Carrie Underwood, Lady Antebellum, Merle Haggard & More “Tribute to the Troops”

Some of the biggest names in country music will be joining forces for an Academy of Country Music special: “A Tribute To The Troops” set to air this May. The special will be taped on May 7 at the MGM Grand in Las Vegas, the night after the ACM Awards air LIVE on CBS.

So far, superstars Merle Haggard, George Strait, Carrie Underwood, Florida Georgia Line, Lady Antebellum and The Band Perry are among the first artists named to join this special tribute. According to a CBS release, the concert will honor the country’s remarkable servicemen and women and include special moments and stories of incredible bravery and integrity. Proceeds from ticket sales will benefit ACM’s charity, ACM Lifting Lives, which develops and funds music-related therapy and education programs, and serves members of the community who face unexpected hardships.

Expect more big names to be added to this star-studded event. The ACM Awards air LIVE from Vegas May 6 at 8/7c, hosted by Blake Shelton and Luke Bryan. ACM Tribute to the Troops will air May 20 at 9/8c.

Possible Link Between Paxil and Breast Cancer Found

A research team from the City of Hope in Duarte has found a possible link between the antidepressant medication Paxil (paroxetine) and Breast Cancer they say.

The team has developed a quick way to identify drugs and chemicals that have the ability to disrupt the balance of sex hormones in human beings, influencing and progressing such diseases as Breast Cancer.

In a trial screening of 446 drugs that are currently in wide circulation, their research singles out the popular antidepressant as having a weak estrogenic effect that could promote the development and growth of breast tumors in women.

What is really important in this study, many women that are being treated for Breast Cancer also suffer from depression, treated with antidepressants such as Paxil. Paxil has been on the market since 1992. According to statistics, almost a full quarter of American women in their 40’s and 50’s are taking an antidepressant in the same class as Paxil. (SSRI)

A high rate of breast cancers in women, about 70%, are sensitive to estrogen, a hormone abundant in women of child bearing age.

The new screening method developed at City of Hope also identified two antifungal medications — biconazole and oxyconazole — as having an anti-estrogenic effect similar to that of medications prescribed to prevent breast cancer and its recurrences in women. Incidental to their intended use in combating fungal infections, those medications inhibit the action of aromatase, an enzyme that converts androgens — hormones more plentiful in males but present in both sexes — into estrogen.

Their screening method also identified bisphenol A — a compound used in the manufacture of plastics and epoxy resins — as an estrogen promoter capable of raising breast cancer risk.

According to the Los Angeles Times, “The discovery that Paxil behaves as an endocrine-disrupting chemical may shed light on growing suspicions about the medication in women who have had breast cancer. A 2010 study found that breast cancer patients in Canada who were taking Paxil were more likely than those taking other antidepressants to die of breast cancer when there was a substantial overlap in their use of that antidepressant and of tamoxifen to prevent breast cancer recurrence.

The researchers surmised that paroxetine, which was taken by about a quarter of the depressed breast cancer patients in the study, might block the production of a liver enzyme needed to metabolize tamoxifen. The authors of the latest research said paroxetine’s “weak estrogenic” effect “may be responsible, in part, for the observed reduction” in tamoxifen’s effectiveness in that study.

The finding that paroxetine has estrogenic effects “has implications for patients with estrogen-sensitive breast cancer who are on other medications,” said Shiuan Chen, professor and chairman of City of Hope’s department of cancer biology and lead author of the study.”

Time Warner Cable to Add Yet ANOTHER Fee

Coming on the heels of the Comcast/Time Warner Cable purchase news, TWC responded with, well, raising your rates… again.

I had just purchased my own modem about 7 months ago to rid of their “Modem Fee”, which, at the date of purchase of my own modem, started at $3.99 per month. Within 2 months on my bill they had raised it to $5.99 per month, which mind you, kept charging on my bill even after I turned in their modem. It took me 6 months and 6 different customer service reps later to finally get rid of that fee on my bill.

So I guess too many people were doing that and they needed to find yet another fee to add to your bill, one you can’t get rid of unless you just plain get rid of the service. Enter the “Broadcast TV fee.” This new fee is going to cost you $2.25 per month and is what is called a “below the line” fee, meaning, it won’t be in the advertised price of the service itself. Kinda like your cable company has an ad on television that tells you that you can get all of these great TV channels and services for only $29.99 a month! You think great! I will sign up and only pay $30 a month for TV! Then the bill hits you and it’s closer to $60 a month, if you’re lucky. Yes, your new service comes in at the introductory price, but what they failed to mention was the taxes, the regulatory fees, the new “Broadcast TV fee”, the set top box, the remote, the additional outlets in the house, etc. etc. These “below the line” fees allow them to falsely keep the advertised rates the same while still hiking up your bill. It also allows them to raise the rates on those people locked into price guarantees or under contract. Awesome huh?

