2011….A look back

GREETINGS FROM the home office in Dublin Ohio and the lull between Christmas and one of my favorite days of the year.

 

New Year’s Day is a GREAT TIME OF THE YEAR! It is a day filled Pork, Saur Kraut and college football games (ok…no College Bowl Game this year), with new beginnings and new outlooks, as well as new “resolutions” even if they only last a few months (ok…maybe weeks, hours?).

I love New Years Day! It is a fresh start, and I take it literally. In addition to all of the resolutions I write down to try and better myself, I also give myself a shiny new haircut to go with the shiny new year (I shave my head every year-really wish I would have gotten that new Kashmir Skull Cap for Christmas!!!).

New Years Day can be great for working on our faults, making good on promises we made (or need to make), or just letting the bad of the past year be gone, and look forward to what is to come in the upcoming year (well…let’s just hope the Mayans were wrong).

New Year’s Eve is a night of magic, saying goodbye, parties, and even romance for some. It is a night that means something different to everyone. Some like me, relish in this night, others couldn’t care less. That is what makes this night GREAT it means something different to everyone and we all handle/celebrate it differently. No matter if at home watching the ball drop alone, out & about at a party with friends, or in a room full of strangers in a town you don’t know, even just that last dance with the special someone in your life (I have done all), make this New Years a GREAT MOMENT IN TIME! And whatever you are doing…plan on making the next New Year, EVEN BETTER!

 “We will open the book . . . Its pages are blank . . . We are going to put words on them ourselves . . . The book is called Opportunity and its first chapter is New Year’s Day.” – Edith Lovejoy Pierce  

 

This time of year as we look back I really enjoy the smiles that were earned over the last 12 months, and enjoy looking down at the physical and mental scars that shape the tattoos that we will carry the rest of our lives. The memories or physical attributes that make us say “oh yea…I remember when.”

“Tattoos and memories and dead skin on trial 
For what it’s worth it was worth all the while”-Green Day  

 

“Scars are souvenirs you never lose, the past is never far.
And did you lose yourself way out there?
Did you get to be a star?
Don’t make you sad to know that life is more than who you are?
Grew up way too fast and now there’s nothing to believe.
….Reruns all become our history.”-Goo Goo Dolls

We must embrace the good and the bad so we can move forward in a “complete” and healthy way.   

While we ALL can celebrate NYE in some way, this week some celebrated 2 others Holidays based on faith, traditions, and ethnic backgrounds. AND there is one, many (including me) do not know about-but it is awesome!;

Kwanzaa is a week-long celebration held in the United States honoring universal African-American heritage and culture, observed from December 26 to January 1 each year. It features activities such as lighting a candle holder with seven candles and culminates in a feast and gift-giving. It was created by Maulana Karenga and was first celebrated in 1966–1967.

Some celebrated the last day of Hanukkah
Tuesday evening marked the eighth and last day of Hanukkah.
Jewish people honor the event by lighting the candles on the menorah – one candle for each day of Hanukkah. It celebrates a miracle that happened almost 2,000 years ago when a temple lamp ran out of oil.

ONE WE CAN ALL RELATE TO! Good Riddance Day
Out with the Old, in with the New!
Saying goodbye to your worst memory from 2011 once and for all on Good Riddance Day!
Whether you’re bidding farewell to pink slips or parking tickets, credit cards or Valentine’s Day cards, the one percent or the 99 percent, your bad memories from 2011 will be destroyed, never to be seen again. This is a chance to start fresh in 2012!

Good Riddance Day is inspired by a Latin American tradition in which New Year’s revelers put artifacts from the previous year into giant dolls and set them on fire.
http://www.timessquarenyc.org/events/new-years-eve/good-riddance-day/index.aspx

So Happy New Year to all of you. And as Auld Lang Syne is playing and the couples are kissing at Midnight, I DO NOT AGREE with the song lyrics.

Should old acquaintance be forgot,
and never brought to mind ?
Should old acquaintance be forgot,
and old lang syne ?
CHORUS:
For auld lang syne, my dear,
for auld lang syne,
we’ll take a cup of kindness yet,
for auld lang syne.
And surely you’ll buy your pint cup !
and surely I’ll buy mine !
And we’ll take a cup o’ kindness yet,
for auld lang syne.
CHORUS
We two have run about the slopes,
and picked the daisies fine ;
But we’ve wandered many a weary foot,
since auld lang syne.
CHORUS
We two have paddled in the stream,
from morning sun till dine ;
But seas between us broad have roared
since auld lang syne.

I DON’T want an old acquaintance to be “forgot” and “never brought to mind”…cause I enjoy most of my “acquaintances,” and friends. For one person, memories (and a few emails) are all I have…to smile. For the others; the a**holes, the bad folks, the people who hose, the people who hate, etc…those people are also valuable remembrances to be “brought to mind”-memories of why those feelings are brought up, and also to remind…I don’t want to be like them! But as the song does say…I hope someday to have “that drink” where the “pint glass” is full of kindness.

Cheers! As the Holiday Decorations begin to come down, the couples pucker up, the parties wind down, the new calendars are purchased, and “the ball” drops slower than my sinus infection that I am fighting, I hope everyone has a Happy New Year-May your worst days of 2012 be your best days of 2011!

The following is one of my favorite things to do (it better be, since it took me over 10 hours to put together! This is a look back on promises made (and those not kept), look back at some of the lives we lost, as well as “semi-anticipated” Top Lists in Movies, Music, Tours, Sports, and quotes. PLUS at the bottom is a list of events to bring in NYE. 

2011 RESOLUTIONS A LOOK BACK:

RESOLUTIONS FOR 2011! This was written as acknowledgement of faults and areas wanting to better self and in turn others. Every year, by making public, I hope others will help me hold myself accountable for the things I want to change: let’s look back as to how I did?

1.) Work on understanding, accepting, and appreciating my relationship with God.

This is always ongoing, but I am in a better place?

2.) WAKE UP EVERYDAY AND BE THE BEST I CAN BE (Always give 100%, but realize 100% of each day is different-and be ok with that!) Even on my worst days, still better than some of my best in the past.

3.) Each day do something for someone else-in turn not only bettering them, but self as well. There is a lot that can be learned by doing for others, and I am enjoying that education.

4.) Continue to ATTEMPT to find the good in EVERYTHING. Not every day is great, but if I can (and do) choose to make it a Good Day!

5.) Everyday find/see the “God Today” in the Lil Moments of daily miracles. Do this every day, and life is much better!

6.) Three things we all should do every day. We should do this every day of our lives. Number one is laugh. You should laugh every day. Number two is think. You should spend some time in thought. And number three is, you should have your emotions moved to tears, could be happiness or joy. But think about it. If you laugh, you think, and you cry, that’s a full day. That’s a heck of a day. You do that seven days a week, you’re going to have something special.-Jimmy V Maybe not every day, but I try to!

7.) Start the “Flame” Foundation. I have the paperwork

8.) Get Personal Training Certificate. Had the chance, and didn’t go to the class that weekend

9.) Run an ORGANIZED Half Marathon. NOPE but my knees are getting better

10.) Be THE FIRST DJ TO PLAY THE GRAND OLE OPRY. Not YET!

11.) Average 52+ Gigs this year, with 26 being on road-and continuing to.
Learn from experiences with tour activation folks. Had gigs for 48 weeks of the year and over 72 gigs! AND…26 were on the road!!! All while learning a lot!

12.) Work less-or at least smarter. Be more diversified in areas where monies can be made, so as to not “depend” on any one area. I am enjoying making more, with less stress and a heck of a lot less work

13.) Work as hard for others as I do for myself (and Vice Versa). Ok…this is kinda wearing me out!

14.) Make time for fun, and for work (Good Start from Last Year, but need to keep working on this, and even enjoy/be ok with downtime). I am really enjoying the “fun” in life!

15.) Go on vacation (Take an extra Day or two on road trips, and go somewhere WITHOUT WORK). Have done this a few times, fun seeing this great country, and being with friends and extended family!

16.) Learn that not everyone is a friend, and accept that sometimes you get screwed, but at no fault of anyone-and try every day to right any of the wrongs I have done to others. Sh*t happens, and just try to make sure that others don’t feel as if I am screwing them.

17.) Volunteer (Continue at Ronald House, Start at Zoo, and find other organizations to help). Have helped a few, had to back off RMH for last part of the year, and no Zoo.

18.) Be in better shape-not for vanity, but for health/fitness. Goal Weight is 150 pounds, 29inch waist, and be able to bench weight 15 times (and try not to care about my size-THIS WILL BE HARD!). Got down to 168. Have a 28 inch waist, and DESTROYED BENCH by benching own weight 26 times!

19.) Find my “One Thing.” Still looking, but enjoying the search.

20.) Personal. Not there yet (but hope to start with maybe “that drink”)

21.) Continue to Read/Write more (concentrate on songs, poems). Some are being cut as I type!

22.) Continue to be open with feelings/emotions. Like diarrhea of emotions!

23.) Be so freakin positive it can help someone-or at very least pi**es someone off!!! It helps to make the bad days be better, fun to help try and make someone else smile, and those that get pi**ed…they are even more fun!

24.) Work on being more diverse with knowledge, interests, etc. I am trying to be like a sponge. I KEEL at Jeopardy now (well except Math Categories)

25.) Go to away Buckeye Game (Miami in 2011?) No, but maybe the Gator Bowl?

26.) Double my current “cooperate client list.” Gained Many, only lost a couple. Been a great year!

27.) Make Business Firsts 35 under 35. Nope next stop 40 Under 40

28.) Eat better, or at very least-more consistent. Eating much better! AND FEELING GOOD!!!

29.) Continue to pay down debt. Still working on that, at least I don’t owe any friends.

30.) Let more “stuff” role off back-remembering being upset only hurts/affects me. Takes a lot to bother me anymore.

31.) Develop side business’ and help others do the same. Have a lot of side gigs that help me with incomes and help others.

32.) Play following gigs (Cincy Blind Pig Marathon, Cleveland Rock & Roll
Marathon, Jamboree in the Hills, Country Concert, ALL Country Thunder Concerts across the Country, Arizona 1/2 Marathon, Country Jam, Red, White, & Boom (IN SOME ROLE), Capital City 1/2, Crew Games, All Buckeye Home games, continue to develop relationship with Jackets-don’t limit to this list! AND IF/when someone else does get over me, find out how/why and learn…WHILE BEING HAPPY FOR THEM. Had chance at Cincy (I was already booked), and in talks with Cleveland for 2012. Did White, & Boom, Capital City 1/2, Crew Games, All Buckeye Home games, GREAT relationship with Jackets, and some other amazing events, with even more for 2012!

33.) Manage Time Better. Not sure how, but making use of down time.

34.) Publish list of quotes (I say every year-I REALLY WANT TO DO THIS THIS YEAR)-NOPE

35.) Better someone else’s career, and understand not everyone is me, and some will do better than me, others will fail-BE OK AND ENCOURAGE BOTH. It happened, and others failed…the failure still bothered me.

36.) Rock at least 4 Major Events. 4 my a**!!! It was a GREAT YEAR!!!

37.) Organize a fundraiser for each quarter of the year (and find ways to take Army Navy Fundraiser to $5000.00!!!). Army Navy did not pan out and I am rather embarrassed I could not help more than I did.

38.) Smile More. My cheeks hurt!

39.) Go to Doctor/get help when things/body parts ache/hurt. Maybe not doctor, but do get help, and take easy when I am hurtin’.

40.) Find acceptance can’t do what used to do FAILURE IS NOT ONLY HUMBELING-But also the first step to success. Still working on this.

41.) BUFFETT (at least 3 shows, and start using his business plan)-DID NO SHOWS (but did have tixx), but livin in the shoes (or sandals) of my heroes.

42.) Manage Money Better. Did a lil better

43.) Clean Garage (I still have a couple days)

44.) Mentor More (in many areas; Business, Physical Fitness, being a better person, and help self/others FIND ACCOUNTABILITY). Doing this is fun, and probably helps me more than anyone else.

45.) Go Back to School. Still want/need to do.

46.) Learn to speak Spanish. No Hablo Espenol

47.) QUIT WORRYING-Everything happens for a reason, find the good in all. I worry less than Alfred E. Newman!

48.) NEVER BACK DOWN!!! (NEVER Make anyone else feel they have to either!). I am being tenacious BUT not in ways of past.

49.) NEVER BE BROKE! It has been a good year, and allowed for a lot less stress

50.) AS ALWAYS NEVER LIMIT TO JUST THIS LIST. Create a TO DO, or WANNA DO list daily. I fill up a to do list everyday with new goals!
PLEASE JOIN ME: 

NYE DEC 31, SATURDAY: Join me as I rock the Budweiser Terrace as The Blue Jackets take on The Washington Capitals at Nationwide Arena

My Crew and DJ Pish rock Yogi’s  NYE Party
My Crew-DJ. Steve and DJ Scoobie Rock The Filling Station NYE Party

 

SUNDAY:
January 1^st NEW YEARS DAY join my buddies from M3Ssports and Premier Racing, as I rock the Start Line, and the Post Party for the for the “First in The First” www.m3ssports.com/events/first-on-the-first.htm

 

PLEASE “suggest” “like” or become a “fan” of our new “fan page” Matty Sexton on facebook.http://www.facebook.com/DJMattySexton

PLEASE check out the updated website (please let us know what you think?) http://www.rmsexton.com

TIME TO BOOK YOUR 2012 Events
“Price is what you pay. Value is what you get.”- WARREN BUFFETT

Now through Jan 2nd I am offering an “Ultimate Gift” for you, loved ones, or any friends/family. This time of year is especially popular for engagements, and for putting together wedding plans for 2012. If you or someone you know is getting married, we can make their day special. We have been in the entertainment and wedding industry for over 25 years. Our expertise will make you or your friend’s wedding, a moment to remember. Refer us now through Jan 2, 2012 and receive 25% of contracted rate. Call 614-580-3118 to secure your date, or go to www.rmsexton.com

COMING SOON PUBLIC EVENTS:
Every Friday join my buddy DJ Chris O at The Filling Station kicking off your weekend with all your favorite hits, and some of the cheapest drinks in town

JANUARY 6^th PBR 2012 Kick Off at Madison Square Garden

January 13 Join Chris O as he covers the Budweiser Party Terrace as The Jackets take on The Phoenix Coyotes!

January 14th Pending event that will re-shape local entertainment, and I am proud we are even being consider to usher in this new concept!

January 27^th Join me as I rock with some of Nashville’s Greatest Stars celebrating our buddy, James Gage’s Birthday at Peddler’s Lounge in Grove City

 

 

THOUGHT(s) FOR THE WEEK:
12 Things Happy People Do Differently
“I’d always believed that a life of quality, enjoyment, and wisdom were my human birthright and would be automatically bestowed upon me as time passed.  I never suspected that I would have to learn how to live – that there were specific disciplines and ways of seeing the world I had to master before I could awaken to a simple, happy, uncomplicated life.”
-Dan Millman

Studies conducted by positivity psychologist Sonja Lyubomirsky point to 12 things happy people do differently to increase their levels of happiness.  These are things that we can start doing today to feel the effects of more happiness in our lives.

1.       Express gratitude. – When you appreciate what you have, what you have appreciates in value.  Kinda cool right?  So basically, being grateful for the goodness that is already evident in your life will bring you a deeper sense of happiness.  And that’s without having to go out and buy anything.  It makes sense.  We’re gonna have a hard time ever being happy if we aren’t thankful for what we already have.

2.        Cultivate optimism. – Winners have the ability to manufacture their own optimism.  No matter what the situation, the successful diva is the chick who will always find a way to put an optimistic spin on it.  She knows failure only as an opportunity to grow and learn a new lesson from life.  People who think optimistically see the world as a place packed with endless opportunities, especially in trying times.
3.       Avoid over-thinking and social comparison. – Comparing yourself to someone else can be poisonous.  If we’re somehow ‘better’ than the person that we’re comparing ourselves to, it gives us an unhealthy sense of superiority.  Our ego inflates – KABOOM – our inner Kanye West comes out!  If we’re ‘worse’ than the person that we’re comparing ourselves to, we usually discredit the hard work that we’ve done and dismiss all the progress that we’ve made.  What I’ve found is that the majority of the time this type of social comparison doesn’t stem from a healthy place.  If you feel called to compare yourself to something, compare yourself to an earlier version of yourself.

4.       Practice acts of kindness. – Performing an act of kindness releases serotonin in your brain.  (Serotonin is a substance that has TREMENDOUS health benefits, including making us feel more blissful.)  Selflessly helping someone is a super powerful way to feel good inside.  What’s even cooler about this kindness kick is that not only will you feel better, but so will people watching the act of kindness.  How extraordinary is that?  Bystanders will be blessed with a release of serotonin just by watching what’s going on.  A side note is that the job of most anti-depressants is to release more serotonin.  Move over Pfizer, kindness is kicking ass and taking names.

5.       Nurture social relationships. – The happiest people on the planet are the ones who have deep, meaningful relationships.  Did you know studies show that people’s mortality rates are DOUBLED when they’re lonely?  WHOA!  There’s a warm fuzzy feeling that comes from having an active circle of good friends who you can share your experiences with.  We feel connected and a part of something more meaningful than our lonesome existence.

6.       Develop strategies for coping. – How you respond to the ‘craptastic’ moments is what shapes your character.  Sometimes crap happens – it’s inevitable.  Forrest Gump knows the deal.  It can be hard to come up with creative solutions in the moment when manure is making its way up toward the fan.  It helps to have healthy strategies for coping pre-rehearsed, on-call, and in your arsenal at your disposal.

7.       Learn to forgive. – Harboring feelings of hatred is horrible for your well-being.  You see, your mind doesn’t know the difference between past and present emotion.  When you ‘hate’ someone, and you’re continuously thinking about it, those negative emotions are eating away at your immune system.  You put yourself in a state of suckerism (technical term) and it stays with you throughout your day.

8.       Increase flow experiences. – Flow is a state in which it feels like time stands still.  It’s when you’re so focused on what you’re doing that you become one with the task.  Action and awareness are merged.  You’re not hungry, sleepy, or emotional.  You’re just completely engaged in the activity that you’re doing.  Nothing is distracting you or competing for your focus.

9.       Savor life’s joys. – Deep happiness cannot exist without slowing down to enjoy the joy.  It’s easy in a world of wild stimuli and omnipresent movement to forget to embrace life’s enjoyable experiences.  When we neglect to appreciate, we rob the moment of its magic.  It’s the simple things in life that can be the most rewarding if we remember to fully experience them.

10.    Commit to your goals. – Being wholeheartedly dedicated to doing something comes fully-equipped with an ineffable force.  Magical things start happening when we commit ourselves to doing whatever it takes to get somewhere.  When you’re fully committed to doing something, you have no choice but to do that thing.  Counter-intuitively, having no option – where you can’t change your mind – subconsciously makes humans happier because they know part of their purpose.

11.    Practice spirituality. – When we practice spirituality or religion, we recognize that life is bigger than us.  We surrender the silly idea that we are the mightiest thing ever.  It enables us to connect to the source of all creation and embrace a connectedness with everything that exists.  Some of the most accomplished people I know feel that they’re here doing work they’re “called to do.”

12.    Take care of your body. – Taking care of your body is crucial to being the happiest person you can be.  If you don’t have your physical energy in good shape, then your mental energy (your focus), your emotional energy (your feelings), and your spiritual energy (your purpose) will all be negatively affected.  Did you know that studies conducted on people who were clinically depressed showed that consistent exercise raises happiness levels just as much as Zoloft?  Not only that, but here’s the double whammy… Six months later, the people who participated in exercise were less likely to relapse because they had a higher sense of self-accomplishment and self-worth.
http://www.marcandangel.com/2011/08/30/12-things-happy-people-do-differently/
SONG(s) FOR THE WEEK:
AMAZING
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=r2j279pZxTY 

I have 3 years NCAA Eligibility…makes me wanna get on the field, oh hell…makes me wanna bet on the Bowl games

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=J10aEpRRtww

One for the Teachers:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_embedded&v=XC9ApgSiEtU#!

Just feelin’ this for some reason…”Yea!”-as Sammy says, (and YEP I had the red suit!)

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9thvSfq8w2o

LOT’S of great memories, and one amazing night with the top down with this one…kinda sad, it was all too true!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=V6c8a90PWIM&feature=artistob&playnext=1&list=TL7MbaBkKKHKY

WOW!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=76aOIbReCuw&ob=av2e
HOLIDAY SONGS TO BRING IN THE NEW YEAR!:

But the very next day…you gave it away, http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=E8gmARGvPlI

Transition from giving…to receiving “Better Days in 2012”

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nOp4NAq6EHI

Well…?

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=owrOm_C0Cvw

CLASSIC SONG…and I had the same night in this song a few years ago!!!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IhjYbfK9vrk

HEY 2011…THANK YOU!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JwQZQygg3Lk&ob=av2e

I GOTTA FEELIN’ 2012 will be even better?!?!?

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uSD4vsh1zDA&ob=av3n

GREAT take on THE SONG to bring in 2012, BUT…I don’t wanna have “Old acquaintance be forgot”!!!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vcVJBLV2Ryw

2012…IT AIN’T OVER!!!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4uFalk1y38I&ob=av2e

DID YOU KNOW?:
Banging your head against a wall uses 150 calories an hour.
QUESTION OF THE WEEK:
Maybe it’s much too early in the game
Ah, but I thought I’d ask you just the same
What are you doing New Year’s
New Year’s Eve?

Wonder whose arms will hold you good and tight
When it’s exactly twelve o’clock that night
Welcoming in the New Year
New Year’s Eve

Maybe I’m crazy to suppose
I’d ever be the one you chose
Out of a thousand invitations
You’d receive

Ah, but in case I stand one little chance
Here comes the jackpot question in advance
What are you doing New Year’s
New Year’s Eve?

Wonder whose arms will hold you good and tight
When it’s exactly twelve o’clock that night
Welcoming in the New Year
New Year’s Eve
What are you doing New Year’s Eve?
IRONY:

Kim Jong-il travelled by train because he was terrified of flying. He died on Dec. 17 while riding a train.

HELP:
Help yourself after the Holiday?

How to sell gift cards online for extra money

If you have unused gift cards or you received some for Christmas that you will never use, consider selling them and putting the cash in your wallet to use on things you really need. There are several online sites that allow you to sell your gift cards electronically and get cash back by check, Paypal or in the form of a gift card to a store you like to shop at.

Trustworthy sites like Cardpool, GiftCards.com andPlasticJungle buy the gift cards from you online and offer instant payment through Paypal, MoneyGram, an Amazon gift card or a check in the mail. You can also opt to purchase a discounted gift card at hundreds of retailers nationwide including Lands’ End, Macy’s, Best Buy, Walmart, Pottery Barn, Old Navy, Home Depot, and DSW.
www.examiner.com/frugal-living-in-providence/how-to-sell-gift-cards-online-for-extra-money?cid=dflo-facebook-122711-GiftCards

GREAT READ:

A man walks in a bar, ask the bartender for a glass of water. The bar tender pulls out his shot gun shoots & barely misses the guy in head! The man once gaining his composure says THANK YOU! & leaves him a large tip.

Why? Simple, the man had a severe case of the HICCUPS! Moral of that great story is simple; sometimes it takes a moment of utter FEAR to overcome a severe problem or challenge we face. Once that FEAR is overcome, there is joy & relief that allows us to move on to greater heights than ever before!

              

MUST WATCH:

This sums up 2011…

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2zls4Ao3GyM&feature=share

 

PASSING-A Look Back in tribute on all The Lives Lost in 2011

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YIxHKaagXvI&feature=related

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iHQmQCE1OwU

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HAmV3zWvli8

JANUARY:
Maj. Richard “Dick” Winters, 92. The man who fought in several major battles in World War II and whose quiet leadership was chronicled in the book and television miniseries “Band of Brothers.”Jan. 2.
Malangatana Ngwenya, 74. A Mozambican painter, poet and politician who became one of Africa’s most famous artists for his work drawing on the country’s rocky history. Jan. 5.
Vang Pao, 81. A revered former general in the Royal Army of Laos, who led thousands of Hmong guerrillas in a CIA-backed secret army in the Vietnam war.

Jan. 6.

Jiri Dienstbier, 73. A reporter turned dissident who joined Vaclav Havel to help topple one of Eastern Europe’s most repressive regimes, then served under Havel in Czechoslovakia’s first post-communist government. Jan. 8.

Peter Yates, 81. A British film maker who sent actor Steve McQueen screeching through the streets of San Francisco in a Ford Mustang in “Bullitt.” Jan. 9.

Margaret Whiting, 86. A sweet-voiced performer known for sentimental ballads who sold millions of records in the 1940s and 1950s. Jan. 10.

David Nelson, 74. He starred on his parents’ popular American television show “The Adventures of Ozzie and Harriet.” Jan. 11.

Mississippi Winn, 113. A former domestic worker believed to be the oldest living African-American in the U.S. and the seventh oldest person in the world. Jan. 14.
Susannah York, 72. One of the leading stars of British and Hollywood films in the late 1960s and early 1970s. Jan. 15.
Don Kirshner, 76. A rock promoter who helped launch performers such as Prince, the Eagles, Lionel Ritchie and Ozzy Osbourne. Jan. 17.

R. Sargent Shriver, 95. First Peace Corps director, ambassador and leader of the War on Poverty in the U.S. but best known as a Kennedy in-law. Jan. 18.

Ed Mauser, 94. The oldest living member of a 101st Airborne Division company that became known as the “Band of Brothers” and fought some of the fiercest battles of World War II but kept his Army service secret even from his family. Jan. 21.
Jack LaLanne, 96. The fitness guru who inspired U.S. television viewers to trim down, eat well and pump iron for decades before diet and exercise became an American obsession. Jan. 23.
Samuel Ruiz, 86. A retired Roman Catholic bishop and staunch defender of Indian rights who served as a mediator in talks between the Mexican government and leftist Zapatista rebels. Jan. 24.

Nora Sun, 72. A former U.S. trade counsel and granddaughter of the founder of Asia’s first republic in China, Sun Yat-sen. Jan. 26. Injuries suffered in a car

FEBRUARY:
Maria Schneider, 58. A French actress who was Marlon Brando’s young co-star in Bernardo Bertolucci’s steamy “Last Tango in Paris.” Feb. 3.
J. Paul Getty, 54. The troubled grandson of one of the world’s richest men who lost an ear in a grisly kidnapping in Italy. Feb. 3.

Maria Altman, 94. A refugee from Nazi-occupied Austria whose successfully fought to recover Gustav Klimt paintings looted from her Jewish family. Feb. 7.

Ratu Josefa Iloilo, 91. A Fijian tribal chief who as president made crucial decisions backing the military takeover of the South Pacific country. Feb. 7.

Christian J. Lambertson, 93. A scientist and doctor who invented a self-contained underwater breathing apparatus used by the military in World War II and later coined the term “scuba,” an acronym by which such systems are widely known. Feb. 11.

Betty Garrett, 91. The vivacious Broadway star who played singer Frank Sinatra’s sweetheart in two MGM musicals before her career was hampered by Hollywood’s blacklist in the 1950s. Feb. 12.

George Shearing, 91. A Britsh-born jazz pianist who wrote the standard “Lullaby of Birdland” and headed a famed quintet. Feb. 14.

Suze Rotolo, 67. Artist and girlfriend of singer Bob Dylan, who was his lyrical muse when he came to prominence in the early 1960s. Feb. 25.

Judith Coplon, 81. Convicted of being a Soviet spy after she was caught with secret U.S. documents at a meeting with a Russian agent in 1949 but later acquitted. Feb. 26.

Necmattin Erbakan, 85. A longtime leader of Turkey’s Islamic political movement and briefly the country’s prime minister in the first Islamic-led coalition in the country’s modern history. Feb. 27.

Duke Snider, 84. Baseball Hall of Famer for the “Boys of Summer” who helped the Dodgers bring their only World Series crown to Brooklyn. Feb. 27.

Frank Buckles, 110. The last surviving American veteran of World War I who also survived being a civilian prisoner of war in the Philippines in World War II. Feb. 27.

Jane Russell, 89. The voluptuous actress who starred in the controversial film “The Outlaw” and who, as a pin-up girl, set GIs’ hearts to pounding during World War II. Feb. 28.

Annie Girardot, 79. The perky, gravelly voiced actress who became one of France’s most enduring and modern stars. Feb. 28.

MARCH:
Mikhail Simonov, 81. An aircraft designer whose heavily armed and far-flying Sukhoi fighter jet became the star of the Soviet defense industry and a cash cow for post-communist Russia. March 4.

Alberto Granado, 88. He accompanied Ernesto “Che” Guevara on a journey of discovery across Latin America that was immortalized in Guevara’s memoir and on the screen in “The Motorcycle Diaries.” March 5.

Owsley “Bear” Stanley, 76. A 1960s counterculture figure who worked with the Grateful Dead and was a prolific LSD producer. March 12.

Joe Morello, 82. A legendary American jazz drummer whose virtuosity and odd time signatures made him an integral part of the Dave Brubeck Quartet on such recordings as “Take Five.” March 12.

Carel Boshoff, 83. Founder of an all-white separatist community who sought to preserve the culture of Afrikaners as South Africa moved from a white-ruled apartheid government to a democracy. March 16.

Michael Gough, 94. The British actor best known for playing Bruce Wayne’s butler in a series of Batman movies. March 17
Ferlin Husky, 85. A pioneering American country music entertainer in the 1950s and early `60s known for hits like “Wings of the Dove.” March 17.

Farley Granger, 85. The 1950s American teen screen idol who starred in Alfred Hitchcock classics such as “Rope” and “Strangers on a Train.” March 20.

Pinetop Perkins, 97. Grammy-winning bluesman, who for years played the rickety bars of the Mississippi Delta and performed with musicians such as Ike Turner, Sonny Boy Williamson and slide guitarist Robert Nighthawk. March 21.

Mayhew “Bo” Foster, 99. A World War II U.S. Army pilot who transported Nazi official Hermann Goering for interrogation in an unarmed, unescorted plane. March 21.

