A Pregnant Man | Looking for Love | Sagging Pants

Today's Odd and Offbeat is about a pregnant man, a single mom, and boys' high fashion.


A Pregnant Man Soon to Give Birth

When initially we came upon the story we thought it was a hoax, a publicity stunt for some kind of product or service, or maybe an upcoming book. But it's a true.
Thomas Beatie, born Tracy Lagondino, shocked the world earlier this year when he announced he was pregnant, despite undergoing a sex change operation a decade ago.

Then 24-year-old, Mr. Beatie had his breasts removed and began taking testosterone. However, he opted to kept his female reproductive organs because his wife Nancy had a hysterectomy and the couple hoped to one day have children.

Watch Thomas Beatie's TV interview on Oprah in April.


Looking for Love in All the Wrong Places. Maybe.

Only desperation it would seem could drive a 42-year-old single mother to sell herself as part of a real estate deal to off load her house. But that's what Deven Trabosh is doing in an ad offering her home and herself for sale in South Palm Beach Gardens FL.

"I figured let's combine the ad because I'm looking for love and I'm looking to sell the house," said, Ms. Trabosh, in an interview with local media. Total cost for her and the house: $500,000.

But there's a silver lining. Mr Trabosh is willing to deal. If you don't want her, you can still purchase the house for $350,000. Good luck, Ms. Trabosh.


Sagging Pants: It's a Generational Thing

Why can't the explanation of young boys wearing cinched pants simply be this generation's way of expressing themselves. Lest we forgot how boys and young men expressed themselves in past decades.

For more on this this pop culture subject, here are few sites you may want to visit:
Low is Hip to Them
Sagging Pants
NY Times video

Remembering a Fallen Marine on Independence Day

When 2nd Lt. James Cathey's body arrived at the Reno Airport, Marines climbed into the cargo hold of the plane and draped the flag over his casket as passengers watched the family gather on the tarmac.


Major Steve Beck described the scene as so powerful: 'See the people in the windows? They sat right there in the plane, watching those Marines. You gotta wonder what's going through their minds, knowing that they're on the plane that brought him home,' he said

'They will remember being on that plane for the rest of their lives. They're going to remember bringing that Marine home. And they should.'

Do You Know Your Antique Cars?

Do you know your antique cars?






Which car is it:

• 1954 Dodge Firearrow
• 1951 Buick LaSabre
• 1953 Buick Wildcat

Click here >> I know the year, make and model.

A No-Hit Game for the Record Books

A No-Hitter for the Record Books


From sandlot ball to the big leagues, pitching a no-hit game is the ultimate dream of every pitcher when they take the mound. A no-hitter gives a pitcher a special claim on the game that few can boast.

But for Los Angeles Angels pitchers Jered Weaver and Jose Arredondo, who combined on June 29th to no-hit the Los Angeles Dodgers, there pitching performance was more like the ultimate pitchers' nightmare and placed them is a very special and rare category.

It's one of the most difficult accomplishments for a pitcher to achieve in major league baseball. In fact, so hard is the achievement that it has happened before only five times since 1900.

What happened that placed these pitchers in such rarefied company? The Angels lost the game 1-0 despite the two pitchers allowing the Dodgers no hits in the game. A no-hitter!

How did the lone run score?
In the fifth inning Weaver bobbled a come-backer to the mound by Dodger Matt Kemp. He's safe at first base. Kemp steals second base and proceeds to third base on a throwing error by the catcher. Kemp scores the lone run of the game on a sacrifice fly.

A disappointed Weaver gets tagged with the loss. And both he and Arredondo will forever be in the record books of Major League Baseball.

A tough break, indeed.

A fine pitcher Weaver is, so he'll no doubt turn the page and dream about another day when the baseball gods will look upon him with more favor.

Who Will Replace Tim Russert? The Search is On

Who Will Replace Tim Russert? The Search is On



The loudest media buzz heard these days in the upscale cafes of Washington D.C. is who will be Tim Russert's replacement on Meet the Press.

