NYE Party Goers Can Get a Great Burial Deal

Looks like there are some benefits for those who decide to party hardy on New Year's Eve in Rome, Georgia.


McGuire, Jennings, and Miller funeral home in Northern Georgia is offering a "Free Burial" Deal to those who are planning to be under the influence on New Year's Eve. The driver has to go to the funeral home and sign a contract saying that they will be drinking and driving on that night. If it were to happen that they die in a crash on that night, then the funeral home will give them a free burial.

Why on Earth would a funeral home do this? Supposedly because they are trying to promote awareness of the perils of drinking and driving. They are hoping that this will save lives on New Year's Eve.
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I hope that everyone has a great AND safe New Year's eve. Please think twice about getting on the roads if you are under ANY type of influence.

My Words Are Up.

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Grades Must Be High, but BMI Must be Low to Graduate

For the students at Lincoln University in Pennysylvania, a new requirement has been added for Graduation.

Students who arrive at Lincoln University their first year with a BMI (Body Mass Index) greater than 30 must either lower their BMI or take a "Fitness for Life" class in order to graduate.

The students are already required to pass a "Dimensions of Wellness" course that covers alcohol, drugs, nutrition, and sexual health.

“We know that obesity and its co-morbidities are going to rob individuals of quality and quantity of life,” James DeBoy, chair of the department of health, physical education and recreation, said in an interview with National Public Radio. “What good is it to go through college, get your bachelor’s degree at Lincoln University, go get your graduate degree, work for five, six, seven years, and all of a sudden, you experience a catastrophic health issue associated with the obesity. That would be a tragedy … It’s our professional educators’s responsibility to alert students to this.”

....But is it? What do you think? Should the University be concerned with how low students' BMIs are? Or how high their GPAs are? Maybe you think their new requirement is appropriate especially concerning the growing problem of obesity in the United States.

COMMENT.

My Words Are Up.
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Dallas Cowboy Cheerleader Blackface Controversy

Dallas Cowboy fans and Dallasites have been engaged in a controversial debate after facebook photos were discovered of a Dallas Cowboy Cheerleader dressed up as the rapper Lil’ Wayne for Halloween.

Not only did Whitney Isleib dress up as the rapper, but she also painted herself to look black.

Picture of Isleib’s costume when you read the rest.

The Dallas Cowboy Cheerleaders organization has not released an official statement, but has said that they are dealing with the situation internally.

Some are saying that as a Dallas Cowboy cheerleader, Isleib has to be more careful and she must hold herself to a higher standard. Others are saying that it's just a Halloween Costume.

I thought I'd bring the debate to Alex's Anecdotes. What do you think readers? Is this offensive?
Let this also be a lesson about facebook... be careful about what you post to the internet!

My Words Are Up.

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20,000 Say "I Do"

South Korea - The Unification Church had the biggest wedding in over a decade, with over 20,000 people getting married at the same time.

Rev Sun Moon conducted the ceremony, and he is the founder of the Unification Church. Moon is a self-proclaimed Messiah who says that Jesus appeared to him when he was 15 years old asking him to finish his work on Earth.

Many of Moon's followers allow him to pick their spouse, believing that he has divine insight. Some of the followers met their future spouses for the first time on their mass wedding day.
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Critics are saying that the Unification Church is nothing but a cult, and this event proves it. What do you think??

Another question: Would you let your reverend, pastor, and/or religious leader pick YOUR future spouse?

My words are up.

(Photo courtesy of MSNBC) Click HERE to Continue Reading...

A Sex Surrogate has had over 1500 partners

40 year-old Mare Simone has slept with many boyfriends and husbands of other women - over a thousand of them.

Simone is what she calls a "sex surrogate", and she devotes her life to helping men and women in the bedroom.


Simone has given "sexual therapy" to over 10,000 couples in 23 years.

She says that she has had sex with over 1,500 of them. But she insists that it's not illegal.

Simone is quoted by Newsvine as saying, "I earn my living by sleeping with other women's husbands or boyfriends. But I am in no way a prostitute as sex surrogacy is legal, as long as it is done in a therapeutic and healing atmosphere...I am helping improve and change the sex lives of thousands of men, which means I am also helping improve the sex lives of their wives and girlfriends...."

Does anyone else see what's fishy about this?

If you are/were in a relationship and you were having problems in the bedroom, would YOU go see Mare Simone?

You might get a little more than you bargained for.

My words are up. COMMENT
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Twitter: A News Source or Strictly Social?

I've always had reservations about Twitter, but the latest blowup involving the very popular social networking site put those reservations at the forefront of my mind.

Thanks to Twitter, America learned today that Obama called Kanye West a "Jackass". (This is a day after the whole Kanye West/Taylor Swift fiasco at the MTV Video Music Awards.)

ABC's Reporter Terry Moran was interviewing the President, and during the interview, he tweeted that President Obama called Kanye West the certainly-inappropriate-for-an-interview name.

The tweet was taken down an hour later, but by that time the damage had been done. What President Obama was quoted as saying was already all over the internet.

You can listen to Obama's comment and read ABC's official statement when you continue reading....




An ABC Spokesperson released this statement:

"In the process of reporting on remarks by President Obama that were made during a CNBC interview, ABC News employees prematurely tweeted a portion of those remarks that turned out to be from an off-the-record portion of the interview. This was done before our editorial process had been completed. That was wrong. We apologize to the White House and CNBC and are taking steps to ensure that it will not happen again."

This ordeal caused me to analyze twitter and think about how it is used. For some, twitter is a social website to tweet pointless tweets- such as talking about funny moments in the day or about finding a favorite cereal brand at Wal-Mart.

But for others, Twitter is a news source. There are people who actually log on to Twitter in the morning to receive their daily news. Who can blame them? After all, most of the major news outlets have a twitter account.

So what exactly was the ABC reporter thinking when he tweeted an off-the-record comment from an interview on a major website? At the time, was he just attempting to use twitter for social purposes? Maybe he was just trying to let his friends know about an "off the wall" comment the President made.

