Amarillo Globe News

Each year the folks at our hometown newspaper, the Amarillo Globe News put together the Best of Amarillo, it is the best of everything in Amarillo.

I couldn’t tell you how many times, I have heard someone tell me, “I Love Mix 94.1, It’s my favorite station!” Let Amarillo know that Mix is your favorite station, nominate us for Best of Amarillo.

Mix 94.1

I will admit there are a couple of boys down the hall from the Mix studio who think their radio station is the best.  But, they are young and well, their egos are big enough as is (LOL), don’t let them take the cake, nominate, Mix 94.1!

Anyway, while you are doing that don’t forget to nominate your favorite DJ *hint, hint*

CLICK HERE to nominate Mix 94.1 and your other favorite businesses for Best of Amarillo!

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When: Sunday May 20th Noon to 5PM

Where: Memorial Park South of the Gazebo

Cost: Admission is free

Activities Include:

Susan Gibson  performing live during the party.

Coors will be providing Margaritas (bring your ID)

Rudy’s will be there with their awesome Bar-B-Q

The Party Stop will be providing beer and wine (bring your ID)

Lone Star Veterinary Services will be hosting a shot clinic

Le Chateau will there showing off some of their wonderful products and services.

Amarillo Animal Control will be there discussing their programs and services.

AmaDazzle face painting.

Texas Panhandle Pet Savers  information and educational services on their mission.

Kettle Corn

The Texas German Shorthaired Pointer Rescue will be out with information on their breed and mission.

The Amarillo Zoo

TX Specialty Manufacturing  making dog tags

Charla’s Cuddley Cuts great cuts and services.

Heather Partain of Ever Shots Photography

Coronado Pet Shoppe products and services.

Cowboy Gelato

Amarillo Habitat for Humanity

KAMR 4 is doing there Top Dog contest this year with some cool prizes!

SkyHoundz flying disc competition.  Y

Amarillo Parks and Recreation Bouncy House.

Queen and King Mutt and other contests from the Amarillo SPCA

A Silent Auction sponsored by Local Business’s to Support the Amarillo SPCA

iPad Raffle  Tickets are available now at the shelter.

Nonna’s Kitchenette will be their with their Food Network film crew!!!

For more information on Barkaritaville visit amarillospca.net

Mani, flickr

In 2011, there were more racial or ethnic minorities born in the United States than white babies. This marks the first time in history that minorities make up the majority of births in the US.

Of the 4.1 million babies born last year, 50.4% were minorities, while 49.6% were white. A total of 1.99 million were white, while another 1.05 million are classified as Hispanic. The remaining are black, mixed race, Asian, Native American or Pacific Islander.

According to the latest census data, there are now 114.1 million minorities in the US, which comprises 36.6% of the country’s total population.

This landmark in minority births is coming at time in which Hispanic and Asian immigration is leveling off — if not going into a decline. Yet because the Hispanic population, in particular, trends young they are still having babies at higher rate than the older white population.

Demographers estimate that the entire US population will become ‘majority minority’ sometime between 2040 and 2050.

[Associated Press]

YouTube

Russell Brand appeared on ‘The Ellen DeGeneres Show’ today (May 17) in a pre-taped segment where he revealed that he still loves his soon-to-be-ex-wife Katy Perry, with whom he split in December of last year. He offered several positive sentiments about the ‘Part of Me’ singer and then hung out with Ellen’s favorite mini correspondents, Sophia Grace and Rosie.

Brand did not skirt the Perry issue, saying, “I love her as a human being, but sometimes when you’re in a relationship I suppose it doesn’t work out, does it? But that doesn’t mean I regret it or anything … I was very happy to be married to her, she’s such a beautiful human being, and I only have love and positivity for her.”

Aw, that’s so heartbreaking. It truly is an amicable split for these two, even though they’ve unfollowed one another on Twitter. “You can’t make everything how you want it to be in life,” Brand also said. How eloquent and true.

