Clay's Valentine's Day Greeting

Clay posted an audio Valentine's Day message to his fans today. The exclusive clip can be accessed via the fanclub's media page by all fanclub members.

For those of you who are not fanclub members, you're not missing all that much since Clay only talked for a few seconds. He asked us to "tell everyone you care about you love them" on the "official day to remember and celebrate love" and reminded us to "enjoy the sweets and flowers!" Awww... isn't he sweet?

As an added bonus, don't forget you'll be able to celebrate Valentine's Day with Clay when he appears on Jimmy Kimmel Live.

Details Announced For Clay's Appearance on FOX Morning Show

THURSDAY FEBRUARY 22...

... has been announced as the official date for Clay's upcoming co-hosting appearance on FOX's new morning show, The Morning Show with Mike and Juliet. CDD first reported the story when it first broke on Thursday night.

Here's the official announcement from the official fanclub:

Clay will co-host The Morning Show with Mike and Juliet on Thursday, February 22nd!

It’s 9:00 a.m. – put those hands to good use and turn your television to FOX on February 22, when multi-platinum recording artist Clay Aiken co-hosts with TV’s favorite cut-ups on “The Morning Show with Mike and Juliet.” Hosts Mike Jerrick and Juliet Huddy – called a “marvelous city duo” that “deserves a warm, warm welcome” by The New York Times – lend their dynamic personalities to discussions concerning hot topics in pop culture; family-focused subjects, such as women’s health, fashion, parenting and relationships; and general entertainment.

The Morning Show with Mike and Juliet airs at 9 a.m. in most markets. Not sure where you can catch The Morning Show with Mike and Juliet? Click here to find out. More details to come...

Jimmy Kimmel Mentions Clay's Valentine Show Tradition

COUNTDOWN TO KIMMEL: 4 DAYS

As if we didn't love Jimmy Kimmel enough already, he has gone and endeared himself even more to us.

Gerwhisp from The Clayboard tells us that on a recent show (when Jimmy was saying who would be on upcoming shows), he "announced that Clay would be on on Valentines, Valentines day is Clay Aiken day, said it is a Valentine's tradition."

You can go to Sendspace and download the video of Jimmy saying this.

And now we continue our countdown to the Valentines Day show. Only 4 more days to go to see the best clack of the year so far!

Tidbits 2/10

The CB's Ztilb posted this "angelic" photo taken at last year's Red Bank concert.... *thud*....

• Appleton Post Crescent - celebrities' personal life are none of your business!

  First, I don't quite understand why that should matter to anyone. Do they think it will somehow advance acceptance because it would involve someone from the ultimate macho arena? That's a pleasant thought, but we all know this would become a national circus because of this country's preoccupation with sex and scandal — see Lisa Nowak, Clay Aiken, Paris Hilton, etc.
  

• Nothing here yet.
  

Tidbits 2/9

People Magazine has a 'new' featured titled "Becoming...". They use a 2003 TV Guide shot for Clay. It reads:

CLOSE-UP

"I hate photo shoots," says Aiken (in 2003). "Photographers will take a Polaroid first and ask what I think, and I'm like, 'Get it away from me!' I get all self-conscious and stop smiling." Why so embarrassed? "I know that I've got big ears and a big forehead and that my hair sticks up," he says, "but I'm happy with myself."

• Although this is not new, make sure you check out Jimmy Kimmel Live's ticketing website where you can find some great shots from Clay's September 2006 appearance on Jimmy's show. Don't forget we're only 5 days away from Clay's reunion with Jimmy on February 14.
  
• Adrants - cute mention of Clay's Krispy Kreme addiction...

  Krispy Kreme is selling heart shaped donuts until Feb. 14. For each dozen purchased, people get 12 cards with a free donut coupon to give to friends. The chain is also sending box loads to celebrities during Fashion Week and to Clay Aiken for his appearance on Jimmy Kimmel next week.

• The Wave Magazine - America has a "soft spot" for Clay...