The buzz actually started during Mr. Russert's memorial service when Tom Brokaw, the former anchor of NBC Nightly News, said, jokingly, that the Kennedy Center (the site of the memorial service) was filled with people interested in the job.

He was right.

The most prominent names being buzzed about include three current staffers of NBC News: David Gregory, Andrea Mitchell and Chris Matthews. Of much lesser mention is Kieth Olbermann.

David Gregory, the network's White House Correspondent, is too much of a partisan and his disdain of Republicans - and President George Bush, in particular - is evident in just about every one of his reports, or when he offers commentary.

Andrea Mitchell, an anchor, reporter and commentator, is likely to make the short list. She's very well connected in Washington circles, extremely knowledgeable with a command of the issues, has many years of experience, and her demeanor on the TV screen is authoritative.

Chris Matthews, host of MSNBCs Hardball with Chris Matthews, is too narcissistic to be a credible consideration, and his interview style is completely opposite that of Mr. Russert.

But we're placing a bet that NBC News will go outside to secure the next host of Meet the Press. Enter two viable candidates from Fox News: Brit Hume, anchor of Special Report and Chris Wallace, host of Fox News Sunday.

Fortunately for NBC executives, Mr. Brokaw as agreed to serve as interim host of Meet the Press, at least through the 2008 Presidental Election, giving them some breathing space to conduct a comprehensive and thoughtful search.

Laura Ingraham or is it Bill O'Reilly in Drag?

Laura Ingraham or is it Bill O'Reilly in Drag?

Laura Ingram is one very smart woman. We've seen her often as a guest commentator on nationally aired political talk shows and we occasionally listen to her radio program. Ms Ingraham's knowledge of important issues combined with a conservative point of view has risen her to national prominence. Ms Ingraham is also a Fox News contributor. She's even substituted for Bill O'Reilly on The O'Reilly Factor.

And, now, Ms. Ingraham has her own show on Fox News called "Just in". But the show has some problems, particularly if you are not a fan of Bill O'Reilly or believe that interviews should be fair and balanced.

As a radio talk show host, she of course does most of the talking and, as you might expect, espouses her position quite forcefully. The callers to the show - always screened in advance - generally speaking are sympathetic to Ms Ingraham's worldview. However, as a TV talk show host things are a bit different.

Just in has been on the air now for two weeks and clearly needs major retooling. Listen and watch closely and you might even think its Bill O'Reilly in drag. Like Mr. O'Reilly, its all about her, her position, her viewpoint - - nothing else matters except her. The guests on the show are merely props to advance her position. Furthermore, Ms. Ingraham has been rude and dismissive of guests who do not share her opinion. Her body language emits an elitist attitude. Ms. Ingraham is so much like Mr. O'Reilly that on a program she used an "O'Reilyism" elitist phase, saying to a guest she verbally thrashed that he was "a stand up guy for coming in."

"Laura Ingraham: Right-Wing Radio's High Priestess of Hate" is the title of a post by Rory O'Connor, AlterNet Books, as part of a book review of Shock Jocks: Hate Speech and Talk Radio by Rory O'Connor with Aaron Cutler. "Shock radio host Ingraham is a master of sounding funny and appealing while dishing out the same hate speech as Sean Hannity," is the sub-head of the post.

With regard to Just in, we do not believe Ms. Ingraham engages in hateful rhetoric nor is in any way do we believe she is a hateful person. We think she's just an inexperienced interviewer.

The Fox News mantra of "fair and balanced" needs to be placed in her incoming mailbox as required reading. And she may want to take a page out of Tim Russert's interview play book and make the focus of Just in the guests rather than her.

The Fox News website offers no promotional reference or link to her show. We understand Ms Ingraham is contracted for ten weeks over the summer. To catch her show, you'll have to check your local listing. In New York, it airs at 5:00 PM.

We like Ms Ingraham and hope she reads the fair and balanced doctrine of Fox News. If she embraces it and, equally importantly, ceases to emulate Bill O'Reilly's it's-all-about-me style, Ms Ingraham is likely to have a very long and successful career in television.

