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:
Alternative Spring Breaks are nothing new, but President Obama's call for increased community service has inspired legions...including spring breakers.
Students at Georgetown University paying it forward:
http://explore.georgetown.edu/news/?ID=40335
• Students participating in the Border Awareness Experience will share meals with immigrants and refugees on the U.S.-Mexico border and spend time with border patrol agents who work in the area surrounding El Paso, Texas
• In the Worker Justice D.C. program, students will learn more about the low-wage working community and its organizers struggling to improve local working conditions.
Background:
USAT: Economy inspires public service
http://www.usatoday.com/news/washington/2009-03-09-publicservice_N.htm
Truly tragic ... Glad Matt gave this attention & hats off to Parry Aftab for continuing to be in forefront. Look forward to doing what we can on our end to help as well. RELATED SEGMENT.
Visit msnbc.com for Breaking News, World News, and News about the Economy
Industry veteran, Larry Magid has been on the forefront of kids safety online from the very beginning. One of his latest posts speaks to Facebook privacy settings. He delves into all of the options. This -- as relayed to Larry -- is one of the areas people ask me about most. So, am pleased to be able to point you in the right direction. Check out: HOW TO USE FACEBOOK PRIVACY SETTINGS. Controlling who can see your profile, who can see certain aspects of your profile, what appears & doesn't on your "wall," & how to UN-TAG photos of YOU posted by your friends on Facebook (VERY key thing to know).
It's an over-the-top title for an over-the-top, but infectious best-selling book by Rory Freedman and Kim Barnouin, whom you most certainly want to have a non-lunch with after reading the book. The Audio Book, etc. also widely available HERE.
Have shared with bunch of friends & we're comparing notes .... The DAIRY DISASTER CHAPTER seems to have particular "shock & awe" ....
Here's some of the opening lines: "Breast milk can grow an 8-pound newborn into a 24-pound toddler. Sounds pretty fattening, huh? It is. By design, it is intended to allow for the biggest growth spurt of a person's entire life."
Hmmmm ....
They go on to remind us: "Cows' milk, by design, grows a 90-pound calf into a 2,000 pound cow over the course of two years. It allows cows to double their birth weight in 47 days .... "
Hmmmm ....
Next week we're focusing on diet/nutrition TOP SEARCH TERMS & RESOURCES .... STAY TUNED. IN MEANTIME, HERE ARE SOME RELATED LINKS & RESOURCES: Diet, Fitness & Exercise Tips & What's the Latest Diet Craze?
This "The Crisis of Credit Visualized" video by Jonathan Jarvis is being widely viewed online & raking in comments. We talked about in on WSJ Radio with Gordon Deal. Jonatahn is an LA-based designer and certainly went to town with this media design. My only contention -- which raised in comment on the site & on-air -- is the characterization of people who got sub-prime mortgages as chain-smoking, tattooed, deadbeats with too many kids. The visual is a little harsh. Maybe they just made a bad call/personal finance decision? Could be. Overall, it's definitely worth a look if you're trying to get your head around the sale, reselling and risk tiers of mortgages. My little brother tried to explain this over Thanksgiving dinner. Think only my dad & brother-in-law really got it. Now, I get it ....
Clara is so darling & am enjoying talking about her on the radio this morning.... She's 93 years old, a great story-teller and great grandmother. She recounts her childhood during the Great Depression as she prepares meals from the era, in a series titled "Great Depression Cooking -- Poorman's Feast." It's like visiting your own Grandmother or Great Aunt's kitchen (if you are blessed enough to be able to do so). There is something particularly touching & instructive about it. "Back to Basics" seems so sensible & as she speaks you can't help but think of the nearest mega supermarket and how things have changed so much in just a matter of decades. It also strikes me as a sign of the times as oral history is forever changed by the online medium. The advent and acceleration of video on the web, means incredible access to places you're privileged to spend a few minutes -- like Clara's kitchen.
Yesterday, had an intriguing e-mail discussion with Jesse Kornbluth (a.k.a. Head Butler) re: the state of social networking. I didn't ask him if could share the exchange, so will restrain. In the meantime, this WSJ article (you may need to subscribe & it's worth it) is a really intriguing trend ....
Today on radio stations across the country, we're talking about some of the most compelling videos on the web. They're worth a look if you get a second. One of them falls into a new category: the most Twittered videos on Truveo. Meaning the video links people are including in their Twitter updates. I would imagine this one may be shared when people miss planes & want to show friends, family & colleagues how they feel ... This poor woman missed her flight from Hong Kong to San Fran. She's despondent. To say the least. Maybe she's missing her daughter's wedding? Whatever the case, Gawker may have put it best: "Airport Tantrum Lady Cries for All of Us."
