Faces of Heroes: Michelle Ring

The other day I was watching the news. "Four US soldiers were killed in an explosion today raising the total casualties to 3840. In other news...."

In other news?! What people said would happen has happened. As the number grows, we've become more desensitized. I suppose that's human nature. Sad but true.

No matter what your views on the war in Iraq/Afghanistan, the fact remains--husbands, wives, mothers, fathers, brothers and sisters are giving the ultimate sacrifice. Their deaths, and more importantly, their lives deserve much more than being relegated to a number on some list.
Starting Sunday, zerogossip.com will begin a series of profiles so you can put a face to the number. It's time to resensitize people! The young men and women over there deserve our attention.

Faces of Heroes: Michelle Ring

Michelle Ring was certainly no "girly girl." That's how her sister Karen remembers her. That's not a knock on the 26 year old Army corporal. While her sisters were into bows and laces, Michelle was scraping her knees climbing trees and getting dirty. "She was always looking to have fun," Karen said. "To do the extreme compared to her other sister and I. She had to be different. That was her goal. She never wanted to be like anyone else."

Missing: Ruth Alexander

Name: Ruth Alexander
Classification: Endangered Missing Adult
Date of Birth: 1960-06-24
Date Missing: 2005-07-30
From City/State: Decatur, GA
Missing From (Country): USA
Age at Time of Disappearance: 45
Gender: Female
Race: Black
Height: 66 inches
Weight: 180 pounds
Hair Color: Black
Eye Color: Brown
Complexion: Light
Identifying Characteristics: Pierced ears.

Circumstances of Disappearance: Unknown. Ruth was last seen at a family member's residence in the vicinity of the 2700 block of Aquamist Dr. in Decatur, GA. Her vehicle is also missing and is described as a burgundy 1995 Saturn with Georgia license plate.
Investigative Agency: DeKalb County Police Department
Phone: (404) 294-2575
Investigative Case #: 05-102336

Missing Children

Endangered Missing

FANNY NARVAEZ
DOB: Apr 22, 2002

Missing: Aug 2, 2007

Height: 3'0" (91 cm)

Eyes: Brown

Race: Hispanic
Age Now: 5

Sex: Female

Weight: 35 lbs (16 kg)

Hair: Black
Missing From: APOPKA FL United States

Fanny was last seen on August 2, 2007. She may be in the company of her non-custodial mother.

ANYONE HAVING INFORMATION SHOULD CONTACT

National Center for Missing & Exploited Children1-800-843-5678 (1-800-THE-LOST)
Orange County Sheriff's Office (Florida) 1-407-836-4357

Missing Children

DORA CASTEELS

DOB: Nov 20, 1992

Missing: Aug 25, 2007

Height: 5'6" (168 cm)

Eyes: Hazel

Race: White
Age Now: 14

Sex: Female

Weight: 140 lbs (64 kg)

Hair: Black
Missing From:WESTLAND MI United States
Dora was last seen on August 25, 2007. She may still be in the local area.

ANYONE HAVING INFORMATION SHOULD CONTACT

National Center for Missing & Exploited Children1-800-843-5678 (1-800-THE-LOST)
Westland Police Department (Michigan) 1-734-722-9600

UPDATE:

Dora Casteels missing from Westland, MI, has been recovered. Please discontinue dissemination of this poster. Your participation in this program has made a valuable contribution to this recovery.
Please remove and discard any posters on this case that you have placed in public view.Thank you for your support.The National Center for Missing & Exploited ChildrenVisit our web site at www.missingkids.com.

Missing Children

LEAH WALKER

DOB: Nov 24, 1989
Missing: Aug 15, 2007
Age Now: 17
Sex: Female
Race: White
Hair: Brown
Eyes: Hazel
Height: 5'3" (160 cm)
Weight: 122 lbs (55 kg)
Missing From:CORPUS CHRISTI TX United States

She may be in the company of an adult male. They may have traveled to Island, Texas. Leah has a scar on her left wrist. Her ears, navel, and tongue are pierced.

ANYONE HAVING INFORMATION SHOULD CONTACT

National Center for Missing & Exploited Children1-800-843-5678 (1-800-THE-LOST)
Corpus Christi Police Department (Texas) 1-361-886-2600

Missing Children

KAREN HERNANDEZ

DOB: Oct 15, 1991

Missing: Aug 4, 2007

Age Now: 15

Sex: Female

Race: Biracial

Hair: Black

Eyes: Brown

Height: 5'4" (163 cm)

Weight: 115 lbs (52 kg)

Missing From:SANDY SPRING GA United States

She may still be in the local area. Karen is Biracial. She is White and Hispanic.

ANYONE HAVING INFORMATION SHOULD CONTACT

National Center for Missing & Exploited Children1-800-843-5678 (1-800-THE-LOST)
Sandy Springs Police Department (Georgia) 1-404-730-7911

Missing Children

ROBERTA SIMMONS
DOB: Mar 13, 1991
Missing: Jul 20, 2007
Height: 5'2" (157 cm)
Eyes: Brown
Race: White
Age Now: 16
Sex: Female
Weight: 130 lbs (59 kg)
Hair: Brown
Missing From:ESSINGTON PA United States
Roberta may be in the company of an adult male. They may have traveled to Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. She may have dyed her hair black with blue streaks.

