Before I even get to the episode of Lost, "The Package", I want to know if anyone else was as annoyed as I was about the "V" and the timer in the corner of the TV throughout Lost last night. That was the most obnoxious type of advertising I've ever seen and I think everyone should let ABC know how unhappy they were. As for "The Package", I think it was a very good episode. Not the best we've seen, but it had a lot to offer. This week I'm going to go back to just giving the highlights, quotes and questions and less recap.

1. Locke tells Jin, "We can only get off the Island if all 6 of the people whose names are in the cave go together". Jin says, "Sun is not here". Locke replies, "I'm working on it".

2. In the sideways timeline, Sun and Jin are not married but are having a secret affair. Instead of planning to run away from Jin as in the original timeline, Sun now wants to run away with Jin.

3. Sayid tells Locke, "I don't feel anything, anger, happiness, pain". Locke replies, "Maybe that's best Sayid. It will help you get through what's coming".

4. When Illana tells her group that Hugo will bring Richard back, Miles says, "Unless Alpert is covered in bacon grease, I'm not sure Hurley can track anything". I love almost everything that comes out of Miles mouth. He definitely provides great comedic relief.

5. Jack tells Sun, "There is a reason why we were brought here". He has completely changed and totally believes now what the real Locke had been telling him all along.

6. Martin Keamy is back and as despicable as ever. We now see how Jin wound up in the restaurant's refrigerator where Sayid found him in "Sundown".

7. After running from Locke, hitting her head on a tree and getting a concussion, Sun can no longer speak English. She still can understand and write it, but can't speak it. This is afasia.

8. On Hydra Island, Jin is being held in Room 23, where we saw Karl being held back in season 3 in "Not in Portland". Jin flicks a switch and we see the same subliminal messaging film that Karl was subjected to. Zoe tells Jin that it was part of Dharma's experiments.

9. Claire asks Locke if her name is on the cave and he tells her no. She thinks he doesn't need her. Locke tells her, "I need you. There is plenty of room on the plane. Kate's name is not there anymore. We need Kate to get the other 3 (Hurley, Jack and Sun) onto the plane. After that 'Whatever happens, happens'".

10. When Locke tells Sawyer he is taking the outrigger to Hydra Island, Sawyer asks why he can't just turn to smoke and fly there. That is why he has been stuck on the Island all this time, because he can't.

11. Mikhail is the translator!! When Keamy is sitting with Sun, Jin and Mikhail listening to all the Korean being spoken he says, "I feel like I'm in a damm Godzilla movie". It was strange to see Mikhail at first without a patch and two good eyes. However, things don't stay that way as Jin shoots him in the eye at the restaurant.

12. When Sun's group realizes she can't speak English anymore, Miles says, "She hits her head and forgets English. Are we supposed to believe that?" Frank replies, "asks the man that converses with the dead". Miles and Frank make a great team lately. Miles actually has been great with Sawyer, Hurley and Frank so far.

13. Locke takes the outrigger to Hydra Island. Again, no shooting at the outrigger that the time travelers were in during season 4. Will we ever find out who shot at them? When Locke meets up with Widmore and asks if Widmore knows who he is, Widmore replies, "Obviously you are not John Locke. Everything else I know is a combination of myth, ghost stories and jungle noises in the night". Locke says, "A wise man once said that war is coming to the Island. I think it just got here."

14. Richard wants his group to all go to Hydra Island to destroy the Ajira plane so that Locke can't leave.

15. While tying up Jin in the restaurant, Keamy tells him that he was paid to kill him for not staying away from the bosses daughter and that "the heart wants what the heart wants" but "some people weren't meant to be together". It also sounds like he says, "I'm going to strap you in just in case you figure out whats going to happen on the Island, don't want you freaking out". Did he really say the Island. In this timeline, isn't the Island under water?

16. Widmore says, "Whats done is done" to Zoe after being angry that they captured Jin too early.

17. The best part of the episode was when Widmore gave Jin the camera to see the pictures of Sun and his daughter Ji Yeon. Watching Jin look at the pictures was heartwarming and Daniel Dae Kim was amazing. Then Widmore says to Jin, "I have a daughter too and I know what it is like to be kept apart. I understand that the one thing you want is to be reunited with your wife and daughter. But it would be short-lived if that thing masquerading as John Locke ever got off the Island. Your daughter, my daughter, everyone we know and love would cease to be. I am here to make sure that doesn't happen".

18. Mikhail says to Jin while being held at gunpoint, "Who did all this? (shoot all the others). If you were the person that did this you would have shot me already". There is gunshot and then Sun is bleeding and tells Jin, "I'm pregnant". In the other time line, Jin had fertility problems and Sun only was able to get pregnant due to the healing powers of the Island. What happened here?

19. When Sun tells Jack that she trusts him, he tells her, "Come with me and I'll help you find Jin and I'll get you both on that plane and as far away as we can get. I promise". Is this a promise he can keep?

20. The package, which is what was in the locked room on the submarine, is Desmond! Sayid observes this but does nothing.

Questions:
1. Why was Desmond brought to the Island?
2. Widmore and Illana/Jacob/Jack's group both want to stop Locke from getting off the island. Will they eventually work together?
3. Will everyone come together on Hydra Island? It was great finally having an episode that all the cast appeared in. Now we want to see them together again.
4. Is Widmore good or evil? What are his true intentions on the Island?
5. Will Sun regain the ability to speak English? Will Jin now have to be her translator?

Only 6 more episodes and then the 2 hour season finale of Lost. How will they wrap this all up in such little time. I have faith that they will do a great job. I hope I am not disappointed. 

See also: 
Lost 'Everybody Loves Hugo' Quotes and Notes
Lost 'Happily Ever After' Desmond Quotes and Notes

Top 70 Lost Quotes - Seasons 1-5

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Online Gaming
Back in the early days of gaming, the only way to play video games with others was to actually be together in the same room. It was easy for parents to know who their kids were interacting with. When my sons were young, they often played video games when they got together with their friends at each others homes. That was the only way to play multiplayer games back then. Who knew what was coming next?

Online gaming began with games developed specifically for the Internet. When video game consoles began offering Internet connections, online games really took off. Massively multiplayer online games became very popular, especially those that involve role-playing or strategy.

