Born this Date: Jackie Robinson

Jack Roosevelt "Jackie" Robinson (January 31, 1919 – October 24, 1972) was the first African-American Major League Baseball player of the modern era. Although not the first African-American professional baseball player in United States history, Robinson's 1947 Major League debut with the Brooklyn Dodgers ended approximately 60 years of baseball segregation, breaking the baseball color line, or color barrier. At that time in the United States, many white people believed that blacks and whites should be kept apart in many aspects of life, including sports. Despite this obstacle, Robinson went on to have an exceptional baseball career.

Robinson played on six World Series teams and was inducted into the Baseball Hall of Fame in 1962. He earned six consecutive All-Star Game nominations and won several awards during his career. In 1947, Jackie won The Sporting News Rookie of the Year Award and the first MLB Rookie of the Year Award. Two years later, he won the National League MVP Award—the first black player to do so. On April 15, 1997, the 50-year anniversary of his debut, Major League Baseball retired Robinson's jersey number 42 across all MLB teams in recognition of his accomplishments in a ceremony at Shea Stadium.

He also had success away from the baseball field. Robinson was the first African-American Major League Baseball analyst and the first black vice president of a major American corporation. In the 1960s, he helped to establish the Freedom National Bank, an African-American owned and controlled entity based in Harlem, New York. Due to his achievements, Robinson was posthumously awarded the Presidential Medal of Freedom and the Congressional Gold Medal. In 1950, he played himself in the biographical film The Jackie Robinson Story. In 1946, Robinson married Rachel Annetta Isum, and after Robinson died of a heart attack in 1972, she founded the Jackie Robinson Foundation.

Siamese Twins

Siamese twins walk into a bar and park themselves on a bar stool.

One of them says to the barkeeper, "Don't mind us, we're joined at the hip. I'm John, he's Jim. Two Budweiser draft beers, please". The barkeeper, feeling slightly awkward, tries to make polite conversation while pouring the beers. "Been on vacation yet?"

"Off to England next month," says John. "We go to England every year and hire a car and drive for miles, don't we, Jim?" Jim agrees.

"Ah, England!" says the barkeeper. "Wonderful country... the history, the beer, the culture..."

"Nah, we don't like that British crap," says John. "Hamburgers & Bud, that's us, eh Jim? And we can't stand the English - they're so arrogant and rude."

"So why keep going to England?" asks the bar keeper.

"It's the only chance Jim gets to drive."

Phone "Swatter" Who Fooled 911, Police Pleads Guilty

An 18-year-old prankster known as "Little Hacker" who fooled police into responding to bogus emergencies pled guilty in federal court in Dallas on Thursday.

Matthew Weigman, of Revere, Mass., admitted to "swatting" victims in Fort Worth and Alvarado.

"Swatting" is a scheme by telephone hackers in which they take over another person's telephone number, call 911 and falsify an emergency, fooling police into sending officers to a bogus call.

Weigman has been in custody since the FBI arrested him in Boston in May 2008.

In federal court in Dallas Thursday, Weigman admitted that on June 12, 2006, he called police in Alvarado, saying he had shot and killed members of his family, was armed with an AK-47 and was holding hostages. He made the call appear to come from the house of an Alvarado resident he had met over a telephone "party line."

He made a similar call to Fort Worth police on Oct. 1, 2006, said James Jacks, the acting U.S. attorney in Dallas.

MSNBC - Full Story

WEEKEND LOVE FORECAST:

ARIES: You'll be covering many social bases this weekend and are likely to spend a short time with each person. TAURUS: It's lucky to involve your loved ones in the planning of your weekend and also your life. GEMINI: Be patient with the special people in your life. They will require lots of time to make up their minds. CANCER: You’re an idea person who can forge a powerful partnership with someone who is all action. LEO: Just when you were starting to get bored with the same old scene there are new people to meet and rooms to work. Get mingling. VIRGO: Your best partnership is with one who can recognize and draw attention to your talents. LIBRA: You make everything more exciting for the one you love. SCORPIO: You have much to teach your peers and a potential love is among your "pupils." SAGITTARIUS: Share a special collection with friends -- it's lucky for your life. CAPRICORN: You enjoy pursuing someone who poses a difficult challenge. AQUARIUS: There's a hint of mystery in your style and someone wants to know more. PISCES: You hit it off with other water signs (Pisces, Scorpio and Cancer).

COUPLE OF THE WEEKEND: Aries, the warrior, and Aquarius, the peacenik, are the kind of odd pairing one might see in an entertaining show with a "buddy" theme. Like Felix and Oscar, Thelma and Louise, or Dharma and Greg, Aries and Aquarius are very different from each other, and their partnership has fantastic chemistry and/or comedy because of those differences. This weekend the two experience sheer magic.

Demotivational Poster

Career Change

A gynecologist had become fed up with malpractice insurance and HMO paperwork and was burned out. Hoping to try another career where skillful hands would be beneficial, he decided to become a mechanic. He went to the local technical college, signed up for classes, attended diligently, and learned all he could. When the time for the practical exam approached, the gynecologist prepared carefully for weeks and completed the exam with tremendous skill.

When the results came back, he was surprised to find that he had obtained a score of 150%. Fearing an error, he called the instructor, saying, "I don't want to appear ungrateful for such an outstanding result, but I wonder if there is an error in the grade."

The instructor said, "During the exam, you took the engine apart perfectly, which was worth 50% of the total mark. You put the engine back together again perfectly, which is also worth 50% of the mark."

After a pause, the instructor added, "I gave you an extra 50% because you did it all through the muffler, which I've never seen done in my entire life."

Happy Birthday, Yankee Fan!

Two years since Barbaro's death

Barbaro (April 29, 2003 – January 29, 2007) was an American thoroughbred that decisively won the 2006 Kentucky Derby, but shattered his leg two weeks later in the 2006 Preakness Stakes ending his racing career and eventually leading to his death.

On May 20, 2006, Barbaro ran in the Preakness Stakes as a heavy favorite, but, after he false-started, he fractured three bones in and around the ankle of his right hind leg. The injury ruined any chance of a Triple Crown in 2006 and ended his racing career. The next day, he underwent surgery at the New Bolton Center at the University of Pennsylvania for his injuries. In July he developed laminitis in his left rear leg. He underwent five further operations, and his prognosis varied during an exceptionally long stay in the Equine Intensive Care Unit at the New Bolton Center. While his right hind leg eventually healed, a final risky procedure on it proved futile because the colt soon developed further laminitis in both front legs. His veterinarians and owners concluded that he could not be saved, and Barbaro was euthanized on January 29, 2007.

He was a third-generation descendant of Mr. Prospector, and as such Barbaro was related to many recent Triple Crown hopefuls including Big Brown, Eight Belles, Afleet Alex, Smarty Jones, Funny Cide and Fusaichi Pegasus.

Lynyrd Skynyrd keyboardist Billy Powell dies at Florida home

ORANGE PARK, Fla. - A keyboardist for the southern rock bank Lynyrd Skynyrd has died at his northeast Florida home.

Orange Park Police Lt. Mark Cornett says 56-year-old keyboard player Billy Powell called 911 about 12:55 a.m. Wednesday saying he was having trouble breathing. Rescue crews performed CPR, but he was pronounced dead at 1:52 a.m.

Cornett says no foul play is suspected and an autopsy will not be performed.

He says Powell missed a Tuesday appointment with his doctor for a cardiac evaluation. A heart attack is suspected.

Powell was one of two surviving band members who were with the group before a 1977 plane crash that killed three of its members.

Boston Herald

It's Wednesday...

