Beyonce - Talent and Shame

Let me admit up front that I'm old fashioned. I like people who have taste, who respect values and morals. Beyonce Knowles is one of the greatest talents on the music scene today. With Destiny's Child, she had some incredible hits and then she went solo. She can act, and she is absolutely hands on with every movement and beat of her performance. She works hard, and make no mistake, she is the woman in charge of each dance step, gesture, and note played by her musicians.

This is why I don't get it. She starts out with such a dynamic entrance for her number of the Grammy's. Her powerful voice is belting it out, and I'm focused on what I believe will be a 'wow' performance. Then she makes a gesture that lasts several seconds to punctuate her song, and it just turns me off big time.

There was no need for that crude move. She put herself on the level of Roseanne Barr. It disgusted me, and it lowered my respect for her.

As nice and generous as I've heard Beyonce is, I also hear that she is quite the diva, with a demand list that is ridiculous. A demand list is what she insists be present when she does an appearance. I also recall a couple years back she backed out of a tour overseas because the government simply asked her to dress more appropriately. The woman couldn't keep her clothes on for a couple of hours so she could bring her music to those people. That went down the wrong way for me, too.

I guess I'm just very confused over Beyonce. Maybe she's a generous diva and a crude talent. I just can't like her the way I would if she had more class in her performance and decisions.

Haiti Outrage

I am really upset by what is happening in Haiti, and I'm not talking about the search for victims or the help to rebuild.

There is a local family who has been working on adopting a Haitian boy. After the quake, they didn't know what happened to him. An NBC news crew tracked the boy down and shot video to send to the parents. Since then, they've been trying to get their boy to the United States, as have several other potential parents.

The parents were set to fly to Salt Lake City to meet their new son on Thursday only they got word that the flight was off. It seems the Haitian Prime Minister was in Canada and refused to signed the documents. Excuse me? His country is in shambles. Little kids have no where to go. People want to help. And the PM is in Canada? I'm outraged.

I'm even angrier because all through the night, negotiators were working with the Haitian government to make this flight happen and bring these kids to the US. Now we're there, investing our hearts, minds, souls, equipment, time, food, supplies, etc. -- all in the name of human compassion and goodness, and the PM and the government of Haiti won't release these kids? These homeless, hungry children?

Outrage! Then today, they let the kids on a plane, saying they could go to Florida and while on the plane, they forcibly remove the children because they can't match the names.

Well excuse me. I thought we were helping a nation to rebuild, but apparently they would rather squabble over names. I don't freakin' care who these kids are or what their names are. They are little children, hungry, hurting, in need of care that Haiti can't give them and who have people here wanting, anxious, and hopeful to give them homes.

What the heck is going on? This makes me question everything we're doing.

Let those children go. Let them out of that nightmare.

Or maybe we should just come home and let them deal with their destruction themselves.

Farewell, Palmer Cortland!

Veteran actor James Mitchell passed away this weekend. Mitchell is best known for playing the wicked, wealthy, and otherwise sneaky and domineering Palmer Cortland on the soap opera, All My Children. It was a role he played for three decades. Personally, I couldn't stand the character, except for one or two brief moments when his first wife showed up on the show.

Mitchell's last appearance on AMC was for their 40th anniversary on January 5th. He showed the signs of illness, but he still had those strong facial features.

The movie role I always remember of Mitchell's was the hit musical, Oklahoma! He played the fantasy Curly dancer in a long sequence.

While not really a fan, I appreciate Mitchell's contribution to AMC and he was from my hometown, so I felt a mention was appropriate here.

Farewell, Palmer!

Search Engines and More

Happy Monday Everyone!

I heard on the news last week that there is a deal in the works to have Bing replace Google as the default search engine for most computers. I'm not sure if that will go through or not, but it does show how Bing is continuing to improve and make a drive to be the #1 search engine for the internet.

When Bing first came out, I used it and wasn't impressed. I've continued to use Google. I also like a place called Dogpile, which a friend introduced me to several years back. I like the way it sorts through various sources to get to its results.

I can't say I'm a big fan of Ask.com which never seems to answer my question. There certainly are a number of places to search. Remember Lycos? Or Looksmart? I've used a ton of them. Music, Video Search Engine is another one that's out there. These days, searches can be specialized, like just for pictures, sounds, or videos. We've come a long way with our searches.

For now, I'm sticking with Google, but at some point I'm going to check out Bing again and see if it's improved since its debut.

By the way, we're on day nine of rain where I live. We've had pockets of sunshine, but there's been rain every day, and there's more coming.

Have a good week, and tune in for more posts!