It is important to me (probably far more than it should be), that you are aware you get more bling for your buck online. Apparently, a fair amount of you are in on this. Sales of engagement rings on www.BlueNile.com have now surpassed Tiffany & Co.
Online jewelers don't have to maintain stores, so they're inherently more efficient and approachable. Instead of walking into a store and feeling intimidated/foolish about asking, "Hmmmm ... How much is that?" Online, you get a price quote. And, what's really neat is you can control the price by changing the variables. Some shapes (the ones I like) are more costly than others, clarity will cost you and size is a variable, but not the only variable. Personally, I have bad eyes and am more than willing to trade off clarity ; )
Importantly, all purchases come with a guarantee and certified letter of authenticity. So, it's safe and smart. That's why the average amount spent on an engagement ring at traditional stores is $2750. A
Play around with this Build Your Own Ring™ if you're in the market for a ring or if you just want to pretend you are.
RELATED: Free Overnight Fed-Ex Delivery
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 saw 20 percent increases in 2008. 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.
While some dating sites are free, consider this: even if you're paying $20 or $30 a month for a membership to a dating site, it's still cheaper than one night out on the town and the success rate is staggering! eHarmony alone boasts sparking a whopping 118 marriages every day! (based on 236 divided by 2). e-Harmony now accounts for 2.5% of all new US marriages. W-O-W. The company's self-commissioned research also indicates, the couples are "happier" than most couples.
If you're sold on the concept or are eager to help a friend or relative get going on this path, here are a few tips:
On The View we're discussing teen tech trends .... It turned into more of a safety-oriented discussion and hope it is just the start of a longer, more constructive dialogue. HERE IS THE SINGLE BEST RESOURCE FOR MORE INFO. There are several articles specific to social networking.
Without question, there's a lot of moving pieces. It dawned on me after the interview that social networking is to 2009 what ecommerce was to 1999. Back then, the #1 question was "Is it safe to use my credit card?" Now, it's "Where can I find the best deals?" On the social networking side, right now parents are scared their teems areliving secret online lives. In 10 years, they'll be encouraging them to update their profiles so they can get a job or build a business.
In the meantime, we do need to save teens from themselves. Cellphones are a bigger factor than you may think. Here are some notes on that front ... TODAY'S VOCABULARY WORD: SEXTING.
Four out of every five teens carry them and for those parents who have been on the wrong end of a huge cell phone bill, there's little doubt these handheld devices have become a "key" part of teens' social lives. While the majority of teen texting and cell phone banter is harmless, long gone are the days when if you liked a boy in class, you'd pass him a note ... A new trend is emerging that has parents and educators alarmed. It's called "sexting" (texting + sex) and simply put, it makes naughty notes that may have been passed in class by previous generations, look tame. It can also include the transmission of nude and semi-nude photos via cell phone, which can be a crime.
The ability of modern technology to turn teenage flirting on its head has some teens landing in hot water and in some cases legal trouble. News reports are increasingly documenting legal repercussions after indecent photo appear online. And attorneys say there are many unanswered questions about whether young people who send their own photos could face prosecution for obscenity or child pornography.
According to a survey of 1,280 teens and young adults by The National Campaign to Prevent Teen and Unplanned Pregnancy and CosmoGirl.com, 22 percent of girls and 18 percent of boys say they have electronically sent or posted nude or semi-nude images of themselves. And about one-third of teen boys and one-quarter of teen girls say they have had nude or semi-nude images shared with them. Parents need to be tuned into what their teens are texting and how much texting they are doing.
Tips for Parents:
- Don't Panic: Just because your child is sending these kinds of messages doesn't always mean it's leading to a physical act. I've spoken with many of the accomplished doctors you see on TV all the time, and they explain kids are exploring and experimenting with their sexuality by flirting with their cell phones – and they often see it as fun or a game of sorts.
- Float the worst-case scenario: Talk with your children: make sure they fully understand that messages or pictures they send over the Internet or their cell phones are not truly private or anonymous. Kids need to know that others might forward their pictures or messages to people they do not know or want to see them. Show your children stories in the media about other teens who made mistakes and got in trouble for it.
- Turn them Off: I've noticed my daughter sleeping with her phone, which means she's staying up way too late texting. And, I don't want HER to be the kid keeping other kids up. Plus, pre-teens get a little punchy at night (remember the last sleepover you hosted?) You can actually customize your service to turn off. Ask your cell provider if you think this would be a useful feature.
What Teens can Do:
If you receive unwanted text messages, first ask the texter to stop sending them – if they don't stop, you can take action by "blocking" the number.
