tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-73989638598200806382024-02-06T21:00:19.370-05:00Coffee Will Make You BlackE.http://www.blogger.com/profile/07509313799340626865noreply@blogger.comBlogger76125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7398963859820080638.post-66903526599765633012008-12-17T09:33:00.003-05:002008-12-17T09:45:21.288-05:00I used to be really cool but now..I generally suck..I have not updated either of my blogs in.....forever and a sunday. I know.I've just been so 'motivated not to be motivated' if that makes any sense. I've had so much on my mind and heart lately that instead of it all spilling out onto my blog...it's kinda just been stuck in the bottom of the bottle like the last drops of maple syrup. My intentions have been nothing but good. I've sat in front of my online journals and dared myself to blog, I've gone into the office upstairs pulled out my screenplay and dared myself to write..and ...nothing. How do I get out of this funk?E.http://www.blogger.com/profile/07509313799340626865noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7398963859820080638.post-73501522566940779052008-09-09T09:01:00.004-04:002008-09-09T09:26:53.304-04:00I feel bad...<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhyHljd8Mk9URmSTYxxFzSdTfDbvQ69J8n71vTlyHMprIrWKq9MslEr273zTXC6dmBsfqo-SAvuFc-imxEYWBH1Uu56iMKn8sb0Y78SygrJW2WYQc-L_x3tlc73dznPxNmmou6aFr4QuvE/s1600-h/jessica_simpson_john_gra_4_big.preview"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5244007502599069730" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhyHljd8Mk9URmSTYxxFzSdTfDbvQ69J8n71vTlyHMprIrWKq9MslEr273zTXC6dmBsfqo-SAvuFc-imxEYWBH1Uu56iMKn8sb0Y78SygrJW2WYQc-L_x3tlc73dznPxNmmou6aFr4QuvE/s320/jessica_simpson_john_gra_4_big.preview" border="0" /></a><br /><div><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;color:#999900;">For Jessica Simpson. </span></div><br /><div><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;color:#999900;"></span></div><div><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;color:#999900;">I'm watching her on <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_0">GMA</span> right now and am saddened by the fact that she's obviously she's falling apart. Not that she's ever been completely on <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_1">top.She's</span> someone who's never seemed to have found her <em>exact </em>niche. She tried 'pop' music and did <em>okay</em> but never quite snagged the golden ticket. T</span><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;color:#999900;">hen, she tried acting...no need to even elaborate on that debacle. She has a shoe line and that 'dessert' line..what is it?make-up?lip gloss? something like that?..But I've never heard of anyone being trampled in line trying to pick up either of them. I mean,the best thing she ever did was to marry Nick <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_2">Lachey</span> who actually seemed to love her under-achieving butt. But she messed that up so now where does that leave her? </span></div><div><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;color:#999900;">Well now dear ole' Jessica is trying her hand at country music. <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_3">Umm</span>.. according to what I'm hearing right now, it's not going too well. The song is boring and worse, she sounds horrible.She seems to be straining and is completely off key. It seems like everything on stage is literally falling apart right in front of her. Her mic went out for a good 15 seconds, her earrings fell off and she had to stop right in the middle of her second song twice because she couldn't hear her audio. What she was wearing looked like something I've seen my grandmother wear to afternoon tea and it looked better on <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_4">grammy</span>! Poor girl..don't get me wrong, I don't wish any ill will towards her but her album comes out tomorrow and I predict a nice,round 1,000 copies sold in the first week. Good luck Jess</span>!</div>E.http://www.blogger.com/profile/07509313799340626865noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7398963859820080638.post-26763543145147281832008-09-02T08:32:00.004-04:002008-09-02T08:46:21.623-04:00Coffee and the Recession<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj5FDvR9EI8wUU5b3vC9w2VbwongneR-9KuCmfKPnpA0dX7A1n8oU3gM0flrbOFwQeuprLIyLlU59xwzMuHURKDIi2woTWu8DsisRRXwAkejNXIh6G0wwnZzBNoKlYyYUmpP9icekNkA30/s1600-h/coffee.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5241402476899294002" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj5FDvR9EI8wUU5b3vC9w2VbwongneR-9KuCmfKPnpA0dX7A1n8oU3gM0flrbOFwQeuprLIyLlU59xwzMuHURKDIi2woTWu8DsisRRXwAkejNXIh6G0wwnZzBNoKlYyYUmpP9icekNkA30/s320/coffee.jpg" border="0" /></a><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;color:#993300;">McDonald's coffee is the bomb! I've always thought so... </span><br /><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;color:#993300;">In fact, if you ask me, it can rival Starbucks anyday. I love Starbucks and all but you know it's getting a bit ridiculous when you have to re-mortgage the house just to get a grande Caramel Macchiato. I mean, come on <em>Starbucks</em>, we're in the middle of a recession here! Give coffee lover's a break! Realize that there are other options out there and adjust your prices. Mcdonald's plain, ole', black 'cup of joe' (the way I like it) is absolutely delicious - truly one of life's simple pleasures.Sure, I still treat myself to my favorite starbucks drink every now and then but Mcdonald's coffee I can do everyday...<em>a few times</em> a day if I wanted. And, the best part is, it's only a dollar.. </span><br /><br /><span style="color:#993300;"><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;"><em>"..bada ba baa dah..I'm lovin' it!" </em></span></span><br /><span style="color:#993300;"><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;"><em><br /></em>Excuse me while I finish off this cup...</span></span>E.http://www.blogger.com/profile/07509313799340626865noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7398963859820080638.post-70237402588135101782008-08-22T10:18:00.004-04:002008-08-22T10:31:51.571-04:00Remember when your teacher used to make you write lines after you'd done something wrong?<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjA6mmbhoUV3t5sNXeu7a9mHh1GJXpq9KXY5VtA43c_6Rv8tv00jl7_01dyRuLKY0EeqpFjfB_2AVBYA2SiQ5Sf3qvMDbtkWtjqDKaPqYGGzmUEY406soDzlDbNvObO5Sjb7u1wfa5zaxs/s1600-h/Simpsons_chalkboard_gag.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5237349620393754002" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjA6mmbhoUV3t5sNXeu7a9mHh1GJXpq9KXY5VtA43c_6Rv8tv00jl7_01dyRuLKY0EeqpFjfB_2AVBYA2SiQ5Sf3qvMDbtkWtjqDKaPqYGGzmUEY406soDzlDbNvObO5Sjb7u1wfa5zaxs/s320/Simpsons_chalkboard_gag.jpg" border="0" /></a><br />Sorry I was AWOL<br /><br />I promise to start updating my blog again<br />I promise to start updating my blog again<br />I promise to start updating my blog again<br />I promise to start updating my blog again<br />I promise to start updating my blog again<br />I promise to start updating my blog again<br />I promise to start updating my blog again<br />I promise to start updating my blog again<br />I promise to start updating my blog again<br />I promise to start updating my blog again<br />I promise...<br />I promise...E.http://www.blogger.com/profile/07509313799340626865noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7398963859820080638.post-45164242433284430532008-06-13T11:29:00.003-04:002008-06-13T11:37:10.766-04:00Father's Day Doesn't Only apply to Straight Men.<div align="center"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh3wdMhZANmBixC9tvDFPTTv0f2_pFE7mCGGHSXW_n5VCx8AYkP8R3qQlmLc-zwVJLgxcHUFzaoZTieqLxEzZM1tsvystMzYLf2BvoHG3AKwuhjjI2r-6IKJAc_4rqS6bBu-2NGalcA6ww/s1600-h/fathers-day-card.gif"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5211389957541942626" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh3wdMhZANmBixC9tvDFPTTv0f2_pFE7mCGGHSXW_n5VCx8AYkP8R3qQlmLc-zwVJLgxcHUFzaoZTieqLxEzZM1tsvystMzYLf2BvoHG3AKwuhjjI2r-6IKJAc_4rqS6bBu-2NGalcA6ww/s320/fathers-day-card.gif" border="0" /></a> <strong>By Mike Stuckey<br />Senior news editor<br />MSNBC<br />updated 6:40 a.m. ET, Fri., June. 13, 2008</strong></div><div align="center"><br />SEATTLE - They don’t greet you so much as they burst upon you, these three little guys with impish grins that punctuate their beautiful dark features. Here they come, a rumbling, tumbling, laughing, yelling, skipping, crying pack of naughty and nice, snips and snails and puppy dog tails and everything else that is American boyhood.<br />Meet the Brothers Z: 4-year-old twins Zach and Zayn, and their younger sibling Zeth, fast approaching 3. In many ways, they are typical denizens of the hilly suburban neighborhood where they have lived most of their lives. They spend their days in preschool while their parents both work in the telecom industry. The family owns an SUV and a pickup. They shop at Costco and go to church on Sundays. They work in the yard. They watch Disney movies on their big-screen TV.<br />But Father’s Day will be a double celebration at their house because the brothers have two daddies — Geoffery and Devin, foster parents for the boys for three years before adopting them.<br />“All we’re trying to do is raise three healthy boys to be participants in society,” said Geoffery, Devin’s partner for a decade.<br />That’s a modest description for what the county judge who finalized the adoption in December called an act of heroism. The boys, taken from substance-abusing and incarcerated biological parents, faced long odds against growing up together. Given their treatment by the birth parents, there were far more questions than answers about physical and emotional issues that might arise for them down the road.<br />"You are heroes in our community," Judge Mary Yu said, beaming from the bench while the boys frolicked about the courtroom, the whole family decked out in red-and-white Mickey Mouse ski sweaters. “Who’s going to assume the burden of taking care of children like this, children who possibly have been neglected or set aside in some way? … People like you, who step up. Thank you.” </div>E.http://www.blogger.com/profile/07509313799340626865noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7398963859820080638.post-27306919967236430122008-05-16T17:02:00.002-04:002008-05-16T17:07:01.595-04:00Congrats!<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjOg7M-jyIOXbC2hPDxSo1t6G2osM7XU4A-l_cqjWtXCOBM6FhAWkRBt8uFSf43ZFwrLQwhQUphJUjTOhwIyau3RXJiA4q-3Z7ApWkxwAQRNReNV54BD3TbZk1RF2Ru7Ysjs6PByqtKEGI/s1600-h/ellen.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjOg7M-jyIOXbC2hPDxSo1t6G2osM7XU4A-l_cqjWtXCOBM6FhAWkRBt8uFSf43ZFwrLQwhQUphJUjTOhwIyau3RXJiA4q-3Z7ApWkxwAQRNReNV54BD3TbZk1RF2Ru7Ysjs6PByqtKEGI/s320/ellen.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5201085079171040610" /></a><div style="text-align: center;">May you enjoy many more happy years together. <br /></div>E.http://www.blogger.com/profile/07509313799340626865noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7398963859820080638.post-89667852757259857692008-05-15T15:35:00.003-04:002008-05-15T15:46:36.910-04:00When White Men Get Angry (Bill O'Reilly Version)<p><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/2tJjNVVwRCY&hl=" width="425" height="355" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" wmode="transparent"></embed></p>E.http://www.blogger.com/profile/07509313799340626865noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7398963859820080638.post-9074371102598128362008-05-15T13:45:00.003-04:002008-05-15T13:52:13.443-04:00We Win in California but with a long way to go!!<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjfwp3HKHtbXcXSFo1-OtITSEAULUoDLotgwXY7PfhqzTNeCqrDrP2jSVKiBXJdrXLET3phaYvsejPKU1Nfjcob5OaWi9HrJltIk3VUifAfkCIy-lz5Yqgx6WBtQdES8CVs6ea32SmtW2U/s1600-h/marriage.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjfwp3HKHtbXcXSFo1-OtITSEAULUoDLotgwXY7PfhqzTNeCqrDrP2jSVKiBXJdrXLET3phaYvsejPKU1Nfjcob5OaWi9HrJltIk3VUifAfkCIy-lz5Yqgx6WBtQdES8CVs6ea32SmtW2U/s400/marriage.