New Year's parties & closings

Where to go, what to do? So many choices, such incredible weather. We will have the best weather in these United States of America, and I do believe Miami is the only place where a giant sunglasses-wearing orange climbs up the side of a hotel to bring in the New Year! Hey, even USA Today listed us as one of the Top 10 Places to Bring in the New Year!

Party smart, would ya? Appoint, hire, or find a designated driver, or use the Tow to Go Program (1-800-AAA-HELP)! Road Rangers have extended hours - 6a-Midnight through New Year's Eve. After 10pm on New Year's Eve and New Year's Day, you can get complimentary coffee at all the Turnpike Plazas.

As far as what's open, what'll be closed and when:
Some grocery stores and malls will close early on New Year's Eve and New Year's Day. As usual, federal, state, county and municipal offices, public schools, county libraries, post offices, banks and stock markets will be closed. There will be no regular mail delivery.

And a Happy New Year!

Compare salaries

Think you're not getting paid what your worth? You can find out the salaries of others with similar jobs. If you're out of work or looking to find a better job, you can also check out the top 50 places to work, and the worst places to work, and job opportunities. Good luck!

Peanut butter slices?

Individually wrapped, not unlike american cheese? Yep! P.B. Slices are pre-sliced, individually wrapped peanut butter squares. I don't think they've made their way to Florida yet, but count me in when they get here! It's peanut butter slice time, peanut butter slice time!

Update on Alley Lease

Here's the latest on the leasing of Alligator Alley. It's been postponed another four months, due to the recession. Bids will now open May 8th.
The story thus far... http://kimbakimba.blogspot.com/2008/12/update-on-alley-lease.html

Recycle trees and then some

'Tis the season to recycle your Christmas tree! There are many drop-off sites in Miami-Dade, Broward, and Palm Beach Counties. The trees will be turned into mulch, which will then be offered for free, while supplies last.

While we're recycling, Toshiba will recycle any brand of your old electronics for free, and will cover the shipping cost. Now that's what I call green!

Toys that make you go, huh?

While I certainly understand a youngster's fascination with body functions (although for many, this fascination stays well into adulthood... not that there's anything wrong with that), I don't understand the continued stereotypical marketing, especially in 2008!
I didn't understand this "toy" doll the first time around, and I'm still somewhat perplexed at the intrigue of a doll that "goes".
Baby Alive by Hasbro first came out in 1973 and the premise of this fun doll - you feed her, she says, "Sniff sniff... I made a stinky!", and then expels the food. As a former little girl, why does anyone think we should want to clean poopy diapers when we're not that far removed from being in them? Women will have many years of diaper changing ahead of them, do they really need a head start?
And this is such a popular toy, Mattel has its own version - Little Mommy Real Loving Baby Gotta Go Doll - which comes with "her very own bathroom playset"... YAY!!(not)
We'll put it right next to her play kitchen set, and "toy" vacuum cleaner.... where's my Big Wheel, I'm outta here...

What do you think? Am I over thinking this? Do I need to play with a baby that 'goes' to realize what I'm missing?

Olympic swim calendar

A Twist of Swim is the name of the 2009 Coral Springs Swim Club Calendar; on the cover, 5-time Olympian Dara Torres! If this calendar doesn't convince you of the benefits of swimming, nothing will.

Holidays: Tow to Go & FHP

Just a reminder, the Tow to Go Program is in effect through January 1st. You can get a free, confidential ride home for you and your vehicle if you've had too much to drink. We'd like you to spend the New Year here, so please don't drink and drive!
If you need more convincing, the Florida Highway Patrol announced their Christmas and New Year's holiday enforcement plans, which includes zero tolerance.

If you spot a dangerous driver call *FHP or *347 from your cellphone.

Sing with the King

This is your opportunity to duet with Elvis Presley. You can record your part of "Blue Christmas", and if you're happy with the recording, send it in a holiday ecard.

Sony BMG Music Entertainment has released "Elvis Presley Christmas Duets", featuring Martina McBride with Elvis on "Blue Christmas". If you don't like your recording, you can send the CD version instead. Yep, that's free, too.

As a special Christmas bonus, you can hear Pat River's version of the duet...
http://www.singwiththeking.com/?ecard=4974288

Let him know what you think!
Thankyou, thankyouverymuch.

Flame-broiled gift idea

Really ladies, when hasn't the smell of flame-broiled meat sent you into a seduction frenzy?
Flame is the new fragrance? from Burger King. Wanna smell like Whopper Jr.? Have it your way - stop by Ricky's on Lincoln Road, Miami Beach, to grab you some. You may want to call first, because as of this posting, Flame is sold out online!! Brings new meaning to "hold the pickles"...

Find decorated homes

It's nice when someone else does all the work, and you get to reap the benefits.
There are many homes throughout Miami-Dade and Broward that are amazingly decorated for the holiday season! If you're willing to travel, you'll find more in Palm Beach! And to those who do the decorating, THANK YOU... and did you know, you can register to have your LITE bill paid for a month. Just make sure you're a member of the LITE Loyal Listener Community, and you're good to go!

Left lane drivers unite

Are you tired of people going slower than the flow of traffic blocking the left, passing lane?
Does a bear....? Of course you are! Many drivers don't seem to realize the left lane is for passing - those who are not passing should move out of the left lane... and the red zone... oh, that's another story for another time.
Due to this constant vehicular faux pas, the Left Lane Drivers of America has been created; please move over, and enjoy!

Go elf yourself!

and I mean that in the nicest, Santa helper-est of ways. If you'd like, you can put your face on a dancing elf and then send it to friends and family. You can also send holiday ecard movies, where your face is the star of the card! Job? What job....

Local band in inaugural parade

Where the P stands for PRIDE....

A huge congratulations to the J.P. Taravella Marching Trojans! They've been invited to march in the inaugural parade... yes, that inaugural parade! Florida A & M University will also be there, but the Trojans are the only high school marching band from Florida invited to participate.
You can make a donation to help the band travel to Washington, D.C. via this link, or send it to:

J.P. Taravella High School Band
c/o Mr. Neil Jenkins
10600 Riverside Drive
Coral Springs, FL 33071

Operation Santa Paws

Pet lovers, you have the opportunity to help abused and abandoned animals in animal shelters. With Operation Santa Paws, you can donate a toy, treat or supply for dogs or cats; you can also make a cash donation.
Pet Owners: 'Tis the season for new and exciting things for you beloved to get tangled up in over the holidays, some a bit more hazardous than others so beware.

Track Santa & have him call

Norad (North American Aerospace Defense Command) is extra busy this time of year.
Usually, Norad is a bi-national United States and Canadian organization charged with the missions of aerospace warning and aerospace control for North America. Aerospace warning includes the monitoring of man-made objects in space, and the detection, validation, and warning of attack against North America whether by aircraft, missiles, or space vehicles, through mutual support arrangements with other commands. Aerospace control includes ensuring air sovereignty and air defense of the airspace of Canada and the United States. The May 2006 NORAD Agreement renewal added a maritime warning mission, which entails a shared awareness and understanding of the activities conducted in U.S. and Canadian maritime approaches, maritime areas and inland waterways.
Now, not only does Norad do all that... now Norad is tracking Santa! You can also call a toll-free number to get Nick's locale, 1-877-HI-NORAD (446-6723).

You can also get a phone call from the big guy and check out the reindeer cam!

Take the Festivus Pole

Festivus is a holiday celebration created by writer Dan O'Keefe. Dan's son immortalized the holiday as a scriptwriter on Seinfeld, with the episode titled The Strike. Rituals include the Airing of Grievances and Feats of Strength... and then there's the Festivus Pole.
Remember it's Festivus for the rest of us!!