Once gaming moved to the Internet, things drastically changed. Now gamers can connect and play multiplayer games with other gamers from all over the world. Short of banning online games completely, how can parents know who their kids are interacting with and what exactly they are doing?

Xbox LIVE
Xbox added online gaming in 2002 with Xbox LIVE. Xbox LIVE now offers a great deal more than multiplayer online games. It can also be used for messaging, chat and video chat with online friends. Music and movies can be streamed and social networking websites, such as Facebook and Twitter, can be accessed through Xbox LIVE. Also available are free game demos, avatars and photo sharing. The Marketplace offers new games, music and movie content.

While all of this content and activities might sound scary to parents, and it did scare me at first, they can control it. Many of these activities are only available with the upgraded Xbox LIVE Gold membership. Xbox also provides parents with many excellent parental control features which you can learn more about in my previous post, Using Video Game Parental Controls. Make sure that you choose a child membership for your kids, even if they are teenagers. This alone will prevent them from using certain features without your consent.

Online Safety
The most important thing that you can do as parents, to protect your kids online, is to talk with them and teach them how to be game smart. The more you understand online video games and safety, the more they will listen to you. There are many safety resources available for you to learn about and understand the online world so that you can talk intelligently about it to your kids. Here are some helpful resources:

• Get Game Smart: Helpful Hints and Tips for Teens - Tips on numerous issues involving parental involvement, access, and content. Specific tips include articles on sexting, cyberbullying, managing online buddies, Instant Messaging and Video game ratings.
• Common Sense Media: The Internet Survival Guide for Parents, Online Gaming
• Microsoft Online Safety: Online Gaming, Help kids play it safe
• Entertainment Software Rating Board (ESRB) - Learn about video game ratings and keep track of the ratings of the games that your kids want to play. You can even request a customized newsletter, with ratings of new titles.

I find that, as important as all this reading and research is, actually playing with and watching my teens play video games is the best education. Getting the feel for the games and the type of online interactions they entail, helps me to make decisions that are not abstract. The Internet has allowed people from all over the world to interact with each other and we can't completely keep our teens and tweens from being part of it. However, learning about the potential dangers and connecting with our teens by sharing that information, is something valuable that we can do.
 
See also: Video Games Teens and Parents Can Play Together

This post is sponsored by Get Game Smart a great resource that helps families make smart, safe choices about kids’ media use - especially video games. 

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Teenagers often need to volunteer for school credit or to beef up their college applications. Many teens want to volunteer for causes they believe in. Either way, it is sometimes difficult to choose a cause or find an appropriate way to volunteer. The following websites, Think MTV, Causecast and Do Something, are all great websites for teens to visit to hundreds of ways to volunteer to help a large variety of causes.

1. Think MTV: Your Cause, Your Effect - Think is actually a community for teens, along with their friends and celebrities, can go to get informed, get heard and take action. Think provides the tools teens need to help the causes they believe in. After signing up as a member, teens can connect with others that share their passions, learn about a variety of issues, view and comment on the site, take action alone or with a group and get rewarded with badges, prizes and other swag (although feeling good from helping is a prize on its own).  Think has a page for parents and educators to learn more about the programs.

2. Causecast - Causecast can be used by people of any age, it is not specifically for teens as are the other two. Causecast is a platform where media, philanthropy, socail networking, entertainment and education converge to serve a greater purpose. Users are connected with people, leaders, charities, nonprofits and brands that inspire them to give. Users learn about causes and organizations. Teens can participate by sharing content such as videos, articles and posts and finding events and volunteer opportunities in their area. Parents can support their teen's cause by donating money.

3. Do Something - Do Something is an organization created to help teens improve their communities. Resources and opportunities are provided for teens to work on their own terms. No money, cars or adults needed. Teens help out locally without the need for parental help. Teens can tailor their involvement in many ways. They have choices of what cause, who with, where and how long. Do Something provides grants, campaigns and resources to start clubs. The website also has games that help teens learn, with 70% of the advertising on the games going to help the organization. Do Something's motto is "Using the power of online to get teens to do good stuff offline".

These are all wonderful organizations which give teens many choices. They all have many causes and many ways to volunteer and help out. Teens can make a large commitment or just do something small. These websites all provide enjoyable ways to teens to learn about issues and have fun volunteering.

See also: 
Change My World Now Website Empowers Youth
Family Volunteer Resources 

Websites for Teenagers - 2 Different and Interesting Sites

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Some teens love reading classic books assigned in school and some even read them on their own. However, many teens struggle with classic literature, either because reading is difficult for them or they don't connect with material written so long ago. 60second Recap helps teens engage with literature through short videos that are informative and engaging.

Jenny Sawyer, video tour guide on 60second recap, draws parallels between modern life and classic literature. The recaps offer a contemporary perspective and can incite discussion. Jenny is fun and interesting to watch and keeps each video short enough that it is easy to watch them in full.

Each classic book is comprised of a few videos. There is an overview, a plot summary, meet the characters, and separate videos for each theme. Some of the books included on 60second Recap are Brave New World, Hamlet, Jane Eyre, Great Expectations, Lord of the Flies, Pride and Prejudice, Catcher in the Rye, The Great Gatsby and the first non-fiction book to appear on the website, Night, by Elie Wiesel.

In addition to the classics, Jenny creates video each week for for "just for fun" books, called "pick of the week". These are books that teens probably won't be assigned in school but that teens should consider reading on their own. There is also a section of 60second Recap called "club recap" for teens to ask a question, answer a question or make a comment about any book. One of my favorite parts of the website is the "recap resource" page. Included are a dictionary of literary terms you need to know" and resources on how to write a paper.

I love this website. Anything that can help teens (and others) relate to classic books and literature is always welcome. 60second Recap can also help parents and teens connect. By watching the videos together, many discussion topics will arise. It might make parents want to begin reading some classic books that they missed when they were teens in school.

Added: Books vs Video Games - Beware! Your Views May Change

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If your teens are anything like my sons, they live in t-shirts. Tees are a wardrobe staple. They have tees of bands, concerts, movies or television shows and abstract. However, until recently, neither had a shirt that they could play music on. Crazy, huh? Although I had heard of electronic rock guitar shirts, I always thought that they were very expensive. I didn't realize that I could buy one for only $29.99. However, at ThinkGeek, both electronic guitar and drum shirts are each available at that price.

