By the time that our kids become teenagers, most of us are old enough that we begin to show signs of aging. Dealing with our teenagers is more than enough to speed that aging up. And since our generation used to sunbathe before the days of  SPF 30 or 50, the wrinkles are beginning to creep in. I have always been hesitant of products that claimed that they can repair your skin and make it look younger, but Personal Microderm has been working for me.

Personal Microderm is an at home microdermabrasion system. I had been fearful of trying these in the past, but this was very gentle and there were no side effects at all. The kit came with both written directions and a video to watch and it was extremely easy to use. While Personal Microderm can be used on many parts of the body, I have only used it so far on my face and hands and have been very pleased with the results.

At home microdermabrasion was much easier than I thought it would be, at least with Personal Microderm. I'm scared to even color my hair at home. And the kit even comes with a serum and a cream for your face to use after the treatment. I can't say how this product will work on everyone, but I for one, love it.

Full disclosure: I received a Personal Microderm Kit for free to review. I was told to be completely honest and express what I really think of the product, which I have done.

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On August 10th, a new, improved and much larger platform for OpenSky will launch, including my store. OpenSky introduces a completely different way of shopping. You don't go to the store and browse. You buy after reading a recommendation by somebody you trust. Makes sense to me.

This is how OpenSky works in a nutshell:

• OpenSky has a website and the setup for checking out and payment for items
• OpenSky offers manufacturers and distributors a platform for their items
• Sellers are bloggers and others with a platform on the web to find and recommend items that they love
• Sellers choose from the items already on OpenSky to recommend or if they want to sell an item not already in OpenSky's inventory they can contact the vendor and ask them to add it to OpenSky

The system makes sense and is ideal for people that are passionate about products that they use and enjoy. As many of my friends know, when I find an item that I like, I try to talk everyone into getting it. When Cablevision first added DVR, and it wasn't even being advertised yet, I thought it was the best thing since sliced bread. I couldn't stop talking about its benefits. Almost every one of my friends and co-workers signed up within a month. Too bad I wasn't working for Cablevision, I would have made a fortune in commissions.

I may wind up selling very few products or many products, but I will only sell products that I love and would use myself. We'll see how it goes, but I think OpenSky sounds like a great idea. If any of you make or sell items that you would like to have sold on OpenSky, please let me know. What do you all think of the OpenSky method of shopping?

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A cult film is a movie that doesn't do very well when initially released, but develops a very devoted group of fans, that often watch the film repeatedly. The fan base for many cult films is often teenagers and young adults.

Here are 15 cult films loved by teens and/or young adults:

1. Donnie Darko (2001) - Probably at the top of most lists of teen cult favorites, Donnie Darko stars Jake Gyllenhaal. See my Donnie Darko article.

2. Heathers (1989) - Black Comedy starring Winona Ryder and Christian Slater that takes place in a high school.

3. Napolean Dynomite (2004) - Independent, quirky comedy about teen geeks.

4. Office Space (1999) - Comedy about work life in a typical office, where the workers are fed up with their jobs. (this movie came out before and is unrelated to the television show, The Office).

5. Spaceballs (1987) - This parody of Star Wars, Star Trek and other science fiction films has become Mel Brook's most popular film after becoming a cult classic on video and DVD.

6. Dazed and Confused (1993) - The last day of school in 1976, played by a ensemble group of unknown actors, many of who have become famous, i.e., Matthew McConaughey, Ben Affleck.

7. Princess Bride (1987) - Fantasy, adventure, romance, comedy based on the 1973 novel and directed by Rob Reiner.

8. This is Spinal Tap (1984) - mocumentary about a fictional heavy metal band, Spinal Tap, directed by Rob Reiner.

9. Election (1999) - Independent comedy about a high school election. Satire of both high school life and politics starring Reese Witherspoon as Tracy Flick.

10. Ghost World (2001) - Based on a graphic novel, this indie film is about two girls, best friends and social outcasts, during the summer after high school graduation and how their lives change after they meet a lonely man (Steve Buscemi).

