There was a tremendous traffic jam in Chicago recently on a major traffic artery. Traffic was backed up for miles in both the north and south bound lanes. Several men were walking back from the area where the tie-up had occured. As one man approached his car, the motorist rolled down the window and inquired about the problem. He was told that terrorists had captured Bill & Hillery Clinton, Al Sharpton and Jesse Jackson and unless a $10 million ransom was raised, the terrorists threatened to pour gasoline on the four and set them ablaze. Several of us volunteered to seek donations. The motorist asked the volunteer, "about how much is the average donation"? "About one gallon", said the volunteer.
My Congressman gets stopped for driving while black. Of course, if the Moony's had their way, Congressman Davis wouldn't even be allowed to own a car, much less drive one.
A black congressman who was issued a ticket this week after being pulled over has accused the Chicago police of racial profiling in the traffic stop.
The representative, Danny K. Davis, Democrat of Illinois, said he was driving his Mercury Grand Marquis just after midnight Monday on the city’s West Side when two police officers pulled him over and asked to see his driver’s license and proof of insurance.
When Mr. Davis asked why they had stopped him, he said, they accused him of weaving, and they ticketed him for driving left of the center line.
Mr. Davis says he did not commit any traffic violation.
“I just could not believe it,” he said Friday. “I had to conclude that race had to have entered the picture, and that the only reason we were stopped is that there were four African-Americans a little after midnight, in a car going down the street. And it really breaks my heart to have to arrive at that conclusion, but I can’t conclude anything else.”
[From Congressman Sees Bias in Chicago Traffic Stop]
Regardless of my personal feelings toward Congressman Davis, harassment for DWB shouldn't occur to anyone.
Thursday, January 31, 2008
California beaches, bsis, oregon map, board of registered nursing, oregan, oregon road report
LONG BEACH, Calif. (AP) -- The city of Long Beach has shut down more than three miles of beachfront to swimmers and surfers because of a sewage spill into the Los Angeles River.
Long Beach recreational water manager Nelson Kerr says between 65,000 and 90,000 gallons of raw sewage entered the river Tuesday night.
The city closed the beaches as a precaution because the city is the end-point of the Los Angeles River before it flows into the Pacific Ocean.
Kerr says city officials will test the water later today before reopening the beaches.
San Clemente, Southern California's southern most beach town provides a friendly small town feel and is an ideal spot for a two day vacation.
The beaches are clean; the surfing is great and the newly revitalized Downtown area offers some unique shopping and interesting cuisine.
The town lacks a pretentious element so everything is much more laid-back although prosperous.
You can't beat it for a weekend getaway as most individuals who choose San Clemente as their weekend base will easily agree.
If you are a surfer, you will find areas in San Clemente that you will soon designate as your favorite spot to surf.
To be sure, San Clemente has been the most easily unrecognized as a Southern California beach town. Laguna Beach, for example, springs to mind when naming a well-known beach town; additionally, Newport Beach is another easily known beach location. But San Clemente-not the first town that comes to the forefront nor even the last.
Lately though, things have been changing and have changed. More and more people are finding the town a preferable location to surf, shop and wine and dine. Part of this is due to the revitalized downtown area. The revamping caused a number of new restaurants, specialized shops and boutiques to find there way to San Clemente.
Walk up and down Avenida Del Mar for unique cuisine and shopping.
So how do you find San Clemente? The town is accessible several ways. The best way to access San Clemente's downtown area is to exit I-5 at Avenida Presidio, (then) turn right on El Camino Real, then left at Avenida Del Mar.
The second way is to board Amtrack's Pacific Surf line at Los Angeles or San Diego. The train stops (twice a day) at the San Clemente Pier and then it is a brief walk to the downtown area. The train stops (twice a day) at the San Clemente Pier and then it is a brief walk to the downtown area.
For your “Surfin Safari” adventure head for San Clemente's beaches in the summer. Directions are as follows: Follow Avenida Del Mar down toward the water. There is a “metered” public parking area at Parque Del Mar.
It is a short jaunt to the San Clemente Pier. Below the pier, you will find a great deal of surfing activity during the summer months. The surfers are generally on the north side of San Clemente Pier. The swimmers frequent the south side of the Pier.
Walking about one-quarter mile from the pier you will find T-Street. This is one of the best known surfing beaches in the San Clemente area: surfers are allowed on the T-Street Beach mornings and evening hours only.
Calafia Beach is located just a further bit south. The beach is geared toward families and is located in San Clemente State Park. Metered parking is found in a lot in front of the beach.
If you would like more information on San Clemente beaches then contact San Clemente's Beaches, Parks and Recreation Department. There number is 949-361-8264.
While you are “camped out” in San Clemente for the weekend, you naturally will want to find comfortable lodging. You will find this easy to do as the beach town offers several options.
One suggestion is to attain a “blissful” night's rest at the Casa Tropicana Inn and Spa. This is a renovated bed and breakfast with eight rooms. The rooms have a “sand and surf” theme and are very well-appointed. As an added bonus, the Bed and Breakfast is located directly across from the pier. The address is 610 Avenida Victoria. Once you are “sold” this is the place to stay while in San Clemente, you may call them toll free at 1-800-492-1245. The price per night is approximately $245.00.
How would you like a view of the Pacific Ocean each evening of your stay after a day of shopping or surfing? You will find ocean front views at Villa Del Mar Inn. The Inn provides a balcony for each of its eight suites, facing the magnificent Pacific Ocean. It does not matter which of the eight suites you check into, you will receive a balcony facing the ocean. Each of the suites, additionally, provides a full kitchen. The address is 612 Avenida Victoria. Once you decide this is a place you would like to “hang your weekend hat” then reserve a date by calling: (949)-498-5080. The price is around $295 per night.
Not everyone is a surfer. Some of us like to go different places and shop. Maybe while part of your “tribe” is out “playing beach bum,” you may find delight in visiting one of San Clemente's fashionable apparel shops: Angel Wings. The fashion-oriented women's retailer can be found at 165 Avenida Del Mar.
For individuals interested in shopping for antiquities, the place to go is the Antiques & Decorative Arts Center located at 106 Avenida Del Mar.
A Matter of Taste offers “crisp” linens, furniture and stylish gifts. Find them at: 101 Avenida Del Mar.
Lunch fare can “be had” at Antoine's Café. Simple dishes are part of the lunch menu including salads, and burgers and other dishes in a hospitable surfer environment. Find them at 218 South El Camino Real. Phone for directions, if you need to: (949)-492-1763. Antoine's is also open for breakfast and serves dinner Thursday through Saturday.
Beach Fire draws crowds on the weekends. It is a fun environment and a great place to gather or take your group. They serve lunch and dinner daily. The address is 204 Avenida Del Mar.
Café Calypso is just the place to go for an intimate breakfast or a lunch for two. The setting is a patio and you may locate them at 114 Avenida Del Mar.
San Clemente offers a variety of many new restaurants so be sure to ask around for possible suggestions.
In conclusion, for a “beach lover's” short holiday, make sure to visit the recently renovated southern California beach town of San Clemente. It will be a weekend you will soon not forget.
Long Beach recreational water manager Nelson Kerr says between 65,000 and 90,000 gallons of raw sewage entered the river Tuesday night.
The city closed the beaches as a precaution because the city is the end-point of the Los Angeles River before it flows into the Pacific Ocean.
Kerr says city officials will test the water later today before reopening the beaches.
San Clemente, Southern California's southern most beach town provides a friendly small town feel and is an ideal spot for a two day vacation.
The beaches are clean; the surfing is great and the newly revitalized Downtown area offers some unique shopping and interesting cuisine.
The town lacks a pretentious element so everything is much more laid-back although prosperous.
You can't beat it for a weekend getaway as most individuals who choose San Clemente as their weekend base will easily agree.
If you are a surfer, you will find areas in San Clemente that you will soon designate as your favorite spot to surf.
To be sure, San Clemente has been the most easily unrecognized as a Southern California beach town. Laguna Beach, for example, springs to mind when naming a well-known beach town; additionally, Newport Beach is another easily known beach location. But San Clemente-not the first town that comes to the forefront nor even the last.
Lately though, things have been changing and have changed. More and more people are finding the town a preferable location to surf, shop and wine and dine. Part of this is due to the revitalized downtown area. The revamping caused a number of new restaurants, specialized shops and boutiques to find there way to San Clemente.
Walk up and down Avenida Del Mar for unique cuisine and shopping.
So how do you find San Clemente? The town is accessible several ways. The best way to access San Clemente's downtown area is to exit I-5 at Avenida Presidio, (then) turn right on El Camino Real, then left at Avenida Del Mar.
The second way is to board Amtrack's Pacific Surf line at Los Angeles or San Diego. The train stops (twice a day) at the San Clemente Pier and then it is a brief walk to the downtown area. The train stops (twice a day) at the San Clemente Pier and then it is a brief walk to the downtown area.
