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April, 2011 – A Frank Look at Oil Prices

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April, 2011 – A Frank Look at Oil Prices

By the Numbers

A Frank Look at Oil Prices and Why We’re All Insane

By Tom Copelandtomcopeland1

We’re paying an insane amount of money at the gas station, and the fact that our country still imports 14.2 million barrels of crude oil a day according to this week’s report by the U.S. Energy Information Administration is frankly, well, insane too. Let’s explore the pervasive factors that drive the price of oil through the sunroofs of our cars and why we need a long-term plan to get us out of the foreign oil fields.

Why do gas prices swing so much?
1. Crude oil is a commodity that is bought and sold based on “futures” contracts. These financial investments were originally used to help producers get top dollar for their oil once it’s delivered by binding themselves and the buyer into a fair price. The problem is that hundreds of billions of dollars have been injected into this market by third-party investment speculators trying to turn a profit over the last 25 years, raising the stakes and creating volatility in the market.

2. With every major geographical, environmental, or political action or event comes some kind of effect on the price of gas. Most of our oil is imported from the Middle East, so anytime something happens over there, it manifests as fluctuating gas prices here.

Ultimately, that’s the reason for the oil gouging we’re seeing right here at home today. Since January, several oil-rich Middle Eastern countries have experienced upheaval from fed-up citizens looking to overthrow their wealthy dictators who have ruled in some cases for more than 30 years. Some of these efforts have been successful like in Tunisia and Egypt; some like Libya, have not been so successful. Most of our oil comes from Saudi Arabia, and if Saudi citizens launch a similar revolt, expect average gas prices to top $5 a gallon or more.

But these jubilant humanitarian achievements for the Tunisia and Egyptian people come with a price – a 38% increase in the price of a barrel of crude oil which at the time of this publications trades at $112.71. That translates into a national price average for a gallon of gas that is a whopping $.90 higher than it was this time last year. Investors drive up the demand (and therefore the price) of crude during times of Middle Eastern uncertainty, because the potential for an interruption in oil supply is great.

3. The devastating 9.0 magnitude earthquake that rocked the eastern seaboard of Japan on March 11th and the resulting tsunami that leveled coastal towns, left 5,500 and counting dead, and destroyed generators that power and protect several of the country’s nuclear power plants from meltdown. This event, unfortunately, could also continue to drive oil prices up.

4. Oil is the world’s only commodity that demonstrates such extreme price volatility, especially in the last decade. From 1999 to 2004, the swing in the price for a barrel of crude oil was never any more than $16. But from 2005 and beyond, the average swing from any one year to another was $52, and in 2008, the biggest swing came in at $115.

5. Worldwide demand for oil is at an all-time high with most of that demand coming from emerging, industrializing and fast-growing countries like India, Brazil, and China. The demand for oil is spiking here in the U.S. too, especially as we get closer to summer time.

The argument for our country to relieve our dependence on foreign oil is buried in numbers and economics. It costs Middle Eastern conglomerates who sell us our oil somewhere around $3.50-$5.00 to explore and produce a barrel of crude oil, yet at the time of this writing we’re paying $112.71 for it.

And as the price of the foreign oil we import continues to rise, Americans will continue to feel the sting, one that is powerful enough to potentially stymie economic recovery: higher prices at the pump mean less money for consumers to spend in other areas of their lives. The Fed warns that this could result in the real expected GDP growth for the U.S., expected to be somewhere just below 4% for 2011, getting sliced by as much as .5% to 1%.

They say insanity is doing the same thing over and over again, only allowing you to re-live the same undesired consequences. When will our country start recognizing the insanity of importing 88% of our oil from instable Middle Eastern producers, and finally begin working on some long-term plans to supply our energy to ourselves? I, for one, hope the answer is very, very soon. 

Tom is a freelance web developer, professional content writer, and owner of Bullworthy, a web services firm. Tom helps small businesses create a powerful, branded presence on the web. Bullworthy specializes in building web assets using WordPress development from their West Palm Beach offices.

April, 2011 – And Baby Makes Four!

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April, 2011 – And Baby Makes Four!

stephanie-karpfCreature Feature

 

And Baby Makes Four!

 

By Stephanie Karpf, DVM

 

 

  When a new baby is brought into a home where a dog is already residing, this can be a point of anxiety for both the new parents and the dog. It is best to try to anticipate these problems and head them off, rather than waiting to react to a problem after it has already been established.  Here are some tips that can be followed, to make the introduction of this new tiny family member, as seamless as possible.