  So what happens when a contestant wins the coveted title of American Idol, and months later is outshined by his or her runners-up? Are we just bad voters, or is there more to it? I asked Mix listeners to choose one runner-up they felt deserved to win the competition. The choices? Justin Guarini (season one), Clay Aiken (season two), Diana DeGarmo (season three), Bo Bice (season four), and Katharine McPhee (season five). Call him what you want, it’s clear people secretly have a soft spot for Clay Aiken, who won over 50 percent of the votes.

• Nothing here yet!
  

Clay Featured @ AOL Music AI Feature

Clay is featured in a new AOL American Idol featured called "Before They Were Stars". Clay is picture #4.

Clay Aiken
Before the Show: Aiken studied special education at the University of North Carolina at Charlotte. He took a part-time job tutoring a boy with autism, and it was the child's mom who urged Aiken to audition.

Clay To Co-Host FOX News' Morning Show with Mike and Juliet

The official fanclub says Clay will co-host FOX News' new morning show, The Morning Show with Mike and Juliet (dare I say it?) "soon". This show can be seen every morning on most FOX affiliates. To check where and when you can catch the show, visit the show's website.

No date has been set yet as you can see from this short blurb posted at the fanclub:

02/08/07 : Breaking News: Clay Aiken to Host Morning Show
By Team Clay

Word is out that Clay will co-host The Morning Show with Mike and Juliet in the near future.

More details to come

Lycos Launches New Service Called Lycos Mix

I got an interesting email from Lycos not long ago. I had written Lycos 50 with a question a while back. I guess since they had my name, they sent this information to me about a new service called Lycos Mix. So I went to check it out.

Here is what Lycos had to say in my email about Lycos Mix:

Just wanted to let you and the other Clay Aiken fans out there know that today, Lycos launched a new service called Lycos Mix. It's a very fun video tool that lets users gather their favorite video clips from across the web and put them together in one MIX or playlist. Others can then add video content to the Mix, as well as comments and chat and interact around the Mix.

There is already a Clay Aiken MIX on the site located at:
http://mix.lycos.com/mix/for-all-the-claymates

Enjoy!

Kathy O'Reilly
Director - Public Relations
LYCOS, Inc.
100 Fifth Avenue
Waltham, MA 02451
phone: 781-370-2853
Kathy.O'Reilly@lycos-inc.com
______________________________
What are the hottest web search trends? Check out The Lycos 50 at
http://50.lycos.com

I've already joined and added a video to the "For All The Claymates Mix". The last I looked there were 8 videos, and I'm sure many more will be added.

Save this site to your favorites, go check it out, and add some awesome videos of Clay. This sounds like a great place!

Breaking News From OFC - Clay To Co-Host Morning Show

The public home page of the Official Fan Club has some breaking news for us as follows:

02/08/07 : Breaking News: Clay Aiken to Host Morning Show
By Team Clay

Word is out that Clay will co-host The Morning Show with Mike and Juliet in the near future.

More details to come...

The show began back in January. You can go to the "show page" of their website to read more about what the show is about.

Stay tuned for more news about this upcoming appearance by Clay!

Tidbits 2/8

The Raleigh News & Observer has found a cool website called MapMuse.com that allows you to "map" American Idol contestants... "Type in "Raleigh, N.C." and a map appears with Clay Aiken's name." ... check it out here.

• Blender Magazine has a list of the "hottest women (and men) of American Idol"... Clay comes in at #3 on the list after Kelly Clarkson and Katharine McPhee.
• Clay Aiken The Ideal Idol - best Clay Aiken hairstyle? You vote!
  
• Zap2it.tv - poor first week numbers for AI5 runner-up Katharine McPhee... "That's not even getting into the 613,000 in first week sales for Clay Aiken's 2003 debut 'Measure of a Man.'"
• Variety Music - another Katharine McPhee article...

  Among the five "Idol" second-place finishers, McPhee is squarely in the middle of first week sales: Clay Aiken's "Measure of a Man" (613,000 sold) and Bo Bice's "The Real Thing" (227,000) have opened ahead of her; Justin Guarini's self-titled album (57,000) and Diana DeGarmo's "Blue Skies" (47,000) sold fewer copies.

• Rolling Stone - Katharine McPhee CD review...