When I first put on the shirt and tried making music, it didn't sound all that great, but I don't play any instruments. I gave the t-shirt to my guitar playing son, and he loved it. He was able to play actual songs with it. A little mini amp comes inside the shirt to adjust the volume. And, although he might not wear it everywhere, when he is just with his friends its a blast. They all want to try it and it is very entertaining.

You don't have to be very skilled with a guitar to play it. Each button on the neck is a major chord. Dozens of classic rock songs can be played with very little skill. Magnetic picks come with the shirt and can be used to strum the shirt like a real guitar. All electronic components can be removed from the shirt before washing. Surprise a teen in your life with this electronic rock guitar shirt. It will make a fun, inexpensive present. Maybe you'll be able to try it also.

Full disclosure: I received an electronic rock guitar shirt from ThinkGeek for free to review.  

See also: Grateful DeadOpoly Pop Culture Board Game

 

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I think it is fair to say that after last night's Lost episode "Ab Aeterno", Richard has moved up on everybody's lists of favorite Lost characters. We have never had the chance to see Nestor Carbonell's range and abilities until this episode. Does anyone else see an Emmy nomination in his future? We also had our first flashback episode of season 6, and this flashback was sorely needed. So many questions were cleared up in AB Aeterno (which means "from eternity" in Latin).

The Highlights (in chronological order this week) of Lost episode 6.9 Ab Aeterno are:

1. We start with a flashback from Illana, where Jacob visits her again, as he did in the Season 5 finale. This time we get more information. Jacob asks her to protect six people, the remaining candidates. This is what she has been preparing for. We still don't know who exactly Illana is and what her connection to Jacob and the Island is.

2. On the Island in the present, the Jacob group is sitting on the beach discussing what they have learned about the candidates. They don't know what to do next, but Illana says that Jacob told her that Richard would know. Richard,  looking absolutely crazy at this point, laughs and says that everything Jacob said was a lie and that they are all dead and that this isn't an island, it is hell. He then runs off. We see Hurley talking in Spanish with nobody there. Jack assumes it is Jacob but Hurley says that it isn't.

3. Richard's Amazing Flashback - In 1867, Richard is living in Tenerife in the Canary Islands. He is poor and his wife, Isabella is dying so he leaves her to go get a doctor. Before he lives she gives him her necklace, a crucifix, to use for payment if needed. There is a terrible storm (bad things always happen in storms on Lost) and when Richard gets to the doctor's house, he is unhelpful and mean. While fighting with the doctor to get his help, Richard accidentally kills him. By the time he gets home, Isabella is dead.

Richard winds up in jail and is about to be executed. He asks a priest for absolution, but the priest denies his request saying that murder can't be forgiven. We see how deeply religious Richard is in this episode. Richard's life is spared because a ship (The Black Rock) is going to the new world and needs someone that speaks English (Richard and his wife were hoping to move there so he had been teaching himself the language). The officer of the ship is Jonas Whitfield and the owner is Magnus Hanso the great grandfather of Alvar Hanso. In the season 4 episode, The Constant, we saw Widmore buy the journal of the Black Rock's first mate at an auction. It was sold by Tovard Hanso. (How did this journal ever get off the island?)

The ship is caught in a ferocious storm and crashes right through the giant statue of Taweret and stops inland where the Black Rock is today. We now know what how the statue was destroyed, with only the foot remaining. The captain kills all of the prisoners and is about to kill Richard when Smokey arrives and kills the captain and the entire crew. Richard is the only survivor and he is still in chains. At one point when Richard is near dead, he sees his wife Isabella and tells tells him that they are both dead and this island is hell. She leaves and he hears her screams. Did Richard hallucinate Isabella or did Smokey impersonate her? I'm leaning towards Smokey.

Finally, the Man in Black comes to rescue Richard. He frees Richard and says "It is good to see you out of those chains", the same exact thing he said to Richard in 2007 in the season 6 premiere. He tells Richard that the devil (Jacob) has Richard's wife and that Richard must kill him. MIB roasts a boar and feeds Richard and then gives him a knife or dagger to kill Jacob with. MIB says that Richard must stab him immediately before he has the chance to talk. These are the same instructions that Dogen gave Sayid when he was sent to kill the MIB. He also says that "The Devil betrayed me and took my body and my humanity" Was the Man in Black originally in the body that Jacob is now using?

Richard goes to the beach and we see the ruins of the statue all over. Before Richard can stab Jacob, Jacob gets the upper hand and beats Richard and tells him that he is not the devil and this place is not hell and they are alive. When Richard doesn't believe him, he dunks Richard's head in the water a few times until Richard says he wants to live. Was the dunking some sort of baptism? Everything changes for Richard after this.

We now finally get an explanation from Jacob about what is going on. Jacob says he did bring the Black Rock to the island. The Man in Black believes that everyone can be corrupted and Jacob brings people to the island to prove him wrong. Everyone that Jacob has brought to the island in the past is dead. Jacob has never interfered with the people he brought to the island, he wanted them to know right from wrong on their own (so even though fate brought them to the island, they all had free will once on the island). He used a corked wine bottle as a metaphor for the island. Smokey is a darkness that needs to be contained on the island, the cork is keeping him there. They make a deal that Richard will be Jacob's intermediary to help guide the people he brings to the island. He can't grant Richard his first two wishes (bringing his wife back or absolution) so he grants his third wish that Richard will live forever. We finally know why Richard doesn't age.

Richard takes a white rock from Jacob to bring to the MIB. He tells Richard that his offer to join him is always open. Richard then buries his wife's necklace to start anew.

4. Now, in the present, Richard goes to retrieve Isabella's necklace. He now wants to switch sides and screams out to the Man in Black, "I was wrong, I changed my mind, does the offer still stand?" over and over. Hurley appears and says that Richard's wife sent him. Hurley says that she wants to know why he buried her cross. Richard now starts to believe him. Through Hurley they say very touching goodbyes. Then Hurley tells Richard, "She said one more thing. Something you have to do. You have to stop the Man in black from leaving the Island or we'll all go to hell!"

