Momathon Blog

Decor Crush: A House Tour with George Clooney

I admit I have a crush on George Clooney, now I have a decor crush on his lovely home too. Check out his Los Angeles house tour here via CBS.com. His kitchen looks fabulous even though he says he doesn't do much cooking—instead he says the kitchen is the place he "orders food delivered." In the CBS interview he talks about the difference between a house and a home. He also chats about adopting his shelter dog Einstein, the importance of friendships, his family, his famous aunt Rosemary Clooney, politics, and the Academy Awards to be held this weekend. If you missed his dreamy I-can't-watch-it-enough TV commercial where he gets hitched, check it out here.

So many of Clooney's films are my favorites: Ides of March, The Descendants, and Up in the Air. On a personal note, as a shelter dog adoption counselor, I love the fact George adopted a shelter dog. 

Here's the interview tour of Clooney's house via CBS.com.

Photos: images from the CBS.com home tour.

Wordless Wednesday: A teeny tiny world in stop motion video

 

 
Nokia 'Dot'

What happens in a microscopic stop motion adventure? Well, it's strange and beautiful--a sea of pencil shavings, a flower parachute, and knitting needle nails. If you like Wallace and Gromit videos, you'll enjoy this clever video by Sumo Science. 

Nokia 'Dot' from Sumo Science on Vimeo.

 

Photos: Screenshots from the lovely Nokia 'Dot' by Sumo Science.

Bueller?... Bueller?... Bueller?

"How can you handle work on a day like today?"

"Life is packed with things you have to do, but sometimes you gotta live a little..."

Sound familiar? Matthew Broderick plays himself with a nostalgic nod to his movie character Ferris Bueller in a new Super Bowl ad that has gone viral on YouTube. 

I love the classic movie Ferris Bueller's Day Off.  Even 26 years after the movie was made I still see a bit of Bueller in Broderick. So why is Broderick in the Honda ad? And how can Bueller's wild day in the borrowed 1961 Ferrari 250GT California ("less than a hundred were made") ever begin to compare with the mass-produced Honda CR-V?

A Very She & Him Christmas

 

Yes, I know it is early, but I am listening to A Very She & Him Christmas. If anyone at my house complains about this, then I will be playing the album everyday at 5:00 a.m. for the next two months.

I first fell in love with the voice of She & Him singer Zooey Deschanel when she was the store elf-ette in the movie Elf.

Listen below to “The Christmas Waltz,” the first track from ‘A Very She & Him Christmas’! 

She & Him - The Christmas Waltz by MergeRecords

Zooey Deschanel and The New Girl show

Now Zooey Deschanel has a TV show too, "The New Girl" on FOX. If you ever were suddenly single after facing a break-up, then you will definitely want to watch the trailer for that show below.

(Here's the The New Girl show YouTube Link.)

 

Anderson Cooper Show update

 

The Anderson Cooper new daytime talk show premieres in five days. Here's what they have planned for the first week:

The Anderson Cooper Show wants to hear your stories

The new daytime Anderson Cooper Show premieres on September 12th and he wants to hear your stories.

TV shows often promise they will change your life, but Anderson says that isn't realistic. Instead Anderson says he wants his show to make your day more interesting, more informed, more fun. 

Friday's Decor Crush from Crazy, Stupid, Love

Friday’s Decor Crush
Who knows how I ever noticed the white chair in this scene with Ryan Gosling showing off his six-pack. Anyways… I adore them both in the delightful movie Crazy, Stupid, Love.
If you have any ideas where to buy the lovely white modern chair, add your thoughts to the comments for this post.

~via my blog Decor Crush on Tumblr

Stock market drop and the E-Trade baby meltdown

 

I love ya, E-Trade baby. You make investing in stocks look so easy. You are cool as a cucumber, except when...

 

The Freudian, the Jungian and now the Starbucks theory in therapy

Since few of us have time to sit down for a three-course meal, why not take the fast food approach to solve even our most complicated and personal challenges? 

While traditional therapists agonize over each patient's problems for hours, weeks, and years, a new kind of fast food therapy pushes the patients in and out of therapy sessions quickly. 

Why I'm still mad about Paul Reiser

 

 

What do you do? This question seems benign, but we all know at times it hits a nerve. The question even bugs Paul Reiser, who I've missed ever since his popular show “Mad About You” went off the air in 1999.

Reiser's obviously not your average stay-at-home dad (SAHD). He is married with two kids, and living in suburbia. However, he still is Hollywood–just disconnected enough from the studios for him to wonder what to check under the box labeled "occupation." 

