Hundreds of Nashville’s top stars, musicians and tour support company owners are facing millions of dollars in lost equipment because of the historic floods. Brad Paisley is amongst those affected by the flood, and now his H2O Tour is drenched. Paisley is among roughly a thousand other musicians who house their gear at Soundcheck Nashville, a storgage rental facility by the flooded Cumberland River. The owner, Ben Jumper, stated the 160,000 square foot facility is all flooded and the losses are an estimated tens of millions.

The Brad Paisley H2O staging and props are all under water, as well as most of his guitars, amps and tour equipment are destroyed. At the moment, Paisley and his crew are scrambling to find replacements as well as rehearsal space as the tour starts in two weeks at Virginia Beach, VA. In a phone interview with the Associated Press, the country crooner joked, “I sent a Tweet the other day that basically told people that when they come to the show just know that what you’re seeing has been fully tested under water,” Paisley continued, ” This is the H2O Tour. This isn’t posers acting like we know about it. We’ve done it, buddy.”

In addition to Paisley, Keith Urban lost his gear, and it has been reported Vince Gill has lost an entire collection of guitars, including irreplaceable vintage pieces. LeAnn Rimes has lost a trailer full of her road gear, which is probably under about 3 to 8 feet of water. Rimes’ guitarist, Ryan Wariner is trying to remain optimistic, but they’re not finding a lot of reason for hope. “Everything that I use but two guitars is in there - pedals, amps, speakers, mics, front house consoles, everything was in there,” says Wariner.

It has been quite an upset for Music City. Soundcheck Nashville was among other important music landmarks, including the Grand Ole Opry House and the Country Music Hall of Fame also have flood damage.

MooTV owner, Scott Scovill, supplies massive video screens and other high-tech gear for concert tours, and he has taken the humanistic approach saying, “Compared to losing someone you care about or your home, all of this can be replaced.” Dozens of people have been killed and thousands of homes have been damaged in the floods.

Kenny Chesney is among the thousands whose homes have been damaged or even destroyed in the wake of the floods. The Nashville floodwaters have literally consumed the country star’s home. Chesney’s publicist explained his house will likely be condemned because the water has risen to the second floor. The gym in his home containing all of his sports memorabilia, including his own high school items in addition to professional sports and pictures with friendly athletes. Chesney was out of state working on another project when the flooding occurred. The cleanup process has begun and people are beginning to assess the damage done.

As a habitual coffee drinker, I not only drink coffee because of the delicious comforting taste, but also because of the energizing zing it provides during a morning commute. Personally, the worst side effect of coffee dependency is the routine headache by noon the next day if I skipped a morning coffee. Yes, you could call it coffee withdrawal, because you could also call me a coffee addict.

In fact, I am not alone and about 54% of adults in the United States are also habitual coffee drinkers/coffee addicts consuming approximately 146 billion cups of coffee annually. That is about three times more than tea drinkers. However, through the years of research, coffee was deemed bad for you. Because of its habit forming traits, coffee was analogous with smoking, associated with insomnia, and renamed the “devil’s brew.”

Well, now times are a changing. New research demonstrates coffee is in fact good for you, as coffee consumers could be lower at risk of type 2 diabetes, Parkinson’s disease, as well as liver and colon cancer. For men, a 2009 study showed coffee drinking are lower at risk for lethal prostate cancer. Moderate coffee addicts consuming 3 to 5 cups a day are proven to have lower risk of dementia and Alzheimer’s disease later in life in comparison to less or more frequent coffee drinkers.

Women who regularly drink coffee were found to be less likely to die from various causes in relation to their counterparts. Also, the consumption of decaffeinated coffee drew similar results, therefore researchers do not believe caffeine is at work in the recent developments for coffee consumption. A University of Scranton professor of chemistry, Joe A. Vinson, Ph. D., found, “Most people drink it [coffee] for the caffeine. But it’s the Number 1 source of antioxidants in the U.S. diet.” Antioxidants are nutritious compounds found in berries, beans, and vegetables, but those foods are consumed much less than coffee. So have a cup o’ Joe, and have a good day (or life).

Sunday, President Barack Obummer Obama, signed an approximated $2.5 trillion healthcare program. During the hypocritical “democratic” assembly, the proposed Health Care Reform passed 219-212 votes. The said Health Care System will provide health coverage to about 32 million Americans without insurance. You do the math. Divide 940 million or 2.5 trillion (whatever the reported astronomical cost) by 32 million. Don’t worry about the math because I did the calculation and it works out to approximately $29 thousand to $78 thousand per uninsured American. Necessary? IDFTS (look it up at UrbanDictionary.com).

Republicans, logically and unanimously opposed the bill in addition to 34 knowledgeable Democrats. And this is the land by the people, for the people? After the December election is Massachusetts, it appeared Obamacare was destined to collapse. But that Nancy Pelosi, she’s got moves and she tweaked the WHOLE system so those 219 people could have their votes counted regardless of what the other 300 million Americans want. But as long as less than 15% of Americans have health care the other 85% has to pay for, it doesn’t matter because Obama finally signed something. Sense my sarcasm. Obama’s really earning that Peace Prize!