State trooper killed in Saugus accident identified as Richard J. Cashin

Massachusetts State Police Capt. Richard J. Cashin, 52, was killed early Wednesday morning when he apparently lost control of his unmarked cruiser on Route 1 North in Saugus. He was pronounced dead at the scene.

According to information provided during a news conference at the Troop-A State Police Barracks in Danvers, Cashin’s car, a 2005 Ford Crown Victoria, left the roadway to the right and struck a utility pole. The accident occurred near the Hess gas station across from York Ford.

Search uncovers missing Super Bowl rings in Saugus

Law enforcement officials say a safe deposit box they searched today at an Eastern Bank branch in Saugus held a glittering, ill-gotten treasure: 27 New York Giants Super Bowl rings, valued at more than $170,000, that were allegedly stolen in June from an Attleboro jewelry company.

Kristen Sullivan, 22, of Saugus, who rented the safe deposit box, was arrested by Lynn Police later on a charge of receiving stolen property over $250, said State Police spokesman David Procopio.

Sullivan had already been arrested Friday in connection with the June 8, 2008 heist at the E.A. Dion Inc. jewelry company, Procopio said. But as the investigation continued, the State Police, working with the FBI and local police, learned of the existence of the safe deposit box at the Eastern Bank on Lincoln Street in Saugus. The authorities obtained a search warrant, which they executed at noon today.

Police have said they believe that Sean D. Murphy, 44, a Lynn furniture mover, was the leader of a theft ring that moved up and down the East Coast, stealing jewelry and pharmaceuticals. After a series of search warrants were executed on Friday, Murphy was arrested in Lynn. Sullivan and Rikkile Brown, 21, were also arrested in connection with the heist.

The Super Bowl rings - which could have been flaunted by Eli Manning, Plaxico Burress, or David Tyree if they hadn't been stolen - have been secured by the authorities for “evidence and for forensic testing," said Procopio.

Sullivan is being held by police, pending her arraignment on the second charge, he said.

Boston Globe

Saugus man charged as accessory to Bufalino robbery

SALEM - A Saugus man was arrested Tuesday for being an accessory to an armed robbery that reputed Revere mobster Darin Bufalino committed in Middleton a day earlier, the Essex County District Attorney's Office said.

John Viera, 47, of 42 Holland St., Saugus, turned himself into Winthrop police about 3:30 p.m. Tuesday for charges of being an accessory to armed robbery before and after the fact and threatening to commit a crime, according to Steve O'Connell, spokesman for Essex District Attorney Jonathan Blodgett.

Middleton Police Chief James DiGianvittorio said Bufalino, 47, of 190 River Road, Winthrop, met with a 23-year-old landscaper on Village Road in Middleton about 12:30 p.m. Monday.

The victim planned to purchase a large amount of rock salt as part of a business transaction when Bufalino, a former enforcer of notorious mobster "Cadillac" Frank Salemme, allegedly pulled out a handgun and robbed the victim of $11,000 cash.

Bufalino fled onto nearby Interstate 95 and police in numerous North Shore communities, including Revere and Winthrop where he is known to frequent, were alerted of his vehicle's description.

Winthrop police said Bufalino made several calls saying he would turn himself in and did so about 6:15 p.m. He was transported back to Middleton by a State Police escort to face charges.

O'Connell said both Bufalino and Viera were arraigned Tuesday in Salem District Court.

Prosecutors requested $500,000 cash bail for Bufalino, who recently served a 10-year prison sentence for a 1993 Revere bank robbery, served approximately three years beginning in 1995 for non-fatally shooting a Revere woman, was acquitted of a 1984 Lynn murder on a technicality and widely rumored to have connections to others. Judge James Lamothe ordered him held on $75,000 cash bail, O'Connell said. Viera was ordered held on $7,500 cash bail.

Lamothe ordered Bufalino to wear an electronic ankle bracelet upon his release and to have absolutely no contact with the alleged victim, "including third party contact," O'Connell said. Viera was ordered the same conditions but does not have to wear an ankle bracelet.

Lynn Daily Item

Born this date: Sarah McLachlan

Sarah Ann McLachlan,(born January 28, 1968) is a Grammy-winning Canadian musician, singer and songwriter.

She is known for the emotional sound of her ballads and mezzo-soprano vocal range. Some of her most popular songs include "Angel", "Building a Mystery", "Adia", "Possession", "Fallen", "I Will Remember You", and "World on Fire". As of 2006, she has sold over 40 million albums worldwide. Her best-selling album to date is Surfacing, for which she won two Grammy Awards (out of three nominations) and eight Juno Awards. In addition to her personal artistic efforts, she founded the Lilith Fair tour, which showcased female musicians in the late 1990s.

Sarah McLachlan was born on January 28, 1968, and adopted in Halifax, Nova Scotia. As a child, she took voice lessons, along with studies in classical piano and guitar. When she was 17 years old, and still a student at Queen Elizabeth High School, she fronted a short-lived rock band called The October Game. One of the band's songs, "Grind", credited as a group composition, can be found on the independent Flamingo Records release 'Out of the Fog' and the CD 'Out of the Fog Too'. It has yet to be released elsewhere. Her high school yearbook predicted that she was "destined to become a famous rock star."

Following The October Game's first concert at Dalhousie University opening for Moev, McLachlan was offered a recording contract with Vancouver-based independent record label Nettwerk by Moev's Mark Jowett. McLachlan's parents persuaded her to finish her studies at the Nova Scotia College of Art and Design before embarking on a new life as a recording artist, and McLachlan finally signed to Nettwerk two years later before having written a single song.

In 1997, Sarah McLachlan married her drummer, Ashwin Sood, in Jamaica. McLachlan lost her mother to cancer in December 2001, while McLachlan herself was pregnant. McLachlan gave birth to a daughter, whom she named India Ann Sushil Sood, on April 6, 2002, in Vancouver. By this time, McLachlan had already completed three-quarters of the production on her next record, Afterglow. On June 24, 2007, she gave birth to her second daughter, Taja Summer Sood, in Vancouver. McLachlan announced her separation from Ashwin Sood in September 2008.

Adia (Live)

Some Habits Are Hard to Break

Revere man held on $5G for robberies

SALEM - A Revere man charged with robbing businesses in Saugus and Salem during a three-day crime spree last year remains held at the Concord State Prison on $5,000, after pleading innocent.

William M. Nickerson, 28, of 12 Blaney Court, pleaded innocent Monday in Salem Superior Court to three counts of masked armed robbery.

As jointly recommended by the prosecutor and defense, Judge John T. Lu set the bail amount proposed and continued the cases to March 9 for a pre-trial conference.

Charges relate to two incidents in Saugus and Salem.

Lynn Daily Item - Full Story

Reputed Revere mobster arrested

WINTHROP - A reputed Revere mobster who was acquitted in a 1984 Lynn murder case was arrested Monday after he allegedly robbed a Beverly landscaper of $11,000 cash on a Middleton side street.

Darin Bufalino, 47, of 190 River Road, Winthrop, was arrested and charged with armed robbery when he turned himself into the Winthrop police station about 6:15 p.m., police said.

Middleton Police Chief James DiGianvittorio said Bufalino pulled out a black handgun and robbed a 23-year-old Beverly man on Village Road, off Interstate 95, about 12:30 p.m. before fleeing on the highway in his 2006 Ford Explorer.

Bufalino worked as an enforcer for notorious mobster "Cadillac" Frank Salemme, who had strong ties to James "Whitey" Bulger.

DiGianvittorio said the victim owns a landscaping company and the robbery might be "a business deal that seems to be a set up."