I think that it needs to be decided once and for all: Is Twitter strictly social, or is it another valid news source?

There needs to be a formal declaration so that everyone who uses Twitter can know how to appropriately use it! Until Twitter's blurry line between the two is defined, we will continue to have mistakes like this.

What do you think Twitter is?

COMMENT.

My words are up.

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$500,000 for a Bloody Sculpture

The National Portrait Gallery in London has added a sculpture from one of the UK's most famous living artists, Marc Quinn, to their repertoire.

Quinn is known for his unique sculptures that depict the human body using materials such as ice, marble, glass and/or blood.
The sculpture that will be going to the National Portrait Gallery in London is a sculpture that Quinn does every four years.

Find out more about this sculpture when you continue reading...

The sculpture is Quinn's self portrait...and it's filled with 10 pints of his own blood.

The unique sculpture is on display in a Perspex box filled with silica chilled to negative 18 degrees Celsius, so that the blood won't liquify.

Below is a picture of the bloody sculpture:


aaahhh, the wonders of modern art.

My words are up.
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99 Cents Only Store Takes Advantage of 9/9/09

In a big promotional hoopla, the 99 Cents Only Store in Hollywood did a promotion that will last a lifetime. They married 9 engaged couples for the cost of $.99 per couple.

The couples were married in aisle 9 of the store. The decor and items for the reception were all made from store inventory. The gowns that the brides wore were even made from 99 Cents Only Store items.

Here are some pictures from the event:
The newlyweds even received receipts for their "purchase"...

(Photos courtesy of LA Weekly)

The sad thing is people might actually try to use the receipt to "return" their spouse. I wonder how many days they get before they no longer receive a full refund. 14 days? 30?

ONLY in LA...

My words are up.
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In Honolulu, Body Odor is a Crime

Smelly public transit riders in Honolulu may get punished for their pungent odor.
The Honolulu City council is proposing a bill that would give a $500 fine and/or up to six months of jail for neglecting personal hygiene.

This would include body odor, offensive smells, or animals.

According to the AP, the bill would make it illegal to have "odors that unreasonably disturb others or interfere with their use of the transit system." The bill is set to be heard in committee on Thursday.

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My question is- WHO gets to determine that a person's smell is bad enough to impose a fine and/or jail time? And how strong of a bad smell on a person or their animal is deserving of that?

What do YOU think? COMMENT.

My words are up.
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Woman Almost Went Blind Trying to Turn Her Eyes Blue

This woman traveled all the way to Panama City to have a surgical procedure to make her eyes blue...but instead it almost made her blind.

Shenise Farrell paid $7,000 and traveled all the way to Panama City to have a surgical procedure to turn her dark brown eyes to bright blue.

But things ended up taking a turn for the worst, and UK doctors ended up performing surgical procedures to keep her from going blind.

(A picture of Farrell after the operation)

NewColorIris is an eye implant that permanently changes the color of a person's eyes. And it all takes less than 15 minutes.

(A drawing of the implants)

After the surgery, which Farrell claims was very painful, she was taken back to her hotel with some eye drops - and was told to buy her own painkillers.

After four days of continuous pain and no improvement in her eyesight, Farrell called a UK Doctor to have them removed.

Opthalmic surgeon Ali Mearza, the doctor who removed her implants, has been quoted as strongly advising people to NOT undergo this surgery.

NewColorIris' spokesperson says that it has performed over 600 operations since 2002, and has had only a handful of complaints.

It seems that Shenise Farrell is a part of that unfortunate handful. Needless to say, Farrell's eyes are now back to dark brown.
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The things people are willing to do to change themselves now days...

My words are up.

**For more info on this procedure, go to www.newcoloriris.com
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$4.5 Million Crypt For Sale- Location is Key!

A widow is selling her husband's burial plot on eBay in order to pay off her mortgage. But this is no ordinary plot. It's all about location, location, LOCATION!

The bidding for the plot opened at $500,000 on August 16th and reached $4.5 million by August 19th.

What makes this plot so special? Find out when you continue reading...

The Location...

The plot is directly above Marilyn Monroe's final resting place. In fact, the person with the winning bid will find themselves above Marilyn Monroe, looking face down onto her- for all of eternity.

The crypt is currently being occupied by the late Richard Ponter, who bought the crypt from the late baseball player Joe DiMaggio. DiMaggio was Marilyn Monroe's ex-husband, but they divorced in 1954.

Richard Poncher's widow, Elsie Poncher, is selling the crypt in order to pay off her 1.6 million dollar mortgage on her Beverly Hills home.

Times really must be hard.

The crypt is in the well known Westwood Village Memorial Park, in Los Angeles. Many celebrities have been buried there- such as Dean Martin, Truman Capote, James Coburn, and, most recently, Farrah Fawcett.

Playboy Hugh Hefner purchased the crypt beside Monroe in 1992.

Would you purchase a crypt beside Marilyn Monroe? Or rather, would you spend $4.5 million to lie next to Marilyn Monroe for all eternity?

My words are up.

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Brazilian Environmentalists are Using Humor to Save Water...But They are Serious

Environmentalists in Brazil have started a campaign to get citizens to save water. And you will never guess what they are asking Brazilians to do...

Find out when you read the rest.

They are asking Brazilians to urinate while they are in the shower. Yes, while someone is in the shower washing themselves, environmentalists are telling them to go ahead and let it out. This is to help conserve water and save the rainforest.

Although they are completely serious about this, SOS Mata Atlantica launched a humorous campaign to promote urinating in the shower. In the ad below, you will see people from all walks of life peeing in the shower(my favorite is the Jordan icon relieving himself). At the end of the animated ad it says, "Pee in the shower! Save the Atlantic rainforest!"



The television ads are claiming that if everyone does this, then over 1,000 gallons of water per household can be saved a year.

Ken Livingstone- The former mayor of London, England, proposed a similar campaign in 2006. He said urine should be classified as a "green waste" and that "there is no earthly reason that you need to flush the loo if you have merely urinated. That's a huge saving of water."