11. Bring it On (2000) - Comedy about competing cheerleading squads, it is a cult classic at least among cheerleaders.

12. Some Kind of Wonderful (1987) - John Hughes romance drama starring Eric Stoltz, Lea Thompson and Mary Stuart Masterson.

Do you have any other favorite cult films to recommend to teens or young adults? 

See also:
30 Movies for Teens 2012
Christmas Movies and Hanukkah TV and Video for Teens
15 Halloween Movies for Teens
42 Movies for Teens 2011
75 Classic Movies Teens Should See!

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What is the best form of money for your teens to carry around? Which is safest? Which will best help teens learn about budgeting? These are important questions parents must ask themselves as their kids get older. American Express is rolling out a new solution, the PASS card, which offers another option for parents to consider.

Here are the problems with the current forms of currency:

• Cash - Teens are more apt then adults to lose it or have it stolen.
• Debit Cards - If I had a dollar for every time my son overdrew on his account, I still wouldn't have enough to make up for all the overdraft fees he caused.
• Credit Cards - Difficulty putting any limit on your teens spending when you hand them a credit card.

None of these problems are present with the American Express PASS card for teens and young adults. That is why I was so excited to get one for my son. After receiving the card, we set up a parent's page and a teen/young adult page online. My husband and I spoke with our son and chose an amount to initially load his account with and added the money online (it can also be done by phone 24/7). From our separate accounts we can each view his activity and set up various alerts.

There are no overdraft problems because there is no overdraft. He can't go wild as he could with a credit card, because the PASS card is prepaid, so he can't spend more than the preloaded amount. And, if the card is lost or stolen, as long as we notify American Express, nothing is lost. This one card can be used in ATMs, stores, online and more.

If we want to teach our son about budgeting, we can set up automatic monthly (or any set time) reloads and he will know that he will not be getting any more money until that date. We might have to wean him into that. Either way, I can already see a change in the way my son is spending, and its only been less than a week. I love that it is so easy to check the balance and activity in the account and everything is in one place. The PASS card also includes purchase protection and roadside assistance which are two things that teens and young adults definitely can use.

This is just the first in a series of eight articles I will be writing weekly about teens/young adults and money and the American Express PASS card. Other articles will be cover various aspects of teens and money such as wants vs. needs, financial literacy, savings and more. I will also be discussing other benefits and aspects of the PASS card. I hope you return for the rest of the series.

Full disclosure: I am working with American Express on this series of blog posts about the PASS card and I am being paid for my writing. However, my son is using the card and everything I write about our experiences is authentic and my thoughts on the program are real.

See also:
Teenagers and Money - Most Important Lesson to Share?
Teens and Money - Understanding Needs vs. Wants
Teens and Money: Help for Parents with The Money Talk
Teens and Money - 4 Websites Teaching Financial Literacy
Teens and Money - What about Allowance?  
Teenagers and Money - Teaching Budgeting
Is Your Teen Ready For a Credit Card?

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Technology gadgets are very difficult to clean. By their very nature, they can't be washed with soap and water and with all the buttons and crevices they are very difficult to dust. Studies have shown that the average cellphone and keyboard has more germs than a toilet bowl seat. Yet, how many teens sleep with their cell phone. Now that I've thoroughly grossed you out, I have found two very inexpensive cleaning solutions for all your tech gadgets, Cyber Clean and Speck: CrispView.

Cyber Clean:
Cyber Clean is a yellow gooey gel that you just press onto the area to be cleaned and it will lift all of the dirt and germs from the area. You then just mush the gel around and it is ready to clean again. The dirt and dust are absorbed and microencapsulated in Cyber Clean. It doesn't stick to your hands and is completely safe. Cyber Clean can be reused many times and you will know when it is time to throw it away when it turns dark green. It is great for cleaning almost anything including keyboards, dashboards, cell phones, fans, hair dryers, computer ports and more.

One of the only things that Cyber Clean can not do is get smudges off of screens. That brings us to:

Speck: CrispView:
Do you hate all the smudges that you get on your iPhone, iPad or GPS devices? I do, and up until now I have never been able to find a way to get rid of them. That is until I found Speck: CrispView Cleaner & Cloth. All you do is spray the cleaner on to the cloth and then use the dampened cloth to wipe your screen and all the fingerprints that I thought would be there forever are finally gone. And, since the spray must be used with this cloth, they are tethered together, an extremely smart feature. I've found that it also works well on all monitors, even those without fingerprints.