More fun gift ideas

More holiday gift ideas:

Have kids, will travel! Usually just the thought of a trip with small children in tow can bring the strongest parent to quiver with dread. No more, thanks to the gift of Trunki.
Trunki is a suitcase your kid can ride... giddyup!

For the Miss Priss in your world, the goodtobeyou site has all the frou-frou she loves, and features a problem solver section. Ummm, that would be the section with all the stuff she doesn't want you to know that she might possibly use.

While we're mentioning unmentionables, how about Bra Smart? Boca Raton smarty pants Lisa Guarini came up with this contraption that allows you to dry bras, all the while keeping their shape! She's also invented Airport Sani-Feet - disposable foot covers... brilliant!

Happy shopping!

Be part of half-time show

You could be on the field during Bruce Springsteen's Halftime Show performance at Super Bowl XLIII in Tampa. You must have a group of at least ten, all members at least 16 years old, a leader who's at least 21 years old, and be available for rehearsals that begin a week before the game. There are a lot of things to consider before doing this, the biggest is that you will not have tickets to the game. You'll possibly even miss a good portion of the game waiting for your moment of halftime glory. But then how many people get to say they were on the field with Bruce Springsteen during a Superbowl....

Scared of Santa?

You're not alone... many a child does not have the best of response to seeing jolly old St. Nick.

Now in book form, Scared of Santa is a compilation of 250 photos of kids that are traumatized by the annual lap-sitting ritual. You're laughing right now, aren't you? Naughty, naughty!

Just for fun

There's a link out yonder that can turn any website into the dialect of your choice - for example, I put in our website under the Elmer Fudd dialect... pwetty dern funny!

Gift tag worth a free doughnut

Hot Now! through December 25th, buy a dozen doughnuts at Krispy Kreme and you'll receive 12 gift tags. Each of the gift tags can be redeemed for one free doughnut in January... it's the gift tag that keeps on giving!

Mail a million dollar wish

Here's an outstanding thing to do and a super easy way to do it. Have the kids write a letter to Santa, address it to: Santa At The North Pole, put a stamp on it, bring it to any Macy's, and drop it into the special Santa Mailbox. You can even download holiday-inspired stationery to suck-up to Santa extra good!

You can also Be Claus - upload your picture, Claus it up and send it out.

Here's where the outstanding part comes in... Macy's will count up the letters, and for each one received, they'll donate a dollar to the Make-A-Wish Foundation, up to $1 million dollars!! They'll also make sure the letters get to their destination!

350 jobs up for grabs

You may have seen the new hotels going up on Ft. Lauderdale beach? One of them is a W Hotel, the first in Florida. While the W is scheduled to open March 1, 2009, reservations can already be made. The company also plans to hire 350 workers and is holding a job fair now through Saturday at the Galleria Mall. Good luck!

I-95 takes a toll

Beginning Friday morning at 6am, I-95 will charge for travel in the High Occupancy Vehicle/Toll or HOV/HOT lanes (Northbound only, for now). Basically, the only reason you would get in the HOT lanes is if you want to pay for a straight shot from Downtown to Golden Glades. You will not be able to get out of the HOT lanes once you're in them, so if you have to exit anywhere between downtown and the Golden Glades, you can not use 95 Express. You also either have to have a SunPass, ride a motorcycle, drive an emergency vehicle, or register your hybrid for an HOV decal, or register your carpool vehicle. The cost of using the tolls lanes will vary, a supply and demand scale, if you will. During peak rush hour, the toll could be over $6... no, that's not a typo.
So, is 95 Express a good idea? Post a comment and let me know what you think!
Remember what a nightmare the flyover was when it first opened? The confusion and many, many accidents? Has it really saved anybody any time?
You may also recall the fiasco months ago preparing for 95 Express...when the traffic sticks were put up to separate the left two lanes from the rest of 95? All the accidents? Ringing a bell? You may want to avoid I-95 from Downtown Miami to the Golden Glades until this is fully understood by the masses. I'd say around 2020. Good Luck, we're all counting on you.

Update on Alley Lease

Another public hearing to discuss the leasing of Alligator Alley will happen tomorrow (3rd), 6pm at Signature Grand, 6900 State Road 84 in Davie. The lease would be for 50-75 years and would go to a private vendor. The cost for us to cross the Alley could be raised significantly if the lease is awarded. The Department of Transportation has extended the bidding period for said vendors until January 9th.

Locally created gift ideas

Do you have a beach bunny or gym rat in your life? A spectacular gift idea is courtesy of our Weston neighbor. Mort Perlman is the creator of Vacation Vault , a plastic case with a combination lock; it's lightweight, durable, and strong. You can toss in your cell, keys, camera, etc, and attach it to a chair, treadmill, or the like. You've got nine colors to choose from and a lifetime guarantee!

Okay, this one is too good yet it's true: Popsy Cakes! It's a cupcake on an edible stick - I know, are we in heaven? An 18-year-old Miami genius by the name of Jessica Cervantes came up with this brilliant idea - my coworker wants to marry her, this without even tasting a popsy cake!
Yes, we take our cupcakes seriously 'round here.

And if you've got a bit more in the way of bucks, you can give the gift of a ScootCoupe. Dominick Livoti got inspired on Deerfield Beach, and the rest is 3-wheeled history. While it's classified as a scooter/moped, it looks like a tiny car (yes, tinier than a smart car - more like a mini dune buggy) and gets up to 70 miles on one gallon of gas. There are 2 models for 2009 - the smaller, 30mph ScootCoupe retails for $6,300 and the faster, up to 55mph model goes for $6,600.

Holiday happenings

What to do, what to do.... so many holiday hootenannies, so many sound like fun! Many ways to see The Nutcracker, or perhaps you've a humbug to see A Christmas Carol, and there's holiday concerts a plenty.
If you're planning another large holiday dinner, utilize all the help lines out there.
No matter what you decide to do over the holidays, remember the Tow to Go program is in effect!

Holiday mailing tips

Some mailing tips courtesy of the Miami Herald and U.S. Postal Service including the recommended deadlines to ensure delivery by the big day:

Domestic Mail
Dec 16: Parcel Post packages
Dec 20: Priority Mail or First Class Mail (letters)
Dec 23: Express Mail

International Mail
Dec 04: First-class Mail & Priority Mail to Africa and South and Central America
Dec 11: First-class and Priority mail sent to other foreign countries
Dec 12: Express Mail International to Africa and South and Central America
Dec 17: Express Mail International to Asia and the Pacific, Australia, New Zealand,
The Caribbean, Mexico, Europe and the Middle East.
Dec 18: Express Mail International to Canada
Dec 19: Global Express Guaranteed Mail to Africa, Asia, and the Pacific, Australia, New Zealand,
Central and South America, and the Middle East
Dec 22: Global Express Guaranteed Mail to Canada, the Caribbean, Mexico, and Europe

Pembroke Pines is #1

When it comes to raising kids, anyway. So says Business Week's 2nd annual Best Places in the United States of America to Raise Your Kids! Each state got a "best place" city based on school performance, crime rates, air quality, parks, theater and arts, affordability and diversity. Sunrise and Ocala were runners-up.

Old school toys

Lite Brite, Lincoln Logs, Rock'em Sock'em Robots... any of these ring a nostalgia bell?!!
You can still find these and many other toys to bring back hopefully happy memories!

Free samples

If you like freebies, this may be for you - sign up at Start Sampling and, as a member, you can get free samples of new products. There's everything from beauty product to household cleaners to food...

Lower cell & credit card bills

Do you text like crazy? Or not at all? You're more likely to use the Internet on your cell? Well,
there's a free service you can use to determine the best calling plan for your cell phone habits. It could save you oodles each month. You can also use this service to save a bunch on credit cards!