My words are up.


Courtesy of bizarrenews.org
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WARNING: Don't Ask Hillary About Her Husband

Hillary Clinton snapped on a Congolese University student yesterday at a town hall meeting after being asked her husband's opinions on an international affair.  Oops, I mean matter.

This happened a week after her husband won back the favor of many Americans by negotiating the release of two detained American journalists in North Korea.

(picture above is not related to the incident)

Seems like someone is a little touchy now that her husband has gotten back into the spotlight. Watch the video when you continue reading...




The student who asked the question now claims that he meant to say President Obama, and not former President Clinton. (Some are even saying that the translator must have mixed up the translation)

Many are asking what caused the outburst. Insiders are saying that jetlag played a big part. Hillary Clinton was at the half-point in a 12 day trip of touring seven different countries. At the time of this video, she had already done 22 speeches and 5 interviews.

And after all her traveling and speaking, many people just questioned her about her husband and his mission...and not hers.
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Guess that would be a little frustrating. But we certainly got the message, Hillary. Don't EVER ask about your husband and his thoughts. Got it. Maybe she should have just brought him along...that way the people can ask him their questions, and the Clintons could get some seemingly much needed quality time. Just a thought.

What do you think? Did Hillary get out of hand? Is her outburst justified? COMMENT.

My words are up.

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'Dead' Baby Awakens

In Asuncion, Paraguay, a family was devastated to have the baby declared dead after being born 16 weeks prematurely.

Find out what happened at the funeral wake when you cick CONTINUE reading...

Much to the family's amazement and disbelief, the baby woke up and started crying hours later at the funeral wake!

Thank goodness the family was speedy with burial traditions- but not too speedy.

The head of pediatric care at the hospital where the baby was born, Dr. Ernesto Weber, stated that the baby only weighed 500 grams at birth.(This is about 17 or 18 ounces!)

"Initially, the baby didn't move, he practically didn't have any respiratory reflexes, nor did we hear a heartbeat and, as a result, we declared a premature fetus of 24 weeks dead," Weber told Reuters Television.

The family was even given a death certificate and a cardboard box as a makeshift coffin for the baby.

The baby is now declared alive and is in stable condition in an incubator.
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In a time where suing is just as common as saying "hello", I would advise the family to go ahead and sue the hospital. They made a very grave mistake. Hospitals really shouldn't be able to afford to be declaring people dead when they actually aren't. But, seeing as the baby did not have a heartbeat, I don't think the doctor can be at fault.

So the family should probably just count their blessings because this is a remarkable story.

what do you think?

COMMENT!
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The Controversial New Doll for Young Girls - Bebé Glotón

Of course we have dolls that cry, dolls that can wet their diapers, dolls that talk, and dolls that walk. But when the question came up of "What will they think of next?", I don't think anyone was expecting this.

Let me introduce you to the "Bebé Glotón". Made by spanish manufacturers, this name is spanish for "Baby Glutton". Find out why this gluttonous baby is so controversial when you read the rest.

The Baby Glutton is a breast-feeding doll. Yes, you heard me correctly, a breast-feeding doll for young girls.
So how are girls going to be able to breast feed this precious little doll when they more than likely aren't even developed yet? Easy. The girls put on a halter top with two daisies in place for where their breasts should be. They then take the doll into their arms, and the doll immediately starts to suckle. Below you will see a video that demonstrates.



Is it just me, or is this going way too far for little girl toys? The toy manufacturer says that it is trying to foster nurturing in young girls and promote breast feeding.

But, isn't a 6-yr old girl a little too young for all that? They should probably just stick to releasing public service announcements.

And what's up with the name? Don't they know that gluttony is one of the seven deadly sins?(for my religious folks out there) Should we really be naming dolls after deadly sins? Goodness knows what that promotes for young girls.

What do you think? Do you think this is appropriate? Would you let your daughter play with this doll? 

And what on earth do YOU think they will come up with next?

My words are up.

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Happy Birthday, Mr. President!

In honor of our president's 48th birthday, I have decided to dedicate this post to him. Let's consider it my birthday gift.

Although we don't know for sure yet what all the president has received for his birthday, we do know about the past presidents. 

When you read the rest, you will see what interesting gifts some past presidents received in celebration of another year of life.

George W. Bush - 300 pounds of raw lamb meat from the president of Argentina

Bill Clinton - The president of Azerbaijan gave a carpet that featured a portrait of the first couple

George H.W. Bush - The president of Indonesia gave a Komodo dragon

Jimmy Carter - The president of Mexico commissioned famous Octavio Ocampo to paint a metamorphic portrait of President Carter. This style places various images in a larger image to create an illusion.

Richard Nixon - A Pakistani man presented two grains of rice that held a portrait of Nixon on them

John F. Kennedy - A carved peach pit with his likeness on it

Harry S. Truman - A two-lane bowling alley that was installed in the white house

Frankin D. Roosevelt - 5 ft high and 300 pound birthday cake

Rutherford B Hayes - A carved lemon made to look like a pig

And of course, probably the most known birthday gift of all was given to George Washington - Congress declared Washington's birthday the first federal holiday to honor an American-born citizen.

My words are up.

(Information courtesy of CNN)

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Jobless Graduate Says School Must Pay

Trina Thompson, A recent college graduate in New York City, is having trouble finding a job. So someone must pay.Thompson is suing where she got her bachelors degree, Monroe College, for being the reason why she does not have a job. Monroe College is unique because it has three semesters, so students take classes all year round. This allows their students to get their bachelor's degree in under three years.
The 27-year-old filed for a $70,000 lawsuit last week, which was the cost of her tuition. With a degree in Information Technology, Thompson has been unsuccessfully looking for a job since April.

Apparently Monroe's Career Advancement Office hasn't come through with the promises of employment it gave her while she was an undergrad. Gary Axelbank, the college spokesman, says that the lawsuit is completely without merit.