Between Cyber Clean and Speck: CrispView, you should be able to keep all of your tech gadgets beautifully clean and for under $10. Sorry that I can't help you with the rest of your house.


See also: Why Dyson is Making Fans with Blades Obsolete

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Parents of teens today, that are buying their kids Magna Doodles and similar devices, all grew up owning an Etch-A-Sketch. Released in 1960, the Etch-A-Sketch was beloved by Baby Boomers all over and is probably just as much a part of our toy pop culture history as hula hoops and monopoly.

Even with the competition of toys like Magna Doodle, Etch-A-Sketch is still a very popular toy, sold by the Ohio Art Company. More than 150 million units have been sold since 1960. This year, 2010, Etch-A-Sketch and the Ohio Art Company are celebrating their 50th anniversary.

The Ohio Art Company has teamed up with Red Robin to sponsor a contest which encourages artists of any age to draw their favorite burger on an Etch-A-Sketch, take a picture of it and submit the photo of their drawing to the Red Robin contest site. I'm so sorry that I did not write about this sooner, but the deadline is July 25, 2010, so if you are interested, you have to act now.

Do you still have an Etch-A-Sketch? Have you ever bought one for you kids, or better yet, handed down your childhood toy to them? True classic toys never go out of style.

See also:
Nanoblocks for Teenagers and Adults
uDraw Game Tablet for the Nintendo Wii

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Have you tried to sleep with headphones to drown out noise? Maybe a snoring husband or roommate, a noisy dorm, or are you just a light sleeper? It is very uncomfortable, if not impossible to sleep with traditional headphones, or even ear buds. However, the days of sleepless nights due to noise are now over. SleepPhones, pajamas for your ears, are soft comfortable headphones that you can comfortably sleep with.

SleepPhones, a wicking fleece headband, contain thin removable speakers, and plugs into most audio devices. The headband is extremely comfortable. I recently wore it for an entire plane ride and it felt just like wearing a lightweight headband. Nothing sticking in my ears and nothing heavy weighing me down. My son has slept full nights with SleepPhones and loves them. He will be taking them back to college with him in the fall. And, since the speakers and plugs are removable, the headband can easily be washed and dried.

You can plug your SleepPhones into a CD players, iPod or MP3 player. If music doesn't help you sleep, try meditation, hypnosis, audiobooks, ocean waves or white noise.  If you need to sleep in complete dark, wear the headphones around your eyes and they double as a sleep mask. Check out the SleepPhones Product Catalog for the different color SleepPhones, accessories and systems that will help you get a good night's sleep.

Full Disclosure: I did receive a free pair of SleepPhones to review.


See also: Holiday Gifts for Teens - Speakers and Headphones

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The iPad was the first tech device that I was compelled to get the day it came out. After pre-ordereing it (I hate waiting on lines), I was using my iPad bright and early the morning they went on sale. I love watching videos because of the beautiful display, and use my iPad for games, news, email and many other purposes. But it wasn't until I got iPad: The Missing Manual, that I realized how much I was missing.

iPad: The Missing Manual will show you just how versatile your iPad is. This book will show you how to maximize the potential of the iPad to be whatever you want it to be. Get undocumented tips and tricks. Consolidate your email accounts. Navigate Apple's media emporiums and learn how to get free music, video, books, and apps. And this is just the beginning.

iPad: The Missing Manual is written by J.D. Biersdorfer, the author of iPod: The Missing Manual and The iPod Shuffle Fan Book and is published by O'Reilly. If you own an iPad, get your money's worth out of it. This manual will turn your iPad into a better product.

Full disclosure: I received a free copy of this book to review.

See also:  
22 iPad Apps for New iPad Owners
How to Find the Best Apps
Apple IPad iPhone and IPod Cases at Great Prices

 

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I recently received two very different, yet somewhat similar books to review - Living in the Shadow of a Rock Star Parent and The Days of our Lives: The True Story of one Family's Dream and the Untold History of Days of our Lives. Although both deal with show business families, the world of rock music and soap opera's are not exactly in the same league.