Oh My God! Look At Those Gas Prices

You might remember when this accident happened in California a few years ago. A Southwest Airlines flight from Las Vegas overshot the runway at Burbank.The plane smashed over the airport fence, careened across the street and ended up with a collapsed landing gear, right next to this gas station.

So Which Presidential Candiate Has More Assets?: Featured Cartoon by Lisa Benson

America in 2065

America in 2065

I arose this morning as usual full of optimism about what the day may bring. Following my daily routine, I made a pot of coffee, retrieved the newspaper from the driveway and clipped a cigar for my morning's bad habit while I read the news on the back porch.

I am in a particularly upbeat mood this morning in anticipation of a weekend visit with my 3-1/2 year old grandson, Alan.

As I leafed through the pages I began reading alot of disconcerting and troubling stories and news reports about the many challenges Americans are now facing. I couldn't help but ponder what kind of world will Alan be living in when I'm gone. What will Alan's world be like when he reaches my age, 60, in 2065?

Will American soldiers be out of Iraq? What will be the price of gasoline? How about the cost of a loaf of bread? Will America be energy independent? What will it cost to purchase a new home? What countries will be armed with nuclear weapons? Is there peace between Israel and the Arab countries that want remove it from the face of the earth? Will the DOW be 25,000? By 2065, will America still be the envy of the world?

No one knows the answers to these questions, of course. But I suspect Alan and your grandchildren, too, will do just fine.

What if the 1944 D-Day Invasion Were Reported by the 2008 Media

What if the 1944 D-Day Invasion Were Reported by the 2008 Media

Journalists today have a lower approval rating then members of congress; journalists also have higher negatives then our esteemed elected officials in Washington. Such is the state of the profession once so highly thought of by most Americans.

When you think about the scandals endured by the New York Times, Newsweek, CBS News and so many other media outlets, its no wonder the media ranks so low. A good deal of criticism deals with the media never taking the high road - - always bashing, rarely reporting the positive events that take place.

A website visit to Accuracy in Media, a not-for-profit organization, will leave you breathless when you find out about extraordinary amount of misinformation we receive on a daily basis. Accuracy In Media is a non-profit, grassroots citizens watchdog of the news media that critiques botched and bungled news stories and sets the record straight on important issues that have received slanted coverage.

The Iraq war is a good example. Body bags make page one or the lead story on the network news. But rarely, if ever, do we read about the good deeds American solders are doing, or the fact the surge is working.

The below story is a fictional account of D-Day. It was written as if it were it to being reported by today's biased media. It was sent to me by a military retiree; the author is unknown.

D-Day
(If the D-Day Invasion Were Reported by Today's Media)
-by Author Unknown


June 6, 1944. -NORMANDY, FRANCE- Three hundred French civilians were killed and thousands more wounded today in the first hours of America's invasion of continental Europe. Casualties were heaviest among women and children. Most of the French casualties were the result of artillery fire from American ships attempting to knock out German fortifications prior to the landing of hundreds of thousands of U.S. troops. Reports from a makeshift hospital in the French town of St. Mere Eglise said the carnage was far worse than the French had anticipated and reaction against the American invasion was running high. "We are dying for no reason," said a Frenchman speaking on condition of anonymity. "Americans can't even shoot straight. I never thought I'd say this, but life was better under Adolph Hitler."

The invasion also caused severe environmental damage. American troops, tanks, trucks and machinery destroyed miles of pristine shoreline and thousands of acres of ecologically sensitive wetlands. It was believed that the habitat of the spineless French crab was completely wiped out, threatening the species with extinction.

A representative of Greenpeace said his organization, which had tried to stall the invasion for over a year, was appalled at the destruction, but not surprised. "This is just another example of how the military destroys the environment without a second thought, " said Christine Moanmore. "And it's all about corporate greed."

Contacted at his Manhattan condo, a member of the French government-in-exile who abandoned Paris when Hitler invaded said the invasion was based solely on American financial interests. "Everyone knows the President Roosevelt has ties to big beer," said Pierre LeWimp. "Once the German beer industry is conquered, Roosevelt's beer cronies will control the world market and make a fortune."

