As it turns out, Kelly knew the screenwriter for the movie, Dan Harmon, who also the creator of “Community” on NBC. She wrote Harmon a letter, explaining what Salinger was going through, and asked him to write to her daughter to try to explain why the movie was so scary. The response she received is one of the finest, most sensitive letters I’ve ever read from an adult to a child.

Harmon explains that yes, the movie is scary, and that wasn’t his intention. In fact, Harmon’s original story was changed drastically by the studio from what he wanted it to be. Why? “Because Gil Kenan is a hack and Steven Spielberg is a moron. But hey, I shouldn’t be dumping this stuff on you.” He goes on to explain that sometimes smart people see more things to be afraid of than other people, but because of that, they can also use their brains to make sense of what’s scary and help others to feel less afraid. “But we know one thing for sure: you are going to be very special while you’re doing it, and you’re going to remove a lot of fear from other people’s lives, because you’re smart enough to see it, which means you’re smart enough to conquer it.”

This is the way adults should speak to children. There’s no denial of Salinger’s feelings, or any sense of condescension. It’s just straight talk, person to person. Harmon made this girl feel validated and special for having the reaction she did. And now she knows a little bit more about what goes into making a movie, as well, and that sort of insight will serve her well throughout her life. Well done, Dan, well done.

In the above video, Ellen DeGeneres gets a sneak peek at The Wizarding World of Harry Potter, a new addition to the Universal Orlando theme park that’s set to open on June 18th. This new attraction has been in development ever since May 31, 2007, when Universal announced that it had acquired the rights to representing the franchise from Warner Brothers and J. K. Rowling, the author of the Harry Potter series.

The attraction will feature “dueling inverted roller coasters,” which sounds completely crazy and dangerous, so, awesome; a tour through Hogwarts; various in-story shops like Ollivander’s and Honeydukes and much much more. As you can see from the video, a great deal of loving attention has been applied to the environs, making sure that the look and feel of the place is just right. Parents, expect to walk out of The Wizarding World with magically empty wallets.

Ellen takes to the experience with her usual antics, guiding her two younger charges along, making quips and getting the two boys to explain various aspects of the Harry Potter experience to her. To be honest, while it all has a very nice aesthetic to it, I wasn’t exactly blown away by what the video showed. But that hardly matters; I’m not the target audience. There will be something magical for fans of the series in simply seeing their favorite world brought to reality. Will this new park do well? You can bet your snitch on it.

On March 28th, San Francisco’s Union Square was host to what seemed at first to be an impromptu “dance battle” between two young kids, a boy and a girl. As a resident of SF, I can tell you that alone, that in itself wouldn’t necessarily be considered anything unusual. As the beginning of this video shows, it’s common to find enterprising young performers on the corners and sidewalks of this city, entertaining passers-by, both locals and tourists alike, with their impressive skills.

On that day, however, witnesses were treated to something special. The two kids were joined by four more. Then another four entered the space. By that time, it became clear that this was no random event. San Francisco seems like the perfect place to hold a flash mob — a sudden gathering of people who perform an organized act, usually premeditated and organized. There’s something about this city that engenders the prankish spirit.

In this case, H&M, the Swedish clothing company, created this dance-off to promote its H&M Kids line of clothing; presumably all the children in the mob sported fashions that are purchasable from the company, though it didn’t look as though any official spokesperson showed up at the end to talk about it. This might have been a straight-to-YouTube effort, hoping for viral video-hood. If so, congratulations, H&M: it worked!

Aside from all that, did it seem that any of the dance moves were a little too racy for kids to be performing? Was it all simply good, clean fun?

Since that date, Grigsby has been fired from DeKalb on the grounds of public indecency, and contributing to the deprivation of a minor, misdemeanors for which he will stand trial this week. However, a group of parents of students are standing by the former teacher, who they say shouldn’t take the blame for actions committed by his students. “He was the ideal teacher, he helped children develop, and now that he’s not there, it’s a missing piece of the school community,” said Jassundra Barnett, mother of Jerramy, who is one of the three students who have now been charged with public indecency.

