First things first: the death of Jett Travolta is a tragedy, a terrible, terrible tragedy. And it seems, I don't know, wrong, somehow, to interrogate the circumstances of such a tragedy, to try to locate the cause of such a tragedy or place responsibility for it when, really, we should all just be bowing our heads and thanking the gods that such tragedy did strike our own lives.

Once upon time, not so very long ago, carrying a water bottle around with you was a sign of good health and - by extension, because healthy people are usually assumed to be environmentally sensitive - green consciousness. It showed that you valued water! It showed that you valued water enough to pay for it instead of just drawing it from your tap! It showed that you were the sort of person who needed to have water at her side at all times! Now, of course, it just shows that you're way behind the times, or, at least, terribly misinformed about water and plastic.

My most memorable family-related Christmas disaster came courtesy of my mother-in-law, the very first year that my husband and I were married. She flew across the country to spend the holidays with us, and then proceeded to spend the entirety of her stay reminding me that I was in no way caring for my husband adequately. The nadir of whole experience came Christmas Day, after I had spent the day slaving over a turkey dinner. I had set the table, put out the food, poured champagne into everyone’s glasses and invited my mother-in-law to toast the meal. Which she did.

I have to admit: when I first saw that 20/20 is going to feature a documentary on orgasm during childbirth, I rolled my eyes. Waaaay back in my head.

I've said it before and I'll say it again: the blogging community can be a lifesaving resource for new moms (and soon-to-be-moms and been-there-done-that moms and everyone in between and beyond.) That's my Internet - a community of caring peers who are always there to provided support and caring and practical help. But what about the Internet that stood by and watched a young man broadcast his suicide on YouTube? What is it that separates the nurturing Internets from the ones that scream 'jump! jump!' at a young man on a virtual ledge?