A Discover Insanity Update:Happy News From The World of Knut!

With all the negative news that's been happening in the world this week, I figured it's about time that you got to read a story (it'll be a continuing feature here at DiscoverInsanity.com) that'll make you smile!"Knut The Cute" the fuzzy little polar bear from Germany is in the news again. He has been dubbed "the world's tinyest celebrity" and he's making news again!

Knut fans can relax. Berlin Zoo has given the world-famous bear cub a clean bill of health and said he only had teething trouble on Sunday and Monday when he worried visitors by lying on the ground with his paws over his eyes. After taking antibiotics, he's playing again, but his cheek's a bit swollen.

Knut suffered teething pain and a fever this week and only just managed to stop vets putting a thermometer in his bottom. But the polar bear cub celebrity is back on his paws after he had been feeling so poorly that worried vets had cut short Monday's public viewing and taken him back to his cage. "It was only toothache," said a spokeswoman for the zoo. "He's growing a back tooth and it hurt him like it hurts most small children." Knut would be back on show on Tuesday, she said. "He's playing again but his cheek is swollen."

"At the moment he is resting on his blanket and sleeping," Schuele said, adding that despite his lethargy Knut did eat his regular meal in the morning. Schuele did not know if Knut would be strong enough for public appearances in the next days.

And in other news, and I have no friggin' idea on why anyone would do this, the threat of some crazed animal-hater hangs over the unwitting cub. I guess that like many celebrities, Knut is paying the price of fame.

An anonymous animal-hater has sent a death threat against him to Berlin Zoo. Police don't think it's serious but Knut's 15 private bodyguards are being extra watchful. Andre Schüle, a vet at Berlin Zoo, said: "It's the first time we received a death threat. It was sent by mail. The fact that there isn't a big police presence here is a sign that they don't take it seriously." The zoo hasn't increased Knut's security detail which numbers 15 private guards who are mainly involved in crowd control, Schüle said. He added that Knut visitors would not be undergoing security checks such as backpack searches.

Germany's biggest-selling newspaper Bild Zeitung reported that the hand-written note contained only five chilling words: "KNUT IS DEAD! THURSDAY NOON." He's only five months old but little Knut has already faced more than his fair share of trials. He was rejected by his mother at birth and had to spend his first weeks in an incubator, only to be dismissed as not worthy of life by some animal experts sceptical about hand-rearing bears.

I hope you've enjoyed this "semi-cheery" update on Knut The Cute. I'll keep throwing out updates on this frisky little critter from time to time to break up some of insane news that I comment on here at DiscoverInsanity! Below you will find a couple of links to some interesting and funny Knut News.


See more funny pictures like the "Knutella" I laughed when I saw some of the ways people have come up with Knut products and photos. I guess that is the price of celebrity. If you want to see more funny pictures like this one, click on this link to launch a slide of interesting Knut merchandise.


Also, Spiegel International, the daily newspaper from Germany, can send you a daily newsletter in your e-mail with updates on Knut the Cute. Just click on this link and sign up and get a daily dose of Knut and other international headlines today!


Check out the links, enjoy and have a great day!

Today We Are All Hokies?The internet World Responds To A Tradgedy

As we all mourn the loss of 32 Virginia Tech students, it should come as no surprise that Americans--and particularly college students--have congregated on Facebook to grieve together. For many Virginia Tech students, this is where they go to mourn their friends: Facebook. Usually a massive digital yearbook, today it's a memorial site. Many memorial groups have made Facebook pages, including one entitled, "A tribute to those who passed at the Virginia Tech Shooting" jumping from 107,000 members to more than 123,908 members. Sometimes in all the hype about Web 2.0 and the technology and money behind it, it's easy to lose track of an important component of this brave new world--people.

Its easy to join in on the latest rant in our corner of the blogosphere. Its easy to be part of the angry mob. (I know its something I’ve been guilty of from time to time) I encourage you all, particularly in times like this, to take a step back and consider every perspective, and put together your posts and comments in as meaningful and constructive way as possible. It elevates the discourse in the blogosphere, and, if you want to be pragmatic, can potentially benefit to you as well.

Today Facebook reminds us of the power of social networking to bring us together. Much will be written on this blog and others about Facebook's role—a mix of mourning and newsgathering - in the aftermath of the tragic events of April 16, 2007 in Blacksburg, Va. But for now...

Today We Are All Hokies

(Highlights of the Memorial - Courtesy of Facebook)

My thoughts and prayers are with you all.
— Karen Johnson Apr 16, 06:05 PM

I join people of many faiths and backgrounds to pray for each of you in the days ahead.May your pain receed and your future brighten.
— Pastor Al Beck Apr 17, 11:05 AM

What to say that hasn’t already been said. My heart is so heavy to hear of such a loss of some of America’s finest and brightest. Please share their stories with the world. We all clamor to hear about these lost angels. Please tell of the lives of the lost. What will they be remembered for? How did they impact your lives? How will you remember them? We all want to hear. May God be with you now and always.
— C.H.Parker Apr 17, 07:29 PM

My condolences - To those left alone from this

hold life, please...lets take a recess - give some regrets
if i had 3 from a bottle, they’d be resets
9/11, katrina, take a deep breathe
pause for vtech

to die learning, is it history’s wish
food for the soul, an old dish
its an open wound, no stitch
the kid was so bright, stolen light
is this what its come to
proud parents, turned miserable couples
ran out the door, you wish he had hugged you
just know that eyes can send love too
and she dont know the trouble of being innocent
its hard but let her go, the gates open,
once she’s in she’s in, Heavens the final goal
i pray for every win
every daughter, every son, every father, every mom, everyone, um…
even him with the gun
...i pray…
— Anonymous Apr 17, 12:49 PM


Please let me offer my heartfelt condolences and prayers to all who are suffering as a result of this tragic act. I shed tears but I’m praying for you. But please let me speak – I wanted to respond to the hate mongers re Seung-Hui Cho: I was there at Columbine – during and after. There are no easy answers, as the families of Columbine can attest to. The families of the dead and injured became forever marked by children who were taunted and tormented by other children. The count of Columbine includes these children who committed these acts of insanity (to us – but reasonable and logical to them!) The families of these tormented killers became victims in Colorado – ostracized, hurt because they too lost their world. As Christians, we realize Cho is also a victim of his past which ruled his present. Cho’s acts are insane and nonsensical to us – reasonable and logical in his own tortured mind. Now his family and friends suffer, now victims as they have to try to live in their community seething with hate and sorrow. Everyone watching this sad turn of events—we are all victims in one way or another—again. And again we MUST understand that hate is not the answer. Do we now persecute every person of Asian descent along with Middle Easterners and —- you get the picture. With every school shooting – where school is a “sanctuary” for people of All Ages, All Faiths and Races and FACES – we suffer…we hurt…but EVERYONE suffers…hurts. Don’t hate—help…support…grieve…support…come together…don’t listen to those who perpetuate hate. Please… like she said – Scott – please…please…
— Dee Dee T. Apr 17, 11:49 PM

Why

Why is the question that runs through my mind
As I try to make sense of a senseless crime
Too young to die too much to still do
Still question upon question inside of you

Perhaps the response wouldn’t be what we want to hear
There is no real answer for the craziness, I fear
We value life and find it hard to comprehend
Those who take it away like a game of pretend

You feel so helpless and empty inside
Watching the ones whose loved ones have died
We can only drop our heads and quietly pray
For time to heal those who grieve because of this day

My learning will come when my children I teach
To be kind to every soul that looks to be out of their reach
For perhaps that individual is lost in some way
Like the Boy who unfolded his anger this day

Realistically, I know it’s all out of my hands
To make my kids be aware of our parental demands
For life is a series of movement through time
Of loving and learning on the ladder we climb

I think remembering is the best we can do
When time eases the pain that we are going through
A nation grieves for those we don’t know
Our hearts are heavy and our confidence low

For tragedy binds us all in some way
Like the sadness we see that happened this day
So tomorrow I’ll rise and I’ll still question why
Even though the answer is that life changes in the blink of an eye!
— Michelle Plouse Apr 18, 12:05 AM

While these sentiments may be expressed in the virtual world,
they can help those who have to carry on in the real one.

