We Are On The Ship!

Here is our Dream Vacation update...
We are on the ship. Today, was the first day and we had a day at sea. We spent our time in the Salon mainly getting beautiful since we have not had any such opportunity in a very long time. Tonight will be the 1st of 3 formal nights. We will be in Croatia tomorrow and we are going on a wine tasting excursion. Athens we did not get to see that much of but we are staying overnight on the way back through so we will check it out then. We did walk around the port area and found a small cafe and had greek food which was fabulous. I had stuffed eggplant and Rob had a gyro. I must got now and get ready for the formal night. We are also going to meet all the people I found on www.cruisecritic.com on their Roll Call for this ship.

Shee_rah77 Sitting on Tree Of Life

Abby Sitting On Tree of Life
Originally uploaded by shee_rah77.

Just to prove I was really there!

Tree of Life

Tree of Life
Originally uploaded by shee_rah77.

Here it is people.. Behold, The Tree of Life! I spent many hours of my life finding this tree in the middle of a desert island.

Tree Of Life

Rob and I are in Bahrain. For those of you that are not familiar with Middle East Geography, it is a small island near Saudi. The reason we decided to come here from Kuwait is due to the fact you can actually drink here. Well, that and we thought that their shopping here would be better then Kuwait also. Wrong! The shopping here is really less then desirable due to the fact everything is ridiculously expensive and the sizing is way off from what we are used to. And as for the drinking, it is also like crazy expensive (in our mini-bar a airplane bottle of top shelf whiskey is $15.00) We are staying in a nice hotel, so last night we decided to go to the Irish Pub in the hotel. We had pretty good time playing pool but it sure isn't like home! You have to be careful what you do and say here and you totally get the vibe being Americans isn't the most popular thing to be. I am ready to get out of the Middle East! But that also seems to be a problem. The way we flew to Bahrain from Kuwait was on a open ended ticket. We did not think it would a problem to get back to Kuwait on Sunday to catch our flight to Athens. Wrong! Yes, again we were wrong. Apparently, everyone in the Middle East is on "Holiday" and they all want to be in Kuwait. Don't ask me why. So, all flights are booked. Our options are to hire a driver to get us to Kuwait via Saudi which means we need to go to the Saudi Embassy and get a visa. Or, buy another plane ticket and leave for Athens from Bahrain. The driver that was called about driving us to Kuwait said he would do it but to warn us that it is dangerous for Americans to be in Saudi. Really, what about in Baghdad? Anyway, not wanting to put ourselves in any more danger then necessary and not really wanting to make the 4 hour trip we have decided to book another flight and leave here on Monday for Athens.
Ok, so the title of this post. I am sure you are asking what's up with "Tree of Life"
Rob seen on the map we received from the rental car company that the "Tree of Life" is here in Bahrain. Now, I really had no idea what this was but he explained that it is in a bunch of movies and how it is this tree out in the middle of the desert and no one knows how it lives and where it's water comes from. So, we had to go check it out. We left this morning in the Volvo we rented with our trusty little rental car map. Well, let me tell you the roads on the map are not labeled so it brought on a whole new form of navigation. I am not really good at classic map navigation. We did start seeing signs for the "tree" so we felt good and that we were on the right track. Wrong! Yes, again somehow we end up almost to the end of the island according to the map where there are these old abandoned towns. Then, we thought we were on the right track again and ended up in some huge construction zone. I have no idea what they were building in the middle of the desert it looked like they were just moving rocks around with these big TONKA trucks. By this time, I was getting quite irritated and really did not care if I seen this tree or not. But somehow we finally made it to this tree and it was a even bigger disappointment. Sure, it was a big tree in the middle of the desert but it was totally defaced (graffiti and trash everywhere). We did take pictures of us with this great "Tree of Life" so I plan on posting them soon.
Let's all hope our time here in Bahrain is not a forecast of what's to come in Europe. Really, it not all that bad but again I Want Out of the Middle East!

E! News

Keep your eyes peeled for Davee Troublefield on FOX'S Ambush Makeover. Davee is making appearances in September. The show airs at 12:30 before Good Day Live on Fox. Enjoy!

Bush sucks

One late afternoon, there was a strange appearance in the front yard of the Whittakers. A George Bush for President sign.......Abby what is your problem? Haven't you seen the movie? You are crazy-

It's Lindsay peeps! I'd like to give a shout out to my homey Davey:)

Stuart Gene Little

Stuart Gene Little OAKBORO -- Mr. Little, 26, of 8330 Rocky River Road, died Sunday, August 22, 2004 at his residence. Funeral service is 4:00 PM Wednesday at First Baptist Church of Oakboro, with Dr. Terrell Watts officiating. Interment will be in Oakboro Cemetery. The family will meet at the home of his parents, 8330 Rocky River Road, Oakboro, and will receive friends from 6:00 PM to 8:00 PM tonight at Hartsell Funeral Home of Albemarle. Mr. Little was born in Stanly County on November 4, 1977. He was a graduate of West Stanly High School, Class of '96, and also a graduate of The Hairstyling Institute of Charlotte. He was employed by the Southpark Barbers/Designs as a barber. Mr. Little was of the Baptist faith. Survivors include his father, Steven Douglas 'Doug' Little of Oakboro, NC; mother, Ellen Rushing Little of Oakboro; brother, Steven Roy and wife, Jenifer Little, of Marshville, NC; sister, Jennifer Jane Little of Oakboro, NC; maternal grandmother, Nellie Stewart Rushing of Marshville, NC; paternal grandmother, Blanch Little Blake; paternal great aunt, Eunice Thomas Little; and nieces, Blair and Bailee. Mr. Little was also survived by a number of special aunts, uncles and cousins. He was preceded in death by his maternal grandfather, Eugene F. Rushing, and by his paternal grandfather, Roy N. Little. Memorials may be made to Oakboro First Baptist Church, Playground or Building Fund, 322 N. Main Street, Oakboro, NC 28129. Hartsell Funeral Home of Albemarle is assisting the family. Published in the Charlotte Observer on 8/24/2004.

Our Last Cruise

Cozumel 2003 Senor Frogs
Originally uploaded by shee_rah77.

Here is Rob and I on our last cruise in the Western Caribbean. Well, we our off for this cruise. We are both way excited about the cruise and getting out of Baghdad. I hope to post some on the ship from their internet cafe but we will see.

The Golden Age of NASCAR

Stock car racing now rivals football and baseball as the country’s most popular spectator sport. What’s the appeal?

How did NASCAR start?
Stock car racing grew out of moonshine running in the Appalachian and Great Smoky mountains in the 1930s. Bootleggers would soup up their cars so they could outrun the feds. Racing those souped-up cars proved so much fun that organized races began to crop up all over the South. In those early races, many of the tracks were uneven and unsafe, and each one had its own rules. Race promoter Bill France Sr. thought the sport would be more attractive to fans if it were better organized. So he set rules that governed a distinct racing season, with a single champion being crowned each year. In 1948, France founded the National Association for Stock Car Auto Racing in Daytona Beach, Fla. The Daytona 500, NASCAR’s most famous race, still kicks off the season each year.

So it’s a Southern sport?
The sport still draws heavily from among good ol’ boys with crankcase oil on their foreheads, but NASCAR racetracks have sprung up all over the country, from California to Pennsylvania to Michigan. Twenty percent of the fans are now in the Northeast, and 19 percent in the West. Overall, the crowd is 10 percent black, 10 percent Latino, and 40 percent female. Total attendance for the largest group of races—the Winston Cup Series—was 6.7 million in 2002, with an average attendance of 186,000 fans per race. On television that year, only pro football drew more overall spectators. All told, 75 million people identify themselves as NASCAR fans—the second-largest audience after the National Football League.

