2008 TOP BABY NAMES

***THE TOP BABY NAMES OF 2008***

HERE'S A LIST OF THE TOP BABY NAMES FOR 2008:

Every year, a website called BabyCenter.com compiles a list of the most popular baby names. Here's a look at the TOP TEN baby names for boys and girls in 2008.

--The TEN most popular names for girls were:
#10.) Lily
#9.) Hailey
#8.) Addison
#7.) Madeline
#6.) Ava
#5.) Olivia
#4.) Isabella
#3.) Madison
#2.) Sophia
#1.) Emma

--And the TEN most popular names for boys were:

#10.) Matthew
#9.) Logan
#8.) Jack
#7.) Noah
#6.) Jackson

#5.) Caden
#4.) Jacob
#3.) Ethan
#2.) Jayden
#1.) Aiden (MSNBC)

(--You can check out a list of the 100 most popular baby names of 2008 here . . .)http://www.babycenter.com/top-baby-names-2008?intcmp=Nav_Global_babynaming_topnames

BELIEVE

73% OF AMERICANS BELIEVE IN HEAVEN . . . BUT ONLY 47% BELIEVE IN EVOLUTION:

I'm not trying to start a theological or philosophical debate here, but I'm going to lay down some statistics . . . which you can interpret any way you like.

--80% of Americans believe in G0d.

--75% believe in miracles.

--73% believe in Heaven.

--71% believe in angels.

--62% believe in H-E-double hocky sticks.

--59% believe in the devil.

--47% believe in DARWIN'S Theory of Evolution.

--44% believe in ghosts.

--36% believe in UFOs.

--31% believe in witches and astrology.

--And 24% believe in reincarnation.

(Market Watch)

NASTY

YOU CAN BUY PENCILS THAT ARE . . . PRE-CHEWED???

Are your kids constantly chewing on their pencils? If so, you might want to think about buying pencils that are already PRE-CHEWED. Seriously. A British company called Concentrate Design has just released a new line of pencils which are designed to look like they've been chewed on. According to the company, the logic is that if a pencil looks like it's been in someone else's mouth . . . kids won't want to put it in their own mouths, and that will prevent them from developing the disgusting habit.

(--So what have we learned today? If your kid does something you don't like, all you have to do is . . . manipulate them. It's so simple!) (Ananova)

(--You can buy a pack of pre-chewed pencils for $2.25 here . . .)

http://www.concentrate.org.uk/index.php?page=117

DATING IN THE WORKPLACE

***FOUR TIPS ON DATING A CO-WORKER***

If you're lusting after a co-worker, you're not alone. A recent survey found that 40% of us have dated someone at work. And there are a lot of office parties around the holidays . . . But, there are STILL rules. Here are four important tips for dating a co-worker . . .

#1.) TEST THE WATERS. Before you make a move, it's probably a good idea to find out whether the person you like has ANY interest in you. If the two of you have been hanging out in the office a lot lately, make a joke about how people probably think you're dating. If you get a positive reaction, then the coast is clear to try flirting some more.

#2.) DON'T GET BUSTED. Once you've gotten together, keep it quiet. If it turns out to be a two-week fling, nobody needs to know. And don't talk about it ALL THE TIME. If it's all you talk about, your co-workers will pick up on it quickly.

- Even if you're discreet, they'll probably catch on eventually . . . but there's no need to broadcast it right away.

#3.) DON'T ANNOUNCE IT AT THE HOLIDAY PARTY. If you both decide to go, DON'T use it as an excuse to let everyone in on your big secret. Making a dramatic announcement will just get more people talking. So be discreet.

- Keep your hands to yourself, don't get drunk and don't be attached at the hip all night.

#4.) KNOW WHEN TO COME CLEAN. Most companies are okay with dating unless it's between supervisors and subordinates. But they might have rules about WHEN you have to tell them. Once things are serious, tell your boss before they hear it from someone else.(Cosmopolitan.com)

SUPER BOWL SHUFFLE

ON THIS DAY IN HISTORY:

1985 - The "SUPER BOWL SHUFFLE", by the CHICAGO BEARS SHUFFLIN' CREW, was released!!!

