Hot Mess

We've been so busy with the holidays, that we neglected to discuss the hot mess of LeAnn Rimes' appearance on "The X Factor" last week.  I must preface this with the fact that I'm cheering for LeAnn to rise above whatever demons are plaguing her.  She's been through a lot with her marriage and whatnot, but this incident is kind of tough to swallow.

LeAnn sang with 13-year old Carley Rose Sonenclar on the program last week.  The pair sang, "How Do I Live," the hit song LeAnn belted out back 1997--when LeAnn was 14 years old. Back then, LeAnn was amazing on the song.  Today... not so much.  Watch the video of the pair trying to mesh their voices together on it here:

I'd like to blame it on the arrangement, or the fact that perhaps this song was not intended to be done as a duet, but the fact remains:  LeAnn looks rough here and seems to be trying to out-sing Carley... and failing miserably.  
What are your thoughts?  Drop us an email!

Mayan Madness

Everybody's been buzzing about today being the "end of the world," because it was the last date on the Mayan calendar.  The Mayans apparently "knew" that the world would end because they never made a calendar that reached beyond December 21, 2012.

There have been plenty of naysayers to this theory of the Mayan calendar.  Some have proved that the actual "end" would have landed some seven months earlier--due to the Mayans not factoring in Leap Year.  Others have made biblical references and touted that the end would not be determined by a date on a tablet, but rather when God's plan dictates it as such.

So, what's the deal with the Mayan calendar just ending on December 21, 2012?  John posted the amusing cartoon above yesterday.  Quite frankly, tequila very well could have played a role in the incomplete calendar!  I know I've neglected to finish a project or two in my life, due to excessive "fun."

But I truly believe the real reason that the calendar just ended on today's date is due to a common problem that plagues people even today:  Kids who refuse to take over a family business.

Think about it.  Some Mayan family, that was entrusted to creating the calendars by which their civilization planned their daily lives, tried to pass the "business" down to their offspring.  And as is the case even today--kids have their own ideas of what they want to do.  I can almost hear the Mayan parents trying to convince their son to take over the calendar making business.

"Please, son!  It's such an important part of our daily lives!  This is our family business!  It will provide you with something positive to impact our civilization!"

"But Mom and Dad!  I really want to create an all-inclusive resort and build a fortune!"

And so--that's how paradise vacations in Mexico came to being and the calendar creation stopped--effectively fooling everyone into thinking that the world would end on this date.  True story.

Beautiful Tribute on "The Voice"

Did you watch "The Voice" on NBC last night?  They opened the program with a beautiful tribute to the victims of the Sandy Hook Elementary in Connecticut, with Leonard Cohen's "Hallelujah." Here it is, if you missed it:

Kelly Clarkson Engaged!   Tweets Ring

Kelly Clarkson, who has been dating Reba McEntire's step-son, Brandon Blackstock, announced their engagement over the weekend and tweeted a photo of her ring.  It's a big yellow canary diamond, surrounded by smaller white diamonds, as you can see in the photo here.
She wrote, "Brandon designed it with Johnathon Arndt!  They did an amazing job!  I can't wait to make Brandon's ring with Johnathon as well!"

No wedding date has been announced yet.  Maybe they happy couple will decide to tie the knot in Wisconsin, when she's here for Country JAM in July? Wouldn't THAT be awesome?

Do you know what I like best about the photo she tweeted?  Kelly doesn't have crazily manicured fingernails that look like claws, as so many other celebrities do.  She's such a down-to-earth person and that is a telling sign of that as well.

A Huge Night For Luke Bryan

Luke Bryan was the big winner at Fox's 3rd Annual American Country Awards last night. Luke captured nine awards at the event, including the top prize of Artist of the Year. Carrie Underwood added two more guitar trophies to her collection to bring her total to eleven, making her the most awarded ACA artist.  Miranda Lambert also captured more than one award, while Jason Aldean, Lady Antebellum, Little Big Town, Brad Paisley, and Lauren Alaina were winners as well.  The star-packed event also featured many musical segments.  Luke kicked off the ceremony with his current hit "Kiss Tomorrow Goodbye," while Jason Aldean, Lady A, Dierks Bentley, Jake Owen, Rascal Flatts, and host Kristen Chenoweth were also among those who entertained the audience.  In addition, host Trace Adkins teamed up for a song with Lynyrd Skynyrd, and Keith Urban shared the stage with young musicians from the Grammy Foundation's Grammy Camp. Here's a look at the major artist winners:
Artist of the Year: Luke BryanArtist of the Year-Male: Luke Bryan Female Artist of the Year:Carrie UnderwoodGroup of the Year: Lady Antebellum Breakthrough Artist of the Year: Jake OwenNew Artist of the Year:Lauren Alaina

Do Your Homework

Those are the words often said to school kids, who are struggling to stay on task with assignments.  Those words are also applicable to adults who perhaps are looking to make a major career change or even land a new account in sales, if that's their field of work.  Background information (ie. "homework") is always a good idea.

As a matter of fact, a criminal often does "homework" prior to embarking on his dirty deed.  That is, unless you're the stupid crook in the picture above.  Yeah, he didn't do his homework.  He broke into the home of boxer, Norm Houston.  You can read & see more about the story as reported by an Oklahoma City TV station HERE. 

(And for the record, we're not endorsing anyone partaking in any criminal activity--just making the point that preparation is important for many things.)

$500 Million! Now what do I do?!?

It certainly is the stuff of fantasy, isn't it? Tonight's PowerBall jackpot is going to be around $500 million. That's a half a billion dollars! Almost an inconceivable amount. I'm not sure how I'd start spending it, but I'd sure like to try, wouldn't you? Let's just say for a sec that you do win tonight. Then what? 

Well, the experts, including financial advisers and former jackpot winners, list some common sense ideas as the most important: 1) Set a budget and stick to it. 2) Invest wisely. 3) Learn to say no. 4) Be prepared to lose friends and even family members through guilt and mistrust. That would be a tough one wouldn't it? Family members and friends you never knew you had come out of the woodwork and try to guilt you into giving them money. There are even stories of total strangers showing up at winner's doors begging for a handout. Is it really worth all those millions? Probably, if you're smart. Get a  lawyer, and financial adviser, and a good accountant and tax expert. 

Oh, and don't forget to take me to lunch! After all, I am your long lost 3rd cousin on your mom's uncle's sister-in-law's side! For more info on what previous winners suggest, follow this link. And head over to our Facebook page to join the Jackpot discussion!