"We're still investigating whether there was a possible co-conspirator," DiGianvittorio said. No one was hurt.

After the alleged robbery on Monday, Winthrop police went to Bufalino's home and found the alleged getaway car. The suspect was nowhere to be found, but a police lieutenant said Bufalino called the police station "several times" saying he would turn himself in.

According to police logs, Bufalino's car was registered to 10 Elwood Place in Revere, the same address he resided when he allegedly shot a woman in Revere in 1994.

He was transported back to Middleton with a State Police escort to face charges last night. He is scheduled for arraignment today in Salem District Court.
Bufalino has a long and well-publicized history with North Shore law enforcement.

He was sentenced in 1999 to serve 10 years in prison for a 1993 armed bank robbery at the former Boston Five Cents bank at Northgate Shopping Center in Revere. It was perhaps his longest jail sentence served despite being suspected in several serious crimes.

Bufalino and two other men were acquitted of shooting to death drug dealer Vincent DeNino, 26, of 236 Summer St., Lynn, in February 1984 after a judge suppressed wiretap evidence. DeNino's bullet-riddled body was found in the trunk of a car in a Revere supermarket parking lot after being shot once in the shoulder and four times in the head, allegedly for refusing to pay $10,000 in a cocaine deal.

After the homicide, Bufalino fled to County Cavan, Ireland where he worked as a pub bouncer and was suspected in a murder similar to DeNino's. He was jailed in 1987 for the Lynn murder after fleeing Ireland to Spain and extradited to the United States in 1989.

In 1995, Bufalino pleaded guilty to attempted murder and was sentenced to three to five years for shooting a woman and nearly shooting a male friend in a Revere parking lot after a drug deal went bad.

In 1992, he was arrested for stealing cash from an armored car on Broadway in Revere.

Lynn Daily Item

Happy New Year - The Year of the Ox

Chinese New Year or Spring Festival is the most important of the traditional Chinese holidays. It is often called the Lunar New Year, especially by people in mainland China and Taiwan. The festival traditionally begins on the first day of the first lunar month (Chinese: 正月; pinyin: zhēng yuè) in the Chinese calendar and ends on the 15th; this day is called Lantern Festival. Chinese New Year's Eve is known as Chúxī. It literally means "Year-pass Eve".

See Wikipedia to see how the holiday is celebrated.

Today would have been Paul Newman's 84th Birthday

Paul Leonard Newman (January 26, 1925 – September 26, 2008) was an American actor, film director, entrepreneur, humanitarian, and auto racing enthusiast. He won numerous awards, including an Academy Award for his performance in the 1986 Martin Scorsese film The Color of Money and eight other nominations three Golden Globe Awards, a BAFTA Award, a Screen Actors Guild Award, a Cannes Film Festival Award, an Emmy award, and many honorary awards. He also won several national championships as a driver in Sports Car Club of America road racing, and his race teams won several championships in open wheel IndyCar racing.

Newman was a co-founder of Newman's Own, a food company from which Newman donated all post-tax profits and royalties to charity. As of October 2008, these donations had exceeded US $250 million.

Newman was born in Shaker Heights, Ohio (a suburb of Cleveland), the son of Theresa (née Fetzer or Fetsko; Slovak: Terézia Fecková)and Arthur Samuel Newman, who ran a profitable sporting goods store. Newman's father was Jewish, the son of immigrants from Poland and Hungary; Newman's mother, who practiced Christian Science, was born to a Slovak Catholic family at Ptičie (formerly Pticsie) in the former Austria–Hungary (now in Slovakia). Newman had described himself as Jewish, stating that, "it's more of a challenge". Newman's mother worked in his father's store, while raising Paul and his brother Arthur (who later became a producer and production manager).

Newman showed an early interest in the theater, which his mother encouraged. At the age of seven, he made his acting debut, playing the court jester in a school production of Robin Hood. Graduating from Shaker Heights High School in 1943, he briefly attended Ohio University in Athens, Ohio, where he was initiated into the Phi Kappa Tau fraternity.

Newman was married twice. His first marriage to Jackie Witte lasted from 1949 to 1958. Together they had a son, Scott (1950), and two daughters, Susan Kendall (1953) and Stephanie. Scott Newman, who died in November 1978 from an accidental drug overdose, appeared in the films Breakheart Pass, The Towering Inferno and the 1977 film Fraternity Row. Paul Newman started the Scott Newman Center for drug abuse prevention in memory of his son.

Susan is a documentary filmmaker and philanthropist and has Broadway and screen credits, including a starring role as one of four Beatles fans in 1978's I Wanna Hold Your Hand. She also received an Emmy nomination as co-producer of his telefilm, The Shadow Box. Newman had two grandsons.

Newman married actress Joanne Woodward on February 2, 1958. They had three daughters: Elinor "Nell" Teresa (1959), Melissa "Lissy" Stewart (1961), and Claire "Clea" Olivia (1965). Newman directed Elinor (stage name Nell Potts) in the central role alongside her mother in the film The Effect of Gamma Rays on Man-in-the-Moon Marigolds.

Newman lived away from the Hollywood environment. He made his home quietly in Westport, Connecticut, and was devoted to his wife and family. When asked about infidelity, he quipped, "Why go out for hamburger when you have steak at home?"

On September 26, 2008, Newman died at his longtime home in Westport, Connecticut, of complications arising from lung cancer.

New RMV office opening at Mahoney Circle in Revere today

REVERE-The state is giving the city a little good news today amidst the gloomy reports of state spending cuts: The Registry of Motor Vehicles is opening a new office at Mahoney Circle.

Relocating the Registry from Melrose makes it easy for area drivers to renew licenses and take care of other business. The move also brings potential shoppers into downtown. Mayor Thomas Ambrosino, local legislators and Registrar Rachel Kaprielian inaugurate the new Registry office today at 10 a.m.

State and local officials last October announced the ten-year lease between the Registry and Mahoney Circle LLC, the developer of the Channel project off Mahoney Circle.

Registry spokeswoman Ann Dufresne at the time of the announcement said ample parking at the Channel site and easy access onto Everett Street from mahoney Circle prompted the Registry to relocate its Melrose operation, including 17 employees, to Revere.

Mahoney Circle LLC will receive $300,000 a year under the lease terms. Dufresne said the company recently retrofitted the Registry site in Wilmington.

The Mahoney Circle location will be outfitted with new technology allowing customers to take a driver’s permit test using a touch screen. Employee workstations will be outfitted so that Registry employees can handle licensing and registration functions. Dufresne estimates at least 13,000 customers will use the Revere branch every month.

“The move to Revere will impact customer flow at a number of other branches,” Dufresne said in October.

Like other registries across the state, the Revere location will be open Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday and Friday from 8:30 a.m. to 5 p.m. and Thursday from 8:30 a.m. to 7 p.m.

Lynn Daily Item

Amazingly Simple Home Remedies

Avoid cutting yourself when slicing vegetables by getting someone else to hold them while you chop.

Avoid arguments with the Mrs. about lifting the toilet seat by using the sink.

For high blood pressure sufferers: simply cut yourself and bleed for a few minutes, thus reducing the pressure in your veins. Remember to use a timer.

A mouse trap, placed on top of your alarm clock, will prevent you from rolling over and going back to sleep after you hit the snooze button.

If you have a bad cough, take a large dose of laxatives; then you'll be afraid to cough.

You only need two tools in life - WD-40 and Duct Tape. If it doesn't move and should, use the WD-40. If it shouldn't move and does, use the duct tape.

