Holy pretty feet! This thing is funny!

Looks like we’re not the only people who are obsessed with Toddlers & Tiaras. Tom Hanks and his “daughter” Sophie (played by young actress Nikki Hahn) deliver a hilarious sendup of the TLC reality trainwreck on Jimmy Kimmel Live.

I like some of these performers and  some I don’t really care for  and of course  some I don’t even know, but here are the new cast members for DWTS!

DWTS Season 12 is Monday March 21st at 7pm!!

Sugar Ray Leonard

Romeo

Ralph Macchio, "The Karate Kid"

Petra Nemcova

Chelsea Kane – "Disney Dream Girl"

Wendy Williams – Talk Show Host

Hines Ward – Superbowl Steeler

Chris Jericho – Wrestler

Kendra Wilkinson

Mike Catherwood – "Loveline" Co-host with Dr. Drew

Kirstie Alley

Anne Hathaway said last night “Really? You’re going to do that to me in front of a billion people?”  The “one billion” statistic is one of those untruths that has become “true” simply because people keep repeating it.

But the worldwide audience for the Oscars isn’t even close to a billion, as a little common sense makes plain. In the United States, 43.5 million people watched the show last year. That’s a lot, but it’s 956.5 million short of a billion. Can the show really pick up that many viewers in countries that most of the films and people being honored are not from, and where the speeches are in a language that most of the population does not speak?

The reasoned guess was that someone must have extrapolated the 43.5 million domestic audience (15% of the US population) to 15% of the global population, which comes in at close enough to a billion.  It’s difficult to see how anyone could have expected that 15% figure to be replicated outside of the US. Moreso, a third of the world’s televisions sit in Chinese hands , and only 1% of those will be tuned in to the red carpet.

Bullying has been a problem for centuries. I certainly was a victim of my share growing up, and, I’m ashamed to say, even occasionally dished out the insults myself. My son was also a victim during middle school.

It’s no secret that bullying can have major consequences, some of which can be tragic. Many teen suicides and highly-publicized school shootings over the years have been linked to youths being pushed over the edge as a result of either being bullied or feeling ostracized by their peers.

Over the past few years, the advent of the Internet, texting, and other forms of technology have created another form of bullying that can be even more destructive: cyberbullying, where humiliating messages and images are sent and forwarded to many people. Unlike face-to-face bullying, victims of cyberbullying suffer widespread public humiliation and don’t have the chance to defend themseelves before the damage is done.

What can be done to stop it? The Texas Child Safety Organization, in collaboration with the Austin Independent School District and the National Day of Cyberbullying Awareness, will hold its first-ever Cyberbullying Prevention and Intervention Conference.

The event will be held Sunday, March 6, 2:30 to 5:30 Pm, at the Anderson High School Performing Arts Auditorium. Parents, students, educators, and others are encouraged to come together in an informative, interactive session to address what is being and can be done to reduce, or even totally eliminate, this growing problem among teens and preteens.

Studies show that as many as one in every three children will be cyberbullied in their teen or preteen years, so organizers of the conference believe this is a timely and potentially life-saving first step in putting a stop to it. State Represenative Mark Strama, an internet and child safety advocate, will moderate the conference.

For more information, contact Natalie Kloss-Biagini at (512) 947-3385, or email her at:
 natalie at texaschildsafety.org

To register for the event, go online to:
 http://www.texaschildsafety.org/

American Idol has its Top 24 for Season 10. And, if you believe Randy Jackson, it’s a group that includes the most talented person ever on Idol (Casey Abrams) and the singer who gave the show’s best performance ever (Jacob Lusk).

Whether you buy that or not, it’s a group that holds a lot of wild cards, both in terms of personalities and musical styles.

