HFCS Corn Wars: A Surprise That’s Far from Sweet

“Mom, go to SweetSurprise.com right now!” yelled my daughter in an urgent commando bark. Before I could even protest her lousy timing, I got a “NOW! I’m not kidding! GO! GO!” she shouted at me like a drill sergeant. Sheesh. Well, when she’s right, she’s right. Turns out ABC Family was running not one, not two, but EIGHT rotations of … [Read more...]

The MySpace Mom Skates, While The Teen Hangs? No Justice There!

Not to get all soapbox-ey, but since we’ve been talking about digital ethics and online immersive behavior a lot lately, I’ve gotta toss this one out there… Yesterday’s MediaPost update on the case of the jilted 13-year old MySpace teen (Megan Meier, at left) who hung herself due to a misguided mom masquerading as online beau Josh Evans (who never … [Read more...]

Energy Drinks & Alcohol: A Monster Mix of Madness

Here we go again…Which drinks at left are benign? We’ve been down this road before about market confusion, cardiac cocktails of caffeine and the inherent dangers of energy drinks and alcohol that have once again claimed the life of a teen at a Florida party, so I’m going to update my list of links at the end for everyone to get up to speed (pardon the … [Read more...]

Beyonce’s Deréon Divas: Pop-Tarts & Sesame Streetwalkers

Just as I was thinking I wouldn’t have time to post today because of Shaping Youth’s film screening fund-raiser of Two Angry Moms a chime came into my e-mail from Dr. Robyn Silverman with full coverage of the House of Dereon collection of vamped up tots created by the ‘PopTart Princess’ herself, Beyoncé. Ah, there IS a fairy godmother...As Dr. … [Read more...]

Preteen Tips on Nutrition, Body Image & “How to Say it To Girls”

“Faced with conflicting messages from parents, peers, and media, many preteens -- both boys and girls -- develop negative views about their bodies and have trouble making healthful food and exercise choices.” That was the lead-in line at the Kaiser Permanente and Preteen Alliance event where I spoke today as the ‘media expert’ along with Ann Tipton, … [Read more...]