On Aging

HAVE YOU BEEN GUILTY OF LOOKING AT OTHERS YOUR OWN AGE AND THINKING, "SURELY I CAN'T LOOK THAT OLD?"

I WAS SITTING IN THE WAITING ROOM FOR MY FIRST APPOINTMENT WITH A NEW DENTIST. I NOTICED HIS DDS DIPLOMA, WHICH BORE HIS FULL NAME. SUDDENLY, I REMEMBERED A TALL, HANDSOME, DARK-HAIRED BOY WITH THE SAME NAME HAD BEEN IN MY HIGH SCHOOL CLASS SOME 40-ODD YEARS AGO. COULD HE BE THE SAME GUY THAT I HAD A SECRET CRUSH ON, WAY BACK THEN??

UPON SEEING HIM, HOWEVER, I QUICKLY DISCARDED ANY SUCH THOUGHT. THIS BALDING, GRAY-HAIRED MAN WITH THE DEEPLY LINED FACE WAS WAY TOO OLD TO HAVE BEEN MY CLASSMATE.

HMMM,...OR COULD HE???

AFTER HE EXAMINED MY TEETH, I ASKED HIM IF HE HAD ATTENDED MORGAN PARK HIGH SCHOOL.

"YES. YES, I DID. I'M A MUSTANG," HE GLEAMED WITH PRIDE.

"WHEN DID YOU GRADUATE?" I ASKED.

HE ANSWERED, "IN 1959. WHY DO YOU ASK?"

"YOU WERE IN MY CLASS!" I EXCLAIMED. HE LOOKED AT ME CLOSELY.

Classic Pink Floyd Lineup to Play Live 8

LONDON - Organizers of the London Live 8 concert said Sunday that the British rock band Pink Floyd would perform with its classic lineup at the July event for the first time in more than two decades.

Guitarist David Gilmour, drummer Nick Mason, bass player Roger Waters and keyboard player Richard Wright have not performed on stage together since 1981.

The group, which achieved major success with their 1973 album "Dark Side Of The Moon," will join musical acts including Elton John, Madonna, Paul McCartney and Coldplay at the anti-poverty concert in Hyde Park on July 2.

"Like most people I want to do everything I can to persuade the G-8 leaders to make huge commitments to the relief of poverty and increased aid to the third world," Gilmour said.

"It's crazy that America gives such a paltry percentage of its GNP to the starving nations."

Waters, the group's founder, split with the rest of the band after a falling-out in the 1980s.

OH NO . . .

Say this isn't true . . .

Destiny's Child Announces Split to MTV

NEW YORK - Staying together was not part of Destiny's Child's destiny — the multiplatinum group is splitting up.

In a statement released to MTV News, the trio of Beyonce, Kelly Rowland and Michelle Williams announced plans to disband after their world tour ends in the fall.

"We have been working together as Destiny's Child since we were 9, and touring together since we were 14. After a lot of discussion and some deep soul-searching, we realized that our current tour has given us the opportunity to leave Destiny's Child on a high note, united in our friendship and filled with an overwhelming gratitude for our music, our fans, and each other," the statement said.

The group was unavailable for comment Monday, but a representative said another statement would be released later in the day.

The breakup of the girl group, which first debuted as a teenage R&B foursome in 1997, isn't much of a shocker. Many critics didn't expect the group to exist at all after the multiplatinum solo debut of Beyonce in 2003. Her album, "Dangerously In Love," won five Grammys and solidified her as a one-name superstar apart from the group.

And the title of Destiny's Child's latest album — "Destiny Fulfilled" — appeared to signal the end was near.

In an interview with The Associated Press in November, the women were noncommittal when asked about their future.

"I think as far as Destiny's Child, our main focus is for us to maintain our friendship. And if in three years, five years, 10 years, whenever we decide we wanna do another Destiny's Child record, then we will do it," Beyonce said. "But I think our main goal was to do this next record, and I think we just wanna eventually have kids that play together."

Beyonce and Rowland have been members of the group since it was formed in their hometown of Houston. They scored instant success with their debut, thanks to the hit "No No No (Part I)." Back then, the founding members also included LeToya Luckett and LaTavia Roberson.

But after the release of their second album, 1999's "The Writing's On The Wall," Luckett and Roberson were booted from the group. (The duo later sued the group and Beyonce's manager-father, Matthew Knowles, and reached a settlement.)

Michelle Williams and Farrah Franklin replaced Roberson and Luckett the same year, but Franklin was later dropped, making the group a trio.

Among the group's biggest hits have been "Bootylicious," "Survivor" and "Independent Women (Part I)." All of their albums have sold at least 1 million copies; their latest has sold more than 2 million.

Besides Beyonce, Rowland and Williams have released solo albums — with less fanfare.

Despite the impending breakup, the women pledged to remain close friends.

