SHANI DAVIS BRINGS HOME THE SILVER METAL!

Yea for Shani AGAIN! He won a silver Olympic metal Tuesday February 21 in the men's 1500 meter speed skating competition. American team mate, Chad Hedrick won a bronze--but he also holds a world record.
Now that's teamwork!
Tally up seven gold metals for the U.S.A.--one of them handed to us by Shani.
Another country won the gold in the 1500 speed skating competition.
Please follow the link on the title to find out more details about the Olympic games. They are turning out to be exciting. Remember, the Olympic competitions are to generate a spirit of camaraderie amongst the nations.
No fighting or bad sportsmanship allowed.

SHANI DAVIS: GOLDEN!

Chicago native Shani Davis, won a gold medal in the 1000m speed skating relay at this year's Olympics.
I searched but could not find a press release on Shani winning the coveted postion in history so I have included links to info about Shani.
It was reported that Shani was the first African-American to win an individual gold medal in the winter Olympics.There was a little controversy about his lack of participation in a non-required team speed skating event but he said he couldn't be distracted from winning.
Since he made history by winning a gold medal in his event,it makes sense to me. *good thing that he won* What ever happened to good sportsman like behavior? Why couldn't his fellow American Olympians be more supportive? I'm glad he had sense enough to prioritize.
I tried ice skating once. I mostly clung to the wall. I remember thinking that I didn't relize ice was that slippery. I didn't fall but I sure wasn't doing as well as my practices in the changing room, while standing on the carpet.
Congratulations, Shani on your win. Maybe you can teach me how to skate one day.
*i'm holding my breath and also waiting on aretha franklin to teach me how to sing*
MAKE SURE YOU PULL DOWN SOME ENDORCEMENTS!

Men are from Mars, and They Hate Valentine's Day

An independent survey by social dating website TeamDating.com, polled 500 married men and 500 single men ages 25-40 years old and found they think alike.
Apparently, St. Valentine's Day puts them off.
Whether married for years, or still looking for Mrs. Right, men seemed to agree that the expectations of the day are too high.
The survey, conducted in Los Angeles and Orange County, CA found ninety-one percent of married men said it was their least favorite say due to the expectations of topping what they did the previous year.

*or that they have to do anything at all*

The survey also found:
• 97% said that they plan what they are going to do the weekend before
• 94% said that any money spent on this day is a waste of money
• 72% said they plan on giving a gift certificate
• 4% of the men said they feel that the Holiday isn't even intended for men

As far as the bachelors, ninety-nine percent said they felt it was just another day.

Of the single men surveyed:
• 97% said it was their least favorite Holiday of the year
• 99% said to them it’s just another day
• 86% said they will go out and try too find single girls that are out as well
• 89% could not remember what they did the year before
• 93% didn’t even know that it fell on February 14th every year

"The overall disdain for the Holiday seems to be caused by the over expectations that women have placed on the meaning of what is done that day, or better yet, what is not done that day," explained Teamdating.com Chief Dating Officer Ray Doustdar, an expert in relationships and the online dating market.
"Men feel that no matter what they do, it won't be enough. Some try and take a creative approach with something out of the ordinary, but most fall back on the old reliable such as flowers and candy," he said.
"If you are going to get flowers, get them from a different florist so they are not a carbon copy of what you gave for their birthday or another recent event", Doustdar, said.
*I have no comment*

but...
Maybe enlisted men make better Valentines

New Yorkers send world's largest digital Valentine to troops

NEW YORK CITY (Army News Service 2006) Operation Love Our Troops, billed as a "Guinness Book of World Records" attempt to create the largest digital Valentine for America's troops, took center stage this week in Times Square.
The campaign received more than 10,000 messages from around the world since it was launched Jan. 4.
"It's a joint effort between Soldiers' Angels, a nonprofit military support group, and Library of Life.org, a digital scrapbooking Web site whose pages include numerous tributes to fallen service members.