5. The episode ends with a flashback of the Man in Black and Jacob sitting together shortly after MIB was given the white rock. MIB tells Jacob that he tried to kill him because he wants to leave the island. Jacob says, "even if you kill me, someone will take my place". MIB replies, "Then I'll kill them too". Jacob gives him the corked wine bottle and leaves. MIB smashes it. Does this represent the Man in Black getting off the island. And since he smashed the bottle instead of uncorking, does this mean he will be leaving the island by destroying it?

We definitely got more answers to the mythology of the island and Lost than we have in any episode yet. We know what both Jacob and MIB want and where Richard fits in. Jacob seems much less sympathetic now, seeing him bring all these people to the island and then just let them die. Now we need to find out what will happen to our flight 815 survivors and how the flash sideways stories fit in. I can't wait for next week's episode titled "The Package", which from the preview appears to be a Sun or Sun and Jin episode of Lost.

Added:  
Lost 'Happily Ever After' Desmond Quotes and Notes
Lost 'The Package' Episode 6.10 Quotes, Questions and Highlights

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Do you love pop culture? Do you want to know more about your favorite television series, movies and books? Do you enjoy reading smart, fresh and funny essays? If you answered yes to any of the above, you should check out the Smart Pop website and books.

Smart Pop collects essays from authors, writers, psychologists and anyone that loves pop culture and packages them in books. Smart Pop has books on television show, comics, film and literature. Each book consists of essays on one particular series, book, etc.

There are too many books for me to name every one, but here are some examples from each category:

Television

• Coffee at Luke's: An Unauthorized Gilmore Girls Gabfest
• Getting Lost: Survival, Baggage and Starting Over in J.J. Abrams' Lost
• House Unauthorized: Vasculitis, Clinic duty, and Bad Bedside Manner
• Jack Bauer for President - Terrorism and Politics in 24

The television section also includes books on Desperate Housewives, Grey's Anatomy, Battlestar Galactica, Buffy the Vampire Slayer, CSI, Veronica Mars, Angel, True Blood, Alias, Star Trek, Farscape, The Simpsons, Survivor, Stargate SG-1, Charmed and NYPD Blue. Of course, I am reading the Lost essays right now.

Comics and Film

• Taking the Red Pill: Science, Religion and Philosophy in the Matrix
• The Man from Krypton: A Closer Look at Superman
• Star Wars on Trial: Science fiction and Fantasy Writers Debate the Most Popular Science Fiction Films of All Time

Also included in this category are books on Batman, James Bond, King Kong, Superheroes and the X-Men.

Literature

• A New Dawn: Your Favorite Authors on Stephenie Meyer's Twilight Series: Completely Unauthorized
• Flirting with Pride & Prejudice: Fresh Perspectives on the Original Chick-Lit Masterpiece
• The Anthology at the End of the Universe: Leading Science Fiction Authors on Douglas Adams' The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy
• The Psychology of Harry Potter: An Unauthorized Examination of the Boy Who Lived

Other books in this section cover The Anita Blake Vampire Hunter Series, Percy Jackson and the Olympians, Crank and Glass, Halo, the Uglies series, Stephanie Plum, The Chronicles of Narnia, Eragon, World of Warcraft, Dune, Michael Crichton and The War of the Worlds.I am currently reading essays from the Twilight and Harry Potter books.

I love mixing different forms of pop culture. Reading a book of essays about a TV show or movie adds so much more to its enjoyment. And if you love books and reading, then what could be better than reading a book about a book.

Not sure how you feel about pop culture essays. The Smart Pop Website publishes an essay each weekday from one of its books on the website. The essay then exists on the site for a week. So at all times there are five free essays for you to read. Right now you can read a free essay on Buffy, Angel, 24, Percy Jackson or Alias. By tomorrow, one of those will be gone and a new essay will take its place. Enjoy!

See also: 
Harry Potter, Lady Gaga and The Beatles
3 New Books for Teens - Poetry, Dating and a Reading Journal

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As parents, we hope that our teenagers never have to deal with the law. However, even the most well-behaved teens might encounter legal issues such as having their rights invaded. Parents and teens should stay abreast of laws that deal with teens and students. Here are three great sources that will help you do just that:

1. Ask the Judge: Answers for Teens about the Law - This website is written by Thomas A. Jacobs, a former Arizona Assistant Attorney General and commissioner in the juvenile and family courts. He also taught juvenile law as an adjunct professor and has written many books about teens and the law. Ask the Judge consists of sections on legal questions and answers for parents and teens, discuss the law with other teens and blog posts on teen law.

2. Our Courts - Our Courts is an online project designed to teach students civics and the law. It came about through the vision of Justice Sandra Day O'Connor. Much of the website consists of resources for teachers to use in their lesson plans. However, the site recently added three online games, Do I Have A Right?, Supreme Decision, and Argument Wars, for teens to learn on their own.

3. Books for both parents and teens to read:

• What are my Rights?: 95 Questions and Answers about Teens and the Law Updated
• Teen Rights (and Responsibilities)
• Teens Take it to Court: Young People Who Challenged the Law and Changed Your Life

There are many areas of the law that parents and teens should be aware of including students rights, cyberbullying, the Internet and other important rights. Don't wait until a problem arises. Learn about the legal issues of teens now and be prepared.

See also:   
Legal Drinking Age 21 Does More Harm Than Good
Applying to Law School? - Think Twice

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Whether they are called Millennials, Gen Y or the born digital generation, articles about them are everywhere. Parents, educators and especially marketers want to know everything there is about this generation now in their teens and twenties. A new blog, The Next Great Generation, allows Millennials, aged 18-25, speak for themselves.

Founded by Edward Boches, the only person over 25 related to this project, members of Gen-Y blog about their life, work, brands, values, and more. They are not so much writing for each other, but for other generations to learn more about them.

I particularly like the section of the Next Great Generation blog called The Question. An example of some very relevant recent posts from this area of the blog include:

1. Do brands have a responsibility to your health?
2. What do you wish your parents had told you about sex?
3. What's more important, getting into a high ranked college or one that might give you a better education?
4. Do you text and drive?
5. Do you still read books?