Elizabeth Taylor, 79. The violet-eyed American film goddess whose sultry screen persona, stormy personal life and enduring fame and glamour made her one of the last of the classic movie stars and a template for the modern celebrity. March 23.

Warren M. Christopher, 85. The attorney-turned-envoy who tirelessly traveled to Bosnia and the Middle East on peace missions as U.S. secretary of state in the Clinton administration. March 25. Complications from bladder and kidney cancer.
Olga Ulyanova, 89. A chemist and niece of Soviet founder Vladimir Lenin who wrote books praising her uncle and family. March 25.

Geraldine Ferraro, 75. A relatively obscure Democratic congresswoman who became the first woman on a major U.S. party ticket when she ran for vice president in 1984 and emboldened American women to seek office. March 26. Complications from blood cancer.

Harry Wesley Coover Jr., 94. Known as the inventor of the popular adhesive Super Glue. March 26.

Jose Alencar, 75. A former vice president and millionaire textile magnate who shared eight years of government with Brazil’s first working-class President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva. March 29.

Robert Tear, 72. A versatile Welsh tenor who appeared in opera houses around the world and made more than 250 recordings. March 29.

APRIL:
Ange Felix Patasse, 74. He led the desperately poor Central African Republic for a decade before being ousted in a coup in 2003. April 5.

Dr. Baruch S. Blumberg, 85. He shared the Nobel Prize in medicine for his discovery of the hepatitis vaccine. April 5.

Sidney Lumet, 86. The award-winning director of such American film classics as “Network,” “Serpico,” “Dog Day Afternoon” and “12 Angry Men.” April 9.

William Nunn Lipscomb, Jr. 91. A Harvard professor who won the Nobel chemistry prize in 1976 for research on the structure of molecules and chemical bonding and mentored several future Nobel laureates. April 14.

Juan Pedro Domecq Solis, 69. One of Spain’s foremost breeders of fighting bulls and a descendant from a famous sherry producing family. April 18.
Pietro Ferrero, 47. Chief executive of the Ferrero Group holding company that produces Nutella, Tic-Tac mints and other confections and a scion of one of Italy’s richest families. April 18.

Grete Waitz, 57. The Norwegian runner who won nine New York marathons and the silver medal at the 1984 Los Angeles Olympics. April 19.

Tim Hetherington, 49. A British-born, Oscar-nominated film director and photojournalist. April 20.

Hubert “Hub” Schlafly, 91. A key member of a team that invented the teleprompter and rescued soap opera actors, newscasters and politicians from stumbling over their words on live television. April 20.

Jess Jackson, 81. The founder of the Kendall-Jackson winery and owner of two most widely recognized thoroughbreds in recent years. April 21.

Norio Ohga, 81. As chairman he transformed the Japanese electronics maker Sony into a global software and entertainment empire. April 23.

Max van der Stoel, 86. A former Dutch foreign minister and a U.N. human rights representative who became a thorn in the side of the late Iraqi leader Saddam Hussein. April 23.

Sathya Sai Baba, 84. A Hindu guru revered by millions worldwide. April 24.

Madame Ngo Dinh Nhu, 86. The outspoken beauty who served as South Vietnam’s unofficial first lady early in the Vietnam war and earned the nickname “Dragon Lady” for her harsh criticism of protesting Buddhists and communist sympathizers. April 25.

Poly Styrene, 53. The braces-wearing British singer who belted out the punk anthem “Oh Bondage, Up Yours” with the band X-Ray Spex. April 25.
Orlando Bosch, 84. A Cuban exile militant who was acquitted in Venezuela in the 1976 bombing of a Cuban airliner. April 27.

Ernesto Sabato, 99. An Argentine writer who led the government’s probe of crimes committed by the military dictatorship. April 30.

MAY:
Henry Cooper, 76. One of Britain’s most popular sportsmen who was best known for knocking down Muhammad Ali when he was still known as Cassius Clay. May 1.

Osama bin Laden, 54. Terrorist leader whose money and preaching inspired the Sept. 11, 2001, terrorist attacks, which killed nearly 3,000 people in New York, Washington and Pennsylvania. May 2. Killed during a raid by U.S. Navy SEALs in Pakistan.

Rene Emilio Ponce, 64. A Salvadoran army general and former defense minister accused of ordering the 1989 killing of six Jesuit priests and two others during the country’s civil war. May 2.

Jackie Cooper, 88. One of the most popular child movie stars of the 1930s who later had a successful career as a television director and still appeared in films. May 3.

Arthur Laurents, 93. The director, playwright and screenwriter who wrote such enduring productions as “West Side Story” and “`Gypsy” as well as the film classics “Rope” and “The Way We Were.” May 5.

Claude Stanley Coules, 110. The last known combat veteran of World War I who had a 41-year-military career that extended into World War II. May 5.

Seve Ballesteros, 54. A five-time major champion whose incomparable imagination and fiery personality made him one of the most significant figures in modern golf. May 7.

Robert Stempel, 77. A former General Motors chief executive and engineer who led the development of the catalytic converter but was ousted in a boardroom coup. May 7.
Lidia Gueiler, 89. The only woman ever to have been Bolivia’s president. May 9.
Burt Reinhardt, 91. One of CNN’s first presidents and an American television pioneer who is credited with helping to build the global news network in its formative years. May 10.

Wallace McCain, 81. A billionaire frozen food mogul and philanthropist who helped turn a small Canadian french fry plant into the global McCain Foods empire and later went on to control meat processor Maple Leaf Foods. May 13.
Michael William Coplestone Dillon Onslow, 73. The 7th earl of Onslow and a cheerful advocate of removing nobles such as himself from the House of Lords. May 14.
Harmon Killebrew, 74. The baseball slugger for the Minnesota Twins and for many years the face of the team. May 17.

Garret FitzGerald, 85. A beloved figure who as Ireland’s prime minister in the 1980s was an early architect of peace in Northern Ireland. May 19.

Randy “Macho Man” Savage, 58. A larger-than-life personality from professional wrestling’s 1980s heyday known for his raspy voice and brash style. May 20.

Bill Hunter, 71. The archetype of a working class Australian with a distinctive accent, weather-worn face and a no-nonsense style who starred in films and on television. May 21.
Leonora Carrington, 94. A British-born painter, writer and sculptor considered one of the last of the original surrealists. May 25.

Gil Scott-Heron, 62. Widely considered one of the godfathers of rap music with his piercing social and political prose laid against the backdrop of minimalist percussion, flute and other instrumentation. May 27.

Sergei Bagapsh, 62. Leader of Abkhazia, a separatist region of Georgia aligned with Russia. May 29.

JUNE:
Albertina Sisulu, 92. A veteran of the anti-apartheid movement who was married to Nelson Mandela’s mentor. June 2.

Sammy Ofer, 89. A billionaire Israeli shipping magnate and philanthropist at the center of a scandal involving trade with Iran. June 2.

Jack Kevorkian, 83. Defiant proponent of doctor-assisted suicide who said he oversaw the deaths of 130 gravely ill people. June 3.

James Arness, 88. An actor who towered over the American television landscape for two decades as righteous Dodge City lawman Matt Dillon in “Gunsmoke.” June 3.

Harry Bernstein, 101. Wrote acclaimed memoir of an English childhood haunted by anti-Semitism “The Invisible Wall,” published when he was 96. June 3.

Lawrence Eagleburger, 80. The only career U.S. foreign service officer to rise to secretary of state and whose exuberant style masked a hard-driving commitment to solving tangled foreign policy problems. June 4.

Jorge Semprun, 87. A writer and politician who chronicled his own experience in the Nazis’ Buchenwald death camp, struggled against dictatorship in his native Spain and later became that country’s culture minister. June 7.

M.F. Husain, 95, a former movie billboard artist who rose to become India’s most sought after painter before going into self-imposed exile during an uproar over nude images of Hindu icons. June 9.

Brian Lenihan 52. A former finance minister who oversaw Ireland’s struggle to avoid national bankruptcy even as he battled cancer. June 10.

Sir Patrick Michael Leigh Fermor, 96. A British travel writer who tramped across Europe in his teens and captured a German general in Nazi-occupied Crete during World War II. June 10.

Clarence Clemons, 69. The saxophone player for the E Street Band who was one of the key influences in Bruce Springsteen’s life and music. June 18.

Frederick Chiluba, 68. Zambia’s first democratically elected president who became increasingly autocratic during his decade in office. June 18.

Yelena Bonner, 88. A Russian rights activist and widow of Nobel Peace Prize winner Andrei Sakharov. June 18.
Peter Falk, 83. The American stage and screen actor who became identified as the rumpled detective title character on “Colombo,” which spanned 30 years in primetime U.S. television. June 23.

Christiane Desroches Noblecourt, 97. A pioneering Egyptologist who prodded Gen. Gamal Abdel Nasser to help salvage Nubia’s vaunted antiquities. June 23.

Itamar Franco, 81. A former Brazilian president who in the 1980s tamed inflation in Latin America’s largest country. July 2.

Otto Von Habsburg, 98. The oldest son of Austria’s last emperor and head of one of Europe’s most influential families. July 4.
Manuel Galban, 80. An award-winning Cuban guitarist who rose to international fame as a member of the Buena Vista Social Club musical collective. July 7.

Betty Ford, 93. The former U.S. first lady whose triumph over drug and alcohol addiction became a beacon of hope for addicts and the inspiration for her Betty Ford Center in California. July 8.

Facundo Cabral, 74. One of Latin America’s most admired folk singers who was also a novelist. July 9.

Leo Kirch, 84. A German media mogul whose television empire collapsed in a spectacular bankruptcy nearly a decade ago. July 14.

Juan Maria Bordaberry, 83. Former president-turned dictator whose coup launched more than a decade of military rule in Uruguay. July 17.
Lucien Freud, 88. A towering and uncompromising figure in the art world for more than 50 years known for his intense realist portraits, particularly of nudes. July 20.
Elliot Handler, 95. With his wife, he grew Mattel Inc. from a small home-based picture-frame business into the largest U.S. toy maker and created the Hot Wheels brand. July 21.

Charles T. Manatt, 75. A former chairman of the Democratic National Committee and former U.S. ambassador to the Dominican Republic during the Clinton administration. July 22.

Nguyen Cao Ky, 80. The flamboyant former air force general who ruled South Vietnam for two years with an iron fist during the Vietnam war. July 23.

Amy Winehouse, 27. A dazzling, versatile singer who produced bitterly honest lyrics but who made headlines because of drug and alcohol abuse, eating disorders and destructive relationships. July 23. Alcohol poisoning.

John Shalikashvili, 75. A retired U.S. Army general who was the first foreign-born chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff and counseled President Bill Clinton on the use of troops in Bosnia and other trouble spots. July 24.

John Stott, 90. A minister who led a resurgence of evangelism in Britain and went on to become one of the most influential evangelical thinkers of the 20th century. July 27.

Pietro Sambi, 73. An archbishop and papal ambassador to the United States who helped bring about a meeting between Pope Benedict XVI and clerical sex abuse victims. July 27.

AUGUST:
Delois Barrett Campbell, 85. A member of the award-winning Barrett Sisters who electrified audiences around the world with their powerful gospel harmonies. Aug. 2.

Baruj Benacerraf, 90. A Venezuelan-born immunologist who shared the 1980 Nobel Prize in Physiology or Medicine. Aug. 2.

Bubba Smith, 66. Former NFL star and actor best known for playing Moses Hightower, the soft-spoken officer in the “Police Academy” films. Aug. 3

Jean-Claude Bajeux, 79. A former culture minister, scholar and steadfast human rights activist who targeted both Haiti’s long-ruling family dictatorship and the governments that followed. Aug. 5.

Andrzej Lepper, 57. A pig farmer-turned-firebrand populist who was briefly deputy prime minister in a shaky Polish government and who was later disgraced in a bribery and sex scandal. Aug. 5. Suspected suicide.

Hugh Carey, 92. A former New York governor who saved New York City from bankruptcy in the 1970s, staring down President Gerald Ford in the process. Aug. 7.

Marshall Grant, 83. The last surviving member of Johnny Cash and the Tennessee Two who helped change the future of American music and popular culture with their boom-chicka-boom beat. Aug. 7.

Billy Grammer, 85. His 1958 hit “Gotta Travel On” hit the top of American pop music charts and led to a long career at the Grand Ole Opry. Aug. 10.

Ctirad Masin, 81. A controversial anti-communist fighter in the former nation of Czechoslovakia who eluded a massive East Bloc manhunt during the Cold War. Aug. 13.

Raoul Ruiz, 70. A Chilean-born filmmaker who made more than 100 films and rebelled against the conventions of movie-making. Aug. 19.

Albert “Doc” Brown, 105. A survivor of the Bataan Death March, a harrowing 65-mile (105 kilometer) trek in which 78,000 prisoners of war were forced to walk from Bataan, a province near Manila, to a Japanese prisoner camp. Aug. 21.

Jack Layton, 61. A folksy and charismatic political leader who guided his leftist New Democrat party to become the dominant opposition group in Canada’s Parliament while battling severe health problems. Aug. 22.

Vicco von Buelow, 87. A humorist known as “Loriot,” often cited by Germans as proof of their sense of humor. Aug. 22.
Frank Dileo, 63. An American music industry executive, who managed Michael Jackson’s career in the 1980s and returned as his manager in the superstar’s final days. Aug. 24.

Leonidas Kyrkos, 86. A veteran leftist politician who once nearly faced a firing squad and eventually became one of Greece’s most respected politicians. Aug. 28.

David “Honey Boy” Edwards, 96. An award-winning American musician believed to be the oldest surviving Delta bluesman, in Chicago. Aug. 28.

Betty Skelton Erde, 85. An aviation and auto racing pioneer once called the fastest woman on Earth. Aug. 31.

SEPTEMBER:
Sandor Kepiro, 97. A former officer in the Hungarian security force who was acquitted of Holocaust-era war crimes. Sept. 3.

Julio Casas Regueiro, 75. An accountant who fought in Cuba’s revolution and became a general, then used his training to run the military’s lucrative enterprises for two decades before becoming defense minister. Sept. 3.

Vann Nath, 66. An artist who was among only seven people to survive Cambodia’s most notorious prison of the 1970s Khmer Rouge regime and who later depicted the facility’s horrific torture. Sept. 5.

Salvatore Licitra, 43. A tenor known in his Italian homeland as the “new Pavarotti.” Sept. 5. Motorcycle accident.

Cliff Robertson, 88. Actor who portrayed President John F. Kennedy in the film “PT-109” and won an Oscar for playing a mentally disabled man in “Charly.” Sept. 10.

John Calley, 81. He ran three Hollywood studios that made such hits as “The Exorcist” and “Spider-Man.” Sept. 13.

Richard Hamilton, 89. A British pop artist pioneer who depicted former Prime Minister Tony Blair as a cowboy and designed a Beatles’ album cover. Sept. 13.

Charles H. Percy, 91. A Chicago businessman who became a U.S. senator and was once widely viewed as a top presidential contender. Sept. 17.

Robert Whitaker, 71. A photographer who shot some of the most famous – and infamous – images of The Beatles. Sept. 20.

Aristides Pereira, 87. Fought Portugal’s colonial rule in the Cape Verde islands and became the West African nation’s first president. Sept. 23.
Wangari Maathi, 71. The first African woman recipient of the Nobel Peace Prize, who combined environmentalism and social activism. Sept. 25.
Phillip Matthew Hannan, 98. The popular former New Orleans Roman Catholic archbishop who sought to console a grieving U.S. with his eulogy for slain President John F. Kennedy. Sept. 29.

Anwar al-Awlaki, 40. An American-born Muslim preacher and savvy Internet operator, who became a powerful al-Qaida tool for recruiting in the West. Sept. 30.

Ralph Steinman, 68. A pioneering cell biologist who was awarded the Nobel Prize in medicine for his discoveries about the immune system.

OCTOBER:
Arthur C. Nielsen Jr., 92. He led the company that grew into an international firm that produces the TV ratings known as “The Nielsens.” Oct. 3.

Steve Jobs, 56. The Apple founder and former chief executive who invented and master-marketed ever sleeker gadgets that transformed everyday technology, from the personal computer to the iPod and iPhone. Oct. 5.

Rev. Fred L. Shuttlesworth, 89. Civil rights activist who endured arrests, beatings and injuries from fire hoses while fighting for racial equality in the segregated South of the 1960s. Oct. 5.

Bert Jansch, 67. A virtuoso acoustic guitarist who was at the center of the British folk revival of the 1960s and 1970s. Oct. 5.

Robert Galvin, 89. He was Motorola’s chief executive for 29 years and took it from maker of police radios and television sets to one of the world’s leading electronic companies. Oct. 11.

James Van Doren, 72. The co-founder of Vans canvas shoes that were embraced by the skateboard culture and became a sensation in the U.S. when Sean Penn wore a checkerboard pair in the 1982 film “Fast Times at Ridgemont High.” Oct. 12.
Dan Wheldon, 33. Race car driver who moved from his native England to the United States with hopes of winning the Indianapolis 500 race and went on to do so twice. Oct. 16.

Tadeusz Sawicz, 97. A Polish World War II airman believed to be the last surviving Polish pilot from the Battle of Britain. Oct. 19.

Moammar Gadhafi, 69. The last of the old-style Arab strongmen who ruled Libya for nearly 42 years with an eccentric brutality. Oct. 20.
Sultan bin Abdul-Aziz Al Saud, 80. Crown prince of Saudi Arabia who as defense minister closed multibillion-dollar deals to establish the modern Saudi armed forces. Oct. 22.

Jimmy Savile, 84. A veteran British broadcaster and famously eccentric culture figure. Oct. 29.

NOVEMBER:
Dorothy Rodham, 92. Mother of Secretary of State Hillary Rodham Clinton and former President Bill Clinton’s mother-in-law. Nov. 1.

Norman Ramsey, 96. Shared the 1989 Nobel Prize in physics for his research into atomic energy levels that led to the creation of the atomic clock and imaging machines. Nov. 4.

Andy Rooney, 92. The curmudgeonly commentator who spent 30 years talking about the oddities of life on American television. Nov. 4.

Alfonso Cano, 63. A bespectacled intellectual who rose from chief ideologist to maximum leader of the Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia, also known as the FARC. Nov. 4.

Joe Frazier, 67. One of the great heavyweight boxers of his era who was forever associated with three bouts he had with Mohammad Ali, including the “Thrilla in Manila.” Nov. 7.
Bil Keane, 89. Creator of the comic strip “Family Circus,” which entertained readers with a mix of humor and traditional family values for more than a half century. Nov. 8.

Heavy D, 44. He became one of rap’s top hit makers in the late 1980s and early 1990s with his charming combination of humor and positivity. Nov. 8.

Francisco Blake Mora, 45. Mexico’s interior minister and point man in the country’s deadly war against organized crime and drug cartels. Nov. 11.
Evelyn Lauder, 75. An executive at cosmetics giant Estee Lauder Cos. who helped create the pink ribbon campaign for breast cancer awareness. Nov. 12.

Karl Slover, 93. One of the last surviving actors who played one of the Munchkins in the 1939 classic film “The Wizard of Oz.” Nov. 15.

Basil D’Oliveira, 80. A South African-born cricket player for England who became a pivotal figure in the sport’s battle against apartheid. Nov. 19.

Anne McCaffrey, 85. Her vision of an interstellar alliance between humans and dragons spawned the science fiction “Dragonriders of Pern” novels. Nov. 21.
Eli Hurvitz, 79. The one-time laboratory dishwasher who transformed Teva Pharmaceutical Industries from a small Israeli medical company into the world’s largest genetic drugmaker. Nov. 21.

Danielle Mitterrand, 87. The widow of France’s first Socialist president, Francois Mitterrand, and who joined the World War II French resistance and later advocated many left-leaning causes and vociferously opposed capitalist excess. Nov. 22.

Svetlana Alliluyeva, 85. Known later in life as Lana Peters, she was Soviet dictator Josef Stalin’s daughter whose defection to the West during the Cold War embarrassed the ruling communists and made her a best-stelling author. Nov. 22.

Tom Wicker, 85. The former New York Times political reporter and columnist whose career soared after his acclaimed coverage of the assassination of President John F. Kennedy. Nov. 25.

Judy Lewis, 76. Conceived out of wedlock by movie stars Clark Gable and Loretta Young while they filmed “Call of the Wild” in the 1930s, for years one of the best kept secrets in Hollywood. Nov. 25.

Chukwuemeka Odumegwu Ojukwu, 78. A millionaire’s son who became leader of the breakaway Republic of Biafra in eastern Nigeria, plunging the country into civil war that killed a million people and brought television images of starving African children. Nov. 26.

Ken Russell, 84. An iconoclastic British director whose daring films blended music, sex and violence in a potent brew seemingly drawn from his subconscious. Nov. 27.

Ante Markovic, 87. The former Yugoslavia’s last prime minister who tried to prevent the country’s bloody breakup in the 1990s. Nov. 27.

DECEMBER:
Francois Lesage, 82. The heir of the legendary Maison Lesage embroidery atelier which has been long embellishing Paris’ couture houses’ most fantastic creations. Dec. 1.

Dev Anand, 88. A charismatic and flamboyant Indian film star for more than half a century. Dec. 3.

Socrates, 57. A former Brazilian soccer star known for his elegant style and deep involvement in politics. Dec. 4.
Patricia Dunn, 58. The former Hewlett-Packard chairwoman who authorized a board room surveillance probe that ultimately sullied her remarkable rise from investment bank typist to the corporate upper class. Dec. 4.
Violetta Villas 73. A Polish coloratura soprano who spurned opera for popular music and became a cabaret star in Las Vegas and then got trapped behind the Iron Curtain when she returned to care for her dying mother. Dec. 5.

Harry Morgan, 96. An actor best known for playing the fatherly Col. Sherman Potter on the TV show “M-A-S-H.” Dec. 7.

Jerry Robinson, 89. A comic book industry pioneer who helped create Batman sidekick Robin the Boy Wonder and their arch-nemesis The Joker. Dec. 7.

Diana Joy Colbert, 41. The wife of author Charles Bock whose battle with leukemia inspired widespread sympathy and support among the New York literary community. Dec. 8.

Cardinal John Foley, 76. For 25 years, he was the voice for American viewers of the Vatican’s Christmas Midnight Mass and he led an ancient Catholic order in the Holy Land. Dec. 11.

Boris Chertok, 99. A Russian rocket designer who played a key role in engineering Soviet-era space programs. Dec. 14.

George Whitman, 98. A pillar of Paris’ literary scene, whose eclectic bookshop Shakespeare and Company was a beacon for readers. Dec. 14.

Joe Simon, 98. He co-created Captain America along with Jack Kirby and was one of the comic book industry’s most revered writers, artists and editors. Dec. 14.

Christopher Hitchens, 62. An author, essayist and polemicist who waged verbal and occasional physical battle on behalf of causes left and right. Dec. 15.
Eduardo Barreto, 57, Uruguayan comic book artist. Dec. 16   Bob Brookmeyer, 81, American jazz valve trombonist, cardiopulmonary arrest.

Robert Easton, 81, American actor and dialect coach. Dan Frazer, 90, American actor (Kojak, As The World Turns), cardiac arrest. Dec. 17

John Bishop, 65, American soul and jazz guitarist, heart attack. Dec 18.

Ralph MacDonald, 67, American percussionist and songwriter.  Harley Sewell, 80, American football player (Detroit Lions, Los Angeles Rams). Patrick V. Murphy, 91, American police chief, New York City Police Commissioner (1970–1973). Ron Smith, 70, American radio host (WBAL). Dec 19.

Bettye Danoff, 88, American golfer, founding member of the LPGA. Bennie Ellender, 86, American college football coach (Arkansas State, Tulane). Dec 23

Columbus Zoo rhinoceros, Kijito. Dec 29

ENTERTAINMENT:
My Top Movies of 2011:

01.) The Music Never Stopped Roadside Attractions; J.K. SimmonsJulia Ormond, Mía Maestro, Lou Taylor Pucci

02.) Bloodworth Samuel Goldwyn Films;  Val Kilmer, Kris Kristofferson, Hilary Duff, Reece Thompson, Dwight Yoakam

03.) Country Strong; Gwyneth Paltrow, Tim McGraw, Leighton Meester, Garrett Hedlund

04.) Kill the Irishman Anchor Bay Entertainment; Ray Stevenson, Val Kilmer,Christopher Walken, Vincent D’Onofrio

05.) The Rite Warner Brothers; Sir Anthony Hopkins

06.) Atlas Shrugged: Part I Rocky Mountain Pictures; Taylor Schilling, Grant Bowler

07.) The Muppets Walt Disney Pictures; Jason Segel, Amy Adams, Chris Cooper, Rashida Jones, Alan Arkin,Jack Black, Billy Crystal, Zach Galifianakis, Kathy Griffin, Ricky Gervais, Emily Blunt, Ed Helms

08.) Moneyball Columbia Pictures; Brad Pitt, Jonah Hill, Robin Wright, Philip Seymour Hoffman, Stephen Bishop,Kathryn Morris, Chris Pratt

09.) The Conspirator Roadside Attractions Robert Redford (director); James McAvoy,Robin Wright, Justin Long, Tom Wilkinson, Evan Rachel Wood, Kevin Kline,Alexis Bledel, Danny Huston, Johnny Simmons, Stephen Root

10.) Just Go with It Columbia Pictures; Adam Sandler, Jennifer Aniston, Nicole Kidman, Brooklyn Decker, Nick Swardson, Dave Matthews

11.) Footloose Paramount Pictures /MTV Films; Kenny Wormald, Julianne Hough, Dennis Quaid, Andie MacDowell, Miles Teller

12.) Courageous TriStar Pictures /Sherwood Pictures; Alex Kendrick, Kevin Downes, Ken Bevel, Ben Davies, Matt Hardwick

13.) Paranormal Activity 3 Paramount Pictures

14.) Take Me Home Tonight Relativity Media;Topher Grace, Teresa Palmer, Anna Faris, Michael Biehn, Dan Fogler, Michelle Trachtenberg

15.) Super 8 Paramount Pictures /Bad Robot; Joel Courtney, Elle Fanning, Kyle Chandler, Gabriel Basso, Noah Emmerich, Ron Eldard, Riley Griffiths, Ryan Lee, Zach Mills

16.) Our Idiot Brother The Weinstein Company; Paul Rudd

17.) Bad Teacher Columbia Pictures; Lee Eisenberg, Gene Stupnitsky (screenplay);Cameron Diaz, Jason Segel, Justin Timberlake, Lucy Punch, John Michael Higgins, Phyllis Smith, Thomas Lennon, Eric Stonestreet Blue

18.) The Lincoln Lawyer Lionsgate; Matthew McConaughey, Ryan Phillipe, Marisa Tomei, Josh Lucas, John Leguizamo, Michael Pena, William H. Macy, Trace Adkins
19.) Zookeeper Columbia Pictures /MGM; Kevin James, Rosario Dawson, Leslie Bibb, Adam Sandler, Cher, Jon Favreau, Sylvester Stallone, Joe Rogan, Ken Jeong, Nick Nolte, Judd Apatow,Maya Rudolph, Faizon Love

20.) Limitless Relativity Media / Rogue Pictures; Bradley Cooper, Robert De Niro, Abbie Cornish, Anna Friel, Johnny Whitworth

21.) Fright Night Touchstone Pictures /DreamWorks; Anton Yelchin, Colin Farrell, Imogen Poots, Toni Collette, David Tennant, Christopher Mintz-Plasse

22.) The Ides of March Columbia Pictures George Clooney (director/screenplay); Ryan Gosling, George Clooney, Phillip Seymour Hoffman, Paul Giamatti, Marisa Tomei, Evan Rachel Wood, Max Minghella, Jeffrey Wright

23.) Beastly CBS Films; Alex Pettyfer, Vanessa Hudgens,Mary-Kate Olsen, Neil Patrick Harris, Peter Krause

24.) Win Win Fox Searchlight Pictures; Paul Giamatti, Amy Ryan,Bobby Cannavale, Melanie Lynskey, Burt Young, Jeffrey Tambor,Alex Shaffer

25.) The Mechanic CBS Films; Jason Statham, Ben Foster, Donald Sutherland, Tony Goldwyn

26.) The 5th Quarter 5th Quarter / Park Entertainment; Ryan Merriman, Aidan Quinn,Andie MacDowell

28.) Young Adult Paramount Pictures Jason Reitman (director);  Charlize Theron,Patrick Wilson, Patton Oswalt, J.K. Simmon

29.) Warrior Lionsgate Anthony Tambakis, Cliff Dorfman(screenplay); Joel Edgerton, Tom Hardy, Jennifer Morrison, Nick Nolte,Frank Grillo, Maximiliano Hernandez, Erik Apple, Kurt Angle

29.) No Strings Attached Paramount Pictures Ivan Reitman; Ashton Kutcher, Natalie Portman, Cary Elwes, Kevin Kline, Greta Gerwig Romantic comedy

30.) J. Edgar Warner Bros. Clint Eastwood (director); Leonardo DiCaprio, Armie Hammer, Naomi Watts, Josh Lucas, Ken Howard,Judi Dench Biographical drama

31.) We Bought a Zoo 20th Century Fox Cameron Crowe (director); Matt Damon, Thomas Haden Church, Scarlett Johansson, John Michael Higgins, Patrick Fugit, Elle Fanning

32.)  32 Minutes or Less Columbia Pictures; Jesse Eisenberg, Aziz Ansari, Danny McBride, Nick Swardson, Michael Peña

33.) Dolphin Tale Warner Bros; Harry Connick, Jr., Ashley Judd, Morgan Freeman, Nathan Gamble, Kris Kristofferson, Austin Stowell, Cozi Zuehlsdorff

34.) Soul Surfer TriStar Pictures /FilmDistrict; Dennis Quaid, AnnaSophia Robb, Helen Hunt,Carrie Underwood