*handsome Brig. Gen. Vincent K. Brooks, Chief, Public Affairs, U.S. Army*

Organizers said they hoped their presence in Times Square would give a significant boost to the number of signatures by Feb. 14.
"This will be the largest digital Valentine's Day card ever sent to the troops," said Amanda Hale, vice president of communications for Library of Life.org.
"They already have over 13,000 signatures and expect to eventually have 20-25,000 in total when the card will be sent."
In addition to grabbing the attention of passersby, the campaign was featured on the CBS Early Show, ABC's Good Morning America and the NBC Today Show.

*handsome older brother of Vincent, Brig. Gen. Leo Brooks, Jr.*

Operation Love Our Troops set up camp on Military Island, home to the Armed Forces Recruiting Station and site of the iconic Life magazine photograph of a sailor planting a movie-star kiss on a nurse on the day World War II ended.

Volunteers from Soldiers' Angels and Library of Life were on hand to help people add their messages of support to the troops.

"I have a step dad in the Air National Guard who is deployed, so this means a lot to me," said Michelle New, a Soldiers' Angels volunteer from Cookstown, N.J.

Among those sending their messages of support was New York-based actor Hecter Ubarry, who will appear in the upcoming Bruce Willis feature "16 Blocks" in March.
"My nephew's in the Navy Reserve and he's deployed to Iraq, and my godson is in the Navy and he's also headed to the gulf," said Ubarry. "I worry about them. I hope the whole thing over there is resolved soon. I don't want to see any more of our troops killed."

Angela Spivey, an office worker in Midtown Manhattan, took some time during her lunch break to sign the Valentine.

"I just wanted to say hello and remind the troops that people are thinking of them," Spivey said.
"I think it's sweet that they're doing this for the troops."

Sgt. 1st Class Eric Reinhardt and Caroline Bernabei of Army Public Affairs, New York submitted this report.

Give your love, support and Valentines to the ones who protect our country.
*who can tell i just wanted to show the generals' photos? happy v-day*

Why Do I Take It Personally?

I'm just a fan--only a fan. I wanted all of my favorite artists to win big at this year's Grammy Awards but they didn't. They just won. They won in their respective catagories. I wanted the big win because they seemed to want the big win.
But I got my own problems. The world of a celebrity is entertainment and relaxation for me. I'm not getting myself into trouble, getting pregnant, dating married or otherwise engaged men, annoying anyone blah, blah, blah.
And, these are just my stupid little opinions.
I bought the John Legend cd (even my seven year old son appreciates the calming tinkle of the piano--or he's just f***** with me), the Jamie Foxx cd and the Kanye West cd. West got some Hip Hop chops. He has lyrics. It's not just a rap style. (There is a difference between Hip Hop--as in culture and rap--a rhythmic style of word delivery).
If you caught the show Foxx and West put on, well, what else can be said?
We are past the college age and the pagentry of bands but those collegic memories are the roses. I love roses.
The lack of sleep and nighmares of being hired and not actually being able to perform the duties of the job, are the thorns.
Or, it could just be me. I but like the roses.
I loved what those two did with the roses. I would have liked to watch the making of and the backstory of how they came about it.
Anyway, I have included the fan web sites of the two men.
Congradulations on your Grammy Awards Mr. West and I look forward to your continued success because us fans get something out of it too.
I have to mention that the joke thank you list dropped like dead weight. It was totally missed.
Maybe I should get a life. Nah.

Watch the Grammy Awards on CBS

The GRAMMY Awards - the music industry's premier event - will take place on Wednesday, Feb. 8, at STAPLES Center in Los Angeles and will be broadcast in HDTV and 5.1 surround sound on the CBS Television Network at 8 p.m. (ET/PT).

