BLESS THESE TIRED FEET

A CHURCH IN ATLANTA OFFERS HOMELESS PEOPLE FREE PEDICURES:

Homeless people need a lot of things. I'm thinking the main thing would be . . . a HOME. But pedicures? Maybe not so much. Or so you might think. But according to Reverend Bob Book of the Church of Common Ground in Atlanta, Georgia . . . you'd be wrong.

That's why every Monday afternoon, Reverend Book and his wife, Holly, open up their church . . . and offer FREE PEDICURES to Atlanta's homeless. So why do they do it?

#1.) Homeless people are at much higher risk of developing foot infections or getting foot fungus . . . and regular pedicures can help stave off more serious health problems.

#2.) Scrubbing someone's feet mirrors Jesus' act of washing his disciples' feet in the Bible.
--Now, if you're wondering whether this is a way for the Reverend and his wife to convert a few more people to Christianity . . . according to Reverend Book, that's not the case. He says, quote, "Usually, the last thing I include is that they [should] find their way to Christ." (Yahoo News)

(--Check out a picture of the good Reverend giving a pedicure . . .)

BACK TO THE FUTURE

YOU CAN BUY A FLYING CAR (OR A "ROADABLE AIRCRAFT") FOR $194,000:

Admit it . . . you've always fantasized about owning a FLYING CAR just like in "Back To The Future"! Well now, thanks to a company called Terrafugia, you can buy the Transition . . . which is the world's first flying car . . . for just $194,000.

No, I'm not making this up. And, no, the Transition isn't one of those lame buggies with a parachute attached to it. It's actually a flying car. Or . . . as the people at Terrafugia like to call it . . . a "roadable aircraft". Check it out . . .

The Transition is basically a small, two-seater airplane . . . but its wings fold up so you can drive it as a car.

It has a top speed of 115 miles per hour . . . and it's capable of flying nearly 500 miles on a single tank of regular unleaded gas. So what's the catch?

Well, in order to fly the Transition, you need to have your sport aviation license. A sport aviation license is basically just like a regular pilot license . . . only you don't need nearly as much training or flying hours to get it.

Terrafugia has already received deposits on more than 40 Transitions . . . and they expect the first road-ready . . . and air-ready . . . crafts to be completed by next year. (Discovery Channel)

(--This thing is pretty sweet. Really. Do yourself a favor and check out the company website here . . .)http://www.terrafugia.com/

PRESIDENTIAL BEANIE BABIES

SASHA AND MALIA OBAMA HAVE THEIR OWN BEANIE BABIES:

It's undeniable that SASHA and MALIA OBAMA are cute kids. But do you know what's even cuter? Sasha and Malia Obama Beanie Babies.

Earlier this month, toymaker Ty Inc. unveiled two new additions to their "Ty Girlz Collection" of dolls . . . "Sweet Sasha" and "Marvelous Malia". But get this . . . the company is denying the dolls, who look African-American, were modeled after the Obama girls, and the only reason the names Sasha and Malia were chosen is because they're, "beautiful names".

According to a company spokeswoman, "There's nothing on the dolls that refers to the Obama girls. It would not be fair to say they are exact replications of these girls. They are not." (Google News)

So let me get this straight. Ty Inc. came out with two new African-American dolls with the exact same names as Obama's daughters just days before Obama took office . . . but the events are unrelated. What an UNBELIEVABLE coincidence!!!

(--Check out a picture of the "Sweet Sasha" and "Marvelous Malia" Beanie Babies . . .)

You can buy these dolls for $9.99 apiece here . . .)http://ty-girlz.ty.com/

DATING TIPS

***FOUR WAYS TO CATCH HIS EYE ON A DATE***

When you're on a date, it's important to be yourself . . . but it's also important to entice the guy you're on the date with. Nothing captures a man's interest like a confident woman, so here are four things you can do to project confidence and catch his eye . . .

#1.) LEAN IN. When two people talk over dinner, the table serves as a barrier that's usually not crossed. But if you DO break that barrier, dinner will be much more intimate. Tilt forward until there's only a foot or two between the two of you, and then lightly touch his hand.

