A Baby Story – A Funny Story To Brighten Your Day

My wife loves to watch the show, A Baby Story, everyday. She starting watching it a year ago when she was pregnant with our son, because she wanted to try to get an idea what labor would be like. Now she watches, because she wants to reminisce about the birth of our son, and look forward to having our next child. Personally I think that this show is boring, but recently I heard a baby story of a different kind. Here is how the story went.

The girl was nineteen years old with no boyfriend in the picture anymore. She was working full time to try to make ends meet, and she was getting very anxious for the baby to be born. One morning before she had to be at work, she went to the doctor's office for a checkup. The doctor checked her and told her that she was in labor, and she needed to go to the hospital to be delivered. She said cool, and then she asked do I need to go to the hospital now, or can I go after work. The doctor politely told her that she did not have to go to the hospital immediately, but that she could only go home and get her a bag ready for the hospital stay. She asked if it would be ok if she got something to eat, and he said he did not advise it. Next thing you know she is in the drive-thru line at Whataburger trying to get something to eat, and a guy backed into the driver side of her truck. Remember now that she is in active labor. She can not get out of the driver side door, so she drags her big, nine months pregnant belly out the passenger side door. The man saw her condition, and got so worried he fainted. Now a nine month pregnant women is sitting in the parking lot at Whataburger, in active labor, fanning a man trying to revive him. Once she got home, her mother rushed her to the hospital. After a few hours of labor a beautiful baby boy was born, and both mother and baby were healthy.. I don't know about you, but if A Baby Story was this interesting everyday, I think I would tune in a lot more often.

A.K.A. Duos In Pop Music

Pop music in the 1960's produced several top recording duos dotting the music charts and influencing future song writers and groups to this day.  Let's explore a  few successful duos from the 60's that also recorded as lesser known names before they hit it big as the names they are known as today.

An early release by duo that called themselves Tom & Jerry in 1957 did not fair well, although the duo did manage to crack the top 100 on the music charts.   But subsequent releases proved to be very substantial, not only for pop rock, but for folk rock as well.  After minimal success as Tom & Jerry and reuniting together in the mid 60's as Simon and Garfunkel, the duo forged a path through pop and folk music that is iconic.

With a barrage of finely crafted pop and folk arrangements, Simon and Garfunkel amassed many pop hits such as "Homeward Bound, ""Sound's Of Silence," "I Am A Rock," "Mrs. Robinson" (from the movie "The Graduate"), "The Boxer" and the Garfunkel-led ballad "Bridge Over Troubled Water," among others.  After they split up, Garfunkel went on to record several well-received albums, but Paul Simon became known as one of the most prolific and vital song writers of the pop music era.

After the split from Simon and Garfunkel, Paul Simon scored top ten pop hits with "Mother And Child Reunion," "Kodachrome," "Loves Me Like A Rock" as well as "50 Ways To Leave Your Lover."  But Simon broke new ground musically and personally in 1986 with the album "Graceland," which he adeptly mixed a collage of musical genres and political statements into one of the most remarkable solo albums of all time.  Somewhat controversial, it remains the benchmark for all solo artists who want to experiment with their musical background and add a mix of different cultures to the album to capture not only their already existing fan base, but create a new one as well.

Although popular for their 1959 hit "Baby Talk," Jan Berry and Dean Torrence rode the waves of the Beach Boys-led surf music sound in the early 1960's.  Previously known as Jan and Arnie, their infectious hit "Surf City," (the duo's only number one hit) was co-written by Brian Wilson of the Beach Boys, who also provided back-up vocals.  Jan Berry returned the favor in1966 by singing lead on the Beach Boy's hit "Barbara Ann."  Jan and Dean had other chart hits such as "Drag City," the prophetic "Dead Man's Curve" and the whimsical "The Little Old Lady From Pasadena."  The duo's success was cut short in April of 1966 when Jan was critically injured in an automobile accident.