ANYONE HAVING INFORMATION SHOULD CONTACT
National Center for Missing & Exploited Children1-800-843-5678 (1-800-THE-LOST)
Tinicum Township Police Department (Pennsylvania) 1-610-565-6500

Missing Children

Endangered Runaway

JADE LARSON
DOB: Apr 7, 1992

Missing: Aug 22, 2007

Age Now: 15

Sex: Female

Race: White

Hair: Brown

Eyes: Brown

Height: 5'4" (163 cm)

Weight: 120 lbs (54 kg)

Missing From:PALM COAST FL United States



Both photos shown are of Jade. She may still be in the local area. Jade has a tattoo of a shamrock on her hip. She may use the alias name Alana Johnson.

ANYONE HAVING INFORMATION SHOULD CONTACTNational Center for Missing & Exploited Children1-800-843-5678 (1-800-THE-LOST)
Flagler County Sherriff's Office (Florida) 1-386-313-4911

Missing Children

LACIE GILL
DOB: Dec 4, 1990

Missing: Aug 22, 2007

Height: 5'0" (152 cm)

Eyes: Brown Race: White
Age Now: 16

Sex: Female

Weight: 125 lbs (57 kg)

Hair: Brown
Missing From:RAVANNAOHUnited States
Lacie may still be in the local. She may have dyed her hair blonde.

ANYONE HAVING INFORMATION SHOULD CONTACT National Center for Missing & Exploited Children1-800-843-5678 (1-800-THE-LOST)
Ravanna Police Department (Ohio) 1-330-296-6486

Jessica Birge Found

FINAL UPDATE 9/18/2007
Body Found Identified As Missing New Braunfels Woman

The search for a missing Central Texas woman is over. Jessica Birge, 25, disappeared Aug. 11, after a day of tubing on the Comal River with friends in New Braunfels.
More than a month later, search teams have found Birge's body in the Guadalupe River. Her body was found inside of her car.
A helicopter company called Silver State donated a helicopter and a pilot to the search. They were flying over the area when they spotted something in the water. Dive teams were then put in the water at that location.
The area is south of the Common Street Bridge in the section that goes through Cypress Bend Park.
Unless you live in Central Texas, you may not have heard of the case of missing Jessica Birge. You likely will Friday night when CNN Headline News reports on the story. She disappeared without a trace August 11 in New Braunfels, Texas and hasn't been heard from since. Her college friend Ashley Stevener is among the many who are helping the family find the 25 year old.Jessica and Ashley lived in the same dorm at the University of North Texas in Denton and for the past six years, have been the best of friends."She is fun loving and a very caring and genuine person," Ashley said. "She's also a wonderful and dedicated friend. She is always there when you need her. She'd drive an hour to meet me so we could spend time together. "Ashley last spoke with Jessica August 10 by phone. A mutual friend was coming to town and Jessica wanted to brainstorm some memory ideas with Ashley. The friend had recently moved out of state and her sister needed a list of memories to give to her as a present. It was a good conversation, Ashley said. Jessica was also excited about her plans the next day.

The rest of the story on zerogossip.com

TMZ v. Britney Spears----fans that is!

The cyber war is on! The popular gossip website TMZ.com has decided to take on a week old Britney Spears fansite. It started with this:

Britney's Comeback? Not in Site!
Posted Aug 29th 2007 2:49PM by TMZ StaffFiled under: Wacky and Weird, Britney Spears

While most of the world has lost faith in the dethroned Princess of Pop, there is one fan are a few fans who have faith in the second coming of Britney, and now, they've erected a website! BritneysComeback.com's main mission is to support poor Brit Brit during these trying times.Unfortunately, for the people, er, person, at the site, Spears has failed to make the news for anything other than child abuse allegations, custody battles, animal negligence and half-assed pictures. Literally! The site's motto? "Britney Spears I Believe." Just when you thought Brit Brit had hit bottom, it seems someone has handed her a shovel. Cuz the gurl just keeps a-diggin'!

And continued Thursday with this:

Britneyscomeback Fires Back
Posted Aug 30th 2007 1:13PM by TMZ StaffFiled under: Train Wrecks, Britney Spears

TMZ's story yesterday regarding Britneyscomeback.com was not welcomed with open arms by her fan fans. Today, the site posted that they "will report on all of TMZ's news updates, since TMZ clearly holds high standards for researched stories." But the site isn't pleased with TMZ's "hurtful non-news stories." Ding dang, y'all!As an example of the power of Britney's fans, they cite her high record sales back in 2000 for "Oops! I Did it Again." What they fail to understand is that we at TMZ believe in baby steps -- so even though wearing knickers may seem "non-newsy" to some, for Britney, it is definitely a major step forward -- and clear evidence that Brit is well on her way to re-conquering the world! A journey of a million miles starts with just one hoocher-covering step.

Wow, two articles in two days about a fansite? Sounds like somebody can dish it, but can't take the heat! What could possibly raise the ire of a site dedicated to highlighting the low lights of the rich and famous? It's the brand new website called Britney's Come Back. Designed by a webmaster who wishes to remain anonymous, BCB as we'll call her has been a fan of the pop superstar for years. Instead of dwelling on the drama of the past several months, she wants to focus on the come back.....