"After all these wonderful years working together, we realized that now is the time to pursue our personal goals and solo efforts in earnest," the statement said. "No matter what happens, we will always love each other as friends and sisters and will always support each other as artists. We want to thank all of our fans for their incredible love and support and hope to see you all again as we continue fulfilling our destinies."

Jackson Won't Share Bed With Kids Again

SANTA MARIA, Calif. - Basking in the jurors' decision to acquit his client of all counts, Michael Jackson's lawyer said Tuesday the singer will no longer share his bed with young boys.

"He's not going to do that anymore," attorney Thomas Mesereau Jr. told NBC's "Today." "He's not going to make himself vulnerable to this anymore."

Jackson was found not guilty Monday of child molestation, conspiracy and other counts. Jurors said the accusations of a young boy and his family were not credible — a total legal victory that triggered jubilation among the pop star's fans and embarrassment for the district attorney's office.

But Mesereau said the singer was still recovering from the ordeal.

"He's going to take it one day at a time. It's been a terrible, terrible process for him," Mesereau said Tuesday.

Things on Michael Jackson's To-Do List

5> Cancel subscriptions to Highlights and Boys' Life.

4> Stop referring to children's hospital visits as "speed-dating."

3> Celebrate with my old Irish chum, Ryne O'Plasty.

2> Vow to never stop searching until I find my *real* nose.

and the Number 1 Thing on Michael Jackson's To-Do List...

Phil Jackson to Serve Second Tour With Lakers

LOS ANGELES - Phil Jackson is returning to the Los Angeles Lakers following a reconciliation with the team that cut him loose last year after three NBA championships in five seasons. Spokesman John Black said Tuesday the team has rehired Jackson, who was let go by owner Jerry Buss last June 18.

A news conference was set for 5 p.m. EDT at Staples Center.

Jackson, who turns 60 in September, has had health issues in the past and underwent an angioplasty two years ago. He told ABC-TV before the opening game of the NBA Finals that he underwent a series of tests to make sure he was healthy.

for those interested

Bon Jovi News

Teddy Ruxpin Makes His Return

The Care Bears. The Cabbage Patch Kids. Teddy Ruxpin. For children of the '80s, they were toy-store celebrities who forced parents to queue up at dawn or fight for products in aisles across America.

Now, BackPack Toys is hoping that Ruxpin, like the Bears and Kids before him, can ride a wave of nostalgia into the toy bins of a new generation. And independent The Ad Store—the shop that caused a stir with its GoDaddy.com Super Bowl spot— is charged with helping him get there.

The Ad Store's two-pronged attack will use print ads to lure adults and TV to target children. The agency, which won the business without a review, is still developing creative concepts, said managing partner Tim Arnold. First work is expected to break in August.

Ruxpin has enjoyed swift trading on eBay, and 85 percent of adults who owned the toy as kids still recognize the brand, Arnold said. "We are definitely going to target parents who will remember Teddy from their childhoods, as well as grandparents who remember giving Teddy to their children," said Helen Hames, BackPack Toys director of marketing and corporate relations.

A budget for the effort has not been determined, Hames said.

Ruxpin, which debuted as a Worlds Of Wonder toy in 1985, is due to relaunch in September— most notably in 2,000 Target stores.

MP3 cartridges have replaced his original cassette tapes, but Teddy Ruxpin's animatronic eyes and mouth will move in trademark fashion as he narrates a series of stories about the land of Grundo.

mikesb

great article on the Red Rocker (sammy hagar).

He put on a great show a few weeks back.

Ways Michael Jackson Can Repair His Image

10> Put on a happy face -- the one that's been in storage since the trial started.

9> Turn back time by re-installing nose #14 from September 1989.

8> Invade Iraq. Hey, it worked for you-know-who.

7> Use his masculine charms to woo Katie away from Tom.

6> Hire Phil Spector to produce killer new album.

5> Same way he repairs his face: spackle, bailing twine, duct tape, Super Glue and a trowel.

4> Step one: Find that other friggin' glove.

3> A public slapping-around of Macaulay Culkin would be a good start.

2> Change the name Neverland to Never-Been-Convicted-Yet-for- Bending-Little-Boys-Over-Like-a-Willow-Tree-in-an-86-Mile- an-Hour-Wind Land.

and the Number 1 Way Michael Jackson Can Repair His Image...

I hate snakes.

Iron Maiden compilation

AC/DC

Whitesnake News

I am going to disappear for a while

I will be in stealth mode

But I shall return - at least I plan to.

Everybody play nice while I am away.

I'M BACK !!

Buy Three Tickets to STAR WARS: EPISODE III REVENGE OF THE SITH and Get Your Fourth Ticket FREE!