Zoe Street Howe, a freelance music writer and the author of How's Your Dad? interviewed many of the offspring of famous rock and roll stars, including John Lennon's son, Julian, Roger Waters' son, Harry and Alice  Cooper's son Calico. Being the child of a rock star is not all your teens probably think it is. This would be a great book for parents and teens both to read and discuss what fame can do to a family.

This book shines the light on the preconceptions we have towards the children of rock stars and why we have them. It also shows us the reality of their lives. Imagine being upstaged by your parents for the rest of your life no matter what you did. How's Your Dad? is a fascinating read, especially if you love music, rock and roll or pop culture in general.

Days of our Lives, the second longest running soap opera in the United States, began as the dream of the Corday family (Ted, Betty and their teenage son, Ken) in 1965. Although Ted passed away a year after the show's inception, Betty carried on with the show and Ken continued the Family legacy and eventually rose to become executive producer of Days of our Lives.

It is Ken Corday, just a teenager at the beginning of the series, that is the author of The Days of our Lives: The True Story of one Family's Dream and the Untold History of Days of our Lives. Ken reveals a glimpse into the creation of this beloved soap opera and his family's struggles through death, mental illness and the constant threat of cancellation. Ken Corday also gives insight into the actors and storylines portrayed in the show.

Fans of Days of our Lives will devour this book. However, as somebody that never watched that particular soap opera, I was still fascinated by the story. The family struggles were heartbreaking and I love reading anything about the inner workings of television.

Both of the books above, How's Your Dad? and The Days of our Lives would be wonderful parent/teen bonding books.

See also:
Jeopardy, Watson and IBM - Behind the Scenes in Final Jeopardy
The Talk on CBS - Funny Moms Great Time
Harry Potter, Lady Gaga and The Beatles
Corn Flakes with John Lennon - Rock Memoir by Robert Hilburn

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For those that still do not know what Skype is, it is a free software application that allows you to make calls over the Internet. If you have a webcam ( a video device connected to your computer), you can see the person that you are speaking with while on Skype. It is a great way for families, especially parents separated from their teens away at college, to keep in touch when not living together. Calls are free and you feel as if you are in the same room.

Although very often Skype can be used without buying any additional hardware, since most laptops have webcams built in, you still might want to consider looking at some Skype products.There are many great products that can greatly enhance your video calling experience. Here are some are cool products that I've seen demonstrated, that are meant for homes and families:

1. FREETALK Everyman HD Webcam - Even if you have a built-in webcam, you might want to consider buying the FREETALK Everyman. It gives sharper, clearer and better defined video than any other webcam engineered to work with Skype.(image top left)

2. FREETALK Buddy Cam - These adorable little webcams are great for tweens and sell for under $20.

3. FREETALK Wireless Headset - Not only is this an extremely comfortable headset with CD quality audio, but because it is wireless, you can move around during your conversation. You will no longer be chained to your computer.

4. ASUS Skype VideoPhone Touch - Last but not least, the perfect product for grandparents of anyone that is not very tech savvy that wants to use Skype to connect with their family. No computer is necessary (although either a wifi or broadband Internet connection is). The videophone is a stand-alone touchscreen box that looks somewhat like a clock radio and can be used for free Skype-to-Skype video and voice calls.(image above right)

If you have not used Skype yet, and you have kids, parents or siblings living far enough away that you don't see very often, then you must try Skype. The gadgets above can make Skype either easier to use, or give you better quality video. Unless you really believe that absence makes the heart grow fonder, I think your heart will be happier seeing your loved ones, instead of just hearing their voices.

Full Disclosure: I received a free Everyman Webcam and a Everyman Headset (not wireless) to review. This in no way had any effect on anything that I wrote above.  