The rest of the story on zerogossip.com

Tawny Heath is Crazy about Crazy! (zerogossip)

Tawny Heath has released her latest song "Crazy". Break out the dancing shoes and check it out! MORE >>

Toronto Model: "I'm Weird!" (zerogossip)

Ha! No, she's not really weird, in the normal weird sort of manner anyway. You may have seen her while walking in a mall or while leafing through a magazine. It’s hard to miss her. She jumps right out at you in the ads. At just 18 years old, Sabrina Couture is already what some say one of the most beautiful women in the world. And her career has only just begun. Born and raised in Toronto, Canada, she was discovered by a photographer and immediately hired as a model for Toshiba Canada. She went on to become a spokesmodel for Enzo Milano hair care products and is even dipping her toes into film making. She’s a 5’5 blonde buxom bombshell who says she’s secretly in love with Frank Sinatra. Well, now that secret’s out and soon the name Sabrina Couture won’t be much of a secret either. MORE >>

She Rocks From Her Heart and Soul

It began with a gutsy email. Earlier this summer, young Mexican rocker Linda Lopez wrote to celebrity blogger Perez Hilton and asked the sometime cantankerous scribe to listen to her song, “Dame Una Razon”. Risking a public slap-down or even worse, no response at all, Linda waited. MORE >>

Just because

More Videos

Dog+Ice Cream = BIG Mess

I think my dog is a pretty cool guy. We're alone now and get to hang out together. Hanging out means he lies on the couch until he hears anything remotely sounding like the refrigerator door opening. At that point, he's my best friend.

So, there was some butter pecan ice cream in the freezer. I don't know who bought it because it sure wasn't me. He looked at me with those begging dog eyes that said, "If you don't give me a lick, I'll shit on your rug."

So, I gave him a lick. Actually, I gave him the entire box. I mean even when it's melted, it's just sort of milk...right? Wrong. He enjoyed it. He gobbled it up and even gnawed at the box until it was a mushy pulp.

The next morning, he thanked me profusely. Have you ever seen a half gallon of butter pecan ice cream after it's been processed through a dog? I could have sworn it smelled better when I gave it to him. There are areas on the wall....ugh...I can't even begin to fathom how he shot it up there. Needless to say, he's never getting ice cream again, and I'm never going to look at it or him the same way again.

Visitors From Above, or Floating Lanterns--You Decide

Have you ever looked into the night sky and saw something that just didn't appear "right" and shrugged it off? Next time, perhaps, you shouldn't. UFO sightings are on the rise. Since 2006 in the US alone there have been over 8500 unexplained sightings reported to the National UFO Reporting Center. Last month in Stratford-Upon-Avon in the UK, the town came to a halt when 5 mysterious lights hovered overhead for 30 minutes. They were later dismissed as mere lanterns launched by a local rugby club but at least one UFO investigator thinks that's a load of, well...space junk. Just days earlier, Kenneth Parsons, founder of The British Earth & Aerial Mysteries Society witnessed a similar sighting in Farnborough, Hampshire, UK. According to Ken, they weren't lanterns. Nor were they what people have come to believe UFOs are. For this interview, put aside your notions of flying saucers and black triangles. Ken believes these lights are much more than that. In fact this UFO expert says, we are not alone.....MUCH MORE ON ZEROGOSSIP.COM

New Posts on zerogossip.com

Don't forget to check out zerogossip.com. Here's a look at what you'll find:

The Rising Stars of NASCAR
When I was 11 years old, I lived across the street from Westboro Speedway in Massachusetts. It was a tiny track but the thunderous noise on Saturday nights always piqued my interest. I had no money so I walked across the street and searched for a hole in the fence. I found it and became an univited season ticket holder. Ever since, I've been hooked.

Nikki Giavasis
Unlike many people, I hadn't heard of Nikki Giavasis before June. It was then the country was shocked by the brutal slaying of Jessie Davis, a young pregnant mother and her unborn baby in Ohio. Bobby Cutts Jr., the alleged killer was Jesse’s boyfriend. He was a cop and the father of not only her 2 year old son, but also of the baby girl she was carrying.
People wanted answers. How could someone do such a horrible thing? Actress/model Nikki Giavasis knew.
I had the chance to sit down with Nikki, albeit from 3000 miles away and via computer, to talk about this and so much more. Born in a small town in Ohio, she lived a life of great triumphs and unspeakable tragedy. I think you’ll find she is an extraordinary person and someone you’ll hear a lot more about soon.

Look Out Mariah, Here Comes Tawny Heath
She may well be the next pop sensation since the early years of Brittany Spears, but you won’t be seeing her on American Idol anytime soon. She’s too busy writing and performing already. Eighteen year old Tawny Heath has two parents, two brothers, three dogs and a blankie. Yeah, we’ll get to the blankie later. But those ingredients, Tawny says, are why she’s becoming as successful as she is. “My family has always been behind me my whole life. My mom gave up her career a couple years ago when my career started progressing so she could be with me all the time. My brothers and dad are really great too in helping anyway they can. I couldn't ask for a better family.”

The Golden Girls Like You've Never Seen Them Before
It’s hard to believe it took this long but finally, the first art exhibition devoted to erotic depictions of the “Golden Girls” is opening in Hollywood August 11. That’s right, Blanche, Dorothy, Rose and Sofia in their uncensored glory.
Golden Gals Gone Wild is the brainchild of writer, model, actress and glass eater Lenora Claire. You may remember her as the muse in the Billy Talent music video “Fallen Leaves,” or any number of horror flix including, “Black Dahlia Movie,” “Tales from the Crapper,” or “Kenmore Ave.”
She is also a successful event producer and curator and huge “Golden Girls” fan. Zero Gossip had the chance to talk with Lenora as she prepared for the event.

