Rachel, the Mike and Mandy Show Producer, got “White House Press Credentials” for the President’s visit to Memphis and Graceland. Here are some of the best pictures she took….
The President and the Prime Minister of Japan deboard Air Force One in Memphis:
First Lady, Laura Bush, joins them…
Elvis’ pink Caddy on the grounds of Graceland for the President to enjoy!
CIA sweeps the grounds of Graceland….
A boy who is allergic to the sun.
A British boy is so allergic to sunlight, his school sends him home to avoid the midday heat. 8 year-old Ben Ridings has the rare actinic prurigo, which causes burning blisters and swelling in the sun. He has to wear 60 factor sunscreen all the time under UV protective clothes. He can’t go out from 11am to 3pm, so his carer had to give up work, to teach him at home.
Imagine being at a music concert and a fight breaks out between a local police officer and a state trooper??
Fans at Monday night’s Faith Hill/Tim McGraw concert in Boston, received an entertainment bonus – a fistfight between a state trooper and a Boston cop. According to the Boston Herald, the two officers, both in uniform, began to argue loudly, reportedly about the way limousine traffic was being directed outside the venue. A brawl then ensued, sending the city officer to the hospital. The fight was witnessed by dozens of country music fans.
Man cut in two calls 911 to report his injury!!!
A rail yard worker who lost his legs when a train ran over him used a cell phone to report that he was trapped and had been “cut in two.” 36 year-old Truman Duncan was in critical condition at a Fort Worth, Texas, hospital after the Sunday accident at a local rail yard in Cleburne,TX. In a tape of the 911 call, the man told the operator, “I need 911. CareFlite. I think I’m cut in two.” The operator then asked, “Someone got run over?”, to which he responded, “It was me. I guess I’m going into shock. Hurry up, ma’am, because I’m about to pass out.”
It took rescue workers about an hour to find the man and extricate him from the tracks. One leg was caught between a steel wheel and brake and the other leg was caught on some wheel and axle parts. The Occupational Safety and Health Administration is investigating the accident.
PRESIDENTIAL LIBRARY DESTROYED BY FLOOD
A tragic flood this morning destroyed the personal library of President George W. Bush.
The flood began in the presidential bathroom where both of the books were kept. Both have been lost.
A presidential spokesman said the president was devastated, as he had almost finished coloring the first one.
When President Bush, the First Lady, and Japan’s Prime Minister visit Memphis on Friday they’ll have a busy schedule to keep. First stop will, of course, be Graceland, followed by a lunch downtown at the landmark BBQ restaurant, the Rendezvous. There are no details yet on who will be guests at the luncheon gathering at the Rendezvous, and according to the “Commercial Appeal”, the owner, Charles Vergos could not be reached about what he’ll serve the dignitaries. Bush heads for an Ohio fund-raiser after his Memphis visit.
THE DRESS
Jennifer’s wedding day was fast approaching. Nothing could dampen her excitement–not even her parents’ nasty divorce.
Her mother had found the PERFECT dress to wear and would be the best dressed “mother-of-the-bride” ever!
A week later, Jennifer was horrified to learn that her father’s new (younger) wife had bought the exact same dress!
Jennifer asked her to exchange it, but she refused. “Absolutely not! I look a million bucks in this dress, and I’m wearing it,” she replied.
Jennifer told her mother who graciously said, “Never mind sweetheart. I’ll get another dress. After all, it’s your special day.”
A few days later, they went shopping and did find another gorgeous dress.
When they stopped for lunch, Jennifer asked her mother, “Aren’t you going to return the other dress? You really don’t have another occasion where you could wear it.”
Her mother just smiled and replied, “Of course I do, dear. I’m wearing it to the rehearsal dinner the night before the wedding!”
THE END OF COP CHASES?
A tiny, new electronic device could mean the end of TV car chases. Los Angeles police are testing a dart that will tag runaway cars with a small, GPS-homing device that will allow cops to follow the bad guy from a distance on computer. Cops just sit back and let headquarters track the radio device, then move in at a safer time. (Like when, when he crosses the border??)
AIR GUITARIST LIVE OUT THEIR ROCK DREAMS!
Many are called, but there can be only one U.S. Air Guitar Champion. Fifteen contestants faced off at the championships last week in New York. The rules state that the guitar must be “invisible,” and you may use a real pick. The air guitarists were judged on technical prowess, stage persona, and something described as “airness.” One air guitarist by the name of Psycho Dave blew his performance of Motorhead’s “Ace of Spades” when his black wig fell off during a jump kick. The winner was Hot Lixx Hulahan, who ran all the way up into the balcony. He had a controversial decision over William Ocean, who crushed a beer can with his back on a stage dive. BTW: Contestants must also sign a release that includes a clause vouching for their mental health.
Golf
A South Carolina 12 year-old recorded two holes-in-one while competing in the 11-12 age group at the Future Masters. Blake Hadden aced the 83-yard No. 5 hole in Tuesday’s final round at the Dothan Country Club with a 6-iron. He also had a hole-in-one with a 140-yard shot on No. 11 in Sunday’s opening round, using a 4-iron. Most believed it’s the first time a competitor has hit two hole-in-ones at the Future Masters.