--You might be nervous about bridging the physical gap, but it will actually ease the tension and let the date flow a little bit better.

#2.) LOWER YOUR VOICE. When a woman is turned on, her testosterone levels rise, and she naturally speaks in a deeper voice. That's why a low, husky voice is often considered sexy. It reminds men of sex. Plus, your voice is likely to be a little squeaky anyway if you're nervous.

#3.) TOUCH YOURSELF. Not like THAT. But when you touch your skin, men can't help but follow the path of your fingers. Plus, it'll have a soothing effect on you. During dinner, run your fingers over your shoulder or play with a necklace. Trust me . . . HE'LL NOTICE.

#4.) WALK IN FRONT OF HIM. Even as the date is wrapping up, you can still catch his eye. Men dig the thrill of the hunt. Walking a step or two ahead of him on the way to the car or to your door will make him subconsciously feel like he's chasing you.

--Plus, knowing he's checking out your backside will make you feel more desirable. (Cosmopolitan)

MORE OBAMA NEWS

BARACK OBAMA WORE A BULLETPROOF SUIT AT THE INAUGURATION:

Admit it . . . when BARACK OBAMA was being sworn in as president, it crossed your mind that someone might try to assassinate him. (Thankfully no one did!!) Well, it seems that thought occurred to the Secret Service too. That's why on inauguration day, Obama was wearing a BULLETPROOF SUIT. (Wired / CNN)

And he was also riding around in the new bulletproof Presidential limo made by Cadillac . . . which the Secret Service refers to as "the Beast". But if you watched even a little of the inauguration coverage, you probably already knew that.

So you know, no one's saying where Obama got his bulletproof suit, but there's a chance it came from Miguel Caballero . . . a Colombian designer who makes clothes capable of stopping a slug from a 9-mm revolver. Take a look here . . .) http://www.miguelcaballero.com/

(--We're not sure if the bulletproof suit was only for the inauguration ceremony, or if he wore them to the inaugural balls as well. But judging from the way he got down on the dance floor, we're thinking not. Check that out here . . .)http://www.cnn.com/video/#/video/politics/2009/01/21/vo.inaug.obama.boogies.cnn

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OBAMA RETOOK THE PRESIDENTIAL OATH LAST NIGHT . . . JUST TO BE SAFE:

You know how BARACK OBAMA and Chief Justice JOHN ROBERTS screwed up the presidential oath at the inauguration on Tuesday? Well, it seems some of Obama's people were worried about the legal ramifications the mistake could have on his presidency.

So in order to erase any doubt that Obama is LEGALLY the president of the United State, he retook the oath last night at 7:35 P.M. Eastern . . . and this time he nailed it.

According to a statement from the White House, quote, "We believe that the oath of office was administered effectively and that the president was sworn in appropriately [on Tuesday]. --"But the oath appears in the Constitution itself. And out of an abundance of caution, because there was one word out of sequence, Chief Justice Roberts administered the oath a second time." (Yahoo News)

(--Officially, the Constitution states that Obama became president at exactly noon on Tuesday . . . even though he didn't take the oath until five minutes PAST noon. So why even bother re-administering the oath?) (--Well, "an abundance of caution" is just another way of saying there are too many lawyers who would LOVE to get their hands on some government-funded billable hours in order to work this case for loopholes. Makes more sense now, right?)

MC-LIFER

A 72-YEAR-OLD WOMAN RETIRED FROM HER JOB AT MCDONALD'S AFTER 39 YEARS:

The fast food industry has a turnover rate of about 300%. That means in any given year, an average fast food restaurant will change over its entire staff about three times. So it's pretty incredible when you hear a story like THIS . . .

Last week, 72-year-old Nell Pierce-Boykin retired from her job managing a McDonald's restaurant in Morrow, Georgia. But get this . . . Nell got her first job at McDonald's back in 1970, and she's worked for the chain ever since. If you do the math, that means Nell worked for McDonald's for 39 years. (Clayton News-Daily)

If you're wondering how Nell was able to afford retirement in this economy, given that she works at a fast food restaurant, her son, Dwayne, won $750,000 on a Georgia State Lottery scratcher last month . . . so he hooked her up.