So, what do you do? I was asked this question more often when I was still working my 9-5 office gig. Now I'm working an "invisible" job at home writing and designing materials for nonprofits. Believe me, I'm not complaining. I get to pick my clients. Plus, best of all, I'm home with my kids. Yet, I still wonder what to put in that box labeled "occupation."

The ongoing occupational identity crisis facing many SAHM and SAHD is not always pretty or funny, but The Paul Reiser Show premiering last night on NBC made me laugh because those crazy-slash-normal neuroses are exactly what binds many of us together and ironically keeps us afloat. I admit that at the end of an exhausting day, spending time talking with my friends keeps me sane. If they can survive the chaos in parenthood and/or marriage, then I can too.

Paul appears relatable playing himself in the show, if you forgive the fact he is very rich. In a scene with Paul and his friend Jonathan (Ben Shenkman), his life seems so normal the conversation could be me with any one of my friends:

PAUL: You know that form from the kids' school we got. The little box "father's occupation," I don't know what to put in there.

JONATHAN: Well, put in what you used to do.

PAUL: Well, I don't do it anymore. I make pancakes and tell the kids to take a jacket.

JONATHAN: Well, put that down

PAUL: It's not that big a box.

 

The show's cast including Paul's posse of quirky friends might be too large, but I'm going to give them an episode or two so I can get to know them. In the first episode, Larry David guest stars playing himself. And since the show reminds me of David's show Curb Your Enthusiasm minus the edginess, he fits right in. In the first episode, Reiser and David are both positioned to get the same game show gig, but they don't know this. Impatient and overly suspicious of each other, they won't tell each other the name of the projects they are considering unless they both agree to tell each other at the exact after-the-count-of-three moment. They seem like a couple of teenagers in that exchange, yet I know I've felt like doing the very same thing a number of times with my own friends. Ridiculous. Yes. And funny.

I was surprised to see that Reiser's group of friends even though they are guys seem like my own friends--women I met in many cases only because our kids or spouses know each other. As Brian Lowry in Variety says:

"Basically, Reiser spends most of his time as part of a mismatched quintet of fathers, thrown together -- despite having little in common otherwise -- by their wives and kids."

The scene with Amy Landecker playing Reiser's wife Claire rings true. We don't see much of Claire in episode one, but I like her. She plays up the fact her character loves her husband despite his flaws--the fact he doesn't always listen to her, the fact he worries about odd things, the fact he is adorable even as he gets older and grayer. Claire is funny and smart, cynical and warm. 

Despite some of the obvious similarities, The Paul Reiser show is not as strong a comedy as Seinfeld or Curb Your Enthusiasm. Yet. Some have called it "Curb Lite." Reiser's new show has the same self-depracting humor, the exaggerated hand motions, and the "What did I do?" questions. However the awkward moments that make us chuckle on Reiser's show are not the painful-but-funny moments that make that make the other shows classics. So far, the Reiser show does not include the comedic elements of David's outrageous protests or his "colorful" language.   

The Paul Reiser Show is not Mad About You fifteen years later either. However I'm looking forward to Helen Hunt's guest appearance on an upcoming episode.

You can watch the first episode on NBC.com. Join the 2300–and counting–fans who like The Paul Reiser Show on Facebook or follow the The Paul Reiser Show on Twitter

Have you figured out what to put in that little box marked occupation? Maybe a better question to ask is, "What are you going to do next?"

How many girls are in the TV shows your kids watch?

Thinking we are closing the gender gap in the workplace, I assumed the same goes for TV and movies. Unfortunately, male characters still dominate movies and TV for kids. And the impact of a bias that goes undetected is shocking.

In a WSJ.com article today, Geena Davis, founder of the Geena Davis Instute on Gender in Media, talks with journalist Rebecca Blumenstein about how the number of female characters featured on TV and in movies impacts kids.

According to the WSJ.com article, Geena Davis reports: 

The more hours of television a girl watches, the fewer options she believes she has in life. And the more hours a boy watches, the more sexist his views become.

There is hope. If girls see more positive images in the media, they are empowered. As Davis says in WSJ.com: 

If girls can see characters doing unstereotyped kinds of occupations and activities, they're much more likely as an adult to pursue unusual and outside-the-box occupations.

Next time your kids watch TV, sit down with them and together do some counting. Do the male characters outnumber females? You might be surprised with what you find out. And, if you want, send me an email or just add your findings to my comment section.

Photo: Joris de Vrede

Why a cup of tea makes you feel better

Different types of tea have hidden health benefits according to The Dr. Oz Show. 