We shall see how this turns out. But it's a great idea. Nowadays SO MUCH money is being paid to get a degree...and why do we do it? We do it to "further our education", of course, but we also do it so that we can obtain a great job. And a College or University usually gives us that promise in exchange for our money. (It's really all about the money, baby.)

So if we graduate and end up not getting a job, shouldn't we get monetary compensation for our woes?? Whose fault should it be for the unemployment of recent grads, the College/University or ours??

COMMENT.

My words are up.

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Great Award Receives Not-So-Great Headline

As you all may know, I just love posts about things happening in the media.

Well today, there has been a little front page headline "mishap". The Huffington Post has called it "The Unfortunate Headline of the Day", and I thought I'd share it with you.

The Kiwanis Club of Dekalb, Texas offers the "Lay Person of the Year" award to deserving candidates who do outstanding work in the community.

I would like to be one of the many to congratulate Reporter Rita Hooker, for her fantastic work in the community and with children.

I just wish they could've done the front page headline differently for your award announcement...

To add to the matter, a Kiwanis Board member is quoted as saying,

 “After all she does for our community and our children, whether it be in work or in play, she feels that she falls short of this recognition. We beg to differ as Rita is a vital and necessary part of our town, our club and our workforce.”

Congratulations to Rita Hooker.

My words are up.

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The Shocking Video that Led a Man to 16 Years in Prison

Samuel Dewayne Delmast from Sherman, TX was pulled over for following too closely behind another car. When the police pulled him over, they felt that he was acting suspiciously, so they brought him in to the station.

When you read the rest you will find the shocking video that caused him to plead guilty to drug possession- and led him to be sentenced to 16 years in prison. 



In this video, you see Delmast drop powder onto the floor, and then drop down on all fours to lick it up.

According to Grayson County District Attorney Joe Brown, tests show that the powder found was methamphetamine.

When I saw this video, I felt that I was witnessing some of the outlandish things that drugs can cause you to do. I also was wondering why that is worth SIXTEEN years in prison....

What did you think?

COMMENT.

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The persecution of Christians is Not a Thing of the Past, But of the Present

When most people hear of persecution of the Christians, they think of Ancient Rome in the 1st century. The days of martyrs and edicts banning Christian practices are considered long gone. People usually never think to consider it as something that is currently going on. But what people don’t know is that 65% of the 70 million Christians who have been killed for their faith lived in the 20th century, and believers are still being killed to this day.

In North Korea, persecution is alive and rampant.

North Korea is known to be intolerant of religion, and only the founder of the country and his son(Kim Il-Sung and Kim Jong-il) can be worshipped in mass public display.

Human rights groups in North Korea are saying that the persecution of Christians is growing more intense every day. In North Korea, owning a Bible can be just reason for torture.

There are reports of a woman being publicly executed last month because she was charged with distributing Bibles and spying for South Korea and the U.S. Her parents, husband, and children were then sent to prison camps.

According to Open Doors USA, North Korea is the number one nation in the world for persecuting Christians. Tens of thousands are reported to have been sent to prison camps, tortured, and/or killed. Saudi Arabia, Iran and Somalia are also listed in the Open Doors top five.

It is estimated that there are currently 30,000 Christians practicing secretly in North Korea.

My words are up.

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The Union responds to the Henry Gates Arrest!

In light of all the recent media hoopla on the Henry Louis Gates arrest inside of his own home, police unions have decided to speak out. The union leaders held a live press conference just moments ago, and they spoke out in FULL support of Sergeant James Crowley(the arresting officer).

I featured the press conference LIVE on this blog, and I am working on getting that video so that others may watch it in case they missed it. Until then, I have provided a brief overview of what the unions had to say, and a video that sums up the situation when you read the rest.



The Union leaders press Conference:
-They asked the President and Gov. Deval Patrick to apologize for their remarks on the arrest
-In reference to Obama’s remarks: said that the police didn’t act stupidly, but rather the other party did (Meaning Henry Louis Gates)
-They even said that they don’t necessarily agree with the fact that the charges were dropped!
-“He encountered a full lack of cooperation”. So I guess that to them, that means that the arrest was warranted.
-They said that the sergeant acted appropriately by arresting Gates for disorderly conduct in his own home
-Why didn’t the African American on the stage speak? Guess he was just up there for show.

The Union Leaders definitely had a lot to say. They fully support the sergeant, and feel that Gates was in the wrong. But how? Let’s think about it. Someone sees an African American breaking into a house so they call the police. Okay fine. The police arrive at the scene, to find the suspect already in the house, so they ask for an ID. Okay fine. Just doing their job. But once Gates showed his ID, WHY was an arrest made? That’s where I have the problem. So what if Gates was angry and upset? Wouldn’t you be? That is still no cause for arrest. People talk crazy or bad mouth police everyday. If EVERYONE who has done something similar to that were to be arrested, then there would barely be any room left in the jailhouse. The sergeant should have just been satisfied with the fact that his job was done, and walked away. You know, to go pull over someone for speeding or to stop a robbery or something.

MSNBC video that has Crowley & Gates' different versions of the situation:

Visit msnbc.com for Breaking News, World News, and News about the Economy

But I guess since none of us were actually there, and we didn't hear OR see what went on for ourselves, we aren't really free to comment on the situation. But we sure can have an opinion based on what we DO know.


My words are up.
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My Thoughts and Yours- BiA2 CONTINUED

Tonight's Black in America 2 was infinitely better than the first. Soledad O'Brien said she was going to talk about SOLUTIONS with Black in America 2, and tonight I actually feel she did just that. And boy, did she do it well. Tonight's theme, Today's Pioneers, was great journalism overall.

Once again, read the rest to find my points in "to the point" form.

-The part that showed the black couple graduating from Boot Camp was beautiful. "This is the only man that I will ever love. So why not try your hardest to make it work?"

- I loved the poetic lead ins from the commercials. The children were SO cute! Last time Soledad used a poet, but I definitely think this had a better effect.

-The story of the woman with breast cancer was sad. But I do agree with Soledad- she acted like she was winning. I would love to have updates on how she is doing.

