An Unspoken Nature

Remember Desiree Jennings?

2009-11-10T14:48:50Z

Remember when I showed you the youtube videos of the girl who could only walk backwards after receiving a flu shot?

Well, she's all "cured" now.

applesauce55 @ 2009-10-29T17:09:00

2009-10-29T21:09:18Z

WHAT. IS. THIS!?!?!?!

2009-10-22T20:36:09Z

Baby OK After Train Hits Stroller

2009-10-16T21:37:47Z

This is SO crazy! I watched in horror before hearing the baby was okay. I had to come on-line and watch again. What a freakin' miracle this baby is alive. WOW!!!!

Text:

Baby OK After Train Hits Stroller

Updated: Friday, 16 Oct 2009, 6:36 AM EDT
Published : Friday, 16 Oct 2009, 6:03 AM EDT

MELBOURNE, Australia - Police in Australia say a 6-month-old baby has miraculously survived a train hitting his stroller that had rolled onto the tracks.

The train pushed the stroller about 130 feet (40 meters) along the tracks before it stopped.

Security video footage released Friday shows the mother looking away for a moment when the stroller suddenly rolls off the edge of a station platform and onto the tracks. The mother panics as she looks back and sees the oncoming train hit the stroller, but the baby boy survived with only minor injuries.

Victoria state Police Sergeant Michael Ferwerda called Thursday's incident a "lucky escape" and said people should be cautious in train stations.

Copyright Associated Press, Copyright 2009 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.

Cat Scorned

2009-10-16T15:36:40Z

This is absolutely hilarious. I love it.

Superman

2009-10-13T20:08:31Z

Good morning ha-ha-ha-ha-haterrrs...

2009-10-09T19:04:09Z

Writer's Block: Concert mania

2009-10-06T20:09:32Z

What band are you dying to see live in concert that you've never seen before? Would you travel to a different city or state just to see them?

View 2058 Answers

I'd really, really, really, love to see Coldplay. They look so full of life and energy when they put a show on. Would I travel to a different city? Sure. A different state? Probably not.

Amazing Story About A Dog Who Survived Car Accident

2009-10-02T14:05:58Z

Watch CBS News Videos Online

This Is Incredible

2009-09-24T14:15:39Z

I don't care! I love Lady Gaga!

2009-09-14T16:38:02Z

I haven't watched the VMAs the whole way through in a long time. Last night was actually awesome, save Kanye West (it's all over the news so why bother saying anything else). Lady Gaga's performance was my favorite. The ending gave me chills. Yeah, she wears bizarre outfits and she seems a little crazy, but I love it.

Lady Gaga - New Music - More Music Videos

Writer's Block: No Foolin'

2009-04-01T18:18:00Z

What's the best April Fool's joke you've seen today?

View 500 Answers

Your face.

Ohhhhhh snap!

If I Had To Picture What The Devil Looked Like...

2009-03-20T16:30:36Z

He would look like Josef Fritzl. I have to warn you, the contents in this article are very disturbing. I almost cried, and I wanted to throw up.

It’s payback time for daughter as Josef Fritzl is incarcerated

Writer's Block: My Definition of Greatness

2009-03-18T21:24:08Z

How do you define greatness?

What's Your Celtic Animal?

2009-03-17T21:04:19Z

Your Animal is the Cat

You are independent to the point of being stubborn. You stick to your values.
You are loyal, trustworthy, and honest. You are very devoted to your family.

You are aloof towards those you don't know well, but you are affectionate with those you are close to.
You are a creative, sensual, and mysterious person. You are agile and flexible.

What's Your Celtic Animal?

And I don't even like cats. Pffth...

After Dora uproar, Nick and Mattel soothe moms

2009-03-16T16:30:37Z

They aren't changing the show, but they are making a "tween" doll.

After Dora uproar, Nick and Mattel soothe moms

By NEKESA MUMBI MOODY, AP Music Writer Nekesa Mumbi Moody, Ap Music Writer – 2 mins ago

NEW YORK – When toy maker Mattel, working with Nickelodeon, announced earlier this month that a "tween" version of Nick's beloved "Dora the Explorer" cartoon character would be unveiled in the fall, the response was overwhelming ... overwhelmingly negative.

Dora the streetwalker. A sexed-up version of a children's icon. A poor example for kids.

Those were just some of the terms tossed around the blogosphere after Mattel released a silhouette of the "new" Dora, whose image was drastically changed from the endearing tomboy look Dora fans grew to love, with her bowl-cut hairdo, T-shirt and red shorts. This new Dora appeared to have long flowing hair, and was wearing what seemed a scanty skirt, emphasizing her long, shapely legs.

"Did Mattel turn Dora the Explorer into a Tramp?" read one headline from The Huffington Post.

But not so fast.

Mattel and Nickelodeon both say there are two major misconceptions about the new Dora, which is not replacing the "Dora the Explorer" cartoon, but will be a new interactive doll aimed at 5- to 8-year-olds.

