My Living Journals

A Brandon Spikes sex tape has reportedly hit the web, which is precisely the last thing the rookie linebacker of the New England Patriots needs, especially given the league he plays in and the coach he plays for.Spikes' agent has admitted the tape is "embarassing," according to the Boston Herald, and said the incident "certainly doesn’t reflect the kind of person that he is." The video was shot while Spikes was in college, according to the story, and appeared around the web only after a $ 1500 offer to Deadspin.com was turned down.This is bad news for spikes, given the NFL's harsh crackdown on personal conduct. Steelers quarterback Ben Roethlisberger is currently serving a six-game suspension for a crime he ultimately wasn't found guilty of, and Michael Vick missed an entire season following his dog-fighting scandal.The question is how far reaching is the NFL's policy? This video was shot .. more»

AccuWeather.com reports  if Hurricane Earl continues its present course, it will batter the Outer Banks of North Carolina Thursday and Cape Cod Friday night with strong winds, powerful waves and potential flooding problems. While Earl's strength continues to fluctuate upon nearing the U.S. coastal waters, AccuWeather.com meteorologists are concerned sustained winds will reach near hurricane force on the Outer Banks. Much as the Outer Banks will deal with Hurricane Earl Thursday into Thursday night, Cape Cod will be facing the same scenario Friday and Friday night. Waves of up to 20 feet may batter the region, leading to beach erosion and over wash of roads and structures. How nasty the weather conditions get from coastal North Carolina to southeastern Massachusetts will depend on the exact track and strength of Hurricane Earl. A path to the east of these areas would be much less severe .. more»

Image Credit: Scott Boehm/Getty Images; Fabrice Coffrini/Getty Images Football star Troy Polamalu is known for his mane of thick, curly, dark hair, and he’s been a spokesperson for Head & Shoulders shampoo for the last two years. So naturally, it would behoove Procter & Gamble, the makers of Head & Shoulders, to insure their pitchman’s iconic locks, which they announced they did today for $ 1 million with Lloyd’s of London. Polamalu is following in the footsteps of some pretty famous body parts — over the years, Lloyd’s has proudly insured Ugly Betty‘s America Ferrera’s smile, Keith Richards’ fingers, and Marlene Dietrich’s legs. I’m always kind of tickled when I read about said policies — remember the rumors about J. Lo’s booty? — but I guess when you’re talking about stars whose income relies on a particular feature, sparing no expense is probably a good long-term strategy. So tell me: .. more»

ABOUT THE WRITERS GARY BLOCKUS He bought his first album at age 14: Bread's "Baby I'm A Want You." The next day, he bought Black Sabbath's "Paranoid" and Deep Purple's "Machine Head." He's covered everything in the metal/hard rock genre, from Motley Crue to Papa Roach to Ted Nugent and Aerosmith to the softer side like Bon Jovi. JODI DUCKETT As The Morning Call's assistant features editor responsible for entertainment, she spends a lot of time surveying the music landscape and sizing up the Valley's festivals and club scene. She's no expert, but enjoys it all — especially artists who resonated in her younger years, such as Crosby, Stills, Nash, Young, Tracy Chapman, Santana and Joni Mitchell. KEITH GROLLER Our local sports editor strays from his post on Groller's Corner for another of his passions. He's attracted to the sights (Shania, Faith, Carrie, Martina) and sounds (Paisley, Strait, Adkins, .. more»

With Hurricane Earl rumbling through areas where US Navy personnel may be stationed yesterday, the NFAAS Navy Family Accountability and Assessment System, is becoming of use. Navy personnel can update their locations and family members are able to know where they are, and whats going on should a catastrophic event occur. Although most areas where Navy personnel are stationed were not affected in any catastrophic way, it reminds us why the HFAAS is in place and it’s uses. According to the website: Navy Family Accountability and Assessment System (NFAAS) standardizes a method for the Navy to account, manage, and monitor the recovery process for personnel and their families affected and/or scattered by a wide-spread catastrophic event. The NFAAS provides valuable information to all levels of the Navy chain of command, allowing commanders to make strategic decisions which facilitate a return to stability. The NFAA website is great if you .. more»