08/15/2008 @ 10:50am PST Friday, August 15th/Weekend "NEWS"! It's the one weekend Elvis fans everywhere, pause and remember! An Olympic accident that's hard to watch, and has Bigfoot been found? "BUZZ" Donald Trump bails out Ed McMahon, and Ellen & Portia quiet weekend wedding! "PHOTO GALLERY" (1974) Aspiring Actress Jayne Kennedy and #1 pop star Andy Kim!
HERE'S THE MOST VIEWED VIDEO OF ELVIS ON YOUTUBE TO DATE!
THEN THERE'S VINTAGE ELVIS FROM 1956 WITH "HEARTBREAK HOTEL" "LIVE" ON THE DORSEY BROTHERS STAGE SHOW, BEFORE ED SULLIVAN HAD ELVIS ON!
ONE OF THE GREAT FILM MUSIC MOMENTS EVER "JAILHOUSE ROCK"!
OF COURSE, WHO CAN FORGET HIS 1968 COMEBACK NBC-TV SPECIAL!
AND HIS FINAL SONG ON THE 1968 TV SPECIAL "IF I CAN DREAM"!
AND ONE FINAL NOTE ON THE 31ST ANNIVERSARY OF THE DEATH OF ELVIS!
It’s an autographed back of the Hilton International Hotel in Las Vegas menu from November 4, 1970 that Elvis signed for me. All the KHJ Boss Jocks were given tickets to Elvis opening at the Hilton in 1969, and quite a few of us went back when Elvis played there again in 1970, which you saw in the "In The Ghetto" video above!
This signed menu was part of my archives until years ago, when my now 28 year old youngest son, Bryan saw it and asked if he could have it, because he grew up to be a huge Elvis fan too. Bryan now has it framed and hanging proudly in his apartment, an authentic Elvis collector’s item.
MICHAEL PHELPS CONTINUE TO AMAZE THE WORLD AT THE BEIJING OLYMPICS!
BE SURE AND CHECK OUT MY 2004 INTERVIEW WITH MICHAEL PHELPS RIGHT AFTER THE ATHENS OLYMPICS 4 YEARS AGO, IN MY "CLIPS" LINK BELOW!
IN CASE YOU MISSED IT, HERE'S SOME STILL PHOTOGRAPHS OF THE WEIGHTLIFTING ACCIDENT THAT HAPPENED AT THE OLYMPICS AUGUST 13TH WHEN A 24-YEAR OLD HUNGARIAN POPPED HIS ELBOW OUT OF HIS SOCKET TRYING TO LIFT 326 POUNDS!
Janos Baranyai was trying to snatch 148kg (326 lbs.) in his third lift in the men's 77-kg division, when his elbow popped out of socket. No longer able to support the weight of the barbell, his right forearm bent backward. The 24-year-old Hungarian fell to the floor in shock, shaking and crying out in pain.
HAS BIGFOOT FINALLY BEEN FOUND IN GEORGIA. HERE'S FOX NEWS REPORT!
NEW PHISHING ALERT SPAM SCAM FROM HACKERS SPOOFING MSNBC ALERTS!
Hackers trying to plant malware on PCs have switched from touting news supposedly from CNN in come-on messages I warned you about on this "NEWS" blog earlier this week, to pushing breaking stories said to be from rival network MSNBC, security experts said today.
The fake messages pose with subject headings that include the phrase "Breaking News," along with phony headlines, such as "Jesus destroys Madonna's former home", "Jerry Yang relinquishes control over Yahoo," "Mary-Kate Olsen responsible for Heath Ledger's death" and "Plane crashes into prep school, hundreds of kids killed," said researchers at F-Secure Corp. and Sophos PLC.
Last week, security vendors had warned users of a massive scam that used messages masquerading as news alerts from CNN. At its peak, the blitz dumped nearly 11 million messages an hour on users.
The criminals who launched that attack are also behind today's switch to MSNBC, said Sam Masiello, MX Logic Inc.'s vice president of information security. "Typically, we see copycats shortly after a major campaign, but this was sent by the same people," said Masiello.
Like the CNN spam, the MSNBC messages include links claiming to offer the complete news stories. However, people who click on those links reach a faux-CNN site where a dialog box claims that an update to Adobe System Inc.'s Flash Player is necessary to view a video clip.
The bogus update -- named "adobe_flash.exe," according to Masiello -- is actually a Trojan horse identified by security vendors as "EncPk-DA" and "Exchanger.mn," among other names. The Trojan horse, in turn, "phones home" to a malicious server to grab and install more malware.
The MSNBC campaign may just be getting started, said Masiello, who estimated the volume at midday Wednesday at 1.5 million to 2 million messages per hour. "But remember, it took about three days for the CNN spam to peak," he said.
One clue that the new spam is from the same group is that the page popping up when users click on the malicious links contains the CNN logo, not MSNBC's.