What attracts them?
As in any sport, fans develop attachments to specific competitors, and rooting gives them an emotional investment in the races. Drivers such as Jeff Gordon, Jimmie Johnson, and Dale Earnhardt Jr. all have huge followings. Aficionados also come to perceive the complex dance of skill, strategy, and raw courage in each race; only a few hundredths of a second can separate the winner from the also-rans. Danger, of course, provides an added frisson: At any moment, an accident or mere bump of fenders can cause a car to hurtle out of control. Drivers can and do die. “These are modern-day gladiators in those cars,” says ESPN racing reporter Jerry Punch.

What’s it like at the track?
Dirty, very noisy, and exciting. The air is full of grimy exhaust that settles in a fine film on spectators’ skin. The roar of engines is deafening. To get the full NASCAR experience, you have to rent headphones and a radio tuned to the frequencies of your favorite driver. That way you can listen in on the conversations among the driver, spotter, and crew chief, as they discuss when it’s time to pull out of the line of cars and pass, and when it’s best to make a pit stop for fuel and new tires.

How fast do the cars go?
They average about 188 mph on qualifying laps. In these solo runs around an empty track, drivers compete for one of the 43 slots in each race, as well as for the better starting positions when the race starts. During the race itself, the drivers’ speed depends on the track and the weather. Smaller tracks, with short straightaways, generally see average speeds of 130 mph, while the superspeedways in Charlotte or Daytona are raced at 190 mph and above.

Can I drive my car that fast?
No. The cars in stock car racing haven’t been true stock cars—that is, regular passenger cars off the showroom floor—for decades. Over the years, modifications have been introduced for speed and safety. Today, the 8-cylinder engines pump out as much as 750 horsepower—more than triple the average passenger car. The cars’ bodies are specially strengthened to withstand high-speed crashes, with a steel cage surrounding the driver. There’s no glass to shatter. And the doors don’t open—the driver slides into the car through the window hole. But stock cars still look recognizably like Fords and Chevys—unlike the sleek, aerodynamic race cars that compete in Formula 1 or the Indy 500.

Is there really any skill involved?
Because NASCAR requires the stock cars to conform to rigorous regulations, all the machines are pretty much equal. This means each race is a test of the driver, pit crew, and strategy. A key factor in every race is “drafting,” the art of using cars in front of you to break the wind resistance, so you can go faster on less fuel. (It’s one reason cars usually race around the track in a line, each one traveling in the slipstream of the preceding cars.) To take advantage of drafting, a driver will often form temporary partnerships with another driver behind him, an arrangement usually worked out over the radio in negotiations between drivers’ spotters. Of course, every driver is competing against every other, so a partnership may last only a lap or two, even if the drivers are close friends. But it’s this constantly shifting balance between cooperation and competition that makes the sport so unpredictable and so interesting to its fans.

The death of Dale Earnhardt
Dale Earnhardt may not have been the all-time greatest NASCAR racer—that honor is usually given to Richard Petty—but he was certainly the most beloved. His aggressive driving won him the nickname “the Intimidator,” and many fans simply called him “No. 3,” for the number he always wore. Earnhardt won seven Winston Cup Series championships, but tried and failed 19 times to win the Daytona 500. He didn’t win it until 1998, on his 20th try—but then he won spectacularly, taking the lead with 60 laps to go. In 2001, on the final turn of the final lap of the Daytona 500, Earnhardt was in fourth position and tried to pass using his trademark bump maneuver, in which he would nudge the car ahead just slightly so it would ride up the bank of the track and out of his way. This time, he slammed into the wall and died instantly of head injuries. His death came before an audience of 30 million TV viewers, sending the entire sport into months of mourning. Many analysts think Earnhardt’s death actually enhanced NASCAR’s popularity. One sportscaster said it was as dramatic as if Michael Jordan had dropped dead on the court in the final minutes of an NBA championship game.

Feel Better About Yourself!

Check this link out which shows how photos are retouched for advertising. Nothing we see everyday in every form of media is as it seems.

NO-BOOK BUSH!

'It would be hypocritical' says non-reading Dubya

By SCOTT STEVENS

THE PRESIDENTIAL library that President Bush plans to build upon leaving office won't contain any books -- because it's an open secret that the President doesn't read, and he doesn't want to be portrayed as a hypocrite! That's the startling claim from an anonymous White House insider. "President Bush is proud of the fact that he doesn't read and makes decisions 'from his gut,' " the insider says. "He doesn't keep books in the White House, so he thinks it would be hypocritical to fill up his library with them." The library won't have many presidential papers either, says the aide, a far cry from former presidents such as Nixon, Carter and Clinton. For example, Bill Clinton's presidential library is expected to be the largest of its kind, with over 20,000 documents on 400 subjects. "Those presidents were kind of anal -- they saved everything," says the White House official. "But it's well-known that President Bush's desk is always 'clean' -- there's nothing on it. So he doesn't have a lot of papers to donate," says the insider. Democrats have cattily suggested that the Bush presidential library could contain at least two books -- The Bible, which is one book that Bush does claim to have read parts of, and My Pet Goat, the book that Bush continued to read to schoolchildren on 9/11 for seven minutes after receiving the news that terrorists had attacked the World Trade Center. "That was the most reading the President had done in a year," jokes a top Democrat. Another Democratic wag, referring to Bush's autobiography, A Charge To Keep, says: "I suppose Bush could add that one, too, but I seriously doubt that he's actually read it." A Bush insider suggests the president is thinking about putting items in the library sure to rile his opponents, like the infamous Florida "butterfly ballot" from the 2000 election that many analysts say deprived Al Gore of victory, as well as a "hanging chad." The President is also considering a "Wall of Bushisms' -- those malapropisms he's prone to make, such as "They misunderestimated me" and "I want to make the pie higher for all Americans." "The President loves that these verbal gaffes drive his opponents crazy," says the insider.

No Proof Cannabis Use Induces Schizophrenia-Study

AMSTERDAM (Reuters) - There is no scientific proof that cannabis use induces schizophrenia, Dutch scientists say, questioning recent research and an argument the Dutch government uses to crack down on marijuana-selling "coffee shops."
In an article in this week's Magazine for Psychiatry, a peer-reviewed journal, the three authors say that on the basis of currently available data "there is no justification for the proposed closure of coffee shops."
Often the first symptoms of schizophrenia occur during adolescence, when people start to experiment with drugs, but the scientists believe cannabis use only has a negative effect on people already genetically predisposed to the mental illness.
"It is therefore advisable that youngsters with a family history of schizophrenia and patients with a schizophrenic disorder be discouraged from using cannabis," the report said.
Subsequent Dutch governments have tightened rules on the sale of marijuana in government-regulated coffee shops, resulting in a significant reduction in the number of cannabis cafes.
A ban this year on alcohol in coffee shops will be followed by a ban on tobacco in 2005, outlawing all smoking on the premises.
There are around 780 coffee shops in the Netherlands of which 270 are in Amsterdam, according to 2002 figures.

The Birthday Five

1. Hey, baby, what's your sign? Do you think it fits you pretty well?
Taurus which is described as stubborn, inflexible, and unchanging. Not so sure I agree with all that. We love good food, a good laugh, and the finer things in life. That is all me, Baby!
No other sign in the zodiac is closer to earth then Taurus. The main objective in leading a Taurean life is primarily (though not entirely) to maintain stability and physical concerns. Your inner spiritual sense longs for earthly harmony and wholesomeness.
Ok, I guess the above describes me. Really I do not get into astrology anymore at all. It really just does not interest me though it used to back in the day.