(--For those of you feeling nostalgic . . . enjoy the "Super Bowl Shuffle" again. .)

LEAP SECOND?

THERE'S GOING TO BE A "LEAP" SECOND ON NEW YEAR'S EVE:

You know how every four years we tack on an extra day at the end of February? That's right . . . leap year. Well, the reason we have leap year is because it takes the Earth a little bit more than 365 days to travel around the sun. In fact, it takes the Earth exactly 365.2422 days to travel around the sun. But since a year is only 365 days long, we have to add an extra day every four years to fix the calendar.

Anyway, the same principle applies to Earth's rotation. Every now and then, we have to add a "leap second" to keep our clocks correct. So why am I bringing this up? Because on New Year's Eve, a leap second will be added to the clock just before 7:00 P.M. Eastern. (Live Science)

KEEP YOUR KIDS HEALTHY

***FIVE BAD HABITS THAT GET YOUR KIDS SICK***

It's nearly impossible to get through the holidays without having to deal with sick kids. If there's a bug out there, they'll probably catch it. Still, there are some things you can do to keep them healthy. Here are five main reasons kids get sick each year . . .

#1.) THEY DON'T WASH THEIR HANDS. Teaching your kids to wash their hands is the best way to prevent colds and the flu. Kids are constantly picking up germs, so washing up as much as possible will drastically reduce their risk of getting sick.

#2.) THEY'RE NOT VACCINATED. There's no vaccine against the common cold, but most kids that are six months and older should get a flu vaccine every year. And often, it's free at your local flu shot clinic.

#3.) THEY DON'T USE TISSUES. If one kid's sick, they'll probably all be sick soon. That's why it's important to teach your kids that they should always use a tissue when they cough or sneeze. Then, tell them to throw the tissue away immediately.

If a tissue isn't handy, the American Academy of Pediatrics says kids should cough or sneeze into their BENT ARM. It's less likely to come in direct contact with another child.

#4.) THEY DON'T THINK ABOUT GERMS. You know why you need to avoid certain behaviors, but kids don't truly understand why it's important. So be picky. Tell them to stop biting their nails, picking their nose, and sucking their thumb.

#5.) THEY SHARE. You taught your kids well. They're good at sharing . . . but around the holidays, that's NOT always a good thing. Make sure your kids don't share things like drinks, utensils, toothbrushes or towels. If you don't look out for them, no one will. (iVillage.com)

ONE LUCKY CAT

A CAT IN MASSACHUSETTS HAD SURGERY TO REATTACH ITS FACE:

Last week, a female cat named Edgar went missing for three days from its home in Winthrop, Massachusetts (--just north of Boston). But when Edgar finally returned home, part of her face was literally DANGLING OFF HER HEAD.

It seems that at some point while she was missing, Edgar climbed under the hood of a car to stay warm . . . and was injured by the engine's fan belt.

Anyway, Edgar's owner rushed her to a veterinary clinic in Boston and yesterday, and the vet successfully reattached her face. (Yahoo News)

(--Take a look at Edgar . . . whose injury required 35 stitches . . . .)

BATMAN GET'S A TICKET

CHECK OUT THE BATMOBILE GETTING A PARKING TICKET:

Warner Brothers shipped the Batmobile over to the UK to promote the DVD release of "The Dark Knight". Somebody parked it illegally outside a TV studio in London . . . and the Batmobile ended up with a parking ticket on the windshield. --Check out the pics . . . they're pretty amusing . . .

ONE TUFF PRIEST

A PRIEST CHASED DOWN A THIEF WHO STOLE TWO BAGS OF MONEY FROM HIS CHURCH:

On Sunday, 48-year-old Reverend Bill Hegedusich was getting ready for morning mass at St. Peter's Parish in Washington, D.C., when he heard someone enter the church. At first, Reverend Hegedusich didn't think too much of it . . . until he heard the door on the church's unlocked safe rattle. So the reverend went to see what was going on . . . and he found an unidentified thief stealing two bags of money.

