Hero of the Week – Country Star Keith Urban

By SJH/PIO
August 29, 2009

The patients and staff of St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital^® received quite the unexpected and special treat this past June when Keith Urban stopped in to tour the facility and visit with the kids.

The country music star is a dear friend of St. Jude. His efforts and support have greatly contributed to the enormous success of Country Cares for St. Jude Kids, and this dedication has influenced his fan club to join Fans Care for St. Jude Kids in 2002.

An added element of surprise to the visit was the VIP reception that Keith received upon his arrival: waiting to greet him and thank him for his support were Marlo Thomas, Tony Thomas, Dr. William Evans, St. Jude Director and CEO, Dave McKee, COO of ALSAC and Rick Shadyac, newly appointed CEO of ALSAC.

Also gathered to greet Keith in the Chili’s Care Center lobby were many excited patients and their families. After spending time with all of his fans, Keith proceeded on his tour, led by Dr. Larry Kun, who provided insight into the advanced imaging capabilities that the facility offers.

Dr. Mary Relling then gave a tour of her lab in the Pharmacology Department. Keith continued on to the Bone Marrow Transplant Unit, where he gave patients a treat they will never forget: each patient received a handwritten message on their window, as well as some special one-on-one time with Keith. His love and passion has always been the Kids of St. Jude, and this was evident by the attention given to every patient he met.

As he wrapped up his visit and tour, Keith shared with St. Jude staff members that much of his inspiration has come from Randy Owen, longtime supporter of the hospital, friend of Danny Thomas, and founder of Country Cares for St. Jude Kids.

Source: Country Cares

Editor’s Note: We would like to know what you think? dan@youngchronicle.com

Kids Can play Sports with Asthma

By Nicole Lukosius
August 28, 2009

Nearly 6.7 million children under the age of 18 suffer from asthma, but it doesn’t have to be something that hinders a youth football player’s experience.

Heading into the 11^th season of his career, St. Louis Rams middle linebacker Chris Draft has faced many formidable opponents on the field. But when he’s not lining up against some of the NFL’s best offensive playmakers, Draft battles another opponent off the field every day of his life.

Draft suffers from asthma, an inflammatory disease that affects the lungs, and has had to manage his health ever since his playing days at Stanford. Although asthma can usually be controlled once diagnosed, it may be more common than one might think. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), nearly 22.9 million people living in the United States have asthma – with 6.7 million suffers under the age of 18.

Dr. David Callahan, Captain in the U.S. Public Health Service, said when it comes to youth athletes, parents and coaches need to educate themselves on how to handle the situation when an asthma attack strikes.

“If I had to pick two things for a coach to know, know which of your kids have asthma, and know what to do in an asthma emergency,” Dr. Callahan said. “Make sure that the kids with asthma have an asthma action plan from their physician.

“Parents of youth athletes should be working with their family physician to make sure that their asthma is well controlled and that they have both the appropriate controller medication and the appropriate rescue medication.”

Asthma causes repeated episodes of wheezing, breathlessness, chest tightness, and nighttime or early morning coughing. Asthma is not curable, but attacks should only occur when a “trigger” bothers the lungs.

“Exercise itself can do it because of the increased rate of breathing, cold weather, cold air can be a trigger,” Dr. Callahan said. “Pollen also is a very common one and is at its peaks in the spring for trees and in the fall for ragweed. Something else to look for is air pollution.”

Because this disease affects nearly 9 percent of all children, the Minnesota Department of Health Asthma Program (MDH) and the Utah Department of Health Asthma Program (UDOH) collaborated together to educate others on the disease through “Winning with Asthma.” A private-public partnership created by the National Lt. Governor’s Association and funded by the CDC, the “Winning with Asthma” campaign features a Coach’s Asthma Clipboard Program, which Draft has signed on with as the National Spokesman.

This issue has always been something Draft said is near and dear to him, and he hopes his example will encourage others to not let asthma interfere with following their dreams.

“It is controllable,” Draft said. “With the right attention and understanding of what asthma is, you can play and enjoy playing football. You can’t ignore it – it’s like football in a way.

“If a player is struggling on the field, you don’t ignore your stumbling block. You face it. You study it. You take it on. The “Winning with Asthma” program helps people get to that point.”

The Coach’s Asthma Clipboard Program is designed to help coaches learn about asthma, how it affects an athlete’s ability to compete and how coaches can help their athletes manage their symptoms while performing at their very best.