2. What's the worst birthday gift you've ever received?
Milli Vanilli tickets for my 12th Birthday. Well, it just happened the whole concert was to take place just after they admitted to lip syncing. So, the tour was cancelled and all I had for that birthday was the stupid tickets for the biggest joke in the music business.

3. What's the best birthday gift you've ever received?
This is a hard one. I am totally drawing a blank. I mean I know I have received gifts for most all my birthdays but I cannot think of one. I must be losing my mind.

4. What's the best way you've celebrated your birthday thus far?
The one I remember the most is my 17th Birthday which was a surprise party at my house. This was somehow kept from me and I was truly surprised. Plenty of crazy stuff happened that night and we had a blast. I can remember drinking wine out of a box.

5. What are your plans for this weekend? Plans? I am in Baghdad! So my plans this weekend are to countdown the hours till it is Wednesday and time to get out of the Bagdaddy Hood.

Ok this is your Friday Five (well Thursday here but we have been through the whole it is Friday in the middle east thing) Enjoy!

270ToWin.com

This isn't a popularity contest!

2004 Election Facts
It takes 270 Electoral Votes to be elected President.
The final result in 2000 was 271-266, with one abstaining. Based on Electoral Vote changes (based on the 2000 Census), the exact same election would result in a 278-260 result, which is what you see above.
Electoral Vote changes for 2004: AZ +2, CA +1, CO +1, CT -1, FL +2, GA +2, IL -1, IN -1, MI -1, MS -1, NV +1, NC +1, NY -2, OH -1, OK -1, PA -2, TX +2, WI -1

Click here to see the map

Getting Really Close Now!

Till Our Mediterranean Cruise On Holland America's Westerdam


Thought I would repost my count-down clock. I am getting so excited!

BoNY's Monetary Worth!

BoNY is worth exactly: $2,117,658.00.
I do not get it. Must be because he is male and his penis size!

my monetary worth

You are worth exactly: $1,792,650.00.

How Much $$$$$$$$$ Are You Worth?

I am worth exactly: $2,029,758.00. This is according to Humans For Sale.The value on your life using a variety of criteria in 4 basic facets of life (physical,mental,lifestyle,personality). The more honestly you answer the questions, the more realistic the dollar value returned will be.
Find Out how much you are worth-Click Here.

Courtesy of The Princess Diary

Dale Jr. and Dave Matthews Band at California

Dave Matthews Band will feature their name and likeness on Dale Earnhardt Jr.'s car in the Pop Secret 500 at the California Speedway in San Diego this September. See an image on my #8 Team Paint Schemes page.

I want this diecast car for my collection!

Bible Bloopers

BIBLE BLOOPERS
These unholy howlers actually made it into print Translators who've been working on The Bible since the 15th Century have their off days, too. Before mechanical printing began in A.D. 1450, writers painstakingly hand-copied ancient literature in Latin, Greek, Hebrew and Aramaic into English. An argument with the wife, a late night drinking or problems with a rebellious teen at home can mean mistakes at work - and bloopers in the Good Book. Here are just a few that have appeared in various editions of the Bible over the years:

And God called the dry land Earth, and the gathering together of the waters He called Sears.
It should be: . . . and the gathering of the waters He called Seas. - Genesis 1:10

Blessed is he who considers The Doors.
It should be: Blessed is he who considers the poor. - Psalms 41:1

Go now, and sin some more.
It should be: Go now, and sin no more. - John 8:11

Let the children first be killed.
It should be: Let the children first be filled. - Mark 7:27

He hath ears to leer, let him leer.
It should be: He hath ears to hear, let him hear. - Matthew 11:11

He who is without sin among you, should go forth and get stoned.
It should be: He who is without sin among you, let him throw the first stone --John 8:7

I will that women adorn themselves in modern apparel.
It should be: I will that adornthemselves in modest apparel. -- 1 Timothy 2:9

You shall have no other hogs before me.
It should be: You shall have no other gods before me. -- Deuteronomy 5:7

ALIENS CLAIM JACKO IS THEIR SON
And they want him back!

AN ALIEN couple, who claim to be Michael Jackson's real parents are suing Earth for full custody of him, says a man who claims to be an attorney for the ETs.

"My clients want him back immediately," says lawyer Bentley Leavent, 39. "They are disgusted and appalled at his life here and want him to come home now."

The self-proclaimed "King of Pop" was born in a galaxy far, far away on a planet named Zertonia -- too distant for even our mightiest telescopes to see, explains the California legal eagle.

His parents, who are named in court papers as Mr. and Mrs. Zortron, were only teenagers and not equipped to deal with the rigors of bringing up a child when they gave him up 46 years ago.

"Mr. Zortron was just beginning his four-year training to become a flying saucer mechanic," says Leavent.

"He was still living at his folks' house. They planned to wed when he graduated.

"They really loved little Michael, or Kerz-na, as they called him. But they felt it would be best if he were placed with parents who were more secure, mature people who would raise him with good, solid values and give him the moral background he needed to raise a family of his own someday."

But, the lawyer alleges, the alien couple were shocked to discover the Zertonian adoption broker had shipped their son to Earth.

They were even more concerned when they flew down here and got a peek at him frolicking at the Neverland Ranch.

"We were most displeased," they say in the lawsuit, filed in Los Angeles.

"Kerz-na doesn't even look like an Earthling. His face is terrifying, even to us.

"Kerz-na was placed on a stage at a very early age and told to perform. This yelling and jumping around has clearly damaged his brain. He doesn't even live in a proper home! It's some kind of children's amusement park with monkeys.

"He needs our help. We're not blaming anyone. If anyone is to blame it's us for giving him away. His mother is heartbroken." Mr. and Mrs. Zortron say they won't make trouble for the Jackson family. They just want their baby back.

"The Zortron's are quite sure that Michael's family will send him back to Zertonia with no problem," says Leavent, who is reportedly the subject of a Bar Association investigation for making "highly dubious claims related to the practice of law."

According to the lawsuit, Mr. Zortron says as soon as custody is granted he will be on the first space ship to Earth to take his son home and make him a real man.

"Kerz-na already has a job lined up at my flying saucer garage," he explains. "Those guys won't put up with any of the nonsense he's gotten away with on Earth!"

 

Baby Planes

A mother and her young inquisitive son were flying Southwest Airlines from Kansas City to Chicago. The son (who had been looking out the window) turned to his mother and asked, "If dogs have baby dogs and cats have baby cats, why don't planes have baby planes?"

The mother (who couldn't think of an answer) told her son to ask the flight attendant. So the boy dutifully asked the flight attendant, "If dogs have baby dogs and cats have baby cats, why don't planes have baby planes?"

The flight attendant responded, "Did your mother tell you to ask me that?" The little boy admitted that she did. "Well, then, tell your mother that there are no baby planes because Southwest always pulls out on time. Now, let your mother explain that to you."

Courtesy of gtmcknight.com

Lacey and Shee_rah77's results

SimilarMinds.com Compatibility Test

Your match with shee_rah77you are 76% similaryou are 73% complementary

How Compatible are You and Your Friends?

Lacey and BoNY's compatiblity

SimilarMinds.com Compatibility Test
Your match with BoNy
you are 81% similar you are 76% complementary
How Compatible are You with me?

Lacey's Personality Test

Global Personality Test Results

Sensate (50%) medium which suggests you are moderately emotional, sensitive, and subjective. Perfectionist (46%) medium which suggests you are moderately organized, reliable, neat, and ambitious. Extrovert (86%) very high which suggests you are extremely talkative, optimistic, sociable and affectionate but probably not very internally grounded.