-The struggle of the ex-con was painful to watch. The quote that stood out from Chris: "This is survival...it's not a living." (On the struggle of life after being behind bars.)
-The fact that he ended up back in handcuffs was heartbreaking. But I found it hard to believe that his girlfriend had
NO IDEA that he was up to.

-Project Brotherhood: I did not know that less than 5% of physicians are black. Good to see that at least 6 of those black doctors are committed to helping out the black community. But isn't it kinda sad that the way to get black people to go to the doctor is by making it an office/barbershop? Hey, whatever works though!

-Geoffrey Canada's program was JUST what some African Americans need. "That's the pipeline- start from birth and stay with them right through till they graduate from college" . I AGREE! Be a constant force in their life, showing them the correct path. EVERY child needs this, instead of just dropping in their life for a period and then leaving.

-The part on Tyler Perry: The job a journalist is to present ALL sides of a story. So I really appreciated the fact that she showed someone who didn't necessarily agree with the type of work he does. I have watched some of his movies, and I don't care that much for the character Madea. Aside from his/her character, the movies without her(ex-Why did I get Married), are really good. But I do know that I definitely do not care for the "House of Payne" show.  Most of the people I associate with feel the same. So when Soledad said that most black adults in America watch it, I cringed. There are definitely better shows out there.
-and WHY did he change his name? What's wrong with Emmett?
-Tyler did make a good point. You must look far into the future-Ownership is KEY!
-I'm really confused on why exactly the main actor from the House of Payne show received an image award. all he does is run around and yell, scream, and act ignorant.

-Why didn't Soledad close out the program? I think the most important part of a story is the conclusion. And especially considering the fact that this is the LAST Black in America. I wanted her to sum up everything, but I guess she feels that the stories speak for themselves.
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But no need to fear! I refuse to sell my readers short. Tonight, I will do what Soledad neglected to do, and I will sign off Black in America for you.

Tomorrow's Leaders and Today's Pioneers show you just a little taste of what black people can achieve and are currently achieving. Every race has its issues, but the crucial question is "what are your solutions?" And black people in America, as you have just witnessed, are striving to answer that question.

This is Black in America 2: The Solutions. Thank you for watching.

Do you agree with my opinions?

What did YOU think of the final installment of Black in America 2?

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My Thoughts and Yours- Black in America 2

After waiting a year, viewers were finally able to watch Black in America part 2 on CNN. I have to say that overall I thought it was better than the last one, and it definitely had a more positive spin.

I have decided to lay out some of my thoughts on Black in America 2 in bullet form, so that it is easier to read and to the point.

My thoughts:
-I was disappointed that we didn’t get an update on the stories she featured in Black in America 1

-I just loved this quote from Malaak Compton Rock-“Service is the RENT you pay for living.” It is SO true, because volunteerism and giving back is essential to everyone’s lives and the community

- Journey for Change: I think it is a wonderful program, and I do think that showing underprivileged kids others who have less than them can be an eye opener, but I don’t think it's enough. You can’t take underprivileged kids and show them more poverty, and then expect them to take that and do well. Or change the way they've been living. I think that if you want them to be successful, to expand their horizons or do better, then you need to show them successful, accomplished black people. They need to SEE success first, so they can EMULATE it.

-Everything about Steve Perry and his school was impressive and amazing. Great success story. My only problem- 2,000 on the waiting list to get in?! Something needs to be done. Let's talk EXPANSION! (question: Is it possible that his success rate is so high because the school only has 80 students?)

-I have too many questions left over about MLT. How do you get in the program? Does it cost money? If so, how much? Is MLT the reason that the young lady got into Northwestern’s MBA program? Or was it just because she was intelligent enough on her own? (I mean, she was a Chemical Engineer after all) Oh and don't be surprised if they make a reality show out of it. (It definitely looked like it could be one.)

-I thought that the Doctor had a good quote- “We’re invisible because we don’t fit the stereotype”. SO true. But if the elite black upper class is so invisible to most of America, then why didn’t you show MORE of it, Soledad? I definitely felt that more could’ve been shown.

-Another good quote: “Never use race as an excuse, or as an advantage”

-Soledad O’Brien is DEFINITELY the hardest working woman in journalism right now. (CNN "Reclaiming the Dream" special, Latino in America, promos, etc.)

These are just SOME of my thoughts on Black in America 2. Do you agree?

What did YOU think of Black in America 2? Was it better than the first?

Let’s talk about it.

My words are up.


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LIVE interview with Karrine Steffans gone wrong! But wait..WHO exactly is in the wrong??

Karrine Steffans had a fiesty live interview on CW 31 in Sacramento about her new book,"The Vixen Manual". The interview was getting so intense that it eventually had to be cut short.

This live interview is clearly an "Interview Gone Bad". I can't tell who is more in the wrong- Karrine or the CW anchors?

Watch the video for yourself when you read the rest...





As a journalism student who is interested in Broadcast, I found this interview to be quite shocking. One thing is for sure- You get all kinds of situations when you go LIVE, and you have to be ready.

I definitely feel that the anchors should have known a little more about the book. But if they only received it the day before, what else could have been done? But the male anchor was completely in the wrong for his sign off comment, that was clear.

I also feel that Karrine could've been a little more respectful as a guest on the show. The female anchor did have a point- how is the book about "all those lessons that no one gave me as a young child"... if there are explicit drawings of sexual positions inside??

What do YOU think? What went wrong here?!

COMMENT!

My words are up.
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CNN's Black in America 2

Tomorrow Soledad O’brien will be reporting on CNN’s highly anticipated segment “Black In America 2”. Click CONTINUE to read more...

I tuned in last year to watch, and although it was creatively done, I remember being very disappointed. I felt that she showed African Americans in a very negative light, and she didn’t really go in depth with the people that she featured. She would tell us about the problems of one family, and how they needed to solve them, only then to move on to another story. I remember feeling frustrated because I wanted to know how the families ended up, and I felt that she left too many loose ends.

