ROUND 2: JONAS V. SWIFT

JOE JONAS HAS RESPONDED TO ALL THE THINGS TAYLOR SWIFT HAS SAID ABOUT HIM:

Over the last week or so, TAYLOR SWIFT has been taking shots at her ex-boyfriend JOE JONAS. First, she said he broke up with her via a 27-second phone call. Then she said that the reason they broke up is because Joe started dating actress CAMILLA BELLE behind her back. -

Well, Joe Jonas can be silent no more. He hit up the official JONAS BROTHERS blog yesterday to defend himself . . . and to make sure he wasn't losing any fans. First, he took on the cheating allegations. He said, quote, "I never cheated on a girlfriend. It might make someone feel better to assume or imply I have been unfaithful but it is simply not true. Maybe there were reasons for a breakup. Maybe the heart moved on. Perhaps feelings changed. "I am truly saddened that anything would potentially cause [our fans] to think less of me."

Then he tackled the issue of the phone call . . . quote, "For those who have expressed concern over the '27-second' phone call: I called to discuss feelings with the other person. Those feelings were obviously not well received. "I did not end the conversation. Someone else did. Phone calls can only last as long as the person on the other end of the line is willing to talk. A phone call can be pretty short when someone else ends the call. The only difference in this conversation was that I shared something the other person did not want to hear. There were later attempts at communication that had no response."

Joe finished up his blog with well-wishes for Taylor . . . whom, as you may have noticed, he never mentioned by name. He said, quote, "I wish the best for the other person but could not sit back any longer and leave our fans with a wrong impression of the truth."

(--There's more to it. Check it out here . . .) http://blog.myspace.com/index.cfm?fuseaction=blog.view&friendID=22191827&blogID=448843111

FUNNY VIDEO OF THE DAY

WHO SAID SENIORS DON'T HAVE A SENSE OF HUMOR!

Here's a pretty funny attempt by a senior citizens choir to sing Eminem's "Lose Yourself", Chamillionaire's "Ridin'", OutKast's "Hey Ya!", Pussycat Dolls' "Don't Cha", MC Hammer's "U Can't Touch This" and Nelly's "Hot In Herre". -- Although, I have to admit, it was a bit unsettling to hear them sing "Don't Cha"& to watch them take their robes off at the end!! LOL! - Enjoy!! - Nazzy

(--Note: "Lose Yourself" starts at :28; "Hey Ya!" starts at 1:29; "Don't Cha" starts at 3:09; "U Can't Touch This" starts at 3:40; "Hot In Herre" starts at 4:06. During "Hot In Herre", they disrobe and sing "I'm gonna take my robe off".)

MORE DATING ADVICE

SIX THINGS YOU NEED TO DO TO HAVE A GREAT FIRST DATE:

#1.) MAKE A BACKUP PLAN. The weather can change, restaurants can close, traffic can be horrible. So, make sure you have a backup plan ready in case something unexpected happens.

#2.) PLAN A SHORT DATE. The first date only needs to be one or two hours. If things go well, you can always extend it. But there's nothing worse than going on an all-day date and realizing five minutes in that it's a horrible match.

#3.) BE ON TIME. The worst thing you can do on a first date is show up late. So, get directions, and get there at least five minutes early.

#4.) DON'T OVER-COMPLIMENT. Say a few nice things, but don't go crazy. If you shower someone with too many compliments about their looks, brains, or sense of humor, you might come across as insincere.

#5.) DRINK RESPONSIBLY. Even if your date is drinking like a lush, take it easy. You can have a few drinks, but make sure you stay in control. A first date is NOT the time to reveal what you're like when you're drunk.

#6.) BALANCE TALKING AND LISTENING. Pay attention to how much time you're talking and how much time you're listening. If you feel like it's skewed one way or the other, try to balance it out. (Dating, Inc.)

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***FIVE THINGS TO AVOID WHEN BEING DUMPED***

Ladies, when you're on the receiving end of a breakup, you need to know how to handle it with dignity. If you don't, you'll end up with even lower self-esteem. So, if you get dumped, here are six things you should avoid . . .