 

–Before the new baby is brought home, it is best to obtain a recording of baby noises.  Especially the sounds of a baby crying.  This recording should be played at a low volume at first, for 5-10 minute sessions.  The volume can then gradually be increased over time.  During these sessions, you should have your dog follow basic commands like “sit” and “stay”, and be sure to give plenty of food rewards for performing these commands while listening to the baby cry.  The volume should then be increased until the actual volume of a baby crying is reached.

 

–Obtain a baby doll and start carrying it around the house with you.  Reward your dog for remaining calm and collected while in the “baby’s” presence.

 

–Have new furniture for the baby’s room, and new equipment or products that you will be using, arrive well before the arrival of the baby.

 

–After the baby is born, some of the swaddling cloths or undershirts the baby has been wearing in the hospital, should be brought home for the dog to examine.  Let the dog sniff at these and even sleep with them, to allow them to become accustomed to the baby’s scent.

 

–When you come home from the hospital with your new addition, it is a good idea to bring an extra family member along to hold the baby while you enter your home.  This will allow you to greet your pets, without having the baby in your arms.

 

–Actual introduction of the baby to the dog is the next step.  During this introduction time, it is very important that the dog be under complete control.  This can be done using a harness or head-halter with leash.  Have one person holding the baby while seated, and the other person controlling the leash of the dog.  The person holding the leash should be watching closely for any sign of aggressive or unacceptable nonaggressive behavior (i.e. pawing at the baby).  If these should occur, then interaction between the dog and baby should immediately be stopped.  If aggressive behavior is show, then the dog should not be allowed any contact with the infant and the veterinarian should be contacted.

 

–When a new baby arrives, it is very common for the parents to only show attention to the dog when the baby is sleeping.  This is unfortunate, as it teaches the dog that the baby is something negative, since its presence results in no attention for the dog.  Therefore, it is imperative that you take care to show your dog attention, while your baby is awake.  This is most easily accomplished if one parent is attending to the awake infant, while the other parent is showing attention either through petting or playing with the dog.  When the baby is asleep, it is best to not show the dog much attention at all.  This way, the dog will start to associate the baby’s presence with positive feelings.

 

The most important thing to keep in mind concerning the relationship between babies and dogs…is that even the most trusted pet can potentially hurt a new infant.  Therefore, a dog should never be left alone with an infant or toddler, no matter how “good” you feel that this pet behaves.

 

 

Dr. Karpf is the co-owner of The Visiting Vet, a housecall service for dogs and cats serving Palm Beach County.  For an appointment, please call 561-252-8874.

April, 2011 – No one calls me a nice guy and gets away with it

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April, 2011 – No one calls me a nice guy and gets away with it

wendell-abern-cantank-yoursCantankerously Yours

 

No one calls me a nice guy and gets away with it

 

By Wendell Abern

 

Dear Fellow Grumps,

Earlier this year, I wrote a few columns decrying disappearing forms of humor – including old-fashioned Jewish humor.

          The backlash from those columns has been horrific.

          One friend told me I was going soft.  Another that I was starting to sound like a nice guy.

          Well, no one calls me a nice guy and gets away with it.

          Introducing my new friends, Eric and Joy.

          Actually, Eric and Joy are new phone friends.  They work for MyChart, an Internet tool created, I am sure, by Benny Hill before he died.  The Cleveland Clinic and other hospitals use MyChart to help doctors inform patients without ever talking to them.

          The real reason MyChart exists, of course, is to prevent phone calls from patients who have the gall to want to know the results of blood tests and other medical exams.

          I signed up with the Cleveland Clinic, established a MyChart name and password, and last week sought the results of some recent medical exams.  I went to the MyChart site, typed in my name and password, and a red sentence warned me I had given the wrong password.  I tried again.

          Same red sentence. 

          “Borbick, knock it off!” I yelled.  (Borbick is the name I have given to the miniaturized terrorist who lives inside my computer.)

Cursing, I called the Cleveland Clinic.  After three minutes on hold (during which a recorded message advised me on handling menstrual cramps), I was given the phone number for MyChart.  I dialed.

          Enter Eric, who, I later discovered, was clearly more pleasant and efficient than MyChart deserves.