Dr. Callahan recommends these steps to follow when an asthma attack occurs:

“First of all, the athlete should tell the coach immediately, stop the activity that he’s doing, and immediately be given a rescue medication – usually Albuterol – with an inhaler or a nebulizer.”

And in the event that the asthma attack appears to be severe, it’s better to be safe than sorry.

“If it’s a severe attack – if the athlete’s lips or nails are blue, or has difficulty talking, walking or drinking liquids – that’s an indication to call 9-1-1 right away,” Dr. Callahan said. “The other very good reason to call 9-1-1 is if the coach or child is simply unsure what to do. It’s never wrong to call, and minutes do count when things get severe.”

Dr. Callahan said one precaution those with asthma should take this fall involves a new vaccine. The 2009 H1N1influenza vaccine is in production and early testing now and should be available in early October.

“We recommend that for seasonal flu, all children with asthma get a flu shot, and this year, all persons with asthma should get a seasonal flu shot and also the H1N1 flu vaccine,” he said. “This is a new virus meaning it has not circulated before in the population, so because of that, there is very little immunity to it.”

He also encourages youth football coaches to look at the “Winning with Asthma” program online to learn more about how to help improve the experience for youth athletes.

“Our expectation for asthma is that youth athletes should be able to take part in activities without feeling restricted,” Dr. Callahan said. “They should be as much a member – and as good a member – of the team as children without asthma.”

Source: USA Football

 

Editor’s Note: We would like to know what you think? dan@youngchronicle.com

Coroner Rules Jackson’s Death Homicide

By THOMAS WATKINS
Associated Press Writer
August 24, 2009

LOS ANGELES – The Los Angeles County coroner has ruled Michael Jackson’s death a homicide and a combination of drugswas the cause, a law enforcement official told The Associated Press, a finding that makes it more likely criminal charges will be filed against the doctor who was with the pop star when he died.

Forensic tests found the powerful anesthetic propofol acted together with at least two sedatives to cause Jackson’s death June 25 in his rented Los Angeles mansion, according to the official, who spoke on condition of anonymity because the findings have not been publicly released.

Dr. Conrad Murray, a Las Vegas cardiologist who became Jackson’s personal physician weeks before his death, is the target of a manslaughter investigation by the Los Angeles Police Department. A designation of homicide means that Jackson died at the hands of another, but does not necessarily mean a crime was committed.

A search warrant affidavit unsealed Monday in Houston includes a detailed account of what Murray told investigators.

According to the document, Murray said he’d been treating Jackson for insomnia for about six weeks with 50 milligrams of propofol every night via an intravenous drip. But he said he feared Jackson was forming an addiction to the anesthetic, which is normally used in hospitals only, and was attempting to wean his patient by lowering the dose to 25 milligrams and adding the sedatives lorazepam and midazolam.

That combination succeeded in helping Jackson sleep two days prior to his death, so the next day, Murray told detectives he cut off the propofol — and Jackson fell asleep with just the two sedatives.

Then around 1:30 a.m. on June 25, starting with a 10-milligram tab of Valium, Murray said he tried a series of drugs instead of propofol to make Jackson sleep. The injections included two milligrams of lorazepam around 2 a.m., two milligrams of midazolam around 3 a.m., and repeats of each at 5 a.m. and 7:30 a.m. respectively.

But they didn’t work.

Murray told detectives that around 10:40 a.m. he gave in to Jackson’s “repeated demands/requests” for propofol, which the singer referred to as his “milk.” He administered 25 milligrams of the white-colored liquid, — a relatively small dose — and finally, Jackson fell asleep.

Murray remained with the sedated Jackson for about 10 minutes, then left for the bathroom. No more than two minutes later, he returned — and found Jackson had stopped breathing.

“There’s no surprise there” that death could result from such a combination, said Dr. David Zvara, anesthesia chairman at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill.

“All those drugs act in synergy with each other,” Zvara said. Adding propofol on top of all the other sedatives “tipped the balance.”

Besides the propofol and two sedatives, the coroner’s toxicology report found other substances in Jackson’s system but they were not believed to have been a factor in the singer’s death, the official told the AP.

When he died, Jackson was skinny but not overly emaciated, and his body had bed sores, the official said. The singer is believed to have developed bed sores in the months following his 2005 acquittal of child molestation charges, when he went into seclusion and spent long stretches in bed.