So, now there are 14 states that filed suit almost immediately after President Obummer Obama signed the bill, and as if Obamacare wasn’t a fiasco to begin with, now it is in shambles. These 14 states are filing suit against H.R. 4872 the Health Care and Education Affordability Reconciliation Act of 2010, calling it “unconstitutional.” Florida Attorney General, Bill McCollum, said, “It forces people to do something… in the sense of buying a healthcare policy or paying a penalty, a tax of a fine… that simply the Constitution does not allow Congress to do.”

Shockingly, even Michael Moore isn’t on board with this cluster-f***, calling President Obama’s plan “phony”. According to Moore, this Health Care Reform “has EVERYTHING to do with lining the pockets of the health insurance industry,” he continued, “What company wouldn’t love the government forcing the public to buy that company’s product?! Imagine a law that made it illegal not to own an iPhone?” True enough.

These examples are precisely the reason 14 states so quickly reacted to the signing of H.R. 4827. Virginia, among the 14 states filing suits, has filed a separate suit against Obamacare because the state has passed a bill preventing federal mandates from requiring individuals in the state to purchase health insurance. Virginia Attorney General Ken Cuccinelli defends the suit saying, “There has never been a point in our history where the federal government has been given the authority to require citizens to buy goods or services.”

As former President Abraham Lincoln said, “You cannot strengthen the weak by weakening the strong.” That is exactly what will happen to the insured 85% of Americans who end up paying for the uninsured 15%. For a nation that can offer the most innovative and reliable health care in the world, it appears Obamacare can accept the regression in medical innovation we should be so proud to offer.

Sarah Palin has established her position as a celebrity more so than a politician ever since the culmination of the Presidential campaign in 2008. She is publicly criticized for her every move, yet she is still able to maintain a massive crowd of supporters including nearly 1.5 million fans on Facebook.

Yet this past Saturday, Palin gave a speech in Calgary where she revealed a piece of her childhood to the Canadian natives. Until Palin was five years-old, she lived in an Alaskan town, Skagway, near the border of the Canadian city, Whitehorse. Palin said, “Believe it or not, we used to hustle on over the border for health care that we would receive in Whitehorse… isn’t that kind of ironic now. Zooming over the border, getting health care from Canada.”

That has to be one of the dumbest stories she has ever told in her entire life. Palin is utterly opposed to anything having to do with President Barack Obama’s health care bill, yet she received national health care from Canada as a child. Did she think if she told a group of Canadians, she could relate to them in a special way, and Americans would never find out?

Here’s the thing… that all happened in the 1960’s when she was in the care of her parents at a very young age. It would be a totally different story if she said, “My grandson had ’some little kid accident thing’ and we rushed him on a train over to Whitehorse for medical treatment.” The difference is how she was raised and how she lives her life now. Surely at the ripe age of 5 she didn’t have much say in where she received health care. Unless she was a very intuitive 5-year-old who strictly opposed going to Whitehorse because she didn’t believe in public health care (highly doubtful).

Regardless of any reason, call it opportunistic or hypocritical, when Sarah Palin makes a statement like that, she is just setting herself up to be publicly scorned. The reason is simple, she has previously suggested that Canada discontinue its public health care program and said President Obama’s instantaneous demand for American health care is “irresponsible.” The wheels fall off too often for Palin when she speaks publicly. As they do for many people, which only makes her human. But that’s a perfectly good reason for her to not be in office, and same with our President. The “I’m just like every other average American” doesn’t mean anything. I don’t want someone like me in office, then every Joe Schmoe would run for office if that’s the situation. It’s a waste of time, which is a luxury America does not have at this point.

Let’s begin with the nauseating statistic that our nation spends wastes $150 BILLION every year for treating obesity related health issues, and in most cases are preventable. This month, Michelle Obama has set forth in hopes of establishing her legacy for the “Let’s Move” campaign battling childhood obesity in our severely overweight country.

Are we beyond appropriate portion sizes, physical education, and couch potato syndrome? It seems the “normalcy” of over-eating has become too acceptable and available. Should restaurants begin cutting off obese children and adults from cleaning their plates, like a drunk at a bar?

Making headlines this week, a morbidly obese woman in Houston, TX fell in her home, making her way to the bathroom, and she broke her leg. The 38-year-old woman weighs in at approximately 400 pounds, and had to call for emergency help. Unfortunately due to her size, Houston firefighters were unable to remove her from her apartment through the hallway.

As a result, the rescue crew had to cut out a window and part of a wall from her second-floor apartment in order to provide medical treatment for the patient. It has been reported, her housing agency has recommended she move to a lower level of the building because of her “health concerns.” However, the woman explained her use for a wheelchair was only temporary.

Further details regarding the status of the woman’s health have not yet been made available. However, it has been reported her injuries required doctors to amputate her leg.

At least someone is doing something in the White House…

As of this morning, President Barack Obama has signed a memo in order to establish a federal task force regarding the epidemic of childhood obesity. This has to be the best thing he’s done since he moved into the White House, and his wife, First Lady Michelle, will be leading the campaign.

