Telling It Like It Is

Free Slurpee Day 2009 at 7-11 on July 11, 2009

Lin — Fri, 10 Jul 2009 21:51:23 +0000

FREE Slurpee Day 2009 is tomorrow, Saturday, July 11th. Grab your free slurpee at your local 7-eleven and enjoy one of the yummy slushy slurpee treats in flavors like cola, pina colada, blue respberry, root beer and green apple. I hear 7-11 has a new slurpee flavor I must try out called “Liquid Artillery”, which is a combination of strawberry/pineapple and lime flavors.

Free Slurpee Day starts at 7 a.m. and ends at 11 p.m. (while supplies last) at all participating 7-11 locations, in celebration of 7-Eleven’s annual birthday. This year marks the 82nd birthday for 7-11 convenience stores, so what could be better than to celebrate with a delicious, and don’t forget FREE, brain-freeze induced Slurpee?!

At 7-11, you will receive a free 7.11 ounce Slurpee in the flavor or your choice, or mixed flavors if that’s your thing.

7-Eleven typically runs a free Slurpee promotion in coordination with other summer promotions. This year’s Slurpee promotions ties into the G.I. Joe: the Rise of Cobra movie coming out this summer, which is where the new Slurpee flavor “Liquid Artillery” comes from.

Keep in mind that the Slurpee drink flavors will be different at each 7-11 location, since the convenience store themselves decide on the flavors based on what is hot in each sector. Enjoy your FREE Slurpee at 7-11 tomorrow while enjoying the other fun things to do this summer!

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Hodgkin’s Lymphoma. Hodgkin’s Disease. Cancer. My Father

Lin — Mon, 06 Jul 2009 19:05:58 +0000

Hodgkin’s Lymphoma. Cancer. My dad has been diagnosed with B type Hodgkins Lymphoma and my mind is racing a mile a minute. I just received a phone call from my mother telling me the news, and I can’t quite wrap my mind around what she was telling me.

People that know me and my background know that I don’t often hear from my mother. Seeing their phone number appear on the Caller ID immediately makes me think someone in the family was seriously injured in an accident, is very ill or dead. I haven’t heard from my father since 1995, because I chose to leave the religion I was born into, and the results of that choice were automatic and immediate.

In the eyes of my father and most of my siblings, I died in 1995. All because of my personal decision to leave a religious organization I no longer wanted to be a part of. My mother tends to think of me as being in some sort of coma, hoping that I’ll somehow “come to my senses” and take the required and necessary steps to rejoin the religion.

Doing so would mean I would have been miraculously “resurrected from the dead”, where family members and old friends (who haven’t spoken to me since 1995) would suddenly welcome me back with open arms. Not gonna happen. Ever.

My parents live in Dallas, which is only about a 30-minute drive from our house. Having family members living in such close proximity to our house, but rarely hearing from or seeing any of them, is something I’ve never quite gotten used to. The wounds from the past run very deep, and try as I may to “forgive and forget” everything that happened, forgiving and moving on is easier than the ability to actually forget.

My mother said that my 79-year-old father has very itchy skin, or “eczema” as she called it, which is a classic symptom of Hodgkin’s Disease. She said my father has sores on his legs, is always very tired, takes several naps a day and is no longer able to work doing people’s taxes.

Common symptoms of Hodgkins Disease include:

Appetite Loss

Drenching night sweats

Fatigue

Fever

Red patches on the skin

Severely itchy skin, often affecting the legs and feet

Weight loss

Some of these general signs and symptoms of Hodgkin’s Disease were mentioned by my mother in regards to my father. I can only assume that the sores on my father’s legs are from persistent scratching of his itchy legs, to the point of causing sores to develop.

Reading about the types of Hodgkin’s Disease makes me very nervous for my dad’s prognosis. From what I’ve read so far, “B symptoms are related to an increased cancer “burden”—more cancerous tissue—in many patients and, therefore, indicate a worse prognosis, or outcome.” We don’t know much more than that at this point.

Tests are scheduled to begin soon to determine the specific “stage of Hodgkins” my father would be categorized as being in at this point, and what treatment options there are for him. I briefly read that Chemotherapy and/or radiation may be treatments recommended for my father, but we’ll know more once the test results are in. That’s about all I can handle reading right now. Rather than dwelling on the possible negative prognosis for my father, I’m doing my best to keep calm and dredge up good memories from the past, and just hope for the best outcome.