Murray has spoken to police and last week released a video saying he “told the truth and I have faith the truth will prevail.” Murray did not say anything about the drugs he gave to Jackson. Murray’s attorney, Edward Chernoff, had no immediate comment but has previously said Murray never administered anything that “should have” killed Jackson.

A call to the coroner’s office was not returned Monday.

Jackson’s family released a statement Monday, saying it has “full confidence” in the legal process and the efforts of investigators. It concludes: “The family looks forward to the day that justice can be served.”

The 25 milligrams of propofol Murray told police he gave Jackson the day he died “is not a whopping amount,” said Lee Cantrell, director of the San Diego division of the California Poison Control System. But by combining propofol with a cocktail of the other sedatives, known as benzodiazepines, it “may have been the trigger that pushed him over the edge,” Cantrell said.

Cantrell said it’s perplexing that someone would give various benzodiazepines if one was found not to be effective.

“This is horrible polypharmacy,” he said, referring to the interaction between the various drugs. “No one will treat an insomniac like this.”

The affidavit says Murray told investigators he didn’t order or buy any propofol and had found about eight bottles of it in Jackson’s home along with numerous other medications. But investigators served a search warrant Aug. 11 at a Las Vegas pharmacy and uncovered evidence showing Murray legally purchased from the store the propofol he gave Jackson the day he died.

Murray didn’t tell paramedics or doctors at UCLA hospital where Jackson was rushed June 25 about any drugs he administered other than lorazepam and flumazenil, according to the affidavit. The document says it was only during a subsequent interview with Los Angeles Police detectives that Murray gave a more full accounting of the events leading up to the 911 call.

The coroner’s office has not publicly released its autopsy findings, citing a request from police detectives to withhold results until their investigation is complete.

Homicide, or “death at the hands of another,” is one of several possible findings in a coroner’s death investigation. The designation does not necessarily mean a crime was committed though it is a useful starting point for prosecutors, said Dr. Michael Baden, the former chief medical examiner in New York City and a forensics expert involved in many high-profile murder cases.

“It is an easier prosecution when the medical examiner calls it a homicide,” said Baden, who is not involved in the Jackson investigation.

___

Contributing to this report were Associated Press Writers Justin Pritchard and Alicia Chang in Los Angeles; AP Medical Writer Marilynn Marchione in Milwaukee; and AP Writer Michael Gracyzk in Houston.

Source: Associated Press and Yahoo

Movie Review: Shorts

by Kerry Bennett
August 21, 2009

When Toby Thompson (Jimmy Bennett) finds a rainbow-striped rock capable of granting his every wish, the unpopular boy is sure his prospects are looking up. But when the other neighborhood kids and their parents get their hands on the magic stone, the whole world turns upside-down.

In-Depth Review

Shorts is rated PG: for mild action and some rude humor.

About all filmmaker Robert Rodriguez doesn’t seem to have done during the production of his latest family film was sew costumes and cater lunches. He may have been too busy in his roles as director, producer, writer, cinematographer, music composer, visual effects supervisor and film editor to worry about sandwiches.

He does, however, manage to find time to procure roles for three of his five children. Rocket and his brother Rebel star as schoolyard bullies who carry out the demands of the bossy and cruel Helvetica Black (Jolie Vanier). His son Rebel plays Lug, a young boy who uses the powers of a magical, rainbow-colored rock to conjure up an imposing rock fortress and a float of crocodiles.

But Lug isn’t the only kid to take advantage of the mysterious stone. When Toe Thompson (Jimmy Bennett) finds the rock and discovers its abilities, he believes all his problems at home with his sister (Kat Dennings) and at school are over. The first item on his wish list is friends. Yet before long, the flotilla of tiny alien spaceships that appear to keep him company prove to be more troublesome than friendly.

Tossed around the neighborhood of Black Falls, the polished, multi-striped aggregate grants the innermost desires of other adults and kids as well. Unfortunately most of the residents don’t make particularly wise choices when it comes to having their hopes realized. Their adventures with the rock unfold in a series of non-sequential shorts that take place at school, at the office and in the homes of the unusual residents that inhabit the town.

While the storyline resembles the fanciful undertakings seen in Rodriguez’s early family-oriented films (Spy Kids 1, Spy Kids 2: Island of Lost Dreams and Spy Kids 3-D: Game Over as well as The Adventures of Shark Boy and Lava Girl in 3D) where bullied children also live secret, powerful lives, parents may be less comfortable with this script’s amount of mimicable violence. Toe is stuffed into a garbage can headfirst even after trying to talk his way out of trouble with a gaggle of goons. On the way home, the boys pelt him with rocks and he falls from a tree after being knocked out. As a way to taunt Toe, a mean-spirited classmate swallows his pet fish, hits Toe in the head repeatedly and calls him names. Not only do students fall from the roof of the school after falling through an open window, there are also kids who intentionally break the windows of a house to gain access to the inside. Although most of these stunts are played for comedy, they, along with plenty of more fantastical depictions of a destructive robot, a defecating Pterodactyl and a living piece of nasal mucus may be too graphic and/or gross for younger viewers.

Jumping randomly from one mini story to the next like a cartoon on caffeine, this film about making your wishes come true may appeal most to audience members with very short attention spans.

Studio: 2009 Warner Brothers Pictures. Visit the official movie site.

Content Details: Beyond the Movie Ratings…

Bullies, adult and child, molest their employees and classmates with name-calling, threats, physical aggression and yelling. Students hit a boy with rocks. A character is stuffed in a garbage can and later falls from a tree. Students fall off the roof of a school. Characters are attacked by miniature aliens, a giant robot, chased by crocodiles, and carried off by a dinosaur. An explosion occurs in a science class covering the students with an unknown substance. A girl intentionally swallows a live fish. Siblings fight among themselves. A married couple experience stress and alienation because of a shared work project. A boy is swallowed by a crocodile and defecated on by a flying dinosaur. A boy repeatedly picks his nose. A blob of his mucus turns into a living, animated monster. A boy is covered with mucus after meeting up with the monster. Adults attack one another at a house party. Boys break a house window and enter the premise illegally. Characters scuffle with one another. A character is hit in the head and knocked out. Characters ride motorcycles without a helmet and talk on the phone while driving. Characters are frequently in peril. The script includes mild crude humor and a term of Deity.

Discussion Ideas: Talk About the Movie…

How are families portrayed in this film? Which family would you rather live with, the Thompsons, the Noseworthys, the Blacks or Lug and his brothers?

Robert Rodriguez often features bullied children in his films. How can children and teens best deal with bullies? How can adults help intervene? What positive attempts does Toe make to reason with the bullies?

Video alternatives

Although actor Jimmy Bennett is only 13-years-old, he already has an impressive number of credits on his acting resume, including roles as a pint-sized superhero in Daddy Day Care, the son of a shipbuilder in Evan Almighty, and a young James T. Kirk in Star Trek.

Source: Parent Previews

Editor’s Note: Kerry Bennett is interested in media from both a journalist and parent perspective. Along with authoring articles for several family-oriented publications, she has written for Parent Previews for nearly 10 years. She serves as Vice President of the Alberta Association for Media Awareness. She and her husband Garry have four sons.

We would like to know what you think? dan@youngchronicle.com

Restaurant Review – Paradiso Ristorante Italiano

 

by Margo Osborne
August 22, 2009

Parents, did you realize it is possible to have a date night while your kids tag along?

Did you realize your kids could eat in their own separate kids’ dining room while you enjoy a scrumptious meal at your own table?

Did you realize you can do all of this at Paradiso in Alexandria, VA?

What an innovative concept! It’s because of this concept, superior service, and fabulous food that Our Kids (OK) highly recommends a visit to Paradiso.

Children actually have their own separate dining room. It’s located in the back of the restaurant adjacent to an “adult dining room” with a doorway and glass topped wall separating the two. The “adult dining room” is on the smaller side and holds approximately 10-15 tables. The size of the room translates into a possible wait time for this particular room during peak hours on a weekend, but it is also easy and quick access to the kids’ dining room. We visited late on a weekday night and were seated at a table directly adjacent to the doorway and could, for the most part, keep an eye on our children the entire time. On second thought, maybe we should have asked to be seated on the opposite end of the dining room!

The kids’ dining room is a sensory paradiso! Paradiso includes eight mini picnic tables in a spacious room, colorful rubber placemats featuring popular cartoon characters, ceiling tiles painted in bright colors, an equally colorful underwater scene on the walls, various “friends” hanging from the ceiling, and even a map of the United States adhered to the glass wall. See additional pictures online.

The menu, website and a sign posted outside the kids’ dining room emphasize the room is for ages three to ten, and is not a babysitting service, but a supervised dining room offered free of charge. In several places it reads children must follow the safety rules, but safety rules are not posted in or around the dining room nor were any rules outlined to the children. Please note that the children’s dining room is open every night for dinner only, not lunch.

Paradiso is licensed to play Disney movies, and The Emperor’s New Groove was playing during our visit. The friendly and conscientious attendant, who did not leave the dining room while we were there, explained there were approximately 15 movies that ran back to back on their oversized television..

We placed our children’s order at our own table before realizing they could place their own order with their own attendant in their own dining room. The children’s meal, which is $7.50, includes a choice of entrée, soft drink and ice cream. The plentiful entrée choices include chicken strips, fettuccine alfredo, cheese pizza, cheese ravioli, spaghetti with one meatball, and ziti pasta with meat sauce. The food is served on plastic plates and bowls and with plastic utensils.

Our children chose buttered pasta, cheese pizza and french fries, and were given generous portions they both enjoyed. It was refreshing to know the attendant was not going to serve them ice cream following dinner until it was ok’ed by us hovering parents. Also, with the lemonade/punch fountain in full view, it is way too tempting and simple for the kids to repeatedly ask for refills. They gain a certain amount of freedom in their own dining room!

During the course of our dinner, a total of three other families (a total of six additional kids) joined our kids in the dining room. All of the kids got along, and seemed to be happy in their own sensory paradise!

Remember what is paradiso for one family one night might be a “nightmaro” for another family on a different night. If you are pleased with your attendant, please remember to tip her/him as there is a tip jar near the television.

If you want to feel like you are going home to your cozy parents’ house for Sunday night dinner, then Paradiso is the place for you. From the moment we walked in the door, the employees made sure we felt welcome and at home. The person that seated us greeted us with a warm smile and explained how the larger room to the left of the entrance was a bar and smoking section of the restaurant, where they offer Karaoke on Thursday and Sunday nights. We poked our heads in, and Karaoke appeared to be a popular attraction in full swing. There is no need to be concerned about the smoke reaching your tables. The bar/smoking section is located on the opposite end of the restaurant and has its own door, which remains closed.

We couldn’t have asked for a more accommodating server than Ernesto. He ensured we knew the evening’s specials, ensured our beverage glasses and complimentary bread basket were never empty, and most importantly, ensured we enjoyed our Paradiso experience and meal.

If you are looking for Magianno’s or Landini Brothers-caliber Italian food, then this is not a replacement for your grandmother’s meatballs! But if you looking for an enjoyable, relaxing, solid, quality meal, then Paradiso should be added to your list of restaurants to visit this year. The adults ordered lobster ravioli ($16.25) and a linguini with vodka cream sauce ($15.95). The portions were generous, the pasta dishes were served warm, and did not disappoint. The entrees range in price from $9.25 to $17.25, and liberal coupons typically can be found in the Clipper Magazine.

Online, OK noted many favorable reviews of their Sunday Mimosa Brunch from 10am to 2:30pm. They also offer a lunch buffet Monday through Saturday from 11:30am to 2:30pm. Overall, the restaurant and bathrooms, which are conveniently located off of the children’s dining room, appear to be hygienic and well maintained.

Paradiso is located (barely) outside of the Beltway off of Interstate 95. It’s literally right next door to Springfield and also an easy trip from Old Town Alexandria. On our drive out of the parking lot, we also noticed an inviting outdoor seating area off of the bar/smoking section of the restaurant. If only they could add a children’s dining room outside as well. Is that too much to ask, Paradiso?

Editor’s Note: Have you been to Paradiso Ristorante Italiano?

What’s your opinion? Just drop us a note Infor@our-kids.com  and dan@youngchronicle.com and we will add your comments to this review.

Source: Our-Kids

Movie Review – Bandslam

By Kerry Bennett
August 16, 2009

A desire to win their school’s “battle of the bands” competition brings together an unlikely group of teens (played by Vanessa Hudgens, Alyson Michalka and Gaelan Connell). As they practice, the group discovers they may have more in common than just their love of music.

Nerdy guys aren’t what they used to be in the movies. These days they are the ones getting the girl, or in this case the girls.

At his old school, Will Burton (Gaelan Connell) was on the bottom of the pecking order—literally. After suffering another day of humiliation, he slithers down the steps of the school bus to greet his waiting mother. (Note to parents: Meeting your high school student at the bus stop does not help your child’s standing with his or her peers.)

But Karen Burton (Lisa Kudrow) has good news for her unhappy offspring. The conscientious and slightly smothering single mom has a job offer that will allow her son to move to a new school and get a fresh start. Initially, Will only groans about the prospect of being subjected to more torture from a different student body. However when he arrives in New Jersey, he is almost immediately befriended by one of the most popular Senior girls on campus.

After Charlotte Banks (Alyson Michalka) discovers Will’s vast musical knowledge, she also invites him to manage her fledgling rock band that is aiming for an invitation to the upcoming interstate Bandslam contest. When Will finally hears Charlotte and her backup singers, Bug (Charlie Saxton) and Omar (Tim Jo), he knows he has a lot of work to do, especially if they want to beat the school’s other rival band headed up by Charlotte’s former boyfriend (Scott Porter).

Unfortunately Will’s heady infatuation with his newfound popularity and the band’s lead singer interferes with his ability to complete a group project with his classmate Sa5m (Vanessa Hudgens). With a deadline looming, Will finally finds time for his homework assignment with the moody girl. And despite Sa5m’s (pronounced Sam) gloom and doom outlook (which matches his own), Will soon discovers he has feelings for his sober partner as well. Torn between two girls, Will finds himself with an enviable problem—by any nerd’s standards.

However, while the characters in this film represent many of the stereotypical teens seen on screen, they undergo plenty of development as their back-stories and intentions are revealed. Some of these students do the wrong things for the wrong reasons, yet the script allows for personal growth and gives ample justification for their motives. And though these teens are far less perky and prone to bursting into song in the middle of the hallway or basketball court than the cast from High School Musical there are still plenty of musical interludes with above average performances as various groups prepare for the fierce competition.

With more depth than the average adolescent flick, this production acknowledges difficult teen issues and gives credibility to the students who deal with the challenges of growing up.

Studio: 2009 Summit Entertainment. Visit the official movie site.

Content Details: Beyond the Movie Ratings…

This high school tale contains scenes of bullying. A student is knocked down, pushed, hit with a water balloon and called names. Characters trespass in an abandoned building. A girl drives erratically. Students lie about their pasts or motivations. A preschooler eats glue. Death of a parent and divorce are discussed. Teens kiss and a teenager kisses an adult woman. Comments are made about the dangers of drinking and driving. The script contains conversations about teen angst, terms of Christian Deity and brief crude terms.

Discussion Ideas: Talk About the Movie…

Although Will’s mom seems anxious for her son to make friends, why is she so unwilling to let him get involved with the kids in the band? What personal fears might she be facing?

How do different characters handle hard times in this story? How do they show compassion to one another in times of difficulty?

Charlotte tells Will to do the things that scare him. Is it important to move beyond our current comfort level? What does Will learn about himself and others when he accepts new challenges?

Editor’s Note: Kerry Bennett is interested in media from both a journalist and parent perspective. Along with authoring articles for several family-oriented publications, she has written for Parent Previews for nearly 10 years. She serves as Vice President of the Alberta Association for Media Awareness. She and her husband Garry have four sons.

We would like to know what you think? dan@youngchronicle.com

Source: Parent Previews

Michael Phelps Unhurt After 3-Car Crash

By Stephen M. Silverman
August 14, 2009

Michael Phelps walked away uninjured Thursday night in downtown Baltimore after being behind the wheel of a late-model Cadillac Escalade when it collided with a Honda Accord that a woman was driving, say reports.

Police told the Baltimore Sun that besides Phelps’s SUV, the Accord and a parked vehicle were seriously damaged during the 9 p.m. incident.

The female driver was described as “shaken up” and reportedly taken to a local hospital as a precaution. Police are said to have quizzed Phelps on what occurred. Alcohol was not a factor, according to news reports.

Phelps, 24, holds the Olympic record with 14 gold medals for swimming. In 2004, shortly after winning six gold medals at the Athens Olympics, he was pulled over by police after running a stop sign. He subsequently pleaded guilty to driving while impaired and was sentenced to 18 months’ probation.

Source: People

Editor’s Note: We would like to know what you think? dan@youngchronicle.com

Kids Review: Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince

by Lily
age 12

NG Kids
July 30, 2009

Editor’s Note: If you seen a movie that you want others to see or not see. Contact us at dan@youngchronicle.com Photograph courtesy Warner Bros

We would publish your review.

Dumbledore takes Harry to Horace Slughorn’s house. The house looks like it has been robbed. After they find Horace, who has disguised himself as a chair, they ask him to be the new potions professor at Hogwarts. Harry and Ron take his class and Harry ends up with the potion book, “The Half-Blood Prince.” He uses the book to find out how Voldemort came across his dark magic.

In the end, Harry learns all of the secrets that Hogwarts has kept for years.

I liked the unexpected events that happened, including the VERY big one at the end. I won’t tell you what that was, because you have to go see the movie!

I would rate this movie 4 out of 5 cow spots.

How much do you know about Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince? Quiz Your Noodle and find out!

Source: Kids Blogs National Geographic

WWE Superstar John Cena

By MWF/PIO
July 23, 2009

All it took was one look at WWE Superstar John Cena in action, and Alan became a pro wrestling fan. He was visiting a friend in 2004 when he caught a glimpse of a WWE match featuring Cena. Alan saw an unyielding, unflinching quality in Cena that he couldn’t resist.

“Every time somebody challenges him, he never backs down,” Alan said.

Alan Learns from Cena – Don’t Back Down

One day, Alan felt a bump on his shoulder that worried him. A week later, doctors performed an ultrasound. He was soon diagnosed with Hodgkin’s lymphoma. Believe it or not, Alan considered himself lucky – his form of Hodgkin’s is considered very treatable. Doctors told him to expect six months of chemotherapy and other treatments. He was ready to pile-drive his illness into submission.

Alan must’ve channeled John Cena’s fighting spirit – he beat Hodgkin’s lymphoma in just three months.

“It makes me feel great because a lot of people at my church were praying for me,” Alan says.

Now, Alan expects his chemotherapy port to be removed in a few months.

Celebrating his Victory

Alan’s wish began with a limo ride to the airport, a short flight, dinner at Medieval Times and a visit to Six Flags. Though he had a great time on the Mr. Freeze rollercoaster, the next day is where his wish was really ready to start.

At a local Dallas mall, Alan dropped into a GameStop store and was playing video games when John Cena “walked up all casual” to greet him. The two squared off for a few rounds of Smackdown Vs. Raw 2009. (See video at bottom of page.)

“He started stretching,” Alan says, laughing. “It was really funny!”

After losing a few matches, a gracious Cena signed his hat and handed it to Alan. GameStop rewarded Alan for his victory with a backpack filled with video games, t-shirts and a GameStop hat. Then, both were off to Monday Night Raw.

Ringside at Raw

Alan took yet another limo ride, this time to arrive at Monday Night Raw. Before the action started, he met Superstars Shawn Michaels and Jeff Hardy. Cena arrived, carrying a load of signed souvenirs for Alan – dogtags, wristbands, shirts and more.

That night, Cena lost to The Big Show.

“But only because The Edge interfered,” Alan insists.

After the loss, though, Alan’s prediction that Cena would win at Wrestlemania came true. And the loss did nothing to diminish the experience or his favorite Superstar.

“He’s bigger in person,” Alan says. “His whole arm is bigger than me!”

Please make a Donation

Source: Make A Wish Foundation

Editor’s Note: We would like to know what you think? dan@youngchronicle.com

Vanessa to Strip for Next Role

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

By Fox News
July 14, 2009

 

Vanessa Hudgens is taking a bit of a detour from her successful path as a Disney starlet.

 

The “High School Musical” star, 20, says she is going to strip down for her new role as a hooker in the upcoming film “Sucker Punch,” according to a report in the U.K. Metro.

 

“I’m playing a character named Blondie and it’s set in a brothel in the 1950s, so there’s not a whole lot of clothes,” the actress was quoted as saying.

 

“I think this is my time to really step it up and get to grow up. It will be somewhat different with the content and a few more foul words, but that’s the biggest difference.”

 

A potty-mouthed, half-naked hooker — Yes, that’s definitely “somewhat” different than being a Disney star.

 

But it’s not the first time that the “HSM” cutie has showed some skin. In 2007, the pint-sized actress apologized for nude photos that showed her smiling while standing in front of a red curtain.

 

Source: Fox News

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