#1.) DON'T TRY TO TALK HIM OUT OF IT. Breakups aren't court battles that you can win by coming up with a good argument. Even if you DO talk him out of it, it won't change the underlying problem.

#2.) DON'T BEG. If he's sticking to his guns, don't resort to begging. You're better than that. If you DO, he might stay . . . but he'll suddenly have ALL the power, and your relationship will never be the same.

#3.) DON'T MAKE A SCENE. He might dump you at a crowded restaurant . . . thinking you won't make a scene. But as much as it hurts, you should probably prove him right. Once you've calmed down, you'll be glad you handled it with class.

#4.) DON'T STEAL HIS FRIENDS. We're not talking about mutual friends . . . but if you're trying to steal his buddies away in a lame attempt to get even, it's just bad form . . . and trying to rebound with one of his friends is even worse.

#5.) DON'T GET REVENGE. If it's a particularly bad breakup, it's tough to hold back. But getting even with an ex will NOT help you move on with your life. Revenge will make you feel better at first, but remember . . .

--If he broke it off, HE'S the bad guy. If you do something lame to get back at him, then what makes you any different? (CNN.com)

TAYLOR SPEAKS

JOE JONAS MAY BE DATING ACTRESS CAMILLA BELLE:

TAYLOR SWIFT seems to enjoy telling people that it took JOE JONAS less than 30 seconds to break up with her by phone. Well, it sounds like it took Joe even less time to hook up with somebody new. The word is he's now dating actress CAMILLA BELLE.

Camilla was in the JONAS BROTHERS' "Lovebug" video. You may have also seen her in "10,000 B.C." or that remake of "When A Stranger Calls". She's 22 . . . Joe is 19. They met on the set of the "Lovebug" video.

Now, this relationship isn't being confirmed by anyone yet . . . except for Taylor Swift. --She tells "OK!" magazine, quote, "They've been together for months. That's why we broke up."

COOL PIX

CHECK OUT A COOL PICTURE OF A KITE SURFER WHO ALMOST LANDED ON TOP OF A WHALE:

Recently, a 42-year-old Australian named David Sheridan was out doing some kite surfing in the ocean . . . when he almost landed on top of a WHALE. But the coolest thing about it is that David . . . who is a photography teacher . . . managed to capture the incident on film with a camera that he'd mounted on top of his kite. (New York Post)

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HERE'S AN OVERHEAD SHOT OF SEVERAL TRUCKS PARKED IN THE SHAPE OF A TRANSFORMER:

I have no clue what the purpose of this was, but if you're into Transformers, you should check out this cool overhead shot of a bunch of trucks . . . which have been parked in the shape of a Transformer robot. (NotSoNoisy)(--I know, you're thinking, "Uh, what?")

DON'T STOP BELIEVIN'!

JOURNEY'S "DON'T STOP BELIEVIN'" IS THE TOP DIGITAL DOWNLOAD . . . AMONG SONGS RELEASED BEFORE THE DIGITAL ERA:

The British newspaper, "The Guardian", is reporting that the JOURNEY classic, "Don't Stop Believin'", has become the Internet's most-downloaded OLD song. Technically, they're refer to it as the top "catalog" track, which means that it's the best-selling song, on digital platforms . . . that was released BEFORE the digital era. (--The digital download era began, essentially, in 2003 . . . when the iTunes music store opened and "Billboard" began charting legal music downloads.)

"Don't Stop Believing" . . . which was released in 1981 . . . has surpassed the TWO MILLION download mark . . . and it's the FIRST old song to cross that threshold. (--The song has been available on iTunes since it launched, in April of 2003.) Downloads of "Don't Stop Believin'" surged BIG TIME last year, when it was INFAMOUSLY used in the final moments of "The Sopranos" series finale. (--In the three days following that episode, the song's sales on iTunes shot up 482%.)

HOW CUTE IS THAT

***VIDEOS OF THE DAY***

This live, 24-hour puppy cam is a big sensation on the Internet right now. Two million people have already checked out these five-week-old Shiba Inu pups.

