I’ve been driving under this thing for the last 15 years. I’m sure you recognize it in the pic the original canopy for the Lake Pontchartrain Causeway. It’s been there since opening day back in 1956 I still know some people that were the first to cross the bride. But now the historic canopy along with the original sign was taken down this past weekend while we slept to eliminate traffic snarls as they had to close the northbound entrance for several hours. It was a part of history that had to make way for improvements and flood controls to the south shore side of the bridge. Construction continues on an overpass that will make northbound commuters take an elevated overpass onto the causeway to pass over a new flood wall that will be built to protect the south shore from storm surge. Instead of demolishing the canopy and sign they should put in one of those grassy areas near the bridge and make a shady area to sit.

Say hello to the number dog breed in America.

For 20 straight years the American Kennel Club has ranked the Labrador Retriever as the most popular dog in America.

For the second straight year the German Shepherd ranks second on the list. Last year German Shepherds took the number two spot from the Yorkshire Terrier.

Yorkies who were bumped to third place last year, remain at number three.

2010 Most Popular Dogs in the U.S. by the American Kennel Club.

1. Labrador Retriever
2. German Shepherd
3. Yorkshire Terrier
4. Beagle
5. Golden Retriever
6. Bulldog
7. Boxer
8. Dachshund
9. Poodle
10. Shih Tzu

Sister says singer is OK after falling face-first and hitting his head. Buffett was rushed to a hospital where he had a CAT scan that was normal.

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When I first heard this I thought they were saying don’t do “Pilates”. But duh I get it now. Don’t know if I believe it but it’s interesting and I’m willing to try anything when it comes to losing a few pounds. So the people say using real dinnerware makes you feel like you’ve eaten a full meal and might help you snack less at other times. The study is from some smart people from Cornell that’s say’s people who ate from paper plates with plastic utensils tended to consider their food just a snack.  Though paper plate people took in 116 fewer calories than the “real plate” group did, the scientists said they were more likely to eat another meal later because our food’s environment influences how much we eat. But  the big bonus wuth paper is not washing dishes…right. But then sometimes that’s the only workout I get.

A shipbuilder removes his shirt to show his rock hard abs for Jennifer Lopez on American Idol, but apparently Randy Jackson and Steven Tyler couldn’t resist the opportunity to show theirs. Is the show this desperate for ratings?

37 people who tried out in New Orleans were sent through. I wonder what we will see from the judges at the next audition.

Sorry had to miss the show last night to watch the Hornet’s exciting OT win against Memphis. But my wife seemed to like the revamped “American Idol “show last night. Tonight we get to see the New Orleans auditions.  But the show did lose millions of viewers from last year with the addition of celebrity judges Jennifer Lopez and Steven Tyler. Some 26.1 million Americans tuned in for the 10th season premiere of the singing contest, down 13 percent on last year’s opening show when nearly 30 million watched,  but those numbers still crushed all other programming on Wednesday night. But after weeks of hype and curiosity over what producers called “a new era,” the numbers were disappointing for producers hoping to restoring sparkle to the aging show and reversing a four years ratings slide. Television critics were mostly unimpressed with the new Judges as they weeded out good singers from the thousands of early auditions — without popular judge Simon Cowell. Remember Simon, quit to launch his own talent show on Fox later in 2011. Hope the show without Simon doesn’t get to nice and sweet and happy and zippy, you get the idea. But like I said my wife enjoyed the show alot and I’ll be watching the New Orleans auditions tonight

Can ya believe it…TV without Reeg! And for such a famously excitable guy, Regis Philbin made his big announcement with surprising calm: He’s retiring from his show. Regis delivered the news at the start of Tuesday morning’s “Live With Regis and Kelly,” which he has hosted for more than a quarter-century, most recently with Kelly Ripa. He said he would be stepping down from the show around the end of the summer, though he didn’t specify a departure date. “I don’t want to alarm anybody,” he began, then said, “This will be my last year on the show.” “It’s been a long time, it’s been 28 years. It was the biggest thrill of my life to come back to New York, where I grew up as a kid watching TV in the early days, you know, never even dreaming that I would one day have the ability, or whatever it takes, to get in front of the camera and talk to it.  ”There is a time that everything must come to an end for certain people on camera — especially certain old people!” cracked Philbin, who turns 80 in August. “I wish I could do something to make you change your mind,” said Ripa. “Now waaait a minute,” Philbin said. The show’s distributors, Disney-ABC Domestic Television, said in a statement the “Live” franchise will continue, adding that a new co-host will be named to join Ripa, who marks 10 years with the show next month. But Philbin, referring to his time left on the show, assured viewers, “We’ll have a lot of fun between now and then.” How about doing one of your last shows here in New Orleans?

Did you notice a little more money on your paycheck? You should have a little more to spend because of the payroll tax cut that President Obama signed into law. The 2 percent decrease in the payroll tax should give you a few more bucks every month. The average worker will see take-home pay increase by about $700 a year as a result.

It’s baaaack and how different will it be. Now that Simon is gone, will any of the judges really be brutally honest. I doubt it. New judges Jennifer Lopez and Steven Tyler told reporters that they’re looking forward to using their experience to help guide new artists. The show starts its 10th season next week, with only Randy Jackson left from the original cast of judges. OK so what about Randy and his let’s say fondness for the word “dawg,” Randy promises fans will see “a more assertive dog, a little bit more ‘hair of the dog.” Nigel the executive producer said the new season of “American Idol” will be more about searching for an eventual winner of the show, “rather than stopping people getting there.” When asked about the lack of a major recording star emerging from the last few seasons, the panel said the problem wasn’t in the singers but the records they’ve released. Changes in “Idol” include extending the “Hollywood Week” auditions to cut the semifinalist field to a smaller number, 20, which gives the voting audience fewer singers to choose as finalists, and allowing contestants to perform their own material. The judges will also choose “Wild Card” finalists again, though it hadn’t been determined how many finalists the panel would pick. The first theme will likely be the 1980s and this year no more inviting celebrities to mentor contestants. Get ready for next week but I don’t think Idol is ready for what could be a tough ratings season.