You’ve got to check this out ==>

So Mr. Crawford is not only the ‘original’ balloon boy, he is the real balloon boy! What an amazing story! And how interesting it is, that he was sitting there, like all of us, watching ‘Falcon floating away’…..

Reading my buddy Lisa’s blog this morning, brought me this wonderful news – Marriot Blames Rape on Victim. Holy crap!

A visitor to Lisa’s blog intrigued me with her comment and so I followed it to her post on the topic, How Dare You Take Your Vagina Out In Public

Then I went over to Dirt and Noise to read what she had to say, Marriot Is A Disgrace: A Loyal Marriotteer No More

And here is an article on it by USA Today – Stamford Marriott Hotel blames rape victim for failing to protect herself

And here is the SUPER LAME-O press release from Marriot – Marriott News
Stamford Marriott Hotel

I love it when situations get attention quickly from news crews – stories that really need to be told. And that is just what happened yesterday. Karen Putz, the blogger who was turned away from a restaurant, without being served, was on her local news yesterday. It’s really so great, because, her story not only created a major ripple online – more like a RIPTIDE, but, also – was also broadcast on the Chicago news, reaching even more people. When I first read her story, I was thinking some smarta$$ kid would need to be dealt with, but, reading that it was a manager really, really got under my skin! You can see the clip here: Hearing Impaired Woman Claims She Was Denied Service

I sure hope that Steak and Shake is able to make things right for not only her, but, for every disabled person they encounter. And wouldn’t it be great if the obviously necessary education, spread through all service industries!

So many people would have sulked and pouted at such an encounter, and then gone home to grumble within their own four walls (me :/ ), but, not you, Karen! You stood your ground and are assertively fighting for your rights! You are an inspiration to those of us who just are not so good at doing that! The Council for Disability Rights says:

Knowing your rights is the easy part. Exercising them can be a bit trickier.

You are definitely exercising them, and you are teaching so many of us a lesson – and for that, I thank you! Sincerely.

I can’t believe it – Evel Knievel passed away. It’s almost like a whole era goes with him, you know? It feels to me, very similar to when Mr. Rogers died. Completely and utterly selfish of me, but, it’s like – ‘Wait, that’s my childhood – you guys can’t die! That’s part of my history – don’t take it away!’

I mean, just check him out, ya’ll:

Isn’t he the coolest? I remember getting so excited when he was going to be on TV doing another stunt – it was so awesome – and so totally scary!! And check this out:

….cool – even as an old guy! How many of us can say that our grandpas were that cool? Not many, probably. Although I did think my grandpa was pretty darn cool! He ate hot sauce by the spoonful and he smoked a pipe – and to this day I love the smell of a pipe – it totally takes me back! But even still – I don’t think I can say he was as cool as Evel Knievel!

It’s so sad, and my heart and prayers go out to his family. The News Tribune says:

Knievel’s death was confirmed by his granddaughter, Krysten Knievel. He had been in failing health for years, suffering from diabetes and idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis, an incurable condition that scarred his lungs.

Evel – you will be missed! You definitely made my childhood more exciting! And just think – no more broken bones!! Yea! I never understood how you could continually get back on your bike after all those injuries – yikes!

God bless you, Evel Knievel!

Perhaps our country’s first outspoken environmentalist, Lady Bird Johnson dies at age 94 peacefully at home in Texas. She died at home of natural causes and she was surrounded by family and friends.

She was best known as a determined environmentalist who wanted America’s highways cleaned up. She even had a bill nicknamed after her. It was the Highway Beautification Bill of 1965 and it was known as ‘The Lady Bird Bill’.

Setting the stage for environmentalists to come, she opened up and began discussions about taking care of our environment like no one who came before her. That is my kind of chic!

I wish her spirit rest and her family well.

You can read all about it here:
Lady Bird Johnson Dies at 94

lady bird johnson

I must admit that I love some good celebrity gossip! I love to learn what the cool stars are up to, and I love to hear the crazy antics of the wacko stars! There is a great new site where I can get all of my fill of news of their high-profile lives! It is called CelebrityGossip.com and they aggregate the gossip that is hot from all kinds of sites out there on the internet, and let us sign up and vote for it! I know that we have to take a lot of what we read with a grain of salt, but, it sure is fun to read. You can join and meet friends who are interested in the same stars that you are, and you can also earn bonus points. You earn bonus points for referring others to the site, and you can exchange them for magazines, once you’ve earned enough! I think the thing that I like the best about it is that it is an aggregator, so it pulls in all the best stories from many sites. I often get bored when I am looking at, say, just a single celebrity gossip blog. And now that it’s a little harder to swipe my sister’s People magazines, since we’re 800 miles apart – this will be just perfect for me!