Ladies and Gentlemen and children of all ages, the Census is coming!  Yep, it is time to stand up and get counted…and that is a Constitutional order! 

Now before anyone thinks this, I have heard the arguments that some have stated that they don’t want “Big Brother” knowing any of their personal information… but really…I mean….really, come on…are you serious?  I have seen more personal information on people’s personal Web sites than is being asked by the government during the census.  So before you even begin to question whether or not you should fill out the questionnaire….

Here are my top 10 reasons why you should!

1. This is about money and power! To quote Gabriel Sanchez, Regional Director of the 2010 Census,  “If you’re interested in either of those two things, then you should be interested in the Census. The count determines Congressional redistricting and more than $400 billion annually in federal funds for such programs as schools, hospitals, roads, senior centers, Head Start and libraries.” So people, over 10 years, that is 4 Trillion (with a capitol “T” people) dollars we are talking about. Come on Show Me The Money!
2. The numbers of people counted by the Census translate into federal funding for roads. So when you hit those potholes or are stuck in traffic, instead of picking a finger to point up in the air, use that finger to grab a pencil and fill out the census. That is how you affect change!
3. Do you have a child in school? A baby born today will be 10 years old by the time the next Census is taken. Without an accurate count; the government doesn’t know how to plan funding for that child’s education.
4. Ever wish a highway was four lanes instead of two? Or have you ever wished that there was a bridge in a specific location allowing easier access to a highway? Yep, the Census affects that funding as well.
5. Hospitals use this information to determine a community’s specific medical needs. If there is a large ageing population in a specific location, then they would know that senior care is something they might want to focus on. Or, if there is a larger children population, that might determine a better place for a children’s hospital. Face it; this is all about taking care of your needs!
6. Remember in your old Civics class how the Congress is made up of four hundred and thirty five Representatives and one hundred Senators. Well, although each state gets two U. S. Senators, the four hundred and thirty five House of Representatives are divided by population. In other words, just because one state gets a certain number of representatives after one Census, doesn’t mean they keep all those after the next one. In fact, there is a rumor that after this Census, Texas could gain as many as five new U.S. Representatives. Hey, who wants to run for office?
7. The results from the 2010 Census are also used by companies all over the world to determine demographics for things such as where to put their next grocery store or fast food restaurant. Think about it, your form could get you a Starbucks closer to your home!
8. It is mandatory. Yep, the First Census act was passed at the second session of the First Congress, and then signed by President Washington on March 1, 1790. Article 1, Section 2, U.S. Constitution states “The actual Enumeration shall be made within three Years after the first Meeting of the Congress of the United States, and within every subsequent Term of ten Years, in such Manner as they shall by Law direct.” Congress first met in 1789 and in 1790, the first national census was taken. They followed the law and so we have to as well. Talk about being a part of history!
9. Your information is kept strictly confidential. Even if the President of the United States asked for specific information, other than the general compiled data, he could not find it out. Did you know that all census workers sign a confidential contract that binds them to keep their mouths completely shut about any and all information they see. If they even chirp just a peep, they are subject to a fine up to $250,000 and/or five years in jail. Also, none of the specific information is shared with any other government or non-government agency. In other words, if you maybe had a few extra people living in an apartment than you were supposed to, you could put that down because Mr. Landlord is never going to find out. However, you might just get a new hospital or better roads if you tell the whole truth. Talk about a win-win situation!
10. And the 10^th reason you want to fill out the census….if you don’t they will come knocking on your door and interrupt your favorite TV program to ask you the same questions that are on the form you will receive in the mail. Come on, who wants to be interrupted during Dancing with the Stars? Not me!

The Census questionnaire will be mailed out this March, so look for it and fill it out.  Your community’s future is up to you!

Due to the fact that there are rural communities and individuals who may not be able to receive the form, alng several other reasons, there are Census workers who go door to door to help those that need assistance or cannot receive a form by U.S. Mail.  How would you like to be one of those individuals?  Are you interested in a part-time job?  Do you still have Christmas charges that need paying off?  Are you a high school senior that needs a few extra bucks?  Lots of local part-time and full-time jobs are available with the U. S. Census Bureau.  All you have to do is pass a simple skills test and background check and are hired to work locally.  Just call 1-866-861-2010 or visit their website at 2010censusjobs.gov for more information.

I don’t know if you actually “ate cabbage or black-eyed peas”, on New Year’s Day or whether you believe that helps or not. It is a common ritual and many believe that the changing of the year always instills a new feeling of hope and new beginnings. We can resolve to lose weight, spend more time with the family, get organized, quit smoking, quit drinking (well…you can bet that’s not on my list!), get out of debt, and make sure your handbag and shoes coordinate… just to name a few ideas.  However, can you imagine what this world would be like if we all made a resolution (and stuck with it) to take time once a month to make someone else’s life just a little bit better.  

Really, what if each month we decided to volunteer for an hour or so at a non-profit organization or what if we chose to send an organization just a few extra bucks each month? It doesn’t have to be a lot of money, just something extra change or a few dollars.  Can you imagine the possibilities?

I know many of you already chair non-profit events, serve on committees, sponsor fundraisers, etc… and that is truly amazing! But couldn’t you find an extra buck or two and send it to an organization that’s not normally on your list?

For 2010, I want to challenge our ESocialWorld readers to make a difference every month somehow, someway, and then let us know what you did!  Don’t worry, we won’t share your name or contact information, but we would love to hear what is going on. We will keep everyone posted as to how this challenge is going, and just think, your work might actually encourage others to help make a difference as well.   

Just go to the comment section and send us a brief note as to what you did each month and we will take it from there.  And remember…it can be time, talent or treasure…you decide. Your donation to a charity will make a world of difference in the lives of others. So let the 2010 challenge begin!

Disney’s newest sensation, Demi Lovato turned 17 last August, but due to her filming commitment (she was in Canada filming Camp Rock 2 with the Jonas Brothers), she wasn’t able to truly celebrate her special day.   Now that the film has wrapped up, Miss Lovato recently returned home to her family in Colleyville and celebrated in “four-wheel” style.  How?  By dropping in on her uncle David De La Garza (Miss Lavato’s stepfather and manager is Eddie De La Garza’s, David’s brother), to pick up her first car: a new 2010 Mercedes-Benz E350. 

“At the very top of her list was a trip to the Texas Department of Motor Vehicles,” reports De La Garza, Finance Director at Park Place Motorcars. “She wanted to have a Texas driver’s license rather than a California one. And she would only buy a car from Park Place Motorcars’ for obvious reasons.”

Miss Lovato had ordered her new wheels back in July from Park Place Motorcars and clearly, this celebrity wasn’t just going for the basic model.  Only Cinderella’s carriage could out do this, and remember, Cinderella had to give hers back at midnight! 

“The car is as loaded as you can get a car,” said De La Garza.  “It has absolutely everything: a high-end sound system, iPod kit, Parktronic, etc.”

With the success of a top rated Disney Channel’s TV series, Sonny With A Chance, a successful Disney Channel Original Movie, Camp Rock, and top selling album (her second album Here We Go Again, debuted at #1 on Billboard 200 the past July), Miss Lovato has proven herself to be talent force that is here to stay…and now one that arrives wherever she goes in celebrity style!

Last night I, along with what seemed like a bazillion other parents, took my daughter to the American Airlines Center (AAC) to watch the Miley Cyrus - Wonder World Concert.  Now mind you, I didn’t exactly do too much research on this because I thought this was going to be your typical Hannah Montana concert. Let me tell you, I was wrong! 

First of all, before I even had a clue as to what the show was like, I had to deal with what seemed to be the most disorganized and incompetent ticket system I have ever seen.  From what I was able to understand from speaking with some of the frustrated crowd, Ms. Cyrus’ concert promoters decide to make this a ticketless concert. So when someone purchased their tickets online, they were instructed to print out the confirmation statement and present it at the door along with a credit card and their ID to get in. Well I don’t believe it was clearly communicated that they needed to bring the credit card that they used when purchasing the tickets because I understand that was one of the issues holding things up.   (You might think that would be obvious, but apparently it wasn’t.) To make matters worse, not all doors were equipped to scan the confirmation statements and patrons were told to go to the ticket booths to get “actual tickets” in order to gain entry. So you know what happened then….a tidal wave of humanity crashed down upon the ticket booths that had signs saying “Problem Resolution” flashing in the windows as parents with crying children in tow, tried to exchange their paper confirmation statement for actual tickets. And, adding to all the fun, there were no distinct lines for people to stand in. So you had the people waiting with tickets to get into the AAC mixed in with the hundreds of people trying to get into will call, mixed in with even more people trying to exchange their paper confirmation statement with actual tickets.  It was an absolute mess! I was just in New York City (trip post coming soon) and prior to the trip I purchased theater tickets online.  After you order, you print your actual bar-coded ticket from your printer and use that to enter the theater. They have that process down to a science and it was flawless! The Miley Cyrus concert promoter needs to take a note from the Broadway Theater ticket agents!   

I do want to also put this very important note in here:  I heard a couple of comments blaming the AAC for this nightmare ticket confusion.  If you were there in the mess and believe that the ticket issue was AAC’s fault, then you would be mistaken! These organizational decisions are strictly controlled by the concert promoter, not the venue.  I’m sure the AAC was just grateful that Mother Nature was being kind to them or things really would have gotten out of hand.  You have to understand, there were people who had to stand in line over an hour, with multiple little ones in tow, to retrieve their tickets.  Honestly, I would rather have had a root canal…without Novocain! 

If you were able to get into the AAC before the opening act, Metro Station (Miley Cyrus’ step-brother Trace and Mason Musso, brother of singer/actor Mitchel Musso), finished performing, you might have thought this opening act had a very “Heavy Metal Band” feel for a pop concert. Well you would have been wrong, because unfortunately this was a sign of things to come!

There was a slight break as the Miley Cyrus concert set was prepared (which also gave a bit more time for those outside to get their ticket mess straightened out) and then the show began.  Flashes of light filled the arena and then, from the center of the stage came Miley, encased in ice as fake snow and winds filled the video monitors. She emerged dressed in a silver-topped hoodie and go-go boots. It was obvious by her short leather hot pants and top that this concert was a bit more adult oriented than I had thought.  Now mind you, I realize that teen fashion has gotten a bit more provocative over the years, but when you have an audience made up of girls under the age of 10, this choice of outfit just seemed trashy, rather than flashy!  And it didn’t get any better as the night went on. By the third costume change when she performed her hit “Fly on the Wall,” I was wondering if Ms. Cyrus’ had shopped the Madonna garage sale, because her outfits were defiantly taking on that look.  Then she performed “Let’s Get Crazy” which had an amazing video package projecting on these giant, awesome multi-media walls.  Too bad she sang the first half of the song flat. 

Miley redeemed herself by performing her hit “Hoedown Throwdown” from her movie Hanna Montana - The Movie and her new song “When I Look at You” from her upcoming movie The Last Song, due out in theaters April 2010.   I thought both performances were exceptionally well done.  “Girls Night Out” followed with another great video package to support the song and I remember thinking, maybe we are on the upswing.  That was until I heard the familiar guitar opening to Joan Jet’s “I Love Rock and Roll.”  Question: why was that playing?  Answer: because Ms. Cyrus decided to channel Ms. Jett and let loose singing that song.  Don’t get me wrong, she really did perform it well while sitting on a motorcycle that flew over the audience.  But it was odd to see Miley Cyrus performing a Joan Jet song, (although, not as odd as the Michael Jackson Thriller dance moment that was just kind of thrown in mid show).

The concert continued and ran in total about 90 minutes (your typical timeframe).  Ms. Cyrus ended the evening with her hit “The Climb” which almost sounded like a duet with the audience thanks to the young girls, who made up the majority of the sold out venue.  And what was Ms. Cyrus’s choice of fashion for her finale?  Tighty Whities and white t-shirt get up.  Oops, forgive me, the tighty whitie shorts were trimmed in lace.  I guess that dresses them up!

Readers, this is the giant sample sale that everyone is talking about.  Mark your calendars because on Friday, November 6^th from 10am to 7pm, Saturday, November 7^th from 10am - 7pm and Sunday, November 8^th from 11am to 5pm, Market Hall in Dallas will be filled wall to wall and ceiling to floor with samples and merchandise priced at wholesale prices or less!  We’re talking gifts, apparel, jewelry, toys, children’s clothing, home accessories, furniture and manufacturer samples all at unbelievably low prices. 

Admission is free, and this event is open to the public, so wear your comfortable shoes.  This is the madhouse sale that turns even the kindest individual into a bargain hunting…well… you know what I mean! 

Plus, as if the prices weren’t reason enough to be there, if you bring in one can of non-perishable food (benefiting Resource Center Dallas), you can enter to win a $100 gas card.  Oh and I almost forgot, there will also be free photos with Santa along with other prize drawings. 

Just think, you can get all of your holiday shopping done at a fraction of the cost and your recipients will think you have won the lottery! 

Remember this event only happens once a year, so even if you need to sneak out of work that day, this is worth the risk!

Dallas Market Hall is located at 2200 Stemmons Freeway.  For more information, directions and parking maps, click here, or call 1-800-325-6587, option 4.

This last Sunday, my family and I braved the horrid Dallas Fair Traffic in order to see the matinee performance of the musical Mary Poppins.  I mention the traffic because lately Mother Nature has been in a bit of a snit, causing torrential downpours which inevitably cause massive traffic accidents! Getting to the fair in foul weather was a challenge, and fighting the crowds was even worse!  So after traversing the bumper to bumper cars heading out to the Texas State Fair, I then had to find a parking space in an unmarked alley lot where I worried not only would my car still be there when I returned, but also its contents and license plate would still be intact!  After parking and walking to the fairgrounds with a thousand other people, I was beginning to wonder exactly why I had agreed that this musical was worth seeing.  I still have very fond memories of seeing the movie and although the stage production is a bit different, attending this show was honestly a gift from my mother to my daughter (which meant that we were all going…period…end of story!). 

Of course, I am a huge fan of the theater, especially musicals, so it wasn’t like I had to be dragged there, but as my frustrations were growing stronger as we waded through the rain soaked streets and into the theater. Before entering the building, I was still questioning my decision to come, until I stepped inside and the magic began!

Let me tell you, I am glad I didn’t miss this because…Mary Poppins was truly spectacular!  The music was fantastic and the performers sang every note of it beautifully.   Then there was the dancing!  Simply amazing!   Most musicals have dancers on a stage but this one has one of the main characters dancing on the walls and on the ceiling!  Top that!  Oh, and did I mention that Mary Poppins flew over the entire audience (yep, including up to the balcony!).  This is the show that every family should see. 

If you haven’t secured your tickets to this show, go to http://www.dallassummermusicals.org/ and order them now!   The show runs through October 18^th and there are still seats available. 

As for my daughter’s take on this, she is ready for Mary Poppins to drop by our home anytime to teach her how to be “practically perfect in every way!” Unfortunately, the “Mary Poppins” umbrella I bought her will have to do!

Just recently, former Oklahoma Redhawks pitcher Steve Rowe was outside throwing the baseball back and forth with his 5 year-old son Trey, when his son accidently sent one soaring a bit outside the strike zone.  Actually…it was more than just a bit outside the zone. It was WAY outside the strike zone. And instead of the ball falling gracefully and harmlessly to the ground like most wayward balls do. This one shot like a rocket right through the rear window of Steve’s wife’s car! 

Top L-R Steve, Monica, Bottom L - R Audrey, Trey

As the story goes, it was little Trey who stepped to the plate and informed his mom about  her new vented back window complete with lovely crackled glass and a baseball sized air hole. And lucky for Trey, and more so for Steve…mom wasn’t that upset over the matter.  She was however; inconvenienced for quite a while due to the insurance investigation and lengthy repair process.

The moral of the story is…if your kids break something while displaying a talent that could someday put them through college….that is ok. If they break something acting silly, goofing around or because they were not paying attention…that’s a different story!

I’m sure there are going to be people who read this and automatically say, “Well  that Larre must be a racist.” So let me start off by saying…I am not! I can honestly and whole heartedly say that I have the ability to disagree with someone based solely on their belief in something without allowing the color of their skin to influence my decision.  I am writing about this subject because of the multiple accusations of racism pointed at people who don’t agree with our country’s president. 

After U.S. Rep. Joe Wilson made his now famous “You Lie” remark during President Obama’s health care speech, there have been several statements referring to his outburst as a racial remark.  Personally, I was appalled by his remark because it was rude and uncalled for. However, I NEVER thought in any way that it was racially motivated. He was obviously passionately expressing his distrust of the president’s statement about illegal immigrants having access to health care.  His comment was not racist; it was just stupid and uncalled for.  I believe there is a certain decorum and respect that is given to someone speaking, especially when that person holds the office of President of the United States.  At the very least, the office of president deserves the respect of the congress and the attention of the people, whether or not we agree with what is being said.   I believe there is a time and place for everything and that during a presidential address; such an outburst was neither the time nor the place.   But again, although I believe Rep. Wilson’s remark may have been a very poor reflection on him, I still don’t believe it was racially motivated. 

In a Washington Post article U.S. Rep. David Scott (D-Ga.), is quoted as stating almost the same thing but clearly felt it was important to make sure he got a race remark in as well.

“I think he was caught up in a moment. The issue is: Would he have done that if the president were white?” Scott said, adding that few Republicans opposed the “level of rhetoric” against Obama in August. “We’ve got to realize racism is playing a role here. I’m hopeful that this will be a wake-up call for us to get it off the table.”

Sadly, this kind of short-sighted statement is what I am talking about.  I don’t believe it was necessary for Rep. Scott to add the racism remark after he previously stated he thought Rep. Wilson just got “caught up in the moment.”  To suggest that Rep. Wilson would have never interrupted a “white” president is simply irresponsible!

So let’s answer Rep. Scott’s question, “Would he have done that if the president were white?”   In my opinion, the answer is yes!  Given the same circumstances, the same statements by a sitting president during a hotly contested issues, I believe Rep. Wilson would have probably yelled out “you lie,” to any democratic president, white, black, Asian, Hispanic or American Indian! 

Our country’s history is flooded with situations where horrific and cruel statements were fired at past presidents during highly contentious times.  During the U.S. involvement in the Vietnam War, one of the common chants was “Hey, hey LBJ, how many kids have you killed today?”   Actually, this chant was later updated with President George W. Bush’s name and reused during the Iraq War.  Were either of these remarks raciest? No! And to set the record straight…almost all races used this chant against the president!

And….just this week, during the MTV Video Music Awards, rapper Kanye West caused a huge media frenzy when he jumped on stage during Taylor Swift’s acceptance speech for being honored with the Best Female Video Award to announce that he thought another artist, (Beyonce…an African American female) should have won the award.  Was that racially motivated?  Some could argue that it was! How could a young talented white woman win such an award when Beyonce is so talented and was obviously passed over?  Some could have turned the situation into a race issue.  Was this an issue of reverse discrimination? My thought….no…Kanye was just acting stupid! And let’s all remember, Kanye is the rapper that called President Bush a raciest after Hurricane Katrina! 

So let’s recap….

Was Rep. Wilson’s statement racially motivated? 

Was Kanye West’s statement at the VMA awards racially motivated?

The answer to both questions is….NO! They were just stupid statements made during passionate moments…and both should be ashamed by their actions.

Do I agree with all of our current presidents’ policies?  No-not even close…but that has nothing to do with his color. I just don’t like those policies.   I can also say, I didn’t agree with all of President George W. Bush’s policies either.  Does that make me a racist?  No, it just makes me an American exercising his freedom to disagree, as well as, one who knows not to do it during a televised presidential speech, or a televised awards ceremony!

So I know there was the opening game at the new Cowboys Stadium on television Sunday night (with a victory killing field goal and all), BUT… if you weren’t caught up in that, there was also the 61^st Annual Primetime Emmy award show and this year I have to admit, the show was outstanding!  Yah, yah, I know what you’re thinking…another awards show (cue the yawn…and wake me up when the news is on) Well…if we were talking about the Emmy’s of years past I would agree…but not this year!  This year, with Neil Patrick Harris as host, the Emmy’s can now boast definitively that they are back and better than ever before! 

Anyone who tuned in from the beginning of the show was immediately treated to the terrific opening number, Put Down the Remote performed by Mr. Harris.  This song and dance routine poked fun at subjects ranging from the broadcast industry and their lack of ratings to Paula Abdul being gone from American Idol. It even pointed out how cute Mad Men’s Jon Hamm really is. 

According to zap2it.com (a product of Tribune Media Services that publishes ratings numbers for televised shows) although the NFL won the night with 18.5 million viewers, the Emmy’s showed their best numbers in three years with 13.3 million viewers! 

Mr. Harris has made watching the Emmy’s beyond the red carpet, worth watching again!

And if you were one of the 18.5 million viewers watching the Cowboys lose to the Giants, you still have a chance to view the opening number,  Put Down the Remote. Just click on the link below: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nTdYsFUSdnM

Now….let’s see if the Oscar’s can beat that!

Do you want to help your fellow person?  Do you want to help make a difference in this world?  Do you want to use what you have to help cure horrific disabilities?  If your answer is yes to any of these questions, then you need liposuction!

By the way, this statement has absolutely nothing to do with appearance or any type of weight related health issues.  We’re talking stem cells baby! 

According to the new study from Stanford’s School of Medicine, posted Monday, September 7^th on the Stanford School of Medicine website, all that fat that is being sucked out of people’s bodies through lipo apparently contain versatile cells that are even easier to convert to pluripotent stem cells, or ISP cells, than skin cells.  These “pluripotent” cells are easier to be reprogrammed because “they are more embryonic-like” said Dr. Ning Sun, PhD, who conducted the research.

Just think of the possibilities!  You could have fundraisers where people just show up, lay on the examination table and donate their fat! Trained and certified doctors could donate their time for the extraction, and you would benefit from your donation in two ways! You would be helping someone else out, while gaining a new you in the process! You could call it Lypo for Life! 

Now you have no excuse not to order that double fudge dessert or decide to “super size it.” You may go ahead with your decision “guilt free” because in the end, you may save a life!

I can just hear the non-profit chairpersons now…scrambling to be the first to host this new and exclusive event! Just remember….don’t forget to invite your friends at E Social World to join you!