  If American Idol were a right-wing agenda, cornballs like Clay Aiken and Taylor Hicks would be Bush and Cheney, and Katharine McPhee would be an affable centrist: a little more square than you'd like, but not hopeless.
  

• Yahoo press release for the Yahoo/UNICEF UpClose promotion Clay participated in last week...

  Clay Aiken kicked off the campaign on January 30th with the question: “What can we do to get more Americans committed to supporting programs that help children?”, which received close to 6,000 answers from the Yahoo! Answers community.
  
  “We all need to work together to help the world’s children survive,” said UNICEF Ambassador Clay Aiken. “Online communities such as Yahoo! Answers give us a powerful forum to talk about the challenges UNICEF faces and discuss new solutions for saving kids’ lives.”

• Trans World News - AI6 article...

  While American Idol has obviously made big names for artists like Kelly Clarkson, Carrie Underwood, Clay Aiken, Ruben Studdard, Fantasia Barrino and Taylor Hicks it is often the train-wreck auditions that bring out the biggest audiences. As the "Idol" sensation has taken hold of the U.S. it has also become a staple in several other countries.

• Channel One - just what is American Idol?? "Clay Aiken called it “boot camp” for the entertainment world."
• Denton Record Chronicle - runner-ups sometimes 'win' on AI --

  But losers have had their cake, too: Jennifer Hudson, who lost in the third season, was recently nominated for an Oscar for her role in Dreamgirls. Several others used the exposure to garner record deals with some releasing best-selling albums, including second season runner-up Clay Aiken and the fifth season’s Chris Daughtry.

• Des Moines Register - AI article...

  You can spin off a Kelly Clarkson, a Clay Aiken, a Carrie Underwood and have them find their own particular pop niche with whatever backing musicians suit them for the occasion. Or you can have a finalist like Chris Daughtry return to his band and pull them up with him.
  

• Daily Targum - negative Clay mention, AI article... "So remember what show was responsible for subjecting us to Clay Aiken and the countless butchering of American pop classics."
  
• Seacoast Online/Portsmouth Herald - article about a talent/singing contest...

  Contestants covered songs by artists like Bonnie Raitt and Candlebox, and American Idols Clay Aiken and Carrie Underwood. S Students gathered on the mezzanine to take in the two-hour show.

• Richmond Times Dispatch - music and the Super Bowl... how about an American Idol for Super Bowl 2008???

  They're easy to malign, but I would argue that among Kelly Clarkson, Ruben Studdard, Clay Aiken, Fantasia, Underwood, Taylor Hicks and Katharine McPhee, there are a lot of demographics and musical styles being hit and obviously, people watch the show.
  

• Roanoke Times - photo caption contest winner... a photo of two women staring at a very ugly cake... "Those idiots at the bakery sent the Ryan Seacrest/Clay Aiken cake topper!"
• Cinematic Happenings - random Clay/Kelly Clarkson mention in this gaming article.
• Newsday - article about some comic cracking weird Clay jokes... I don't even get it! "I was on the Clay Aiken diet. That's where you pop in a Clay Aiken CD and try to keep food down."

• There Was A Man on Clay's GMA visit last week... some nice photos and a YouTube video cap.
  

Scrapping 4 Inclusion Fundraiser for BAF Taking Place Across The Country

Just recently, The Bubel Aiken Foundation has added a page to its website that lists all of its approved fundraisers. One of those fundraisers is called "Scrapping 4 Inclusion", and you can read all the details about this at the BAF "Scrapping For Inclusion" page.

Meanwhile, in Newswire Today, an article from Calgary, Alberta, Canada explains just what Scrapping 4 Inclusion is:

Scrapping 4 Inclusion is an awareness and fundraising campaign where Volunteers across the USA will organize a Scrapbooking Crop in their community. This Nationwide initiative has already begun. Currently 22 US cities have Organizers in place who are actively planning their event. “We are looking for those who are involved in a scrapbooking business, those who love scrapbooking as well as anyone who is interested in simply lending a hand”....A Scrapbooking ‘Crop’ is an event where members of the community will have the opportunity to spend the day working on their photo albums, sharing new ideas and making new friends while preserving their own precious family memories.