See also: Skype Mobile - Talk Free with Skype On the Go

 

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I recently realized that I never wrote an article about the Lost finale. I wrote a post of all the best quotes in the Lost finale, but never a summary or highlights post. I think I was too emotional to deal with it at the time. However, I recently ran into a few different friends that are Lost fans, but not the type that read about it and discuss it online. They were very unhappy with the finale, but when I asked why, they seemed to have misunderstood much of what had happened. I want to now try to clear things up about the finale for the casual Lost fan:


1. Many of the people I spoke to were upset that everyone died. However, they did not all die then and there in 2007 or anytime anywhere near 2007. As Christian Shepard told Jack when Jack realized he was dead and that all the others were dead also, "Everyone dies sometime, some of them before you, some of them LONG AFTER you". So the Losties that got off the Island in the helicopter, Kate, Sawyer, Miles, Claire and Frank, might have gone on to live long full lives. And Hurley and Ben, the keepers of the Island, could have lived hundreds or thousands of years more.

2. Everything that ever happened on the Island or in the flashbacks and flashfowards really did happen. Again, as per Christian "Everything that has ever happened to you is real." The only thing that we watched that didn't really happen in anyone's lifetime was the season 6 alternate universe. How do I know that? Christian also told Jack: "There is no now, here. This is a place that you all made together so you could find one another. You needed all of them and they needed all of you to remember and let go".

Now, for the true Lost fans that do read about and discuss Lost and were unhappy with the finale because we didn't get enough answers, I can't help you. I can only say that my sons and I loved it because we thought that what the Lost writers and producers did with the character's story lines was wonderful and much more important than some technical answers. It is, after all, a television show. How many television series make complete sense. I'd rather have a great story, and Lost gave me that.

See also: Lost "Deleted" Scene Comic-Con Video Must See

 

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Guest contributor and MobiStories.com producer Wendy Toone, offers great tips this week on how your kids can avoid brain drain when they're out of school.

It's Summertime! Yipppee! Time for swimming, trips to the beach, camping, and all sorts of "no more school" activities. However, many kids suffer from a backward slide in their reading development when reading activities wane over the summer months.

Students can lose as much as three month's worth of reading level during the school break. Research shows that younger elementary school students rarely make up deficits in reading once they fall behind. Conversely, students who read during the summer could end up three months ahead, too.

Children will benefit more if their reading activities are fun and not looked upon as 'homework.' While reading books is important, games that use letter-recognition, alphabetizing, syllable, rhyming and rhythm skills can keep kids' reading skills sharp without cracking open a book. If you have a road trip or plane excursion planned, use that travel time wisely. Here are some games to try when traveling on summer vacations:

Create a New Ending:
Exercise their storytelling skills by rewriting their favorite story or a book they just finished...'It could also have ended like this....'

Write That Tune
Remember the game show "Name That Tune"? Pick a familiar song and rewrite the lyrics....a topic such as "gardening" sung to the tune of "Frere Jacques" ?? This exercise works on rhyming, syllable recognition, creativity, and can expand vocabulary.

Kids get carsick reading but can watch movies on DVD? Try digital books.
Amazon's Kindle is amazing for Young Adult and adult digibooks, but they don't have children's titles. Only publishers such as MobiStories.com provide children's picture books in color, narrated and ready for on-the-go reading practice. Order from digital publishers that offer downloads to your mobile devices for convenience.

Car Games:
Animal ABC - 2 ways to play...either start w/ "A" and name as many animals (aardvark, alligator, antelope) as you can, or take turns (Cindy does "B", Joey has "C"). Great for young readers (K - 2nd grade). Can make it more challenging by starting the next animal's beginning letter w/ previous animal's ending letter, i.e. dog -> goose-> elephant.

Roadsign Roundup - Same idea, but this time call out words seen alongside the road in alpha order: billboards, safety signs, signs of businesses being passed. Good for intermediate readers (2nd - 5th grade).

Pimp My Plate - Using letters found on license plates, create what the personalized plate meaning would be (phrase, name of their business, whatever you can come up with). Can work on alliteration, homophones and creativity. Good one for advanced/older readers who need something more challenging.

Where Do I Turn - This one isn't really a game, but why not let the kids pass a little time reading the map and becoming the navigator. You trust them, right??