Take Free Global Personality Test
personality tests by similarminds.com

Shee_rah77's Global Personality Test

Sensate 43% moderately low which suggests you tend to be analytical, unemotional and objective.
Perfectionist 66% moderately high which suggests you are organized, reliable, neat, and ambitious but possibly not very spontaneous and fun
Extrovert 53% medium which suggests you are moderately talkative, optimistic, sociable and affectionate

Take Free Global Personality Test
personality tests by similarminds.com

BoNY's Global Personality Test Results

BoNY's Global Personality Test Results
Sensate 26% low which suggests you are very analytical, unemotional and objective
Perfectionist 63% moderately high which suggests you are organized, reliable, neat, and ambitious but possibly not very spontaneous and fun
Extrovert 66% moderately high which suggests you are talkative, optimistic, sociable and affectionate but possibly not very internally grounded
Take Free Global Personality Test
personality tests by similarminds.com

BoNY and Shee_rah77's Compatibility Test

SimilarMinds.com Compatibility Test
BoNY's match with shee_rah77
you are 78% similar
you are 76% complementary
How
Compatible are You with Shee_rah77?
How
Compatible are You with BoNy?

Charley Shifts South

It is a category 4 now though... I thought I would be watching the opening cermonies in Athens tonight but looks like I will be watching my friend Charlie instead. I did find a way to listen to streaming radio in Tampa and hear all the latest news.

Lacey's 1st & Favs For Music

1. What was the first band you saw in concert?

well considering abby went into immense detail i will just say belinda carlise was the first concert, but the first band was poision.

2. Who is your favorite artist/band now?

hmmm, that is tough...if there is one person i want to see in concert it would be usher, but other than that i don't know...

3. What's your favorite song?

Fatso, by the story

4. If you could play any instrument, what would it be?

piano, or the tamborine like davey jones

5. If you could meet any musical icon (past or present), who would it be and why?

Michael Jackson, to ride the bumper cars and feed the lions at neverland!

BoNY's 1st & Favs For Music

1. What was the first band you saw in concert?
Whoever sings that song "Delta Dawn" and I just found out that would be "Tanya Tucker" when I was about 6 years old. The 1st Band would be KISS.

2. Who is your favorite artist/band now?
I guess I just do not have one.
3. What's your favorite song?
Jam On It by Newcleus-it is the best break dancing song ever it came out like in 1983 one of the 1st rap hip-hop songs. For the lyrics click here

4. If you could play any instrument, what would it be?
Piano-I Like the Mix of Ebony and Ivory.

5. If you could meet any musical icon (past or present), who would it be and why?
Frank Sinatra because his music has had the ability to span accoss many generations.

Shee_rah77's 1st & Favs For Music

1. What was the first band you saw in concert?I have been going to concerts since before I can remember so I going to base this on concerts that I actually wanted to go to!
The first concert that I was the actually ticket holder was Belinda Carlisle for my 11th or 12th B-Day. Now, the first band that I requested to go to would be Posion in either 1989 or 1990. I know people who will be reading this remember that concert and how we got right up near the stage. My mom and her friend Peggy were with me and my sister during the whole concert. When it got rough up front, Peggy elbowed a man in the kidney since he kept pushing on my sister.
2. Who is your favorite artist/band now?
Dave Matthews Band-that for sure hands down but I have a wide variety of music tastes so my favorite country band right now would be Rascal Flatts and you cannot forget the classics like Billy Joel, Elton John, and Bob Seager! Or the country classics like Waylon, Willie and Merle.
3. What's your favorite song?
Of all time would have to be Merle Haggard-Are the Good Times Really Over ( I Wish A Buck Was Still Silver)
Ok I can't help myself I must incluse the lyrics...just a sidenote-when I actually seen Merle a few years ago he did not sing this song and I along with many others in the audience could not believe it!
I wish a buck was still silver and it was back when the country was strong.
Back before Elvis and before the Vietnam war came along.
Before the Beatles and yesterday when a man could still work and still would.
Is the best of the free life behind us now and are the good times really over for good ?
Are we rollin' downhill like a snowball headed for hell?
With no kind of chance for the flag or the liberty bell?
I wish a Ford or a Chevy would still last ten years like they should.
Is the best of the free life behind us now and are the good times really over for good?
I wish Coke was still cola and a joint was a bad place to be.
It was back before Nixon lied to us all on TV.
Before Microwave ovens when a girl could still cook, and still would.
Is the best of the free life behind us now and are the good times really over for good ?
Are we rollin' downhill like a snowball headed for hell?
With no kind of chance for the flag or the liberty bell?
I wish a Ford or a Chevy would still last ten years like they should.
Is the best of the free life behind us now and are the good times really over for good?
Stop rollin' downhill like a snowball headed for hell.
Standup for the flag, and let's all ring the liberty bell.
Let's make a Ford and a Chevy that'll still last ten years like they should...
The best of the free life is still yet to come and the good times ain't really

4. If you could play any instrument, what would it be?
The Saxophone-I just love the way it sounds and people always look Ultra Cool playing it!

5. If you could meet any musical icon (past or present), who would it be and why?
Elvis-I have always been really into Elvis and meeting him.. Wait can I pick the year I would want to meet him in? Ok, I can. Like around 1958 when he was hot and before he meet Priscilla!
Presently I would like to meet Dave Matthews and have a beer with him in the bar he started at in VA!

Ok again everyone I would like you to participate but if you decide you do not have time for such nonsense I totally understand. I did actually get BoNy to particpate in last weeks and I think he really enjoyed it but he expected more comments and was disapointed!

Kim White Handbags

Kim White Handbags. I am getting one of these bags when I get home. They are made from Vintage Automotive Fabrics. Kim White uses dead stock never-used textiles intended for use in American automobiles: cars, trucks and vans. She fortuitously unearthed an entire warehouse of automotive fabric, which may be the last existing stock anywhere in the US, and she is the sole owner of these amazing textiles. Each Kim White Handbag is tagged with the year and make of the fabric, so the customer knows exactly what car their new bag has come from (i.e.: 1983 Camero or a 1978 Ford). Kim White Handbags specializes in material from the 1970’s and early 1980’s, when color was de rigueur in the automotive industry. 

Killer Deal-Just Wanted to Share!

Free 36 Prints and Free Shipping @ Winkflash.comOf course, this is for digital photos. You do have to enter your CC# but your finally price should be $0.00.
Apply code POP7G5Y for free 36 prints and free shipping at winkflash.com.

Evacuations for Tampa!

800,000 in Charley's Path Told to Flee
Charley loomed, however, prompting evacuation requests for 800,000 residents and tourists along coastal areas from the Florida Keys to Tampa Bay. The evacuations included flood-prone sections of the Tampa-St. Petersburg area. All residents of MacDill Air Force Base on Tampa Bay have been ordered to evacuate, and only essential personnel will remain, spokeswoman Lt. Erin Dorrance said. MacDill is home to U.S. Central Command, the nerve center of the war in Iraq and the Special Operations Command.

Wow! This never happens when I am there! I hope our house does not blow away or float away.

CLINTON SETS SIGHTS ON THE OLSEN TWINS-FRIENDS CLAIM

X-PRESIDENT Bill Clinton has two important goals these days -- promoting his new best-selling book -- and dating the Olsen twins, shocked insiders say. According to one of Clinton's friends, who asks to remain anonymous, "as soon as Mary- Kate and Ashley turned 18, Bill said: 'O.K., it's time to get jiggy with them!' " Clinton has kept an Olsen twins scrapbook for years, has every TV show and movie they've done on video, and even has a secret shrine to them in his Harlem office, according to his friend. "And Bill told me, 'since they're actresses, I want them to help me act out my Twin Cheerleaders and The Lumberjack fantasies.' " How the Olsens will respond to Clinton's overtures is anybody's guess, but if the past is any indication, few women have been able to resist the Clinton charisma. None of Clinton's wild urges surprises Harvard University sociology professor Dr. Emil Dupree, who describes it as "a mixture of several classic dynamics, including Older Man/Younger Woman, One Man/Two Women, Father/Daughter, Government/Show Business." As for Hillary's reaction, Clinton's friend explains, "She doesn't know. Yet. But it's just a question of time. I keep telling Bill if he starts dating the Olsens, he better take out castration insurance. "But he only replied, 'I can't help it. I've got Olsen Fever!'"