Hope for Haiti

Tonight is the Hope for Haiti benefit organized by George Clooney. I've been watching the live feed on CNN, though the west coast viewing on networks doesn't start for a couple of hours yet. Though I've been struggling to get by myself, I had to give a few dollars. I, at least, have a roof over my head. Those people have nothing at all now. It's been so hard to watch on the news.

I did get to have some fun. For the first time in my life during one of these celebrity things, I actually got to talk to a celebrity. Molly Sims of Saturday Night Live was the one who got my call. Then all of a sudden, there was Chris Pine of Star Trek. It was a two-fer as Molly called it. Then all of a sudden, Olivia Wilde of House, M.D. got into the act. How fun as that? Pretty fun.

I know it's hard when we're all struggling, but I hope we all come together to help this country in need.

Golden Highlights

I watched the Golden Globes last night and found it to be one of the more enjoyable award shows of recent times, and it had nothing to do with the host. I just adored Mo'Nique's speech at the beginning and then Sandra Bullock's and Jeff Bridge's. There was such humility in these expressions. For humor, we had Robert Downey Jr. For going with the flow, there was the amazing Paul McCartney. It's just too bad he didn't win, but I love that he attended. I even liked how George Clooney tried to keep that low profile, not even wanting to acknowledge his role in getting the Hope for Haiti charity event set up (it will air on several channels net Friday). Those were the highlights for me.

Valentine's Day Part Two

Happy Friday, one and all! I just got back from doing a bit of shopping. While I was out I couldn't help myself and bought a couple of Valentine Day's hearts. We're talking those little things at the store that cost about 59 cents or thereabouts.

If I get anything more expensive, I think I'll shop for coupons, like this one -- Proflower code. Actually, I've discovered that there are a lot of coupon sites on the internet, so that if you are planning to shop somewhere, you can just google the place or the item and add 'coupon' or 'discounts' and come up with some good deals. It doesn't work all of the time, but it does some of the time.

With so many of us having to cut back on luxuries, coupons and discounts help a ton, so if you're shopping the internet, google and see what you can find.

I do love Valentine's Day, though. It's a nice day for watching some romantic films and listening to good love songs.

Until later!

Valentine's Day

Now that the Christmas and New Year holidays are over, it's time to start thinking about Valentine's Day. I remember years ago, back in school, when everyone would give cards to each other. It was a lot of fun. Do they still allow that in elementary school? They've cut so much out I'm not sure if they do or not.

I read the other day that people are looking for more unique gifts, things that are different than the traditional flowers and candy. That's why you see things like Valentine Gifts and other articles, even websites, devoted to how to have your Valentine's Day be even more special. Sometimes, it's just how you do it.

You know what? I'm traditional. I love flowers and treasure getting them, and I adore candy. Buy me a box of Sees or Godiva chocolates, no fruits, no nuts, just that luscious chocolate bordeaux or mints, and I'm a happy camper. I don't need unique. I just need the love of the tradition.

Is that really that crazy?

Having fun

As the rain continues to splash down around me, I'm just sitting here thinking about having fun. I'm probably going to work some more on my fan fic later. I have a long story about India almost done.

I missed American Idol tonight. Have you ever used torrent technology to find shows you miss? I have from time to time. There are a bunch of sites out there where you can get show torrents. You can get game torrents as well, if you're into games.

There was a time when I was using torrents a lot to get Stargate SG-1 episodes, back in its seventh and eighth seasons especially when I couldn't wait months for America to air the shows (England was getting the shows before us; go figure.).

I don't know that I care that much about seeing the trials of American Idol, anyway. What they show isn't really representative of who will make it. Nowadays, it's more a spectacle of who can be the worse.

Maybe I'll go back to bed. That's fun; it's relaxing, anyway!

Rainy Day Thoughts

As I'm sitting here listening to the Canadian Brass doing their stirring rendition of The Saints' Hallelujah, I'm pondering the state of the state of the economy, my personal economy, and the promise of the future. I do believe in that promise; I have to. After all, the future is all we have, right?

So, even as I consider that small business and how I might or might not go about it, I find myself hopeful and optimistic. Now the truth is that I don't think my little potential star clips business would need its own space, though if it did, I might have to check into something locally that was like this Property Manager in Cincinnati. What I'm contemplating doing is just an at home, as I can type of thing.

I have a friend, though, who has always wanted to open up a pet business of some kind. The hard thing for her is figuring out how to go about it and how to get the financing for it. She definitely has more problems than I do in that regard and she's the one who might need that property management firm.

For now, I'm content to have a roof over my head and simply think about the future and try to be positive about it.