TrueText - If they've got the phone and you have unlimited texting, you could institute a 'must spell it correctly - no text jargon' rule for a portion of (or the whole?) trip. Of course, no texting to or from the driver, please.

So whether you're traveling by car, plane, train, or sticking around for a "staycation," remember to incorporate reading activities into your children's summer schedules. Read to them, read with them, and give them plenty of encouragement to keep their reading skills from sliding in the wrong direction. Happy reading!!

Wendy Toone is a child expert, having owned and operated a leading children's fitness center and now produces MobiStories, Digital Books for KidsTM. She is a cableAce-award winning television producer and has worked on hundreds of television commercials as a Production Manager after spending a decade onstage as a professional dancer. Wendy's two children have been inspirational in the creation of MobiStories.

To download a free digital book for your PC visit MobiStories.com, click on Summer (in the Ages 2 - 4 category) add it to the cart and Michelle Obama then enter the code SUM0710 in the Coupon Code Box.

*This post is sponsored by the Role Mommy Writer's Network.

See Also:  
Instill a Love of Reading in your Teens
Teens Engage with Classic Books via Video Recaps

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Speck, a producer of gadget cases, bags and packs, has always felt that design should not be boring. Products with a touch of flair and uniqueness will be more fun to own and use. They are certainly talking the language of Generation Y, a generation that likes to have the same type of items, yet likes to customize them differently. Speck believes that people should choose products that express themselves. With the new art project cases below, they will certainly be able to do that.

One of the newest items in Speck's varied line of Cell phone cases is the Fitted Artsprojekt Limited Edition Art Cases. These are absolutely the most beautiful and coolest cell phone cases I have ever seen, while also giving your phone great protection. In collaboration with the Artsprojekt Global Creative Network, the cases feature authorized reproductions of original artwork on durable lightweight snap-together cases. I can't stop showing off my phone case to everyone I know.

All of the art for Artsprojekt Cases is created by and supports outstanding independent artists.These Limited Edition Art Cases by Speck are only available in Apple Stores or on the Zazzle website. They would make fantastic gifts for teens and young adults, or really anyone of any age. The one that I was given by Speck to review (see image above), I kept for myself, instead of passing down to my sons, because I love it so much.

See also:
LifeProof iPhone Cases Protect Against Everything!
Case-Mate Designer Cases Make Great Holiday Gifts for Teens and Adults
Apple IPad iPhone and IPod Cases at Great Prices
Laptop and Cell Phone Skins and Cases - The New Fashion Accessory

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The Pew Internet & American Life Project recently released the results of one of its surveys on the future of the Internet. This particular survey asked a selected group of experts and the highly engaged Internet public, "Will the willingness of Generation Y / Millennials to share information change as they age? 67% of the experts and 69% of the total respondents said no, even as Generation Y matures and has families they will continue to share information online.

Most of the respondents noted that this generation feels that there are more benefits to disclosing personal information online then detriments. Disclosing information allows people to open up to build friendships, find communities, seek help and build their reputations. They are already receiving these benefits and will not want to give them up. They also feel that in the future, society will be more forgiving of youthful transgressions on social media. Although what is shared on social media might change as people age, i.e. baby pictures instead of frat parties, sharing will continue.

Some of the many quotes from survey respondents:

“Publicy will replace privacy. Privacy will appear quaint, like wearing gloves and veils in church.” —Stowe Boyd, social networks specialist, analyst, activist, blogger, futurist and researcher; president of Microsyntax.org, a non-profit and director of 301Works.org

“Sharing is not ‘the new black,’ it is the new normal. There are too many benefits to living with a certain degree of openness for Digital Natives to ‘grow out of it.’ Job opportunities, new personal connections, professional collaboration, learning from others' experiences, etc., are all very powerful benefits to engaging openly with others online, and this is something that Gen Y understands intuitively...—Matt Gallivan, senior research analyst, audience insight and research, National Public Radio (US)

“The willingness of digital natives to share information is ingrained into their makeup. Similar to those who lived through the depression in the US have an ingrained thriftiness...—Michael Nelson, visiting professor of Internet studies at Georgetown University, formerly a director of technology policy with IBM Corporation and the Federal Communications Commission.