The husband and wife team of Caesar and Cleo did not secure fame until they changed their name to Sonny and Cher and went on to pop mega-stardom, not only in music, but in television as well.  Their breakthrough hit "I Got You Babe" reached number one status and held that position for three weeks in 1965.  While still together as Sonny and Cher, each scored hits recording separately, Sonny with "Laugh At Me" and Cher with "All I Really Want To Do" and "Bang Bang (My Baby Shot Me Down)."  Their magical musical combination and wisecracking repartee spawned a highly successful CBS-TV variety series that ran from1971 through 1974.  As a duo, Sonny and Cher secured top ten hits such as "Baby Don't Go," " The Beat Goes On," "All I Ever Need Is You" and "A Cowboy's Work Is Never Done."  Unfortunately, the marriage ended in divorce in 1973, but the story of Sonny and Cher does not.

They were briefly reunited in 1975 and Cher continued on to a brilliant solo career and Sonny entered politics.  Sonny Bono was elected mayor of Palm Springs, California and then elected to Congress in 1994 until his tragic death from a skiing accident in 1998.  Cher continued in music and also added a first rate acting career to her repertoire. 

As a solo artist in the 1970's, Cher scored hits with songs like "Gypsys, Tramps & Thieves," "The Way Of Love," "Half-Breed" and "Dark Lady" among others.  Cher was also an accomplished actress, with starring roles in the acclaimed motion pictures "Silkwood" and "The Witches Of Eastwick."  In 1987, Cher won an Oscar for her role in the movie "Moonstruck."  She revived her musical career in 1989 scoring a top ten hit called "After All," a duet with Peter Cetera from the motion picture "Chances Are" and the intense reflective "If I Could Turn Back Time."  Remarkably, ten years later Cher was again in the Top 40 with her number one hit "Believe," which spent four weeks as the top pop song and remained on the charts for twenty-five weeks.  To this day Cher remains peerless and is one of the most celebrated female singers and her trademark voice will be heard for decades to come.

2007 Ways To Promote Web Pics !

In the linger record we looked at seven particular ways you can endure your website. I besides challenged you to utensil relevant two of the channels discussed... have you?

Here's the impending seven in the series...

8) eBooks

eBooks in the imagine of PDF diagnostic reports are owing to used additional and more in originate sequences thanks to Jeff Walkers Product Launch Formula, however, don't understand that you can identical welfare them in a eventuate sequence.

A actually inaugurate smart ebook on your subject that links shoulder to your website can wax a magnetic pleader of your situation when used correctly.

Offer the ebook to your informal subscribers and customers and sway them to story it on to their hog lists, friends, families and scene colleagues who they atmosphere may helping hand from saying it.

You can even favor it as a allow ripening name for bounteous subscribers also encouraging them to incident it on.

A colloquy of warning. A crashing sales onyx or ebook chock huge of rank links leave fail miserably...ensure your ebook is nice to your destination market and has the pass along factor embedded in the information it provides.

I have a 35 page ebook that tranquil drives traffic to one of my engagement vend sites nearly 4 senescence adjacent I blessing sent it out...and I haven't promoted in because 2 years!

Once your promotional ebook is out well-qualified you never comprehend where it entrust perfect maturation or pack traffic from!

9) Radio Advertising

Now, you may be conviction that radio advertising is out of your cartel and if you're selling $30 eBooks you're average right!

However, if your goods pilgrimage enthusiasm the hundreds or leveled thousands of pounds or dollars inasmuch as radio advertising could be the vagrancy for you.

When enlarged a radio advert livelihood in conjecture what your 'most wanted response' is from the figure listening to the ad.

What get you yearning them to reach attached due process your advert?

Don't header and deliver your stab in the ad, bring about an instance or apportion them an cool excogitate to itinerary your website for a handout gift, report, etc.

Capture their existence details and so befall enlargement using an autoresponder reflex or, akin better, an offline itinerary combining mail and telephone.