The founder of Scrapping For Inclusion, Laurie Weishar, loves scrapbooking and knew it was one of the fastest growing hobbies in North America. She knew it would be a great way to make a difference in children's lives through scrapbooking and volunteers. That's how Scrapping 4 Inclusion began.

If you are interested in finding out more about Scrapping 4 Inclusion, go to The Bubel Aiken Foundation's Scrapping For Inclusion page. You can find plenty to do to help out in this new fundraiser.

Clontinental? ATDW Featured Onboard Continental Airlines Flights

The CB's pearlgjr was flying home yesterday aboard a Continental Airlines Boeing 757. To her surprise, ATDW was featured on Continental's on-board entertainment system!

I was flying back to NJ from Tampa last night and the plane was a 757, outfitted like the ones used to fly to Europe....big cushy seats that recline and the legs kick out, individual video monitors...well, you get the idea.

My seat mate had his video monitor up and I asked him what was playing...he said there's like 22 movies...so I moved mine up and checked out the movies, which were great, then checked out the short films, ...and then

I checked out the music options on the personal video screen.

First screen up when I clicked on music, was the cd cover for ATDW....whoo hoo!!!

I was so tha-rilled to see 'our' man in the library as one of the primo choices...

There were about 20-25 choices for music in all, but ATDW was right at the top of the pack..

Lancaster, PA Radio Station to Play ATD Tonight

If you've just been itching to hear Clay's new single "A Thousand Days" on radio, here's your chance! 101 The Rose WZOZ-FM in Lancaster, PA played ATD two times today - once in the morning and once a few minutes ago. Due to the overwhelming response from the Clay nation, the music director at WZOZ has informed the CB's WizofOzfan that they will play ATD again tonight at 6 PM EST.

I heard from Michael C. Anthony, the Music Director for WROZ. He said Patsy, the afternoon DJ yesterday, emailed him AT HOME to tell him that they got around 30 emails about A Thousand Days yesterday!!!!! Michael is THRILLED, and told me that he will try to respond to everyone when he can. Thanks to all who streamed and/or emailed yesterday!

He played ATD during the noon hour today and announced that it was the most requested song of the day! WROZ has a very good-sized audience here in PA, but even more streaming online (thanks to you all!)

WROZ will play ATD again today (Wednesday) during the 6 pm hour (EST), so let's do it again everyone!!!! I would love to hear Patsy say something FANTASTIC about Clay when she announces his song after 6pm!

Tidbits 2/7

The CB's Khrystah posted this stunning graphic/wallpaper by an unknown designer. If you made this beautiful creation, header on over to the CB to reveal yourself! You can also leave a comment on this post and I will credit you here and let Khrystah know.

Update: designer found... we've been informed that Katt45 is the designer of this beautiful masterpiece!

• Clayton Claniac at The Clayboard - "It was announced on WRAL-TV this morning that Lynda Loveland (Clay's favorite news anchor - and interviewer!) just gave birth to a baby girl! Congratulations, Linda!"
• Idol Star TV: Give Clay some votes in this poll -- "Who's Your Favorite All-Time American Idol Contestant?"
  
• WRAL.com - Lynda Loveland's blog at WRAL.com says, "Most Memorable Assignments: Definitely, Clay Aiken. I interviewed him before he went to Los Angeles to compete on "American Idol." I've followed him the whole way, even going to L.A. during the show's finals. It's amazing how far he's come!"
• Late Night TV Page lists Clay's Feb. 14 Jimmy Kimmel appearance. -- "We 2/14: Clay Aiken, Gabrielle Union, Madeleine Peyroux"
• Los Angeles Times, The Envelope - will Carrie Underwood win the Grammy for "Best New Artist"? Some industry experts think so...

  No "Idol" stars have ever been nominated for this award, not even notables Kelly Clarkson, Clay Aiken and Ruben Studdard. Clarkson has been embraced by Grammy voters since -- indeed, she won Grammys last year for best pop album ("Breakaway") and female pop vocal performance ("Since U Been Gone") -- but it took a while for her to get the mainstream pop music industry to recognize her as a serious artist.
  

