Brittany & Robbie Berquist of cellphonesforsoldiers.com visited with us. Their charity takes donated cell phones and recycles them to support the deployed troops & their families. Whoopi encourages everybody with an old cell phone to support this program and donate your phone. Each donated cellphone is converted in to 20 minutes talk time on calling cards that are sent to our troops & their families. This is also a great gift year around... to help soldiers & families stay in touch. Visit cellphonesforsoldiers.com today to learn more and find out how you can donate your old cell phone.

TODAY ON THE SHOW-

The Best Of Wake Up With Whoopi

WAL-MART MOVING AWAY FROM GROWH HORMONES IN MILK
Wal-Mart Stores Inc said on Thursday that its private-label Great Value milk is now being sourced only from cows that have not been treated with artificial growth hormones, such as recombinant bovine somatotropin (rbST).
The retailer said its Sam's Club chain also is offering milk selections from suppliers that have pledged not to treat cows with rbST.
While the U.S. Food and Drug Administration has said that milk from cows treated with rbST poses no risk to human health, Wal-Mart said it made the change in response to customer demand.

MAN GETS 30 DAYS JAIL FOR TACO THEFT
A Rialto, California man who pretended to be a CEO complaining about his fast-food order in a taco scam was sentenced to 30 days in jail after authorities saw the prank in an online video on You-Tube.
In a video titled, “How to Scam Del Taco,” Robert Echeverria, 32, is seen on a phone call to the taco restaurant claiming to be a CEO named "Robert Kennedy" who has already spoken to the store's manager and corporate office about some unwanted sour cream and the lack of a receipt in a previous order. "I love your guys' tacos," he said.
One of his two 18-year-old co-stars is later shown walking into the restaurant and claiming the food. The video ends with the three men feasting and laughing.
Last Tuesday, Echeverria pleaded guilty to misdemeanor burglary and received a sentence of 30 days in jail, three years' probation and one special condition: a ban from the Rialto Del Taco. "I tried to get him to stay away from all Del Tacos, but the judge said just the one," Deputy District Attorney Doug Schaller said.

Court Disbars Cheney Ex-Aide - Libby Loses Right To Practice Law
Vice President Cheney's former chief of staff, I. Lewis "Scooter" Libby, was barred last week from practicing law in the District of Columbia because of his convictions last year for perjury and obstructing justice in a White House leak investigation.
Under the ruling by the U.S. Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia Circuit, Libby will lose his license to practice or appear in court in Washington until at least 2012. As is standard, he will probably lose any bar membership he holds in other states.
(However, unlike Robert Echeverria, the Rialto Del Taco Scammer, Libby will not spend a day in jail as he was granted a presidential pardon by George Bush in 2007.)

Vietnam Bans Pet Hamsters
Fearing that their growing population might spread disease and destroy crops, Vietnam has banned the sale and possession of hamsters, which have launched somewhat of a subculture among the country's youth.
Starting Monday, the fine for trading or owning a hamster will reach up to 30 million dong (1,875 US dollars), the Ministry of Agriculture said. They express concern that hamsters have been imported illegally from China, Thailand, or Taiwan, and are left unlicensed and unchecked for diseases.
"Traders illegally carry hamsters across borders and do not register with customs to quarantine these animals," said a senior official of the Animal Health Department.
Hamsters arrived in Vietnam years ago for use in scientific research, but have only become popular recently. The rodents' increasing popularity with youngsters has been attributed to 2008 being the Year of the Rat in the Chinese Zodiac. Their adoration can be seen online, where there are numerous forums allowing hamster owners to talk about their beloved pets. The craze has even spawned offline "hamster clubs".

2007 YouTube Awards: Chocolate Rain & Harry Potter
Tens of millions voted for their favorite picks in 12 caregories, including music, sports, comedy, politics, eyewitness, and adorable. On Friday, the video-sharing site announced their winners.
This year one of the biggest Internet sensations has been the hugely popular amateur video "Chocolate Rain," which won for best music video. In the past six months, "Chocolate Rain" has been viewed almost 16 million times.
Another big win went to The Potter Puppet Pals in "The Mysterious Ticking Noise" for best comedy award. The man behind the puppets, Neil Cicierega, said he can't believe 20 million people have watched his video http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Tx1XIm6q4r4
To see all the winning videos, go to http://www.youtube.com/ytawards07winners

ROBIN WILLIAMS GUEST STAR ON LAW & ORDER
Robin Williams will guest star on "Law & Order: Special Victims Unit," but don't expect him to bring laughs to the NBC crime drama.
Williams is playing an "engineer whose life has gone terribly wrong" and who faces serious repercussions, The episode, which films later this month, is scheduled to air April 29. Titled "Authority," Williams’ episode will be the show's 200th.