Migraines: Ginger tea has anti-inflammatory properties and blocks prostagladins that cause migraines. Drink the ginger tea as soon as you feel the headache symptoms.

Weight loss: Oolong helps you burn fat faster because it boosts metabolism.

Libido: Ginseng tea helps both men and women improve their libido by boosting sexual arousal and combating erectile dysfunction.

 

Illustration: Chris Olson © 2010.

What's the story, Morning Glory?

Like the lyrics sung by Ella Fitzgerald suggest, in the new romantic comedy "Morning Glory" the story behind the public image of the newsroom might be more interesting than the news itself. 

 

  

The characters in the movie's over-the-top dysfunctional newsroom somehow manage to survive and even thrive in a cut-throat business.

Throw in the age factor--Diane Keaton plays a sixty-something veteran news anchor--and you might be tempted to ask, how can a woman in her sixties succeed in television? And while women's magazines like to tell us that 60 is the new 40, a clever slogan doesn't change everything. Thanks to the hardworking women who don't give up when they reach a "certain age," women of all ages are looking up to these women as role models in media, fashion, and business.

If it is possible to admire the "narcissistic" character of Colleen Peck played by Academy award winning actress Diane Keaton, then count me in her fan club. Peck's the epitome of the perfectly-imperfect, hard-working woman who triumphs when the going gets tough. Peck, a veteran news anchor who literally kicked some butt when she dressed up as a Sumo wrestler for her morning gig, might be considered a ditsy TV host except for the fact she is also a very hard worker. And perhaps best of all, she isn't afraid to stand up to her bitter co-host played by Harrison Ford who seems offended when co-host Peck, a former beauty queen, gets any respect in the newsroom. 

I have always admired Keaton's wit and self-depricating sense of humor. She's not afraid to tell it like it is. At 64 she knows what it takes for women in their 60s to survive in TV and films. As more and more women continue to thrive in the business world even as they age, Keaton and her contemporaries remind me why working hard and not taking myself too seriously might be the keys to success.

Morning Glory opens tomorrow, November 10th. Watch Keaton's interview with another hardworking journalist, Meredith Vieira, on the TODAY Show below. 

Smart is the new sexy

Thursday night is DVR time. Gotta get my The Big Bang Theory fix on CBS (8/7C) and then, of course, my weekly dose of comedy on NBC--Community, 30 Rock, and The Office.

 

Photo: via fashionfucsia.blogspot.com

Stories behind the wedding dresses

There is something divine about the dress you pick out for your wedding. Each dress tells a story. Memories of selecting a wedding dress are as unique as the bride. 

I found a simple and affordable cotton dress at Laura Ashley for my wedding years ago. My favorite part of the dress was the subtle floral pattern woven into the fabric. The dress had quite an adventure on the way to my wedding. First, the dress was shipped from London to Minneapolis. Unfortunately the dress arrived two sizes too big and there was a last-minute rush to make alterations at two separate tailors. On my wedding day my dress looked perfect and I felt wonderful!

  

 

Laura Ashley no longer makes wedding dresses, so I guess mine is vintage. I found a lovely blog post on Nibs about the LA Bridal collection circa 1983--my wedding dress was created several years later.

I am always curious to hear the stories behind the dresses women pick. TODAY Show hosts Meredith, Ann, Natalie and Kathie Lee reflect on what they wore to their nuptials in this TODAY Show video clip.

Do you dream of being a wedding planner? The annual TODAY Show Wedding feature allows viewers to vote on practically everything for a special couple's wedding--rings, reception, cake, wedding dress, and honeymoon. This year's lucky and adorable wedding couple is Jeremy and Melissa. The theme of the 11th annual TODAY Show wedding is Modern Love. The couple will be married live on the Plaza on September 30th on the TODAY Show.

You can vote for your favorite dress for the TODAY Show wedding couple, Jeremy and Melissa at TodayShow.com.

I like all of the dresses, but my favorite is: 

 

  According to the TODAY Show wedding experts:

"The Lela Rose wedding dress is feminine and romantic in a gorgeous blush color, which is a modern twist on a traditional gown silhouette. It is a textured silk gazar draped gown with a gorgeous bustled back detail, and the modified A-line skirt is flattering for all figures. Add a chainmail beaded belt to give the gown an extra wow factor for the reception."

For more on TODAY Show weddings, click on Modern.Love. For more thoughts by me on weddings, check out Momathon weddings.