Oh, and it's raining outside today, so you know what they say about rainy days -- gives you a lot of time to think.

Happy Tuesday all!

Still Thinking

What an interesting week. No more Walter Cronkite to lead into the CBS news, Leno's back in a true late night time slot, and Mark McGwire finally admits to use steroids, something we all knew. All of this has generated even more articles and tidbits that I could use if I ever do decide to go ahead with my star clips small business.

There's just so much to be considered. I chuckled, though, when I found out there are actually companies that help you start a business. I just stumbled upon this one, Nevada resident agent and was amused that this type of business existed. I guess there's a business for everything apparently.

Well, why not. We have career placement and job agencies, so why not this? Goodness knows, sometimes we need the help.

Maybe I'll make my mind up one of these days. I'm just not much of a gambler and that's what keeps holding me back.

More Decisions

So, still thinking about whether or not to get into the star clippings biz again, I'm not sure if it's worth the hassle or not. Actually, it's a lot of fun, and as I said in my last post, I know how it is to find something new you didn't have before.

Then there's the hassle of the shipping, especially figuring out shipping cost. It's easier in the States, but when you go overseas, it's harder. Quite honestly, the market is bigger if you go international.

On top of that, there's the payment thing. PayPal has fees, and that irks me big time. If you take checks, there's a huge risk there. I've been stiffed a few times in the past, and it's hard to let that go. When you're not an official business, there's no comfort zone. So, you could go the credit card route, but as a small business, that's hard to do, too. Then you have to worry about merchant credit card processing services and all that entails. It's not an easy process. There's a lot that goes into what cards to accept and the fees they have.

There are just so many decisions. Wouldn't it be nice if life were simpler and didn't give you headaches?

Decisions, Decisions

I may have talked about this before but back in the day I used to auction off clippings on eBay. The clippings were articles and photos of stars that I had accumulated on celebrities and famous people. As a fan and collector myself, I know how fun it is to acquire articles I missed or perhaps never had access to because they come from overseas.

In recent times I've thought alot about doing that again, only not through eBay. They have changed their rules so much and I really don't like the way they handle things now. So, I've considered offering them myself through a separate website.

That's where so many of decisions come in. A website and domain cost money. Is it worth in these troublesome times? Would people find 'me' and would they take a chance on someone who doesn't have that eBay guarantee. I'd need a good site and probably a logo. Every type of company, big or small, unofficial or hobby, needs a logo. Look at this - Real Estate Logos - even these guys have logos. It's all in the eyes.

So, do I take a chance or not? It's a risk, and I've got a ton of stuff, waiting for a home. Decisions, decisions.

This is scary!

You hear about this kind of thing all the time, but now I know it really happens. I received some papers from Social Security over the weekend, and stapled to my papers were someone else's papers. Can you imagine? I have their address *and* their social security number. People, beware and be very careful. Our government tries, I'm sure, but this was a careless mistake made by a worker following protocol. It's just scary to think who might have ended up with copies of my papers. As my sister said, they are lucky it came to someone like me, who would never do anything wrong with it and who will even notify Social Security as to what has happened. Scary, scary, scary!

Have Old Crayons? Need Crayons for Your School?

First of all, happy new year, folks! I hope it's a good and peaceful one for all of us.

Second, I found the neatest website today. It's a place where you can send old crayons. They melt them down and make new colors. It's really exciting from what I've read. So, I want to start the new year by passing the information about Crazy Crayons on and urge you to take a look.

There's a notice on the website that they have an abundance of good crayons that have been donated that don't need to be melted down. They want to give these to schools, shelters, or any 'caring organization'.

I haven't actually dealt with the organization, but I stumbled upon it doing research for my fan fic. It looks worthwhile, so if you have old crayons or need some, give them a look.

The Sea Lions Have Gone Away

The Sea Lions have disappeared from San Francisco, and it's made the news just about everywhere. There's only a dozen or so remaining now. I hope they come back. It's so sad that there isn't enough food in the harbor to feed them. It's a low herring year apparently. How sad is that?

Stores and Banks Left Unlocked

What the heck is going on? In my region over the holidays we had not one, but two grocery stores left unlocked during closed hours ... and a bank!

It sounds crazy, doesn't it? Two Safeway stores both were found open by customers. In what may be a resurgence of holiday spirit and honesty, some people actually did their shopping and left money at the checkout counters! Others shrugged and left. Fortunately, consumers also called the police. According to Safeway, they believe that it was a failure in the locks. Survelliance footage shows the stores being locked. However, both are 24/7 stores except for holidays and they think people showing up and yanking on the doors just caused them to open. Me thinks new locks are about to be installed in Safeway stores using this current system.