New Wave Femmes Standing Up to Sexism
Her name is Destiny Herndon-DeLaRosa. At just 23, this Texas native has already had a life filled with difficult challenges which instead of hindering her, enhanced her perspective. Born in 1983 to an unwed mother, she says on her New Wave Femmes website, "Being the product of an unplanned pregnancy, I guess you could say I was even Pro Life in the womb." At 16 and unmarried herself, she became pregnant. While many of her friends were doing normal high school stuff, she gave birth to a baby boy. Four years later, she married and a year after that, Destiny and her husband Abrahm found out she was expecting again. The joy of another child, and this one a girl, turned to pain when doctors found a spot on the babies heart. There was a chance, the doctors said, the child could be born with Downs Syndrome. "Knowing that I would not abort either way gave me a kind of peace about it all; my husband and I would love this baby no matter what," she said. In May 2006, the child was born, completely healthy. But now, with two children to raise, Destiny's own awareness of what she felt were unhealthy "messages" being sent through advertising, the media and even from just everyday people became heightened. She took action.

There's A New Blog in Town

I've read the TMZ's and the Perez Hilton's (man, I hope there's only one!) out there. There is something about sites like that people like or are at least drawn to. What many forget is that the people written about are actually, get this, real people. Lindsey Lohan, Paris Hilton, and apparently even Tom Cruise are real people with real lives and real problems. Just like you and me.
OK, off the soap box...I'm launching a new blog. Whoa! It's not spam! :) Give zerogossip.com a try. Launching in just about 15 minutes with an exclusive Nikki Giavasis interview. What an amazing woman with an incredible life story.
This new blog is designed to be 100% gossip free. Sorry, no pictures of young starlets in distress or unfounded claims of debauchery (look it up ). And it's not all about celebrities. I want it to be about people. Famous, infamous, and not so famous alike. There's so much out there in the world that gets glossed over for the salicious juicy stuff.
Do you have a story to tell? A new project to talk about? Something to get off your chest? Head over to zerogossip.com and submit your contact info.
But most of all, have fun!

New Blog Site Opening!

I invite you to my new blog site zerogossip.com. It's the latest source on the web about people like you. Everything you'll see is 100% gossip free. All profiles are done by interview...no second hand sources, no digging in the mud. If you are looking for a starlet in a state of distress, head over to one of the gossip pages. It won't be there. This site is about people--famous, infamous and not so famous. Everyone has a story to share. I hope you do too. Enjoy!

Youtube Video of the Week

This one is a month overdue but worth the wait! Even I have a soft spot! :)

Rising Stars in NASCAR

When I was 11 years old, I lived across the street from Westboro Speedway in Massachusetts. It was a tiny track but the thunderous noise on Saturday nights always piqued my interest. I had no money so I walked across the street and searched for a hole in the fence. I found it and became an univited season ticket holder. Ever since, I've been hooked.
Fast forward 3 decades and now I'm in the fortunate position to be intimately involved with NASCAR. I get a lot of guff from people who don't understand the attraction of watching cars go round and round for up to 4 hours. To those people I say, go to a race. It only takes one and you'll be hooked. NASCAR is an event. Football has its tailgate parties, NASCAR fans arrive days before the race, set up in giant motor home communes. Flags from drivers past and present fly in the breeze the the smell of hot dogs, hamburgers, steaks and beer...lots of beer...fill the air. It's an event. It's like Woodstock every weekend except the music is a symphony of 43 cars and 750 horsepower. The sound will rattle you to the bone and if you've never felt that, or seen a pack of warriors speeding by you at 200 mph, you've never experience NASCAR. Trust me. It takes one race to hook you. Where else can fans essentially walk into a team's locker room and rub shoulders with the likes of Dale Earnhardt Jr., Jeff Gordon, and Tony Stewart. The garage is their locker room and they gladly invite you in.
OK, that's the big time. Today I had the chance to meet with some of the rising stars of NASCAR. And what a group they are.
First, there's Marc Davis. Marc got his driver's licence back in November but began his driving career as a very young boy. At just barely 17, he's one of the rising stars in the Busch East Series. He's about to be a senior in high school yet manages to be a normal student, a normal kid and a formidible force on the race track. He has to wait until he's 18 before he can get into a Busch car, but given that time, he will be ready. His goal is to eventually be champion. That would be groundbreaking. As a member of the Joe Gibbs Developmental Racing team, Marc is African American. He's got a great future ahead of him.
Marc's team mate is none other than Connecticut native Joey Logano. Joey is also 17 and so far has won 5 races this season. Keep in mind he's competing with drivers with far more experience and racing for longer than Joey has been alive. He too, must wait until he's 18 to jump to Busch but expect to be hearing more about this star soon. Joe Gibbs knows how to pick them!
Then there's Michelle Theriault. That's right, Michelle. Driving the Glock Chevrolet for Spraker Racing, she proves each weekend on the track that once that helmet goes on, there's no difference between man or woman. She's just as competitive. She started racing after her dad let her sit in a race car at the age of 5. I hadn't mastered a Big Wheel at that age yet she powered her way through several racing series with the help of her family taking home an impressive stash of trophies. She's smart and savvy and is biding her time before she takes the wheel for the Daytona 500. And she will.
Take my advice. Take in a race. Buy a 24 or 8 hat and sit in the stands. Don't forget to rent a scanner so you can listen in to the drivers talking to their crews DURING the race. Some language is borderline PG but to hear that kind of emotion, well it's all about racing.
See you at the track!

