The Newest TV Sensation: "Kid Nation"

"Kid Nation," the CBS reality show that fanned concerns about child endangerment and exploitation, subjected its young stars to nothing more dramatic than homesickness and a pulled muscle in its debut episode. Whether viewers were entertained by Wednesday's hour - in which the most thrilling line was "We got the Port-A-Potties. Yeah!" Whether or not this show is any good remains to be seen, but we watched last night’s opening episode and it was great! It’s awesome to see children thinking for themselves, being team players and leading others, in some cases. To see these children step up and do their part in the running of what was previously a ghost town was amazing.

As a reality TV show, there is no doubt that the storylines will be manipulated and contrived, but hopefully the adults behind the camera won’t spoil it for the kids.

In the first episode, one of the very first things the producers did was split the kids into four groups. This way, they get to experience the early stages of being in a gang. They also gave them access (although they have to pay for it with the wages they earn working at different jobs) to lots of candy and soda. This way they can also become familiar with another modern-day phenomenon – childhood diabetes.

One little girl wanted to buy a bike at the town’s kiddy general store, so she danced in the street to get tips. A future stripper, perhaps? And one 10-year-old girl announced, “I don’t do dishes. I am a beauty queen!” Sounds like my fiancée!

Filmed over 40 days during April and May in a movie-set ghost town in the high desert just south of Santa Fe, N.M., "Kid Nation" gathered 40 children ages 8 to 15 and gave them the task of organizing and running their own lives. From the start, the kids are put through the physical and emotional wringer. They're told to drag supply wagons through the desert, while the youngest ones confront fears of being isolated and away from their families.

"I think I'm gonna die out here 'cuz there's nothing," one 8-year-old frets as "Kid Nation" gets the party started. "There's no President Bush. There's nothing," observes another dispirited youngster.

Kids say the darndest things. Oh, wait, that show aired with Bill Cosby nearly a decade ago, based on a 1950s Art Linkletter idea; consider this the modern version, with reality-show trappings galore to make it exciting for today's presumably jaded young set and, CBS hopes, their parents. CBS kept the finished product under wraps and away from critics, allowing media speculation and criticism to help promote the show. There were allegations that the production may have skirted New Mexico's child-protection laws and that youngsters faced unsafe conditions, which CBS and the show's producer denied.

No injuries other than the muscle pull were shown Wednesday. But one mother has complained to authorities that her daughter was splattered with cooking grease and that four other children accidentally drank bleach during production. The show confirmed that the incidents occurred but said first aid was immediately provided. Parents and children made available by CBS praised the production as a safe, well-supervised learning experience. As the "Kid Nation" kids begin to organize in the premiere episode, guided by the alternately comforting and menacing host Jonathan Karsh (he warns them of "rough" times ahead), rewards emerge in forms any red-blooded American child would treasure: candy, soda pop and the possibility of a TV set.

When the pint-sized four-member town council wisely picks outhouses over the television set, supplementing the one toilet that had been serving the town, the rest of the group breathes a collective sigh of relief.

Besides goodies they can buy with their earnings from chores, the kids compete for a weekly solid-gold star, worth $20,000, that goes to the most deserving child. At least there's the prospect of college funds getting a boost. Time will tell if the show gives CBS' Wednesday night ratings an ongoing boost.

(Portions of this story were taken from AP and CBS.com)

On the Road Again

I'll be on the road for both business and pleasure until next week, my friends -- but when I return, you can bet that I'll be back bloggin' and hopin' and Living Life on the Edge once more.

Takin' It Down to Dog Town

New England Patriots Caught Cheating!

I don’t know why I am so shocked about something like this. A friend of mine who has worked as a college referee was telling me recently that this kind of thing goes on all the time at the college level. I hope the NFL really cracks down on the Patriots. I understand that they will be heavily fined by the league and will probably lose two draft picks next year – most likely a number two and a number five.
There is no excuse for cheating. We expect our sports teams to be squeaky clean, but as we have learned here, we should never assume for one minute that they are. I wonder how many games the Patriots won by cheating.
I don’t wager on games anymore, but if I had bet on this one and lost, I’d be upset as hell!
Hopefully now, other NFL teams will do more to camouflage their sideline signals. This is deplorable and I hope the NFL steps up and acts quickly on this matter so that it does not happen again.
This appeared on http://www.cbssportsline/ today:
PITTSBURGH -- Steelers coach Mike Tomlin isn't surprised a New England Patriots employee is suspected of videotaping signals by Jets coaches during Sunday's season opener.
Spying rumors in the NFL are nothing new, Tomlin said Tuesday, and he wouldn't be surprised if the allegations were true.
"Usually where there's smoke, there's fire, so those rumors are founded on something," said Tomlin, an NFL assistant coach for six years with Tampa Bay and Minnesota before being hired by Pittsburgh. "No, it's not totally shocking, no."
NFL security confiscated a video camera and tape from a Patriots employee during New England's 38-14 victory Sunday, ESPN.com reported. The employee was accused of aiming his camera at the Jets' defensive coaches as they signaled to players on the field.
Last season, the Green Bay Packers had an issue with a man wearing a Patriots staff credential who was carrying a video camera on their sideline.
Tomlin did not say he suspects the Patriots of spying -- the Steelers and New England meet on Dec. 9 -- but said all NFL coaches are aware of and protect against subterfuge.
"You hear rumors of things of that nature, but there's nothing new in terms of confirming it," he said. "It's never been confirmed in any incidence in my knowledge."
The lone first-year NFL coach to win his opener last weekend, Tomlin said the Steelers have methods to protect against spying, but he wouldn't reveal them.
"We like to keep our methods private so we can continue to be successful," Tomlin said. "We don't spend a lot of time worrying about that, but we are sharp enough to protect ourselves versus the potential of something like that happening against us.
"Really, this is nothing new. You see offensive play callers covering their mouths, that's been going on for a long time, and that's the reason that's done."
The Steelers (1-0), trying to open 2-0 for only the second time since 1999, play their home opener Sunday against Buffalo (0-1), a team dealing not only with a last-minute loss to Denver but a catastrophic injury to tight end Kevin Everett.
Everett severely injured his spinal cord and is unlikely to walk again following a helmet-to-helmet hit with Denver's Domenik Hixon during the second-half kickoff. Everett lay motionless on the field as his teammates held hands at midfield and prayed.
"Incidents like that are so much bigger than football," Tomlin said. "It's tough to deal with, I imagine, and it's sent some shockwaves around this league, not just in Buffalo. I wish that young man the very best."
Despite their situation, Tomlin doesn't expect the Bills to be any less competitive on Sunday. Buffalo led Denver 14-6 in the second half Sunday, only to lose 15-14 on Jason Elam's 42-yard field goal with one second remaining.
"I'm sure it's tough to deal with on a personal level, those things always are," Tomlin said of Everett's injury. "But those are guys are professionals, and I expect those guys to get it together from a professional standpoint and be ready to play Sunday."