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Today Is My Birthday and I’m Taking The Day Off

Lin — Sun, 05 Jul 2009 13:00:34 +0000

Another year has rolled around and today is my Birthday once again. Happy Birthday to Me! Is it just me or does it seem that Birthdays seem to come a lot faster the older we get? Hmm

Anyway, since I’ll be out of the office and not spending much time online today, but basking in the sun of doing absolutely nothing but fun things with my husband and family, I want to share some articles from other blogs for your reading pleasure.

I also want to welcome new subscribed readers from the DFW area, especially those living in and around Plano, Frisco, Allen, McKinney TX and surrounding suburbs. Thank you and welcome to Telling It Like It Is!

How to Take Fireworks Pictures – by my friend Todd Morris. I’m not much of a photographer myself, so I appreciate the tips and advice offered on taking good fireworks pictures. Now, if I could just manage to keep my thumb from appearing in photos I take with my digital camera, I’d be a happy camper.

How to Get More Time to Blog – by another friend Michael Martine. Finding the time to blog and post articles used to stress me out, but I’ve come to the personal decision that I write as often as I possibly can and when I have something to say. If I don’t post an article for a week or two, so be it. Readers that are truly interested in what I have to say are very understanding and patient, and don’t mind a brief lull in postings.

Living Your Passion: What It Takes To Be An Entrepreneur – by Jeff Nickles. I thoroughly enjoyed Jeff’s article on being an entrepreneur and the “grit” and determination needed to achieve our goals, ignoring the self-doubt or fear of success and just going for it! We really are our own worst enemies when it comes to creating and building our own success stories.

Enjoy your day! I know I will! See you soon!

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Kaboom Town 2009 Addison TX July 4th Fireworks Show – DFW Goes Kaboom!

Lin — Fri, 03 Jul 2009 21:41:04 +0000

Kaboom Town in Addison TX, just north of Dallas, is having their annual Kaboom Town fireworks show in celebration of the July 4th Independence Day today, Friday, July 3, 2009 starting at 5:00 p.m. until midnight tonight. Are you going to Kaboom Town in Addison today?

Kaboom Town Addison TX fireworks show is the biggest and best fireworks show around DFW, and Kaboom Town is always a spectacular fireworks show. Since Garland and Carrollton have canceled their fireworks shows due to budget cuts, we’re trying to decide which July fourth fireworks show we’ll be attending this year.

Since we live in Plano Texas, we may attend the Frisco fireworks show because it’s closer than Addison, or we may have our own cookout in the backyard and just watch nearby fireworks go Kaboom and light up the sky. Fellow Plano resident, Stephanie Cleveland, shares her own thoughts about Kaboom Town and it’s enormous appeal to Texas residents living in surrounding towns and cities.

Kaboom Town in Addison always occurs on July 3rd every year, and with thousands upon thousands of people attending Kaboom Town, visitors would be wise to arrive very early in order to get the best spot to watch the 30-minute fireworks show, and to find a decent parking space that doesn’t require walking from Plano TX. Yes, there are THAT many people expected to attend Kaboom Town this year.

Kaboom Town is located in Addison Texas, at Addison Circle Park, Bud Light Main Stage, 4970 Addison Circle Drive. There is no charge to attend Kaboom Town, but bring money if you plan on buying food, drinks and to watch the showing of Raiders of the Lost Ark immediately following the fireworks show. The spectacular 30-minute fireworks show is choreographed to music and will be simulcast live on 100.3 FM radio for everyone to enjoy the combination of music and fireworks equally.

Kaboom Town was named Travel + Leisure’s Best July 4th Fireworks display, and for very good reason.

A 4.4-square-mile suburb north of Dallas with 15,000 residents may seem an unlikely spot to celebrate the nation’s birthday, but it’s an excellent one—or so think the half-million people who watch the display each year. Preceded by flyovers of commemorative planes (courtesy of the town’s Cavanaugh Flight Museum) and the patriotic music of military bands, this show features the most current technology, the newest shells on the market, and a live radio simulcast.
Where to View: By virtue of northern Texas’s trademark flatness and lack of humidity, these fireworks’ spectacular displays can be seen from miles away, as if carried by the night air’s heat.

D Magazine has a detailed list of fun things to do in the Dallas-Fort Worth area during the July 4th Independence Day holiday festivities, concerts, and more.

The Dallas Morning News has a short list of July 4th fireworks shows including Kaboom Town, Fair Park Fourth and Trinity River Fiesta, so be sure to check those listings.