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5200663532425905426" /></a><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-weight: bold; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(204, 0, 0);">Calif. Supreme Court rejects gay marriage ban</span></span><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">BREAKING NEWS<br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">MSNBC staff and news service reports<br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(204, 0, 0);">SAN FRANCISCO</span> - <span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'trebuchet ms';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(153, 102, 51);">The California Supreme Court has overturned a ban on gay marriage, paving the way for California to become the second state where gay and lesbian residents can marry.<br /><br />The justices released the 4-3 decision Thursday, saying that domestic partnerships are not a good enough substitute for marriage in an opinion written by Chief Justice Ron George.<br /><br />"Under these circumstances, we cannot find that retention of the traditional definition of marriage constitutes a compelling state interest," the court said in a majority decision.<br />"Accordingly, we conclude that to the extent the current California statutory provisions limit marriage to opposite-sex couples, these statutes are unconstitutional."<br /><br />The cases were brought by the city of San Francisco, two dozen gay and lesbian couples, Equality California and another gay rights group in March 2004 after the court halted San Francisco's monthlong same-sex wedding march, which took place at Mayor Gavin Newsom's direction.</span></span>E.http://www.blogger.com/profile/07509313799340626865noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7398963859820080638.post-5775266638078393542008-05-15T12:14:00.023-04:002008-08-22T10:32:28.288-04:00I found it!<p>What I was working on before I went AWOL...</p><br /><br /><p>some of life's most essential questions...</p><p><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhGAa6J3EdAxp-fCTlkUsn8ABBNm2fd5GkBanmlJLEalbBY5608sAeQpGsoCsBG-TwQCH5qDbakDZwjCN3fSXkkGknXdNoIQUmjjUYWFlbY5ao_z643LqXxnpqHx0P50S9PI5hYtyFUMe0/s1600-h/ryan_cabrera.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5200646073383847074" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhGAa6J3EdAxp-fCTlkUsn8ABBNm2fd5GkBanmlJLEalbBY5608sAeQpGsoCsBG-TwQCH5qDbakDZwjCN3fSXkkGknXdNoIQUmjjUYWFlbY5ao_z643LqXxnpqHx0P50S9PI5hYtyFUMe0/s200/ryan_cabrera.jpg" border="0" /></a></p><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi9na75O4e_sFVwNRafbZW8hGAhR7n1Xoau1DUzc3xsgFqAVatibcJtntzjsdmCjsxyZMhz9FnXhFe7N_MgwBCF86PE4CreQxjQ0x83vSym_iobKmroXNtYlvJIvBBI5NIQbnMwlj5ya4E/s1600-h/ryan.bmp"></a><br /><p>How come Ryan Cabrera now looks like this? What was that one song he had a minute ago?...oh yeah.. "on the way down..."<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiJUhqo1abRBHWMikHAeXINZc-KzNboKFLQUCfNpNpGbuoy0wlIDKTHbHIaxidcY8g7KaHukP644lG7T7hJqaU_FHMjaXSQF1CpiTarPsjDJ7_IrdpK3ApY82xZVEtjcoXjsT0uAs7PJz0/s1600-h/t_pain.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5200645343239406738" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiJUhqo1abRBHWMikHAeXINZc-KzNboKFLQUCfNpNpGbuoy0wlIDKTHbHIaxidcY8g7KaHukP644lG7T7hJqaU_FHMjaXSQF1CpiTarPsjDJ7_IrdpK3ApY82xZVEtjcoXjsT0uAs7PJz0/s200/t_pain.jpg" border="0" /></a>Doesn't T-Pain look closer to 40 than his real age of 23?</p><p><br /></p><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEguqUbaDB3dUMeXw1O3bQU-sqTnHvykKfxUUIv-akk0ZpZILWJv8pYNGSEqPIHXUbXQF4RH_9OsSbflUQ1E8QTk2kK-GKyjRQM-Cn26wwgGOg_ZmUVKEtxRx4NKke00grfuWd3sagARNhU/s1600-h/jeans.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5200651643956430002" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEguqUbaDB3dUMeXw1O3bQU-sqTnHvykKfxUUIv-akk0ZpZILWJv8pYNGSEqPIHXUbXQF4RH_9OsSbflUQ1E8QTk2kK-GKyjRQM-Cn26wwgGOg_ZmUVKEtxRx4NKke00grfuWd3sagARNhU/s200/jeans.jpg" border="0" /></a> How come extremely baggy pants worn around the knees exposing boxers and butt-cracks are considered indecent but '<span class="Apple-style-span" style="FONT-STYLE: italic">men's'</span> extremely skinny jeans, exposing their *cough* <span class="Apple-style-span" style="FONT-STYLE: italic">bulges</span> are okay? eww.<br /><br /><p><br /></p><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiwBLOxqhpGB7JruVEqsARfVn10OoJNtdt7NAn1seMzAl04-jbZ4UmvCljgRMBFGTdx5cBIMkQ6aiaN8QfJH9q498JBKCbK3rgF-Ofizrsqw2SCtRP_pJaXFAMa_C5ljXQ6l1kibyH5IVw/s1600-h/gun.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5200653383418184898" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiwBLOxqhpGB7JruVEqsARfVn10OoJNtdt7NAn1seMzAl04-jbZ4UmvCljgRMBFGTdx5cBIMkQ6aiaN8QfJH9q498JBKCbK3rgF-Ofizrsqw2SCtRP_pJaXFAMa_C5ljXQ6l1kibyH5IVw/s200/gun.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><br /><p>What was Sonny Purdue thinking when they passed that gun law in Georgia allowing any (crazy) person the right to take a gun into any restaurant, onto the MARTA train or into a public park? Have we still learned nothing from Columbine, Virginia Tech and all the rest?? </p><br /><br /><p><br /></p><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEijZz4jRICTPoEfj0EogvaogFTYgMFzFxy-aJmAvHzQFeFxqWql8C4SvFJP-RDOP9zSufHzzi3vhbWNe3tsRGYrDaFIof5QpQoNqabdiFVTWToSd2RhROHq2Z6UYA2S_5UrdiWANPCs0fY/s1600-h/rkelly.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5200659297588151506" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEijZz4jRICTPoEfj0EogvaogFTYgMFzFxy-aJmAvHzQFeFxqWql8C4SvFJP-RDOP9zSufHzzi3vhbWNe3tsRGYrDaFIof5QpQoNqabdiFVTWToSd2RhROHq2Z6UYA2S_5UrdiWANPCs0fY/s200/rkelly.jpg" border="0" /></a>Am I the only one that cringes and immediately changes the channel whenever an R.Kelly song comes on radio or the T.V. ? Pervvvvvvvv alert!<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg2WoMu-1hCQCdXnGbAbc5lG4IVV2e4q7faM59TPVoKDZQ1YZnFY1v366yzBLA6aJ71UkAIjL16uYchjdloE4fNm2j6H_zqiGHW5a0tu31wBbD-Bgu5WAqTiCR9IHJvVjW4JQdogjbQKVQ/s1600-h/Barbara%20gray.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5200660508768929010" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg2WoMu-1hCQCdXnGbAbc5lG4IVV2e4q7faM59TPVoKDZQ1YZnFY1v366yzBLA6aJ71UkAIjL16uYchjdloE4fNm2j6H_zqiGHW5a0tu31wBbD-Bgu5WAqTiCR9IHJvVjW4JQdogjbQKVQ/s200/Barbara%2520gray.jpg" border="0" /></a><br />Was anyone but me surprised that Barbara Walters would happily join all the other celebrities who try to drum up controversy to sell a book? Thought she was above that for some reason.<br /><br /><div><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjWKcQBOXzxNsCva_kcV2ntJyKZ3neTqcN7QS-Rs65PCBraDRtUUzYy27G4vt1wuyDzN9ZnBxiOL6uaknFoKAWjVm7sK67f8pqnkXcJSQOc-scC9J-9bJ7qzFD_UuMJMHS3pvKG8pNU6jk/s1600-h/osama.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5201013739764254018" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjWKcQBOXzxNsCva_kcV2ntJyKZ3neTqcN7QS-Rs65PCBraDRtUUzYy27G4vt1wuyDzN9ZnBxiOL6uaknFoKAWjVm7sK67f8pqnkXcJSQOc-scC9J-9bJ7qzFD_UuMJMHS3pvKG8pNU6jk/s320/osama.jpg" border="0" /></a> Why is it so hard to find one old, sick and supposedly dying man?</div><br /><br /><div><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi6uIEV7dp1HVQtqP0Ym98fLO6pajOGNs3pQluI-R0E_CVyYHUTERv5CFwm9EYFP0FfOLu5HPYuJDLCNCMeW4O929ynkQlUYuswPz17spWI2EDsjH-JPJgUIGWAd7FOIwE9Lb4rT6DhkYU/s1600-h/big_bad_wolf_1003.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5201012373964653858" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi6uIEV7dp1HVQtqP0Ym98fLO6pajOGNs3pQluI-R0E_CVyYHUTERv5CFwm9EYFP0FfOLu5HPYuJDLCNCMeW4O929ynkQlUYuswPz17spWI2EDsjH-JPJgUIGWAd7FOIwE9Lb4rT6DhkYU/s400/big_bad_wolf_1003.jpg" border="0" /></a></div><br /><br /><div>Who's afraid of the big, bad wolf? </div>E.http://www.blogger.com/profile/07509313799340626865noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7398963859820080638.post-30907292730936945442008-05-15T11:36:00.005-04:002008-05-15T12:10:48.138-04:00Idol in 60<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg3fnYa8XjsnAivmiz2fb5FJSyQ8s0QA3vdKjZtxPQe7BsnoXB7hVQY1GbMaVFaHnohxcWj3Cg5mC5RwY1xuPF0IiYx1dnk4WjwDLsRXPSclPIdM98Tj9I7c4rhfqv_Y0GnEWxZdAHwF2M/s1600-h/davids.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg3fnYa8XjsnAivmiz2fb5FJSyQ8s0QA3vdKjZtxPQe7BsnoXB7hVQY1GbMaVFaHnohxcWj3Cg5mC5RwY1xuPF0IiYx1dnk4WjwDLsRXPSclPIdM98Tj9I7c4rhfqv_Y0GnEWxZdAHwF2M/s400/davids.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5200637071132394562" /></a><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'trebuchet ms';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(255, 204, 102);"><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0); font-family:Georgia;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'trebuchet ms';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(255, 204, 102);">Surprising no-one, Syesha went home last night leaving the 'two Davids' (Archuleta and Cook) to battle it out for the title next week. Who do I think should win...? Well, and this might surprise to those of you who've been keeping up with this blog, but I actually think it </span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-style: italic;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'trebuchet ms';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(255, 204, 102);">should</span></span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'trebuchet ms';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(255, 204, 102);"> be David Cook...but I </span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-style: italic;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'trebuchet ms';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(255, 204, 102);">want</span></span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'trebuchet ms';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(255, 204, 102);"> it to be David Archuleta - for more than the obvious reasons. Yes, Archuleta's talented, adorable and all. But I also think he'd fit in the best with the whole 'American Idol' theme. Lemme explain, I just can't see previous contestants like Blake Lewis, Chris Daughtry and now David Cook fitting into that clean-cut, America's sweetheart mold and I don't think they should have to try. I don't think it would work and they'd actually probably be a bit unhappy. Cook is an incredible talent who has grown throughout the competition and of course he'll get a contract from this, I just hope it'll be with someone other than the </span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-style: italic;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'trebuchet ms';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(255, 204, 102);">Idol</span></span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'trebuchet ms';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(255, 204, 102);"> folks. He'll need a label who'll allow him to be who he is ...completely. So, for that reason, Archuleta would be the best choice to take the title. </span></span></span><br /></div></span></span><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style=""></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(255, 204, 102); font-family:'trebuchet ms';"><br /></span><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'trebuchet ms';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(255, 204, 102);">On another note I wish Syesha the absolute best. She was truly talented but was sorely underrated - especially in the shadow of the two Davids. The girl worked her butt off and really showed an incredible amount of growth. She also handled herself with so much class and dignity when she was placed in the bottom three everytime for weeks - not everyone could've handled that so well. Good luck Syesha I'm sure we'll see you on Broadway later on. </span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'trebuchet ms';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(255, 204, 102);"><br /></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'trebuchet ms';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(255, 204, 102);">If you missed any of