https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GmOzih6I1zsWhat is Bitcoin Mining? Have you ever wondered how Bitcoin is generated? This short video is an animated introduction to Bitcoin Mining.
Might help, more people should watch it

Cute video - although at this stage, I'm not sure I'd want BFL products to be representative of the ASICs

It does a fair enough job explaining mining, and even how coins are generated. It would be nice if it discussed the transaction fees, and the limited total number of coins to ever be produced - unlike governments who can print fiat at will.