The DMN Opinion page provides detailed information for those interested in attending Fair Park Fourth at Dallas’ Fair Park, including admission fees, parking costs, and a performance by our own Olympic Gold Medalist Carly Patterson who will sing in the stadium at 8 p.m. on Saturday, July 4, 2009.

Happy Birthday America!!!

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Deaths in Threes – Do Deaths Come in 3 or Do Celebrity Deaths Come in Threes

Lin — Fri, 03 Jul 2009 16:40:33 +0000

“Deaths occur in threes. If one person in your family dies, two more will within a short period of time.” Do deaths come in threes or is it just an old wives tale? There’s been a lot of discussion in the last few days that deaths always happen in threes or celebrity deaths come in threes, and questions about where the “deaths come in 3” tale came from.

My understanding is that the origin of the old wives tale or legend about deaths occurring in threes came from the first world war. When the men would light their cigarettes they knew not to use 3 on a match because the enemy could pinpoint them and shoot them from the light of the match being lit so long.

The myth about deaths in threes is often used as proof regarding “notable”, famous celebrities, but people tend to forget about the deaths of celebrities who may not be quite as famous and well known around the world as others who have died.

Some people also claim that the deaths in threes rule applies to deaths occurring within 3 days of each other, while others claim the myth applies to deaths happening “within a short period of time” according to the legend.

The Wall Street Journal listed some “deaths in threes” examples like this:

• Buddy Holly, Ritchie Valens, and the “Big Bopper” all died together in a plane crash in 1959
• Janis Joplin, Jimi Hendrix and Jim Morrison all died in close succession in 1970-71
• In 2003, Johnny Cash, John Ritter, and Warren Zevon all died within the same week
• In 2005, King Fahd, Peter Jennings and Robin Cook died within a week of each other
• The following year brought the closely timed deaths of Don Knotts, Darren McGavin and Dennis Weaver
• Heath Ledger, Suzanne Pleshette and Brad Renfro all died within a week of each other in January 2008

2009 Celebrity Deaths

If famous celebrity deaths really occur in threes, then who is next?

1. David Carradine
2. Ed McMahon
3. Farrah Fawcett

Then

1. Michael Jackson
2. Billy Mays
3. ????

“If you are at a graveside and for some reason the there is a delay in the burial, it is a sign that the deceased person does not wish to leave this earth alone and want to travel with someone. One of the mourners present will die soon.” Oh pa-leeeze.

Out of all the recent celebrity deaths in 2009, Michael Jackson’s death has hit me the hardest. Perhaps it comes from the deep and profound connection I feel having been born into the same controlling religion (or cult) as Michael, or maybe it’s because of the abuse Michael himself reported in the “Living with Michael Jackson” documentary interview with Martin Basher as having experienced as a child at the hand of his father Joe Jackson, and the aftereffects of such abuse. Maybe it’s all of that plus his incredible music career throughout all these years, and watching the Jackson Five on television years ago, but I’m a huge fan of Michael Jackson and always will be.

Losing Michael Jackson far too soon, at the age of just 50 years old, came as a huge shock to all Jackson fans. I can’t even imagine what the Jackson family must be going through right now, and seeing devastated Janet Jackson at the BET Awards show and Jermaine Jackson’s tearful interview with Matt Lauer on the Today Show shook us all to the core of our being.

Don’t even get me started talking about Joe Jackson’s behavior before the BET Awards show, where he chose that time to promote and hype a stupid record company in the wake of his son’s death. I have no sympathy for Joe Jackson whatsoever, but my heart breaks for the rest of the Jackson family and Michael Jackson’s children, who are suffering deeply and are apparently about to be thrown into a child custody battle involving Debbie Rowe, according to recent news reports.

If the deaths in threes old wives tale were true, then I’d be worried. Having just attended the funeral for my husband’s 84-year-old aunt yesterday along with other family members and friends, if deaths really do happen in threes then all I can say is Uh-Oh, who is next?

R.I.P. Michael Jackson – you will be dearly missed.

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OK Magazine Michael Jackson Cover Picture of Michael Jackson’s Death Photo

Lin — Thu, 02 Jul 2009 05:48:51 +0000

OK! Magazine has sunk to a new low. OK Magazine paid $500000 for a cover “death photo” of Michael Jackson on a stretcher, as emergency personnel tried to revive the dying star, which has created quite a controversy amongst Michael Jackson fans, the pathetic magazine’s advertisers and the music community.

