Flaming mattresses are a sure-fire way to ruin your day. Pun intended. So these new standards should help change that. But often I hear people concerned about the chemicals used on lots of things (mattresses included) to make things more flame resistant. The question came up on the Today show this morning, and while she didn't elaborate too much because Meredith asked the next question... the CPSC spokesperson said the chemicals are safe and well-tested, and that manufacturers are meeting the standards in different ways-- by using new fabrics and materials (like Kevlar, etc.).

You can listen to it by going here ((http://today.msnbc.msn.com/id/3032633)) and then scrolling down to the video section to watch the full interview.

Here is the official CPSC link:

http://www.cpsc.gov/cpscpub/prerel/prhtml07/07220.html

I have to say CONGRATULATIONS to the chief phojo at our sister station KTVB in Boise. His name is Xanti (SHAWN'-tee.. who knew the "x" was such versatile letter?) and he's a long-time, good friend of mine. I'm sitting here at work this morning and I get this inter-office message ((we call them 'toplines')), so I get this topline that looks like this:

Yeah, as in Edward R. Murrow. It's a really amazing honor and he totally deserves it. As does Mark who is fantastic!!! As well as Mike and Andy (the other guys mentioned in those toplines). I worked with all these guys over in Torino. Mike and Andy are from our sister station WCNC in Charlotte. In fact, one of the blogs I regularly check is Mike's: http://www.wcnc.com/6newsextra/traveler/.

Anyway, here's a photo of Xanti I yanked off the KTVB website.

Haven't decided if this was taken at the golf course (hence the golf cart and lovely beige sweater he's wearing)... or at some community thing that Boise does often and does well. One quick story about Xanti-- he shot most of the stories on my first demo tape I was shopping around here in Portland to news directors. The photography was so good one of the stations here in town tried to hire him. I was like, "HELLO, people?! *I'm* the one applying here!". He rocks.

Click here to email Stephanie Stricklen.. or just click on comments which should now be on-line barring 6 million spam emails, most from overseas selling me things that are either a) gender inappropriate or b) inappropriate inappropriate. I have yet to get ONE that made me want to follow the link.