• Blogcritics - AI6 recap...

  Ashlyn Carr made it into the American Idol history books with her audition. A very pretty, fresh faced girl, Ashlyn has a very unique voice. However, like Clay Aiken used to do before he corrected it, Ashlyn makes awful faces when she sings, scrunching her nose and looking like she's angry.

• Variety - Katharine McPhee sees lukewarm first week CD sales...

  Among the five second-place finishers, McPhee is squarely in the middle of first week sales: Clay Aiken's "Measure of a Man" (613,000 sold) and Bo Bice's "The Real Thing" (227,000) have opened ahead of her; Justin Guarini's self-titled album (57,000) and Diana DeGarmo's "Blue Skies" (47,000) sold fewer.
  

• Southern Illinois University Daily Egyptian - (negative) mention in Katharine McPhee CD review.

• Nothing here today.
  

Mikayla's Parents Thank Clayboard

The parents of Mikayla Resh have thanked the Clayboard for their efforts in getting their Bubel Aiken Foundation book "Our Friend Mikayla" into libraries across the country. The book was published by the BAF last year to show kids that inclusion and acceptance "is cool".

Here's what Mikayla's mom, Kimberly sent by e-mail to the CB's claynov30:

It is most appropriate that Mikayla’s story is part of a Valentine’s project, because she is such a sweetheart! Her friends’ love and affection for her is evident through their words and illustrations in “Our Friend Mikayla.” They have embraced our sweet little Valentine and her inclusion in their school and community. Our greatest hope is that their book teaches others to do the same.

Our heartfelt thanks for helping to get this story into the hands of children everywhere! “Our Friend Mikayla” can only make a difference if it is shared with others. Please continue to promote Mikayla’s book and it’s donation to elementary schools and libraries until all children with disabilities are welcomed into their schools and communities. “Our Friend Mikayla” demonstrates how Inclusion is a most positive experience for all, and makes the world a better place."

Thanks again, and Happy Valentine’s Day!

Love, Michael, Kimberly, Mikayla and Lauren

The book can now be purchased from BubelAiken.org.

Insider Viewers Say Clay Should Perform @ Super Bowl 2008

You responded to our call for help last night as The Insider announced the winner to last night's Insider poll which asked "who should perform at Super Bowl 2008"? The Insider showed jax5230's answer.

Well done everyone!

Don't forget- if The Insider hasn't aired yet in your area, be sure to tune in tonight to see this on TV!

UNICEF Snowflake Lighting Videos Up @ UNICEF Website

Albeit later... as promised to us, UNICEF has put up a clip of Clay lighting the UNICEF Snowflake in New York City this past November. Although you will undoubtably have seen most of the footage courtesy our wonderful clack gatherers, give this video a few hits please!

- Watch the clip at UNICEFUSA.org

Tidbits 2/6

The editors of popular photo sharing website WebShots have included a Clay photo from greeneyedrobin in their editor's choice gallery called "Stars of Reality TV". The photo above is featured on page 2.

• New York Times - very nice mention in a review of Katharine McPhee's new album...

  “American Idol” is reliable, but it’s not predictable: the show’s most successful winners and losers are a diverse bunch. Kelly Clarkson has perfected bubble-gum rock, and Carrie Underwood has established herself as one of America’s favorite country singers. Fantasia Barrino and Ruben Studdard have had some success on the R&B charts, and Jennifer Hudson may get a chance to overtake them both. Taylor Hicks has his soul-man act, and Chris Daughtry is looking more and more like a bona-fide rock star. And need we even mention Clay Aiken? We need not.
  

• Vegas Pop - In an article about Simon Fuller masterminding Michael Jackson's comeback, it says, "In addition, he promotes and manages such 'American Idol' stars as Kelly Clarkson, Ruben Stoddard and Clay Aiken in addition to being the longtime manager of Annie Lennox and the now solo careers of Emma 'Baby Spice' Bunton and Mrs. Beckham."
• The Mercury News - In an article about Chris Daughtry, Clay's success is mentioned:

  The real chance for victory occurs when the alumni try their luck on the record charts. Just ask Ruben Studdard, the Season 2 champ who to this day fights comparisons to runner-up Clay Aiken, who has registered the more successful recording career.

