Andre Agassi says he used crystal meth during playing days
By Chris Chase / Yahoo! SportsNOTE from Ryan: Somehow, this "revelation" doesn't really surprise or shock me. But, I can definitely appreciate Agassi's open honesty. I'm definitely gonna read his biography now.
"Tennis legend Andre Agassi reveals in his forthcoming autobiography 'Open' that he used crystal meth during his playing career, Paul Bogaards, a spokesman for the book's publisher, confirmed to the New York Daily News on Tuesday.
According to the Daily News, the eight-time Grand Slam champion admits using the illicit drug in 1997, the year he married Brooke Shields and went into a career slump that didn't end until 1999.
After pulling out of that slump, Agassi went on to win five Grand Slams and became only the fifth player to complete the career Slam. He has been heavily involved in charity work since retirement, opening his own charter school and championing educational reform throughout the country.
The information was first released this morning on the Twitter account of SI.com media analyst Richard Deitsch, but was subsequently removed:
'FYI: There's an off-the-charts book excerpt from Andre Agassi in the forthcoming SI: He admits to taking crystal meth during his career.'
Both Sports Illustrated and People will run excerpts from the book, which will be released on Nov. 9.
Releasing this admission a week ahead of the book's release is an obvious ploy to generate interest and sell copies, and it's working. Almost all autobiographies are self-serving odes to one's own pursuit of greatness. They're rarely interesting. Agassi's could be different.
He's always been forthcoming with the press about his issues, whether it be his overbearing father, the therapy he underwent while his career was in shambles (the first time) or the true reason he cut his hair. The vulnerable, intense picture on the cover suggests more of the same is inside. (Compare it to the covers of other recent tennis autobiographies that look straight out of a Sears catalog.)
Update: (11:47 p.m. ET) The first excerpts have been released and, wow, are they explosive. Not only does Agassi admit to using crystal meth, but he describes how he evaded drug testers by lying about his useage."
Commuters adjust to Bay Bridge closure
By ContraCostaTimes.com"A crash briefly marred the bridge viewed as the main alternative to the closed-down Bay Bridge early this morning, but otherwise traffic has been relatively calm as motorists gear up for the brunt of the commute.
Crews worked through the night to repair damage caused when three pieces of steel used during an emergency repair over Labor Day weekend fell onto the upper deck of the bridge, hitting a truck and two cars Tuesday evening.
Caltrans did not have an estimate for when the repairs will be completed. There was some good news, however, with the announcement that the materials needed for the repair are now on hand at the repair site east of the new S-curve on the bridge.
'We have all the materials on site,' said Caltrans spokesman Bart Ney. 'But there's no prediction as to when we'll reopen.'
In general terms, Ney said the repairs should take 'days at the longest.'
The Bay Area's roadways were not significantly more crowded in the early morning hours today. A non-injury crash reported about 5:35 a.m. slowed westbound traffic on the San Mateo Bridge but that has since been cleared.
BART is expected to run longer trains beginning at 4 a.m. and as needed throughout the day, Caltrans spokeswoman Lauren Wonder said in a statement. The trains are most packed between 7 and 8 a.m., so commuters are advised to avoid traveling at that time if possible.
The Alameda-Oakland Ferry also plans to run extra service on its ferry routes.
The Golden Gate Bridge, Highway and Transportation District announced that all southbound lanes of the Golden Gate Bridge at the toll plaza will be open by 4 a.m. to accommodate heavy traffic.
Additionally, the district will add a high-capacity ferry departing from Larkspur for San Francisco at 7 a.m.
If necessary, Caltrans will expand to two lanes the interchange from southbound Interstate 880 to westbound Highway 92 to handle the extra traffic load possible on the San Mateo Bridge.
Toll booths at all state-owned bridges and the Golden Gate Bridge are expected to be fully staffed, Wonder said."
MUSIC: Brian McKnight sings "Home"
This is a very nice live version of this ballad. Just too bad that it cutoff at the end.
TRAVEL: Personality Hotels in Union Square, San Francisco
My French friends are staying at the Hotel Metropolis near San Francisco's Union Square—it looks like a very "fun" hotel. I may have to stay there during the Christmas Holiday. Hotel Union Square with its "kids suite" looks fun, too.
Personality Hotels from Personality Hotels on Vimeo.
RECIPE: Chef Jarod Cooks Pad See Ew
I just tried this recipe and it was easy and delicious! Yup, I'm becoming quite the "gourmet." LOL
Lifetime free flights for baby born on plane
By Yahoo! News"A baby boy who made a surprise arrival on board an AirAsia flight this week will be given free flights for life with the budget carrier, as will his mother, the airline said Friday.
AirAsia said 31-year-old passenger Liew Siaw Hsia went into labour on Wednesday's flight from the northern island of Penang to Kuching on Borneo island.
The aircraft made an emergency diversion to the Malaysian capital but the baby arrived just before landing, delivered by a doctor who was on board and who was assisted by the airline's flight attendants.
'The baby was safely delivered when flight AK 6506 was approaching Kuala Lumpur for landing at 2,000 feet,' the airline said in a statement, adding that mother and baby were taken to a nearby hospital following touchdown.
'To celebrate this momentous occasion, we decided to present both mother and child with free flights for life,' said AirAsia's director of operations Moses Devanayagam after visiting them in hospital."
RECIPE: How To Make Pork Siu Mai 2of2
Here's the second part of the demo on how to make pork siu mai dumplings. Yum
RECIPE: How To Make Pork Siu Mai 1of2
Pork Siu Mai is one of my ALL-TIME favorite foods. I'm gonna try this recipe over the weekend.
RECIPE: New Orleans Style French Toast
I really like Sunny Anderson's "Cooking For Real" Show on the Food Network. I'm always looking for something easy to make on the days Maria is working—the foods gotta be fun and tasty for my kids to eat it. ;-)
Touched by Oprah
By Amy & Nancy Harrington, GetBack.com (CLICK to read more)"Oprah Winfrey is the queen of daytime television, a humanitarian, and a star-maker. Whether you're a TV doctor, an author, or a candidate for President, if Oprah gives you her stamp of approval, you're pretty much a guaranteed success. Ask Rachael Ray, Dr. Phil, or even Barack Obama.
Who's the latest lucky so-and-so to stand under the fairy godmother's magic wand? Jenny McCarthy. Will she become a multimedia mogul like Oprah herself? If she learns from the choices made by past recipients of Oprah's affections, she'll do just fine."
RECIPE: How to Make Won Ton Soup & Fried Won Ton
Anyone who knows me KNOWS that won ton is my FAVORITE food (KFC is a close 2nd)! Found this how-to video online and wanted to pass it along to all of you.