The show also will be supported on radio via Westwood One worldwide, and covered online at www.grammy.yahoo.com.
*Kanye West is so cute.*
The Recording Academy® announced this week multiple GRAMMY® winner/rapper/mogul Shawn "Jay-Z" Carter will perform with GRAMMY-winning rockers Linkin Park -nominated for a GRAMMY for their groundbreaking collaboration ("Numb/Encore") - for what is destined to be an electrifying performance. Newly announced presenters include GRAMMY nominee Alicia Keys and comedian/actor Dave Chappelle. Nominee Anoushka Shankar - up for Best Contemporary World Music Album (Rise) - will perform during the GRAMMY Pre-Telecast ceremony.
*Jamie Foxx is so sexy.*
These outstanding artists join previously announced performers Mariah Carey, John Legend and Kanye West - all with eight nominations each; Madonna with Gorillaz; Paul McCartney; Kelly Clarkson; Bruce Springsteen; U2 and Mary J. Blige; Coldplay; Faith Hill and Keith Urban; Christina Aguilera and Herbie Hancock; Sugarland; Jamie Foxx with Kanye West; an all-star tribute to Sly And The Family Stone featuring Maroon 5, Will.I.Am of The Black Eyed Peas, Robert Randolph, Steven Tyler and Joe Perry of Aerosmith, Joss Stone, John Legend, Ciara and Devin Lima; and nominee Hezekiah Walker & Love Fellowship Choir join Mariah Carey.
Previously announced presenters include Big & Rich, Chris Brown, Michael Bublé, Common, Jenna Elfman, Destiny's Child, Matt Dillon, Tom Hanks, Teri Hatcher, Jennifer Love Hewitt, Terrence Howard, Queen Latifah, Ludacris, Bonnie Raitt, and James Taylor.
*I am such a boy-crazy teenager.*
But seriously, they will be two of the HOTTEST men on the awards show tonight.
I will post pics of other men who are cute and sexy too.
(No, really I am over the age of 21)

Coretta Scott King has died

Widow of slain Civil Rights Leader, the Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King, has died at the age of 78.
King, a Civil Rights Leader in her own right, had been ill with heart disease. She died Monday, January 30, as reported on Fox News (Fox & Friends)Tuesday morning.
Let us please take this day to reflect on how we all can walk the King's path, even if it is only for a little while.

Hurray for Banneker!

g-four star school 01-30-06
copyright 2006 ljm

GARY-Beating the odds takes dedication.
Leading the way in academic success within the Gary School District, Banneker Achievement Center has again

been selected as a Four Star School for 2004.
Superintendent of Public Instruction Suellen Reed announced Monday, that of the states 1,870 schools 198

earned the award, the state's highest distinction. Banneker has received the designation for 16 years in a row,

Principal Sarah Givens said.
She credits the school's success to good leadership skills, smart students and a great staff.
"It helps when the students come in with high potential. My key thing is discipline and being consistent in what

you are doing," she said.
Winning schools won't get money but will receive a certificate.The award is based on overall attendance rates,

student achievement on the Indiana Statewide Testing for Educational Progress-Plus.
In spite of a school size of about 500 students and class sizes that can count as high as 28 pupils and almost

no racial diversity, the ISTEP scores at Banneker have greatly exceeded state averages for the past six years

according to data from the Indiana Department of Education.
Reed said in a press release that individual school corporations receiving the award should be proud.
"...Schools are models of high-level of performance and achievement," she said.
Givens, who has been principal at Banneker 14 years, can often be seen sitting not in her office but in one of

the brightly colored alcoves in the hallway and in the doorway of the school. The children gravitate to her,

when seeking affection and respect her when getting redirection. Her pep and stylish attire match her

voluminous personality. In other words, beating the odds takes dedication.
"I'm in the hallway all day long and in the classes and popping up in the children's lives. Everyone knows where

I am--no one has to look for me," Givens said.
Givens said teaches work late, stay late and on lunch hours and take pride in their school. Givens said she

rewards her teachers with praise or help when needed to keep morale up. She recognizes hard work.

Teachers at Banneker grade about 90 papers a day.
"We live in Gary, Indiana and i realize we have environmental conditions that can hamper learning but what is

on the outside, stays on the outside. What I do in this school will depict the kind of lives they will live tomorrow.

