Corn Syrup (HFCS).  In this commercial we view a backyard party where two moms get to talking.

At the post, "Sarah is the Fresh Air," on Blogher, I found this comment today: When can she be interviewed by reporters - I find it disturbing that the McCain campaign isn't allowing Ms. Palin to be interviewed by reporters. What are they hiding? According to Nicole Wallace of the McCain campaign, possibly never:

Julia Boorstin of is an entertainment and media reporter for CNBC.  Her job allows her to cover issues as varied as the projected opening box office for films like "Dark Knight" and "Mamma Mia," to interviewing the founder of Facebook, Mark Zuckerberg.  She also writes a blog called "Media Money" for CNBC's website that covers new media, old media and everything in between.  Next week I'm going to have the pleasure of doing a podcast interview with Julia about her job, her life and above all media and money. 

We're halfway through the 2008 Beijing Summer Olympics so it's time to rate NBC's coverage.  First a caveat, I haven't seen every single hour of the coverage, but really, who has?  My opinion based on the many hours I have watched?  For once, I'll give them a thumb that's almost pointing up.  Some thoughts:

Recently I discovered I'm a closet sexist, and this is the story of how it happened. As many of you may know, I'm a SINK:  Single Income, No Kids.  I am however lucky enough to have surrogate kids.  Their names are Cara and Milos.  He's seven and she's just about to turn five.  They're the kids of a good friend of mine and I've know them since before they were born. I love them within an inch of their lives and I'm ready to throw down with anyone who dares to think their kids are more adorable. Since I'm in the media, I've taken on the responsibility to teach them about the media, but of course only on the most simplistic level.  I talk to them about television, movies and commercials, and how sometimes, what you see isn't what you think it is.