The CNN spam and malware enticements prompted Adobe last week to issue a warning to PC users. "Do not download Flash Player from a site other than Adobe.com," said David Lenoe, the company's product security program manager, in an entry on a company blog. "If you get a notice to update, it's not a bad idea to go directly to the site of the software vendor and download the update directly from the source. If the download is from an unfamiliar URL or an IP address, you should be suspicious."
08/14/2008 @ 9:55am PST Thursday, August 14th! Back To School! So what's the average student cost getting ready for another school year? Plus ways to save, and the funniest excuses for being absent! "BUZZ" Shia LeBeouf back on "Transformers" set, and Madonna denies adoption rumors!
The National Retail Federation had BIGreserach conduct a survey to find out what the average consumer is spending on back to school:
" $234.51 for clothing " $151.61 for electronics " $109.75 for shoes " $ 98.37 for school supplies
Here's what the average consumer is spending on back to college:
" $555.69 spent on electronics " $266.83 for dorm or apartment furnishing like bedspreads, posters, answering machine, or microwave and fridge " $202.61 spent on clothing " $97.35 spent on shoes " $84.13 spent on school supplies " $82.53 for Collegiate branded gear and supplies
Where do they shop?
" 73% shop in discount store " 56.6% shop in department store " 47.8% shop in clothing store " 41.8% shop in office supply store " 24.8% shop online " 21.4% shop in electronics store " 18.2% shop in drug store " 46.4% shop 3 weeks to one month before school starts " 30.5% shop 1 to 2 weeks before school starts " 3.8% shop the week school starts
INTRODUCING STEPHANIE NELSON, THE COUPON MOM TO HELP YOU SAVE!
The Coupon Mom has some great advice for families can save as they start to shop for all those Back to School items. Stephanie Nelson has tips on how to save on clothes, shoes, school supplies and backpacks.
Families recently surveyed said they plan to spend much less this year on back to school. This is putting more pressure on retailers to discount clothing due to slow sales. So if people know where to find coupons to combine with those sales they may still be able to meet their budget!
The key to saving is planning: Before you even leave your house to start buying new school clothes, backpacks and supplies, sit down and plan what you need to buy with your student. Take time to discuss what your student wants, inventory what you already have, and make a specific list of what they need to buy to save money, time and stress. Consider these simple guidelines:
1. Inventory your students’ clothes to prevent overbuying: Go through drawers and closets to inventory your child’s current wardrobe. Sort out the items that are too small or never get worn at all and donate them to a local charity to help their clients. Older children’s acceptable outgrown clothes can go to a younger sibling, if possible. After determining the number of acceptable outfits you already have on hand, you can make a realistic list of specific items you need to buy.
I did this with both of my sons and learned they had more clothes than they realized, and they had plenty of outfits for this time of year. My younger son was thrilled to get three new shirts that his brother had outgrown. They each bought a couple of sale-priced summer items and decided to spend their new clothes money later in the season when the weather gets cooler.
2. Buying shoes with free coupons: The back to school season is the busiest time of year for shoe sales. As a result, stores have many special promotions to get our attention. Because common promotions are “buy one pair, get the second pair 50% off” it makes sense to take all of your children shoe shopping together. If you can find a coupon to use along with special promotions, you will really save.
3. Watch for special promotions in the newspaper ad circulars.
4. Check out shoe store websites where you can print a free coupon for stores immediately after signing up for the email newsletter such as www.rackroomshoes.com, www.payless.com, www.shoecarnival.com.
5. If you know the size and style of shoe you need, check online shoe retailers for bargain prices, such as zappos.com. With free shipping included and a 365-day return policy, you may save time and money.
6. School Supplies stock up at 90% off: Take advantage of price matching for school supplies. Basic school supplies are at their lowest price at this time of year (50-90% off) some items are as low as 5 cents each. Check the advertising circulars for grocery stores, drugstores, office supply stores and even dollar stores. Find the lowest advertised price for every item that you need, circle the item and price in each circular, and take all of the circulars to the closest store that “price matches,” meaning they will honor any other store’s lower price. Call stores ahead of time to ask if they price match. For example, if you have a Walmart store in your area, they have a national price matching policy. However, many stores will match competitors’ prices if you ask. You will save time, money and gas!
7. Backpacks: For younger children, the $5 backpacks on sale at discount and drugstores may be all they need. As students get older, it may be worth investing in a higher quality backpack to last several years. You can expect a good backpack to last a few years and provide the necessary support and padding for heavier books.
8. Buy School Clothes later in the year and find free coupons: Wait until a few weeks into the school year to stock up on new clothes, to take advantage of later-in-the-season sales and to give your child time to see what new styles they like. Do not overbuy, which is easy to do before you see what your children like. Once the school year is going for a few weeks you can sit down with your child and plan what they need and prefer.
9. Look for advertising circulars in the newspaper for your stores. Many will have generous coupons in addition to sale prices.
10. Check your store websites for coupons and promotions. Sign up for their email newsletter or credit card to get special coupons and discounts (as long as you pay off the credit card balance every month paying high interest charges to get coupons does not make sense).