This is a thorny issue — that the “indecent” acts were performed there can be no doubt; there is video evidence to that fact. Grigsby’s lawyer contends that the teacher immediately put a stop to the proceedings when he saw how the students were behaving, but the video apparently shows otherwise. There are also the eyewitness reports who claim that the student body present were all enjoying the spectacle, and that there was no harm done.

However, it is true that a teacher is responsible for what takes place in his classroom, whether or not he is directly involved. Teenagers are constantly pushing their boundaries; it’s how they learn the “rules” of the world. It’s up to their elders to keep them in check. At the same time, the trio’s behavior was simply aping the media content they absorb all the time through television and movies, so the blame should be traced back even farther to its origin. The question ultimately becomes: was Grigsby out of line for allowing the dance to take place, and is it actually a crime?

Peeps, just in case you’re unfamiliar with the product, are a series of marshmallow candies that are shaped like different animals, and come in a variety of colors. While there are now a number of species available, the original Peeps were the chicks, hence their name. There is an entire subculture dedicated to the glory of Peeps, and a simple Google search will turn up a wide array of Web sites dedicated to the subject.

For this year’s “Peeps Show”, the Washington Post received over 1,100 entries from all over the country, with clever dioramas displaying a wide-ranging array of scenarios. One of my personal favorites is the “Where The Wild Peeps Are”, with its slightly creepy Wild Peeps and gorgeous landscape which I imagine was either clipped straight from the “Wild Things” book, or simply photocopied to preserve the tome itself.

And for sheer architectural glory, you can’t beat “Easter at the National Peep-Thedral: A House of Prayer for All Peeps”, which bases its diorama on Washington’s National Cathedral, complete with pillars and tiny pipe organ.

You can check out the top 38 entrants on the Post Web site, and marvel at the construction of the top five winners. Perhaps these dioramas will inspire you and your child to create a masterpeeps of your own!

It’s not that the guy isn’t talented; he sings well enough in the style of pop music as it exists these days. It isn’t that I’m pining for the good old days when music meant something, and we had to listen to tunes on a Cray supercomputer strapped to our backs, and we liked it that way. It isn’t even that I don’t care about young people’s culture — I have a six year old boy, and I’m really curious about what he likes and doesn’t like.

Really, it’s more that I can’t bring myself to follow the career of some lucky kid who was discovered on YouTube. His story doesn’t interest me in the least. He hasn’t exactly triumphed against all odds, or persevered in the face of mounting misfortunes, or overcome a crippling illness to reach the point at which he’s arrived. In fact, it’s exactly the opposite. Out of the thousands, maybe millions of amateur talent out there in the world who have their own YouTube videos, for some reason his got lucky. And now he’s going to make more money than he’s ever seen in one place, receive the adoration of millions of young girls and boys, and if he’s lucky, will use these experiences to achieve humility and benefit the needy. Call me cynical, but that has, historically, proven to be a longshot. But good luck to you, Justin Bieber. When I see you on the cover of People magazine, I’ll wave atcha and think I knew him when.

The kids in this video do a fantastic job with the song, creating multilayered harmonies and providing a light show to accompany the melody. However, if you’re unfamiliar with the storyline of the game, you might find the actual lyrics slightly unsettling … especially when sung by children.

For example: “I’m not even angry/I’m being so sincere right now/Even though you broke my heart and killed me/And tore me to pieces/And threw every piece into a fire”. Pretty serious-sounding stuff, isn’t it? The song ends with “I feel fantastic and I’m still alive/And while you’re dying I’ll be still alive/And when you’re dead I will be still alive”. These are ominous words coming from an antagonistic computer that you thought you’d destroyed at the end of “Portal”, but they become outright disturbing when your eight year old is singing them to you in a darkened theater.

Is this a little beyond the pale for a children’s choir? Does knowing that it’s from a video game make it better or worse?

