Barry, the good, little puppy: what's his reward for obedience?

Local food execs sign on to Michelle Obama anti-obesity campaign

This morning in the Oval Office, President Barack Obama signed a memorandum on childhood obesity. He said it would trigger a 90-day plan that "provides optimal coordination" among federal agencies to fight the epidemic. "We think this has enormous promise," he said of the first lady's bid to promote healthy eating habits and exercise.

Mrs. Obama stood behind her husband with an arm draped over his chair as he penned his signature, then patted him on the back and said "Good job" when he was finished.

Read the whole thing here.

*********

Could someone pleeeease explain to me how food execs 'changing' manufacturing processes is going to have a positive effect upon eliminating obesity?

Better these corporations would just stop making all the crap!

And BTW, isn't "Good job" what you say to a puppy you're training?

GONE: A Master Jazz Artist

Sir John Dankworth's life of jazz

Sir John and his wife, the fascinating Dame Cleo Laine

*********

I met these two amazing artists back in the 80s while working stages in Milwaukee. Their music will live on...and on.

Sign of the past

Along with the Cathedral - Milan's most famous and much beloved monument - the big Castle is linked to the vicissitudes and dramatic events that the city has been experiencing over the past centuries.

For many years, in fact, it has represented a symbol of the power in the hands of the Dukes, as well as of the foreign dominators.

Only at the beginning of the 20th century the Castle assumed its distinctive role, becoming a place of culture, which hosted numerous Lombard art collections.

The Castle was named after Francesco Sforza, who transformed it into a ducal residence in 1450.

But its origins date back to the second half of the 14th century, at the time of Galeazzo II Visconti.

Curious for more?

Waiting for his master...

...as am I.

The Perfect Storm

Unconsummated? Or just divorced?

At any rate--UNPOPULAR!

Forget Polls, Here’s Tangible Proof the Obama Honeymoon is Over

One sign that Washington, D.C., had been home to Obama Mania was the number of independent retailers selling all sorts of Obama merchandise.

Every street corner, it seemed, had Obama wares (or Obama wear) for sale.

Now, however, most of the winter caps for sale are not emblazoned with the Obama logo.

T-shirts depicting our president as a dunking Michael Jordan, a victorious Muhammad Ali, or saber-baring Luke Skywalker (yes, these shirts all existed) are nowhere to be found.

This time last year, the Obama Store was teeming with customers.

Ideally situated in the basement of Washington’s Union Station, the store was filled with consumers eager to buy anything with Obama’s likeness while others took pictures of the life-size cut-outs of the president and first lady.

Now, the Obama Store is boarded up.

Read the rest.

Put away the world's silly distractions...

...and ponder this most magnificent creation!

BTW, Barry ain't nothin' compared to this!

No comment yet from the Waffle House

Washington DC is getting hammered by the current snowstorm. Trees (and streetlights) are reportedly down, according to Fox News.


I guess Obama's rant last winter, about teaching Washingtonians some "flinty Chicago toughness", fell on deaf ears.

T'ain't all 'bowtchu everywhere, Barry!

Obama Statue to Leave Indonesia Park

Why these people ever commisioned this UN-likeness is totally beyond me as an artist. Though, the money was probably great--but that is not MY reason for being an artist.

Apparently, though, it caught a lot of unsavory pigeon droppings, huh?

As Time Goes By

You must remember this
A kiss is just a kiss,
a sigh is just a sigh.
The fundamental things apply
As time goes by.

But what kind of body language is this here?

Hand in the pocket?

Got news for you...

he don't love her,

and she don't love him.

They are together for the money

(for WIGS AND BELTS AND SHOES, OH MY!)

Mmm...mmm...mmm!

Thoughts on Obama, the Finger-pointer

Perhaps you should blam-a yourself-a, Zambini!

This man seems to have not one idea what it means to be President of the United States of America other than it is a time to party--heavily.

He most assuredly does not represent me.

How do you allow him to represent you? As an American? When he seems not to be one of us--a steadfast citizen of the United States of America?

It is not merely the mispronunciation of words (like 'corpseman'), but the meaning of words (like 'corpseman'), that seem to not weigh at all with this high school-driven administration.

They, in this administration, seem to be lost in the olden days, the days of "Alinsky" (who has been dead for a while, as have been Lenin and Marx) and all of his ilk.