The children buy into the school and have high-self esteem," she said.
Givens said other schools in the district can do it if they do the same things that are happening at Banneker.
She said she would be happy to share her techniques if ever placed in a leadership position within the district.

She was a resource teacher for 15 years where a part of her job was writing curriculum. She has had various

positions as principal for six years throughout the district before landing at Banneker in the 1990s. In all she

has 20 years experience as a leader of educators.
Aiding the school's success is her form of school management, named departmentalization.
Givens said kindergarten and first grade teachers have self-contained classrooms but in grades two through

six, one teacher teaches one subject each.
"After 14 years, don't you thing they would become experts? When test scores come out I can look at those

individual teachers," she said.
A state-accredited public school qualifies for the Four Star designation by meeting Adequate Yearly Progress

as defined by The No Child Left Behind Act of 2001. The school must perform in the top 25

percent of all public schools in the state, in student attendance rates, mathematics proficiency scores,

English/language arts proficiency scores, and the percent of students passing both mathematics and

English/language arts.
Also designated Four Star schools in Northwest Indiana are Franklin Elementary School in Griffith, Southridge

Elementary School in Highland and four schools in Munster; Munster High School, Wilbur Wright Middle School,

Ernest R. Elliot Elementary School and Frank H. Hammond Elementary School.

Mary Jane Michalak, a communications specialist for the Indiana Department of Education, said achieving the Four Star designation 16 years in row is quite an accomplishment.

She said the Education Roundtable is considering including a best practices portion so that schools like Banneker can pass what they know on to schools that may not be doing as well.


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I missed my rent-my-blog bid

My apologies to the bidder who wanted to rent space on my blog. I was remiss in checking my e-mail and have only 24-hrs to respond. I will be more careful in the future.
msmccloud

Foxx on Leno Wednesday night

Sexy R & B singer, Jamie Foxx, was on the Jay Leno show last night chatting about his musical airing tonight on NBC and his platinum CD "Unpredictable"--which is also the "no. 1 song in the country," Foxx said.
Leno and Foxx seem to go way back to days when they both did stand up. For those of you who somehow don't know, Foxx is a comedian--a good one at that--and actor, songwriter and singer. I first took notice of his greatness as an actor in "Any Given Sunday" and of course on the "Jamie Foxx Show" which was mysteriously ripped off of the air for some reason and "In Living Color" and most recenty, "Ray." His recent CD is where I realized his depth as a songwriter and vocal range although he has had fans buy and rave over his previous releases.
Those first songs were not flukes but steps to his current status.
Leno has not yet realized the recent greatness of Foxx and his Oscar and his hard won success.
They talked about the film "Booty Call" and the good ol' days at the Comedy Store (?) and though I believe Foxx was there to promote his musical special, he hammed it up, joking and laughing. (Too bad Arsenio isn't still here. Hey, where is Byron Allen? He deserves a primetime talk show.)
Foxx is still normal and down-to-earth--unless he was just ON last night and is totally Hollywood. Being in the public eye can sometimes affect how one interacts with the world and people around them. Foxx is handsome and humorous and intelligent, (I like that in a man)so it is easy for an insecure man to become envious.
And his taste in clothing is to die for. His ensemble was comprised of security guard type pants in what looked to be gray wool with the stripe down the leg, v-neck sweater, shirt, velvet(?) blazer and the most wonderful pair of shoes in black and white. (I dunno, we were at the Cave and I had all the folk up in there watching Jamie and cheering him on--yes ma, we were drinking--and I am a little blurry on detail.)
But ifn Jamie Foxx wasn't famous he'd still be a cool broa to hang with and all--bet. Forreal tho.
And if you are at all wondering why I am writing about this man (who obviously doesn't need much help to shine) it is because he has really been achieving his career goals lately and I am proud of him.
And because folks in our age group hardly ever get to have our opinions heard or have someone like Foxx speak our language to our generation. (we ain't Baby Boomers and are too mature for the lower rungs of Gen X) He and Kanye West are really doin' the damn thing.