Jesse’s mother says “It took a while to think, ‘Maybe men and women really are different from each other, and they’re both equally valuable.’ ” Contrary to what they expected, Jesse’s parents found that trying to even the playing field by refusing to acknowledge the inherent differences between the sexes simply exacerbated the issue. In fact, far from being an equalizer, such actions simply brought into greater relief the disparity already existent.

Any condemnation based on gender is simple intolerance. It’s up to the parents to foster acceptance by modeling it. This can be difficult, given that sexual discrimination still exists to varying degrees in most parts of our society. We want to tell our children that they can be anything they want to be when they grow up, and they can, but we need to also bear in mind that this is not an entirely just environment, and there is inequality. The best we can do is to lead by example — show fairness, respect the differences of others, pursue justice. If tomorrow’s adults grow up with these tenets in place, the charged political landscape might just change over time.

It isn’t known at this time what the final result will be for McMillen, other than vindication and the knowledge that a precedent has now been set for the rights of gay and lesbian teens across the country. To be sure, the ordeal hasn’t been an easy one for the teenager, who is still considering whether or not to attend a privately-held replacement prom. “I want to go because all my junior and senior class will be there,” she said, “but I don’t want to be somewhere I’m not welcomed.”

There is a silver lining to this story, however. At her appearance on the Ellen Degeneres Show, McMillen was presented with $30,000 college scholarship from digital media company Tonic. This too shall pass for Constance, and she will emerge all the better for having been tested. It’s not every day that one becomes a champion for one’s lifestyle, but she’s handling it very well, and should be proud of herself. Let’s teach our kids that it’s the grit in life that produces greatness, and that we always have the option to shrink from a challenge, or meet it head-on.

Where else will you be able to hear Los Lobos doing a mellow version of “La Bamba”? Or “The Monster Mash” by Linda Ronstadt? Or perhaps best of all, AC/DC’s Brian Johnson doing “If I Had A Hammer”? Truly, we live in an age of miracles. This is not to say that the other tracks aren’t worthy of mention — you get Donovan, Buckwheat Zydeco, Taj Mahal, Sheila E, Willie Nelson, and Ladysmith Black Mambazo in the bargain, and it’s all great stuff.

Let’s face it: music is music, no matter who it might ostensibly be “for”. My son loves They Might Be Giants just as much as I do, and not just their kids’ offerings (though those are fantastic as well). One of the best things about “Love and Peace: Greatest Hits For Kids” is the way it opens up the wide landscape of musical genres for new listeners, from the Cajun bayou to the African plains. If these songs introduce new generations to the rich catalogs of these amazing artists, then we can expect their legacies to continue to inspire the artists of tomorrow, and we will all benefit from that.

So, given that we know that Marvel is planning to tie all of these burgeoning franchises together — Robert Downey, Jr. as Tony Stark’s Iron Man will be in the Avengers movie, as will the Thor character in the upcoming movie, and of course Samuel L. Jackson as Nick Fury — it seems to go directly against their plans. Obviously, if they include the Fantastic Four at all in this connected universe, they’ll have someone else play the Torch, but it would still be kinda weird.

Also — and this is pure geekboy stuff, so be forewarned — I’ve always imagined Captain America as older, or at least seeming older. Chris Evans, though he may have some good acting chops, is still too fresh-faced for my taste. Cap needs to look like a seasoned soldier; it’s the Super Soldier serum that keeps him vital. Perhaps the best thing about Chris Evans is that he’s still relatively unknown, or at least not a huge household name, so audiences won’t be carrying a lot of expectations for him.

Parents: beware the flood of merchandising toys that will erupt when “The First Avenger: Captain America” hits! I will say, it is refreshing to have a superhero that kids can actively look at as a role model: he’s all-American, he doesn’t use guns, and he’s a firm believer in Right and Wrong. We could do worse (I’m looking at you, Wolverine)!