Clay Nelson's Life Balance

There is an amazing life coach out there whose message has really resonated with me. His name is Clay Nelson and his Life Balance program is incredible. I got his CD the other day and listened to it, and I must say that this guy knows what he’s talking about. Nelson has a radio show, a tele-seminar series and a CD and they are all extremely successful. He uses his 30 years of experience in the corporate world to help people master the techniques he has developed. He provides businesses and individuals with his theories for helping people and organizations get what many have missing in their lives: we’re talking about things like purpose, personal and business planning, fun, effective, delegation through team management, and accountability. Clay Nelson can help you fulfill your potential and be happier – as well as richer, which everyone is interested in, am I right? I can’t recommend this guy and his program enough. When I listened to one of his workshops/coaching sessions, I laughed and learned so much. Nelson’s philosophy is easier to get your mind around and simple to implement. I have just started to do some of the things he talked about and I am already seeing the results. His system is a winner!

The Yuckfest is On!

Fergies Auctions Off a Hummer

As reported by Life On the Edge yesterday, singer Fergie is selling her gas-guzzling sport utility vehicle and has promised to donate all the proceeds to the Global Green USA organization. A lot of people are praising her for doing her part, but my question is -- if Fergie was really that concerned about the environment, why on earth did she purchase a Hummer in the first place?

More likely, she realized that she was tired of paying $85.00 to fill it up every time she drove down to Rodeo Drive and back.

The star has placed her 2005 Hummer H2 vehicle on auction website eBay, where bidding currently stands at $52,400.

The listing, which ends on September 15, reads: "After performing at Live Earth and realizing everyone has a role to play in protecting the environment, Fergie decided to sell her Hummer and donate all the proceeds to Global Green USA. Auction Cause is also donating carbon emission credits for 10 years to help offset the impact.”

Her publicist went on to say that Fergie is also going to write a new song about dolphins and has plans to go on a strict diet of tree bark and lattes. From now on, all of her undergarments will be made from recycled lingerie donated by Victoria’s Secret and all of her CD’s will be manufactured from corn husks. She has also agreed to hold her breath for six minutes a day so that others who need oxygen more than she does will get their fair share.

This sounds like a publicity stunt to me. Are you trying to tell me that Fergie just now realized that a Hummer is bad for the planet? If she really cared about the air we breathe, she would destroy the Hummer. It’s not like she needs the cash. Now she’s just putting the vehicle back into public circulation so that someone else can smog up the planet. What’s the point?

"This is Fergie's actual vehicle, and will come with a letter of authenticity from Auction Cause, the premier auction management agency," the publicist said.

I can see it now -- some pathetic pop star/player wannabe will buy it and start driving it around some small town in Nebraska, trying to pick up the opposite sex by telling them they’re driving Fergie’s old ride. And the sickest part of it all is – it will probably work!

(Portions of this article were fictionalized to make it less boring and insipid.)

I am Going Completely Postal Over Mailboxes

There are a ton of really well-built, creatively designed Mailboxes out there on the market today. You’d most likely be surprised to learn about all of the varieties that are out there. You can go with metal, wood, plastic – even silver or gold for those of you who live in places like Pacific Heights and Beverly Hills. You can really tell a lot about a person by their mailbox. It’s not just a place for the postman (or woman) to put the mail – it’s a statement about who you are and where you’re headed!

Quoizel Lighting Lights Up Your Life

Do you know what quoizel lighting is? I didn’t until just recently, but I must say that now I a huge fan of quoizel lighting. It can best be described as a beautiful form of lighting that looks as though it’s primarily European inspired. You’ve probably seen it but don’t even know it – most likely at high-end homes. Some of the better forms of quoizel lighting include Billiard fixtures, burnished copper and ombra wall sconces, and post lights from the Hillcrest collection.

The Joy of Muttville