Tuesday or last night's show and want a quick re-cap, here it is in 60 short seconds. <div style="margin:0; background-color:#212121; width:423px;"><embed src="http://www.mtv.com/player/embed/" width="423" height="318" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" flashvars="CONFIG_URL=http://www.mtv.com/player/embed/configuration.jhtml%3Fid%3D1582109%26vid%3D233018&allowFullScreen=true" allowfullscreen="true" base="." allowscriptaccess="always"></embed><div style="background-color:#212121; margin:0 0 0 0; padding:0 0 2px 0; width:423px; text-align:center; overflow:auto; min-width:423px;"><ul style="margin:0; padding:0; list-style:none line-height: 1.2em;"><li style="margin-right:4px; display:inline;"><a style="padding:0px 4px 0px 10px; font-family:Verdana,sans-serif; color:#439CD8; font-size:10px; text-decoration:none; background:url(http://www.mtv.com/sitewide/images/u/arrow-links.gif) 2px 2px no-repeat;" href="http://www.mtv.com/" onmouseover="this.style.textDecoration='underline'" onmouseout="this.style.textDecoration='none'" target="_blank">MTV</a></li><li style="margin-right:4px; display:inline;"><a style="padding:0px 4px 0px 10px; font-family:Verdana,sans-serif; color:#439CD8; font-size:10px; text-decoration:none; background:url(http://www.mtv.com/sitewide/images/u/arrow-links.gif) 2px 2px no-repeat;" href="http://www.mtv.com/music/video/index.jhtml" onmouseover="this.style.textDecoration='underline'" onmouseout="this.style.textDecoration='none'" target="_blank">Music Videos</a></li><li style="margin-right:4px; display:inline;"><a style="padding:0px 4px 0px 10px; font-family:Verdana,sans-serif; color:#439CD8; font-size:10px; text-decoration:none; background:url(http://www.mtv.com/sitewide/images/u/arrow-links.gif) 2px 2px no-repeat;" href="http://www.mtv.com/ontv/" onmouseover="this.style.textDecoration='underline'" onmouseout="this.style.textDecoration='none'" target="_blank">MTV Shows</a></li><li style="margin-right:4px; display:inline;"><a style="padding:0px 4px 0px 10px; font-family:Verdana,sans-serif; color:#439CD8; font-size:10px; text-decoration:none; background:url(http://www.mtv.com/sitewide/images/u/arrow-links.gif) 2px 2px no-repeat;" href="http://www.mtv.com/news/" onmouseover="this.style.textDecoration='underline'" onmouseout="this.style.textDecoration='none'" target="_blank">Entertainment News</a></li></ul></div></div></span></span></div></div>E.http://www.blogger.com/profile/07509313799340626865noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7398963859820080638.post-71616158772286086682008-05-13T22:06:00.006-04:002008-05-14T09:22:00.670-04:00This is literally, like B.Scott would say, some "Monkey-Doodle Foolishness"!!<div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(153, 153, 0); font-weight: bold;">Does this Mmonkey look like Barack Obama??</span></div><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhq18DqmupwqoR0JoNtm367uj7xu1kIhT97PVYAAZwHwHGecXQXJaKaFCm_4krAVyhn1WEdGr0smsJ7qBpylHSIWyzMUfA9SDHIeDBPzbN3Xoy_lxGgHUnUHVzYpzJCBLywSFuyRcpOvds/s1600-h/hm_george_1.gif"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhq18DqmupwqoR0JoNtm367uj7xu1kIhT97PVYAAZwHwHGecXQXJaKaFCm_4krAVyhn1WEdGr0smsJ7qBpylHSIWyzMUfA9SDHIeDBPzbN3Xoy_lxGgHUnUHVzYpzJCBLywSFuyRcpOvds/s400/hm_george_1.gif" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5200051246183154738" /></a><br /><div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-weight: bold;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(153, 153, 0);">The owner of Mulligan's bar in Marietta sure thinks so.</span></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(153, 153, 0); font-weight: bold;"><br /></span></div><span style="font-weight:bold;"><div style="text-align: center;">Mulligan's selling shirts with 'Curious George' picture<br /></div></span><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(153, 153, 153); ">By CHRISTIAN BOONE</span><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">The Atlanta Journal-Constitution<br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">Published on: 05/13/08<br /></div><div><br /></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(255, 0, 0);">M</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(255, 0, 0); font-family:'trebuchet ms';">arietta bar owner Mike Norman says the T-shirts he's peddling, featuring a look-a-like of cartoon chimp Curious George peeling a banana, with "Obama in '08" underneath, are not meant to offend.</span><br /></div><div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(255, 0, 0);"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'trebuchet ms';"><br />Norman acknowledged the imagery's Jim Crow roots but said he sees nothing wrong with depicting a prominent African-American as a monkey,<br /><br />We're not living in the (19)40's," he said. "Look at him . . . the hairline, the ears — he looks just like Curious George."<br /><br />About a dozen prostestors rallied against the shirts Tuesday afternoon, condemning them as racist and asking Norman, longtime proprietor of Mulligan's Bar and Grill on Roswell Street, to stop selling them.<br /><br />Marietta native Pam Lindley, 47, joined the protest after reading about the controversy online.<br /><br />"I don't want people to think this is what Marietta is all about," she added, motioning towards the tavern. "This is what some people think the South is still like. Marietta's come a long way but I guess it's still got a little ways to go."<br /><br />She said she'd like to see the city ban Norman's provocative musings regularly posted on a sign out front of the bar, which is near Marietta's downtown square. The loosely formed coalition of civil rights activists who gathered Tuesday say they will continue their campaign against Norman's "hate speech."<br /><br />But his defenders are just as resolute. Mulligan's is a refuge, they say, in an otherwise hypersensitive world. Here, smoking isn't only allowed, it's expected.<br /><br />"This place is a diamond in the rough," said Gene McKinley, a Woodstock engineer. "People here are genuine and honest. It's the one place I can go without having to worry if I'm offending someone."<br /><br />Norman said he's been he's been fielding calls throughout the day about his T-shirts, which he began selling in late April. "One guy in New Jersey wanted me to send him 100 shirts," said Norman, 63.<br /><br />He said he noted physical similarities between the Democratic frontrunner and the cartoon monkey while watching a Curious George movie with his grandchildren.<br /><br />Someone — "probably a customer, I don't know" — from Arkansas sent him the shirts, Norman says. He has no plans to mass market them.<br /><br />Not that's he's bowing to pressure. The Tennessee native figures he's providing a public service of sorts, reminding people they have a right to offend.<br /></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(255, 0, 0);"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'trebuchet ms';"><br />"This is my marketing tool," he said.</span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(255, 0, 0); font-family:'trebuchet ms';"><br /></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style=" ;font-family:'trebuchet ms';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style=""><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(192, 192, 192);">s</span></span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style=" ;font-family:'trebuchet ms';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style=""><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(192, 192, 192);">ee the shirt </span></span><a href="http://www.blogfordemocracy.org/2008/05/cobb_bar_sells_tshirts_with_ob.html"><span class="Apple-style-span" style=""><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(192, 192, 192);">here</span></span></a></span></div></div></div>E.http://www.blogger.com/profile/07509313799340626865noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7398963859820080638.post-19802438077669086742008-05-13T21:16:00.003-04:002008-05-13T21:27:19.236-04:00It's Over :(I'm so in denial about my romantic weekend being over that I'm in no mood to update. :(<div>However, I thought I'd leave you with an artist I'm feeling a lot right now. Tell me what you think.</div><div><br />Listen to : Duffy with 'Warwick Avenue'. It's more of that Amy Winehouse-esque sixties girl group-ish pop. I happen to like it a lot especially when the artist has an amazing voice like amy and now Duffy. She's a 23 year old Welsh girl who's giving us what Amy cannot at the moment being strung out on drugs and what not.<br /><br /><object width="425" height="355"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/HhZ5-L9znt8&hl=en"><param name="wmode" value="transparent"><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/HhZ5-L9znt8&hl=en" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" wmode="transparent" width="425" height="355"></embed></object></div>E.http://www.blogger.com/profile/07509313799340626865noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7398963859820080638.post-43908525880796530752008-05-08T09:19:00.007-04:002008-05-08T10:05:05.943-04:00Friday Treat Comes Early<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(153, 153, 0);"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'trebuchet ms';">I'm leaving tomorrow for a romantic weekend with my lady. :) It's a surprise so I've </span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-style: italic;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(153, 153, 0);"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'trebuchet ms';">no</span></span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(153, 153, 0);"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'trebuchet ms';"> idea where I'm headed but I'm so excited! But since I won't be around, I've decided to dish out the 'Friday treat' on Thursday.</span></span><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(153, 153, 0);"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'trebuchet ms';"><br /></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(153, 153, 0);"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'trebuchet ms';">This week's feature : The Lovely Rihanna...</span></span><span style="font-style:italic;"></span><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-style: italic;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-style:italic;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(51, 51, 255);">Those legs? They're insured. That haircut? Legendary. The chances that serial hit-maker Rihanna will keep churning out gold-whether in music, fashion, or film-for some time to come? Spectacular. (Elle Magazine)</span><div><br /><div><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhrFaLFAvf7AyvkLs6m6mp_Tp9zkcp_4U3zhwTKp8Q8loMo0MuyjTueAxGWwuSiJUwpaQBEdNBs6uj5nCt98mBb4qLYaRLqn2a-3BDDzcRDxDUeRhgHbbVKcv5kRsIiM89Xgipvk_56yes/s1600-h/suit.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhrFaLFAvf7AyvkLs6m6mp_Tp9zkcp_4U3zhwTKp8Q8loMo0MuyjTueAxGWwuSiJUwpaQBEdNBs6uj5nCt98mBb4qLYaRLqn2a-3BDDzcRDxDUeRhgHbbVKcv5kRsIiM89Xgipvk_56yes/s400/suit.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5198000935503620466" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg5ppAKuRcJz3RAgkqKXzRAsi5HaIzEWPA4FVTgv0Z1op2PhVENkZCLu439q6aIvJWb9J8MkfKHTjhfQdw1Vu6PtLYLJAlcSBhNWoaNJOZjA7HgxwstqCY8LUy7WeVW1mAse_-S9W5Gg2M/s1600-h/Rihanna2.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg5ppAKuRcJz3RAgkqKXzRAsi5HaIzEWPA4FVTgv0Z1op2PhVENkZCLu439q6aIvJWb9J8MkfKHTjhfQdw1Vu6PtLYLJAlcSBhNWoaNJOZjA7HgxwstqCY8LUy7WeVW1mAse_-S9W5Gg2M/s400/Rihanna2.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5198001485259434370" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg_FUzV5R6GsIGmPOaCK4-uAb2qGUOnHeO6QKVNzdNjW0EzAoRZjm4lGp8YjsW45ROBGu1YdhTPBRyMBXvyKCRlg2yb4jJ9425zf9NqVUdn0Mo-JBglSMynEFLGp54H4x-qTYUZoBxisUQ/s1600-h/riri.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg_FUzV5R6GsIGmPOaCK4-uAb2qGUOnHeO6QKVNzdNjW0EzAoRZjm4lGp8YjsW45ROBGu1YdhTPBRyMBXvyKCRlg2yb4jJ9425zf9NqVUdn0Mo-JBglSMynEFLGp54H4x-qTYUZoBxisUQ/s400/riri.