What is the Jensen Project? I’m not sure. I know it has something to do with Family Movie Night. I can totally stand behind any force to get families together…eating dinner together, family game night, etc. The writeup sounds as though it is right up my alley.

Here’s what I know…

The Jensen Project is on July 16 at 8/7c. To follow the conversation plus follow tweets about the show use hashtag #jensenproject.

About the Film
The world is hanging by a string. Can this family pull it together?

After a 16-year absence, Claire and Matt Thompson are reintroduced to The Jensen Project — a secret community of geniuses conducting advanced underground research to solve the world’s most difficult problems. The former scientists, accompanied by their tech-minded teenage son Brody, are thrust into a frantic pursuit to keep a potentially dangerous technology from falling into the wrong hands. As the family races against the clock to stop the group’s rogue faction, they discover an important truth. In this high-pressure, high-tech world, sometimes the smartest thing we can do is lean on each other.

I had the unbelievable good fortune to win a laptop computer. I was thrilled not only to win, but to try out a new type of computer.

The litl is a computer that is simple to use. Now, how often do you see the word “simple” and “computer” in the same sentence? Never, right?

Once I arrived home from the brand/blogger gathering I unpacked the computer. I was surprised at how light (weighs about 3.5 ibs) and thin the litl is. I pressed the button on the side to turn the computer on. The first screen asked me to select a wireless network. No modem or wires or cables needed — only wireless.

The second screen showed a series of boxes. Some are preset — weather, clock, and media. I got to work adding my own boxes to the litl. First up e-mail. I typed my e-mail host in to the search box at the top, hit Enter, and my e-mail popped up. I saved the box so that I can check my e-mail each time. I played around with starting and deleting and rearranging the boxes on the screen. Next up I added boxes for the kids…PBSKids, Webkinz, and Yoursphere. Facebook for Coach Dad and me.

No more Windows with folders and subdirectories on top of other folders and yet more directories jamming the screen. Can you say clutter? My laptop AND desktop computer screens (and hard drives for that matter) are a cluttered jumbled mess. And just try getting rid of a Windows folder or a program…another mess!

The litl does not have a harddrive. Everything you need is stored on the internet. There is no CD or DVD drive only a USB port, a place to plug in an HDMI cable, and a power button. No software to install, either.

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From the litl website, here’s a description of the litl:

We love the web. It’s full of useful stuff, and it’s a great way to connect with friends and family. But we hate computers. At least the mainstream ones that we’ve been using. They’re unnecessarily complex for everyday tasks like browsing and checking email. So we hit the reset button by designing a first-of-its-kind computer that lets you enjoy the web without worrying about anything else.

With the webbook, you can do everything you can normally do with a web browser, and you can use the litl’s apps for a new way to experience the Internet. Carry the webbook around the house to

• Watch your favorite TV shows and movies
• Listen to music, talk radio, and podcasts
• Check email, news, and weather
• View and share photos
• Look up and use new recipes

We also flipped traditional hardware design on its head to make it easier to use. You can bend the webbook over into an easel for a more TV-like viewing experience. When you’re not actively using it, set the webbook on your desk, or counter to stream news headlines and photos. You can even connect it to a big-screen TV.

Best of all, we built the webbook as a computer without all the computery stuff – it just works. We packed the webbook with intuitive software that takes care of all maintenance, automatically and free of charge.

How does it work?

Using wifi, the webbook accesses all your content over the Internet — that means that you store your documents, music, emails, and photos, online where you can access them from the webbook or any other computer. No more worrying about hard drive crashes and data recovery — let your web services handle that for you.

You’ll also never see a pop-up about your virus protection being out of date, or a missing security patch required. The webbook automatically takes care of system updates, patches, and virus protection and even sends you new features and upgrades. Just leave your webbook plugged in overnight, and we do the rest.

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Oooo, I almost forgot! I have a deal for you to use to get your own litl computer! Go to litl.com/momdeal by July 1, 2010, to get $100 off a litl webbook! Oh and did I mention that the litl deal includes FREE shipping and a FREE remote!