          “No problem” Eric said when I explained.  He proceeded to give me a new password.  I was in a hurry, couldn’t test it at that moment, but later that night I went back to the MyChart site.  I typed in the new password and was informed, “Your session has timed out.”

          “Timed out?  I just got on!” I shouted.  I went to bed, muttering expletives at Borbick.

          The next morning, fuming, I called back MyChart and was pleasantly surprised that Eric once again answered the phone.

          “Hey, Eric!” I said.  “How the hell are ya?”

          “Er … who is this?”

          “Eric, bubbelah, it’s me!”  I gave him my name and reminded him of the problem.  “We’re being sabotaged by Borbick, Eric.”  I explained who Borbick was.

          Eric chuckled.  “We’re not going to let Borbick run things here,” he said, obviously relishing the challenge.

          He used the magic of electronics to suddenly manipulate sites and settings on my computer, his cursor running up and down my monitor.

          “I see the problem,” he said.  “Your Internet Explorer takes you to AOL.”

          “Ah, that explains it.  Borbick is on a retainer with them.”

          Eric chuckles.  “We’re not compatible with AOL, so I’m going to have another department contact you tomorrow.”

          The next day, I receive an e-mail from Joy.  Three pages long, when

printed.  Then Joy phones me.

          I thank her for the e-mail and ask her to de-active my account. 

Then I tell her, “I have found you and Eric very conscientious and helpful.  Now if I ask you a question, will you give me an honest answer?”

          “Certainly, sir.”

          “Is there a statue of Benny Hill in lobby of your building?”

          She answers quickly, “No sir.”  But then I hear her giggle. 

          Introducing my old friend, Jerry.

          I have written about Jerry previously.  One of my oldest and best friends.  Grew up with him.  A charter member of my poker game, now in its 67th year.

          Jerry was the first of my friends to point out that I am short, and has been needling me about it since history class in our senior year:

Teacher not yet there.  Jerry yells from across the room,

“Hey, who’re you taking to the prom, a Munchkin?”

          He has never stopped.  We never have a conversation without the word, “short,” creatively injected.

          Well, Jerry is fat.  Big weight problem since he was ten years old.  Every night for decades, Jerry eats a quart of Ben & Jerry’s ice cream, right out of the carton.  I told him he was a terrible role model for his kids.  He said, “Maybe for a short while.”

Jerry started going bald at eighteen.  By his 25th birthday, he was completely bald.  I told him he looked like the hood ornament on a Dodge truck.  And to top off his physical attributes, he has a very large nose.  If you met him, you’d think Rodney Dangerfield had been cloned.

Needless to say, I have given Jerry a hard time for decades also.

          And this year, we are roasting him. 

I can’t wait.  I have already bought him a gag scale.  When you step on it, a voice says, “One at a time, please.”  

          I have also written a letter with a Ben & Jerry letterhead I created.  It reads, “Dear Mr. G – it has come to our attention you consume more of our ice cream than our next three biggest users combined. 

“So we have decided to honor you.  Not with a plaque or a watch.  But with a replica of your face carved out of the Vermont mountains, a la Mt. Rushmore.  Construction will begin as soon as we can find an outcropping of rock big enough to serve as your nose.”

          And in case you think I’m being unnecessarily cruel, remember:  at the roast for my 60th birthday, Jerry read from a newspaper article, headlined, “Dwarf-tossing ruled illegal.”

          Introducing Senior Sleaze.

          That’s me!  My new persona, courtesy of my daughter, Amy.  I have now been a widower for about fifteen months and have just started spending some time with a few women.

          “Nothing serious,” I told Amy.  “Just some, ah … companionship.”        

          “Aha!  My father!  A senior sleaze!”

          I love that moniker!  Now, when I see on my caller ID that Amy is calling, I answer, “Senior sleaze, send a floozy, I’m not choosy.”

Or, “I’m not fussy, send a hussy.”  Last week, I prepared a new one:  “Senior sleaze, don’t need a sweet talker, send a streetwalker.”  This one prompted a, “DA – a – ad!” 

The desired effect.

          I have a new mini-poem ready for her next call … one so salacious my editors will never print it. 

          So much for being a nice guy.

          Sincerely,

          Senior Sleaze

Wendell Abern can be reached at dendyabern@comcast.net.

April, 2011 – Seed Paper

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April, 2011 – Seed Paper

Living Green

 

Seed PaperBryan Hayes

 

By Bryan Hayes

 

“What is this?” I asked. 