Remember: Everyone seems normal until you get to know them.

If you can't fix it with a hammer, you've got an electrical problem.

Economic Stimulus Payment Explained:

This year, taxpayers will receive an Economic Stimulus Payment. This is a very exciting new program that can be explained using the Q and A format:

Q. "What is an Economic Stimulus Payment?"
A. It is money that the federal government will send to taxpayers.

Q. "Where will the government get this money?"
A. From taxpayers.

Q. "So the government is giving me back my own money?"
A. Only a smidgen.

Q. "What is the purpose of this payment?"
A. The plan is that you will use the money to purchase a high-definition TV set, thus stimulating the economy.

Q. "But isn't that stimulating the economy of China?"
A. Shut up.

Below is some helpful advice on how to best help the US economy by spending your stimulus check wisely:

If you spend that money at Wal-Mart, all the money will go to China.

If you spend it on gasoline, it will go to the Arabs.

If you purchase a computer, it will go to India.

If you purchase fruit and vegetables, it will go to Mexico, Honduras, and Guatemala (unless you buy organic).

If you buy a car, it will go to Japan.

If you purchase useless crap, it will go to Taiwan.

And none of it will help the American economy.

We need to keep that money here in America. You can keep the money in America by spending it at yard sales, going to a baseball game, or spend it on prostitutes, beer (domestic ONLY), or tattoos, since those are the only businesses still in the US.

Tips to keep you Happy and Healthy

submitted by Denise

1. Take a 10-30 minute walk every day. And while you walk, smile. It is the ultimate anti-depressant.

2. Sit in silence for at least 10 minutes each day.

3. DVR or tape your late night shows and get more sleep.

4. When you wake up in the morning complete the following statement, 'My purpose is to __________ today.'

5. Live with the 3 E's -- Energy, Enthusiasm, and Empathy.

6. Play more games and read more books than you did last year.

7. Make time to practice meditation, and prayer. They provide us with daily fuel for our busy lives.

8. Spend time with people over the age of 70 and under the age of 6.

9. Dream more while you are awake.

10. Eat more foods that grow on trees and plants and eat less food that is manufactured in plants.

11. Drink green tea and plenty of water. Eat blueberries, wild Alaskan salmon, broccoli, almonds & walnuts.

12. Try to make at least three people smile each day.

13. Clear clutter from your house, your car, your desk and let new and flowing energy into your life.

14. Don't waste your precious energy on gossip, OR issues of the past, negative thoughts or things you cannot control. Instead invest your energy in the positive present moment.

15. Realize that life is a school and you are here to learn. Problems are simply part of the curriculum that appear and fade away like algebra class but the lessons you learn will last a lifetime.

16. Eat breakfast like a king, lunch like a prince and dinner like a college kid with a maxed out charge card.

17. Smile and laugh more. It will keep the NEGATIVE BLUES away.

18. Life isn't fair, but it's still good.

19. Life is too short to waste time hating anyone.

20. Don't take yourself so seriously. No one else does.

21. You don't have to win every argument. Agree to disagree.

22. Make peace with your past so it won't spoil the present.

23. Don't compare your life to others'. You have no idea what their journey is all about.

24. No one is in charge of your happiness except you.

25. Frame every so-called disaster with these words: 'In five years, will this matter?'

26. Forgive everyone for everything.

27. What other people think of you is none of your business.

28. Remember, GOD heals everything.

29. However good or bad a situation is, it will change.

30. Your job won't take care of you when you are sick. Your friends will. Stay in touch.

31. Get rid of anything that isn't useful, beautiful or joyful.

32. Envy is a waste of time. You already have all you need.

33. The best is yet to come.

34. No matter how you feel, get up, dress up and show up.

35. Do the right thing!

36. Call your family often. (Or email them to death!)

37. Each night before you go to bed complete the following statements: I am thankful for __________. Today I accomplished _________.

38. Remember that you are too blessed to be stressed.

39. Enjoy the ride. Remember this is not Disney World and you certainly don't want a fast pass. You only have one ride through life so make the most of it.

40. Pass these tips along!

Bubba has shingles

submitted by Mark C.

Bubba walked into a doctor's office and the receptionist asked him what he had.

Bubba said, "Shingles."

So she wrote down his name, address, medical insurance number and told him to have a seat. Fifteen minutes later a nurse's aide came out and asked Bubba what he had.

Bubba said, "Shingles."

So she wrote down his height, weight, a complete medical history and told Bubba to wait in the examining room. A half hour later a nurse came in and asked Bubba what he had.

Bubba said, "Shingles."

So the nurse gave Bubba a blood test, a blood pressure test, an electrocardiogram, and told Bubba to take off all his clothes and wait for the doctor. An hour later the doctor came in and found Bubba sitting patiently in the nude and asked Bubba what he had.

Bubba said, "Shingles."

The doctor asked, "Where?"

Bubba said, "Outside on the truck. Where do you want me to unload 'em??"

Born this Date: Neil Diamond

Neil Leslie Diamond (born January 24, 1941) is an American singer-songwriter and occasional actor. Other names such as Eice Cherry and Noah Kaminsky were considered as stage names for Neil, but were never used.

Neil Diamond is one of pop music's most enduring and successful singer-songwriters. As a successful pop music performer, Diamond scored a number of hits worldwide in the 1960s, 1970s, and 1980s.

Critic William Ruhlmann wrote of Diamond, "As of 2001, he claimed worldwide record sales of 115 million copies, and as of 2002 he was ranked third, behind only Elton John and Barbra Streisand, on the list of the most successful adult contemporary artists in the history of the Billboard chart." As of May 2005, Diamond had sold 160 million records worldwide, including 48 million records in the U.S.

Though his record sales declined somewhat after the 1980s, Diamond continues to tour successfully, and maintains a very loyal following. Diamond's songs have been recorded by a vast array of performers from many different musical genres.

Diamond was inducted into the Songwriters Hall of Fame in 1984, and in 2000 received the Sammy Cahn Lifetime Achievement Award.

Neil Diamond was born into a Jewish Russian-Polish family, the son of a dry-goods merchant. He grew up in several homes in the New York City borough of Brooklyn, attending Erasmus Hall and Abraham Lincoln High Schools. At Erasmus Hall, he took part in SING! and sang in the school choir with Barbra Streisand.

The 1990s and 2000s saw a resurgence in Diamond’s popularity. “Sweet Caroline” became a popular sing-along at sporting events. It started being played at both Boston College football and basketball games. Most notably it is the theme song for Red Sox Nation, despite Diamond’s frequent assertions that he has been a lifelong “Yankee fan.” The song also gets playing time during the 8th inning of every Mets home game at Shea Stadium, and at the Washington Nationals home games. The New York Rangers have also adapted it as their own, and play it when they are winning at the end of the 3rd period.

Diamond married school teacher Jaye Posner in 1963. They divorced in 1969. They had two children, Marjorie and Elyn. In 1969, Diamond married Marcia Murphey; they also had two children, both sons; the first was Jesse, and the second was Micah. Diamond's second marriage ended in 1995. He has been involved with Australian native Rachel Farley, since 1996, having met her while she was handling his Marketing for the Promoter during his 1996 Australian tour.