• Verizon PR about some pre-Grammy Clive Davis party they will be carrying to their subscribers... small Clay mention in a footnote about RCA Records.
• Yahoo PR - about the UNICEF UpClose campaign...

  Clay Aiken kicked off the campaign on January 30^th with the question: “What can we do to get more Americans committed to supporting programs that help children?”, which received close to 6,000 answers from the Yahoo! Answers community.

• In related news, Clay's UNICEF page has been updated with info about the UpClose campaign...

  In early 2007, Clay Aiken is participating in UNICEF UpClose, an awareness-building campaign powered by Yahoo! Answers. The UpClose program is a new forum for discussing the challenges facing the world's most vulnerable children. He asked: "UNICEF is working for the survival of children worldwide. What can we do to get more Americans committed to the cause?"
  

• Today's Caregiver Magazine PR - mention of their annual conference... Clay was a keynote speaker at their 2004 conference ... "Prior Fearless Caregiver keynotes have included Clay Aiken, Debbie Reynolds, Della Reese, Leeza Gibbons and the late Robert Urich."
• Houston Chronicle - Kimberley Locke returns with new single, CD. "The season-three Idol alum, who finished just behind Ruben Studdard and Clay Aiken, is making bigger waves than her former finalists. And for all the right reasons, I might add."
  
• Foxes on Idol - near record ratings for AI -

  The reason all this is even possible is because American Idol is posting staggering ratings numbers. The premiere of season 6 came within a hair of matching the Ruben/Clay finale of season 2! Fox executives are still lighting stogies over their good fortune. For fans of the show, this is great news… and not so great.

• Lycos50 - for some unknown reason this week's list isn't loading up on my browser, but I've been told Clay came in at #16 this week.

• Carolina On My Mind - oh, this post is all over the place... everything from Clay's UNICEF campaign to a history of what is being called "Web 2.0"... but that's why we love Carolina's blog so much... check it out today!
  

Tell The Insider That Clay Should Perform at Super Bowl 2008

The Insider wants to know who should perform at Super Bowl 2008 in their daily text-messaging poll. Text in your name, city, state and "Clay Aiken" to 55888. Standard text messaging fees apply to a fee of $0.49.

ATDW Featured at Amazon.com Valentine's Day Store

After some Claymates spotted Clay not being listed on Amazon.com's Valentine's Day store, the CB's clayniac2 contacted Amazon.com support. To her and our surprise, Amazon responded quickly by adding Clay to the page!

Here was the email sent to her by Amazon.com customer care:

Dear Ms. B:

Great suggestion! I just added it to the guide:

www.amazon.com/gp/gift-ce...39HQ09Z5UV

You may need to refresh the page to see the new content.

Thanks for your interest in our Valentine's Day feature, and as always, thanks for being an Amazon.com customer.

berkleylovesclay's Answer to Clay's Yahoo/UNICEF Question Chosen As #1

Long time Clay nation 'resident' berkleylovesclay's response to Clay's Yahoo-UNICEF question has been billed the best answer by the readers of Yahoo Answers. Here is berkley's lovely answer in its entirety:

Clay:

Thanks for all you do to raise awareness, change attitudes and change behavior for the benefit of children, here in the United States (through your work with The Bubel/Aiken Foundation, Ronald McDonald House Charities, President’s Committee for People With Intellectual Disabilities, United States Marines Toys for Tots, Read Across America, Disney Teacher Awards) and across the world (with UNICEF and World Children’s Day).

It’s refreshing to see that you kept your promise to make a difference and not just be a “useless celebrity.”

To your question:

I have been involved with civil rights, human rights and women’s rights since my teens and and more recently, with children’s rights.

All of it began with having a lighting bolt moment, with learning about a concern and resolving to do something about it. It was never just a tear-inducing plea: I needed to know the facts and I needed to see why it was important for me to care.

I’ve worked in feature film, television and documentary film and one thing I’ve learned about communicating an issue is that it is better to show than to tell.