For your “Surfin Safari” adventure head for San Clemente's beaches in the summer. Directions are as follows: Follow Avenida Del Mar down toward the water. There is a “metered” public parking area at Parque Del Mar.
It is a short jaunt to the San Clemente Pier. Below the pier, you will find a great deal of surfing activity during the summer months. The surfers are generally on the north side of San Clemente Pier. The swimmers frequent the south side of the Pier.
Walking about one-quarter mile from the pier you will find T-Street. This is one of the best known surfing beaches in the San Clemente area: surfers are allowed on the T-Street Beach mornings and evening hours only.
Calafia Beach is located just a further bit south. The beach is geared toward families and is located in San Clemente State Park. Metered parking is found in a lot in front of the beach.
If you would like more information on San Clemente beaches then contact San Clemente's Beaches, Parks and Recreation Department. There number is 949-361-8264.
While you are “camped out” in San Clemente for the weekend, you naturally will want to find comfortable lodging. You will find this easy to do as the beach town offers several options.
One suggestion is to attain a “blissful” night's rest at the Casa Tropicana Inn and Spa. This is a renovated bed and breakfast with eight rooms. The rooms have a “sand and surf” theme and are very well-appointed. As an added bonus, the Bed and Breakfast is located directly across from the pier. The address is 610 Avenida Victoria. Once you are “sold” this is the place to stay while in San Clemente, you may call them toll free at 1-800-492-1245. The price per night is approximately $245.00.
How would you like a view of the Pacific Ocean each evening of your stay after a day of shopping or surfing? You will find ocean front views at Villa Del Mar Inn. The Inn provides a balcony for each of its eight suites, facing the magnificent Pacific Ocean. It does not matter which of the eight suites you check into, you will receive a balcony facing the ocean. Each of the suites, additionally, provides a full kitchen. The address is 612 Avenida Victoria. Once you decide this is a place you would like to “hang your weekend hat” then reserve a date by calling: (949)-498-5080. The price is around $295 per night.
Not everyone is a surfer. Some of us like to go different places and shop. Maybe while part of your “tribe” is out “playing beach bum,” you may find delight in visiting one of San Clemente's fashionable apparel shops: Angel Wings. The fashion-oriented women's retailer can be found at 165 Avenida Del Mar.
For individuals interested in shopping for antiquities, the place to go is the Antiques & Decorative Arts Center located at 106 Avenida Del Mar.
A Matter of Taste offers “crisp” linens, furniture and stylish gifts. Find them at: 101 Avenida Del Mar.
Lunch fare can “be had” at Antoine's Café. Simple dishes are part of the lunch menu including salads, and burgers and other dishes in a hospitable surfer environment. Find them at 218 South El Camino Real. Phone for directions, if you need to: (949)-492-1763. Antoine's is also open for breakfast and serves dinner Thursday through Saturday.
Beach Fire draws crowds on the weekends. It is a fun environment and a great place to gather or take your group. They serve lunch and dinner daily. The address is 204 Avenida Del Mar.
Café Calypso is just the place to go for an intimate breakfast or a lunch for two. The setting is a patio and you may locate them at 114 Avenida Del Mar.
San Clemente offers a variety of many new restaurants so be sure to ask around for possible suggestions.
In conclusion, for a “beach lover's” short holiday, make sure to visit the recently renovated southern California beach town of San Clemente. It will be a weekend you will soon not forget.
Stress eraser, stresseraser, ebay, atiza.com, certiphene, chaussure pas cher
I’ve already mentioned that I have a blistering case of the ADHD … What I’ve yet to share is that, given the proper environment, anything can stress me out to no end. No pewp: I’m the definition of a worry-wart … Just a hop, skip and a jump away from growing a tattered beard and wearing an END IS NEAR sign.
So, it shouldn’t be surprising to learn that I’m deathly worried about always being so damned worried and stressed that I just know I’m going to die of a heart attack by the time I’m forty … If you follow.
Throughout the years, I’ve tried all sorts of remedies: calming sounds, scents, and thoughts. I’ve drunk herbal concoctions. And yes, I’ve tried mediation.
None of them worked.
Probably, because when I’m trying to learn something new I get so damn worried that I’m doing it wrong, I go overboard on the research and ultimately conclude that I’m far too stupid to achieve any measure of success.
Long story,short: Last semester I finally reached the point of no return, and armed with a 90 day money back guarantee, I purchased the StressEraser.
And I absolutely adore it.
For the first time in years, I can actually sleep at night. Hell, I can sit down in front of a test and not feel like I’m going to throw up. Whenever I begin to feel pressure pushing in, I just pull out my StressEraser, slip a finger into the pulse sensor, and try my best to synchronize my breathing with the wave on the screen. Within five to ten minutes I’m calm and ready to look at my work logically instead of emotionally.
Now, I’ll be the first to admit that $299 isn’t cheap … It’s more expensive than most can easily afford. But if used properly, it can really help you manage your life in a far healthier manner. (I guess Gizmodo has some problems with reading the manual, because you’re NOT supposed to breathe any deeper than your normal breathing pattern)
Bottom Line: After a few weeks with the StressEraser my productivity started increasing … And I have the grades to prove it.
So, it shouldn’t be surprising to learn that I’m deathly worried about always being so damned worried and stressed that I just know I’m going to die of a heart attack by the time I’m forty … If you follow.
Throughout the years, I’ve tried all sorts of remedies: calming sounds, scents, and thoughts. I’ve drunk herbal concoctions. And yes, I’ve tried mediation.
None of them worked.
Probably, because when I’m trying to learn something new I get so damn worried that I’m doing it wrong, I go overboard on the research and ultimately conclude that I’m far too stupid to achieve any measure of success.
Long story,short: Last semester I finally reached the point of no return, and armed with a 90 day money back guarantee, I purchased the StressEraser.
And I absolutely adore it.
For the first time in years, I can actually sleep at night. Hell, I can sit down in front of a test and not feel like I’m going to throw up. Whenever I begin to feel pressure pushing in, I just pull out my StressEraser, slip a finger into the pulse sensor, and try my best to synchronize my breathing with the wave on the screen. Within five to ten minutes I’m calm and ready to look at my work logically instead of emotionally.
Now, I’ll be the first to admit that $299 isn’t cheap … It’s more expensive than most can easily afford. But if used properly, it can really help you manage your life in a far healthier manner. (I guess Gizmodo has some problems with reading the manual, because you’re NOT supposed to breathe any deeper than your normal breathing pattern)
Bottom Line: After a few weeks with the StressEraser my productivity started increasing … And I have the grades to prove it.
Stresseraser, stress eraser, ebay, aste al ribasso, blades mad, ebay ca
Want to choose the right portable stress reliever for you?
Compare the StressEraser to the emWave.
Stress can increase over time resulting in insomnia. It can be especiallly hard to calm you mind at bedtime. With the StressEraser you can rapidly calm your mind and relax your body.
With regular use, you will find yourself remaining calm and relaxed even in the midst of stressful life events. It's portable, needs no computer, uses regular AAA batteries and fits in the palm of your hand.
Stress is largely caused by changes in your body's nervous system, specifically changes in the activity of your stimulating nerves and your pacifying nerves.
Be sure to watch the StressEraser tutorials to find out everything you need to know about using your StressEraser.
StressEraser The body's stimulating nerves extend from the brain stem out the middle of the spine to many parts of the body. When they are highly active, the stimulating nerves:
• Cause your mind to become restless by increasing your brain activity
• Cause you to feel nervous by increasing your heart rate and blood pressure
• Cause you to be tense by increasing the rate of your breathing and making your breathing shallower
StressEraser The body's pacifying nerves extend from the brain stem out the top and bottom of the spine to many parts of the body. The pacifying nerves reverse the effects of the stimulating nerves. When they are highly active, the pacifying nerves:
• Calm your mind by stopping your stimulating nerves from agitating your brain
• Relax your body by lowering your heart rate and blood pressure
• Ease tension by allowing your breathing to become slower and deeper
Both the stimulating and pacifying nerves attach directly to many parts of your body, including your heart. The stimulating nerves increase your heart rate and the pacifying nerves decrease it. Your heart rate rises and falls in a wavelike manner based on the interplay of the stimulating and pacifying nerves.
StressEraser
The StressEraser finger sensor monitors your pulse rate on a pulse-by-pulse basis. The StressEraser displays your pulse rate waves in the middle of the screen.
StressEraser
To use the StressEraser, power on the device and then gently place your left index finger in the finger sensor clip.