Of course, the notes of these increases always come with their reason for them, which usually reads something about “value” and “new technology” etc., most of which is just a bunch of, let’s call it, hog wash. Time Warner Cable in particular is one of the slowest companies to upgrade to the newest technology, far behind the other cable industries. That of course doesn’t stop them from telling you it’s because of these upgrades. Keywords like “Faster Internet Technologies,” “More Value,” “Crystal Clear HD Channels” are always included in the spiel.TWC

What Time Warner Cable is doing, (and other TV Providers like Comcast who introduced this new fee last Fall) for me at least, is pushing me closer to just not having Cable TV at all. I already have an antenna on one of my televisions which gives me “Crystal Clear HD Channels” on my network TV. I have already replaced their set top boxes with Tivo so recording is not an issue. I already have a Roku. Yes, I will miss some shows here and there, but really, I’m not sure it’s worth paying close to $100 a month for so much I never watch.

I kept it out of convenience. It’s more convenient for me to just know the show I want is there, rather than change my set-up and figure an alternate way to watch it. At this point though, it seems the fees out-weight the convenience and they just keep piling them on, digging as deep as they can in their consumers pockets for something that really, isn’t necessary to begin with. I would imagine that the more people quit completely, the more they will raise the fees in other areas of their service. I’m sure the internet is next. Actually, with the Net Neutrality fight still on, we know they are already hard at work to do just that. You want to go read something at YakkityYaks (or insert your favorite site here) and not on the Comcast Home Page? Then upgrade to the premium plan! Coming soon to an internet provider near you.

Thus far, in my area, there isn’t any real competition for Internet Providers. Fios and Fiber aren’t here yet where I live, so in order to comfortably stream shows from Netflix and others, I am stuck with them for now unfortunately. If it weren’t for that, I would have given them up completely a long time ago. The only thing to do at this point is sit, wait, and hope that someone, somewhere in the Government stands up for the consumer. I don’t have my hopes up. Until then though, I may just do away with their TV service all together, which I did with their phone service a couple of years ago. Thank you Ooma.

Country Radio Broadcasters Award Carrie Underwood “Artist Humanitarian”

Following in the footsteps of Big & Rich, country superstar Carrie Underwood was awarded the “Artist Humanitarian” Award during the opening ceremonies of the Country Radio Seminar Wednesday morning in Nashville. The award is handed out each year by Country Radio Broadcasters to the artist that best demonstrates dedication to charitable efforts.

Following an incredibly busy and successful year for Underwood, this award proves to be an appropriate cap in recognizing her efforts. Carrie attributes her efforts to the example her parents set. She remembers them pulling over to the side of the road to offer money to those in need, as well as helping those at church. Underwood has made children and animals the focus of her efforts, stating that “they need us. They haven’t made any wrong decisions in their lives. They haven’t done anything to anyone that could be malicious. They live in the garden and they love and it’s our jobs to take care of them.”

Kenny Alphin and John Rich – of Big & Rich – presented the award to Underwood at the Nashville Convention Center. “Carrie is aware of the platform she’s been given and wants to use it beyond performing to help change the world.” This platform that Carrie has built donated $1 million of her “Blown Away Tour” proceeds to the American Red Cross for Oklahoma Relief Efforts in May 2013. In November 2012, Underwood donated 100% of proceeds from her New Jersey show to Hurricane Sandy efforts. She has also started her own foundation, C.A.T.S. (Checotah Animal, Town, and School Foundation), to help with local causes and issues in her hometown of Checotah, OK. She also devoted some of her time to cleaning out kennels at animal shelters, among many other highlights and efforts.

C.A.T.S Foundation has met local needs ranging from scholarship school programs to funds for the volunteer fire department to purchase oxygen masks and tools to new school and community playgrounds to donated musical instruments to name a few.

“Those kinds of things, I feel like, make the biggest difference. It’s easy to give money to stuff, and I feel like there’s a lot of stuff that my husband (Nashville Predators hockey player Mike Fisher) and I get to be a part of where we’re like, ‘Please don’t put it out there.’ You want to do things to help people, but not for stuff.”