I don’t mean to be a naysayer, and it is good that companies like PepsiCo and Coca-Cola Co. are making these changes; every little bit helps. However, in all fairness, to truly make a significant change to the diets of kids and adults as a whole, these products should ideally be removed from shelves completely. That, of course, will never happen. Even if the leading brands were to make sweeping reforms to all of their products from here on out, some enterprising upstarts would rush in to fill the void and reap the benefits with their third-tier sugary products.

To truly raise healthy kids, we need to educate them and ourselves on what’s actually good for our bodies. We can’t expect our children to automatically gravitate towards what’s good for them unless they grow up liking those things in the first place. It’s a little ridiculous for Pepsi and others to be making these changes, though, as I don’t believe there is any expectation of health from consumption of those sugary products. A generation of people who love these snacks won’t love them any more for changes to their formulas. So really, it’s up to us to do the work and research what’s actually beneficial, and enforce proper eating habits for ourselves and our children. Who knows? We may one day find our national obesity epidemic held in check or even pushed back by our efforts. That’s a worthwhile goal to shoot for, so start today.

“Weird Al” Yankovic was a staple of my youth; helping develop my nascent sense of humor and proving that geeks have a place in society. Though I’m still jarred by his lack of mustache these days, I’m happy to see he’s managed to remain relevant and keep putting out content. To wit: the video you see above, which Al confirms is composed of actual footage from his childhood. Of course, what he doesn’t tell you up front is that he’s provided his own silly narrative to go along with it.

It’s really funny and worth the watch, but what really stood out for me were all the elements of that bygone era (“Weird Al” was born in 1959): the “water missile of death”, which only a generation tenderly unaware of the dangers of its own entertainments could have produced; elephant rides, surely a sign that PETA had not yet been formed; receiving a pack of white paper as a gift, something surely quite valuable in itself those days, and actually something I could use myself; and of course the fashions, the fashions!

A big thank you to Al, for making these great movies available. It’s important to remember where we came from to know where we’re going. It’s barely conceivable to think of trotting out my old videos 40 years from now, when surely watching anything on a simple 2D screen will seem hopelessly antiquated to my grandchildren, who will roll their eyes in disbelief and embarrassment. As tough as these times are to us, I look forward to the day when I’ll be able to look back and laugh, like “Weird Al” has. Though it may be difficult to consider, we’re living the Good Old Days right now, and if we don’t acknowledge what we have, we’ll miss it when it’s gone.

Though rumors have swirled about the production of a live-action series, neither that nor any information of a release date for this new animated series have been announced.

I remember the day my preschooler came home talking about Darth Vader. This surprised me because we hadn’t exposed him to any “Star Wars” material, deeming it a little too violent for a four year old to consume. Of course, his preschool friends had seen the movies, and would role play them. At some point, we realized that certain things are out of our control, and that we have to simply let them be. We could, however, keep “Star Wars” out of our own home.

This latest news, though, just seems like a money-hungry grab. Whether or not characters are actually shown getting shot or cut, the “Star Wars” universe features a lot of combat. Kids mimic what they see, and it seems unnecessary to give young kids a show about fighting. Though I will say it’s a fine opportunity for parents to discuss the nature of violence, both in real life and as it’s depicted in the media. All actions have consequences, and this should be stressed to our children, who may think otherwise, watching the tidy way events tend to just clean up on television. So, thanks, George Lucas, for your inadvertent help with this. Let’s hope your new show includes a little moral education as well.

For you parents who might have been decrying the lack of similarly engaging content in the digital age, we now have the opportunity to re-experience the magic on our iPhones, courtesy of ChooseCo and Magnetism Studios. The first adventure to be released is “Return to Atlantis”, by the famed CYOA scribe R. A. Montgomery. As hoped, the app is no less than a faithful recreation of the actual text, complete with illustrations. For only $0.99, one hopes that it will be successful, as we can then look forward to digital ports of the entire series.