35.) Diary of a Wimpy Kid: Rodrick Rules 20th Century; Zachary Gordon, Robert Capron, Rachael Harris, Devon Bostick, Peyton List, Steve Zahn Family comedy

36.) Scream 4 Dimension Films Wes Craven (director); Neve Campbell,Courteney Cox, David Arquette, Emma Roberts, Nico Tortorella, Hayden Panettiere, Rory Culkin, Marielle Jaffe, Mary McDonnell, Erik Knudsen,Anna Paquin, Kristen Bell, Anthony Anderson, Marley Shelton, Adam Brody,Alison Brie, Brittany Robertson, Aimee Teegarden

37.) X-Men: First Class 20th Century Fox /Marvel Studios; James McAvoy, Michael Fassbender, Kevin Bacon, Rose Byrne, January Jones, Nicholas Hoult, Jennifer Lawrence,Oliver Platt, Zoë Kravitz, January Jones, Lucas Till, Edi Gathegi, Jason Flemyng, Bill Milner, Morgan Lily

38.) Bridesmaids Universal Pictures; Kristen Wiig, Maya Rudolph, Rose Byrne, Matt Lucas,Chris O’Dowd, Melissa McCarthy, Ellie Kemper

39.) Captain America: The First Avenger Paramount Pictures /Marvel Studios; Chris Evans, Hayley Atwell, Hugo Weaving, Sebastian Stan, Toby Jones, Dominic Cooper, Tommy Lee Jones, Neal McDonough, Stanley Tucci, Derek Luke

40.) Horrible Bosses Warner Bros. / New Line Cinema; Jason Bateman, Charlie Day, Jason Sudeikis, Jamie Foxx, Jennifer Aniston, Kevin Spacey, Colin Farrell,Donald Sutherland, Julie Bowen Black

41.) The Lion King 3D Walt Disney Pictures Roger Allers, Rob Minkoff (directors); Jonathan Taylor Thomas, Matthew Broderick, James Earl Jones, Jeremy Irons, Moira Kelly, Nathan Lane,Ernie Sabella, Rowan Atkinson, Robert Guillaume, Madge Sinclair,Whoopi Goldberg, Cheech Marin, Jim Cummings

42.) The Tree of Life Fox Searchlight Pictures Terrence Malick; Brad Pitt, Sean Penn, Jessica Chastain, Fiona Shaw, Joanna Going, Hunter McCracken

43.) Winnie the Pooh Walt Disney Pictures; Jim Cummings, Tom Kenny,Craig Ferguson, Travis Oates, Bud Luckey, John Cleese, Jack Boulter, Kristen Anderson-Lopez, Wyatt Dean Hall, Huell Howser
44.) The Help Touchstone Pictures /DreamWorks Pictures; Emma Stone, Viola Davis, Bryce Dallas Howard, Octavia Spencer, Jessica Chastain, Allison Janney, Chris Lowell, Mike Vogel, Sissy Spacek, Mary Steenburgen, Cicely Tyson

45.) The Hangover Part II Warner Bros.; Scot Armstrong, Craig Mazin(screenplay); Bradley Cooper, Ed Helms, Zach Galifianakis, Justin Bartha,Jeffrey Tambor, Ken Jeong, Mike Tyson, Bryan Callen, Jamie Chung, Nick Cassavetes

46.) 50/50 Summit Entertainment; Seth Rogen, Joseph Gordon-Levitt, Anna Kendrick, Bryce Dallas Howard, Anjelica Huston,Philip Baker Hall

47.) War Horse Touchstone Pictures /DreamWorks Pictures Steven Spielberg (director); David Thewlis, Benedict Cumberbatch, Jeremy Irvine, Emily Watson,Peter Mullan, Tom Hiddleston, Niels Arestrup, Toby Kebbell, Stephen Graham

48.) Extremely Loud and Incredibly Close Warner Bros.; Tom Hanks,Sandra Bullock, Thomas Horn, Zoe Caldwell, James Gandolfini, Max von Sydow, Viola Davis, Jeffrey Wright

49.) The Dilemma Universal Pictures Ron Howard (director); Vince Vaughn, Kevin James, Winona Ryder, Jennifer Connelly, Channing Tatum, Queen Latifah

50.) Margin Call Roadside Attractions; Kevin Spacey, Paul Bettany,Jeremy Irons, Zachary Quinto, Penn Badgley, Simon Baker, Mary McDonnell, Demi Moore, Stanley Tucci

51.) Spy Kids 4D: All the Time in the World Dimension Films; Jessica Alba, Daryl Sabara, Rowan Blanchard, Mason Cook, Joel McHale, Jeremy Piven, Antonio Banderas, Danny Trejo, Alexa Vega

52.) The Company Men The Weinstein Company; Ben Affleck, Tommy Lee Jones,Chris Cooper, Kevin Costner, Maria Bello, Craig T. Nelson

53.) Priest Screen Gems Paul Bettany, Cam Gigandet, Lily Collins, Karl Urban, Maggie Q, Stephen Moyer, Christopher Plummer

54.) Pirates of the Caribbean: On Stranger Tides Walt Disney Pictures Rob Marshall (director); Johnny Depp, Geoffrey Rush, Ian McShane,Penélope Cruz, Kevin McNally, Stephen Graham, Sam Claflin, Astrid Bergès-Frisbey, Richard Griffiths, Keith Richards

55.) Cars 2 Walt Disney Pictures /Pixar Animation Studios; Owen Wilson, Larry the Cable Guy, Tony Shalhoub, Guido Quaroni, Paul Dooley,John Ratzenberger, Bonnie Hunt, Cheech Marin, Jenifer Lewis, Michael Wallis, Lloyd Sherr, Katherine Helmond, Michael Caine, Emily Mortimer,Jason Isaacs, Thomas Kretschmann, Joe Mantegna, Peter Jacobson, John Turturro, Franco Nero, Vanessa Redgrave, Michel Michelis, Eddie Izzard,Bruce Campbell, Lewis Hamilton, Darrell Waltrip, David Hobbs, Jeff Gordon

56.) Transformers: Dark of the Moon Paramount Pictures Michael Bay (director); Shia LaBeouf, Rosie Huntington-Whiteley, John Turturro, Kevin Dunn, Julie White, Frances McDormand, John Malkovich, Tyrese Gibson, Patrick Dempsey, Josh Duhamel, Alan Tudyk, Buzz Aldrin, Ken Jeong, Glenn Morshower, Lester Speight, Iqbal Theba, Keiko Agena, Elya Baskin Voices of Peter Cullen,Hugo Weaving, Charlie Adler, Robert Foxworth, Jess Harnell, Reno Wilson,Frank Welker, Tom Kenny, Leonard Nimoy, John DiMaggio, James Remar,Keith Szarabajka, Ron Bottitta, George Coe, Francesco Quinn, Greg Berg, Jim Wood

57.) Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows – Part 2 Warner Bros. Pictures; Daniel Radcliffe,Rupert Grint, Emma Watson, Tom Felton, Helena Bonham Carter, Jim Broadbent, Robbie Coltrane, Warwick Davis, Ralph Fiennes, Michael Gambon, Ciarán Hinds, John Hurt, Jason Isaacs, Kelly Macdonald, Gary Oldman, Alan Rickman, Maggie Smith, David Thewlis, Emma Thompson, Julie Walters

58.) Friends with Benefits Screen Gems; Justin Timberlake, Mila Kunis, Woody Harrelson, Patricia Clarkson, Richard Jenkins, Bryan Greenberg, Jenna Elfman

59.) New Year’s Eve Warner Bros. / New Line Cinema Garry Marshall (director); Halle Berry,Jessica Biel, Jon Bon Jovi, Abigail Breslin, Ludacris, Robert De Niro,Josh Duhamel, Zac Efron, Hector Elizondo, Katherine Heigl, Ashton Kutcher, Seth Meyers, Lea Michele, Sarah Jessica Parker, Michelle Pfeiffer, Til Schweiger, Hilary Swank, Sofía Vergara

60.) The Sitter 20th Century Fox; Jonah Hill, Sam Rockwell, Ari Graynor, Max Records,Miriam McDonald, J. B. Smoove,

61.) The Art of Getting By Fox Searchlight Pictures; Freddie Highmore, Emma Roberts,Alicia Silverstone, Elizabeth Reaser, Blair Underwood, Rita Wilson, Michael Angarano

62.) Red Riding Hood Warner Bros.; Amanda Seyfried, Gary Oldman,Shiloh Fernandez, Max Irons, Billy Burke, Julie Christie, Virginia Madsen, Lukas Haas

Insidious FilmDistrict; Patrick Wilson, Rose Byrne, Barbara Hershey, Ty Simpkins

63.) Paul Universal Pictures; Nick Frost, Simon Pegg, Seth Rogen, Bill Hader, Kristen Wiig, Jason Bateman, Sigourney Weaver, Jane Lynch, John Carroll Lynch, Joe Lo Truglio, David Koechner, Blythe Danner

64.) Hobo with a Shotgun Rhombus Media/Whizbang Films Inc./Yer Dead Productions; Rutger Hauer,Gregory Smith, Brian Downey

65.) The King’s Speech The Weinstein Company; Colin Firth, Geoffrey Rush, Helena Bonham Carter, Guy Pearce, Derek Jacobi, Timothy Spall,Michael Gambon, Jennifer Ehle, Anthony Andrews, Claire Bloom

66.) Water for Elephants 20th Century Fox; Robert Pattinson, Reese Witherspoon, Christoph Waltz

67.) Larry Crowne Universal Pictures Tom Hanks (director/screenplay); Tom Hanks, Julia Roberts, Bryan Cranston, Taraji P. Henson, Cedric the Entertainer, Gugu Mbatha Raw, Wilmer Valderrama, Pam Grier, Rami Malek, George Takei, Maria Canals Barrera, Grace Gummer, Rita Wilson, Jon Seda
68.) Thor Paramount Pictures /Marvel Studios; Chris Hemsworth, Tom Hiddleston, Natalie Portman, Anthony Hopkins, Stellan Skarsgård, Jaimie Alexander, Colm Feore, Joshua Dallas, Tadanobu Asano,Ray Stevenson, Idris Elba, Rene Russo, Kat Dennings, Samuel L. Jackson

69.) Green Lantern Warner Bros.; Ryan Reynolds, Blake Lively, Peter Sarsgaard, Mark Strong, Tim Robbins, Geoffrey Rush, Angela Bassett, Temuera Morrison, Jay O. Sanders, Taika Waititi, Jon Tenney,Michael Clarke Duncan, Clancy Brown

70.) Prom Walt Disney Pictures; Danielle Campbell,Aimee Teegarden, Nicholas Braun, Thomas McDonnell

71.) Mr. Popper’s Penguins 20th Century Fox; Jim Carrey,Carla Gugino, Philip Baker Hall, Angela Lansbury, Ophelia Lovibond, James Tupper, Clark Gregg, David Krumholtz, Andrew Stewart-Jones

72.) Cowboys & Aliens Universal Pictures /DreamWorks Pictures Jon Favreau (director);  Daniel Craig, Harrison Ford,Sam Rockwell, Olivia Wilde, Noah Ringer, Clancy Brown, Paul Dano,Keith Carradine, Adam Beach, Ana de la Reguera, Abigail Spencer

73.) The Smurfs Columbia Pictures /Sony Pictures; Neil Patrick Harris, Jayma Mays, Hank Azaria,Jonathan Winters, Katy Perry, Alan Cumming, George Lopez, Anton Yelchin, Fred Armisen, John Kassir, Sofía Vergara, Paul Reubens, John Oliver, Kenan Thompson, B.J. Novak, Jeff Foxworthy, Wolfgang Puck,Gary Basaraba, Tim Gunn

74.) The Beaver Summit Entertainment Jodie Foster (director); Mel Gibson, Jodie Foster,Anton Yelchin, Jennifer Lawrence, Riley Thomas Stewart

75.) The Change-Up Universal Pictures David Dobkin; Ryan Reynolds, Jason Bateman, Leslie Mann, Olivia Wilde, Alan Arkin

76.) Final Destination 5 Warner Bros. / New Line Cinema; Nicholas D’Agosto,Emma Bell, David Koechner, Miles Fisher, P. J. Byrne, Arlen Escarpeta,Courtney Vance, Tony Todd, Ellen Wroe, Jacqueline MacInnes Wood

77.) The Rum Diary FilmDistrict; Johnny Depp, Amber Heard,Aaron Eckhart, Giovanni Ribisi

78.) Like Crazy Paramount Vantage; Anton Yelchin, Felicity Jones, Jennifer Lawrence,Charlie Bewley

79.) The Descendants Fox Searchlight Pictures; George Clooney, Judy Greer, Beau Bridges, Matthew Lillard, Robert Forster, Shailene Woodley, Mary Birdsong, Nick Krause, Amara Miller

80.) Happy Feet Two Warner Bros.; Elijah Wood, Robin Williams, Brad Pitt, Matt Damon, Hank Azaria, Pink, Sofía Vergara, Common, Hugo Weaving,Magda Szubanski, Anthony LaPaglia, Richard Carter

81.) The Twilight Saga: Breaking Dawn – Part 1 Summit Entertainment; Kristen Stewart, Robert Pattinson, Taylor Lautner, Peter Facinelli, Ashley Greene, Kellan Lutz, Jackson Rathbone, Elizabeth Reaser, Nikki Reed, Billy Burke, Rami Malek, Maggie Grace, Mackenzie Foy, Tracey Heggins, Judi Shekoni, Omar Metwally, Andrea Gabriel,Angela Sarafyan, Marlene Barnes, Lisa Howard, Patrick Brennan,Noel Fisher, Guri Weinberg, Lee Pace, Toni Trucks, Bill Tangradi, Erik Odom, Valorie Curry, Joe Anderson, Olga Fonda, Janelle Froehlich, Masami Kosaka, Sebastiao Lemos, Amadou Ly, Ty Olsson, Wendell Pierce, Carolina Virguez

82.) Hugo Paramount Pictures Martin Scorsese (director); Ben Kingsley,Sacha Baron Cohen, Asa Butterfield, Chloe Grace Moretz, Jude Law,Ray Winstone, Christopher Lee, Richard Griffiths, Emily Mortimer,Frances de la Tour, Helen McCrory, Michael Stuhlbarg

83.) My Week with Marilyn The Weinstein Company; Michelle Williams, Kenneth Branagh, Eddie Redmayne, Dominic Cooper, Julia Ormond, Zoë Wanamaker, Emma Watson, Judi Dench

84.) Sherlock Holmes: A Game of Shadows Warner Bros. Guy Ritchie (director); Robert Downey, Jr., Jude Law, Jared Harris, Eddie Marsan, Noomi Rapace, Stephen Fry, Geraldine James, Rachael McAdams, Kelly Reilly

85.) The Adventures of Tintin Paramount Pictures /Columbia Pictures /Nickelodeon Movies Steven Spielberg (director); Jamie Bell, Daniel Craig, Andy Serkis, Simon Pegg, Nick Frost, Gad Elmaleh, Toby Jones, Mackenzie Crook

86.) Dream House Universal Pictures; Daniel Craig, Rachel Weisz, Naomi Watts, Marton Csokas, Elias Koteas, Jane Alexander

87.) Tower Heist Universal Pictures; Ben Stiller, Eddie Murphy,Matthew Broderick, Alan Alda, Casey Affleck, Téa Leoni, Stephen Henderson, Judd Hirsch, Gabourey Sidibe, Michael Pena

88.) Rango Paramount Pictures /Nickelodeon Movies; Johnny Depp, Abigail Breslin, Isla Fisher,Alfred Molina

89.) Rise of the Planet of the Apes 20th Century Fox; James Franco, Freida Pinto, John Lithgow, Andy Serkis, Brian Cox, Tom Felton, David Oyelowo

90.) The Human Centipede 2 (Full Sequence) IFC Midnight; Laurence R. Harvey, Ashlynn Yennie

91.) A Very Harold & Kumar 3D Christmas Warner Bros. / New Line Cinema; John Cho, Kal Penn, Neil Patrick Harris, Paula Garces,Danneel Harris, Eddie Kaye Thomas, Thomas Lennon, Danny Trejo,Patton Oswalt, Elias Koteas, David Krumholtz

92.) The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo Columbia Pictures /MGM; Daniel Craig,Rooney Mara, Stellan Skarsgård, Robin Wright Penn, Christopher Plummer, Joely Richardson, Steven Berkoff, Yorick van Wageningen

93.) Contagion Warner Bros. Steven Soderbergh (director);  Matt Damon, Kate Winslet, Jude Law, Gwyneth Paltrow, Marion Cotillard, Laurence Fishburne, Bryan Cranston, Sanaa Lathan, Jennifer Ehle

94.) Glee: The 3D Concert Movie 20th Century Fox; Lea Michele, Cory Monteith, Amber Riley,Chris Colfer, Dianna Agron, Heather Morris, Kevin McHale, Jenna Ushkowitz, Mark Salling, Naya Rivera, Harry Shum, Chord Overstreet,Darren Criss, Ashley Fink

95.) Gnomeo & Juliet Touchstone Pictures

96.) Justin Bieber: Never Say Never Paramount Pictures /MTV Films; Justin Bieber, Usher, Jaden Smith Concert/Documentar

Real Steel Touchstone Pictures /DreamWorks Pictures; Hugh Jackman,Kevin Durand, Evangeline Lilly, Anthony Mackie, Dakota Goyo

97.) The Green Hornet Columbia Pictures; Evan Goldberg, Seth Rogen, Jay Chou, Cameron Diaz, Christopher Waltz

98-100.) Reserved for whatever movies I may have missed

Top 10 You Tube Videos
#10 Cat Mom Hugs Baby Kitten
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Vw4KVoEVcr0

37 million views

#9 The Force: Volkswagon Commercial
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=R55e-uHQna0

45 million views

#8 Maria Aragon – Born This Way (Cover) By Lady Gaga
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xG0wi1m-89o

#7  The Creep (feat. Nicki Minaj & John Waters)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tLPZmPaHme0

48 million views

#6 Look At Me Now – Chris Brown ft. Lil Wayne, Busta Rhymes (Cover by @KarminMusic)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=khCokQt–l4

49 million views

#5 Nyan Cat [Original]
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QH2-TGUlwu4

53 million views

#4 Talking Twin Babies – PART 2 – OFFICIAL VIDEO
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_JmA2ClUvUY

56 million views:

#3 Jack Sparrow (feat. Michael Bolton)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GI6CfKcMhjY

60 million views:

#2 Ultimate Dog Tease
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GI6CfKcMhjY

74 million views:

#1 Rebecca Black – Friday – Official Music Video
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kfVsfOSbJY0

167 million views (NO REALLY!)

http://www.reelseo.com/youtube-most-watched-videos-of-the-year/#ixzz1hEZklDWt
MUSIC: MATT’s TOP 100+ SONGS OF 2011
1.) God Gave Me You-Blake Shelton

2.) Somewhere With You-Kenny Chesney

3.) Firework-Katy Perry

4.) Tattoos On This Town-Jason Aldean

5.) We Owned The Night-Lady Antebellum

6.) Just A Kiss-Lady Antebellum

7.) Crazy Girl-Eli Young Band

11.) The Man Who Can’t Be Moved-The Script

12.) Hello World-Lady Antebellum

13.) Pumped Up Kicks-Foster The People

14.) I Don’t Want This Night To End-Luke Bryan

15.) Someone Like You-Adele

16.) Barefoot Blue Jean Night-Jake Owen

17.) Colder Weather-Zac Brown Band

18.) Country Girl (Shake It For Me)-Luke Bryan
19.) The Time (Dirty Bit)-The Black Eyed Peas
20.) Blow-Ke$Ha

21.) Dirt Road Anthem-Jason Aldean

22.) Jar Of Hearts-Christina Perri

23.) Just A Dream-Nelly

24.) What Do You Want-Jerrod Niemann

25.) Good Life-OneRepublic
26.) Rolling In The Deep-Adele

27.) Party Rock Anthem-LMFAO

28.) F**Kin’ Perfect-P!Nk

29.) Reality-Kenny Chesney
30.) Born This Way-Lady Gaga

31.) For the First Time-The Script

32.) Homeboy-Eric Church
33.) Country Must Be Country Wide-Brantley Gilbert

34.) Sexy And I Know It-LMFAO
35.) Let It Rain-David Nail

36.) Raise Your Glass-P!Nk
37.) Easy-Rascal Flatts Featuring Natasha Bedingfield

38.) Moves Like Jagger-Maroon 5 Featuring Christina Aguilera

39.) One More Drinkin’ Song-Jerrod Niemann

40.) Hey Baby (Drop It To The Floor)-Pitbull Featuring T-Pain
41.) Voices-Chris Young
42.) Coming Home-Diddy – Dirty Money Featuring Skylar Grey

43.) If Heaven Wasn’t So Far Away-Justin Moore

44.) The Edge Of Glory-Lady Gaga
45.) F**K You (Forget You)-Cee Lo Green

46.) The Breath You Take-George Strait

47.) Tonight (I’m Lovin’ You)-Enrique Iglesias Featuring Ludacris & DJ Frank E
48.) You And Tequila-Kenny Chesney Featuring Grace Potter

49.) Give Me Everything-Pitbull
50.) Back To December-Taylor Swift

51.) This-Darius Rucker

52.) Here For A Good Time-George Strait
53.) We R Who We R-Ke$Ha
54.) If I Die Young-The Band Perry
55.) Written In The Stars-Tinie Tempah Featuring Eric Turner
56.) You Make Me Feel So-Cobra Starship Featuring Sabi
57.) Knee Deep-Zac Brown Band Featuring Jimmy Buffett
58.) In The Dark-Dev
59.) I Can’t Love You Back-Easton Corbin

60.) Keep Me In Mind-Zac Brown Band

61.) Tonight Tonight-Hot Chelle Rae

62.) Honey Bee-Blake Shelton
63.) Teenage Dream-Katy Perry

64.) Tomorrow-Chris Young
65.) You Lie-The Band Perry
66.) Long Hot Summer-Keith Urban
67.) My Kinda Party-Jason Aldean

68.) Without You-Keith Urban
69.) Who Are You When I’m Not Looking-Blake Shelton
70.) Someone Else Calling You Baby-Luke Bryan
71.) Dj Got Us Fallin’ In Love-Usher Featuring Pitbull
72.) Put You In A Song-Keith Urban
73.) Yeah 3x-Chris Brown
74.) Animal-Neon Trees
75.) I Got Nothin’-Darius Rucker
76.) Cost Of Livin’-Ronnie Dunn
77.) Felt Good On My Lips-Tim McGraw

78.) Are You Gonna Kiss Me Or Not-Thompson Square

79.) Drink In My Hand-Eric Church
80.) As She’s Walking Away-Zac Brown Band Featuring Alan Jackson
81.) Baggage Claim-Miranda Lambert

82.) If I Die Young-The Band Perry
83.) Red Solo Cup-Toby Keith

84.) Love Don’t Run-Steve Holy
85.) Stereo Hearts-Gym Class Heroes Featuring Adam Levine

86.) The Show Goes On-Lupe Fiasco

87.) Didn’t I-James Wesley
88.) You-Chris Young
89.) Stereo Love-Edward Maya & Vika Jigulina
90.) I Love You This Big-Scotty McCreery

91.) Where Them Girls At-David Guetta Featuring Flo Rida & Nicki Minaj

92.) Please Don’t Go-Mike Posner

93.) The Lazy Song-Bruno Mars

94.) Take A Back Road-Rodney Adkins

95.) Farmer’s Daughter-Rodney Atkins
96.) Bait A Hook-Justin Moore

97.) Old Alabama-Brad Paisley Featuring Alabama

98.) Won’t Be Lonely Long-Josh Thompson

99.) On The Floor-Jennifer Lopez Featuring Pitbull
100.) Made In America-Toby Keith

101.) Lighters-Bad Meets Evil Featuring Bruno Mars

102.) Hold It Against Me-Britney Spears
103.) What The Hell-Avril Lavigne

104.) Till The World Ends-Britney Spears
105.) Rocketeer-Far East Movement Featuring Ryan Tedder

106.) Motivation-Kelly Rowland Featuring Lil Wayne

107.) Super Bass-Nicki Minaj

 

 

TOP TOURS of 2011
2011 turned out to be a resounding comeback year for the live music business, including a new record for the highest-grossing and most widely-attended tour of all time, U2’s three-year 360° tour.

The list of the Top 25 Tours comprises a healthy mix of genres and generations, from country stars Taylor Swift and Kenny Chesney to classic rockers Bon Jovi and Roger Waters — and of course, a few pop divas like Gaga and Britney. Watch live videos from the year’s top 25 tours, and relive your moment in the front row.Artists are ranked by total gross earnings, according to Billboard Boxscore, from Nov. 1, 2010, to Nov. 8, 2011.

The Year in Touring:
1.) U2
Total Gross: $293,281,487     Number of Shows: 44
Total Attendance: 2,887,972   Number of Sell-Outs: 44

2.) Bon Jovi
Total Gross: $192,947,951     Number of Shows: 68
Total Attendance: 1,851,385  Number of Sell-Outs: 68

3.) Take That (WHO?!?!?)
Total Gross: $185,175,360    Number of Shows: 29
Total Attendance: 1,806,473   Number of Sell-Outs: 29

4.) Roger Waters
Total Gross: $149,904,965     Number of Shows: 92
Total Attendance: 1,362,993   Number of Sell-Outs: 92

5.) Taylor Swift
Total Gross: $97,368,416      Number of Shows: 89
Total Attendance: 1,356,720   Number of Sell-Outs: 87

6.) Kenny Chesney
Total Gross: $84,576,917      Number of Shows: 55
Total Attendance: 1,160,132   Number of Sell-Outs: 37

7.) Usher (really?)
Total Gross: $74,954,681        Number of Shows: 73
Total Attendance: 922,327   Number of Sell-Outs: 58

8.) Lady Gaga
Total Gross: $71,900,434      Number of Shows: 45
Total Attendance: 745,735   Number of Sell-Outs: 43

9.) André Rieu
Total Gross: $67,104,756     Number of Shows: 102
Total Attendance: 657,757   Number of Sell-Outs: 15

10.) Sade
Total Gross: $53,178,550        Number of Shows: 59
Total Attendance: 588,693   Number of Sell-Outs: 21

11.) Michael Bublé
Total Gross: $49,856,921        Number of Shows: 57
Total Attendance: 520,242   Number of Sell-Outs: 36

12.) Eagles
Total Gross: $49,759,190        Number of Shows: 24
Total Attendance: 286,684   Number of Sell-Outs: 3

13.) Katy Perry
Total Gross: $48,851,454        Number of Shows: 98
Total Attendance: 1,002,656   Number of Sell-Outs: 54

14.) Lil Wayne (sign of the Apocalypse?)
Total Gross: $46,300,000      Number of Shows: 69
Total Attendance: 712,000   Number of Sell-Outs: 14

15.) Justin Bieber
Total Gross: $44,124,922     Number of Shows: 35
Total Attendance: 567,544   Number of Sell-Outs: 27

16.) Glee Live! In Concert!
Total Gross: $40,854,811      Number of Shows: 40
Total Attendance: 485,852   Number of Sell-Outs: 40

17.) NKOTBSB
Total Gross: $40,415,307    Number of Shows: 51
Total Attendance: 609,426   Number of Sell-Outs: 22

18.) Journey
Total Gross: $39,069,939        Number of Shows:73
Total Attendance: 688,871   Number of Sell-Outs: 17

19.) Britney Spears
Total Gross: $37,100,000         Number of Shows: 39
Total Attendance: 396,000   Number of Sell-Outs:14

20.) Iron Maiden  (WOW!!!)
Total Gross: $33,085,671      Number of Shows: 33
Total Attendance: 473,285    Number of Sell-Outs: 17

21.) Kylie Minogue
Total Gross: $32,559,439         Number of Shows: 41
Total Attendance: 307,135   Number of Sell-Outs: 2

22.) Neil Diamond (Bap Bap Bah!)
Total Gross: $31,303,070      Number of Shows: 20
Total Attendance: 239,723   Number of Sell-Outs: 4

23.) Enrique Iglesias
Total Gross: $30,811,001      Number of Shows: 38
Total Attendance: 397,857   Number of Sell-Outs: 32

24.) Jason Aldean
Total Gross: $27,768,963      Number of Shows: 58
Total Attendance: 790,530   Number of Sell-Outs: 47

25.) Toby Keith
Total Gross: $27,313,132      Number of Shows: 52
Total Attendance: 673,668   Number of Sell-Outs: 19

BOOKS:

The top 10 best-selling books of 2012
1. “Steve Jobs” by Walter Isaacson
2. “Bossypants” by Tina Fey
3. “A Stolen Life” by Jaycee Dugard
4. “The Mill River Recluse” by Darcie Chan
5. “In the Garden of the Beasts” by Erik Larson
6. “A Dance with Dragons” by George R.R. Martin
7. “The Paris Wife” by Paula McLain
8. “The Litigators” by John Grisham
9. “The Abbey” by Chris Culver
10. “Inheritance (The Inheritance Cycle)” by Christopher Paolini

MILITARY:
Shot three times in robbery, Marine plugs bullet holes with his fingers

A U.S. Marine officer has told the incredible story of how he survived a street robbery by plugging bullet holes in his body with his fingers.

Lieutenant Colonel Karl Trenker, 29, of Miramar, Florida, was shot three times as he confronted two men who had stolen a gold chain from him.

He said he used his battlefield training from Afghanistan and Iraq to stem blood from chest wounds by shoving his finger into the gaping wound
http://dailycaller.com/2011/12/27/shot-three-times-in-robbery-marine-plugs-bullet-holes-with-his-fingers/#ixzz1hqY1l2HO

POLITICS:
Hillary 2012?
A robo-call being received in many States is pushing Hillary Clinton to enter the 2012 Presidential race. The call directs people to go to runhillary2012.net and sign a petition to persuade the onetime Presidential candidate to run again.
BUISNESS/PRODUCT OF WEEK:
Gorilla Styists?

A man visiting Bwindi National Park in Uganda identified as John probably had one of the most fulfilling, shocking, scary, exciting, awe-inspiring moments of his life.