“Seed paper,” she replied.  

“Interesting,” I thought.

In front of me was a flat, heart-shaped creation with blue and green colors much like seeing the Earth from the stratosphere.  What I did not realize is just how easy it is to make this little decoration, and even more surprising, it is also eco-friendly.  Recycled paper is used for the material, and seeds are added to the paper, so it can be used for a dual purpose.  Not only does it look nice, making it a great gift idea, but you also plant it.  After you have enjoyed the decoration, you plant the paper into the ground.  The paper will decompose and absorb into the dirt, and the seeds will blossom into flowers. 

How she came upon plant seeds was my question for Jaimee Schulson who was kind enough to share this little creation with me. Jaimee went further and said that over the past three years she has been expanding her mind to a variety of new things.  She is open to learning about how she can help the environment and wants to learn “one new thing every day.”

“What new things would you like to learn?” I asked Jaimee.

She replied, “I changed my diet to raw foods and for the past two years, I have felt more connected to the food I eat, the environment, and social concerns.”

Having an academic background in psychology and going to school for social work, Jaimee enjoys the learning process not only to increase her level of awareness but to also pass that on to others.  She likes teaching kids who are open to the idea of helping the environment.  She shows them how they can do so in a way that is fun, and in the case of the seed paper, really easy to do.  Jaimee is a great example of someone who is living green, learning something new each and every day, and teaching our next generation how they can take care of the environment. 

If you would like to make your own seed paper, below is an easy “recipe.”  Happy planting!

Materials
• recycled paper
• blender
• flower seeds
• strainer/ screen*
• plastic
• sponge
• newspaper


*You can make a strainer using wire mesh stapled to an old picture frame or other square frame shape.

Instructions

1. Rip recycled paper into small bits, and place into the blender (about half full). Fill the blender with warm water. Run the blender slowly at first then increase the speed until the pulp looks smooth and well-blended. To tint pulp: add a 1 inch square of tissue paper to pulp before blending or food coloring.
2. Add a pinch or two of flower seeds to pulp and stir. Do not blend seeds!
3. Pour mixture into a plastic tub
4. Strain a sheet of paper using the screen.
5. Use sponge to remove more moisture. Press pulp flat
6. Flip the screen over onto a section of newspaper. Press firmly on the back of the screen to release the paper from the screen and adhere it to the newspaper.
7. Let dry and then cut the paper to desired shape. You can make a card and add writing, ribbon, etc.

 

Bryan Hayes is an actor, amateur photographer, business consultant and full-time lover of all things living.  He will be co-hosting a new show “Greenology 101.”

 

April, 2011 – Insomnia

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April, 2011 – Insomnia

Ask the Docsask-the-docs

Insomnia

By Heather Loguidice, ARNP

 

 

Everyone, at one point in their lives, has experienced difficulty either falling asleep or staying asleep.  According to the National Sleep Foundation, about 20% of Americans report that they get less than 6 hours of sleep each night. One of the most common complaints I hear about from my patients is poor sleep. We live in a 24/7 society that offers 24 hour cable TV, the internet, restaurants, and even shopping.  It is no wonder that most of us have a hard time “shutting our brain off” in order to fall asleep.

 

Most people require 7 to 8 hours of sleep each night in order to function optimally and feel well. Insomnia can lead to poor work performance, driving accidents, increased anger and depression. Recently, heart disease, hypertension, diabetes, and obesity have all been linked with chronic sleep loss. Many people do not realize that sleep is just as important for overall health as diet and exercise.

 

Insomnia is considered to be primary when it is not due to any other health condition. Secondary insomnia means that a person is having sleep problems because of something else, like depression, pain, heartburn, or asthma.

 

Insomnia can also vary in how long it lasts and how often it occurs. It can be short term (acute) or it can last a long time (chronic). It can also be episodic. Acute insomnia can last from one night to a few weeks. Insomnia is considered to be chronic when it lasts at least 3 nights per week for a month or longer.

 

Acute insomnia is typically related to stress, particularly life altering events such as a job loss, divorce, death of a loved one, or a move. Other common causes of acute insomnia include illness, emotional or physical discomfort, jet lag, certain medications, such as Sudafed and antihistamines, and environmental factors like noise, light, and temperature.

 

Chronic insomnia is usually associated with depression/anxiety, chronic pain, and chronic stress.