Air Force Humor

WEEKEND LOVE FORECAST:

ARIES: There is something unpredictable about your love life, which will greatly delight you. TAURUS: Strong, stable people serve as anchors for you -- it's a reversal of roles to be certain since you're usually the rock for others. GEMINI: A pragmatic and humorous individual will influence you to do what you normally might not. CANCER: The one who behaves in a manner that is considered indecorous will have sizzling appeal as far as you're concerned. LEO: Your mood is more fickle than you realize, so be careful not to make any decisions that cannot be easily reversed. VIRGO: Your ideal mate will usually share your zest for life; however, this weekend's partner needs to be revved up and cheered on. LIBRA: Your verbal restraint will contribute favorably to the health of a relationship. SCORPIO: You appreciate playfulness and will have an especially fun and silly connection with Leo or Aquarius. SAGITTARIUS: Deep communication springs from a psychic bond. CAPRICORN: It's a fascinating experience to see someone's mystery revealed. AQUARIUS: Your efforts are considerable and an eventual testament to the adage "true love conquers all." PISCES: Good natured, affectionate people may appeal to you, but secretly you like the "baddies."

COUPLE OF THE WEEKEND: Aquarius and Leo are a magical duo. These two playful souls who act like children when they are together will not be intimidated or swayed in the least by the prospect of what the neighbors might be thinking. They revel in silliness this weekend and will come up with their own language of sorts -- an endless stream of inside jokes that the rest of the world will probably never understand.

Broken windshield helps house cleaner win jackpot

CLIFTON PARK, N.Y.—A broken windshield on her son's car turned out to be a lucky break for an upstate New York house cleaner. State lottery officials introduced 55-year-old Pamela Fitch of Mechanicville as the person who won $1 million on a Big Bucks instant ticket bought on Jan. 8 at a Stewarts Shops convenience store in Saratoga County.

Fitch, a self-employed house cleaner, said her son asked to her run to the store for him because his car windshield was broken. At the store, the clerk handed Fitch a Big Bucks ticket instead of the Jumbo Bucks instant ticket she asked for.

The grandmother of two said she decided to keep the Big Bucks ticket because her horoscope said she was going to win the lottery.

She'll receive $34,075 a year after taxes for 20 years.

Happy Birthday Patti!

Have a great birthday...and year!

Demotivational Poster

If you like Hot Dogs...

Thank God it's Friday!

Britney faces ban with "If you seek Amy" lyrics

BRITNEY SPEARS is no stranger to controversy.
But after a very public meltdown at the beginning of 2007, the troubled pop princess has got herself back on track and is currently preparing for her world tour where she’ll be hoping to prove to everyone that she’s better than ever.

So Brit could have done with a controversy-free 2009.

But she got off to a bad start when she announced that the third single to be released from her comeback album Circus will be If You Seek Amy.

It all sounds very innocent but, as I revealed last year, the title of the song actually means something very naughty indeed.

Say the name very slowly and what you actually get is an explicit, erm, invitation.

To put it into context, one of the lines in the song is: “All the boys and the girls are begging to If You Seek Amy.”

I’m not the only one who noticed the alternative way of reading the track and US radio stations threatened to BAN it from their airwaves when they realised what was going on.

Banned
Britney is one of those acts who appeals to all ages and this is not exactly the type of song parents want their kids singing along to.

So now, faced with the prospect of the single being banned across America, she has gone back into the studio and rerecorded it.

But fans may be a little disappointed with the outcome.

Rather than rewriting the song, Brit and her label have simply dropped the “K” from the end of “seek” and renamed the song “If You See Amy”.

The removal of that one letter might have kept parents and radio stations happy but the downside is that the track now makes no sense whatsoever.

Not that that should stand in the way of Britney bagging the No. 1 spot.

Just look at cheesy Scandinavian pop quartet Aqua and their 1997 nonsense chart-topper Barbie Girl . . .

Aretha Franklin's hat, Detroit-made, wins global acclaim

Please tell me this isn't so...the hat is hideous!

Paris? No. Milan? No. New York? No. New Center? Yes!

Aretha Franklin's bow-tied, gift-wrapped, jewel-studded, $179 inaugural hat was designed, produced and sold to the Queen of Soul by Mr. Song Millinery, a family-owned business on Woodward Avenue just south of West Grand Boulevard.

Starting minutes after Franklin finished her distinctive rendition of "My Country, 'Tis of Thee" on Tuesday, the store's phones started ringing.

By Wednesday afternoon, Mr. Song had sold hundreds of hats. A store in Dallas had sold 500 more, and the material was running out.

"People are calling from England, asking for the hat," said Luke Song, who designed Franklin's chapeau. "I'm shocked. I had no idea. We did not expect this."

The hat has gone crazy in the media and cyberspace. Everyone from Jon Stewart on "The Daily Show" to the women on "The View" talked about it Tuesday and Wednesday. Stewart poked fun at it; the women seemed more appreciative. On Wednesday's "The Ellen Show," host Ellen DeGeneres wore an exaggerated hat similar to Franklin's.

Freep.com - Full Story

Engaging Gisele talks Tom Brady, marriage

Gisele Bundchen says she and her pigskin Prince Charming, Tom Brady [stats], are NOT engaged - but they will get married someday!

“I will realize the dream of marriage, to have children and a family, of course. I’m sorry (to) disappoint you, there is no date set yet,” the supermdel told the Brazilian magazine Caras. “I’m in love and you will see my wedding on the right day.”

The Brazilian bombshell, who did the interview in her native Portuguese, said she had no idea how two separate engagement rumors ran rampant around the globe in the past few weeks.

“I don’t know how people are so creative,” said Gi, who was back home in Brazil for Sao Paulo Fashion Week. “First they said he proposed to me in a plane. Imagine, it was Dec. 24, Christmas, we were flying to Boston, then there was some champagne and we celebrated the date.

“Ready? Someone deduced I was getting engaged! I received more than 100 e-mails from friends commenting about the proposal. Now there’s a new rumor, that he proposed to me on last Friday. I wasn’t even there, how can that be true?”

Gisele said when she and the New England Patriots [team stats] QB/QT do finally tie the knot, they will have an intimate wedding for just family and close friends. And although the couple has been long rumored to be eyeing Costa Rica as their wedding locale, Bundchen said she’s not sure where the “I dos” will get done.

“This talk of Costa Rica must be for the fact I have a house there,” she said. “I don’t know yet if it’s going to be here or in another country, but what I know is that it’s going to be something small, a simple ceremony. I don’t like parties, I prefer something more intimate, just for the closest people.”

Bundchen said she wanted Brady, who has never been to Brazil, to come to Fashion Week with her. But the doctors who are helping No. 12 rehab after he tore up his knee “wouldn’t allow it.”

“As soon as he gets the discharge, I want to bring him here immediately,” she said.

The supermodel added that she missed living in Brazil and hopes to return one day to raise her kids there.

“At the moment, my life is in United States. My boyfriend lives there, plays there and has a contract with the New England Patriots [team stats] team,” she said. “The home is where your heart is, if mine is there, I have to stay. I think for 10 years still. Then I don’t know what’s going to happen in my life, but I would love to come back and to raise my kids in Brazil, someday.”

Boston Herald

Linda Blair turns 50!

Linda Denise Blair (born January 22, 1959) is an American actress most famous for her role as the possessed child, Regan,the 1973 film The Exorcist, and its sequel, Exorcist II: The Heretic.

Blair was born in St. Louis, Missouri, the daughter of Elinore (née Leitch), a real estate agent, and James Frederick Blair, an executive recruiter.[1] She moved with her parents to Westport, Connecticut when she was two years old. As a young child, Blair began her career by modeling, then acting in commercials, including a long-running one for Gulden's Mustard. Blair had originally planned to become a veterinarian, but instead accepted a role in The Exorcist because the money would allow her to pursue horsemanship. She was chosen over the very similar-looking Pamelyn Ferdin since the director wanted an unknown, and Ferdin had already gained notoriety after appearing in Star Trek, The Odd Couple and Night Gallery.