If you haven’t ever experienced the joy of cracking one of these CYOA books, the draw is simple: at the end of each passage of narrative, the reader is asked to decide which action of two choices to take next. The reader then proceeds to the referred page, and the adventure continues. Each book has multiple endings, and the fun of guessing what comes next, and going back to choose different paths truly sparks some exciting activity in the minds of those who participate. There’s something powerful in putting into a child’s hands the ability to make decisions. There’s also a lot to be said for making concrete the idea that there are many ways that any one scenario can go, and thus, no situation, no matter how dreadful-seeming, is entirely hopeless. This can be helpful if a child is fearful of the future, because it’s easy for one’s mind to dwell only on a disastrous outcome. To live in hope is a far better way than to dwell in fear.

The problem with all of these lies is just that: they’re lies. The problem with telling a lie is that it’s likely to be discovered to be a lie sooner or later. At best, these ten lies insult the intelligence of your child; at worst, they breed fear and false hope. Another example: “Don’t worry, sweetie, that can’t happen here.” The accompanying explanation to support the lie says that we’re meant to ease the worries of our children with this lie, but what happens when the worst does happen? In this particular example, a far better thing to tell a child is that 1) the odds are against something disastrous happening, and 2) if something terrible does happen, there are ways that we know to fix/preempt it. That puts the power into the family’s hands, and turns the situation from something unstoppable into something manageable.

Look over the list yourself and think of ways to better address each particular situation than what the article advises. I guarantee you’ll find something more positive than what’s listed — and let’s hope the post is meant to be humorous.

You can read about the specifics of the games in the referring article, but what’s interesting here is the idea of actively programming against public perception of what a video game is and does, given the controversial past of the hobby. So often denigrated as a tool for teaching violence, McCullough came to the conclusion that games can actually empower youth to make valid, healthy choices instead, which is very much in-line with the concept behind the Serious Games initiative.

Most of all, I find it laudable that McCullough has spent so much time involved in this process, especially considering the barriers placed in his way right from the start. Rather than complain about and demonize games, he has recognized the potential inherent in the genre and actively worked to provide a pair of products that could benefit a great number of people, both children and adults alike. “I see games not as problem but a solution,” said McCullough, “the best solution for the dangers presented to young people today.”

“Due to the distractions to the educational process caused by recent events, the Itawamba County School District has decided to not host a prom at Itawamba Agricultural High School this year.” First of all, since when is a prom considered part of the educational process? Second of all, is it really that big a deal if two girls are dancing together? I don’t know if you’ve been a chaperone at a prom recently, but girls already tend to flock together and dance. Third of all, has anyone complained?

This is such a huge and obvious violation of a student’s rights it’s nearly unbelievable. Dan Savage, author of the referring article and famous for his column Savage Love, has taken the step of providing the names and contact information of the school’s administrative board, publishing them right in the article. He exhorts us all to “Keep it respectful, but let them hear from you (emphasis Savage’s).” The idea is to show the leaders of Itawamba Agricultural what a real distraction looks like.

Savage also points out that there is a possibility for McMillen’s safety to be in danger, as other students might blame her for the loss of their prom. This could be the beginning of something ugly. We’ll keep our eyes on it.

Depression, anxiety, and substance abuse are among the other likely results seen in adults. It’s thought that when the body undergoes a stressful situation, elements of the hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal system help regulate the body’s response. However, repeated trauma may damage this system, leading to the far-reaching effects outlined above.

As parents, we tend to forget sometimes that when we argue, the tensions can spill over and affect our children. They may be sitting in the next room, but when a certain angry tone comes to them, they tend to stop and listen. Not only is it unfair to the child to be witness to this, according to this study, it may actively harm their future selves. This shouldn’t come as a surprise, really, but a long-term research project like this one is more proof that we do not exist in a vacuum. Our children must be taken into account at all times.

When you feel yourselves on the cusp of a big public blowup, it’s helpful to ask of each other: “Does this help?” It may ease your personal stress to shout and get angry, but does it really help? Chances are that even arguments of substance can be shelved until your child is sleeping. Best yet, just learn to cope with frustration before it happens. Practice breathing. Exercise more. Anything you can do to prevent your children from future pain should be your goal at all times.

