Is your family ignoring each other?

Chris McGinn posted a new blog on Digital Landing. Read about a study on family interaction, and how technology may be the reason in the change.

A new report suggests that families are spending less time interacting and technology may be to blame.

The study by the Annenberg Center for the Digital Future at the University of Southern California polled 2,030 people ages 12 and up, found that

“28 percent of Americans it interviewed last year said they have been spending less time with members of their households. That’s nearly triple the 11 percent who said that in 2006.”

The study didn’t blame Internet social networking sites but the change has coincided with the rise of sites like Twitter and Facebook.

Of course, I know families who feel better connected because of technology and many parents who find texting with their children a great way to stay in touch with their day-to-day life.

What do you think? Has technology made your family spend less time together or more?

Feeling adventurous?

Chris McGinn posted a blog on Digital Landing! Read about how you can learn to cook foreign foods at home.

OK so maybe you can’t afford to travel around the world, but you can eat around the world from home with Destination Dinners.

This innovative company will send you a package with the authentic spices and sauces needed to cook up to four servings of international dishes such as

In addition each kit includes a shopping list for fresh ingredients, cooking instructions and cultural information about the place the recipe is from.

Current destinations include:

New Orleans, USA Creole Style Jambalaya

Boston Beach, Jamaica — Jerk Chicken & Shrimp Barbecue

Beirut, Lebanon — Kibbeh bil-Saneeyeh, Baked Spiced Lamb

Haifa, Israel — Falafel with Hellfire Harissa Sauce and Chickpea Croquets with Hot Sauce

Kyoto, Japan — Saikyo Miso, Black Cod in Miso Marinade

Tokyo, Japan — Katsudon, Pork Cutlet and Egg Rice Bowl

Dhaka, Bangladesh — Chicken Garam Masala, Chicken with Warming Spices

Bangkok, Thailand — Khao Ob Sapparod, Baked Pineapple Rice with Chicken and Cashews

Ayutthaya, Thailand — Kaeng Khiaw-Waan Kai and Kanom Tuay Foo, Green Chicken Curry with Puffy Cups

Seoul, South Korea — Bulgogi, Marinated Fire Meat

Destination Dinners recipe kits are $25 and are currently only sold online.

Cozi adds new features

Chris McGinn posted a new blog up on Digital Landing. Read about Cozi, the online planner that's quite useful for family planning.

In September I highlighted Cozi–an online planner for families on the go. They have recently added a few new features.

• printable grocery coupons
• mobile access
• add your family calendar to your Google Desktop

With the new year just around the bend, now might be a good time to start using it to keep everyone’s schedules in sync and more.

Google Flu Trends

Chris McGinn posted a blog on Digital Landing about how Google can be used to track flu trends.

I think we are just beginning to touch the power of Google. I heard a report on the radio a few months ago about the massive amounts of data that Google processes daily and what could be learned from it. Now it is starting to make small steps into reality.

Enter Google Flu Trends. Google did an experiment tracking the rise in flu-related search terms and compared to it to CDC tracking reports. The results were strikingly accurate. Not only that–they were 2 weeks ahead of CDC reporting. The idea is that the number of people searching for flu-related articles and information correlates with people who actually have flu or flu-like illness.

Flu Trends is part of Google.org’s Predict and Prevent initiative to support efforts to :

“identify hotspots where new infectious diseases may emerge, detect new pathogens and outbreaks earlier, and respond quickly to prevent local threats from becoming global crises. “

Now you can use Google’s power to keep an eye on flu trends in your state so you can keep you and your family healthier.