The footage catches John getting groomed and thoroughly examined by a pack of baby gorillas and their mom, all while the huge daddy silverback stands close by (note: zip to 2:32 to get right to the grooming):
http://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_embedded&v=1eXS0o6r-Wk

WHAT THE HE**?:
Man Dies After Eating Cocaine Hidden in His Brother’s Butt

Deangelo Mitchell and his brother Wayne were taken into custody by the cops in South Carolina when the po-po suspected they had drugs in their car. While in custody, Deangelo convinced Wayne to eat the ounce of cocaine he had hidden in his a**. Then Wayne died.
http://m.gawker.com/5869824/
ARE YOU KIDDING ME?:
N.Y. teens suspended for Tebowing in school hallway

Just when everyone thought the trend of “Tebowing” had reached its zenith in the greater cultural Zeitgeist, it finds a way to completely jump the shark: On Wednesday, a group of high school athletes at a Long Island school were suspended for staging a spontaneous bout of Tebowing in their high school’s hallway.
http://rivals.yahoo.com/highschool/blog/prep_rally/post/N-Y-teens-suspended-for-Tebowing-in-school-hall?urn=highschool-wp9989

http://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_embedded&v=WCeSD-7DzDI

SPORTS:

TOP SPORTS STORIES OF 2011:

Top national and international sports stories of 2011as determined through voting by members of The Associated Press:

1. PENN STATE The ouster of one of America’s most revered coaches, Penn State’s Joe Paterno, after shocking child sex-abuse charges against his former assistant was the top sports story of 2011. A grand-jury report suggested Paterno knew of accusations against longtime defensive coordinator Jerry Sandusky and did not do enough to pursue them. Within four days, Penn State’s board of trustees had done the once-unthinkable, firing JoePa after 46 seasons as head coach and the most victories in Division I.

2. NFL/NBA LOCKOUTS Football’s work stoppage lasted 4 1/2 months before an agreement was signed Aug. 5; it cost the league just one preseason game. Basketball’s dragged on for more than five months and wiped out 16 games of the normal 82-game schedule.

3. PACKERS WIN The Packers barely made the playoffs as a No. 6 seed last season, then won three road games to reach the Super Bowl and beat the Steelers 31-25 for the title. They rolled to a 13-0 start in 2011 until an upset loss to the Chiefs.

4. CONFERENCE REALIGNMENT Texas A&M bolted the Big 12 for the SEC in September and Missouri followed. The Big East lost Syracuse and Pittsburgh to the ACC and West Virginia and TCU to the Big 12, then regrouped by adding some hardly Eastern schools: Boise State, San Diego State, Houston and SMU.

5. CARDINALS WIN St. Louis made the playoffs after trailing in the wild-card race by 10 1/2 games in late August and won the World Series after dramatic comebacks in game six against Texas, which had the Cardinals down to their final strike twice and led by two runs in the ninth and 10th innings. St. Louis won it on David Freese’s home run in the 11th before clinching the championship in game seven. Manager Tony La Russa retired after the victory parade.

6. OHIO STATE Football coach Jim Tressel resigned under pressure on May 30 after violating NCAA rules by not reporting violations he knew about. After a 6-6 season, Ohio State replaced Tressel with former Florida coach Urban Meyer.

7. MAVERICKS WIN Five years after blowing a series lead in the NBA finals to the Heat, Dallas and Dirk Nowitzki got revenge and redemption against Miami, winning the title in six games.

8. WHELDON DIES Two-time Indianapolis 500 winner Dan Wheldon was killed Oct. 16 in a fiery 15-car crash during IndyCar’s season finale in Las Vegas.

9. SYRACUSE Fewer than two weeks after the Sandusky charges, ESPN reported that two former Syracuse ball boys accused longtime men’s basketball assistant coach Bernie Fine of molesting them.

10. WOMEN’S WORLD CUP Their country devastated by a tsunami and earthquake, Japan’s soccer players rallied in the final from a goal down late in regulation and again in overtime against the favored Americans to force penalty kicks, which they won 3-1.
http://www.kansascity.com/2011/12/27/3340573/top-national-and-international.html#storylink=cpy
BUCKEYES:
Go Bucks…beat Gators!!!

RELIGION:
‘Star Wars’ Chosen As Religion In Czech Republic On New Census
The Jedi Temple may have been destroyed in the Great Jedi Purge, but that hasn’t deterred some people from worshipping The Force.

According to CzechPosition.com, the results of the Czech Republic’s new census that were unveiled this month reveal that 15,070 citizens of the country listed their religion as Knights of the Jedi. While that may pale in comparison to the 1.08 million people who self-identified as Catholics and over four million who declined to list their faith, it’s still a sizable portion of people who believe — or jokingly claim to, in reaction to an intrusive census — in the intangible energy made famous by the “Star Wars” films.
http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2011/12/18/star-wars-a-religion-in-czech-republic_n_1156516.html?ref=fb&src=sp&comm_ref=false

 

BUISNESS:
LET ME HELP YOU GET YOUR PRODUCT/SERVICE OUT TO CONSUMERS!!! How does over 20,000 EMAILS sound to your come company. We have a list of over 20,000 and can assist you in getting YOUR MESSAGE/BRAND/IDEA directly to consumers. The Hyatt has even recently booked our services. WE GET MESSAGES OUT TO CONSUMERS! This is a unique and inexpensive chance to brand your services, and reach beyond your current clientele list. My current list of customers has indicated that this unique form of FREE advertising has helped their brand and ID name. If anyone provides me a lead, and I can close the lead…I will pay 100% of first week revenues received. You make 100% of what I make, just for referring me to someone. For more info, or a list of current ecstatic customers e-mail sosaudio@yahoo.com

TIME TO BOOK YOUR 2012 Events
“Price is what you pay. Value is what you get.”- WARREN BUFFETT

Now through Jan 2nd I am offering an “Ultimate Gift” for you, loved ones, or any friends/family. This time of year is especially popular for engagements, and for putting together wedding plans for 2012. If you or someone you know is getting married, we can make their day special. We have been in the entertainment and wedding industry for over 25 years. Our expertise will make you or your friend’s wedding, a moment to remember. Refer us now through Jan 2, 2012 and receive 25% of contracted rate. Call 614-580-3118 to secure your date, or go to www.rmsexton.com

HEALTH:
I started taking Vitamin D supplements last year, and my entire mood has changed for the better!

Vitamin D is an essential micronutrient with a central role in maintaining health & the sun is one of the best ways to receive this vitamin. But with limited daytime in the winter you could be at risk for vitamin D deficiency. Get Vitamin D in the wintertime by drinking fortified milk & eating fortified cereals, eggs, salmon, tuna, mackerel & sardines. Take a Vitamin D supplement. The National Institutes of Health recommends a daily intake for adults being 5 mcg (200 IU) for males, female & pregnant/lactating women under 50. People 50-70 should get 10 mcg daily (400 IU) daily & 70+ should get 15 mcg daily (600 IU).

INSPIRATION:
“What you make happen for others, God will make happen for you.” – Mike Murdock

“Happiness and peace of mind are a matter of consciousness. We must create the harmony we desire. As we raise our level of consciousness we become more in tune with the true nature of our being. This type of awareness is not an accident; it comes from study and an understanding that we are truly creative.” – Bob Proctor

SUCCESS:
When one door of happiness closes, another opens, but often we look so long at the closed door that we do not see the one that has been opened for us. ~Hellen Keller~

QUOTES: Top Quotes of 2011 from the Associated Press
1. “We are the 99 percent.” — slogan of Occupy movement.

2. “There is nobody in this country who got rich on his own. Nobody. You built a factory out there — good for you! But I want to be clear. You moved your goods to market on the roads the rest of us paid for. You hired workers the rest of us paid to educate. You were safe in your factory because of police forces and fire forces that the rest of us paid for.” — U.S. Sen. candidate Elizabeth Warren, speaking in Andover, Mass., in August.

3. “My friends and I have been coddled long enough by a billionaire-friendly Congress.” — Billionaire Warren Buffett, in a New York Times op-ed on Aug. 15.

4. “I believe in evolution and trust scientists on global warming. Call me crazy.” — Presidential candidate Jon Huntsman in an Aug. 18 tweet.

5. “Oops.” — Presidential candidate Rick Perry after unsuccessfully attempting to remember the third federal agency he would eliminate during a Nov. 9 debate.

6. “When they ask me, ‘Who is the president of Ubeki-beki-beki-beki-stan-stan?’ I’m going to say, ‘You know, I don’t know. Do you know?”‘ — Then-presidential candidate Herman Cain in an interview by Christian Broadcasting Network on Oct.

7. “I am on a drug. It’s called ‘Charlie Sheen.’ It’s not available because if you try it once, you will die. Your face will melt off and your children will weep over your exploded body.” — Actor Charlie Sheen in a February interview with ABC News.

8. “Oh wow. Oh wow. Oh wow.” — Apple co-founder Steve Jobs’ last words on Oct. 5, as reported by his sister Mona Simpson in her eulogy.

9. “I can’t say with certitude.” — Then-U.S. Rep. Anthony Weiner on June 1 when he was asked whether a lewd photograph was in fact him.

10. “Instead of receiving the help that she had hoped for, Mr. Cain instead decided to provide her with his idea of a stimulus package.” — Lawyer Gloria Allred on Nov. 7 discussing Herman Cain’s alleged sexual harassment of her client.

CLOSING:
‎”How different our lives are when we really know what is deeply important to us, and keeping that picture in mind, we manage ourselves each day to be and to do what really matters most.” ~ Stephen R. Covey

Yesterday is history. Tomorrow is a mystery. Today is a gift. That’s why it is called the present. Appreciate the great you have now.

TO DO:

Here’s what’s happening in Central Ohio on This New Years Eve Weekend!

THURSDAY
Start Whistling, The Harlem Globetrotters bring their hilarious athleticism to Nationwide Arena for shows at 2pm and 7pm. For more info www.rmsexton.com

Get The Led Out, a Trib. To Led Zeppelin plays the historic Midland Theatre in Downtown Nerk. For more info http://www.midlandtheatre.org/
SATURDAY New Years Eve:
First Night Columbus-Throughout Downtown. 5 p.m. Fireworks at midnight
Admission: $10 for more info www.firstnightcolumbus.com
First Night Columbus, Central Ohio’s award-winning New Year’s Eve celebration is a community-oriented, family-friendly, alcohol-free event. There is something for everyone with more than 40 live performances including jazz, funk, ragtime, storytelling and magic, hands-on activities and a children’s festival. COSI will stay open until 11 p.m.

The Blue Jackets take on the Washington Capitals as part of the First Night Events (separate admission to the game). Doors open at 5:30pm, and I will be rocking the Nationwide Arena Concourse!
NYE on High at The Hyatt Regency Columbus, with performances by;
* THE PERSONNEL-Top 40,R&B Dance Band
* LT DAN’S NEW LEGS-Hip Hop
* THE REAGONOMICS-80’s Pop/Rock
* CHRIS LOGSDON-Acoustic Rock Favorites
* LOVE SICK RADIO – Rock/Pop
* MY SISTER SARAH-80’s/90’s Hip Hop/Top 40 Dance
* GRANNY SHOT – Rock & Roll Party Band
* SOUL KITCH’N – Supreme Funk & Soul
* BON JOURNEY – Bon Jovi/Journey Tribute Band
* DJ ANT DJ MARINO MONACO ELDORADO KARAOKE
Ticket prices are $129 per person and includes ALL live entertainment, plus hors d’oeuvres and beverages for the night. For more info: http://columbusregency.hyatt.com/hyatt/hotels/offers/details.jsp?offerId=35707340&isBookable=true

Callahan’s Bar (Park Street District) NYE Party offering a night to party, play, and dance. $15.00 admission, CASH Bar, 4 rooms of dancing in a laid back atmosphere.

New Year’s Eve Extravaganza at Park Street Complex. For more info:  www.nyecolumbus.com
Ekoostik Hookah plays their annual “NYE Show” at The Newport Music Hall. For more info www.promowestproductions.com
Family New Year Eve Party at Magic Mountain Polaris and East
For more info: www.magicmountainfuncenter.com

New Year’s Eve Family Package & Party at Fort Rapids Indoor Waterpark Resort. Family Friendly Grand Ballroom Party with food and drinks, games, prizes and of course the final splashdown of 2011! For more info : www.fortrapids.com

Rock the Resort New Years Eve Dinner at The Cherry Valley Lodge with
The British Invasion. For more info: www.CherryValleyLodge.com

NYE at Captain Jack’s (Doors Open at  5pm), ONLY A $5.00 cover, LIVE MUSIC FROM Fat Dog at 10pm, balloon drop at midnight, free party favors (hats, horns, etc…), FREE CAB RIDES in the Heath/Newark area from Brown Distributing
SUNDAY:
Join me along with my friends from M3Ssports, and Premier Racing for the Annual First On The First, the M3S Sports holiday event that combines a 5k Run/Walk with a traditional New Year’s Day celebration. The 3.1-mile layout takes runners and walkers on tour of the area surrounding the OhioHealth campus in Westerville. After the race, grab a plate and enjoy a New Year’s Day feast complete with hot roasted pork, sauerkraut and black-eye peas. For more information; www.m3ssports.com/events/first-on-the-first.htm

MONDAY:
Go Bucks Beat The Gators!!!

CONTINUNING ALL WEEKEND:
Wildlights at the Columbus Zoo and Aquarium. For more info: www.columbuszoo.org

Holiday Fantasy of Lights at Alum Creek State Park. For more info; www.ohiostateparks.org

Dr. Seuss’ How the Grinch Stole Christmas” 45th Anniversary Retrospective. For more info: www.fpconservatory.org

FUNNIES:
Josh Sneed plays Friday and Saturday at The Columbus Funny Bone Comedy Club at Easton

DVD:
Nothing says Happy New Year like unique ways to die? ‘Final Destination 5’ rated “R.”

A movie that you can feel free to wait till it is on cable, ‘Apollo 18’ rated “PG-13.”

My pick of the week, the funny, ‘30 Minutes or Less’ rated “R.”

ON THE MUSIC SHELVES:

Trent Reznor releases the soundtrack to ‘The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo’

Follow us on the web at www.rmsexton.com, and there you can add us on facebook and twitter. We break concert and other event news plus you get exclusive behind the scenes information and pictures. On your hometown country station T-100, I’m Matt Sexton

COMING SOON PUBLIC EVENTS:
Every Friday join my buddy DJ Chris O at The Filling Station kicking off your weekend with all your favorite hits, and some of the cheapest drinks in town

 

JANUARY 6^th PBR 2012 Kick Off at MADISON SQUARE GARDEN!!!
January 13 Join Chris O as he covers the Budweiser Party Terrace as The Jackets take on The Phoenix Coyotes!

January 14th Pending event that will re-shape local entertainment, and I am proud we are even being consider to usher in this new concept!

January 27^th Join me as I rock with some of Nashville’s Greatest Stars celebrating our buddy, James Gage’s Birthday at Peddler’s Lounge in Grove City
Follow us:
www.RMsexton.com
www.facebok.com/theonemattsexton
http://www.twitter@mattysexton
http://foursquare.com/user/mattysexton

Merry Christmas…just a few (23 pages) thoughts on this time of year

GREETINGS FROM  the home office…I mean, the Home Kitchen the base of Operation get ‘em fat. I think maybe I will feel like I am in better shape if I get everyone else I know fat? Mauahahahaha.

 

To those who have asked…yes I will have my “World Famous Chex Mix” available!

 

The BIG DAY must be right around the corner? Why? Well one, we had the shortest day of the year-the Winter Solstice on Wednesday; and now the days can start getting longer.

 

On the plus side the day light hours this week are filled with 60’, and Friday we celebrate a day for all religions to celebrate…”Festivus” the  “Airing of Grievances” and “Feats of Strength”, those  easily explainable events as “Festivus miracles”. It truly is “a Festivus for the rest of us!”

 

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=c8g4Ztf7hIM

 

This time of year we all put on a lil extra weight and for the first time in many years I too am putting on weight, red suit, and a beard…

 

While I have put on a couple pounds, and have not shaved in over a week…and yes, I am wearing a red t-shirt…that is not what I mean. This year I am TRYING to do that “Christmas thing” and have the “Spirit” (and it is OH SO easy with all this rain? We marked the rainiest year in Central Ohio History!!!). As my buddy, and Birthday boy this week, Jimmy Buffett says we are “Tryin’ to Reason with Hurricane Season,” but this season is all about others, and “The True Reason.”

 

We all have moments where we feel like the world is against us, and we can’t get ahead…but it could always be worse. I had the honor of being part of someone’s day who had it much worse (or as he thought). I am not going to go into any details but I had a buddy who I had not seen in a few years, and was really up against it show up at my door, and asked for help. Now I gotta tell you, first, I was like what the hell? Then after bringing him in, listening to his situation, feeding him half my sandwich I had for lunch (and I EAT A LOT), I realized that this dude and his bad day was a blessing to me.

 

WHY? Well first off someone trusted me enough to ask for help-that is kinda a huge complement! Second some of the help he needed is something I had gone through at one point, and what he needed I had knowledge of due to some REALLY BAD times in my life. I had also done something I never do just before he knocked…I bought a foot long sub. This may sound silly, but I never do this, I usually just get a 6inch with double meat, for some reason I got a foot long-and was able to share half with my unexpected guest. I now know why I was guided to order that sub. What I am getting at, is everything happens for a reason (even something as simple as a sub order). ALSO any of our WORST times can be beneficial if we learn from them. I was able to take some of my worst days of my life and help out an old friend on his own worst day. 8 years later I learned that I was given a gift in some bad times.

 

If anyone is reading this please stop and say a quick prayer for my buddy, and everyone who is going through some hard times right now. The Holidays while can be fun for some, can put extra pressure on some folks who are having a hard time…trust me, not only have I been there, this week, I saw it firsthand!

 

If someone is down, or not digging the season…don’t judge with “Scrooge” or “Grinch” comments, just take a moment to try and understand. MAYBE that “Scrooge” will someday be at peace and want the “biggest ham in the window” (or whatever the hell Ebenezer said), or maybe the “Grinch’s” heart will grow “10times?”

 

During this time lets all put a lil extra weight on, let our chins get a lil furry covering some “jolly” wrinkles, and don a gay ‘ole apparel with the red coats (in the 50+degree weather here in O-H-I-O!). While the physical appearance of Jolly Old Saint Nick is Morbidly Obese, we can let his big ole jolly heart live in each of us!

 

Santa Claus has always been a big part of Christmas. His image has always represented the magical part of Christmas. Eventually, children do stop believing in him usually because people they trust like parents, friends or older siblings tell them that he doesn’t exist.

The first time a child learns that Santa Claus doesn’t exist; they feel duped and sometimes feel angry or sad. So why is it important for people, not just kids, to believe in Santa? Believing in Santa represents hope and the importance of having a dream. When you believe in Santa you believe that the world is full of infinite possibilities and that anything you desire can come true. It’s just not about material objects, but the possibility of something better. Believing in Santa means that you believe in yourself and the world around you. The belief also plays a big role  in developing and having an imagination. With the internet, computer games and budget cuts in the schools that affect the arts programs developing an imagination and nurturing creativity is becoming a lost form. Developing your imagination also enables you to form images, sensations and concepts without sight or hearing. It helps people make sense of the world around them. Believing in Santa Claus also helps you think about the future and what goals or achievements you’d like to accomplish. Believing helps reduce stress. Fantasies are a healthy part of life and often a necessity especially in times of uncertainty. Believing in Santa Clause is the feel good moment of the year. It’s hard to resist watching children’s eyes light up at the sight of Santa. You can’t help but get caught up in their excitement. Even for the most cynical people, looking at the world through a child’s eyes lets you see the wonder that the world can hold even if it’s only during Christmas.

It’s important to keep the image of Santa alive even if your kids don’t believe in him anymore because he represents so much more than just presents; he represents hope and joy even if the world is a little chaotic.
This year, bring jolly old Saint Nick back. On the gift tags, write his name under the word from. Even if your children are older, they’ll get a kick out of it and you may even see a glimmer of joy in their eyes.

 

I am missing someone during this season, well make that 2 people, everyday. Each gave me some joy that I have not experienced since they excited my life. And each allowed me to enjoy this time of year.

 

The memory of each, makes this a bitter sweet time of year for me. One showed me how great this time of year (and everyday) is, and the other…made every Christmas great and really gave me anything I could want, not just because she could, but because she cared.

 

My Grandma always did for me. This time of year would start on January 1of the next, when she would start my “Christmas Club” accounts as a kid, and the highlight would be the day after Thanksgiving when after cooking all day the day prior…she and I would get up at the butt-crack of dawn to hit all the sales at 6 am. Christmas while creating many great memories of her, is also rough; not only cause she is not around, but cause I know it is hard on my Grandfather.

 

Ya see my hero, my Grandfather, married my Grandmother on Christmas. While that is the ultimate gift of Love (even better than the Jelly of The Month Club-“the gift that gives year round Clark”)…that also means the spot next to the tree where she used to sit is especially empty.

 

But her memory is unwrapped every year on their anniversary and well…everyday! Grandma used to give me whatever I wanted and;

 

Some folks have been asking me what I want for Christmas so:

1.)  Batman has one, can I?

www.topgear.com/uk/photos/ferrari-engined-m3-gearbox-quad-bike-2011-12-16 

2.)  Pair of Black Leather Gloves

3.)  Kashmir Skull Cap

4.)  Help Clean My Garage

5.)  www.howmuchyabench.net/

6.)  Bottle of Port

7.)  Dinner (Spaghetti, Chinese, Deep Fried Oreos)

8.)  This Weather to Stop and My Sinus Clear Up

9.)  Tickets to see Garth Brooks in Vega

10.)Peace on Earth…or just let me be in charge and fix it all?

 

Add On…Dyson Sweeper

 

ALSO to all my Nashville friends, who thought I paid WAY TOO much for my Margaritaville Aviator Sunglasses (that I LOVED), and to the friends who laughed when we saw them for 75% off…I have lost mine and unless I left at Florida Moms (There is a STRONG chance fell out of my bag and on other side of bed against wall window is on? If so feel free to send them up North COD?) So if not, anyone who is interested-I could use a replacement pair.

http://www.margaritavilleeyewear.com/hemisphere.html

 

Even if I don’t get what I want, at least I only have a year to pout, cause on Dec 21, 2012 the world is scheduled to end…better make this Christmas count! 😉

 

So as we move into Dec 25^th…Imagine your friends throw YOU a birthday party and everyone brings presents for everyone but you. How would you feel? Remember the reason for the season (and my list)… Merry Christmas!

 

Fun Spin on “The Season” What if Joseph and Marry had facebook?

http://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_embedded&v=hJAsUx9H8Eo#!

 
OCCUPY:
Occupy does not “get it” but these kids REALLY don’t get it! I also hope the teacher gets fired!

Occupy the High School Senior Parking Lot: A Manifesto By: Soren Bowie December 19, 2011

 

Dear Principal Carver, Vice Principal Marshall, Faculty and Staff,
We, the class of 2012, urge you to pause for a minute from your duties of forcing the “rules” of the “American’t Dream” down the throats of today’s youth and look out your windows at the world. There you will see us, putting aside religion, gender and tons of other conflicting stuff to stand united at the edge of a really really big precipice in American history, and more specifically, the curb. We have assembled in the student parking area on the east side of the building, also known as “The Senior Lot” or “The smoker’s hangout.” We have renamed it “The Parkway of Liberty” in honor of our honorable cause. Let it be known that we unanimously agreed that “Freedom’s Freeway” was a better name but Carey Ferguson had already started painting the banner before we could change it. It was a setback, for sure, but if nothing else it should be a testament to the unstoppable power of our revolution now that the gears are in motion.

Our goal is simple: We intend to stay out here fighting the tyranny of American capitalism until future generations no longer have to suffer the disproportionate allocation of wealth in this country, and at least until finals week is over.

“We want to be heard, probably!”

Through Mr. Langen’s geopolitics class, we the seniors now understand the growing inequality in this country in ways that you couldn’t possibly know unless you stepped out of your big expensive offices for once and actually sat in on his lectures. We’ve seen the widening economic disparity between the fat cats and the rest of us. Mr. Langen said that the only way things are going to change is with a precipice of fresh new ideas of young adults of the next generation. Mr. Langen knew that grade point averages and exams were just part of the archaic system that put us in this mess in the first place. If Mr. Langen wasn’t currently dealing with Christi Lattel’s unfounded allegations, we think he would be out here, sleeping in our tents and supporting our movement.

Our demands are few: We will come back to class when Buckfield Academy does everything within its ability to halt foreclosures on the houses of the unemployed or sick. We will come back to class when Buckfield Academy does everything within its ability to break up the commercial banking system that’s making money off the poor. We will come back to class when Buckfield Academy does everything within its ability to prosecute the greedy corporations for their hand in the economic collapse, with the exception of the following companies:

Proctor and Gamble (Tina and Sheri Moeller’s father is the CFO)
Countrywide/Bank of America (Madison Carson’s uncle is a mortgage executive)
Fannie Mae (Teddy Sander’s father is the VP)
Exxon Mobile (Bronx Cutler’s dad is on the board. Chance Baker’s mother is head of strategic marketing. Pippy     

                Bernstein’s father is the top-subsidiary executive. Chet Vess’s mother is the legal executive)
(Note: More names to come as other students join our movement)

We also demand that the speed bumps be removed from Campus Road leading up to the student parking lot and that the Diet Dr. Pepper in the cafeteria vending machine be replaced with regular Dr. Pepper again. There was never a vote or anything, one day it just changed to diet even though everyone can taste the difference and nobody in the whole school likes diet soda except the teachers.

We hope the Academy acts quickly for the sake of its student body, but we understand if classes and tests must be canceled as the school works to meet these demands. We believe that given the current economic climate, it’s completely unfair of Buckfield to expect its seniors, the role models to the rest of the school, to study while they are working to fix the precipice of a broken country. Particularly when the faculty is being paid to come to school every day as pawns of the corporate machine, yet we are never paid a dime and we are here just as often. That kind of backwards thinking is exactly why the country is in this mess in the first place and no one is going to change anything just by sitting around. Metaphorically speaking. Physically, sitting around is the basis of our movement.

 

In fact, maybe “movement” was the wrong word.

This is the starting point as we reshape America. According to dictionary.com, “revolution” means a radical and pervasive change in society but it also means a single complete cycle. We are just following in the footsteps of our Forefathers who founded this nation over 50 years ago. This country was built on the idea that by distributing wealth, everyone could achieve greatness collectively. That’s what democracy is all about. We should never have forgotten that.

If you agree, regardless of whether you are a teacher or a student, please know that you are welcome to join us in the parking lot. Consi’s dad let us borrow the RV that sleeps many of us comfortably and Tamila’s family is letting us use their nanny for meals and washing up. We are prepared to accept anyone who wants to join our ranks.

As you consider the option, please also take a minute to ask yourself what great Americans through history would do in this moment. What would George Washington or Alexander Graham Bell think if they were here to see you now? Would they be proud of what our country has become? Would they be proud of you? Or would they hesitate to sign the Declaration of Independence, knowing that future Americans might lose sight of the ideals they fought so hard to protect, or worse, lack the courage to find the path again? The answer of course is no, and then no again, and then yes. We are all granted an opportunity now to be heroic, to alter the course of our country, to be the answers to questions on history exams in the distant future. The world will remember fondly how we cast aside some silly tests and in-class essays to do something that mattered. Just like we speak fondly of our great grandparents standing up against the precipice of tyranny during WWII and the Spanish American War, so too will our great grandchildren speak fondly about us, and this parking lot, and how we slept in it at least until Christmas break.

Sincerely,
The Senior Class

http://www.cracked.com/blog/occupy-high-school-senior-parking-lot-manifesto/?utm_source=facebook&utm_medium=fanpage&utm_campaign=new+article&wa_ibsrc=fanpage

 

 

PLEASE JOIN ME: 

FRIDAY: Join my Buddy Chris O at The Filling Station for the “All request Dance Party”

 

For me?…I AM TAKING THE WEEKEND OFF!!!

PLEASE “suggest” “like” or become a “fan” of our new “fan page” Matty Sexton on facebook.http://www.facebook.com/DJMattySexton

PLEASE check out the updated website (please let us know what you think?) http://www.rmsexton.com

TIME TO BOOK YOUR Holiday Events
“Price is what you pay. Value is what you get.”- WARREN BUFFETT

Now through Jan 2nd I am offering an “Ultimate Gift” for you, loved ones, or any friends/family. This time of year is especially popular for engagements, and for putting together wedding plans for 2012. If you or someone you know is getting married, we can make their day special. We have been in the entertainment and wedding industry for over 25 years. Our expertise will make you or your friend’s wedding, a moment to remember. Refer us now through Jan 2, 2012 and receive 25% of contracted rate. Call 614-580-3118 to secure your date, or go to www.rmsexton.com

 

 

COMING SOON PUBLIC EVENTS:
Every Friday join my buddy DJ Chris O at The Filling Station kicking off your weekend with all your favorite hits, and some of the cheapest drinks in town

December 31st Yogi’s  NYE Party
Filling Station NYE Party
Blue Jackets NYE Game

January 1^st NEW YEARS DAY for the “First in The First”http://www.m3ssports.com/events/first-on-the-first.htm
JANUARY 6^th PBR 2012 Kick Off at MADISON SQUARE GARDEN!!!

 

 

THOUGHT(s) FOR THE WEEK:
When you pray, always give thanks. Never tell God that there is a problem. Instead, thank God that the solution is on the way. Thank God for what you have, and more will be added. Giving thanks and praise is what God likes. Don’t tell God how big your problem is, only tell your problem how big your God is! -Rex Crain

 
SONG(s) FOR THE WEEK:
YEP…

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=h9JjUH5NofI

 

A song EVERYONE should listen to EVERY MORNING!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GE0TatKLHxo

 

I LOVE this song!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wSJoZiB-UGY

 

This time of year…the answer for world peace? (Not edited)

http://www.tagtele.com/swf/embed5.0.11.swf?autoStart=0&video_id=11924&videoImage=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.tagtele.com%2Fimg%2Fvideos%2Fthumbs320x240%2F11924_default.jpg&k=&playlist=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.tagtele.com%2Fvideos%2Fplaylist%2F11924%2F1%2F

GREAT SONG! And fun “look back” gotta ask…”Are Ya Feelin’ Good?!?!?”

http://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_embedded&v=XbQaio1aRmU#!