If Your Tummy Hurts, a Bad Summer Lies Ahead

What a strange news day it's been. We've got the pizza delivery man who may have played a part in blowing himself up (Pizza bomb); George Bush is ordering his staff not to tell on him (No talking!); the man who couldn't foresee the devastation of Katrina even with experts begging him to listen has a gut feeling the US will be attacked this summer; (Chertoff) a frozen baby mammoth (see Ice Age I or II) has been found in Siberia and scientists want to try and clone it (2 mammoths for the price of 1).
And then you have the main event. In this corner, weighing 285 pounds and looking a tad disheveled, Michael Moore. In the other corner, weighing in at 105 pounds (after a heavy duty spritzing) it's Dr. Sanjay Gupta. Your referee tonight, wandering around aimlessly is Larry King. Did any of you see that last night? I'll link you to the Wolf Blizter smack down that led up to it but man, like him or hate him, Michael Moore makes you think. I've always been a CNN person. Yeah I know, everyone has an agenda and all news outlets have their own biases but it was less apparent on CNN (to me) than say, oh…Fox which has no shame in proclaiming their "fair and balanced" format…if you happen to be a Republican that is and have an 8 x10 of George Bush hanging on your living room wall.
Michael Moore is a filmmaker whose films are meant to make you think. You may not agree with his tactics (like ambushing an obviously frail Charlton Heston in Bowling for Columbine) but he has a point and he does a very good job getting it across. "Sicko" came out this week and CNN aired a report by the good Dr. Gupta essentially saying powerful film but filled with flaws and fudged facts. Fudged facts, my candy loving friends is a nice way to say lied. So, CNN had the cajones to air that piece just before having Moore on for a live interview. Gutsy move! But he was up for it. You could actually hear Wolf Blitzer's butt cheeks slapping together when Moore demanded an apology...not for this so much but for the same type of report CNN did on "Farenheit 911". Wolf did his best to defend Dr. Gupta by saying he went in to help with surgeries on troops in Iraq. Nice, but not the point.
Enter Larry King.
King got both Moore and Gupta on his show the next night live. The battle lasted 30 minutes (because we all needed more information on the whack job married couple that began their relationship with a blinding splash of lye). Gupta looked good. Moore, well, Moore looked like Moore. But he had his stuff together. He cited facts and directed Gupta to where the facts came from. At times, Sanjay looked like he'd rather be back in the OR. People's views will differ but I give Michael the win on a TKO.
The American health care system is in crisis and has been for decades. It needs to be fixed. We have the people and the smarts to do it. But do we have the will?

ROUND 1


ROUND 2



ROUND 3


ROUND 4

YOUTUBE VIDEO OF THE WEEK

If you need a laugh, and face it, who doesn't, take a look at this video and watch as the comedian loses total control. By the time it finishes, you won't be able to get this guy's laugh out of your head....trust me!

Or, how about watching someone watching this video. This might just be even funnier!

No Hand Shakes; No High Fives

Meet Deborah Hernandez. She's the principal of the Joyce Kilmer Middle School in Vienna, Virginia. It appears her goal in this southern state where warm embraces of friendship were once welcome, is to help make her students cold, uncaring and distant. Debby has decided she and her staff can no longer determine what is good touching and what is bad touching in school. So, taking the easy and cowardly way out, she has banned ALL touching. Now granted "touching" can be an uncomfortable word in these days of kindergartners being suspended for sexual harassment, however here are a couple of other terms that are less touchy but just as banned at Kilmer.

Hand shakes--Totally unacceptable.
High fives--See you in detention.
Post touchdown butt slapping--Prepare for homeschooling, cuz you're not coming back here.
Hugs--A large red H will be branded to your head.
Teachers knocking boots with the kiddies--That still may be ok.

Hernandez and others like her, and there are others, are helping destroy our kids. Too strong a statement? I don't think so. These kids will grow up wary of human touch and as cold and aloof as the Europeans already think we are. Take a trip overseas and you are greeted by friends with a kiss on each cheek and a brief hug. For generations in the US, we've been conditioned with the handshake as the closest you get. Why is it that we look on with muted interest in tragedies and wars in other countries, hell even around us? Because we've been conditioned that way. And if old Principal Hernandez gets her way, things are going to get a whole lot worse.

Take a look at some headlines from around the world.

"No-touching policy could land students in detention for high-fives" CNN

"Hug lands student in hot water" Edmonton Sun, Canada

"Head bans hugs and handshakes" Guardian Unlimited UK

"Virginia school's no contact policy has some pushing for change" Int'l Herald Tribune, France

"Virginia middle school bans touching among pupils" ShortNews.com, Germany

"Precedents: Finishing touching" Sydney Morning Herald, Australia

I don't want to give out her email address in case you wish to express your views to her. Take a look at the school's website (but don't touch it!). I think you'll figure out a way to contact her.
http://www.fcps.k12.va.us/KilmerMS/administration/index.html

Going to the 7-11 Has Never Been so Exciting

It's the 4th of July and like every other day, I was almost out of gas. So I drove to the 7-11 for what I assumed would be another mundane oil company pillaging to fill up the Jeep. After filling up, I went into the store to buy a newspaper. There was a small line. To my surprise, there wasn't the usual kindly Pakastani behind the counter, rather a tiny old woman who must have been well into her 70's. At best she was 4'10 and couldn't have been more than 80 pounds. Her face was lined with years of experience and her voice was as soft as the trickle of a brook. She looked like everyone's grandmother.