And now comes word that on Christmas Eve a Wells Fargo Bank was left unattended. A customer say a sign that said the bank was closing at 2, but the doors were open. She went inside. No one was there. She called the cops, and the bank manager was on the scene in less than a hour to close the place down.

Are we just in a hurry, or what? I sure am glad I don't bank at Wells Fargo!

Batteries Exposed!

This was a 'wow' moment for me when I read about the dishonesty of Energizer with their 'D' batteries. Who knows? Maybe it even extends more than this. It also probably even is done by other companies. Consumers, we need to get on our toes here. This is just wrong.

For the details, go here Energizer "D" Battery Exposed. It's just amazing and not in a good way.

Reindeer Cleared to Land in California

It's official! K. Kringle's reindeer can land in California! This is big news! The full story is here.

Back to the Dentist

Well, it was back to the dentist today. Would you believe it? I broke a tooth, vertically yet. There's always something to interfere with my fun. I have a great dentist, though, so that's the good part.

Balloon Boy's parents were sentenced today to jail time, 90 days for him and 20 for her. Personally, I think she should have had 90 days as well. She did nothing to stop it and was as complicit as he was, so why the lighter sentence?

Did you hear about the otters that delayed a plane flight after escaping from their cages? I would have loved to have seen that. Apparently, some passengers found little 'presents' from the otters afterwards on their luggage.

Onward!

The Best Made Plans

Here I was all set to update frequently and right off the bat, things just piled up. Short form, had a company fraudulently make three charges on my credit card, had a problem with my computer and mouse operation which nearly killed the computer and have been going back and forth with a tech about it, and wasn't feeling well most of the week. Ugh!

On a brighter front, I'm making a lot of progress with my fan fic. It's so good to be actively writing again. There will be a bunch of new stories for the new year.

Does anyone ever use Sam's Club Click'n'Pull? I have to tell you that it's supposed to be a smooth process, but I've only had two experiences when it went as planned. Most of the time, including today, it's a freakin' nightmare. I have to use it, though; it's the only way I can shop there, but I really wish they'd get their act together. Most of the time, they can't even find the order, or they have it in three different places and never remember to bring all three orders. It's a pain in the mik'ta.

More later!

Happy Holidays!

Wow! Yes, I've been neglectful over the past five to six weeks, but I'm back in business and out to keep up my blog much better than over recent times. I think about coming here so often, but then get distracted.

Here's a recommendation for the day. If you're interested in e-readers and other types of things, there's a new forum and blog site called Read Gadget where I've been helping out a little. I actually have a blog there, too, so drop on over for all kinds of topics there.

I'm loving the festive holiday music I'm hearing everywhere, especially on a local radio station that it is playing nothing but Christmas music. They started the week before Thanksgiving. Some may call it overkill. I just call it joyful.

Drop on by this blog more regularly as I intend to make lots of little blog entries much more frequently! In the meantime, Merry Christmas and Happy Holidays to All!

Custom Pocket Calendars and More

Amsterdam is a quality oriented company that provides promotional items and human resource forms at great prices. I had a look through several of their pocket calendars and found so many neat ones of interest. I was impressed with their varied selection. They can customize these calendars to fit the needs of your business, charity, organization, or event. The prices seemed pretty good and are on a sliding scale. The more you purchase, the less the price per unit.

The site is easy to navigate and everything is crisp and clear, making it easy to read. I loved that it wasn't cluttered, either. It was very easy to find the pocket calendars I was interested in and then to move on and explore other items in their inventory.

This is a company that began as one man print shop in 1898 and has blossomed into a super store of promotional items. They are definitely worth checking out.

Maria Shriver, What Are You Doing?

This is just shameful. Just a couple of weeks after her fiasco being caught talking on her cell phone while driving, which is illegal in California, now she apparently parked in a red zone for over an hour while visiting the doctor.

Maria, you are the supposed to be the First Lady of California. People look up to you, not just for that respected position, but as a representative of the Kennedy family. You are disrespecting all of us, and your heritage by doing these outrageous things. You are not beyond the rules. What would Uncle Teddy say?

Get it together, Maria. You certainly aren't doing your husband any good right now. In fact, you're dragging him done. What a shame. I used to respect you so much, but your disrespect of the law and your meek and lame apologies just aren't cutting with me anymore.

Get the Proof on the Cheaters in your Life

Sadly, the reality is that we are often more vested in our relationships with our significant others than they are in us, and that sometimes means they cheat. Getting the proof on your cheating spouse isn't easy, but by going to www.CallerIDFaker.com, you can find a tool that can help you. Basically, you use the Caller ID of the person you believe your husband or significant other is cheating on you with, using your husband's phone. See how your partner answers the phone, and that will answer your questions. Visit www.CallerIDFaker.com for all the details.