A recitation of dry statistics reaches no one. It’s not about survival rates, it is about real children, some in regions where our own families originated.

Make it personal.

Show us the need .

Personalize the issue by showing the children and the conditions they are facing: PSAs, streaming internet content, news broadcasts, TV and theatrical movies, documentary films are all effective ways of informing the public. Reach out to people like me, media professionals, to volunteer our time and effort .

Use your voice. From the Concert for Bangladesh to Live Aid to Farm Aid to the Amnesty International concerts to the Bridge School Benefits, musicians like you have raised their voices for the cause. Some will come just for the music; others will find reason to make a lifelong commitment to change.

Education. both here and abroad. There is no “there,” just one interdependent planet earth, where a drop of compassion can become a river of hope --- or a seed of discontent can yield a very bitter harvest.

Then show us the results.

Many people want and need to know that the money they give yields real results. What happened to that boy who lost his family in the tsunami? Where is the girl who was rescued from the LRA in Uganda? How are the siblings who lost their home in the Pakistan earthquake faring? By providing updates on past emergency campaigns, donors can be reassured that their money is going to affect real change in the lives of children, change that helps them to become self-sufficient adults.

I know that UNICEF gives aid to children in Asia, Europe, Africa and the Americas, in 156 developing countries, regardless of race, religion, or gender --- that is their mandate. I know that there are other organizations that serve children both here and abroad. I think it is up to each individual to decide which organization best fits their desire to give: each serves a valuable purpose, as long as those who run it are scrupulously honest and every single dime possible goes to programs, not overhead. For me, UNICEF has an outstanding record of success.

I’ve given a lot of thought about the complicated scenarios behind some of the pressing problems of child survival. It takes a lot not to get discouraged, resigned to it all or completely cynical, because sometimes the situations seem intractable.

Too often, there is a rush to assign blame. I think a search for reasons is more useful, because only then can solutions be considered.

Blame?

I cannot blame a child for earthquakes, tsunamis, floods, crop failure or drought.

I cannot blame a child for being caught in the tides of war and sectarian violence.

I cannot blame a child for his or her parents’ lack of education, or even for an adult’s foolishness or ineptitude when that is the case.

I cannot blame a child for governmental corruption or political posturing.

I cannot blame a child for being under the long shadow of colonialism and imperialism.

Each and every one of those problems requires a solution that might take a generation or more to solve.

The lives of children can be saved today… for just a few pennies, in many cases.

If I skip one café mocha and blueberry scone a week, I could save $5. In ten weeks, that would be enough for UNICEF to immunize three kids for life against six deadly diseases.

If I give up going to one concert or ballgame, with ticket, parking, snack and souvenir program or t-shirt, I could give $100. With that money, UNICEF can provide 17 families with insecticide-treated bed nets to protect them from malaria, or provide wool blankets for 32 children.

If I give up two outings a year, I can donate the $190 for UNICEF to provide 80 children and two teachers with an emergency school-in-a-box kit — “a ready-made educational solution packed in a lockable metal box, containing equipment such as pencils, erasers, exercise books, writing slates, scissors, carrier bags, marker pens, posters, registers and blackboard equipment.”

If I cut down on my gasoline bill by carpooling or using public transportation, I could save $400 in six months. With that money, UNICEF can inoculate more than 500 children against tetanus.

If I decide to wait another season to replace my old wardrobe, I could give $1000. With that money, UNICEF can provide a pump to supply clean water to a whole village, or large storage tanks for clean water storage.

If I take a less expensive vacation locally rather than a luxury vacation, I could give $3000 or more. UNICEF can provide tents for four families with that money.

Both at home and abroad, I hope all who are able will do something to help advance the changes that can bring about a healthier and more peaceful world.

“He who saves one life, saves the world entire.”

I guess I’ll let the change start with me.

Tidbits 2/5

LBFCA ... celebrating out "hawt humanitarian" in photos and videos <-- wonderful post!

• The CB's Raleighfan was able to convince WRAL-FM in Raleigh to play not one, but two Clay songs during their noon time all-request hour. "A Thousand Days" and "Without You" were played back-to-back, but neither of these songs are on their playlist. What a bummer!
  