According to the memorandum, an encouraging plan of “optimal coordination” among the federal government, private and non-profit sectors will be established in the next 90 days. Mrs. Obama will lead an aggressive public relations effort to increase awareness of childhood obesity. The epidemic is “one of the most urgent health issues that we face in this country,” he continued, “We think that this has enormous promise in improving the health of our children, in giving support to parents to make the kinds of healthy choices that oftentimes are very difficult,” President Obama said from the White House.

The growing figures of childhood obesity are overwhelming, where the memo states approximately one-third of children born after 2000 will suffer from a form of diabetes at some stage in their life. Michelle Obama will launch the campaign this afternoon, along with mayors, doctors and sports leaders, as well as members of the President’s cabinet.

The First Lady stated in a speech last month, “We’ve seen the surge in obesity in this country is nothing short of a public health crisis, and it’s threatening our children, it’s threatening our families, and more importantly it’s threatening the future of this nation.” Kicking of the campaign against childhood obesity, Michelle Obama urges families to shut off televisions, drink more water and serve smaller portions. It is “really minor stuff. But these small changes resulted in some really significant improvements,” the First Lady said.

As flights resume transporting injured victims to U.S. hospitals, the quest continues to save lives and rebuild the poverty-stricken nation after the devastating earthquake. These flights were temporarily suspended due to logistical concerns for the lack of hospital space, according to the White House. Additionally, questions were raised regarding payment for the care of the victims as they do not have insurance. These concerns have been dealt with and transportation will resume this morning.

The State Department is working with the Haitian government to protect the children from human trafficking. There have been concerns for existing Haitian orphans as well as “a number of people, including, many, many children, have been displaced, separated from their families. This poses great risk, and particularly for children, of a higher vulnerability to human trafficking,” State Department spokesman P.J. Crowley has stated. With previous concerns for illegal child trafficking, the Haitian Prime Minister Jean-Max Bellerive has stated it “is one of the biggest problems we have.”

There are currently thousands of volunteers from dozens of countries present in Haiti to rescue and aid the injured. Some relief workers have even left their jobs and families to do what they can to help in shelters, provide water and food, or to assist in rescuing survivors from the rubble. There are a lot of ways you can help through multiple charitable foundations. If interested, here are some ways you could help:

The American Red Cross: To make a donation text HAITI to 90999* to donate $10 to Red Cross for their efforts in Haiti.

UNICEF: Requesting donations for relief for children in Haiti. Call 1-800-4UNICEF

Yele Haiti Foundation: To donate to the Haiti native, Wyclef Jean’s, nonprofit organization text YELE to 501501*

The United Nations Foundation: To donate $5 text CERF to 90999*

International Rescue Committee: To donate $5 text HAITI to 25383*

Compassion International: To donate $10 text DISASTER to 90999*

Save the Children: To donate $10 text SAVE to 20222* for the Save the Children for Haiti earthquake victims

K.I.D.S (Kids in Distressed Situations):Pproviding clothing, diapers, and water is accepting monetary donations as well as product donations. Call K.I.D.S President Janice Weinman at 212-279-5493 x207 for information on how to donate.

NNU (National Nurses United): 100% of donations will go directly to sending nurses to Haiti. Go to www.nationalnursesunited.org

*All text donations will be added to you phone bill.

The above list is only the tip of the iceberg in ways you could help the Haitians during this devastating time. For extensive information, missing person reports, and updates from Haiti you may also visit www.haitiearthquake.tel

Recently, Kate Moss interviewed with a fashion website WWD. In that interview, she was asked what her motto is, where she answered one is “nothing tastes as good as skinny feels.” Certainly, Kate Moss has made a very lucrative living as a delicate looking supermodel, which established a sort of trend in the modeling industry. However, there is no reason for her to be publicly criticized for a belief which shaped her life and supported what she has become. There is nothing “very unfortunate” about her words as one eating disorder activist has said. What is unfortunate is the global magnitude of the obesity epidemic, in children and adults.

The number of lives at risk as a result of diseases induced by the state of obesity are far greater than the number of folks suffering from malnourished eating disorders. Yes, they are both clinically diagnosed diseases, however eating disorders can no longer hold a candle to the enormity of obesity. Look at it from the other side, if Kristie Alley were to say, “everything tastes better than being healthy” which as a result becomes a motto on obesity support websites, that is far more concerning to me. If I had an obese child, spouse, parent, brother, or sister living by that motto, I would be very, very concerned. Similarly, there would be mayhem from the “Biggest Loser” trainers in response to something like this.

This is not to determine one is worse than the other, it is just to reveal the bigger picture. Skinny is according to an individual’s state of mind. Skinny is unique to the individual, like fingerprints. If you think about it, Kate Moss’s message could possibly have a positive influence on those battling obesity. Moss’s motto is relative to everyone in their own sense. Personally, her motto is relative because no matter how good the taste of something, nothing is worth carrying an additional 30% or more of weight. The ability to be physically unrestrained, free of heart and blood pressure disease, and diabetes is priceless.