"Sexting" Shorthand:
You've likely heard of LOL, short for "Laugh Out Loud," but "sexting" has a spawned a shorthand of it's own. Here are a couple common abbreviations:
tdtm = talk dirty to me
durs = damn you are sexy
Find more on NetLingo.com and NoSlang.com.
Related posts: What You Need to Know about Your Teen's Facebook, Teen Tech Trends: Parents are on it!
We're taping a segment for "The View" today. It'll air on Friday. It's about the SECRET LIVES OF TEENS. Here are some startling stats used in compiling what I hope will be a genuinely useful show. Teens really are the first group to grow up online. If you are 15 today, in many cases you have never lived a day with a computer in your home and your classroom. That's unprecedented & it makes technology instinctive for young people in a way it never will be for adults. 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 your teen's online life and helping them mature with and through it, is a critical part of modern day parenting. Parenting is the tricky part. The tech-piece just accelerates things. Here's hoping we can do a little something to help you keep up .... This is the first in a series of related posts. First, the #'s:
TIME SPENT ONLINE
- The average 13-17 year old spends 11.5 hours online per week (Source: OTX Research – Press Release 2008/06-18-08_Teens_and_Internet.pdf)
TEXT SENT MONTHLY
- The average teen ages 13-17 1742 texts monthly according to Nielsen. And that can be conservative!
IMS DAILY
- There are 1.5 Billion AIM messages sent daily (Source: AOL data)
FACEBOOK STATS
- 150 million people currently use Facebook (as of Jan. 7, 2009). The announcement was made on the Facebook company blog by founder and CEO Mark Zuckerberg. If Facebook sustains this rate of growth, the 5-year-old site could hit 200 million users by this spring. To try it, is to get it. Keeping up with it, can be time consuming.
The reported median age is 26, so it's important to know they can be hanging with an older crowd. Looks like approx. 14% of Facebook users are ages 0-17. The 30+ demographic is growing the fastest and has parents and teens crossing paths online. The 30+ Population on Facebook Grew By Over 200% In 2008. Nearly 50 Million Users On Facebook are Over 30. That's "creeping" some kids out - Parents and teenagers meet on Facebook - Internet- msnbc.com
Inside Facebook expects Facebook could cross 200 million monthly active users as early as April, or in about 90 days.
Some more quick Facebook statistics:
- Average user has 100 friends on the site
- More than 3 billion minutes are spent on Facebook each day (worldwide)
- More than 13 million users update their statuses at least once each day
- More than 3 million users become fans of Pages each day
- More than 800 million photos uploaded to the site each month
- More than 5 million videos uploaded each month
- More than 20 million pieces of content (web links, news stories etc.) shared each month
- More than 2 million events created each month
- More than 20 million active user groups exist on the site
-
CYBERBULLYING
- The most susceptible cyberbullying ages are girls 9-13.
- Sometimes parents are the last to know, because they're afraid you'll take the computer or cellphone (their lifeline) away.
OTHER STATS & RELATED ARTICLES.
- 95% of teens are online (Pew Internet)
- Parents of Teens Regulate Content More Than Time: Though the majority of teen parents do attempt to regulate the amount of time their teen spends online, they are more concerned with the types of Internet sites their teen visits (Pew Internet).
For Parents, a New Concern: Teenagers and Laptops - New York TimesWe used to always tell parents to "keep an eye on the screen" and to "keep the computer in a central location in the house like the kitchen or family room." That's getting a lot less realistic. With laptops, the computer moves around. With cellphones glued to your child's body, unless you shadow them all day ... .this isn't really doable. Also, they can put one screen in back of the other and change it up in a split second. So, as soon as you approach .... up goes the homework.
And, here's my personal favorite article title by gifted writer Michelle Slatalla: 'omg my mom joined facebook!!' - New York Times. I've shared it with every mom I know. Feel free to do same.
So, you could still go to the game ... Certainly -- as covering on MSNBC & FOX throughout the day -- there are still tickets available. In fact, StubHub.com is reporting record volume & lower prices than ever. Some are even predicting tickets could soon go for face value by kick-off with prices plummeting after the first punt.
Face value + use miles to fly and you're so there ....
Or, keep hope alive & imagine yourself here for SuperBowl 2010. Packages already available. No word re: pre-sales. I dare you;)
Or, NOT. None of the above is new norm, which could be why the big game is the second biggest driver of TV sales. This year, 40 seems to be the new 50. As in inches. While the discounts may be deeper on the jumbos, seems we must be coming to our collective flat-screen senses & realizing what we have or can get for under $1000 is .... big enough.
Enough said. Enjoy the game with family & friends + watch for updates re: the "other" game .... ADVERTISING + RATE ADS HERE.
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