11. Check coupon code websites for printed coupons or online codes at your favorite retailers.
12. Check sites and print free coupons from outlet mall websites www.premiumoutlets.com.
13. Subscribe to the email newsletter of your local mall. You will be sent information and free coupons for special promotions.
PLEASE EXCUSE MY CHILD FROM SCHOOL YESTERDAY!
Rinkworks.com has complied a list of written school excuse notes parents have written for their kids at one time or another.
" "My son is under a doctor's care and should not take P.E. today. Please execute him."
" "Please excuse Lisa for being absent. She was sick, and I had her shot."
" "Please excuse Gloria from Jim today. She is administrating."
" "Dear School: Please ekscuse John being absent on Jan. 28, 29, 30, 31, and also 32."
" "Please excuse Roland from P.E. Yesterday he fell out of a tree and misplaced his hip."
" "John has been absent because he had two teeth taken out of his face."
" "Carlos was absent because when in playing football. He was hurt in the growing part."
" "Megan could not come to school today because she's bothered by very close veins."
" "Chris will not be in school cus he has an acre in his side."
" "Please excuse Ray Friday from school. He has very loose vowels."
" "Please excuse Tommy for being absent. He had diarrhea, and his boots leak."
" "Irving was absent yesterday because he missed his bust."
" "Please excuse Jimmy for being. It was his father's fault."
" "Please excuse Jennifer for missing school yesterday. We forgot to get the Sunday paper off the porch, and when we found it Monday, we thought it was Sunday."
" "Sally won't be in school a week from Friday. We have to attend her funeral."
" "My daughter was absent because she was tired after a weekend with the Marines."
" "Please excuse Jason for being absent. He had a cold and could not breed well."
" "Please excuse Mary for being absent yesterday. She was in bed with gramps."
" "Gloria was absent yesterday as she was having a gangover."
" "Please excuse Burma, she has been sick and under the doctor."
" "Maryann was absent December 11-16, because she had a fever, sore throat, headache, and upset stomach. Her sister was also sick, fever, and sore throat, her brother had a low grade fever and ached all over. I wasn't the best either, sore throat and fever. There must be something going around, her father even got hot last night."
08/13/2008 @ 11:11am PST Wednesday, August 13th! Today, How not to try to pull off a hold-up, A whopper of a Burger King bath, and Olympic size ratings for NBC, but some Chinese special effects! "BUZZ" Britney Spears candid "OK" interview, and John Mayer dumps Jennifer Aniston! "PHOTO GALLERY" (2007) Lisa Edelstein of TV's "House" fame at 2007 CHLA Tunathon!
IN CASE YOU HAVEN'T SEEN THIS ON THE TV NEWS YET, A WORKER AT BURGER KING IN XENIA, OHIO TAPED HIMSELF TAKING A BATH IN THE BURGER KING KITCHEN SINK TO CELEBRATE HIS BIRTHDAY! BURGER KING HAS "TAKEN APPROPRIATE ACTION" WITH THOSE INVOLVED! TALK ABOUT A WHOPPER!
OLYMPIC SIZE RATINGS FOR THE SUMMER GAMES SO FAR, CLAIMS NBC!
If you saw the stunning opening ceremonies of the 2008 Olympics in Beijing last Friday night, you saw perhaps something that will never be equaled. It was a breathtaking production involving thousands, with precise timing, beautiful costumes and effects, and fireworks that dwarfed anything I've ever witnessed, but then the Chinese did invent them centuries ago, didn't they?
But now London's Telegraph newspaper reports that some of the fireworks which appeared over Beijing during the television broadcast of the Olympic Opening Ceremony were actually computer generated. But hold on it's not necessarily as bad as you think. The faked fireworks were actually set-off at the stadium, but because of potential dangers in filming the display live from a helicopter, viewers at home were shown a pre-recorded, computer-generated shot."
And there's also a big uproar about the little girl who lip-synched one of the opening ceremonies songs, because her own voice was deemed not good enough.
The ratings for the games so far have been the best in decades. About 107 million people in the United States sampled the first Sunday of the Beijing Games across all of NBC Universal's broadcast and cable networks, making it the most sampled first Sunday in Summer Olympics history.
For the record books, the NBC broadcast network averaged 30.4 million viewers Sunday in prime time -- actually from 7 to 11:45 p.m. That's the best prime-time average audience through the first Sunday for a non-U.S. Summer Games since Montreal in 1976.
The 107 million viewers who sampled the Games on one of the NBC Universal networks -- NBC, MSNBC, CNBC, Oxygen, and the 81 million who checked out the NBC broadcast network in prime time Sunday are "reach" figures and measure anyone who watched as little as six minutes of a telecast. The 30.4 million who watched NBC represents the "average audience," meaning the average number of viewers watching each minute.
08/12/2008 @ 9:40am PST Tuesday, August 12th! So what's on John McCain's and Barack Obama's Top 5 favorite songs lists? Beware the latest internet email scams trying to get inside your computer! "BUZZ" Britney's promo for MTV's VMA's, plus Angelina Jolie replaces Tom Cruise!
