This past Wednesday, animal trainer, Dawn Brancheau was killed during a Shamu performance at the Sea World in Orlando, Fla. Brancheau was a 40-year-old veteran trainer among few other trainers permitted to work with the Orca, Tilikum, due to the animal’s volatile past. Unfortunately, it has been reported Brancheau was the third person this “killer whale” has killed. Apologies for my lack of weeping, but this enormous mammal is in fact an Orca, and has been re-named a “killer whale” for a reason.

According to witness statements, Brancheau was performing before an audience when she leaned over and the whale pulled her by her ponytail into the tank. It was then that the animal began to attack Brancheau. The autopsy revealed Brancheau likely died from mulitple traumatic injuries she suffered as well as drowning, according to the Orange County medical examiner.

Evidently, the executives at Sea World have ignored the behavioral patterns of a veteran Orca at the Orlando, FL Park. Hint, hint… this orca may not be content in captivity. The death of Brancheau is being titled an accident, which is completely inappropriate. It is in the animal’s nature to be aggressive at times. It absolutely is a tragedy that a human life was lost, but not exactly shocking when considering the circumstances that were ignored.

The park re-opened Thursday, however as a result of this tragedy, Sea World has indefinitely suspended future performances in the Shamu Stadium until the investigation is complete. There are no plans to euthanize the 12,000 pound whale, and TIlikum (pet name) is currently in the holding tank with the other orcas.

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.

It has been confirmed, Bristol Palin, Sarah Palin’s nineteen-year old daughter, is set to make her Hollywood debut on ABC. Palin was pregnant with her son, out of wedlock, during her mother’s Republican Vice-President campaign back in 2008. The family has maintained their position in the tabloid spotlight ever since. After the birth of her son, Tripp, her baby daddy and ex-boyfriend, Levi Johnston, posed in the buff for Playgirl.

Forget the rest of the family run down, ABC announced this morning that Bristol Palin is set to grace her presence as herself in the ABC Family series “The Secret Life of the American Teenager.” The episode is scheduled to air something this summer. Recently in the show, the main character, Amy’s, reaction to an unexpected pregnancy has been spotlighted on the show. Palin will be playing a supportive and consoling friend to Amy, according to the network.

Bristol says, “I am thrilled to be on this show and to be a part of a program that educates teens and young adults about the consequences of teen pregnancy.” Palin was eighteen years old when she gave birth to her son back in December 2008. At the time, Palin was actually engaged to Johnston, but since have split and now battle over child support. She has a lot of baggage for a nineteen year old, which apparently makes her an excellent addition to the cast of a family television show.

“Secret Life’s” executive producer stated, “We’re thrilled to have Bristol join us, and I think she will bring additional attention to the issues facing teen parents that we’ve been exploring for a couple seasons now.” Understandable, but understated as it is thought Palin has brought too much attention to teen parenting issues and her baby daddy is a porn star. Evidently, this is the desired new path for the show’s exploration.

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.

We’d have a lot more to talk about than the first lady’s flabulous arms.

It couldn’t be worse and still we’d have more to talk about than anything our current President can give us. The ever-so-suspicious, former presidential candidate, John Edwards, has admitted to fathering the “love” child with his former campaign videographer, Rielle Hunter.

Andrew Young, a former confidante to John Edwards, has written a disclosing book expected to hit shelves this week. The former Senator from North Carolina confessed his paternity of Hunter’s child to Elizabeth this past summer. It is unknown when the Edwards officially split, however a close source revealed it happened a while ago. On separating, Mr. Edwards has called it “an extraordinarily sad moment, but I love my children more than anything and still care deeply about Elizabeth.” When he says he loves his children, does that include the illegitimate child he has denied fatherhood its whole life? Bottom line, he loves his children, but after 32 years of marriage he does not love Elizabeth. Mr. Edwards has four children with Elizabeth, and his love child with Hunter makes a whole handful.

Edwards has denied his paternity of the child for more than a year saying his affair with Hunter had ended before she became pregnant. Good story… tell it walking John. His future ex-wife has been prepared for a divorce for the better part of a year. However, Elizabeth is still undergoing treatment for breast cancer, therefore she has yet to file the divorce. A close source says her decision to file likely depends of her condition.

More updates to come from this husband/father of the year… stay tuned

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