"People care so deeply about this brand and this character," Leigh Anne Brodsky, president of Nickelodeon Viacom Consumer Products, says. "The Dora that we all know and love is not going away."

"I think there was just a misconception in terms of where we were going with this," Gina Sirard, vice president of marketing at Mattel, says. "Pretty much the moms who are petitioning aging Dora up certainly don't understand. ... I think they're going to be pleasantly happy once this is available in October, and once they understand this certainly isn't what they are conjuring up."

Part of the confusion stemmed from the silhouette that was released, which made Dora look more like a Britney Spears or Lindsay Lohan than a young girl. For the record, the doll does not wear a short dress, but a tunic and leggings. And while she looks older (she's supposed to be about 10), with longer jewelry and longer hair, she doesn't have makeup and seems pretty much like a 10-year-old girl.

Nickelodeon and Mattel say that as part of unrelated research, they found parents wanted a way to keep Dora in their children's lives and have their daughters move on to a toy that was age appropriate.

"The idea is Dora for more girls," Brodsky says. "The whole point was this was created because moms said help us."

But the new version is a significant switch from the Dora many preschoolers have known, aging her so the kids who tend to drop Dora once they hit kindergarten and first grade remain connected to the new character, who has a new group of girlfriends to go exploring with (Sorry, but Boots, the Map, Swiper and other characters from the show didn't make the transition).

The doll, which comes with a USB port and is compatible with online story lines that take Dora and four friends on new adventures involving the environment, social action and more, still has, as Sirard called it, the "Dora DNA."

"What would Dora be if she grew up? You'd have what you'd have before you: a very sweet, wholesome adventurous. ... She's a perfect role model in that regard."

But as Coca-Cola infamously discovered when it trotted out "new Coke" almost 25 years ago and Tropicana recently found out when it changed — then reverted to — its famous cover design after public confusion and outcry, making any changes, or even additions, to a famous brand can upset consumers.

In this case, Dora is more than a just a cartoon character. The bilingual adventurer, praised for encouraging kids to explore and use their imaginations, is a not only a TV sensation, but a global brand that attracts millions of kids through dolls, clothes, touring shows, DVDs and other merchandising and events.

"A lot of people think of Dora as something for their small kids. And part of the reason people like Dora is because it teaches their kids to be inquisitive and curious in an educational way, because no one wants their kids to grow up fast," says Jean-Pierre Dube, professor of marketing at the University of Chicago's graduate school of business.

Dube says it's not uncommon for children's characters or products to evolve and mature with their age group, but Mattel and Nickelodeon may have complicated matters because instead of aging the actual character, they are introducing an extension of it.

"What we learned from this is people really cherish and value what Dora represents, and if you start trying to license that out or extend that brand, this is a really risky thing to do," he says.

"We could certainly make a case that the public is overreacting and that they're drawing conclusions that aren't there, but there's some important information there, and that is, 'Don't mess with this brand unless you're very careful.'"

___

On the Net:

http://www.nickelodeon.com

http://www.mattel.com

Writer's Block: Deal or No Deal

2009-03-05T19:33:06Z

What's on your list of dealbreakers when it comes to romantic relationships?

View 501 Answers

Continuous, serious lying. You know, like when someone tells you they've never been arrested when they actually have been...and it's kind of important you know. Or smoking. See, I've been with a few smokers. The first guy I KNEW smoked, and kind of regrettably dealt with it. The second guy told me he didn't smoke because he knew I didn't WANT to be with a smoker. Another lie. Wow, this is getting personal. :D

Anyone who would threaten suicide after a fight. That's ridiculous and I'm not down with that kind of irresponsible drama. I need some kind of stability in my life. I'm going to have to go out on a limb here and say cheating if it's with another family member. Not just your everyday cheating, you know? If I was seeing someone and he slept with my sister I couldn't handle that. Not to say I'd be able to handle it if it was done with a perfect stranger, but I can't say how I would react. Although...I've been cheated on before and I think I handled it extremely well.

Any kind of abuse. If someone was tearing me up emotionally with the sole purpose to hurt or bring me down, I wouldn't tolerate it. Physical abuse is a given on my part, but I can almost empathize with women who go back to the men who laid hands on them. I can't say I understand completely, but I'd never call a woman stupid for going back. They are fighting a separate battle within themselves.

I'll leave it at that, as those are those most serious deal breakers. And yes, this entry is public. I have no idea why. I just felt like it.

How Well Do You Know Me?

2008-10-03T00:21:19Z

Good Luck
1) How many siblings do I have?
		I'm the only child.
		1
		2
		3

Make A Quiz - Take This Quiz - View Scoreboard

Update

2008-05-02T19:59:46Z

Landon turned two on April 20. He went to bed right before 8pm and has been waking around 8-8:30am every day after that now. Landon is incredible. He's eating tons and talking more now than ever. He plays the guitar Grandy (my dad) bought him for Christmas and sings his own little tune. Almost every morning when he wakes he wants me to read to him first thing. That's fun, to get past the blurred vision and scratchy voice. We also just recently found out he's terrified of roaches. I wonder if he's scared of spiders like his daddy, too.