BLENDER MAGAZINE ASKED THE 2 PRESIDENTIAL CANDIDATES TO NAME THEIR FAVORITE SONGS! BOTH DID AGREE ON FRANK SINATRA AS ONE OF THEIR FAVORITE SINGERS, McCAIN LIKED "I'VE GOT YOU UNDER MY SKIN" AND OBAMA PICKED "YOU'D BE SO EASY TO LOVE"! BUT EACH DIFFERED ON THEIR TOP 5 HITS!
JOHN McCAIN'S TOP 5 FAVORITES!
1. Dancing Queen - Abba 2. Blue Bayou - Roy Orbison 3. Take A Chance On Me - Abba 4. If We Make It Through December - Merle Haggard 5. As Time Goes By - Dooley Wilson
BARACK OBAMA'S FAVORITE FIVE!
1. Ready or Not - Fugees 2. What's Goin' On - Marvin Gaye 3. I'm On Fire - Bruce Springsteen 4. Gimme Shelter - Rolling Stones 5. Sinnerman - Nina Simone
YOU'RE PROBABLY STILL GETTING THOSE NIGERIAN EMAILS INFORMING YOU THAT THEY NEED YOU AND YOUR BANK ACCOUNT TO TRANSFER MILLIONS OF DOLLARS TO THE UNITED STATES, FOR WHICH YOU WILL BE HANDSOMELY REWARDED WITH MILLIONS FOR YOURSELF.
BUT NOW THERE'S TWO RECENT EMAILS THAT OTHERS ARE SENDING OUT TRYING TO GAIN ACCESS TO YOU AND YOUR COMPUTER.
THE FIRST IS A CNN NEWS ALERT!
This malicious e-mail purports to lead to CNN videos or news stories and causes computer viruses.
The e-mails use CNN graphics and provide a link to what appears to be a CNN video player site. Instead of playing the video, the site prompts the user to download a Flash player update, and the download contains a virus.
These e-mails are examples of the use of social engineering to infect your computer, because the CNN brand is well-respected, and 'top stories' and 'alerts' are commonly used for valid communications. The stories featured in the malicious e-mail are either actual stories currently in the news or stories that are plausible. This piques people's interest. Eager to see more information, they click on a link that takes them not to CNN but to some site designed to infect them with malware."
The malicious software in this instance is named "flash_player.exe," "get_flash_update.exe" or something similar. The false update installs an antivirus program titled "Antivirus XP 2008," which falsely informs the user that several viruses were detected, and that the user must purchase the full version of the program in order to remove them. The virus also installs other malicious software that could be used for other criminal activities.
Ksander said that maintaining up-to-date antivirus features is important to good security practices. Crucial practices include not opening or clicking links in unsolicited e-mails, not visiting untrusted sites, and not downloading untrusted or unknown links.
In order to receive a legitimate news alert from CNN, you first must subscribe to the service. Messages then come from CNN with the subject line "CNN Breaking News" and are sent from a "@mail.cnn.com" account.
THE SECOND IS THE UNDELIVERABLE UPS PACKAGE!
There's also a scam where you get an e-mail from the UPS "Packet Service" saying that a package for you was undeliverable because of a wrong address.
You probably now think that someone sent you something and you wonder what is coming to you. Most people don't think twice about following the e-mail's instructions to open the waybill attachment. Unfortunately, the attachment is actually a virus that can steal your personal information.
Delete the e-mail right away. UPS rarely sends attachments in their notification emails, and if you receive one you suspect is phony, contact customerservice@ups.com
08/11/2008 @ 12:15pm PST Monday, August 11th! Want to live longer, feel better, lose weight, and enjoy life more? Check out the healthy hints! What's your daily commute cost? Find out with a new link! "BUZZ" Isaac Hayes - Bernie Mac dead, & the latest on John Edward's "other woman"! "PHOTO GALLERY" (1974) Peter Noone of Herman's Hermits talks about all their hits!
SOME LITTLE KNOWN AND DAILY HELPFUL HINTS FOR BETTER HEALTH!
Daily popcorn snackers may be more likely to hit their quota of whole grains, reports a study in the Journal of the American Dietetic Association. Researchers surveyed more than 15,000 people and found that popcorn poppers consumed an average of 2.5 servings of whole grains per day; non-'corn connoisseurs got .7 servings, the recommended daily allowance is three servings. Let's face it: We snack. But grazing on high fat or sugary treats often comes at the expense of eating fiber rich grains, says Kristin J. Reimers, Ph.D., manager of nutrition for ConAgra Foods. One six-cup serving of dry popcorn such as SmartPop! has about 90 calories and supplies two servings of grains.
(Women's Health) Getting seven to eight hours of shut eye is just right. Subjects who slept less or more were likelier to gain 11 pounds over six years. Skimping on sack time decreases the appetite suppressing hormone leptin and increase the appetite stimulating hormone ghrelin. What's more, overindulging means less time moving.