Why would we, YOU, as Americans, want to embrace these socialistic policies?

So we can lose our hard-fought-for freedom?

To WORDS? Words like 'corpseman'?

Shall we, too, dishonor our military?

Yes, words like "Fuck this and that" from the Chief-of-Staff (a Jew, but apparently a Jew-hater), words like "let me be clear" when all is obfuscation.

And I, as a Caucasian female over the age of sixty, cannot condone any of this shite they spew forth, this man AND his wife who claim to be citizens of the United States of America.

They are both anything but Americans!

There is a time to call the wrestler to the mat, is there not?

Mister Referee?

Because we seem to be in a...

With many apologies, of course, to failblog.org

MO JUMP FAIL!

Once again, ART imitates LIFE!

Alberto Giacometti sculpture breaks auction record

Alberto Giacometti's 'L'homme qui marche I', 1960 bronze

Stanley Anne Dunham's 'The walking man I', 1961 tan/red

Corpseman? Corpsemember? Huh?

Video is here.

Was it a Freudian slip...
or an intentional underlying disdain for the military?

An Excellent Article!

Stupid Decisions: Can We Avoid Making Them?

By Pat Racimora on February 2, 2010 at 6:30 PM

www.noquarterusa.net

Social science research has demonstrated it over and over again, but we let ourselves be bamboozled every time.

We are so influenced by hype, glitz, cultural biases and tricks, and other gimmicks that lead us to make decisions already predetermined by others. And it’s amazing how well such tactics work when hoodwinkers want to use them against us. Or when we fall victim to our own information-processing vulnerabilities.

Audiences rate speeches delivered by a man as superior to the exact same speech delivered by a woman. The content of an essay attributed to an individual described as an expert is rated well above that same essay attributed to a college freshman. A high-priced artwork is preferred to that same piece at a bargain price. And judges of wine are influenced by so many factors that the pattern of winners looks almost random.

Leonard Miodinow’s Wall Street Journal piece titled, “A Hint of Hype, A Taste of Illusion” inspired my cartoon. He tells the fascinating story of the winners and losers of wine competitions. Judges vary so significantly that such contests have little meaning. My advice here is to just figure out what you like. Some expert sommelier somewhere will extol your excellent taste in wine.

So, what does all this mean regarding our ability to pick (and then vote for) competent leaders with strong character?

We know that getting caught up in spin can be dangerous. Bernie Maddoff’s sweet talk comes to mind. But in this election year we have to be ultra-sensitive lest we be duped again by both the media and candidates’ spinning machines. We already know what a slick campaign can wreak—and we are living it out now at the highest levels.

It may be difficult to remain oblivious to the dazzling words and the flying mud that we are beginning to experience as November elections heat up. But if one keeps totally focused on candidate’s documented previous experiences and integrity, it is more difficult to be stupid.

Finally, it is said that when Issac Stern learned that a Carnegie Hall concert was sold out far in advance, he went out in his old clothes and played his violin on the sidewalk so that his fans who were not lucky enough to get tickets could hear him up close. However, few stopped to notice.

So I offer this analogy: “Pay attention only to the sound of the violin and you will know what to do.”

Shadow-play?

When Life gives you lemons...

What DO you do with a drunken sailor?

Hey, Bill Morton...

Just remember who removed the third person from this photograph and heavily retouched it!

When are you ever gonna repay some of the $1,425
you owe me?

Why are you STIFFING me, Cheeser?

Is Obama on board with Panetta, or not?

This seemingly-Muslim president bows--a lot--even to the mayor of Tampa? Florida?

But this headline precedes anything Obama can even attempt to accomplish!

Senators Warned of Terrorist Attack on U.S. by July

Leon Panetta, Director CIA

“The biggest threat is not so much that we face an attack like 9/11,” said Leon E. Panetta, the C.I.A. director. “It is that Al Qaeda is adapting its methods in ways that oftentimes make it difficult to detect.”

And Obama NEVER said a thing to the American people, because he cannot understand that America is, as Abraham Lincoln poignantly stated in his Gettysburg Address (which Obama seems to know NOTHING about),:

"...and that government of the people, by the people, for the people, shall not perish from the earth."

After all, it is the second of February!

