The Progressive: Everything starts in California. Energy policy, new school systems, you name it, it starts somewhere in California. This is no surprise then than California would be the first to bring in a dietician to straighten out its police force. Rana Parker, a diet coach who used to work with the Head Start program, began working with the Los Angeles Police Department in July 2007. Parker taught officers about nutrition, gave presentation to the force, and counseled 90 recruits face to face. Now, almost a year later, Parker’s regimen has turned out a leaner, meaner police force in Los Angeles. Now let’s hope that other departments follow suit.

The Scary: How worried would you be if your 22 year old son was in Afghanistan fighting for his life? Now how about hearing him in a firefight on your voicemail? That is exactly what happened to Sandie and Jeff Petee when they came home one day from the flower shop. They played their messages to find a three minute recording of their son and his comrades fighting against insurgents. The call was made by accident, when Stephen Phillips’ phone was accidentally redialed by the side of his Humvee. The Petees were understandably shocked, but were relieved to find that the call was made by accident, and that their son had survived that battle.