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.

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

Although Tiger Woods may be back in the fairway from the law, his personal life is still in the rough. He received a careless driving citation and four points on his driving record for his single car crash into a fire hydrant and tree. The Florida Highway Patrol has completed their investigation and Tiger is home free. Unfortunately for Tiger, that is not where trouble ends.

The same day his driving citation was issued, Mr. Woods released a statement regarding the recent events regretting his “transgressions”… err adulterous behaviors which have sparked a media whirlwind. John Daly is stoked because he may have just found himself a new Hooters wing man. Nike and Gatorade have both stated they are too heavily invested in Woods to cut his endorsements, and they are absolutely okay with Woods using their endorsements to pay some home wreckers off to keep their promiscuous mouths shut.

Even though his estimated worth is about a billion dollars, his current situation is reasonably undesirable. But who says money can’t buy love? For Tiger Woods anything has its price. He has reportedly offered his wife a seven digit Christmas present to withstand the union as well as renegotiated their prenuptial agreement. Americans and particularly sports fans are very forgiving to personal short comings and unless the big “D” is in Tiger’s near future the media will soon disperse. Especially when he attains his next victory on the Tour.

It is extremely disappointing for Tiger to be chalked up aside Kobe and the likes. However, with this notch on his belt, Tiger is now eligible to follow a career in politics if desired to do so. So if the intentions of his transgressions were political resume building, this media blitz has been a remarkable success.

…Because she loves meat so much!

In Palin’s newly released memoir, she has confessed her love for consuming meat. Her philosophy is that, “If God had not intended for us to eat animals, how come He made them out of meat?” This is a real excerpt from her book; she really wrote this. The intertextuality with Jessica Simpson and “Chicken of the Sea” is uncanny. At least Simpson did not pursue a career in politics. Ms. Palin then continues to say, ” there’s plenty of room for all Alaska’s animals– right next to the mashed potatoes.”

It is easy to laugh at the lack of intelligence in her statement, but the context in which she uses it is quite funny. Ms. Palin’s statement is poking fun at hosting a vegan for dinner at her home. She says, “I could whip them up a salad, then explain my philosophy on being a carnivore.” Most people can appreciate the humor, however she surely has angered a few PETA activists who “would rather go naked.” She continues, “I love meat… I eat pork chops, thick bacon burgers… But I especially love moose and caribou.” At least she didn’t say she likes to hunt and eat polar bear. She might, but she didn’t say it.

This Thanksgiving, Palin and her family will gather around a feast, celebrating gratitude, and she will be thankful that God made turkeys our of meat… so that we can eat them. Happy Thanksgiving to all!

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.

I will start by saying this - I LOVE MEAT. I eat it all of the time and have NO PROBLEM at all with eating meat. That being said this is a great ad that was banned by NBC and will not be shown on today’s Super Bowl broadcast. NBC rejected the video because of concerns over “rubbing pelvic region with pumpkin,” a woman “screwing herself with broccoli.” To funny! Enjoy the commercial. I did.

POLITICS:

The Best:

1. Obama, Obama, Obama. The country stepped up, proved it was only partially prejudice, and elected the best person for the job based on qualifications and charisma, and NOT color. No other story dominated the political landscape like this one and deservedly so.
2. Saturday Night Live: Any Sarah Palin or Keith Olbermann parody. Ben Affleck’s Olbermann was (more…)
   

You may have heard the story this past week about golfer J.P. Hayes. During a PGA Tour qualifying tournament last week Hayes voluntarily turned himself in for 2 separate rule infractions. This incredible honesty not only disqualified him from the tournament but also for a full time spot on the 2009 PGA Tour and potentially millions of dollars. NO ONE saw the rules infraction happen and NO ONE would have ever known if Hayes had not said anything. It is an incredible story.

In a nutshell and without getting all technical on the PGA golf rules, Hayes broke two different rules. First on the 12th hole he accidentally used a different model ball for two shots then he had used for the rest of the round. No one saw this. Once Hayes realized this rule infraction he voluntarily told officials and was penalized 2 shots for the error.

You would think this would be the end of the story and Hayes just received a two shot penalty and we all move on. BUT it did not end there. HOURS LATER (more…)