(--Check out a picture of Nell . . .)

HOW TO LOOSE LOTS OF WEIGHT

***FIVE SECRETS OF MAJOR WEIGHT LOSS***

There's no question that losing weight is hard, and keeping it off is even harder. But it's NOT impossible. The National Weight Control Registry lists thousands of people who have lost over 50 pounds and kept if off. Here are five secrets to help you do the same . . .

#1.) MAKE RADICAL CHANGES. People think SMALL changes in their diet are easier to stick with than DRASTIC ones. But it's just not true. Overeating is an addiction. You wouldn't tell an alcoholic to stay sober all week, then give him a cocktail as a reward, would you?

#2.) REPROGRAM YOUR BRAIN. Losing real weight means developing new eating habits . . . like reaching for an orange instead of an Oreo. The first 72 hours are the hardest, but then, the cravings start to subside and controlling your eating becomes more automatic.

#3.) EAT BREAKFAST. Without it, your body plunges into starvation mode, slowing your metabolism and tempting you to binge later. In fact, over 78 percent of people who have lost more than 50 pounds . . . and continue to keep it off . . . eat breakfast every day.

#4.) EXERCISE LIKE YOU MEAN IT. An evening walk every other day is refreshing, but if you're really trying to lose weight, it WON'T cut it. Ninety percent of people who lose major weight have to exercise for a full hour most days of the week.

#5.) STRETCH YOUR MIND. Stop living on autopilot. A study shows that people who push their comfort zones and try new things . . . like reading a different magazine or listening to new music . . . are more likely to lose weight and keep it off.

--Breaking out of your routine will make you more aware of your choices in general . . . and less likely to engage in mindless eating. (Psychology Today Magazine)

JYY HERO'S OF THE WEEK

TWO 8-YEAR-OLD BOYS PROTECTED A WOMAN FROM A GUNMAN . . . BY BEATING THE GUY WITH BASEBALL BATS:

Now it's time to recognize our "JYY Heroes of the Day". On Sunday, a woman from Gainesville, Florida was leaving her house with her 8-year-old son and his friend when her ex . . . a 29-year-old guy named Charles Bradley . . . snuck up and hit her over the head with a gun. (--The names of the woman and the two boys haven't been released.) It seems Charles was upset with the woman because he wanted to reconcile and get back together . . . but she wanted nothing to do with him.

Anyway, Charles stuck the gun in the woman's mouth and told her he was going to kill her. That's when the boys jumped to action . . . and started beating Charles with baseball bats until he ran off. Charles was arrested and charged with armed burglary, battery, aggravated assault with a deadly weapon, aggravated battery causing bodily harm, possession of a weapon by a convicted felon and obstructing justice. He's being held on $225,000 bail. (Gainesville Sun)

--And that's why you . . . baseball bat wielding 8-year-olds from Gainesville, Florida . . . are our JYY Heroes of the Day. Congratulations . . . and batter up!!!

LET THE FUN BEGIN

BARACK OBAMA AND CHIEF JUSTICE JOHN ROBERTS SCREWED UP THE PRESIDENTIAL OATH:

If you tuned in for the inauguration yesterday, then you must have noticed how BARACK OBAMA and Chief Justice JOHN ROBERTS totally screwed up the presidential oath during the swearing-in ceremony.

Obama was the first to get things off track when he started to say his name too soon. The oath was supposed to go "I, Barack Hussein Obama, do solemnly swear." But Obama jumped in and started to repeat after Roberts . . . before Roberts had even gotten to the "do solemnly swear" part.

Roberts continued, quote, "That I will execute the office of President to the United States faithfully". Obama started to repeat after him . . . but then he stopped, because he knew Roberts had messed it up. --The oath is supposed to go, quote, "That I will FAITHFULLY execute the office of President of the United States." Faithfully goes towards the beginning of the sentence, not at the end.

Anyway, after that, Obama and Roberts pulled things together, and the rest of the oath . . . all 18 words of it . . . went off without a hitch. (Yahoo News)

(Check out a video Obama and Roberts screwing up the presidential oath. . .)