My thoughts and prayers, along with those of my family, friends and millions of people worldwide - are with the good people of Virginia Tech. May you find peace and understanding in all that has happened.

We've Discovered InsanityAnd It Knocked On Our Front Door!

Benjamin Franklin once said, "Whatever is begun in anger ends in shame".

Normally I have a witty commentary or story about some happening in the news of today. But yesterday wasn’t really a “normal” day for anything witty. In fact, yesterday was a sad commentary on where we’ve come from and where we’re going to. The news was full of stories (or maybe I should call it rehashed speculation) about the incident and chain of events that happened at Virginia Tech. It was on every news media outlet I saw. And since the first report I saw at 11 AM, to the last report I saw at 10 PM, there wasn’t much new to tell.

I got tired of watching the coverage. News outlets expanded their “nightly news” to cover the ever growing (???) story. Who did it? Why’d he do it? What do we know about people that do this type of thing? Everybody had a comment on it…even Dr. Phil. Now there we go. When there is a national tradgedy, the first person I’m going to turn to is Dr. Phil. He was on Larry King Live talking about the psychology of a psychopath. Like there is anything you can say about this idiot who took 32 innocent lives. Other than to say that he should of used the first bullet on himself, of course.

Parents, researchers and teachers have spent many years and countless amounts of money trying to understand why people act the way they do. They have done numerous studies and observations. Simply looking for the answer to why people are bringing guns to schools, universities and malls and shooting innocent people. In the past few months there have been four school shootings, three of which were in a one-week time span. The shootings were in four different states, Vermont, Colorado, Wisconsin, and Pennsylvania.

I went to the Collegiate Times, the college newspaper of Virginia Tech. That's where the banner picture for this blog entry came from. I wanted to read what the kids there, the people who actually had to live through this mess, the people who’s lives will never be the same, had to say.

Here is a brief copy of the story published on the Virginia Tech Collegiate Times website.

In a series of press conferences held last night at The Inn at Virginia Tech, Virginia Tech President Charles Steger, Virginia Tech Police Chief Wendell Flinchum and University Spokesperson Larry Hincker confirmed a preliminary number of 15 injured along with the 32 fatalities by a gunman on campus in addition to his suicide.

There is now an update on the identification of the victims. Police have confirmed a preliminary identity of the shooter that will not be released at this time. The police have recovered two weapons. The ATF is still investigating the ballistics from the first homicide, but no specific information has been released.

After the multiple shootings that took place on campus, many Virginia Tech students have been left feeling shocked and saddened. Their comments show their pain, shock and grief.

"I was in my dorm room this morning when I found out what was going on," said junior Sam Leake, who lives in West Amber Johnston, "This is just a really horrific incident, I always thought Virginia Tech was a safe school."

After such a horrific incident many Virginia Tech students are expressing their absolute shock and disbelief in regards to this situation.

"I just can't believe this happened," one student said, "I mean a lot of people have been calling and e-mailing, but I think it will take time to sink in."

Despite those feelings of shock and frustration, many Virginia Tech students are also expressing feelings that the Virginia Tech community will come together and find strength within one another.

"I think this definitely has the potential to bring the community together," a student said. "I intend to go to Cassel tomorrow to show my support for all of those people that have been impacted by this shooting."

This is more than a story about an idiot who shot innocent people. We need to care less about the who's, what's and why's and extend our hearts and our help to those kids and their families. They are the ones who have to grieve over what has happened to their friends and teachers who were slaughtered in a fit of idiotic rage. And many of them have begun the healing process. The school has provided counselors and will be having a memorial service today in honor of those who gave their lives in such a horrible way.

How do you recover from something like this? Well, it takes time. It takes understanding. You’ve got to be able to cry. To get mad. To vent your anger. I hope that these kids don’t suffer from the “what could I have done” syndrome. There is nothing anybody could have done. This was the act of one selfish individual and nobody could do anything to change that. It was the gunman’s decision to do what he did and neither you or I could have stopped him.

Life today is definitely different from the life of yesterday. We've experienced so much in our lives that sometimes our emotions have no way of knowing the difference between what is right and wrong. Some people begin to find that it is hard to distinguish between reality and fiction. Today's kids are living with the fear of the next day at school, they might get shot. There are a few simple things parents, schools, and kids themselves can make schools safer. Parents have first responsibility to talk to their kids about recent events and ask questions about their concerns. They need to reassure their children schools are a safe place.

People can help their fellow man. They should encourage each other to tell a teacher, parent, authority, anyone if they hear of weapons or possible threats. People should look for early warning signs, dramatic drop in grades in school-aged kids, behavior changes (failure to participate, increased absences, lack of ambition, etc.)

These types of shootings can be prevented and reduced. We just have to learn to take the time to look for signs. We need to begin to change our attitudes about many things and realize people are more helpless now than ever before. There will be more good people whose minds give way under the terrible artificial and contrived burdens they are forced to bear and the terrible strains they are under just living in today's society.

We can prevent the number of people who become lost. We can prevent so many good people from becoming bad people by just taking the time to care. Taking the time to talk to someone and find out what they are thinking, what they feel, and why they feel the way they do.

Finding that time is often a chore in our hectic lives, but it needs to become a priority or America will no longer be what it should be: safe.

Recognize This Face? You May Not Have Seen Him Much But His Voice Has Made You Watch Something!

When I started at CBS over 15 years ago, I had the opportunity to work finishing CBS's on-air promos. These 5, 10, 20, 30 or 60-second spots promote what CBS has to offer and are often extremely creative. But besides the picture, it was the announcer in many instances that made the spot. I've met and worked with many of them. But there is one of them who is probably one of the nicest guys I've ever met. Recently, you've seen him on the tube and now people know what he actually looks like.

For years Don LaFontaine has been a Hollywood icon. Before last August, few people had any idea who he was — until he opened his mouth. LaFontaine is the voice or, as Geico labeled him in a recent commercial, "that announcer guy from the movies." He is the veritable Babe Ruth of movie trailers with just as many nicknames: "the King of Movie Trailers," "Mr. Voice," "Thunder Throat," "the Voice of God.

With a thunder-throat like his, you'd think that LaFontaine would get recognized everywhere he goes — the dry cleaner's, the super market, certainly at the movie theater — but not so, he says. "People don't recognize my voice at all really. My conversational voice is the same voice that I use when I'm working, but when I'm working it's more, it's a bigger, a little more over-the-top kind of voice that, if you used it in normal conversation, you would have people calling security."

There was even one time that he did all of our answering machine messages. It was definitely wild to hear Don come on and say..."Pete's not home right now..." And, for most of his career, LaFontaine lived in relative anonymity. Then Geico Insurance Co. began running ads featuring LaFontaine and a "real" Geico customer. Seemingly overnight, LaFontaine went from faceless voice to a YouTube celebrity.

"The Geico ad changed my life. It was amazing what happened," he said. "The public isn't necessarily unfamiliar with me, but this Geico spot just exploded to the point where now I am recognized virtually everywhere I go. And it's a little disconcerting, because I've been anonymous for over 40 years doing this, and now I've got people watching me to see how I eat. It's a little weird."