The mood lifted when he was flanked by his fellow Brits, those precocious, tiara-wearing, pink-clad princesses Sophia Grace and Rosie. We hope they are homeschooled, because they sure seem to be spending a lot of time outside of the classroom. Yeah, we know, they’re picking up an education at the school of life and are rubbing elbows with celebs, but still! We’re sure they’ve got responsible parents.

Brand called them “my little Essex friends,” commenting that “we’ve all escaped. Back in Essex, these children would be forced to clean chimneys.” He also said that he and Rosie would have to team up to keep SG in line, since she’s a little firecracker.

The comedian then asked SG to express everything she ever thought, to which she shouts “PINK!” Either she works for Victoria’s Secret’s diffusion line, has been brainwashed by Nicki Minaj or has had a wee bit of training about how to suck people into her vortex of cuteness.

Can we just say we love how Rosie is the quiet one? She’s like Teller of Penn & Teller.

Watch Russell Brand Talk Katy Perry on ‘Ellen’

Watch Russell Brand Interact With Sophia Grace + Rosie on ‘Ellen’

Source: PopCrush.com

Wayne Wilson, Getty Images

There is some good news being reported about the state of young people in America.

According to the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration, fewer American teens and young adults are smoking cigarettes than they were nearly a decade ago.

This new report consists of data collected each year between 2004 and 2010 as part of the National Survey on Drug Use and Health. Researchers interviewed nearly 158,000 people between the ages of 12 and 17 and roughly 159,000 men and women between the ages of 18 to 25.

• The number of children between the ages of 12 and 17 who smoked every day fell from 3.3% in 2004 to 1.9% in 2010.
• Young people ages 18 to 25 years old also reported decreased daily tobacco use – from 20.4% in 2004 to 15.8% in 2010.
• The ranks of young smokers between the ages of 12 and 17 who smoke five or fewer cigarettes a day grew from nearly 37% in 2004 to almost 43% in 2010.
• The largest group of daily smokers between the ages of 18 to 25 who smoked between six and 15 cigarettes a day slightly increased from about 41% in 2004 to roughly 44% in 2010.
• There was nearly a 3% decrease in young adults who smoked 26 or more cigarettes a day.

According to researchers, the downward trend in tobacco use could be the result of anti-smoking laws, tax increases, and tougher laws prohibiting the sale of tobacco to minors.

Researchers also add that while these findings may be encouraging, many kids are still picking up this dangerous habit.

[WebMD]

Cosmo

Pink graces the June 2012 cover of Cosmo, looking slim and trim in a red bandage dress. Less than a year after giving birth to daughter Willow Sage, new mom Pink has dropped the baby weight and looks banging. She was candid about how her life has changed since welcoming Willow into the world.

“I’m used to going into the studio and smoking and drinking until three in the morning,” the singer confessed to the mag. “But I can’t drink as much because I’m breastfeeding. See this glass of wine? Before, I’d have, like, four of them. Now, one is good. Oh, and I quit smoking… I’ve exorcised a lot of my demons, but I’m still working on myself. I think I’ll be a work in progress for the rest of my life.”

Aren’t we all, Pink?

The singer also shared that Willow sleeps in bed with her mom and dad, so she and hubby Carey Hart have to “schedule” alone time! “We’ve never had a problem with affection. But with a baby? It’s kinda gross, but you have to schedule it,” she said.

The parents are thinking of rearranging Willow’s sleeping accomodations at some point. “We’re just starting to think about putting her somewhere else, at least for a little while,” the songstress said. “Either that, or we’ll have to resort to getting it on in the laundry room.”

Speaking of sexy, the singer was not shy about saying she did not feel beautiful with a bulging belly. She gained 55 pounds during the gestation period, joking “my baby may be part cheesecake.” She didn’t feel pretty, at all. “I thought I’d feel like a goddess. They sell you on that… like you’ll never feel more feminine. Really, I just felt like a mess,” Pink said.

Feeling like a mess at the time or not, she looks uh-mazing right now.