 

Treatment of insomnia varies depending on the duration and cause. A sleep diary can be helpful in formulating a treatment plan. Sometimes, medication will be prescribed for a short time to help reset your body’s inner sleep clock. Secondary insomnia is best controlled by treating the underlying health problem or eliminating the aggravating factor, such as decreasing caffeine, nicotine, and alcohol.

 

There are many natural sleep aids available on the market. These herbal remedies and supplements are not regulated by the FDA for quality, dosing, and formulation. Therefore, it is difficult to test their safety and effectiveness.

 

A common natural sleep aid is melatonin. Melatonin is a hormone produced by the pineal gland in your brain. It helps to regulate the body’s circadian rhythm. Studies have shown that melatonin decreases the time it takes to fall asleep, increases drowsiness, and may increase the duration of sleep. It has also been used successfully to reduce the feelings of jet lag. Studies show that 0.1 to 0.3 mg is a safe dose for short term use (3 months or less). It has not been studied for long term use.

 

Valerian is another popular herbal extract used for insomnia. Studies have shown mixed results in relation to valerian usage. Some did not show any benefit over placebo. Valerian is recommended for short term use of 4 to 6 weeks only.

 

Chamomile is a popular herbal sleep remedy that has been used for centuries. It is available as a tea or as a tincture. It generally causes a calming effect and may help people feel relaxed. It is considered safe for short and long term use.

 

Kava, also known as kava-kava, is an herbal remedy for anxiety and insomnia. It is not recommended and has been linked to at least twenty cases of liver failure in Europe. Kava is still available in the United States, so it is important to read the ingredient labels on all herbal products. Do not take the product if it contains kava.

 

Good sleep habits can help to correct and prevent insomnia. Here are some tips to help you get a good night’s sleep:

–          Try to go to sleep at the same time each night and get up at the same time each morning. Avoid taking naps.

–          Avoid caffeine, nicotine, and alcohol late in the day. These are all stimulants.

–          Get regular exercise, but don’t exercise within four hours of bedtime. Exercise can also act as a stimulant.

–          Avoid heavy meals within four hours of sleep. A light snack at bedtime is OK.

–          Your bedroom should be dark, quiet, and not too warm or too cold.

–          Read a book, listen to music, or take a bath prior to sleep.

–          Do not watch TV in bed. Do not work from your bed.

–          Make a to-do list before you go to sleep so your mind can rest.

 

I wish all of you many good nights of sleep.  If you would like further information or need to be evaluated for insomnia, please contact us at Family Medical and Wellness Center (561) 721-1953.

April, 2011 – Making Strides in Curing Cystic Fibrosis

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April, 2011 – Making Strides in Curing Cystic Fibrosis

AW Spotlight

 

Making Strides in Curing Cystic Fibrosis

 

By Krista Martinelli

 

On April 30th at Wellington’s Village Park at 8:30am, supporters of a good cause will come together and make strides against Cystic Fibrosis.  Event organizer Karen Gray says, “It’s an exciting time.  We are very close to finding a cure!”

tim_banner_09The fight against cystic fibrosis (CF) has come a long way. Cystic fibrosis is a fatal genetic disease that affects the lungs and the pancreas.  In 1955, when the first local chapter of the Cystic Fibrosis Foundation was founded, kids suffering with this condition usually did not live beyond the age of 5. Because of advancements in research and medicine, people are making great strides; today the median survival age of people with CF is 38.

Jadyn CoxA typical day for a child suffering with CF is waking up and wearing a vibrating vest for about 45 minutes (to clear out breathing passages). A child with CF will do another 45 minute session later in the day. He or she will also need to take up to 65 different enzymes, so that food can be absorbed in the pancreas. In addition to this, a child with CF will take aerosol medicines through a nebulizer about twice a day. It’s a life that’s full of complications and challenges, yet it’s so much improved from just a generation ago.

Local business woman Linda Windsor was moved by the urgency of the cause, so she founded a team which will walk on April 30th, the PrePaid Legal South Florida team. “We’re showing that PrePaid Legal cares and we like to help with different community events,” says Windsor. In her own family, she had a cousin who had a daughter who struggled with CF and passed away at the age of 18. Her cousin, the girl’s father, went on to become a respiratory therapist.