Fortunately for us(I hope), Black in America 2 is said to be focused on the SOLUTIONS to the problems in Black America. This should be a better segment to watch, but I hope there is some type of update on the unfinished stories in the first “Black In America” segment.

CNN came to the University of Missouri-Columbia last semester to give a “pre-screening” of Black In America 2. Many students turned out for the event, expecting to be one of the first to witness it, only to be shown an elongated commercial for the segment. Many, including myself, were let down. We were only shown tidbits of the different stories that are going to be featured, and it caused me to have a serious Déjà vu from Black in America 1.

I seriously hope that Soledad O’Brien will be able to effectively show African Americans in a more positive light.

COMMENT:

What did you think of Black in America 1?

Will you be tuning in to watch Black in America 2? What would you like to see?

Let’s get a comment conversation going to get our thoughts together before we watch the second installment. Then after watching Black In America 2 tomorrow at 8pm, come on Alex’s Anecdotes and express your opinions!

My words are up.

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Would you want to live to be the "Oldest Man in the World"?

The oldest man in the world died today in Britain. Henry Allingham passed away in his sleep. He was the last living British WWI Veteran.

Would YOU want to live to be this old? Find out how old he was when you read the rest.

Allingham was 113 years old.

Hearing this news made me beg the question to my readers- would you want to live to be 113 years old?

Now although the prospect of dying does not appeal to me, I think that there is a certain point in life where there is not much else that can be done.

Allingham definitely led a full life- he was a veteran of both WWI & WWII, served in and founded the Royal Navy, served in the Royal Air Force in WWI and as an expert dealing with magnetic mines in WWII. He was even attending events and receiving awards up until his death. The Royal Navy threw him a birthday party aboard the HMS President a month before he passed.

But let’s think about it: Allingham was 113 years old, blind due to macular degeneration, living in a senior citizen’s care home. His wife passed away in 1970, and he also outlived his two children. He is survived by many grandchildren, great-grandchildren, and great-great-grandchildren, but they all live in the United States. Towards the end of his life he was visiting schools and war-related events as an ambassador for his generation, but in my opinion, this man was basically all alone.

I want to live as long as I can, but that being said, as long as I can really LIVE. I want to be traveling, experiencing new things, and spending time with those I love. If my life has been reduced to staring at the same four walls everyday, being cared for by people I don’t even know, then perhaps that means my time is up.

But on the other hand, life is a precious gift. If you are given more time than the average person, then you should cherish it and be thankful.

What do you think? Would you want to live to be 113 years old?

The movie “The Bucket List” is a great movie that lightly touches on this topic in a way.
COMMENT. Let’s get another great conversation going.

My words are up.

PS- R.I.P Henry Allingham

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What's your verdict on "The Black Olympics"?

Dallas Cowboy’s tight end Martellus Bennett has revved up another little controversy with his latest video: The Black Olympics.
The Olympics consisted of competing to see who could eat fried chicken, watermelon, and drink kool-aid the fastest.

See the actual video for yourself when you read the rest.



His statement: "I don't really think it's offensive," Bennett told The Michael Irvin Radio Show. "It depends on your sense of humor and how you look at things. We were just having fun and it was very funny for me and my brothers, when I look at it I just can't stop laughing. If someone takes offense, I apologize. That wasn't my intention. It was just us having fun."

I personally think that he must have too much free time on his hands.

What do you guys think? Offensive or not offensive?

What if other races had put on the "Black Olympics"? Would it be offensive then?

Let’s get some comments going.

My words are up.
**Bennett has already received a $22,000 fine earlier this year for his previous YouTube Video, one that insulted blacks and homosexuals.
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***1,000 HITS***

Alex’s Anecdotes reached a very special mark yesterday. In less than a month, this blog has received well over 1,000 hits— from all over the world! I just want to say “Thank You” to my frequent visitors and readers, and even the first timers, you are all greatly appreciated.
I have more to say so please keep reading...

I hope you are enjoying the various anecdotes that I post on stories from around the U.S. and world. The blog is still in its very early stages, I have great plans for it, and I am learning more and more as I go along.

Please continue to read the posts, and please continue to comment, as I carry on this journey further into the blogging world.

Oh, and don’t forget to tell your friends about Alex’s Anecdotes. We are also on twitter: http://twitter.com/AlexsAnecdotes

My words are up.

Alex

PS- Any suggestions or comments on how the blog is going? Let me know!






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French Factory Worker Layoffs Incite Explosive Reaction

In a bad case of “Layoffs Gone Horribly Wrong”, 336 employees at the New Fabris factory in France are negotiating their severance pay, and they are bringing on the heat.

Find out their fiery negotiating method when you read the rest…
The factory recently was ordered into liquidation by a court, and so the workers are asking for the factory’s two biggest clients --Renault and Peugeot-- to pay up. When I say “pay up”, I mean $41,000 per job that is being cut. Nothing to sneeze at: That’s $13 million total.

On Sunday, the French workers threatened to blow up the plant if their demands aren’t met. And to show their seriousness, they have placed gas bottles all along the outside of the factory.

If the two clients don’t comply, the workers have set an expiration date for the factory: July 31st. Worth millions of dollars, numerous car parts would be burnt to a crisp.

“If we get nothing, they get nothing at all," said Guy Eyermann, union official and secretary of the company works council.

But French officials have dismissed the workers, thinking they are bluffing, and using depressurized gas bottles for show. The factory’s former client Renault refuses to pay the workers, saying that is not their responsibility.

So how will this story end?

We’ll have to wait until July 31st to find out, but who do YOU think will give in?

French officials or the French factory workers?? COMMENT!

My words are up.
**Today is "Bastille Day" in France- On this day in 1789, French commoners stormed the Bastille(a prison), which started the French Revolution.
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British Ad Execs Have Appraised Life's Moments

The book “You are Really Rich, You Just Don’t Know it Yet” puts price labels on priceless moments in life. Written by British advertising execs Steve Henry and David Alberts, the book was written with the intent to show others that in this recession, it's important to remember that life’s moments are worth so much more than money. Now how they are planning to do this by putting price labels on everything, I’m not exactly sure.