First Impressions and Quality Invitations

As the saying goes, first impressions are so very important, and that goes way beyond our initial opinions of meeting someone in person. It also includes announcements and invitations. A lot of people will pre-judge an event simply by the quality and look of their card or invite, and that's why when you need to spread the word, you want to go with the best.

If you are in need of holiday cards, Invitation Professionals deserve a look. For over a decade, they've supplied their quality products through Carlson Craft, Regency, and Birchcraft. Their prices are awesome and most are discounted some 35% from the retail pricing. Naturally, their quality is high.

So, whatever your need is, holiday cards, wedding invitations, birth and graduation announcements, or even Bar Mitzvah invitations, give Invitation Professionals a look.

The Forgotten

I read a couple of days ago that the ratings for The Forgotten haven't been that great. I suppose that's not a big surprise. TV shows that I like in this modern day don't tend to last long. I like good, old fashioned drama, the kind without vulgarity, profanity, and too much realistic grit. If I want to see that, I can watch the news or surf to a lot of places on the internet.

The Forgotten stars Christian Slater. Now, I'm not a fan of Slater's. I haven't even ever had a positive thought about him float through my mind. But, let me say up front, he's great in this show. He's surrounded by several other actors I've never heard of before, but they all fill a function in the series.

This drama deserves a shot. Viewers, you haven't seen this angle of the crime drama done on television before. It's new. Slater and his pals work for The Forgotten Network, people across the country who work to identify John Does and Mary Does after the police can no longer work the cases. This is fascinating. It's good drama, and we haven't seen it done this way before.

As I said, there is little blood and gore, and that's why I'm watching it. I don't like the Law and Orders and ERs that think that you have to have blood everywhere and cuss every paragraph to have good drama.

I sense the show is doomed because I love it. I really do love it.

For the record, it's on Tuesday evenings after Dancing with the Stars. Give it a shot; set the DVR. I'd like to see it at lease survive the season.

Shop at Amazon and Help Me!

Hi Everyone,

With the holidays close at hand, I just wanted to do a reminder post to say that if you use the Amazon link on the right hand side of this blog to start your shopping, that no matter what you purchase, as long as you start by clicking on that Amazon link, I'll get credit for it. That's actually true for any ads you see on the right hand side.

Thanks for your continued support!

NASCAR Nationwide Invocation -- Inappropriate

There's a time and a place. I love NASCAR and I'm sitting here, working on a fic for my universe while watching the opening ceremonies for the Nationwide Race. It's at Concord, North Carolina. Well, we start with the invocation, a pretty standard little thing, spoken by some local pastor or faith person. This guy thought he was at a holy rollers meeting or something, though.

Honestly, I've never heard a prayer like this before for a race. He was almost in song, going on about having three-wide racing of banging and thrills. I was like, 'huh'? This is a moment that the drivers are with their families, and trust me, the wives don't want to hear what this guy was praying for.

I didn't pay attention to the name -- Joe Andresen, or something like that. I hope to never hear another word of praise from him because it was just in poor taste.

Last week during the NASCAR Cup Series race, Jesse McCartney messed up the national anthem. I mean, it was bad. He forgot the lyrics and ended up repeating, but at least he was singing the song he was supposed to sing. This Andresen fella needs a lesson in being appropriate.

Fortunately, Trace Adkins did a very nice rendition of the national anthem to get us through the opening ceremonies.

Congrats to Carl and Kate Edwards

I just heard that one of my favorite NASCAR drivers, Carl Edwards, is soon to be a daddy. His wife Kate is expecting their first child sometime next February. I adore Carl and think this is very exciting news.

Carl is fighting to beat Kyle Busch for the Nationwide Championship. Last week he could the lead down to 155. It's a big number, but nothing is impossible.

Go get him, Carl!

California's Unemployment

I keep hearing that things are getting better. Prices are starting to go back up as well. The recession is either over or about to be over. That's what they are saying. However, today California's unemployment rate is a whopping 12.2%. Where I am specifically, it's not quite there. It's just 11.8%. I wonder what these unemployed folks think about the news that things are getting better.

Using My George Foreman Grill

When it comes to cooking, I value convenience and as little cleanup as possible above everything else, which is why I'm a huge fan of the George Foreman Grill. I only have a little one, but I've had it for years. Lately, though, I was wondering if it was possible to grill eggs on the grill. Typically, on a basic Foreman grill, that's not something you can do.