Watch the Pink ‘Raise Your Glass’ Video

Source: PopCrush.com

Pamela Littky

Owl City — the musical brainchild of lone member Adam Young — hasn’t released a new single since Oct. 2011. So, fans will be happy to hear that not only is he prepping a new album, but he’s already dropped the lead single, ‘Shooting Star.’ And guess what? We’ve got an exclusive look at the ‘Shooting Star’ lyric video for your viewing/listening pleasure.

Opening with a loop of dreamy, high and low digital blips, the intro of ‘Shooting Star’ has a sound reminiscent of the Postal Service’s hit ‘Such Great Heights.’ Adam Young’s soft, breathy vocals kick in (which also sound a bit Ben Gibbard-esque but with more pop appeal) during the verses, but grows in strength and power as the chorus of ‘Shooting Star’ rolls around.

Like the song itself, the ‘Shooting Star’ lyric video has an ethereal, spacey quality. The video includes a montage of twinkling stars, swirling beams of light, bright nebulas, and atmospheric clouds. In quick flashes, Young reveals the lyrics to the loving song:

“When the sun goes down, and the lights burn out /  Then it’s time for you to shine / Brighter than the shooting star / So shine no matter where you are / Fill the darkest night, with a brilliant light / Cause it’s time for you to shine / Brighter than a shooting star / So shine no matter where you are, tonight.”

Stay tuned for more updates on Owl City’s latest, still-in-the-works LP. In the meantime, head over to iTunes or Amazon to download the ‘Shooting Star’ single, and check out the lyric video below!

Watch the Owl City ‘Shooting Star’ Lyric Video

Source: PopCrush.com

Makaristos, Flickr

The upcoming 2012 Summer Olympics marks 40 years since 11 Israeli athletes were killed by Palestinian terrorists at the 1972 Olympic Games in Munich.

In commemoration, the Israeli government and two US Congressmen asked for a moment of silence at this summer’s event, only to have the International Olympic Committee reject the proposal.

Danny Ayalon, the deputy foreign minister of Israel, sent a letter requesting the minute of silence to Jacques Rogge, the president of the IOC, on behalf of two widows of the murdered athletes. In addition, representatives Eliot L. Engel and Nita M. Lowey, both Democrats from New York, sent a letter of their own to Rogge.

In rejecting the requests, Rogge said, “We strongly sympathize with the victims’ families and understand their lasting pain,” adding that the IOC “has officially paid tribute to the memory of the athletes on several occasions and will continue to do so in close coordination with the National Olympic Committee of Israel.”

Ayalon called the response “unacceptable” and said in a statement, “The terrorist murders of the Israeli athletes were not just an attack on people because of their nationality and religion; it was an attack on the Olympic Games and the international community. Thus it is necessary for the Olympic Games as a whole to commemorate this event in the open rather than only in a side event.”

[The New York Times]

Realtor.com / Alberto E. Rodriguez, Getty Images

It looks like Ryan Seacrest is moving in with Ellen Degeneres… well, into her old house at least. TMZ reports that the ‘American Idol‘ host and radio personality bought Degeneres’ estate, where she resided with wife and actress Portia de Rossi, in Beverly Hills for a cool $39 million.

That’s definitely not chump change, even for a media mogul like Seacrest. According to Forbes, Seacrest made around $59 million last year — but the luxurious pad seems to be worth every penny. And in some ways, it was a steal, since Degeneres had listed the pad for $49 million.

The main house, which is roughly 9,200 square feet, sits on nearly three acres of sprawling property that boasts a koi fish pond, an outdoor swimming pool and three other (presumably guest) houses. The house itself is as gorgeous as the landscape, with an extremely large gym (the size of a “large health club,” according to TMZ), an outdoor patio, three bedrooms, and windows all around. It’s like a tranquil oasis in the middle of the bustling city of Los Angeles.