HOLIDAY SONGS:

FUN REMIX!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OHEhSCZr_uw

 

This week was the start to Hanukkah, Happy Festival of Lights to all my Friends of The Jewish Faith

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Rd1Pyu9_rxo

 

I get made fun of, but I love this SAPPY SONG! It what the Holidays are all about (well with the exception of the mom dying)…plus Kimberly Williams Paisley is HOT!!!
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_fKI50MhzVM

 

After years of Hating this song…kinda grew on me this year (but still despise the remake of the movie it came from-The Grinch!)

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nmGSHZYZ74c&feature=related

 

Gotta have a lil fun before the Rock Star of the North Pole visits…

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CRW2poUfJ34

 

NOT a fan of the Boss, but wow this is such a good and FUN version for ‘The Night Before Christmas! Feel free to yell our BRUUUUUCE as ya listen?!?!?

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8cFL8unTNf4&feature=related

 

Always liked this song, did not realize why until a few years ago. No matter what “gifts” are under the tree remember it is the true gift of others that make this time of the year special. AND the real reason for this time is because of the Ultimate Gift WE were given…

 

However, Santa if you are reading this, I would really like the “one gift” back in my life.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KvQXwHh42VU&feature=related

 

 

DID YOU KNOW?:
“A Christmas Story” comes from short stories by Jean Shepherd originally published in Playboy.

 
QUESTION OF THE WEEK:
Why reindeer make great pets for more than just Santa

 

Reindeer are perhaps best known as being Santa’s helpers at the North Pole, but Santa’s not the only one who keeps reindeer for pets. Reindeer are a vital commodity in many arctic and subarctic regions in Europe and Asia, providing their keepers with goods like clothing, meat, cheese, and butter. Reindeer are specifically kept just as pets in Russia, Alaska, and more recently states like Texas, Mississippi, and Tennessee. Reindeer ranchers have also started to pop up in Utah.

So why have more and more people come to love reindeer? All reindeer owners seem to agree that reindeer are the most unique and friendly pets around. Reindeer are able adapt to humans more than any other species of deer. They come to know and recognize their family over time, similar to dogs or cats. Not only are reindeer friendly, they are easy to train to pull objects, and they can be fed using commercial feed for adults and feed formula for calves. They can live anywhere from 12-15 years, about the average lifespan of a dog or cat. The one downside to owner a reindeer is males tend to get aggressive. But by cutting of their antlers (which will eventually grow back) and administering hormone shots, this problem can be fixed.
http://www.reindeer.ws/

http://www.examiner.com/pets-in-salt-lake-city/why-reinder-make-great-pets-for-more-than-just-santa?cid=dflo-facebook-121811-Reindeer

 
FUNNY:

Flow charts to explain Christmas

http://www.happyplace.com/12960/the-most-enjoyably-bitter-christmas-charts-and-graphs

 

 

HELP:
Help my buddy Todd help others PLEASE:

http://www.eaglerarelife.com/content/todd-reigle

 

Donations Pour In After Knox Co. Humane Society Burglarized
A central Ohio community jumped to help a humane society received on Friday after burglars stole thousands of dollars in items.

Thieves broke into the Knox County Humane Society and took more than $2,000 in goods, 10TV’s Danielle Elias reported.

“Took medications, took syringes, took the cash box, took donation jars. They wiped us out,” Humane Society Director, Tina Ballantyne said.
After hearing about the burglaries, people from all over central Ohio started coming in to lend support.

“You don’t understand why anyone would want to do something like that. Especially at Christmas,” Licking County resident Marla McGraw said. “They could lose all the animals they’re trying to save.”

Representatives from the humane society said that they were thankful to see the outpour of support and even more thankful that none of the animals were hurt.

The Knox County Humane Shelter is a non-profit organization and is still welcoming donations.

Here is a list of items they said they needed:
Purina Cat Chow
Purina Kitten Chow
Pedigree Dog Food
Pedigree Puppy Food
Cat Litter
Large Stainless Steel Dog Bowls
Small Stainless Steel Cat Bowls
Large Stainless Steel Buckets
Small, Medium and Large Stainless Steel Training Collars
4 ft and 6 ft Leashes Clip on and Leads
Toys for both dogs and cats
Tennis Balls
Q-tips
Trash Bags
Scrub Brushes
Brooms/Dustpans
Mops
Lysol Liquid Detergent
Lysol Disinfectant Wipes
Laundry Soap
Plastic Spray Bottles
Hand Soap
Paper Towels
Toilet Paper
Toilet Cleaner
Glass Cleaner
Cleaning Gloves
Window Cleaner
Black Sharpie markers
Printer Paper
Pens
Writing paper
Plastic bags
For more, visit the humane society’s website here: http://knoxhumanesociety.org/

 

 

GREAT READ:

30 Things to Stop Doing to Yourself
When you stop chasing the wrong things you give the right things a chance to catch you.

As Maria Robinson once said, “Nobody can go back and start a new beginning, but anyone can start today and make a new ending.”  Nothing could be closer to the truth.  But before you can begin this process of transformation you have to stop doing the things that have been holding you back.

Here are some ideas to get you started:
1. Stop spending time with the wrong people. – Life is too short to spend time with people who suck the happiness out of you
2. Stop running from your problems. – Face them head on.  No, it won’t be easy.  There is no person in the world capable of flawlessly handling every punch thrown at them.
3. Stop lying to yourself. – You can lie to anyone else in the world, but you can’t lie to yourself.  Our lives improve only when we take chances, and the first and most difficult chance we can take is to be honest with ourselves.

 

4. Stop putting your own needs on the back burner. – The most painful thing is losing yourself in the process of loving someone too much, and forgetting that you are special too.

 

5. Stop trying to be someone you’re not. – One of the greatest challenges in life is being yourself in a world that’s trying to make you like everyone else.

 

6. Stop trying to hold onto the past. – You can’t start the next chapter of your life if you keep re-reading your last one.
7. Stop being scared to make a mistake. – Doing something and getting it wrong is at least ten times more productive than doing nothing.

 

8. Stop berating yourself for old mistakes. – We may love the wrong person and cry about the wrong things, but no matter how things go wrong, one thing is for sure, mistakes help us find the person and things that are right for us.

 

9. Stop trying to buy happiness. – Many of the things we desire are expensive.  But the truth is, the things that really satisfy us are totally free – love, laughter and working on our passions.

10. Stop exclusively looking to others for happiness. – If you’re not happy with who you are on the inside, you won’t be happy in a long-term relationship with anyone else either.

11. Stop being idle. – Don’t think too much or you’ll create a problem that wasn’t even there in the first place.  Evaluate situations and take decisive action.

 

12. Stop thinking you’re not ready. – Nobody ever feels 100% ready when an opportunity arises.

 

13. Stop getting involved in relationships for the wrong reasons. – Relationships must be chosen wisely.

 

14. Stop rejecting new relationships just because old ones didn’t work. – In life you’ll realize that there is a purpose for everyone you meet.

 

15. Stop trying to compete against everyone else. – Don’t worry about what others doing better than you.

 

16. Stop being jealous of others. – Jealousy is the art of counting someone else’s blessings instead of your own.

 

17. Stop complaining and feeling sorry for yourself. – Life’s curveballs are thrown for a reason – to shift your path in a direction that is meant for you.

 

18. Stop holding grudges. – Don’t live your life with hate in your heart.  You will end up hurting yourself more than the people you hate.

19. Stop letting others bring you down to their level. – Refuse to lower your standards to accommodate those who refuse to raise theirs.

20. Stop wasting time explaining yourself to others. – Your friends don’t need it and your enemies won’t believe it anyway.

 

21. Stop doing the same things over and over without taking a break. – The time to take a deep breath is when you don’t have time for it.

 

22. Stop overlooking the beauty of small moments. – Enjoy the little things, because one day you may look back and discover they were the big things.

 

23. Stop trying to make things perfect. – The real world doesn’t reward perfectionists, it rewards people who get things done.

24. Stop following the path of least resistance. – Life is not easy, especially when you plan on achieving something worthwhile.

 

25. Stop acting like everything is fine if it isn’t. – It’s okay to fall apart for a little while.

26. Stop blaming others for your troubles. – The extent to which you can achieve your dreams depends on the extent to which you take responsibility for your life.

27. Stop trying to be everything to everyone. – Doing so is impossible, and trying will only burn you out.

28. Stop worrying so much. – Worry will not strip tomorrow of its burdens, it will strip today of its joy.

29. Stop focusing on what you don’t want to happen. – Focus on what you do want to happen.  Positive thinking is at the forefront of every great success story.

 

30. Stop being ungrateful. – No matter how good or bad you have it, wake up each day thankful for your life.  Someone somewhere else is desperately fighting for theirs.  Instead of thinking about what you’re missing, try thinking about what you have that everyone else is missing.
http://www.marcandangel.com/2011/12/11/30-things-to-stop-doing-to-yourself/

 

 

MUST WATCH:

This is funny! No matter if you “Te-Bow” or not

http://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_embedded&v=ul2dhNaQgxM

HOLIDAY:

Fun for the kids (of all ages)…

NORAD Tracks Santa www.noradsanta.org

Name across the world for the Jolly Fat Man with The Beard
My Dad?

Father Christmas,
Sinterklaas,
Saint Nicholas,
Odin,
Papa Noel/Papai Noel,
Mikulas,
Shengdan Laoren,
Viejo Pascuero,
Sinter Klaas,
Joulupukki,
Chimney John (Wales),
Kanakaloka (Hawaii),
Grandfather Frost (Russia),
Christkindl (Austria),
Joulupukki
Pere Noel

This is a cute “Modern Day” adaptation of the Birth of The Big J.C.. Merry CHRISTmas
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vZrf0PbAGSk&feature=player_embedded
5 tips for easy holiday gifting

The holiday season is upon us once again, and many of us will be buying gifts for friends, co-workers, and loved ones. If you’re going to be going on a shopping spree, I know it can be stressful – but it doesn’t have to be. Here are some ideas to ease you through this year’s gift-giving season:

List the loved ones. Create a list of who you are planning on giving to this year, and what you would like to give each person. Make sure your intended gifts fit within the budget that you have in mind for your holiday spending. Come up with a few options for each recipient so that you have a backup plan in case you can’t find what you wanted to get them initially.

Re-gift without regret. We all have received gifts that we don’t really want or need – that garish painting from Aunt Sally, the ill-fitting sweater from Uncle Dave, and so on. As well meaning as the givers were, these items are just not right for you – but they may be perfect for someone else. Collect all your re-giftables into one area, and go down your gifting list and see if someone on there might be a good fit for one of your castoffs. When you re-gift, make sure the person who gave you the gift initially and the person to whom you are going to be re-gifting it to are not in the same social circle.

Keep your costs down by planning ahead. Make sure you get the best deal on your purchases by checking sites like blackfriday.info,fatwallet.com and slickdeals.net. These sites have forums listing the hot deals of the day and opportunities to save cash on popular products. If you’re out and about and are ready to buy, before you hit the checkout line try calling 1-888-DO-FRUCALL. This free service lets you type in the UPC product code of the item you’re thinking of buying, and checks its price against several online retailers to find you the lowest price.

Consider giving experiences instead of things. If someone loves to dine, give them a gift certificate for their favorite restaurant. Got a friend that’s into art? How about a class at a local art center? People quickly forget things that are given to them, but tend to remember experiences – as well as the giver. Another bonus – experiences don’t take up any storage space! Another great “non-thing” gift is making a donation to your recipient’s favorite charity. This is a gift that people really remember.

Plan for next year.  Once this holiday season is over, start a list of gift ideas to help you decide what to get for next year. If it’s February and you see something that would be a perfect holiday gift for your Aunt Sally, just jot it down on your list under her name. Do the same thing for everyone else you’d normally buy gifts for. When next year’s holidays come around, you won’t have to spend any time coming up with a shopping list.

Don’t let your holiday shopping become just another chore – after all, isn’t there supposed to be joy in giving?
http://www.examiner.com/organizing-in-san-francisco/5-tips-for-easy-holiday-gifting?cid=dflo-facebook-121111-GiftGiving

 

 

DA*N IT! This story brought tears

Anonymous Donors Pay Off Kmart Layaway Accounts

The young father stood in line at the Kmart layaway counter, wearing dirty clothes and worn-out boots. With him were three small children.

He asked to pay something on his bill because he knew he wouldn’t be able to afford it all before Christmas. Then a mysterious woman stepped up to the counter.
“She told him, ‘No, I’m paying for it,'” recalled Edna Deppe, assistant manager at the store in Indianapolis. “He just stood there and looked at her and then looked at me and asked if it was a joke. I told him it wasn’t, and that she was going to pay for him. And he just busted out in tears.”

At Kmart stores across the country, Santa seems to be getting some help: Anonymous donors are paying off strangers’ layaway accounts, buying the Christmas gifts other families couldn’t afford, especially toys and children’s clothes set aside by impoverished parents.
http://www.foxnews.com/us/2011/12/16/anonymous-donors-pay-off-kmart-layaway-accounts/#ixzz1goXB6EA9

 
BIRTHDAY:
Jesus of Course! Ever wonder what the “H” stands for when some say Jesus H. Christ? Also Happy B-Day to one of my musical heroes, Jimmy Buffett. Fins Up “Bubba.”

 

 

PASSING:

Maybe he is “Wanted Dead or Alive” but was NOT “shot through the heart,” and did NOT take any “Bad Medicine” (should I keep going?). Contrary to Social Networks,  Jon Bon Jovi IS ALIVE!

Bon Jovi jokes about death reports during concert
Rock star Jon Bon Jovi made light of Internet reports Monday that he was dead.
At a concert Monday night in New Jersey, Bon Jovi joked about the incident. “He referred to the hoax several times, and even pantomimed taking phone calls from concerned friends checking to see if he was still alive,” the Star-Ledger reported.

 

Boni Jovi’s Twitter feed posted this message: “Heaven looks a lot like New Jersey” -jbj.

http://latimesblogs.latimes.com/lanow/2011/12/bon-jovi-jokes-about-death-reports-at-concert.html?track=icymi

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=p53kJX64ieQ  (start at 43 seconds in)

 

Santa has taken 3 of the worst terrorists the world has faced in 2011 in Saddam, Osama, & Gaddafi  (however still waiting on Iran’s Mahmoud Ahmadinejad to be “stuffed” in a stocking)

North Korea mourns dead leader, son is “Great Successor”

North Koreans poured into the streets on Monday to mourn the death of leader Kim Jong-il and state media hailed his untested son as the “Great Successor” of the reclusive state whose atomic weapons ambitions are a major threat to the region.

Earlier, a tearful North Korean television announcer, dressed in black and her voice quavering, said the 69-year old ruler died on Saturday of “physical and mental over-work” on a train on his way to give “field guidance” — advice dispensed by the “Dear Leader” on trips to factories, farms and the military.-REALLY, Seriously!?!?
http://www.reuters.com/article/2011/12/19/us-korea-north-idUSTRE7BI05B20111219

 

Guess Il is no longer “Ronery” (NOT edited for language)

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jdug6yHJB40&feature=related

 

 

ANNIVERSARY:

My Grandparents would celebrate their 58th Wedding Anniversary. She is no longer here on earth but still alive and well (without the yelling) in my Grandpa’s heart.

ENTERTAINMENT:

Dog The Bounty Hunter New Season 8 Gets Moved to January

Dog The Bounty Hunter’s news season eight has been moved to January, 2012. Dog The Bounty Hunter was previously announced to news as returning to U.S. television for an eighth season this December. But yesterday, the date was confirmed changed.

http://news.lalate.com/2011/11/28/dog-the-bounty-hunter-new-season-8-gets-moved-to-january/

 
MUSIC:
Surfs Up…here’s to a long pipe run!

The Beach Boys Confirm 50-Show Reunion Tour
Kickoff will be at New Orleans Jazz Fest in April

After months of rumors, the Beach Boys have finally announced details of their 50th anniversary reunion tour. Brian Wilson, Mike Love, Al Jardine, Bruce Johnston and David Marks will all participate and 50 dates are planned, with the tour kickoff at New Orleans Jazz Fest in late April. “This anniversary is special to me because I miss the boys,” Brian Wilson said in a statement. “It will be a thrill for me to make a new record and be on stage with them again.”

According to multiple reports, the Beach Boys were going to announce this reunion at the Grammy nominations special on November 30th – but last minute problems caused them to back out of the broadcast. According to Al Jardine, the Beach Boys will appear at the Grammys on February 12th. “There will be a surprise at the Grammys,” Jardine tells Rolling Stone. “We’ll do something really exciting. There’s a lot of interest in it, which is nice. It’s going to be a very big operation.”

Jardine also says that the group will present a diverse setlist. “We haven’t played together in a long time,” he says. “The fans are going to want to hear the hits. But there should also be lesser-known ones that are so important.”
http://www.rollingstone.com/music/news/the-beach-boys-confirm-50-show-reunion-tour-20111216

 

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aSynDh_K0EE&feature=share

BOOKS:

‘’Twas The Night Before Christmas’ by Clement Clarke Moore and Jon Goodell

‘Twas the Night Before Christmas has never before been presented inside such a lavish, gift-worthy package. The full-color AniMotion windows that appear within the festively trimmed illustrations add movement and depth to this beloved tale.

From a locomotive circling the Christmas tree to the flickering flame of a candle, this distinctive version of ‘Twas the Night Before Christmas will not only inspire visions of dancing sugarplums, but the heartfelt hope that St. Nicholas himself will be placing this special gift under the tree.

MILITARY:
The Wounded Warrior Project has a way for you to send a card to our wounded soldiers. Takes about 1 minute.

https://www.facebook.com/wwpinc.fans?sk=app_200103733347528

We have all seen the houses that have lights that dance to the music…this by Far the best one yet!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_embedded&v=YHwa-Iq1Bx4#!

POLITICS:
GOD HELP US ALL!!!

Allow Us To Re-Introduce Ourselves
Look, we know many of you have been disappointed by politics. It often feels like a-lot of wind, and no action. But you have REAL POWER… to help set the country’s agenda through the 2012 Election, hence the name of our new election campaign, Power of 12.

Did you know that 45 million 18-29 year olds will be eligible to vote in the 2012 election? Basically, we can be the largest voting bloc in the next presidential election. And we’re not going to fix everything by voting, but we can be the deciding factor in who gets elected and what happens with taxes and how much gets invested in college financial aid and much more.
http://powerof12.org/

 
BUISNESS/PRODUCT OF WEEK:
Not really a business, but the employees who have to man the return counters at the stores the day after Christmas. Those people are SAINTS and should get hazard pay!

 
YOU DA MAN:
Santa Claus, also known as Saint Nicholas, Father Christmas, Kris Kringle, and simply “Santa”, is a figure with legendary, historical and folkloric aspects who, in many western cultures, is said to bring gifts to the homes of the good children during the late evening and overnight hours of Christmas Eve, December 24. The modern figure was derived from the Dutch figure of Sinterklaas, which, in turn, may have part of its basis in hagiographical tales concerning the historical figure of gift giver Saint Nicholas. A nearly identical story is attributed by Greek and Byzantine folklore to Basil of Caesarea. Basil’s feast day on January 1 is considered the time of exchanging gifts in Greece.
Santa Claus is generally depicted as a plump, jolly, white-bearded man wearing a red coat with white collar and cuffs, white-cuffed red trousers, and black leather belt and boots (images of him rarely have a beard with no moustache). This image became popular in the United States and Canada in the 19th century due to the significant influence of Clement Clarke Moore’s 1823 poem “A Visit From St. Nicholas” and of caricaturist and political cartoonist Thomas Nast. This image has been maintained and reinforced through song, radio, television, children’s books and films. The North American depiction of Santa Claus as it developed in the 19th and 20th century in turn influenced the modern perceptions of Father Christmas, Sinterklaas and Saint Nicholas in European culture.
According to a tradition which can be traced to the 1820s, Santa Claus lives at the North Pole, with a large number of magical elves, and nine (originally eight) flying reindeer. Since the 20th century, in an idea popularized by the 1934 song “Santa Claus Is Coming to Town”, Santa Claus has been believed to make a list of children throughout the world, categorizing them according to their behavior (“naughty” or “nice”) and to deliver presents, including toys, and candy to all of the good boys and girls in the world, and sometimes coal to the naughty children, on the single night of Christmas Eve. He accomplishes this feat with the aid of the elves who make the toys in the workshop and the reindeer who pull his sleigh.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Santa_Claus

WHAT THE HE**?:
Notre Dame’s Rudy Used Scrappy, Undersized Sports Drink Company To Scam $11 Million Out Of Investors

Daniel “Rudy” Ruettiger, the former Notre Dame walk-on whose life became the basis of one of the greatest sports films of all time, has been sued by the SEC for his involvement in a “pump-and-dump” stock scheme for his sports drink company, Rudy Nutrition.

If your childhood dreams were not already lost, then this should do it: Not even Rudy is innocent.
http://deadspin.com/5868859/

ARE YOU KIDDING ME?:
Radio Host Bill Press Tells Tebow: ‘S-T-F-U!’ About Jesus…
Liberal radio pundit and former CNN host Bill Press has a message for Denver Broncos quarterback Tim Tebow.

Liberal radio pundit and former CNN host Bill Press has a message for Denver Broncos quarterback Tim Tebow: “S-T-F-U” about Jesus.
The leftist commentator used this acronym (which stands for “shut the f**k up”) while speaking on his radio show this morning about his dislike for Tebow’s “in-your face” Christian faith.

“…And you know what I want to say, S.T.F.U. I’m tired of hearing Tim Tebow and all this Jesus Talk,” Press said. ”He better be praying hard this week, because he’s up against a real quarterback on Sunday — against Tom Brady and the New England Patriots.”
http://www.610wtvn.com/cc-common/news/sections/newsarticle.html?feed=104668&article=9522042&utm_source=feedburner&utm_medium=feed&utm_campaign=Feed%3A+wtvnnationalnews+%28WTVN-AM+%28National+-+National+News%29%29
http://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_embedded&v=9z_YZObTX64

 

 

SPORTS:

This Reds fan may get his Christmas Gift this year?

Cincinnati Reds Acquire Mat Latos: Why the Reds Are Now NL Central Favorites

Cincinnati Reds fans have spent the past two months following exciting news reports like “Cincinnati interested in Josh Willingham,” “Reds target Gio Gonzalez” and “Reds sign Andrew Brackman.” But when the headline broke that “Reds Acquire Mat Latos,” Cincinnati fans experienced a shock to their cheese coney-filled systems.

 

In the trade, the Reds dealt first baseman Yonder Alonso, starting pitcher Edinson Volquez, catcher Yasmani Grandal and closer Brad Boxberger to the Padres in exchange for the 24-year-old ace starting pitcher.

Many Reds fans are reacting in anger and dismay at exactly how much the Reds had to give up to get Latos. It’s impossible to deny that Latos is a legitimate young star in the making, but Alonso, Grandal and Boxberger all have the potential to be future All-Stars.
http://bleacherreport.com/articles/987043-mat-latos-traded-to-cincinnati-reds-why-the-reds-will-win-the-nl-central?utm_source=twitter.com&utm_medium=referral&utm_campaign=br_reds

 
BUCKEYES:
I will NOT talk about the Bowl Suspension for the 2012, and how Gene Smith is a FREAKIN MORON…

 

Loyal to his roots
Bob Knight always has had a special place in his heart for his hometown of Orrville, Ohio

The ranch house on North Vine Street, its backyard bordered by railroad tracks, offers the same view today as it did a half-century ago to a crew-cut kid who left the simple home and found fame. To the south stands a white water tower beaming this humble town’s name in red letters, and a few blocks north of the two-bedroom home lurks a monstrous utility plant, still belching steam into the sky.

A few years ago, however, the owner of the house peered out his front window and saw something odd.
http://www.buckeyextra.com/content/stories/2011/12/18/loyal-to-his-roots.html

RELIGION:
The Real War On Christmas… By Fox News (guess what? I disagree with FOX News)

Each Advent in recent years, around the time when those prefab, do-it-yourself gingerbread house kits appear on supermarket shelves, Fox News launches its (allegedly) defensive campaign commonly known as the “War on Christmas.”

Fox News’ “war” is designed to criticize the “secularization” of our culture wrought by atheists, agnostics, liberals, leftists, progressives, and separation of church and state zealots — i.e. Democrats. This irreligious coalition force is allegedly waging a strategic offensive on Christmas, trying to banish the sacred symbols of the season, denying our religious heritage, and even undermining the spiritual rubrics upon which our great nation is built.

Fox News positions itself as the defender of the faith and all things sacred. And Bill O’Reilly fancies himself the “watchdog” of Christmas.

Fox News’ usual targets include shopping malls and stores that replace their “Merry Christmas” greetings with “Happy Holidays,” and state governments that no longer call their official “Christmas” trees by their rightful name, or municipalities that ban any depictions of, or references to, the Christmas season in public places. Those who are attacked defend themselves, often claim that they are really religious too, and the perennial war is on.

But what we actually have here is a theological problem, where cultural and commercial symbols are confused with truly Christian ones, and the meaning of the holy season is missed all together.

The war on Christmas is really about what brand of “civil religion” America should have. The particular (read: biblical) meaning of Christmas, for Christians, has almost nothing to do with the media war.
http://www.huffingtonpost.com/jim-wallis/the-real-war-on-christmas_b_1151709.html?ref=religion&ir=Religion

BUISNESS:
LET ME HELP YOU GET YOUR PRODUCT/SERVICE OUT TO CONSUMERS!!! How does over 20,000 EMAILS sound to your come company. We have a list of over 20,000 and can assist you in getting YOUR MESSAGE/BRAND/IDEA directly to consumers. The Hyatt has even recently booked our services. WE GET MESSAGES OUT TO CONSUMERS! This is a unique and inexpensive chance to brand your services, and reach beyond your current clientele list. My current list of customers has indicated that this unique form of FREE advertising has helped their brand and ID name. If anyone provides me a lead, and I can close the lead…I will pay 100% of first week revenues received. You make 100% of what I make, just for referring me to someone. For more info, or a list of current ecstatic customers e-mail sosaudio@yahoo.com

BOOKING HOLIDAY EVENTS FOR THE REMAINDER OF 2011! “Price is what you pay. Value is what you get.”- WARREN BUFFETT

HEALTH:
Here’s to a season full of being full of Jolly and Wellbeing!

INSPIRATION:
‎”The greatest achievement was at first and for a time a dream. The oak sleeps in the acorn; the bird sleeps in the egg; and in the highest vision of the soul, a waking angel stirs. Dreams are the seedlings of realities…” – James Allen

 
SUCCESS:
‎”A good objective of leadership is to help those who are doing
poorly to do well and to help those who are doing well to do even better.”
— Jim Rohn

 

 

QUOTES:
“Don’t you ever let a soul in the world tell you that you can’t be exactly who you are.”—Lady Gaga

CLOSING:
“In the old days, it was not called the Holiday Season; the Christians called it ‘Christmas’ and went to church; the Jews called it ‘Hanukkah’ and went to synagogue; the atheists went to parties and drank. People passing each other on the street would say ‘Merry Christmas!’ or ‘Happy Hanukkah!’ or to the atheists ”Have fun in Hell.”

 

 

TO DO:

Here’s what’s happening in Central Ohio!

SUNDAY: MERRY CHRISTMAS!!!

MONDAY 12-26-11:
Jeff Dunham brings Achmed, Walter, Peanut and the rest of the crew to Nationwide Arena (makes a great Christmas present for a certain person who lets you know what’s going on every week)

MORE TO DO:
FRIDAY:
Holiday Tales for Children at The Ohio History Center/Ohio Village. Bring your preschoolers to hear classic and modern children’s stories and fables shared in imaginative ways. For more info: www.ohiohistory.org

ALL WEEKEND:
Wildlights at the Columbus Zoo and Aquarium. For more info: www.columbuszoo.org

Holiday Fantasy of Lights at Alum Creek State Park. For more info www.ohiostateparks.org

Exhibit: Dr. Seuss’ How the Grinch Stole Christmas” 45th Anniversary Retrospective at The Franklin Park Conservatory and Botanical Gardens. For more info www.fpconservatory.org

IN THEATERS:
OPENING ON WEDNESDAY:
 A classic comic book comes to the big screen in the computer animated,  ‘The Adventures of Tintin,’ rated “PG.”

 

The Granddaughter of Steelers and Giants founders, Rooney Mara, stars in suspense thriller ‘The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo’ rated “R.”
Tom Cruise is back in the action packed ‘Mission Impossible: Ghost Protocol,’ rated “PG-13.”

Matt Damon, and Scarlett Johansson star in the family friendly ‘We Bought a Zoo,’ rated “PG.”
OPENING ON CHRISTMAS:
Nothing says the Christmas Season like a thriller where the earth is invaded and people are blown up! ‘The Darkest Hour,’ rated “PG-13.”
The action packed and inspirational ‘War Horse’ rated “PG-13.”

DVD:
The perfect last minute stocking stuffers for the “Gleeks,” “Glee The Concert Movie” rated “PG.”

 

Morgan Freeman stars in the true story of courage and belief ‘Dolphin Tail’ rated “PG.”

COMING SOON PUBLIC EVENTS:
Every Friday join my buddy DJ Chris O at The Filling Station kicking off your weekend with all your favorite hits, and some of the cheapest drinks in town

December 31st Yogi’s  NYE Party
Filling Station NYE Party
Blue Jackets NYE Game

January 1^st NEW YEARS DAY for the “First in The First”http://www.m3ssports.com/events/first-on-the-first.htm
JANUARY 6^th PBR 2012 Kick Off at MADISON SQUARE GARDEN!!!

