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Taking a car trip just isn’t the same as it used to be, it’s far better- especially for kids these days.  It used to take a few generations for the old folks to look back and say how good these darn kids have it these days.  With more and more neat toys and gadgets coming out every day to entertain and improve the lives of children, now that window has shrunk down to basically anyone over the age of twenty.  From roller skates that pop out of sneakers, to portable gaming systems that make the Gameboy look like a pocket calculator, kids really are having all the fun.  One of the biggest injustices, however, to the 20-and-up age bracket has to be the idea of putting a DVD player into the vehicle for those long, dull car rides.  When some of us were young the best things there were to do were to count license plates, or squabble with siblings.  Today, kids can get in an in-flight movie while lounging and snacking comfortably in the backseat.  That’s just plain unfair.  Those of us who were stuck crammed into the back with little more than the countryside for entertainment may still be pouting about it.  Revolutionizing the concept of the family vacation, there’s no doubt that in-vehicle DVD systems are here to stay, and likely to become increasingly standardized in new vehicles.

As if it wasn’t lucky enough to have the ability to watch movies and videos, and even hook up gaming systems on the go, the convenience of mobile movies is about to get even better.  The latest new toy comes with the advent of 4G wireless internet technology, the next generation in internet technology which will allow us to access high speed mobile broadband internet anytime, anywhere, including on-the-go.  While the implications of this are far reaching, as mobile entertainment goes, it means kids will not only be able to download movies, songs and videos to pass the time, but get online to play games, stay in touch with friends, or even, dare I say, do homework assignments.  When it comes to being trapped in a vehicle for more than a few hours, every family knows that the situation can sometimes be described as challenging or trying, but with all the conveniences of the internet that is used at home, brought to you by mobile WiMax, it’s hard to complain.

While the kiddies may find WiMax wireless internet great for entertainment, adults find it ideal for not only trip planning, but staying in touch with family or the office while on the go.  For those having a hard time making the balance between family time and office time, it’s an opportunity to get ahead while on the move.  With mobile broadband speeds it is possible to download and upload large files easily, making working a reality that doesn’t exist with current 3G technology devices.  Instead of waiting for the WiFi connection in the hotel’s business center, get that last report done on the way, or even take your computer to the pool.  With the convenience of a mobile air card or WiMax ready machine, the internet now exists everywhere.

With the film “Milk” just off a win for two Oscars, the Harvey Milk School in New York City is enjoying a resurgence of sorts in the media. Another legacy to the slain gay activist’s honor is the high school established in New York 25 years ago by the Hetrick-Martin Institute to serve gay, lesbian and transgendered students. The school is unique in the city (if not in the world) as 25 percent of its students are transgendered – people who are born of one gender but identify with the other.

Enter 27-year-old drag queen Ryan Ong Palao, who’s currently a contestant on “RuPaul Drag Race” on the LOGO network, and better known to “Drag Race” viewers as “Ongina.” I caught up on episodes of the series this weekend and watched as Ongina won the MAC Viva Glam challenge, where the makeup company asked the queens to deliver a 30-second spot for the MAC line.

When Ong won the challenge, she collapsed into sobs on the runway and shared with the panel, fellow contestants and the world that she has been living with HIV for two years but has been too afraid to tell anyone. The confession was moving for anyone who witnessed it. RuPaul herself was crying profusely as the competition came to a sudden stop. I shed a few tears myself as Ongina pulled herself and her fabulous outfit back together and walked eloquently to the back of the stage.

Meanwhile, the Harvey Milk School has faced challenges of its own. With a drop in government and private funds, Hetrick-Martin has released 20 percent of its workforce and eliminated services it once provided to the Milk School. Increased demand for services to gay youth in New York has strained funds even more.

Last week, new MAC spokes-queen Ongina walked into the Harvey Milk School with a check for $25,000, compliments of the make-up company (which generously provides funding to HIV/AIDS organizations). The staff and students met Ongina and accepted the much-needed donation while asking her questions about her drag queen experiences, and sought her makeup and costuming tips.

Ongina could relate to the kids she faced. Ong himself faced harassment while attending high school in Washington State and told the New York Times that he would have appreciated a “school that provided me as much of an education as a comfort zone.”

It may have taken her 10 years, but it looks like Ongina found that school and comfort zone – with plenty of people to inspire along the way. Now, back to the drag races.