Once there were “boomboxes,” those quaint suitcase-sized stereos that turned heads – and created headaches – whenever they were in the vicinity. Then music went “private,” as Walkmans and iPods provided walkers, runners, and bus and train riders with hours of musical enjoyment.
And now that we’re in the age of the “digital device,” the music player of choice for a new generation is – the cellphone! It’s all about “convergence,” using a single device for data, messaging, internet use, and of course, playing music and video. And because they’re …

The world is full of stars these days – movie stars, that is! Thanks to the internet, everybody and his cousin can now star in their own production, using techniques straight out of the Hollywood playbook. And not just plain-vanilla Youtube videos, either; the sites I have in mind will let you assemble your video and photos into a smart-looking production, accompanied by music or voice, and interspersed with special effects. These are the kinds of videos you see at friends’ weddings and Bar Mitzvahs, the kind you’ve always wished …

“Monetization” is big these days. The idea of taking your spare whatever – empty web page spaces, e-mail backgrounds, Facebook profiles – and turning them into cash, is irresistible during these turbulent times. Personally, I think we should demand to be paid when we wear a “brand name” T-shirt, jacket, or other item of clothing that sports a corporate logo. Why are we giving these fat cats free advertising, anyway? But let’s leave that aside, for now. I’ve discovered a great way for you to monetize another “dead space,” …

What Chanukah means to me (besides candles, miracles, etc.): Spending money on outings, spending money on gifts, spending money on days at the mall. What Chanukah means to the kids: Writing cards to their grandparents. Notice a theme here? We love holidays, but they can be expensive – and who’s got money to spare this year? The kids are wonderful, and we want them to have a good time. But with the way reality is biting these days, it pays to be prudent. So, we’re looking to cut costs …

Kids say the darndest things. To us, that is. But you should hear how they talk to each other when there are no adults around. It’s downright scary! But we don’t mind a little ribaldry from our kids, bless them; it’s part of growing up. We know our kids’ friends, and their parents are pretty much like us – raising their kids as best as they can. Sure, our kids’ friends may have occasional lapses in judgment, dragging our children into trouble with them, but it’s usually nothing …