I did a quick search because, hey, you can find everything on the web, and sure enough, I found a site of someone who had experimented and come up with a way of making scrambled eggs on the grill. I tried it the other day, and it works! I actually e-mailed the webmasters to say thanks, but haven't received a reply back, and that's okay. I'm thrilled about my new option and decided to share it.

So, if you are curious, just click here and enjoy!

Shame on Maria Shriver

I'm really very disappointed in California's first lady, Maria Shriver. She's not just the governor's wife, but she's a Kennedy, and there is inherent responsibility there to be a positive example. Maybe it's wrong, but that's just the truth of the matter.

This week, TMZ caught Maria driving while talking on her cell phone, which is illegal in California. Her response was an ultra brief apology along with some line about giving her phone to a women's charity. I was shocked. I don't feel any remorse or even responsibility coming from her.

My respect level for Maria went from a 10 (seriously, I've had a very positive image of her until this incident) to about a 5. She broke the law, and she needs to be upfront about that and say more than a 10-second apology and some dribble about giving her phone away.

Maria, I thought you were better than this.

Torrents: Easy Downloads

Torrents are a great way to download all kinds of media for free. At the QueenTorrent website, you can search for games, films, TV shows, music, and more. They have a powerful search engine with a very simple interface. All you need to do is type in the subject of the torrents you want to find. I typed in the name of my favorite actor, Patrick Swayze, and found two pages worth of interesting torrents off the bat. QueenTorrent is updated daily, its bots covering thousands of sites with torrent files to add to their massive database, meaning that there is always something new and exciting to be found.

Dry Up That Water Damage

No matter what the season, water damage can mess up your property big time. It's not something you want to let go, or it can wreak havoc with your property and your property values. That's why it's a good idea to visit water damage San Diego, the website of a company that understands that water damage left out of control is not just frustrating but often devastating. They care, and they respond with fast on-demand service. Let Able Restoration make your home dry again.

Finding the Right Web Hosting Company

As I move forward with launching a potential new website that would allow me to offer memorabilia for sale, one of my key resources is Web Hosting Geeks. I've always liked this site because it's like one-stop shopping for a hosting domain. These days there are numerous companies out there, but when shopping for a hosting company, you have peruse sites cautiously. They aren't all the same.

One of the things I love about Web Hosting Geeks is that they provide all kinds of information about web hosting businesses. A first glance gives the consumer a rank and a quick summary of each company, from 'cheap hosting' to 'editor's choice'. At yet another glance, you can see what kind of space the company offers, the traffic allowed, and the cost, as well as bonus features. For more detail, shoppers can read reviews of sites they are interested in.

All of this is free at Web Hosting Geeks. As an 'on a budget' webmaster, being able to compare websites on an independent site is extremely helpful. It gives me some good starting information that ultimately saves me time in my web hosting company shopping. I've visited this site many times to learn about companies and definitely recommend it to others in the market for a hosting company.

The Time of My Life

Patrick Swayze and Lisa Niemi wrote their story in the book, The Time of My Life, and it's now available for sale. It's also available as an audiobook, read by Patrick himself, and as an e-book on Amazon Kindle.

For a look at the book and what it's all about, click here.

Beach Bike Mania

One of the best parts of enjoying the summer is riding along with a beach cruiser bike. It's healthy and it's fun. Picture yourself cruising along, the breeze rubbing against your body as the sun beams down. It's a great concept. All you need is the right beach bike.

Now don't confuse beach bikes with complicated street bikes. These usually have one speed and a coaster foot brake. There's nothing difficult about riding one of these.

You can find chopper style bicycles to suit your fancy or any kind of beach bike for a woman, man, or child. Accessories are available, too.

Find yourself a beach bike and have some healthy fun from now on!

Bikers, Check it Out

CruiserCustomizing.com is a must-visit for those of us who own motorcycles. They have an inventory of over 30,000 parts and accessories, and the best part is that these products are reasonably priced, making them affordable even in this difficult economy.

This site has all kinds of locks and alarms, which is so important today, along with sportbike tires, luggage racks, performance parts, tools, and so much more. You can even sign up to receive weekly deals, delivered right to your inbox, and what I really value is that they are a BBB accredited business, so you know you're dealing with an honest company. That works for me.

Patrick Swayze Pancrease Cancer Research Fund

News from Lisa Niemi Swayze about a new fund in her late husband's name for Pancreatic Cancer Research. This is the post from the official fan club's website:

Sunday 20th September 2009

Patrick's wife Lisa has contacted us with news of a Research Fund in Patrick's name. Here is Lisa's message:

" Stanford University is coalescing existing research activities on pancreas cancer to form a Pancreas Cancer Center. This center will expedite application of emerging technologies and the development of molecular targeted therapies all focused on pancreas cancer. Of course, our wonderful Dr. George Fisher is involved with all this and setting up this fund in Patrick's name.

