AngelAura

Found a few answers, but here's the low down. It only started about three hours ago. I don't recall injuring myself recently, either. I do have a tendency to lean hard to the left on my office chair, for too long.

That said, I didn't do much on the computer today. I was sitting, watching tv in a regular chair -- maybe leaning to the left on the arm of the chair. Suddenly, I had a stabbing pain in my lower back, just right behind my hip. I changed positions and now the pain -- which comes and goes -- is like someone is pushing a sharp needle into my ribs every 15 minutes to 45 minutes apart.

It can make me cry out -- but not so severe that I'm debilitated -- it just feels like someone is sticking a voo doo needle into me, in person! In 2003, I did break two ribs in a car crash, on that side.

Could it be scar tissue? From gas? I did hear a little stomach growl earlier that seemed to come from my rib(!). And now, as I type and it gets later at night -- the sharp pain are more frequent.

I can breathe fine and no other symptoms, except this annoying shooting stabbing pain every few minutes -- it's irritating!

I was able to do this for years -- update my status -- about three or four days ago; I went to update my status, as I like to do often. I clicked into "What's on your mind?" box, as usual, and no words will type in there.

For the first time, where we have these buttons: SHARE: Status, Photo, Link, Video -- there's a new one, when I go into the status update section. After "Video" there's a tab called SMOOCHES. I never saw it before in my life!

When I click on "Smooches", these emoticons appear below the box 'What's on your mind?'. If I click on one of the emoticons or the same one several times, or different ones -- the emoticons do NOT appear in the status update box, but instead, just ABOVE the facebook wall in a 'white strip that forms' up there.

At other computers [at work or on my Sprint cell phone], I can update my status just normally and there's no "Smooches" button following "Video".

I have been going over my privacy settings for "apps" etc. and CANNOT find one called "Smooches". I want it off and to be able to update my status again from my laptop on my computer here, at home!!!

Anyone know how to find and get rid of this tab called "Smooches" and/or "how to fix my facebook to update the status, normally, from my actual laptop at home?"

All other websites, besides facebook, have no glitches or problems like this . . . so, it's probably not my computer.

I'm a working/experienced actor (female) in NYC. I am now over 40-years-old and have been acting since the age of eight (8).

Many experienced people here, on the YahooANSWERS boards keep telling young people to "get an agent" when they express their wish to be 'famous actors and actresses."

Really?

Reality time, my friends. Let's make this forum a service. Agents do not come when you are living in your small towns, still in school and haven't even done a school play; or even if you have.

Agents are like employment agencies for secretaries. You go in and take a test based on your experience. And when you approach a secretarial agency, you take a typing test and computer software tests based on your former experiences BEFORE you had this agency.

Thus, just like the secretarial business, or any business. You learn the business FIRST. You do school plays, you get your education (basic/required), actors really need great reading skills (you'll read a lot of scripts), you need as much experience as you can get your hands on . . .

School plays

College plays

Community Theatre plays (right there in your small town)

You need to learn: Business (general business)

Acting Technique

Improv

Stage (helps a lot)

You learn and do all of this without an agent. And even us who have degree's in Theatre, have acted in over forty productions on stage, been in student films, etc., etc. do most of that without an agent.

Even established NY and LA actors (not movie star famous, just us hacks who play the best friend or nosy neighbor) -- sometimes do NOT have an agent. You can find some acting jobs in papers such as "Backstage" or "Backstage West", etc.

If it were quick and easy, my friends, we'd all have William Morris Agency and be making blockbuster films. That is not the reality.

So, my question: Why do you believe that "getting an agent" is the answer to your dreams?

I did something stupid.

I had cooked frozen shrimp, right? I put it, still wrapped in the plastic covering, on the counter. I found out, after I ate them (they were still cold, but not frozen) that is a no-no!

But, they were not open (remember, I left on the plastic covering). So, will I still get food poisoning? They smelled fine, tasted great. And if I do get food poisoning, which I've had before (for another reason), how do I make it slow down so I don't feel like dying?!

I felt a little weird just a minute ago (7:00 pm), I ate the shrimp at about 4:30 pm. I just took some Imodium. Will this save me?

Or am I over-reacting. I only felt a little queasy . . . and it's 2 1/2 hours later. Any other suggestions, if I do get a full case of food poison?

