The Alias Guide to Parenting

by Britta Colemanon Alias

Some fans watch Alias for the show’s stunning plot twists and international conspiracies. Others relish the campy soap aspect of Sydney’s world–the rubber masks, funky gadgets and odds-defying rescues. And some, to be quite honest, are in it for the leather pants. As for me, I’m all about the family values. As a parenting columnist, fiction author and overworked mother of two, I look for life lessons wherever I can. From the first episode, when Jack Bristow handed Sydney the product-placement Nokia phone and inducted his daughter into her new life as a double agent, well, it had me at hello.

Who’s got time to read Spock when there are perfectly applicable examples from television’s most intelligent, dysfunctional and far-flung family?

I wouldn’t go so far as to say that everything I know about raising kids I learned on Alias. But I will confess the things I’ve seen in my favorite hour … read more»

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Resilience with a Dragon Tattoo

by Pamela Rutledge, Ph.D.on the Millennium Trilogy

As soon as we step into her world, Lisbeth Salander challenges our sense of social norms, often to the point of discomfort and frustration. Her black lipstick, tattoos, and body piercings send out a clear message: “Keep your distance; visitors not welcome.” Her demeanor and presentation are defiant and withdrawn, … read more»

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"I Knew Julius No. Julius No was a friend of mine. Osama you are no Dr. No."

by Raelynn Hillhouseon James Bond

Dear Mr. bin Laden,

We have been following your career with great interest, but you see, Mr. bin Laden, we are concerned that you will never become a world-class villain like ourselves. Face it, you wear a dress; you live in a cave and–we will try to put this delicately–you lack … read more»

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"English, Doc, English"

by Jennifer Parkson NYPD Blue

Essay excerpt to come!

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How the Inheritance Cycle Differs from Fantasy Epics in the Past

by Ian Irvineon the Inheritance series (Eragon)

Late in the twentieth century the world definitively entered the third age of storytelling, and this is changing the way some new authors tell stories, and how young audiences view them. Paolini’s Inheritance Cycle reflects this transition. The first age, oral storytelling, began with tales told around the campfires of … read more»