StressEraser
The StressEraser then decodes the influence of the stimulating and pacifying nerves, and shows you how these nerves are affecting your mind and your body. The activity of the stimulating nerves is displayed using triangle symbols. The activity of the pacifying nerves is displayed using square symbols. The StressEraser guide booklets teach you how to use the symbols to guide your breathing and mental focus. You will learn to use the symbols to alter your breathing in a way that decreases stimulating nerve activity while increasing the activity of your pacifying nerves at the same time. And you will learn to use the symbols to focus your thoughts in a manner that will quiet your mind.
Quiet Your Mind Before Sleeping
A common folk remedy for quieting the mind at night is to concentrate on silently counting in your head. The idea is to take your mind off of the stressful thoughts by focusing it on the counting.
Unfortunately, the more restless your mind is, the harder it is to get it off of the stressful thoughts. When you are stressed, your body's stimulating nerves are dramatically increasing your brain activity. And as long as these nerves are causing your mind to race, it's difficult to get your mind off of the stressful thoughts and focus on the counting.
StressEraser
The good news is that the stimulating nerves agitate the brain in a measurable cycle of activity. In other words, the stimulating effect of these nerves increases and decreases in cyclic pulses of activity. The StressEraser monitors each cycle of nerve activity. Every time the stimulation of the nerve activity is at its weakest level of a cycle, a triangle symbol appears on the StressEraser screen.
StressEraser
When your mind is restless, you will notice that the triangles appear on the StressEraser screen more rapidly, closer together. When you see the triangles close together, your stimulating nerves are causing your mind to race, making it difficult for you to quiet your mind. it's important to remember that each time a new triangle appears, the stimulating nerves are at the weakest moment of their current cycle. With the StressEraser, you will learn to change your breathing so that you begin slowly exhaling each time a new triangle appears. By slowly exhaling as soon as each triangle appears, you will keep the stimulating nerves at a lower level of activity, causing the overall level of nerve stimulation to decrease.
StressEraserAs the activity level of nerve stimulation decreases, you will notice the triangles appearing less frequently, farther apart. When using your StressEraser, you will synch your breathing with the triangles while you also silently count in your head during each exhale. When the triangles are farther apart, the stimulating nerves will no longer be agitating your brain and you will find you can easily shift your attention to the counting, away from stressful thoughts. Without the StressEraser, it can be difficult to shift your mind off of stressful thoughts on to the counting However, with the StressEraser, you can quickly quiet your mind even if it's restless, filled with constant chatter. And an ideal time to quiet your mind is at night right before sleeping.
Relieve Intense Stress
During intense stress your nerves become over stimulated, causing nervousness, tension, and a restless mind. During these times, you will need to regularly activate your pacifying nerves in order to recuperate from the effects of the over stimulation.
The pacifying nerves become more active as the activity of the stimulating nerves decreases. Therefore, as the triangles become farther apart, the activity of the pacifying nerves will increase. The StressEraser monitors the activity level of your pacifying nerves and displays whether their activity level is low (StressEraser), medium (StressEraser), or high (StressEraser).
StressEraserWith the StressEraser, in addition to synchronizing your exhale with the triangles, you will learn how to decrease stimulating nerve activity by lengthening your exhale. This will move the triangles farther apart, causing an increase in pacifying nerve activity.
It may be difficult to accept that simple changes in breathing can profoundly impact your mind and body, especially during intensely stressful life events. Perhaps you have even tried to use breathing techniques before and did not experience a profound level of relief.
There are two common reasons why people do not experience a deep sense of calm relaxation when using popular breathing methods. First, many methods emphasize deep breathing. Whenever you breathe deeply over and over again, you will hyperventilate, which puts even more stress on your body and mind. StressEraser sessions do not involve deep breathing; rather the StressEraser interactively guides you to change your breathing rate and rhythm.
The second common reason why people don't find profound relief through breathing is that they exhale too long. Many stress reduction counselors encourage people to exhale for a very long time with each breath. However, this can cause more stress than it alleviates. If you exhale longer than your nervous system can handle, you will put stress on your nervous system with each and every breath you take. You can see this for yourself with your StressEraser.
StressEraserFinding powerful relief through breathing requires that you breathe in sync with your own nervous system. If your exhales are too short, you will not suppress the stimulating nerves enough to activate the pacifying nerves. If you exhale too long, the pacifying nerves will literally shut down. There is a precise window of opportunity which, when you find it, provides you with the relief you have been looking for, even during intensely stressful life events.
With the StressEraser guiding you, you will quickly find a breathing rate and rhythm that keeps your pacifying nerves highly active on an ongoing basis. By keeping these nerves highly active while also quieting your mind with the counting, even the most intense stress will decrease moment to moment— until it completely subsides. It has to. Your pacifying nerves will systematically undo the effects of your stimulating nerves while the counting continues to keep your mind quiet and calm
Gain Freedom From Chronic Stress
Chronic stress results when the body and mind accumulate stress. The idea that the body and mind can accumulate stress may seem a bit strange at first, yet they do accumulate stress in very real, measurable ways.
For example, certain types of stress can cause your heart rate to temporarily rise for a moment. But if you experience this type of stress over and over again, your heart rate can become increasingly elevated over time. This is one way you can accumulate stress in your body.
Likewise, certain types of stress cause your brain activity to increase. Brain activity levels can actually be measured using equipment called EEG machines. Repeated exposure to mental stress can cause your brain activity to remain increasingly higher. This is one way you can accumulate stress in your mind.
There are many places where stress can accumulate in your body and mind. As stress accumulates, its harmful effects continue 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. In other words, its effects are chronic.
Becoming free from chronic stress takes time. Chronic stress results from repeated exposure to stress, and the antidote requires repeated exposure to deep relaxation. By deeply relaxing the mind and body each day, you can readjust, decreasing the amount of accumulated stress day by day.
StressEraserThe StressEraser's point system makes it easy for you to undo chronic stress. The StressEraser gives you 1/2 point for each wave when pacifying nerves have a medium level of activity (marked byStressEraser ). The StressEraser gives you 1 point for each wave when your pacifying nerves are highly active (marked by StressEraser).
The points get reset at midnight. Therefore, you can accumulate points throughout the day in as many sessions as you wish. To reduce chronic stress, we recommend that you accumulate a minimum of 100 – 125 points per day. By accumulating enough "relaxation points" each day, you can reverse the process by which you accumulated chronic stress.
If you are chronically stressed, it's good to remember that you can use the StressEraser to calm your mind and relax your body whenever you want. Whenever you want to feel relief, we recommend that you do a session of at least 30 points. Most people find that a 30-point session makes a strong enough impact for them to actually feel the difference.
During your quest to free yourself of chronic stress, you can experience temporary moments of calm whenever you want—even on the first day you use your StressEraser. And by accumulating enough points each day, you can cultivate a lasting therapeutic benefit.
Availability
The StressEraser is classified by the FDA as a Class II (510(k) exempt) medical device. As an FDA regulated medical device, exportation to foreign countries may be restricted. At present, Helicor is accepting orders from U.S. residents only.
Package Contents:
• StressEraser Unit
• 4 AAA batteries*
• Leather case
• Warranty registration card
• Welcome Letter
• Quick Start card
• Getting Started booklet
• Owner's Manual
• “Relaxing Nights” program
*The batteries can last up to 30 days with regular daily use, a little less with frequent use of the backlight.
Guarantee
The handheld StressEraser medical device comes with a one-year manufacturer warranty against any defects that occur during normal use. We offer a 30-day guarantee.
Compare the StressEraser to the emWave.
Stress can increase over time resulting in insomnia. It can be especiallly hard to calm you mind at bedtime. With the StressEraser you can rapidly calm your mind and relax your body.
With regular use, you will find yourself remaining calm and relaxed even in the midst of stressful life events. It's portable, needs no computer, uses regular AAA batteries and fits in the palm of your hand.
Stress is largely caused by changes in your body's nervous system, specifically changes in the activity of your stimulating nerves and your pacifying nerves.
Be sure to watch the StressEraser tutorials to find out everything you need to know about using your StressEraser.
StressEraser The body's stimulating nerves extend from the brain stem out the middle of the spine to many parts of the body. When they are highly active, the stimulating nerves:
• Cause your mind to become restless by increasing your brain activity
• Cause you to feel nervous by increasing your heart rate and blood pressure
• Cause you to be tense by increasing the rate of your breathing and making your breathing shallower
StressEraser The body's pacifying nerves extend from the brain stem out the top and bottom of the spine to many parts of the body. The pacifying nerves reverse the effects of the stimulating nerves. When they are highly active, the pacifying nerves:
• Calm your mind by stopping your stimulating nerves from agitating your brain
• Relax your body by lowering your heart rate and blood pressure
• Ease tension by allowing your breathing to become slower and deeper
Both the stimulating and pacifying nerves attach directly to many parts of your body, including your heart. The stimulating nerves increase your heart rate and the pacifying nerves decrease it. Your heart rate rises and falls in a wavelike manner based on the interplay of the stimulating and pacifying nerves.