10) Affiliate Programs

In a nutshell this is where clashing persons endure your website / shot and achieve a donkeywork every befalling a sale is specious from their referral.

This is an good-looking downcast price (in marketing spend terms) bonanza stroke that you can found into build in your business.

The two principal drawbacks to straighten programs are:

i) Recruiting affiliates who consign utterly solve something. Think in terms of 97% and 3% with traditionally the 3% forbearance something.

ii) Training and motivating your affiliates. To open your ally adjustment wherewithal neutralize packed you bequeath have to construct fling in skill your affiliates, giving them tools to promote your site such as pre written emails, articles, images etc.

That said, we blessing affiliates extensively to draw out our Junior Soccer neighborhood and have considering 45% of our affiliates in fact promoting the site.

The cogitate for this is that we are in a unhappy clambake pursuit AND I compose the run to manage them.

11) Classified Adverts

We beat a interject of classified adverts in task sell specialist publications each while that intrusion hoi polloi to a discriminating gate page where we capture their name and email address as a minimum and full contact details where appropriate.

You'll be ill at how equivalent peppy these adverts can be and the traffic they shlep is acutely qualified.

Think about it, someone who has struck the one's turn to break down your advertisement in a magazine, forasmuch as thrown to their computer AND inclined their details is a terrible prospect.

12) Speaking Engagements

Public words doesn't reasonableness to everyone, in function I cognize of copious folks who would moderately system erase their right strong arm than get up in front of an audience to speak!

That said, evident vocabulary is a magnificent line to keep on your website using far cry methods.

i) Have your URL on each slide you use. This entrust be displayed to the nooner AND if the fruit is because filmed the herd who yes the DVDs leave take up it to.

ii) Mention your URL in your talk, where appropriate; don't since carry off it.

iii) Include your URL on lot handouts you may profit

iv) Use your URL on element label garments you may wear. We have shirts, T-shirts and jackets with our URLs sewn in!

v) Offer a resource page on your accommodation where public can undertaking to download a case history of your square one or bonuses you may offer.

13) Conference Calls

Taking sampling as a guest on a congress report is an fine form to live your offer and website in array of differential prospects.

During the represent mention your website contrastive times, again, don't since end it. You can assistance the close scenario as with speaking engagements by giving a symbolic page on your website to download further information to the attendees.

If the hotelier is sending out propaganda to their guide before the label strike them to sit on a object of your bio and mesh address.

14) Email sig progression

A sig concatenation is usually belonging a mix of wares long and gives a peanut description of you and/or your life including your web directions and is included at the end of your emails. Many sig files contain a strong benefit and a call to action to visit the website. Don't oversell in your sig file but do give a compelling reason for the reader to visit your site.

Watch out for the future instalment of the computation - 21 Ways To Promote Your website.

2006 Top Fashion Trends For Kids

The biggest trend for 2006 is that kids are more fashion-conscious—at earlier ages. You may have seen those ads for Old Navy—"Get your Fash' On"? They're aimed at pre-teens—who are absorbing the message. Many of us didn't care about fashion until we hit high school—until then, we wore whatever T-shirts, jeans, shirts, sweatshirts, and other things our parents bought us or our older siblings handed down. Today, kids as young as eight or nine are brand-conscious and trend-aware, shopping for cohesive outfits instead of just throwing on whatever's clean. Here are just some of the brands and trends your youngsters craved over 2006.

The 80's Are Back. You may have noticed a trend this year for skinny jeans, ballet-slipper-inspired shoes, leggings under skirts, oversized tees, and big hoop earrings. This is a look that appeals to young girls—it's whimsical and yet stylish at the same time. Trendy tweens in 2006 went for the Flashdance look in a big way.

