Rockefeller in Rock & Republic

"And who am I? That's one secret I'll never tell. You know you love me. XOXO, Gossip Girl." Gossip Girl

A few of today's headlines:

Pricey Drugs Put Squeeze on Doctors

Obama, McCain Tackle Economy

Mortgage Fears Send Global Shares Down

Twelve Easy Steps to Robbing a Bank

All right, I made the last one up. But, the world seems to be revolving around the money we don't have and an economy we can't fix, so I really don't find it that improbable.

Today in 1839, John D. Rockefeller was born. Fifty years later, in 1889, the inaugural issue of the Wall Street Journal was printed. When it comes to money, these are two important events: Rockefeller had it and Wall Street knows it.

Unfortunately, though, it seems that currently no one knows what to do about the economy and no one has quite as much money as they want. Even the richest are at a loss.

Rockefeller would be disappointed if he were still around, trying to celebrate his 169th birthday.

It seems ironic that in a time when everyone is budgeting a little more than usual, Gossip Girl, a show about the richest New York high schoolers who have it all but still want more, is thriving.

What is truly ironic about it, though, is that Gossip Girl's reviews are sub par, however, people are addicted to the high-priced fashion items. While viewers find the plot to be lacking the style is soaring.

If Rockefeller were alive, struggling to maintain his money, and all the while his four daughters were trying to keep up with Blair Waldorf and Serena van der Woodsen, I think he might be a little frustrated.

I can't imagine he'd understand when his daughters try to explain that although it is only ten inches of fabric for $790, it's Gucci! But, you never know. Maybe Johnny Rockefeller was more of a fashionista than the old black and white photos reveal.

Move to the back of the bus

I have a terrible confession to make.

When I was younger, and my brothers were weaker than me, my neighbor, Sara, and I used to make them wear girl's clothing.

OK. Not just clothing. Hair accessories too.

And they absolutely hated it (my dad also hated it, you can imagine). They would do everything in their four-year-old power to stop it, but we were just that persistent.

The thing is, is that we had dolls and Barbie's. Why, exactly, we had to force my innocent brothers to wear ribbons, I'm not really sure.

I honestly still feel bad about it. That's one of the meaner things an older sister can do to her brothers.

I'd like to tell myself that the reason I was doing it was beyond the playfulness of a child, which is why dolls did not fulfill my needs. Maybe I was trying to break down societal stereotypes and show my brothers that they could be whatever they wanted to be.

Somehow I doubt it.

However, this is somewhat similar to the mission of the Dove Campaign for Real Beauty. While the company has received many complaints and they're striving to remodel the campaign to some extent, I think it's an impressive mission.

It's nice for girls to see that perfection is not commonplace. Whether or not Dove will truly transform the entire media industry is debatable.

But, hey, Rosa Parks probably thought she was taking a small step when she stayed seated, and look at all that she accomplished. You've got to start somewhere.

Have a Coke and a smile

"Joey: I hate Pottery barn too! They kicked me out of there just because I sat on a bed.
Chandler: You took off your pants and climbed under the sheets!" Friends

Yesterday I enjoyed a Coke in Africa, Europe and Asia. I've officially mastered teleporting.

OK. That's a lie. But I did enjoy Coke from all of those continents, I just remained in Atlanta while doing so. Specifically in the World of Coke.

Katie, Emily and I had a fabulous afternoon exploring the vast world that is the Coke museum. We saw a video in 4-D, tasted a variety of flavors of Coke and met a crazy lady wearing way too much denim.
I learned quite a lot about the company, but what I found most interesting is that a bottle of Coke was a mere five cents from 1886-1956. Can you imagine? At school, my friends and I pledge our loyalty to the Circle K because we can purchase a Diet Coke for seventy three cents.

Consider being able to purchase a Diet Coke for 5 cents. I could have almost fifteen of them for the price I pay now (It's probably for the best that I can't, really).

Thinking about the inexpensive price makes me a little nostalgic for the days before our time. I'd like to be able to go back to 1950 and stock up on Diet Coke before returning to the present.

Similarly, it seems that Jennie Garth is itching for earlier days. She and other members of the Beverly Hills 90210 cast, including Tori Spelling, are set to be in a new series this fall, 90210: The Next Generation.

Long ago, when 90210 was still airing new episodes, my siblings and I were not allowed to watch it. It was banned from our household, along with The Simpsons.

To be honest, I've still never seen The Simpsons. However, I did manage to sneak in an episode of 90210 from time to time. While it was highly entertaining and far ahead of its time with the whole So Cal craze (The O.C., Laguna Beach, The Hills...) I'm a little concerned.

Just because the Sex and the City movie was a hit does not mean everyone should come back for round two (all of this recycling!).

Besides, I'm not sure how well the show will be without Luke Perry. An integral part of the drama surrounded bad boy Dylan's love triangle with Brenda and Kelly; it might really lack something.

As excited as I could be about seeing Beverly Hills' finest reunite, I might be more excited about the potential Friends movie. As far as I'm concerned, as long as the original six characters are all present, it could be amazing.

We better be careful, though. If too many shows enjoy silver screen success, it could get out of control. Before we know it, Danny Tanner will be up there kissing the Olsen twins goodnight.

Here's to you, Founding Fathers

I'd like to think that I'm not a superstitious person. I don't knock on wood or run from black cats. I might even open an umbrella indoors from time to time. I definitely don't concern myself with these silly worries.

However, I do maintain one superstition of my own. Under no circumstances will I ever press the "Door Close" button in an elevator. I have this terrible fear that pressing that horrible button is like asking to get stuck.

I would be so mad if I were to press the button and end up trapped for hours. Why couldn't I have waited the extra three seconds? I would have written my own claustrophobic death.

It's kind of like speeding. The one day that you go 12 m.p.h. over the speed limit instead of 8 is the one day you get pulled over, of course.

As you're sitting in your car, waiting 20 minutes for the officer to tally up the points on your license, you are cursing yourself for going 12 over. In the end, you only would have gained an extra four miles per hour, and now you lost a half hour.

If there is one day of the year that cops are ready to ticket for a mere four extra miles per hour, it's the Fourth of July (OK, and New Year's). Yesterday, I even saw a police officer that was so excited for the big day, he was warming up with extra fervor.

He was standing on the corner shooting his radar gun at passing vehicles and his motorcycle was hidden behind a nearby telephone pole. Now that is a sneaky maneuver.

I kind of wonder if police officers have a competition to see who can get more law breakers on big holidays. Unbuckled drivers are one point, tailgaters are two and speeders are three. (Bonus points for broken taillights!)

I think Thomas Jefferson and Benjamin Franklin might be offended if they knew America's birthday was being celebrated by police officers so terribly. The guys worked so hard to get us away from the mean queen and now the cops are being just as power hungry.

They might be too distracted by the invention of the car to notice the police officers, though. All I know is that we wouldn't' be quite so technologically advanced today if Benji hadn't run outside with his kite and key. America might not be here without those guys, either. So, on the fabulous holiday that is the Fourth of July, take a moment to think of our Founding Fathers.

Fly a kite, grill out, and light some sparklers. Here's to you, Ben Franklin.