(Women's Health) When it comes to keeping your heart healthy, one drink is good, but two could be too many, say Canadian researchers who studied the effect of alcoholic beverages on blood vessels. In their tests on a group of healthy adults, one drink produced relaxation of the blood vessels, pumping up blood flow. But two made the heart work harder, and also blunted the normal dilation of vessels. As for type of beverage, you can take your pick, the researchers concluded. Though red wine is a reputed heart aid, when it came to this blood vessel boost, it was no more effective than plain ethanol, similar to the kind of alcohol used in cocktails. So raise a glass of white wine, beer, vodka, or other favorite, but stop at one a day.
(Good Housekeeping) Here's a new reason to cut down on salty snacks. The more sodium kids consume, the more liquid they drink, too often, calorie heavy soda that packs on pounds, researchers discovered. "More than 50% of children's fluid intake is soft drinks," says Graham MacGregor, study coauthor and professor of cardiovascular medicine at St. George's, University of London. Limited salt and maintaining a healthy weight both help prevent hypertension and heart disease. To keep kid's daily sodium intake well under the maximum allowable, 2,200 milligrams for kids 9 to 13, cook from scratch whenever possible. When you can't, check the nutrition facts on packages. And keep water on hand to quench children's thirst.
(Good Housekeeping) Trouble getting pregnant? Cut down on coffee, alcohol and cigarettes. In a large scale study, drinking more than four cups of coffee a day cut chances of conceiving by around 26% and drinking alcohol at least three times a week had a similar effect. Smoking more than one cigarette a day reduced the chances of pregnancy even further, according to investigators from Radboud University in the Netherlands.
(National Enquirer) Extra virgin olive oil may be the answer if you suffer from ulcers. Researchers have found that antioxidants in the pure oil that TV chef Rachael Ray calls "EVOO" can inhibit the growth of a type of bacteria that causes ulcers. Studies show it also fights other nasty little bugs like e.coli and salmonella. Experts say two teaspoons a day are enough to reap the benefits. Try using the oil to prepare fish or chicken or add some to your salad dressing. Says study leader Concepcion Romero: "The results show that extra virgin olive oil could protect against peptic ulcer and gastric cancer."
(National Examiner) Drink to your health a pint of Guinness a day works just as well as aspirin at preventing clots that trigger deadly heart attacks. While the bitter black stout actually measures up to the old "Guinness Is Good For You" slogan it was ordered to stop using decades ago, amber lager does not provide the same benefits, according to a study conducted by the University of Wisconsin. People with hardened arteries are at greater risk of a heart attack that starts when a blood clot lodges in one of the arteries supplying the heart. Many patients are prescribed low-does aspirin, which cuts the ability of the blood to form these dangerous clots. But the Wisconsin researcher revealed at an Orlando, Florida, meeting of the American Heart Association that 24 fluid ounces of Guinness, just over a pint, at mealtimes provides the best protection. Experts believe antioxidant compounds in the brew help slow the deposit of harmful cholesterol on artery walls. Despite their former slogan, Guinness insists: "We never make any medical claims for our drinks."
FIGURE YOUR DAILY COMMUTE COST WITH THIS HELPFUL LINK LISTENER DOUG HOOKER PASSED ALONG. YOU'LL BE SHOCKED! MINE WAS NEARLY $12 A DAY, EVEN WITH THE LOWER PRICES FOR REGULAR THESE DAYS!
08/08/2008 @ 12:30pm PST Friday, August 8th/Weekend "NEWS"! You won't believe your eyes today when you look at the pavement paintings of Julian Beever. He can turn flat surfaces into a third dimension! "BUZZ" The winner of "So You Think You Can Dance", and is Jessica Simpson pregnant? "PHOTO GALLERY"(1985) David Hasselhoff, "The Knight Rider" way back then, in studio!
WEEKEND NEWS UPDATE: BERNIE MAC DEAD AT 50!
Emmy and Golden Globe nominated actor and comedian Bernie Mac, age 50, died early Saturday at a hospital in the Chicago area of complications due to pneumonia. He suffered from sarcoidosis, an inflammatory lung disease that produces tiny lumps of cells in the body's organs, but he had said the condition went into remission in 2005. He recently had been hospitalized and treated for pneumonia. Mac had starring roles in "Ocean's Eleven," "Bad Santa," "Charlie's Angels: Full Throttle" and "Transformers." The comedian also starred for 6 seasons in his Fox television series "The Bernie Mac Show," which aired more than 100 episodes from 2001 to 2006.
Reactions poured in from Hollywood, which was taken by surprise because just days ago, reports were that Bernie was "responding well to treatment" and remained in "stable condition." "The world just got a little less funny. He will be dearly missed," said George Clooney, who starred with Mac in the "Ocean's" trilogy of hit box office films.
HERE''S ONE OF THE MOST VIEWED TRIBUTES, OUT OF DOZENS ON YOUTUBE!
OVER THE LAST FEW WEEKS, SEVERAL LISTENERS AND WEBSITE VISITORS HAVE SENT ME EMAILS WITH SOME PAVEMENT CHALK DRAWINGS OF JULIAN BEEVER.