This posh estate is really making its rounds amongst the stars. Before Degeneres and de Rossi moved in, the house belonged to ‘Will and Grace’ producer Max Mutchnick. Degeneres and de Rossi bought the surrounding land, but ended up losing money on improving the estate’s beauty and vastness.

We wonder if Seacrest is making room for his sweetie Julianne Hough. The two have been hot and heavy since spring 2010, so we wouldn’t be surprised! Check out some photos of Seacrest’s new home below.

Realtor.com

Realtor.com

Realtor.com

Realtor.com

Source: PopCrush.com

Supermunch, Flickr

One of the best ways to save money is cooking at home rather than dinning out.

In these times, are Americans choosing to do that?

According to a new poll from Harris Interactive — which suggests the economic recovery is still a long way from being over — more and more people are dining in.

The survey asked 2,451 adults if they agree with the statement “I find myself cooking more instead of going out in order to save money.” Seventy-one percent did agree, with 41 percent agreeing strongly. Among the 26 percent who didn’t agree with the statement, nine percent disagreed strongly.

Despite this move away from dining out, 63 percent of the poll’s respondents had still been to a fast food restaurant chain in the past month, and about half have dined at a local casual dining establishment.

[PR Newswire]

TNT / Marvel

In spite of the bazillions of dollars it’s already earned, ‘The Avengers‘ hasn’t been in theaters all that long, yet naturally every star and movie executive wants a piece of the sequel.  Not only that, but most every source indicates that the superhero roster would likely expand for the follow-up, leaving a wealth of potential characters for Hollywood, particularly women to nab.  So which TV star wants to smash her way onto the big screen next time around?

Speaking at the TNT Upfront presentation brunch for her returning series ‘Rizzoli & Isles, Angie Harmon gushed over her desire to one day play Marvel superhero She-Hulk, particularly noting how well The Hulk had been handled in Joss Whedon‘s recent big-screen effort.  Speaking to reporters, Harmon gleefully proclaimed, “I have to be her! You don’t understand, I have to be her. It’s the best quote ever when The Hulk turns around and goes ‘I’m always angry.’ I was like, Oh my god! I stood up in the theater and literally cheered, I did.”

As Jennifer Walters, a cousin to Bruce Banner who gained similar abilities from a gamma-infused blood transfusion, She-Hulk remains a prime candidate for a future ‘Avengers’ movie, what with her acerbic attitude, skimpy attire, and notoriously bed-hopping history.  Not to mention, future ‘Avengers’ sequels would definitely benefit from additional women on the team.  Harmon even professed her willingness to strip down, saying:

I would rock that like there is no tomorrow. I would kill that outfit. I’d put these 36Cs on display. Boom!

And what about her libido? That’s my favorite part. She-Hulk, bed! She-Hulk, screw! Can you imagine? Then she just picks him up and throws him around the room like the Hulk did with [Loki]. But apparently, she’s normal size.

‘Rizzoli & Isles’ continues for a third season on TNT, but who’s to say that She-Hulk might not end up on TV some day?  After all, ABC’s ‘The Hulk’ adaptation is still being eyed for the 2013 season, and there have been attempts to put She-Hulk in live-action before.

If nothing else, we’ll always have the below photo, which Harmon first took to her Twitter account, before a fan generously returned it to her with the proper skin-tone.  Check it out, and tell us if you’d like to see Angie Harmon as She-Hulk in the comments below!

Instagram

Source: ScreenCrush.com

Kevin Winter, Getty Images

‘American Idol‘ alum Adam Lambert brought his glam fabulosity to the stage on tonight’s (May 17) elimination episode. He performed his new single ‘Never Close Our Eyes’ from his brand new platter ‘Trespassing.’ Oh, Glambert, there are few as stylish as you. And you know what? You always hit the notes, too.

First, the fashion. The loud and proud singer’s earrings matched his bright fluorescent yellow t-shirt, which looked like the clothing equivalent of a highlighter that college students use to mark up textbooks. Even so, he made it look stylin’. Glambs paired the bright yellow shirt (and earrings) with black leather trousers and a shimmery grey blazer. While he has been rocking more tame hair in photo shoots and appearances lately, it was full on Glambert hair tonight. Big, bold, beautiful and blackened!