Based on William Peter Blatty's best-selling novel, The Exorcist was directed by William Friedkin, who had recently won an Oscar for directing The French Connection. The cast included Ellen Burstyn, Jason Miller, Max Von Sydow and Kitty Winn. Blatty produced the film and wrote the screenplay.

Blair gave a strong, credible performance as a young girl possessed by a demon, and was an integral part of the film's phenomenal success soon after opening in December 1973. Lines at theaters extended around blocks, with people standing in line for hours. The film was nominated for ten Academy Awards, including Best Picture, and Blair received an Oscar nomination for Best Supporting Actress, as well as Golden Globe and People's Choice Award wins. Blair received a Golden Globe nomination for the now defunct "most promising female star" category.

Despite the film's several nominations, the Best Picture Oscar went to George Roy Hill's film The Sting. The Exorcist won for Blatty's screenplay and for Best Sound. Blair's chances for an Oscar were undeniably hurt when Mercedes McCambridge revealed to the press that she had provided the (initially) uncredited demonic voice, though Linda's voice was underlaid in the track, and another woman claimed to have body-doubled for Blair in several scenes, though the director dismissed the contributions of the double as insignificant. The Best Supporting Actress Oscar instead went to 10-year old Tatum O'Neal for her performance in Peter Bogdanovich's Paper Moon.

Following the success of The Exorcist, Blair appeared in several controversial television films, including Born Innocent and Sarah T...Portrait Of a Teenage Alcoholic, which were the highest rated in their respective years. She was also featured in Airport 1975. Soon afterward, her role in the failed Exorcist sequel, Exorcist II: The Heretic with Richard Burton, nearly killed her career, though she received a Saturn Award Best Actress nomination for her performance in the film.

According to an interview with John McLaughlin on McLaughlin's One On One, Blair experienced an uncontrollable weight gain over the next few years after Exorcist II.

Adding to her troubles, Blair was arrested in December 1977 for conspiring to purchase and distribute cocaine and for possessing amphetamines. It was revealed that Blair's cohorts happened to be dog breeders; phone taps indicated that the word "dog" was a code word for "cocaine". Though there was an actual dog discussed in the phone tap recordings, Linda's legal team preferred to enter a guilty plea rather than challenge the charge. She was fined for possession, sentenced to three years probation, instructed to appear in several anti-drug commercials, and ordered to enter a nine-month drug rehabilitation program. Blair mentioned the legal woes on a October 1999 episode of E! True Hollywood Story, claiming that the 1977 arrest ruined her Hollywood career.

PandaLabs: Conficker Worm, a Global Menace

The study that involved almost 2 million computers, reported the infection to have originated in China. It reported the worm to have had extended across 83 countries, and was particularly virulent in Spain, the USA, Taiwan, Brazil and Mexico.

"Of the 2 million computers analyzed, around 115,000 were infected with this malware, a phenomenon we haven't seen since the times of the great epidemics of Kournikova or Blaster", said Luis Corrons, technical director of PandaLabs.

The worm variants are launching brute force attacks to extract passwords from infected computers, and the frequency of weak passwords (common words, own names, etc.) has aided the distribution of this worm - said the report.

The worm uses an innovative system of social engineering to spread via USB devices: The report said that the that the worm uses the Windows options menu that appears when inserting a USB device, and then disguised the option to run the program (activating the malware) to open the folder to see the file.

Born this Date: Diane Lane

Diane Lane (born January 22, 1965) is an American film actress. She made her screen debut in George Roy Hill's 1979 film A Little Romance starring opposite Laurence Olivier. Soon after, Lane was featured on the cover of Time. She became well known for appearing in two films made and released consecutively by Francis Ford Coppola: The Outsiders and Rumble Fish. Lane went on to star in two high profile studio films, Streets of Fire and The Cotton Club, that were commercial and critical failures. She took three years off from acting and appeared in several independent films during the 1990s. Lane since appeared in several notable films, including Unfaithful, which earned her Academy Award, Golden Globes and Screen Actors Guild Award nominations.

In her personal life, Lane dated actors Timothy Hutton, Christopher Atkins, Matt Dillon during the 1980s, and later rock star Jon Bon Jovi. She was married to Christopher Lambert and they had a daughter, Eleanor Jasmine Lambert. The couple were divorced following a prolonged separation in 1994 and she married actor Josh Brolin on August 15, 2004.

Diane Lane was born in New York City. Her mother, Colleen Farrington, was a night club singer and Playboy centerfold (Miss October 1957) who was also known as "Colleen Price". Her father, Burton Eugene Lane, was a Manhattan drama coach who ran an acting workshop with John Cassavetes, worked as a cab driver, and later taught humanities at City College. When Lane was 13 days old, her parents split up and her mother went to Mexico and obtained a divorce while retaining custody of her daughter until age 6. Her father got custody of his daughter after Farrington moved to Georgia. Lane and her father lived in a number of residential hotels in New York City and she would ride with him in his taxi.

When Lane was 15, she declared her independence from her father and ran away to Los Angeles for a week with actor and friend Christopher Atkins. Lane remembers, "It was reckless behavior that comes from having too much independence too young". She came back and moved in with a friend's family, paying them rent. In 1981, she enrolled in high school after having taken correspondence courses. However, Lane's mother kidnapped her and took the young girl back to Georgia. Lane and her father challenged her mother in court and six weeks later she was back in New York. Lane did not speak to her mother for three years but they have since reconciled.

Revere cop slay trial slated to start in April

REVERE - The trial for the four suspects charged in connection with the murder of Revere police officer Daniel Talbot is tentatively scheduled for April 27 at Suffolk Superior Court in Boston, according to the Suffolk County District Attorney's Office.

According to Jake Wark, spokesman for District Attorney Dan Conley, a continuance was made in the case after it had been scheduled for late March.

The alleged shooter, Robert Iacoviello, 21, of 59 Thurlow Ave., Revere, stands charged with first-degree murder and weapons violations.

Iacoviello's girlfriend Gia Nagy, 18, and alleged gang members Derek Lodie, 18 and James Heang, 18, all from Revere, are charged with being accessories to the homicide, which occurred at the baseball field of Revere High School about 1:30 a.m. Sept. 29, 2007.

All three male suspects are in jail awaiting trial and Nagy was released on bail, Wark said.

The suspects were indicted by a grand jury in December 2007.

Wark downplayed reports made in a weekly Revere newspaper late last year that former Revere police Sgt. Evan Franklin, who was fired in April after he allegedly witnessed the shooting and ran away from the scene, will testify for the defense.

"We don't discuss or name potential prosecution witnesses at trial," Wark said. "My interest is that [the Revere newspaper] said he would without any sort of substantiation."

Revere Police Chief Terence Reardon said outright he does not believe Franklin will testify for the defense, and said Franklin wrote a letter to the newspaper disputing the information, but the letter was never published.

"What kills me is that people think it's legitimate information," Reardon said.

Lynn Daily Item

Ask the Doctor

Q: I've heard that cardiovascular exercise can prolong life; is this true?
A: Your heart is only good for so many beats, and that's it.. Don't waste them on exercise. Everything wears out eventually. Speeding up your heart will not make you live longer; that's like saying you can extend the life of your car by driving it faster. Want to live longer? Take a nap.

Q: Should I cut down on meat and eat more fruits and vegetables?
A: You must grasp logistical efficiencies. What does a cow eat? Hay and corn. And what are these? Vegetables. So a steak is nothing more than an efficient mechanism of delivering vegetables to your system. Need grain? Eat chicken. Beef is also a good source of field grass (green leafy vegetable).

