Pardoned Thanksgiving Turkey Goes on Nine-State Killing Spree!

Courage, the turkey pardoned by President Barack O'Bama at the White House this last Thanksgiving, has celebrated his freedom with a bloody crime spree across state lines.

Dozens of innocent families were massacred  at their dinner tables before the mad bird was finally brought down by sheriff's deputies...

A saddened White House Press Secretary Robert Gibbs announced that the White House was conducting a "full, open and transparent review" of the pardon, "to be conducted with candor and integrity... unlike certain incidents involving leading figures of the GOP..."

"I had no input from prosecutors... I had "no record" of input." -- Mike Huckabee, No Spin Zone

From the Seattle Times:

"Nine years ago, then-Arkansas Gov. Mike Huckabee granted clemency to Clemmons, commuting his lengthy prison sentence over the protests of prosecutors.

"This is the day I've been dreading for a long time," Larry Jegley, prosecuting attorney for Arkansas' Pulaski County said tonight when informed that Clemmons was being sought for questioning in connection with the killings."

the best husbands make you homemade brownies when you're sad, and bring you one while you're watching movies in bed. <3

the best husbands make you homemade brownies when you're sad, and bring you one while you're watching movies in bed. , originally uploaded by daniellehampton.

home sweet home

Today was a very, very trying day at work. For my new readers, I am a high school English teacher, teaching four sections of 10th graders and one section of 12th graders. I normally love my job, and rarely have discipline problems or any reason to dislike my work day. Today though, was one of those rare horrible days. I don't want to get into it (those of you who saw my tweets earlier, before I erased them, know a bit of what happened). I just feel like it may be a bit unethical/unprofessional to discuss child-related issues in a public forum. Hence the deleted tweets. Just know that a student said horrible things to me and the situation escalated (not by my own doing), and it was just a bad, bad day. Luckily I am at home now, but tomorrow I will have to deal with all of this with the administration and child. I am very proud of myself with how I handled it, and so are the other adults who witnessed it, so that's a plus. My head hurts though, from the crying I did (not in front of the student mind you!), and my heart hurts that someone could be that cruel. Regardless though, I was upset at the time, and when it escalated further after school I was more upset, but I refuse to let it affect me anymore. I came home to a huge hug from Hank and mac and cheese cooked by my darling. What could be better? So now I'm just trying to shake it off and get back to my happy self. I will say that I although I do love my job because I don't deal with things like this a lot, I recognize that some instructors do deal with situations like this quite frequently. So my hats off to them! Teaching can be a trying, tough profession that wears on you emotionally. I will admit though, that knowing I won't work after we have children makes my job a little happier...knowing there is an end point to this. Sounds silly, but although I like/love my job, I couldn't imagine doing it more than a few more years.

So. In other news, Hank leaves for a very, very small tour this Thursday. I was going to go along but decided to be responsible and not take off so many days during my Senior's presentations. Besides, a certain best friend's birthday trip is coming up and I need to use days then. We get ten days off per year, in addition to all the paid time for holidays (it's a pretty sweet deal), and the days roll over. Some veteran teachers have hundreds! I personally like to use them all every year. ha. So anyway, I'm sad he's leaving but he'll have a blast. Friday I am having a girly sleepover with Suki, and then Saturday it's shopping with Shirley and dinner with her, Alana and Erin. Sunday is family day, and Nanny's birthday. I'm so excited to see all of my friends and have some good, solid hangout time. It's also nice to stay busy when Hank is gone. When he gets home there are going to be lots of changes taking place and I'm very very excited about all of them. It's so great to open new chapters in life, and to be able to look with optimism at the future. And that's where we are...it's a great place to be!

As for right now, I am going to be a lazy little thing and continue to rest in bed. I may watch a movie or I may nap. It sounds silly but I am emotionally exhausted and need a little break. Gym later for sure though.

Happy Monday, everyone. xo

old photo of my dear friend Andrea and me

old photo of my dear friend Andrea and me, originally uploaded by daniellehampton.