Here’s your cast:

WOMEN

1. Naima Adedapo
2. Lauren Alaina
3. Kendra Campbell
4. Ashthon Jones
5. Thia Megia
6. Haley Reinhart
7. Karen Rodriguez
8. Pia Toscano
9. Lauren Turner
10. Tatynisa Wilson
11. Rachel Zevita
12. Julie Zorilla

MEN

1. Casey Abrams
2. Jovany Barreto
3. Jordan Dorsey
4. James Durbin
5. Clint Jun Gamboa
6. Tim Halperin
7. Stefano Langone
8. Brett Loewenstern
9. Jacob Lusk
10. Scotty McCreery
11. Paul McDonald
12. Robbie Rosen

The 12 male semifinalists take the stage for the first time Tuesday, March 1 (8:00-9:30 PM ET/PT), and the 12 female semifinalists sing their hearts out for America and the judges on the following night Wednesday, March 2 (8:00-9:30 PM ET/PT). Then, it’s the moment you’ve been waiting for when this season’s finalists are announced Thursday, March 3 (8:00-10:00 PM ET live/PT tape-delayed) on FOX.

Full voting details will be on AmericanIdol.com shortly. Check back soon for further information.  Including voting online which will start on Tuesday March 1st!

Here is my favorite printable version of the 2011 Oscar Ballot!  I use this one from MovieFone every year!  Click here to get yours! The 83rd Annual Academy Awards are Sunday night at 7pm on ABC!  I am rooting for “The Kings Speech” and the gorgeous Colin Firth!!

I hope "The Kings Speech" wins BIG Sunday night!!

In case you missed it last night here is the J-Lo Meltdown from American Idol last night.

You too can enjoy these tasty meatballs! Check out the recipe below!

I am not a cook, but do love making a few select dishes.  My favorite is meatballs, with Swedish meatballs being my specialty!   I found at that Oprah loves her meatballs too!  Her favorite come at a price, $26 for 3 meatballs at Tratoria Mollie in Montecito California where Oprah lives!

Thank you Mollie for sharing your recipe so we can make them at home.  The secret ingrediant to these yummy meatballs is raisins!!  Yes, raisins!!  I plan on making these very soon, and you can too!!  Enjoy!!

Preheat oven to 375 degrees F

In a large bowl combine sausage, 2 ounces breadcrumbs, 1 egg, 2 ounces Parmesan cheese, 1 tablespoon Italian parsley, crushed red pepper and a pinch of salt and pepper. Mix together briefly to distribute seasonings. Add raisins and mix them in. Shape into 2.5-ounce meatballs and set aside.

Put flour in shallow bowl. In another bowl, beat four eggs. In a third bowl, put 10 ounces of fresh breadcrumbs.

Lightly coat meatballs in flour, dip in egg wash and roll in breadcrumbs coating meatballs evenly.

Using slotted spoon, cook batches of meatballs in deep fryer until golden. Remove from oil and drain on paper-lined plate.

Put olive oil in large frying pan on medium high heat. Add chopped garlic and shallots, cooking until golden. Stir in a pinch of red pepper and add brandy. Put tomato sauce into pan and transfer meatballs, covering them with sauce.

Put pan into preheated oven for 20 minutes, until meatballs are cooked. When finished, take out and garnish with 1 tablespoon Italian parsley, oregano and Parmesan cheese.

Serve alone or with pasta.

Rudy’s Ribfest ’11 Draws NFL and former Longhorn Players

AUSTIN, Texas – All four Austin area Rudy’s “Country Store” and Bar-B-Q restaurants will be hosting the first ever Rudy’s Ribfest on Thursday February 24, 2011 from 6:30 p.m. to 9:00 p.m.

Ribfest is “all-you-can-eat” St. Louis Ribs for only $20 per person benefitting Austin Habitat for Humanity. It will feature appearances by several former Longhorns and current NFL players including Quan Cosby, Justin Blalock, Kasey Studdard, Lamarr Houston and several others.

The NFL players and former Longhorns will serve as “rib-eating coaches” for the four competing high school football teams. Each school will send five offensive linemen to a different Rudy’s location to represent them and participate in the rib-eating competition that will take place from 7:00 p.m. to 7:30 p.m. The high school team with the most ribs eaten will receive the coveted “Golden Rib Trophy.” The four competing high schools are West Lake, Vandergrift, Anderson and Georgetown.

All proceeds for Ribfest will benefit Austin Habitat for Humanity to support them in their mission of eliminating poverty housing through the power of homeownership.

Interview with the colorful Mitch from Rudy’s:  rudys ribs