Shiba Inu Puppy Cam

BY THE NUMBERS

THE AVERAGE MOM WILL SPEND $660 ON HOLIDAY GIFTS FOR HER KIDS:

Well, the holidays are here, and that's great news for kids . . . relatively speaking. According to a recent survey, 60% of shoppers say they'll spend just as much this year on Black Friday (--which is the day after Thanksgiving) as they did last year . . . and 9% say they'll spend even MORE than they did last year.

(--If you're doing the math, that only leaves 31% of people who say they'll spend LESS on Black Friday.)

But another survey found that the average mother plans to spend $660 on holiday gifts for her kids . . . which is about $50 LESS than last year. (--So what can you take from this, kids? You have to BEG and PLEAD with your mom to go shopping on Black Friday . . . when she's more likely to spend her cash on you. Otherwise, you might be left out in the cold on the toy front next month.) (PR Newswire)

YOU CAN DO IT!

HERE ARE SOME TIPS TO HELP YOU MAKE IT THROUGH THE WORKWEEK:

I don't know about you, but right around lunchtime on Monday . . . I start looking forward to the next weekend. Anyway, if you do the same thing . . . here are some tips to help you make it through the workweek.

--Monday: If you're having a hard time transitioning from the weekend to the workweek . . . you probably won't be very productive. But that's OK. Use Monday to make a plan for the upcoming week. Figure out what needs to get done, and what your priorities are.

--Tuesday: You have your plan . . . and now it's time to get rolling. Try to avoid distractions and anything that will slow down your momentum. Chances are this will be your most productive day of the week.

--Wednesday: Reassess your schedule. Look at what you've accomplished and what you still need to do . . . and make any necessary adjustments in order to make sure you accomplish everything that you really need to.

--Thursday: Go easy on yourself. Take a long lunch break or cut out of the office early in order to prepare for your final pre-weekend push.

--Friday: Leave some flexibility in your schedule so you can finish up any tasks you weren't able to accomplish earlier in the week. Also, spend some time getting organized so you'll be ready to rock again on Monday. (Yahoo HotJobs) (--In other words, the only day that you'll really accomplish any work . . . is Tuesday. LOL!! )

BRAD PITT GOT PUSHED BY HIS OWN BODY GUARD

BRAD PITT GOT MANHANDLED BY A SECURITY GUARD WHO WAS SUPPOSED TO BE PROTECTING HIM:

BRAD PITT attended a screening of his new movie, "The Curious Case of Benjamin Button" Monday night in Los Angeles . . . and there was minor chaos when Brad was manhandled by a security guard who was trying to protect him.

But as usual, there were hordes of paparazzi following Brad . . . and by the time he got to the theater, they were swarming to get inside. One of the security guards hired by the theater to watch over Brad grabbed him by the arm, spun him around and removed him from the situation. And according to witnesses, this guy was pretty aggressive and overzealous in handling his duties.

The guard hasn't been identified, but he did release the following statement . . . "We were told by Mr. Pitt's people that he was being followed by numerous paparazzi that ran a minimum of two red lights to keep up with Mr. Pitt. "When Mr. Pitt arrived at the theater approximately seven paparazzi bum-rushed the front door of the theater and began to rush inside. It's security's sole priority to protect the talent and I removed Mr. Pitt immediately from what could have been a potentially dangerous situation."

Brad apparently has no hard feeling toward the security guard OR the paparazzi. He told "People" magazine, "Though [the paparazzi] were exceptionally more aggressive than usual . . . breaking through a security barrier and into a private holding area . . . ultimately [it was] just another day in the life."

WOMAN TAKES A LIFESAVING PLUNDGE

A 45-FOOT PLUNGE OFF A HIGHWAY OVERPASS MIGHT HAVE SAVED A WOMAN'S LIFE:

On Monday, Shannon Goods of Sacramento, California, was driving down the highway with her 11-year-old daughter, Eryn, when another driver suddenly cut her off. Shannon swerved to avoid the other car, and her SUV rolled over several times . . . before crashing 45 feet over a highway overpass. Shannon and Eryn were extremely fortunate just to survive the accident. But it turns out the crash . . . might have actually SAVED Shannon's life. How? It seems that while Shannon's doctors were examining her shattered knee . . . they found a tumor.