New study says media is the leading sex educator for kids

  

Finding out what your kids watch on TV or on the internet could be as important to your kids' health and wellness as making sure they wear bike helmets. 

According to an article published in the September issue of the Journal of Pediatrics, teens and younger children are learning about sex from the media and the message can be dangerous.

Parents might feel hesitant to talk to their kids about sex. However, when parents shy away from talking to their kids, by default then the parents are encouraging their kids to learn about sex from  less reliable sources such as the internet, TV, and movies.  

The content in the videos, shows, or music content is not the only place where kids hear sexually explicit messages. Major advertising campaigns for products including erectile dysfunction drugs constantly play during daytime and primetime TV.

Here are some of main findings of the study according to healthfinder.gov:

• 70% of teen shows contain sexual content 
• Less than 10% of the sexual content in these shows talk about the consequences of sex such as contracting an STD 
• U.S leads the western world in teen pregnancy rates
• One in four American teens have an STD.
• U.S. children spend seven hours and more a day watching or listening to media that may include sexually explicit content-- music, movies, television shows, magazines and the Internet.

Photo of laptop by bigpresh

Tech review: Clicker.com finds your favorite tv shows online

 

If you are like me you probably don't have time to watch "real" television, that is, shows during their scheduled time slots. That's why I watch my favorite episodes of Modern Family and many other shows online. Thousands of tv episodes including Modern Family are available online but I don't like the hassle of searching through all the possible sources--and there are over 1200 sources! I let Clicker.com, a free web site, do the searching for me. Clicker.com currently has 24 episodes of Modern Family online. During the regular season I know I can watch certain episodes of the series online on ABC for free. However, according to Clicker, now the episodes are not available on ABC.com and I must purchase episodes on iTunes or Amazon.

I don't have ShowTime on my cable plan, but I really want to watch The
Big C with Laura Linney. According to Clicker.com, I can watch the series pilot on Showtime via Showtime On Demand for a fee or watch it for free on Crackle.com via Sony Pictures Entertainment.

Clicker.com is user friendly--only a few simple steps and you are watching your show online. When Clicker.com finds a show you searched for, the site either includes the video on their site or directs you to another hosting site like ABC, CBS, NBC, Hulu, Netflix, Amazon, or iTunes. Based on your search, the site also suggests other shows you might enjoy--a feature similar to the suggested books feature on Amazon.com. You can also subscribe to a Playlist feature that will alert you when new shows in your interest area become available.

Baby bootlegging (v): use this term when taking credit for another kid's work

We've all been there... You're sitting at the park next to the PR Mommy who can't stop bragging about how advanced her kid is. And then she inevitably adds a cutting comment: Don't worry, your child will catch up soon. 

Ouch. So what do you do? Sometimes I wish that when the PR Mommy stands up a gooey bird turd clings to the seat of her dry-clean only pants. (So far my fantasy has never come true.)

I admit I also have been tempted to try some baby bootlegging. If you don't think about what you just did it feels harmless, that is, until you get caught.

Mitch on the NBC show Modern Family in the clip below "borrows" another child's block tower in order to make his daughter look better. Everything is fine until this bad karma moment bites back. 

 

I admit it, sometimes I find awkward moments hilarious! 
 

Not surprised by the snarkiness on Sarah's show

On Tuesday, Rapper LL Cool J tweeted about the fact he was surprised to find out an old interview was now scheduled to be on the new series "Real American Stories" tonight. Sarah Palin's crew at Fox turned the tweet into a PR real mess...

Celebrity interviews produced by Fox originally meant for different programs were picked up by the new program "Real American Stories" hosted by Sarah Palin. 

A few of the celebrities felt they should have been contacted before their interviews were included in this political show. 

LL Cool J tweeted: 

"Fox lifted an old interview I gave in 2008 to someone else & are misrepresenting to the public in order to promote Sarah Palins Show. WOW."

Evidently Fox reads his tweets and doesn't like his attitude. 

In fact the Fox network is trying to transform LL Cool J's relatively mild tweet into blast against everything American. Yikes. I didn't know that Republicans are the only ones who care about helping the less fortunate. 

Still trying to figure out why Fox does not refer to LL by his rapper name in their responses to the incident. Maybe they don't like rap? Whatever the reason, Fox prefers the name James Todd Smith, his birth name. 

According to TVNewser on mediabistro.com, a network spokesperson for Fox told them:

"Real American Stories features uplifting tales about overcoming adversity and we believe Mr. Smith's interview fit that criteria. However, as it appears that Mr. Smith does not want to be associated with a program that could serve as an inspiration to others, we are cutting his interview from the special and wish him the best with his fledgling acting career." 