I was invited to attend the Silicon Valley Moms Blog Brand/Blogger Symposium. I won a litl as part of a drawing. The views expressed in this article are my own.

Well, yes I did. My burning question? Who is Chef Jesse? Jesse who? I know! I saw Chef Jesse on Private Chefs of Beverly Hills. I watch way toooo much reality TV. I DVR. I watch. I channel surf. It is my release after writing posts, etc. I CANNOT watch TV and write at the same time. Multitasking is not my strong suit.

As I watched the episode where Jesse and his co-chef cook a three-course meal for dogs and their owners, I was consumed with the thought that I had seen Jesse before. Yes…the chefs cooked gourmet hamburgers for a group of over privileged dogs. But where had I see Jesse before?

I was stumped. I ran through the list of suspects. Was he on the Kardashians…that show with Flavor Flav…American Idol?? Grabbing at straws here, people.

IMDB to the rescue. Jesse was on Workout. Do you remember Workout? The exercise fitness show with Jackie Warner…she was the very scary, blonde-haired boss who called clients to see why there weren’t at the club exercising. Remind me not to join her club!

Jesse was one of the trainers on the show. So how do you make the switch from trainer to chef. Is it a reality show thing where actors audition for reality shows…any kind of reality sh0w? Are the actors hired for the show based on their acting rather than skills? A kind of jack-of-all-reality show actor? Sounds like it to me.

Oh and for even more trivia…Chef Brian on the Private Chefs of Beverly Hills? He was on Top Chef in 2006 for one episode. Now, that makes more sense to me to move from Top Chef to a cooking show, but to move from a fitness show to a cooking show sounds like a stretch to me. Oh and I found out that Chef Brian owns Comfort Truck – a mobile catering business in LA. Comfort Truck is on twitter, too.

I saw the tweets. I love the blonde-haired cheerleader coach from all the Christopher Guest movies. I don’t watch network TV live. I occasionally watch if I DVR it, but often the shows I DVR are more likely to be found on the Discovery Channel or Bravo or A&E. I’m an Intervention and Hoarders and Hoarders: Buried Alive devotee.

After watching part of one episode of Glee I am hooked. So are my girls. I discovered both are watching Glee on Hulu.com. How funny is that? I — the socially media, internet connected mom that I am — thought that hulu was a paid service. The tween and teen schooled me!

Here’s a clip from Glee:

Speaking of Glee… 5 Minutes for Mom and Dove are hosting a twitter party for Glee and the new Dove line of hair care products. The Dove Twitter party for Glee will be Wednesday, May 5th from 7:00-8:30 PM EST. The party will be a chance to celebrate why beautiful hair makes Dove and Glee fans want to sing! The launch of new, reinvented Dove Hair Care with a chance to win sold out Glee Tour tickets, have questions answered by cast member Lea Michele, and other great Dove Hair and Glee prizes.

The part will be on Twitter, using the #dovegleeforall hashtag. Follow @5MinutesforMom, @Dove,  and @Rocket_XL.

RSVP at 5 Minutes for Mom.

Glee Tour Dates

Phoenix
May 15th — 7:30pm
May 16th — 11:30am

Los Angeles
May 20th — 8:00pm
May 21st — 8:00pm
May 22nd — 2:00pm
May 22nd — 8:00pm

Chicago
May 25th — 7:30pm
May 26th — 7:30pm

New York City
May 28th — 8:00pm
May 29th — 3:00pm
May 29th — 8:00pm
May 30th — 3:00pm
May 30th — 8:00pm

I was not compensated for this post. I am promoting the site as a 5MinutesforMom reader and new Glee watcher!

My son loves Handy Manny. Disney has been a source of great entertainment for all my kids when they were in preschool. My oldest was a lover of Little Mermaid. The middle daughter was in love with Bear and the Big Blue House. My kids all love Mickey Mouse Clubhouse.

Handy Manny is a show where everyone has to do his/her fairshare. Manny is a handyman. He takes on fix-it jobs for everyone in the town. Manny could not do his job alone. He needs the help of the tools. The tools are his best friends.