The OK! Magazine Michael Jackson cover picture is all over the internet now, and I can only imagine how upsetting and heart-wrenching the circulation of this photo must be for the Jackson family.

You may now add OK! Magazine to the list of other tabloid rags to line your birdcage with. Or, better yet, unsubscribe today from the magazine and don’t buy the rag-mag ever again.

The OK Magazine cover picture of Michael Jackson’s last moments has fans outraged at the despicable, disrespectful and outrageous decision to plaster a death photo of Jackson on its latest issue released today.

OK! Magazine claims the cover picture to be a Michael Jackson tribute, supposedly in an attempt to honor and memorialize the King of Pop for Jackson fans. The media circus surrounding Michael Jackson’s death and upcoming funeral arrangements exemplifies how low photographers, television and magazine reporters will go to make a buck.

Sarah Ivens, editorial director at OK!, told MediaWeek.com that she thought the dying Jackson photo would differentiate OK! from the other magazines running tribute issues this week.

“It’s a photo that captures the surprise and the upset and the moment of this breaking news story. I hope the cover will provoke readers. It celebrated the man, but it also does expose that he was an eccentric character who lived a very controversial life.”

FAIL!

There is a petition to “Stop Michael Jackson Death Photo” where fans can sign their name and demand that OK! Magazine stop this highly insensitive and disgusting use of Michael Jackson’s image as he lays dying. The petition has over 400 signatures so far. The petition says:

“This is, aside from being a low blow to a musical icon and pathetic attempt to revive their failing business, a violation of the basic rights of human beings.

“The editors and owner of OK! magazine are violating not only Michael Jackson’s privacy, but the dignity of his family, friends, and fans.

“Please sign this petition if you believe that it is a basic human right to protect the privacy and dignity of your loved ones when they cannot protect themselves.”

One signer posted my own thought. “”It’s about time that people stopped buying OK! and advertisers dropped it from their schedules. A tribute? Give me a break. It’s sick.”

The media circus is incredibly disrespectful to the Jackson family as well as Michael Jackson fans, still in shock over the news of MJ’s untimely death. Unfortunately, but typical of tabloid crap magazines like OK! Magazine and other media outlets, we’ve likely not seen or heard the last of this incredible lack of decency.

A tribute to Michael Jackson? Not by a long shot.

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Wedding Planning, How To Plan A Wedding, When to Get Married

Lin — Thu, 25 Jun 2009 12:00:47 +0000

Are you ready to get married? What have you done to prepare for marriage? Knowing when to get married and when not to get married to your significant other are important things for couples to consider before taking the plunge into holy matrimony. Saying “I am ready to get married” or “I want to get married” isn’t nearly enough to prove you are actually ready to be married, especially when you consider the divorce statistics or “divorce rates” for first, second or third marriages. What does preparing for marriage or “marriage readiness” mean to you?

It’s unfortunate that many dating or engaged couples focus a lot more time and attention to wedding day preparations than they do on what happens after the wedding festivities are over and the reality of being married sets in. It’s pretty sad that so many married men and women regret getting married, usually because they didn’t take the time to carefully ask themselves and each other the important before marriage questions before tying the knot, and now face the real possibility of getting a divorce.

“All marriages are happy. It’s the living together afterward that causes all the trouble.” ~Raymond Hull

Planning A Wedding

Planning a wedding is fun and exciting, that’s for sure. Brides and grooms begin searching for information on how to plan a wedding, and start looking for wedding planning websites like The Knot Wedding Shop for help in crossing off their wedding planning checklist of everything they’ll need for their wedding and reception.

Shopping for the wedding gown and tuxedos, choosing the flowers, selecting bridesmaids and groomsmen, choosing the wedding cake and favors, wedding dance songs for the father/daughter dance, enjoying the fun parties and wedding gifts couples receive, all in anticipation of getting married to your sweetheart. But, far too many couples get married for the wrong reasons, start having children and then the marriage goes bad for one reason or another, and off they go to divorce court as another statistic.

The wedding is just one day out of the rest of your life. Getting married and being married, especially happily married, are two entirely different things. Are you just ready to get married, or are you ready to be married? If you haven’t given much thought to the causes of divorce in many marriages, it’s important that you do so in order to help in your preparations for marriage that can largely determine your chances for a happy, successful and lifelong marriage, or your chances of having to tell your children you are getting a divorce.