When LaFontaine began his career in the early 1960s, movie trailers were nonexistent. "Up until the early '60s, believe it or not, the primary advertising vehicle for motion pictures was the theatrical trailer, the previews, the coming attractions or the print ads. They did very little or no advertising on radio or television, so this was a brand new idea," he said. "I realized very early on that what the trailer does, essentially, is take the audience, which is sitting in the theater, and transports them to a different time, a different place, a different situation in which something is going to happen," he said. "I felt it was necessary to set up the time, place, situation so they knew where they were, so they could locate themselves before we told them what happened. So I would say, 'In a world where' … and we would tell them where it was or what was happening."

Since 1964, LaFontaine said he did "a word here, a sentence there, a complete spot," and before he knew it, "I had about 1,000 films under my belt." In the decades since, LaFontaine has only added to that number, amassing an eye-popping 5,000 films, including "Fatal Attraction," "Cast Away," "The Godfather" and, his personal favorite, "Elephant Man," among about 35,000 narrations.

When we worked with him in our famed "PC-23", we used to schedule our day around Don's arrival. We would work finishing many spots, sometimes up to 120 per day! But when Don showed up, in his white limo, all other work ceased and we let the man read. He was so busy that he had to have the limo. His driver would take him from place to place, telling him how long he had to be there and then whisk him off to his next announcing gig. Every now and then I caught Don grabbing a bite to eat in the commissary. He is a great guy to talk to and really enjoyed being a Dad to his children. Many times he'd tell me he'd rather be home than in the studio at CBS.

Well, he got his wish. Nowadays, LaFontaine, who works from his home studio in Los Angeles, averages between seven and 10 jobs a day but has recorded as many as 35 in a single 24-hour period. "My wife calls my studio, which is in the basement, she calls it the hole — which she insists I go into and disappear into, much like the rabbit in 'Alice in Wonderland,' and never come out of until the end of the day, which is basically true. I treat it like a nine-to-five job more or less," explained LaFontaine.

It is this professionalism, this dedication to his craft, which has led to the respect and praise of his colleagues. "Within the industry, he's known as the Man, the Michael Jordan of his game," said friend and colleague Paul Pape.

You wouldn't believe how a spot can go from bland to spectacular with the right voice. If it was comedy or an awards show, we used Mark Elliott (Now the voice of Disney). If it was a Walter Texas Ranger type show it was Chuck Riley (The voice of Ford Motor Company). But if it was a big show, one that needed to get the audience's attention, it was the voice of Don that made the spot. And the bottom line is that an effective voice-over has less to do with tenor of the voice, than the passion and emotion evoked by the reader. "It's not the quality of the voice that counts or really matters," he said. "It's the quality of the read. It's nice to have a thunder-throat like I do, but some of the most successful people in the business don't. What you have to have to be successful is veracity? You have to have some sort of affinity for the words, some feeling for it, some passion for it and that's where the veracity comes in."

He is one of the busiest men I know. His schedule, with so many clients, has also made him wealthy. It is rumored that Don makes in excess of $6-million a year. That's right, $6-million! Doing voiceovers is lucrative. I know a bunch of people who are out there trying to do it. You get paid on a "per-spot" basis. So if you do a promo for a show that's 20-seconds long, you get paid for that. That's called a "spot". But it doesn't end there. You also make money on the "tag." So everytime you hear the words "tonight" or "next", the announcer gets paid again. And the $$$ adds up. Are these guys worth it. Heck yes!

But there's more to it than just a good read. LaFontaine describes his voice-over work much like an artist would talk about a painting or a sculpture. "You are painting oral, a sound picture with your voice," he said. "It's like reading to a child. A child could be lying in bed with their eyes closed listening to the story, and they are painting the pictures in their mind based upon what you are saying to them. It's really as simple as that."

If only I could get him to read for my blog. Let's see. "In a world that has gone insane..."

This Time "Ho" Is Not A Bad WordSinger Don Ho Dies At 76

He entertained Hollywood's biggest stars and thousands of tourists for four decades. For many, no trip to Hawaii was complete without seeing his Waikiki show -- a mix of songs, jokes, double entendres, Hawaii history and audience participation. When I went to Hawaii on my honeymoon 8 ears ago, I even got onstage and sung this song at a leuau! It's a sad day for the "Ho's" of the world...and not the bad kind either!

Legendary crooner Don Ho, (a real "Ho" and not a "street ho") known for his raspberry-tinted sunglasses and catchy signature tune "Tiny Bubbles," has died, his publicist said. The singer died Saturday morning of heart failure. He had suffered with heart problems for the past several years, and had a pacemaker installed last fall. In 2005, he underwent an experimental stem cell procedure on his ailing heart in Thailand in 2005.

Shows usually started and ended with the same song, "Tiny Bubbles," which Ho mostly hummed as the audience enthusiastically took over. He has been performing his special show for more than 40 years. His official website describes an evening with Ho as "magic." Over his four decade career, Ho has also performed in venues around the the country, including Hollywood's Coconut Grove, The Sands in Las Vegas, Harrah's at Lake Tahoe, the Palmer House in Chicago, the Americana Hotel's Royal Box in New York.

Besides "Tiny Bubbles," his other well-known songs include "I'll Remember You," "With All My Love," and the "Hawaiian Wedding Song." "I had no intention of being an entertainer,” Ho said. “I just played songs I liked from the radio, and pretty soon that place was jammed. Every weekend there would be lines down the street.”

Honey's became a happening place on Oahu, with other Hawaiian musicians stopping in for jam sessions. Ho began to play at various spots at Hawaii, and soon, he was packing places such as the Coconut Grove in Hollywood and the Flamingo Hotel in Las Vegas. Stars such as Lucille Ball, Sammy Davis Jr. and Frank Sinatra were known to be in the audience for Ho's shows.

There isn't much to say but great things for a man who entertained the masses for so many years. This is one "Ho" that the world is going to miss. I don't think there are many people out there who never heard the "Tiny Bubbles" tune. It's got a melody that just sticks in your head and even the master himself couldn't stand that song sometimes. His words say it best...

"I hate that song," he often joked to the crowd, adding that he saved it for the end because "people my age can't remember if we did it or not."

Goodbye Don. You're the "Ho" that will be greatly missed!

A Discover Insanity Update:Knut The Cute Is Making Millions Of Bucks!

It had to happen! It's been a couple of weeks since I wrote about my cuddly little buddy Knut the Bear. Well, Knut's life has gotten a lot better and I thought you'd all like an update on the little guy who was saved from extermination! Well Knutmania is in full swing in Germany, where the fluffy baby bear has become the latest merchandising sensation, inspiring Knut T-shirts, mugs, postcards, DVDs, keychains, candy and stuffed teddy bears that cost up to $40.

I was on top of this story the minute it happened. Isn't that what being a good "cub reporter" is all about? (Pun Intended). Knut's gotten a lot of press all over the world and it has opened the eyes of people worldwide to the plight of our endangered species. And like all good things, there are many people and companies who must make money on him.

You can view my previous story and slideshow by clicking on this link!

Knut shares the cover of the current issue of Vanity Fair with no less than Leonardo DiCaprio, with photos by Annie Leibovitz. He has the cover of the German edition all to himself. As first polar bear born in Germany in 30 years, Knut - who was born Dec. 5 and hand-raised by zookeepers after his mother rejected him - rose to fame last month thanks to television and newspaper pictures. Since then, he has become virtually omnipresent. So potent is his appeal that zoo attendance has roughly doubled since his debut, officials said.

