An extraordinary news day played out online .... We'll continue to keep tabs on this & be a source on the topic ... Following are some background notes am using for on-air interviews:

Michael Jackson death news: Online activity heats up Twitter and Google, slows down some sites -- chicagotribune.com

We're talking about online resources for buying a car on TV & Radio stations across the country this week. Had privilege of sitting down with the folks on frontlines of the AOL Autos team. They've done some impressive work. The end-result is thoughtfully simplistic (which means the site is loaded with information, but is intuitive to use). A winning equation for successful consumer websites. Here are some background notes based on our conversation with them. Hope helpful. More to come on-air:)

• Should we really log on before we hit the lot and in these tough economic time how do we really make it work to our advantage?

• With automakers filing for bankruptcy and closing local dealers en masse, it is time take advantage of the autos market. AOL Autos, autos.aol.com, is a great place to start for free car information for new and used cars, as well as tips and news.

• People are conducting extensive car research online before they buy. This puts them in the driver seat by giving them the information they need to make smart car buying decisions.

• Those looking at buying a new car can compare the features, prices, incentives and total ownership costs to find the best deals before heading out the door. The site has car buying guides focused on:

• Alternative fuel vehicles

• Crossovers

• Best family cars

• Luxury vehicles

• Sedans

• SUVs

• You can also use their car compare feature http://autos.aol.com/cars-compare
  • Choose between two and five cars to see how they compare on price, features, and performance

  • The differences between the cars you are comparing are highlighted

  • Compare cost to own a selected car with other similar vehicles

• Many consumers are considering used cars due to the current economy, so you can go online and compare cars in your area to make informed choices. AOL Autos Used Cars: Car buying maps and graphs :
  • Search for used cars by zip code: Search results give you location of the car, the cost and it's mileage. See: http://autos.aol.com/used-list/make1-Acura/location-20148/map

  • You can input your address and get driving directions to the car(s) you selected to go see

  • Shows you car prices in your area graphed by price vs. mileage so you can find the best deals. See: http://autos.aol.com/used-list/make1-Acura/location-20148/prices

• Work and even - GRAPH - the used car market - all 3 million of them!

• Don't overlook new - promos highly incentive; very dynamic Run the numbers - look at MSRB vs invoice. Aim to come in on or under.

• E-Haggle - Talk it "type" them down in advance. Win/win - you negotiate anonymously in advance/dealer gets qualified lead.

• Think ahead - use cost of ownership calculator to level-set on "real" 3 year + cost including depreciation (hello! First year will make u cringe), estimated maintenance (not all vehicles historically hold up well).

RELATED POSTS ****** CLICK HERE

AOL Consumer Advisor, Regina Lewis, stopped by WEEKEND TODAY to help shed light on the changing face of social networking and the modern day challenge of "staying in touch" in these fast-paced, cyber-times.

Visit msnbc.com for Breaking News, World News, and News about the Economy

She contends when something that was inherently intended to make your feel more productive and more in touch, starts to feel un-manageable, you've got to take a step back & make some adjustments. We may have boxed ourselves into expectations and behaviors that just may not be sustainable. It's about assessing the quality and quantity of your time online.

Boomers on Board
Founded exclusively for college kids, nearly half of all Facebook users are now over 26 years old with women over 55 the fastest growing demographic of all! The majority of Twitter users are 35 & older. The average age on LinkedIn is approximately 40. Even Bebo, known for it's youthful following, has 40% of it's US membership over age 44.

There's been a gradual build to un-manageability. Recent poll on popular blog LemonDrop.com suggests even the most social among us, sometimes feel "addicted" or certainly know someone who is.


More Not Always Merrier
Turns out, despite our technical capability to keep in constant contact with everyone, our capacity as human beings is somewhat limited & more is not always merrier. Primatologist suggest the size of the human brain allows us to handle stable networks of about 150 [The Dunbar #]. Interestingly, the average # of "friends" on Facebook is 120 ... pretty consistent. BUT, the average # of friends within that network we're able to regularly keep in touch with -- by responding to posts, or leaving comments on photos they may post -- men will do this with only about SEVEN of those 120 friends and women are slightly more sociable, with the number rising to TEN.