(--Now, to be fair, Shannon's doctors don't know whether her tumor is malignant. But if it is, this is pretty wild, don't you think?) (CBS News 13 - Sacramento)

BARGAIN HUNTERS GUIDE

***FIVE SECRETS OF ONLINE BARGAIN HUNTERS***

Because of the economy, you're going to find a lot of great deals this holiday season. And a good way to save even more money is to do your shopping online. Here are five secrets that help online bargain hunters get the best deal possible . . .

#1.) SHOP SMALL AND SAVE ON TAX. Most small internet retailers are located in only one state and won't charge sales tax unless you live in the same state. Most websites list that information on their customer service or shipping page.

#2.) TAKE ADVANTAGE OF FREE SHIPPING. If you're buying something on a website that offers free shipping, take a minute and look around for more gifts to check off your list. Anything you can add without paying more for shipping is money saved.

#3.) BUY IN BULK. Wine glasses and drinkware are always good gifts, and they're also something you can buy in bulk at discounted prices. For the best deals, look for companies that sell to restaurants but don't have a minimum amount you have to order.

#4.) SIGN UP FOR E-MAIL SPECIALS. Sign up to receive special email offers. A company's e-mail list is essentially an online customer-appreciation program, and people who sign up almost always get the best offers available.

-And if you don't want to clog your personal email account with a ton of emails about special offers all year long, just setup a separate free email account, and use THAT address when you sign up.

#5.) SEARCH FOR COUPONS. If you find a great website but don't see any advertised deals, do a Google search for the store name and the word "coupon". And check blogs and chat rooms too. Savvy shoppers list a ton of coupon codes there. (Yahoo.com)

SEARCHING FOR A SOUL MATE?

***FOUR TYPES OF GUYS THAT MIGHT BE YOUR SOUL MATE***

To connect with a guy, it helps to figure out his personality type. Is he a control freak? A romantic? In some ways, men are easy to figure out. If you're trying to win over that special guy, here are four categories most men fall into, and advice on how to get them to fall for you.

#1.) THE SWEETHEART. He's usually a good listener and able to talk about his feelings. If you're looking for a thoughtful guy who understands your feminine side, he's probably your type.

--HE'LL LOVE IT IF YOU SAY . . . "I never noticed that before. You're so observant."

#2.) THE ROCK. He's organized, sensible, and prefers intelligent conversation. If you're looking for someone who will help you deal with your problems, he's your guy.

--HE'S READY TO HELP IF YOU SAY . . . "I could really use your advice about something."

#3.) THE DO-ER. If he's stressed out at work, he'll probably dive in headfirst until he gets everything done. He's a take-charge kind of guy who doesn't want to yap about his feelings.

--HE'LL LOVE IT IF YOU ASK HIM . . . "Is there anything you CAN'T make happen?"

#4.) THE THRILL SEEKER. He's outdoorsy and likes to travel. He's the life of the party, but he's unpredictable. If you're looking for a little excitement, you're probably interested.

--HE'LL LOVE IT IF YOU SAY . . . "You have the best stories. Tell me another one."(Yahoo.com)

JYY HERO OF THE WEEK (11-11)

TODAY'S HERO OF THE DAY IS . . . A PARROT???

Now it's time to hand out our "JYY Hero of the Week" award . . . to a PARROT named Willie. Seriously. Last Friday, Meagan Howard of Denver, Colorado, was babysitting a 2-year-old girl named Hannah Ruusk . . . when she heard her pet parrot, Willie, start to scream "Mama baby! Mama baby!" over and over. So Meagan ran into the next room to see what was wrong . . . and she found Hannah choking on a Pop-Tart.

Fortunately, Meagan was able to perform the Heimlich maneuver . . . and save Hannah's life. According to Meagan, "If [Willie] wouldn't have warned me, I probably wouldn't have come out of the bathroom in time because [Hannah] was already turning blue. Her lips were blue and everything." (--And that's why you, Willie the parrot, are the "JYY Hero of the Week". Congrats!) (CBS News 4 - Denver)

Check out the video here.. http://cbs4denver.com/video/?id=49140@kcnc.dayport.com&cid=93

THE KISS VIEWED AROUND THE WORLD!