Holiday Tow to Go

The Tow to Go program, a partnership between AAA and Budweiser, will be in full effect for the holidays. The goal of the program is to keep those who've had to much to drink from getting behind the wheel.
From November 27th through January 1st, you can get yourself and your vehicle towed home for free, and it's confidential. Take the toll-free number with you when you go out during the holidays - use it if you need it, or give it to someone else who does. The life you save could be your own.

1-800-AAA-HELP or 1-800-222-4357

Office bathroom etiquette

It's a part of our daily lives, using the restroom. However, when the need to use a public facility arises, it's become downright treacherous -- and that includes at work. What's happened to any sense of etiquette, pride in oneself, and courtesy for others? Your guess is as good as mine!

The problem has become so universal, some 13 years ago, the ICBE was formed. What's the ICBE? The International Center for Bathroom Etiquette!



Bathroom Etiquette Tips for Using the Workplace Ladies' Room
Secret Shame

By Pam Gaulin, published Feb 12, 2007



There is no more disgusting place in workplace than the bathroom. No, not the men's room, the women's room. Are you contributing to the mess, or are you part of the solution?

Most women won't talk about it. The shame, the horror, the nightmare that is the workplace ladies' room. Women are the first ones to complain about bathroom cleanliness in the workplace. It's surprising how many workplace bathrooms are so messy, especially when it's the women's bathroom. It's hard to imagine what the home bathrooms of your co-workers look like, when you see the mess they leave in the common women's bathroom at work. What's even sadder is when the workplace management has to put up signs reminiscent of kindergarten, reminding women of basic bathroom etiquette.

Ladies, feel free to print and post this for your co-workers who seem to think an hourly maid will be in to clean up after them in the workplace ladies room.

Bathroom Etiquette in the Workplace Ladies' Room Bathroom Etiquette

Tips for using the Workplace Ladies' Room: 1. Flush.

For some reason the times that women need to flush the most is when they don't. Or maybe they just should have done number two (number two below!).

Tips for Using the Workplace Ladies' Room: 2. Unclog the Toilet.

If the toilet becomes clogged, it needs to be unclogged. There is no magic button or official workplace bathroom unclogger. Use the plunger and fix the clog you created. Do not leave it for someone else. While it's not pretty, it is your responsibility to fix something that you "broke."

Tips for Using the Workplace Ladies' Room: 3. Use Proper Trash Receptacles.

It is astonishing how often women miss the trash. Use the trash receptacles in the stalls for certain personal items, so you don't have to deal with number two (again, see number two above). Also, do not leave used paper towels on the counter. This is so common, it boggles the mind. The trash is one step away from the bathroom door, just take the used paper towel with you and throw it out.

Tips for Using the Workplace Ladies' Room: 4. Wipe the Counter.

How often have you leaned up against the sink counter only to step away with a line of water across your clothes? It makes you wonder if the other women are pulling a Madonna in Desperately Seeking Susan and using the bathroom sink for bathing. If the water splatters on the sink counter while you are washing your hands, use a paper towel and wipe it up. Do not just assume it will dry up before the next person needs the sink.

Tips for Using the Workplace Ladies' Room: 5. Replace Supplies.

When you use the last of the toilet paper, soap, or paper towels, replace them if they are accessible. If they are not, see number 8.

Tips for Using the Workplace Ladies' Room: 6. Save the Gossip.

One of the biggest mistakes women make in the bathroom at work is to gossip about co-workers, or complain about their bosses. You never know who is in a neighboring stall, or who has entered the bathroom after you. If you must gossip and complain about work, save it for when you are outside of the office building.

Tips for Using the Workplace Ladies' Room: 7. Hang up the Phone.

The other people in the bathroom do not really want to hear you talking to your doctor's office, your kids or your spouse while you go to the bathroom.

Tips for Using the Workplace Ladies' Room: 8. Tell Someone.

If there is a problem in the bathroom with a running toilet, toilet that cannot be unclogged, lack of heat, or no more supplies, take the leadership role and tell someone. Why let the next woman go in and experience the same thing. Why wait for someone else to take care of it? Tell someone in charge, who can fix the problem.Ladies, it's time to reclaim the women's room and make it a sanitary and clean place for all the women in the office.



Takeaways
Be nice and throw out your own used paper towels.
Wipe the wet sink when you're done.
Avoid complaining, gossiping and using the cell phone in the bathroom at work.

Turkey Talk-Line is open

Well whack my wattle - turkey is the perfect protein - so says the National Turkey Federation.

Butterball's famous turkey talk-line is now open at 1-800-BUTTERBALL, and you also have the option to email your turkey questions at talkline@butterball.com.

You can also call the U. S. Department of Agriculture Meat and Poultry Hotline at 888-674-6854; they'll answer any questions related to food preparation and storage from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Monday through Friday, and 8 a.m. to 2 p.m. on Thanksgiving Day.

Also, there's:
Empire Kosher Poultry 717-436-7055
Land O'Lakes baking advice
Fleischmann's Yeast Baker's Help Line is 800-777-4959
King Arthur Flour Co.'s Bakers Hotline is 802-649-3717
Ocean Spray Consumer Help Line is 800-662-3263
Perdue Consumer Help Line 800-473-7383
USDA Meat & Poultry Hotline 800-535-4555

For dessert, the Crisco Pie Hotline is there for you - 877-367-7438 with the following schedule:
Regular hours are 9 a.m. to 7 p.m.
Extended hours are 8 a.m. to 8 p.m. from November 17th through November 26th and December 15th through the 23rd.

Remember, when talking turkey, there's no such thing as stupid turkey question...
Funny maybe, but not stupid.

Women, put yourself first

There's the old sayin, "If mama ain't happy, ain't nobody happy", but how true is it? In a sense, it's more truthful than you realize, but not the way you think. Mama spends so much time doing for others, she leaves little if any time for herself. Mama constantly, selflessly sacrifices, and usually ends up tired, resentful, unfulfilled, etc. So, mama probably ain't truly happy, and therefore, no one else in her family is truly happy either; not what such a cute saying was intending!
You've watched enough Oprah to know it's true, mamas - you, for the sake of your family, need to put yourself first... at least some of the time (and no guilty feelings afterward). Maybe use the holidays to jump start showing yourself some love!

Safety within your cell

Here's an interesting concept:

Your cellphone can send a message and photo to My Mobile Witness. The company time-stamps and stores what you send and, if you end up in some sort of trouble, law enforcement gets access to your message.
I know it sounds extreme, but....
Think about it - you're home alone and someone keeps driving by your house. Instead of fretting over what may be, you snap a shot of the driver/license place and send it to MMW. Should anything unsavory happen, you can tell the person, "I've sent your license number to a place where the police will have it on file". Hey, better safe than sorry!
It's free service, but you do have to sign up to get an address to send your message!

Finally, someone takes blame

A Parkland resident has created a website whereby you can blame him for EVERYTHING and anything gone wrong. Got fired? Blame Steven. Stepped in gum? It's all Steven's fault. Gas prices too high? Drat! That Steven. Your pants are too tight? Yep, blame Steven.


WARNING: The site has some PG-13 language (Steven's fault, of course), but aside that, it's pretty hysterical.

Update on Alley lease

Way back in April, I posted a story about the state's plan to lease Alligator Alley to a private contractor for 50 years in return for a lump-sum cash payment. The tolls could go up to $3.75 beginning in July of 2009, and then beginning January 2011, the tolls would rise each January 3% or the rate of inflation, whichever is greater. Next week, public hearings will be held in Davie and Naples; the Davie meeting is November 13th in the Liberal Arts Building Auditorium at Florida Atlantic University's Davie Campus (2912 College Avenue). It begins with an open house at 6p, followed by the hearing at 7p.
So the question becomes, how many times over have we paid for the alley?