AL QAEDA PLANS TO DROP GAY BOMBS

Men within 30 miles of the blast will instantly turn queer!

By Nick Jefferies

EXTREMIST Muslim scientists are developing a bomb that turns anyone within a 30-mile radius of its blast into a homosexual, say U.S. Intelligence insiders. It's all a part of the Al Qaeda master plan to pull our country apart and kill the patriotism that makes us strong. "They believe that making more Americans gay will start civil war between gays and ultraconservatives," says one highly placed intelligence officer. "They also figure it will lead to a decrease in the U.S. population." The Gay Bomb was already in the planning stages when Osama Bin Laden and close, intimate friend Muhammad Atef founded the international terrorist group Al Qaeda in 1989. "Atef and Bin Laden spent many late nights together during that time of revolution," reveals an ex-Al Qaeda member, who prefers to remain anonymous for fear of retribution. "One morning, I entered their living quarters and they had worked so hard the night before they had fallen into bed together, suffering from exhaustion. "That's when I saw the blueprints for the bomb. I asked about it, but Bin Laden said to leave it to the scientists. He and Atef had accidentally set one off the night before." The explosive device is a foot long and shaped like a cigar with a pair of land mines at one end. Planes carrying the weapons will drop them on all major U.S. cities, except, of course, San Francisco, reveals the source. The Gay Bomb will detonate the instant a heterosexual male steps on one of the mines, releasing potent waves of the female hormone estrogen into the air. Within hours, heterosexual men will experience terrible urges like: "I'm dying to make out with my buddy in the next cubicle," and "I want a divorce from the witch I married," and "I wonder if I should redecorate the living room." By the end of the day, the nation will be thrown into chaos. Wives and husbands will square off, leaving a trail of broken families from Hollywood to New York City. Children will sob: "Why is Daddy moving the furniture and who is Judy Garland?" Civil war will break out between conservative heterosexuals and newly single guerrilla fighters whowill likely call themselves the PLH, or Proud Latent Homosexuals. "The only way to stop this horrible vision of the future is to analyze an exposed person's biochemistry and come up with a vaccine before the gay bombs strike," explains a government scientist. Fortunately, Homeland Security czar Tom Ridge has stepped forward and volunteered for the dangerous job. "We will reconstruct the gay bomb from the ex-Al Qaeda member's memory of the blueprints and set it off," says the scientist. "Mr. Ridge will be as queer as a three-dollar bill until we find an antidote. Hopefully, we will discover the cure before it becomes permanent and he remains a gay man forever." Published on: 08/10/2004

why'd you leave this paragraph out???

To achieve this level of chumminess, parents have often acted less like stern grownups and more like their kids' peers, joining the youth culture wholeheartedly at the mall, even purchasing the same teen-oriented clothes for themselves. This closeness continues and strengthens as Echo Boomers reach early adulthood. "The generation gap used to be a significant barrier between parents and adult kids," says Roberta Maisel. "But today's fiftysomething parent and twenty--something child have a lot of the same values and desires."

this is true!!! plus i believe because life expectancies are longer there would obviously be an increase in adultlescents, in the same respect that marriages are delayed and people have kids later in their lives!

mj standing!!!! 

Look it is my Bristol Buluga! Marion was able to send us the picture from her digital cam. Way To Go! 

heads up, 7-up!!! 

sign improvements!!!! 

The PermaParent Trap

By Pamela Paul
By housing their twenty-something children and financing their lives, today's parents may be compromising their own.
Does this hit close to home? Read the whole article linked above, if it does. Here are a few of what I consider the highlights that I would like to comment on...
Whatever the reason, young adults are returning home in increasing numbers--following graduation, the dissolution of a relationship or the loss of a job. They often live rent-free and subsidized, with no scheduled date for departure. But while much attention has been paid to live-at-home "adultescents," little has been said about their parents, many of whom are Baby Boomers who greet their boomerang kids with open arms. For a variety of emotional and demographic reasons--their desire to be close with their kids, a yearning for youth--many of today's parents (the original Peter Pan generation) just don't want their adult children to grow up.

shee_rah77 comment:
Adultescents- I like this term.

Some argue that permaparenting stems from the indulgence of an immature and spoiled generation. Others blame the phenomenon on the heavy hand of social and economic forces, especially the current recession. And our very definition of adulthood is in flux--with a homestead no longer a key component of adult identity.

shee_rah77 comment:
I would say all the reasons are true except the "current recession" The world has always been in constant economic cycle, highs, lows(depressions), recessions but have we seen this phenomenon till now?

Shifting parental attitudes toward boomerang kids have much to do with generational differences, the result of each generation correcting and overcorrecting the excesses of the previous one. The wave that preceded the Boomers, the Swing, or Silent, generation (born during the Depression and World War II, 1930-1945) and their children, Generation X (born 1965-1978), were brought up during eras of economic recession, reduced birthrates and familial instability, when raising kids was not a societal focal point. Parents of Boomers "were eager for their kids to grow up and leave the household so that they could be free to pursue their own lives," says generational historian William Strauss. "Boomeranging home was a mark of failure for both children and parents."
In contrast, the Baby Boomers themselves (born between 1946 and 1964) and their Echo Boomer offspring (1979 and 1994) have had the happy fortune to be born during periods of prosperity and family growth that place an emphasis on parenthood. From the 1980s hit The Cosby Show to kidcentric TV like Nickelodeon, Boomers were awash in media celebrating the rewards of child-rearing and the joys of childhood. Five times more parenting books are published today than in 1970.

shee_rah77 comment:
Does it all really have to do with generational differences? I am not so sure that I agree with the period of prosperity/family growth that they like to call the "1980s"

Previous generations emphasized education and financial independence over all else for their children. In contrast, "Boomers are the first generation for whom their children's emotional fulfillment is a primary goal. Their parental mantra has been, 'Be happy or I'll kill you.'" In an effort to gratify their kids, Boomers have become unusually invested in their lives--determined to have an authentic, intimate relationship with their children.

shee_rah77 comment:
I like the "Be happy or I'll kill you" but I would say Adultescents can only make themselves 'happy'

Whereas pre-Boomer parents--the GI and Depression/ War generations--reminded their children constantly of their sacrifices and taught them to be grateful for opportunities (what some might call "guilt-tripping"), Baby Boomers didn't want to do that to their kids. According to Adams, having grown up in an era of relative stability, Boomers inadvertently raised the next generation to feel entitled.

shee_rah77 comment:
My grandma liked to remind us constantly how she only had one pair of shoes, one skirt for school and had to walk up a hill to get to school. I also remember her telling us she only had one coloring book and once she colored it she just would sit and look through it. Growing up when and how I did to think that was all she had was pretty much unbelievable but I always knew it was true, so she made me appreciate what I had with her "guilt-tripping"

Jeffrey Arnett, author of the upcoming book Emerging Adulthood: The Winding Road from the Late Teens Through the Twenties, believes boomeranging home may not be such a bad idea for twentysomethings but concedes it may not be best for parents. "Parents like being in a position to help their kids, and they like the fact that they get along well enough to live together," he says. "But parents are usually ready by then to move on with their own lives."

shee_rah77 comment:
I am sure it is not a bad idea for the Adultescents where else can they live for free, eat for free, not pay bills, and not have to really answer to anyone.