Anyway, Reverend Hegedusich exchanged a few words with the thief . . . before the guy took off running. But Reverend Hegedusich . . . who runs regularly . . . took off after him, and after a few minutes the reverend was right on the guy's tail. So Reverend Hegedusich started yelling at the thief to give the money back, and the guy dropped one of the bags of money . . . which had about $60 in it . . . and was to be donated to the poor.

According to the reverend, the man probably made off with about $125 . . . and the police haven't arrested the thief yet. (--Still, good for you, Reverend Hegedusich.) (Washington Post)

HOLIDAY CHARITIES

HERE ARE TEN CHARITIES YOU CAN DONATE TO THIS HOLIDAY SEASON:

I know . . . times are tough right now. But if you're committed to donating to charity this holiday season, we tracked down a list of TEN great causes you can give to . . . according to a charity watchdog group called Intelligent Giving.

(--You can check out Intelligent Giving's list of the ten best charity holiday gifts here . . .)http://www.intelligentgiving.com/articles/features/the_best_charity_christmas_gifts

(--And here's another organization that evaluates American charities . . .)http://www.charitynavigator.org/

(--Want to know if you can get a tax write-off for your charitable donation? You can check out the requirements to write off a donation here . . .)http://www.soyouwanna.com/site/syws/charity/charity5.html
(Daily Telegraph)

A LIVE NATIVITY SCENE

DO YOU NEED TO RENT SOME CAMELS FOR YOUR LIVE NATIVITY SCENE???

If you ask me, there's no nativity scene . . . like a LIVE NATIVITY SCENE (--which means the animals and characters are actually alive). Fortunately, there are all kinds of places where you can rent live camels . . . or a few sheep and goats if you're strapped for cash. (Milwaukee Journal-Sentinel)

(--So how much will an animal rental set you back? Camels can run as much as $500 to $700 a day . . . after you factor in the cost of a handler and liability insurance. But you can snag a couple goats and sheep for only $25 to $250 a day.)

(--You can rent a camel or other Nativity-appropriate animals here . . .)http://www.hiviewfarms.com/livenativ.htm

http://randpcamelcompany.com/

http://www.zebrasandzorsesunlimited.com/camel_rentals.htm

http://www.giddyupponies.com/

THE NAME GAME

WOULD YOU LIKE TO NAME A NEW BAT OR TURTLE SPECIES???

Are you stumped on holiday gift-giving ideas already? How about naming a new BAT or TURTLE species after a loved one? I only ask because a professor at Purdue University named John Bickham has discovered SEVEN new bat species and TWO new turtle species . . . and, as of yesterday, he's auctioning off the naming rights.

According to Professor Bickham, some of the money raised in the auction will go to cover work needed to describe the new species' according to scientific protocol . . . and the rest will help preserve the natural areas where the animals were discovered.

The winning bids will be announced just before Christmas. (Star Press)

(--If you're thinking about placing a bid on the naming rights, but you'd like more information first, you can get that here . . .)http://www.purdue.edu/dp/environment/species/

(--You can place a bid on the naming rights by contacting a woman named Betsy Liley at Purdue University at 765-494-0520. Or email Betsy at ELiley@Purdue.edu.)

BYE BYE BUSH

THERE'S A WEBSITE WHERE YOU CAN LEAVE A THANK-YOU NOTE FOR PRESIDENT BUSH:

Love him or hate him. Geroge W. Bush has served his country for the past 8 years.

How would you like to thank PRESIDENT BUSH for his eight years of service to our nation? If so, you should check out a website called ThankYouPresidentGeorgeWBush.com . . . where you can sign a letter of thanks to Dubya for all he's done during his time in the White House. (Digg)

(--You can thank President Bush here . . .) http://www.thankyoupresidentgeorgewbush.com/

HOW BIZARRE NEWS (12/08/08)

PEOPLE WHO ATTEND BARACK OBAMA'S INAUGURATION WILL HAVE JUST OVER ONE SQUARE-FOOT OF SPACE TO STAND IN:

Are you thinking about attending BARACK OBAMA'S inauguration ceremony on January 20th? If so, you might decide to stay home after hearing THIS . . . According to estimates, about 5 MILLION Americans will attend Obama's inauguration ceremony at the National Mall in Washington, D.C. Now, the National Mall is only about 146 acres . . . or about 6.36 MILLION square feet.