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5198001755842374034" /></a><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhmlUTmBfGTXwl-VA6ShKLmdTHEL5vLPJ7xlTrtaw1E_CLRhr5D16GAOf7Vrwf25PK1eJXE2blVC-dkAeX9h9XEyGksZprN5Tvofb82avszIy3ezifc9VCx4PK7B2ANDpBHcpKpq3qn_WM/s1600-h/rihanna-new-tattoo.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhmlUTmBfGTXwl-VA6ShKLmdTHEL5vLPJ7xlTrtaw1E_CLRhr5D16GAOf7Vrwf25PK1eJXE2blVC-dkAeX9h9XEyGksZprN5Tvofb82avszIy3ezifc9VCx4PK7B2ANDpBHcpKpq3qn_WM/s400/rihanna-new-tattoo.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5198003830311578018" /></a><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEheTsGVJ8-mZu4smAH_PgBdEELPF5NW1so_IrMrl9BJF-SEps0Vv7WXycz8XQ55v6587lPbewcmvHqpF5-jbi2ek1cs_DU05XF2dAKv1ZAuIdjLyNxC6zKWUAf8QAHHCQzWJjkZC1x9ZOg/s1600-h/rihannawhite.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEheTsGVJ8-mZu4smAH_PgBdEELPF5NW1so_IrMrl9BJF-SEps0Vv7WXycz8XQ55v6587lPbewcmvHqpF5-jbi2ek1cs_DU05XF2dAKv1ZAuIdjLyNxC6zKWUAf8QAHHCQzWJjkZC1x9ZOg/s400/rihannawhite.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5198004066534779314" /></a><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-style: normal;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(153, 153, 0);"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'trebuchet ms';">So I have a slight celeb-crush. Yeah, I know she's only 20 - but heck if Mariah and Nick Cannon can do 11 years, 6 years won't between RiRi and I shouldn't make me feel like a perv right? Plus, she's a fellow island girl who's making all of us from the Caribbean extremely proud. I admire her talent (she's had ten songs debut in the top ten of the billboard charts), her personality, her ability to keep her head up and her nose clean in the industry thus far and she seems to have her head on straight. I hope it continues.</span></span><br /></span></div><div><br /></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-style: normal;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(153, 153, 0);"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'trebuchet ms';">Check out this behind the scenes <a href="http://link.brightcove.com/services/link/bcpid372302730/bclid400725088/bctid1537853887">video </a>of her latest Elle magazine shoot due out next month.</span></span></span></div></div></span></div></div>E.http://www.blogger.com/profile/07509313799340626865noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7398963859820080638.post-76304558148814382712008-05-07T13:35:00.002-04:002008-05-07T13:48:49.545-04:00Stand by ArchuletaI don't want to brag but .... I <span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-style: italic;">did</span> pick the amazing David Archuleta out of the pack of idol wanna-bes wayyyyy back during the Hollywood audition days when he sang, <span style="font-style:italic;">Heaven</span> by Bryan Adams.<br /><object width="425" height="355"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/R-GGaoSylEk&hl=en"><param name="wmode" value="transparent"><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/R-GGaoSylEk&hl=en" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" wmode="transparent" width="425" height="355"></embed></object><br /><div><div>His incredible voice stood out to me then and he's done nothing but impress me since. Last night was no exception. In fact, last night was probably my favorite performance so far. The theme was songs that had been inducted into the Rock and Roll hall of fame. Each contestant sang two of those songs but my favorite from David A. was <span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-style: italic;">Stand by Me</span> by Ben E. King. </div><div><br /><object width="425" height="355"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/N2LLR2bT0po&hl=en"><param name="wmode" value="transparent"><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/N2LLR2bT0po&hl=en" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" wmode="transparent" width="425" height="355"></embed></object></div></div><br />All I can say is....this young man is blessed and I think he has a bright future ahead of him in the music business whether he wins or not. But we'll find out soon enough if he did. After tonight they'll be down to the final three! Go David A. !E.http://www.blogger.com/profile/07509313799340626865noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7398963859820080638.post-28486796974651602302008-05-06T12:23:00.008-04:002008-05-07T13:25:08.943-04:00Rahsaan Patterson Comes Clean<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiGKIahyYLevu3WGiJZAx4zOU69f5UC8Vtm6GIHWXKm8XxLHUfkowSeqKwFuVmO9Ls4uILBTbVLMJzMaUSCtlRYaj-HMysGpzU8h1VX0uO-mbnqVMCu8iHsrLMr8QWPawhyRN6OTPyIKxo/s1600-h/ra.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiGKIahyYLevu3WGiJZAx4zOU69f5UC8Vtm6GIHWXKm8XxLHUfkowSeqKwFuVmO9Ls4uILBTbVLMJzMaUSCtlRYaj-HMysGpzU8h1VX0uO-mbnqVMCu8iHsrLMr8QWPawhyRN6OTPyIKxo/s400/ra.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5197312924586991874" /></a>I was watching BET Jazz the other night and came across a familiar face. It took me a moment to place it but then I it hit me, it was Rahsaan Patterson from one of my favorite childhood T.V. shows, Kids Incorporated - all grown up. I remember he was a cute kid with an amazing voice that outshone most of the other kids. Even then I could tell he had star quality and would go on to great things. <br /><object width="425" height="355"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/okZKNDMeRf8&hl=en"><param name="wmode" value="transparent"><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/okZKNDMeRf8&hl=en" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" wmode="transparent" width="425" height="355"></embed></object><div><div><br /><div>But when the show that was responsible for launching the careers of Fergie, Mario Lopez, Shanice, Jennifer Love Hewitt and others wrapped and I never really heard much more about him, I just assumed Rahsaan had joined the ranks of those unfortunate child stars that never find work again. I never knew however that after the show he sang backup for stars like Brandy and Tevin Campbell and then went on to pursue his own career and put out an incredible four albums. Where was I? I had no idea until I saw his video, <span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-style: italic;">Feels Good</span> the other night from his latest album <span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-style: italic;">Wine and Spirits</span>. Good for him! He's doing his thing and seems to be enjoying life. Read his recent two page <a href="http://www.bet.com/Music/News/rahsaanpatterson.htm?Page=1"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 153);">interview with BETJ</span></a> where he discusses his sexual identity, struggling relationship with God, substance abuse and his 'inner demons'.</div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(153, 102, 51);"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'trebuchet ms';"><br /><object width="425" height="355"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/--U5FX4qEQ8&hl=en"><param name="wmode" value="transparent"><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/--U5FX4qEQ8&hl=en" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" wmode="transparent" width="425" height="355"></embed></object></span></span></div><div><br /></div></div></div>E.http://www.blogger.com/profile/07509313799340626865noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7398963859820080638.post-38728379462098298192008-05-02T11:08:00.014-04:002008-05-02T17:58:53.218-04:00Friday Treats:"My White Girl"Crushes<span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;color:#993300;">I only have two. Jessica Biel and Scarlett Johannson. They're absolutely delicious and looking at them right next to each other, an obvious trend is apparent; just like in my sistas, my <em>white girl crushes</em> must have curves plus thick lips and something I can grab...Yum. See if you can tell who's my favorite :)<br /></span><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj0slkuuOxWO8CLdyuQ-jNAFSxdd1IRVnqyK304W6ot9KzAs8wQlS57fxqXQQQgMFEZa60uaRGzjNPWpsHzvussxAYx1JyrRdDeSJg-wTu299UCdFydIu3gi13uC8AFTLsf-TBlns-rjiE/s1600-h/jess%20biel%203.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5195802655171928226" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj0slkuuOxWO8CLdyuQ-jNAFSxdd1IRVnqyK304W6ot9KzAs8wQlS57fxqXQQQgMFEZa60uaRGzjNPWpsHzvussxAYx1JyrRdDeSJg-wTu299UCdFydIu3gi13uC8AFTLsf-TBlns-rjiE/s400/jess%2520biel%25203.jpg" border="0" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgYFjl1CHOZ9L3EnUw9sF9nWoQWdb4z2kIN4Vpv3C7VP-k_3jHTUrpumL_Ict8xMczbrPrS5bwrPxOt1qwCLzeKo3s6qTb8BPVWtw_Nccdtz73JxTsZPkWobzg35TG08VNutOFoJMjMDEc/s1600-h/jbiel-gq5_rszd.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5195802925754867890" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgYFjl1CHOZ9L3EnUw9sF9nWoQWdb4z2kIN4Vpv3C7VP-k_3jHTUrpumL_Ict8xMczbrPrS5bwrPxOt1qwCLzeKo3s6qTb8BPVWtw_Nccdtz73JxTsZPkWobzg35TG08VNutOFoJMjMDEc/s400/jbiel-gq5_rszd.jpg" border="0" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjRKArrh5GVVRTHJUhhOoxrUIy8kLJhJyQTSUKStPk45BqUu2K28nLeYWqakVOKJMMm1Hm1E4yR6czFyZ2Zo4h4itiYidubvQskeIKtwu4xMDzuaWHCoIy4Jxgf71IenLmEvkGCW1V1OHU/s1600-h/scarlett_johansson.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5195803243582447810" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjRKArrh5GVVRTHJUhhOoxrUIy8kLJhJyQTSUKStPk45BqUu2K28nLeYWqakVOKJMMm1Hm1E4yR6czFyZ2Zo4h4itiYidubvQskeIKtwu4xMDzuaWHCoIy4Jxgf71IenLmEvkGCW1V1OHU/s400/scarlett_johansson.jpg" border="0" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEixo2mPJFzf7QChSmV57eMKzBvNipbRmV9vr61xtnhe9wFJHYP7tnLgB6z1T_IkVmfncrq_dibjexlAFE-xJJnioDndKH02XRUuNpYH1wIxnVEJO-ummolOL-g_0zAYH2gEUeH4WBfrWDg/s1600-h/scarlett-johansson.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5195803621539569874" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEixo2mPJFzf7QChSmV57eMKzBvNipbRmV9vr61xtnhe9wFJHYP7tnLgB6z1T_IkVmfncrq_dibjexlAFE-xJJnioDndKH02XRUuNpYH1wIxnVEJO-ummolOL-g_0zAYH2gEUeH4WBfrWDg/s400/scarlett-johansson.jpg" border="0" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiBkKbXwehklc78mNizIbN5iO94Zzp_E_fzHL0iQQrAoi5ouv7Rj0G1Kyt_Db58UIlHuyOKpdFLFUHbskxdT-2Y1FbrMU-6t8ZzBtvIphNqdEtLNlLaMCM3sFgLsuB78zloM-8fXunjqrY/s1600-h/scarlett.bmp"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5195803840582901986" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiBkKbXwehklc78mNizIbN5iO94Zzp_E_fzHL0iQQrAoi5ouv7Rj0G1Kyt_Db58UIlHuyOKpdFLFUHbskxdT-2Y1FbrMU-6t8ZzBtvIphNqdEtLNlLaMCM3sFgLsuB78zloM-8fXunjqrY/s400/scarlett.bmp" border="0" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj9ds6ngHsJyFu-XZ59kTRrc9ClU9bMZUbRLSNbTeoCZklLczyo7_vCy80u4_MvziFNcy-05UR30ewOFoQaoUbaVsuBUrwD1i49rp_gQjymRF8ifzRMDZOwM6CeKhSOk8kD2Xs3-R_7CwI/s1600-h/scarlett-johansson-plastic-surgery.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5195805502735245554" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj9ds6ngHsJyFu-XZ59kTRrc9ClU9bMZUbRLSNbTeoCZklLczyo7_vCy80u4_MvziFNcy-05UR30ewOFoQaoUbaVsuBUrwD1i49rp_gQjymRF8ifzRMDZOwM6CeKhSOk8kD2Xs3-R_7CwI/s400/scarlett-johansson-plastic-surgery.jpg" border="0" /></a>E.http://www.blogger.com/profile/07509313799340626865noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7398963859820080638.post-86537534676735278532008-05-02T09:03:00.004-04:002008-05-02T09:12:55.525-04:00Jimi Hendrix Sex Tape?What's with all the dead celebrity sex tapes being revealed? And why now? As if we don't have enough sex tapes from celebrities who<em> haven't</em> yet kicked the bucket? I mean are we really that short on porn featuring living, breathing people?<br />(P.S. - note the suggestive photo below. I dug it up myself and couldn't refuse .*wink*)<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgfKrxFgU9wDfQZT4215Co6GIoZuLxxrzy671nFVbwP6t8DhyZNxTc_bqxKgozS7O4KLTkOSoHr23laTXou5I_TBdfZFHZU66Kw9rqCgyOduPlkEXER1vvBCQONLs4oCKDwL72sxF4vTRA/s1600-h/hendrix-jimi-photo-jimi-hendrix-6229641.