Let’s see if I can remember the names of the tools: Tap is the hammer, and uh…uh… Well, here’s the list per my son with a little help from Wikianswers:

• Pat, the hammer
• Dusty, the saw
• Stretch, the tape measure
• Felipe, the Phillips head screwdriver (the yellow one)
• Turner, the flat head screwdriver (the blue one)
• Squeeze, the pliers
• Rusty, the wrench
• Flicker, the flashlight

Disney has a new primetime show featuring Handy Manny and the tools. The show will air on Saturday, March 20 at 7 p.m. on Disney.

Check out these links for a sneak peak at Handy Manny Big Race.

Sneak Peak of Handy Manny Big Race

Manny’s Pit Stop Shop online game

Facebook Page

Tune in tomorrow night at 7 p.m. EST, I know my son and I will be watching!

I wrote this review while participating in a blog campaign by Mom Central on behalf of Playhouse Disney. Mom Central sent me a gift card to thank me for taking the time to participate.

I tweet in a frenzied fashion. Sometimes I live blog the episode. Other times I tweet about my likes and dislikes. I tweeted once about how I thought Sonny should go to jail for the crimes he has committed. To me it was my honest opinion.

Uh no…apparently #ghmoms love Sonny. I did not expect such a backlash from a couple of fellow #ghmoms. One said “There would be no show without Sonny.” The other said “Sonny is the show.”

I know what I am like and I am all about people getting their comeuppance. Sonny is a bully. Sonny is a mobster. Sonny gets everyone to do his dirty work. Carly, Robin, his daughter, and others on the show bend to his whims. My lingering thought is what would the show be like without Sonny?

Now, I have to let you know that I am a General Hospital DVR watcher. In fact, in the dim, dark ages I was a General Hospital VCR watcher. Anyone remember VCR? Am I that old? I certainly don’t feel that old. I’m not old, right??

Moving on. You would think that I would avoid reading the tweets in my tweet deck #ghmoms columns. Far from spoiling my enjoyment of that night’s General Hospital, the tweets pique my interest. I’ll read what Holly has to say about the Sonny/Dante drama. I’ll ponder and cogitate and mull over what I think happened.

Later in the evening, I will badger my husband to turn General Hospital on. For years, he has been the watcher. He is steadfast and true. I have seasons where I come and go. As quick as a flash, my wavering interest turns in to a full-blown obsession with all that is happening in Port Charles.

I am a participant in a Mom Central campaign for ABC Daytime and will receive a tote bag or other General Hospital branded items to facilitate my review.

This week on The View Sherri Shepherd took a brief moment to talk about her friend from CSI(?)…I think. He suffers from a kidney disease. March 11th was National Kidney Day. Sherri told the audience that in Israel if you sign on to be an organ donor you and your family can move to the top of the transplant list. Would this incentive work in the U.S.?

I enjoy the Hot Topics. Today the ladies discusses Rielle Hunter and her affair with John Edwards. Apparently on yesterday’s show, the ladies showed a magazine layout with Rielle and a bunch of stuffed animals. Today a statement was read from a representative from the Stuffed Animal Rescue organization. The SARO object to the use of stuffed animals in the photo with Rielle. Ha! I love this kind of humor.

I am a participant in a Mom Central campaign for ABC Daytime and will receive a tote bag or other The View branded items to facilitate my review.

These two are simply too young to be so intimate. I do not know how I would handle hearing that one of my children was having sex in high school. If sex in high school isn’t troubling enough, how about a boy physically assaulting a girl. Yikes and double yikes.

Abuse is another issue I would hope one of my children would never have to face in a partner. I know that I would not/will not tolerate abuse of any kind. Can you imagine wondering when your partner will decide to hit you? I know the Christina-Kiefer storyline needs to be told. For me seeing Christina with a bulging bruised eye and face was terrifying.

On a lighter note. Any scenes with the younger actors pique my curiosity. I don’t know how they do, but General Hospital casting directors have a knack for choosing young actors who can act and somewhat resemble their TV parents. It’s uncanny, how much Christina looks like Sonny.

I am a participant in a Mom Central campaign for ABC Daytime and will receive a tote bag or other General Hospital branded items to facilitate my review.

Did you miss today’s The View? Tune in here to watch episodes.

