REGISTER AND VOTE!

THIS IS WHAT THOSE BEFORE US HAD TO ENDURE TO ENSURE THE RIGHT FOR US TO VOTE! DO NOT TAKE THIS FOR GRANTED! PLEASE REGISTER AND PLEASE VOTE!

TRAVIS BARKER AND DJ AM CRITICALLY INJURED IN PLANE CRASH

(CNN) -- Former Blink-182 drummer Travis Barker and singer-song artist Adam "DJ AM" Goldstein were in critical condition with extensive burns Saturday after a jet crash the night before that killed four people, authorities said.

DJ AM, left, and Travis Barker pose backstage at the MTV Video Music Awards on September 7.

Two of the four who died late Friday were passengers and two were crew members, the National Transportation Safety Board said in a statement. The NTSB has sent a Go Team to Columbia, South Carolina, to investigate the crash.

The Learjet 60 crashed on takeoff at the Columbia Metropolitan Airport at 11:53 p.m. Friday. Beth Frits, spokeswoman at the Joseph Still Burn Center, in Augusta, Georgia, said Barker and Goldstein arrived at the hospital early Saturday. She said both men had "extensive burns." The burn center is the largest in the country, and the main one in the Southeast, she said. Federal Aviation Administration spokeswoman Kathleen Bergen said the twin-engine, private jet was cleared for takeoff on a flight to Van Nuys, California, and began its takeoff roll a few minutes before midnight. Air traffic controllers "saw sparks coming from the runway -- whether that was from the aircraft or its engines, we don't know," Bergen said Saturday. The jet left the ground but crashed near the end of the runway on a road adjacent to the airport, she said. There were no other aircraft on the runway and no vehicles on the road, Bergen said.

R.KELLY- REALLY?

TODAY'S BLOG COMES WITH FEW WORDS. R. KELLY (IN MY OPINION) IS A DOUCHE BAG! WE ALL HAVE OUR OWN OPINION ABOUT HIM AND THE CHILD PORNOGRAPHY CASE. LISTEN TO HIS LATEST INTERVIEW AND HIS RESPONSE TO BEING ASKED ABOUT UNDERAGE GIRLS. AS A TEENAGER WHO WAS MOLESTED BY A FAMILY MEMBER, I JUST WISH HE WOULD DISAPPEAR. (but that's my own baggage) HE HAS HIS OWN CROSS TO BEAR.....

READ ON....

Posted September 18, 2008

Singer R. Kelly has spoken out in his first interview since being acquitted of child pornography charges.

In a sit down talk with BET personality Toure' on Tuesday, the Chicago native dismissed allegations that he ever preyed on young girls, stating, "I don't like anyone illegal."

Kelly also said he was relieved when the trial was over, and that his upcoming album would feature less of the sexually charged material that has come to define his multi-platinum career, according to the Associated Press. "I'm really trying to make this album a little bit different." he said. "Take a little bit of the edge off, you know? And you know, clean up a few lyrics if I can, you know?

The 40-year-old performer was acquitted in Chicago in June of multiple child pornography charges. The verdict ended a six-year saga that began when a videotape surfaced of a man looking like Kelly having sex with a girl believed to be as young as 13. Kelly denied he was the man in the videotape, and the girl in the video never testified.

Though the half-hour interview did not specifically address the child pornography charges, Kelly was asked about the perception that he is attracted to young girls. Kelly was rumored to have been married to the late singer Aaliyah when she was 15, but the marriage was quickly annulled.

When asked if he likes teenage girls, Kelly replied, "When you say teenage, how -how old are we talkin' ...19?" "I have some 19-year-old friends," he added. "But I don't like anybody illegal, if that's what we're talking about ...underage."

Kelly said he was worried that he might be convicted. "But at the same time I was very prayerful," he said. "Verdict day ...I couldn't describe it and I wouldn't wish it on ...if I had a worst enemy, which I don't."

When the innocent verdicts were announced, Kelly said he felt relieved that he would be able to see his three children -two daughters and a son- once again. "I couldn't wait to get home to hug them and hold them," he said.

Despite the charges Kelly faced, he still managed to maintain one of the most successful careers of any artist, notching several platinum albums and hits during that period. His album, 12 Play 4th Quarter is scheduled for the fall.

