Kids and violent TV, violent TV and violence, violence and kids. The only people missing from this discussion are the parents. Where are we? Gone. Abdicated.

However, there will be a Republican Party platform that will coalesce around their convention. Unless I miss my guess, it will be considerably more conservative on these issues, perhaps even than Governor Romney is, and I think that that will give Americans a clear set of choices about all issues, but about women's issues too.

Downtime is where we become ourselves, looking into the middle distance, kicking at the curb, lying on the grass or sitting on the stoop and staring at the tedious blue of the summer sky. I don't believe you can write poetry, or compose music, or become an actor without downtime, and plenty of it, a hiatus that passes for boredom but is really the quiet moving of the wheels inside that fuel creativity.

I can't think of anything to write about except families. They are a metaphor for every other part of society.

All parents should be aware that when they mock or curse gay people, they may be mocking or cursing their own child.

I was doing the family grocery shopping accompanied by two children, an event I hope to see included in the Olympics in the near future.

When an actress takes off her clothes onscreen but a nursing mother is told to leave, what message do we send about the roles of women?