The average AIM "Buddy List" is about 100 people long -- also in same realm. There are more than 1.5 billion instant messages sent on that service alone EVERY DAY -- some PC, some PC to cell or smart phones and some from cell to cell. So, some of the social conversations we do have are trending toward shorter, very frequent, real-time exchanges with a core group. Here's the good news ... We're all human beings, so now we can all shed our social guilt and know we're all in the same boat.

Pace Yourself & Build Something Meaningful
There's a tendency to come very fast out of the box ... start a blog, add a million friends to your social networking page, etc. Start by striving for quality not quantity. This can be controversial, but it happens naturally. You can quickly diminish the true value of your social network or buddy list if one day you look at it and wonder, "who are all these people?" (See: Handling a Facebook Request From an Office Random) So, pre-empt that. Doesn't mean they don't get added to your address book (in fact, they get added automatically in many cases) but there's a difference between the two tools.

"Unfriending" someone is little trickier ... The good news is generally they will not be notified. They don't get an email informing them "You got the Cyber-Boot!" They won't figure it out until they seek you out and are not able to. Break-ups is a common scenario in which it may make sense. Otherwise, you can generally play around with the "settings" and phase down your contact with someone, so they remain part of your distant network (like someone you might see at a reunion and say "let's stay in touch!" but -- realistically -- was well intentioned as you both were, it's easier said than done). On buddy list side, you can always IGNORE someone and you can also make yourself invisible, so they are not prompted to IM you, which goes a long way.

There's also a trend and technological innovation going on to allow for multiple "views" of a profile, so certain people can see more than others. Kind of like whether you're invited to the wedding or the wedding and the rehearsal dinner. But, like weddings, those things require mental decisions and grappling a lot of people are torn by.

Again, don't feel torn ... it's everyone's issue and it sorts itself out if you develop your own rhythm and style that works for you. People will adjust accordingly.

Create a Sustainable Routine
In many ways it's helpful for YOU and for other PEOPLE. Make sure you keep your overall online time in check and that -- in total -- it's not disruptive to your in-person relationships (i.e., are yor Facebook friends getting more attention that your spouse?). Women -- in particular -- worry a delayed reply may hurt someone's feelings or being misunderstood and spark speculation as they often do (i.e., "is she mad at me?"). We've all been there, but often it's a function of a false-sense of urgency and artificial deadlines we impose on ourselves and others.

And -- remember -- any sustainable routine has conscious breaks.

Recorded WSJ Radio weekly spot regarding viral videos getting traction online right now. We've embedded some of the videos, so you can check them out.

Former Idol Winner David Cook's Race for Hope Speech
From People.com - After battling cancer for more than a decade, David Cook's brother, Adam, died Saturday, the American Idol winner announced Sunday morning before the 12th annual Race for Hope 5K in Washington, D.C.



Mia Farrow Goes on Darfur Hunger Strike, Posts Daily on YouTube
From Switched.com - Actress, activist Mia Farrow is in the ninth day of her hunger strike for Darfur, chronicled on her own YouTube channel, the L.A. Times reports.



Piles of Junk Morph Into Polar Bears, Giraffes and More
From Lemondrop.com - New York street artist Joshua Allen Harris makes animals, monsters and robots out of shopping and trash bags, then ties them on top of subway grates or inside train stations. Though they look like litter on the street to the average passerby, when wind or subways go by, the creatures come to life.



Susan Boyle - The Way We Were 1984
From Popeater.com - The world's fascination with Susan Boyle continues. Here she is performing Barbra Streisand's The Way We Were in 1984 in Motherwell, North Lanarkshire.

This one I had never thought of, but it's terrific. If your home overflowing with shelves and boxes full of trophies, medals and plaques from your overachieving life, don't toss them out ... eco-friendly site GreenDaily.com says those little statues can actually be recycled.

You can start with a few phone calls to local trophy makers or youth organizations, to see if they accept old ones to make new ones. Many organizations fix-up donated trophies, add new nameplates and donate them to nonprofit groups like the Special Olympics, boys and girls clubs or other worthy causes. Or, check out THIS SITE -- They have a mailing address where you can send them. So maybe go ahead and let go of that bowling trophy from 20 years ago ... it's time for someone else to share in the glory. Be sure to ASK before you give the kids or your significant other's trophies away. You knew that;)

This blog post is part-of a series of posts related to a segment on The View re: the SECRET LIVES OF TECH-CONNECTED TEENS. Today's teens really are the first group to grow up online. The average 15 year old has never lived a day without a computer in their home or classroom. That's unprecedented & it makes technology instinctive for young people in a way it never will be for adults. Some refer to today's youth as the digital natives – those who have always had technology as a part of their lives.