FOR THOSE OF YOU WHO HAVE NEVER HEARD OF THIS ENGLISH CHALK ARTIST, HE'S BEEN CREATING THESE THREE DIMENSIONAL DRAWINGS (WHEN VIEWED FROM THE RIGHT LOCATION) THAT DEFY THE FACT YOU'RE REALLY LOOKING AT A FLAT STREET OR SIDEWALK SURFACE.
JULIAN CREATES THEM USING A PROJECTION CALLED ANAMORPHOSIS! HERE'S A QUICK LOOK AT JULIAN, AND THEN TAKE A LOOK AT HIS ART!
BRETT FAVRE IS A NEW YORK JET! HERE'S PART OF HIS PRESS CONFERENCE!
AND THE NEW "MADDEN NFL '09" DEBUTS TUESDAY, AND GUESS WHO'S ON THE COVER.....BRETT FARVE IN A GREEN BAY PACKER UNIFORM! TAKE A LOOK!
08/07/2008 @ 11:05am PST Thursday, August 7th! Tomorrow (08-08-08) is a very special day, especially in Chinese culture, and the start of the Beijing Olympics! Plus a video about the date & Brett Favre! "BUZZ" Shia LeBeouf amputation "just rumors", & Morgan Freeman and wife divorcing!
Eight is an auspicious number in many cultures, none more so than the Chinese. Eight (ba) is a homonym of the Mandarin word for prosperity (fa). As thousands of fortune-seekers prepare for the Beijing Olympics' 8:08 p.m. start time Friday, others around the globe Chinese and non-Chinese prepare for a different kind of high-intensity event: their weddings.
Rebecca Dolgin, an executive editor at wedding resource company The Knot, said more than 22,000 couples registered online for Aug. 8, 2008, weddings between TheKnot.com and WeddingChannel.com. An average Friday during the summer wedding season has 5,000. The Knot's niche site for Chinese ceremonies offers tips for 8/8/08 weddings and engagement parties, and businesses such as the resort chain Sandals have arranged getaway packages (such as the "Eight Steps of Love") tied to the date.
The Chinese place a lot of importance on the number eight. They largely associate it with prosperity. 8: The number 8 is tied to influence, m.o.n.e.y, karma, action, business success, business failure, control, material objects, status, loss, gain, administration, management, ego, leadership, power.
It's unlikely that the number of weddings on 8/8/08 will surpass the figure for 7/7/07 , at least in the U.S. Last year, TheKnot.com and WeddingChannel.com reported 70,000 couples registered online for weddings on July 7, 2007. And for those who won't be ready to commit by Friday, there's always 9/9/09: In Chinese, nine (jiu) sounds like the word for long lasting.
Numerologist Swetta Jhumani believes, "The date is special. Although the number 8 is not a very auspicious number in numerology, yet the presence of three 8 takes the total to 24 (8+8+8=24), which is considered a good number in numerology."
Mumbai-based numerologist Niraj Mancchanda agrees, "Three 8's together offset the negative vibes of the number 8 as the total is 24. Otherwise, disasters could have happened. Many disasters have occurred on the 8th or on a date, the total of which comes to 8. The number 8 is not a very auspicious number. It brings hardship and bad luck."
But Feng Shui experts says that the number 8 is a very auspicious number.
"It is a very auspicious number. The number 8 brings us fortune and wealth. This is the reason why the Chinese are kicking off the Olympics on 08.08.2008," says Charuhas Naik, a well-known Feng Shui expert.
However, Jhumani says, "Most of the earthquakes in China have happened on the 8th. Even though, they are organizing the biggest sporting extravaganza in the world on 08.08.2008."
AND THEN THERE'S THIS LITTLE YOUTUBE DITTY ABOUT 08-08-08!
FAMOUS FIRSTS!
Here are Blender magazine's Famous Firsts:
" 1951 - First Rock song: "Rocket 88" by Jackie Brenston & His Delta Cats
" 1963 - First foreign language number one pop hit: "Sukiyaki" by Kyu Sakamoto
" 1966 - First double album: "Blonde On Blonde" by Bob Dylan
" 1967 - First Rock Album with printed lyrics: "Sgt. Pepper's Lonely Hearts Club Band" by The Beatles
" 1968 - First posthumous number one hit: "Dock of the Bay" by Otis Redding
" 1970 - First Rock star to choke on his own vomit: Jimi Hendrix
" 1975 - First "Saturday Night Live" musical guest: Billy Preston
" 1976 - First recorded instance of an audience member yelling "Free Bird": Fox Theatre, Atlanta
" 1981 - First Video aired on "MTV": "Video Killed The Radio Star" by The Buggles
" 1982 - First Rock album released on CD: "52nd Street" by Billy Joel
" 1990 - First Rap song to be number one on the Pop charts: "Ice Ice Baby" by Vanilla Ice
" 2002 - First Rapper nominated for an Oscar: Will Smith - for "Ali"
" 2004 - First multi-platinum artist on the terrorist watch list: Yusuf Islam aka Cat Stevens
NOBODY'S MORE EXCITED ABOUT BRETT FAVRE BACK IN THE NFL THAN.....