She just uploaded this photo and it brought back many happy memories. :)

A real update coming later tonight!

xo

gold iPhone

A British company has unveiled the world's most expensive mobile phone - a gold iPhone encrusted with nearly 200 diamonds that retails at a hefty 1.92 million pounds, or Rs.14.7 crore.

The phone, designed by Stuart Hughes for the Liverpool-based Goldstriker International, is made from 22-carat gold.

It has 136 diamonds in the front bezel and an Apple logo made out of no fewer than 53 diamonds.

The phone's front navigation button comprises a rare diamond of 7.1 carats.

The phone, which took over ten months to make, ships with a seven kg chest crafted from a single block of granite, offset with Kashmir gold and lined with Nubuck leather on the inside.

Called the iPhone 3G Supreme, it was reportedly commissioned by an anonymous Australian businessman.

affair with Woods

tiger wood was due to meet police officers on Sunday to explain his part in a traffic accident in which his vehicle hit a tree at the bottom of his driveway.

But, Mr Woods has posted information on his Web site, saying the accident was his fault, that his wife had acted courageously and any further details would be kept private.

His statement read: "This situation is my fault, and it's obviously embarrassing to my family and me. I'm human and I'm not perfect. I will certainly make sure this doesn't happen again. Although I understand there is curiosity, the many false, unfounded and malicious rumors that are currently circulating about my family and me are irresponsible. The only person responsible for the accident is me. My wife, Elin, acted courageously when she saw I was hurt and in trouble. She was the first person to help me. Any other assertion is absolutely false."
A tape of a 911 call was also released Sunday, in which one of Woods' neighbours said a black Cadillac Escalade had hit a tree.

On the tape, the nighbour said: "I have someone down in front of my house. I came out here just to see what was going on. I see him, and he's laying down."

Windermere troopers have revealed that Woods' wife, Elin, used a golf club to smash out a rear window to help him get out of the SUV after she heard the crash.

Florida Highway Patrol police have said a statement from Woods is not obligatory and they will continue the investigation without it.

The accident came two days after the National Enquirer published a story alleging that Woods had been seen in company with a woman in Melbourne, where Woods competed in the Australian Masters.

The woman has since denied having an affair with Woods.
At age 25, he became the first man to win the US Open, the British Open, the USPGA and the Masters on a roll to make him the first simultaneous holder of all four major championship titles.

Woods is scheduled to play his last tournament of 2009 next week, when he hosts the Chevron World Challenge in the Los Angeles suburb of Thousand Oaks, California. The annual event benefits his charitable foundation.

Woods was scheduled to hold a news conference at the tournament on Tuesday, and that schedule had not been revised as of Saturday evening.

mosques in Switzerland

Swiss voters have approved a right-wing initiative banning construction of new minarets attached to mosques.

The controversial measure has been backed by over 55 percent of the electorate.

Turnout for the weekend referendum was about 55 percent.

The nation's tradition of tolerance is now under scrutiny after the right-wing backers of the proposal encouraged the vote by calling minarets symbols of militant Islam.

Switzerland, a country of seven million, is home to around 400,000 Muslims, mainly from Turkey and the Balkans.

While there are already four minarets in Switzerland, the campaign to ban them became part of a campaign which heightened religious tensions.

Officials of the Swiss People's Party said they had no problem with the construction of mosques in Switzerland, but said minarets, not being obligatory in Islam, were politically symbolic, therefore violating the Swiss constitution.

Muslim councils in return said those supporting the minaret ban were mounting a fear campaign that could drive wealthy Muslims away from banking in Switzerland and violate EU freedom of expression laws.

The growth of Islam across western Europe has raised concerns among non-Muslims about Islamic influence on local cultures. There have been protests against building new mosques in many countries.

The proposal to ban minarets in Switzerland will now result in an amendment to the Swiss constitution.

Legend of Rainism

Jackie Chan, the world-renowned Hong Kong movie star, made a surprise appearance Sunday at a performance in Hong Kong by South Korean pop singer and actor Rain, 27.

According to Jtune Entertainment, Rain's agency, Monday, Chan visited the performance venue, the Asia World Expo, Sunday, the second day of Rain's Asian tour named ``Legend of Rainism.''