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5195766577446641794" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgfKrxFgU9wDfQZT4215Co6GIoZuLxxrzy671nFVbwP6t8DhyZNxTc_bqxKgozS7O4KLTkOSoHr23laTXou5I_TBdfZFHZU66Kw9rqCgyOduPlkEXER1vvBCQONLs4oCKDwL72sxF4vTRA/s320/hendrix-jimi-photo-jimi-hendrix-6229641.jpg" border="0" /></a><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;"><span style="color:#cc0000;"><strong>LOS ANGELES (AP)</strong> -- Vivid Entertainment is releasing a sex tape allegedly starring </span></span><a class="art" href="http://music.msn.com/artist/?artist=16138971"><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;color:#cc0000;">Jimi Hendrix</span></a><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;color:#cc0000;">.The Los Angeles-based adult entertainment company said they obtained the footage of the music legend shot in a hotel room about 40 years ago from a memorabilia collector.<br />The footage features Hendrix engaging in various sexual acts with two women, according to a statement released by Vivid. The company said they consulted with several experts to authenticate the footage.Hendrix died of a drug overdose in 1970. Seattle-based representatives for Hendrix's estate did not want to comment about the tape.<br />Vivid Entertainment was also responsible for the release of celebrity sex tapes starring </span><a class="art" href="http://music.msn.com/celebs/celeb.aspx?c=1394383"><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;color:#cc0000;">Kim Kardashian</span></a><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;color:#cc0000;"> and </span><a class="art" href="http://music.msn.com/celebs/celeb.aspx?c=191804"><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;color:#cc0000;">Pamela Anderson</span></a><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;color:#cc0000;">.</span>E.http://www.blogger.com/profile/07509313799340626865noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7398963859820080638.post-69896975943163698262008-04-30T00:13:00.002-04:002008-04-30T00:17:13.533-04:00Are you Kidding Me?<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjKd3Z2Zcxuq1rENKyuf8HM4DFU_Ps9y5fO49qJcpijAOexB19KJYlQUyrsOnuiNUR2BU56f9HqyjM3JKRq1A7Cg1djdVMxK3KmzQfd3GKB0pHqqwBs8JJyXN4kgcebfKVe4PmqnjiaQww/s1600-h/midge.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjKd3Z2Zcxuq1rENKyuf8HM4DFU_Ps9y5fO49qJcpijAOexB19KJYlQUyrsOnuiNUR2BU56f9HqyjM3JKRq1A7Cg1djdVMxK3KmzQfd3GKB0pHqqwBs8JJyXN4kgcebfKVe4PmqnjiaQww/s320/midge.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5194887470655594610" /></a><br /><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(204, 102, 0);">(</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'trebuchet ms';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(204, 102, 0);">AP</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(255, 102, 0);">) She is Barbie's oldest friend, happily married and visibly pregnant with her second child — and some parents think she's a little too real for their children.<br /><br />The pregnant version of Midge, which pops out a curled-up baby when her belly is opened — has been pulled from Wal-Mart shelves across the country following complaints from customers, a company spokeswoman said Tuesday.<br /><br />"It was just that customers had a concern about having a pregnant doll," Wal-Mart Stores spokeswoman Cynthia Illick said.<br /><br />She said the entire "Happy Family" set, which included pregnant Midge, husband Alan and 3-year-old son Ryan, was pulled from shelves of the world's largest retailer earlier this month.<br /><br />"What we try to do is listen to what our customers want," Illick said. "In this case, we decided to remove the product from the shelves. I think it was a unique situation."<br /><br />Messages left for representatives of the toy's maker, Mattel Inc., were not returned Tuesday.<br /><br />Midge was introduced in 1963, a freckle-faced redhead and the first of a slew of friends and family members for Barbie, the blue-eyed blonde who first appeared four years earlier and has been one of the world's top-selling dolls ever since.<br /><br />In Barbie-land, Midge married boy-doll Alan in 1991, and the happy couple already has a 3-year-old son, Ryan.<br /><br />The pregnant Midge, who wears a tiny white wedding ring, has a detachable magnetic stomach that allows easy "delivery" of the baby.<br /><br />An article on Mattel's Barbie.com Web site says the "Happy Family" dolls are designed to satisfy the desire for nurturing play by girls age 5 to 8, and can be "a wonderful prop for parents to use with their children to role-play family situations — especially in families anticipating the arrival of a new sibling."<br /><br />Manager Bill Boehmer of the KB Toys store in Northeast Philadelphia's Roosevelt Mall said the doll was selling well, and he had heard no negative responses from customers.<br /><br />"I've had people laugh, but I haven't had anyone say this was ridiculous or 'What are we trying to tell these kids?' or anything like that," Boehmer said.<br /><br />But at KB Toys in the Gallery mall in downtown Philadelphia reaction from last-minute Christmas shoppers was negative.<br /><br />"It's a bad idea. It promotes teenage pregnancy. What would an 8-year-old or 12-year-old get out of that doll baby?" asked Sabrina Fagan, 29, of Philadelphia.<br /></span></span>E.http://www.blogger.com/profile/07509313799340626865noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7398963859820080638.post-49841467208930584532008-04-25T10:13:00.018-04:002008-05-02T12:04:01.930-04:00Fave Fives - April Edition.It's that time of the month again. No... not <em>that</em> time of the month - it's time for my "fave five" where I bring you five of my most favorite things of the month - think a very low budget <em>Oprah's favorite things. </em><div><em></em><span class="Apple-style-span" style="FONT-STYLE: italic"><br /></span><div><em></em><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="COLOR: rgb(204,0,0)">5) Daily Candy -</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="FONT-STYLE: italic"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="COLOR: rgb(204,0,0)"> </span><br /></span><div><em></em><span class="Apple-style-span" style="FONT-STYLE: italic"><br /></span><div><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhwiS_7SdnZl63n8198jZwYqPfrgOTGgFT2X0qLhsMPeeOYShc4sAaO5xhrkAu_UQ_jOS74bGf90Sb4IAapwr1XZkyMI1MS8wudNFcG49bQZCddVH2r6DD_phyCDsBo7ftGCQfQ-jo-gQQ/s1600-h/womanShopper.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5193229042048688130" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhwiS_7SdnZl63n8198jZwYqPfrgOTGgFT2X0qLhsMPeeOYShc4sAaO5xhrkAu_UQ_jOS74bGf90Sb4IAapwr1XZkyMI1MS8wudNFcG49bQZCddVH2r6DD_phyCDsBo7ftGCQfQ-jo-gQQ/s320/womanShopper.jpg" border="0" /></a>My number five this month is a website called <a href="http://www.dailycandy.com/">Daily Candy</a>. It'<span class="Apple-style-span" style="FONT-STYLE: italic">s a free daily e-mail from the front lines of fashion, food, and fun. Sign up to get the scoop on hot new restaurants, designers, secret nooks, and charming diversions in your city and beyond.</span></div><div>I've been receiving these tiny morsels of coolness in my email every day for years now. It's completely free and they provide you with the scoop on only the newest, coolest, fashion, gadgets, websites and everything else. You can sign up to get the events and specific happenings for your own city or you can sign up for the nationwide events and websites. I love it. How else would I have known about <a href="http://www.gocakego.com/so-how-does-it-work.html">'GoCakeGo</a>', a website that allows you to order a birthday party in a box- complete with a delicious cake and colorful party favors. Or, the <a href="http://www.ohmibod.com/">OhmyBod</a> umm... <span class="Apple-style-span" style="FONT-STYLE: italic">personal stimulator</span>? Think, an ipod that really satisfies (wink).<br /></div><div></div><div></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="COLOR: rgb(255,0,0)"></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="COLOR: rgb(255,0,0)">4)</span> <span class="Apple-style-span" style="COLOR: rgb(255,0,0)">Gone Baby Gone</span> -<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgDf5d2F_V2aF8InHLmhKHCF2WF9ELMKGKEs7XZ51r-QfoLnDpG-xDicKzlfUfO5Ke6TL-IYRmR6S_qNYTQcNPDeaovI-7PXtA2UH6dOMQZ-JFJjtHo_g_HYDcRlaBx6IHWiI-q7c4rAYY/s1600-h/gone_baby_gone_poster.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5194336168653479954" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgDf5d2F_V2aF8InHLmhKHCF2WF9ELMKGKEs7XZ51r-QfoLnDpG-xDicKzlfUfO5Ke6TL-IYRmR6S_qNYTQcNPDeaovI-7PXtA2UH6dOMQZ-JFJjtHo_g_HYDcRlaBx6IHWiI-q7c4rAYY/s320/gone_baby_gone_poster.jpg" border="0" /></a></div><div>I <span class="Apple-style-span" style="FONT-STYLE: italic">just</span> saw this movie (compliments of blockbuster online) last weekend. I had 'slept on it', so to speak, when it came out in theaters last year and only added it to my blockbuster queue recently for the heck of it. I thought, "It's a film written and directed by the guy who starred in '<a href="http://blog.cohnwolfe.com/wolftracking/files/2007/10/gigli1.gif">Gigli</a>' -- <span class="Apple-style-span" style="FONT-STYLE: italic">one of the worst movies of all time--</span> and it stars his baby brother. How good could it be?" I didn't expect to like it, I didn't want to like it. But, the movie , as well as little brother Casey completely <span class="Apple-style-span" style="FONT-STYLE: italic">blew me away</span>. Gone Baby Gone is a crime drama based on the novel by Dennis Lehane. The story begins with the disappearance of a toddler who's mother is a drug addict and a typical strung out junkie with all the trimmings. The child's aunt hires a private detective (Affleck) to assist the police in trying to find her. The twists, turns and surprises begin from there and don't stop until the credits roll. By the end you find yourself asking the questions, 'what would I have done' and, 'is the right thing always the <span class="Apple-style-span" style="FONT-STYLE: italic">right</span> thing?'. It definitely got me thinking, a goal many movies aspire to but few actually accomplish. Gone Baby Gone was nominated for an Oscar and also stars Morgan Freeman, Ed Harris, Amy Ryan and Michelle Monaghan. If you've been sleeping on it like I have, rent it today! Also see :The Assasination of Jesse James also starring Casey Affleck and Brad Pitt. I predict we're going to be talking about Casey for a long time into the future. He's extremely talented. </div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="COLOR: rgb(204,0,0)">3) Cost-Co -<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi-qg21hulC87CdeV6dcANYx2gKGE1T86s0mM86CIkMqCrF0ZW8O7QC_qF_n8SIMoSfYggE2mbz5FZTb2OCKWwpphg8DrSuEwzvQuIcQxRkg9cuUPAi7ZdYFDvDG1yfUygYGGsKqOwySaM/s1600-h/cards.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5194689730361286690" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi-qg21hulC87CdeV6dcANYx2gKGE1T86s0mM86CIkMqCrF0ZW8O7QC_qF_n8SIMoSfYggE2mbz5FZTb2OCKWwpphg8DrSuEwzvQuIcQxRkg9cuUPAi7ZdYFDvDG1yfUygYGGsKqOwySaM/s320/cards.jpg" border="0" /></a><span class="Apple-style-span"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="COLOR: rgb(0,153,0)">Do</span></span><span class="Apple-style-span"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="COLOR: rgb(0,153,0)">n't laugh! Where I come from, a 24 hour store that sells EVERYTHING like Wal-mart is unheard of. Similarly, a whole-sale mega-store like Cost-co or Sam's club? Nope. So you cant blame me for being a little excited that I can now say I'm literally a 'card-carrying member'. It was a proud day to pose for my picture and then add my new Cost-Co membership card to my</span></span><span class="Apple-style-span"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="COLOR: rgb(0,153,0)"> wallet.</span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="COLOR: rgb(51,0,51)"> <span class="Apple-style-span" style="COLOR: rgb(204,0,0)">[</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="FONT-STYLE: italic"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="COLOR: rgb(204,0,0)">Note: that's not my actual wallet in the picture above. My wallet has many more unnecessary receipts,credit cards I haven't used in ages, random business cards for businesses/people that I have no intention of doing business with and other meaningless crap]</span></span></span></span></div><div>Anyway, I'm loving Cost-co: the quality, the selection, the convenience of having almost everything you could ever need and want in one place and most of all the prices! Also, their eatery is a great place to get a really delicious, really cheap lunch or dinner. Yum!