The Next Great Generation blog is required reading for companies marketing to Millennials and highly suggested reading for parents and educators and anyone else that deals with teens and twentysomethings. How else can you learn more about this generation than from Gen-Y itself?

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My favorite Wii video games are the sports games. Not only are they fun, but if you play them like I do, they are also great exercise. When I play Wii Tennis, I actually run around and swing my remote as if I were on a tennis court. However, swinging a Wii controller just isn't the same.

Along came the Hyperkin Wii Sound Plus accessories, and now I really feel like I am playing these sports. Now when I play tennis, I have a small plastic racket to attach to my controller. For baseball, I can actually swing a baseball bat. Soon, I'm going to have to get my husband the golf kit.

Although there are other brands on the market that make Wii accessories that have the look of the sports equipment, what makes Hyperkin's line unique is the Sound Plus. Now you can actually hear the sound of bat hitting a ball or the swing of your racket. These products are also compatible with Wii Motion Plus to make them even more realistic. All this and each product is priced under $20.

Just think of the fun your family can have together playing tennis, baseball or golf no matter what the weather. And since many teens might not want to actually go out and play games with their parents in public, Wii sports games are a nice way to still get that bonding at home. These Wii Sound Plus accessories will make you feel like you really are playing the real game.

Full disclosure: I received free baseball and tennis kits to review.

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Sawyer centric episodes are always great, ranking up there with Locke and Ben's as my favorite Lost episodes. And "Recon" had such a great flash sideways story. Sawyer's life began the same way, but turned out differently based on the choice he made. However, even though his life is in many ways better, he is still haunted by his parents murder and he is still alone.

2004 Flash Sideways

1. James (can't call him Sawyer here since he didn't take the con man's name) is a COP! I love the way his story began with the same exact con that he used on Cassidy in "The Long Con". It looked like nothing had changed in his life. However, it turns out that he was working undercover as a cop to arrest the woman's husband. He used the name LeFleur as a code word to call the other cops in. Very funny when the women called James "Dimples". Instead of making up the nicknames, he had one made up for him. And very similar to "Freckles"  his nickname for Kate.

2. Miles is James' partner. It reminded me of Dharma when James, as LaFleur, was head of security and Miles worked for him. They make a great team and it was good to see them together again.

3. Miles wants to set James up with a date and at first James says no because he is too busy trying to hunt down Anthony Cooper (the name he used as Locke's father). Miles says to James, "Do you want to die alone?". Reminiscent of the famous Jack quote, "If we don't live together, we will die alone". When James won't tell him what his is doing, Miles asks if James is lying to him. Lying is a big part of this episode.

4. The blind date, a friend of Miles' father from the museum he works, turns out to be Charlotte!! Were Pierre Chang and Charlotte both still part of Dharma and did they meet there? Charlotte is still an archeologist. What type of work is Chang doing at the museum.

5. When Charlotte asks James why he became a cop, he tells her that he reached a point where he could have become a criminal or a cop and he chose cop. This is the point where his life diverged from Sawyer on the Island.

6. Back at James' apartment, there is a copy of the book "Watership Down" on his dresser. He was seen reading this book on the Island in season one. When Charlotte discovers the picture of his parents and his Sawyer file, James kicks her out.

7. Charlie's brother Liam comes to the police station to try and bail Charlie out from his arrest on Oceanic 815.

8. James greets Miles by saying "Hello Sunshine", a greeting he has used on the Island with Kate (and/or Juliet). James won't tell Miles why he was in Australia and say that James lied to him and he doesn't want to be his partner anymore. Their relationship looks like the closest relationship we ever saw James have.

9. James watches an old rerun of "Little House on the Prairie" where Michael Landon's character, Charles Ingalls, tells his daughter that when people die they really aren't gone. James takes this to heart and after a failed reconciliation with Charlotte, James tells Miles everything. Little House on the Prairie premiered in 1974, the same year James/Sawyer entered Dharma.

10. James and Miles are driving and are hit by a car. The driver gets out and runs. James catches her and it is Kate! He recognizes her from the airport (where he helped her escape) and he says "sonofabitch!"

11. Questions:
     a. Is the Anthoney Cooper that James is looking for, still Locke's father?
     b. Will James meet Juliet, and have coffee like Juliet said in her delirium?
     c. Will James and Kate have any type of relationship?

2007 On the Island

1. Sawyer is now at Claire's tent with Jin. Locke, Sayid, Kate, Claire and the others (including Cindy and the two kids) return. Kate watches Clair cleaning out her tent and sees the homemade doll in the bassinet. Locke tells everyone that the black smoke killed everyone that stayed behind at the Temple. When Kate asks Sawyer if he is with Locke, he tells her that he isn't with anybody.

2. On the walk, Locke talks to Sawyer privately. Locke tells him that he is the black smoke. Locke says he killed them all because, "They are convinced they are protecting the Island from me, and all I want to do is leave. It is either kill or be killed". Locke sends Sawyer to Hydra Island to do recon because "You are the best liar I ever met".

3. After Sawyer gets off the boat at Hydra Island, he sees the cages that he and Kate lived in and Kate's dress. He gets emotional and tears up.

4. Sitting with Sayid, Kate asks him if he is alright. He looks very strange and says no. The Claire attacks Kate and Sayid does nothing. Locke pulls Claire off Kate and apologizes to her. He explains her behavior and Kate says "Very observant for a dead guy". Locke answers, "Nobody's perfect" (the last line of the movie Some Like it Hot).


5. Sawyer then sees the Ajira airplane and all the luggage strewn around. He notices somebody running and catches her. She says that her name is Zoey and that she was one of the passengers and heard everyone else die. Sawyer takes her to the boat he came on. All her questions makes Sawyer (and me) suspicious and he pulls his gone. However, she whistles and many men with guns come out of the bushes. Sawyer says, "Take me to your leader".


6. Locke and Kate talk down by the water and Locke tells Kate that he is not dead. He says "A long time ago, before I looked like this, I had a mother and she was crazy (same as the real Locke) so I had problems that could have been avoided if things were different". All the characters we are seeing in the sideways stories are having the lives changed because now "things are different". Locke then says that Aaron also has a mother who is crazy. Is he hinting that Aaron is better off with Kate?