Q: Should I reduce my alcohol intake?
A: No, not at all. Wine is made from fruit. Brandy is distilled wine, that means they take the water out of the fruity bit so you get even more of the goodness that way. Beer is also made out of grain. Bottoms up!

Q: How can I calculate my body/fat ratio?
A: Well, if you have a body and you have fat, your ratio is one to one. If you have two bodies, your ratio is two to one, etc.

Q: What are some of the advantages of participating in a regular exercise program?
A: Can't think of a single one, sorry. My philosophy is: No Pain...Good!

Q: Aren't fried foods bad for you?
A: You're not listening.... Foods are fried these days in vegetable oil. In fact, they're permeated in it. How could getting more vegetables be bad for you?

Q: Will sit-ups help prevent me from getting a little soft around the middle?
A: Definitely not! When you exercise a muscle, it gets bigger. You should only be doing sit-ups if you want a bigger stomach.

Q: Is chocolate bad for me?
A: Are you crazy? HELLO Cocoa beans! Another vegetable. It's the best feel-good food around!

Q: Is swimming good for your figure?
A: If swimming is good for your figure, explain whales to me.

Q: Is getting in-shape important for my lifestyle?
A: Hey! 'Round' is a shape! ! Well, I hope this has cleared up any misconceptions you may have had about food and diets.

And remember:

"Life should NOT be a journey to the grave with the intention of arriving safely in an attractive and well preserved body, but rather to skid in sideways, Champagne in one hand - chocolate in the other - body thoroughly used up, totally worn out and screaming, "WOO HOO, What a Ride!

His & Her's closets

NFL - the best players

Facebook

Seems everyone's on Facebook lately and how time flies when you're on there doing nothing! It is pretty nice to hear from everyone and see family photo's, etc.

So if you're on Facebook, drop me a line.

Power goes out: Bose to ax 1,000

Bose Corp., the audio giant known for Wave radios and noise-canceling headphones, is cutting 1,000 jobs, the company confirmed yesterday.

The Framingham-based firm said the layoffs amount to about 10 percent of its total work force and the cuts will come from “select areas, including manufacturing.”

Bose’s restructuring is a reaction to the recession and a slowdown in consumer spending.

Boston Herald - Full Story

MBTA: Be careful, crime is up on Boston subways

REVERE - Pickpockets and other thieves coveting small, expensive carry-around electronic devices like iPods helped drive up crime on the Blue Line and other Boston area subway lines last year.

Incidents in the category of larceny or theft increased from 506 to 699.

Massachusetts Bay Transportation Authority Police Chief Paul MacMillan attributed much of the increase to the theft of electronic items such as iPods and Sidekicks, a popular cell phone.

"We continue to stress the importance of customers being aware of their surroundings, especially when using a cell phone or PDA," MacMillan said.

MacMillan said crimes in 2008 totaled 1,049. The total number in 2007 was 874. Aggravated assaults dropped from 112 to 103, while robberies rose slightly, 183 to 207. Motor vehicle thefts decreased from 55 to 27.

"That trend is encouraging," MacMillan said, "considering we park over 9 million cars annually."

"We conducted a number of awareness campaigns throughout the year to alert our passengers to what we saw occurring on the system," said MacMillan. "These campaigns not only provide important information, they also encourage customers to report incidents to the MBTA Transit Police so that we can take appropriate action."

Noting that the MBTA attracted nearly 375 million riders in Fiscal Year 2008, General Manager Daniel Grabauskas said public transit continues to be a safe and reliable alternative to automobile travel. "Our ridership is at record levels, in part, because the MBTA is a very safe system," said Grabauskas. "Backed by the largest Transit Police force in the department's history, the MBTA will continue to provide its customers with a safe and comfortable transportation environment."

Of the MBTA's 271 stations, 144 were crime-free last year, according to statistics.

Following the highly-publicized April 2008 launch of an anti-sexual harassment campaign, reported incidents of people being indecently assaulted rose from 44 in 2007 to 69 last year. MacMillan pointed out that this increase can be attributed to the public awareness program, co-sponsored by the MBTA and the Boston Area Rape Crisis Center, empowering T passengers to call police if they are inappropriately touched.

"We expected that there might be an increase in the reports, MacMillan said. "The purpose of the campaign was two fold, one to alert our passengers that they could take some action if accosted, and two, as I stated earlier, to give us a more accurate picture of what was actually happening on the system."

Lynn Daily Item

Snow Day!

Revere purse snatchers caught quickly

REVERE-A 26-year-old Revere man allegedly admitted to stealing a woman’s purse off her shoulder from a Northgate Shopping Center bus stop Saturday following his quick arrest, police said.

Frank Gorman, of 98 Whiten Ave., and his alleged accomplice, Julie Uglietto, 27, of 140 Spring St., Stoneham, were arrested and charged with unarmed robbery. Uglietto was also charged with driving with a suspended license and an outstanding warrant.

Police responded to the Squire Road shopping center about 6:30 p.m. on a report that a man stole a woman’s purse at the bus stop then hopped into an awaiting Chrysler Sebring. A witness wrote down the license plate number and police spotted the car in the Gore Road area, police said.

Gorman allegedly told police he stole the purse because he wanted money to provide for his children, according to police reports.

Lynn Daily Item

Happy Birthday, Jenna!

and I hear congratulations are in order for your recent engagement!

Today's Birthday...my sweetheart!

Kevin Michael Costner turns 54 today. He was born in Lynwood, California, the youngest of the three sons (Oldest brother Dan (1950) and a middle brother who died at birth(1953)) to Sharon Rae (Tedrick), a welfare worker, and William Costner, an electrician and later utilities executive. He has German, Irish and Cherokee ancestry (his Oklahoma-born paternal grandfather was half Cherokee). Costner was raised Baptist. He graduated from Villa Park High School in Villa Park, California, in 1973. Went on to earn a B.A. in business from California State University, where he met bride-to-be Cindy Silva. They later had 3 children, Annie, Lily & Joe. They divorced in 1994 after 16 years of marriage. Costner had a brief relationship with Bridget Rooney after his divorce and had another son, Liam. I guess he didn't know I was available before he married his first wife. Have I told you how much I love Kevin? Well, I love Kevin, but Kevin doesn't love me.

In September 2004, Costner married his girlfriend (much to my dismay) of four years, the German model and handbag designer Christine Baumgartner. They have a son, Cayden Wyatt Costner.

My favorite movies: No Way Out, Fandango, For Love of the Game, Tin Cup, Revenge, Message in a Bottle, Field of Dreams, Dragonfly, Dances with Wolves, The Guardian, The Bodyguard and the Upside of Anger. And even the movies I'm not crazy about, I'll still watch them just to see him. Wish they wouldn't have cut him out of the Big Chill.

Christmas Gift Cards...

with the recent rash of store closings, I hope everyone was wise as to who they purchased their gift cards from.

A hint:

Cash - right size, right color...never goes out of style.

WEEKEND LOVE FORECAST:

ARIES: A dashing suitor may nonetheless be unsuitable for you. Use discretion. TAURUS: Your idea of steadfast love is different from a partner's idea -- discuss. GEMINI: You align with Mercury, your guiding planet, for some loveable mischief making. CANCER: You're idealistic in your approach to romance and some of those high standards will actually be met. LEO: Your notions of fun match perfectly with your partner's and the result is a blissful stretch of together time. VIRGO: You need a charismatic counterpart to draw you out and someone who fits the bill will emerge on Saturday. LIBRA: A nurturing sweetheart is so attentive you could just about heal an age-old would in the span of this weekend. SCORPIO: You aim to delight and have no problem with hard-to-please partners. You deliver on their every whim. SAGITTARIUS: The answer is not across the globe, or street for that matter. Perfect love is oh, so near. CAPRICORN: When a loved one demonstrates the ability to facilitate your detailed plans, you fall hard. AQUARIUS: The one who demands the best from you will get it. PISCES: You are drawn to those with an artistic way of framing your current situation.