“Unless Generation Y has a collective privacy-related epiphany, they will continue to happily trade it for convenience.” ––Gervase Markham, a programmer for the Mozilla Foundation since 1999, based in the UK; won a Google/O’Reilly Open Source Award as the “best community activist” in 2006

For the full report, online or in PDF, go to the Pew Internet & American Life Project website, Millennials will make online sharing in networks a lifelong habit page. You can also go here to just view an entire page of quote from this Pew Internet Millennials survey. It will be interesting to see what the Internet will really look like in 2020, only another 10 years away.

See also:  
How Teens Use Technology in Their Social Lives: Ericsson CES Preview
Common Sense Media Launches 'Do Not Track Kids' Campaign
10 Quotes for Parents of Teenagers

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The day after Glee, the hit television series, gathered the largest amount of Emmy nominations of any series this year, seemed liked the perfect day to review the wonderful new book, Theater Geek: The Real Life Drama Of A Summer At Stagedoor Manor, The Famous Performing Arts Camp. This theater camp in the catskills is where stars like Natalie Portman, Robert Downey, Jr., Zach Braff, Lea Michele, Felicity Huffman, Jon Cryer, Mandy Moore, and many others got their start.

Mickey Rapkin, senior editor at GQ, spent three weeks at Stagedoor Manor last summer to meet the campers and get information for this book. And what a fascinating book it is. You will learn all about the history of the camp, how it began in 1975 as the Catskills were losing their pull as a vacation area. You will learn why this camp has become a refuge for theater geeks around the world and why casting agents regularly flock to it.

Even though Mickey Rapkin did not attend Stagedoor Manor, he has the heart and soul of a theater geek and therefor understands the camp and the campers. He had the calling, but let it go. He is the perfect author for this book because you can feel his love for the craft throughout.

StageDoor Manor is different than most other theater camps. The teens learn by doing. They have three weeks to learn and perform an entire show.

While researching his story while at the camp, Rapkin mostly spent his time tracking three especially talented and determined campers through their final summer at the camp (many teens spend multiple summers here, but never more than 3 weeks per summer). We also learn a great deal about past years at the camp through interview with some of the celebrities that previously attended.

Theater Geek: The Real Life Drama Of A Summer At Stagedoor Manor, The Famous Performing Arts Camp is a must read for any teenager that loves the theater and any parent of a theater geek. It is also a great read for anybody of any age that ever performed in shows back in high school or even just enjoys reading about the lives of actors. Although it sounds cliched, you really will both laugh and cry while reading Theater Geek.

See also: 4 Fun Nonfiction Books For Teens and Tweens

 

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How often do you get in the car and drive off miles before you realize you forgot your cell phone? And of course you can't live without it anymore, so you have to turn around and go back to get it. Those days are gone. Bringrr has launched a simple new car accessory that will let you know if you don't have your mobile phone with you before you drive off.

The best part is, it is simple to use. Bringrr provided me with a free product to review. My husband installed it in his car (if you could even call it an installation it was so easy) and it took him about a minute. That was it. There is nothing left to do from there on in. It just gets plugged into the car's power port of lighter outlet and then gets paired up with your phone through Bluetooth. After that, any time that you start your car and you don't have your phone with you, the bringrr device will make a noise and its light will turn blue. So simple, yet works so well.

Answers to questions you might have:

• Bringrr works with any Bluetooth-enabled phone
• It works with any vehicle that has a lighter outlet or car power port
• It doesn't require additional software on your phone
• You can purchase an optional power port to charge your phone

Don't be cut off from the world again. This device can be purchased on the Bringrr website for $34.99. The only thing that would make this gadget better is if it would also remind you when you forget your keys, glasses, wallet, and anything else that could be forgotten. But for $34.99, this simple little gadget is a steal.

See also: Powerbag for Teens, Travelers and Techies
 

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When personal computers first became popular, the question educators asked was, how do we integrate them into the classroom? Now, when we have reached a time where teenagers in the United States practically live on the Internet, the question now becomes, how can we use the computer as a tool to offer additional learning outside of school hours? Online classes can offer middle and high school students numerous benefits, such as the ability to take regular or AP classes not offered in their district, due to budget cuts or for other reasons.