</div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="COLOR: rgb(204,0,0)">2)The Cheesecake Factory's 'Blackout Cake' - <a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj6hzImU8V3owtMeSKyjaQswgt6Sx-BVdHAa3eNdHGNzTtNzBCNUIMd88MpWxrpAbbeOLVh-JMlif00vphLjNaP2yVXkBFUMmYu4m5qEgi60BqT6qrb0wBDG3XiEeDmOBrOcd_-lgH8YL8/s1600-h/menu_Blackout_Cake-1.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5194698715432869938" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj6hzImU8V3owtMeSKyjaQswgt6Sx-BVdHAa3eNdHGNzTtNzBCNUIMd88MpWxrpAbbeOLVh-JMlif00vphLjNaP2yVXkBFUMmYu4m5qEgi60BqT6qrb0wBDG3XiEeDmOBrOcd_-lgH8YL8/s320/menu_Blackout_Cake-1.jpg" border="0" /></a></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span"></span>Okay, I knew The Cheesecake Factory had amazing cheesecake - my favorite is the Banana Cream; to quote the fabulous <a href="http://www.lovebscott.com/">B. Scott</a>, "Take me higher Lord!" - but I had no idea how equally amazing their other desserts were. I found out recently when my girlfriend surprised me by bringing me home a slice of their wonderful Blackout Cake. Here's what their online menu says about it. "<span style="FONT-STYLE: italic">Our Deepest, Richest, Most Fudgy Chocolate Cake Filled with Chocolate Chips and Finished with Almonds." </span><span style="font-size:0;">Yeahhhhhhh that's about right, but I would've added, <span class="Apple-style-span" style="FONT-STYLE: italic">F</span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="FONT-STYLE: italic">udge combined with moist cake feels like silk when they first enter your mouth, that rich, bold chocolate flavor explodes on your tongue and then you crunch on those tasty almonds and instantly you know what the food in heaven must taste like. :) To quote B. Scott once more, "...Splendiferous..absolutely di-vine". </span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="FONT-STYLE: italic"><br /></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="FONT-STYLE: italic"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="COLOR: rgb(204,0,0)">1)Spirit and E=MC2</span><br /><br /></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="FONT-STYLE: italic"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="COLOR: rgb(204,0,0)"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhA8bCS0ly7kRMVWbC8XS2tg4DhCuZ2Aqqjq58bPumWbmmwUHRiAznPOTp0owMFyOCkQqkFHEmgYinuKGCkpiKxbuOEP7fuFNFIbGB2qu4z7dMSwzPJreXhkTl4MX9I_QdLYoxV7NCtu0E/s1600-h/leona.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5194708366224384082" style="FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; CURSOR: hand" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhA8bCS0ly7kRMVWbC8XS2tg4DhCuZ2Aqqjq58bPumWbmmwUHRiAznPOTp0owMFyOCkQqkFHEmgYinuKGCkpiKxbuOEP7fuFNFIbGB2qu4z7dMSwzPJreXhkTl4MX9I_QdLYoxV7NCtu0E/s320/leona.jpg" border="0" /></a></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="COLOR: rgb(204,0,0); FONT-STYLE: italic"></span></div></div></div><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhFOZARPURVu0AK1X1AKrK1YoJmOiG1G5MGso2_iMvVswL419sEfaRRrwoKr33yHrxCFnqz5DMMuKgb0aNHJ7Lam_xdxlvAC1r5pgv-MZOU9OBrFmIKVLrupwTL29_WveuGepR-6EA-GjE/s1600-h/mariah.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5194709096368824418" style="FLOAT: right; MARGIN: 0px 0px 10px 10px; CURSOR: hand" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhFOZARPURVu0AK1X1AKrK1YoJmOiG1G5MGso2_iMvVswL419sEfaRRrwoKr33yHrxCFnqz5DMMuKgb0aNHJ7Lam_xdxlvAC1r5pgv-MZOU9OBrFmIKVLrupwTL29_WveuGepR-6EA-GjE/s320/mariah.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><br /><br /><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /></div><div> </div><div> </div><div>She's the first British solo act to have a debut album top the charts in the US. Ever since she won <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pop_Idol">Pop Idol,</a> critics have been comparing her to every great female singer of our time. But I've never been one to listen to all the hype. We all know critics can be licking your boots one minute and kicking you with <span class="Apple-style-span" style="FONT-STYLE: italic">their</span> boots the next. So it wasn't until I watched Leona Lewis for myself, during her live performance on Oprah, that I was I forced to agree with them. I found myself in awe of her performance, her humility but obviously the real appeal are her pipes. The girl has a voice even more beautiful that she is. </div><div><div><br /><div>Mariah Carey knows all too well that one of the trappings of fame is a fickle media . Not too long ago they were deeming her certifiable - now, understandably, she's the subject of their unworthy praise. She's a 'rare bird' in the industry, someone who can scrape their way up from the bottom once is amazing enough - much less twice! She's proven her undeniable talent and her clear intelligence once again and no one's calling her crazy now. </div><div><br /></div><div>Despite the comparison between the two, Mariah Carey, the seasoned vet with the most number one singles of any American artist, and the talented new girl on the block who's already making an impressive notch for herself in a worldwide arena, their current albums are both unique and amazing to hear. I've been playing them both non-stop because they remind me of a time when music was ....well, good. Remember when you could tell the artist and their team really put time, love and dedication into their project? When every song took you on a journey to a new place and a new emotion instead of 75% of the album being dedicated to songs about picking someone up in a bar? When an album consisted of 17 tracks (without interludes) that were well worth the money? Well, if you're nostalgic for the good ole days like I was, pick up both these albums and see why they both get the coveted number one spot on my faves list. </div><div><br /></div><div>See <a href="http://coffeemakesyoublack.blogspot.com/2008/02/in-honor-of-valentines-day-here-are-few.html"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="COLOR: rgb(255,0,0)">February's Fave Fives</span></a><span class="Apple-style-span" style="COLOR: rgb(255,0,0)">, </span>See<span class="Apple-style-span" style="COLOR: rgb(255,0,0)"> </span><a href="http://coffeemakesyoublack.blogspot.com/2008/03/marchs-fave-fives.html"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="COLOR: rgb(255,0,0)">March's Fave Fives</span></a></div></div></div></div>E.http://www.blogger.com/profile/07509313799340626865noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7398963859820080638.post-92081177643894863112008-04-25T09:58:00.004-04:002008-04-25T10:07:16.099-04:00Wonders Never Cease!<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg4bM_GEkL4BDtV1Tpcn0vG4GTLJqZI8Rhm8TladxkoN6An89BSroFvmJMI1OouaRTikQ1pUOE9k329d0PgtVV4As3-EUx2DgsBSQPPgLyKNJczR6mwstTxdgDehEwMeT2H-PCfEtILMdg/s1600-h/sean_bell_narrowweb__300x374,0.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg4bM_GEkL4BDtV1Tpcn0vG4GTLJqZI8Rhm8TladxkoN6An89BSroFvmJMI1OouaRTikQ1pUOE9k329d0PgtVV4As3-EUx2DgsBSQPPgLyKNJczR6mwstTxdgDehEwMeT2H-PCfEtILMdg/s400/sean_bell_narrowweb__300x374,0.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5193183571229925362" /></a><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'trebuchet ms';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style=""><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(255, 204, 51);">NEW YORK - Three detectives were acquitted of all charges Friday in the 50-shot killing of an unarmed groom-to-be on his wedding day, a case that put the New York Police Department at the center of another dispute involving allegations of excessive firepower.<br /><br />Justice Arthur Cooperman delivered the verdict in a Queens courtroom packed with spectators, including victim Sean Bell's fiancee and parents, as at least 200 people gathered outside the building.<br /><br />As word of the verdict spread, many outside the courthouse began crying and yelled "No!" Some briefly jostled with police officers.<br />Bell, a 23-year-old black man, was killed in a hail of gunfire outside a strip club in Queens on Nov. 25, 2006 — his wedding day — as he was leaving his bachelor party with two friends.<br /><br />The officers, complaining that pretrial publicity had unfairly painted them as cold-blooded killers, opted to have the judge decide the case rather than a jury.<br /><br />Officers Michael Oliver, 36, and Gescard Isnora, 29, stood trial for manslaughter while Officer Marc Cooper, 40, was charged only with reckless endangerment. Two other shooters weren't charged. Oliver squeezed off 31 shots; Isnora fired 11 rounds; and Cooper shot four times.<br /><br />A conviction on manslaughter could have brought up to 25 years in prison; the penalty for reckless endangerment, a misdemeanor, is a year behind bars.<br /><br /></span></span></span><span style=""><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'trebuchet ms';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style=""><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-weight: bold;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(255, 102, 0);">Painful memories of other NYPD cases</span></span></span></span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'trebuchet ms';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style=""><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(255, 204, 51);"><br />The case brought back painful memories of other NYPD shootings, such as the 1999 shooting of Amadou Diallo — an African immigrant who was gunned down in a hail of 41 bullets by police officers who mistook his wallet for a gun. The acquittal of the officers in that case created a storm of protest, with hundreds arrested after taking to the streets in demonstration.<br /><br />The mood surrounding this case has been muted by comparison, although Bell's fiancee, parents and their supporters, including the Rev. Al Sharpton, have held rallies demanding that the officers — two of whom are black — be held accountable.<br /><br />The defendants, who were investigating reports of prostitution at the Kalua Cabaret, say they became alarmed when they heard Bell and his friends trade insults around the 4 a.m. closing time with another patron who appeared to be armed. In grand jury testimony, Isnora claimed that he overheard one of Bell's companions, Joseph Guzman, say, "Yo, go get my gun."<br /><br />Isnora responded by trailing Bell, Guzman and Trent Benefield to Bell's car. He insisted that he ordered the men to halt and that he and other officers began shooting only after Bell bumped him with his car and slammed into an unmarked police van while trying to flee.<br /><br />Guzman and Benefield both played down the dispute outside the club. They also testified that they were unaware police were watching them and that the gunfire erupted without warning.</span></span></span>E.http://www.blogger.com/profile/07509313799340626865noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7398963859820080638.post-70479474236953611052008-04-23T14:15:00.002-04:002008-04-23T14:18:49.884-04:00Top Ten Reasons Gay Marriage is Wrong!<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(255, 204, 0);">1) Homosexuality is not natural. Real people always reject unnatural things like eyeglasses, polyester, and air conditioning.<br /><br />2) Gay marriage will encourage people to be gay in the same way that hanging around tall people will encourage you to be tall.<br /><br />3) Legalizing gay marriage will open the door to all kinds of crazy behavior. People may even wish to marry their pets because a dog has legal standing and can sign a marriage contract.<br /><br />4) Heterosexual marriage has been around a long time and hasn’t changed at all -- women are still property, blacks still aren’t supposed to marry whites.