StressEraser
The StressEraser finger sensor monitors your pulse rate on a pulse-by-pulse basis. The StressEraser displays your pulse rate waves in the middle of the screen.
StressEraser
To use the StressEraser, power on the device and then gently place your left index finger in the finger sensor clip.
StressEraser
The StressEraser then decodes the influence of the stimulating and pacifying nerves, and shows you how these nerves are affecting your mind and your body. The activity of the stimulating nerves is displayed using triangle symbols. The activity of the pacifying nerves is displayed using square symbols. The StressEraser guide booklets teach you how to use the symbols to guide your breathing and mental focus. You will learn to use the symbols to alter your breathing in a way that decreases stimulating nerve activity while increasing the activity of your pacifying nerves at the same time. And you will learn to use the symbols to focus your thoughts in a manner that will quiet your mind.
Quiet Your Mind Before Sleeping
A common folk remedy for quieting the mind at night is to concentrate on silently counting in your head. The idea is to take your mind off of the stressful thoughts by focusing it on the counting.
Unfortunately, the more restless your mind is, the harder it is to get it off of the stressful thoughts. When you are stressed, your body's stimulating nerves are dramatically increasing your brain activity. And as long as these nerves are causing your mind to race, it's difficult to get your mind off of the stressful thoughts and focus on the counting.
StressEraser
The good news is that the stimulating nerves agitate the brain in a measurable cycle of activity. In other words, the stimulating effect of these nerves increases and decreases in cyclic pulses of activity. The StressEraser monitors each cycle of nerve activity. Every time the stimulation of the nerve activity is at its weakest level of a cycle, a triangle symbol appears on the StressEraser screen.
StressEraser
When your mind is restless, you will notice that the triangles appear on the StressEraser screen more rapidly, closer together. When you see the triangles close together, your stimulating nerves are causing your mind to race, making it difficult for you to quiet your mind. it's important to remember that each time a new triangle appears, the stimulating nerves are at the weakest moment of their current cycle. With the StressEraser, you will learn to change your breathing so that you begin slowly exhaling each time a new triangle appears. By slowly exhaling as soon as each triangle appears, you will keep the stimulating nerves at a lower level of activity, causing the overall level of nerve stimulation to decrease.
StressEraserAs the activity level of nerve stimulation decreases, you will notice the triangles appearing less frequently, farther apart. When using your StressEraser, you will synch your breathing with the triangles while you also silently count in your head during each exhale. When the triangles are farther apart, the stimulating nerves will no longer be agitating your brain and you will find you can easily shift your attention to the counting, away from stressful thoughts. Without the StressEraser, it can be difficult to shift your mind off of stressful thoughts on to the counting However, with the StressEraser, you can quickly quiet your mind even if it's restless, filled with constant chatter. And an ideal time to quiet your mind is at night right before sleeping.
Relieve Intense Stress
During intense stress your nerves become over stimulated, causing nervousness, tension, and a restless mind. During these times, you will need to regularly activate your pacifying nerves in order to recuperate from the effects of the over stimulation.
The pacifying nerves become more active as the activity of the stimulating nerves decreases. Therefore, as the triangles become farther apart, the activity of the pacifying nerves will increase. The StressEraser monitors the activity level of your pacifying nerves and displays whether their activity level is low (StressEraser), medium (StressEraser), or high (StressEraser).
StressEraserWith the StressEraser, in addition to synchronizing your exhale with the triangles, you will learn how to decrease stimulating nerve activity by lengthening your exhale. This will move the triangles farther apart, causing an increase in pacifying nerve activity.
It may be difficult to accept that simple changes in breathing can profoundly impact your mind and body, especially during intensely stressful life events. Perhaps you have even tried to use breathing techniques before and did not experience a profound level of relief.
There are two common reasons why people do not experience a deep sense of calm relaxation when using popular breathing methods. First, many methods emphasize deep breathing. Whenever you breathe deeply over and over again, you will hyperventilate, which puts even more stress on your body and mind. StressEraser sessions do not involve deep breathing; rather the StressEraser interactively guides you to change your breathing rate and rhythm.
The second common reason why people don't find profound relief through breathing is that they exhale too long. Many stress reduction counselors encourage people to exhale for a very long time with each breath. However, this can cause more stress than it alleviates. If you exhale longer than your nervous system can handle, you will put stress on your nervous system with each and every breath you take. You can see this for yourself with your StressEraser.
StressEraserFinding powerful relief through breathing requires that you breathe in sync with your own nervous system. If your exhales are too short, you will not suppress the stimulating nerves enough to activate the pacifying nerves. If you exhale too long, the pacifying nerves will literally shut down. There is a precise window of opportunity which, when you find it, provides you with the relief you have been looking for, even during intensely stressful life events.
With the StressEraser guiding you, you will quickly find a breathing rate and rhythm that keeps your pacifying nerves highly active on an ongoing basis. By keeping these nerves highly active while also quieting your mind with the counting, even the most intense stress will decrease moment to moment— until it completely subsides. It has to. Your pacifying nerves will systematically undo the effects of your stimulating nerves while the counting continues to keep your mind quiet and calm
Gain Freedom From Chronic Stress
Chronic stress results when the body and mind accumulate stress. The idea that the body and mind can accumulate stress may seem a bit strange at first, yet they do accumulate stress in very real, measurable ways.
For example, certain types of stress can cause your heart rate to temporarily rise for a moment. But if you experience this type of stress over and over again, your heart rate can become increasingly elevated over time. This is one way you can accumulate stress in your body.
Likewise, certain types of stress cause your brain activity to increase. Brain activity levels can actually be measured using equipment called EEG machines. Repeated exposure to mental stress can cause your brain activity to remain increasingly higher. This is one way you can accumulate stress in your mind.
There are many places where stress can accumulate in your body and mind. As stress accumulates, its harmful effects continue 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. In other words, its effects are chronic.
Becoming free from chronic stress takes time. Chronic stress results from repeated exposure to stress, and the antidote requires repeated exposure to deep relaxation. By deeply relaxing the mind and body each day, you can readjust, decreasing the amount of accumulated stress day by day.
StressEraserThe StressEraser's point system makes it easy for you to undo chronic stress. The StressEraser gives you 1/2 point for each wave when pacifying nerves have a medium level of activity (marked byStressEraser ). The StressEraser gives you 1 point for each wave when your pacifying nerves are highly active (marked by StressEraser).
The points get reset at midnight. Therefore, you can accumulate points throughout the day in as many sessions as you wish. To reduce chronic stress, we recommend that you accumulate a minimum of 100 – 125 points per day. By accumulating enough "relaxation points" each day, you can reverse the process by which you accumulated chronic stress.
If you are chronically stressed, it's good to remember that you can use the StressEraser to calm your mind and relax your body whenever you want. Whenever you want to feel relief, we recommend that you do a session of at least 30 points. Most people find that a 30-point session makes a strong enough impact for them to actually feel the difference.
During your quest to free yourself of chronic stress, you can experience temporary moments of calm whenever you want—even on the first day you use your StressEraser. And by accumulating enough points each day, you can cultivate a lasting therapeutic benefit.
Availability
The StressEraser is classified by the FDA as a Class II (510(k) exempt) medical device. As an FDA regulated medical device, exportation to foreign countries may be restricted. At present, Helicor is accepting orders from U.S. residents only.
Package Contents:
• StressEraser Unit
• 4 AAA batteries*
• Leather case
• Warranty registration card
• Welcome Letter
• Quick Start card
• Getting Started booklet
• Owner's Manual
• “Relaxing Nights” program
*The batteries can last up to 30 days with regular daily use, a little less with frequent use of the backlight.
Guarantee
The handheld StressEraser medical device comes with a one-year manufacturer warranty against any defects that occur during normal use. We offer a 30-day guarantee.
Google earnings, google earnings report, goog, google, google investor relations, google conference call
Google Earnings Beat Estimates—Again
The search megalith reported stellar third-quarter earnings, though it warned that margins may thin as it makes needed investments.
The Google stand at the Frankfurt Book Fair, Oct. 10, 2007 Getty
As a company that regularly beats Wall Street's earnings estimates, Google needed to blow away expectations on Oct. 18 to impress investors who have propelled the stock to record highs in recent days in anticipation of yet another blockbuster quarterly announcement. Anything less and investors would sell off the stock as they had in past quarters when Google just met or narrowly exceeded analysts' projections.
Google (GOOG) did not disappoint. The search-advertising Goliath said third-quarter net revenue rose 61%, to $3.01 billion, a number that takes into account the amount Google pays Web site owners to put ads on their pages. That soundly beat analysts' average estimate for sales of $2.9 billion. Not counting the amount of stock awarded to employees, earnings per share rose to $3.91, beating forecasts of $3.78 a share. "We had a very strong quarter across the board," said Chief Financial Officer George Reyes.