The Fox "Real American Stories" series has an admirable goal to uplift people, but that is not personal property of the Republicans. In fact, the series goal to uplift America with inspirational uplifting stories about overcoming adversity fits the Democrats platform too. 

Hmmmm. It saddens me that Fox in a weird re-writing of history makes it sound like LL Cool J does not like to help those less fortunate.

Maybe LL just doesn't want to be part of a political machine that twists the truth.

LL Cool J's interview from 2008 is no longer scheduled for the show tonight. Is it surprising that an "inspirational" show blasted a celebrity for giving an opinion?

Ski Bum Mum: Go virtual at the Vancouver Games

If you read my blog, then you probably know that I LOVE LOVE LOVE the Winter Olympics--especially skiing. In another lifetime I was an alpine racer and a racing instructor. Fast forward a few years--okay a couple of decades--and I'm so excited to be following one of the best skiers ever--Lindsey Vonn. She started racing on the same "hills" I raced on as a kid back in Minnesota. The fact we hail from the same state is the only racing similarity I share with Lindsey. She is phenomenal. I really had a lot of fun racing, but I also had a talent for catching a ski tip on a gate, spinning out, and crashing. (I blame it on my goggles fogging up.)

Okay, enough nostalgia. This year keeping up with the athletes and the stats at the Vancouver Games in 2010 is even easier thanks to some pretty amazing techie gizmos.

If you want to keep up with Lindsey, become a fan on Facebook or Twitter

 

 

 

Unfortunately Lindsey Vonn has a shin injury this week and I know from experience how painful that can be. I still will be following her and praying that she heals quickly and brings home the gold. 

Keeping track virtually

The thing is, with the freaky weather out in Vancouver some event schedules might change. I don't want to miss anything, but I can't sit by the TV all day. Thanks to the widget below, you can track the women's (and men's) alpine skiing schedule and results with the Widget below:

If you want to track the overall medal count, check out this widget:

You can track almost anything happening at the Winter Games using the Widgets of the Vancouver 2010 Winter Olympics.

Betty White in a Super Bowl ad? You go girl!!!

 

If I'm even half this cool at 88, I'd be sooooo happy.

Betty White is unstoppable. 

Watch the sneak preview below on YouTube.

Don't bother me now, I'm watching CHUCK

Why do I love CHUCK? He's a nice guy. He wears his heart on his sleeve. He's a nerd. He's a spy. He is a hero you can love. He admits his fears, but somehow he saves the day. And maybe best of all, even though he is a super hero, he loves normal.

Watch the latest episodes about my favorite nerd spy CHUCK online played by Zachary Levi. Or you can just tune in on Mondays, 8/7c on NBC. Tonight's episode: Chuck vs. Operation Awesome.

The TV series "Chuck" is about an "average computer-whiz-next-door" who has amazing powers because he has the greatest spy secrets encoded in his brain. Unbelievable? Yes. But it is so much fun.
 

Mockumentary about three families

They all want to be the picture perfect family--a May-December second marriage, a gay couple who've adopted a baby from Vietnam, and a nuclear family with three kids.

Modern Family is an ABC sitcom with a twist. Check out the preview clip below.

You can watch full episodes of Modern Family here.

Wow, Santa really outdid himself this year!

Kudos to all those Santas who are smart shoppers. Even when buying electronics!

I know Target has gotten more than a few complaints about their new holiday ad campaign. Is it anti-Santa? Is it sexist? In my highly opinionated opinion, I don't think the ad deserves to be the subject of controversy. In fact, I love it. Power to the smart shoppers--Santa included! 

You can check out the clever ad from Target below. 

Warm mommy hugs to Meryl Streep

Meryl Streep turned sixty this year and she still gets the greatest leading roles. Has Hollywood finally realized 'older' women are still sexy and smart? I am hoping Meryl is a trendsetter and more women her age--and older--grab those coveted leads in high-profile movies.

Streep even jokes about her continued success after all these years. "I've been given great, weird, interesting parts well past my 'sell-by date," says Meryl Streep in Boston.com.

 

Meryl Streep on Vanity Fair, January 2010

Why is Streep still so successful playing the lead in romantic comedies and more? I think she is successful and beautiful at 60--and throughout her career--because she is self-confident and seems to enjoy the fact she has experience. I don't like the phrase 'she looks good for her age' because it seems terribly sexist. (No one ever says that about a man.) I think Streep is amazing and successful because she is devoted to great acting.