The singer goes on to state that she views this as her responsibility. “I am super blessed and I’ve been given so much,” she said. “If I did nothing but buy shiny things and spend it on stupid things, I just don’t think my mama would be proud of that, I don’t think I could be proud of that and I don’t think the good Lord would be too proud of that.”

Underwood calls for others to follow her lead. “If you see someone who needs help, help them. If something needs help, help it. I feel like those are what make the best stories, not so and so wrote a check. Just so and so came and cleaned out awful nasty kennels.”

It’s Official: Cee Lo Green Leaves “The Voice”

In a “Voice” shake-up that maybe no one saw coming just 5 days before Season 6 premieres, original coach, Cee Lo Green, confirmed his exit from the reality competition Wednesday in an interview with Ellen DeGeneres. Green had been with the show for three straight seasons before taking a break (with Christina Aguilera) to allow for Shakira and Usher to fill their seats. He returned for the show’s fifth season, which will turn to be his last. He and Aguilera are sitting out the upcoming sixth season, premiering Monday Feb 24 on NBC.

“I’m not coming back at all,” he told DeGeneres. “I’m going to continue my relationship with NBC. I have a television show development deal with them as well and hopefully some other talk show opportunities for later in the year. But yeah, I’m going to miss The Voice, too.” Check out his announcement below and let us know what you think about his exit!

Cee Lo took to his official website to make an official statement.

“I’m officially announcing today that I won’t be returning as a coach on The Voice cycle 7 in the Fall. There are numerous reasons that led to this decision, which has been amicably reached with NBC, but I’m excited to be developing several other ideas with the network and my association with NBC remains strong. The Voice has been an immensely enjoyable experience for me and I can only hope I have enriched the lives of our viewers, the contestants, and the many friends I made there. I will always be there in spirit. Meanwhile, NBC and I plan to continue our relationship with several new co-ventures including a new music show, while we also explore our ideas for me to create and host a new show of my own. I will not go quietly into the night… expect more great music and entertainment done in my own unique unmistakable and undeniable way. The Voice has given me all the altitude and incentive to do just that. Thanks for the memories and make way for many more!”

– CeeLo Green

I think we will all miss Purrrfect the cat.

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“Frozen:” What if Kelly Clarkson, Britney Spears and Babs Sang “Let It Go”

“Let It Go,” the Oscar nominated track from Disney’s “Frozen” will be performed live at the Awards Ceremony on March 2 by Idina Menzel. But have you ever wondered what the beloved track would sound like if some of today’s biggest stars tackled it? Well, New York actress Christine Bianco, an off-broadway actress who has garnered YouTube fame with her “Total Eclipse of the Heart” Diva-Off, shows us!

She is quite on point with many of these impressions. Check it out below and let us know what you think!

Weird Holiday of the Day – Innovation Day

TODAY’S “HOLIDAY” – FEBRUARY 16TH
Innovation Day

Spot a problem, think of a solution, and before you know it you’re innovating! Innovation Day is all about imagining new, better ways of doing things. 

Innovation is awesome! If people didn’t come up with new and innovative things, we’d all be stuck doing clothes by hand, drinking warm milk straight from the udder, and walking to work barefoot. Of course, those were also all new innovations at one point, too, so life has gotten better. Think of how much better life will be after your awesome invention!

What problem will you solve today? Let us know in the comments below!

“If there was a problem. Yo, I’ll solve it” ~ Vanilla Ice

Weird Holiday of the Day – Gumdrop Day

TODAY’S “HOLIDAY” – FEBRUARY 15TH
Gumdrop Day

Gummy, chewy, tasty sweets are the theme of Gumdrop Day, which presents you the opportunity (or the excuse) to eat as many gumdrops as possible (within reason, with consideration for your teeth, sugar levels and general health)!

Gumdrops are great! Although, I prefer to stick with the Sour Patch Kids variety of gumdrops, which are essentially the same thing, but in kid shape. However, typing that out makes it sound like I prefer to eat things that are kid shaped, which is not my preference at all. It’s more about the taste. Damn, now it sounds like I like the taste of kids more than regular gumdrops. Forget it! This holiday is over! Moving on…

What’s your favorite gumdrop inspired candy? Let us know in the comments below!

“Not the buttons! Not my gumdrop buttons!” ~ Gingerbread Man from Shrek