Bloggerville

PARENTING: Home Births On The Rise

2012-01-30T10:57:00.001-06:00

Will rushing to the hospital after going into labor soon be a thing of the past? Perhaps not, but the number of women giving birth at home is growing rapidly.

The number of home births has gone up nearly 30 percent since 2004. And while that number is still fairly small -- just about 30,000 in 2009 -- the number continues to rise.

Tom Brady's wife Gisele Bundchen ditched the hospital for her delivery in 2010. But most of the women choosing home births are just regular gals.

The home birth mom typically falls into these categories:

She's 35 or older.
She's had children before.
She lives in a "renegade" state like Montana, Vermont or Oregon, where the most home births take place. (MSNBC)

Do you see home births as delightful or dangerous? What would keep you from staying home for the occasion?

Talent spurned on by Lady Gaga....

2012-01-30T05:41:00.002-06:00

kHits/Electric Cowboy Karaoke Challenge Jan. 26, 2012 PHOTOS

2012-01-28T21:22:00.001-06:00

Word of the Year!

2012-01-26T06:09:00.000-06:00

The word of the year is pragmatic. You know, as in being practical, as opposed to idealistic. As in being logical. As in capturing the current American mood of encouraging practicality over frivolity. And now it has been named word of the year by Merriam-Webster. Here are the top 10 words of 2011 and their meaning:

Pragmatic: practical as opposed to idealistic
Ambivalence: simultaneous and contradictory attitudes or feelings, such as attraction and repulsion
Insidious: treacherous
Didactic: designed or intended to teach
Austerity: enforced or extreme economy
Diversity: variety, especially the inclusion of people of different races or cultures
Capitalism: an economic system characterized by private or corporate ownership of capital goods, by investments that are determined by private decision and by prices, production and the distribution of goods that are determined mainly by competition in a free market
Socialism: any of various economic and political theories advocating collective or governmental ownership and administration of the means of production and distribution of goods
Vitriol: something felt to resemble vitriol especially in caustic quality; especially, virulence of feeling or of speech
Apres moi le deluge: French term that means "after me the deluge," attributed to King Louis XV

HIS TOP 5 DATING DEAL BREAKERS

2012-01-25T05:52:00.000-06:00

Sarah Z. Wexler told Glamour magazine about guys' biggest hang ups about dating. Admit it you have got your first date litmus tests. Does he criticize his mom? He must hate women. Does he undertip? He is a selfish jerk. Wexler always mention that she is a vegetarian, because depending on the guy's reaction, she can tell whether he is an accepting boyfriend or an intolerant one. So in the spirit of fairness, Wexler asked men what chaps their hide. Here are top responses:

1. She will not try new things.
No need to skydive with him if you are not into that, but a touch of adventurousness can go a long way.

2. She is judgey.
One 33 year old man writer says, "when I lived with my gay best friend. I'd mention it right away to see if it made the girl uncomfortable." It did more than once, and killed the chemistry for him.

3. She hates sports.
Predictable? Sure. But still a top response among the guys Wexler talked to.

4. She is not up on the news.
Not all guys care about politics, but those who do tell me that they all often float an issue in conversation to see whether the women they are with follows the front page, too.

5. Movie references go flying over her head.
A 30-year-old graphic designer says, "I just want to know if she thinks the same things are funny, that our personalities are compatible." If you have no idea what he is talking about admit it. Hopefully, he will ask you to watch the movie with him.

You Broke My Heart So I Sold All Your Stupid Gifts!

2012-01-25T05:46:00.000-06:00

A new website has been set up to help people get rid of all their unwanted gifts and leftovers from relationships that have gone bust. 28-year-old Annabel Acton of New York is the creator of NeverLikedItAnyway.com -- an idea that was spurned after her own romance fell apart days before Christmas. Miss Acton, originally from Australia, had two tickets to London as well as artwork and jewelry she did not want to wear anymore, so set up the website to sell it. Acton says she found all the "Better to have loved and lost" sentiment pathetic and wanted something more "spunky and irreverent" with a "Sex in the City type attitude." Items currently for sale include designer wedding dresses, wedding and engagement rings and even wedding packages from couples who didn't quite make it to the altar. Sellers list the "real world price" followed by the bargain "break-up price" and then blog about their reasons for selling the goods. (Ananova)

Knocking Off A Waffle House -- Not As Easy As You'd Think!