9/11/01- WHERE WERE YOU?

THIS GOES OUT TO THOSE WHO LOST THIER LIVES SEVEN YEARS AGO ON THAT FATEFUL DAY. R.I.P. WHERE WERE YOU WHEN THE TOWERS FELL? I was getting dressed for work when my roommate called me into her room. Her voice was shaken....She kept saying "Oh my God! I can't believe this has happened!" I asked what was going on as I positioned myself in front of the television. She told me about a plane crashing into one of the Towers in NYC.....I watched in disbelief as the image reappeared on the screen. I'll never get that image out of my head- the plane crashing into the side of the tower. Although I was paralyzed with disbelief and fear, I had to leave so that I could get to work on time. Driving into work that day, my boyfriend and I listened intently to the local radio station recount the details of that fateful morning. As I arrived to the warehouse that I worked at, I came into the office to find the entire staff posted around the television in the break room fixated on the horror in front of their eyes. We did not work that day- all we could do is watch in shock and horror.....cry...and pray. I can't believe that seven years has passed but this is a day that will never be forgotten...... R.I.P. to those whose lives were lost that day- R.I.P. to all the firefighters, police officers, EMT's and volunteers who gave of themselves selflessly and who lost their lives searching for the remains of lives lost. R.I.P. to those bodies that were never found and for those who have still not found closure

MAMMOGRAMS AND YOU

Earlier this week, I had an appointment at a Beverly Hills Clinic to receive my annual mammogram.

This will be my 2nd mammogram since turning 40 two years ago. I was not as apprehensive this time around because I knew what to expect. As women we have been instructed by our health care providers to have mammograms after turning 40. There is some question as to whether you should receive this test annually or every other year. What is known is if you have a history of breast cancer in your family then early detection is key.

WHAT IS A MAMMOGRAM?

A mammogram is an xray of the breast used to detect any changes within the breast and also used as early detection of breast cancer.

Most recently actress Christina Applegate was diagnosed with breast cancer (the early stages) and made a decision to have a double masectomy. Her own mother is a breast cancer survivor.

On August 3, 2008, People Magazine reported that Applegate had been diagnosed with breast cancer. This was confirmed by her representative, who said in a statement: "Christina Applegate was diagnosed with an early form of breast cancer. Benefiting from early detection through a doctor ordered MRI, the cancer is not life threatening...Christina is following the recommended treatment of her doctors and will have a full recovery. No further statement will be issued at this time." On August 19, 2008. It was announced that Applegate is cancer free after a double mastectomy, even though cancer was found in only one breast. She has an inherited genetic fault, a BRCA1[14] mutation, which very often causes breast cancer in those with said fault. Her mother, Nancy Priddy, is a breast cancer survivor. Applegate said when she first was diagnosed "I was just shaking and — and then also immediately, I had to go into ... `take-care-of-business-mode'" which included a change to a more healthy diet. Applegate appeared on a television special entitled Stand Up to Cancer designed to raise funds for breast cancer research. The one hour special was broadcast on CBS, NBC, and ABC television networks on September 5.

Although I have no history of breast cancer within my own family, at the age of seventeen I discovered a lump in my left breast. Thankfully, the tumor turned out to be benign and I made the decision to have it removed in a simple outpatient procedure

I cannot stress the importance of monthly self examinations in order to detect any changes you may feel. "Better safe than sorry" is how I like to think. I am not as diligent as I should be but it still is necessary. If you don't know how to conduct a self exam- it's pretty simple. (see image above)

I will admit it is a little uncomfortable but it does not hurt. The technician is always female which provides a safe level of comfort throughout. Your breasts are placed on a tray which then mashes down on the breast to allow the best view for the xray. You are asked to hold your position which is ironic since you're basically being smashed by the jaws of life (smile) so you really can't move anyway. But in less than five minutes, it's all over and I think to myself "Wow! Is that it? That really didn't hurt!"

So ladies- do your boobies a favor- lay down and touch them on a monthly basis......check for any changes.....call your doctor if you do.......and remember EARLY DETECTION IS KEY! Your boobies will thank you for it.