7. Sawyer is taken into the submarine and meets Widmore. Widmore introduces himself, but Sawyer says that he knows who Widmore is, he is the one that sent the freighter that killed everyone. Then Sawyer tells Widmore that Locke sent him and Widmore tells him that it isn't really Locke. (Jin told Sawyer the same thing at the beginning of the episode.) Sawyer offers to tell Locke that the coast is clear so that Locke will come to Hydra Island and Widmore's people can get the jump on him. We soon find out this is another con, or lie.

8. Claire and Kate run into each other in the jungle and now Claire apologizes and cries and hugs Kate. Is this for real or just an act??

9. When Sawyer gets back to the main island he tells Locke about the con he told Widmore. Locke thanks him and Sawyer says "A deals a deal".

10. Sawyer goes over to Kate and asks her what she is eating. Kate says Rabbit (Again, another rabbit mentioned on Lost. The book Watership Down, seen in this episode and earlier is about rabbits). He tells Kate that he is going to let Locke and Widmore fight it out while they get off the island. She asks how he'll fly the plane and Sawyer says that they will take the submarine.

11. Questions:
     a. Who was Fake Locke originally and when did he actually live?
     b. We now see the two sides, Lockes and Jacobs. Will any of the 815 survivors switch sides?

Next week's Lost episode should be extremely interesting. We are finally going to see a Richard flashback. With all these sidestories, it will be fun to watch an old fashioned flashback on Lost again. We should get many answers out of Richard's episode.

Added:
Lost 'Happily Ever After' Desmond Quotes and Notes
Lost 'The Package' Episode 6.10 Quotes, Questions and Highlights
Lost "Ab Aeterno" Episode 6.9 Highlights and Quotes

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One of the most popular posts on this blog over the past year has been Top 3 Student College Review Websites. Due to the number of parents and students looking for information to help making decisions on choosing a college, I have decided to write about another website to help you even further on your college quest. College Search GamePLAN is a website/blog aimed at helping both parents and teens get through the entire college admission process.

This website is unlike all the other recommended websites in that is not a place for college reviews by students. College search GamePLAN is more like an online college admissions counselor. Included are articles on:

• Advice to parents of college bound students
• College issues in the news
• Grants and scholarships
• Mistakes, omissions & pitfalls
• Student debt
• Student financial aid

The team that runs this website are all experts in the field. They are all authorities on college search, admissions and financial aide. College Search GamePLAN will soon be offering the ability to subscribe to actual college consulting that will include a map of the entire college search process, help with defining objectives, tools for planning a financial strategy, unique college matching tools, instruction videos, webinars and more.

The college search and admissions process is extremely overwhelming. I have gone through it twice and it was months and months of torture. I would have appreciated a website like College Search GamePLAN to make the process easier.

See also:
College Size - How Important Is It In Choosing a School?
SuperFutures Offers Teens Online Guidance Counselors
Make the Most of College Campus Visits
Can Facebook Hurt Your College Acceptance Chances?
Should Rankings Matter in College Selection? 
5 Great Lists for College Bound Students



 

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Do you have a daughter that is interested in modeling. Are you worried about this type of life but don't really know much about it? Find out more tonight, March 15th, 2010, on Blog Talk Radio as Aitana, a leading young model and her mother give you an insider view of the modeling industry

Marlene Wallach, the President of Willhelmina Kids & Teens modeling agency, also runs a website, Just Ask Marlene, for girls 8-14 and has written a tween lifestyle collection of books. Join Marlene as she chats with Aitana Rinab, a young model who comes from an exciting entertainment family. Marlene will chat with Aitana about life growing up as a model and now sustaining a successful career in modeling.

This JAM Session is great for kids and their parents to find out all the insider information on what it’s really like to be involved in the world of entertainment! Topics include- Getting Started as a Child Model, Behind the Scenes of a Set, Spending Time Together as an Entertainment Family, Balancing School and a Career and More! You can be part of the excitement right from your cell phone, home phone or computer. Join In the fun!

To watch, just log into the Jam Session With Marlene Blog Talk Radio Show at 6:30p.m. ET. If you have any questions for Marlene or Aitana, call 917-932-1234.

Marlene is currently running a contest for a chance to win a modeling contract from Wilhelmina models. Get all the information on the Just Ask Marlene website contest page. Scroll down the page and you will also find information on a contest to win some of the best selling girls book titles. For any information on modeling or for tips on fashion, beauty, fitness, self esteem and fun for you daughter, check out the JAM website.

See also:  
Tween Lifestyle Books from Just Ask Marlene
Theater Geek: New Book about Famous Performing Arts Camp for Gleeks

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The Miracle Worker is making its first return to the Broadway stage since the original play opened 50 years ago. Abigail Breslin takes over the role of Helen Keller that Patty Duke made famous in both the Broadway and movie versions of The Miracle Worker.

The new cast is wonderful. Helen's parents are played by Matthew Modine and Jennifer Morrison (House). Taking over the Anne Bancroft role as teacher Annie Sullivan is Alison Pill, a Broadway actress. She is stepping into big shows and does a great job. Abigail Breslin is a perfect Helen. There was not a dry eye in the house at the end of the play.

The Miracle Worker is a great play for the entire family. Since Broadway plays can be expensive, it often is difficult to take the whole family. However, the producers are running a sale. Tickets are currently being sold for $59 for Monday to Friday shows and $65 for Saturday and Sunday. Just use the code MWAMC114 at Broadwayoffers.com or when you call 212-947-8844. Even better, if you are buying 3 or more tickets together, you will get the "Special Friends & Family Offer" and get each ticket for only $50. A family of four can see the show for less than the full price tickets for two.

Watch and listen to the stars of The Miracle Worker discuss the play:


Take advantage of the great ticket prices and see The Miracle Worker on Broadway. The story of Helen Keller and Annie Sullivan is one to share with your teens or tweens. I have always been fascinated by them.

See also: Stick Fly on Broadway: Review of Alicia Keys Produced Play

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The month of March is America Reads month. Reading can be one of the most enjoyable and entertaining activities, not to mention educational. What can you do to instill a love a reading in your teens and tweens?