Unsettlingly helpful travel tool

When I first read about this, I thought, "Ew, morbid much?". I suppose though, if you travel a lot by car, this could in fact be a helpful tool. Saferoadmaps.org is a site whereby you plug in an address or city you'll be traveling around in; soon after, you'll see an interactive map that shows you the locations of fatal car crashes in those areas, so you can avoid heavy accident-prone parts.
On a walking tour? The site also lists where pedestrians have been hit.... yeah, I know...

Honoring George Carlin

After the passing of comedian George Carlin in June of this year, the world got a little less funny.
Kelly Carlin-MCall, George's baby girl, is going to bring some of the funny back. Kelly has a deal to do an oral history of her father's life, due late next year. Sooner, 1984's Carlin on Campus has been released on CD (it had been out of print), and Carlin's final HBO special, It's Bad for Ya, will be released on DVD on November 25th.
Monday night, Carlin will become the first posthumous recipient of the Mark Twain Prize for American Humor.

Other election results

Elections don't just mean waiting in long lines after months of continual negative ads.... No, we also get to find out the winners of many election-inspired races.

For instance:

Back in June, I posted the site where you could vote in the annual Family Circle Magazine "First Lady's Cookie" recipe. The past four Presidential elections have been correctly predicted by the readers choosing their favorite cookie recipe. This year it was Michelle Obama's Shortbread Cookies vs. Cindy McCain's Oatmeal Butterscotch Cookies. And the winner... Ms. McCain with 54% of the crumby vote.

Then there was the 7-Election, whereby you voted at your local 7-11 by selecting your favorite candidate's coffee cup. And the winner... Barack Obama with 60% of the caffeinated vote.

And finally, not even bothering with the actual candidates, there was Peanuts Rocks the Vote!
You were able to vote for your favorite Peanuts character. And the winner... Come'on dude, Snoopy, of course... or er, President Joe Cool!

Miami Book Fair

The 25th Miami Book Fair International 2008 is November 9th - November 16th. You'll have a chance to Greet the Lorax (my favorite Seuss character!), spend an evening with David Sheff, Dr. Brian Greene, Anthony Bourdain and Mario Batali, Tavis Smiley and Cornel West, Naomi Klein and Gore Vidal. In most cases, free tickets are required for admission.

A giZmo for your gadgets

Broward County inventor Jean Newell has come up with The GiZmo, a wearable organizer for all your electronic devices. It's unisex, lies fairly flat, comes in 3 colors, and can be worn a variety of ways. You'll find The GiZmo (or Z Bag) at Dillard's for about $30 bucks. Ms. Newell also came up with the Personal Utility Pouch (or PUP), which is slightly smaller than the Z bag.

Fla. in diabetic top 10

Just another reason to get healthy, now! In the last 10 years, Florida went from one of the lowest rates of adult diabetes in the country to the top 10. From 2005 - 2007, cases of diabetes have tripled in Florida. You know the main reason... the very preventable bad diet; that is, what you put in your mouth and how much physical activity you put out. November is American Diabetes Month, and you can find out a slew of ways to prevent being a statistic!

Are you owed money?

The IRS has $12 million awaiting South Floridians... say what? These would be in the form of unclaimed tax refunds and economic stimulus payments. You can search a database set up by the Sun-Sentinel, or call the IRS; for stimulus checks, it's 866-234-2942. For tax refunds call 800-829-1954.

50 years of Breakfast

Breakfast at Tiffany's, the book written by Truman Capote, was published in 1958. The film version, starring Audrey Hepburn as Holly Golightly, was released in 1961. The late Mr. Capote once called Holly his favorite creation. In honor of the 50th anniversary, Vintage will release a special edition paperback of Breakfast at Tiffany's, packaged with three other Capote books. Start looking for the special edition next month.

Top-earning dead celebs

Every year since 2001, Forbes has put out a list of the top-earning dead celebrities. With the exception of 2006, when Kurt Cobain was numero uno, Elvis Presley has topped the list. This year, Elvis Presley earned $52 million dollars, an amazing $12 million dollars more than the very alive Madonna. Also staples on the list, Charles M. Schulz, John Lennon, Albert Einstein, Andy Warhol, Theodor "Dr. Seuss" Geisel, Marilyn Monroe and Bob Marley. Look over the list and then, next time you see merchandise from one of these dearly departed, remember how much their estates are raking in!

So you think you can audition?

Auditions for Season 5 of the Fox show So You Think You Can Dance begin in New York on November 13th. Miami will be an audition city; keep tabs here.

Become an Elf... really

The Santa: Cause Campaign is looking for volunteer elves. You get certified as an elf and then deliver mirth and gifts as part of the American Volunteer Corps, which is a project of the American Health Association. No word if the tights are provided....

Is your husband hot?

No, I'm not asking for myself.... Your hot husband could land you an eight-day, seven-night trip for two (including airfare) to the Westin Casuarina Resort and Spa in Grand Cayman! Redbook Magazine is holding their 10th Annual Hottest Husbands Contest. So if your hubby's a hunka hunka, get on it!

Vibrating Mascara?

From the land of vibrating bristles.... first toothbrushes, now mascara? If you just can't seem to apply your mascara evenly, maybe you need battery operated help. Two brands now have jumped onto the vibrating wagon! Estee Lauder has TurboLash, with 7,500 vibrations per minute - that's $30. Then there's Lancome Oscillation, with 7,000 "micro-oscillations" per minute - that's $34. If those are too steep for your wallet, for about $14.99, there's SpinLash; the lower priced battery operated mascara that can be found at Target & CVS.

Being able to keep your mouth closed while applying mascara... priceless!

Know your vote

There are 6 amendments up for your vote in the general election. The wording of these amendments can be confusing - sometimes a yes vote would actually be against and a no vote for. Vote Smart Florida is a free, non-partisan source for constitutional amendment information.
You can print up a ballot and bring it with you, so as not to forget your choices!
And just above my blog face is a link to early voting information!

Walk for the greyhounds

Saturday evening, November 15th, is the Hollydogs Walk for the Greyhounds Barefoot on the Beach. It's a one mile walk on Hollywood Beach and all dogs are welcome. Hollydogs Greyhound Adoption is a non-profit organization created to rescue retired racing greyhounds that would otherwise be destroyed.

Ticketing aggressive drivers

Broward County has begun an aggressive campaign against aggressive drivers. The Broward Sheriff has given the green light to ticket tailgating, horn honking, light flashing, speeding, lane changing drivers. City borders? No problem. Even if the officers are outside their jurisdiction, they can and will ticket aggressive drivers. You've been warned...

Black Friday begins at midnight

Sawgrass Mills Mall will open at midnight on Thanksgiving evening - it's not mandatory that all stores participate in the early opening, but most probably will.

A tat to keep track

PaceTat - it's a temporary tattoo that is applied to your forearm, showing you what your mileage splits should be along your run. You can order it for $2.99 or try to make your own.

Favorite Animal Shelter Vote

You have an opportunity to help a local animal shelter win $10 Grand! Care2.com along with Adopt-A-Pet are sponsoring America's Favorite Animal Shelter Contest. Adopt-A-Pet is offering prizes to you who recruit the greatest number of voters and will also select shelters at random to receive $1,000.

Ft. Lauderdale Int'l Film Fest

The Fort Lauderdale International Film Festival runs through November 11th. Aside the films, there's late night gatherings and after film parties. Program guides for the festival are available throughout the city!

Celebrity Chef Series update

In an early post, I provided information about the Chefs headed to town - most of it's still the same except for the cancellation of Giada De Laurentis' appearance. Reason: either illness or scheduling conflict.