Now, for the song. He infused it with lots of high-energy wails and exuded some seriously infectious energy while he danced and sang. We admit it. We were grooving on the couch. Lambert has tons and tons of stage presence and loads of star power, which is a combo that many artists want but don’t have. It’s authentic and his music feels good. He was born to get on that stage and entertain and we love his dramatic, flamboyant voice.

Hard to believe he didn’t win his season, which was Season 8. He lost to Kris Allen, for those keeping score at home. But even though he wasn’t an official ‘Idol,’ he still has had a super hot career and he didn’t need that title to get where he is.

Source: PopCrush.com

Facebook / TimesUnion.com

Let’s say you’re at your local lumber yard, buying wood for some sort of home improvement project. You’re feeling like quite a man, because you’re about to do some work with your hands. In walks a woman, completely nude. Bonus, right? Maybe not so much.

When that exact scenario played out in Curtis Lumber in Ballston, NY on Tuesday, thanks to 49-year old exhibitionist Barbara Lafleur, it was just a really awkward among the two-by-fours.

“No one wanted to say much to her,” Curtis Lumber manager Bob Eakin explained. “It’s not a situation you want to be involved in.”

So, having laid the seeds for many jokes involving the word “wood,” but perhaps not getting the desired reaction from Curtis Lumber’s employees and patrons, Lafleur moved on to a nearby ice cream shop. Again her nudity was not embraced, and she was quickly given the boot by the store’s manager.

That’s about when she was arrested and charged with misdemeanor public lewdness, a crime that could net her up to 90 days in jail. According to LaFleuer, she was just exercising her right to “self-expression.”

We’re going to have to take Ballston community and police force to task for their treatment of LaFleuer. Yes, 49-year old boobies aren’t our favorite kind, but with the harsh treatment of this Lady Godiva wannabe, they have diminished the chances we will ever randomly encounter good nudity during a trip to the lumber yard.

Which makes less likely we will ever build that deck we like to talk about.

[button href="http://guyspeed.com/fist-pump-record/" title="NEXT: Guy Sets World Fist-Pumping Record" align="center"]

Source: GuySpeed.com

Bryan Bedder, Getty Images

Mary Richardson Kennedy, the estranged wife of Robert Kennedy Jr., was found dead on Wednesday, and an autopsy has now revealed her cause of death: she died of asphyxiation due to hanging.

Police who went to Kennedy’s home in Bedford, NY on Wednesday afternoon to investigate a “possible unattended death” found the 52-year-old in a building on the grounds.

Mary was Robert Kennedy’s second wife. They married in 1994 and separated in 2010, and she’d struggled for years with alcohol and substance abuse problems. Toxicology tests are still pending and could take months to complete.

A statement released by Kerry Lawrence, her attorney, said, “We deeply regret the death of our beloved sister Mary, whose radiant and creative spirit will be sorely missed by those who loved her. Our heart goes out to her [four] children, who she loved without reservation.”

The death seems to add another chapter to the cursed Kennedy legacy. Robert Kennedy, Jr. is the nephew of President John F. Kennedy, who was assassinated in 1963. Robert’s father, Robert F. Kennedy, Sr., was shot and killed in 1968.