Quinn declares victory but Hynes won't concede in Democratic governor's race

Shouldn't it all be left up to the GROUNDHOG today?

And, by the way, that would be pronounced "feh-broo-airy'!

Just for all those of you who were never attentive in English class!

Why the hell would YOU vote for HIM?

Illinois Treasurer Alexi Giannoulias declared victory tonight in the Democratic primary for President Barack Obama's former U.S. Senate seat.

Unless you're in love with the MOB?

Just to let you know, I am half-Greek by birth, and I would not vote for this jerk if ATHENA herself begged me!

Just Another...One Thousand Words

Just to assure you...

...Spring is really not far off.

While someone says a photo of a coffee cup at a local business may be worth 1,000 words, I say:

Look at this: it is the current Rogers Park, AND it is the old Rogers Park...it is the present and it is history, all in one.

Okay, Blame it on the Winter Snow!

No evening rush of voters as polls close

Here in Illinois, in the primaries, a voter is required to vote by party.

It's just a playground, like the photo above!

Now, I am certain, if Abraham Lincoln could put his one or two cents in, (yes, pun intended), he would have a few words to say in Springfield.

It is not the American way, to control the ultimate vote, as it is done in Illinois.

By virtue of this manner of voting, we have begat criminals. Find George Ryan for yourself on Google.

As a matter of fact, find out what you can about Mayor Richard M. (I affectionately call him Dick'em) Daley, Dick Durbin, and former Senator Barack Hussein Obama, who sometime back, declared himself a Kenyan by birth, thus making him illegal to be the President of the United States of America!

It's all there, when you take the time to look for it yourself.

If, and when, you voted today (as many of you registered voters did not), you will find, of course, in the mainstream media, (Chicago Tribune and Chicago Sun-Times), that Alexi Giannoulias is the leader in the race for Governor of the State of Illinois. I am half-Greek, and I would not vote for him for all the saganaki in Athens!

If you voted for him, I pity you for not doing your homework.

And, as many of you did not do your homework on the candidates, I would, very politely, ask that you do it again. And, AGAIN, before the election in April, until you understand just what some of these politicians are trying to do to you.

You enjoy your freedoms, correct? Keep hold of them by voting out the frauds.

It is Time Now

RE: the Followers

I thank each and every one of you who read these posts, or just look at my photography and sometimes say...Yeah.

In the followers list, there is someone who does not want to be there...call him the 'Chess piece'.

He has e-mailed me, a 'chess piece', calling me a name I feel I do not deserve...RACIST. Because I do not agree with his politics, apparently.

I sent him back the instructions (from Google) regarding how to remove oneself as a follower.

He is still there (CREEPY)...as a follower...because he cannot seem to get Bill Morton, who set up his blog, to do an 'Un-follower-up'. (Bill is lazy about things like that, because they don't pay!)

Now, I followed his blog, but gave up, as he has not posted anything in TEN months! This 'chess piece' has aligned himself with someone we can call "the would-be king"--that would be your friend Barry.

I might add the 'chess piece' is a long-standing member of SEIU 880 here in Chicago.

That, in itself, states a volume, doesn't it?

He also has replaced me as Treasurer of Rogers Park Chamber of Commerce (I held a dual office, so someone else has replaced me as Secretary--isn't that nice now? It takes TWO to replace one, and then, I am not truly replaced, am I, because I was the 'Graphics Artist' too!)

I also photographed for him and reworked pieces for his website. No pay, of course, as a 'friend'.

I feel used! All work, NO PAY!

Here is the website page (no longer available) that I designed for him:


Go there now and see what I developed has become under these two 'faux-maestros'.

Ethics? Daley? HUH?

Top ethics aide to Daley accused of poor judgment quits
http://www.chicagobreakingnews.com/2010/02/top-ethics-aide-to-daley-quits-amid-sex-harassment-complaint.html

Mark Meaney (sorry for the poor capture, not much on this guy)--but he really should change his name!

A top ethics aide to Mayor Richard Daley has resigned in the face of allegations that he and his boss used poor judgment in the handling of a student intern's sexual harassment complaint.

Mark E. Meaney resigned his $146,940-a-year position as first deputy in the mayor's Office of Compliance. He had joined Anthony Boswell to run the compliance office in 2007, which Daley created to promote a culture of good conduct among city workers.