Find out what life experiences have the highest price value when you read the rest...

Research specialist Brainjuicer conducted a study and asked over 1,000 people what made them happy. They were asked to rate 50 different life events and experiences and compare them with the pleasure gained from a lottery windfall. Based on a rating system, a monetary value was then calculated for those different life experiences.

Good Health came in at the top of the list, with it being worth $290,040. Being told “I Love You” came in second, worth $263,177.

I understand that the initial concept of the book was to get people to see that money isn’t everything, but I can’t agree with trying to put a “price” on life’s “priceless” moments and pastimes. I feel that there is a reason why we have the word “priceless”, because associating monetary value to the moment would not do it justice. Also, for different people, moments may have more or less value. There is no consensus from people all over the world on the value of the things we experience in life.

I wish people would stop trying to estimate the value of life’s precious moments, and instead try to just enjoy them. After all, you only live once.

Here are some other interesting things and their monetary value:
$290, 040 –Good Health
$263, 177-Being told “I Love You”
$177,207 – Spending Time with family
$173, 965 – Laughing
$126,641 – Having a pet
$86,413 – Reading a book
$65, 716 –Eating Chocolate
Do you agree with their appraisal?

My words are up.

**But I do commend the two for trying to help people focus on the TRUE important things in life. It is hard to remember to do that in the midst of a recession.
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**UPDATED** Final Resting Place Not So Final

Just imagine going to a cemetery to visit the grave of your loved one…only to find out that their body is not actually there!

Many families who have sisters, brothers, mothers, fathers or other family members buried in Burr Oak Cemetery near Chicago have learned the disturbing news that their loved one may or may not actually be in their final resting place.


The cemetery manager and three gravediggers concocted an elaborate scheme in order to resell plots. They would dig up graves at the cemetery, dump them in a weeded area at the back of the site, or place them in other graves so they could resell the plots.

A historical African-American cemetery near Chicago, Burr Oak Cemetery was for many years the only cemetery where African Americans could be buried. It has been the final resting place for many famous figures -- Civil rights lynching victim Emmett Till, blues singer Dinah Washington, bluesmen Otis Spann and Willie Dixon, Harlem Globetrotter Inman Jackson, and several Negro League baseball players.

Police raided the cemetery Wednesday morning under the suspicion of financial theft and discovered what was going on. The Sheriff’s office has reported that around 300 graves have been removed, and that the scheme has been going on for about four years.

A dozen FBI agents will be assisting the police in sorting through the evidence and identifying the bodies.

Meanwhile, the families will have to wait to hear of news, and prepare to lay their loved ones to rest once again.

**UPDATE**

CNN has reported that authorities have found Emmett Till's casket to be amongst the ones that were removed. It was originally reported that his grave had not been touched, as the cemetery workers claimed they left his grave undisturbed. Authorities found his casket carelessly discarded in an old garage, and "wild life" was found living inside it.

The story of Emmett Till's death is one that redefined the Civil Rights Movement.
"Emmett Till's lynching redefined emotions in our culture in very fundamental ways," Jesse Jackson said. "So to see his casket in this state of desecration and neglect is very painful."

It was the owners who called the police because they suspected some financial problems going on with the cemetery.

This is truly a sad and disturbing story. 2,000 families went to the cemetery to see if their loved ones' graves had been tampered with. My heart goes out to all of the families who laid loved ones to rest at the Burr Oak Cemetery.

My words are up.

Click HERE to Continue Reading...

Alcatraz May be the Newest Island Overnight Stay

Would you want to spend a night in one of the world’s most infamous federal penitentiaries?

Golden Gate National Recreation Area, the agency that oversees Alcatraz Island, is considering opening it up for overnight stays.

Now it may seem obvious, but just to clarify, Alcatraz will not be turning into a luxury hotel. But it will definitely be all-inclusive.

Representatives from Golden Gate say that they plan on just refurbishing some of the barracks, which means that visitors will find themselves enjoying a dorm-like room that fits 20 beds. Oh yeah, and did I mention that Alcatraz currently has no running water?

In order to carry on the tradition of “The Rock”, overnight visitors will have to pay a price to stay. But instead of committing crimes to obtain a reservation, visitors will have to earn their keep through labor and a small fee. All overnight visitors have to be volunteers working on service projects to improve the facility.

Many aren’t too fond of the idea, but it may be just what Alcatraz needs as an incentive for more volunteers:

“I would definitely be interested,” said Alex Cordery, a California tourist. “It’d be good to be able to say that you stayed at Alcatraz.”

Well that would certainly be an interesting topic at the office cocktail party.

Would you stay at Alcatraz?
My words are up.

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SciFi Channel Hopes Name will Deliver them from Geekdom

Today will go down in history for NBC Universal’s SciFi Channel…and NO, I'm not talking about the MJ Memorial...but the 16-year-old network is changing its name. Click to find out the new name...

The channel will be changing from “SciFi” to “SyFy”. (Which is pronounced Sigh-Fie)

"We explored them all," Dave Howe, the President of the channel said. "We wanted a word that was uniquely ours, while not straying too far from the sound of 'Sci Fi.'"

Why the name change? The channel is trying to “broaden its audience”, and it feels that the current “SciFi” name is too limiting.

TV historian Tim Brooks, who actually helped launch the channel said, “The name Sci Fi has been associated with geeks and dysfunctional, antisocial boys in their basements with video games and stuff like that, as opposed to the general public and the female audience in particular.”

Apparently shows like Battlestar Galactica, Stargate Universe, Eureka, and Destination Truth aren’t to blame for that.

And is it just me, or is this new name pretty much exactly the same?

My words are up.

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This Airline has NOTHING to Hide

How many times have you been on an airplane and didn’t pay attention to their in-flight safety video? Although it does provide critical safety information for the flight, many passengers don’t even give it a second glance.

Well, this New Zealand airline is baring it all -and I do mean all- so that its safety video will once again be the center of its passengers’ attention...