The day of the Western Communities event is going to be filled with outdoor activities, in addition to the actual walk. “It’s really a celebration of the fundraising accomplishments to date,” says Karen Gray. There will be a mounted patrol, the Home Depot Kids Club, 97.9FM broadcasting, the Renegade dance team with their linehome-depot-jupiter-08 dancing, a fire truck and more!  Registration is at 8am and the walk begins at 8:30am on April 30th, the race day. The walk is actually just a short walk, not even quite a 5K. So it’s an easy family-friendly walk. For more information about the CF walks in general, visit www.cff.org.

Unfortunately for those suffering with cystic fibrosis, their battle draws less attention than some of the other life-threatening diseases and thus, does not always receive as much of a spotlight when it comes to research.

“We’re really different in what we’re doing,” says Gray. “We actually buy the research. Bigger organizations like Scripps and others want to work on cancer. With cystic fibrosis, we hire our own scientists.” All of the funds that are raised go directly toward this research. And 90 cents of each dollar goes directly for that research, while just ten cents goes toward operating expenses.  Those involved in the Cystic Fibrosis Foundation are proud to say that they “operate on a dime.” 

Both Karen Gray and Linda Windsor were touched by the efforts of Mary Weiss, who founded the Palm Beach chapter of the CFF organization in 1965. Weiss became a volunteer for CFF after finding out that all of her three little boys had CF. It became her mission to call every local civic club and seek financial support for CF research. Her 4-year-old son at the time Richard was listening intently as she pursued this cause. “I know what you are working for,” he said. “You are working for 65 Roses.” Mary was speechless, surprised that he knew what she was working on and smiled at his way of saying Cystic Fibrosis. Since then “65 Roses” has become a common way to refer to the disease by children, since the words are easier to pronounce.

Windsor met Mary Weiss eighteen years ago, when (in ateam-emily-julia different career) she was selling insurance to Weiss, who was realizing that she had a long stretch ahead with three boys, all affected by cystic fibrosis. Karen Gray heard Weiss speak about three years ago. “She touched my heart,” says Gray. She saw an opening at the CFF organization for a special events coordinator shortly after that and knew that it would be a great fit for her, something she could believe in and make real progress at.

Windsor wrote a brief letter to some of her colleagues, explaining her commitment to the Great Strides event. “This April I have made a commitment to lead a team in the Great Strides Walk . . . to raise money for the Cystic Fibrosis Foundation. They are doing some great things and getting very close to preventing this genetic disease.  If you’ve never been around someone with it, you just can’t imagine these children not being able to get a good, deep breath – ever.  It makes life such a struggle and all too short in many cases.” To join Linda Windsor’s PrePaid Legal Great Strides team for the Western Communities walk at Village Park in Wellington, contact her directly at 561-762-1667 or email lwindsor@prepaidlegal.com.

Here are other ways you can help advance CF research, as mentioned on the site cff.org. 

  1. Make a Donation – Money buys science and science buys life.
  2. Join a CF clinical trial.
  3. Contact your local CF Foundation chapter and volunteer. Learn about the many special events that raise the money to keep the science moving ahead!
  4. Become an Advocate and raise awareness – help educate your elected officials about CF.

keiser

April, 2011 – A History of Fools

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April, 2011 – A History of Fools

Teen Talkafter-the-script-concert

A History of Fools

By Stephanie Courtois

 

            The cycle continues one year after another. Whether there is plastic wrap over the toilet bowl or fake insects plastered around the room, April Fools’ Day is never to be forgotten.

          History has provided us with many hoaxes that have made the first of April a memorable one. Its origins are uncertain but this day is recognized in many nations. The world has invented   many hysterical pranks that have gotten a lot of laughs.  Here are some of the best April Fools’ pranks in our history.

·         “Taco Bell Buys the Liberty Bell” 

In 1996, Taco Bell took out a full-page ad in The New York Times and a few other newspapers announcing that they had purchased the Liberty Bell to “reduce the country’s debt” and renamed it the “Taco Liberty Bell.” Hundreds of fuming citizens called the National Historic Park in Philadelphia where the bell was kept to communicate their anger. Their anxieties were only calmed when Taco Bell revealed, a few hours later, that it was all a practical joke.