MONDAY, MARCH 8 – The day after the Oscars!!  It Isn’t over till the co-hosts have spoken! Guest co-host Vanessa Williams (“ABC’s Ugly Betty”); Day of “Hot Topics”; co-host Sherri Shepherd will Skype live from Hollywood post-Academy Awards and share her Oscar experience; Chris Cuomo breaks down crimes in the headlines. First time musical guests – Lady Antebellum perform

TUESDAY, MARCH 9 – Guests -Andy Garcia and his daughter Dominik Garcia-Lorido (“City Island”); Elissa Stein and Susan Kim (author, Flow: The Cultural Story of Menstruation).

WEDNESDAY, MARCH 10 – Guests: Forest Whitaker (“Our Family Wedding”); Jesse Ventura (author, American Conspiracies). I know that Forrest Whittaker is now a serious actor, but I loved him in Good Morning, Vietnam!

THURSDAY, MARCH 11 – Sir Elton John will be sitting with the women at the table and partaking in “Hot Topics”; Guest – Eric McCormack (“Who Is Clark Rockefeller?”).

FRIDAY, MARCH 12 – Co-Host Kate Gosselin is back and will join the women and the return of “The View: Fashion Friday” with designer Carolina Herrera. Will Kate have the long tresses or the short do? Tune in to see!

Oh and I almost forgot I have a special giveaway for Musings from Me readers! Later this month The View ladies will be showcasing new The View Spring Coffee Mugs. I have one for a lucky Musings from Me reader! Leave me a comment. I will pick the winner.

• Who would make a fantastic The View guest host? Leave a comment for a chance to win a The View Spring Coffee Mug.

Giveaway ends March 14, 2010 at 11:59 a.m. This giveaway is open to U.S. residents only. I am a participant in a Mom Central campaign for ABC Daytime and will receive a tote bag or other The View branded items to facilitate my review.

What are you doing Thursday? Do you have plans for Thursday night at 11 p.m.? Scratch them! Why? The Real Housewives of New York City are back, that’s why!

Apologies to Jill and Bethenny who are cut off in this photo!

What’s not to love about all the Real Housewives shows?

Oh my, where do I begin?? I have watched the Real Housewives since OC with Vicki, Jeanna, and Laurie. Do you remember Slade? I follow the shows. Rewatch episodes. I miss Jeanna and Laurie. Do you remember Laurie’s lavish wedding? I am learning to tolerate Gretchen and Tamra. The jury is out on showy Alexis.

From the OC ladies, I jumped in to real Housewives of NYC. Now, the NYC are classier than the OC ladies, right? RHNYC has a countess, a highly mobile socialite (Jill), a young married metrosexual couple (Alex and Simon), and a small business owner (Ramona). These ladies may attend star studded galas and be written up in the New York social register and the dailies, but really underneath the botox, the white teeth, and the money, the RHNYC ladies are out to get each other in a nice way of course. What is not to like about Jill’s over-the-top apartment makeover with numerous footstools and wall hangings? Who wouldn’t feel slighted to attend a party at someone’s house where the host ever shows up?

The New Jersey Housewives are a family. 3 or 4 of the housewives are related by marriage. Who does not love a family drama? There is in-fighting, tantrums, table tipping, and accusations. The reunion show was not so much a show as a cage match held in check by Andy Cohen. Andy Cohen is the host who can controls these ladies!

On to Atlanta. I love the Atlanta ladies. Sheree is the fashionista. Although I did feel sorry for her when Dwight, the “honorary” housewife, proclaimed Sheree’s collection unique and tacky. Ouch. Ne Ne is on twitter — gotta love a twitterite. Jill (@JillZarin) is on twitter, too! I like the way sports and fitness are incorporated in to the show. Ne Ne and Sheree went running. Lisa is married to an NFL player.

In a paragraph all by herself — as she should be — is Kim. Kim Zolciak is a uniquely ambitious Housewife who has a secretive relationship with Big Papa. Is this the season when we will find out who Big Papa is? My money is on an owner of one of the sports teams. And then there is the wig. My goodness! Or should I say WIGS!