Checks should be made out to:
"Patrick Swayze Pancreas Cancer Research Fund"
& sent to:
Stanford Cancer Center
875 Blake Wilbur Dr.
Palo Alto CA 94304."

Patrick Swayze, Gone from the Earth but Living in Heaven

Patrick Swayze died today, and my heart is deeply saddened. I've been a huge fan of the man's since 1993 when I gravitated towards him after the death of my father. For the last two years, Patrick has been battling Pancreatic Cancer. He beat many odds by going on after his diagnosis to complete one season of The Beast on A&E and to still be here, almost two full years later.

I was fortunate to meet Patrick a few times. I can feel his arms around me in a tender hug, and the touch of his lips in a fan-friendly kiss. I can see his inviting smile and hear his hearty laugh. I see him pulling up his pants leg to show off a scar from when he almost died filming Letters From a Killer, and I feel his happiness at having completed a multi-decades project of Without a Word, filmed as One Last Dance.

His wife, Lisa, is an equal joy, and I know she is in heartache right now, having lost her soulmate in life. However, in a bit of Ghost-philosophy, I can't imagine Patrick ever leaving her side. He'll be her forever, and in his own way, with all of us who loved and treasured him.

He was a wonderful man, kind and compassionate. He wasn't perfect; he was a human being, but he tried to be his best and he cared about this planet.

Please pause and take a moment to remember Patrick and pray for Lisa and the rest of his family, that they can find peace in his mortal loss.

As a request, if you have articles and reports that you see in your local newspaper or in any papers or magazines tomorrow and in the future, I would appreciate receiving them. You can provide feedback here and I can send my address.

You are missed, Patrick, but now you're free of pain and you're with your beloved father again, and your dear sister. I take solace that and in knowing that you are watching over Lisa even as you left the Earth. Take care and pave the road for us all in Heaven.

Some Gaming Advice

There is a wonderful way to learn about and share your love of gaming, and that's by becoming a member of a forum. Forums are really super. I love them and use them daily. For one thing, it's a way of getting to know other people on the internet with similar interests. You'd be surprised at how many others are out there, wanting to share their love of gaming while communicating with friends.

Another benefit of a gaming forum is that you can ask questions about games or issues you're having. Oftentimes, a forum will get you the answer you need much quicker than using a support or help area of a website.

The Rugged Nerds forum has sections for PC gamers, Console gamers, and eSports. There are game specific forums for games like Starcraft 2 and World of Warcraft. Take a look and join in the conversation.

Let's Roll

Today is September 11, better known as 9/11, a day that will live in infamy, just as much as December 7, 1941 has for decades. Once again, our nation mourns and remembers the terrorist attack that occurred in 2001. As I watch the re-airing of the event over on MSNBC, I realize how much easier it is for me to catch the details. When it happened, I could never make out the people who jumped from the World Trade Centers. Now, their falling bodies are pretty easy for me to spot. It's just all so tragic.

I like to focus on the brave people on Flight 93, real heroes who represent the heart and soul of America. I still feel like they don't really get their due. They saved this nation; I believe that.

For all of them, and those who did die in New York City eight years ago, I hope we all take a moment to remember their lives, and I hope that we can celebrate those lives for the good that they were and not just for the way they died.

As those aboard Flight 93 said, Let's Roll!

What a Week

This has been a crazy week. I don't think I've been so tuned in to the news, online and on-air, in a very long time.

There was the death of Senator Ted Kennedy, ending an era that won't ever be repeated. I watched the wake last night, and I just laughed and laughed at the stories. Then today was the funeral, and again, there were wonderful stories. The only thing that bothers me are the CNN reporters practically chastising President Obama for not making his eulogy a rallying cry for health reform. It's a funeral, people, get a grip.

I loved that Joan Kennedy was in attendance, as were several past Presidents -- Clinton, Bush, and Carter. All of them seated right there with the Obamas.

The one thing I really came away with from the wake and funeral is that the belief that you can do anything is the strongest ally you can have in achieving your goals. Story after story was told of Ted telling his children, nephews, and nieces about how they needed to believe in themselves and then just try their best. That's a legacy passed on from Joseph Kennedy to his children, and now the next generation has to take hold of it and move forward.