08/06/2008 @ 10:55am PST Wednesday, August 6th! How we cope at work with music, Dennis Zine Birthday Party, and the coveted "Idiot Of The Week Award" goes to...take a look at the video for yourself! "BUZZ" Paris Hilton responds to McCain Ad, Plus Jennifer Aniston marrying John Mayer! "PHOTO GALLERY"(1975) Actress Didi Conn, 'Frenchy' in "Grease" at Universal Studios!
LAST FRIDAY, MY FRIEND, L.A. CITY COUNCILMAN DENNIS ZINE'S STAFF HAD A SURPRISE BIRTHDAY PARTY FOR HIM. AROUND ONE HUNDRED FRIENDS AND WELL WISHERS, INCLUDING ME, WERE INVITED AND HERE'S SOME OF THE PIX!
L.A. CITY COUNCILWOMAN WENDY GREUEL AND DENNIS ZINE WITH CHARLIE!
DR. GEORGE OF CHANNEL 7 WEATHER FAME WITH DENNIS AND CHARLIE!
CARLEEN GONZALEZ, EXEC. ASST. TO COUNCILMAN ZINE, WITH CHARLIE, DENNIS ZINE AND HIS FIANCE VERONICA BECCERA, AND LAPD SGT. CEDRIC INGRAM
COUNCILMAN DENNIS ZINE WITH HIS CAMPAIGN MANAGER JANICE FREEDMAN-ROSS AND CHARLIE.
08/05/2008 @ 8:45am PST Tuesday, August 5th! A look at the new "W" movie, The Harris poll of your favorite Top 10 movies of all time, and my favorite 3! Plus Top 10 jobs that women make more $ than men! "BUZZ" Mary-Kate Olson subject of Heath Ledger probe, & Eva Mendes banned TV spot!
A LOOK AT THE TRAILER OF THE UPCOMING NEW "W" MOVIE BY OLIVER STONE!
HARRIS POLL OF ADULTS CHOICES OF THE THEIR FAVORITE TOP 10 MOVIES!
According to a Harris Poll which asked adults to name their favorite movie of all time, the resounding number one response was "Gone With the Wind." Coming in right behind it were "Star Wars" and "Casablanca." The top 10 favorite movies of all time: 1. "Gone With the Wind" 2. "Star Wars" 3. "Casablanca" 4. "The Lord of the Rings" 5. "The Sound of Music" 6. "Wizard of Oz" 7. "The Notebook" 8. "Forrest Gump" 9. "The Princess Bride" 10. "The Godfather"
Among men, "Star Wars" and "Gone With the Wind" are the top two favorite movies.
For women, "Gone With the Wind" and "The Sound of Music" are the top two favorites.
Men and women ages 18 to 31 and those ages 32 to 43 have the same favorite movie: "Star Wars." However, they differ on their second favorite movie. The young adults prefer "The Notebook," while the middle-age crowd cites "Lord of the Rings."
Baby boomers, ages 44 to 62, as well as seniors 63 and up, agree that "Gone With the Wind" is their favorite movie. When it comes to their second favorite flick, the boomers choose "Casablanca," while the seniors select "The Sound of Music."
Race and ethnicity also show some differences. For whites, "Gone With the Wind" is their favorite movie, while blacks cite "Casablanca" and Hispanics say their favorite is "The Notebook."
MY FAVORITES INCLUDE "FIELD OF DREAMS", "HOOSIERS", AND BELIEVE IT OR NOT, THIS ONE BELOW, FROM THE TOP 10 LIST ABOVE.
10 JOBS WHERE WOMEN EARN MORE THAN MEN
Women have struggled for years to get equal pay for equal work. But too often, it seems, the ladies come up on the short end of the salary scale. However, the roles are reversed in these 10 fields, where, according to a report by CNNMoney.com gals actually tend to out earn the guys. Ladies, check out this list to see where you may want to try to get your next paycheck:
1. Telephone operator -- Women ring up an average income of $22,152 annually, a significant 21% more than the men, who average $18,356.
2. Meter reader -- Women earn about $36,348 a year, 15% more than the men's average of $31,668.
3. Motion picture projectionist - The ladies generally get about $35,412 annually, 27% more than the guys, who tend to pocket about $27,924.
4. Library assistant -- Women average $23,608, while men make $18,512, which is 28% less.
5. Funeral services worker -- Women tend to get about $30,108, 23% more than the guys' $24,492.
6. Food batch maker -- Ladies are ladled out an average compensation of $27,872, which is 19% more than the $23,400 men receive.
7. Crossing guard -- Women average $18,824 annually, whereas men tend to get about $16,640, which is 13% less.
8. Construction trades helper -- Gals in this field earn an average $26,936, which is 24% more than the guys' average of $21,736.
9. Human resources assistant -- Women are getting an average $30,420, while their male counterparts are earning $28,028, 9% less.