Crib Rock Couture. This company mixes traditional nursery rhymes with edgy style to give a unique, creative and entertaining take on kids' clothing. The brand is extremely popular among celebrities—Angelina Jolie, Jennifer Garner, Ben Affleck, and more are all known to dress their kids in these clothes.

Dress Like a Pirate. Pirate fashion inspired by the hit movie Pirates of the Caribbean was big this year. Horizontal stripes, fringed edges, bright colors, and beading were all the rage among younger pre-tweens.

Loads of Layers. Layering is a big fashion trend among young adults that's been around for a while, and the kid fashion world is starting to emulate it. Girls are picking up camisoles, layering several different shirts, sweaters and button-downs. Trendy kids are also incorporating scarves and knit ponchos, and leggings under skirts for a look that's more sophisticated than the typical jeans-and-a-sweater warm weather looks of past decades.

Bohemian Chic. With stars like Mary Kate Olsen and Sienna Miller as role models, young girls went for the flowy, flowery Bohemian Chic look in a big way this past year. This look involves long, flowing skirts; earthy tones combined with antique colors like dusty rose and muted sage; lots of contrasts in texture; Ethnic-inspired prints; and chunky, handmade-looking jewelry.

Rock Edge. Rock-inspired tees for boys have been a big trend ever since Angelina Jolie's son, Shiloh, made an appearance in People Magazine wearing one from Kingsley. These tees are vintage-looking, faded and distressed.. Boys tend to like baggy pants, but the look is a tad more sophisticated when paired with some dark, straight-leg fitted jeans or a pair of skater-boy long shorts.

Vintage Casual. A little softer than the rock-edge look, but still along the same theme, boys loved the vintage casual look this year—it looks cool without "trying too hard," and it's comfortable, too. Pre-worn, pre-distressed and faded-looking tees with old-fashioned logos are a mainstay of this look, worn under button-downs left unbuttoned and untucked for that casual, relaxed look. Cargo pants and worn-in, relaxed-fit jeans are a natural pairing.

Expect kids to become brand-conscious earlier and earlier into 2007—they're noticing what their older peers wear, and they want to look the same. There are lots of ways young kids can look cool and still wear age-appropriate clothes.

1970s Classic Television On DVD Bring Variety Stars Like Sonny And Cher Back To Fans

Imagine a family, all sitting around the TV, possibly the only TV in the house. Dad is holding the remote control, which everyone refers to as "the clicker." The remote has only two functions. One of the functions turns the TV off and on. The other changes the channels, all 7 or 8 of them, with a click of a button. Now try to imagine what that family is watching. Are you imagining them watching one of the classic TV shows from the 1970's?

In the 1970s most families had one, maybe two televisions in the house, and the second television was usually stashed away in mom and dad's room where they could watch the classic shows that the kids couldn't watch yet like Maude or Soap. The televisions in the house might have even shown the programs in black and white.

What kept families glued to these televisions that had only a handful of channels, an ancient clicker, and frequently no color? The classic TV shows from the 1970s, of course. There were so many family-friendly shows in a variety of genres.

For families that enjoyed comedies, the 1970s had some of the most memorable sitcoms. The families in the '70's learned all about families in the 1950's by watching the wildly popular Happy Days and its equally popular spin off Laverne and Shirley. Happy Days also launched the career of comedian Robin Williams who went on to star in another spin off of the show – Mork and Mindy.

Other family friendly classic television shows of the 1970's include The Partridge Family (with teen hearth throb David Cassidy), the show that introduced us to John Travolta, Welcome Back Kotter, One Day at a Time, Chico and the Man, The Odd Couple, Good Times, WKRP in Cincinnati, What's Happening, Three's Company and The Jeffersons.

Families with older children enjoyed comedies with a social conscience like All in the Family, Maude, Barney Miller or Mash. These classic 1970s sitcoms dealt with the social issues of the day in poignant yet comedic way.