Davie accident fee update

There's been talk in the Town of Davie to charge for accident response; that is, if Davie police or fire rescue show up to your accident and you're at fault, the town will bill your insurance company close to $900! If your insurance refuses to pay, you get billed. If it cannot be decided who is at fault, both parties are billed. If you're a resident of Davie and your insurance refuses to pay, you would not be billed.
Originally, the proposal was for accident response anywhere in Davie and on the major highways served by the town. Now, the Town Council is trying a new version of the proposal whereby the fee would apply only to accidents on the turnpike, I-75, I-95, and I-595.

How to Complain

Customer Service seems to be more of an oxymoron these days...
Need to write a letter of complaint to a company? You can write your own, or use a template.
Remember, if your letter isn't concise, you may not get the results you want.

Reach a human

Don't you just hate when you call a customer service number only to end up in an endless loop of press 1's!?? Get Human is a website that helps you get past the number pressing and get a human on the line. Good Luck!

Top Fashion Trends

Well, we hit the baggy pants trend pretty hard - how about the Neiman Marcus' Magnificent Seven Trends for Fall or you can always go with the Neiman Marcus Christmas Book!

Nerf Blaster Recall

If you, or someone you know, owns the Hasbro Nerf N-Strike Recon Blaster, there is a recall on the toy. Seems the blaster's plunger can pull the user's skin during the firing of the blaster. You can call or mail in a form for a free cylindrical cover to prevent injury

Hot Holiday Toys

They're not cheap - surprise! - but the hot toys of the holiday are ready for your purchasing! Actually, prices range from $5 to $300... good luck!

Leasing the Alley

The discussion to lease Alligator Alley continues... Yesterday, the Florida Department of Transportation released the initial proposed toll increases. You can attend the public hearings to voice your opine:

The state will hold public hearings on the toll rate increases in November.
In Broward County, the hearing will be Nov. 13 in the Liberal Arts Building Auditorium of Florida Atlantic University's Davie campus, 2912 College Ave., Davie. It will begin with an open house at 6 p.m., followed by the hearing at 7 p.m.
Another meeting is scheduled for Nov. 12 at the Golden Gate Community Center, 4701 Golden Gate Parkway, a few miles east of Naples.

Bad Fashion Trends

Most of us have made it through bad fashion trends - mullets, tube tops, leisure suits - with our dignity intact (and the photographic evidence destroyed). However, these baggy pants just have staying power! Is it the attention the trend has gotten... you know, simple rebellion?

What do you think?

What fashion trends are you glad are gone?

Let me know by posting your comment here.

Movies, ratings and kids

Oh My! How do you determine which movies your kids can see? Do you use the Motion Picture Association of America's ratings guide? Do you do a whole lot of research on a movie before deciding if your child can see it? Please tell me... let me know the age of your children and how you decide; you can post your comment here (and do so anonymously if you wish)!!!!

Paying for accidents

The Town of Davie will vote on October 15th as to whether they'll charge at-fault drivers for police and fire rescue crews responding to accident scenes. The town already has given the preliminary okay vote, and the original October 1st final vote date has been bumped to the 15th.
This idea is so controversial, 5 states have passed a law to ban the practice. What do you think?

Vote in the 7-Election

7-11 Stores holding their own election, sort of... The 7-Election, where they say, "Hail to the Beans!" and "every cup counts". When you stop by your favorite 7-11 to get coffee, you choose an Obama or McCain cup; 7-11 keeps track and will post the "winner".

Better together

With Susan's marriage to Howard, they brought to mind other great pairings and things that are just better together. Congratulations to Suward! Feel free to post your suggestions...

Coupons and store brands

Two ways to save at the grocery store... using coupons and purchasing store brands instead of name brands.

Coupon-cutters put a big dent in their bills
by Daniel Vasquez/Sun-Sentinel
With this economy, we're way past any notion that discount coupons are not cool.
What is cool is saving money wherever and whenever you can. Let others blab about how coupons won't offset all the rising costs facing consumers today. True, they aren't enough. But they help.
Nearly 9 of 10 Americans turn to coupons today to save on groceries and other items at the supermarket, according to a recent survey by the Promotion Marketing Association's Coupon Council.
Other studies show:
1. Spending 20 minutes a week on coupon clipping can save up to $1,000 a year.
2. The typical family saves about $5 to $10 a week with coupons. That's an easy goal to beat when you shop for two-for-one deals.
3. Most coupons (about 90 percent) are found in the Sunday newspaper. But you can also find them on the Internet (Use Google to type in store name and the word "coupon"), at the store (usually near entrances and cash registers), in magazines and your mailbox (pay more attention to that junk mail).

Stay alert at work

Sometimes it's difficult to stay awake and alert at work. Aside from painting eyeballs on your eyelids and napping your way through the day (tempting, but the snoring may give you up), there are some ways you can give yourself that proverbial second wind.

Boss of Superbowl 43

Olympics and Superbowls - What are the two events that still use roman numerals?
Bruce Springsteen and the E Street Band will perform at the Superbowl Halftime Show. Superbowl XLIII will play in Tampa on February 1, 2009 at Raymond James Stadium.
Remember your favorite Halftime Show? Perhaps it was the Florida A&M University Band at the Orange Bowl in '71? Or maybe Aerosmith in 2001 in Tampa? Or is that just me...
Now let's just hope there's some Miami in Raymond James Stadium come February - no pressure or anything.

More Cowbell!

I got a FEVER! And the only prescription...is MORE COWBELL!
-Bruce Dickinson (Christopher Walken from Saturday Night Live, 2000)

If you could always use more cowbell, have I gotta link for you. More Cowbell is the site where you can add, you guessed it, more cowbell to your favorite song. You can also upload your own song selection and then go to cowbell town. Or you can simply visit the 'recent cowbells' page and listen to the cowbell enhanced creations of others. I've got a fever....

Kohl's opens Wednesday

We've heard and seen commercials for Kohl's stores for years now, yet never had a Kohl's store location in South Florida. Finally, that changes as six new Kohl's stores will be opening on Wednesday. Kohl's carries Simply Vera, Abbey Dawn, and Tony Hawk; these are clothing by designer Vera Wang, rocker Avril Lavigne, and skateboarder Tony Hawk.

The Kohl's locations:

Homestead
2455 NW 10th Court

Kendall
11800 Mills Drive

Hialeah
700 W. 49th Street

Miramar
12200 Miramar Parkway

Hollywood
4999 Sheridan Street

Coconut Creek
6950 U.S. 441

Naked Clown Calendar

Well, almost.... pies, top hats, and various props hide the clown's 'funny business' so the calendar can be sold to almost anyone. The 2009 Naked Clown Calendar is made up of graduates from San Francisco's Clown Conservatory Class of 2008. 100% of the net proceeds of this 16-month calendar will go to the Judy Finelli Fund; to fund research and advocacy for cures and treatments of Multiple Sclerosis.

Celebrity Chef Series

The Adrienne Arsht Center will host the Celebrity Chef Series beginning October 24th. A local chef will interview the celebrity chef, and the guest chef will also make a dish during the appearance. Tickets range from $25-$150; VIP ticket holders have a chance to do a meet-and-greet with the guest chef sample the chef's dish.

Here's a list of the Chef's scheduled for the Knight Concert Hall at 8pm:

Friday, October 24th: Giada de Laurentiis

Friday, November 14th: Anthony Bourdain

Saturday, December 13th: Alton Brown

Hydrox is back

Remember the Hydrox cookies? They were the first creme-filled chocolate sandwich cookie, made by Sunshine. Hydrox was discontinued in 2003, but after petitions, phone calls, and postings, Hydrox is back in limited edition form. For the 100th Anniversary, you'll soon see the cookies back on the grocery shelf.

Now, we must work on the Nabisco Chocolate Snaps... mmmm love those!

Freebies for you

I posted both of these a while back but, but I wanted to let you know you've got a chance at free ice cream tomorrow (25th) and one more Monday of free Starbucks (if you're a teacher)!