Online Ad Dominance Assured
Wall Street assumed that Google's revenues, minus traffic-acquisition costs, would grow about 57% from the prior year. They also assumed that Google could hit that number despite an anticipated credit-crunch-related slowdown in financial-services advertising, one of the largest Web marketing categories. "When you have a company that has performed as consistently as they have to the upside, there is an inherent expectation that gets built into performance," says Derek Brown, an Internet analyst at Cantor Fitzgerald. "They are larger, growing faster, and are more profitable than any company in the Internet sector by a wide margin."
Google owes its growth mainly to its dominant share of the online advertising market. Google captures roughly 32% of the $21.4 billion in U.S. advertising spending, according to an Oct. 16 report by research firm eMarketer. Google is especially adept at search advertising, which comprises more than 40% of the U.S. online advertising market.
Now Google is racing to gain a larger slice of other forms of online advertising, including display advertising, the term given to ads that run in a fixed spot on a Web page. That's why Google agreed to acquire ad network DoubleClick for $3.1 billion (BusinessWeek.com, 9/28/07) earlier this year.
New Ad Forays Won't Come Cheap
Google is also taking steps to get into video advertising, a segment that eMarketer estimates could comprise more than 13% of the online advertising market in four years, up from 8.2% this year. In August, Google announced plans to embed ads in YouTube videos. "We have a really nice ad that shows up in the bottom half of the video," Google co-founder Sergey Brin said during the analyst call.
Google's forays into other advertising arenas are still early, and its success is by no means guaranteed. A deal that lets Google place ads on News Corp.'s (NWS) social network, MySpace, is going well, according to Google, but it's still not a resounding success. "It is obviously a challenge because there is so much inventory and people can be distracted by many different things," Google co-founder Larry Page said on the conference call. "So there are a lot of things that make it hard."
One thing that makes it difficult to carve a slice of new areas of advertising is the cost. Google executives have pledged that they will continue to spend money on the infrastructure improvements and the personnel necessary to innovate around new ad formats. During the earnings call, CFO Reyes cautioned analysts that such investment could take a toll. "Margins may decline as we continue to invest in our business," said Reyes.
Analysts Worry About Spending
Despite the blockbuster quarter, analysts expressed some concern that Google may be investing too much, too quickly. During the call, several analysts posed pointed questions about Google's decision to hire an additional 2,100 employees during the quarter. Google blamed a less-than-amazing performance last July in part on hiring more aggressively than it had initially planned (BusinessWeek.com, 7/20/07). Chief Executive Eric Schmidt tried to allay concerns, saying, "this is an area where we need to spend more time and focus on what is the appropriate rate…We are paying a lot of attention to head count."
But for now, it's hard for even cautious analysts to be negative about Google's numbers.
Source: Free Blog
Google Earnings: Yet Another Internet Miss
Google didn’t miss Wall Street’s fourth-quarter earnings estimates by much, but it’s Google and every little shortfall matters. The miss was enough to send its stock falling about 7% in after-hours trading. The search giant said its net profit rose 17%, to 1.21 billion, or $3.79 a share. Subtracting stock awards to employees, profit was $4.43 a share, a penny shy of analysts’ estimates.
Sales rose 51%, to $4.827 billion, just a hair under analysts’ estimates. Revenue after payments to marketing partners, known as traffic acquisition costs, was $3.39 billion, also shy of analysts’ $3.45 billion estimate. Google doesn’t give guidance, so its results are often subject to guesswork by analysts.
After Yahoo missed estimates on its fourth-quarter earnings, investors were looking to Google for clues to whether the economic slowdown would hit online advertising. With the conference call about to start, it’s not yet clear what accounts for the earnings shortfall, or at least the perceived shortfall. But with sales more on target than earnings, it looks like expenses, in particular those traffic acquisition costs, came in high. More to come as the call starts. …
But a quick summary first: Execs are pretty firm that the slowing economy isn’t affecting Google yet. CEO Eric Schmidt declares: “We have not yet seen any negative impact from the rumors of a possible recession.” (Oral italics are his.)
The call starts: CEO Eric Schmidt calls out strong international growth. He also calls the fourth quarter "a solid quarter, without a question."
CFO George Reyes says AdSense revenues flagged a bit because of quality improvements that reduced the clickable area around content, which reduced clicks but increased return on advertising.
When talking about traffic acquisition costs, Reyes also says: "Social networking inventory is not monetizing as well as expected." Sorry, MySpace (Google's key social network partner).
Execs say they'll continue to keep spending on data centers and other capital improvements.
Schmidt summing up: "We're quite optimistic about '08."
Now to questions.
Question on why paid click growth was down 15%. Jonathan Rosenberg, senior VP of product management: Search ads grew faster than content ads, and Google weeded out low-quality (low click-through-rate if I heard right) ads.
Question about any impact from the slowing economy: Cofounder Sergey Brin: "We have not been able to detect any such effects from macroeconomic concerns." Rosenberg adds that direct marketing, which is what search advertising largely is, generally fares better in a downturn.
Question on Google's role in the wireless auctions: No comment. At all.
Will the European regulators approve the DoubleClick deal? No firm answer, of course, but Schmidt says, "We're very hopeful that they will clear (the deal) as well."
More questions on problems making money from social networks: Rosenberg says they haven't been able to slice up social networking pages into targeting enough groups. Brin adds: "I don't think we have the killer best way to monetize social networks. But it's a big opportunity" because it's such a large amount of inventory.
More thoughts: Some analysts focused on the decline in the growth of paid clicks in the fourth quarter--up 9% from the third quarter, compared with a 22% gain from last year's third to fourth quarters. The question is whether that decline in paid click growth is due to the economy. If so, look out. But Google execs seemed quite firm in saying they saw no negative impact from the economy yet. Since companies are usually only too happy to blame any shortfalls on the economy, Google should probably be taken at its word. In any case, the details of Google's miss show no indication any wheels are falling off.
Sales rose 51%, to $4.827 billion, just a hair under analysts’ estimates. Revenue after payments to marketing partners, known as traffic acquisition costs, was $3.39 billion, also shy of analysts’ $3.45 billion estimate. Google doesn’t give guidance, so its results are often subject to guesswork by analysts.
After Yahoo missed estimates on its fourth-quarter earnings, investors were looking to Google for clues to whether the economic slowdown would hit online advertising. With the conference call about to start, it’s not yet clear what accounts for the earnings shortfall, or at least the perceived shortfall. But with sales more on target than earnings, it looks like expenses, in particular those traffic acquisition costs, came in high. More to come as the call starts. …
But a quick summary first: Execs are pretty firm that the slowing economy isn’t affecting Google yet. CEO Eric Schmidt declares: “We have not yet seen any negative impact from the rumors of a possible recession.” (Oral italics are his.)
The call starts: CEO Eric Schmidt calls out strong international growth. He also calls the fourth quarter "a solid quarter, without a question."
CFO George Reyes says AdSense revenues flagged a bit because of quality improvements that reduced the clickable area around content, which reduced clicks but increased return on advertising.
When talking about traffic acquisition costs, Reyes also says: "Social networking inventory is not monetizing as well as expected." Sorry, MySpace (Google's key social network partner).
Execs say they'll continue to keep spending on data centers and other capital improvements.
Schmidt summing up: "We're quite optimistic about '08."
Now to questions.
Question on why paid click growth was down 15%. Jonathan Rosenberg, senior VP of product management: Search ads grew faster than content ads, and Google weeded out low-quality (low click-through-rate if I heard right) ads.
Question about any impact from the slowing economy: Cofounder Sergey Brin: "We have not been able to detect any such effects from macroeconomic concerns." Rosenberg adds that direct marketing, which is what search advertising largely is, generally fares better in a downturn.
Question on Google's role in the wireless auctions: No comment. At all.
Will the European regulators approve the DoubleClick deal? No firm answer, of course, but Schmidt says, "We're very hopeful that they will clear (the deal) as well."
More questions on problems making money from social networks: Rosenberg says they haven't been able to slice up social networking pages into targeting enough groups. Brin adds: "I don't think we have the killer best way to monetize social networks. But it's a big opportunity" because it's such a large amount of inventory.
More thoughts: Some analysts focused on the decline in the growth of paid clicks in the fourth quarter--up 9% from the third quarter, compared with a 22% gain from last year's third to fourth quarters. The question is whether that decline in paid click growth is due to the economy. If so, look out. But Google execs seemed quite firm in saying they saw no negative impact from the economy yet. Since companies are usually only too happy to blame any shortfalls on the economy, Google should probably be taken at its word. In any case, the details of Google's miss show no indication any wheels are falling off.