10. Gaming services worker -- Women who roll the dice in this field average $24,076, which is 8% more than the men's average of $22,308.
08/04/2008 @ 10:00am PST Monday, August 4th! Don't have enough worries? There's a YouTube video going around the internet again this year about "Lock Bumping"! And gas saving gizmos, do they work? "BUZZ" Angelina & Brad's twins pics in "People", & Morgan Freeman injured in car crash! "PHOTO GALLERY" (2001) Tina Yothers of the 80's television hit "Family Ties" in studio!
AS I'VE TALKED THE LAST COUPLE OF WEEKS ABOUT SCAMS AND SHAMS THAT PEOPLE ARE BEING BOMBARDED WITH EVERYDAY, GAS SAVING GADGETS ARE REALLY GAINING SOME TRACTION IN THE URBAN LEGENDS MARKETPLACE. DO THEY WORK? HERE'S A LINK TO THE "POPULAR MECHANICS" WEBSITE WHERE YOU CAN DECIDE FOR YOURSELF. http://www.popularmechanics.com/automotive/how_to/4264939.html
AND IF YOU CHECK MY "NEWS" ARCHIVES FOR JUNE 25TH, YOU'LL FIND QUITE A FEW VIDEOS ABOUT A STAN MEYER, WHO ACTUALLY DID COME UP WITH A CAR THAT RUNS ON WATER DECADES AGO, BUT WHAT HAPPENED TO STAN? THE STORY IS THAT HE DIED MYSTERIOUSLY OF FOOD POISONING ON THE EVE OF HIS INVENTION EMERGING. HOW DID THIS HAPPEN IS A MYSTERY STILL TODAY, BUT IT SOUNDS LIKE A GREAT MOVIE SCRIPT WITH PLENTY OF FINGERS TO POINT. THE OIL COMPANIES AND THEIR INTERESTS CERTAINLY DIDN'T WANT THIS INVENTION OUT THERE. HERE'S A BRITISH TELEVISION PROFILE OF STAN, AND FOR MORE DETAILS ABOUT CARS THAT RUN ON WATER......JUST SCROLL BACK TO MY JUNE 25TH "NEWS" PAGE!
GOT AN UPDATE TODAY FROM WAVELIT.COM WHO HAVE BEEN FOLLOWING TWO BABY EAGLES SINCE THEIR BIRTH IN EARLY MAY, ON THEIR NEST WEBCAM. THE NEST IS JUST SOUTH OF VANCOUVER, B.C., IN CANADA. AND SINCE EAGLES TAKE THEIR FIRST FLIGHT 10 TO 14 WEEKS AFTER THEY HATCH, YOU MAY WANT TO CHECK THEIR NEST TO SEE WHAT'S BEEN HAPPENING LATELY!
CLICK ON THE LINK BELOW TO OBSERVE THE BABY EAGLES "LIVE" IN THEIR NEST!
Wanna lose weight from eating all those Twinkies, but don't have time to exercise? Don't worry -- just going about your daily activities can burn more calories than you think.
Here's a list, from the book "The Fidget Factor" -- figures are based on someone weighing 150 pounds. Lighter people will burn fewer calories:
" Changing position in your chair -- calories burned per minute: 1.9 " Crossing and uncrossing legs -- calories burned per minute: 2.3 " Twirling pencil -- calories burned per minute: 1.5 " Humming loudly -- calories burned per minute: 1.4 " Folding laundry -- calories burned per minute: 1.9 " Clearing table -- calories burned per minute: 2.7 " Walking to the TV to change channel -- calories burned per minute: 2.4 " Vigorous lovemaking -- calories burned per minute: 2.0 " Playing with your kids -- calories burned per minute: 3.0 " Surfing the 'net -- calories burned per minute: 1.4 " Pillow fight -- calories burned per minute: 4.8
YOUR FINGERS DO THE TALKING, AND SAY A LOT ABOUT YOUR PERSONALITY!
Body-language expert Naomi Tickle reveals the secrets to overcoming any challenge.
" If your thumb reaches the first knuckle of your index finger -- You're emotional and prone to passionate outbursts. You should: Soothe jangled nerves by swiveling your torso from side to side 10 times. The twisting action loosens muscles from the shoulders down the length of the spine for total relaxation.
" If your thumb doesn't reach your first knuckle of your index finger -- You hold in your feelings, which can leave you frustrated. You should: Ease pent-up tension by balling your hands into fists, scrunching your toes and making a "sour lemon" face. Hold for five seconds. By exaggerating muscle tension, you achieve a deep state of serenity when you finally release the pose.
" If your ring finger is longer than your index finger -- You make hasty decisions you later regret. You should: Find inner calm by visualizing a column of light starting below your navel, extending up through your body's core. Take five deep breaths as you focus on the light beam. Concentrating on this physical axis literally centers you.
" If your ring finger is shorter than your index finger -- You hesitate before making decisions. You should: Crank up confidence by standing with your arms out to your sides. Bring hands together in front of you as if clapping slowly. This regulates activity between both sides of the brain to promote clear thinking.