STARBUCKS CAUGHT WITH HAND IN TIP JAR
Starbucks must repay $100 million for gratuities shared with supervisors, a San Diego judge ruled last week. Starbucks got caught with its hand in the tip jar and was ordered Thursday to pay California baristas more than $100 million. In a San Diego County class-action lawsuit, a judge ordered the coffee giant to pay back tips, with interest, that the company had handed over to shift supervisors. Some baristas could receive more than $10,000, according to their attorney.

WANTED MAN MACES HIMSELF IN THE FACE
In Kamloops, British Columbia police say a wanted man was arrested after accidentally spraying himself in the face with bear spray while fleeing officers.
The Mounties pulled over a suspicious vehicle Tuesday and the suspect fled on foot. He sprayed himself while trying to discard the can of bear-repellent pepper spray.
Police say the man is a prolific offender facing charges of fleeing police, possession of stolen property and breach of probation.
The man is being held in police custody and will be appearing in court today.
Paramedics were called to the arrest scene to treat the self-inflicted injuries to the man’s face.

UP, UP AND AWAY
A London man’s dreams of giving his sweetheart the ultimate proposal have literally vanished into thin air.
The would-be fiance had concealed a $12,000 engagement ring inside a helium balloon. The idea was that she would pop the balloon as he popped the question.
But as he left the shop, a gust of wind pulled the balloon from his hand and he watched the ring sailing away over the rooftops.
He spent two hours in his car trying to chase and find the balloon, without success.
After telling his proposed bride-to-be she apparently is refusing to speak to the bloke until he finds her a new ring.
He is hoping the ring will still turn up.
"It would be amazing if someone found it," he added.

St. Baldrick’s Foundation Information

· Did you know that each year, more than 160,000 children worldwide are diagnosed with cancer? Because of this enormous statistic, the St. Baldrick’s Foundation, a non-profit with a mission of Shaving the Way to Conquer Kids’ Cancer, embraces the task of raising awareness and funds to support research that will one day cure kids’ cancer.

· Call it “going bald beautifully” or “braving a shave”, throughout the year thousands of St. Baldrick’s heroes shave their heads to raise funds for life-saving childhood cancer research. During the month of March, thousands of people shave their head surrounding St. Patrick’s Day. If you haven’t seen a newly shaved head at the grocery store or mall yet, keep an eye out – you’ll see one before the end of the month.

· St. Baldrick’s events have been in the news across the country. Men, women and children are shaving their heads in solidarity for kids’ with cancer. From college students organizing events to businesses sponsoring teams of employees to shave their heads, hundreds of people are saying, “Off with my hair!” for a courageous cause. Although for a serious cause, St. Baldrick’s events are designed to be a fun and festive celebration for hope!

· This year, St. Baldrick’s has set a goal of raising $17 million dollars and they are well on there way! The money will be used to fund fellowships and grants aimed to cure childhood cancer.

· In case you’re wondering, St. Baldrick is a fictional character – a morphing of St. Patrick’s (the day the event was born) and the word “bald”. There is no real saint, but they do have a mascot, Lucky the Leprechaun. The first St. Baldrick’s event took place on St. Patrick’s Day in 2000 and today most St. Baldrick’s events are planned throughout the month of March. As a result you may hear people refer to March 17 as “St’ Baldrick’s Day”.

· The St. Baldrick’s Foundation supports childhood cancer research and fellowships across the country and worldwide. In 2007, St. Baldrick’s raised more than $12.9 million, greatly surpassing its goal of $10 million. This year, the foundation has set its sights higher, hoping to raise $17 million by shaving 25,000 heads at 600 events worldwide.

· You can help the St. Baldrick’s Foundation by getting involved with one of your local events or by making a financial donation. For more information visit StBaldricks.org, or call 888-899-BALD. Anyone can be a hero for kids with cancer.

HANDLING OFFICE POLITICS
Office politics in the workplace can get dirty. Here are some tips to managing office politics;
Observe how things get done in your organization.
Ask some key questions: What are the core values and how are they enacted? How are decisions made? How much risk is tolerated? The answers should give you a good sense of the culture of your organization.
Profile powerful individuals
Pay attention to their communication style, network of relationships and what types of proposals they say "yes" to most often. Emulate those traits by drawing on the strengths you have.
Update your skills to be relevant to company initiatives.
For example, don't lag behind in technology, quality or customer-service approaches that are crucial to you and your company's success.
Develop a personal track record as someone who gets results
Style without substance will not gain others' respect, especially in today's organizations that focus on outcome.
Don't be afraid to toot your own horn
If no one knows of your good work, you may lose at the game of office politics when you really deserve to win. Let others know what you've accomplished whenever you get the chance.
Treat everyone with respect
Don't show preferential treatment or treat co-workers badly. You never know who someone might be connected to, and rude behavior may come back to bite you.
Be true to yourself
After analyzing the political landscape in your company, if you decide the game is one you can't play, prepare to move on.