Google's earnings will spark a strong rally
With the stock market slowly moving off of lows set early last week, look for Google's (NASDAQ: GOOG) earnings to be just what the doctor ordered to rocket the market forward. As Brian White posted, "Google's shares have been shaken from a high of over $700 this past Christmas to under $543 today, as the company has joined in with the overall market teeter-totter amid continued housing worries and recession talk and FUD that spreads like wildfire every week."
I think that the company will report blow out numbers, as it has done in the past. The catch this time is that the market hasn't set Google up for a fall. I don't believe expectations are all that high due to the market rout. If Google surprises to the upside, this will be what the bulls among us have been waiting for, and I would expect a nice 7-10% market move to the upside in the next two to three weeks.
A strong Google report would help justify what I have been saying that technology will be leading the market higher. Microsoft (NASDAQ: MSFT) had a great report last week, let's hope Google has a similar report tonight.
I think that the company will report blow out numbers, as it has done in the past. The catch this time is that the market hasn't set Google up for a fall. I don't believe expectations are all that high due to the market rout. If Google surprises to the upside, this will be what the bulls among us have been waiting for, and I would expect a nice 7-10% market move to the upside in the next two to three weeks.
A strong Google report would help justify what I have been saying that technology will be leading the market higher. Microsoft (NASDAQ: MSFT) had a great report last week, let's hope Google has a similar report tonight.
Google's Earnings Jump 477%
Google Inc. yesterday reported that its first-quarter profit more than quadrupled and revenue nearly doubled because of surging online ad sales. The news, disclosed after the close of the regular trading day, sparked a rally in the search engine giant's stock price.
For the three months ended March 31, Google reported profit of $369.2 million ($1.29 a share), up from $64 million (24 cents) in the first quarter last year. Revenue, almost entirely from online advertising on Google and its partner Web sites, increased 93 percent, from $651.6 million to $1.3 billion this year.
Google stock shot up nearly $20 in after-hours trading as share prices pushed above $220. Google shares, which started the week trading at about $185, started rising earlier this week following rival Yahoo Inc.'s positive earnings report, which was released late Tuesday. Google went public in August at a price of $85 a share.
"Our focus remains very clearly and steadfastly on long-term growth. In the meantime, we have a quarterly earnings report about which we are very pleased," said Google chief executive Eric E. Schmidt.
Millions of computer users use Google to find information rapidly on the World Wide Web. The firm profits when people click on the text-based ads that it serves up alongside its free search results. The company does business in the United States and dozens of foreign countries.
"We were very busy this quarter launching dozens of new products and features," said Google co-founder Larry Page. But, he added, "We remain most focused on the core technology of search."
Sergey Brin, the other co-founder, said the company also put new systems in place that made it easier for large advertisers to join the thousands of small and medium-size firms that promote their products and services on Google. He said Google's online ads enable firms to measure the results of their spending more precisely than with traditional media. "We also see more use of Google advertising by companies for branding to make sure their name and products are known throughout the world," Schmidt said.
For the three months ended March 31, Google reported profit of $369.2 million ($1.29 a share), up from $64 million (24 cents) in the first quarter last year. Revenue, almost entirely from online advertising on Google and its partner Web sites, increased 93 percent, from $651.6 million to $1.3 billion this year.
Google stock shot up nearly $20 in after-hours trading as share prices pushed above $220. Google shares, which started the week trading at about $185, started rising earlier this week following rival Yahoo Inc.'s positive earnings report, which was released late Tuesday. Google went public in August at a price of $85 a share.
"Our focus remains very clearly and steadfastly on long-term growth. In the meantime, we have a quarterly earnings report about which we are very pleased," said Google chief executive Eric E. Schmidt.
Millions of computer users use Google to find information rapidly on the World Wide Web. The firm profits when people click on the text-based ads that it serves up alongside its free search results. The company does business in the United States and dozens of foreign countries.
"We were very busy this quarter launching dozens of new products and features," said Google co-founder Larry Page. But, he added, "We remain most focused on the core technology of search."
Sergey Brin, the other co-founder, said the company also put new systems in place that made it easier for large advertisers to join the thousands of small and medium-size firms that promote their products and services on Google. He said Google's online ads enable firms to measure the results of their spending more precisely than with traditional media. "We also see more use of Google advertising by companies for branding to make sure their name and products are known throughout the world," Schmidt said.
Sokoke, ashera, egyptian mau, lundehund, ashera cat, savannah cat
Alternative names
Norsk Lundehund
Norwegian Puffin Dog
Lundehund
Country of origin
Norway
Classification and breed standards
FCI: Group 5 Section 2 #269 Stds
AKC: Miscellaneous Class - July 1, 2008 [? Stds]
CKC: Group 2 - Hounds Stds
UKC: Northern Breeds Stds
The Norwegian Lundehund (Norwegian: Norsk Lundehund (from Norsk (Norwegian), lunde (puffin) and hund (dog)) is a small dog breed originating from Norway and originally bred for hunting puffins.
Appearance
The Norwegian Lundehund is a small, rectangular Spitz type dog. The Lundehund has a great range of motion in its joints, allowing it to fit into narrow passages. The head can be bent backwards along the dog's own spine, and the forelegs can turn to the side at a 90-degree angle to its body, much like human arms. Its pricked, upright ears can be sealed nearly shut by folding them forward or backward.The Norwegian Lundehund is polydactyl: instead of the normal four toes a foot, the Lundehund has six toes, all fully formed, jointed and muscled. The outercoat is dense and rough with a soft undercoat.
History
The breed has a long history. As far back as 1600 it was used for hunting puffins along the Norwegian coast. Its flexibility and extra toes were ideal for hunting the birds in their inaccessible nesting locations on cliffs and in caves. Interest for the breed declined when new methods for hunting puffins were invented and a dog tax was created. Around 1900, they were only found in the isolated village of Mostad, Lofoten. The breed was nearly extinct around World War II when canine distemper struck Værøy and the surrounding islands. In 1963, the population was further decimated by distemper again. This time, only 6 dogs survived (1 on Værøy & 5 in southern Norway Hamar (these 5 were from the same mother)), creating a population bottleneck. Due to careful breeding with strict guidelines, there are now an estimated 1500-2000 dogs in the world, with around 1100 of the population in Norway and approximately 350 in the United States.
Lundehund Gastroenteropathy
Wednesday, January 30, 2008
Wkbw, wivb, wgrz, wben, my dad is better than your dad, channel 2 buffalo
BUFFALO -- This is hugely embarrassing, so let's get the ugly facts right out on the table.
Ten days ago, I contrived to be a guest participant in the touring production of The 25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee. The Tony Award-winning show, the original production of which closed on Broadway last week after 1,157 performances, was in Buffalo at the Shea Theatre for five nights, en route to its arrival at Toronto's Elgin Theatre on Tuesday - part of Dancap Productions' inaugural season.
In spirit, Spelling Bee is a show like A Chorus Line, except the actors dance with words instead of their feet. Six preteeners, representing every colour in the American racial rainbow, compete for first prize and, along the way, sing songs that tell us something about their lives, hopes, dreams, conflicts and so on. You catch my drift. Here, winning isn't everything, which is not a message Vince Lombardi would have saluted.
The script, by Rachel Sheinkin, is clever. Music and lyrics are by the estimable William Finn (Falsettos). Not his finest hour, but they seem to work.
Ten days ago, I contrived to be a guest participant in the touring production of The 25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee. The Tony Award-winning show, the original production of which closed on Broadway last week after 1,157 performances, was in Buffalo at the Shea Theatre for five nights, en route to its arrival at Toronto's Elgin Theatre on Tuesday - part of Dancap Productions' inaugural season.
In spirit, Spelling Bee is a show like A Chorus Line, except the actors dance with words instead of their feet. Six preteeners, representing every colour in the American racial rainbow, compete for first prize and, along the way, sing songs that tell us something about their lives, hopes, dreams, conflicts and so on. You catch my drift. Here, winning isn't everything, which is not a message Vince Lombardi would have saluted.
The script, by Rachel Sheinkin, is clever. Music and lyrics are by the estimable William Finn (Falsettos). Not his finest hour, but they seem to work.
Wwmt, wood tv, wotv, wzzm, woodtv, yahoo
As a police dispatcher, Amanda Banas has directed police in all kinds of weather conditions.
But this morning was one of the worst the Allegan County dispatcher has experienced as near-blizzard conditions greeted commuters following a 40-degree temperature plunge.
Press Photo/T.J. HamiltonThe Civil War monument stands in swirls of snow along Division Avenue in Grand Rapids on Tuesday night as the snowstorm started around 11 p.m.
The triple whammy -- ice beneath a blanket of snow and white-out gusts exceeding 30 mph -- gave pause to even the hardiest drivers.
"I've never been so scared in my life coming into work," Banas said. "It took me more than an hour to go from Wayland to Allegan. I drove into the ditch twice because of the white-out conditions."