I've spent the last two days watching so much of the Jaycee Lee Dugard story. It's so hard to think that this 11 year old kidnapped girl was brought to a backyard and kept there for 18 years, where she was raped and mothered two children. From what her stepfather has said, Jaycee is a victim of Stockholm Syndrome, meaning she feels a bond with her captors. Now she has guilt about that. Jaycee and her children, who have no clue what a normal life is, will need a lot of therapy, love, and understanding for a very long time. Their transition will no doubt be difficult, but I hope Jaycee realizes how many people have never forgotten her.

As for the police, I applaud Sheriff Rupf who has admitted and apologized that his team dropped the ball back in November 2006. They responded to a 911 phone call but didn't do a background check. He has stepped forward to say they made a mistake, and I appreciate him owning up to their faux pas. However, the man in charge of the Corrections Department, the ones who have had the kidnappers as their parolee was full of excuses. He accepted no blame, no fault, no remorse, no nothing that his parole officers had failed to unearth Jaycee's presence at the home. He needs to be fired. He's just trying to cover his tail, and if he doesn't think he should at least acknowledge their lack of depth, then he's the wrong man for the job.

Then finally last night the Discovery lifted off after several delays during the week. It was a perfect blastoff with no problems whatsoever. It was at night, and it was beautiful. The shuttle program is approaching its end, but I really hope that the next phase does happen and that we return to the moon. There's so much more to be done.

Space exploration is intriguing and fascinating. I felt a strange extra connection to it last night, since I was so in Kennedy mode. After all, it was President John F. Kennedy who issued the mandate for the United States to reach unheard of heights in the space program.

Lastly, yesterday the Los Angeles coroner proclaimed the death of pop icon Michael Jackson a homicide, further clearing the way for charges to be filed against the doctor who gave him the drugs the day he died. I'm all for it. These doctors need to be stopped. This so-called physician gave the last drug to Jackson simply because Jackson kept demanding it. In other words, instead of following his medical common sense, the man was only concerned for his financial well being. He didn't want to be canned, so he gave Jackson a drug he knew he shouldn't have. This man needs to go to jail. He committed a murder, and he knew it.

What a week. So much news and so many emotions.

Miracles Do Happen - Jaycee's Alive

Hope fills the heart everywhere of parents and loved ones who have children missing, be it kidnapping or other event. In 1991, Jaycee Dugard was kidnapped in front of her step-father. Today, it was confirmed that Jaycee, now 29, is alive. We don't have a lot of details yet, except that her kidnappers, including a registered sex offender, have been arrested for kidnapping, rape, and other charges. Jaycee has two children, apparently from the kidnapper. No time, she's lived a nightmare, but Jaycee is alive. 18 years later, and a mother has been reunited with her daughter. Welcome home, Jaycee!

Rest in Peace, Ted

It just hit the news that Senator Ted Kennedy has died. Kennedy had a long career, a respectable one in politics that included a controversial run for President many years ago. I remember it well. Ted wasn't my favorite Kennedy. While I was always totally sold on his brothers John and Robert, I was less sold on him, but he was a Kennedy, and he had their drive and the same heritage. He's the only male Kennedy to make it through a long life. In that sense, this is the end of an era.

Once upon a time, there existed Camelot. It was shot down in 1963 and murdered in 1968. What was left, the remnants of that dream, has succumbed now to disease. Those big lights will never shine again in Washington D.C.

Rest in peace, Ted, and say 'hi' to Jack and Bobby.

Bling a Ling!

Hip Hop is a craze that has taken the world stage with a vengeance. It began as a dance and now is a way of life that includes the fashion industry and decorative jewelry. Bling Bling is a style that makes a 'watch me' statement. Check out Hip Hop Bling, a wholesale jeweler with over a decade of experience in this unique line. They don't just sell the styles, they help to set the trends!

A Financial Option

No one really likes to talk about their finances, especially if their situation is poor. I know because I've been there. Sometimes it gets so bad that the only option is bankruptcy. That makes the process of securing credit quite difficult. One of the best ways of getting back on track is to obtain a prepaid card from a company like NetSpend.

Getting a Prepaid Credit Card or debit card lets you make purchases, secure travel reservations, and shop online without having to worry about your credit history. It's even a great way to control your spending, even if you aren't recovering from a financial crisis. Simply load the card with the amount you desire and let it be your budget guide.

Prepaid cards are certainly an option to be considered.

Elvis - Just a Moment to Remember

Wow, it's been another year without the late, great Elvis Presley. 32 years is a long, long time, but I love he lives on in his movies and music. I have Blue Hawaii on now as part of TCM's all-day tribute. What a wonderful, innocent way to remember the true King of Rock and Roll!

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