Now, technically, Obama became president at noon, regardless of the swearing-in. And since the inauguration ceremony was running behind schedule, he was already president when it came time for the oath at 12:05.

I just think it's ironic that everyone bashes BUSH for his famous inability to speak, and Obama is supposed to be this master orator. Yet his first sentence as president was completely mangled . . . Oh well, guess it was just nerves.

Other than messing up the biggest part of the inauguration, did it also seem like Obama and Roberts were kind of uncomfortable with each other during the swearing-in ceremony? If so, there's a good reason for that . . . See, yesterday was the FIRST time a Supreme Court justice has sworn in a president who voted AGAINST him . . . When George Bush nominated Roberts for the Supreme Court in 2005, Obama was one of 22 Senate Democrats who voted against his confirmation. Maybe there's still some lingering ill-will between them?)

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GEORGE W. BUSH WAS BOOED AT BARACK OBAMA'S INAUGURATION:

Yesterday, while you were watching BARACK OBAMA'S inauguration, did you happen to notice that when GEORGE W. BUSH arrived at the swearing-in ceremony . . . he was booed? And then later, when he was on his way to Andrews Air Force Base, a bunch of people started chanting "na na na na, hey hey, goodbye!" (New York Times)

So why do I bring this up? It's not that I'm surprised people booed Bush, because I'm not. But I think it's tacky and rude to boo an outgoing president at an incoming president's inauguration . . . and it kind of bothered me.

I mean, look, maybe I've got as many problems with Bush as the next guy. But if there's one thing I know for sure, it's that you don't boo ANYONE who's just spent the last eight years serving their country, because that's wrong . . . right?

(--Check out a video of Bush getting booed here . . .)

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AT LAST!

As promised, BEYONCÉ sang the ETTA JAMES classic, "At Last", for BARACK and MICHELLE OBAMA'S first official dance as president and first lady. It was pretty tight.

(Check out another video here . . . http://jezebel.com/5135849/beyonce-brings-it-at-obamas-inaugural-ball-first-dance)

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NOW THAT'S A BIG HAT ARETHA!!

During BARACK OBAMA'S inauguration, ARETHA FRANKLIN performed "My Country, 'Tis of Thee", while wearing a hat with a GIANT BOW on it.

(--If you missed it, you can watch her performance here. . .)

GOOD HABITS

**FOUR STEPS TO STARTING A GOOD HABIT***

Breaking BAD habits is hard. Starting GOOD ones is even harder. Whether you want to exercise more often, start the perfect diet, or have more sexy time with your spouse, here are four steps that'll help you get in the habit of doing something good for yourself . . .

#1.) BE REALISTIC. The first step to doing anything consistently and successfully is to be realistic. If you want to start exercising three times a week, just start slowly. When you're not used to going to the gym, just getting there ONCE a week will be a challenge.

#2.) MAKE IT EASY ON YOURSELF. When you start a habit, you want to make it easy to incorporate it into your life. For example, if you're trying to do yoga every day, get a course on DVD, or sign up at a studio that's close to your house, not 20 miles away.

--Your goal is to get the habit going. Another yoga studio might have more classes and better teachers, but unless you get in the habit of going, none of that matters.

#3.) DO IT AT A REGUALAR TIME. Whether it's first thing in the morning or first thing after work, stick to a regular time. You won't ALWAYS have to do it at the same time, but being consistent NOW will help you make it part of your daily routine.

#4.) ACKNOWLEDGE YOUR FIRST LANDMARK. After a week or two, take a moment to recognize the success you've had . . . as well as any roadblocks you've encountered. If you've successfully incorporated a new habit into your life, GREAT.

--And if you haven't, then now is the time to make any necessary tweaks OR go through the steps again if you think you need to. (AskMen.com)

FUNNY VIDEOS OF THE DAY

OUCH!! THAT'S GOTTA HURT!!

#1.) This is the worst attempt at "polar-bearing" ever. A guy dives into a pond in the middle of winter . . . but forgets to check if the pond is frozen. He ends up smacking his head right into the ice.

(Search Terms: Polish Polar Bear Club video ice)

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ELEPHANTS LIKE SNOW???