Administration supporters said America's aggressive actions were based in part on the assertions of controversial scientist Albert Einstein, who sent a letter to Roosevelt speculating that the Germans were developing a secret weapon, a so-called "atomic bomb." Such a weapon could produce casualties on a scale never seen before and cause environmental damage that could last for thousands of years.

Hitler has denied having such a weapon and international inspectors were unable to locate such weapons even after spending two long weekends in Germany. Shortly after the invasion began reports surfaced that German prisoners had been abused by Americans. Mistreatment of Jews by Germans at so-called "concentration camps" has been rumored but so far, remains unproven.
Several thousand Americans died during the first hours of the invasion and French officials are concerned that uncollected corpses pose a public health risk. "The Americans should have planned for this in advance," they said. "It's their mess and we don't intend to clean it up."

Don "The I-Man" Imus: No Apology Necessary!

Don "The I-Man" Imus: No Apology Necessary!


Don Imus has been on the radio for decades. If he is truly a racist person, he would have been taken off the airwaves long ago. With the I-Man, its simple: you either love him or hate him. He's an equal opportunity offender, as he's been often referred to. That's the nature of his satire.

Even the nappy headed ho remark, which got him wrongfully fired last year was not race based. Rather, the nation's two foremost race baiters, Jesse Jackson and Al Sharpton, used the incident to focus the spotlight, not on race relations, but on themselves to bolster their sagging popularity among African-Americans. Their chests expanded with mis-guided pride when the I-Man was canned.

Mr. Imus' discussion with sportscaster Warner Wolfe about Dallas Cowboys cornerback Adam "Pacman" Jones was about police profiling of innocent black men. That's the point. albeit poorly, he was trying to convey.

This time around the only person calling for his resignation is Mr. Jones, the very person Mr. Imus was defending. Even Mr. Sharpton, although critical of the I-Man's motive, is not calling for an apology. Why? Because no apology is necessary.

The Obama Fist Bump: No Secret Message Exchanged

The Obama Fist Bump: No Secret Message Exchanged

The fist bump by Barack Obama and Michelle Obama at an Obama presidential campaign speech in St. Paul, Minnesota on June 3, 2008 created an extraordinary amount national attention.

The ignorant and uninitiated thought it was some kind of secret code between the couple, signaling perhaps a sinister message was sent between the two. Of course, this is nonsense.

Fact is, the fist bump has been around a long, long time. Although its origin dates back to American soldiers fighting in the Vietnam War, the fist bump is used most often in sports. It is meant to be a sign of respect and appreciation for a job well done. Chest Bumps and High Fives have very similar positive meanings.

The fist bump - also know as a Dap Greeting (dignity and respect) - has been featured in a Budweiser commercial during the 2007 Super Bowl.

GAS PRICES: Featured Cartoon by Daryl Gagle

Chimps Have Feelings, Too!

Did you know that we are not the only creatures on earth who hug and kiss... Researchers have determined Chimpanzees - our closest genetic relatives - use hugs and kisses to console fellow chimps that were victims of aggression.

Consolation, say the researchers, usually took the form of a kiss or embrace, which they added was particularly interesting because this kind of behavior is rarely seen other than after a conflict. Something to think about given the current conflicts we humans find ourselves in around the globe.

A View From The NASA Space Station

A Cowardly Al Gore Hedges His Bet With His Johnny-Come-Lately Endorsement Of Barack Obama

A Cowardly Al Gore Hedges His Bet With His Johnny-Come-Lately Endorsement of Barack Obama

Al Gore hedged his endorsement bet not only because he waited until after Barack Obama surpassed the number of delegates required to become the presumptive Democratic nominee, he covered his bet still further by waiting a full two weeks after Hilliary Clinton gave her concession speech to declare his unflappable support and his commitment to work tirelessly to help Mr. Obama win in November.