This task has actually become much easier now with the huge growth in Young Adult literature. I wrote about this trend in Have Young Adult Books Become More Popular and Respectable? With so many more books geared toward the teen and tween age group, there has to be something for almost anyone.

It is also helpful for kids to see their parents reading. It is even better if parents and teens can read and discuss the same books. Many recent YA book series, such as Harry Potter, Twilight and The Hunger Games, have been just as popular with adults as they have been with teens and tweens. The LA Times recently ran an article, Young adult lit comes of age, which discusses the love of young adult books by a wide range of adults, not only parents, teachers and librarians. So parents can read the same books as their teens and enjoy them just as much.

What do teens and tweens love to do more than almost anything else? Socialize. They spend a great deal of time online on social websites. There are many social websites for teens that revolve around books and reading. If they read about books that their peers love, teens will be much more apt to give them a try themselves.  You can find many suggestions of these websites in Great websites for teens to find books and 10 Great book websites for teens.

Other suggestions to help instill a love of reading in kids of any age can be found in this article on Shine, For the Love of Books and Reading. To only read books that have been assigned from school makes reading seem like a chore. To read a book because you heard good things about it or the description sounds great, is so important to enjoying it. My whole family still discuss the Harry Potter books together to this day. I really enjoy having a family that loves reading.

See also: 
Best Books for Families
3 New Books for Teens - Poetry, Dating and a Reading Journal
Teens Engage with Classic Books via Video Recaps

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Molly Ringwald was a teen icon back in the 1980s when she starred in movies like Sixteen Candles, The Breakfast Club and Pretty in Pink. I loved those movies back then, and teenagers today still watch them. Molly is now starring on the television show The Secret Life of the American Teenager, in which she plays the mother of two teenage daughters. She now has a whole new generation of teen and tween fans.

Molly Ringwald is also a mother in real life and has teamed up with Ragu to launch the Recipe For A Good Start contest. I attended a launch press conference the other day and got to meet her. She was very nice and looked great. I told her about all The Secret Life fans that comment on my blog and how much they love her show. Ragu has so many quick and easy recipes that Molly Ringwald said, "Thanks to Ragu, my family gets a delicious, nutritious meal and I get extra time to do the things I know will give my children a good start - Like finger painting and family reading time."

The Recipe For a Good Start Contest runs the entire month of March. All you need do to enter is to share your favorite recipe using Ragu pasta sauce, and share your tips for giving kids a good start in life. The top 3 finalists will be selected by a panel of judges and posted on the website. They will compete in a live cook-off event in NYC in August, 2010. The grand prize winner will receive a $5,000 scholarship for her child. The contest ends on March 31, 2010.

At the launch event, We were treated to some of Ragu's best and easiest recipes and we got to sample many of them and actually make one ourselves. The Ragu no boiling lasagna was the easiest thing I ever made and absolutely delicious. This will become a new family staple. The Ragu no frying chicken parmesan and Ragu sloppy Joes were amazing also. If you are anything like me and don't have time for complicated recipes, then Ragu meals should be perfect for you. If they are good enough for Molly Ringwald they are good enough for me.

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In tonight's episode of Lost, "Dr. Linus", not only did we get great insight into Benjamin Linus, but we learned more about Richard and Illana, two characters that have been shrouded in mystery. Also, the flight 815 survivors are finally beginning to come together. Hopefully they will all meet up soon. I should have seen the surprise at the end coming, but for some reason when Jacob told Hurley that someone was coming to the Island, I never guessed who.

2004 Sideways Timeline

1. Ben's life off of the Island was the exact opposite of his life on the Island and it was all for the better. In this life, Ben and his father, Roger Linus, left the Island when he was young. They have a very good relationship, with Ben taking care of his father and his father expressing sorrow that maybe Ben could have become much more than a teacher if they stayed there. And, when faced with a decision between helping Alex or trying to get more power, this time he chose Alex. It was so great to see Alex again, alive and happier than we ever saw her on the Island.

2. Ben was teaching his history class about Napoleon and the loss of his power and his exile to Elba. This certainly paralleled Ben's loss of power on the Island and his ultimate exile when he turned the donkey wheel.

3. Locke helped talk Ben into taking over the principal's job. He said "It seems like you care about this place and if the man in charge doesn't, there should be a change". Ironic, since on the Island it was Locke that took over as leader of the others from Ben.

4. When Ben tells Artz that he wants to blackmail the principal, Artz says to Ben "You had me fooled with the sweater vest. You are a killer".

5. Questions:
    a. How was Alex living in California? Her name was Alex Rousseau, so she must have been raised by Danielle. How did they wind up in California?
    b. When did Ben and Roger leave the island and why?


2007 On The Island

1. Illana finds out that Ben killed Jacob through Miles abilities. Miles seemed very happy to give Ben up.

2. Illana said that Jacob was the closest thing she ever had to a father (so now we know he wasn't actually her father but how do they know each other?). When Miles hears her say this and realizes she might try to retaliate, he says "Uh Oh!"

3. After Frank sees Illana ignoring Ben, Frank says to him, "You make friends easily, don't you?"

4. Illana tells Sun that either her or Jin or both of them are candidates to take over the Island.

5. Ben goes through Sawyer's old tent and finds his stash. He sees the book The Chosen by Chaim Potok. On the Island it is yet to be seen who will be chosen as the new leader?

6. Illana tied Ben up and made him dig his own grave. When Ben tried to bribe Miles with 3.2 million dollars (the amount Miles asked for in season 4) to help him escape, Miles said he didn't need the money because of the diamonds that were buried with Nicki and Paulo. How did he know about them when he wasn't on the Island then. Was it from his ability to communicate with the dead? At the end of the episode we see Miles digging for the diamonds.

7. After Ben hears the sound of the smoke monster, Flocke appears and helps Ben to escape, hinting that Ben might be the best candidate as new leader of the Island when he leaves. However, after Ben overpowers Illana with the gun that Flocke left for Ben, he tells her he knows how she is feeling because he chose Jacob over his daughter, Alex. Ben sacrificed everything for Jacob and Jacob didn't even care. Ben told Illana that he will never forgive himself and that he is going to go to Flocke because nobody else will have him. Illana says that she will and he goes back to the beach with her and offers to help Sun build shelter. He seems to have sincerely changed this time.