Follow us:
www.RMsexton.com
www.facebok.com/theonemattsexton
http://www.twitter@mattysexton
http://foursquare.com/user/mattysexton

This season is only as much of “Wonderland” as we allow it to be!

GREETINGS FROM a winter wonderland here at The Home Office in Dublin Ohio. Yea it may have been rainy week, and only recently turned cold enough to snow, and yea the skies may be grey but, oh wait…NEVERMIND, I wanna get back to Florida and Vegas to the warm sunny skies!

 

Ya know what though? This time of year IS a “winter wonderland,” bright and shiny, and full of as many “warm thoughts” as we allow.

 

It is no secret that I have not always been a huge fan of this time of year, and probably still not-as some may think this year. However I have come to the mindset that ANYDAY, ANY TIME, and ANY SITUATION is whatever you make of it. AND Booze helps! I am also reminded by one of my favorite presents ever that: “there are some moments that are special just because who you share them with.”

 

I did not understand the power of that statement until I REALLY got to know that person who gave that present, and spend some time around them. That simple gift started a change in my life, and can be a great base for each day. This time of year, and everyday…surround yourself with peeps who will brighten your day and warm you life.

 

So yea, MAYBE this still is not my favorite time of year, but I am trying. I am trying to find the good in all and see it as a time for others and not myself (but I DID get myself a really cool present), with that said keeping some of my bah humbug thoughts to myself and making an attempt to embrace the “Season.”

 

One way I was able to do that, is thanx to my friend (and cleaning lady who is also a nurse, mom, lawyer, taxi, animal care giver, volunteer, among many other hats) Jennifer Heinz Gainzer (or however the hell you spell her name). After being on the road for a couple of weeks I came home to a clean and fully decorated condo-thanx Jenn!

 

While on the road I had my normal “emergency’s and crisis” I have a crew who are always around to help (and I am there for them vice versa), but I gotta thank James Gage, Jon Clevenger, Sam Dunn, Bryan Gifford, Joey Blayze, Vandy, Yiddy, Steve Ashcraft, Nick Pishitelli, and my Florida “Aunt Peg,” and Florida “Moms” Pat Hull. Also wanna thank Jay (Smith) Legend, and Aaron (Ductape) Smith for offering to help. It is awesome to have so many friends to help and I am reminded why I also need to be there for so many as well! It was also great to have some conversations with JMI-thank you for the advise, VJA, NRM (or whatever initials you use now-a-days), ADL, and TD. Even when being on the road and having to deal with B.S. seemingly on own, nice to know there is always someone to chat with!

 

In between work, and crisis, as I was sitting in the Buffet in Vegas, and gaining about 10 pounds, I realized that life is kinda like a buffet. Just like all the selections in a buffet, there is lots to sample in LIFE. We need to “try a little bit of everything” if we don’t then we may miss out on something we really like, just because we are unwilling to try. Besides, if we don’t like something…we can always spit it out. Fill up those plates, and the “cup-eth of life!”

 

Once I started adopting some of these thoughts, and “embracing new experiences and people” I finally started to find some type of success, happiness, and even a feeling of fitting in and being part of something. That came to a head when I received a “shout out from the stage” of the Lee Brice show from my buddy Marti and Union Rose. I was not there, but after I got a bazillion texts telling me she gave me a shout out…kinda made my day (as I was sitting in bed feeling run down and worn out)-thanx Marti!

 

These outlooks also have allowed my business contact to grow-it is amazing how much repeat and new business is coming in, when not everyone is pissed at ya! As I look at the calendar of 2012, I am AMAZED, excited, and scared sh*tless as to how it will all go down! But I do know, and promise whatever success I am blessed with will be “paid forward” to others!

 

So here we go the last 2 weeks of 2011, and going into the final week before the Jolly Old Fat Man with the beard stops by-not my dad, but Santa himself. I have had the honor of “playing” Santa for a few folks in need this year, and it has felt pretty damn good. If able to, please do the same for someone else-if you don’t want to do for a stranger, I do have a list of things I want 😉

 

For those lighting the Menorah in celebration of “The Festival of Lights” or “dedication” coming up on Tuesday, Happy Hanukkah.

 

Barukh atah Adonai Eloheinu melekh ha’olam, she’asa nisim la’avoteinu ba’yamim ha’heim ba’z’man ha’ze. 

 

Still not feeling great, and did something BAD to my back; so I am gonna, as the poem says, “lay down for a long winters nap.” Have a great weekend, and if shopping drive safe, if someone else has that last “must have” item in the store you want, be nice smile, and know someone else will enjoy it, or…use a knee to the back of the thigh, it’ll get ‘em every time!

 

 

OCCUPY:
Hey occupy say there are no jobs?

10 of the World’s Coolest Jobs
Unless you’re a Powerball winner, or you’ve inherited a large sum of money, chances are you have to wake up every day, go to work and make a living.
For most people, a job is just a job, little more than a way to pay the bills. But what if work were more like play? What if, instead of living for the weekend, you lived for Monday morning? There are people who feel that way; you just have to find them. We did. For instance, rock climber Steph Davis climbs up the north face of Castleton Tower in Castle Valley, Utah. Yeah, she gets paid to do that.

Here are 10 of the coolest jobs in the world, and the people who do them.
1.)Stunt Woman
2.)Photographer, Victoria’s Secret
3.)Candy Store Owner
4.)Marine Biologist, Filmmaker, Inventor
5.)Beer Brewer
6.)LEGO Sculptor
7.)Music Teacher
8.)Car Aficionado
9.)Surfboard Designer/Builder
10.)Rock Climber

http://finance.yahoo.com/news/pf_article_113714.html

 
PLEASE JOIN ME: 

FRIDAY: Join my Buddy Chris O at The Filling Station for the “All request Dance Party”

 

SATURDAY: Join me as YOUR Columbus Blue Jackets take on the Tampa Bay Lighting. I will be rockin’ the Budweiser Terrace

PLEASE “suggest” “like” or become a “fan” of our new “fan page” Matty Sexton on facebook.http://www.facebook.com/DJMattySexton

PLEASE check out the updated website (please let us know what you think?) http://www.rmsexton.com

TIME TO BOOK YOUR Holiday Events
“Price is what you pay. Value is what you get.”- WARREN BUFFETT

Now through Jan 2^nd I am offering an “Ultimate Gift” for you, loved ones, or any friends/family. This time of year is especially popular for engagements, and for putting together wedding plans for 2012. If you or someone you know is getting married, we can make their day special. We have been in the entertainment and wedding industry for over 25 years. Our expertise will make you or your friend’s wedding, a moment to remember. Refer us now through Jan 2, 2012 and receive 25% of contracted rate. Call 614-580-3118 to secure your date, or go to www.rmsexton.com

 

 

COMING SOON PUBLIC EVENTS:
Every Friday join my buddy DJ Chris O at The Filling Station kicking off your weekend with all your favorite hits, and some of the cheapest drinks in town

December 31st Yogi’s  NYE Party
Filling Station NYE Party
Blue Jackets NYE Game

January 1^st NEW YEARS DAY for the “First in The First”http://www.m3ssports.com/events/first-on-the-first.htm
JANUARY 6^th PBR 2012 Kick Off at MADISON SQUARE GARDEN!!!

 

THOUGHT(s) FOR THE WEEK:
Amidst your hustle and bustle, stop and think. Take a minute and send a card to:

“A Recovering American Soldier, c/o Bethesda National Naval Medical” Center

8901 Wisconsin Avenue, Bethesda, MD 20889-0001

 
SONG(s) FOR THE WEEK:

No matter where I am in this world…or my head, it is nice to get away from ‘Reality’

http://www.cmt.com/videos/kenny-chesney/701097/reality.jhtml
WOW…

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=l3CUy4zubuk

 

My How the Boys from Blink 182 have matured

http://www.spinner.com/2011/12/15/blink-182-after-midnight-video/

 

GOD, this song takes me back to a different time…

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WImlFjlAxGQ&feature=related

 

SUCH A CRUSH ON HER

http://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_embedded&v=G_ClxzAhvu4#!

 
HOLIDAY SONGS:

This one is either loved, or hated…NO in-between

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_6TA98FSBkk&feature=related

 

Just Fun!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2Fe11OlMiz8

 

Ok so even if not around, still wanna say…

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ppjoh4ItrO0&feature=youtu.be

 

Even though was in “Scrooged” (one of the Best Christmas Movies ever…behind Charlie Brown Christmas, and Christmas Vacation-and MAYBE “Christmas Shoes” SHUT UP I LIKE THAT MOVIE!!!) maybe not a “Christmas” song, however just a great thought/message?

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oP9UJPZOS9Y&feature=related

 

CLASSIC! Maybe the first “mash up?”

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DiXjbI3kRus

 

“Maybe” asking…

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PpuIy4WCeSE&feature=related
This is so peaceful

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OqKFV_hGtnE

 

 

DID YOU KNOW?:
You can forego throwing out your Christmas tree and make it lunch. The Evergreen is actually edible, well most parts of it anyway. In addition, it is nutrient enriched, so if you take the advice stated previously you’d be getting a good source of Vitamin C and roughage. Don’t mind that you will be eating a tree; it’s just one step away from any other vegetable.

 
QUESTION OF THE WEEK:
“Are you denying your greatness?” – Les Brown

 
FUNNY:

Sandusky’s Lawyer: If You Believe McQueary, “I Suggest You Dial 1-800-Reality.” …FYI-That’s A Gay Phone Sex Line.

 

 

HELP:

Columbus/Wooster crooner Josh Krajcik is in the
finals for The “X-Factor.” Please  vote http://say.ly/RBj18jd. Have you missed any performance? This by far is the single best ANYONE has sounded on the X-Factor!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-WisKeiWNgs&feature=player_embedded
The Holidays Armed Services Blood Drive will be held on Saturday, December 17th, from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m., at the U.S. Army Reserve Center, 165 N. Yearling Road, next to DSCC. This drive is proudly being cosponsored by AmVets (Stan Kinney Post 89) and by The American Legion (Gahanna Post 797), and hosted by the U.S. Army Reserve. The blood will be collected by the Armed Services Blood Program (ASBP), the military’s exclusive blood collection agency, goes exclusively to military personnel, including a good portion to help save the lives of
American forces deployed in Afghanistan and Iraq.

This is one of the few blood drives for the Armed Forces in the country that
is open to the public. Come in and donate for our Armed Forces.

All blood collected will be immediately processed, and then most will be
flown directly from Wright-Patterson Air Force Base by priority overseas and
in theatre within a week. You cannot ask for a better, more direct way to
support our troops.

For eligibility information (including not having donated since October
18th), please see the Armed Services Blood Program webpage at
http://www.militaryblood.dod.mil/Donors/can_i_donate.aspx

Food and refreshments will be provided, including food such as warm
sandwiches, coney islands, baked beans, chips, pretzels, donuts, cookies,
cakes, and other snacks. Drinks will include water, Gatorade, juice and juice
drinks, pop, and coffee. The AmVets and American Legion volunteers will be
providing the food and drinks. Tentative date for the next blood drive is
probably mid-February (to be sponsored by the 12th District Sons of the
American Legion).

While walk-ins are accepted, donors are encouraged to pre-register for an
appointment at https://www.militarydonor.com/index.cfm
(This gives us an idea of how many to expect, and saves YOU time in the donation process). Donors can search for this blood drive by zip code (43213) to register (add the date too: December 17th).

This Christmas time, please help give a fellow serviceman or servicewoman a
chance to live. Give a life-saving gift that literally comes from the heart.
For more information, please contact Peter Margaritis, blood drive chairman,
(614) 395-0387.

You’ve seen the TV. Our forces overseas are heavily engaged in combat
operations. Please, give a wounded serviceman or servicewoman a great holiday
gift — a gift that literally comes from your heart.

 

 

GREAT WATCH!!!:

THIS AWESOME! The language may be harsh for some, but this dude is AWESOME!!!

 

http://www.worldstarhiphop.com/videos/video800.php?v=wshhBtdQvDJLQy55M05q&set_size=1

 

HOLIDAY:

Internet site allows your kids to see Santa and his reindeer
Children know Santa Claus is watching them all year round and keeping track of who has been naughty and who has been nice.

Now your kids can keep an eye on Santa and his reindeer.
The “reindeer cam” is the brainchild of two friends, Adam Loveless and Drew Born, who run a deer farm in Michigan.

http://www.abc2news.com/dpp/entertainment/internet-site-allows-your-kids-to-see-santa-and-his-reindeer#ixzz1gi2xvZW8

 

http://reindeercam.com/

 

 

ENTERTAINMENT:
Alec Baldwin is like the rest of the “Hollywood Liberals” feels rules are good…as long as they don’t apply to him!

 

American Airlines pilot not smiling after Baldwin ‘SNL’ spoof
An American Airlines pilot isn’t smiling after Alec Baldwin’s surprise appearance on “Saturday Night Live” this weekend.

“I was disappointed that it was making light of something that’s fairly serious and also was poking fun at a group of employees that are very proud and a historic airline who are going through a tough period right now,” said Steve Roach, a real American Airlines pilot.

Following Alec Baldwin’s fake apology to himself on NBC’s “SNL,” an American Airlines pilot speaks out. NBC’s  Jeff Rossen reports.

During SNL’s “Weekend Update,” Baldwin was introduced as Captain Steve Rogers, and appeared in a pilot’s uniform, mustache and speaking with a southern accent.

http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-2073295/Alec-Baldwin-planegate-American-Airlines-pull-30-Rock-flight-entertainment.html

 

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xNH2tOuuZvA&feature=related

 
MUSIC:

Kid Rock Celebrates Tootsies…and gives back!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4URoiJIJxX0&feature=player_embedded#!

BOOKS:

‘Time to Get Tough: Making America #1’ Donald J. Trump

“President Obama has been a disaster for America. In four short years, he’s wrecked our economy, saddled our children with more debt than America managed to rack up in 225 years, and gone around the world apologizing for our country—as if the greatest nation in the world needs to apologize for being a land of opportunity and freedom, which we were before Obama became president.

Now, America looks like a broken country—stripped of jobs, stripped of wealth, stripped of respect. And what does President Obama do about it? He plays nice with a China that is doing everything it can to destroy our economy, while refusing to stand up for America with Middle Eastern oil mobsters who think they can hold us hostage through higher prices at the pump, and chucking billions in “stimulus” money to his friends and supporters while letting the rest of us foot the bill.

This can’t go on. And if Donald J. Trump has anything to say about it, it won’t.”

MILITARY:
http://www.allproudamericans.com/Marine-Sings-Merry-Christmas-from-Afghanistan-ii.html

 
POLITICS:
Obama and the politics of disappointment
All politicians disappoint their supporters. It is a relentless truth in D.C.
They make pledges they can’t keep, say things they don’t mean, and encounter stiff headwinds in office that were just distant breezes on the campaign trail. The bigger their failed promises, the bigger the disappointment.

And just a few hours north of Washington, in the battleground state of Pennsylvania, it is easy to see that President Obama has a lot of disappointment standing between him and re-election.

“I believed in him 100%,” says Andy Heller in Scranton. “I thought it was going to be a big turnaround from President Bush. But now you have to wonder.”

 

http://articles.cnn.com/2011-12-13/politics/politics_obama-disappointment_1_president-obama-barack-obama-young-voters?_s=PM:POLITICS

 
BUISNESS/PRODUCT OF WEEK:
Santa training? (some language…BUT FUNNY)

 

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9pShS4t_6EE&feature=player_embedded

YOU DA MAN:
THIS IS AWESOME! A cab driver gets even with one of his “fares.”

 

http://cosbysweaters.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/12/cabdriver-status.jpg

WHAT THE HE**?:
‘Can I Have My Weed Back?’
A defense attorney’s argument that a bag of marijuana uncovered during a Pennsylvania traffic stop could have belonged to a man other than his client has unraveled after an arresting officer recalled the suspect asking him: “Can I have my weed back?”

http://www2.nbc4i.com/news/2011/dec/13/can-i-have-my-weed-back-ar-862318/

ARE YOU KIDDING ME?:
‘Time’ Magazine’s “Person of the Year” is ‘The Protestor!?!?’ What about all the people who “The Protestor who’s job was interrupted by them? What about the people who CLEANED UP AFTER THEM!?!?

 

http://www.time.com/time/specials/packages/article/0,28804,2101745_2102141,00.html

 

 

SPORTS:

The Cincinnati Bengals have named kicker Mike Nugent as the recipient of this year’s Ed Block Courage Award. The award honors players who demonstrate commitment to the values of sportsmanship and courage. Nugent has bounced back from a serious knee injury in 2010 to lead the NFL in field goal accuracy this season.

 
BUCKEYES:
We’re NOT saying the new Sheriff is better, just DIFFERENT
There seems to be a growing sentiment among on lookers that we as Buckeye fans have completely moved on and have “forgotten” everything that Jim Tressel did for the program AND the University during his tenure. On the contrary, the Urban Meyer hire has done remarkable things for the fans of THE Ohio State University and its players. It’s provided a bit of closure to what felt like a long YEAR when in fact it had only been six months. Written by @wvabuckeye !

 

http://www.thebuckeyebattlecry.com/2011/12/one-fans-opinion-new-sheriff-in-town/

RELIGION:
So…”technically” it is not religious, but this is soooooo cool. The link below is a pre-game tradition before Central Catholic High School games in Lawrence Mass.

 

http://m.youtube.com/#/watch?desktop_uri=%2Fwatch%3Fv%3DIuBiGuNbLfo%26feature%3Dplayer_embedded&feature=player_embedded&v=IuBiGuNbLfo&gl=US

BUISNESS:
Facebook’s $10 Billion Question
Facebook’s founder has come a long way from his Harvard University dorm room, where the idea of a social-networking site first took shape. As The Wall Street Journal reported recently, the youthful entrepreneur with a passion for hooded tops could be on the verge of becoming chief executive of a publicly listed company worth more than $100 billion.

Francesco Guerrera on The News Hub discusses why he believes Facebook should not use Wall Street for its IPO and do a Google-style “Dutch Auction” instead.
But first, Mr. Zuckerberg has to guide the 7-year-old company through a 409-year-old ritual: an initial public offering. (The Dutch East India Company had the first IPO—in 1602.)

Not surprisingly, Facebook’s plans have garnered a lot of “Like” comments from Wall Street. The prospect that the company might raise some $10 billion as early as April has sparked a furious race among investment banks seeking to arrange the deal.

As is the Street’s wont, the pursuit is driven by a heady mixture of money and testosterone: The hefty fees from such a large IPO plus the priceless bragging rights of having been on the hottest deal in decades.

“Failure is not an option,” is how one banker, with characteristic understatement, summarized his task last week.

Mr. Zuckerberg should put him and his colleagues out of their misery with a firm “thanks, but no thanks.”

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2011/12/13/facebook-zuckerberg-wall-street_n_1145709.html?1323789473&ncid=edlinkusaolp00000008

 

HEALTH:
Extreme Weight Loss: Woman Loses 282 Pounds
Natalie Strawn used to be 550 pounds, underwent an unbelievable transformation.

http://gma.yahoo.com/video/health-26594251/extreme-weight-loss-woman-loses-282-pounds-27563061.html

INSPIRATION:
You can have more, be more, and do more because you can change the person you are.

SUCCESS:
It doesn’t matter where you are on the stage, just as long as you’re there.

 

 

QUOTES:
The Holidays are about friends, loved ones…and getting even with your enemies-The Muppets

CLOSING:
Why give second chances when there are people waiting for their first?

 

 

TO DO:

THURSDAY
My Buddies James Gage, and Union Rose open up for our good friend
Lee Brice at The Bluestone

FRIDAY:
Join our buddies from O.A.R., and Marti from Union Rose at Woodland’s Tavern with the Winnie Cooper Project! All proceeds go to Music Loves Ohio, an organization that purchases instruments for school age children who otherwise wouldn’t be able to afford them. For more info: http://www.columbusalive.com/content/stories/2011/12/15/staff-pick-music-loves-ohio-benefit.html

 

Gaither Christmas Homecoming at The Value City Arena at the Jerome
Schottenstein Center. www.schottensteincenter.com

SATURDAY:
Going to The Jackets vs. Tampa Bay Game? Stop by
and say hi, I will be DJ’ing the game from the Budweiser Terrace

SUNDAY:
Trans-Siberian Orchestra at Nationwide Arena 3 p.m. and 7:30 p.m. For more info: www.nationwidearena.com

MORE TO DO:
SATURDAY:
SantaCon In the Arena District with Hundreds of Santas partying with you to make noses like Rudolph!  More info:www.arenadistrict.com

ALL WEEKEND:
Broadway Across America: Mamma Mia! At The Palace Theatre. For more info: www.broadwayacrossamerica.com

Wildlights at the Columbus Zoo and Aquarium. For more info: www.columbuszoo.org

Holiday Fantasy of Lights at Alum Creek State
Park. For more info: www.ohiostateparks.org

Exhibit: Dr. Seuss’ How the Grinch Stole
Christmas” 45th Anniversary Retrospective at The Franklin Park Conservatory and
Botanical Gardens. For more info:www.fpconservatory.org

COLUMBUS COMMONS HOLIDAY FAIR
The Columbus Commons Holiday Fair is the place
to get into the holiday spirit.

Each day will feature Trackless Train rides,
Carousel rides, a Giant “Ice” Slide, a Barnyard Petting Zoo, and Marshmallow
Roasting. A Holiday Tent will host photos with Santa, Secret Santa Shop (with
proceeds to benefit Nationwide Children’s Hospital), arts and
crafts, indoor seating and choir performances. A $5 wristband provides
unlimited access to the Trackless Train, Carousel, and Giant Slide.
Free Trolley Rides will run from 5pm-9pm each
day through the Downtown Illumination holiday light display to see
the almost 200,000 lights.

FUNNIES:
All weekend Phil Palisoul plays The
Funny Bone Comedy Club in Easton Town Center

IN THEATERS:
‘Alvin and the Chipmunks: Chipwrecked’ rated  “G.”

Robert Downey Jr. is back as Sherlock Holmes in ‘A Game of Shadows,’ rated “PG-13.”

DVD:
A remake that is actually pretty good, ‘Fright Night’ rated “R,” staring  Colin Farrell

The animated ‘Kung Fu Panda 2,’ rated “PG.”

No it’s not a documentary on recent events in Zanesville Ohio, it is ‘Rise of the Planet of the Apes’ rated “PG-13.”

COMING SOON PUBLIC EVENTS:
Every Friday join my buddy DJ Chris O at The Filling Station kicking off your weekend with all your favorite hits, and some of the cheapest drinks in town

December 31st Yogi’s  NYE Party
Filling Station NYE Party
Blue Jackets NYE Game

January 1^st NEW YEARS DAY for the “First in The First”http://www.m3ssports.com/events/first-on-the-first.htm
JANUARY 6^th PBR 2012 Kick Off at MADISON SQUARE GARDEN!!!

Follow us:
www.RMsexton.com
www.facebok.com/theonemattsexton
http://www.twitter@mattysexton
http://foursquare.com/user/mattysexton

Giddy Up during the Holiday Season…but take a minute unwrap the real gifts!

GREETINGS FROM The Oasis in the Middle of the Desert, Las Vegas Nevada.

 

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DdTAAyjnvNI

 

Yes this town is full of lights, glitz, and glamour, I am dancing under the beam of a “neon moon.” (yet another song that seems to sum up my life)

 

http://www.cmt.com/videos/misc/449885/neon-moon-from-invitation-only.jhtml

 

While it may be “Sin City” for many, for me…it is just long hours working, working out, and catching up on paperwork. I am out here doing an event for the National Finals Rodeo http://www.prorodeo.com/

 

You can check it out all weekend live and replayed on GAC or on the web (http://www.gactv.com/gac/pac_ctnt/text/0,,GAC_26058_104203,00.html)

 

They say in Vegas you can be anyone ya wannabe. I guess that is why I like it here so much. Cause with putting the boots, buckle, and hats on over the weekends (and yes the sleeveless shirts as well)…I am not a Cowboy, but I play one on stages on the weekend (and live by the lifestyle).

 

This event is AWESOME it is a party atmosphere based on hard workin’/hard livin lifestyles on a foundation of appreciation of God, family, country and fun! I really like events like the NFR, this event reminds me of one of my favorite movies.

 

“Pure Country,” was a movie I saw as a kid but shaped me to this day. A movie that my friend JMI needs to see (I also hope she is feeling better, since I worry about her). Pure Country is what could be real life behind any stage.

 

George Strait stars as the guy in the cowboy hat who loved what he did while on stage, yet felt something was not right. He then found a sweet, strong minded, fair skinned, strawberry blonde, who rode horses and worked hard for what she wanted, while fighting her own inner insecurities.

 

Based around an event very similar to this weekend, George (“Dusty”) falls for the girl, and they hit it off…but due to some assumptions, and miscommunication get split apart. She helps him find himself and his place on the stage he loves. YEP EVEN WHILE HAVING A BLAST…THIS WEEKEND IS OPENING UP SOME SCARS!

 

No matter where I am, no matter what I do…there is part of me that believes “unconditionally”- “You will always be the miracle that makes my life complete,” and I have been taught to “make each tomorrow be the best that it can be.”  http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UnFs7SCI3ZM

 

But just like the movie…KING GEORGE IS HERE!!! And I am part of an event that his band, The Ace in The Hole Band is playing. Not only is this very similar to the movie…BUT IT IS LIKE I GET TO HEAR THE ENTIRE GEORGE STRAIT BOX SET EACH NIGHT LIVE, to a small intimate crowd!

 

But I am still waiting on my favorite song that is a staple of any country gig I have the honor of ROCKIN, in “The Heartland” of this great Country!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=79_jhgk__fo

 

In addition to the travels in the air and on the road, as well as the travels to memories in a different point in my life, this has been a very trying week. I can say without a doubt that Verizon products are far superior to any other wireless products, HOWEVER THEIR CUSTOMER SERIVCE SUCKS!!!

 

I won’t go into detail but will say that after making my first call for a replacement phone (from the insurance I have paid for for the last 10 years) last Sunday, over 3.5 hours on the phone, $128.00 charged ($13.00) for “overnight delivery” (last MONDAY!), one follow up phone call saying phone was never sent, one “customer service” rep stating “you are bothering all of us,” and FedEx email sent on THURSDAY (5 days later), saying “your phone was shipped today and will arrive by 3pm on Friday…I STILL DON’T HAVE A PHONE. I guess my ideer of OVERNIGHT delivery, being charged for a product (without having the product delivered), and customer service is FAR DIFFERENT FROM THAT OF VERIZON WIRELESS!!!

 

The good point in all of this? It happened while I was on the beach in paradise (things are easier to take in nice weather), and I am reminded why I strive to provide excellent customer service!

 

However, my week was NOTHING compared to that of the Police, Staff, Students, and Families of those Killed and Injured on the Campus of Virginia Tech. This University has just started to recover from the tragedy in April 2007. Please take a moment to give a hug to those around you, even if in a “safe environment” ya never know when tragedy will strike, in the case of V-Tech…twice! Say a prayer, be thankful of what you have, or whatever…but this week, just as in 2007 “We are all Hokies.”

 

Speaking of an unexpected tragedy, this week marked the seventh anniversary of the death of “Dimebag” Darrell Abbott at The Al Rosa Villa in Columbus Ohio.

 

Gone but not forgotten…I remember exactly where I was when I heard. I was rockin’ a stage with the beautiful Ronni Hunter from The Blitz. The look on her face when she heard what had happened was heartbreaking. Being the true pro she is, she finished her appearance and then got out to be with those affected. That night I learned how we can be taken at any time-even when on the comfort of a stage, how a true pro acts, and how heroic actions of one man-as in the case of Jim Neggemeyer (I guy I went to High School with) can save so many.

 

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ehx7BIXJM0Y

 

“It’s been seven years since the metal world lost one of its most adored sons, and we still miss him dearly.

Seven years ago, heavy metal suffered one of its biggest and most shocking tragedies when “Dimebag” Darrell Abbott was cruelly snatched from us on that fateful night in Ohio.

Shot onstage by Nathan Gale while performing with Damage plan, Dimebag was one of four people killed that night, leaving behind his long-time girlfriend Rita Haney, his brother Vinnie and an incredible legacy as one of the greatest metal guitarists of them all.

Seven years on, we still love and miss Dime dearly, and will never, ever forget him, his influence or what he’s meant to us all. RIP, brother.
http://www.metalhammer.co.uk/top-posts/rip-dimebag-never-forgotten/

This week we, as a country reflect back on 70 years Ago

The Japanese attack on Pearl Harbor in 1941 remains deeply imbedded in the American psyche. On the 70th anniversary, Michael Ruane looked back at how the nation reacted to that fateful event:
http://www.washingtonpost.com/national/pearl-harbor-day-survivors-remember-attack-pay-respects-on-70th-anniversary/2011/12/07/gIQAF7VMdO_story.html?tid=pm_national_pop

FDR’s SPEECH:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3VqQAf74fsE

 

So as we head full steam into the Holiday Season, remember that whatever you are doing, shopping, enjoy the company of friends and family, fighting crowds/family or traffic or whatever…remember while there may be shiny wrapped boxes under the tree on Dec 25^th, each day is a gift that we get to unwrap!

