Why the one million friends challenge I get asked the questions, Why 1 million friends? What will it achieve? on a regular basis so i thought i would try to explain. James and I used to come onto myspace to listen to music and look at the videos just before he was diagnosed and added a few friends. When James was diagnosed and we came to terms with the fact that his cancer and its treatment was going to take over our lives we needed a distraction and the "James and Daddy" page was born. I asked James if he thought we could get one hundred friends and then one thousand and the ten thousand. When we reached ten thousand friends i asked James to set the next target. James said ONE MILLION. We will gain nothing financially from this page but have gained friendship from people around the world and we have shared our story with you all and in return shared your stories. This page has helped us as a family deal with the tough times and share the good times. Now as a father i feel i have to achieve this challenge as i made a vow to James the day after he was born that i would never let him down and i would only make him a promise if i could keep it. So there you have it, the reason for the challenge and why i need you to help me get more friends. We have tried the celebrity route with minor success so all we can do is keep sending out the bulletins and searching out the profiles that have loads of friends and big hearts.

When the Lord created Truck Drivers, he was into his sixth day of overtime when an angel appeared and said, "You're doing a lot of fiddling around on this one."

And the Lord said, "Have you read the spec on this order?"

"A truck driver has to be able to drive 10-12 hours per day, through any type of weather, on any type of road, know the highway traffic laws of 48 states and 10 provinces, he has to be ready and able to unload 40,000 lbs of cargo after driving thru the night and sleep in areas of cities and towns that the police refuse to patrol."

"He has to be able to live in his truck 24 hours a day 7 days a week for weeks on end, offer first aid and motorist assistance to his fellow travelers, meet just in time schedules, and still maintain an even and controlled composure when all around him appear to have gone mad."

"He has to be in top physical condition at all times, running on black coffee and half-eaten meals; he has to have six pairs of hands." The angel shook her head slowly and said, "Six pairs of hands... no way."

It's not the hands that are causing me problems," said the Lord, "it's the three pairs of eyes a driver has to have." "That's on the standard model?" asked the angel. The Lord nodded. " One pair that sees the herd of deer in the thickets 3 miles away" "Another pair here in the side of his head for the blind spots that motorists love to hide in; and another pair of eyes here in front that can look reassuringly at the bleeding victim of a drunk driver that crashed into his bumper at 70 MPH and say, " ' You'll be all right ma'am,' when he knows it isn't so."

"Lord," said the angel, touching his sleeve, "rest and work on this tomorrow." "I can't," said the Lord, "I already have a model that can drive 650 miles without incident and can raise a family of five without ever seeing them, on 30 cents a mile."

The angel circled the model of the truck driver very slowly, "Can it think?" she asked.

"You bet," said the Lord. "It can tell you the elements of every HAZMAT load invented; recite Federal Motor Carrier Regulations rules and regulations in its sleep; deliver, pickup, be a father, offer timely advice to strangers, search for missing children, defend a woman's or children's rights, get 8 hours of good rest on the street and raise a family of Law respecting citizens, without ever going home ... and still it keeps its sense of humor."

"This driver also has phenomenal personal control. He can deal with delivery and pickup areas created from scenes painted in hell, coax a lumper to actually work for his money, comfort an accident victim's family, and then read in the daily paper how truck drivers are nothing more than killers on wheels and have no respect for the rights of others while using the nations highways."

Finally, the angel bent over and ran her finger across the cheek of the driver. "There's a leak," she pronounced. "I told you that you were trying to put too much into this model." "That's not a leak," said the lord, "it's a tear." "What's the tear for?" asked the angel. "It's for bottled-up emotions, for fallen comrades, for commitment to that funny piece of cloth called the flag, for justice, for the family without its father."

"You're a genius," said the angel.

The Lord looked somber. "I didn't put it there."

Quick Bytes: Latest Wind Storm Updates

WLWT.comupdated 6 minutes ago

CINCINNATI - So, here's the basic rundown of what happened Sunday and Monday:

About 928,000 homes and businesses lost power at some point during the wind storm. From Louisville to Columbus, that number is 1.5 million.

At 11 a.m., the number still without power was slightly over 600,000. (This number does not include 12,000 Owen Electric Coop customers)

Duke Energy says it may be a week before all power is restored.

All told, more than 90 percent of the company's customers lost power. This is the biggest outage in Duke Energy history. Check here for updates.

Some Duke Energy crews were en route to the Gulf Coast to assist in Hurricane Ike recovery. The company said it's trying to recall some crews, bring others from elsewhere and hire contractors.