2012-01-24T05:46:00.002-06:00

Tragedy struck a would-be teen-aged robber who tried to hold up a Waffle House in Spartanburg, South Carolina. Spartanburg County Sheriff's Lt. Tony Ivey says 29-year-old Kenneth Jowan Craig was arrested and charged with armed robbery and possession of a weapon during a violent crime. Craig's partner in crime, 19-year-old Dante Lamont Williams, didn't fare as well. As the duo tried to rob the restaurant, a customer with a concealed weapons permit drew his gun and told both men to freeze and wait for sheriff's deputies to arrive. Williams reportedly then pointed his gun at the customer at which point the customer shot and killed him. No charges are being pressed against the customer. (Atlanta Journal Constitution)

HOW TO KEEP A HEALTHY LEVEL OF INSANITY AT THE OFFICE

2012-01-18T05:40:00.000-06:00

At lunch time, sit in your parked car with sunglasses on and point a blow dryer at passing cars. See if they slow down.
Page yourself over the intercom. Don't disguise your voice.
Every time someone asks you to do something, ask if they want fries with that.
Put your garbage can on your desk and label it "in."
As often as possible, skip rather than walk.
Ask people what sex they are. Laugh hysterically after they answer.
Specify in fast-food drive-thrus that your order is "to go".
Sing along at the opera.
Go to a poetry recital and ask why the poems don't rhyme.
Drape mosquito netting over your cubicle and play a tape of jungle sounds all day.
Insist that your co-workers address you by your wrestling name, Rock Hard Kim.
When leaving the zoo, run towards the parking lot, screaming "They're loose! They're loose!"
Tell your children over dinner, "Due to the economy, we're going to have to let one of you go."
Regardless of their actual name, call your boss LeRoy.

NINE COLORS THAT GIVE YOU A MOOD BOOST

2012-01-18T05:37:00.000-06:00

(Cosmpolitan) According to psychologist and color experts, the hues you come in contact with during the day from your red nail polish to the earthy tones at Starbucks have an impact on your state of mind. It has to do both with associations you from as a kid and with wavelengths, explains Dewey Sadka, founder of Dewey Color System http://www.deweycolorsystem.com/. Each color shoots off a unique variation and may be processed differently in your brain. These colors are proven to work their magic as soon as you lay eyes on them:

Red -- if you want to be focused during a big presentation try wearing red. This bold hue makes you pay more attention to details, according to a study by the University of British Columbia. Red has the longest wavelength in the color spectrum, people might need to look longer to process it, so all eyes are on you.
Green -- if you want to chill the heck out. Most of us associate green with the ahh-inducing vibe of nature a University of Georgia study found that people think of trees and plants when they see it and end up feeling more relaxed as a result.
Blue -- come up with a cool idea for your guy's Valentine's day present. Researchers at the University of British Columbia found that people who eye ball the color blue were better at using their imagination. Before you brainstorm, stare at the sky for a minute your creative juices will start flowing.
Yellow -- start your day with a burst of energy. There's something about this color that makes you feel perkier. A recent study on spatial color found that people who hung out in a yellow room were more active and energetic than those in other rooms.
Orange -- motivate yourself to work out more. Orange is having a fashion moment right now, and it also makes you feel more stimulated, according to a Pantone Color Institute study.
Purple -- be carefree, laugh, and goof off. A University of Georgia study found that most people associate purple with children and giggling, so if you are feeling stressed, take a look at something purple. It will help you loosen up.
Brown -- Feel really comfy on a crappy day. Whether it is the decor in a coffee shop or the coffee itself, brown rules java joints, making them the perfect place to kick back when it is yucky outside. Color association studies from Pantone Color Institute found that people feel cozy when they see brown.
White -- Get over a breakup. The University of Georgia study found that the color white makes us feel hopeful about the future. Where do you miss your ex most? Probably snuggling in your bed, so changing your lines to white can have a major impact in turning over a new leaf in your love life.
Black -- Be totally desired. You already know you feel sexy in a 'little black dress,' but the hue can also make you feel more empowered and sophisticated, according to color association studies conducted by the Pantone Color Institute. And the vibe is super seductive.

That Works Out To $5 Million An Inch!

2012-01-17T05:46:00.001-06:00

A former sailor has been awarded $5 million bucks an inch over some most unfortunate injuries he sustained in an accident. Back in 2007, 27-year-old Matthew Wall was riding his motorcycle to work at the U.S. Navy submarine base in San Diego when he was struck by a shuttle bus from a nearby car dealership. The jury heard how the van turned left in front of Mr. Wall who was unable to avoid the collision and was thrown off his motorcycle and suffered a fracture of his pubic ramus bone and a crushing injury to his private parts causing nerve and artery damage. He had to undergo reconstructive surgery that left the family jewels an inch and half shorter than before the accident! Even worse-- the van's driver, Pedro Flores Miramontes, was a non-U.S. citizen who had an expired driver's license and had never been trained as a shuttle driver. It still gets worse. At the time of the accident, Mr. Wall was a newlywed and recently married. However, questions arose about whether he would be able to have children due to his injury and the couple has since divorced. A jury in El Cajon, California, awarded Wall $7,553,000 in damages as compensation for pain, suffering, medical bills and loss of income. A spokesman with the car dealership says they will appeal the verdict. (Daily Mail)

Jason Derulo updates his fans about injury

2012-01-16T05:50:00.003-06:00

When puppy eats.....funny

2012-01-16T05:43:00.000-06:00

Miss America 2012 is....

