With all the news of droughts throughout the United States, Ken Burns’ “THE DUST BOWL” will grab your attention.

The show chronicles years of disastrous dust storms that forced people to leave their homes and farms.  Burns interviews 26 survivors and shares photographs and rare movie footage.

You can join Ken Burns for a live YouTube discussion about ‘The Dust Bowl’ Nov. 15 at 2 p.m. ET. Submit your questions on Twitter using #DustBowlPBS  and watch live at  www.youtube.com/pbs

The program premieres this weekend — Nov. 18 and 19 from 8–10 p.m. on PBS affiliate WQLN-TV.

Pam Parker is the editor of Lake Erie LifeStyle, Her Times and House to Home at the Erie Times-News in Erie, Pa.

I love Halloween as much as kids, and I already started decorating. Here are some of my favorite things:

Last year a video of  a house decked out for Halloween hit Youtube. See it here. The house lights up to the Party Rock Anthem by LMFAO, who happens to be a huge fan of women’s tennis. It appeared in the UK version of the Sun. The video went viral last year.

This may look like a typical jack o’ lantern, at left, but it has two faces — one on each side of the pumpkin, and it takes on some wild motion. Watch the video here.  It’s $49, motion-activated and battery operated. From grandinroad.com.

I’m not into the really spooky, gory stuff — just the fun  stuff including creepy looking hands — must be from growing up watching The Addams family and Thing.  And finally, here’s a goodie, but my husband won’t let me have this $279 beast in front of the house.  This ghoulish pumpkin carriage driven by a wicked ghoul has to capture attention. 

Time to crank up “Monster Mash,” and add a few more hands to the decorating staff.

Pam Parker is the editor of Lake Erie LifeStyle, Her Times and House to Home at the Erie Times-News in Erie, Pa.

James Conner, right. Photo from goerie.com

Even if your son or daughter isn’t an athlete, you need to read this terrific story by John Dudley. It explores the importance of postings via text message, Facebook and Twitter. Kids need constant reminders that what they post can be seen, forwarded, copied and pasted all over the Internet. James Conner, a McDowell senior, and one of the most recruited local athletes, learned the power of social media. If you Google his name, more than 10 pages of listings come up with multiple Youtube, ESPN, and Yahoo listings. Most schools don’t dictate social media policies, but Oil City does. Here’s a quote from Dudley’s article

“Social media policy

Oil City’s policy on social media, as stated in the district’s athletic policy manual:

- “I understand that it is my responsibility to not use any form of social media (text messages, Facebook, Twitter, Skype, etc.) to be critical of teammates, coaches, game officials, school administrators, opponents, opposing schools, or any other personnel involved in the athletic program. Furthermore, I understand that a violation of this policy could be cause for suspension from or removal from the team.”

James Conner photo by Josh Barber, Erie Times-News

Conner rushed for 246 yards on only eight carries Saturday in a 49-20 victory over Lancaster Catholic. He scored three touchdowns and is committed to the University of Pittsburgh for 2013.

To follow all the regional football games live on Friday nights, check out the live Erie Times-News Varsity blog — just click here. To see Conner and the McDowell Trojans in action, check them out Friday, Sept. 21 at home against St. Ignatius (Cleveland, OH); Friday, Sept. 28 against St. Edward (Lakewood, OH); and Friday, Oct. 5 @ Cathedral Prep (Erie, PA).

You can also listen live to the McDowell games — click here for the school’s Internet broadcasts of the games.

Pam Parker is the daughter of the late famed football coach Walt Strosser, the wife of football coach Kim Parker, and the mom and stepmom of five former football players. She is the editor of Lake Erie LifeStyle, Her Times and House to Home at the Erie Times-News in Erie, Pa.