So, if you divide the number of square feet in the National Mall (--6.36 MILLION) by the number of people planning to attend the inauguration (--5 MILLION), that leaves each person with about 1.27 square feet to stand in . . . which is about the size of your shoes. (--In other words, it's going to be extremely cramped and you're not going to have any space . . . so you might just want to stay home and watch the inauguration on TV.) (MyFox - Washington, D.C.)

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BARACK OBAMA SAYS HE WON'T SMOKE IN THE WHITE HOUSE:

You might have heard that BARACK OBAMA is a smoker. Or that he was . . . and he's trying to quit. Either way, Obama promised yesterday in an interview on "Meet the Press" that he will NOT light up inside the White House. Obama said, quote, "There are times when I've fallen off the wagon. [But] I've done a terrific job, under the circumstances, of making myself much healthier. And I think that you will not see any violations of the [no-smoking] rules in the White House." (Google News)

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YOU'RE 34% MORE LIKELY TO BE HAPPY IF YOUR NEXT DOOR NEIGHBOR IS HAPPY:

You might think that YOU are in control of your own happiness. But according to a new study from Harvard Medical School . . . you're NOT. Researchers analyzed information on the happiness of nearly 5,000 people over 20 years. What they found is that you're 34% more likely to be happy . . . if your next door neighbor is happy. And if a friend who lives half a mile away is happy . . . you're 42% more likely to be happy.

A guy named Dr. Nicholas Christakis led the study. He says, "Your happiness depends not just on your choices and actions, but also on the choices and actions of people you don't even know who are one, two and three degrees removed from you. --"Emotions have a collective existence. They are not just an individual phenomenon." (--In other words, your overall mood is affected by a bunch of people . . . that you might not even LIKE all that much. How much does that stink?) (New York Times)

GOOD ADVICE

***FIVE TIPS TO HELP DEAL WITH YOUR EX SPOUSE, AND FOCUS ON THE KIDS, DURING THE HOLIDAYS ***

The holidays are here again, and for some parents that means divvying up time with the kids . . . and butting heads with the ex. If you have to share your kids for the holidays, here are five tips to help make sure things go as smoothly as possible . . .

#1.) ALWAYS PUT THE KIDS FIRST. The holidays should make your kids happy, not stressed out. So remember to stay focused on THEM. Mixing family drama with the holidays might seem like the norm, but it's never healthy for children.

#2.) HAVE A CONVERSATION. You won't look forward to it, but a phone call with your ex might be appropriate. If you'll be spending a lot of time picking up and dropping off the kids, then get organized NOW. You'll avoid a lot of problems down the line.

#3.) DON'T BADMOUTH EACH OTHER. It's okay to vent, but don't do it around the kids. It's not fair to them or your ex. Everything you say about each other will stay with them . . . and it might affect them more than you think.

#4.) PUT YOUR GRUDGES ON HOLD. Or at least try to. Even if you don't like the other person, you can still be polite. You're more in control if you take the high road, so don't bring up past mistakes if you know it'll just cause a fight.

#5.) RESPECT EACH OTHER'S TURF. If you go to different churches or have different holiday traditions, try to find a compromise. The holidays bring families closer together, so make sure that you AND your ex have a chance to bond with the kids. (Yahoo.com)

DENIED BY KEVIN!

KEVIN JONAS IS *NOT* LEAVING THE JONAS BROTHERS:

CRISIS AVERTED!!! KEVIN JONAS is NOT leaving the JONAS BROTHERS. Last week, the "Star" tabloid started a stupid rumor that Kevin was planning on leaving to go solo, and forge a more "adult" career. In a recent MySpace blog, the Jonases said the rumor was BOGUS . . . quote, "There is a rumor that one of us is leaving [the] group. Not true. We love what we are doing and hope to do it together for a long time."

But while Kevin is NOT breaking the hearts of COUNTLESS teenage girls . . . he did, presumably, break one girl's heart. At a recent show, Kevin skillfully eluded some crazy girl's attempt to run up and KISS him. Here's video of the rejection . .