Shaping Youth Father’s Day Letter to President Obama

June 17, 2009 Bill Cosby has always been my favorite star, dating back to my childhood listening to his comedy routines on record albums.  (roar, says the digital dinosaur!) It seems particularly fitting that President Obama has become a bit of a ‘Cosby-esque dad’ with his calm, approachable Cliff Huxtable demeanor and a media perception echoing that same warm, casual  "my … [Read more...]

Graduation: From What To What? Media Moments Of Expectation

June 10, 2009 Yesterday my daughter ‘graduated’ from eighth grade, and I found myself marveling at the whole commencement falderal as being a bit surreal... It was lovely, in a 'life event' kind of way, but with a rented performing arts center stage, anxious kids wanting things to be 'perfect,' parents whooping and hollering and fist-pumping as junior walked across stage and … [Read more...]

Nature Rocks: Reconnecting Families With Nature

June 5, 2009 It's World Environment Day...where you can Twitter for Trees, and 'green your routine' and engage in all kinds of green media pursuits and still miss the meaning of getting kids OUTSIDE... As one of my heroes, Last Child in the Woods author Richard Louv said, “We have an entire generation of ecokids that can “click for a cause” but still not know what poison ivy … [Read more...]

Amy Jussel on The Girl Revolution, Part Two

June 4, 2009 In Part Two of my interview on The Girl Revolution, we got into the 'Secret Life of the American Teenager' media portrayal of a 15-year old 'band geek' and I realized I never got around to posting my extensive ISIS conference data and teen vs. parent point of view on that series finale... I definitely need to uncork that discussion and continue this last one, as … [Read more...]

When It’s Not Hip To Be Square: Sexist Spongebob & Burger Shots

April 17, 2009 “Booty is booty?” I say give BK’s agency a boot in the backside out the door for this one… I've been trying NOT to cover this ad absurdity to avoid the media baiting and instead quietly took my views to Nickelodeon & Burger King via the CCFC sound off campaign here...but BK just keeps coming up with gaffe-a-minute badvertising, so I've gotta broil 'em a … [Read more...]