<br /><br />5) Straight marriage will be less meaningful if homosexual marriage were allowed; the sanctity of Brittany Spears’ 55-hour just-for-fun marriage would be destroyed! <br /><br />6) Heterosexual marriages are valid because they produce children. Homosexual couples, infertile couples, and old people shouldn’t be allowed to marry because our orphanages aren’t full yet, and the world needs more children.<br /><br />7) Obviously gay parents will raise gay children since straight parents only raise straight children.<br /><br />8) Gay marriage is not supported by religion. In a theocracy like ours, the values of one religion are imposed on the entire country. That’s why we have only one religion in North America.<br /><br />9) Children can never succeed without a male and a female role model at home. That’s why we as a society expressly forbid single parents to raise children.<br /><br />10) Gay marriage will change the foundation of society; we could never adapt to new social norms. Just like we haven’t adapted to cars, the service-sector economy, or longer life spans</span>E.http://www.blogger.com/profile/07509313799340626865noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7398963859820080638.post-48423682637911137322008-04-22T11:00:00.003-04:002008-04-22T11:31:07.412-04:00Our Dying World...<div><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjfzct4UwnsN5OA0lkM3ZVnmmOnNoxc66BIEN2WGYZNeaUTneyRywpIXzla0GSJDCk3m5aJTEmqR-HVDk5eQn9r1Rjb8kwAyjWZlRQk5nParcUtEmblGC7cuLnyqv9mQSphHkcN1zvTu3w/s1600-h/arcadio.gif"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjfzct4UwnsN5OA0lkM3ZVnmmOnNoxc66BIEN2WGYZNeaUTneyRywpIXzla0GSJDCk3m5aJTEmqR-HVDk5eQn9r1Rjb8kwAyjWZlRQk5nParcUtEmblGC7cuLnyqv9mQSphHkcN1zvTu3w/s400/arcadio.gif" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5192084888530837474" /></a><br /><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'trebuchet ms';">Whenever, I think of the state of our world - the war, the famine, the poverty, the hopelessness, the crime, the pollution, the hate and all the injustice - I think of a few lines from the song, </span><span style="font-style:italic;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'trebuchet ms';">One Song </span></span><span style=""><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'trebuchet ms';">by Tevin Campbell. He sings:</span></span><div><div style="text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-style: italic;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'trebuchet ms';">There's just one sun, that warms our day. The same moon and stars, light our way. This little ball, whirling in space; it's our only home, our only place.</span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'trebuchet ms';"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'trebuchet ms';">I believe if we all thought of the world that way, as a little ball floating in a vast universe;all we have - then maybe we'd learn to love and value each other more and we'd learn to love and value our planet more as well. </span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-style: italic;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'trebuchet ms';">Jus</span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-style: italic;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'trebuchet ms';">t imagine what tomorrow would bring, if we all sing, 'one song'.</span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'trebuchet ms';"> Happy Earth Day.</span></div><br /><object width="425" height="355"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/u8pn6QJDMEM&hl=en"><param name="wmode" value="transparent"><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/u8pn6QJDMEM&hl=en" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" wmode="transparent" width="425" height="355"></embed></object></div></div>E.http://www.blogger.com/profile/07509313799340626865noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7398963859820080638.post-39926846083165413882008-04-22T10:14:00.006-04:002008-04-22T10:47:46.027-04:00Everyday Should Be Earth Day - Reduce Your Carbon Footprint<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjk4koKBsGhi6y4NwWk4cWp5tAU4e46U7FfEjKl1zBq-htw74s3qxfCP1OCgrIoPUv49qMdtqPPn6fUKVmeiLIit1uy5R9lUtgaIGqcowhUTuUuhzxL0yTu9561b4uNtiCEw9ucwD5nEHc/s1600-h/20070705_earth.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjk4koKBsGhi6y4NwWk4cWp5tAU4e46U7FfEjKl1zBq-htw74s3qxfCP1OCgrIoPUv49qMdtqPPn6fUKVmeiLIit1uy5R9lUtgaIGqcowhUTuUuhzxL0yTu9561b4uNtiCEw9ucwD5nEHc/s320/20070705_earth.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5192080121117138898" /></a>There are many simple ways to reduce the footprint you leave on the planet. Learn how to reduce your footprint in each consumption category–carbon, food, housing, and goods and services—but don’t stop there. Amplify your impact by encouraging others to follow your lead. Engage your friends and community with local and global movements for social change, or start your own movement! <br /><br /><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(153, 102, 51);">REDUCE YOUR CARBON FOOTPRINT</span><br /><ul><li><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-style: italic; ">Use cleaner transport</span><br /></li><li>Walk, bike, or take public transit whenever possible.<br /></li><li>Avoid allowing your car to idle. If you’ll be waiting for more than 30 seconds, turn off the engine (except in traffic). And don’t take the drive-through—park the car and walk inside instead.<br /></li><li>Have your vehicle serviced regularly to keep the emission control systems operating at peak efficiency. Check your car's air filter monthly, and keep the tires adequately inflated to maximize gas mileage.<br /></li><li>Avoid short airplane trips—take a bus or train instead.<br /></li><li>Add energy-saving features to your home<br /></li><li>Install compact fluorescent bulbs in all your home light fixtures—but remember, compact fluorescents contain mercury, so look for low-mercury models and be sure to dispose of old bulbs safely through your local hazardous waste program.<br /></li><li>Weatherproof your home. Make sure your walls and ceilings are insulated, and consider double-pane windows. Eliminate drafts with caulking, weather strips, and storm windows and doors.<br /></li><li>Insulate your water heater. Even better, switch to a tankless water heater, so your water will be heated only as you use it.<br /></li><li>Choose energy efficient appliances.<br /></li><li>Adopt energy-saving habits<br /></li><li>Keep thermostat relatively low in winter and ease up on the air conditioning in summer. Clean or replace dirty air conditioner filters as recommended to keep the A/C operating at peak efficiency.<br /></li><li>Unplug your electronics when not in use. To make it easier, use a power strip. Even when turned off, items like your television, computer, and cellphone charger still sip power.<br /></li><li>Dry your clothes outside whenever possible.<br /></li><li>Make minimal use of power equipment when landscaping.<br /></li><li>Defrost your refrigerator and freezer regularly.<br /></li><li>Choose green electricity. Many utilities give you the option to purchase electricity generated by wind and solar power for a small rate surcharge.<br /></li><li>Purchase carbon offsets to make up for the energy use you can’t eliminate.<br /></li></ul><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(153, 102, 51);">REDUCE YOUR FOOD FOOTPRINT</span><br /><ul><li>Eat more local, organic, in-season foods.<br /></li><li>Plant a garden—it doesn’t get more local than that.<br /></li><li>Shop at your local farmer’s market or natural foods store. Look for local, in-season foods that haven’t traveled long distances to reach you.<br /></li><li>Choose foods with less packaging to reduce waste.<br /></li><li>Eat lower on the food chain—going meatless for just one meal a week can make a difference. Globally, it has been estimated that 18% of all greenhouse gas emissions are associated with meat consumption.<br /></li></ul><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(153, 102, 51);">REDUCE YOUR HOUSING FOOTPRINT</span><br /><ul><li>Choose sustainable building materials, furnishings, and cleaning products.<br /></li><li>Explore green design features for your building, like passive solar heating, a rainwater catchment or grey water recycling system, and recycled materials.<br /></li><li>Choose efficient appliances, including low flow shower heads, faucets, and toilets.<br /></li><li>Choose furnishings that are second-hand, recycled, or sustainably produced.<br /></li><li>Plant drought tolerant plants in your garden and yard.<br /></li><li>Use biodegradable, non-toxic cleaning products.<br /></li><li>Adopt water-saving habits<br /></li><li>Take shorter, less frequent showers—this not only saves water, but the energy necessary to heat it.<br /></li><li>Don’t use the garbage disposal. Compost instead.<br /></li><li>Run the dishwasher and the laundry machine only when full.<br /></li><li>Wash cars rarely, or better yet, take them to a carwash. Commercial carwashes use less water per wash than home washers, and they are also required to drain used water into the sewage system, rather than storm drains, which protects aquatic life.<br /></li><li>Avoid hosing down or power-washing your deck, walkways, or driveway.<br /></li><li>Regularly look for and fix leaks.<br /></li></ul><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(102, 102, 0);">REDUCE YOUR GOODS AND SERVICES FOOTPRINT</span><br /><ul><li>Buy less! Replace items only when you really need to.<br /></li><li>Recycle all your paper, glass, aluminum, and plastic. Don’t forget electronics!<br /></li><li>Compost food waste for the garden. Garbage that is not contaminated with degradable (biological) waste can be more easily recycled and sorted, and doesn't produce methane gases (a significant greenhouse gas contributor) when stored in a landfill.<br /></li><li>Buy recycled products, particularly those labeled "post-consumer waste."<br /></li></ul><div> </div><div>Take the <a href="http://www.myfootprint.org/en/visitor_information/">Quiz</a> and find out how big <span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-style: italic;">your</span> carbon footprint is.</div>E.http://www.blogger.com/profile/07509313799340626865noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7398963859820080638.post-59527606058684512142008-04-21T07:59:00.007-04:002008-04-21T10:10:16.316-04:00Oh those clever,clever Japanese!We all know how creative the Japanese are and now we can all further benefit by their ingenuity without leaving the country. The Japan Trend Shop is a website that allows the average person to order these 'anything-but-average' cool, new gadgets and inventions. There are hundreds of amazing items to choose from ranging in price from about $20 to about $5,000! I just had to share some of my faves! <div><br /></div><div>Who wouldn't want this item right before a big date? Before going in for that goodnight kiss, it may be in your best interest to excuse yourself and check that breath with the <a href="http://www.kilian-nakamura.com/catalog/etiquette-checker-bad-breath-and-alcohol-test-p-218.html">Etiquette Checker.</a></div><div><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhcy8s7jd3BNLOWlfkqDynLvzJ2oLTHB8PSZhfjFh4NLAggPK3mQjqmOs7M60QGgviosQE2h74bRp_91N_bVfqHmtikdXurcLJBjZ8Bx-pvzq0MBKBgmARvsIF5SsxlCcF_3EhfRew7BWA/s1600-h/bad-breath.gif"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhcy8s7jd3BNLOWlfkqDynLvzJ2oLTHB8PSZhfjFh4NLAggPK3mQjqmOs7M60QGgviosQE2h74bRp_91N_bVfqHmtikdXurcLJBjZ8Bx-pvzq0MBKBgmARvsIF5SsxlCcF_3EhfRew7BWA/s320/bad-breath.gif" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5191674219985978002" /></a><br /><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-weight: bold;">Etiquette Checker - bad breath and alcohol test.