On This Day...

1940 - Mario Andretti was born (race-car driver)

1979 - Mr Ed (talking horse) died

1983 - Final TV episode of "MASH" aired on CBS; record 125 million watched

1997 - North Hollywood Shootout at a Bank of America in California (I can't believe it's been 10 years! I lived just a few miles from the bank back in 1997 band will never forget how wild and scary the event was - with every minute televised for the world to watch.)

Bury Her, Already!

I'm sickened that a Mother would allow her deceased child to lay in a cold morgue for three weeks. I am sympathetic to Virgie Arthur's situation and her loss but she is the one holding up Anna Nicole Smith's burial and I am of the opinion that it has been more than proved that Anna Nicole wanted to be buried with her son in the Bahamas. To stop that from happening, like she is (there is talk of taking her appeal to the Florda Supreme Court now!), is just the most selfish thing I could ever imagine anyone doing.

Hypocrisy?

Got a good laugh out of this one...

POWER: GORE MANSION USES 20X AVERAGE HOUSEHOLD; CONSUMPTION INCREASE AFTER 'TRUTH'
Mon Feb 26 2007 17:16:14 ET

The Tennessee Center for Policy Research, an independent, nonprofit and nonpartisan research organization committed to achieving a freer, more prosperous Tennessee through free market policy solutions, issued a press release late Monday:



Last night, Al Gore’s global-warming documentary, An Inconvenient Truth, collected an Oscar for best documentary feature, but the Tennessee Center for Policy Research has found that Gore deserves a gold statue for hypocrisy.

Gore’s mansion, [20-room, eight-bathroom] located in the posh Belle Meade area of Nashville, consumes more electricity every month than the average American household uses in an entire year, according to the Nashville Electric Service (NES).

In his documentary, the former Vice President calls on Americans to conserve energy by reducing electricity consumption at home.

The average household in America consumes 10,656 kilowatt-hours (kWh) per year, according to the Department of Energy. In 2006, Gore devoured nearly 221,000 kWh—more than 20 times the national average.

Last August alone, Gore burned through 22,619 kWh—guzzling more than twice the electricity in one month than an average American family uses in an entire year. As a result of his energy consumption, Gore’s average monthly electric bill topped $1,359.

Since the release of An Inconvenient Truth, Gore’s energy consumption has increased from an average of 16,200 kWh per month in 2005, to 18,400 kWh per month in 2006.

Gore’s extravagant energy use does not stop at his electric bill. Natural gas bills for Gore’s mansion and guest house averaged $1,080 per month last year.

“As the spokesman of choice for the global warming movement, Al Gore has to be willing to walk to walk, not just talk the talk, when it comes to home energy use,” said Tennessee Center for Policy Research President Drew Johnson.

In total, Gore paid nearly $30,000 in combined electricity and natural gas bills for his Nashville estate in 2006.

For Further Information, Contact:
Nicole Williams, (615) 383-6431
editor@tennesseepolicy.org

Britney

I know that most are probably tired of hearing about Britney Spears' head-shaving/tattoo-acquiring escapade last Friday night. It's been on my mind, though, and I have decided to post (briefly) about it... I was very upset when I heard about what she'd done and mortified when I saw those first few pictures.

I do not think there is anything amusing or funny about what she did. I do not think her behavior was part of any "publicity stunt" and I do not think she's doing it because she is an "idiot" or "looking for attention".

My gut feeling is that she is a girl who is in desperate need of help - vulnerable, out of control and, most likely, under the (heavy) influence of either alcohol or drugs (or both). She is self-destructing.

Someone very close to me went through something similar a few years ago (although obviously not as publicly) and it was horrible. Most facilities will not keep someone against their will so - unless the person with the issues wants to, they cannot be forced to accept help. We were told that there was nothing we could do and that waiting for our loved one to "hit rock bottom and ask for help" was our only option. I feel for Britney's family right now - especially those two precious baby boys. I have no doubt that - despite her behavior - she loves her children. Whatever she is under the influence of is rendering her completely incapable of making sensible decisions and taking reasonable care of her children and even herself.

There are reports this afternoon that she has, once again, entered a rehabilitation facility voluntarily - Promises (in Malibu and not far from the home that she, probably hastily, put up for sale yesterday). I hope she is really ready to admit that she has a problem and that she is prepared to put forth the effort to get and stay clean and healthy.

Feeling "Lonely" on Valentine's Day?

Cutest thing I've ever seen! I love YouTube!

1 in 150

Washington, D.C., Feb. 8, 2007 -- This morning, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) released, through its Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report (MMWR), the latest revised prevalence figures for autism. The report indicates that the prevalence of autism is now 1 in 150, up from the 1 in 166 figure reported by the CDC in January 2004.

Today's report states, "Findings from this first U.S. multi-site collaborative study to monitor ASD [Autism Spectrum Disorders] prevalence demonstrated consistency across the majority of sites, with prevalence statistically significantly (p<0.001) higher in New Jersey. Average ASD prevalence across all six sites was 6.7 per 1,000 children aged 8 years. These results indicate that ASDs are more common than was believed previously."

Speaking at a Capitol Hill briefing about the new data, Dr. Gary Goldstein, Autism Speaks' Scientific Advisory Committee Chair and President of the Kennedy Krieger Institute at Johns Hopkins said, "These new numbers provide a much more accurate picture of a disorder that has undoubtedly become a major national health crisis. Our dedication to finding critical answers about autism -- potential causes, better treatments and, hopefully, a cure -- must become that much more urgent today."

These new prevalence estimates are the first to come from multiple sites utilizing the same methodology for the same points in time. (Previous prevalence estimates have been from single sites and have relied on differing methodologies). According to the CDC, these data represent the most comprehensive effort to obtain accurate prevalence figures for Autism Spectrum Disorders to date, and offer important information about the prevalence of these conditions in multiple parts of the U.S.

As part of this study, six ADDM sites evaluated the prevalence of ASDs for children who were 8 years old in 2000 (born in 1992): Arizona, Georgia, Maryland, New Jersey, South Carolina and West Virginia.

An additional eight sites determined ASD prevalence for children who were 8 in 2002 (born in 1994): Alabama, Arkansas, Colorado, Missouri, North Carolina, Pennsylvania, Utah and Wisconsin.

Anna Nicole Smith Has Died

I wasn't surprised when I heard at lunch today that she had been rushed to the hospital. The news of her death, though, absolutely shocked me. Poor Dannielynn... My heart aches for that child.

Vegas was a BUST

Our trip to Vegas for the Super Bowl was a bust. The man I married is ethical, hard-working, dedicated and fiscally responsible - all good things, I know - but, in this instance, they got in the way of my party weekend! (I'm kidding, of course.)

Caesar's Palace was great about cancelling our reservations at such late notice. I know they'd been sold out or months so I'm certain they had no problem finding someone else to stay in our room!