I have traditionally been against remakes of classic movies in general — my son and I recently watched the Judy Garland masterpiece, and it holds up just as well today as it ever has — taking an “if it ain’t broke, don’t fix it” approach. At the same time, there has been enough space between big-screen attempts to make the idea of a return to Oz actually kind of fresh.

One thing you encounter upon reading the Oz books is that, first of all, they’re very, very strange. They feature an odd internal logic to them that make events feel dream-like; if you recall, it’s strongly suggested that what happens in the movie version are a dream. Secondly, they’re quite a bit different than the movie was, in both tone and actual events. The broad strokes are there, of course, but there are more things in the book than made it to screen. So there is a history of strong adaptation that puts any new remake in good standing.

However, the kid in me would love to see an updated Oz, where time did not stand still and events have progressed. Such a plot would free creators from the need to maintain continuity, and thus the baggage that hardcore fans would bring to the viewing. Regardless of which gets made first – it’s possible for both or neither to occur, being Hollywood – I think the public is ready to embrace something new. Let’s face it: the studios are always trolling the past for new (old) ideas. Is there any reason why Oz shouldn’t return?

It could be said that America is obsessed with having things. We are one of the wealthiest nations on Earth, and that is the by-product of our need to own things. It’s such a powerful need, in fact, that we’ve got other countries making things for us; it’s not a local phenomenon. But for all of our focus on procurement, we spend very little time thinking about where all of these things go when we’ve lost our use for them and throw them away.

This issue is the subject of a successful viral video made by Annie Leonard entitled “The Story of Stuff”, a 21-minute long look at the chain of events that brings things into our homes, from extraction, to production, to distribution, to consumption, to disposal. The video was so successful, in fact, that it spawned a new book of the same name, in which the author details her journey of learning about how this process works, and what it’s done to the world we inhabit.

Most of us don’t consider trash after it’s been taken away by the garbage men, and because we don’t, our children won’t either. It’s up to us to take the time to learn more about the Materials Economy, how it affects our environment, and to teach that to our kids. They’re going to inherit what we’ve left behind, and they’re the ones upon whom it will fall to invent new ways to manage their world. This is not a problem that’s going to just vanish. Let’s figure it out while we still have time.

Sadly, this is the kind of world in which we have to raise our children. A seemingly casual, flippant remark, made in innocence, can easily backfire and turn the speaker into something perceived as malevolent. It’s no longer enough to say “That’s not what I meant”; we have to edit ourselves before saying anything at all.

However, we should be teaching our children this lesson anyway. If a child inadvertently hurts another’s feelings, she might say “I didn’t mean to”, but the result speaks for itself. It’s a sign that, good intentions or ill, mistakes sometimes get made. Maybe you didn’t mean to hurt someone, but you did, and now you know better. This is good for growth. We can’t expect a five year old to be aware of her strength, or limitations, or boundaries at all times. She’s learning from experience, which is the best teacher. But we can show that there are always consequences for every action, whether purposefully made or accidental. There is always room for apologies, and a genuine desire to make amends, which is, in the end, the most important issue.

That this has taken place in D.C. must surely signal a significant change in the nation’s politics regarding the human rights of homosexual citizens across the country. Though die-hard traditionalists will likely continue to bear animosity in their hearts, this is how true change occurs: slowly, but surely. The more states that transition from the past to the future, the more obvious it will become that there was never any danger or threat posed by the union of two people who share the same gender.

What this means for our children is one more barrier of acceptance removed, and one less need for an awkward attempt to explain an illogical inequity. If a child loves her mommies or daddies, she shouldn’t have to ask why they can’t be happy like other couples are. The answer to that has only ever come down to “They just can’t,” and that is no answer to tell a curious child. Let there always be reasons for our children to accept, and they will grow up knowing that there is an order to society, an order that they can understand and grow within. These children will grow wise, free from prejudice and judgment, and help shape a world that will benefit us all.