THE NURSE WHO'S BEING KISSED IN THAT FAMOUS WORLD WAR TWO PHOTO WILL TAKE PART IN NEW YORK'S VETERANS DAY PARADE:

Are you familiar with that famous "Life" magazine picture of a nurse being kissed by a sailor in Times Square . . . after he's just returned home from fighting in World War Two? --Well, a 90-year-old woman from Los Angeles named Edith Shain claims she's the woman being kissed in the picture . . . and today, she's serving as Grand Marshal in New York's annual Veterans Day parade. (Yahoo News)

(--Check out the famous "nurse and sailor" picture, alongside a picture of Edith today. . .)

HOW TO PROPERLY FOLD THE FLAG

Display, Fold A Flag Properly

If you want to celebrate this holiday by displaying a flag, then contact your local veterans organizations and service organizations like the American Legion or Veterans of Foreign Wars.

The proper way to fold a flag includes folding the flag in half width-wise twice.

Fold up a triangle, starting at the striped end, and repeat until only the end of the union is exposed.
Then fold down the square into a triangle and tuck inside the folds.

Display Your Flag Properly

According to the flag etiquette Web site, here is the proper way to display a flag:

When the flag is displayed over the middle of the street, it should be suspended vertically with the union to the north in an east and west street or to the east in a north and south street.

The flag of the United States of America, when it is displayed with another flag against a wall from crossed staffs, should be on the right; the flag's own right and its staff should be in front of the staff of the other flag.

The flag, when flown at half-staff, should be first hoisted to the peak for an instant and then lowered to the half-staff position. The flag should be raised again to the peak before it is lowered for the day.

When flags of states, cities or localities, or pennants of societies are flown on the same halyard with the flag of the United States, the latter should always be at the peak. When the flags are flown from adjacent staffs, the flag of the United States should be hoisted first and lowered last. No such flag or pennant may be placed above the flag of the United States or to the right of the flag of the United States.

When the flag is suspended over a sidewalk from a rope extending from a house to a pole at the edge of the sidewalk, the flag should be hoisted out, union first, from the building.

When the flag of the United States is displayed from a staff projecting horizontally or at an angle from the window sill, balcony or front of a building, the union of the flag should be placed at the peak of the staff unless the flag is at half-staff.

When the flag is used to cover a casket, it should be placed so that the union is at the head and over the left shoulder. The flag should not be lowered into the grave or allowed to touch the ground.

When the flag is displayed in a manner other than by being flown from a staff, it should be displayed flat, whether indoors or out.

When displayed either horizontally or vertically against a wall, the union should be uppermost and to the flag's own right; that is, to the observer's left.

When displayed in a window, it should be displayed in the same way; that is, with the union or blue field to the left of the observer in the street. When festoons, rosettes or drapings are desired, bunting of blue, white and red should be used, but never the flag.

When carried in a procession with another flag, or flags, the American flag should be either on the marching right; that is, the flag's own right, or, if there is a line of other flags, in front of the center of that line.

The flag of the United States of America should be at the center and at the highest point of the group when a number of flags of States or localities or pennants of societies are grouped and displayed from staffs.

When displayed from a staff in a church or public auditorium, the flag of the United States of America should hold the position of superior prominence, in advance of the audience, and in the position of honor at the clergyman's or speaker's right as he faces the audience. Any other flag so displayed should be placed on the left of the clergyman or speaker or to the right of the audience. (WMUR.com)

EVEN PENGUIN'S LIKE STUFFED ANIMALS

CHECK OUT SOME PICTURES OF A PENGUIN THAT SHARES ITS CAGE WITH A STUFFED ANIMAL:

Recently, officials at the Living Coasts animal park in Torquay, England, noticed that a three-week old penguin named Pingu was being bullied and getting all its food stolen by one of its siblings. --So, to make sure it didn't starve to death, park officials removed Pingu from the penguin cage and gave it a cage of its own . . . along with a stuffed toy penguin for companionship. (Daily Mail)

(--You can take a look at Living Coasts' website here . . .)http://www.livingcoasts.org.uk/