Common Reasons for Divorce:

Money or financial problems

Sexual problems or sexual incompatibility

Infidelity – cheating spouse

Differences related to having or raising children

Problems with interfering parents or in-laws

Poor communication

Lack of commitment in marriage

Abandonment, Alcohol Addiction, Substance Abuse

Unrealistic expectations of marriage and husband/wife roles

Physical, emotional or sexual abuse

Inability or unwillingness to manage and resolve conflicts fairly

Lack of maturity – getting married too young

Intellectual incompatibility and inflexibility

Mental instability or mental health

Religious beliefs, cultural and lifestyle differences

Criminal history or incarceration for a crime

If you really are ready to get married and have done the necessary work to prepare for marriage, then congratulations and may you have many years together in marital bliss. But, if you haven’t asked yourselves and each other the hard questions before getting married, then you will be doing yourselves and any children you plan on having a lot of good by carefully considering your reasons for wanting to get married before walking down the aisle.

Consider this your opportunity to create your own “ready to get married quiz”. Why do you want to get married? What are your reasons for getting married? Are they the right reasons or the wrong reasons for getting married? What are the Top 10 Marriage Myths that can hurt your marriage before it even starts?

The staggering divorce statistics alone should give you reason for pause. Once you’ve completed the pre-marriage preparations and answered the tough questions about your relationship with your significant other, the question of when to get married will be an easy one to answer.

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Barbie Alternative: Only Hearts Club Dolls the Best Bratz, Barbie Alternative Doll Review

Lin — Sat, 20 Jun 2009 18:51:52 +0000

Barbie alternative? Appropriate dolls? Parents are looking for an age-appropriate alternative doll for their little girls to enjoy, especially since Barbie dolls and Bratz dolls, Dora the Explorer (amongst others), have been “updating” the clothes these dolls are now wearing to include inappropriate, racy, “sexy” outfits on dolls for young kids. Meet the Only Hearts Girls by Only Hearts Club, a great alternative to Barbie dolls and Bratz girls. Not only are the Only Hearts Club girls baby dolls that look real, but the Only Hearts girls are appropriate toys for young kids to play with.

What is Only Hearts Club? Only Hearts Club (OHC) is a family owned and operated company dedicated to creating a positive message to children through its line of realistic baby dolls and toys, and have been making dolls for 5+ years. Only Hearts Club Dolls are 9-inch dolls that look and dress like real little girls from a diverse range of backgrounds.

Realistic Baby Dolls That Look Real

Len Simonian, toy and lifestyle expert and president of Only Hearts Club said, “Dolls influence the image and behavior of young girls. From Bratz to Barbie, to Hannah Montana these companies each portray vastly different images through the marketing and ‘lifestyles’ of their dolls.” Simonian added, “Parents and grandparents can play a big hand in determining what dolls their kids buy. It’s up to us as parents of young girls to do our own due diligence about each brand’s messaging.”

The Only Hearts Club mission is to keep young girls age-appropriate while encouraging positive, conscious choices, turning Only Hearts Club into a multi million dollar business. The eight (8) life-like dolls, dressed like real girls, are each supported by its own book with the messaging, “in difficult life situations always do the right thing”. Each doll has its own personality and interests, all with the common goal of true friendship and a pledge to be nice to others.

Only Hearts Club were the winners of the 2006 Dr. Toy 100 Best Children’s Product Award as well as the 2007 Winner of Platinum Award, and has been featured on NBC’s Today Show, ABC’s Good Morning America, as well as in magazines including Good Housekeeping, In Touch and Family Fun.

Only Hearts

Only Hearts dolls are adored by girls because the dolls look like real girls, like themselves and their friends, dress in cool fashions, and because their pose-ability encourages play. Only Hearts Club are loved by parents and grandparents because the brand delivers a wholesome image (cool, yet age-appropriate fashions) and positive message to their girls. The brand is called the Only Hearts Club because it is a group of girls who have formed a club with a promise to one another to “listen to their hearts and do the right thing.”

The Only Hearts company has received countless messages from parents, saying how thankful and thrilled they are to have found a doll that their daughters think is cool and love to play with, and that also provides such a positive influence, especially in light of all the messages and images with which their girls are bombarded in today’s world.

In a Reuter’s interview with the Only Hearts Club president regarding the sexualizaton of children, Len Simonian said, “The sexualization of young girls is currently a huge concern. 10 is the new 15 and 8 the new 13. At Only Hearts Club we work against today’s television and music video culture where girls as young as 6 years old are told to wear revealing clothing, act sexy and chase boys.”