Gov. Ted Strickland has issued a state of emergency for several southwest Ohio counties.

Officials in Fairfield warned residents to conserve and boil water after the power outage reduced the city?s clean water supply.

Officials in Hamilton urged residents to conserve water, and residents in the vicinity the Wasserman Road Elevated Tank are under a boil advisory. This includes the following subdivisions: Sterling Estates, Twinbrook, Cardome Hills, New London Hills and Britton Ridge.

People in Clinton County can get water at the main water plant on Lowes Drive.

People in the Southwest Regional Water district are asked to conserve water and remind people that if you have low or no water pressure, boil the water you get before consuming or cooking it.

Mason-area residents also asked to conserve water.

Same goes for Cincinnati and Hamilton County, especially the northeastern parts of the county.

reminder: Some people who have power now could lose it for a time because power crews sometimes have to take down one part of the grid to repair another part.

A woman in Mt. Healthy was killed when a tree fell on her home. Her name has not been released.

Two more people were killed when their motorcycle was hit by a falling tree in the Hueston Woods State Park. The pair, Stephanie Bobinger and her husband, Tom Bobinger, daughter and son-in-law of Fairfield Fire Chief Don Bennett, were riding as part of the Heroes Ride Bike Run.

The Associated Press said that a fourth person was killed by a falling tree in Ohio County, Ind., but had no further details.

A 10-year-old boy in Louisville was killed by a falling limb as he mowed grass.

Butler County remains under a level 1 emergency until further notice.

Clermont County officials declared a state of emergency on Monday afternoon.

Postal deliveries will be attempted, but officials said downed trees and power lines could temporarily prohibit carriers from making some deliveries. Nearly 60 post office brances remained without power by late Monday afternoon.

Metro says all buses are running, but some will have to make detours due to closed roads.

Rumpke will continue regular trash collection where possible.

Road obstructions may cause some delays in service, and a power outage closed the company's offices on Monday. For updated information about your neighborhood, click here.

Urban Active offered free usage of their shower facilities to anyone whose power or water service was interrupted.

Employees should call their workplace before going to work, as there's a decent chance it won't have power.

Many schools, including Cincinnati public schools, have closed for Tuesday. See the list here.

Lines formed at gas stations that still have power. One caller reported lines of cars outside a Sharonville station at Crescentville and Mosteller roads last night. At 8 a.m., a dozen cars were lined up for the pumps at the same station. Many stations are still closed Monday morning.

A man in Springboro was injured by a falling tree. No further information is available.

Kenton County and the city of Newport are under states of emergency.

Sharonville residents unable to stay in their homes can call 513-563-0252 to get shelter information.

Warren County--Four men hurt while trying to hold roof on Lemon Township mobile home. One seriously hurt.

Fire destroyed Elks Lodge in Cheviot, damaged Captain D's restaurant.

Fire damaged buildings near Findlay Market -- market sustained minor damage.

Fire damaged Grammer's in OTR.

Former News 5 photographer reported boats blown from moorings in Brookville Lake, some sunk.

Dearborn County, Switzerland County under travel emergency.
Jewish Hospital reported several people being hurt while outside checking storm damage.

My words will not do the meaning of today justice, so I will keep it short.

Remember those that lost their lives on this day. Remember those who gave their lives trying to save others. Show your thanks to all of your heros.

Peace!!!!

WLWT.com
updated 36 minutes ago

CINCINNATI - A crash on southbound Interstate 71 closed a section of highway for more than 10 hours, killed one person and led to homicide charges against a truck driver. Officers said that a tractor-trailer was going too fast when it overturned on the southbound I-71 ramp to the Brent Spence Bridge and trapped a sport utility vehicle underneath its trailer just after 8:15 p.m.

The driver of the SUV, Susan Struwe, 57, was transported to University Hospital with minor injuries and released. The rear passenger of the SUV, Rhenda Driver, 52, was flown by Air Care to University Hospital with serious injuries.

The front seat passenger, Rhonda Gandy, 52, was pronounced dead at the scene.

There was no access to northbound or southbound Interstate 75 until almost 7:30 a.m. Thursday.

Emergency crews had a tough time getting to the victims and had to park their trucks under the accident scene and extend ladders up to get to the crash site.

The truck's driver, Chi Chow, 46, was hospitalized for minor injuries. He's been charged with vehicular homicide and vehicular manslaughter.

Chow will be arraigned on Thursday.