</span><br /><br /><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-style: italic;">Wondering if your breath is as bad as you think it is? Don’t realize how bad it is because you’ve had a bit too much too drink?Now you can check BOTH the quality of your breath and how alcohol level with the Etiquette Checker from TopMan. Simply breath into the tester and get your results! Your breath is ranked good to bad from 1-6, and alcohol level in 0.5 increments.<br /><object width="425" height="373"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/ofXVUNkl2KM&rel=0&border=1&color1=0x006699&color2=0x54abd6"><param name="wmode" value="transparent"><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/ofXVUNkl2KM&rel=0&border=1&color1=0x006699&color2=0x54abd6" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" wmode="transparent" width="425" height="373"></embed></object></span></div><div><br /></div>Kiss your ordinary Piggy Bank goodbye! <a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg7dHtAeUb3LnNQuVpB75h2Etv67d4nc6V0qfhd4sHeRY-J62sh-vfoIHgz7slcASNAyi90pkI1xwktLHnohpmxACdLbfUii4j2c7id3djvaVrXaYFQkSR9id5NndYTi2kN1_G6pwjHTPs/s1600-h/banpresto_facebank.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg7dHtAeUb3LnNQuVpB75h2Etv67d4nc6V0qfhd4sHeRY-J62sh-vfoIHgz7slcASNAyi90pkI1xwktLHnohpmxACdLbfUii4j2c7id3djvaVrXaYFQkSR9id5NndYTi2kN1_G6pwjHTPs/s320/banpresto_facebank.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5191679940882416290" /></a><div><div><br /><div>This is toooo cute. It's called the <a href="http://www.kilian-nakamura.com/catalog/facebank-from-banpresto-p-219.html">FaceBank</a> for obvious reasons. Feed it a coin and watch it actually chew and swallow it, complete with sound and a moving mouth and eyes. I may just have to order one for my unborn niece so that as soon as she's born she'll be able to start saving her pennies. It comes in a variety of colors and uses three AAA batteries. <br /><object width="425" height="355"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/3Fl_d5JYc0w"><param name="wmode" value="transparent"><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/3Fl_d5JYc0w" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" wmode="transparent" width="425" height="355"></embed></object><br /><br /></div><div>Get ready to start your morning off with a bang! We've all wanted to throw the alarm clock against the wall at 6 am (some of us have actually given in to the urge). It's a habit that could really ruin a clock...not to mention a wall. Not with the <a href="http://www.kilian-nakamura.com/catalog/hand-grenade-alarm-clock-buy-toyo-p-175.html">hand grenade alarm</a> clock though. <br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjeSNGlHXUgzf2kEWMTcNl4Bt4CHawEr1csEBGh6t-IiifloOiFUaOFQ8a-iiFwl3_-acEJMMkMlACAc8C599cYuXThdCP6LFefQ_JjfzDIFSI1FNglwP3mH59k01xTsY5uarnLX8QvLos/s1600-h/hand_grenade_alarm_clock.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjeSNGlHXUgzf2kEWMTcNl4Bt4CHawEr1csEBGh6t-IiifloOiFUaOFQ8a-iiFwl3_-acEJMMkMlACAc8C599cYuXThdCP6LFefQ_JjfzDIFSI1FNglwP3mH59k01xTsY5uarnLX8QvLos/s320/hand_grenade_alarm_clock.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5191686671096169138" /></a></div><div> It's designed to be thrown. In fact, throwing it is the only way to turn it off! Very Cool.</div><div><br /></div><div>There are many,many more interesting gadgets on the <a href="http://www.kilian-nakamura.com/catalog/index.php">site</a>. Check it out. </div><div><br /></div></div></div>E.http://www.blogger.com/profile/07509313799340626865noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7398963859820080638.post-11550854843621814562008-04-18T10:23:00.020-04:002008-04-19T20:17:18.787-04:00Ape Sex<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'trebuchet ms';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(153, 102, 51);">My girlfriend is an interesting creature. She gets her news both from CNN and <span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-style: italic;">PerezHilton</span>. Her favorite TV shows consist of both smart, medical shows as well as <span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-style: italic;">Hannah Montana</span>. Her favorite reading material? - <span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-style: italic;">Harry Potter</span> and <span class="Apple-style-span" style="">TIME</span> magazine! Eccentric. But I love her anyway. </span></span><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(153, 102, 51); font-family:'trebuchet ms';"><br /></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'trebuchet ms';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(153, 102, 51);">I've become a TIME lover now myself because of her but I usually don't get around to reading the articles until after she's done with them. So she's able to point me in the right direction of the most interesting and eyebrow-raising articles. The other day she turned me on to an article she said I just <span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-style: italic;">had</span> to read in the latest issue. It was about <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bonobo">Bonobo Apes</a> .They're really fascinating creatures that make their homes in the wild of the Congo. </span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(153, 102, 51); font-family:'trebuchet ms';"><br /></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'trebuchet ms';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(153, 102, 51);">What makes them so interesting is not just their incredibly peaceful nature - which is far more peaceful than any other species of Apes. Apes are known for beating their females, killing their infants and other forms of torture. What's really interesting about the Bonobos is not only are they incredibly peaceful, it's the </span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-style: italic;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'trebuchet ms';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(153, 102, 51);">way</span></span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'trebuchet ms';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(153, 102, 51);"> in which they resolve their conflicts. They have sex! Wild, passionate, sensual sex like only apes can (I assume)</span></span><div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'trebuchet ms';"><br /></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'trebuchet ms';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(153, 102, 51);">I'm talking ....straight sex :</span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(153, 102, 51); font-family:'trebuchet ms';"><br /></span></div><div><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiQAmGckOUwfF74bn5BnN7sR2daT3A4OH-FfwFEH6PFuPmUAGKsBieHvw0moXdFTkDAOdFa-_ypiiPBwMLpSNt4GEv8HoyKwBGJCMWNZRL0VUfbPWyqFf4dmh5XWOepprzs1IW95DKmK-U/s1600-h/straightcrop.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiQAmGckOUwfF74bn5BnN7sR2daT3A4OH-FfwFEH6PFuPmUAGKsBieHvw0moXdFTkDAOdFa-_ypiiPBwMLpSNt4GEv8HoyKwBGJCMWNZRL0VUfbPWyqFf4dmh5XWOepprzs1IW95DKmK-U/s400/straightcrop.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5190597900108018290" /></a><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'trebuchet ms';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(153, 102, 51);">Gay/Lesbian Sex: (These are two Females) </span></span><br /></div><div><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhkVHXwXUrY4aRTU-CbdtUz0qbFhxfhFHJUHYwgnDF4uD7KtcD49zuF-0061lz9w0bWfOwoF1ysiDduxWTfD_w_uW6CZjvBNoVyXuzLJZnVY2BUNBuuzxNrtDzFXNZJ_ptwmm8wf8-ff28/s1600-h/bonobo_female_sex.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhkVHXwXUrY4aRTU-CbdtUz0qbFhxfhFHJUHYwgnDF4uD7KtcD49zuF-0061lz9w0bWfOwoF1ysiDduxWTfD_w_uW6CZjvBNoVyXuzLJZnVY2BUNBuuzxNrtDzFXNZJ_ptwmm8wf8-ff28/s320/bonobo_female_sex.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5190599102698861186" /></a></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'trebuchet ms';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(153, 102, 51);">"Solo" Sex:</span></span></div><div><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjgN90HzEcRxeuy1p2WvFUmwLrrhtmFFsB3z9ywISY6IWGrkQaFau-_hgEJecY15KzAeQSzVGm_Xqh0K1Z5YAXj7_ghO_8JDTO2F55mHFB6WgT7_ojxO9gDwkjoeiLYMsyKGOLC0nV81ns/s1600-h/bonobo2.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjgN90HzEcRxeuy1p2WvFUmwLrrhtmFFsB3z9ywISY6IWGrkQaFau-_hgEJecY15KzAeQSzVGm_Xqh0K1Z5YAXj7_ghO_8JDTO2F55mHFB6WgT7_ojxO9gDwkjoeiLYMsyKGOLC0nV81ns/s320/bonobo2.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5190606936719209138" /></a></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'trebuchet ms';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(153, 102, 51);">and even Bisexual and Group Sex:</span></span><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhQYt_DaiVl3_yK04vnmYtd_E3H50wvIW7NnGYL-moy49DNTG1l190GWUzZ6mKHbTgHGVWqXgltj80Cgd6wiSY8a9yJoZjIc84L2SXKMaODzrnS4DMuHh3ovDLXgcr4WpFUk8KLmo2EvQE/s1600-h/group.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhQYt_DaiVl3_yK04vnmYtd_E3H50wvIW7NnGYL-moy49DNTG1l190GWUzZ6mKHbTgHGVWqXgltj80Cgd6wiSY8a9yJoZjIc84L2SXKMaODzrnS4DMuHh3ovDLXgcr4WpFUk8KLmo2EvQE/s320/group.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5190601555125187218" /></a><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'trebuchet ms';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(153, 102, 51);">Don't they look like they're plotting some exciting events for this young lady? If i were her I'd run as far away from these horny, little apes as possible.lol. Look at the one on top of her-he's just claimed that chick as his ''human biatch'' </span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'trebuchet ms';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(153, 102, 51);"><br /></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'trebuchet ms';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(153, 102, 51);">The article claims the Bonobos are most like humans in their looks and behavior. Check this chick out... </span></span><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEifhUu3VNgDsDXBvB3iV9FAwQxkP0x0ELBZJ67ULWnYFCSe3uZhhBU_7ZItnl6BoYDaB4WTbIq_COz3z4JdZFNwWAcNL5jjBdy2tNp1R3JD9pW7Jc-_SulVXOh9afrJ_DVkEC0ugHu19nQ/s1600-h/bonoboathletics.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEifhUu3VNgDsDXBvB3iV9FAwQxkP0x0ELBZJ67ULWnYFCSe3uZhhBU_7ZItnl6BoYDaB4WTbIq_COz3z4JdZFNwWAcNL5jjBdy2tNp1R3JD9pW7Jc-_SulVXOh9afrJ_DVkEC0ugHu19nQ/s320/bonoboathletics.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5190604621731836578" /></a></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'trebuchet ms';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(153, 102, 51);">Ape yoga maybe? :)</span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'trebuchet ms';"><br /></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'trebuchet ms';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(153, 102, 51);">The truth is we could learn a lot from them. What would happen if we... not necessarily had <span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-style: italic;">sex</span> with every person we were having a bit of an issue with - but what about at least showing that person a little bit of affection, some warmth, some understanding and yeah, some love. I bet we wouldn't be fighting so many meaningless wars right now. The world would definitely be a much better place. </span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(153, 102, 51); font-family:'trebuchet ms';"><br /></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(153, 102, 51); font-family:'trebuchet ms';">Further Reading: <a href="http://www.gettingit.com/article/533"></a></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(153, 102, 51); font-family:'trebuchet ms';"><a href="http://www.gettingit.com/article/533">Monkey Mojo </a></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(153, 102, 51); font-family:'trebuchet ms';"><a href="http://www.primates.com/bonobos/bonobosexsoc.html">Bonobo Sex and Society</a></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(153, 102, 51); font-family:'trebuchet ms';">Short <a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=amFdmB_t-DY&feature=related">YouTube</a> clip of them "getting it on"</span></div></div></div></div>E.http://www.blogger.com/profile/07509313799340626865noreply@blogger.com2