Only Hearts dolls are simply adorable for young girls, as are the other Only Hearts Club toys, furniture and accessories, which includes Only Hearts Club books and a complete equestrian line named the Only Hearts Horse & Pony Club, Only Hearts Club Li’l Kids, and a line of mini plush Only Hearts Pets for kids sold separately.

I’m not sure why, but I noticed there are no 9-inch Only Hearts Club boy dolls in the collection, except for a new boy doll named Trevor in the Only Hearts Club Li’l Kids collection. Hopefully Only Hearts Club will come out with some larger boy dolls soon, because I have a young nephew that would love to have one.

Other Barbie alternatives to consider are the Madame Alexander dolls, Marie Osmond dolls for young kids, and the Corolle dolls and accessories for children.

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Mom Songs, Wedding Dance Songs, Songs For Moms and Dads

Lin — Mon, 15 Jun 2009 17:37:56 +0000

Mom songs are very popular for Weddings, Receptions, Birthdays, Mother’s Day and throughout the year as a “just because” gift for moms. The ability to download songs for mom and dad to make into a CD, or listen to on an MP3 player or iPod, is a creative and unique gift to the mom or dad in your life.

If you are getting married and looking for wedding dance songs, perhaps for a special father/daughter or mother/daughter dance at your wedding reception, review this list of 101 songs for ideas with some of the best mother songs and songs for dads. You will notice there are songs from various genres including pop, rock, country etc.

Some of these songs are a bit sappy for a father/daughter dance or mother/daughter dance, so you might want to consider mixing things up like in this father/daughter dance, where the typical traditional dance quickly turned into a funny White Wedding spin. Enjoy!

101 Songs For Mom and Dad

I Remember Mama – by Shirley Caesar
In My Life – by The Beatles
What A Wonderful World – by Louis Armstrong
A Song For Mama – by Boyz II Men
Mother – by Pink Floyd
You Are So Beautiful – by Joe Cocker
Try To Remember – by Harry Belafonte
The Perfect Fan – by Backstreet Boys
Somebody’s Hero – by Jamie O’Neal
In My Daughter’s Eyes – by Martina McBride
White Wedding – by Billy Idol
Mama – by Spice Girls
Because You Loved Me – by Celine Dion
Oh How The Years Go By – by Amy Grant
Mother’s Prayer – by Sandi Patti
You’ll Never Walk Alone – by Olivia Newton-John
Mama – by IL Divo
Thank You Mom – by Good Charlotte
Surrender – by Cheap Trick
Simple Man – by Lynyrd Skynyrd
A Mother’s Love – by Aretha Franklin
You Raise Me Up – by Josh Groban
Through The Years – by Kenny Rogers
Daddy’s Girl – by Peter Cetera
Wind Beneath My Wings – by Bette Midler
Just The Way You Are – by Billy Joel
The Wonder Of You – by Elvis Presley
Three Times A Lady – by Lionel Richie
Angel – by Aerosmith
Hero – by Enrique Iglesias
He Didn’t Have To Be by Brad Paisley
Good Mother – by Jann Arden
God Bless Mom – by The Frames
I’ll Always Love My Mama – by The Intruders
Sweetest Decline – by Beth Orton
Mama, I’m Coming Home – by Ozzy Osbourne
Your Mother Should Know – by The Beatles Revival Band
Mama You Been On My Mind – by Rod Stewart
Feels Like Home – by Chantal Kreviazuk
Mama a Rainbow – from Minnie’s Boys
Daddy’s Hands – by Holly Dunn
You Can’t Lose Me – by Faith Hill
Brown Eyed Girl by Van Morrison
I’ll Be – by Reba McEntire
I Turn To You – by Christina Aguilara
Mama He’s Crazy – by The Judds
My Girl – by Temptations
My Wish – by Rascal Flatts
I Hope You Dance – by Lee Ann Womack
Forever Young – by Rod Stewart
Goodbye’s (The Saddest Word) – by Celine Dion
Nothing Compares 2 U by Sinead O’Connor
Gracie by Ben Folds
Star – by Bryan Adams
Daughters by John Mayer
Sweet Child O’ Mine by Sheryl Crow
Never Gone – by Backstreet Boys
If I Could – by Barbara Streisand
Kind And Generous – by Natalie Merchant
The Way You Look Tonight – by Michael Buble
You Are The Sunshine Of My Life – by Stevie Wonder
Butterfly Kisses – by Bob Carlisle
Isn’t She Lovely – by Stevie Wonder
You’ll Be In My Heart – by Phil Collins
Can You Feel The Love Tonight – by Elton John
There You’ll Be – by Faith Hill
I Loved Her First – by Heartland
How Sweet It Is (To Be Loved By You) – by James Taylor
Have I Told You Lately – by Rod Stewart
Ain’t That Love – by Ray Charles
Father And Daughter – by Paul Simon
Landslide – by Fleetwood Mac
Sweet Child O’ Mine – Guns N’ Roses
Thank You – Led Zeppelin
My Little Girl – by Tim McGraw
Daughter – by Loudon Wainwright III
Unforgettable – by Natalie Cole and Nat King Cole
Lullabye (Goodnight, My Angel) – by Billy Joel
Father’s Eyes – by Amy Grant
If I Could – by Celine Dion
Daddy’s Little Girl – by Al Martino
Wonderful Tonight – by Eric Clapton
Daughter Of Mine – by John McDermott
Time Of Your Life – by Green Day
You’re The Inspiration – by Chicago
My Special Angel – by Bobby Helms
You Decorated My Life – by Kenny Rogers
That’s How Strong My Love Is – by Otis Redding
Stand By Me – by Ben E. King
Daddy – by Beyonce
Do I Make You Proud – by Taylor Hicks
I’ll Stand By You – by The Pretenders
Some Hearts – by Carrie Underwood
You Got It – by Roy Orbison
Anyway – by Martina McBride
You’re My Little Girl – by Go Fish
Stealing Cinderella – by Chuck Wicks
Sunrise, Sunset – from Fiddler On The Roof
Don’t Forget To Remember Me – by Carrie Underwood
The Best Day – by Taylor Swift
When The Stars Go Blue – by Tim McGraw