Found this article on
Generation Watch News and Views of America's Living Generations

Are You Stuck In The 80's?

The ultimate check list to see if you're stuck in the 1980's. Give yourself 1 point for everything you relate to...
1. Your fondest childhood memory is when Skippy got his head stuck in the banister
2. You relax by putting on your legwarmers and dancing to the "Footloose" soundtrack ["Footloose" by Kenny Loggins, "Holding Out For A Hero" by Bonnie Tyler, "Girl Gets Around" by Sammy Hagar, "Let's Hear It For the Boy" by Deneice Williams]

3. you think the two Coreys are "totally awesome"
4. you're still bitter that Wham! broke up
5. Punky Brewster is your hero
6. you type all of your term papers on a Commodore 64
7. you still resent your parents for not installing a dumbwaiter in your house like Webster's
8. the only video games you play are Frogger and Pac Man
9. you're building your own Clockwork Smurf
10. your summer attire is Jellies and Jams

11. A-Ha's "Take on Me" is still your favorite video
12. you consider yourself truly outrageous, much like Jem and the Holograms
13. you wonder why more people don't wear high heels, Jordache jeans, and lacy ankle socks
14. you call all motorcycle cops "Ponch"
15. every time you go to the beach you look for Snorks
16. you're still upset Madonna and Sean broke up
17. you know who Stinky Sullivan is
18. you work out with "Get in Shape Girl"
19. you want to be Molly Ringwald when you grow up
20. you enjoy "dancing on the ceiling" and "wearing your sunglasses at night"
21. you know who Loverboy is
22. you think there should be a Kids Incorporated original cast reunion
23. you think of Janet Jackson as "that girl who used to date Willis"
24. you can sing the theme song to Small Wonder
25. every time you see a fountain you want to dance around it and yell "Fame!"
26. you still have a shoebox full of Garbage Pail Kid cards
27. you petition Congress to make "Born in the USA" the national anthem
28. you still use your Snoopy Sno-Cone machine
29. you know it's not "comma, comma, comma" it's karma
30. you stay up nights wondering what Bastian's mother's name was in "The Neverending Story"
31. you have nightmares about the Peculiar Purple Pieman of Porcupine Peak
32. you still practice your Care Bear Stare
33. you know that "girls just wanna have fuh-un"
34. you can name all The Gummy Bears [Let's see... Sunny, and...]
35. you harbor a secret dream of being slimed by Alistair
36. you can do the Safety Dance
37. in your spare time you are writing "The Breakfast Club 2"
38. you like to "connect the dots, la la la la!"
39. someone mentions Jennifer Beals and you don't say "Who?"
40. your prized possesion is a collection of "Return of the Jedi" Shrinky Dinks
41. you know whose number is 867-5309
42. you get depressed thinking about Anthony Michael Hall's career
43. you're starting a write-in campaign to MTV to bring back Remote Control
44. you drink Diet Coke because Max Headroom told you to
45. you consider Jo vs. Blair the major philosophical conflict of the 20th century
46. you have a duck phone and ride around your house on a little train
47. you want to be one of the Solid Gold Dancers
48. you still watch things on Beta
49. you want to change your name to Rio and dance on the sand
50. you know that "Weird Science" was a movie before a tv show
51. your favorite proverb is "some like it hot and some sweat when the heat is on"
52. you always waited for the Sweet Pickles Bus to visit your house
53. your favorite party game is Hungry Hungry Hippos
54. you saw the New Kids on the Block when they were Tiffany's opening act
55. you liked Tom Hanks better when he was a crossdresser
56. you know which Hollywood Square Jm J Bullock was in
57. you practice getting in and out of your car through the windows
58. you have the tendency to turn up the collar of your polo/Izod Alligator shirts
59. you're still wondering who really was the boss
60. you know what the "P" in "Alex P. Keaton" stands for
61. you keep asking your teachers if instead of the quiz you can take the physical challenge
62. you organize weekend tournaments of TV tag
63. you still drink Tab [And have lived to tell about it.]
64. when you watch "Terminator 2" you wonder where Vincent is
65. you know ALF's real name
66. you never go out for on the town without frosted blue eyeshadow and feathered bangs
67. you can name all of the Thundercats
68. you got a hankerin' for a hunk of cheese
69. everything in your wardrobe is either pastel or fluorescent
70. your musical inspiration is Sonny Mann
71. sometimes you just want to shout, shout, let it all out
72. you're planning a dream vacation to Mepos
73. you use your Speak and Spell to phone home
74. you know the original members of Menudo
75. sometimes out of the blue you just got to shake your love
76. when you're stuck in traffic you tell your car to engage Turbo Boost and are surprised when it doesn't talk back
77. you remember when Vanessa sang Kareoke to "Locomotion"
78. you know that Mr. Steele functions best in an advisory capacity.
79. people are constantly gagging you with spoons
80. your idea of appreciating ancient cultures is "Walk Like an Egyptian"
81. the only thing you know about the Nazis is that they threw Indy to the snakes
82. you still use your hair crimper before going out on a hot date
83. you hatch plots to break Murdock out of VA hospital
84. You remember with pain the sad day when the Green Machine hit the streets and made your old Big Wheel obsolete
85. you have "We Are the World" on a 45
86. you're still sending death threats to Mr. Rubik
87. you can feel St. Elmo's fire burnin' in you
88. you watch NYPD Blue thinking, "Well, they're no Crockett and Tubbs, that's for sure"
89. You remember when film critics raved that no movie could ever possibly get better special effects than those in the movie TRON
90. Two words: Trapper Keeper.
91. You remember when there was only "G, PG and R", none of this PG-13 crap
92. Wonder twin powers, activate . . . form of a an iceberg, shape of a hammer

21/92 For me
Does that make me stuck in the 80's?

i don't like the show, but this may make it worthwile!

Brenda Walsh haters, unite: The bitch is back. Well, a variation of her, at least. Variety reports former "Beverly Hills 90210" bad girl Shannen Doherty is joining the cast of "North Shore" as Alexander Hudson, the ruthless long-lost sister of Brooke Burns. The temperamental star has signed on for three episodes of the Hawaii-set Fox soap, with an option for more.

BoNy's Ten Things

ten things i really liked when i was a teenager that i don't much care for now:
1. Running
2. Talking To Hot Chicks on the Telephone
3. MTV or any of that music video crap
4. Badmitton & Ping Pong
5. Rollarskating with my Guy Friends
6. Breakdancing @ the Mall
7. Making Out in the Bushes
8. Sex With My Cousin
9. Wearing Speedos @ the Beach
10. Dressing Like An Old Lady Every Halloween
ten things i didn't much care for when i was a teenager that i really like now:
1. Watching Asians Playing Basketball
2. Polish Women In Daisy Dukes
3. Weekend Long Drunk Fests
4. Microwave PopCorn With No Butter
5. Old Naked Men @ the Nude Beach
6. Headbands
7. Watching the News
8. Obeying the Speed Limit To A Point
9. Seasame Seed Oil On My Feet
10. Czechoslobakian Pie Eating Contests

ten things i've never much cared for and very likely never will:
1. F*** Pizza Hut
2. Bald Pussy Cats
3. Friends That Let Friends Drive Drunk
4. Rude People
5. Riding the Same Rollar Coaster Over & Over Again
6. Warm Beer
7. Reading Anything
8. Guacamole, Cabbage, and Chitlins
9. Women That Can't Keep Their PieHole Shut
10. Robert Deniro Always Trying to Look Like Me

ten things i've always really liked and very likely always will:
1. Lesbian Porn
2. Drinking Till I Pass out
3. Fishing
4. Blue Skies and a Gentle Breeze
5. Frank Sinatra
6. Pizza with everything on it
7. The Beach
8. Dancing with the One I Love
9. Having My Hair Braided
10. Gabriella Savatini

Whittaker's farm makes paper again

Prices paid to dairy farmers drop
Consumers may pay less for milk

BY MY-LY NGUYEN
Press & Sun-Bulletin

Binghamton-area dairy lovers may eventually see lower grocery bills as the surge in milk prices loses steam.