You can read more about Streep online in the Vanity Fair preview cover story about the January 2010 issue. Still want to know more? Grab a copy of the January issue coming out today, December 2nd. (So very glad I am a VF subscriber.)

Sunny day, sweepin' the clouds away...

 

Happy 40th Sesame Street!

Today Sesame Street--the winner of a record 122 Emmy awards--begins its 40th anniversary season with Michelle Obama and Lin-Manuel Miranda. Bert and Ernie, my personal faves from Sesame Street, are featured in the Google Doodle today (see above). You can also find Google Doodles featuring Big Bird and Cookie Monster. Check out the sweet video clip below all about Sesame Street and the 40th anniversary celebration.

bored to death

I am bored to death by many shows on tv. That is, except for the offbeat comedy Bored To Death on HBO.

 

If you were a Sex in the City Fan, check out this show. Imagine the roles of Carrie and the girls played by a group of guys--George, Jonathan, and Ray. Well, already you can tell it is not exactly the same. For starters, the show is set in Brooklyn, not Manhattan. You won't get any fashion advice here, but the guys are hip in a quirky way. The guys have cool jobs and sound amazing except for the fact they keep getting themselves into trouble. Sound familiar? Instead of Carrie, meet Jonathan, a novelist working on his second novel. When Jonathan is dumped by his girlfriend, he begins offering his services as an unlicensed detective. Instead of sexy Samantha, insert a self-indulgent magazine editor named George who isn't afraid to talk about all the great sex he's had. In tonight's episode Jonathan plays detective again and "helps" his best friend Ray a talented but not-yet-financially-successful cartoonist, find out if the sperm George had donated was stolen.

The show created by Jonathan Ames stars Ted Danson, Jason Schwartzman and Zach Galifianakis.

And that's the way it was...

I grew up watching the legendary CBS news anchorman Walter Cronkite--the comforting voice of the most trusted man in America. At the end of his broadcast each night in those tough times as well in those more hopeful times, I felt reassured when he said: And that's the way it was.

A great American life well-lived, Walter Cronkite died at age 92 on July 17, 2009. His career and life will be featured in a special report on CBS on Sunday at 7pm ET/PT in place of 60 minutes. More about the tribute can be found at That's the Way it Was.

"I admired my dad. 'He was just a reporter,' he'd say. 'He just ended up reporting bigger and bigger stories'," said his son, Chip Cronkite at his funeral today.

Does Too Much TV and Web Harm Kids?

Is it time to turn off the TV? Conflicting studies have interesting results.

First, the findings from a major study on the effect of heavy media exposure on kids was released today. The news is not good if the TV remote is permanently glued to your kid's hand. The researcher's findings don't surprise me--spending a lot of time watching TV, playing video games and surfing the web isn't good for kids. In fact, these activities can lead to a wide range of health problems including obesity and smoking according to the recent research by the U.S. National Institutes of Health (NIH), Yale University and California Pacific Medical Center. The researchers analyzed 173 studies since 1980 on the effects of media consumption in children.

"In a clear majority of those studies more time with television, films, video games, magazines, music and the Internet was linked to rises in childhood obesity, tobacco use and sexual behavior. A majority also showed strong correlations--what the researchers deemed 'statistically significant associations'--with drug and alcohol use and low academic achievement," according to an article in the NYTimes.com.

I am not a scientist, but I found it interesting that the studies as reported in Reuters found the quantity of time kids spend watching TV or on the Internet to be a bigger factor than the quality of the media they are watching. I'm waiting for the next study to tell us the dangers of FaceBook and MySpace.

Don't turn off the computer yet. Another study by the MacArthur Foundation says parents should "chill out" because most teenagers steer clear of dangerous sites. Instead teens are using the Internet to connect with peers.

"One of the main things we found is that it is highly motivating for kids to learn from peers, whether it's the everyday social stuff or learning about new technology or making videos or doing creative writing," says Mizuko Ito, a University of California, Irvine researcher and the reports lead author according to an article in the Houston Chronicle.

Happy People Watch Less TV

A recent study by the University of Maryland compares the activities of happy and unhappy people. No real surprises here. Happy people are more social, go to church more often, and read more newspapers. Happy people also watch TV, but they watch less than unhappy people.

The question still remains whether or not unhappy people tend to watch more TV or whether watching more TV is what makes you unhappy. Also, because unemployed people watch more TV, it's possible that unemployment contributes to the unhappiness.