"Obviously, his innocent, babylike looks are an important reason," said Peter Walschburger, a psychologist at the Free University in Berlin, adding that Knut's white fur and soft, round features made people want to protect him. Some 15,000 people visit the baby bear each day.

The merchandising frenzy now includes a special collection by German toy maker Steiff GmbH. Since January, the company has been selling 800 Knut bears a day, said sales director Gerald Uhlich. The stuffed animals come in three sizes and cost between about $27 and $40. Haribo, the German candy company that makes gummi bears, has created a white, marshmallow-like Knut candy that will hit grocery stores across Germany and Austria next week. Steiff has a licensing deal with the zoo and will invest part of its profit in projects there. Haribo also will contribute part of its proceeds to the zoo.

Knut also has his own blog - in German, English and Spanish - written by a journalist at the regional public broadcaster, Rundfunk Berlin-Brandenburg.

The boom may run its course in the next few months. We all must be willing to face the reality of what my good cuddly buddy's quick rise to superstardom is going to do to him.

Unlike his stuffed replicas, Knut will soon grow up - into a huge and much less cuddly adult. Remember, he's a polar bear...not Tom Cruise!

Big Freakin News: Don Imus Fired!But What Was The Real Reason?

Gee...like we never though it would happen. With the amount of "outrageous reactions" from many publicity-seeking newsmakers, it is no surprise that Don Imus, host of the Imus In The Morning radio program was fired for his comments about the Rutger's Women's Basketball team. CBS policy (and yes I work for them) states that those type of racist remarks are unacceptable and may result in termination.

So I guess my company followed their Statement of Conduct Policy. And I am assuming that NBC did also. Each of these company's, in an effort to ward off more of the political embarassment issued statements regarding the firing of Mr. Imus for using the word "nappyhead." My Google search for nappyhead+don imus gave me about 11,800 for results. And what bugs me about all this is....we'll get to that in a moment. First here is the "official stances":

Effective immediately, MSNBC will no longer simulcast the "Imus in the Morning" radio program. This decision comes as a result of an ongoing review process, which initially included the announcement of a suspension. It also takes into account many conversations with our own employees. What matters to us most is that the men and women of NBC Universal have confidence in the values we have set for this company. This is the only decision that makes that possible. Once again, we apologize to the women of the Rutgers basketball team and to our viewers. We deeply regret the pain this incident has caused.

—Statement from NBC News


CBS today announced its decision to cease broadcasting the Imus in the Morning radio program, effective immediately, on a permanent basis.

“From the outset, I believe all of us have been deeply upset and revulsed by the statements that were made on our air about the young women who represented Rutgers University in the NCAA Women’s Basketball Championship with such class, energy and talent,” said CBS President and Chief Executive Officer Leslie Moonves, in announcing the decision. “Those who have spoken with us the last few days represent people of goodwill from all segments of our society – all races, economic groups, men and women alike. In our meetings with concerned groups, there has been much discussion of the effect language like this has on our young people, particularly young women of color trying to make their way in this society. That consideration has weighed most heavily on our minds as we made our decision, as have the many emails, phone calls and personal discussions we have had with our colleagues across the CBS Corporation and our many other constituencies.”

Moonves concluded: “I want to thank all those who came to see us to express their views. We are now presented with a significant opportunity to expand on our record on issues of diversity, race and gender. We intend to seize that opportunity as we move forward together.

—Statement from CBS Radio

Now, in his official published statement, and statements that I have heard on every media outlet in the world, Mr. Imus apologized over and over for what he said. His statement from his radio show last Friday, after this whole thing went down was, "Want to take a moment to apologize for an insensitive and ill-conceived remark we made the other morning regarding the Rutgers women's basketball team. It was completely inappropriate, and we can understand why people were offended. Our characterization was thoughtless and stupid, and we are sorry."

What Don Imus did here wasn't out of his character. I grew up listening to him on WNBC in New York and I learned many "racial words" from his show, and I even learned a few from the All in the Family TV show where Archie Bunker had a few choice ones to say about the Jeffersons. So who is Don Imus? Not that anyone cares but here is a brief bio on him from the WFAN website...then we'll get to the point. (I made it small...skip it fit you like)

Don Imus and his brother Fred both claim to have had parents, a mother and a father. I have never seen them. Have you? As nearly as the date can be fixed, Don’s birth – however it occurred – took place in the late 18-hundreds making him a contemporary of such noted Americans as Ulysses S. Grant and Grover Cleveland…all U.S. Presidents.

Don spent the normal twelve years in public school and emerged with no formal education…a product of automatic social promotion. He graduated with no honors and no skills. Requiring neither, a broadcasting career seemed a natural for the young Imus and advancements came quickly.

Now widely acclaimed, Imus has been featured on tons of TV and Radio shows, and of particular note, Larry King, in shameless, mutual ass-kissing marathons. In addition, Don has been, and continues to be, a subject of countless, pointless print articles. Time magazine once named Don one of the 25 most influential people in America.

Imus is also a best-selling author and an accomplished amateur photographer. His novel, “God’s Other Son,î spent three months on the New York Times best-seller list driven there by listeners to his program who bought the @#$#%&# thing to get him to shut up about it. In September of 1996, the Imus radio program began being simulcast live on cable network MSNBC for reasons never made clear.

Since 1990, Imus has headlined a radiothon with New York radio station WFAN that has raised over 50-million dollars to benefit the Tomorrows Children’s Fund, the CJ Foundation for SIDS, and the Imus Ranch for kids with cancer. Imus has received too many plaques, trophies and pieces of walnut with crystal @#$@ stuck on them to mention. We won’t. He is a member of the Emerson Radio Hall of Fame, the National Broadcasters Hall of Fame, the Stolichnaya and Marlboro Halls of Fame, and, if there is a God, will soon be a permanent exhibit at the Duke University School of Medicine’s Hall of Cadavers where his lungs will be featured in a display designed to permanently traumatize children.

Now let's look at the problem. Was it what he said? Who he said it to? Or maybe the fact that the political pressure from media and our newsmakers made a bigger deal than this really needed to be. I did some research and found some VERY interesting facts about some of the words Mr. Imus used in his famed "derogatory comments."

I went to the website UrbanDictionary.com and found only 4 definitions for the word "nappyhead." It surprised me that there were only 4 on their website when the other word, which I personally found more offensive and had 92 definitons with much stronger negative position. But first, let's take a look at the definition for "Nappyhead."

nappy head
A person who behaves like a kid!!! Kiddish behaviour!!!

Tom is such a nappy head he starting crying when questioned by the teacher.
tags: kiddo bachcha moron looser babyface

I then went on to look to see where and what the word Nappyhead was used for and where it appeared on the net. I found that Nappyhead is a Detox website, the name for a 30-year-old guy from Forth Worth, Texas, A Urban Style Record Company, and the most shocking - A Baby Clothing Manufacturer in London, England. On their website it said, "No, it's not an insult! Nappy Head are a baby slogan clothing manufacturer, however they also stock items for adults - so mums and dads can treat themselves as well. Nappy Head: "Baby Clothes with a difference. Established in 2002, Nappy Head® produces a distinct range of high quality cool slogan/graphic garments for babies, toddlers and parents.

Now lets look at the more offensive word in my opinion and this come to us again from the Urban Dictionary which had 92 definitions - some so rude and vulgar that I would not and could not print here. So let's take a look at that word:

ho
A whore. A woman who uses her body, or gives the impression that her mark can be intimate with her, for material gain or to boost her own ego.