Why are so many people fat? Scientists have come up with some interesting excuses, including air conditioning, lack of sleep, fewer smokers, and more sex among obese people, which can produce chubby kids. A Top 10 list was published in the International Journal of Obesity. But it’s a list of alternative explanations… and some say it reads more like material for a David Letterman routine than a scientific study. (David Allison, a University of Alabama biostatistician, invited 19 other scientists in the United States, Canada and Italy, to work on the report.) They looked at more than 100 studies on potential contributors to obesity besides diet and exercise, and concluded there was at least some support for 10:
1. Inadequate sleep. (Average sleep amounts have fallen, and many studies tie sleep deprivation to weight gain.)
2. Endocrine disruptors, which are substances in some foods that may alter fats in the body.
3. Nice temperatures. (Air conditioning and heating limit calories burned from sweating and shivering.)
4. Fewer people smoking. (Less appetite suppression.)
5. Medicines that cause weight gain.
6. Population changes. (More middle-agers and Hispanics, who have higher obesity rates.)
7. Older birth moms. (That correlates with heavier children).
8. Genetic influences during pregnancy.
9. Darwinian natural selection. (Fat people out-survive skinny ones).
10. Assortative mating, or “like mating with like.” Translation: fat people procreating with others of the same body-type, gradually skewing the population toward the heavy end.
The doctors say the point is, there is more to obesity than diet and exercise, he said. “These are 10 reasonable hypotheses, and as scientists, we should be open-minded.”
Update: Boy George Will Tumble Trash For Ya!
Boy George will do five days of court-ordered community service as an employee of NY’s Department of Sanitation. The singer was ordered to do community service after pleading guilty to false reporting of an incident. He called police with a bogus report of a burglary at his lower Manhattan apartment last October, and the responding officers found cocaine inside.
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George Clooney Hooks Up With Elvis’ Ex
George Clooney must have a thing for older women… At his place in Lake Como, Italy last week, George was spotted romancing lyricist Linda Thompson, the long-time live-in love of Elvis Presley. Sources tell TMZ.com the couple was spotted dining late into the evening with friends at the swanky Villa D’Este resort. The next day, ‘Captain’ George took Thompson, the ex of Olympian Bruce Jenner and songwriter David Foster, on a sunset boat ride around Lake Como. Thompson stayed the night at Clooney’s villa and left the next morning.
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Bye Bye Star
“The View’s” Star Jones Reynolds has confirmed rumors that she is leaving the ABC talk show. The 44-year-old made the announcement on Tuesday’s broadcast, saying, quote, “the show is moving in another direction for its 10th season and I will not be returning.” Her last day will be in July. Star has also revealed to “People” magazine that it wasn’t her decision to leave the show. She claims that the network did not renew her contract and she feels like she was fired. Star is trying to land on her feet, though, she is pitching her own talk show to other networks.
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Jessica Simpson beaten by David Cassidy’s Daughter
Katie Cassidy has beat out singer Jessica Simpson for the role of Lucy Ewing in the movie based on the ’80s TV series, “Dallas”. She’s the daughter of ’70s heartthrob David Cassidy, and currently co-stars with Adam Sandler in the No. 1 movie “Click”, but she’s probably best known for her role as Zoe on “7th Heaven”.
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New “Sopranos” contracts
“Sopranos” stars Jamie Lynn Sigler and Robert Iler have been given a raise. The actors who play Tony Soprano’s children Meadow and A.J. on the HBO mob drama, will each be paid around $100-thousand-dollars for each of the final eight episodes. That’s a $15-thousand-dollar increase over their previous salary. Other “Sopranos” stars who have been holding out for pay raises have yet to ink new deals. The show will begin filming its final eight episodes in the next couple of weeks. They will begin airing on HBO in January.
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American Idol Album
Another former “American Idol” finalist is prepping a debut album. Jennifer Hudson, who appeared on the 3rd season of Idol, has teamed up with the same music production team that worked for ‘N Sync and the Backstreet Boys. Hudson says she has already recorded 20 songs and that she is currently in the process of picking tracks that will make the final cut. The singer-actress is planning to release the album in December. Also around that time, fans can see Hudson in the movie “Dreamgirls,” which also stars Beyonce, Jamie Foxx, and Eddie Murphy.
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New gig for Keith Richards
The Rolling Stones’ Keith Richards is joining the cast of the third installment of “The Pirates of the Caribbean” film series. According to the “Chicago Sun-Times,” the guitarist is confirmed for the role of Captain Jack Sparrow’s father in the sequel. Actor Johnny Depp, who portrays Sparrow, has said he wanted the rocker to be involved in the movie trilogy since he based parts of his character on the rock legend. “Pirates 3″ is expected to be released next year. But first, the “Pirates of the Caribbean 2: Dead Man’s Chest,” will hit theaters on July 7th.