 

 

OCCUPY:
THIS IS DEAD ON, “THE FIRST WAVE” is hitting the shores. This is NOT EDITED but I suggest supporters and level headed people listen!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iJEbWMS_IHE

 
PLEASE JOIN ME: 

FRIDAY: Join my Buddy Chris O at The Filling Station for the “All request Dance Party”

 

SATURDAY: Join my Buddy Chris O as rocks the Budweiser Party Terrace while The Jackets take on The “Baw-stan” Bruins

PLEASE “suggest” “like” or become a “fan” of our new “fan page” Matty Sexton on facebook.http://www.facebook.com/DJMattySexton

PLEASE check out the updated website (please let us know what you think?) http://www.rmsexton.com

TIME TO BOOK YOUR Holiday Events
“Price is what you pay. Value is what you get.”- WARREN BUFFETT

If you or someone you know is having a Holiday Event, or getting married we can make their day special. We have been in the entertainment and wedding industry for over 25 years. Our expertise will make you or your friend’s wedding, a moment to remember. Refer us and receive 15% of contracted rate. Call 614-580-3118 to secure your date, or go to www.rmsexton.com

 

 

COMING SOON PUBLIC EVENTS:
Every Friday join my buddy DJ Chris O at The Filling Station kicking off your weekend with all your favorite hits, and some of the cheapest drinks in town

December 17th Blue Jackets Holiday Game
December 31st Yogi’s  NYE Party
Filling Station NYE Party
Blue Jackets NYE Game
JANUARY 6^th PBR 2012 Kick Off at MADISON SQUARE GARDEN!!!

 

THOUGHT(s) FOR THE WEEK:
There’s something we need to constantly remind ourselves to do so we attract a fantastic life, and that is to LIGHTEN UP! Because when we’re serious about anything, we will always attract more serious circumstances. When we lighten up, instantaneously we change our future and we make it brighter! Tell yourself right now to just LIGHTEN UP, and you will feel much better immediately. Got the feeling? – Rhonda Byrne

 

SONG(s) FOR THE WEEK:
Yep…no matter where

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aqGOUd8Odjs

 

Was sitting on the Beach, drinking some Booze, watching the Boats, and listening to some Ballads (Parrot Heads will get that one), and this “lost gem” came on my headphones. I thought HOLY SH*T, it is true. WE ALL HAVE THEM, we just can’t see ‘em…

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=v5rOHSeyegI

 
HOLIDAY SONGS:

What’s wrong with one more? FUN Spin on a great Country Song

http://youtu.be/ukfiswl6uX4

Christmas in Hollis Queens. Moms in the kitchen cookin collard greens…

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OR07r0ZMFb8&ob=av3e

 

Holiday Season is in Full Affect…better get runnin!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_embedded&v=tGirb_wgkcw

 

I got one of my Christmas wishes!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_embedded&v=pwojekKN9OE

 

Gotta have a Christmas song, by one of my favorite Jews

http://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_embedded&v=D6cfM7yQMwo

 

New Classic?

http://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_embedded&v=z1rYmzQ8C9Q

 

I love this version

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ivxf3q-k6ds

 

AND ONE OF MY ALL TIME “DECEMBER SONGS”…reason to believe that maybe this year will be better than the last

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QLwXf-LWn1E

 

 

DID YOU KNOW?:
The people at Reynolds et al make a substantial amount of money selling foil during the Yuletide season. It has been confirmed that at least 3000 tons of foil are used to wrap turkeys annually.

 

 

QUESTION OF THE WEEK:
What do you consider your greatest strength?

You have far more weaknesses than strengths – concentrate always on your strengths.-Brian Tracy

 
FUNNY:

THIS IS AWESOME! ‘Holy Sh*t Balls Mom…!”

http://www.break.com/index/michael-buble-heckled-by-mom-2179373

 

 

HELP:
The Holidays Armed Services Blood Drive is three weeks
away. It will be held on Saturday, December 17th, from 9
a.m. to 2 p.m., at the U.S. Army Reserve Center, 165 N. Yearling Road, next
to DSCC. This drive is proudly being cosponsored by AmVets (Stan Kinney Post
89) and by The American Legion (Gahanna Post 797), and hosted by the U.S.
Army Reserve. The blood will be collected by the Armed Services Blood Program
(ASBP), the military’s exclusive blood collection agency, goes exclusively to
military personnel, including a good portion to help save the lives of
American forces deployed in Afghanistan and Iraq.

This is one of the few blood drives for the Armed Forces in the country that
is open to the public. Come in and donate for our Armed Forces.

All blood collected will be immediately processed, and then most will be
flown directly from Wright-Patterson Air Force Base by priority overseas and
in theatre within a week. You cannot ask for a better, more direct way to
support our troops.

For eligibility information (including not having donated since October
18th), please see the Armed Services Blood Program webpage at
http://www.militaryblood.dod.mil/Donors/can_i_donate.aspx

Food and refreshments will be provided, including food such as warm
sandwiches, coney islands, baked beans, chips, pretzels, donuts, cookies,
cakes, and other snacks. Drinks will include water, Gatorade, juice and juice
drinks, pop, and coffee. The AmVets and American Legion volunteers will be
providing the food and drinks. Tentative date for the next blood drive is
probably mid-February (to be sponsored by the 12th District Sons of the
American Legion).

While walk-ins are accepted, donors are encouraged to pre-register for an
appointment at https://www.militarydonor.com/index.cfm
(This gives us an idea of how many to expect, and saves YOU time in the donation process). Donors can search for this blood drive by zip code (43213) to register (add the date too: December 17th).

This Christmas time, please help give a fellow serviceman or servicewoman a
chance to live. Give a life-saving gift that literally comes from the heart.
For more information, please contact Peter Margaritis, blood drive chairman,
(614) 395-0387.

You’ve seen the TV. Our forces overseas are heavily engaged in combat
operations. Please, give a wounded serviceman or servicewoman a great holiday
gift — a gift that literally comes from your heart.

 

 

MUST READ:

Phonetic Alphabet Tables
Useful for spelling words and names over the phone. I printed this page, cut out the table containing the NATO phonetic alphabet (below), and taped it to the side of my computer monitor when I was a telephone help desk technician.

An alternate version, Western Union’s phonetic alphabet, is presented in case the NATO version sounds too militaristic to you.

I was inspired to recreate this page and post it online when I overheard a co-worker say “L, as in Log” over the phone.
http://www.osric.com/chris/phonetic.html

HOLIDAY:

Excuses stop us from doing what we need to do. We are all tired.. We are all busy.. We can ALL make time to workout and eat right!- Bob Harper

Ho Ho Horrible holiday eats, ‘Tis the season for your local fast food restaurant to come up with some crazy holiday inspired menu items. Candy cane cakes, snowman donuts and Thanksgiving chicken sandwiches are being doled out to those who need a quick bite on the run. Here are some of the ridiculous additions that are not jolly at all… so please, steer clear!
* Outback’s Gingerbread Martini
The restaurant’s website doesn’t even list the calories for this holiday beverage because it’s probably to embarrassed with how unhealthy it is. This drink is made from Monin gingerbread flavor, Absolut vodka, Kahlúa and Baileys Irish Cream. To serve, this drink is “salted” in graham cracker crumbs and topped with a gingerbread cookie. Ginger is suppose to be a healthy spice, but in this case, all health properties are completely void.

* Krispy Kreme Snowman Doughnut
It’s just plain cruel to eat Frosty the Snowman. He may look delicious with the warm glaze dripping off his puffy body, but resist! These donuts are full of sugar, calories, trans fat… all necessary ingredients to put you at risk for a stroke or heart attack. That certainly isn’t something you want this holiday season.

* McDonald’s Holiday Pie
One second this chain restaurant is trying to improve its image by rolling out with healthier menu items, and the next, it’s whipping up some trans fat infested goodies like the holiday pie! Reviews even state that this pie isn’t even tasty, so why bother.

* IHOP Eggnog Pancakes
IHOP never ceases to amaze taste buds around the nation. This chain breakfast hub is always coming up with some interesting way to add extra fat and calories to our daily meals. If all you want for Christmas is… a heart attack, then dig in. But if you’re thinking you’d like to live to see 2012, cook up your own batch of whole grain pancakes at home.

* Friendly’s Gingerbread Ice Cream
Why is this chain restaurant called Friendly’s? Clearly it’s not friendly to your arteries, so it really is just false advertising. Also, who wants to eat ice cream in the winter? And again, the ingredient ginger is once again turned into a demon. It’s so sad because ginger alone as so many healthful properties, but when paired with fat, sugar and cream, you can forget about it.

* Tim Horton’s Candy Cane Chocolate Doughnut
You may be thinking that Tim Horton’s is a genius for putting to delicious flavors together but with 280 calories in this tiny donut, the restaurant is clearly off it’s rocker! Oh and don’t think you’re doing yourself any favors by ordering the Candy Cane Hot Chocolate either, this drink racks up 480 calories in a medium sized cup! If you want to fit into your holiday sweater in the next few weeks, you won’t be able to if you suck down these holiday treats.

* Peppermint Pinkberry
Remember when Pinkberry was all the rage in the celebrity world because they believed it was low calorie and thus, healthy? Well this holiday treat (again, who eats cold food during cold months?) may only come in at 110 calories but that’s only for a 1/2 a cup and who honestly only shovels in a 1/2 cup worth of ice cream? Bake some warm healthy tummy filling goodies at home, such as butternut squash, you won’t miss this holiday treat, promise.
http://www.examiner.com/nutrition-in-boulder/ho-ho-horrible-holiday-eats-part-one-ihop-eggnog-pancakes?cid=dflo-facebook-120611-HorribleHolidayEats#ixzz1fyva2gXM

 

The most shoplifted items of the season
While most of us are out buying holiday presents some people are getting their gifts with a five-finger discount. Ad Week  is reporting that one in every 11 people walks out the door with at least one item they didn’t pay for. With shoplifting up six percent this year, retailers stand to lose a whopping $119 billion of merchandise to shoplifters in 2011. And it’s not just kids with sticky fingers—75 percent of shoplifters are adults, most of whom have jobs. We know people are hunting for holiday deals, but this amount of theft is both surprising and sad.

Ad Week spoke with loss prevention experts on why shoplifting is the highest it’s been in five years. “Most shoplifters simply succumb to temptation, “Johnny Custer, director of field operations for Merchant Analytic Solutions, told Ad Week. “But add a sense of desperation because of the economy and holiday pressures, and you have the recipe for theft soup.” Barbara Staib, a spokesperson for the National Association of Shoplifting Prevention, told Ad Week, “Seventy percent of shoplifters tell us they didn’t plan to shoplift.”

Exactly what are people stealing? Ad Week has compiled the top 10 most shoplifted items of 2011 and they’re truly bizarre.

1. Filet mignon. So many people are tucking choice cuts of meats under their jackets that supermarkets are now considered the stores with the most theft.

2. Jameson
Those with an unquenchable thirst for booze just help themselves to a free bottle of expensive liquor.

3. Electric tools
Apparently the most common items men nab are electric toothbrushes and power tools. At least they’re fighting cavities.

4. iPhone 4
Electronics like smart phones and video games are high risk items, and one research group claims 100,000 laptops are stolen annually from big box stores.

5. Gillette Mach 4
Anyone who uses non-disposable razors knows they’re pretty expensive, so in tough financial times people don’t want to pay for them anymore.

6. Axe
The men’s deodorant and body wash we love to hate are often stolen in mass quantities and resold at flea markets and corner stores. Dial is popular amongst thieves too.

7. Polo Ralph Lauren
Clothing theft is up 31 percent since 2009. It’s hard to look good in a bad economy, so some score fresh threads the illegal way.

8. Let’s Rock Elmo
The Sesame Street toy topped the Toys’R’Us “Hot Toys” list this year, so parents are stealing this must-have toy for their kids if they can’t afford it.

9. Chanel No. 5
Who wouldn’t love a bottle of this popular woman’s fragrance? Expensive perfumes make up nearly four percent of loss in stores that carry them.

10. Nikes
As Ad Week points out, some shoppers wear flip-flops into a store, try on a pair of sneakers, and walk out wearing them. Sneaker heads will do whatever it takes to score the kicks on their wish list.
http://shine.yahoo.com/fashion/the-most-shoplifted-items-of-the-season.html

 
ANNIVERSARY:
My “Florida Parents” who celebrated there “official unofficial” Anniversary this week. Congrats, after many years of on again off again happiness, as we said at the first anniversary party “’Bout Time!”  Your love and happiness found in your time, is an inspiration to me!

 

 

PASSING:

Harry Morgan, 96, who won an Emmy Award playing the tough but fair Col. Sherman T. Potter on the comedy series “M*A*S*H” and was a supporting actor for six decades in movies and on television, died Dec. 7 at his home in Los Angeles.
http://www.washingtonpost.com/national/harry-morgan-dies-at-96-mash-dragnet-roles-embodied-character-acting/2011/12/08/gIQAteFwfO_story.html

 
ENTERTAINMENT:
Owner of home hit by ‘Mythbusters’ cannonball trying to fix damage

The owner of the home damaged in the “Mythbusters” cannonball accident said he’s working on repairing the damage.

“I’m just trying to get my house fixed,” said the owner, who did not identify himself, in a short interview with the Contra Costa Times. The paper said the hole from the cannonball had been patched but sunlight shining through the hole could still be seen inside the home.

A failed experiment for the popular Discovery Channel show sent the 30-pound cannonball soaring through Dublin, a suburb about 35 miles east of San Francisco.

 

On Wednesday, “MythBusters” hosts Adam Savage and Jamie Hyneman visited the neighborhood. Savage said the affected residents would be paid for property damage as well as any hotel charges.
http://latimesblogs.latimes.com/lanow/2011/12/mythbusters-cannonball-home-damage.html

 
MUSIC:
Kid Rock: I told Mitt Romney’s campaign they could use my song

 

The Washington Post confirmed Tuesday that former Massachusetts Gov. Mitt Romney has made Kid Rock’s “Born Free” his official campaign song.

 

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bu3rsha1ZtI

As for Kid Rock, whose real name is Bob Ritchie, that’s just fine with him.
In a statement Wednesday, the musician said that he told Romney’s team that it could use his music–and so, for that matter, can anyone else:
He and anyone else who wants to use my song do not need my permission. I said he could use it and I would say the same for any other candidate. I have to have a little faith that every candidate feels like he or she can help this country. Without faith, we got nothing. I make music to have it be heard. Merry Christmas folks! Rock on.
-Kid Rock
http://news.yahoo.com/blogs/ticket/kid-rock-told-mitt-romney-campaign-could-song-210720469.html

BOOKS:

‘Dear Me: A Letter to My Sixteen-Year-Old Self’

These nuggets of wisdom are offered by an Academy Award–nominated actor (James Woods), a popular comedian (Aasif Mandvi), and a world-famous novelist (Jodi Picoult) to their sixteen-year-old selves. No matter how accomplished and confident they seem today, at sixteen, they were like the rest of us—often unsure, frequently confused, and usually in need of a little reassurance.

In Dear Me, 75 celebrities, writers, musicians, athletes, and actors have written letters to their younger selves that give words of comfort, warning, humor, and advice. These letters present intimate, moving, and witty insights into some of the world’s most intriguing and admired individuals. By turns funny, surprising, raw, and uplifting, this singular collection captures the universal conditions that are youth, life, and growing up.
http://dearme.org/contributors/

MILITARY:
Two days after Pearl Harbor was bombed, Faribault’s Bruce Smith was named the 1941 Heisman Trophy winner as the best college football player in the country. An audio recording of his speech was recently “re-discovered” at the Rice County Historical Museum.

Transcript of Bruce Smith’s 1941 Heisman acceptance speech
“Mr. Chairman, Mr. President and members of the Downtown Athletic Club, ladies and gentleman: So much of emotional significance has happened in such a brief space of time that the task of responding on such an occasion leaves me at a loss to assign relative value.

In the Far East they may think American boys are soft, but I have had, and even have now, plenty of evidence in black and blue to prove that they are making a big mistake. (Applause) I think America will owe a great debt to the game of football when we finish this thing off. If six million American youngsters like myself are able to take it and come back for more, both from a physical standpoint and that of morale. If teaching team play and cooperation and exercise to go out and fight hard for the honor of our schools, then likewise the same skills can be depended on when we have to fight to defend for our country.”
http://faribault.com/content/hearing-bruce

http://espn.go.com/video/clip?id=7189867

POLITICS:
UM…I don’t think I agree (no, really…I am disagreeing with FOX News)

Fox Business’ Follow The Money Unmasks The Muppets’ Liberal Agenda: “Brainwashing” Your Kids!
http://mediamatters.org/mmtv/201112020036

 
BUISNESS/PRODUCT OF WEEK:
BOOZE!

Cheers to America’s Alcohol System
Have you seen any of these headlines recently?”Warning over fake vodka.” “Antifreeze chemicals found in fake booze.” “Dodgy vodka could kill, warn environmental health experts.” Chances are you probably haven’t read these headlines because they didn’t happen here.

These headlines are from other countries that don’t benefit from the American system of alcohol regulation — the very system that is celebrating its anniversary.
On December 5, 1933, Utah, Pennsylvania and Ohio ratified the 21st Amendment to the U.S. Constitution, giving it the three-quarters majority needed to legally repeal the 18th Amendment and end the 13 years of national Prohibition.
http://www.huffingtonpost.com/rebecca-spicer/repeal-day-prohibition_b_1129131.html

YOU DA MAN:
Teenager gives back to Children’s Hospital
Eli Staggers, a 15 year-old Licking Valley student, completed a fundraiser for Children’s Hospital, collecting more than 400 coloring and workbooks to be donated to hospitalized children.

 

To graduate from Licking Valley High School, every student must complete a 30-hour community service project.

Freshman Eli Staggers, 15, didn’t want to wait until he was a senior to complete the requirement, so when he saw a television commercial about kids who will have to remain at Children’s Hospital in Columbus during the holidays, he knew what he had to do.

With the help of the girls and boys basketball teams and fans and community members, he collected more than 400 coloring books, crayons and fun books. The collection filled eight boxes, which he and his mother, Angie Staggers, delivered to the hospital.
http://www.newarkadvocate.com/article/20111205/NEWS01/112050318/Teenager-gives-back-Children-s-Hospital

WHAT THE HE**?:
Michigan county uses homeland security money to buy Sno-Cone machines
Montcalm County in Michigan, used $11,700 of money meant for homeland security projects to buy 13 Sno-Cone machines.

The United States is fighting terrorism — one snow cone at a time.
Montcalm County recently received a $900 Arctic Blast Sno-Cone machine.
The West Michigan Shoreline Regional Development Commission (WMSRDC) is a federal- and state-designated agency responsible for managing and administrating the homeland security program in Montcalm County and 12 other counties.
http://www.wtam.com/cc-common/news/sections/newsarticle.html?feed=104668&article=9487501#ixzz1fyo7ZmjN

ARE YOU KIDDING ME?:
I will take one…even if wrecked?!?!?

 

An outing of luxury sports car enthusiasts in Japan ended in an expensive freeway pileup — smashing a stunning eight Ferraris, a Lamborghini and two Mercedes likely worth more than $1 million together.

Police say they believe the accident Sunday was touched off when the driver of one of the Ferraris tried to change lanes and hit the median barrier. He spun across the freeway, and the other cars collided while trying to avoid hitting his car.

Video of the crash aired by NTV, a major national network, showed several smashed, bright red Ferraris cluttering the freeway.

Even a used Ferrari in Japan can fetch $100,000 or more, meaning the total damage may be $1 million or more.

http://news.yahoo.com/fleet-ferraris-ruined-japan-sportscar-pileup-064013838.html

 

 

SPORTS:

Albert Pujols, Angels Agree to 10-Year, $254M Deal
Three-time NL MVP Albert Pujols agreed Thursday to a $254 million, 10-year contract with the Los Angeles Angels.

Pujols’ contract, which is subject to a physical, is the second-highest in baseball history and only the third to break the $200 million barrier, following Alex Rodriguez’s $252 million, 10-year deal with Texas before the 2001 season and A-Rod’s $275 million, 10-year contract with the Yankees before the 2008 season.

The Angels announced Thursday they were signing Pujols away from the St. Louis Cardinals, who he led to a World Series title this fall.

http://www.foxnews.com/sports/2011/12/08/source-albert-pujols-agrees-to-10-year-deal-with-california-angels/#ixzz1fyFglMWS

 
BUCKEYES:
After the November 29th game against the Buckeyes, Duke Head Coach Mike Krzyzewski discussed the reasons he believed lead to his team losing the game.

“I thought Ohio State played a great game against us. They were a fresher team; I thought our team played tired. They are very athletic, together and they played with a great verve.

 

Obviously they are deserving of the win, but they were a lot fresher than we were. We could never get into the ballgame.”
http://www.thebuckeyebattlecry.com/2011/12/buckeye-basketball-breakdown-exhaustion/

RELIGION:
I listened to ‘Crazy Love’ on the way out here to Vegas. Francis Chan is a DEEP DUDE, and I recommend ANYONE listen to what he has to say. No matter if you are a bible thumper (actually these people need to read/listen more than anyone), a casual church goer, or even someone who doesn’t believe. This is some deep SH*T!!!

 

Crazy Love: Overwhelmed by a Relentless God by Francis Chan

 

God is love.  Crazy, relentless, all-powerful love.  Have you ever wondered if we’re missing it? It’s crazy, if you think about it. The God of the universe—the Creator of nitrogen and pine needles, galaxies and E-minor—loves us with a radical, unconditional, self-sacrifi cing love. And what is our typical response? We go to church, sing songs, and try not to cuss. Whether you’ve verbalized it yet or not. We all know something’s wrong. Does something deep inside your heart long to break free from the status quo? Are you hungry for an authentic faith that addresses the problems of our world with tangible, even radical, solutions? God is calling you to a passionate love relationship with Himself. Because the answer to religious complacency isn’t working harder at a list of do’s and don’ts-it’s falling in love with God. And once you encounter His love, as Francis describes it, you will never be the same. Because when you’re wildly in love with someone, it changes everything. Learn more about Crazy Love at www.crazylovebook.com Check out Francis Chan’s video blog at francischanblog.blogspot.com

BUISNESS:
LET ME HELP YOU GET YOUR PRODUCT/SERVICE OUT TO CONSUMERS!!! How does over 20,000 EMAILS sound to your come company. We have a list of over 20,000 and can assist you in getting YOUR MESSAGE/BRAND/IDEA directly to consumers. The Hyatt has even recently booked our services. WE GET MESSAGES OUT TO CONSUMERS! This is a unique and inexpensive chance to brand your services, and reach beyond your current clientele list. My current list of customers has indicated that this unique form of FREE advertising has helped their brand and ID name. If anyone provides me a lead, and I can close the lead…I will pay 100% of first week revenues received. You make 100% of what I make, just for referring me to someone. For more info, or a list of current ecstatic customers e-mail sosaudio@yahoo.com

BOOKING HOLIDAY EVENTS FOR THE REMAINDER OF 2011! “Price is what you pay. Value is what you get.”- WARREN BUFFETT

HEALTH:
Obesity, smoking, kids in poverty — all on rise in Ohio

Americans are no healthier now than they were last year, according to a report released today, and Ohioans specifically are a bit worse.

The state dropped three spots this year to 36th overall in the United Health Foundation’s annual state-by-state health rankings. Ohio echoed the nation’s trend toward more obesity, but it also had increases in smoking, childhood poverty and diabetes.

Health advocates in the state cite too little funding for both public health and educational programs as the culprit for the declining health ranking.
http://www.dispatch.com/content/stories/local/2011/12/06/obesity-smoking-kids-in-poverty–all-on-rise-in-ohio.html

INSPIRATION:
No power in society, no hardship in your condition can depress you, keep you down, in knowledge, power, virtue, influence, but by your own consent.”—William Ellery Channing

SUCCESS:
Look for the best in everyone today! People around you are as valuable as you think they are. When you have a critical spirit towards your spouse, children, or co workers they become more of what you say they are! Learn to encourage others and they will perform better for you. Look for the best in everyone and you will find it. – Rex Crain

 

Success is liking yourself, liking what you do, and liking how you do it.

 
QUOTES:
It is easy to say, ‘I love you,’ to someone, but it’s more meaningful to thank someone for loving you.

 

Be thankful for what you have; you’ll end up having more.
If you concentrate on what you don’t have, you will never, ever have enough.- Jai J-Money Holland

CLOSING:
“The world is full of willing people, some willing to work, the rest willing to let them.”-Robert Frost

 

 

TO DO:

THURSDAY

Foster the People, Jason Derulo, Matt Nathanson, Taio Cruz, and Colbie Caillat  at The LC

Sandi Patty Yuletide Celebration at The Midland Theater

FRIDAY:
Cherish the Ladies: Celtic Christmas at The Capitol Theatre, Riffe Center

 

MORE TO DO:
ALL WEEKEND:

Wildlights at the Columbus Zoo and Aquarium at The Columbus Zoo and Aquarium.  www.columbuszoo.org

Holiday Fantasy of Lights at Alum Creek State Park www.ohiostateparks.org

Exhibit: Dr. Seuss’ How the Grinch Stole Christmas” 45th Anniversary Retrospective. Franklin Park Conservatory and Botanical Gardens. www.fpconservatory.org

The Polar Express showing at The Midland Theater

FUNNIES:
ALL WEEKEND:
Scott Henry, plays The Funny Bone Comedy Club in Easton Town Center

IN THEATERS:
THE ALL STAR MOVIE, ‘New Years Eve,’ rated “PG-13.” By “all star, I mean it has EVERYONE IN IT!!! Halle Berry, Jessica Biel, Jon Bon Jovi, Chris ‘Ludacris’ Bridges, Robert De Niro, Josh Duhamel, Zac Efron, Hector Elizondo, Katherine Heigl, Ashton Kutcher, Seth Meyers, Sarah Jessica Parker, Michelle Pfeiffer, and Hilary Swank

 

Jonah Hill stars in the very inappropriate, ‘The Sitter,’ rated “R.”

DVD:
The must see, ‘The Help’ rated “PG-13.”

 

The wait till it comes out on cable, cause it was the most disappointing movie of the year…’The Hangover 2’ rated “R.”
‘Cowboys & Aliens’ is surprisingly good! Starring Harrison Ford, and rated “PG-13.”

 

 

COMING SOON PUBLIC EVENTS:
Every Friday join my buddy DJ Chris O at The Filling Station kicking off your weekend with all your favorite hits, and some of the cheapest drinks in town

December 17th Blue Jackets Holiday Game
December 31st Yogi’s  NYE Party
Filling Station NYE Party
Blue Jackets NYE Game
JANUARY 6^th PBR 2012 Kick Off at MADISON SQUARE GARDEN!!!

Follow us:
www.RMsexton.com
www.facebok.com/theonemattsexton
http://www.twitter@mattysexton
http://foursquare.com/user/mattysexto

Good in The Bad, and Blessed even without…

GREETINGS FROM the “Cooper Tires stage Powered by Mazda” (had to write it so I say it right over the mic) at The PRI show in Orlando Florida! You can check out what I am doing streaming live on the web at www.goracingtv.com(or view segments at a later time).

 

Now this is not, “side stage” or “back stage,” I am ON STAGE and writing. I don’t have any free time and cannot leave my DJ rig except to change a mic battery, or in a rare case…GO PEE! These are very long days…and very full bladders!

 

I am on the road a lot to finish out the year and usually LOVE IT, however this trip has been difficult so far due to working with a production company that, while GREAT GUYS, this is their first event and the learning curve is a lil frustrating on my end. ESPECIALLY, when I had them all hooked up (above and beyond what was asked on my end), and even though working great…overnight they decided to change things…WITHOUT LETTING ME KNOW! While I have come a LONG WAY, I still, at times, don’t play well with others, let alone…WHEN THEY TOUCH MY SH*T! But all of the bad stage and production experiences I have had in the past were a learning point for this one event alone (as well as others I am sure). All the BS and bad gigs over the years allowed me to stay calm and trouble shoot my way out of a bad situation and get things running allowing me to do two things I enjoy; 1.) help someone (by bailing out these guys), and 2.) make a few learning experiences for someone else (and maybe a “I told you so.”). Kinda funny, once I began embracing the bad instead of focusing on it…how much better EVERY DAY IS! In every bad situation there is something good, as long as it is a learning experience.

 

But not everything is an experience we can control. Sometimes we just have to laugh…or get burned, literally!

 

This weekend the room I am staying in a room that has 4 shower settings: Freezing, Cold, Scorching Hot, and BURN MATT’S FACE OFF. But at least I will go back to O-H-I-O with a red tint that many will assume is a Florida Suntan?

 

I also come back with more than I left with. I will come back with my phone in a bazillion pieces. I had dropped my phone and it was run over by a semi. Ya know when the salesman wants to sell you one of those “indestructible” phone covers…they MAY have some limitations!

 

This is the first week of December and what many feel is the start of the Holiday Shopping Season. For me? It is the week I get to shave, and get rid of the “UGLY THING” on my face. While on Dec 1 I shaved my “Movember Mustache,” if anyone would like to donate please feel free to do so:

 

Movember-Please donate to the link below
Last Movember I decided to donate my face to raising awareness about cancers that affect men.  My commitment was the growth of a moustache for the entire month of Movember, which IS generating conversation, controversy and laughter. AND AN ITCHY FACE!

Because:
·     1 in 2 men will be diagnosed with cancer in his lifetime
·     1 in 6 men will be diagnosed with prostate cancer during his lifetime

This is a cause that I feel passionately about and I’m asking you to support my efforts by making a donation to support the great work of the Prostate Cancer Foundation and LIVESTRONG.  To help, you can either:

http://mobro.co/MattySexton

The money raised will help make a tangible difference to the lives of others, through the world’s most promising prostate cancer research and LIVESTRONG’s programs that support young adults and their families battling and surviving cancer.

For more details on how the funds raised from previous campaigns have been used and the impact Movember is having please visit
http://us.movemberfoundation.com/research-and-programs/.

http://mobro.co/MattySexton

 

So yes this is the first week of December, and I am clean shaven, and looking forward to these last weeks on the road and a relaxing Holiday Season back home. I am however very saddened about an event that will not be taking place this year.

 

In the first couple of weeks of December, in years past I have had the honor of working with some great people, venues, and organizations raising monies during the Annual Army Navy Football Game Watch Party. It is with great sadness that this year, the event will be on Hiatus. I not only was privileged to be in a room full of OUR Brave Men & Women watching the pageantry that is Army/Navy, but I also was honored with the “One of Us” award, and this is one of the single most prized items on my office wall. Please feel free to reach out to support all of the charities what would have been affected by this event:

 

To All Concerned…

The fourth annual Army-Navy Game Charity Watch of central Ohio will not happen on Dec. 10 at Fort Rapids.  Due to circumstances beyond the control of all board members, charities, sponsors, and venues involved; this year, the Army Navy Watch Football Game Watch Party event will be on hiatus.