Then, the gentleman in front of me made his way to the counter. "I need a box of Trojans," he blurted proudly.

I nearly pissed myself.

"I'm sorry honey?" Grandma asked.

"Trojans, condoms, rubbers," he patiently explained to her.

I think it was at this point my lip began to bleed. I was biting it pretty hard and skin can only take so much.

Her eyes sort of drifted to the side while she tried to comprehend her customer. Then they brightened as it dawned on her what he was asking for. Without a word, she shuffled to the "condom rack" behind the counter and grabbed a box. She set it down on the counter and began to ring him up.

"I need the Magnum size," he said.

I had to leave the store.

If you own a Jeep, don't forget to wave

Two years ago, I bought a Jeep Wrangler. I guess this was part of my mid-life crisis. I always wanted a Jeep and when it came time to get a new car, I got one. Forget about the fact they get about 10 miles to the gallon or to take down the roof you need the patience of a saint and the expertise of a parachute packer. I wanted one, and I got one. What I didn't count on was the unwritten rule that when you pass a Jeep on the road, you must wave. I didn't realize I signed up for some sort of brotherhood, but that's exactly what happened. For the very sociable people out there, it's no big deal. I don't fit into that category so it's a royal pain in the ass! Instead of zoning out while driving, you must keep constant vigil in case a Jeep approaches. You have to time the wave perfectly so it's not too late and the other driver misses it and calls into the local brotherhood chapter and reports you. But most of all, you must remember and be diligent about not waving to NON Jeep Wranglers. Jeep Cherokee, doesn't cut the mustard. Don't be a fool and wave to them! Even worse, those Jeep wannabes...Suzuki and Toyota make a car that, from a distance and with the sun in your eyes, look like they could be a Wrangler. Wave to them and you might as well start looking for a new ride.

My next car will be a BMW. I hear their salute involves the middle finger. I can handle that.

Larry King Live

Paris Hilton is on tonight bumping previously scheduled guest Michael Moore. Nothing against Paris but WTF?! Moore is polarizing and a great film maker. I haven't seen Sicko yet, but I will. It's a movie that makes you think. Paris got busted for driving without a licence and spent 3 weeks in the slammer....and not very quietly. I can see being released after 3 years being remotely newsworthy but 3 weeks? Anyway, like a car wreck, I'll watch.

Symptoms of Depression

ALTHOUGH it is often classed as 'mental illness', clinical depression often has as many physical symptoms as mental. The feelings or emotions that are depression symptoms actually begin to cause the physical effects. How this happens is a vital part of understanding depression and the symptoms that come with it.
If you are depressed at the moment some of the following symptoms may sound familiar:

You feel miserable and sad.
You feel exhausted a lot of the time with no energy .
You feel as if even the smallest tasks are sometimes impossible.
You seldom enjoy the things that you used to enjoy-you may be off sex or food or may 'comfort eat' to excess.
You feel very anxious sometimes.
You don't want to see people or are scared to be left alone. Social activity may feel hard or impossible.
You find it difficult to think clearly.
You feel like a failure and/or feel guilty a lot of the time.
You feel a burden to others.
You sometimes feel that life isn't worth living.
You can see no future. There is a loss of hope. You feel all you've ever done is make mistakes and that's all that you ever will do.
You feel irritable or angry more than usual.
You feel you have no confidence.
You spend a lot of time thinking about what has gone wrong, what will go wrong or what is wrong about yourself as a person. You may also feel guilty sometimes about being critical of others (or even thinking critically about them).
You feel that life is unfair.
You have difficulty sleeping or wake up very early in the morning and can't sleep again. You seem to dream all night long and sometimes have disturbing dreams.
You feel that life has/is 'passing you by.'
You may have physical aches and pains which appear to have no physical cause, such as back pain.

http://www.clinical-depression.co.uk/Depression_Information/symptoms.htm

There's Something about April

It will be one week on Monday. One week since people around the country heard about the shooting at Virginia Tech. At first, it appeared to be another tragic campus shooting. Then came the news conference with the news that turned this day into a horrific milestone. Seung-Hui Cho, in a crazed couple of hours made April 15 forever a day no one will forget.

But no one could forget this week anyway. The anniversaries of Columbine, Oklahoma City and Waco all fall within a week of Virginia Tech. What is it about April? Spring is in full bloom. Students are celebrating Spring Break. And the world goes mad.

Using April 15 as the center point, take a look at what has happened the week prior and the week after. Not everything is tainted with evil, however the magnitude of the events can't be forgotten. Thanks to several sources including the oft maligned Wikipedia for some of this information.

April 9 (one week before VT)

The infamous Bataan Death March began in the Philippines. Following defeat at the hands of the Japanese, thousands of Filipino and American soldiers were forced to march up to 30 miles with many suffering from battle injuries and malaria. Of the 75,000 prisoners, nearly 11,000 died during the march.


April 10 (6 days before VT)

In 1963, the USS Thresher, a nuclear powered attack submarine, sank during a test dive off the coast of Cape Cod, Massachusetts. All 129 aboard were lost.

April 11 (5 days before VT)

While attempting to become the youngest pilot to fly across the United States, 7 year old Jessica Dubroff was killed when her plane crashed in Wyoming. Her 1996 journey gained worldwide attention as the nation watched her progress.