Walk/Run with us!

A lengthy article in today's Sun-Sentinel about Team In Training - a fabulous organization of people working together to benefit the Leukemia & Lymphoma Society. You train for a marathon (walk, run, half, or full) whilst raising money to fund research to cure blood cancers.
I am in training for my 2nd marathon; the ING Miami Marathon is happening January 25th, and invite you to peruse the links and consider joining us! Or, choose one of the other marathons in Orlando or Arizona...

You can even do a practice walk (or two). There are two more Light the Night Walks scheduled in Miramar and Ft. Lauderdale. Feel free to come by and see what it's all about.

Toy with Jenny McCarthy

Actress and activist Jenny McCarthy will help celebrate the opening of FAO Schwarz toy stores in Macy's - and she'll do so at the Macy's at Dadeland Mall! From 2p-5p this Saturday (27th), bring the kids for a Toy Soldier hat design contest (2-12 year-olds) whereby you could win a $1,000 shopping spree! Sure, you'll have a chance to meet the former co-host of Singled Out, too!

Free movies are back!

The Weston Moonlight Movies in the Park series will kick off on October 11th at Weston Regional Park. It's free and here's a list of the movies in the series:


Oct. 11th - The Spiderwick Chronicles 7:30pm
Nov. 1st - Nim's Island 7:30pm
Dec. 6th - Alvin and the Chipmunks 7:30pm
Jan. 3rd - Horton Hears a Who! 7:30pm
Feb. 7th - Bee Movie 7:30pm
Mar. 14th - Fantastic Four: Rise of
The Silver Surfer 7:30pm
April 11th - Weston's Choice * 8:00pm


* Beginning in January, you'll be able to go to the City of Weston's website and vote for the movie you'd like to see.

Panthers training camp

The Florida Panthers' training camp has begun - the on-ice training happens at incredibleIce in Coral Springs. All practices are free and open to you and me! Go Cats!


R.I.P. Miami Arena, first home of the Florida Panthers, where they had the best first year of any NHL team (1993). The made the Finals a couple years later, and there's the infamous "Rat Trick"!
Before a game, Scott Mellanby used his hockey stick to kill a rat in the locker room; Scott then went out and scored two goals, earning him the coveted rat trick. ahhh memories....

Sex and the Election

Now that I have your attention...

2 DVD's of interest being released Tuesday, September 23rd:

Schoolhouse Rock! The Election Collection, a limited edition 14-song DVD, and yes, it includes "I'm just a Bill".

Sex and the City - The Movie, in regular and special edition DVD form.

And, if you sync up The Preamble with the 3rd wardrobe change from Sarah Jessica Parker, crazy stuff happens.....


Yes, I'm kidding.

Add insult to accident

Davie, Florida wants to charge at-fault drivers for costs involving police and fire-rescue responding to accidents in their town. The Town Council has already approved the measure, and if the second vote passes on October 1st, it shall become law. The Cost Recovery Corp. would bill your insurance company about $840 if you were at fault for a wreck in Davie. (Just in case you're wondering, this is the first town in South Florida to charge this type of fee. A council member said this is a way to recoup the costs of responding to accidents.)
This fee would cover all roads in and near Davie (including I-595 & I-75)... meaning, if Davie responds to your accident, you could be billed. If you're a non-resident and your insurance refuses to pay, you'd be billed directly. If it can't be determined who is at fault, you both get billed! Davie residents would not get billed as they already pay for police and fire rescue via taxes. But when you think about it, we all pay for police and fire-rescue one way or another, so why should we be penalized for an accident just because it happened in a certain place?

ac·ci·dent

–noun
1.
an undesirable or unfortunate happening that occurs unintentionally and usually results in harm, injury, damage, or loss; casualty; mishap: automobile accidents.

nick·el-and-dime
–adjective
1.
of little or no importance; trivial; petty: a nickel-and-dime business that soon folded. –verb (used with object)
2.
to expose to financial hardship or bankruptcy by the accumulation of small expenses, bills, etc.
3.
to hinder, annoy, or harass with trivialities or nonessentials: to be nickeled-and-dimed by petty criticisms.

Walt Disney World, free?

it's yer birthday, it's yer birthday, and Walt Disney World/Disneyland has decided to offer you a free ticket into any one of their parks on your special day! You do need to register for the treat in advance, and bring ID to prove the earth became a better place on that day...

Presidential flavor debate

Baskin-Robbins has two "presidential" flavors: Straight Talk Crunch and Whirl of Change.
The Straight Talk Crunch is named for John McCain and features caramel, red candy, and mixed nuts in white chocolate ice cream. The Whirl of Change named for Barack Obama and has chocolate-covered peanut brittle and caramel in peanut-nougat ice cream. No waffle cones, please!
With these two flavors comes the Baskin-Robbins National Flavor Election Flavor Debate '08!
You can vote for your favorite flavor (deadline midnight October 20th) , the results will be announced October 21st.

Baggy pants, again

I first blogged about this back in March of this year. Officials in many towns have tried and/or succeeded in banning the droopy jeans. Riviera Beach, which is just north of us, has a "baggy pants law"; the first offense for your underwear stickin' up out your drawers is a $150 fine or community service. Earlier this week, A Palm Beach Circuit Judge has ruled this ban "unconstitutional". In related news, a Hillsborough County Circuit Judge has delayed court three times this week due to inmates wearing saggy pants. The pants are the orange jail uniforms issued to inmates, but the judge was not swayed saying, "I do not want to see these people in her again with their rear ends hanging out of their pants".

As you can see, cartoonist Chan Lowe has the right idea! I mean really, think of any silly, ridiculous clothing, hair, or makeup fad. It comes & it goes... UNLESS you harp on it, gripe about it, and try to ban it. There's a word for this... rebellion. There's a term to potentially solve it... reverse psychology!

A unique fish tank

So you'd love to have fish as pets, but you've nowhere to put the fish tank. That's where the fine folks at Fish 'n Flush come in; they incorporate the fish tank where you already have a tank - you're toilet tank. Fresh or salt water, it matters not - just add fish and food! A conversation piece, you betcha... and when 'lil Nemo goes to that great beyond, it's just a hop, skip, and a flush away.

B.B King turns 83

The Beale Street Blues Boy, as he was once known, has come a long way from Indianola, Mississippi. Riley "B.B." King was born September 16, 1925; he went from a kid working at a cotton gin, to a career that takes him all over the world. Over the weekend, the B.B. King Museum and Delta Interpretive Center opened in his hometown. The museum is built in and around the brick cotton gin where B.B. once worked. Of the museum B.B. said, "I didn't go to school long enough to be able to tell you how I feel. But I have heard that heaven is beautiful. If heaven is more beautiful than the way I feel today, I'm ready to go tomorrow."
B.B. still tours extensively, playing in South Florida at least once a year. He's already been here this year, but might I suggest to you... The next time a B.B. King concert is scheduled for Miami/Ft. Lauderdale, you do yourself a favor and see him live!

More Google fun

If you use Google for directions, there's a new option. When you go to Google Maps, you now have the option to get directions by car, or on foot. Let's say you're visiting New York City, and you know where you want to go, but not how to get there. Go to Google Maps and under 'get directions' you'll see the car or foot option. I found out it would take close to 7 hours to walk to work - so much for saving gas!

Oh, and if you click on the "My Maps" link, and then "Browse the directory" you can personalize your map... very cool!

Visit Daryl Hall's House

Daryl Hall, of Hall and Oates fame, calls it a 'light bulb' moment. It would be 'Live from Daryl's House', a monthly Internet webcast featuring Daryl and friends performing from Hall's home.
You can watch entire performances, or choose from individual songs. Daryl also puts up a link to his guest's website, should you like him, her, or them enough to want to know more. It's great cross-promotion for the artists, and great for true music lovers. Enjoy!

