Since I visit entertainment sites frequently for this blog, I run across those annoying popup ads all the time! It seems that the entertainment sites have more than their share of these ads. Hasn’t it gotten through their heads yet that we just don’t like that kind of thing? Sheesh! Good thing I have a decent popup blocker installed or I would be pulling my hair out!

Because I have three children, I don’t always get out to the movies as much as I would like. Sometimes I rent the movies I want to see, other times I will buy them. It is not quite the same as seeing them in the theater though. I would love to have a home theater where I could premier my favorite movies! There are just some movies that need to be seen on the big screen.

Christy Henrich was a member of the US Gymnastic Team. She was born July 18, 1972. She trained at the Great American Gymnastic Express Club in Blue Springs, MO. In 1986, she mad ethe US National Gymnastics team. She finished ninth at the 1988 Olympic Trials and in 1989 placed second (silver medal) in the all-round competition at the 1989 US National Championships. She used a leap in her balance beam routine that was eventually named for her.

Unfortunately, Christy was told in 1989 by a judge that she needed to lose weight. Instead of eating healthy and taking appropriate nutritional supplements, Christy developed an eating disorder. In a sport that is based on small size, Christy’s frame was a bit larger than some. Her disorder finally created such a problem, that she was asked to leave the gym.

Her weight dropped and her family finally managed to get her to enter a hospital for treatment. She would recover, but eventually slip back into the dangerous pattern. Christy died on July 26, 1994 at the age of 22 from multiple organ failure. She was 4′11″ tall and weighed only 47 pounds.

Since Christy’s death, many other gymnast have stepped forward and admitted their own battles with eating disorders. However, many still contend that the sport is still obsessed with the pencil thin gymnastic body image.

It seems that Steven Spielberg was asked if he was interested in directing the Harry Potter movies. Spielberg suggested that Haley Joel Osment play the character of Harry. Here is a comparison of the two actors.

I think Daniel Radcliffe wins! Sorry Steven!

There are a number of Mr. Universe contests, but the Arnold Schwarzenegger won the event sponsored by the National Amateur Bodybuilders Association (NABBA). The event was started in 1948 with amateur bodybuilders. A separate contest for professionals was added in 1952. Judging is based on how muscular the contestants are. This has led to use of steroids and other bodybuilding supplements by the contestants. Arnold won the amateur division in 1967 and the pro division in 1968, 1969 and 1970. The longest pro title was held by Eddy Ellwood for five years (1997-2001).

The contest is still going strong

I found a classic Christmas commercial from years past. See how many stars you can name is the United States Postal commercial – Mail Early!

My husband recently went to a event put on by Hitachi. The celebrity they had to help promote their products was none other than Mr. T himself! He still wears a big gold chain and this time he had one that said “Da Controlla” as well. (It has something to do with the storage units that Hitachi sells). My husband decided he would “arm wrestle” Mr. T. Mr. T made sure that my husband understood that is was “just for show, not the real thing.”

It was a very sad day, December 16th. Dan Fogelberg passed away quietly in his home in Maine from prostate cancer. He was only 56 years old.

Dan was born on August 13, 1951 in Peoria, Illinois. The son of a high school band director. Later, one of Dan’s songs would be a tribute to his dad – “Leader of the Band.” He graduated from high school in 1969 and began attending college and singing on the side. He decided to drop out of college and take up singing full time. His father, although not very happy, was supportive. He told Dan that he should give it a year and if it didn’t work out to return to college. Dan agreed.

Of course, the rest is history. In 1972 he released his first album, but it was not well received. His second album, Souvenirs made him a star.

Fogelberg wrote very personal songs and was involved in social issues such as peace, Native American concerns and “no nukes.”

In 2004, Fogelberg was diagnosed with prostate cancer. After a round of treatment, he thought he may have conquered the disease. Unfortunately, that was not to be the case and he passed away. He was married three times and his wife Jean was at his side when he died. He had no children.

Here’s to “The Leader of the Band:”

Does Britany Spears know about birth control, or is she truly as ditzy as she looks? After her drug rehabs I was kind of hoping that she would get her life back together, at least for the sake of her children. Now it looks like she is pregnant again! Unbelievable! And to top it all off, her younger sister, just 16 is also pregnant. Is it something in the water?

Here is a movie that you will find on late night tv: Trucks. The movie is based on a short story by Stephen King about trucks that come to life and (of course) try to take over. These are not the average flat bed trucks equipped with a tonneau cover, these are the big rig trucks. The movie takes place at a truck stop, and after a number of deaths, the remaining survivors are finding it hard to outsmart the trucks. The trucks are able to signal each other by using their headlights and windshield wipers.

I won’t give away the ending, you will have to watch this one for yourself!