REDUCE CERTAIN FOODS TO HELP KIDS MINDS
To keep your kids' minds sharp, try to limit or avoid certain foods, like;
-Diet Sodas
Though they haven't been shown to harm children, they offer no nutritional value either, and often push brain-boosting milk off the menu. Instead, encourage milk, juice (in moderation) and good old water.
-High-Fat Foods
Canadian researchers have found that high-fat diets may impact how well we remember and reduce our ability to concentrate. They suspect the fat interferes with the body's ability to use glucose. Humans with diets high in saturated fat are more likely to develop dementia, for example. Combine these findings with what we already know about heart health, and you've got one more reason to steer kids toward lower-fat options.
-High-Sugar Foods
Laden with calories, sweets do a fine job of providing kids with a burst of energy. But they also create their own energy crises, with a sharp letdown later. Complex carbs provide a more even source of energy and are more likely to provide nutrients and fiber.

HEALTHY SKIN HABITS
You can keep your skin healthy by spending a ridiculous amount of money on super-marketed products -- or by adopting these simple habits;
Moisturize
Since a lot of women struggle with acne, we often overdry our skin. But you can hydrate your skin without clogging your pores. Use an oil-free moisturizer with an SPF in the morning, and then a moisturizing gel or hyaluronic acid serum in the evening to lock in as much moisture as possible while you sleep.
Exfoliate
If you aren't exfoliating, you're not putting your best face forward. Removing the superficial layer of dead skin cells from your face can help with everything from acne to fine lines. A highly effective choice is an at-home microderm-abrasion treatment done once a week.
Sunscreen
You already know that wearing sunscreen keeps your skin healthy. A suntan is your body's response to injury caused by prolonged exposure to UV rays. This exposure irreversibly alters the structure of the DNA in your skin cells, which is how skin cancer forms. Protecting your skin from the sun is as much about your health as it is about beauty. Almost every moisturizer on the market these days contains some sort of SPF. If you're on a budget, try the L'Oreal Oil Free Moisturizer SPF 15, which costs 10 dollars.

A REMINDER- FIRE SAFETY IN THE HOME!
Whoopi wants to remind you to be aware of fire safety at home. When you get home tonight, check your smoke detectors. They do you no good if they are not working. When did you last check the battery? Do a fire drill with your family. Make sure everybody knows where to meet, as well as that your smoke detectors will wake your kids up from a deep sleep. You should also have a kit in your car that includes bottled water, blankets, a first aid kit, and at least a change of clothes for everybody in your family. There are many commercially availble kits, and the Red Cross is a great source for them. And please, also consider your family pets when planning and putting together a kit.

March is Women’s History Month
The public celebration of women's history in this country began in 1978 as "Women's History Week" in Sonoma County, California. The week selected included March 8th, which is “International Women's Day.” In 1981, Senator Orrin Hatch and Representative Barbara Mikulski co-sponsored a joint Congressional resolution proclaiming a national “Women's History Week”. In 1987, Congress expanded the celebration to a month, and March was declared “Women's History Month”.

REESE WITHERSPOON BACKS BRACELET SALES FOR WOMEN FUND
Sales of a bracelet will go towards a U.N. fund to combat violence against women under a plan announced yesterday by the United Nations, the Avon cosmetics company and movie star Reese Witherspoon.
Avon has pledged to match the first $500,000 in sales of the bracelet to benefit the fund aimed at ending a problem activists say affects one woman in three worldwide.
Witherspoon showed off the "women's empowerment bracelet" at a U.N. news conference, saying its clasp in the shape of the infinity symbol -- a horizontal figure of eight -- represented "a future without limitations for all women."
Describing violence against women as a "hidden pandemic," a U.N. representative said that in the United States alone lost productivity and earnings due to violence by domestic partners cost almost $1.8 billion a year.
The bracelets will cost $3 and be sold by Avon's network of 5.4 million sales representatives around the world, primarily women who run home-based businesses. You can purchase the bracelet here.

BOOST HEALTH WITH IMMUNE-BOOSTING FOODS
You can keep your immune system strong by choosing the right foods.
Here’s That’s-Fit.com’s Top 10 immune-boosting foods;

-Orange Juice. Vitamin C is an immune boosting powerhouse.

-Green Tea. A fantastic source of immune-boosting antioxidants and works double duty as a cavity fighter.

-Garlic packs a pungent punch on congestion.

-Almonds are rich in fiber, folic acid, magnesium, calcium, potassium, riboflavin and vitamin E.

-Oysters. Packed full of calcium, niacin, iron and zinc. oysters help the immune system fight off colds by boosting the production of white blood cells.