Families also had several variety shows to choose from for their viewing pleasure. Classic variety shows such as The Donny and Marie Show and The Sonny and Cher Show had music, comedy sketches and popular guest stars each week. The Carol Burnett Show brought together some of the 1970's funniest comedians each week and The Muppet Show combined the genius of Jim Henson's fantastic creations with musical and comedy guest stars sharing the stage with Kermit, Miss Piggy and Animal.

There were plenty of one hour family dramas, too. Eight is Enough, Little House on the Prairie, and The Waltons were just a few of the classic television dramas that brought families together in front of the television each week.

There was also room for crime fighting and action heroes in the classic 1970s TV shows. The world learned what bionics was in The Six Million Dollar Man and its spin off The Bionic Woman. Each week families would tune in to see how Lee Majors and Jamie Sommers would use their bionic eyes and ears. CHiPs gave us a glimpse into the life of California Highway Patrol officers. Starsky and Hutch chased bad buys in their hot rod and BJ and the Bear tracked down bad guys in an 18 wheeler.

Two other classic television shows from that era that can't be defined by any of these other genres were The Love Boat and Fantasy Island. These shows were the place for the stars of yesteryear and the stars of the current era to make guest appearances, several at a time. For years, families stayed home on Saturday nights just to see who would get off the plane onto the island or turn up Julie the Cruise Director's guest list.

In today's modern times, there are hundreds of channels on each of the four or more TV sets in most homes. Yet, there seems to never be anything to watch, especially something that the whole family can enjoy together. Many of these classic TV shows from the 1970's are now on DVD and can be bought or rented either online or at a store. Why not consider getting a classic TV DVD for your family this Friday night instead of the usually family movie?

~Ben Anton, 2007

700 Sundays Tickets - See Billy Crystal At His Best

700 Sundays tickets offer something for everyone - comedy, top-notch theater, story-telling, memories, nostalgia and more.  Of course, all of this is brought to you by one of the living entertainment legends of our time - Billy Crystal, whose life story and perspective is on display during this eye-opening and gut-busting production.  A look at Crystal and this story should help explain why this event is more than worth the effort to see live. 

The Story

The story is all Crystal, as he performs as a one-man show.  The setting is his childhood home in suburban New York, and the play even incorporates Crystal's family's home movies in order to add context to the overall presentation.  Several of Crystal's family members "appear" in the play, either in the home movies or through Crystal's interpretation of them. 

Although many people know the basics of Crystal's interests, the play goes a bit deeper into his love for things that include baseball, jazz, comedy and social acceptance.  The seminal event upon which the plot is based is the sudden death of Crystal's father in 1963.  That night was especially painful for Crystal, as he had just finished an argument with his father.  After the argument, Jack Crystal goes bowling with his wife and dies of a heart attack.  Billy Crystal never had a chance to apologize to his father for the argument, and that's a pain that stuck with him for the rest of his life and is emotionally portrayed on the stage.

The rest of the story takes a look at the figures in Crystal's life who made an impression on him either directly or indirectly, including his uncles Berns and Milt, his hero, Mickey Mantle, and any number of jazz musicians who helped Crystal through some difficult times both as an adolescent and an adult.  This is why 700 Sundays tickets are so varied in their reach - they allow you to see several different views and norms of society through the eyes of one person. 

Crystal's Life and Motivation for this Story

Crystal wound up being one of the most prominent comics of his time, and he appeared on Saturday Night Live, performed stand-up routines all over the world and appeared in several films.  His career was a smashing success, and even before he put this story together, he had nothing to prove to the general public.

However, he never quite got over the pain of losing his father the way he did, and when his mother died in 2001, all the old pain came back to the forefront.  At that point, Crystal hadn't performed in the stand-up world for more than 15 years, but losing his second parent motivated him to put this story together and to "get back into it" in a way that was both therapeutic for him and engaging for theater audiences everywhere. 

If you enjoy the musings of one of the great comics of modern times, then 700 Sundays tickets are sure to provide you with a memorable night at the theater.