Everyday is a challenge. I'm struggling...to be a good mom, a good daughter, a good friend. I'm struggling. I clean everyday. Sometimes I read, but sometimes I work on my book. Yeah, I started writing a book. I don't know if it will be a success, but at the moment I think it's a pretty good idea. It keeps me busy, anyway.

Did I delete my MySpace? Yes, I did. It's not a huge loss.

Oh, I grew a pair and sang karoake for the first time ever the other night. I sang "Cowboy Take Me Away" by the Dixie Chicks. My sister says I did pretty good.

That's not all, but let's not make this depressing. I hope all of you are well, healthy, and happy. ♥

POTTY GOODNESS!

2008-01-06T16:54:10Z

LANDON WENT POOP IN HIS TOILET!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! THIS IS SO EXCELLENT!

Gaining Strength

2007-12-31T07:24:22Z

It could be water retention like my mother says, but honestly, what much of a difference would that make? I'm happy to announce that my weight is up to 115. Oh, the holidays bring much joy to my belly! And yesterday we had Christmas at my Grandma's. It was postponed because she came down with something, but she's doing much better now, thank God. Landon and Melyna were spoiled by friends and family. I mean really, the love is enormous.

I'm so terribly terrified and excited all at once for the New Year. I do not have any resolutions, I only have a plan. However, I cannot be attached to this plan. The waiting, it only gets longer. And no real big plans. I'm hoping to see my friend Diane, though! No telling what's in store there. ;P

My sweet, sweet Landon. The older he gets the bigger the temper. Oh man, what a stage. The boy is wearing me out. He's an angel for everyone, but when I come into the picture all hell breaks loose. He likes to test me in the worst ways. And I have to admit, I'm thinking about getting a spray bottle to correct him. Let me explain why. I was in a public restroom when he decided to go over and have a look at the toilet seat. I kept telling him no, but alas, his hand ended up on the toilet seat anyway. I was cleaning my hands at this time so when I finished I said, "No-no," as I flicked that cold water in his face. He backed away from the toilet with a look of dis-satisfactory. Mission failed, buddy! And then I said, "Yeah, ya didn't like that did you?"
Hmm...am I wrong? :D

So I'm up at 2:22am because I haven't been sleeping well at all. However, now I'm pretty damn tired and hungry to boot. Whatever shall I do?

MIA

2007-12-04T15:32:35Z

Landon and I are both okay. I'm waiting/looking forward to getting a hard drive for my computer. It's difficult to use my sister's computer because her screen is busted and the internet browser continues to quit on us. I never know when it will happen. I know I am incredibly far behind on any and every update. I hope each and every one of you is well. Hopefully I will get a chance to make a real update. I'm supposed to be updating my journal, actually. One of the things therapist would like to see me continue to do since it's one of my main outlets.

Let me know what's going on with you. Comments are screened. ♥

Grow A Pair

2007-11-13T19:38:11Z

Hey, if you want to be cowardly and remove me as a friend without my knowledge, great. But it would have been SUPER if you informed me so I knew to remove you. This is excellent and my suspicion only grows. I'm on my way to making a major friend cut. OH NOES! Time to kill the drama llama!

What a great day. :D

Opening Up A Little More

2007-11-10T20:44:26Z

I've struggled getting here to my journal today. My sister's computer is a piece of work. Found out she had a trojan horse, so I promptly took care of that. I just recently added Firefox to her computer because Explorer is the worst possible browser ever. Why do they even continue to provide it? However, sometimes Firefox won't even load for me. I can't imagine what else is going on on this thing. I need to defrag it, too. Maybe tonight, as it will have to sit here without disturbance.

I had a pretty emotional therapy session today. I allowed myself to cry as I've been wanting to. Still, he noticed that I tried hard to stop from crying because I have this need to be strong throughout it all. He also pointed out that I fidget around when discussing certain things, which I am aware of myself. I wish I could rid of that, too. I want to be able to sit across from anyone with a straight posture and a positive outlook. A strong stance in general.

I suppose I'm here in Florida at the right time. October-November are excellent months for me HERE. It's beautiful outside, yet I'm disappointed because I cannot get a hold of my friends. I could use my friends at this moment. I speak only of two specific people whom I haven't seen in a while. I don't know how to reach them or if they are even aware of how badly I wish to speak with them. I want them to lend their ears because I admit, I'm struggling. Ahhh, busy lives. That's the issue. Or an excuse?

After some time I have to work on structure. My therapist and I discussed this. I'm dependent on others right now, but that will change. The positive is that I have this journal as an outlet. I also exercise to keep a healthy state of mind. Some people might say the usual, "You don't need to work out!! Look at you!" But again, it's not about my image. Fact is, exercise is healthy. Venting is healthy. Everything else that I am working on for my well being...is healthy.

I Said I'd Post One Picture

2007-11-09T07:29:39Z

The most important one of course. ;P

Diane and I with the lead singer of Blue October: