Posted: 10:58 a.m. Thursday, May 20, 2010
Happy Birthday (Again), Maya Angelou!; Coffee Maker Danger; Obamas' 2nd State Dinner (SLIDESHOW); Say What? Viagra Causes Hearing Loss
By Veronica Waters
- Weeks after her April 4th birthday, Dr. Maya Angelou is throwing an 82nd birthday party for herself today, hosting friends including Gladys Knight, Common and Precious director Lee Daniels in the backyard garden of her home in Winston-Salem. A few months ago, KISS 104's Veronica Waters asked Dr. Angelou--you've inspired so many people for so many decades...who or what inspires you?
"I'm trying to be a Christian, Miss Waters," she answered, "and trying to be a Christian is like trying to be a Jew, or a Muslim or a Buddhist or Shintoist. It's not something you achieve and then you can sit back and rub your hands.
"I'm always amazed when people walk up to me and say, 'Hello, I'm a Christian,' she continued. "I think, 'Already?' 'Cause I work so hard at it. And I'm praying a lot and doing the best I can."
Angelou is also launching her Twitter page at today's party. She already has more than 385,000 fans on Facebook.
- "A blessing in disguise." That's what the principal of Douglas County's Alexander High School is calling this week's discovery of a giant sinkhole at the school's football stadium. That's because the stadium was to be the site of the graduation ceremonies--and some 5,000 people were expected that day. Now, commencement's being moved off campus for the first time in school history, and a new stadium will be built by this fall. Graduation will be at the coliseum at the University of West Georgia.
- There could be danger on your kitchen countertop. Nearly a million GE coffee makers sold exclusively by Wal-Mart are being recalled because they could catch fire. GE's already gotten more than 80 complaints about the danger, including three consumers who suffered minor burns and some kitchens which had significant fires. The 12-cup digital coffee makers were sold from March 2008 to this year. Stop using it immediately and get a refund from Wal-Mart.
- World-class dinner by Chef Rick Bayless. Entertainment by Beyonce. And no party crashers. President Obama's 2nd state dinner also boasted tighter security--even the wife of an assistant secretary of state was turned away until she came back with proper ID. Celebrities on hand included Whoopi Goldberg, Eva Longoria Parker, George Lopez and Olympic speedskater Shani Davis.
Dinner opened with a salad of jicama with oranges, grapefruit and pineapple, followed by herb green seviche of Hawaiian opah. The main course of Oregon wagyu beef came with a Oaxacan black mole sauce that Bayless says uses more than 20 ingredients and takes days to come together. Grilled green beans and black bean tamalon accompanied the main course.
Chocolate cajeta tart with toasted homemade marshmallows was on the dessert menu, along with a graham cracker crumble made with honey from the White House beehive and goat cheese ice cream. - Is male enhancement worth becoming hard...of hearing? A new study bolsters a 2007 warning that men who take Viagra may double their chances of hearing loss. Among men who don't take erectile dysfunction drugs, one in six is deaf or hard of hearing. But among men who take pills like Cialis or Viagra--one in three suffers hearing loss.
- Wal-Mart is taking Miley Cyrus bracelets and necklaces off its shelves. Tests found the jewelry is packed with cancer-causing cadmium. The real danger comes not from wearing it, but from sucking or biting the items. The jewelry was made in China and hit stores in December.
- Georgia's unemployment rate dropped a tenth of a percent in April. State Labor Commissioner Michael Thurmond is encouraged by the 27,000 jobs added to payrolls last month.
- The former DeKalb County deputy police chief has been indicted on federal charges of taking bribes. Donald Frank is now a lieutenant on the force. He's pleading not guilty, and has posted bond and is out on unpaid leave. Frank allegedly took more than $5,000 in bribes from a convenience store owner in 2008. The store owner has also been charged. Frank has been on the force more than 20 years, and used to head up the security detail for CEO Vernon Jones.
- Rejoice, Double Down lovers: KFC's bunless chicken sandwich is such a hit, the restaurant is keeping it on the menu past its planned six-week run. It was supposed to be taken off the menu this Sunday, but now KFC says it'll stay as long as demand stays high. They expect to sell their 10 millionth Double Down this month.
- The KISS 104.1 weather forecast: mostly to partly sunny, high of 84 today, low of 64 tonight.
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