The national average farm-level price of milk -- or the amount farmers receive for the calcium-rich commodity -- has fallen about 28 cents per gallon from July to August, according to the U.S. Department of Agriculture. Prices paid to farmers have dropped about 54 cents per gallon since June, when they reached record highs for the year.

As farm-level prices continue to retreat for the second consecutive month, consumers nationwide may end up paying less for milk at groceries and other retail outlets, reports the National Milk Producers Federation. The Arlington, Va.-based organization represents the nation's dairy farmers.

"It's outrageous how prices have skyrocketed," said Elliot Dixon, a 21-year-old from Endwell who uses about a gallon of 2 percent milk each week. "Milk's an essential thing for cereal, oatmeal, cooking and drinking. It'd be great if prices went back down."

Lower retail milk prices put more money in consumers' wallets, but they also mean less profits for dairy farmers who rely on the money to maintain their operations.

"Trying to balance your budget on 1970 prices of milk when you've got 2004 expenses is extremely difficult," said Judi Whittaker, who helps run the Whittaker dairy farm in Nanticoke.

Recent increases in farm-level milk prices helped dairy farmers like Whittaker recover from two years of extremely low payments for their products.

Now that farm-level prices are declining, Whittaker said she'll be keeping an even closer eye on the farm's finances.

"It's the nature of the business," she said. "You've just got to hope you've got your financials in line to ride it out."

Farmers typically receive only 30 cents for every dollar that consumers spend on dairy products, Milk Producers Federation President and Chief Executive Jerry Kozak said.

"We're hoping that prices don't sink back down to the record low levels of 2003," he said. "Many farmers can't take another stint of the 25-year lows like we had last year."

While it's reasonable to expect retail milk prices will start to fall, it's unclear when that time will come.

"We're hoping that retailers who quickly passed their higher input costs on to consumers this spring will be equally responsive as prices drop back down," Kozak said.

The price increases were largely the result of tight milk supplies, he said.

After two years of extremely low milk prices, many farmers chose to leave the dairy business or reduce their milk production, according to the federation.

As the number of cows decreased and milk supplies tightened, prices rose for farmers and consumers.

Binghamton-area consumers saw the price for a gallon of whole milk increase about 15 percent from May to July, according to the state Department of Agriculture & Markets.

"Our cost for milk has come down," Rochester-based Wegmans spokeswoman Jo Natale said. "It's hard to know what the future will bring, but we anticipate our costs may stay lower for a time."

Whittaker said consumers probably won't see retail milk prices drop immediately.

"It's just like gas prices," she said. "You never see them drop as quickly as they go up."

the NEW surreal life feat, flava flav and my friend jordan knight

check it out!!!!

http://www.tvtome.com/tvtome/servlet/ShowMainServlet/showid-12331#stars

nader manchurian????

IS RALPH NADER THE MANCHURIAN CANDIDATE?Secret Russian files recently uncovered by the U.S. government reveal Ralph Nader is destined to sweep the 2004 election and turn America into a Socialist paradise! "It's true," says a former Soviet KGB officer. "We had secret agents brainwash him while he was a student at Princeton during the height of the Cold War." According to the Russian, much as in the classic movie The Manchurian Candidate, Nader has been a ticking time-bomb for more than 50 years. He was set to detonate when gasoline prices hit $2 a gallon. "At first, we thought it would happen during the gasoline shortage in the 1970s, and then again during the Gulf War in the 1990s," says the agent. "It never happened, so we just forgot about poor Ralph. "It's too late to turn back now, though Nader will crush the America you know and you will all have a taste of Socialism." Sources close to Nader dismiss the whole brainwashing scenario, but concede that the presidential hopeful has been making bold statements about his plans to end the current gas crisis. "He's been talking about prohibiting driving at speeds over 25 mph and jailing owners of Hummers and SUVs," says an unnamed source in Nader's camp. "He also wants to make driving illegal on Sundays and holidays, period. "Come to think of it, he's always had strong opinions, but these radical proposals do seem to be a more recent development."

this is the coolest hoodie!!!! it is soooo much hotter than a yard sign, if only it could be mine. 

sign 

"Super Freak" Rick James Dead

By Joal Ryan

Rick James lived the rock 'n' roll life to excess--right up until he faced a life sentence in prison.
The influential but troubled funkmeister, known for his 1981 hit "Super Freak (Part 1)" and a two-year stint in prison on cocaine-fueled assaults, was found dead of apparent natural causes at 9:45 a.m. Friday morning in his Los Angeles home. He was 56. The rocker and producer had been busy of late, working on a new album, and an autobiography to be called Memoirs of a Super Freak. Comic Dave Chappelle was in talks to portray James in a planned biopic based on the book, the Hollywood Reporter said in June.
Last month, James told BET.com that the new album would feature as many as 30 songs.
"Music is a universal language, every color, every creed, every race," James told the Website. "I want everybody to enjoy my [stuff]."
In June, he was presented with ASCAP's Rhythm & Soul Heritage Award, credited by the organization for being the father of "punk-funk" in hits such as "Mary Jane," "Give It to Me Baby" and his signature tune, "Super Freak."
In 1998, James suffered a stroke, which his management blamed on "rock 'n' roll neck," or blood vessels weakened as the result of too much neck-bobbing during shows.
That year James also underwent hip-replacement surgery. That injury was blamed on years of performing--as well as years of substance abuse.
It was cocaine that landed James in his most serious trouble.
In 1991, he was arrested for singeing a woman with a hot crack pipe. In 1992, while out on bail, he was arrested for beating up another woman at a West Hollywood hotel.
In 1993, he was convicted of assault in the two arrests, but he was cleared of a torture charge in the crack-pipe incident that could have put him behind bars for the rest of his life.
Born Feb. 1, 1948, in Buffalo, New York, James' other hits include "You and I" and "Mary Jane."

hurry!!!!

vote for miss photogenic!!! miss teen usa tonight!!!
http://www.nbc.com/nbc/Miss_Teen_USA_2004/

Have you ever spoken and wished that you could immediately take the words back...

or that you could crawl into a hole? Here are the testimonials of a few people who did.....

I walked into a hair salon with my husband and three kids in tow and asked loudly, "How much do you charge for a shampoo and a blow job?" I turned around and walked back out and never went back. My husband didn't say a word... he knew better.

I was at the golf store comparing different kinds of golf balls. I was unhappy with the women's type I had been using. After browsing for several minutes, I was approached by one of the good-looking gentlemen who works at the store. He asked if he could help me. Without thinking, I looked at him and said, "I think I like playing with men's balls."

My sister and I were at the mall and passed by a store that sold a variety of candy and nuts . As we were looking at the display case, the boy behind the counter asked if we needed any help. I replied, "No, I'm just looking at your nuts." My sister started to laugh hysterically, the boy grinned, and I turned beet-red and walked away. To this day, my sister has never let me forget.