April 12 (4 days before VT)

Confederate forces fired on Fort Sumter in South Carolina in 1861 beginning the American Civil War.


April 13 (3 days before VT)

Few have heard of the Colfax Massacre. This 1873 conflict between a large group of white men including members of the KKK and a mostly black militia in Louisiana over a contested election ended up with up to 300 dead.

April 14 (2 days before VT)

While watching the play, "Our American Cousin" at the Ford's Theater in Washington in 1865, President Abraham Lincoln was shot by actor and Confederate spy John Wilkes Booth. He died the next day

April 15 (1 day before VT)

A deadly day in history.

1865-Abraham Lincoln dies from a gunshot wound to the head.

1912-Titanic sinks in the North Atlantic with a loss of about 1500.1943-An Allied bomber attack misses its target and hits the Belgian town of Morsel killing more than 900 civilians.

1989-England's Hillsborough Stadium in Sheffield is the site of a human stampede. 96 die.

1997-Fire sweeps through a campsite of Muslims making their Hajj pilgrimage. 343 dead.

2002-An Air China 767 crashes in South Korean killing 128.

April 16

Thirty-two innocent students and faculty shot and killed by a lone crazed gunmen at Virginia Tech. The massacre makes it the deadliest mass shooting in US History.

April 17 (1 day after VT)

In 1989, members of a cult led by Jeffrey Lundgren killed a family of five in Ohio. Lundgren was later executed.

April 18 (2 days after VT)

More than 3000 people died and the city of San Francisco was crippled for years following the earthquake of 1906.

April 19 (3 days after VT)

In 1993, FBI agents stormed the Branch Davidian compound in Waco, Texas after a 51 day stand-off. 79 cult members died.

Two years later, Timothy McVeigh brought terrorism home to Americans with the bombing of the Alfred P. Murrah Federal Building in Oklahoma City. 168 people were killed. McVeigh was later executed.

April 20 (4 days after VT)

Two high school misfits entered their school firing at students and teachers. Twelve students and a teacher died before Eric Harris and Dylan Klebold took their own lives. The 1999 shooting marked a grim end to the 21st century.

April 21 (5 days after VT)

A jailhouse fire in Columbus, Ohio, killed 320 people in 1930.

April 22 (6 days after VT)

The city of Guadalajara, Mexico literally blew up in 1992 killing more than 200 people and leaving thousands homeless. Gasoline in underground pipes fueled the explosion.

April 23 (one week after VT)

Finally, 1987 saw the worst disaster in Connecticut's history when the L'Ambiance Plaza collapsed while under construction. 28 workers were killed.

There is definitely something about April.

Flying the friendly skies

I fly a lot. Lately, way too much and one thing I've discovered is EVERYONE is flying again. I remember flying just a month after 9/11 and the plane was half full. Now, every seat is taken. Unfortunately, nine times out of ten, the middle seat is taken by the same guy. I'll call him Burt and he weighs more than 300 pounds. Burt enjoys his food. That's evidenced by the mustard stains and lord knows what else that decorate his oversized skin tight shirt. The sad part is, Burt doesn't have the same kind of love affair with soap and water. From the moment he plops down and the whoosh of stench overwhelms me I know it's going to be a long flight.

Like heat rising from the pavement, Burt's presence soon envelopes his flying companions. You know this by the tell-tale scrunched noses...the quick looks around as if there's some sort of sign saying, "Over here! It's not you!" Sometimes, I'll help the searchers with a guilty eye move toward my seat mate.

And is it me or have airline seats gotten narrower? I generally sit next to the window because I have great bladder control and I can use the wall to rest my head. When Burt takes his seat however, I'm trapped. The wall is now a barrier and Burt's girth slops over the arm rest and onto me. There's no escape.

So, the next time you fly the friendly skies, look for Burt. I'll be the one gasping for air next to him.

Oh Jack...

I like CNN's Jack Cafferty.  Remember when he was the grump
on CNN's morning show?  Well moving him to his very limited
role during Wolf Blitzer's afternoon show hasn't made him any
perkier.  But last week, I think he tip-toed across the line.  
Referring to the over abundant media coverage of Anna Nicole
Smith's death, he asked Wolf if Anna was still dead.  There's 
funny, and then there's tacky.  This, I think, was tacky.  Still like
Jack though.

 

Pauley P

I'm sad to report the demise of Pauley P's blog. Who is
Pauley P? If you've ever seen the television show NCIS,
she plays the part of Abby, the somewhat dark goth like
crime lab investigator. Anyway,Pauley kept an online
blog, not about the show, but about her personal life.
It was thoughtful, at times deep, but always an enjoyable
read. However, that has come to an end. Here is her last
post.


Thursday, February 1, 2007

Good-Bye To This Unfortrunately


I am SO SORRY to have to post this...

But for my own safety,

I can no longer continue to have a public blog.

I am heartbroken,

but have been threatened by someone who will not

leave me alone and obsessively tracks my blog

for information on me.



SO MUCH LOVE to all of you who have

written and read...

we have prayed together,

we have shared,

we have helped each other...

I thank you all.



But one bad apple

can ruin the whole church.

I can not put up any personal information

anymore.

I am being threatened

and my safety is at risk.



With SO much love to all of you,

I have no choice.



Keep praying,

keep loving each other,

be kind to one another,

stay strong...

I'm still here spiritually

I just can't be here in words anymore,

the threat is too much for me.