Chan appeared all of a sudden around 10 p.m. when Rain was about to sing ``Rainism.''

He held a bouquet of flowers and told the audience that ``I have to go now not to be late for my flight. I want to embrace Rain.''

Jtune Entertainment said Rain was not aware of Chan's visit. On Saturday, Zhou Runfa, another Hong Kong actor, visited Rain's first concert.

Rain traveled to Jakarta, Indonesia, Monday, the next stop on his tour.

Arkansas, Fox News Fighting Over New Theme Song...

In the wake of Mike Huckabee's brilliant pardon...

"Welcome to the par-TAY, Rupert!"

who got best 6 packs in bollywood

surya got it

nuclear secrets

The credibility of the opposition Liberal Democratic Party in Japan has sunk lower after revelations about secret deals between Washington and Tokyo about the presence of nuclear weapons on Japanese soil.

For decades, authorities had denied that nuclear weapons were allowed in Japan.

It now appears the LDP party, while it was in power, had a pact to allow the US to stockpile and transport nuclear weapons on Japanese soil.

Declassified documents have shown that secret deals between Washington and Tokyo took place with regards to the presence of the nuclear weapons.

Since 1960, the government led by the Liberal Democratic Party repeatedly denied that nuclear weapons were ever present in Japan or that any agreement existed to that effect.

The National Security Archives in Washington released declassified telegrams in October, with details of US nuclear weapons policy in Okinawa and other parts of Japan between the 1950s and 1972.

They show that when Japan and the United States renewed their mutual security treaty in 1960, the principle was established that if US ships and planes carried nuclear weapons they could only enter Japanese waters or air space with prior consultation.

In the wake of the two atomic bombings on Hiroshima and Nagasaki, the Japanese people were strongly opposed to the presence of nuclear weapons on Japanese soil, but in 1972, just before Okinawa was put back under Japanese control, the leaders of both countries agreed that for the defence of countries in the Far East including Japan, in time of great emergency, the United States Government would require the re-entry of nuclear weapons and transit rights in Okinawa.

A secret document signed by the leaders said the Government of Japan would meet the requirements without delay, if suitable prior consultation was made.

Islam when she was a child.

An ethnic Indian woman in Malaysia is fighting to be recognized as a Hindu after being converted to Islam when she was a child.
However, the woman has denied charges by government that she converted to Islam when she was one-year-old.

Siti Hasnah Vangaram Abdullah, who likes to be known as S Banggarma claimed that it was impossible that she and her siblings were converted in 1983 as her younger sister, who is five years junior, was not even born then.

"Three of my siblings were placed in the welfare home along with me and we all have conversion certificates dated December 28, 1989. How could my father have converted us in 1983 when my sister was not even born?" Banggarma asked.

The claim by the social welfare department that Banggarma was converted in 1983 was contradictory as she was issued a conversion certificate when she was seven years old in 1989, her lawyer Gooi Hsiao Leung said.

He said they will soon write to the Welfare Department director-general and ask him to verify their allegation and furnish Banggarma with the documents they say are in their possession regarding an alleged conversion by Banggarma's father on Nov 30, 1983.

missions abroad

The government will replenish major diplomatic missions abroad with doctoral-level researchers or lawyers starting next year to help them cope with various global issues, Yonhap News reported Sunday. The agency quoted the foreign ministry as saying it will recruit 50 "senior researchers" over the next three years who will conduct research on political affairs, legislation, the economy and trade and public relations in each country and advise ambassadors. Senior researchers will be recruited locally from among those who hold doctoral degrees or a lawyer's certificate, it added. "Our missions abroad are facing increasingly complicated global issues. In order to actively deal with them, it is essential that they take their diplomatic capabilities up a notch by supplying themselves with high-quality human resources," a foreign ministry official was quoted as saying. The new posts will first be added to missions in major countries, including the United States, China, Japan and Russia, and the United Nations, next year, the official said.