Many teens seemingly have iPod earbuds in their ears around the clock, they covet their laptop if they're lucky enough to have one and they practically consider their cellphone an extension of their body. But what are they doing will all that stuff? And with technology such a huge part of teens' lives, how can parents keep track of what content kids are viewing when they go online; what they're texting back and forth on their cellphones and who they're communicating with? It's no easy task.

Today's blog post focuses on teens and social-networking sites and include tips for parents to help them stay in the game and keep their kids safe on these sites.

Teens & Social-Networking Sites
Social networking has become a huge part of our culture. Web sites like Facebook, MySpace, Bebo & AimProfiles have become a common trend among teens. Social-networking sites are a social way to express yourself. If you really want to get to know your child, take a look at their page. To be fair, consider giving them 24 hours notice, so they can make any "adjustments" they'd like to make.

Stress to your teen the importance of making sure they keep the page "private" (accessible only by friends or family they've "rostered in") & keep a close eye on the pages of their friends. As teens explore their identities, a lot of the photos they post online can be very suggestive. If you really want to get in the game, sign yourself up for Facebook, Bebo or MySpace. You may get a little push-back initially (i.e. OMG my mom's on Facebook!"), but they'll play it cool if you don't overplay your hand.

Your teen's online reputation should be
considered their credit score for the 21st century.

Talk to Your Teen About Their Online Reputation
Here's where this is likely to evolve and why it's important for your teenagers to understand these sites are essentially personal marketing ... everything communicates & ultimately what you project becomes your "online reputation." Having a really well put-together, thoughtful page can send all the right messages to a potential college admissions officer or employer. But, it can also backfire. Think of your online reputation as a credit score for the 21st century. This can help teens guard against some of the common pitfalls:

* Being too risque.
* Suggestive (even incriminating) photos that can easily be circulated among classmates.
* Spending an inordinate amount of time updating page (disruptive to other responsibilities).
* Winning the online popularity contest at all costs.

And keep in mind, pre-teens want to do what teens do. Social-networking is intended for ages 13 and up, because younger children don't have the judgement to make appropriate decisions on these sites. There are some sites emerging for younger kids, but expect to get hounded when your child hits ages 11-12, that "everyone" is doing it. Hold firm. The age restriction is their for a reason.

Another reason to be involved in your teens online lives is to protect them from becoming victims of "internet-stalking" or online predators. Remember, anything personal information posted online makes it that much easier for someone to be tracked down offline.

Red Flags for Teen Profiles
1. Posting personal information: Address, home town, dorm #, full name, cell phone number, school name. Putting anything online that makes you findable in the offline world is a big no-no.

2. "Giving away" their location: Posting pictures of themselves in front of their school sign, in front of the license plate on their car or the place where they work, could lead someone to them.

3. Talking to strangers: Kids may like the idea of meeting new people online, but that cute 14 year old might not be so cute and might not be 14. Predators can easily hide behind a fake picture and profile to gain the trust of a child, later attempting to arrange an in person meeting.

4. Saucy Screen Names & Provocative Pics: Screen names shouldn't include provocative language ("cutie," "hot" and the like) that draws the wrong sort of attention. As for pictures, if you wouldn't post it on a highway billboard, don't put it on MySpace.

5. The Three P's: Teens shouldn't post anything they wouldn't want parents, their principal or predators to know or to see.

Tips for Parents
1. Know the motivation: Ask your kids why they're doing this in first place. To meet new people? Express themselves? To be cool on campus? Teens say MySpace is so mainstream, there's pressure for them to have a profile on the site or they risk not being part of the "in" crowd.

2. Look at their page: Tell them you want to see their profile page (for the first time) ... tomorrow. This gives them 24 hours to remove anything that isn't appropriate and keeps it from becoming a "gotcha" moment. It that approach doesn't work, you can search for them on the sites – by name e-mail address or their school. You may be surprised how much you learn both good and bad.