My friend, a deaf man from Guatemala, has no current ID. He was here (for about 20 years or so now) on a work visa, which he renewed every year for 17 years. In around 2002 or 2003, due to 09/11, he was told (at an immigration office) that he was no longer a "legal resident" as he was here on asylum (escape from a hostile country).

Our government listed all people here on asylum as "illegal immigrants" after that year and would not grant their work visa renewals.

He had a job, before his work visa expired . . . and his employer never checked it later. His paychecks had money taken out for taxes and everything. Thus, our government knew his whereabouts, etc. We even asked them to send him home, while we stood in the immigration office.

Anyway, now he is unemployed, living in a shelter with no current ID. Even if I buy him a ticket for Guatemala. He cannot get on a plane without current ID and new passport. They do not sell passports or ID to people without proof that they are who they are. He is in a Catch-22.

Anyone know a lawyer (immigration) in the Lancaster, Pennsylvania or New York City area that can handle this for free (he is broke and I am nearly broke)? Or a program where the government will give illegal aliens a FREE plane ride home to their country of origin (not deportation--we tried that and they won't do that for him)?

His mother, who is hearing, will tell any officials that she will greet him at the airport. He's a hard-working man of 46 years old, who always tries to work hard (if they would hire him back at his job) and never lied to the government about where he is or what he is doing.

I didn't fall down, pass out or anything. It hurt, sure . . .yet, I continued to finish my tour (I am a tour guide) and spoke well, didn't slur and just had a headache forming at the site of the hit.

This was 1 p.m. or 2 p.m. yesterday. I was not dizzy (except when I panicked myself). Finished this 1st tour...put some ice on my head (felt much better) and took two pain killers.

Did a 2nd and 3rd tour with no problems, I spoke coherently and it was hot, so I felt a little nauseas (but didn't throw up). Also, I don't eat the whole touring day, so I could just be hungry. So, between the heat and hunger, maybe just heat cramps?

Now, hours later (it's 2 a.m.), I haven't been sleepy or anything. There's just a huge lump on my noggin. A little soreness (like a bruise would feel) and no discoloration or anything. Just a lump ...

Will I live? Should I see a doctor? I had a CAT scan only two weeks ago, for a different head smack. It feels similar, except this lump is bigger. Oh, and I was fine the first time, too.

What are your thoughts or any expert opinion?

I've had this before . . . when I had health insurance. That is no longer the case. Because my breast are large and sag a little, as is often the case in women my age with large breasts (age 45 and overweight) -- when it gets a big humid or hot, I get a type of heat rash which doesn't clear very fast.

It itches like crazy and spreads more and more when I wear my bra (which I need when out in public) -- I've been putting "anti-itch cream" on it and sometimes "neopsorin".

Anyone know anything quicker, better to get it to clear, stop itching so much . . ?

This really is more of a statement. I auditioned for and was accepted at AADA (no, not AMDA), years ago. About 1000 of us auditioned on the West Coast for the "East Coast" school and they only chose the best five (5), yes, only us to attend.

That said, I do not know AMDA policies. I do know, recently, a friend of mine auditioned for AMDA, auditioned in her country (Canada), and was NOT accepted. So, so much for "accepting everybody". The did not.

Finally, please, people . . . if they do, indeed, "accept everybody". Wouldn't all the wanna be actors line up to go there?! I mean, at least, if you cannot "get accepted" at AADA or Julliard,. etc and you really, really want to act and get training (which you pay for, either way). Hey, go to the school that take "everybody"!!! Why not?

Finally, they CANNOT TAKE EVERYBODY. Everyone and their mother wants to be an actor, especially in New York . . .and the school is not big enough to hold the 1000s of those who dream this big dream in NY alone! Between Manhattan, Queens and Brooklyn we have 6.2 millions people -- I would bet that 2 million are probably actors or want to be actors.

AMDA could not fit them all.

In fact, any other school in NY or Los Angeles, CA (i.e. TVI Studios, Weist Barron, etc., etc.) will take "anybody" and "everybody" willing to pay for it.

Yes, I understand wanting to be "accepted" at one of the exclusive schools . . . it makes the ego feel good. Still, in the end, even untalented people can "make it" if they never give up.

I can name a few who have "made it" and I don't care who 'accepted' them . . .they CANNOT ACT! It's all opinion, anyway.

We know that "The Chrysler Builiding" is Art Deco.

Help me list the 'big name' buildings that are of the Beaux Art type.