"It was a privilege to have been part of something that had never been tried before, corporate-style compliance in municipal government," Meaney wrote Tuesday in an email to the Tribune.
"Mayor Daley should be applauded in his efforts at true reform. Unfortunately, fear and blame seem to be winning over culture change."

Meaney's comments seemed to be aimed at the Inspector General's Office, which has been criticized in court filings for allegedly creating a "culture of fear" where workers are reluctant to report honest mistakes for fear they will be punished.

Meaney said he was returning to the private sector and had no regrets.

More...

It's coming, isn't it, Dick'em? They're coming for you.

Even your father had more of an ethic about him, didn't he?

Can you feel it, the rumbling?

That's Richard M. Daley, rolling over in his grave, disturbed by the so-called "ethics" of his son, who seems to have forgotten him.

Dick'em Daley: RESIGN, now, and go home to your wife, who needs you so much these days.

Unless you'd rather be out chummin' with Huberman?

Daley's just glad it's not HIS time...YET!

Mayor Daley: Alderman's guilty plea 'very sad'

Carothers had been one of his staunchest supporters


“It’s very sad,” Daley said today.

“All public officials — whether appointed or elected — have public trust. You have a responsibility of handling the public money, hard-earned taxpayers’ money. And it’s very disheartening to see what he pled to.”

Asked whether the plea jibes with the Carothers he knew, Daley said, “You don’t know. No one could figure this out. It’s really sad. It’s not only sad for a family but sad for the taxpayers as well.”

**********

Could someone please have the guts to bring out the TRUTH about Daley?

More Lost Grandeur of Rogers Park

Norshore Theater Auditorium

Looking east on Howard Street from Clark Street, 1955

What was once a source of entertainment for residents of Rogers Park is now part of the parking lot of the heavily-unoccupied Gateway Centre, a project heavily-backed by Ald. Joe Moore.

"We the People..."

Early draft of the Constitution found in Philadelphia


Researcher Lorianne Updike Toler was intrigued by the centuries-old document at the Historical Society of Pennsylvania.

On the back of a treasured draft of the U.S. Constitution was a truncated version of the same document, starting with the familiar words: "We The People. . . ."

They had been scribbled upside down by one of the Constitution's framers, James Wilson, in the summer of 1787. The cursive continued, then abruptly stopped, as if pages were missing.

A mystery, Toler thought, until she examined other Wilson papers from the Historical Society's vault in Philadelphia and found what appeared to be the rest of the draft, titled "The Continuation of the Scheme."

More...

*********
This document is 174 years OLDER than the former Constitutional Law "lecturer" (NOT full professor!) who now holds the office of President of the United States.

Yet he and those of his ilk continue to ignore it.

Unfathomable!

Snowy Start for Voters

Be careful (HOW YOU VOTE) out there!

GUILTY!

Ald. Carothers pleads guilty to corruption in deal with feds

Carothers' conviction brings to 28 the number of alderman found guilty of wrongdoing since 1972.

One of those was Carothers' father, William, who was accused of similar wrongdoing as his son.

The elder Carothers was sentenced to 3 years in federal prison in 1983 for extorting remodeling work for his ward office.

More...

Won't these alder-jerks ever learn?

For those who are serious climbers

"Never measure the height of a mountain
until you have reached the top.
Then you will see how low it was."

Dag Hammarskjold
Former UN Secretary-General

Just FUN!

Christian and Kermit: What they have in common

HILARIOUS!

H/T www.sondrak.com

See Dick. See Dick dumb. See Dick losing it.

Actual quote from 'da Dick' re: Michael Scott:

"The credit card, that's all it was. It wasn't much, when you look at it," Daley said. "But, again, that doesn't -- I don't condone it. He can be accountable. If he was lying, he'd be accountable for it."


Hey, Dick!

He's no longer accountable. Remember, HE'S DEAD!

Truth or Dare?

OBAMA: We had nothing to do with the Cornhusker kickback

EMANUEL: Yes we did

Hours before his embattled boss gave his first State of the Union address, White House Chief of Staff Rahm Emanuel contradicted President Barack Obama’s claim made just two days before that he had nothing to do with the much maligned deal to get the vote of Sen. Ben Nelson (D-Nebraska) for the Senate’s healthcare bill just before Christmas.