The flight attendants and pilot in an eccentric video called “Bare Essentials of Safety” are wearing nothing except for body paint. The paint is made to look like their uniforms, and it all falls in line with their current “At Air New Zealand, our fares have nothing to hide” advertising campaign.

That’s a lot more than American or Southwest Airlines can say, that’s for sure.

Check out one of their commercials that features the body paint below...I found it to be more interesting than the actual Safety vid:


My words are up.
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The "M-Word" a no-no?!

Having some trouble figuring out what the “M-word” is?

Well...
The Little People of America(LPA) are calling on the FCC to ban the word “midget” from being aired on Broadcast Television. In their statement, LPA said that the word is just as offensive as any other racial slur. I found this to be quite interesting, as I have never really considered m****t offensive. The more I thought about it, however, the more I realized that m****t is more often than not used in a pejorative sense.

While many may not be taking this call to action seriously, I think that as this society continues to promote diversity and diversity consciousness, we must make sure to include everyone in that movement.

But as for the appropriate terminology…I think the LPA needs to get a little more creative.

I know that I am some inches away from being able to officially comment, but “Dwarf” or “Little People” seem just as offensive.

My words are up.


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The Recently Exposed Blurry Line in Entertainment Journalism **UPDATED**

So in the recent media frenzy over Michael Jackson's death(may he rest in peace), I have noticed some disturbing aspects of entertainment journalism. Over the last few days, I have learned almost everything there is to know about MJ: from whether or not he fathered his own kids, to information on if he had a sexual relationship with the video girl from "Thriller", and to what his last meal consisted of before his death(chicken and romaine lettuce).

As I watch/read all of the information that the media has been clamoring to break out first,

I can't help but feel that they are going too far. I realized this when I sat glued to the television screen in amazement as last night's "Insider" episode was entirely about MJ. I was astonished at some of the information they were disclosing...they even showed a picture of the bedroom that Michael died in!

Is this true journalism? When do we as journalists draw the line? I realize that this is entertainment journalism, and some consider it just "the nature of the business", but at what point is it going too far?

TMZ has been in the lead when it comes to reporting new information on MJ; they even reported Michael Jackson's death before the coroner's stated time of death. But in a CBS interview, TMZ's Harvey Levin assured America that there is a line in entertainment journalism that he is conscious of, and he is determined to not cross it. So what was his example of going too far you ask? Levin said that it's publishing pictures of MJ's dead body, of course. But given the way this media rat race has been going, I guess anything else is fair game. And I do mean anything.

No hard feelings to MJ's family members and loved ones...it's "just business", right?

My words are up.
**UPDATE**

After word got out that OK! Magazine's next issue is going to be publishing MJ's "last picture" on their front cover, in which he is lying on a strecther possibly dead...Even MSNBC's "The Scoop" is starting to acknowledge how far the media is going! Read the article HERE:

http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/31699142/ns/entertainment-gossip/

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Stand By Your Man?

It seems to me that most politicians are notorious for their sex scandals and extra marital affairs. I'm starting to think that the two go hand in hand. But have you ever noticed that in most cases, the wife silently stands by and sticks with her husband while he makes his traditional public "I'm Sorry I was Wrong" confession? I just think of all the different wives and their stories...Hillary Clinton, Silda Spitzer, Suzanne Craig, Lee Hart, and Dina Matos McGreevey to name a few.

But I must admit, I do like the way that the latest wife is handling her present scandal, despite the criticism she has been receiving: Jenny Sanford, whose husband(Mark Sanford) has just been caught having an affair with a woman in Argentina. She and her husband are now having a "trial separation".

Some have criticized her for not being present at her husband's public apology speech like the many other scorned politician's wives who have come before her, but I applaud her. Unlike the many other wives, she did not subject herself to the humiliation of standing silently behind her husband while he admits his wrongdoing, as if she condones his behavior.
She even issued a powerful statement:
"We reached a point where I felt it was important to look my sons in the eyes and maintain my dignity, self-respect, and my basic sense of right and wrong. This trial separation was agreed to with the goal of ultimately strengthening our marriage."
Brilliant. Instead of just standing there being submissive, she is taking a stand. She should not be criticized for that.

After all, she is still respecting her marriage and planning on working through it.
Provided that Sanford gets his act together, of course.

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Rest In Peace, Michael Jackson

Everyone is buzzing about the sad news. I really can’t believe it myself, 50 really is a young age. But while everyone is talking about this event and spinning it their own different ways, (Talking about his trial, his surgeries, his children, etc.) I want them to consider something else. Let’s look back on his life for the good times he brought us. Many of us grew up listening to his music, and we associate it with many events in our own lives.

But for him, instead of enjoying life’s little moments as he got older that most people get to experience, he was out performing and providing entertainment to enrich the lives of others. And what about his own life? When I was talking to my parents about his death they kept saying, “I remember when his song ___ came out, I was in high school….” Or “I loved this song growing up…” But what about Michael Jackson? What about what he enjoyed when HE was growing up?

Just imagine not being able to lead a normal life. I mean the going to school everyday, playing in the park, spending time with family, hanging out with friends, etc. And then there are the firsts: Your first kiss, your first road trip, your first job, etc. He wasn’t able to really grow up that way…he was too busy performing since the age of 5. Even when he wasn't on tour, he wasn’t even able to go outside and go to the store….without being swarmed by fans.

And how do we repay him for all the joy he brought us with his music? We scrutinize his every move...We judge him…and call him “Sicko” and “Jacko”. Now don’t get me wrong, I am not condoning any of his behavior, I am just saying that I feel no one really tried to understand him. In an interview with ET he explained that he never really was comfortable around people, the only place he was comfortable was on a stage with thousands of people watching. Because THAT is the only life he really knew. And boy did he know it well.

So even though I am sad at the passing of the King of Pop, I can’t help but feel a little glad. He no longer has to feel troubled about his childhood. He no longer has to be scrutinized and judged by the media and the public. He now has the peace that he was looking for.

And as for the rest of us, we now have the peace of just listening to his music.

My words are up. Click HERE to Continue Reading...