3. Private vs. public – know the difference: Most social-networking sites make it possible for users to make their page "private," so they can roster in their friends or classmates vs. allowing any registered user to view their page and contact them.

4. Float the worst case scenario: We've all heard the stories about in-person meetings going bad. The simple fact is, people can "be" anyone they choose to be online. Just because they posted or sent you a picture, does not mean it is THEIR picture. Make sure your young person is aware of the headline stories.

5. Use Parental Controls: Take advantage Parental Controls and online timers offered by your ISP. Some parents worry about invading their child's privacy with blocking or monitoring software or by reading their Web diaries. Sites like MySpace are a privilege; a computer is a privilege. A parent needs to be a parent and that may mean using monitoring software.

6. Don't over-react: These sites are enormously popular and it's unlikely they'll disappear anytime soon. The key is for adults not to panic and force kids to hide their online activity, at which point no one can monitor them.

I spoke with a lot of teen and pre-teen parents in preparation for this segment & must say, am really impressed (and inspired) by how genuinely interested parents are in staying on top of tech trends as they relate to their children. They instinctively seem to know being on top of their teen's online life and helping them mature with and through it, is a critical part of modern day parenting. Parenting remains the tricky part. The tech-piece just accelerates things. The good news is the more you know about the overall trends and the better feel you can get for your teen's tech style, the more you'll be able to apply the same parenting instincts you use when it comes to everything from dating to driving.

For additional tips and information on everything from social-networking safety to tips on dealing with Cyber-Bullying, log on to www.safetyclicks.com.

Tomorrow, we'll continue this series of blog posts along these lines by taking a closer look at teens and texting – and an alarming new trend emerging that's being referred to as "sexting."

Related post: Teen Tech Trends: Parents are on it!

According to USA TODAY, President Obama's call to community service is striking a chord ... Online applications are coming in a reported three times faster than a year ago to AmeriCorps. SEE: I'M READY TO SERVE. In checking it out, we found many of the positions -- which are for roughly one year for an allowance of approx $11,000 -- to already be full/not accepting applicants. Lots of specifics HERE. If Obama gets his way, AmericaCorps may be able to expand from 75,000 positions to 250,000. According to the chairman of the Corporation for National and Community Service, this would allow the impressive organization to "do the kinds of things for this generation and this country that military service did for the Greatest Generation." Wouldn't that be something:)

www.americorps.org

classifieds.aol.com
Around the country, many newspapers are running into tough times. So, where does that leave traditional newspaper classifieds? The Internet is filling the void, by posting classifieds online and traffic is spiking. In part, because you can now list things for FREE. That frees up anyone looking to unload something or offer a service to spread the word without running up a tab. You'll fine everything from horses to tractors and jobs to personals. Another sign of consumers tightening the purse-strings ... On Classifieds.AOL.com alone, you can access more than 40 million listings, aggregated from more than 80,000 different sources. Listings are searchable by every Zip Code in the U.S. Maybe it's time you took out an ad ... the price is right .... zero.

Here are links to some of the videos we're talking about on radio this week.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1CRs-7lRlPo

A sign of the times: Online searches for coupons have shot up over 160% since the recession began. We recently talked coupons on the CBS Early Show ... Retail 101 means I want to offer you the best possible price, but no better. That's why – and this is little known secret – the sooner you start acting like a bargain bee, the better the deals targeted to you will get. It's called dynamic pricing. Here are some of the sites featured on-air + MORE. Turns out, you have more control over the total tab at grocery stores, restaurants and local establishments than you may think ... It pays to be proactive.

CLIP COUPONS VIRTUALLY – SITES FOR SAVING ON GROCERIES:

www.Coupons.com

www.CouponMom.com

Because consumers are also facing high grocery prices, restaurants are really trying to keep their value propositions strong without eating into already strained margins. If consumers play their coupon cards right, it could actually be cheaper to eat out!

With money extra tight these days, instead of hiring a handyman, homeowners are increasingly turning to web sites like DIYlife.com for tips on tackling common household repairs on their own. From minor plumbing and electrical fixes to trouble-shooting doors, windows, appliances and even home computers ... Whatever problem you're having, chances are, someone else has had the same issue. Online searches can also turn up message boards where other online do-it-your-selfers have your back & can save you a buck.