-Ginger fights flu and cold viruses by opening nasal passages, clearing congestion and even soothing nausea.

-Horseradish. Nothing will give your sinuses a good kick quite like horseradish.

-Arugula. Leafy veggies like arugula and watercress are packed full of iron and vitamins A and C.

-Anise seed. This yummy spice is good for congestion and digestion.

-Chicken Soup. With zinc-packed chicken, a hot temperature to loosen congestion and all the rich nutrients of the veggies, chicken soup is a cold-fighting powerhouse.

WHEN DO YOU THROW IT OUT?
You know to throw the bread out when it turns green, but what about all that other stuff in the fridge or cupboard?
Chocolate: one year from production date
Coffee, canned: two years unopened, one month opened, refrigerated
Coffee, gourmet: beans -- three weeks in paper bag, longer in vacuum-seal bag; ground -- one week in sealed container
Diet soda (and soft drinks in plastic bottles): three months from "best by" date
Dried pasta: 12 months
Frozen dinners: 12 to 18 months
Honey: indefinitely
Ketchup: one year unopened, six months opened and refrigerated
Maple syrup, real or imitation: one year
Maraschino cherries: three to four years unopened, two weeks opened at room temperature, six months opened and refrigerated
Marshmallows: 40 weeks unopened, three months opened
Mayonnaise: indefinitely unopened, two to three months from "purchase by" date opened
Mustard: two years
Olives, jarred (green with pimento): three years unopened, three months opened and refrigerated
Olive oil: two years from manufacture date
Peanuts: one to two years unopened, one to two weeks opened
Peanut butter: two years unopened, six months opened (refrigerated after three months)
Pickles: 18 months unopened, no conclusive data for opened, refrigerated pickles -- discard if slippery or excessively soft
Rice: two years
Steak sauce: 33 months
Tabasco: five years, stored in a cool, dry place
Tea bags: Two years
Tuna, canned: one year unopened, three to four days opened -- but not in the can
Soy sauce, bottled: two years unopened, three months opened
Vinegar: 42 months
Wine (red, white): three years from vintage date; 20 to 100 years for fine wines; one week refrigerated and corked if opened
Worcestershire sauce: five to 10 years unopened, two years opened

CLAIM THOSE DEDUCTIONS!
While many of us are getting our tax info together, make sure you take all your possible tax deductions this year.
Here are some you may have forgotten...

--Medical; since total medical expenditures must be at least 7.5 percent of adjusted gross income, many taxpayers don't even bother with this one. But there are ways you can get this deduction up to that plateau.
Travel expenses to and from medical treatments. For 2007 returns, the rate is 20 cents per mile; it is 19 cents per mile in 2008.
What about things your insurance didn't cover, but you needed anyway? This includes an extra pair of eyeglasses or set of contact lenses, false teeth, hearing aids and artificial limbs.
If the doctor told you to get a humidifier to help relieve chronic breathing problems, the device -- and additional electricity costs -- may be at least partially deductible.
The IRS also has deemed that costs for programs to help you kick the smoking habit are medically deductible, as are weight-loss programs undertaken at a physician's direction to treat an ailment such as heart disease.

--Costs of volunteering: The IRS allows you to deduct the miles you drove your personal car to the soup kitchen where you volunteer each weekend. The standard mileage rate for travel to help out a charitable organization is 14 cents per mile. Are you a Boy Scout or Girl Scout leader? The cost of your uniform and its upkeep -- dry cleaning, tailoring and repair -- is deductible.

--Miscellaneous expenses: This is a fun category, if you've got the patience -- and receipts -- to back up your spending.
If you looked for a new job this year, count your job-hunting expenses here. But your job search has to be in the same field in which you're already employed. Any subscriptions to work-related publications also can be taken, as can membership dues for a professional organization.
Do you have a hobby that nets you a bit of extra spending money throughout the year? Any costs you had toward that hobby can be totaled up as a miscellaneous expense. But you can't deduct more than you made on the hobby.
If it wasn't a good year at the roulette wheel, the IRS lets you deduct your losses. These losses aren't limited by the two-percent cap, but you can't deduct in losses in excess of your taxable winnings.

Helsinki Complaints Choir
Whoopi & Lisa discussed the Complaints Choir on the show this morning. You can see a video on youtube.com here. You can also visit www.complaintschoir.org for information, as well as performances that may be in your area.

Answer 10 questions and find out which presidential candidate you should vote for in 2008! Visit www.votechooser.com and give it a try.

Check out Bobby Rivers demo reel....Bobby Rivers: TV Host

Want to be Oliver's Friend? That's right, Oliver is back on MySpace! Whoop's partner (don't call him her Cat), Oliver, has his own Myspace page! He's looking for friends, so add him to your list today! Click here to go to Oliver's page..