Speaking to ABC News’ World News Tonight anchor Diane Sawyer in an exclusive interview on Monday, Obama denied being involved in what has come to be known as the “Cornhusker Kickback”.

SAWYER: A lot of people think you must say at the end of the day, this is not who I was in 2008, these deals with Nebraska, with Florida…

OBAMA: "Let’s hold on a second, Diane. I mean, I think that this gets into a big mush. So let’s just clarify. I didn’t make a bunch of deals. There is a legislative process that is taking place in Congress and I am happy to own up to the fact that I have not changed Congress and how it operates the way I would have liked. So that’s point number one."

In an interview with CBS Evening News anchor Katie Couric on Wednesday, Emanuel flatly stated that he and the Obama administration were heavily involved in the Cornhusker Kickback as well as the other deals that provoked outrage from the public and helped Republican Scott Brown win the U.S. Senate seat formerly held by the late Ted Kennedy of Massachusetts.

Couric: As you know, people were pretty disgusted by deals that were made up on Capitol Hill like the one given to Ben Nelson to win his support. If the White House was so involved, was this done with your blessing? But…

Emanuel: "Look, we were involved in the legislation all the way through."

Couric: Were you involved in that?

Emanuel: "Yeah. I’m not gonna go through all of it…"

Couric: But in the Ben Nelson deal?

Emanuel: "We were helpful in getting the bill off the Senate floor. And in retrospect the things – as I said to you just earlier, things you woulda done different."

To repeat what Obama told Diane Sawyer about the Cornhusker Kickback:

"So let’s just clarify. I didn’t make a bunch of deals. There is a legislative process that is taking place in Congress and I am happy to own up to the fact that I have not changed Congress and how it operates the way I would have liked."

The mainstream media has thus far ignored Obama being exposed as a liar by his own chief of staff.

A few conservative outlets have noted a Washington Post article from December 20, 2009 that reported the involvement of Emanuel and other White House staff in the Senate negotiations.

With Emanuel himself confirming the Obama administration’s involvement with the Cornhusker Kickback, Obama has some explaining to do.

Well, he would if he were a Republican president.

*********

Rahm is not long for this world.

Upon looking older and more partisan...

Obama Admits Partisanship at GOP Retreat; Forgets About Change.gov


Building on Real Clear Politics observation by Tom Bevan:There’s been a remarkable amount of coverage of President Obama’s appearance at the House Republican retreat today, but I haven’t seen anyone focus on the President’s rather stunning admission about the Democrats’ health care legislation:

President Obama stated at the GOP retreat in Baltimore:

“The last thing I will say, though — let me say this about health care and the health care debate, because I think it also bears on a whole lot of other issues. If you look at the package that we’ve presented — and there’s some stray cats and dogs that got in there that we were eliminating, we were in the process of eliminating.

"For example, we said from the start that it was going to be important for us to be consistent in saying to people if you can have your — if you want to keep the health insurance you got, you can keep it, that you’re not going to have anybody getting in between you and your doctor in your decision making.

"And I think that some of the provisions that got snuck in might have violated that pledge.”

Spewing, just spewing!

*********
And when will this man learn to speak in a proper grammatical manner, and throw to the wayside the 'Negro dialect' he thinks the American citizens desire (Kool-aid, anyone?)!

On a roll today...

Don't think I've ever posted so much on one day, but...just had to show you this.

The tall building is the 'Farcroft', on Fargo Avenue between Sheridan Road and Lake Michigan. Its apartments are empty now, after the magnificent building was purchased by James N. Pritzker. Total rehab will begin soon, I was told.

Here's a shot of the fireplace in the Farcroft lobby.

The entire building is quite a fascinating piece of architecture, and I am certain Mr. Pritzker (et al) will do it justice.

Downtown Evanston is at the center of the horizon.

Just wanted to share this lovely view with you, my few readers, and to thank my Creator for all the blessings bestowed upon me, as three and a half years ago, I was a quarter-inch from death, again.

Though I am no longer being given credit as co-founder (and SEEDER) of Rogers Park Chamber of Commerce, I have no regrets regarding my resignation from that entity.

I have a certain high standard of ethics...the rest of the board apparently does not. Simple as that. In fact, one board member, whom I shall thank so much for the "UNCONDITIONAL LOVE", has resorted to name-calling in my e-mail. Don't ya just love insecurity?