According to a NYTimes.com article featuring the study's author John Robinson, "We looked at 8 to 10 activities that happy people engage in, and for each one, the people who did the activities more--visitng others, going to church, all those things--were more happy. TV was the one activity that showed a negative relationship. Unhappy people did it more, and happy people did it less."

Who Is the Most Inspirational Teacher in Movies?

Hopefully we've all had some wonderful teachers who inspired us. And we probably have even been inspired by teachers in movies.

Who is the most inspirational teacher you've seen on the big screen? According to the British  Times Online, 

1. Charles (Mr Chips) Chipping in Goodbye Mr Chips 
2. Glenn Holland (Richard Dreyfuss) in Mr Holland’s Opus. (video clip)
3. Mark Thackeray (Sidney Poitier) in To Sir with Love. (video clip)
4. Remus Lupin (David Thewlis) in Harry Potter. (video  clip).
5. Annie Sullivan (Anne Bancroft) in The Miracle Worker. (video clip)
6. Louanne Johnson (Michelle Pfeiffer) in Dangerous Minds. (video clip)
7. Dewey Finn (Jack Black) in School of Rock. (video clip)
8. John Keating (Robin Williams) in Dead Poet’s Society. (video clip)
   
9. Jaime Escalante (Edward James Olmos) in Stand and Deliver. (video clip)
10. Richard Dadier (Glenn Ford) in the Blackboard Jungle. (video clip) 
11. Rosemary Cross (Olivia Williams) in Rushmore . (video clip)
12. Yoda (Frank Oz) in the Star Wars films. (video clip)
13. John Kimble (Arnold Schwarzenneger) in Kindergarten Kop. (video clip)
14. Professor Lambeau (Stellan Skarsgard) in Good Will Hunting. (video clip)
    
15. Paul Verrall (William Holden) in Born Yesterday. (video clip)
    

I'll add two more to the list. 

• Erin Gruwell (Hilary Swank) in Freedom Writers. (video clip)
• Miyagi (Pat Morita)  in Karate Kid

When I Need to Laugh

Can't help but feel a bit depressed lately due to the sluggish economy. Getting outside and running, biking, or walking is a proven strategy to beat the blues. It works for me. But sometimes later in the evening I need to upgrade my attitude too. And sneaking in a caloric snack is not the best option. Instead I try to escape by reading a good book. Just finished Through Thick and Thin by Alison Pace . I also love to watch a silly video on my laptop. You've heard me talk about one of my faves before--In the Motherhood video webisodes written by moms for moms. Jenny McCarthy, Leah Remini, and Chelsea Handler may be celebrities, but the stories on their show are written by real moms. Their laughter is contagious. Check out this webisode below from season 2 "All's Fair in Love, War, & Sibling Rivarly."

 

Of course, I also love The New Adventures of Old Christine on CBS on Wednesdays at 8pm. No worries if you miss the show on Wednesdays, you can watch the complete episodes online anytime. Or just watch this promo clip below...

Paul Newman's Generous Spirit Will Always Be Remembered

Paul Newman, 83, died of cancer on Friday. Is is possible that his own life was more inspiring than his legendary movie roles? He stole our hearts. He seemed like someone I'd like to know--or if I was very lucky, perhaps I could someday learn to live with the same generous spirit. He raised almost a quarter of a billion dollars for charity with his Newman's Own natural food line. All the profits went to a variety of charitable causes. He set up 11 Hole in the Wall camps for chronically ill children that helped 135,000 children free of charge. Realizing that he was very lucky himself, Newman felt he had to give back. For all his generosity we all owe it to him to try to give back ourselves.

Robert Redford, his good friend and co-star in Butch Cassidy And The Sundance Kid and Sting, said: "My life--and this country--is better for his being in it."

Newman will always be remembered as one of Hollywood's greatest actors, but he also has a large philanthropic legacy, check out the video below.

Newman and  Woodward were married over fifty years. Check out the video below for more on their marriage.

-Posted by Chris at Momathon Blog.

Time to Mark Your Ballot: 60th Primetime Emmy Awards

The countdown begins. I'm not talking about the election in November. No, I'm talking about the excitement over who will be winning the coveted Emmy statuettes in just two days. Television's biggest event, the Primetime EMMYs will air Sunday, September 21 at 8:00-11:00 PM, ET/PT on ABC. For a complete list of nominations so you can mark your ballots at home, click here.

If Bonnie Hunt Was My Sister

I don't have a sister, just two brothers. Some kids had imaginary friends, I had an imaginary sister. Ever since I was a kid I have made a game out of picking a celebrity that would make the perfect sister.