• Contra Costa Times / MediaNews wire - AI story...

  Just ask Ruben Studdard, the Season 2 champ who still fights comparisons to runner-up Clay Aiken. It's not how contestants do on the show that matters most. The real victory to be had occurs once the season is over and the singers try their luck on the record charts.

• Toronto Star - questioning whether American Idol is rigged...

  The theory goes something like this: producers pick winners. They then manipulate the outcome, usually by "jamming" the phone lines of unwanted contestants.
  
  Exhibit A, the critics point out, is the Season 2 finale that had Ruben Studdard beat Clay Aiken even though national polling predicted a landslide victory for the latter.

• Nothing here yet.

Now, Who Does This Sound Like To You?

On the day after the Superbowl, my Houston Chronicle is filled to the brim with every kind of article possible about the game, the players, the coaches, the advertisements. You name it. So, I'm trying to read through all the football stuff and I came across an article that quickly caught my eye.

Here are some excerpts from that article. It was a very touching article, so I just had to share some of it with you. Who does it make you think of?

"The Lord doesn't always take you in a straight line,"... "He tests you sometimes."

Through the years, he probably taught us more lessons with the way he handled defeat and tragedy than he ever could at a time like this.

....Those who know him best will tell you otherwise. His humility and dignity will remain intact, his faith unshakable.

...doesn't drink or smoke or curse or scream...Instead of changing, instead of being the person others wanted him to be, (he) became more resolute in being himself.

"I wanted to show you could have Christian principles and do things that way and still be successful."

He commands respect by the way he carries himself...Still, some didn't believe a nice guy could win...Now, he's a champion.

"It was just our (group) fighting together all the way through,"..."and I'm very proud of them."

"The test of a champion is can you continue to fight when things don't go your way."

Actually its about Tony Dungy, coach of the Superbowl Champ Indianapolis Colts. But I loved reading it. Tony Dungy seems like an outstanding man. A winner in spite of adversity. Reading how even though he had his ups and downs, stuck with it and they finally won the championship. He fought to win in many of the same ways that Clay has. Clay's a fighter and has also handled defeat and tragedy in a top notch way. (Tony's tragedy was that his son committed suicide 14 months ago. He almost gave up coaching, but didn't). Clay's humility and dignity have remained intact and his faith unshakable. He has become more resolute in being himself. Reading this article really made me feel good.

Two amazing men.

Two amazing winners.

Article from: Houston Chronicle Online

Unconfirmed Report: Clay At The Super Bowl?

RUMOR ALERT - UNVERIFIED INFORMATION

According to the CB's purplepugs, Mix 106.5 FM in Baltimore says Clay is attending the Super Bowl at Dolphin Stadium in Florida right now. None of this has been confirmed (ie... RUMOR).

On a side note... maybe this is poor NFL player Troy Aikmen... the poor guy have been confused with Clay many times before.

We'll keep you posted.

Awesome Clay Mentions in Feb. 13 Soap Opera Digest

windstar2 at Clayversity has spotted 2 Clay mentions in the February 13 issue of Soap Opera Digest...

Clay is mentioned in the Feb. 13th issue of Soap Opera Digest
on page 55 ... "Digest Names That Tune Sing Along."

Q. I heard Clay Aiken sing a beautiful song to Kayla
and Steve on Days Of Our Lives. Can you tell me the
name and where I can find it?

A. That was "Everything I Have" from his recent CD
"A Thousand Different Ways." It can be purchased
on www.amazon.com

Tidbits 2/4

• Raleigh News & Observer - article about Raleigh's history ... "With the possible exception of singer Clay Aiken, its most famous sons have been former Sens. Jesse Helms and John Edwards. "
• The Spoof (satire) - choosing the next President American Idol style? ... Paula says .. "Being a woman I'm kind of partial to Hilary, sorry Obama but when judging I'll try to be fair and balanced unlike Simon. Simon hates everyone except Clay Aiken but that's another story best left to be told by Simon and Clay."

• Nothing here yet today.