She says she will only have sex with short, fat or bald men if they compensate her with expensive gifts. She's a just a typical, run of the mill 'ho.

(n) A prostitute. Shorthand for the word whore. This word originated from prostitutes who trick at hotels. In some cases people refer to them as sluts but what makes it different is that hoes get paid for what they do. (pl n) Hoes.

Look at that ho, she's just made about $500 at the telly the other day.

Do you see my point? I think the word "Ho" is a wee bit more offensive than "Nappyhead." I understand that it's more of whom it was said to than what was said. But I've heard nothing but comments from people about how offensive the word "nappyhead" is. I think being called a whore, slut or any of those would make any woman pretty pissed off.


I'm glad that some of the girls on the Rutger's team had intelligent things to say and I hope they can confront Mr. Imus in their private meeting and find out what it was all about. He has and will apologize to them. I hope our media doesn't try to hone in on that important time of healing for these girls. I hope that nobody tapes it or has a cell phone going to record it. And most of all, I hope that Al Sharpton or Jesse Jackson aren't there. They don't need any more press thanthey have already gotten. This is a time for the girls of Rutger's to understand and listen to Mr. Imus' apology.

So what's the bottom line. It's done. Over. Put a fork in it. CBS & NBC did what they had to whether out of company policy or political pressure. Mr. Imus has and will continue to apologize. And that's a good thing. We've got to realize that celebrities and entertainers like Imus, Mel Gibson and Michael What's-his-name from Seinfeld are just that...entertainers. They do not represent the opinions of the entire country. They do not set policy on how one race treats another. I love my Black friends, Asian friends, Hispanic friends and the list goes on.

Overcoming racism is up to us. Not the media, political newsmakers or Presidential candidates. But as always, that's my opinion, I could be wrong!

Wasting Money On Hype Based Crap:The Real Truth About H20!

What could be better for you than water? How about enhanced waters? There's are new products on the market that are fast becoming popular for anyone who has an active lifestyle: vitamin water! That's right - vitamin water. Looks like plain water but is flavored like you favorite fruit and is supposedly jam-packed full of vitamins. One of the most actual problems in modern medicine is constant shortage of a daily ration of vitamins. Bottled waters with added vitamins, herbs, and flavorings often replace good-old tap water. But, hey there bonehead, just because it's clear doesn't mean it's calorie-free!

Here's the real truth about vitamin waters and bottled waters. You'd be better off drinking tap water and getting your vitamins from a supplement — and avoiding the 30 to 125 calories in that overpriced workout water. For example, Glaceau's Vitamin Waters and SoBe's Life Waters have 125 calories and about 33 grams, or 8 plus teaspoons, of sugar per bottle — that's the calorie equivalent of a Dairy Queen Soft Serve Vanilla Ice Cream with toppings. Drink one a day and you'll gain 13 pounds over the course of a year. You're better off drinking plain old tap water and taking a moderate-dose multiple vitamin.

Dr. Andrew Weil, M.D questions about how manufacturers deliver oil-soluble vitamins, such as vitamin E, in water, and whether any of the vitamins remain stable in water for the shelf life of the product. Some, such as vitamin C, break down quickly after being exposed to air and might not be available to you unless you drink the whole bottle as soon as you open it. "Manufacturers claim that vitamins are best absorbed in liquid form, but I know of no evidence to back up that idea." Weil says. "Getting your vitamins from bottled water also seems an unnecessary expense since the price is much higher than the cost of vitamin supplements. You are always better off getting your vitamins from your daily diet. For insurance, I recommend a good multivitamin/multimineral supplement. Given the cost of vitamin waters, I would imagine that their main benefits are to manufacturers' profit sheets."

So what's the bottom line? As for the vitamin water craze, skip it. Fitness, specialty and vitamin waters with not give an athlete an advantage or edge. In fact, vitamin-fortified waters may pose a risk for over-supplementation. You'd be better off to drink regular water which has zero calories and down a multivitamin like Flinstones chewables instead. You’ll stay hydrated, and get the nutritional boost you’re looking for without the added calories and besides, don't we all enjoy eating a little Fred or Wilma once in a while?

So what about bottled waters? Regular bottled waters might not be all they are cracked up to be. Just because it's bottled doesn't mean it's safe. One study that compared 57 bottled waters with samples of tap water found that one in four of the bottled waters had unacceptable levels of bacteria, almost 2,000 times higher than the tap water samples. The amount of bacteria probably won't make you sick, but it is a warning sign, especially since regulations for bottled water are pretty lax (it was only last year that the Food and Drug Administration finally set a standard on bottled water for acceptable levels of the highly toxic metal arsenic!). Besides, about a quarter of those “gourmet” waters come straight from the tap. Skip the middle-man and get your eight glasses a day from your own faucet or filter it yourself at home.

There you go. My rant on the bottled water craze. If you want B12, do what I do. Go down to your local hemotologist and get yourself an injection. Need iron? Like me, make another visit and get an iron IV. Heck, it's all covered by your health insurance! Need to stay hydrated? I can't think of too many places that you could go who wouldn't give you a cup of water for free.

If you really want "healthy" water, send me $2.75 and I'll send you a vitamin enriched bottle full of that super green algae that was the craze a while ago. It's very clean, is naturally distilled by Mother Nature, contains many healthy forms of bacteria, and everybody I know who's swallowed some hasn't gotten sick...yet! And by the way, it's from my pool!

Forget The Mall or CostcoWal-Mart Is Now The Place To Go!

Hey, Debbie Gibson did it in the shopping mall, why not do it where the people buy your records? REO Speedwagon, a band that became a rock icon with No.1 hits "Can't Fight This Feeling" and "Keep On Loving You." They played giant stadiums in the 70's and 80's, but Friday they performed at a much different venue - a Wal-Mart in Eagan, Minnesota. The band is promoting its first new album in a decade and it has an exclusive deal with Wal-Mart.

Kevin Cronin and Bruce Hall performed a short acoustic set for a crowd of fans, most of them over 40. He played a few of the bands hits, signed some autographs and made a bunch of money. People came out in droves to see him. Now that is marketing. I mean, I would probably go see him there. I could get my shopping done and be entertained. Kill two birds with one stone.

Wal-Mart has an exclusive deal to sell a three-CD set that includes a DVD and some greatest hits. For two weeks it is the only place to buy the new music. "We're people-people," said lead singer Kevin Cronin, "and this is where people come to buy music."
Teaming up with a big retailer like Wal-Mart or Best Buy is the latest sales tactic by artists targeting adults.

He even came up with a special version of "I Can't Fight This Feeling." Check out these lyrics.

I cant fight this feeling any longer
And yet Im still afraid to let it show
I've been shopping a Target even longer,
I only wish I had the strength to let it show

I tell myself that I cant hold out forever
I said there is no reason for me not to go
Cause I feel that there prices are better
They give my life direction
They make their prices so clear

And even as I wander down those aisles
I'm looking for stuff priced right
I see toasters on aisle 16
And in 17 there's a fight
And I'm getting M&M's just like I thought I might

And I cant fight this feeling anymore
I've forgotten what I started shopping for
The choices make my my head spin forever,
I just hope they never, ever close their doors

Cause I cant fight this feeling anymore
I've forgotten what I started shopping for
And if I have to crawl upon the floor
Come crashing through your door
Walmart, I can't fight this feeling anymore

And I cant fight this feeling anymore
I just bought a device that make S'mores
I found toilet paper that I want
It's softer than the stuff at K-Mart

Cause I cant fight my feeling anymore
Ive become a fan of my local Wal-Mart store
You may think that I'm a whore
But I making so much more
Selling my CD by the front door
Wal-Mart, I just love your SuperCenter store!