2012-01-16T05:39:00.003-06:00

IPad Falls from space...and survives

2012-01-12T06:19:00.001-06:00

President Obama sings "Born This Way"

2012-01-12T05:57:00.004-06:00

President Obama, no doubt a huge Lady Gaga fan, sings her hit "Born This Way" in this masterfully edited mash-up.

The Page Turner....

2012-01-12T05:54:00.002-06:00

When reading a newspaper, you can turn the page the easy way or you can turn the page the much longer, more complex Rube Goldberg way. Check out this amazing contraption.

Hit & Run Idiot!

2012-01-11T05:35:00.002-06:00

I witnessed a nasty hit and run accident on Tuesday, Jan 10, 2012 on I630 between Woodrow and Pine/Cedar streets in Little Rock. The car being followed in the video is the HITTER and RUNNER. It's a Hispanic or black male driving with plate number 254 PIX.

Nerf Gun Tooth Extraction

2012-01-10T05:41:00.001-06:00

Know if he's lying?

2012-01-06T09:00:00.001-06:00

Want to know if your boyfriend is lying? Here's how to tell, according to Jan Hargrave, body-language expert and author of "Freeway of Love." This lead to some great listener calls on "other ways to tell if a guy is lying:

The ear pull -- If he tugs on his ear, it may be a subconscious ploy to distract you from the big, fat fib coming out of his mouth.
The arched eyebrow -- A cocked brow sends a contradictory signal -- half aggressive, half scared.
The unmixed message -- He's hiding something from you.
The chin dip -- Right before your man coughs up the story of the century, he'll sometimes lower his chin to keep down the butterflies in his stomach.
The shoulder shrug -- A shoulder shrug feigns bewilderment, as in "How could she think I'd lie to her?" But what he's really thinking is: "How the heck did she catch me?"
The hand rub -- If your man's sweating buckets, his palms will itch, forcing him to rub them together or wipe them on his pants.
The leg shift -- Shifting his weight from one leg to the other may indicate a shifty response to your burning question.

The Love Project - How To Love Flash Mob on LA Subway

2012-01-06T05:53:00.003-06:00

CASEY ANTHONY: Turns Up in Online "Video Diary"

2012-01-06T05:34:00.001-06:00

After six months of flying below the radar, Casey Anthony turned up yesterday (Thursday) in an online video diary that someone posted online. In the roughly four-minute clip that was recorded in October, Anthony sports a new look -- a blond bob with glasses -- and made no mention of her late toddler daughter Caylee Marie, her high-profile murder trial, where she was hiding out or her parents. Anthony's defense attorney J. Cheney Mason claimed that the video was not released by Anthony and called its posting "unauthorized" and "inappropriate." Anthony was acquitted in July of murdering her daughter.

NEW CELEBRITY APRRENTICE CAST REVEALED

2012-01-05T05:39:00.000-06:00

Donald Trump announced the cast of the new Celebrity Apprentice yesterday on the Today show. The season premieres February 12th.

Here's the lineup:

Clay Aiken, second season "American Idol" runner-up
Michael Andretti, race car driver
Adam Carolla, radio/podcast host and former "Dancing With the Stars" contestant
Tia Carrere, Wayne's World actress and singer
Lou Ferrigno, bodybuilder and TV's Incredible Hulk
Debbie Gibson, '80s pop star
Teresa Giudice, Real Housewives of New Jersey star
Victoria Gotti, daughter of John Gotti and star of A&E's Growing Up Gotti
Arsenio Hall, former late-night show host
Penn Jillette, magician and comedian
Lisa Lampanelli, foul-mouthed comedian
Dayana Mendoza, a former Miss Universe
Aubrey O'Day, singer
Dee Snider, lead singer of Twisted Sister and star of A&E's reality series Growing Up Twisted
George Takei, Star Trek's original Sulu
Paul Teutul Senior, the eldest Teutul on Discovery's motorcycle show American Chopper
Cheryl Tiegs, former supermodel
Patricia Velasquez, model and actress

GYM "DON'T"

2012-01-04T05:13:00.001-06:00

January means that the gyms are packed right now -- but just because there are hot single guys in there, it doesn't mean you should look like you're ready to go clubbing ...

77% of Glamour readers said exercising in makeup is a don't.

Just Asking ... Do you get dressed up to go work out? Why? Do you look at the gym as a place to meet guys? Have you met anyone at the gym?

You have to love drunk Russians...On New Years Day

2012-01-04T04:51:00.001-06:00

Old Home Video Fun!!!!

2012-01-04T04:49:00.000-06:00

Two brothers, watching an old home video from 1989, decided to make it more current by dubbing over some DVD commentary. The result is a hysterical and clever take on what was going in their family twenty years ago.