Banas avoided getting stuck, but dozens of other motorists were involved in slide-offs and crashes across West Michigan.
Road crews battled ice and snow as they tried to clear roads. Temperatures fell from 47 degrees to 7 degrees in nine hours.
"The temperature dropped so fast, going from rain to freezing rain to ice, that it's very slippery," said Kent County Road Commission Maintenance Director Jerry Byrne.
The Road Commission had 80 trucks on the roads this morning. Byrne said blowing snow made visibility the biggest challenge for drivers. He traveled about 15 mph on Int. 96 this morning coming into work.
Across the region, the wind knocked out power to thousands in West Michigan overnight, although Consumers Energy was making steady progress restoring electricity.
Quick change
Temperature drop: 40 degrees in nine hours
Fastest freefall: 27 degrees from 9 p.m. to midnight.
Highest gust: 52 mph at 11:27 p.m.; 30+ mph today
Wind chills: 10 to 15 below zero today
Snowfall: 2 to 3 inches
Forecast: Today: slowly clearing, high around 10; warmer Thursday, chance of significant snow late.
SOURCE: National Weather Service
About 1,420 customers in Allegan County and 1,700 in Kalamazoo County were without power before dawn, but just 100 customers were powerless in Kent County.
Most schools in the area were closed. At least two outbound flights from the Gerald R. Ford International Airport, one to Dallas and one to Chicago, were delayed this morning, according to the airport Web site.
Police reported few serious injuries from crashes this morning, though dispatchers at the state police post in Rockford said troopers were having trouble getting to some scenes quickly as the morning rush got under way.
Weather conditions were expected to improve throughout today, although temperatures were not expected to rise much above 10 degrees.
Temperatures are expected to moderate Thursday, but another winter storm with significant snow is possible late Thursday night into Friday.
Mike Kalembkiewicz, a meteorological technician, said it took him 30 minutes to drive seven miles into work this morning.
"I couldn't see anything. I had to keep stopping," he said.
The return of bone-chilling weather comes on the heels of a late January warm-up. A steady Tuesday-afternoon rain flushed much of the area's snow into local rivers before the wintry landscape was restored hours later.
Press Photo/Dave OdetteDavid Bauer, a resident of Vern Barry Place, cleans the sidewalks along Division Avenue early this morning. Bauer shovels snow for no pay for a couple businesses along the 100 block of Division.
Grand River levels were near flood stage in Comstock Park this morning, but the water was expected to begin receding Friday without spilling over the banks.
Schools canceled sports events Tuesday night in anticipation of the storm.
At AMR Ambulance Service, operations supervisor Craig Veldheer said staffing overnight Tuesday was at normal levels even though forecasters predicted travel would be treacherous. Veldheer had five crews on duty in Grand Rapids and several lined up for emergency call-in if needed.
"We're constantly watching the radar and planning for the worst while hoping for the best," Veldheer said. "Just like everyone, we kind of sit back and see what hits us."
Veldheer, however, thinks the storm warnings kept drivers off the roads Tuesday night. Most crashes reported involved only minor property damage, dispatchers said.
"People are hunkering down and staying inside," Veldheer said. "The problem starts when second-shifters head home and third-shifters or day-time workers have to go in."
But this morning was one of the worst the Allegan County dispatcher has experienced as near-blizzard conditions greeted commuters following a 40-degree temperature plunge.
Press Photo/T.J. HamiltonThe Civil War monument stands in swirls of snow along Division Avenue in Grand Rapids on Tuesday night as the snowstorm started around 11 p.m.
The triple whammy -- ice beneath a blanket of snow and white-out gusts exceeding 30 mph -- gave pause to even the hardiest drivers.
"I've never been so scared in my life coming into work," Banas said. "It took me more than an hour to go from Wayland to Allegan. I drove into the ditch twice because of the white-out conditions."
Banas avoided getting stuck, but dozens of other motorists were involved in slide-offs and crashes across West Michigan.
Road crews battled ice and snow as they tried to clear roads. Temperatures fell from 47 degrees to 7 degrees in nine hours.
"The temperature dropped so fast, going from rain to freezing rain to ice, that it's very slippery," said Kent County Road Commission Maintenance Director Jerry Byrne.
The Road Commission had 80 trucks on the roads this morning. Byrne said blowing snow made visibility the biggest challenge for drivers. He traveled about 15 mph on Int. 96 this morning coming into work.
Across the region, the wind knocked out power to thousands in West Michigan overnight, although Consumers Energy was making steady progress restoring electricity.
Quick change
Temperature drop: 40 degrees in nine hours
Fastest freefall: 27 degrees from 9 p.m. to midnight.
Highest gust: 52 mph at 11:27 p.m.; 30+ mph today
Wind chills: 10 to 15 below zero today
Snowfall: 2 to 3 inches
Forecast: Today: slowly clearing, high around 10; warmer Thursday, chance of significant snow late.
SOURCE: National Weather Service
About 1,420 customers in Allegan County and 1,700 in Kalamazoo County were without power before dawn, but just 100 customers were powerless in Kent County.
Most schools in the area were closed. At least two outbound flights from the Gerald R. Ford International Airport, one to Dallas and one to Chicago, were delayed this morning, according to the airport Web site.
Police reported few serious injuries from crashes this morning, though dispatchers at the state police post in Rockford said troopers were having trouble getting to some scenes quickly as the morning rush got under way.
Weather conditions were expected to improve throughout today, although temperatures were not expected to rise much above 10 degrees.
Temperatures are expected to moderate Thursday, but another winter storm with significant snow is possible late Thursday night into Friday.
Mike Kalembkiewicz, a meteorological technician, said it took him 30 minutes to drive seven miles into work this morning.
"I couldn't see anything. I had to keep stopping," he said.
The return of bone-chilling weather comes on the heels of a late January warm-up. A steady Tuesday-afternoon rain flushed much of the area's snow into local rivers before the wintry landscape was restored hours later.
Press Photo/Dave OdetteDavid Bauer, a resident of Vern Barry Place, cleans the sidewalks along Division Avenue early this morning. Bauer shovels snow for no pay for a couple businesses along the 100 block of Division.
Grand River levels were near flood stage in Comstock Park this morning, but the water was expected to begin receding Friday without spilling over the banks.
Schools canceled sports events Tuesday night in anticipation of the storm.
At AMR Ambulance Service, operations supervisor Craig Veldheer said staffing overnight Tuesday was at normal levels even though forecasters predicted travel would be treacherous. Veldheer had five crews on duty in Grand Rapids and several lined up for emergency call-in if needed.
"We're constantly watching the radar and planning for the worst while hoping for the best," Veldheer said. "Just like everyone, we kind of sit back and see what hits us."
Veldheer, however, thinks the storm warnings kept drivers off the roads Tuesday night. Most crashes reported involved only minor property damage, dispatchers said.
"People are hunkering down and staying inside," Veldheer said. "The problem starts when second-shifters head home and third-shifters or day-time workers have to go in."
Michigan school closings, school closings, grand rapids school closings, school closings mi, school closings michigan, wxyz.com
Pellston Public Schools, Public Schools of Petoskey, St. Francis Xavier School (Petoskey), Concord Academy - Boyne, Boyne City Public Schools and Boyne Valley Alternative School, Vanderbilt Area School, North Central Michigan College classes in Petoskey, Harbor Springs Public School, Northwest Academy.
School closings for Tuesday
Due to weather conditions the following schools are cancelled: Buckley Schools, Cadillac Public Schools, Evart Public Schools, Lake City Schools, Manton Schools, Marion Public Schools, McBain Public Schools, Mesick Schools, Northern Michigan Christian of McBain, Pine River Schools, Reed City Schools, St. Ann’s in Cadillac and Cadillac Heritage Schools.
All YMCA programs also have closed due to the weather.
School closings for Tuesday
Due to weather conditions the following schools are cancelled: Buckley Schools, Cadillac Public Schools, Evart Public Schools, Lake City Schools, Manton Schools, Marion Public Schools, McBain Public Schools, Mesick Schools, Northern Michigan Christian of McBain, Pine River Schools, Reed City Schools, St. Ann’s in Cadillac and Cadillac Heritage Schools.
All YMCA programs also have closed due to the weather.
Ines gomes mont, ines gomes, ines, ines gomez mont, ines gomez, inez
No question is out of bounds (San Jose Mercury News)
Ours lime that browns of the Daniel this relationship of thesuccessive questions has asked for Heliums that it equips to means theexcellent day of the ciotola: Question 1: "equipping!