Bonnie Hunt has been a recent favorite for the big sis pick. We even look a bit a like. Maybe it's that midwestern style. Or perhaps I just like her gentle wit and down-to earth manner. She knows show biz, but she has also worked the unglamorous 9-to-5 grind just like the rest of us. Before she started acting she was an oncology nurse. When her sitcom was cancelled a few years back, I was so disappointed. But there is good news. Now Bonnie has a new talk show. She has always been a favorite talk show guest--she is one of Letterman's favorite guests. Her new show could be a Ellen-ish talk show that is just a bit less edgy. To find out how to tune into her new show, click here.

Living a Sitcom

Do you ever think your own life could be a sitcom? All those "special" mommy moments that make it worthwhile. Got a great story to share? Just log on to In the Motherhood and submit your story. And of course you'll want to watch the show by moms for moms and about moms on the web--In the Motherhood starring Jenny McCarthy, Leah Remini and Chelsea Handler.

Fizzy Diversion: Bottle Shock, the movie

When life gets tedious--that happens often to me this time of year--I love a good diversion. A good movie can cure me of the blahs and keep me smiling long after the picture ends.

(Photo: Bottle Shock)

This weekend I had a date night with my hubbie and we went to see the movie Bottle Shock--based on a true story of the amazing rise of the California wine industry in the late 70's. If you believe the critics, the movie is a rare combination of the hit movies Little Miss Sunshine and Sideways. I loved watching Bottle Shock because it's all about the good things (and the frustrations) that happen to a hardworking entrepreneur who risks nearly everything to make his dreams come true. Also the breathtaking California wine country is easy on the eyes.

" 'Wine is sunlight held together by water,' the poetic wisdom of the Italian physicist, philosopher and star gazer Galileo Galilei," says the British wine shop owner Steven Spurrier (Alan Rickman) who sponsors a competition that pits the French against the California upstarts. Watch the video clip below...

Whatever, Martha!

I like Martha Stewart, her blog is one of my Momathon faves. She is clever, artistic and I can even catch a glimpse of her great sense of humor when her friend Conan O'Brien is a guest on her show.

Even though I adore Martha, I admit I often roll my eyes when with all seriousness she takes on silly projects like making an oak leaf and acorn wreath (aka squirrel bait) or whittling a twig to roast marshmallows. I like to cook, but a snack at my house is supposed to be quick and easy so I had to laugh when she shared her recipe for making marshmallows at home...I always thought the fluffy square ones I buy in the bag at the grocery were perfectly fine. 

That said, I never dreamed she would agree to the new show "Whatever, Martha!" that mocks her old craft and cooking show. The new comedy show debuts on September 16 on the Fine Living Network. The half-hour show critiques clips from Stewart's 1990s cooking and craft show and is hosted by her daughter Alexis Stewart and Jennifer  Koppelman Hutt (the daughter of the chairman of Martha Stewart Living Omnimedia, Charles Koppelman). The two are also co-hosts of a funny talk show, Whatever Radio with Alexis and Jennifer on Siruius Satellite Radio.

With Alexis and Jennifer on board as co-hosts, the new show will be irreverent without being irrelevant.

Who can resist poking fun at the perfectionistic Martha when, according to an article in NYTimes.com, some of the clips from the old syndicated show feature segments called “Knitting With Children”, “Painting the Porch” and “Collecting Twine." 

Obviously, this show is not for everyone, some of Stewart's diehard fans might take offense at having the very homemaking activities they cherish skewered in a comedy show. I love watching Martha even though I manage to mangle the most basic home decor or cooking project--especially during the holidays. (There is a reason we have a simple, homemade pizza on Christmas eve at my house.) So I am looking forward to the humorous look at just why we obsess over all the details when we prepare for big events. How we manage to work so hard preparing everything that when the big DAY finally arrives we barely notice the beautiful centerpiece we made with the matching place mats and the coordinating napkin rings that sit beside the flatwear we whittled from maple twigs...or whatever!

Since the show has Martha's blessing, I am sure it will be fun and not too mean. Although Alex and Jennifer can be kind of snarky on their radio show, their humor is also refreshing. If it is true that Martha dreamed up the premise after watching reruns of "Mystery Science Theater 3000" during a sleepless night, then the uber productive Martha has shown us once again that we can never give the excuse that we are just too tired to dream up a "good thing."

Oh yeah, don't forget to tune in Monday, September 15th when the new season of the other Martha show starts--The Martha Stewart Show.

(Photo: Martha Stewart, Alexis Stewart and Jennifer  Koppelman Hutt.)