[The Los Angeles Times]

Bryan Bedder / Ethan Miller, Getty Images

Here’s a look at some notable birthdays being celebrated today:

George Strait
Age: 60
Occupation: Singer, Songwriter and Musician
Known For: A slew of country hits including ‘Fool Hearted Memory,’ ‘Ocean Front Property,’ ‘She’ll Leave You with a Smile’ and ‘You’ll Be There,’ dozens of industry awards, holding the record for the most No. 1 hits on the Billboard Country charts, and holding the record for most No. 1 albums, gold albums, and platinum albums in the history of country music

Tina Fey
Age: 42
Occupation: Actor, Writer and Comedic Genius
Known For: Her brilliant work as both a writer and performer on ‘Saturday Night Live’ and ’30 Rock,’ penning the screenplay for the movie ‘Mean Girls,’ her spot-on portrayal of Sarah Palin on ‘SNL,’ writing the hilarious bestseller ‘Bossypants,’ being the youngest-ever winner of the Mark Twain Prize for American Humor, and being an icon for smart, funny women everywhere

Joe Bonsall
Age: 64
Occupation: Singer and Author
Known For: Being one of the singers for the Oak Ridge Boys, which had country and crossover singles like ‘Elvira,’ ‘Bobbie Sue’ and ‘American Made,’ and writing books like ‘The Molly Books’ children’s series and ‘GI Joe and Lillie’

Chow Yun-fat
Age: 57
Occupation: Actor
Known For: His role as Li Mu-bai in ‘Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon,’ his Asian film collaborations with filmmaker John Woo in the heroic bloodshed genre films ‘A Better Tomorrow,’ ‘The Killer’ and ‘Hard Boiled,’ and voiceover work for the ‘Pirates of the Caribbean: At World’s End’ and ‘Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon’ video games

Jack Johnson
Age: 37
Occupation: Singer, Songwriter and Musician
Known For: His successful debut album, ‘Brushfire Fairytales,’ his work on surfing movies and soundtracks, being the organizer of the annual Kōkua Festival, and songs like ‘Better Together,’ ‘Flake’ and ‘You and Your Heart’

National Gallery of Art

Here’s a look at some interesting events that took place on this day in history:

1804 – Napoleon Bonaparte is proclaimed Emperor of the French (More info)

1896 – The US Supreme Court rules in Plessy v. Ferguson that “separate but equal” is constitutional (More info)

1933 – President Franklin D. Roosevelt signs an act creating the Tennessee Valley Authority (More info)

1980 – Mount St. Helens in Washington state erupts after being dormant for 123 years (More info)

2004 – Randy Johnson, age 40, becomes the oldest pitcher to throw a perfect game (More info)

Coffee Memorial Blood Center

Saturday May 19th

Carson County Ag Building, 814 E. 3rd in Panhandle.

First Bike out at 9am

Cost is $20 per bike and includes T-Shirt, Food and Door Prizes

Proceeds Benefit the Coffee Memorial Blood Center.

For more information call 806-537-3904

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If money is tight and you are looking for a fun, family, activity.  Well all you have to do is bring the family out to Amarillo National Bank Sox Stadium this Sunday Night, May 20th for McDonald’s Night.McDonald’s and their new Cherry Berry Chiller is inviting you out for a FREE night of baseball with the Amarillo Sox as they take on Winnepeg Gold Eyes.

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Gates open at 5pm and the game starts at 6:05pm.

booleansplit, Flickr

When you’re buying sunscreen, do you look for words like ‘waterproof,’ ‘sweatproof’ and ‘sunblock?’ If so, don’t bother — they may not be as bulletproof as they seem.

Last year, the FDA mandated that sunscreen manufacturers had to stop using the above descriptions because no product is truly waterproof or sweatproof, and even the best sunscreens don’t completely block harmful rays. And although the ban was supposed to be in place this summer, makers now have until this winter to comply.

Products claiming to be ‘waterproof’ or ‘sweatproof’ will have to prove it with standard testing and state exactly how long a product will stay on the skin after being exposed to water or perspiration.

In addition, terms like ‘sunblock’ will be replaced with ‘broad spectrum’ as long as a product has an SPF rating of at least 15 and protects the user from both UVA rays (associated with skin cancer) and UVB rays (which can cause sunburn).

That said, sunscreens on the shelves are still effective and the FDA encourages their use, saying, “The ingredients in FDA-approved sunscreens marketed today have been used for many years, and FDA has no reason to believe these products are not safe.”

[Time]