Saturday, day and night

I spent the majority of the day today relaxing and doing errands. I got a lot accomplished and I feel great about it. My wonderful friend Adria was also in town today from Los Angeles, so we had a fun time hanging out for awhile this evening! She came over and we chit chatted for a bit, and then her, Hank and I walked over to the light parade. In our usual small town fashion it wasn't the fanciest parade, but it was definitely cute and festive! After we got sick of standing around in the cold we went over and got dinner at Hugo's. Delicious!

In other news, I am heading to bed now. I'm so proud of myself, as it's only 12:30am! I've been going to bed well past 2am lately and that is something I definitely do not want to get in the habit of doing. Yuck. I really prefer to go to bed early and get up early! Tomorrow morning the gym opens at 9am and my plan is to be there when the doors open. Goodnight everyone!

Here are the few photos from this evening!







my bowl of beans! YUM




yes, this is a snowman made out of popcorn! :)

Rule 5 Sunday -- Mitzi Gaynor!

Not quite there yet...

but WHEN we do have babies, THIS is the baby bag I will have. Marc Jacobs initially released this a long while back and it sold out, and it has been sold out, so this re-release has made me very happy! I just spotted it at Neiman's and then had to search around online for some more info. Annnd, I may or may have just purchased it for future mama self. ;)

*Special note: MOM, I swear I'm not pregnant...I can just imagine the phone calls after this post!

from bag fetish:

"This Marc by Marc Jacobs tote can be used either as a Baby Bag, or a chic tote. Available in White or Black leather, this Convertible Baby Bag Tote comes with a washable vinyl lining and a logo changing mat so that it's more convenient for you to change your baby's diapers in style, where ever you may be. You, lucky babies, you! If I were a baby, I'd definitely love to be changed on a MJ changing mat! After targeting the 'tweens' market, with Dakota Fanning as Marc Jacobs's new muse, perhaps Marc Jacobs is targeting babies now, by trying to cultivate brand loyalty since birth?"

photo originally from Neiman Marcus, I just put it into this little two photo frame. :)

Here's the link to NM too- it comes in a caramel as well.

Happy Saturday!

I'm spending my morning doing projects around the house, so I decided to make a little playlist of some perfect Saturday songs. I use itunes, but I went ahead and duplicated the playlist on Project Playlist so all of you could enjoy it too!



I hope your Saturday is wonderful. We will be out and about this evening partaking holiday festivities, so I am super excited! Happy weekend!

Bikini Candice Michelle

Rule 5 Saturday! Denise Milani! In a Bikini!

This is an unprecedented event...

Nails, nails, nails

Here's OPI's "Here Today...Aragon Tomorrow" in action. I took a million photos but none captured the green color of the polish. It's super dark, but definitely green, which doesn't really show up in pictures!

Thank goodness it's Friday

First of all, thanks so much for all of the comments on my last post...it's nice to know that a lot of other people feel the same way! I really, really appreciate all of the super thoughtful responses. I'm definitely not going to stop blogging any time soon- so many of my far away friends and family read this blog and it would be a shame to close off this wonderful form of communication. Besides, I enjoy it way too much! And plus, once we start having children I am absolutely going to use this blog to document every little bit of that new chapter in our lives. It's such a great creative outlet and I love it too much to stop! So I am definitely here to stay, I just had been questioning things...and I'm sure I always will, but that's the way life goes.