#2.) These elephants romp around in the snow and even make elephant-sized snowballs by rolling them along the ground with their heads.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EwzaO8TQQUU
(Search Terms: elephants playing in the show video.)

WEIGHT LOSS TRICKS

***FACT OR FICTION: FOUR WEIGHT LOSS TRICKS***

It's hard to lose weight, and we're all constantly on the lookout for easier ways to shed some extra pounds. So, researchers recently tested four common weight loss tricks to find out what works and what doesn't. Here's what they came up with . . .

#1.) CHEWING GUM . . . FICTION. A lot of people think that chewing gum will distract them from thinking about food. But people who chewed more gum actually GAINED weight . . . one pound per month on average.

--The reason? For some people, chewing gum excites their taste buds and makes them crave food. But chewing gum also activates the salivating process in your mouth, which triggers the beginning of your digestion process . . . whether you've eaten anything or not.

#2.) USING SMALLER PLATES . . . FACT. People who down-sized their dishes actually LOST TWO POUNDS on average. And they didn't have to switch to TEA SAUCERS to see the effect.

--Just switching from 12-inch plates to 10-inch plates helped them eat 15-20% less, which translates to about 400 calories per day.

#3.) NEVER CLEANING YOUR PLATE . . . FACT. People who always left something on their plates LOST an average of TWO POUNDS per month. Even if that "something" was just two or three bites' worth, it still discouraged them from pigging out.

#4.) ALWAYS EATING A HOT BREAKFAST . . . FICTION. People who started each day with a hot meal actually GAINED ONE POUND per month . . . mostly because they tended to eat bacon, eggs and pancakes instead of healthier options like oatmeal. (NeverSayDiet.com)

PRESIDENT OBAMA NEWS

IN 1964, MARTIN LUTHER KING JR. PREDICTED WE'D HAVE A BLACK PRESIDENT "IN 25 YEARS OR LESS":

Today is a historic day as BARACK OBAMA is officially sworn in as the first black president of the United States.

So it's only fitting that yesterday, BBC World News America released a video clip of an interview MARTIN LUTHER KING JR. gave in 1964 . . . in which he makes a prediction about when the U.S. will elect its first black president.

In the video, Dr. King is asked by a reporter named Bob McKenzie about a comment made by ROBERT KENNEDY . . . that there could be a black president within the next 40 years. Dr. King responds, quote, "Well, let me say first that I think it's necessary to make it clear that there are Negroes who are presently qualified to be president of the United States, and many who are qualified in terms of integrity, in terms of vision, in terms of leadership ability. --"But we do know that there are certain problems and prejudices and mores in our society which make it difficult now. --"However, I am very optimistic about the future. Frankly, I have seen certain changes in the United States over the last two years that surprised me.

"I've seen levels of compliance with the Civil Rights bill, and changes that have been most surprising. So, on the basis of this, I think we may be able to get a Negro president in less than 40 years. I would think that this could come in 25 years or less." (BBC News)

(--You have to give it up to Dr. King for his foresight . . . not that he was EVER short on that . . . because even though he was a few decades off with his prediction, he was still pretty close.) (--You can check out video of MLK's prediction here . . . http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/programmes/world_news_america/default.stm)

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HERE'S A LIST OF PLACES THAT ARE GIVING OUT FREE STUFF TODAY IN HONOR OF OBAMA'S INAUGURATION:

Here's a list of places that are handing out freebies today . . . in honor of Obama's inauguration: -

-Dunkin' Donuts: You can get a Stars-and-Stripes donut for $0.44 with the purchase of a medium coffee or hot chocolate at participating shops in D.C. and other select markets.

--Krispy Kreme: You can get a free donut to celebrate your, quote, "freedom of choice." (???)-

-Starbucks: You can get a free Tall coffee from January 21st through the 25th if you sign a pledge to do five hours of volunteer work.

--TGI Friday's: You can get a free commemorative button, half-priced appetizers and specially-priced drinks starting at 11:00 A.M.

--MoveOn.org: You can get a free commemorative Obama sticker that's designed by Shepard Fairey . . . the dude who created the Obama "Hope" poster that everyone has up on their wall.