If you are searching for wedding dance songs, be sure to check out the words and lyrics to any song you are considering in order to avoid an embarrassing disaster at your wedding or reception because of song lyrics that just don’t fit the occasion or your relationship.

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Parents Television Council Says American Idol Finale Crossed the Line

Lin — Tue, 26 May 2009 00:00:15 +0000

Parents’ Television Council is angry about the American Idol Season 8 Finale results show, aired on May 20, saying American Idol crossed the line of decency and cautioned FOX that the popular “family-friendly”, “family-hour”, prime-time show may alienate viewers. Parents Television Council (PTC) is a self-proclaimed, non-partisan Watch Dog group, founded by Brett Bozell in 1995 as an “education organization advocating responsible entertainment, to ensure that children are not constantly assaulted by sex, violence and profanity on television and in other media”.

PTC President, Tim Winter, says the “finale of American Idol demonstrated all the aspects that make television great — a months-long competition coming down to two finalists with a Cinderella story ending. Unfortunately, it also demonstrated what’s wrong with television when Fox decided that gratuitous shock value in front of a huge family audience is a good thing, rather than a bad thing. If Fox isn’t careful, they will alienate the family audience foundation upon which the success of Idol has been built.”

PTC voted American Idol on Fox the worst TV show of the week, followed by Family Guy in the number 2 spot. Vote For The Worst, probably the bane of American Idol’s existence, flippantly reported: “PTC is angry that Kara DioGaurdi took her dress off, Bikini Girl made an appearance, and the Black Eyed Peas performed a song with swear words in it.” VFTW concludes that PTC’s concerns about Katrina Darrell’s return as the Bikini Girl showing off her “new enhancements”, and the Black Eyed Peas performance of “Boom Boom Pow” with sexual lyrics and profanity means “they’re just homely old shrews who need to get a life”.

According to Reuter’s write-up on PTC, Americans would have to be living under a rock not to have noticed the steady “increase of sex, violence and profane language shown during the traditional, early-evening “family hour” of broadcast television viewing”, where families with young children and tween/teens gather around their television sets for “family-oriented” programming. But, perhaps parents and concerned citizens are all just “old shrews who need to get a life” as VFTW would have you believe.

According to a study by Parents Television Council, entitled The Alarming Family Hour…No Place For Children (PDF), instances of violence during family-hour broadcast TV had increased by 52.4 percent since it conducted a similar study in 2001, while the amount of sexual content grew by 22.1 percent, amongst other concerns. The “Family Hour” time slot includes television programs starting between the hours of 8 and 9 p.m. Monday through Saturday and between 7 and 9 p.m. on Sundays, in the Eastern (EST) time zone (7 to 8 p.m. Monday through Saturday, and 6 to 8 p.m. Sunday in the Central time zone).