I can vouch for the validity of online classes. I received a Master's Degree in Library Science from Southern Connecticut State University taking all of my classes entirely online. The classes were just as rigorous as live classes but I thought they were even better. Since they were all written, I could reread the entire lectures and didn't have to worry about notes. The professor's were much more available for questions, because they were just an email away, instead of having set office hours. We had message boards so that all the students still got to know each other and you couldn't beat the flexibility. It was a great learning experience.

At the time, the early 2000s, I was not nearly as tech savvy as now, and the online systems were antiques compared to today, and yet it still worked well. I can only imagine with today's teens and the new multimedia systems together, what a fantastic learning experience that must be. With the use of avatars, flash animations, interactive games, manipulatives and audio/video presentations, rich presentations are offered that help teach all learning styles.

Some specific examples of areas in which online classes have helped high school students:

1. Students that have fallen behind can take extra classes online to give them the credits they need to graduate.
2. Students that move often can get a consistent education.
3. Student athletes can use online classes as a way to stay ahead academically while juggling with a demanding tournament schedule.
4. Students in home-schooled families can brush up on skills to compete at the next level.
5. Students that like to challenge themselves academically can load up on courses that would never fit in a school day.

A recent study showed that online students spend more hours a week on homework, get more help when they fall behind and have more interest in attending college than students in traditional schooling. If you want to see if your state has any online schooling options, click on the map at Online School Solutions and see if there are any public or private online schools currently available in your state. What I like best about these programs is the ability for students to take additional electives without having to spend extra time at school. I am sure that would be a big plus for the teens also. What do you think? Is this something that your family would consider?

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Below is a guest post from Twilight fan and expert, Michelle Pan, author of the book Bella Should Have Dumped Edward and owner of the Twilight fansite BellaAndEdward.com. She has interviewed many of the cast members and Stephanie Meyer and was invited to the Eclipse premiere. She herself has been interviewed by many media outlets such as Business Week and ReelzChannel. Here is the perspective of a real Twilight fan at the premiere of Eclipse:

Hey there! I'm Michelle Pan, founder and owner of the Twilight fansite BellaAndEdward.com and the author of Bella Should Have Dumped Edward. I recently got back from the world premiere of The Twilight Saga: Eclipse in Los Angeles, California. There, I interviewed the cast and crew and talked to some of the fans who showed up to support the movie. There were many Twilighters who camped out for four days – yes, four days – just to get a spot on the red (excuse me, black) carpet! What's interesting to note is that these fans included not only teenage girls, but guys and Twilight moms as well. One of the great things about the Twilight saga is that its fan base is not limited to a certain age group. True, most of the fans are females under the age of 25, but the story of Bella and Edward can be appreciated by both teens and parents alike. Twilight moms made up a large portion of the fans on the black carpet!

The premiere itself was incredible. Apart from not having the usual red carpet, the Eclipse premiere was a whole new experience for everyone. It was moved out of Westwood (where the previous premieres were held) and into a new location – the Nokia Theater at LA Live. The night started around 6:00 pm with some of the smaller stars coming down the black carpet. As each cast member passed the media area, all of the fansites would pick up their phones and tweet a picture of the actor/actress. It's a wonder how we didn't overload the Twitter server that night! If we could catch the cast members, we had the opportunity to ask them a couple of questions. I was fortunate enough to be able to interview people like Nikki Reed (Rosalie), Jackson Rathbone (Jasper), David Slade (director), and Stephenie Meyer (author). Attending the movie premieres has always been one of my favorite things about what I do. Not only do I get to chat with the movie stars, but I also get to see my fansite friends and all of the fans in one place! And trust me, that kind of opportunity doesn't present itself every day.

I hope you guys take the time to go and see Eclipse if you haven't already, and even if you have, go and see it again! While you're at it, don't forget to check out BellaAndEdward.com and my new book, Bella Should Have Dumped Edward! Happy Twilighting! Michelle Pan

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