Today was a perfect, perfect day. Hank and I lounged around in bed until 10am or so (so insane for me to sleep in that late!) and it was so relaxing and much-needed. Once we got up he had to run to HOTW's practice space to get their merch so he could do a shirt count before their webstore's Black Friday sale began. In the meantime I made myself a delicious breakfast and caught up on some reading. When Hank got home we proceeded to be even lazier and watch The Biggest Loser for hours! We watched the most recent episode and then the previous player update episode. I must have cried about ten times during that one- it was so emotional! Once we decided to get up and at 'em, we headed to Target to get our Christmas stuff. We usually don't do a big tree, and sometimes no tree at all, but this year we decided to actually decorate and pick up a bigger tree. We ended up getting one that was on sale at Target for Black Friday- usually $60 and we got it for $25, not bad! Hank and I are kind of weird- I've mentioned this before, but we both really don't like cluttery things that don't match or knick-knacky things. I definitely think other people's trees with handmade and fun ornaments are adorable, and I seriously admire other people's cute stuff so much, but for some reason I really gravitate towards the opposite end of the spectrum in my own little bubble. I grew up in a house where we had so many different ornaments for every occasion- ones we'd made for my parents, gifts from my Mom's students, random Hallmark ones, etc...and I always loved it. But in our own house we aren't into that whatsoever. Hank grew up in a home where they've always had 15 foot insane trees decorated all one color and perfect. I'm happy he still likes that look and doesn't want to do the opposite of what he always had. I realize that when we have kids we'll probably have to get over our tendencies and stray away from our love of a simply decorated tree, but maybe we can let the kids have their own crazy trees in their rooms! haha. But really, I'm getting ahead of myself here. So anyway we got the tree, picked up some other random things, went to Micheal's to pick up some frames for new prints, then Barnes and Noble to get some new reading material. I didn't get anything (other than a million titles to request from the library!) but Hank picked out The End of Faith by Sam Harris. It looks really interesting and he's excited to read it. After our mini-Christmas shopping excursion we came home and set everything up! I'm definitely excited for the holiday season and I love that our tree is up and looking good. Stoked. So that was our night! As soon as I finish this I am heading to the gym and then spending the night reading and relaxing! Tomorrow Prescott is having a light parade downtown so we will be enjoying that festivity with some friends and hopefully mugs of hot chocolate! I hope all of you had a great Friday.

Photos from this evening:

putting on the tree skirt

786 a sacred symbol for Muslims .

He is just 21 months old but already a `superstar'. Khusi, as his owner Jeetender Singh endearingly calls him, is by far the costliest
The sacred goat
According to Singh, Khusi has a buyer willing to pay a staggering Rs 21 lakh for him. Singh, however, is hoping to get Rs 51 lakh for the animal.

What makes Khusi so special? It's the natural pattern in white on the black goat's body that resembles the number 786 in Arabic - considered lucky by Muslims across the world. That's not all, there's another marking that looks like the crescent moon, which again is a sacred symbol for Muslims. The owner claims the goat was born with the markings.

Singh, a dairy farmer from Jhunjhunu, Rajasthan, had named the goat Khusi, little knowing what happiness the goat could bring him. ``Khusi was six months old when I decided to sell it to a Muslim butcher. He was on the verge of killing it when he noticed the number 786. Then he saw the holy moon on the other side of the goat's back. The butcher refused to kill the animal and left,'' he says.
Since then, Singh has been bringing the goat up with utmost care. ``I knew I will have to sell him one day, but I wanted to shower my love on him till that day. I had come to the Jama Masjid last year too and got an offer of Rs 5.15 lakh from a Mumbai-based Sheikh, but I refused to sell. This year, I plan to sell it for Rs 51 lakh. I am still hopeful of getting that price. I am sorry he has to go, but I need to be practical too,'' he says.

By Friday evening, however, Singh's patience had started to wear thin. Now that I have got a bid of Rs 21 lakh, I will wait till 8am on Saturday before selling it,'' Singh says.

With such precious cargo, Singh has been taking precautions about not disclosing his location in Delhi. It's somewhere near Vasant Vihar in south Delhi, is all he would say. ``It is not safe to take the goat everywhere. Here, I know a few people from my village.''

Khusi clearly has created a stir. Crowds have gathered around the animal for the past two days at Jama Masjid, where Singh puts Khusi on display. ``There has been a steady flow of people who have come and pleaded with him to sell off the goat at a lower price. However, he has stuck to his demand,'' says Hassan, a shopowner in the area.

Though Singh denies it, his friends say he is being provided protection by Rajasthan police. ``He will be carrying back a lot of money. He has received numerous offers the moment he stepped on the Old Delhi station on Thursday,'' said a friend wishing to remain anonymous.

Singh, though, understands his business. When asked to reveal the name of the businessman who has offered him Rs 21 lakh, he shakes his head. ``Revealing the name now will lead to major problems. I can only tell you that he belongs to Delhi,'' he chuckles, even as Khusi stared blankly at his owner, oblivious to his fate on Saturday.