-Oh Kathy!

CNN's mild mannered Anderson Cooper had his hands full with Kathy Griffin on New Year's Eve.

Kathy shouted out some not so CNN friendly words at a heckler in Times Square, while she was broadcasting with live with Anderson Cooper. Anderson announced they were cutting away to another location when Kathy yelled the remarks, so one wonders if she thought she was off air. Although I don’t think she’ll be thrown back on the D list, I wonder if CNN will have her back next year!

-82-year-old Cloris Leachman was the Grand Marshal of the Rose Parade in CA. You may have watched Cloris on Dancing With the Stars last year. Cloris was the oldest contestant and the raunchiest to dance on the show but a fan favorite. No rocking chair for this senior.

-Sesame Street turns forty! Sesame Street will celebrate its 40th anniversary this year. Seems like only yesterday I was watching Jim Henson's Muppets with my kids. Loved Sesame Street!

-Mutual Funds lost 40% in 2008. The S & P 500 index lost 41% in 2008 while the Dow Jones dropped 34%. How's your 401(K)?

-Two movies I saw over the holidays were Marley & Me starring Owen Wilson and Jennifer Aniston (very funny) and Milk, a true story, starring Sean Penn (very good).

-Madonna had the top selling tour last year, grossing $105.3 million. Celine Dion was next with 94 million; number three was the Eagles with 73.4 million.

-Lil' Wayne's “Tha Carter lll” was 2008's best selling album. Cold Play's “Viva La Vida” came in number 2 while Taylor Swift's “Fearless” was number 3.

-Do you think Caroline Kennedy should replace Senator Hillary Clinton in the Senate? Some say it's presumptuous for her to come out of the blue and expect a Senate appointment. Ms. Kennedy promised to work for several causes, including same-sex marriage and abortion rights. Drop me a line and I'll print your thoughts!

Till next time,

Betty