Is tuna a vegetable?

Nick Lachey, former recipient of the question, "Is this tuna or chicken?", is helping to clarify vegetable intake. Lachey has teamed up with V8 for their Making Every Serving Count campaign. V8, in turn, has donated a million bucks to Feeding America, who'll provide over 30 million servings of vegetables and fruit to food banks across the country.

Practice Safe Watercraft

South Florida is home to many a boat, yacht, and waverunner; too often we hear stories of careless crashes, or tragic accidents on the water. You, proud watercraft owner, can be proactive and take a safety course.
A personal watercraft safety class will be held September 29th, 6:30 pm, in Davie. There's only space for 25, and the $15 fee includes materials used in the program.

Free Starbucks for teachers

They call it the "Great Start for Great Teachers" - they being Starbucks. Every Monday of September, teachers can get a free cup of Pike Place Roast.
Ya gotta keep'em caffeinated!

Help for Haiti and Texas

Haiti was devastated by several storms - your help is needed, in the form of food and clothing.
The City of Miami has joined forces with sports franchises and Universities for Operation: Hope for Haiti. Donations were accepted at the 'Fins/Jets game, and will be accept at any of the 9 remaining Marlins' home games.

Another way to help:

MARTINO TIRE CO. PARTICIPATES IN RELIEF EFFORT FOR HAITIANS AFFECTED BY RECENT HURRICANES

RELIEF EFFORT Martino Tire Co. will be helping in the relief effort for our friends in Haiti that were affected by the recent hurricanes. You may drop off non perishable goods and clothing at any of our locations in Dade, Broward and Palm Beach counties through September 19, 2008. Please call (800) 844-8473 to find the location near you.

You can also help those in Texas who were pummeled by Ike.

Zednik's Back!

Florida Panthers' left wing, Richard Zednik, has returned to the ice. Ordinarily, this news would not be a proclamation, as hockey season is soon to begin. However, in Zednik's case, the return is cause for celebration. Last season, during a game in Buffalo, Richard sustained a cut to his external carotid artery. It was a freak accident, with a teammate's skate blade inflicting the catastrophic slice. Buffalo General Hospital's chief of emergency medicine, Dr. Robert McCormack said, "He really came as close to dying as one could". The quick thinking of Zednik, who got up and raced toward the bench, along with the quick actions of the Panther's athletic trainer Dave Zenobi, and the Sabres' team doctor, Dr. Les Bisson, are what truly saved his life.
Yesterday, Zednik was back out on the ice getting ready for the 2008-2009 season. Other than the addition of a neck protector, nothing much has changed for Zednik; he says he feels comfortable and he's just looking forward to the season. So are we, Zed, so are we! Congratulations, and GO CATS!!!!

Regulation of Paparazzi

Several celebrities visited Los Angeles City Hall last week to discuss the paparazzi. Specifically, the celebs would like the photogs to be regulated, official, taxed, and legitimized. Singer-songwriter John Mayer also proposed that paparazzi have credentials, marked cars, and a "law governing an acceptable filming distance from an unwilling subject to keep everybody safe and misbehavior accountable." Sounds fair, sounds logical, and at least one L.A. City Council member found the request an acceptable compromise. However, the LAPD Chief did not; he made some inappropriate comments about a few celebs before calling the issue of "waste of city time..."

When Brad Pitt makes a film and I pay to see it, that's where it ends. He made a product that I decided to purchase. It's a simple business transaction; just because I paid to see his movie does not mean I have the right to see photos of his family vacation. Just because I bought the '13 Going On 30' DVD, doesn't mean I have the right to expect photos of Jennifer Garner in the park with her daughter. I actually heard a reporter ask "Why doesn't she (Minnie Driver) just tell us who the father is?", as if it were owed information. Why does Ms. Driver HAVE to tell anyone anything about her personal life? Because I enjoyed 'Good Will Hunting', I have the right to know who impregnated her?

Time to put ourselves in some different shoes! Imagine, people feeling they have the right to know everything about you; they take photographs of you in your bikini... on a "bloat" day, no less, or how about the flattering shot of you taking a bite of that sandwich, taking your garbage out in your pajamas, and all to prove that you're just like the rest of us - sounds fun, huh?!

If a celebrity wants to share, that's great - but if they don't, why do we feel it's our right to know? The fact that they make millions of dollars is just not a good enough reason! They were smart/lucky enough to get into the right line of work. I know some celebs court the attention, but many do not. I also realize that celebs wouldn't not be celebs without some amount of coverage, but I think the line has been severely blurred and needs to be once again drawn in the sand. Otherwise, you and I both know what will happen - something tragic - and then, only then, will things change.
Okay, rant over.

A new 'Love Boat'

Princess Cruises' Ruby Princess, will be christened here in Ft. Lauderdale November 6th. The Master of Ceremonies will be Captain Stubing himself, actor Gavin MacLeod. Former Miami-Heat dancer, Dancing With The Starts contestant and Bachelorette Trista Sutter will celebrate her 5th wedding anniversary to Ryan by christening the new ship.


p.s. Trista has a really cute line of diaper bags...

Free Ice Cream!!

The 7th annual World's Largest Ice Cream Social to benefit Make-A-Wish is happening Thursday, September 25th, 5p-8p. During that time, Cold Stone Creamery will offer your choice of two 3oz. Make-A-Wish Creations; that is, created by Wish children. There's Emily's Creation; Nutter Butter Ice Cream mixed with Yellow Cake, Kit-Kats, and White Chocolate Chips. Then there's Jack's Creation; Marshmallow Ice Cream mixed with OREO Cookies, Chocolate Chips and Fudge. The treat is free, but all donations will benefit the Make-A-Wish Foundation, granting wishes to children with life-threatening medical conditions. In fact, throughout this month, Cold Stone Creamery is selling wall stars to benefit the Foundation.


Let us all scream...

Protect your identity

Over the weekend, the Sun Sentinel had a huge article on identity theft; within the article, tips on how to avoid being the victim of ID theft, and what to do if your identity is stolen. Shredding financial documents, and credit 'solicits' is a great idea, and being stingy when it comes to giving up your Social is an even better idea. For example, there's really no reason a doctor's office needs your social security number. Every time I'm at a doctor's or dentist's office counter, I can look down and see another patient's personal info. Charts are just sitting there with all kinds of pertinent tidbits - patient's name, phone, address, and social. I wanted to see how much info I could cull and sure enough, I was able to write down a slew of information (I didn't do anything with it except show the desk how easy it was). I realize these offices are quite busy, but if someone was up to no good, it would be downright easy to get very personal information and steal another's identity. Unfortunately, no matter how careful you are, it could still happen to you. With that said, hoping we'll both never need them, here are some more sites:

www.myfloridalegal.com/identitytheft
www.indentitytheftassistance.org
www.identityfinder.com


Federal Trade Commission's Identity Theft Hotline: 877-438-4338
Florida Attorney General's fraud Hotline: 866-966-7226

Get this ON your chest

Do you take good care of your face, but forget the neck and decollete? If your answer is, "the neck and what???", this could be for you!

dé·colle·té
Pronunciation[dey-kol-tey, -kol-uh-, dek-uh-luh-; Fr. dey-kawl-tey] –adjective
1.(of a garment) low-necked.
2.wearing a low-necked garment.
Also, de·colle·te.
[Origin: 1825–35; < style="FONT-VARIANT: small-caps" href="http://dictionary.reference.com/search?q=de-" minmax_bound="true">de- + collet collar (see -et) + -er inf. suffix]

If your decolletage, or chest area, is wrinkled, crinkled, and/or sun-spotted, there is a product out there to help rectify the situation. Decollette Pad is a silicone, self-stick pad; it's worn a night to prevent chest wrinkles, and can be worn anytime to correct existing crinklage. The pad was created by Camille Calvet, Emmy-award winning Hollywood makeup artist and smooth chest lover.

