WichiTalk

This morning, a reader responded to my story about cell phone plans with this query:

"We
recently upgraded our cell phones and now have two cell phones we don’t use.  I
understand that they can be donated, and used for women who are in dire
circumstances.  How do we donate our phones and do we have to do anything to
them first?"

For those of you in the same boat, I did some research in our archives. I discovered two local
charities that put cell phone donations on their wish lists for the 2005 holiday
season. There’s also a national recycling program, Shelter Alliance, that accepts
phones and redistributes them to those in need. You don’t have to clear the
phone’s memory if you send it to Shelter Alliance, but you’ll need to check with
the local charities to find out their policies. Here’s their contact
info:

— Catholic Charities Harbor House, 437 N. Topeka, 264-8344,
offers a haven to women and their children who are victims of domestic abuse.

— Butler County Retired Senior Volunteer Program,
510 E. Augusta St. Augusta, 775-0500, provides volunteer work for those 55 and
older.

I’m also working on an article about children and cell phones. If you know of family with a 5-12 year old who recently got a phone of their own and would be willing to share their story, please e-mail me.

– Posted by Jillian Cohan

Sunday is the big football game — and the big commercial day.

Advertisers are expected to spend more than $1 billion to make you laugh and tell all your friends for days to come, "Did you see that commercial? It was hilarious." (Not to mention that they’d like you to buy their product, too … )

Do you watch the game for the game or for the commercials? What’s your favorite Super Bowl commercial yet?

Posted by Lori O’Toole Buselt

At dinner tonight, my friends remembered aloud what they had been doing 20 years ago when seven astronauts died in the Challenger shuttle explosion. One watched the terrible accident live on TV. I was a student in class at that moment. But when my teacher, who had stepped out of the classroom to watch it, returned crying, we all knew something dreadful had happened. Do you remember that day? It still breaks my heart.

Posted by Lori O’Toole Buselt

   Oprah Winfrey surprised many viewers — along with embattled author James Frey — when she announced today on her TV show that she regretted defending Frey against allegations that he made up parts of his best-selling memoir, "A Million Little Pieces."  According to an AP story, Frey — who was a special guest on Oprah’s show today — looked stunned when she told him she felt duped by him. She also said she regretted going on the "Larry King Show" a couple of weeks ago to defend Frey.  Winfrey helped the book reach 3.5 million in sales by choosing it for her book club last September.
   Did you watch Oprah’s show today? 
   What did you think of her comments? Are you more or less likely to trust future book recommendations from her? Click on the ‘comment’ button below and let us know how you feel about the whole matter.
  –Posted by Lori Linenberger

I don’t always agree with the lists that entertainment journalists are apt to manufacture to get discussions going. Although I always read them. And I always discuss them.

Finally, though, I’ve come across one that’s almost entirely accurate. The AP moved a story today about In Touch Weekly’s new list of hottest hunks on television.

Coming in at No. 1… Josh Holloway, the brooding bad boy who so hunkily plays Sawyer on "Lost." He even beat out his supposedly hunkier co-star, Matthew Fox.

Other right-on actors making the list — Patrick Dempsey of "Grey’s Anatomy" and Tom Welling of "Smallville."

I can think of a few more I’d have nominated, including "Love Monkey’s" Tom Cavanaugh.

Who’d make your top 10 list?

– Posted by Denise Neil