HOW BIZARRE NEWS (11/10/08)

NO LIE: A WOMAN'S BRA ACTUALLY SAVED HER LIFE:

Last August, 26-year-old Vicky Parsons of Hull, England, was sitting in her parked car when a 14-year-old kid walked up, put a knife to Vicky's throat and told her to hand over her money. --Vicky says she swore at the kid and tried to push the knife away from her throat . . . but that just made the kid angrier. So he stabbed Vicky in the chest and took off running. But get this . . . when the kid stabbed Vicky, only the tip of the knife entered Vicky's chest because the serrated knife blade got caught on her bra's underwire . . . which prevented it from going in any deeper. --In other words, Vicky's bra actually saved her life. --Vicky was taken to the hospital and treated . . . and the boy who stabbed her has been convicted of assault with intent to rob and was sentenced to FOUR years in a juvenile detention facility. (Sun)

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A PILOT SUFFERED A STROKE AND WENT BLIND MID-FLIGHT . . . AND STILL MANAGED TO LAND THE PLANE:

Last week, a 65-year-old pilot named Jim O'Neill took off in his small Cessna airplane to fly from Scotland to southern England. --But about 40 minutes into the flight . . . at 5,500 feet in the air . . . Jim suffered a stroke and went completely BLIND. According to Jim, quote, "It was terrifying. Suddenly, I couldn't see the dials in front of me." --So Jim got on his radio, called for help and flew around completely blind . . . until a Royal Air Force pilot named Paul Gerrard was brought in to talk Jim through his landing. --According to a source with the Royal Air Force, it took a few attempts, but finally, on the third try, Jim was able to safely land the plane . . . just by following Paul's directions. --Jim has been in the hospital ever since the incident . . . and he says he's starting to get some of his sight back. (Yahoo News)

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A COUPLE IN THE U.K. WON A FREE WEDDING BECAUSE THE GROOM IS GOING BLIND . . . AND HE WANTS TO SEE HIS BRIDE IN HER DRESS:

Earlier this year, 35-year-old Paul Jenkinson of Pwllheli, Wales (--100 miles southwest of Manchester), and his fiancée, 36-year-old Angela Armstrong, won a free wedding from a bridal shop called Wedding Belles. --Anyway, in order to win the contest, Paul and Angela had to write an essay about WHY they deserved to win the wedding. --So Paul . . . who suffers from a rare eye disease which is causing him to go blind . . . wrote: --"When I proposed to Angela, I wanted us to marry quickly before I lost my eyesight . . . I don't know how long my sight will last . . . I just want to be able to see Angela in her wedding dress." (Daily Post)
Check out the photo of the lucky couple...

RIHANNA RAN OFF STAGE OVER THE WEEKEND

RIHANNA RAN OFFSTAGE CLUTCHING HER STOMACH AT A CONCERT ON THURSDAY . . . BUT SHE IS OK:

Last Thursday night, RIHANNA ended a gig in Sydney, Australia by running offstage clutching her stomach. -It happened during her last song of the night, "Umbrella", which she performed as a duet with (her boyfriend) CHRIS BROWN. In fan-shot videos online, you can see her hold her stomach . . . hunch over . . . and run offstage.

--But Rihanna's people say she's totally FINE . . . she was just a little winded. A rep says, quote, "It was very hot at the venue, so after Rihanna's set was over, she went off stage and needed to sit down, catch her breath and have some water. --"She is perfectly healthy and will be at her show [Saturday night in Sydney]." (--As of last night, there were no reports that Rihanna bailed on that gig. So, we're going to go ahead and assume it went on as planned.)

--For what it's worth, TMZ is reporting that there was an air-conditioning problem at the arena . . . and that is why it was so hot. (--Although . . . as you can see in the video . . . Chris Brown was wearing a SWEATSHIRT onstage.) -Rihanna's reps haven't elaborated any further . . . but one of the tour promoters told "The Sydney Morning Herald" that she DID collapse. He said, quote, "Rihanna experienced breathing difficulty and collapsed offstage. --"She received medical attention and has recovered. The problem seems to have been caused by a combination of overheating, dehydration and pyro[technic] smoke."