While you do have to proceed with a bit of caution when searching for "work from home" jobs online, there are some legitimate opportunities to make good money sans a long commute. If you have skills, a high-speed Internet connection and know what sites to frequent, you can indeed find work.

Sites like elance.com connect companies with freelancers. Companies post projects and scope of work and freelancers place their bids. Once a bid is accepted, the freelancer and the hiring company connect and the freelancer performs the work. Projects can last from a few days, to a few months or even longer. Popular jobs include web designers, graphic designers, sales consultants, editors, proofreaders, writers and translators.

At the completion of a project, business can rate freelancers so that other companies can begin to see a snapshot of the quality of their work. The higher the rating a freelancer maintains on the site, the more future work likely to come their way.

Related article by CNN's Gerry Willis: Q&A: Green-collar jobs and work-at-home scams

Granted, the timing may be opportune as it appears there's an inverse relationship between the economy and online dating sites. A growing number of the estimated 92 million singles in the U.S. are turning to online dating sites to hunt for dates. Many are cutting back on big nights out and instead choosing to spend more time at home on the Internet surfing through profiles, which can take tons of time. As reported in the Washington Post, Match.com saw it's biggest one-month jump in seven years!

The L.A. Times reports eHarmony.com registrations is seeing signficant increases. And, get this, eHarmony and Match.com reported especially high traffic on days when the Dow Jones Industrial Average plummeted. Apparently, cold weather is also a factor. Both sites can be accessed via AOL Personals.

Related: Online dating do's & don'ts.

WEB SURFERS SEARCH FOR SIGNS OF SPRING ONLINE:
Spring Break Travel Deals, Bathing Suit Season Shape-up, Tips for "Going Green," Fixing-up the House & Managing March Madness Bracketology.

Regina has pinpointed some of spring's most searched for topics to help consumers shake off the cold of winter and put them in the know for shaping-up, fixing-up, saving money and being ahead of the curve for the season's latest and hottest fads and interests.

SPRING BREAK TRAVEL: How can you really be sure you're getting the best price? What happens if the price drops AFTER you click to buy? Good news ... You could be eligible for the new lower fare. We'll show you how to get the credit you deserve and new cyber-savvy ways to use airline miles. Plus, this year, over 250,000 college students will go on Spring Break, and an unprecedented number of webcams will follow the action (for better or worse!). Expect to see the unexpected. We'll show you why & where your teen might think twice about striking the wrong – or even incriminating - pose in this tell-all, social networking age. www.Gadling.com

DIET DIARY: Start a Diet Diary: The multi-billion dollar diet industry isn't exactly known for FREE resources, but one of the most effective things you can do just launched online at ZERO cost. It's a diet diary to plan and track your food & nutrition in-take, plot and record your exercise regime and track your progress. According to the American Journal of Preventive Medicine, a recently study indicated people who keep a food diary realize TWICE the weight loss of those who rely solely on dieting and exercise. The newly available tool generates printable graphs & spreadsheets, so you can really see how your diet stacks up against recommended guidelines for the goals you're trying to reach. If you're off-course, it shows up in the reports before it shows up on your waistline! http://www.aolhealth.com/food-diary

MARCH MADNESS: Online bracket challenges are in full force. Regina has tips and sites to help make sure you're Final Four picks are a slam dunk. This year there'll also be hours & hours of basketball coverage online and it may look better than ever with improved video streams comparable to high-def TV. It's one of the first big sports event to take advantage of it & the potentially career-saving "Boss Button" will also be back (not that you need it;). If you're looking to attend the Final Four in person, "sold out" doesn't' meant you can't get tickets online. We'll point you in the right ticket re-sale direction and fill you in on the going rate. www.Fanhouse.com

FREE CLASSIFIEDS: Here's a sign of the times... In response to demand for a way to bring classified listings across the web to one place, a new classifieds service boasts listings from EVERY zip code in and allows you to post your own ad for FREE. At launch, there are more than 40 million listings aggregated from more than 80 million sites, which means less searching and surfing for what you're after and more luck trying. www.classifieds.aol.com

My friend Sara is extremely diligent in her approach to "real food" and she dug up some terrific organic food coupon sites. I'm amazed how terrific these sites are & am excited to save on some of our favorite products & brands. Here's one of my new favorites:

www.mambosprouts.com