HOLLYWOOD, Calif. (June 29, 2005) – As Star Wars: Episode III Revenge of the Sith continues to thrill Star Wars fans and break box office records around the world, the “Fourth” will be with U.S. moviegoers from July 1-4, 2005. This weekend only, when they buy three tickets to see the sixth and final chapter of George Lucas’s epic saga, ticket buyers will get a fourth ticket for free at participating theaters.

“Revenge of the Sith has been in theaters for six weeks now, and the enthusiasm for this movie is still as palpable as opening weekend,” said Bruce Snyder, President of Domestic Distribution for Twentieth Century Fox. “Like a ride at their favorite amusement park, people are seeing the movie over and over again to make sure they don’t miss anything before it leaves the big screen, so we’re giving them a little Fourth of July treat to keep the fireworks going.”

In Revenge of the Sith, the final and most dramatic chapter of the Star Wars saga, the Clone Wars rage as the rift widens between Chancellor Palpatine (Ian McDiarmid) and the Jedi Council. Anakin Skywalker (Hayden Christensen), the young Jedi Knight with an allegiance to Chancellor Palpatine, struggles to keep his marriage to Padmé Amidala (Natalie Portman) a secret amid the turmoil. Seduced by promises of power and temptations of the dark side, he pledges himself to the evil Darth Sidious and becomes Darth Vader. Together, Sidious and Vader set in motion a plot of revenge against the Jedi, leading to a climatic lightsaber battle between Vader and his former master, Obi-Wan Kenobi (Ewan McGregor), which will decide the fate of the galaxy.

Dukes of Hazzard Soundtrack Details

Know what money you are carrying

Okay, all of us who are home without husbands around (or even if they are

read this. My dad, a retired police officer, sent it to me, and I think it's

good to think about. This was the first I have heard of a scheme like

this..... I wanted to pass it along. Be safe! Something very serious to pay

attention to. Criminals are coming up with craftier, less threatening

methods of attack, so we have to be extra cautious. Read on...

I live in Alexandria, VA, but I often work in Lafayette, LA, staying with

friends when I'm there. As you know from America's Most Wanted TV program,

as well as the news media, there is a serial killer in the Lafayette area. I

just want to let you know about an "incident" that happened to me a few

weeks ago, and could

have been deadly.

At first I didn't go to the police or anyone with it because I didn't

realize how serious this encounter was. But since I work in a jail and I

told a few people about it, it wasn't long before I was paraded into

Internal Affairs to tell them my story.

It was approximately 5:15 a.m. in Opelousas, La. I had stayed with a friend

there and was on my way to work. I stopped at the Exxon/Blimpie Pie station

to get gas. I got $10 gas and a Diet Coke. I took into the store two $5

bills and one $1 bill (just enough to get my stuff).

As I pulled away from the store, a man approached my truck from the back

side of the store (an unlit area). He was an "approachable-looking" man

(clean cut, clean shaven, dressed well, etc.). He walked up to my window and

knocked. Since I'm very paranoid and "always looking for the rapist or

killer," I didn't open the window .. I just asked what he wanted. He raised

a $5 bill to my window and said, "You dropped this."

Since I knew I had gone into the store with a certain amount of money, I

knew I didn't drop it. When I told him it wasn't mine, he began hitting the

window and door, screaming at me to open my door, and insisting that I had

dropped the money!

At that point, I just drove away as fast as I could. After talking to the

Internal Affairs Department and describing the man I saw and the way he

escalated from calm and polite to angry and volatile....it was determined

that I could have possibly encountered the serial killer myself.

Up to this point, it had been unclear as to how he had gained access to his

victims, since there has been no evidence of forced entry into victim's

homes, cars, etc. And the fact that he has been attacking in the daytime,

when women are less likely to have their guard up, means he is pretty BOLD.

So think about it...what gesture is nicer than returning money to someone

that dropped it????? How many times would you have opened your window (or

door) to get your money and say thank you.... because if the person is kind

enough to return something to you, then he can't really be a threat....can

he????

Please be cautious! This might not have been the serial killer....but anyone

that gets that angry over someone not accepting money from them, can't have

honorable intentions. The most important thing to note is that his reaction

was NOT WHAT I EXPECTED! A total surprise!

But what might have happened if I had opened my door? I shudder to think!

Forward this to everyone you know....maybe they can be as fortunate as I

was!

P.S. from the Sender: Ladies, really DO forward this to EVERYONE you know.

Even if this man wasn't a serial killer, he looked nice, he seemed polite,

he was apparently doing an act of kindness, but HE WAS NOT A NICE PERSON!!!

What you do today is important because you are exchanging a day of your life

for it. Make it a good one.

Birth of a Hummingbird

Pretty neat - several pages track it

Can You Pass The Color Test ?

Try this! It's tougher than you first expect!

Master Yoda

A Kentucky horse breeder had a filly that won every race.

But as she aged, she became temperamental.

When he raced her in the evening, she won handily.

But in day races, she finished last.

He consulted the top veterinarians and horse psychologists, to no avail.