Learn guitar from the source(s)

If there's a guitarist in your house, iVideosongs is the ultimate in guitar lessons! Have John Oates explain his technique on the Hall & Oates song, She's Gone; or Graham Nash of Crosby, Stills, Nash & Young show you how to play Teach Your Children. Yes, it does come with a fee, or you can first try a free tutorial. Either way, don't forget to thank me on your next CD!

Phelps Phever Phervent

You can purchase a poster of the Sports Illustrated cover featuring Michael Phelps; it's the August 25th cover where Phelps mimics the '72 Mark Spitz photo after Spitz won 7 gold medals. Phelps will also soon make the rounds on boxes of Corn Flakes cereal. Michael's mom has gotten into the act - she's been named Johnson's Mom of the Olympic Games, appearing in a TV commercial and her Olympic fashion choices have ignited a frenzy!

Phelps will get a hero's welcome Friday, August 29th at Walt Disney World, and then he'll be at the MTV Awards on September 7th, followed by his hosting duties of the Saturday Night Live season opener, September 13th.

A wee bit sooner, he'll appear on Oprah's season premiere, September 8th.

Who's your caddy?

Thanks to the Sun-Sentinel's Nick Sortal for testing products that hold our stuff while we exercise!

The Fitness Caddy is just one in a line of "unique & innovative water bottle carriers". A non-bulky bag to store your water bottle, a secure hook for your keys, a ring through which to thread your towel. Sorry, there is not any place to store your excuse not to exercise.
There's also the Cruising Caddy and the Golf Caddy...

While we're in things that hold things, there's the SPIbelt (small personal items) and the Hold-A-Phone.

Every Woman Counts

Join the Coalition... the Every Woman Counts Coalition. Not only can you make your voice heard, you can learn more about the issues that are important to you, whether they be about children, education, or both.

Do you have the cutest pet?

If you or someone you know has an adorable pooch, a cuter than cute kitty, a beautiful bird, or a freakish darling ferret, make sure the animal is entered in the Cutest Pet Contest:

Press release for immediate release
Free Cutest Pet Photo Contest Open To Miami Area

Grand Prize is $1,000.00 Cash - The Top 10 Photographs Will Grace the Cover of a New Book Titled, America's Top Pets - Area Listeners Can Enter the Free Contest Online or by Postal Mail
The FL State Chapter of Dog & Cat Lovers of America in partnership with CutestPetContest.com Publishing is proud to announce a $1,000.00 Cash Grand Prize in the Free 2008 Fall Cutest Pet Photo Contest. Gift certificates to Pet Smart and show quality trophies will also be awarded.
And that's not all! The top 10 cutest pet photos will be displayed on the cover of an upcoming pet photography book titled, America's Top Pets. (Library Of Congress-ISBN# 978-0-9770401-6-3) Printing is scheduled for Spring 2009.
"We refer to the ten photos selected for the cover as the Cover Pets. There will be 4 photos selected for the front cover and 6 photos selected for the back cover. Just think if your photo was chosen. You'd be showing off to everyone you know," says Dr. Rex Naylor, contest volunteer.
Recent grand prize winners include Diane Stichler of Ohio ($1,000 Cash) & Candice Ramsey of Arkansas ($1,000.00 Cash).
Pet owners from the Miami area are welcome to win a share of the prizes. The deadline for the contest is September 5th. The contest is open to everyone and entry is free. Dog or cat photos only are preferred. The photo may contain one pet or several and may include different pet types in the same photo. There is a strict limit of one photo per household to avoid disqualification.
"Some pet owners treat their pets as good as or better than their own children. Therefore, it's not uncommon to have literally hundreds of pet photos around the house. Imagine for a moment what it would feel like if your photo was picked and you received a check in the mail for $1,000 cash. Since the contest is free, you'd almost be foolish not to send in a photo," continues Dr. Naylor.
The preferred method of entry is to enter directly online at www.CutestPetContest.com. The website has a voting feature, similar to the popular TV show American Idol, that allows the general public to help choose the winning photos.
You may also submit your photo by postal mail. Please send one photograph, full-color or black and white, of any size. Cell phone images and pixelated photos should be avoided. All photo entries must include the photographer's name and address on the back. Photographs should be sent to: Fall Pet Contest, P.O. Box 4470, Olathe, KS 66063. Entries must be postmarked by Sep. 5th 2008.
Dog & Cat Lovers of America is an organization dedicated to bringing pet owners from around the world together for fun and fellowship. Membership in the organization is not required to participate and the entry is free. Past winners are listed at www.cutestpetcontest.com
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Dr. Rex Naylor - Contest Volunteer
Dog & Cat Lovers of America
c/o CutestPetContest.com Publishers
admin@cutestpetcontest.com
P.O. Box 4470 Olathe, KS 66063

A Picture Perfect Saturday

What a cool idea! This Saturday (August 23rd), Lauderdale-By-The-Sea will host the biggest Worldwide Photowalk ever. A photowalk is walking around with your camera and taking photographs while doing so. It's a great opportunity to show people your view of the city, and in turn, see another's view of the same place. It's a free event and begins at 9am this Saturday at Commercial Blvd. and AIA. By the way, there are 243 cities around the world with thousands of photogs doing the Photowalk on Saturday, too!

So much for six degrees

It's more like six songs... according to author Daniel Levitin. A new book by Daniel, The World In Six Songs: How the Musical Brain Created Human Nature, will be released tomorrow. Levitin checks the link between music and the brain through six types of songs: knowledge, friendship, love, comfort, joy, and religion.
Even an article Levitin wrote about the Beatles is heady stuff - the last paragraph mentioning neural firings and cortex... who knew?
Levitin is also the author of This Is Your Brain on Music: The Science of a Human Obsession.
As you may have guessed, I'm a really big fan of the whole music thing!

Vote for Billy the Marlin

Billy the Marlin & Sebastian the Ibis are up for induction into the Mascot Hall of Fame - you can make it happen for Billy & Sebastian by casting your vote through September 12th.

Now I gotta recut Footloose

Inspired by the death of a friend's sister, Doveman has recorded the entire Footloose Soundtrack. It sounds very different than the original, but gives the songs a new feel.
Let's hear it for the boy... er, man... Doveman.

Have you seen the video?

No, not the (former)BK employee taking a bath in a Burger King utility sink, although that's pretty funny... hold the pickle, hold the bathwater, please! The video I'm talking about is the 35-year-old Christian the Lion video. It's incredible to watch. See for yourself!

Hey Ladies, give'em some lip

If you think your smacker is superior, enter the Picture Perfect Lips Contest! You could win $2,500, a year's supply of lip products from contest sponsor Softlips and braggin' rights. The lip off is for ladies only and the photo you submit must be your lips in their natural state.

I know, I know, the contest is open to the ladies only. However, whenever there's an opportunity to look at these lips, why wouldn't you? Or is that just me?

Eau de We ID

Just when you think you've heard it all...

There is a new fragrance called Tom of Finland - in order to purchase a bottle of TOF in this U.S. of A., you'll need to be 21 or older!!!??? Why? So glad you asked! Fragrance designers Gary Robinson and David Johnson procured the rights to the works of the artist known as Tom of Finland... The packaging of the bottle opens to reveal some of TOF's sketches; if you haven't figured it out yet, the works are ribald in nature... very ribald. The scent includes notes of metal, pepperwood, tonka beans and musk - 50-milliliter eau de parfum will cost about $110.

Or you could just stick to your Love's Baby Soft wild ways...