And, the Chamber still owes me over $1,000, for which I shall have to wait a year to be repaid.

In addition, Bill Morton has a more-than-significant personal debt with me...which he continues to ignore.

Rogers Park News, Updated

On January 12th, I posted these:

I noticed, the other day (but had no camera with me), that this VAST IMPROVEMENT has been made by Lake Shore Rehab.

Well, two outta three ain't bad!

Happy Days Are Here...Again?

Taxpayer-funded drinking...ain't it great?

No wonder she looked so whippy at SOTU! Or should that be SOT, YOU?

Wilkommen, Bienvenu, and sooo Strange!

I am beginning to think...

...that Michelle's fashion "faux pas" problem is equated with the fact that she is trying to tell Barry she WANTS ANOTHER CHILD. She continues to accentutate that protruding abdomen, especially revealing in outfits like the above retro piece.

Boob belts, high-waisted dresses...mmm, mmm, mmm. Now that she is 46, she should really stop thinking about having a child, wouldn't you think? Or, is it just from snarfing down all that Wagyu beef and cherry pie?

Perhaps her Momma can help out, chanting around some chickens?

Need to hear from Rasmussen, NOW!

Wax ON!

Wax OFF!

Just havin' some kinda FUN today, it being Saturday and all!

The next time...

...anyone tries to explain how great life is in Cuba under the Castros (or should I call them 'castrattos'?), have them visit this site:

www.therealcuba.com

See what Fidel's communism has wrought!

Miss and Mrs. Wagyu, who are currently esconced in the Waffle House, invite you, too, to become a member of this Marxist society.

Please visit this site, but only if you have not just eaten. It drove me to many tears. Sooo sad!

O-bumpy

Care to comment, heavily-costumed, self-appointed 'holy' man? (You know who you are!).

Or, will you accuse me of 'racism' AGAIN?

Srsly...

...I love my CS4 Photoshop. I use it to enhance my photographs. It's better than a darkroom!

But should it be used for this?

"Newsweek has a feature on their Web site that shows the amount of photo retouching goes into making celebrities the fakes they are.

When I saw Madonna, I was scared, ser(i)ously scared.

She looks like a nasty, skanky grandma that running a Nevada whore house--not that I have been there or anything.

This is clear(l)y a woman who has been around the block... 11 abortions last time I checked.

What's(t) that tell ya.

Real sweet woman there.

Her last abortion happened because she thought it would hurt her career.

That may be the most selfish thing I have ever heard in my life."

Posted by Bungalow Bill at 4:28 PM Labels: Abortion, Madonna

*********

From Wiki

Madonna was born in Bay City, Michigan at 7:05 AM on August 16, 1958, to Madonna Louise (née Fortin), who was of French Canadian descent, and Silvio Ciccone, who was a first-generation Italian American Chrysler/General Motors design engineer, originating from Pacentro, Abruzzo, Italy.

Madonna is the third of six children; her siblings are Martin, Anthony, Paula, Christopher, and Melanie. Through her mother, she is a descendant of Zacharie Cloutier and Jean Guyon du Buisson.

Madonna was raised in the Detroit suburbs of Pontiac and Avon Township (now Rochester Hills).

Her mother died of breast cancer at age 30 on December 1, 1963. (She was named for her mother).

Then her father married the family's housekeeper, Joan Gustafson, and they had two children; Jennifer and Mario Ciccone. Madonna commented on her father's second marriage: "I didn't accept my stepmother when I was growing up ... In retrospect, I think I was really hard on her."

She attended St. Frederick's and St. Andrew's Elementary Schools (the latter is now known as Holy Family Regional School), and after that West Middle School. There she became known for her high GPA - and for her "unusual" behavior, particularly a kind of an underwear fetish:

Madonna performed cartwheels and handstands in the hallways between classes, dangled by her knees from the monkey bars during recess, and thought nothing of tugging her skirt up over her desk during class so that all the boys could see her briefs.

Later, she went to Rochester Adams High School, becoming a straight-A student and a member of the cheerleading squad. Madonna received a dance scholarship to the University of Michigan after graduating from high school.
She wanted to take ballet lessons and convinced her father to allow her to partake the classes.