PARROTS
This lady approaches a priest and tells him, “Father, I have a problem. I have these two talking female parrots, but they only know how to say one thing…and that is, ‘Hi, we’re members of the oldest profession…wanna make out with us?’”
The priest replied, “That’s terrible!! But, there’s a solution to your problem. Bring your two talking female parrots over to my house, and I will put them with my two male talking parrots…who I taught to pray and read the Bible. My parrots will teach your parrots to stop saying that terrible phrase! ”
“Thank you!” the woman responded.
So the next day, the lady brings her female parrots to the priest’s house. The priest’s two male parrots are holding rosary beads and praying in their cage.
The lady puts her female parrots in with the male parrots and the female parrots say, ‘Hi, we’re members of the oldest profession…wanna make out with us?’
One male parrot looks over at the other male parrot and exclaims, “Put the beads away. Our prayers have been answered!”
From Money magazine. The average American spends…
7.9 hours each day sleeping
5.5 hours working
2.3 hours watching TV
1 hour eating
49 minutes washing and grooming
47 minutes visiting (by phone or in person)
10 minutes relaxing and thinking
7 minutes on religious practice
Car theft in the U.S. didn’t rise much last year, but the number of gadgets stolen from cars (like GPS systems and even headlights) is way up. FBI statistics say thefts of parts and accessories and high tech contents (including Blackberries, iPods and portable DVD players) increased 30% between 2000 and 2004 to 1.78 million. Most vulnerable are the portable, pocket size Global Positioning Satellite systems that attach to the windshield or dashboard with suction cups. They cost between $500 to about $2,600 and are becoming a quick grab prize of choice for thieves. Some late model Mercedes Benzes, Audis and Nissans feature Xenon headlights, which emit a high intensity beam and retail for about $1,500 a set, which has also made them a popular target as well.
Moose, the feisty Jack Russell terrier who played Eddie for 10 years on TV’s Frasier, has died. His trainer Mathilde Halberg told People mag, “He was 16-and-a-half years old”, and died Thursday night of old age at her Los Angeles-area home.
Moose retired from showbiz when he was 10, and, although he also played a starring role in the 2000 Frankie Muniz-Kevin Bacon feature “My Dog Skip” (as the older Skip), he was best known for stealing scenes from Kelsey Grammer on the long-running Emmy-winning NBC sitcom.
His trainer had rescued him in the early 1990s. She “saved him from the pound”, which called her “as a last resort.” Moose was “extremely mischievous, always escaping, chewing up things and running off. When he killed a neighbor’s cat and chased some horses, that was it.”
“But then he began his career, and he will never be forgotten.”
On average, patients spent more time waiting for a doctor in hospital emergency rooms in 2004 than they did seven years earlier. That comes from new numbers by the National Center for Health Statistics. Seems the increasing wait times partly reflect a simple up tick in the number of actual visits due to an 11% increase in the U.S. population in the last ten years. But the center also says people are just seeking care more often, too. Because of this rising patient volume, the amount of time one waited before seeing a physician in an ER increased nearly 10 minutes—from 38 minutes in 1997 to 47 minutes in 2004. The good news is that once you actually can see the doc, there has been no change in the average time a patient spends face-to-face with a physician…
The annual Kids Count report, which measures the well-being of America’s children, has been released…and it doesn’t contain good news for the “Mid South”. Tennessee dropped 3 slots to rank 46th among the 50 states. Arkansas did slightly better, ranking 45th, but Mississippi’s remains in last place for the 2nd year in a row. The criteria for the rankings include death rates in children, the number of high-school dropouts, children in poverty and children in single-parent families. Here’s the breakdown of the Best and Worst:
Children in poverty
Best: Connecticut and New Hampshire, 10%
Worst: Mississippi, 31%
Teen birth rate (births per 100,000)
Best: New Hampshire, 18.
Worst: Mississippi, New Mexico and Texas, 63.
Children in single-parent families
Best: Utah, 17%
Worst: Louisiana, 44%
High-school dropouts (percent of teens 16 to 19)
Best: Iowa and North Dakota, 3 percent.
Worst: Indiana, 13 percent.
Teens ages 16 to 19 not working or in school
Best: New Hampshire and North Dakota, 4 percent.
Worst: Louisiana, 13 percent.
Children with parents who are not working full-time, year-round
Best: Nebraska, 24 percent.
Worst: Alaska and Louisiana, 40 percent.
Infant mortality rate (deaths per 1,000 births)
Best: New Hampshire, 4.
Worst: Mississippi, 10.7.
Child death rate (deaths per 100,000 children ages 1 to 14)
Best: New Hampshire, 12.
Worst: Alaska, 38.
Teen death rate (deaths per 100,000 teens ages 15 to 19)
Best: Connecticut, 40.
Worst: Alaska, 105.
Low birth weight babies
Best: Alaska and Washington, 6 percent.
Worst: Mississippi, 11.4 percent.