• Trying to cover his eyes every time a movie featuring gunfire suddenly popped up. Thanks to “Avatar” and “The Hurt Locker“, this became challenging. We’re trying to raise our son to be unaware of the use of firearms as much as possible. Sure, he’s been to friends’ houses where there are Nerf guns present, but he calls them “launchers”, and is (we hope) unaware of the death-dealing nature of real guns. Someday, of course, this will come to a head, but we believe by that point he’ll have developed the necessary understanding to deal with it all. But it is kind of a problem when you have something that interests a child — the cartoonish nature of the graphics of “Avatar” and “Up” combined with the serious violence of “Hurt Locker” and “District 9″.

• Explaining to my son that there are hundreds of people involved in the making of any movie, not just the people who come up to receive the award. It’s kind of a difficult process to describe, the notion that nothing of what you seen on screen is real. The people are actors, saying things written by someone else, wearing clothes designed for them, walking around an environment with some degree of artificiality — even if it’s just the lighting — right down to the people in the background who are just passing by. None of it is real. This turned out to be a great conversation, as it seemed to open to my son the idea that he too could work on a movie some day, in some capacity.

• Describing the process of selection of winners. This is a thornier issue than you might think. If you like a movie and think it should win, what does it mean when it doesn’t? Do you just have bad taste? Explaining critical thought is a toughie to a 6 year old, who has pretty strong ideas of what he likes and dislikes. And that’s even before any talk of “politics” or “favoritism”.

• Picking up on what excited my son. While he enjoyed seeing clips of movies he hadn’t seen, what really drove his attention was the constantly changing backdrop. Every time a new element would appear (what was the idea behind that wall of lamps, by the way?) he’d say “What is that?” and there wasn’t always a good explanation for him. I had to admit: as a visual phenomenon, the Oscars isn’t the best. The majority of the time is spent watching people talk, and unless you know the speaker or have a personal stake in what’s being said — neither of which can be said of my son — it’s all blah blah blah until you get to the next moving set piece or movie clip.

* Having to hurry my son out of the room when the suddenly announced tribute to horror movies appeared on screen. Thanks, Academy.

The final take away from all this for me was: Where does true value lie? If you and I disagree about the worth of a thing, are we both right or both wrong? Does it even then matter to make a judgment at all? What does it mean not to win an award of any sort? Isn’t the value in the effort, as researchers are now telling us we should emphasize to our kids? Is this idea reflected in our media? Watching the Academy Awards with my 6 year old son was more enriching than I expected it to be, and I’m happy that we did — if not for the reasons ABC hoped.

This is clearly seen by the fact that the main part of revenue for “Alice” came from theaters with 3D-enabled screens — IMAX was first place, then regular 3D screens. With the next potentially big (though maybe not in these numbers) 3D movie on its way — DreamWorks Animation’s “How to Train Your Dragon” — expect to see far more 3D content than you might even want to watch.

This is also huge news for makers of home 3D TV sets, as studios are betting big that you’ll want to carry the immersive experience of the movies home with you. What this means to you as parents is yet another device that needs feeding of batteries in the 3D glasses. Expect to lose and/or break these things, as my recollection is that they look and feel pretty flimsy. This is fine for in-theater use, as they need to be light enough to wear over an extended period, and then you just hand them to the theater’s employees, but home users might want something more sturdy for long-term viewing.

Another thing to watch for: updated versions of movies you already own. The 3D process can be added to existing content, though my understanding is that the result is a more heavy-handed approach. It looks and feels tacked-on, as opposed to integrated. Also down the road: development of a new breed of eyestrain/neurological dysfunction based on prolonged 3D glasses use. To paraphrase Michael Crichton: “Just because you can do it, doesn’t mean you should.” This 3D thing won’t go away soon, and it’s just picking up momentum. Someday we’ll be able to tell our grandkids “Back in my day, you couldn’t walk around talking with the characters! They were flat and ignored us! And we liked it that way!” If you’re still on the fence whether or not to take your kids to the new “Alice”, check out our review and don’t forget our giveaway!