--"New Yorker" magazine: You can get a free commemorative copy of the magazine honoring Obama when you register on their website.

--And stores like Macy's, Saks Fifth Avenue and Dillard's are giving out $175 MILLION worth of free cosmetics today. (--Okay, that's actually because of a class-action lawsuit settlement, not the inauguration, but still . . . go get you some free stuff!! (Luxaholics)

HAIL TO THE CHEIF

THE TOTAL COST OF OBAMA'S INAUGURATION COULD BE OVER $150 MILLION:

Tomorrow's inauguration of BARACK OBAMA as the country's 44th president is set to make history . . . as the most expensive presidential inauguration ever.

The total cost of the inauguration could be over $150 million . . . including the actual inauguration, all the related parties and events, and all the transportation, logistics, and law enforcement required to deal with everything.

In other words, it's an estimate, so it could actually cost more . . . or less. The number's higher this year because crowds are expected to be bigger, and security is going to be tighter. --Something called the Presidential Inaugural Committee is spending $45 million to run the events surrounding the ceremony, including the parade, ten official inaugural balls . . . and $700,000 so the Smithsonian Institution can be open longer on Inauguration Day.

But all that money comes from private donations and selling merchandise, not from the government. The actual swearing-ceremony IS paid for by the federal government . . . meaning me and you . . . and it'll cost $1.24 million, which is $10,000 less than BUSH'S inauguration in 2005. The total cost to the taxpayer for everything ELSE associated with inauguration day could come in at around $49 million. That includes stuff like:

About $3.5 million for the construction of the platform in front of the Capitol and the rental of the chairs in front of the ceremony About $1.5 million to place the U.S. Capitol Police at events around the ceremony.

All the different law enforcement officials on duty, plus the Secret Service and the military personnel during the parade following the swearing-in ceremony. And increased transportation and law enforcement costs in both Virginia and Maryland. (--In other words, just like the bailout, EVERYONE'S got their hand out.) (CNN / Yahoo)

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TWO IN THREE AMERICANS WILL WATCH OBAMA'S INAUGURATION:

I'm sure you know that tomorrow is BARACK OBAMA'S presidential inauguration. But what I really want to know is . . . are you planning on watching the swearing-in ceremony?

I ask because, according to a recent survey, TWO in THREE Americans say they're going to tune in for the inauguration. That includes 85% of Democrats, 62% of independents and 49% of Republicans.

And while 63% of whites say they're going to watch the inauguration . . . 92% of blacks will. Overall, 43% of Americans say they'd attend the inauguration in person if they were given a ticket . . . while 56% say they wouldn't attend.

(--That leaves 1% who are, apparently, still unable to make up their mind one way or the other.) (Yahoo News)

NOW THAT'S A COOL CREDIT CARD

YOU CAN'T GET A CAPITAL ONE CREDIT CARD WITH A PICTURE OF NICK NOLTE'S MUG SHOT ON IT:

David Mackie . . . a 35-year-old salesman from Oklahoma . . . apparently has an AWESOME sense of humor. Unfortunately, the people at Capital One do not. David had the INGENIOUS idea of personalizing his Capital One credit card with a picture of NICK NOLTE'S immortal, 2002 DUI mug shot.

So he went online and submitted a design featuring the picture . . . and the image was APPROVED. The card was printed and sent to him . . . but just a few days later, somebody at Capital One caught the error.

It turns out that celebrity images are among the things Capital One won't let you have on your credit card. So they called Mackie and asked him to return the card. Sadly, he complied . . . but at least he got 50 bucks in credit from Capital One for his troubles.

It may have only been for a few days, but Mackie did briefly have THE COOLEST CREDIT CARD EVER. Here's a picture of it . . .

UNREADABLE WATERMELON CREATIONS

CHECK OUT SOME PHOTOS OF AMAZING WATERMELON CARVINGS:

If you're like me, then you appreciate a good watermelon carving. Now that we've established THAT . . . it's time to check out some insanely well-executed watermelon carvings.

- Seriously, these make the pumpkin carving photos that show up every Halloween look like child's play.)

(--To see the photos, head on over here http://www.moolf.com/interesting/watermelon-creations.html. . .)