Wow. that song was inspirational. I'm looking forward to the Rolling Stones playing at Costco. It's a slightly bigger venue and I can get some good steaks while I'm there. This new trend could be a lot of fun!

I Like That Old Time Rock 'n Roll...This New Stuff Is A Bunch Of Crap!

What has happened to good old radio? I remember as a kid in Albany, New York listening to my local radio station WTRY and rockin' out to the music and laughing with the DJ as he told funny stories and took wacky phone calls. And when did entertainment become reality? When Chuck Norris does a movie, do we hold what he does in that specific production as a real-life event news story type of thing or is it just that - a movie!?!?

Well late Monday, Imus, the man I used to listen to as a kid on my AM radio from NYC on "66...W-NNNNNN-B-C" got his due. Both MSNBC and CBS Radio announced they were suspending Imus for two weeks for the controversial comments he made. Speaking on his radio show Monday morning, Imus said he was not trying to downplay what he called "the repulsiveness" of the remarks, in which he referred to the mostly black team as "nappy-headed ho's". But he said it was important to understand the context of his comments. Imus, in a statement yesterday said that, "We were kidding around, but that doesn't change it. That doesn't make it any less repugnant."

It's not the first time Don Imus has pushed the limits of free speech. It's why many of his listeners tune in, and why his bosses have kept him on the air. Hell, that's even why Howard Stern is on the air. "People do outrageous things all the time and they're not fired, they're fired if they're not successful, if they don't bring in money for the company," said media analyst Ken Auletta.

The reaction from people around the country is that of shock. When was the last time an entertainer said something derogatory about a person, race or something? Let's see. A month or two ago? I'm reading these news stories and I am just blown away by the way people are reacting to all this. So, let's take a look at a few of these reactions.


For the black community, they seemed to be represented by Rev. Al Sharpton. In a way he bug the crap out of me. Why is it that when something like this happens that good ol' Reverand Al is at the forefront of all the comments fully representing the position of the black community? Who put him in charge. He's got an opinion on any topic that will get him good press and in this case, Sharpton and the head of the New Jersey chapter of the NAACP want Imus thrown off the air. This story is so huge and is so important to our country (are we still in Iraq? I forget.) that the Rev. Jesse Jackson planned a protest in Chicago for Monday.

Imus said he hoped to meet the players and their parents and coaches, and he said he was grateful that he was scheduled to appear later Monday on a radio show hosted by the Rev. Al Sharpton, who has called for Imus to be fired over the remarks.
"It's not going to be easy, but I'm not looking for it to be easy," Imus said. Rutgers womens basketball coach Vivien Stringer called for Imus' firing. Sharpton is calling for a nationwide boycott of Imus' sponsors, hoping hitting companies' bottom lines will finally silence the shock jock. Like that would work. Who silenced Howard Stern? Oh, I guess it was Sirius Radio!!!!

The reactions from other high-profile people has been coming in in droves. In a comment made yesterday, via telephone from his seat behind in the pearly gates, Peter Boyle, formerly known as Frank in the hit series Everybody Loves Raymond said this about the situation with Imus. "HOLY CRAP!"

James E. Harris, president of the New Jersey chapter of the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People, demanded Sunday that Imus "resign or be terminated immediately." Allison Gollust, a spokeswoman for MSNBC, said the network considers Imus' comments "deplorable" and is reviewing the matter. Karen Mateo, a spokeswoman for CBS Radio said the company was "disappointed" in Imus' actions and characterized his comments as "completely inappropriate." Okay, we get the point. You want him fired!

Is this the first time we've heard this stupid kind of crap? No. Legendary sportscaster Jimmy Snyder, known to millions as "Jimmy the Greek" saw his career go down the crapper when he made a comment about a certain basketball player. Where was XM radio then? This isn't the first time, nor will it be the last. If someone makes a comment about white people, r asian people, or poor people, do we have protests all over the country about it? Nope. There will probably be more protests over this than over the war in Iraq!

Sharpton is calling for a nationwide boycott of Imus' sponsors, hoping hitting companies' bottom lines will finally silence the shock jock. Like that is going to work. I never stopped eating Nestle Crunch bars because of the boycott over Nestle's baby formula. Let's see, what can we do to move on. I'm thinking here. It's not easy. Imus should be punished. Maybe the Rutgers Women's Basketball team could face him and call him a "stupid white cowboy wanna-be who looks like someone who's been on heroin for the past 50 years." No, that's not it. I got the answer.

Forget about it!

The Masters Golfer Of The Week:This 102-Year-Old Lady Put Us All To Shame

Short of Tiger Woods winning the green jacket or Phil Mickelson's wife standing nude on the front porch of the clubhouse while Jim Nantz describes every detail with awed reverence, we didn't see anything as cool at The Masters this weekend as this story will tell. So forget about the lowest scoring Masters in history and celebrate an honest to goodness true golfer..102-year-old Elsie McLean, who made a hole-in-one this past weekend, becoming the oldest person to ever do so on a regulation course.

McLean had been playing golf at Bidwell Municipal Golf Course for more than 70 years before Thursday, when she hit her tee shot from the fourth hole. As she and her friends, Elizabeth Rake and Kathy Crowder, approached the green, McLean was confused. "Where's my ball?" she asked. Then her friends figured it out.

The 102-year-old-McLean had fired a hole-in-one, making the lifelong Chico resident the world's oldest golfer ever to ace a hole on a regulation course. It was the first ace McLean had ever sank — and she's been playing since the greens at Bidwell were sand, the course was nine holes and women weren't allowed to golf on Saturday and Sunday mornings.

McLean's shot on Thursday, an estimated 100 yards on the par-3 No. 4, came off her driver. She must be a pure joy to play behind when the course is packed with golfers. "When you get to be 102," she said, "you don't have much choice. My shot hit the green on the fly. It didn't bounce on a rock or roll down a hill or anything," McLean said. "I thought it maybe bounced away, because I couldn't find it. But then my friends started hollering, 'It's in the hole!'"

"For an old lady," ol' Elsie says, "I still hit the ball pretty good."

Grandma, you're 102 years old. You're doing pretty pretty well to even see the ball...let alone not confuse it for a clock radio or your nephew Stanley. (There you go folks, I said it!) Congratulations on your hole in one and enjoy your visit to the Tonight Show with Jay Leno. You deserve it and are an inspiration to us all!

Technology Getting Out Of Hand:Geocacheing For Easter Eggs Is Basically An Easter Egg Hunt!

Ahh yes. Remember the days when Mom and Dad used to hide Easter eggs around the front yeard and you actually had to look for them? Well, in two places in our country today, the Easter Egg hunt has gone high-tech. Why? I don't have the slightest freakin' idea but hey, some people need something to do besides go to church and celebrate our risen Savior.



For Stacy Hindt at Cody Hollow Farm near Elkton, Md., which is in the northeast corner of the state, she will invite area children to enjoy an Easter egg hunt Saturday on her 23-acre farm while in Wildwood, New Jersey they'll be running around the beach to find those precious hard to find eggs.

But they'll be using global positioning satellite technology to find each egg. Each treasure hunter will be given map coordinators that will lead them to the vicinity of each candy-filled plastic egg. Then they'll have to look really hard.

I think our use of technology has gotten out of hand just a bit. I mean let's be real here, does a 3-year old really know how or need to know how to use a GPS? And the invitation for someone to go to this type of Easter Egg Hunt is just a techo-gobble-gook at the idea of it. Just check out this invitation that was online from the one in New Jersey...