COUPLE OF THE WEEKEND: For air signs Libra and Aquarius, sharing a life together is a breeze. They could be complete strangers standing next to each other in a movie ticket line, or high school sweethearts who have been married for 50 years and the chemistry is the same: effortless, witty and light. This weekend the two enjoy pursuing high-minded endeavors that speak to their joint interest in art, design or philosophy.

This is one of my favorite holiday weekends...

it's Martin Luther King, Jr. Day, which is celebrated the third Monday in January. It is to honor the birthdate of Martin Luther King, Jr., which actually falls on January 15th. Some states still don't recognize it as MLK, Jr., day. They refer to it as Human Rights Day or Civil Rights Day.

Why, you ask is this my favorite holiday?...it's because nothing is really expected of you. You are only asked to remember a man who was the chief spokesperson of the nonviolent civil rights movement. How difficult is that. I like very uncomplicated holidays...St. Patrick's Day is along the same line, unfortunately, I don't get that day off anymore. But I'm Irish, so every day is St. Patrick's Day to me!

Enjoy the weekend. I'm sure I will.

Demotivational Poster

Long Weekend, Yahoooo....

Gil Grissom walks off into the jungle...

to be with Sara Sidle. It's about time. I can live with that.

I'm gonna miss my sweetie on Thursday night, tho.

Burglar caught after cops post footage on Facebook

WELLINGTON, New Zealand—Police in New Zealand nabbed a burglar after posting security camera footage of him trying to crack a bar's safe on the Internet networking site Facebook.

Police said it was New Zealand's first such Facebook arrest and said they would use the site again to fight crime, as law enforcement officials and lawyers increasingly turn to online networks for purposes other than their original ones to provide social interaction.

"Facebook was very, very handy, and it's a good little tool," Senior Sgt. John Fookes of Queenstown police told The Associated Press on Thursday.

The burglar, wearing a face-covering balaclava and carrying a bag of tools, broke into a tiny storage room inside the Franklin Tavern in the tourist town of Queenstown early Monday and tried to cut into a safe containing $12,000 (NZ 20,000) in takings from gambling machines.

After nearly an hour in the cramped space, the burglar removed his balaclava and gloves and looked around -- red-faced from fruitless toil. As he left, the video shows the man suddenly spotting the lens of the security camera that was recording his every move.

Boston Globe - Full Story

Born this Date: Ronnie Van Zant

Ronald Wayne "Ronnie" Van Zant (January 15 1948 – October 20 1977) was the lead vocalist, primary lyricist, and a founding member of the Southern rock band Lynyrd Skynyrd. He was the older brother of .38 Special founder and vocalist Donnie Van Zant and current Lynyrd Skynyrd lead vocalist Johnny Van Zant.

Van Zant formed Skynyrd late in the summer of 1964 with friends and schoolmates Allen Collins (guitar), Gary Rossington (guitar), Larry Junstrom (bass), and Bob Burns (drums). Lynyrd Skynyrd's name was inspired by a gym teacher the boys had in high school, Leonard Skinner, who disapproved of students with long hair.

The band's national exposure began in 1973 with the release of their debut album, (pronounced 'lĕh-'nérd 'skin-'nérd), which has a string of hits and fan favorites including: "I Ain't the One", "Tuesday's Gone", "Gimme Three Steps", "Simple Man" and their signature song, "Free Bird", which he later dedicated to the late Duane Allman of The Allman Brothers Band.

Lynyrd Skynyrd's biggest hit single, although "Freebird" was a close second, was "Sweet Home Alabama" which came off the album Second Helping. "Sweet Home Alabama" was an answer song to Neil Young's "Alabama" and "Southern Man". The common belief that Van Zant and Young were rivals is incorrect; they were actually fans of each other and considered collaborating on several occasions. Young's song "Powderfinger" on the 1979 album Rust Never Sleeps was reportedly written for Skynyrd, and Van Zant is pictured on the cover of Street Survivors wearing a T-shirt of Young's Tonight's the Night.

Van Zant was married twice. His first marriage was to Nadine Inscoe and during this marriage Ronnie's first daughter Tammy Van Zant was born. During his second marriage to Judy, Melody Van Zant (his second daughter) was born. Despite the unflattering mention of Neil Young in "Sweet Home Alabama", they were close friends and the two mutually admired each other's work. He was also a huge fan of Jimi Hendrix.

On October 20, 1977, a Convair 240 carrying the band between shows from Greenville, South Carolina to Baton Rouge, Louisiana crashed outside of Gillsburg, Mississippi. The passengers had been informed about problems and told to brace for impact. Bandmates Steve Gaines, Cassie Gaines, assistant road manager Dean Kilpatrick, pilot Walter McCreary and co-pilot William Gray were also killed. Remaining band members survived, although all were seriously injured.

Van Zant's younger brother, Johnny, took over as the new lead singer when the band reunited in 1987.

Freebird - Lyrics (w/funny comments)

Necco unveils Valentine Candy

REVERE - Exactly one month before Valentine's Day, the NECCO company on Wednesday announced its 10 new phrases for its Sweethearts heart-shaped candies, all of which have a food theme.

"Each year, NECCO introduces 10 new new Sweethearts phrases that relate to current American trends and culture," said Jackie Hague, vice president of New England Confectionery Company (NECCO). "For 2009, our 'Menu of Love' sayings embrace the role that both romantic dinners and family dinners play in celebrating love."

The 10 new sayings are: Recipe 4 Love, Table 4 Two, Stir My Heart, My Treat, Top Chef, Sugar Pie, Sweet Love, Honey Bun, Spice It Up and Yum Yum.

Lynn Daily Item - Full Story

Suave - Say Yes to Beautiful January 14th

Suave is mailing coupons for free products if you register January 14th on their website.

Coupons will be mailed 2-4 weeks after registration close and can be redeemed through February 28, 2009.

Live beautifully for less - Suavenomics.com

As seen on the Today Show.

Revere library chief resigns amid inquiry

Revere’s longtime public library director resigned yesterday upon learning police are investigating him for allegedly making “inappropriate purchases” with city funds, Mayor Thomas G. Ambrosino confirmed last night.

Robert Rice Jr., 43, who could not be reached for comment, “has not been arrested and there’s been no charges brought against him,” Ambrosino stressed.

“There’s an ongoing investigation regarding his activities using city funds to make inappropriate purchases not library related.”

A source close to the police investigation said the purchases include “thousands” spent on, among other things, a watch and home furnishings.

Ambrosino said the bookworm’s suspect shopping was discovered during a routine audit of library spending that red-flagged “some suspicious purchases.”

He declined to say what those purchases were, but said “there’s no evidence” any were related to pornography.

Officials are still tallying the potential financial damage.

Boston Herald - Full Story

Life comes down to 2 questions...

Should I get a dog?



OR

Should I have children?


submitted by Marylou

Number 1 Song this Date 1981

John Lennon - (Just Like) Starting Over

Happy Birthday, Richie Rich!

I heard it was your birthday today...have a happy one.

Where's the celebration?

Will this be a destination party?

It's Wednesday already...