We thank all who have worked over the last few years to make this a huge success, and contribute to so many charities.

We will continue to work for philanthropy efforts between now and Memorial Day and Flag Day and Independence Day and Veterans Day and the 2012 Army Navy Game.

This is not a Reflection on the Great Charities and Volunteers of the past and present.  Honor Flight.  Marine Corps Family Support Community.  And Toys For Tots.

For any questions or concerns:  please direct them to Pete LuPiba atLuPibaTorrance@yahoo.com

Go Army, Go Navy!!

 

AND YES it is the Holiday Season, and this year (and the past few) I am TRYING to have a more positive perspective on THE season. This is not only due to a more positive outlook on daily life, but also due to a person I met 3 years ago this weekend. 3 years ago a beautiful young lady walked up my snow covered sidewalk, and into my life. Since that day…my life has been better, just because I had the chance to get to know her. I thank God everyday for being blessed to know her. I don’t need to be “with her” to know that I am blessed to have, as Blake Shelton says…”God Gave Me You.” In this season of giving, I have my memories as my gift everyday!

 

The first week of December also kicks off “Jimmy V Week” on ESPN. Jimmy V., like many before and after him were taken from this world far too early due to the evil that is cancer! However he lives on with his foundation, and one of his final public speeches that is an inspiration to all.

 

I can’t watch this enough! Don’t Give Up, Don’t Ever Give Up!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HuoVM9nm42E 

 
OCCUPY:
REALLY!?!?! PEACEFULL?!?!? This video made me Sick!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_embedded&v=h2d92CGErQA#!

PLEASE JOIN ME: 

FRIDAY: Join my Buddy Chris O at The Filling Station for the “All request Dance Party”

 

ALL WEEKEND: If in The Orlando Area join me at The PRI show at The Orange County Convention Center all day Thurs-Saturday. I will be rocking LIVE from the Cooper Tires stage powered by Mazda! You can also watch it live on the webwww.goracingtv.com

PLEASE “suggest” “like” or become a “fan” of our new “fan page” Matty Sexton on facebook.http://www.facebook.com/DJMattySexton

PLEASE check out the updated website (please let us know what you think?) http://www.rmsexton.com

TIME TO BOOK YOUR Holiday Events
“Price is what you pay. Value is what you get.”- WARREN BUFFETT

If you or someone you know is having a Holiday Event, or getting married we can make their day special. We have been in the entertainment and wedding industry for over 25 years. Our expertise will make you or your friend’s wedding, a moment to remember. Refer us and receive 15% of contracted rate. Call 614-580-3118 to secure your date, or go to www.rmsexton.com

 

 

COMING SOON PUBLIC EVENTS:
Every Friday join my buddy DJ Chris O at The Filling Station kicking off your weekend with all your favorite hits, and some of the cheapest drinks in town

Pending contract negotiations, every Friday for a New Ladies Night
December 7-12 NFR Finals in Vegas
December 17th Blue Jackets Holiday Game
December 31st Yogi’s  NYE Party
Filling Station NYE Party
Blue Jackets NYE Game
JANUARY 6^th PBR 2012 Kick Off at MADISON SQUARE GARDEN!!!

 

THOUGHT(s) FOR THE WEEK:
“You can’t stay in your corner of the forest waiting for others to come to you. You have to go to them sometimes.” – Winnie the Pooh

 
SONG(s) FOR THE WEEK:
Awesome version of a great song

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jxoUx53zt-U

 

I rediscovered a classic…that hit me, and my life

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hlOV9Cn31yo

 

WOW!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hp0_2fjPlbM&ob=av2n

 

WE NEED TO DO THIS:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=76RbWuFll0Y

 

Days may not be great, but maybe that is what makes them GREAT!?!?

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wSJoZiB-UGY

 

Very true…and a GREAT DUDE

http://www.cmt.com/videos/phil-vassar/55417/another-day-in-paradise.jhtml

 
HOLIDAY SONGS:

I am making my own playlist with a song for each of the 31 days of The Holiday Season!

 

Do they, So do you?

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=w5cX_ncZLls

 

Was not a big fan in the past…but this year, IT IS MY DECEMBER!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=l3NQ4GM-Hc4

 

Need a lil Rock & Roll in my Christmas Music!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MHioIlbnS_A

 

DID YOU KNOW?:
Bananas contain a natural chemical which can make a person happy. This same chemical is found in Prozac.

QUESTION OF THE WEEK:
I think I will look back on my life and see a thousand lunch trays dropped in the cafeteria; a million nervous awkward moments that could’ve been tender but were clumsy or stupid instead. I have said the wrong thing so many times that there shouldn’t be many “wrong things” left for me to say. (sigh) Do you ever wonder what it takes to be cool? It’s always hiding on the other side of the pillow.-Adam Duritz

FUNNY:

Tattoo artist Ryan Fitzgerald from Dayton, OH was hit with a $100,000 lawsuit last week by his ex-girlfriend Rossie Brovent.  She claims that her boyfriend was supposed to tattoo a scene from Narnia on her back but instead tattooed an image of a pile of excrement with flies buzzing around it.

Apparently, Ryan found out that Rossie had cheated with a long-time friend of his, but instead of confronting her about it he acted like everything was normal and hatched a plan for revenge. Originally, Rossie tried to have Ryan charged with assault, but the ingenious tattoo artist had covered his bases by plying Rossie with wine and tequila shots and getting her to sign a consent form that stated the design was “at the artist’s discretion.”
http://early-onset-of-night.tumblr.com/post/13348728615/tattoo-artist-ryan-fitzgerald-from-dayton-oh-was

 

 

HELP:
The Holidays Armed Services Blood Drive is three weeks
away. It will be held on Saturday, December 17th, from 9
a.m. to 2 p.m., at the U.S. Army Reserve Center, 165 N. Yearling Road, next to DSCC. This drive is proudly being cosponsored by AmVets (Stan Kinney Post 89) and by The American Legion (Gahanna Post 797), and hosted by the U.S. Army Reserve. The blood will be collected by the Armed Services Blood Program (ASBP), the military’s exclusive blood collection agency, goes exclusively to military personnel, including a good portion to help save the lives of
American forces deployed in Afghanistan and Iraq.

This is one of the few blood drives for the Armed Forces in the country that is open to the public. Come in and donate for our Armed Forces.

All blood collected will be immediately processed, and then most will be flown directly from Wright-Patterson Air Force Base by priority overseas and in theatre within a week. You cannot ask for a better, more direct way to support our troops.

For eligibility information (including not having donated since October 18th), please see the Armed Services Blood Program webpage at http://www.militaryblood.dod.mil/Donors/can_i_donate.aspx

Food and refreshments will be provided, including food such as warm sandwiches, coney islands, baked beans, chips, pretzels, donuts, cookies, cakes, and other snacks. Drinks will include water, Gatorade, juice and juice drinks, pop, and coffee. The AmVets and American Legion volunteers will be providing the food and drinks. Tentative date for the next blood drive is
probably mid-February (to be sponsored by the 12th District Sons of the American Legion).

While walk-ins are accepted, donors are encouraged to pre-register for an appointment at https://www.militarydonor.com/index.cfm (This gives us an idea of how many to expect, and saves YOU time in the donation process). Donors can search for this blood drive by zip code (43213) to register (add the date too: December 17th).

This Christmas time, please help give a fellow serviceman or servicewoman a chance to live. Give a life-saving gift that literally comes from the heart.
For more information, please contact Peter Margaritis, blood drive chairman, (614) 395-0387.

You’ve seen the TV. Our forces overseas are heavily engaged in combat operations. Please, give a wounded serviceman or servicewoman a great holiday gift — a gift that literally comes from your heart.

 

 

GREAT READ:

6 Ridiculous History Myths (You Probably Think Are True)

 

Everybody knows that people in the past were insane. They wore funny hats, used words like “wherefore,” and don’t get us started on the pants.
But some of the historic anecdotes we love repeating again and again simply aren’t true. As convenient as it may be to think of our ancestors as murder-happy torture enthusiasts, they were crazy, but they weren’t that crazy.

#6. Gun Fights in the Violent Wild West
#5. Stock Brokers Jumping Out of Windows When The Market Crashes
#4. Feminist Bra Burnings
#3. America Goes Crazy Over War of the Worlds
#2. “No Irish Need Apply”
#1. Elaborate Medieval Torture Devices

Read all the details for yourself:
http://www.cracked.com/article_18487_6-ridiculous-history-myths-you-probably-think-are-true.html?utm_source=facebook&utm_medium=fanpage&utm_campaign=new+article&wa_ibsrc=fanpage

HOLIDAY:

10 Hot Holiday Albums, 2011
Justin Bieber is going bells to the wall this Christmas. That’s right, bells — jingle bells.

But the Biebs, who released “Under the Mistletoe” today (Nov. 1), isn’t the only one getting in on the holiday album action this year. From “Glee” to Carole King, She & Him to Michael Buble — even rapper Ginuwine and wild Stone Temple Pilots frontman Scott Weiland aren’t above their own form of caroling. Check out 10 holiday albums not to miss this Christmas, Hanukkah or Kwanzaa.

Justin Bieber | “Under The Mistletoe”
Between last year’s breakout release “My World 2.0” and next year’s sure-to-be-huge follow-up album, Justin Bieber has headed home for the holidays (with some very special guests) for his first Christmas release, “Under The Mistletoe.” The R&B-heavy album features a mix of original cuts and holiday classics, as well as collaborations with Mariah Carey, Busta Rhymes, Usher and The Band Perry. However, the Biebs can still command an audience on his own — first single “Mistletoe” flew into the Top 20 on the Hot 100, and its music video has 27 million views on YouTube. Read our track-by-track review. — Jason Lipshutz

She & Him | “A Very She & Him Christmas”
If sweet-voiced, throwback acoustic covers of well-known holiday ditties gets you in the mistletoe mood, then Zooey Deschanel has you covered with “A Very She & Him Christmas.” Her third album as She & Him — alongside folk singer-songwriter M. Ward– arrived last week and features covers like “Blue Christmas,” “I’ll Be Home Christmas” and a fitting Beach Boys ode with “Little Saint Nick.” Sure to warm the Grinch-like heart of the hipster on your Christmas list. — Jillian Mapes

“Glee: The Music, The Christmas Album, Vol. 2”
After last year’s first edition of “Glee: The Music, The Christmas Album” — which featured Darren Criss and Chris Colfer’s adorable “Baby It’s Cold Outside” duet — sold 931,000 copies (according to Nielsen SoundScan), those crazy McKinley kids return for round two. Out Nov. 14, “Glee: The Music, The Christmas Album, Vol. 2” features Mercedes (Amber Riley) belting out a stellar “All I Want For Christmas Is You” and a more traditional “Little Drummer Boy” (by Artie/Kevin McHale) than the, um, interesting rap redo on Bieber’s Christmas album. “Glee” also gives its original songs another go on this 12-track Christmas compilation, nestled up alongside Santana (Naya Rivera)’s sexy “Santa Baby.” — Jillian Mapes

Scott Weiland | “The Most Wonderful Time of the Year”
Though not exactly a Velvet Revolver reunion, hard rock fans get the gift of new music from Stone Temple Pilots/VR singer Scott Weiland this holiday season. The solo effort takes on classics like “Winter Wonderland” and “White Christmas” and gives them what Weiland calls “a little twist,” ranging in style from big band to reggae. — Chris Payne

Michael Bublé | “Christmas”
Looking for a little classic crooning this holiday season? Michael Bublé has released holiday albums before (2003’s “Let It Snow,” 2010’s “A Holiday Gift For You” EP) but this year, he’s going all out. New LP “Christmas” features the Sinatra-inspired baritone covering holiday standards like “Santa Claus Is Coming To Town” and “Holly Jolly Christmas,” with plenty of retro jazz flourishes and swooning strings. Still want more? Bublé has an hour-long holiday special planned for NBC, which will feature holiday songs and sketch comedy segments. — Chris Payne

Ginuwine | “A Ginuwine Christmas”
Veteran R&B crooner Ginuwine followed “Elgin,” his latest LP released in February, with this Christmas effort released in mid-October. Covers of “Silent Night” and “Joy To the World” are a far cry from Ginuwine’s “Pony” days, but “12 Days” puts a seductive contemporary twist on the holiday staple. Who knew “two turtledoves” could sound so sexy? — Jason Lipshutz

Carole King | “A Holiday Carole”
Famed singer-songwriter Carol King has been around the musical block, but she just recently dipped her toe into the world of holiday albums with the release of “A Holiday Carole” (get it?). The record, produced by her daughter Louise Goffin, features traditional songs (“Have Yourself a Merry Little Christmas,” “Carol of the Bells,” “Sleigh Ride”), as well as original holiday tunes across an array of genres, from jazz to Latin. — Jillian Mapes

Jackie Evancho | “Heavenly Christmas”
The age-defying vocals of 11-year-old sensation Jackie Evanchohave an almost magical quality. When the “America’s Got Talent” star performed at the lighting of Washington, D.C.’s national Christmas tree last year, her age-defying soprano reportedly caused rival Democrats and Republicans to lock arms and harmonize through “O Holy Night.” While this may or may not be true, there’s plenty of reason to expect big things from Evancho’s latest collection of classic Christmas renditions. Last year’s “O Holy Night” EP helped make her the year’s top-selling debut artist, so it’s safe to say Justin Bieber won’t be the only member of Billboard’s “21 Under 21” at the top of charts this Christmas. — Chris Payne

“A Skaggs Family Christmas, Vol. 2”
Ricky Skaggs and his kin made a country Christmas classic with their 2005 album, and now the clan is back with Volume Two. The new album, which features ten tracks including favorites like “Joy To The World” and “Silent Night,” comes with a DVD of the family performing at Nashville’s Ryman Auditorum. Skaggs, who was just named Entertainer of the Year and Musician of the Year at the Inspirational Country Music Awards, takes his Family on an eight city Christmas theater tour of the south and midwest between Thanksgiving and Christmas.  — Jessica Letkemann

“This Warm December: A Brushfire Christmas, Vol. 2
After its first 2008 compilation struck a chord with listeners, Brushfire Records’s second ‘Warm December’ — out in time for Thanksgiving — features original wintertime tunes by the label’s eclectic roster. G. Love turns in a pair, as does Jack Johnson, while Money Mark, Matt Costa, ALO and others have one song each. An album bundle, which includes the record digitally and on vinyl plus a 12-card set autographed by Jack Johnson and a six track preview of upcoming Brushfire releases, is available atThisWarmDecember.com. — Jessica Letkemann

http://www.billboard.com/features/10-hot-holiday-albums-2011-1005460642.story#/features/10-hot-holiday-albums-2011-1005460642.story

 
BIRTHDAY/ANNIVERSARY:
Mark Twain, American classic

This week is Mark Twain’s 176th birthday, as we are informed by the graphic of his character Tom Sawyer that pops up when we Google anything. Twain was the essential and quintessential American writer. He had the misfortune of writing classics, which he sagely defined as books men praise and don’t read. This was uncomfortably prescient, as the copy of his Bigger Longer and Uncut Autobiography currently weighing down my coffee table will tell you. Anyone who comes up with a book’s worth of Alternate Uses for Your Copy of Mark Twain’s Autobiography will automatically top the New York Times bestseller list. So far, “iron” and “doorstop” make the list, but I’m sure there are ways to weaponize it or use it in child-rearing.

http://www.google.com/search?rlz=1C1SNNT_enUS379US379&aq=f&gcx=c&sourceid=chrome&ie=UTF-8&q=mark+twain

 
ENTERTAINMENT:
‘Breaking Dawn’ Birth Scene’s Seizure-Inducing Effects

Reports of the ‘Breaking Dawn’ birth scene spurring seizures in Twilight fans have landed photosensitive epilepsy in the spotlight.

Not since the Pokemon incident of 1997, in which more than 700 Japanese cartoon viewers were hospitalized, have strobe-light-induced seizures garnered so much attention.

“There are many, many things that can induce seizures,” said Dr. Dan Lowenstein, director of the University of California, San Francisco Epilepsy Center. “Certainly flashing lights are one trigger.”
http://abcnews.go.com/Health/Wellness/breaking-dawn-birth-scenes-seizure-inducing-effects/story?id=15029032&fb_ref=abc-fb-recs#.TtONf2NFu7s

 
MUSIC:
Sugarland’s Jennifer Nettles Weds

Sugarland‘s Jennifer Nettles had a lot to be thankful for this past Thanksgiving weekend! Jennifer wed her boyfriend of two years, Justin Miller, at a small ceremony at a chapel in the foothills of the Smoky Mountains in Tennessee, according to People magazine.

This is the second marriage for Jennifer. Her first marriage ended in divorce in 2007.
http://www.countrymusicislove.com/2011/11/sugarlands-jennifer-nettles-weds.html

BOOKS:

‘The Bippolo Seed and Other Lost Stories’-Dr. Seuss

It’s the literary equivalent of buried treasure! Seuss scholar/collector Charles D. Cohen has hunted down seven rarely seen stories by Dr. Seuss. Originally published in magazines between 1948 and 1959, they include “The Bear, the Rabbit, and the Zinniga-Zanniga ” (about a rabbit who is saved from a bear with a single eyelash!); “Gustav the Goldfish” (an early, rhymed version of the Beginner Book A Fish Out of Water); “Tadd and Todd” (a tale passed down via photocopy to generations of twins); “Steak for Supper” (about fantastic creatures who follow a boy home in anticipation of a steak dinner); “The Bippolo Seed” (in which a scheming feline leads an innocent duck to make a bad decision); “The Strange Shirt Spot” (the inspiration for the bathtub-ring scene in The Cat in the Hat Comes Back); and “The Great Henry McBride” (about a boy whose far-flung career fantasies are only bested by those of the real Dr. Seuss himself).

In an introduction to the collection, Cohen traces the history of these stories, which demonstrate an intentional and significant change that led to the writing style we associate with Dr. Seuss today. Cohen also explores these stories’ themes that recur in better-known Seuss stories (like the importance of the imagination, or the perils of greed). With a color palette that has been enhanced beyond the limitations of the original magazines in which they appeared, this is a collection of stories that no Seuss fan (whether scholar or second-grader) will want to miss!

MILITARY:
To All Concerned…

The fourth annual Army-Navy Game Charity Watch of central Ohio will not happen on Dec. 10 at Fort Rapids.  Due to circumstances beyond the control of all board members, charities, sponsors, and venues involved; this year, the Army Navy Watch Football Game Watch Party event will be on hiatus.

We thank all who have worked over the last few years to make this a huge success, and contribute to so many charities.

We will continue to work for philanthropy efforts between now and Memorial Day and Flag Day and Independence Day and Veterans Day and the 2012 Army Navy Game.

This is not a Refection on the Great Charities and Volunteers of the past and present.  Honor Flight.  Marine Corps Family Support Community.  And Toys For Tots.

For any questions or concerns:  please direct them to Pete LuPiba at LuPibaTorrance@yahoo.com

Go Army, Go Navy!!

POLITICS:
Kansas Gov. says staff overreacted to teen’s tweet

 

When a high school senior tweeted that Kansas Gov. Sam Brownback “sucked,” among other invectives, reaction at the state Capitol led her principal to demand an apology. Instead, it was the Republican governor offering a mea culpa Monday, forced to admit to a self-described overreaction by his staff that subjected him to ridicule for efforts to police a teenager’s Internet musings.

Emma Sullivan’s tweet from the back of a crowd listening to Brownback speak last week, and her subsequent refusal to write an apology letter, spurred several thousand supporters to rush to her online defense — boosting her Twitter following from 61 friends to more than 12,000 people in less than a week.
The 18-year-old from the Kansas City suburb of Fairway was taking part in a Youth in Government program in Topeka when she tweeted from her cell phone:

 

“Just made mean comments at Gov. Brownback and told him he sucked, in person (hash)heblowsalot.”
http://news.yahoo.com/kansas-gov-says-staff-overreacted-teens-tweet-181521548.html

BUISNESS/PRODUCT OF WEEK:
Want to track Santa? There’s an app for that

Want to keep track of Santa this Christmas? There’s an app for that.
Youngsters can track Santa’s flight with an app from NORAD.

NORAD is the military organization responsible for the aerospace and maritime defense of the U.S. and Canada. The North American Aerospace Defense Command tracks Santa on Christmas Eve.

This year, it’s counting down to Santa’s takeoff with the NORAD Tracks Santa app, which is offering games like Elf Toss until the big moment. It is available on Apple products and Android, and social media sites.

http://www.noradsanta.org/en/

YOU DA MAN:
HATS OFF TO THE SOCIAL WORKERS AND JUDGES INVOLVED IN THIS CASE!!!

 

Obese Third Grader Taken From Mom, Placed in Foster Care A Cleveland third grader who weighed more than 200 pounds was taken from his mother after officials reportedly said she did not do enough to help the boy, who suffered from a weight-related health issue, to lose weight.

“They are trying to make it seem like I am unfit, like I don’t love my child,” the boy’s mother, who was not identified, told the Cleveland Plain Dealer. “It’s a lifestyle change and they are trying to make it seem like I am not embracing that. It is very hard, but I am trying.”

Officials first became aware of the boy’s weight after his mother took him to the hospital last year while he was having breathing problems, the newspaper reported.

 

The child was diagnosed with sleep apnea and began to be monitored by social workers while he was enrolled in a program called “Healthy Kids, Healthy Weight” at the Rainbow Babies & Children’s Hospital.

The boy lost a few pounds, but recently began to gain some back, the Cleveland Plain Dealer reported. At that point, the Department of Children and Family Services asked a juvenile court for custody of the boy, citing his soaring weight as a form of medical neglect, according to the newspaper.

Taking obese children from their families has become a topic of intense debate over the past year after one high-profile pediatric obesity expert made controversial comments in the Journal of the American Medical Association advocating the practice in acute cases.

“In severe instances of childhood obesity, removal from the home may be justifiable, from a legal standpoint, because of imminent health risks and the parents’ chronic failure to address medical problems,” Dr. David Ludwig co-wrote with Lindsey Murtagh, a lawyer and researcher at Harvard’s School of Public Health.
http://news.yahoo.com/obese-third-grader-taken-mom-placed-foster-care-201731761.html

WHAT THE HE**?:
NYC jury awards family $1M handling of son’s brain

A Staten Island jury has awarded $1 million to a family that sued New York City after learning that their dead son’s brain was on display at the city morgue.

Relatives of 17-year-old Jesse Jerome Shipley say they learned through a macabre coincidence in 2005 that the medical examiner’s office had kept his brain and other organ parts for testing.
According to the Staten Island Advance (http://bit.ly/vHO1I0), classmates of the victim’s sister went on a field trip to the Richmond County Mortuary. They saw a specimen jar containing a brain labeled with Jesse’s name.

The next day, the classmates told Jesse’s 14-year-old sister. She was a passenger in the car crash that had claimed his life two months earlier.
The family said it had to conduct a second burial.

City lawyer Sheila Rossi expressed sympathy for the family’s “tragic loss.”
http://hosted2.ap.org/WBNSTV/54828a5e8d9d48b7ba8b94ba38a9ef22/Article_2011-11-25-Brain%20In%20Jar/id-95e60dc59b7c42e1a3130fd91f1d430f

ARE YOU KIDDING ME?:
Cursing Maryland Man Dressed As Frosty The Snowman Busted At Christmas Parade

A Maryland man dressed as Frosty the Snowman was busted Saturday after he made a “kicking motion” at a police K-9 dog during a Christmas parade, according to cops.

Kevin Walsh, 52, got into an altercation with a Chestertown Police Department officer who rebuked him, since the dog, named Henzo, “might take this as an act of aggression.” Walsh did not appreciate the sidewalk lecture, reported Patrolman James Walker, who noted that Walsh “started to yell at me while he was still in the frosty suit.”

After Walsh struck Walker in the face while removing his costume’s head, he announced, “You can’t fu*king tell me what to do and fu*k you and this is fu*king harassment.” He was subsequently taken to the ground and handcuffed. While being placed in a police cruiser, Walsh allegedly pushed into a second officer.

http://www.thesmokinggun.com/buster/frosty-snowman/frosty-the-snowman-arrested-768491

 
BUCKEYES:
Welcome back Coach Meyer. Now please don’t get spanked by the Gators…AGAIN!

RELIGION:
The link below is an interesting Topography of Faith

http://www.usatoday.com/news/graphics/pew-religion-08/flash.htm

BUISNESS:
LET ME HELP YOU GET YOUR PRODUCT/SERVICE OUT TO CONSUMERS!!! How does over 20,000 EMAILS sound to your come company. We have a list of over 20,000 and can assist you in getting YOUR MESSAGE/BRAND/IDEA directly to consumers. The Hyatt has even recently booked our services. WE GET MESSAGES OUT TO CONSUMERS! This is a unique and inexpensive chance to brand your services, and reach beyond your current clientele list. My current list of customers has indicated that this unique form of FREE advertising has helped their brand and ID name. If anyone provides me a lead, and I can close the lead…I will pay 100% of first week revenues received. You make 100% of what I make, just for referring me to someone. For more info, or a list of current ecstatic customers e-mail sosaudio@yahoo.com

BOOKING HOLIDAY EVENTS FOR THE REMAINDER OF 2011! “Price is what you pay. Value is what you get.”- WARREN BUFFETT

HEALTH:
Foods Additives Make Kids Behave Badlley

Research has shown that the food additives used in hundreds of children’s foods and drinks can cause temper tantrums and disruptive behavior. A Government-funded study confirms what many parents have long suspected about the effect of chemicals put into sweets, biscuits and foods. Colorings in products such as Smarties, Jelly Tots and fizzy drinks could spark behavior changes in up to a quarter of toddlers.

Research into a group of three year-olds found they were more likely to lack concentration, lose their temper, interrupt others and struggle to get to sleep when they drank fruit juice dosed with colorings and preservatives.

Following the study, food watchdog the Food Commission has found that 200 children’s foods and drinks contain one or more of the additives called into question by the research.

The Commission is calling for the additives to be removed from the everyday foods and drinks which appeal to children. Even youngsters with no history of hyperactivity can be affected, said the scientists. They concluded that all children could benefit from the removal of specified artificial food colorings from their diet.

The Food Commission claims it is the first time a Government-sponsored scientific study has corroborated the link between food colorings and preservatives and changes in children’s mood and behavior.
http://www.foodmatters.tv/_webapp_448792/Which_Food_Additives_Make_Children_Behave_Badly

INSPIRATION:
“Tough times are MINOR to a MAJOR dude!”~LL Cool J

SUCCESS:
U got a dream-u gotta protect it. Ppl cant do something themselves-they wanna tell u u cant do it-If u want something-go get it. Period!-iamdiddy

Since it is Will Roger’s birthday month I thought this was good advice!
“…There are three kinds of men: The ones that learn by reading. The few who learn by observation. The rest of them have to pee on the electric fence and find out for themselves”

 
QUOTES:
The significance of a man is not in what he attains, but rather than what he longs to attain. ~ Kahlil Gibran

 

Act enthusiastic and you will be enthusiastic.

CLOSING:
It ain’t how you start – it’s how you finish. Boots To Asses And Finish This Bitch Strong”-The Rock (taken from my buddy Joey)

 

 

TO DO:

THURSDAY
Josh Thompson and my buddies from The Lee Ganntt Band play, THE BLUESTONE
World renowned, Andrea Bocelli, graces Nationwide Arena

FRIDAY:
Gift of The Magi plays the Midland Theater in Nerk Ahia

SATURDAY:
A show I wish I was not missing, “Smooth Jazz Christmas” at The Palace Theatre with two of my favorites Dave Koz, Candy Dulfer

MORE TO DO:
Friday and Saturday:
SATURDAY:
Christmas on the Front Line at The Ohio History Center/Ohio Village.

 

It’s Christmas 1861. The war was supposed to have ended by now, but many men and boys find themselves away from their homes and loved ones, some for the first time. Listen as two soldiers at the front share memories of Christmases past and their feelings about spending Christmas on the front line, in this Echoes in Time Theatre performance. For more info: www.ohiohistory.org

ALL WEEKEND:
Wildlights at the Columbus Zoo and Aquarium
at The Columbus Zoo and Aquarium. For more info and times; www.columbuszoo.org

Holiday Fantasy of Lights at Alum Creek State Park. For info and times: www.ohiostateparks.org

Exhibit: Dr. Seuss’ How the Grinch Stole Christmas” 45th Anniversary Retrospective at The  Franklin Park Conservatory and Botanical Gardens. For more info: www.fpconservatory.org

FUNNIES:
FRIDAY

Funny, “Pimp,” comedian, Katt Williams plays Veterans Memorial

ALL WEEKEND:

Dan Grueter, plays The Funny Bone Comedy Club in Easton Town Center

IN THEATERS:
Dane Cook stars in ‘Answers to Nothing,’ rated “R.”

DVD:
CHICK FLICK, ‘One Day,’ rated “PG-13.” Starring Ann Hathaway
The slacker flick, ‘The Art of Getting By,’ rated “PG-13.”

My pick of the week, the funny, and somewhat heartwarming; ‘Our Idiot Brother,’ rated “R.”

ON THE MUSIC SHELVES:
A MUST HAVE! Adele  Live at the Royal Albert Hall  Sony Pop/Rock

COMING SOON PUBLIC EVENTS:
Every Friday join my buddy DJ Chris O at The Filling Station kicking off your weekend with all your favorite hits, and some of the cheapest drinks in town

Pending contract negotiations, every Friday for a New Ladies Night
December 7-12 NFR Finals in Vegas
December 17th Blue Jackets Holiday Game
December 31st Yogi’s  NYE Party
Filling Station NYE Party
Blue Jackets NYE Game
JANUARY 6^th PBR 2012 Kick Off at MADISON SQUARE GARDEN!!!

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