The PTC summary says “The American public is overwhelmingly concerned. In a March 2007 Zogby Poll, 79% of respondents agreed that there is too much sex, violence and coarse language on television. Other surveys have shown that parents are so fed up that they would welcome more government regulation to rein-in television content. However, through responsible self-regulation, the entertainment industry might eliminate the need for further legislative or regulatory action.”

Not surprisingly, TV Watch, a group opposed to “increased government regulation of television broadcasting”, quickly criticized the study saying PTC used “faulty analysis, biased methodology and suspect omissions to influence the debate and raise money” as part of an ongoing effort to influence regulators and lawmakers to take family viewing decisions out of the hands of parents and give them to the government.

Jim Dyke, executive director of TV Watch, says parents have the “means to control and monitor what their kids watch, with the use of the “V-chip” feature built into TV sets that allow parents to set controls based on program ratings”. Television ratings and movie ratings claiming TV programs and movies are appropriate for children should only be viewed as a guide for parents, as programs become more “edgy”, “hip”, “keeping up with the changing times”, etc.

Parents of young kids, under the age of 17, if you and/or your kids watched the American Idol Finale Results Show, raise your hand. Were you at all surprised, even shocked by any of the performances or lyrics? Did you put your trust in FOX and American Idol big-wigs to choose child, tween/teen appropriate songs and performances for your family? American Idol ratings scored an all-time low for the Idol finale results show, the lowest rated finale EVER in the show’s history, where Kris Allen was crowned the new American Idol over fellow contestant Adam Lambert. The reasons for the low ratings are up for debate.

Some parents felt they were blindsided by Flo-rida’s Right Round performance on American Idol, never having heard of the rapper before the show aired, only to discover the lyrics left parents of younger children scrambling for the remote. Where will FOX draw the line between “staying current” and being over-the-top? Time will tell, but parents would do well to do their research ahead of showtime to find out everything they can about performers, songs being sung, and the associated lyrics and make an informed decision of whether to watch or not.

“Increased government regulation”? How about just enforcing decency laws already on the books? PTC’s FAQ’s page clearly states that they’re in agreement that parents are primarily responsible for their child’s television viewing habits. However, PTC makes this analogy regarding joint responsibility for television content:

The fact that parents are ultimately responsible for their children’s upbringing does not free the entertainment industry from taking responsibility for their product. The assertion that the sole responsibility lies with parents is a self-justifying claim usually made by people who wish to evade accountability. It is much like pumping sewage into a town’s river, while maintaining that parents are responsible for protecting the health of their own children. Parental responsibility is the beginning, not the end, of the story.

Regarding the question, “If you don’t like something on television, why don’t you just change the channel?”, PTC says this:

Television is the most public and powerful means of mass communication. It drives changes in social customs, speech, and attitudes, especially among youth. Because of its pervasiveness and persuasiveness, opting out is an entirely inadequate response to the dramatic rise in the amount of televised graphic sex, obscene and profane language, and gratuitous violence found on television today. These depictions affect everyone, including our children’s classmates and friends. Vulgar television means a more vulgar society; sex-saturated television means sexualized children stripped of their innocence; violent television results in desensitization to violence.

TV Trends columnist, Chritopher Gildemeister, writes in his article entitled “Networks Change Their Tune on TV’s Influence” how FOX (supported by CBS, NBC, ABC, the ACLU and others) told the Supreme Court (regarding the 1978 FCC vs. Pacifa decision) that “the broadcast networks should not be subject to decency laws. This would mean that the networks would be able to use any foul language they want, in any amount, at any time of day – no matter how many children are watching. In fact, the networks went so far as to say that broadcast decency laws are a violation of the First Amendment.”

The results of a June 2007 TV Watch Poll (PDF-opens in new window) is quite telling, as far as the percentage of parents who actually monitor their children’s television, computer and internet use versus those who don’t. Some parents are seriously slacking in their responsibilities towards their children. I don’t subscribe to the idea of increased government regulations, but I do believe media marketers as a whole have grave responsibility in what is being projected towards children and teens on TV, magazines, clothing styles, movies etc, and that existing decency laws should be enforced.

What do you think? Was the Idol Finale Over the top, too controversial, too “sexy”, too……something? Why do you think the American Idol ratings are so low?

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