Have you ever asked your child a question too many times? My three-year-old son had a lot of problems with potty training and I was on him constantly One day we stopped at Taco Bell for a quick lunch in between errands. It was very busy, with a full dining room While enjoying my taco, I smelled something funny, so of course I checked my seven-month-old daughter, and she was clean. Then I realized that Danny had not asked to go potty in a while, so I asked him if he needed to go, and he said "No." I kept thinking, "Oh Lord, that child has had an accident, and I don't have any clothes with me." Then I said, "Danny, are you SURE you didn't have an accident?" "No," he replied. I just KNEW that he must have had an accident, because the smell was getting worse. Soooooo, I asked one more time, "Danny, did you have an accident?" This time he jumped up, yanked down his pants, bent over and spread his cheeks and yelled. "SEE MOM, IT'S JUST FARTS!!" While 30 people nearly choked to death on their tacos laughing! He calmly pulled up his pants and sat down An old couple made m e feel better by thanking me for the best laugh they'd ever had!

This had most of the state of Michigan laughing for 2 days and a very embarrassed female news anchor who will, in the future, likely think before she speaks. What happens when you predict snow but don't get any....a true story.. We had a female news anchor who, the day after it was supposed to have snowed and didn't, turned to the weatherman and asked: "So Bob, where's that 8 inches you promised me last night?" Not only did HE have to leave the set, but half the crew did too they were laughing so hard!

This is something every American should see...

This statue currently stands outside the Iraqi palace, now home to the 4th Infantry division. It will eventually be shipped home and put in the memorial museum in Fort Hood, Texas.

The statue was created by an Iraqi artist named Kalat, who for years was forced by Saddam Hussein to make the many hundreds of bronze busts of Saddam that dotted Baghdad.

Kalat was so grateful for the Americans liberation of his country; he melted 3 of the heads of the fallen Saddam and made the statue as a memorial to the American soldiers and their fallen warriors. Kalat worked on this memorial night and day for several months.

To the left of the kneeling soldier is a small Iraqi girl giving the soldier comfort as he mourns the loss of his comrade in arms.

Do you know why we don't hear about this in the news? Because it is heart warming and praise worthy. The media avoids it because it does not have the shock effect that a flashed breast or controversy of politics does. But we can do something about it. We can pass this along to as many people as we can in honor of all our brave military making a difference.
 

Robbers Get Busy During Candidates' Visits

DAVENPORT, Iowa (Reuters) - Figuring Davenport police were preoccupied with simultaneous visits by President Bush and Democratic presidential hopeful John Kerry, three bank robbers went to work on Wednesday, police said.
Police on foot chased down the suspect in the first robbery, which occurred just about when Bush was stepping off his plane.
The second and third robberies at different banks took place while the two candidates were addressing their respective crowds -- which was almost certainly factored into the thieves' thinking, police Lt. Don Gano said.
"Without actually talking to the bad guys, that's probably what happened," Gano said of the robbers' timing.
When police answered the first call, it further thinned their ranks, Gano said.
Police were hunting for the other two suspects, who were both armed. They did not believe any of the suspects were aware of the others' plans.

Ten Things

ten things i really liked when i was a teenager that i don't much care for now:
1. Beverly Hills 90210
2. Mad Dog
3. Boone's Farm
4. Body Suits + Daisy Dukes
5. Flannel
6. Shaving Words Into my Head
7. Sun-In
8. Huge Bell-Bottoms
9. Huge Hoop Earrings
10.Beavis and Butthead

ten things i didn't much care for when i was a teenager that i really like now:
1. zucchini
2. school
3. sun screen
4. football
5. coffee
6. beer
7. the news
8. flattering tasteful fitting clothing
9. moisturizer
10.north carolina

ten things i've never much cared for and very likely never will:
1. math
2. tea
3. green peppers
4. onions
5. hypocritical people
6. going to the dentist
7. organized religion
8. ketchup in packets
9. cold weather
10. doing shots

ten things i've always really liked and very likely always will:
1. little house on the prairie
2. computers
3. hot tubs
4. karaoke
5. traveling
6. listening to music constantly
7. cockapoos
8. the gap
9. old 80s country
10. going to concerts

Again, participation is highly encouraged but of course optional...This was actually hard for me. The whole process scared me since I guess I really haven't changed that drastically since HS.

Why Diets Should Be History

In fact, even those of us who aren't consciously dieting are putting ourselves on miniature diets every day. Most of us keep our bodies in survival mode most of the time: For example, one in five of us skip breakfast every morning, according to a 2003 study, and we probably think we're doing something healthy - less food, less fat, right?
But in truth, people who skip breakfast are 450% more likely to be overweight or obese. They are training their bodies to store fat, the way you are if you skip meals regularly.
We're also training our bodies to store the most dangerous fat - abdominal fat. This fat isn't a static cluster of useless tissue. It's a living, growing mass, practically an organism all its own, one that builds, divides and excretes toxins back into our systems, that draws blood flow and nutrients away from the rest of our bodies, that alters the distribution of hormones in our bloodstreams, that presses on our organs and hampers their function.
Studies show that men and women who have high levels of abdominal fat - as opposed to those who have fat more evenly distributed - are at greater risk for heart disease, stroke, diabetes and even some forms of cancer.
The shocking truth about America's obesity problem is that we're fat because we're starving. The best way to make yourself fat is to let yourself get hungry. And we live in a nation of people who are hungry all of the time.
Read the whole article here...
Why diets should be history

Not Your Yard!

Since you do not own the front yard or any of the property, I would say you do not have the authority to make the decision.
Looks like you will have to move!

bush sign???

oh. btw, there will be no sign supporting bush/cheney in my front yard!!! not as long as i am here!!!

Politics

Abby W. Cognetti _ On 8/02/04 DNA tests performed at the CDC revealed your biological father was not one Edward Whittaker, but one Michael Moore.

DAVEE STAR

I have arrived! Paparazzi get ready...

'Realtime' Talk show host Bill Maher, right, and Farenheit 9/11 director Michael Moore, left, beg Ralph Nader to drop out of the 2004 presidential race during the broadcast of the program, in Los Angeles, Friday, July 30, 2004.
 

The official Bush Cheney 04 Event Pack. We will be receiving this in Baghdad so we can support our man. My parents will also be receiving two yard signs to put in their front yard. This is kind of a tradition, that goes back a few elections (before I could even vote) I had a boyfriend who was a huge George Senior supporter and he put a sign in our yard. Meanwhile, my dad was for Ross Perot (yes, do not ask! Let's just hope he does not vote for Nader in this election!) He found a sign for Perot in someone's yard and decided to borrow it and put it in his. Well, that did not last because someone decided to borrow the sign from our yard a few nights later. No one touched the Bush sign... Wonder what will happen this year? It better not involve anyone who lives in my parent's house taking or defacing my signs! 

Tony Stewart said racing hard at Pocono on Sunday was fun.
Not sure if Jeff felt the same way from that look on his face. 

Tony The Good Sport

Did anyone else notice what a good sport Tony was in Pocono? Unlike others who like to place blame on other drivers and start fights in the pits!


I just got real loose and spun it out," Stewart said. "I was running real close to Kasey and someone else was on the inside of us, who we had just passed, so it's hard.

"It was just racing, out there -- it's fun. It's fun racing with guys like that, today."

"Everybody was being pretty courteous to each other," Stewart said, "but racing each other hard, so it was good fun racing today."

Notes: Stewart spins from chance for victory

McDonald's 30-day Diet

This guy actually lost weight doing this.
The one thing he did differently compared to the guy who made the movie and supposedly almost died from his McD's diet is he drank DIET soda and he also very moderately excersised.
So, the guy was just out to prove that fast food is not the reason we have obesity and health problems in America.
McDonald's 30-day Diet