Among the Hollywood types here in San Francisco for the National Conference on Volunteering and Service is actress Kerry Washington, who could not talk more passionately about her work with L’Oreal Paris’ charitable arm and the inspiration the president and Michelle Obama have been to her. Washington, a petite beauty who talks a mile a minute, worked for the Obama campaign “doing anything they’d let me do,” and she ended up campaigning in 13 states. Here in San Francisco she is supporting the Obamas’ United We Serve summer of service campaign— she was one of the personalties who spoke on stage at the opening session Monday and I caught her for a few minutes back stage— but she’s also working for L’Oreal’s Women of Worth effort to help women make the most of their talents and support women making a difference in their communities.
Arianna Huffington, founder of the web site The Huffington Post, got off a few good lines at the big session Monday. Addressing the power of the web, she said, “The internet is making collaboration more powerful. It’s now collaborate or die.” And, she said, “The misery index is soaring, so the empathy index has to soar, too.”

Photo by Joe Brier

It’s a gorgeous summer morning here in San Francisco as about 4,500 people from around the country — many of them people who have participated in USA WEEKEND’s Make A Difference Day each October — converge on the Moscone Center for the volunteering and service conference. They are here to share ideas and get inspired and have plenty of workshops and speakers to choose from, among them many CEOs. The down-turn in our economy has resulted in more focus on volunteering, that’s for certain.

I’m heading to the center in a few minutes, too, along with our Make A Difference Day editor Pam Brown, as we’ll meet with folks from the Entertainment Industry Foundation, the Corporation for National Service — which is alll about promoting the president’s summer of service idea — and our longtime partners, The Points of Light Institute, among others. (Checking in yesterday we ran into Neil Bush, former President George H.W. Bush‘s son, who is here with the Points of Light Institute.) Security is super-tight there today because Michelle Obama will be in the house by 4:30 p.m. PT. But the rest of us have to be in our seats by 3 p.m. I’ll have a spot in what they are calling “The Blog Pound,” so I’ll try to get reports out from there.

Here’s something everyone should do this weekend: Get involved with USA WEEKEND’s annual Make A Difference Day. It’s tomorrow, and you’ll be joining 3 million other people around the country making a difference in their home communities. Our staff will be working with those from other charitable groups to beautify a park in an underserved area of the District of Columbia. Surely you’ve got a few hours to volunteer your time to help better your community. Got the time but don’t know where to invest it? No problem. You can check out our projects database to see what’s going on near you – or just do a little something on your own.

Once you’ve done your good deed for the day, treat yourself to one of the many movies opening this weekend. Lorrie told you her thoughts on Changeling earlier this week (though if you’re not in one of the big cities you’ll have to wait till next week). Also among the new movies is the inescapable High School Musical franchise,  High School Musical 3: Senior Year. Our Brian Truitt’s interview with Ashley Tisdale ran in the magazine last week, along with a question: What do you think is the best movie ever set in a high school? We got lots of responses, ranging from To Sir With Love to Breakfast Club and Grease. It’s not too late to weigh in. Read and add to the posts here.

Halloween’s fast approaching, and if you haven’t carved your pumpkin yet, this is the weekend to do it. Readers are going bonkers over USA WEEKEND’s pumpkin stencil of The Joker, as he looked when Heath Ledger played him in The Dark Knight. It’s a pretty cool design, and easy to download for carving. As a superfan of The Office, though, I will carve my own Dwight o’ lantern.

In a Gossip Girl episode that ran this week, one character asked this pertinent question: Who watches TV on TV anymore? It’s true. I know I’m falling into that habit of watching TV fare online. In fact, I’ll be checking out the premiere episode of the CW’s Stylista, a new reality show that pits fashion-loving contestants against each other to win a year-long editorial position at Elle magazine, on my Mac sometime this weekend. One of the contestants, Johanna (that’s her, at right), was a fashion blogger here in DC. She actually answered a question for me about what to wear to the Kennedy Center Honors last year (yes, you can wear a short dress to the very black-tie event), so I’ll be rooting for her.

Speaking of watching TV online, NBC has made the season premiere of 30 Rock , not airing until next Thursday, available online. I had to watch — it’s my job! — but I probably would have anyways, considering that I still snoop for Christmas presents hidden in my parents’ closet. If you’re as impatient as I am, you can watch the episode below. Highlights include Will Arnett back as foil to Alec Baldwin and Megan Mullally has a hilarious guest appearance.

30 Rock’s premiere was pushed back from an earlier October airing because NBC decided that Saturday Night Live is so hot again (last weekend’s show with Sarah Palin was watched by 15 million people) that it needed to do an extra Weekend Update edition through the election season in 30 Rock‘s Thursday night slot. And, of course, Fey’s performance as Palin has made her the new “it” girl of television. I was supposed to talk to Fey this morning on a conference call to promote the show but it got canceled for “production” reasons. Maybe next week.

(photo by Jim DeYonker/The CW)