Get your GPS's out for the first ever GPS Easter Egg Hunt held in Wildwood NJ. Lime Ricky and Ed's Funcade will be burying Giant Mystery Easter Eggs along the Wildwood Beach on Easter Weekend. GPS satellite locations and clues will be available at Lime Ricky on Sunday, April 8th. You will need a GPS or access to a computer using Google maps, Google Earth, or any other software that allows you to locate an area using satellite coordinates in order to find the hidden eggs. Each Egg will be redeemable for an Easter Basket, Free Lunch, and more with our participating sponsors. This is an all ages event! The GPS Hunt Starts on Sunday at 10:00 AM at: 38*59'28.07"N 74*48'3.23"W. Hope to see everyone there!! For more information about our 22nd street Easter Egg Hunt in the hay please visit easterbythesea.com

Remember the kid who always used to find 50% of the eggs while the other 10 kids only found the other 40%? (Yep, 10% were never found...I wonder where they are today?) In an effort to help those who are less fortunate and don't have a GPS, Hindt says she'll have a few GPS units that people can borrow, or families can bring their own units.

Hindt's own children, 8-year-old Katie and 3-year-old Brandon are veterans at geocacheing, which is treasure-hunting using map coordinates.

Geocacheing? Just call it an Easter Egg Hunt, okay! I've had enough!!!

Happy Easter Everybody!

Will The Real Criminal Plase Put Down Your Pen And Come Out With Your Hand Up!

Crime is crime. Most of us understand that. But I think this time, our picture of "crime" has gotten a little bit out of hand. Take a look at the picture on the left. Who should really be convicted here? Well guess what? The girl on the right will be convicted. The guy on the left? Well he's living in Miami, playing golf, writing books and still trying to make a medium glove fit a large hand. If you need a laught, read on.

In this day and age when young students are frequently charged for serious school offenses such as possessing weapons, dealing drugs, or assaulting other students on school property, one Brooklyn teen's arrest may come as a surprise. A 13-year-old girl was handcuffed and placed under arrest in front of her classmates in Dyker Heights after she wrote "Okay" on her desk.

The "suspect," Chelsea Fraser, says she's sorry for scribbling the word on her desk, but both she and her mother are shocked at the punishment. "I'm appalled, because here we have rapists, murderers, and you're taking a 13-year-old kid? Wasting valuable manpower to arrest a child who wrote on a desk?" Fraser's mother Diana Silva told WCBS-TV.

Police confirm that's exactly what is written on her arrest record, and for the crime she's been charged with criminal mischief and the making of graffiti. Fraser says the day she marked her desk, she was wrongly grouped together with troublemakers who had plastered stickers all over the classroom.

Fraser was arrested at the Dyker Heights Intermediate School on March 30 along with three other male students. She says she was made to empty her pockets and take off her belt. Then she was handcuffed and led out of the school in front of her classmates and placed in the back of a police car.

Was that really necessary? Putting a 13-year-old kid through that? I mean, come on. If you saw some of the crap I wrote on desks you would probably have sent me to the electric chair. I was pretty expressive with what I wrote. So were most of the kids in my class. And many of us new the anatomical placement of certain body parts on someone's head. Get my drift?

I think it's time to make the punishment match the crime. This girl can get a bottle of soft scrub (which they should make her purchase), come in on a Saturday morning and clean all the desks in the room. Now that would teach her, don't ya think? Maybe she could show up for her real sentencing dressed up like that stupid model who cleaned toilets in a really nice dress, high heels, and with an officer carrying her purse. Why not, the police got nothing better to do.

Andy by the, according to reports, on her report card, under conduct, Fraser has earned all "satisfactory" marks and one "excellent" mark. Maybe they should have just written, "OKAY."

My Diagnosis Is In:Bone Marrow Constipation

Well, it's been a couple of weeks since the flu revealed to my doctor's that it actually was the fact that I was 5 liters low on blood that cause me to be a little "lightheaded". Most people thought it was just the typical me since I've always been a little "spaced." But my hematologist, Dr. Karo Azoo has finally come up with a clinical diagnosis for the problems with my blood. His diagnosis: "I really don't know what is going on."

Now isn't that reassuring? In a way it is. My bone marrow biopsy showed nothing abnormal. No cancer, leukemia, ITP or anything like that. Basically, Dr. Azoo feels that due to the fact that my iron stores dropped to almost nothing that my body and bone marrow compensated by reducing the amount of adult blood cells that were being pushed out. Since he didn't have any hardcore pathology to work with, he chose to treat the symptoms he saw with the blood tests and basically what he chose to to is working. Again, the question is why?

Dr. Azoo isn't really sure. In all honesty he told me that there are thing in medicine that there sometimes is no answer for. And this is one of them. He feels that due to my lack of iron and vitamin B12, that my bone marrow was just constipated. So, in essence, we are calling it "bone marrow constipation."

His treatment was to give me 5 liters of blood which gave my body blood volume and platelets it desperately needed. Then he decided to give me a couple of IV's of iron which I will continue each week for a couple of more weeks to replenish my iron stores. I take alot of B12 now and am also taking iron pills. Will I absorb the pills? Dr. Azoo is hoping so and feels that since my bodys is "getting back on track" that some of the iron I was getting through absorption will keep my iron store up.

The real reason for his happiness, and mine too, is that most of my blood levels are coming back to the normal ranges. I've gone from a hemoglobin of 4.7 to 10.2, my platlet count has gone from 30,000 to 210,000. When I left the hospital after 5 liters of blood, my hemoglobin was only 80,000. So my bone marrow is now producing blood cells. Other blood levels are also rising as are my iron stores which are still low, but with a couple more IV's in the next weeks all should be OK. Then we'll wait 2-3 months using pills as the "maintenance method" and see what happens. We are both very optomistic about this.

So again, I am one for the medical books. Five years ago it was my intussusception which was the folding of my intestines which normally only happens in children and there are only about 5 cases in adults. Now it's my bone marrow which looked like mylodisplasis but it appears to be a massive iron and B12 deficiency like they've never seen before. You know, when I decide to get an ailment, I make sure it's one for the books.

Thank you to all of you who sent cards, e-mails, phone calls and even visits to me while I've been going through this. You'll be happy too know that I still feel 100% and from my perspective all is well. I never really felt sick so getting this problem taken care of just makes me better.

And to all you people who thought I was just "full of s$@!", you are wrong! I was just "bone marrow constipated!"

Maybe I Need To Change My NameThis Guy Did!

Well, the courts are at it again and people keeps using them for mindless, stupid reasons that just jam up the court system for "real" cases. Take this story from the great (now going to become no-so-great) state of New Mexico.

Justin Brady wanted a new name, and New Mexico District Court Judge Jerald Valentine has granted his request. His new name is Ynot Bubba. Bubba said after Monday's court proceeding that he had no celebration plans and instead planned to spend the day notifying people - his insurance agent, for example - of his name change.

"I don't know what the big deal is," Bubba said, referring to the attention his case has received. "It's just a name." Bubba, 43, a California native who now lives in Las Cruces, has worked as a truck driver for more than 20 years. He asked to change his name because he no longer has a relationship with his adoptive parents, the Bradys.

His chosen first name, Ynot, comes from communities around the country named Wynot and Whynot. His last name is courtesy of the people he now considers family; they nicknamed him Bubba for no particular reason. Ynot Bubba was the final choice among three names. He had considered Lacon Marlboro, inspired by the town of Lacon, Ala., and his preferred choice of cigarette. He also considered More Chek, from his desire for more money.