8. Jack and Hurley follow Richard to the Black Rock. We see Richard looking at the chains and he says that after all his time on the Island, this is the first time that he has been back here. This confirms that Richard must have come to the Island on the Black Rock and in chains.

9. Hurley asked Richard if he was time traveling because he always looks the same. When Richard says no, Hurley asks if he is a cyborg or vampire?  Hurley loves science fiction as shown by his Star Wars script in 1977.

9. Richard wants to die because Jacob never shared his plan with him, "My whole life had no purpose". He tells Jack that he can't kill himself because Jacob touched him. "This is both a gift and a curse". Now we know that the reason that Micheal couldn't kill himself in the season 4 episode "Meet Kevin Johnson" is because he must have been touched by Jacob.

10. Jack tells Richard that he can't die from the dynamite because he is a candidate and Jacob had Jack see the mirror, which showed that Jacob had been watching Jack's entire life, for a reason. He turns out to be right.

11. Jack says they should go back to where all of this started. Jack, Hurley and Richard arrive at the beach. Sun is so happy to see them that she runs and hugs Jack and Hurley. Now Jack, Hurley, Sun, Miles, Frank, Ben, Richard and Illana are all together. They build a campfire and are seen at night all sitting around it.

12. A submarine approaches. It must be the person that Jacob said was coming to the Island. It is Widmore!!! He finally found a way back after all these years. How?

13 Questions:
    a. How does Widmore fit in to the grouping of Jacob's candidates vs. Man in Black's followers? What are Widmore's plans?
    b. Will Jin and Sun ever find each other?
    c. Will Ben go back to his evil ways or has he really changed for good?

14. Michael Emerson (Ben) deserves win an Emmy for this episode of Lost.

Added:
Lost 'The Package' Episode 6.10 Quotes, Questions and Highlights
Lost "Ab Aeterno" Episode 6.9 Highlights and Quotes
Lost 'Recon' Episode 6.8 Recap, Quotes and Questions

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New social websites for teens and tweens keep popping up all over the place. Lately they seem to be adding their own little twists to differentiate themselves from the competition. Here are some of these social websites for teens and tweens that I've come across in the past few months:

1. Scallyroo - A social media site dedicated to addressing the specific needs and interests of young people. Scallyroo enables teens and tweens to better connect with their family and friends, build wish lists, manage their busy lives via a social calendar and allows them to set goals, and collect rewards upon completing those goals. Scallyroo promotes social networking between parents and their kids through the Parent Dashboard, which allows parents to help their children set goals, manage scholastic and social events, create wish lists and learn online networking. Parental consent is needed to kids under age 13 to join.

2. Sweety High - Sweety High is a social world for tween girls ages 9 and up. They have produced their own webseries "Sweety".The website aims to promote safety, leadership, creativity and fair play. The advanced social software allows members to do everything from designing yearbooks and joining fanclubs to watching the original webseries and competing for prizes. All content is moderated, parent approval is needed for ages 13 and under and many other safety features and programs are in place.

3. Fantage - A website aimed at tweens aged 7 to 14, Fantage offers games and adventures to entertain, instill important lessons and promote positive social interaction in a safe environment. The site is comprised of virtual worlds filled with fun features and games. In addition to games, Fantage hosts online parties each month around various holidays. Parents are able to customize everything in their child's communication privileges.

4. Planet Cazmo - This website is a place for tweens to hang out, make new online friends, play games, listen to music and go to virtual concerts. Tweens create and customize their own avatars and homes and can play a variety of games, and more. The virtual concerts really distinguish Planet Cazmo. There have already been concerts by David Archuletta, Natasha Bedingfield, Soulja Boy and Ciara on the website. The FAQ section of Planet Cazmo is the most thorough I've even seen and will answer any question you may have about the website and how it works.

For more websites for teens and tweens, see: 
KidzVuz - Tweens Create Video Reviews on Their Own Online Community
3 New Safe Social Websites for Tweens
Websites for Teenagers - 2 Different and Interesting Sites
Top 10 Interesting Websites for Teens,
Tweens are Everywhere: 5 More Websites for Tweens,
Websites for Teen and Tween Girls,
Niche Social Networking Websites for Teens and TwentySomethings

There is social networking outside of Facebook.

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If you have a family that contains teens or tweens, you probably have more than one computer in your home. If you also have a small business or work from home, you might like to keep your computer and other work materials out of reach of the rest of the family. Does that mean that you need multiple printers? No. Wireless printing makes it so easy for all family members to print to the same computer from anywhere in the house.

I recently received the Lexmark Interact S605 Wireless 3-in-1 printer. It has many wonderful features, but the one I love most is the wireless printing. I keep my printer at my desk, but I very often use my laptop in other rooms. I used to have to carry my laptop into my office and connect it to the printer every time I needed to print something. Now, wherever I am sitting, I just click print on my computer and I'm done immediately. It is also now so easy for my whole family to share the printer without intruding on each other.

The Lexmark Interact S605 Wireless 3-in-1 printer is a color printer that also copies and scans. Some of the other great features of this printer are:

1. The Touch Screen - This is one of the features that really makes this printer stand out. The printer is controlled though an LCD touch screen with a very user friendly interface. At all times it will display only the applicable options to make it extremely intuitive to use. The icons are large and brightly colored.

2. Smart Solutions - Download applications to your printer such as RSS, Google calendar and photo sharing sites. You can then view or print out your calendar, photos or feeds directly from your printer, without even going on your computer. The large colorful LCD touch screen comes in very handy viewing these apps.

3. Speed - Both the wireless connection and the printing are extremely fast. Copying and Scanning speed is also very quick.

4. 2-sided printing and energy saving EcoMode help you to be green and help the environment.

5. Photos - Print your photos directly from your camera or memory card.

6. Ease - Very easy to set up and use.

The Lexmark Interact S605 Wireless 3-in-1 printer is also a very nice looking printer that works well in a household environment. I love the new features, such as the Wireless connection, Smart Solutions and Touch Screen, which are so much more advanced than any previous printer I have owned. The quick speed and beautiful print outs are just icing on the cake.

Full Disclosure: I received the Lexmark Interact S605 printer for free to review. This in no way affected my review.

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