Love...

and of course,

cheers

to all.



P.S. AS ALWAYS...

I HAVE ABSOLUTELY NOTHING TO DO

WITH MYSPACE.COM

I AM NOT ON MYSPACE IN ANY WAY.

IF YOU THINK YOU ARE COMMUNICATING WITH ME

THROUGH MYSPACE.COM, YOU ARE BEING CONNED.

There are several sweet and awesome fansites

ABOUT me that are run by good people,

but they are clearly marked as "FANSITES".

As of now, I do not have a personal site,

so do not be fooled.



Love to the good people.

Be Smart.

Stay strong.



Posted by pauleyleaves at 2:14 AM

Black History Month

 The Super Bowl was played yesterday.  The Indianapolis Colts beat the Chicago Bears 29-17.  Billy Joel belted out the National Anthem and the artist formerly known as Prince and now known as...Prince, made it through halftime without a hint of a wardrobe malfunction.  

The Super Bowl is always a focal point of the year.  The 2 day long pre-game shows, the television commercials, halftime fireworks and a whole lot more.  This year was no different....well, it was a little different.  Yes, this year, race played a key role in the Super Bowl.  

You see, Tony Dungy, the esteemed head coach of the Colts and Lovie Smith, who is taking the Bears to the big game for the first time since they destroyed my Patriots in 1986, happen to be black.  The fact that people write or report about that is, to me, an insult to them.  Dungy and Smith are perhaps the classiest football coaches in the game.  Their football mind and intelligence is a story.  They way they treat people with respect, that's a story.    The fact they are black is not a story.  It's this kind of hoopla that makes racial inequality live on.
I am not a racist.  At least I hope not.  I believe people should be treated equally no matter who they are, what color they are, no matter what size they are.  But I am tired of the whole black thing.  Tony or Lovie would not have gotten to where they are if they didn't perform.  They just happen to have a darker skin color than most other coaches.  That skin color did not help them become better coaches.  The fact that they are black is a non story.  Keep hyping it and we'll never reach MLK Jr.'s dream.

Come to think about it, there are a lot of "road blocks" out there that slow down our progress to equality.

Who came up with Black History Month?  Our country isn't old enough for racial recognition months.  Native American Month I can see.  But a month set aside frankly because of guilt?  

Did you know there is a National Lesbian & Gay Journalists Association.  When is it a requirement for us to know who you are sleeping with and why does that matter.  Congratulations by the way for at least having someone.  

And yes, for those who require the construction of a nuclear powered propulsion system in Spanish there is The National Hispanic Engineer Association.
 

These groups and events do exist.  Here are a few that I doubt do.

• White Guy Day.  Every 5th Friday in February.  A day to reflect on and then apologize for any advancements to mankind.
  
• Heterosexual Day Parade.  Men and women march through Times Square and argue.
• Nobody loves me year-gay, straight or otherwise.  I've been celebrating this one for a while.

When you cut out the labels, we are all people. Someday, someone will realize that.

• 
  

 

The End of the World Found a New Messenger

You no longer need to walk the streets of New York to see the dishevelled old coot with the sandwich boards hollering about the end of the world. Oh it's coming alright, but now it's in the form of internet websites. Apparently anyone can have one and they only cost the price of a computer and internet connection.

I'm talking about Myspace. People apparently have forgotten the art of personal communication. Now, they post messages to each other so the whole world can see.

"These 12 hour work days have kinda killed our fun factor, but same ole, drink when we can, chill out, little orgy last night lol.. i wasnt involved though had to sleep for work, but w/e good times. i think im still going to sleep hear even though i belong to the 54th, mackey will have a new roomate haha"

Ah, what? Thanks for that Alex.

From a guy named Alan, "I have your myspace virginity haha! Because I work nights, so I don't go to bed until 5 or 6am."

Apparently in the myspace world, that is an important get. And thanks for the explanation Al.

This one is a touching message from a fellow who goes by the name of "Not Guilty."

WHATS UP YOU FAT ASS BITCH? SO WHY ARE YOU SO STUCK UP?THERE ISNT A MAN THAT WOULD WANT TO SLEEP WITH YOUR SLOPPY ASS,WELL THERE WAS ONE AND HE WAS DRUNK AND THEN HE SOBERED UP AND LEFT YOU AND THE BABY..NOW YOUR A HAS BEEN NO FUCKING JOB NO BOYFRIEND AND A UGLY ASS KID,JUST LIKE HER FUCKING SLUT MOM!!SO NEXT TIME YOU HAVE A CHANCE TO GET A GUY YOU BETTER JUMP ALL OVER IT YOU FUCKING BITCH ASS SLOB!!!!FUCK YOU AND YOUR FAMILY!!!!

I think "Not Guilty" may have been guilty of being drunk at one time (at least).

If a member doesn't make their page private, anyone can enter their little world. And they do. In Iowa, two sex offenders were arrested after they met a 14 year old girl on Myspace, convinced her to meet them and then proceeded to molest her. How many of these stories do we hear about almost weekly?

Finally, from "Mind Waste" a modernized, souped up version of the End of the World sandwich boards.

"Yeah i think the end of the world is coming and i love to talk about it and many other conspiracys. i love the x files and the sci-fi channel, along with animal planet of course but i think it's getting way to goofy. as you may have noticed i have a spelling problem but hey, its better than genital warts."

Spelling, may not be your only problem.

We have indeed come a long way.