·         “The Swiss Spaghetti Harvest”

In 1957, the British news show, Panorama, ran a segment on the coming of spring after a mild winter and what that meant for Swiss farmers. It meant that the spaghetti crop was here. The audience heard a highly respected newscaster discussing the details of the spaghetti crop as they watched video footage of a Swiss family pulling pasta off spaghetti trees and placing it into baskets. According to the Museum of Hoaxes, “Huge numbers of viewers were taken in. Many called the BBC wanting to know how they could grow their own spaghetti tree. To this the BBC tactfully replied, ‘place a sprig of spaghetti in a tin of tomato sauce and hope for the best.”

·         “Burger Launching a Left- Handed Whopper”

In 1998, Burger King circulated a full page ad in USA Today publicizing the introduction of a new item to their menu: a “Left-Handed Whopper” specially created for the 32 million left-handed Americans. BK stated that, “the burger will still feature the same meat and toppings, but the condiments have been rotated 180 degrees, shifting the weight to the left. The change will prevent the condiments from falling out the right side of the bun when held in the left hand.” The following day Burger King issued a follow-up release revealing that even though the Left-Handed Whopper was a hoax, thousands of customers had gone into restaurants to ask for the new sandwich. It so happened that “many others requested their own ‘right handed’ version too.”

Those practical jokes are only a minuscule portion of the pranks that have been pulled globally. These pranks are timeless, but they are from decades ago. What will be the criteria for an ultimate prank in this day and age?

If you have ever played a remarkable prank or planning on doing one, I’d love to hear about it! Submit your name and amazing prank to steph.teentalk@gmail.com. If your prank is selected it will be featured in the next issue of Teen Talk.

Stephanie Courtois is a junior at Wellington High School. She is involved in tae kwon do, French, National and Chemistry Honor Societies, and is the news editor for the school newspaper. She loves journalism and aspires to work for a magazine someday.

March, 2011 – Dean Piper and Mayor Bowen Shave Their Heads at St. Baldrick’s

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March, 2011 – Dean Piper and Mayor Bowen Shave Their Heads at St. Baldrick’s

Dean Piper of W4CY Radio and Mayor Darell Bowen

Shave Their Heads for a Good Cause

 

 

On Friday, March 25th Dean Piper of W4CY.com Radio and Wellington’s Mayor Bowen shaved their heads, agreeing to do it if there was a $1,000 donation from anyone in the crowd. It was a very successful evening for raising funds for kids who are battling cancer.

 

For more information or to donate to St. Baldrick’s, visit their website: http://www.stbaldricks.org/

March, 2011 – Lex Luca Sings at St. Baldrick’s Event

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March, 2011 – Lex Luca Sings at St. Baldrick’s Event

Lexi Luca Performs at St. Baldrick’s Event in Wellington

 

On Friday, March 25th local residents gathered together to raise funds for kids with cancer at the annual St. Baldrick’s Event.  Singer Lexi Luca entertained the crowd while men, women and children bravely shaved their heads, all in honor of a good cause.

 

 

For more information or to donate to St. Baldrick’s, visit their website: http://www.stbaldricks.org/

March, 2011 – St. Baldrick’s Event

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March, 2011 – St. Baldrick’s Event

Shaving It All Off for a Good Cause

 

Dean Piper of W4CY.com Radio and Mayor Bowen Agree to Go Bald at the St. Baldrick’s Event

 

 

On Friday, March 25th local residents gathered together to raise funds for kids with cancer at the annual St. Baldrick’s Event.  Check out the video of Dean Piper or W4CY and Wellington Mayor Darell Bowen getting their heads shaved at this event.

 

Link to video: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1AKyBqevL08

 

Link to pictures: http://www.facebook.com/album.php?id=563193845&aid=303917

 

W4CY Radio broadcasted live and promoted the St. Baldrick’s Event

 

Also, we have a teen talk show called FML (Friends, Music , Life) that is hosted by 2 performing artists and they hosted the broadcast along with me and also sang at the event.

 

The Mayor and I (as owner of W4CY Radio) agreed to shave our heads if someone donated $1000. 

Here it is The Mayor of Wellington and Owner of W4CY Radio brought to you by The Intertainment Network and UEC Military Freedom Network shaved their heads for St. Baldricks as

‎Michela Perillo helped to raise $ for kids cancer, $1K from Mark Bellissimo of Equestrian Sport Productions, $250 from Wellington Chamber of Commerce, $250 from Mike Nelson and $100 from Bernie Madsen.

 

For more information or to donate to St. Baldrick’s, visit their website: http://www.stbaldricks.org/

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