Her ballet teacher persuaded her to pursue a career in dance, so she left the college at the end of 1977 and relocated to New York City.

Madonna had little money at that time and hence lived in squalor, working as a waitress in Dunkin' Donuts and with modern dance troupes.

Of her move to New York, Madonna said, "It was the first time I'd ever taken a plane, the first time I'd ever gotten a taxi cab. I came here with $35 in my pocket. It was the bravest thing I'd ever done."

While performing as a dancer for the French disco artist Patrick Hernandez on his 1979 world tour, Madonna became romantically involved with the musician Dan Gilroy, with whom she later formed her first rock band, the Breakfast Club, in New York.

She sang and played drums and guitar for the band and lived in a converted synagogue in Corona, Queens. However, she departed from them and formed another band called Emmy in 1980, with drummer and former boyfriend Stephen Bray.

She and Bray wrote and produced dance songs that brought her to local attention in the New York dance clubs. DJ and record producer Mark Kamins was impressed by her demo recordings, so he brought her to the attention of Sire Records founder Seymour Stein.

*********

Just another nice Catholic girl growing old, huh?

Blame it on Glinda?

Thanks to Disney, your child may become ill!

'Princess and Frog' children's necklaces recalled for cadmium

Federal consumer safety regulators on Friday announced the recall of The Princess and The Frog pendants because of high levels of the toxic metal cadmium, an unprecedented action that reflects concerns of an emerging threat in children's products.

The recall affects two products, about 55,000 items in total, sold exclusively at Walmart stores for $5 each. The action was taken voluntarily by Rhode Island-based jewelry company FAF Inc., which did not immediately respond to a request for comment.

The U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission, which disclosed the recall, had been testing for cadmium in children's metal jewelry for several weeks in response to an Associated Press investigation that reported high levels of the known carcinogen in the Disney movie-themed pendants and other children's metal jewelry imported from China.

In reaction to the AP's reporting earlier this month, Wal-Mart Stores Inc. had pulled three items from its shelves, including the two recalled Friday — a crown pendant with UPC number 72783367144 and a frog pendant with UPC number 72783367147.

The items had been on sale at Walmart stores since November, in conjunction with release of the animated movie.

Soon after Wal-Mart pulled the items, the CPSC's chairman advised parents to throw away all pieces of inexpensive metal jewelry, noting that children who chew, suck on or swallow a bracelet charm or necklace may be endangering their health.

Consumers can return the two recalled items "to any Walmart store for a full refund or a free replacement product," according to the recall notice.

Wal-Mart did not immediately respond to a request for comment.

The recall marks the first time any consumer product has been recalled in the United States because of cadmium, which recent research also suggests can harm brain development in children.

The CPSC said in a statement that there have been no reports of cadmium poisonings associated with the pendants but that its investigation into other pieces of jewelry "remains open and active."

The Walt Disney Co., which produced the movie, said: "Disney supports the decision by FAF and the CPSC to recall the jewelry."

The Fashion Jewelry Trade Association, which represents the industry, had no immediate comment.

Lab tests conducted on 103 pieces of low-priced children's jewelry as part of AP's original investigation found 12 items with cadmium content above 10% of the total weight.

One item consisted of 91% cadmium by weight.

Pendants from four "The Princess and The Frog" necklaces ranged between 25 and 35% cadmium, according to the testing.

At the time, Walt Disney said in a statement that test results provided by FAF Inc. showed the item complied with all applicable safety standards.

But in the case of cadmium, unlike lead, there have been no specific levels that would automatically trigger health risks to children or a push for a recall.

As part of its investigation, the CPSC bought pieces of the jewelry cited in the AP reports, tested them in the agency's lab and found high levels as well.

Based on the Federal Hazardous Substances Act, agency staff determined that the items posed a health risk to children, according to agency spokesman Scott Wolfson.

The agency then approached FAF, which cooperated with the investigation and agreed to the recall.

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I have a dear friend, whose grandfather told him years ago, "Do not trust the yellow man."

So many contaminated toys are produced today in China, a Communist country, where life is not respected. And we continue to buy their junk, under the guise of trademarks like those of the Disney corporation.

Cheap junk...purchasing any of it places our children, our FUTURE, in harm's way.

With Apologies to Lennon and McCartney

He's getting redder all the time....

Just a reminder...

...Spring is on the way!