Well if my good pal Ynot can change his name maybe I should consider mine. Let's see. Outta Debt, Hey You, Yo Idiot, Turdsi, Petey Petey, Pete Ross, Coffee Addict, Mr. Starbucks, Dumb F$#!, Whatsyourname, Hey Yu, Whaz Up? What do you think. Got any other good ones for me to try?

Send me a comment and I'll post your wonderful and hopefully creative suggestions in an upcoming blog. Until then, have a good day Y'all!

Keith Richards Shows The World How Bizarre The Drug Culture Can Be

Keith Richards has acknowledged consuming a raft of illegal substances in his time, but this may top them all. I've never been a big fan of the Rolling Stones and when I saw them a year ago in Anaheim, CA, I knew that Keith was definitely pretty strange just by the way he presented himself onstage. Now, his bizarre nature has been proven without a doubt. Read on.

On Tuesday, the 63-year-old Rolling Stones guitarist said he had snorted his father's ashes mixed with cocaine. "The strangest thing I've tried to snort? My father. I snorted my father," Richards was quoted as saying by British music magazine NME. "He was cremated and I couldn't resist grinding him up with a little bit of blow. My dad wouldn't have cared," he said. "... It went down pretty well, and I'm still alive."

Richards' father, Bert, died in 2002, at 84. Richards, one of rock's legendary wild men, told the magazine that his survival was the result of luck, and advised young musicians against trying to emulate him. "I did it because that was the way I did it. Now people think it's a way of life," he was quoted as saying. "I've no pretensions about immortality," he added. "I'm the same as everyone ... just kind of lucky.

I think that Keith Richards is a living example of how bad drugs can keep you going, and going, and going, and going. You get the point. He also shows us how bizarre the drug culture makes people act. I think Keith should be the poster child for the anti-drug campaign. Just show any kid trying to use drugs that this is what you'll look like (look at the picture at the top again) after a life of this crap and I'll bet most kids would run for the hills! If he keeps going the way he is when he passes they won't even need to embalm him!

My new slogan for 2007...Keith Richards - The Anti-Drug!

An Artist Who Makes Me Laugh

It's not often that I walk by an art gallery and get a good laugh. But in recent months, as I do my daily walk through The Grove and the Old Farmer's Market in LA, I've walked by an art gallery that has a unique collection of artwork from an artist named Todd Goldman. His stuff is expensive for the original art but posters are available all over the internet. Everytime I see this guys work, I get a good laugh and decided to share it with you. But before I do, let me tell you about this creative artist who has a knack for putting life in a different perspective.

Todd Harris Goldman is an American entrepreneur/artist. He designed "boy-bashing" slogans seen on t-shirts, bumper stickers, and other accessories. Goldman has stated that "The reason we have boys [on the shirts] is that our customers are teenage girls." The slogans have attracted negative press, but Goldman has responded with a feint, stating "I couldn't pay for this press."

Goldman was named as number 97 on Bernard Goldberg's list of 100 People Who Are Screwing Up America. Goldberg criticized Goldman's slogans for being part of a current boy-bashing craze, while the makers don't realize (or don't care) that young men have higher rates of depression and suicide than young girls in America. Goldman welcomed the criticism and replied that "He hopes to be ranked higher next year."

So ladies and gentleman, so that you can get a laugh just like I do, here are some sample of work from Todd Goldman. Andy by the way, have a great day!

More Time Wasted In Government:Politician Lobbies For Tilt-A-Whirl

Here's another story from the world of "how stupid politicians can waste our time and money" files. You can't get more mindless than what Minnesota State Rep. Patti Fritz, has done, introducing a bill designating the Tilt-A-Whirl the state's official amusement ride..

Fritz said she's taking up the cause of 52 kindergarten students from her district who say it deserves special attention because it was invented in their town. "I represent children too," Fritz said, adding, "Minnesotans like to have fun, and it's a fun thing to do."

The Tilt-A-Whirl is a platform-type ride consisting of seven freely spinning cars holding up to four riders apiece. Herbert Sellner invented it in 1926 and the first one debuted at the Minnesota State Fair a year later. Sellner Manufacturing in Faribault still makes it.

Minnesota already has a state muffin (blueberry), a state gemstone (the Lake Superior agate), a state drink (milk), a state butterfly (monarch) and seven other official symbols. In fact, Minnesota people are so bored with their winter that they are proposing some other things like the state toilet (Eljin), the state urine (yellow), the best state product (potholes), the state meat (possom), the state weather (winter...except for July 4th and 5th, their 2 days of summer), the state mayonaisse (Hellman's or Best Foods in the West) and yes, even the state's stupidest politician (Rep. Patti Fritz).

There isn't much more to say about this subject. It's amazing how much time and money get's wasted by our politicans in government over things that, well, just don't mean all that much in the big picture of life.

And by the way, in a related story to frivolous things, and this one is a doozer, Google announced yesterday that a new internet service is now available. Google TiSP (BETA) is a fully functional, end-to-end system that provides in-home wireless access by connecting your commode-based TiSP wireless router to one of thousands of TiSP Access Nodes via fiber-optic cable strung through your local municipal sewage lines.

You must see this one...click here!

Google To Abandon G-Mail And Announces New Service To Generate USPS Mail Online

In a surprise announcement this morning, Google has announced Gmail Paper, a new service to replace its Gmail e-mail service to allow printouts of users' mail message to be sentby postal shipments. The cost of postage is offset with the help of relevant, targeted, unobtrusive advertisements, which will appear on the back of Gmail Paper prints in red, bold, 36 pt Helvetica type.

The announcement shocked other online e-mail providers who are now scrambling to come up with their own paper e-mail service. According to a representative from Google, "People are printing out e-mails all the time and it is our goal to make this a convenient way to send mail without having to get a stamp and go to the post office."

Bill Gates, chairman of Microsoft says that an update for their popular Outlook e-mail program will be avaiable starting on Monday which will allow users to send regular mail instead of a typical e-mail.

According to Google, advertisers have jumped on the bandwagon with this new service and it expects it to be really popular and to increase revenue dramatically. Google stock rose $6.43 per share on the announcement.

Now that's smart thinking on Google's part, don't ya think? Read on...

Good Morning.Do You Know What Day It Is?

Did I get you with the last post? Are you thinking about Google's new service and wondering what the hack is really up. Do you realize what day it is? Well, incase you haven't looked at the calendar, it's April Fools Day! So, without further ado, here is the article about various fun things happening on the web from CBS News.

Google has announced Gmail Paper, a new service tied to its Gmail e-mail service to allow free printouts of users' e-mail messages sent to them by postal shipments. A telling twist: The service is available April 1, April Fools' Day.

"The cost of postage is offset with the help of relevant, targeted, unobtrusive advertisements, which will appear on the back of your Gmail Paper prints in red, bold, 36 pt Helvetica," read Google's Web site on Sunday. "No pop-ups, no flashy animationsóthese are physically impossible in the paper medium."

The joke is part of an annual tradition across the Web in which some sites swap their home page for a gallery of fictional offerings and savvy jokes.

On the gadget store site ThinkGeek.com, items included the WiiHelm, a helmet in which lazy gamers can strap in the motion-controlled gaming controller used with the Nintendo Wii gaming system.

"Frees your hands for other important tasks like eating, scratching, beer drinking, petting your dog or cat, nose picking and unwrapping birthday gifts," boasts the item's product features.

Also on ThinkGeek.com: SnuzNLuz Wifi Donation Alarm Clock, a product which claims to automatically make a financial donation from your online bank account to the Republican Party each time you hit the "snooze" button.

The site also featured online advertisements for Apple's much-anticipated iPhone, "Now Shipping." The actual phone is not expected to be available until mid-summer 2007.