What's interesting is the lofty praise he heaped upon Mr. Obama in his endorsement speech in Detroit earlier this week. If Mr. Gore really believes what he said about Mr. Obama, why then was he not among the very first politicians to come out on his behalf when the primary season initially got underway?

Typical behavior of all cowardly politicians, Mr. Gore waited until the cards were laid bare on the table for all to see before he anted up.

Are We Ready To Accept Same-Sex Marriages?

Are We ready To Accept Same-Sex Marriages?

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Society may be changing too rapidly for many Americans, particularly when it comes to same-sex marriages. A generation ago the vast majority of the gay and lesbian community - out of fear of discrimination - largely kept their sexual preferences in the closet, and their greatest fear was getting "outed." For many, the lifestyle choice was kept secret even from their closest family members.

Then society - albeit reluctantly - began to accept gays and lesbians into the mainstream. And out they came in numbers that were astonishing. The "Don't Ask - Don't Tell" policy adopted by the military during the Clinton administration in the mid '90s proved that.

So how has society progressed? On Monday, in California, the second state to sanction same-sex marriages, dozens of same-sex couples were married. And in San Francisco, more than 600 same-sex couples filed for marriage licenses.

As a society are we ready to accept same-sex marriage? Should they have the same absolute legal rights as traditional married couples?

On a national basis, the answers to these vexing questions remain unanswered. But the answer may come in California by November. There is a referendum attempt by California residents to repeal the landmark ruling by the California Supreme Court, to be held this November.

Don't want to wait! Answer the poll question now.

Click and vote>> Are You in Favor of Legalizing Same-Sex Marriage?

Rocco Mediate: An Example for Athletes of All Ages and All Sports

Rocco Mediate: An Example for Athletes of All Ages and All Sports

Rocco Mediate showed why he's among the most popular and admired golfers on the PGA tour. Although he lost a 91 round sudden-death U.S. Open playoff to Tiger Woods - arguably the best golfer ever - in what many believe to be the most exciting round of golf in years, Rocco always stayed within himself. Throughout the round, he smiled, joked with his caddy, chatted with fans, and, most importantly, enjoyed the moment to the fullest.

The 46-year-old Mediate showed great sportsmanship too with his genuinely warm embrace of Tiger following the round.

Rocco Mediate is a role model for athletes of all ages and all sports to follow. So when we next take the softball field, basketball court, golf course, or your sport of choice, let's learn from Rocco and enjoy the moment to its fullest.

Barack Obama Doll Makes Its Debut

Barack Obama

Doll Makes

Its Debut !
There is a national consensus that this presidential election will be the most important in a generation and voter turn out will set a new participation record. Whether you are a supporter or not, Senator Barack Obama has had a tremendous impact on American politics.

Even the Germans see Senator Obama as a seminal figure - literally. A German doll maker has created a 14-inch Barack Obama doll, complete with pale blue tie and Stars & Stripes lapel pin, in honor of the U.S. Democratic presidential nominee.

Marcel Offermann says the Obama doll’s black suit and sky-blue tie resemble the outfit he has worn in many of his campaign appearances. Offermann’s Puppenklinik shop is selling a limited run of 999 Obama dolls online for euro139 (US$219) each. Already 45 orders have been confirmed since the dolls went on sale Monday.

Not all is perfect, however. Offermann admits of the mini-Obama that it was "tricky to get the skin tone correct". However, from the looks of the side-by-side picture, Offermann found more than the correct skin tone to be a bit tricky. The shape of the doll's head needs some work too... But, then, politics is all about trade offs, is it not.

Honoring Tim Russert

God bless you, Tim. We'll miss you.

Photo: A Raid on a Drug Dealers House in Mexico

A RAID ON A DRUG DEALER'S HOUSE IN MEXICO

On Supporting Obama: Featured Cartoon by Glen McCoy

Franken, Lieberman, a Sermon Performed in Blackface, and Cheers!

Franken...Lieberman...a Sermon Performed in Blackface...Cheers!


Democratic candidate to the Senate from Minnesota, comedian, talk show host of the failed Air America Radio Network, and ardent hater of President George W. Bush and all things Republican, Al Franken, is proof that only in America can someone with enough money, a huge ego, and too much idle time on their hands run for public office. Hopefully, Mr. Franken will be soundly rejected by the good people of Minnesota.

If John McCain is elected president look for him to appoint Senator Joseph Lieberman as Secretary of Defense. Lieberman, an Independent-Democrat, is a strong supporter of Senator McCain's presidential bid and firmly believes we are going in the right direction with regard to the Iraq war. Both McCain and Lieberman serve of the Armed Services Committee and have been friends for years.

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Rev. Michael Pfleger, the Catholic priest who did the shocking "blackface" sermon at Trinity United Church last month, embarrassed just about everyone with his deplorable conduct. He deserved the temporary suspension by Cardinal Francis George, the Archbishop of Chicago. There are even calls that Rev. Pfleger be defrocked. What ever happened to the separation of church and state!

Media outlets like Fox News, MSNBC and The New York Times have reported on new research indicating drinking red wine has an anti-aging effect. Several years ago and similar study pointed to the health benefits of drinking red wine. Cheers!

Gennifer Flowers and Paula Jones: The National Nightmare Continues

Gennifer Flowers and Paula Jones: The National Nightmare Continues

Bill Clinton's real-life sexcapades outside his marriage is akin to a recurring national nightmare. The characters in the nightmare: Gennifer Flowers and Paula Jones.

In search of another 15 minutes of fame, the two have again reared their ugly heads - - this time as a team - - with a website titled "Two Chicks Chatting" containing video clips about their respective sexual relationships with the former president.

Adding the the darkness of the nightmare is that viewers have to pay $1.99 to view each of seven videos, with tintillating titles as "Paula and the President's Penis" and "Gennifer's Story and the Presidential Penis." The two even have produced a piece about Hillary titled "Hillary Running for President". Were it not for the fact that Two Chicks Chatting it is in such poor taste, [no pun intended] it would be an example of American capitalism. Whether there's a public demand to line the pockets of the scorned duo and afford them another 15 minutes of fame, only time will tell.

The nation, however, does not need Gennifer Flowers and Paula Jones to wake us up at 3:00AM from a nightmare in which Bill Clinton is roaming the White House, cigar in hand, in search of an 18-year-old intern.

Making the Case for McCain to Tap a Woman as Veep Runnng Mate

Making the Case for McCain to Tap a Woman as Veep Runnng Mate

With all but the official announcement to be made by Barack Obama, it is abundantly evident Hillary Clinton will not be named as his vice presidential running mate. If he chooses another woman on the ticket that would surely all but doom his presidential aspirations, not withstanding his clear policy differences with John McCain. Let's assume he opts for the Governor of New Mexico, Bill Richardson, since I made the case for him in an earlier posting.

Senator McCain now has an opening to capture three important constituent groups from the Democrats: Women, Hispanics and Seniors.

Women
The best strategic decision he can make to advance his candidacy is to tap a strong woman as his Veep running mate. By doing so, Senator McCain empowers disaffected women voters with the option to make a statement about their disappointment over Hillary Clinton's failed Democratic primary bid.

Hispanics
Senator McCain already has a solid following among Hispanics due to his favorable position with them on immigration reform. Hispanics voted for Hillary in large numbers over Barack Obama, making this an opportunity to not only vote for a candidate sympathetic to their cause, but to also make a statement about their affinity for Hillary Clinton. Although Governor Richardson is Hispanic, he will not have the necessary influence to be a factor because of the counterbalance of a woman being on the GOP ticket.

Seniors
At age 71 and vigorous, he has a natural appeal to the millions of seniors citizens who vote and vote in big numbers. Senator McCain's position on social security reform is reassuring to seniors as well.

The list of potential VP candidates, although thin with qualified candidates, does have several notables, including former New Jersey Governor Christine Todd Whitman, Texas Senator Kay Bailey Hutchinson and Secretary of State Condolezza Rice.

Christine Todd Whitman broke through the glass ceiling by being el