Hit List: Burress, Cassel say the strangest things (Fox Sports)
In the same moment in which the excellent means day of the thoughtciotola Hench di Kevin she could not obtain at all more odd number, awoman narcotic has demonstrated it badly.
chinese toilet
gomes 2007 of the otwieranie imagenes de Ines of okna of theplastikowe of cutaneous of the cyst of regal of the infantil ofconocimiento of of of the Perù resultados de the olimpiada ofdefinicion of the calendar de vacunacion mont de tv...
Ines Gomes Mont 4 Video:
Ines Gomes Mont 5 Video:
Ours lime that browns of the Daniel this relationship of thesuccessive questions has asked for Heliums that it equips to means theexcellent day of the ciotola: Question 1: "equipping!
Hit List: Burress, Cassel say the strangest things (Fox Sports)
In the same moment in which the excellent means day of the thoughtciotola Hench di Kevin she could not obtain at all more odd number, awoman narcotic has demonstrated it badly.
chinese toilet
gomes 2007 of the otwieranie imagenes de Ines of okna of theplastikowe of cutaneous of the cyst of regal of the infantil ofconocimiento of of of the Perù resultados de the olimpiada ofdefinicion of the calendar de vacunacion mont de tv...
Ines Gomes Mont 4 Video:
Ines Gomes Mont 5 Video:
Hairless cats, sphynx, hairless cats for sale, hairless cat, sphynx cats, sphynx cat
On yesterday's XPN Morning Show I recounted meeting my neighbors' hairless cat Captain Jack Sparrow, named for Johnny Depp's character in the Pirates of the Caribbean series. He's very animated (the cat) and loves to pirouette around while holding a peacock feather in his mouth that's five times longer than he is. One of our boardies requested a photo on this blog.The cat looks like something that jumped off a computer screen or arrived from outer space. He's multi-colored, grey and pink with translucent brown feet that seem to be made of rubber, and his neck skin wrinkles in concentric circles.
It turns out that hairless cats, which were bred after a mutation, need to be bathed a couple of times a week to prevent buildup of the oil that cats secrete. Cats with fur distribute the oil through their pelt when they lick themselves, but no such luck for the hairless ones. (Wonder why they're called hairless if the thing they're missing is fur...???).
Anyway, I got an e-mail from Ruth K, whose friend has a hairless cat named Flanny:
I mentioned that when my neighbors' cat ran up, it looked like a chihuaha at first. Here's Ruth's chihuahua Elvis:
And here comes the musical payoff
......Flanny yodels
The Sphynx (also known as Canadian Skinless or A Cat Without Skin) is a rare breed of cat. The Sphynx appears to be a Skinless cat, although it is truly hairless. The skin should have the texture of chamois. It may be covered with very soft, fine down, which is almost imperceptible to both the eye and touch. On the ears, muzzle, tail, and feet, a short, soft, fine hair is allowed. Lack of coat makes the cat quite warm to the touch. Whiskers and eyebrows may be present, either whole or broken, or may be totally absent. Their skin is the color their fur would be, and all the usual cat marking patterns (solid, point, van, tabby, tortie, etc) may be found in Sphynx too. People are surprised by how different their personalities are. Many describe them as part monkey, pig, and human because of how intelligent, extroverted, and affectionate they are.
Many people with typical allergies to furry cats find that they tolerate the sphynx breed. This may be due to the fact that the proteins in cat saliva are often the culprit. Because sphynx lack hair and do not leave it behind, many have fewer difficulties living in harmony with the breed. There is no guarantee, however, and allergies vary greatly between individual people.
Sphynx cats are not maintenance-free. Their lack of hair results in increased body oils. Regular bathing is often necessary. Care should be taken to limit the Sphynx cat's exposure to outdoor sunlight at length, as they can develop a sunburn, similar to that of human exposure. In general, Sphynx cats should never be allowed outdoors unattended, as they have limited means to conserve body heat in colder temperatures, and their curious nature can take them into dangerous places or situations.
Two-week-old Sphynx kitten.
Two-week-old Sphynx kitten.
The Sphynx breed is known for a sturdy, heavy body (many cats of this breed also develop a pot belly), a wedge-shaped head, and an alert, friendly temperament. Although hairless cats have been reported throughout history (hairless cats seem to appear naturally about every 15 years or so), breeders in Canada have been working on the Sphynx breed since the early 1960s. The current American and European Sphynx breed is descended from two lines of natural mutations:
* Dermis and Epidermis (1975) from the Pearsons of Wadena, Minnesota, USA.
* Bambi, Punkie, and Paloma (1978) found in Toronto, ON, Canada and raised by Shirley Smith.
Other hairless breeds might have different body shapes or temperaments than those described above. There are, for example, new hairless breeds, including the Don Sphynx and the Peterbald from Russia, which arose from their own spontaneous mutations. The standard for the Sphynx differs between cat associations such as TICA, FIFE and CFA.
It has been theorised that Sphynx hairlessness might be produced by an allele of the same gene that produces the Devon Rex (re), with the Sphynx allele being incompletely dominant over the Devon allele and both recessive to the wild type. However a different genetic symbol (hr) is given to the Sphynx gene and it is more likely that these are different genes interacting with each other. Sphynx were at one time crossbred with Devon Rex, but unfortunately this led to the introduction of some genetic diseases and is now forbidden in most breed standards associations. Herediary spasticity and Hypertrophic Cardiomyopathy (a genetic heart defect) were introduced by the Devon Rex breed. The only allowable outcross breeds in the CFA are now the American Shorthair and Domestic Shorthair. Other associations may vary and the Russian Blue is a permitted outcross in the GCCF. In Europe mainly Devon Rex has been used for outcrosses.
In 1999 SGC Apophis Nordstrom of Classical Cats won the TICA International Alter of the Year. In 2006 SGC Classical Cats Valentino won the TICA International Cat of the year. In the Cat Fancier's Association, GC, RW, NW Majikmoon Will Silver With Age was Cat of the Year for 2006. The following year, GC, RW, NW Enchantedlair NWA Cornflake Girl was Kitten of the Year. These awards are handed out for the highest scoring cats, across all breeds.
Popular culture
* A Sphynx, Mr. Bigglesworth, appears in the Austin Powers movies as Dr. Evil's cat. Mr. Bigglesworth was played by SGC Belfry Ted Nude-Gent, owned and bred by Michelle Berge of Belfry Sphynx.
* In the Friends episode 'The One with the Ball', Rachel Green buys a Sphynx cat named Mrs. Whiskerson ("What am I gonna call her, Fluffy?"). Both Ross ("Why is it inside-out?") and Joey ("It's not a cat!") think it's hideous.
* In the reality TV show LA Ink, tattoo artist Kat Von D has a pet Sphynx named Ludwig.
* In the Disney cartoon series "Kim Possible", villain Camille Leone is always seen with her Sphynx cat named Debutante.
* At the beginning of Ghostbusters 2, Peter Venkman (played by Bill Murray) introduces next week's show as "Next week on "World of the Psychic". Hairless cats... weird." as he holds one up. Ghostbusters 2 was released in 1989.
Blood and chocolate, urban justice, justice league the new frontier, lions for lambs, planet terror, revamped
As I’m sure you’ve already guessed from the title, Blood & Chocolate is about a girl who can turn into a wolf.
Let me give you some insight into how the title of this movie was chosen.
Marketing Guy#1: So, we’re thinking a movie called “Blood” will really get the male demographic interested.
Marketing Guy#2: Wait, what about the chicks? Girls don’t like blood.
Marketing Guy#1: What do girls like? Flowers? Backrubs?
Marketing Guy#2: Hmmm… “Blood and Foot Massages.”
Marketing Guy#1: No wait, I got it. “Blood and Chocolate.”
Marketing Guy#2: Yeah!
(high five)
That was a lie. Research tells us that this movie is based on the novel “Blood and Chocolate” by Annette Curtis Klause. She named the book after the 1986 Elvis Costello and the Attractions album.
No, that was another lie.
Research tells us the name “Blood and Chocolate” comes from a quote from a Hermann Hesse novel called “Steppenwolf.”
Research tells us that Steppenwolf was the band that sang “Born to be Wild.”
All of these facts are far more interesting than the actual movie, but this is a website called LameMovies.net, so you knew that already. Also you should know that everyone who works in my local video store thinks I have wretched taste in movies. This is the sacrifice I make for you (Lindsay Lohan’s I Know Who Killed Me coming soon).
The first indication that there’s going to be a problem with this movie is the dreaded “film by” credit. Anyone who fancies themself auteur enough to put “A Film by” credit in front of a Wolman movie called “Blood & Chocolate” is obviously incapable of delivering the goods. That’s just my opinion, and I am never wrong. Stanley Kubrick can put “A film by” on his flicks. Katja Von Garnier has not yet earned that privilege.
Research tells us that Garnier is a brand of hair products.
Anyway, the story concerns Vivian, a young girl who is not human. She is loup-garoux.
Research tells us that loup is the French word for wolf. And I think garoux might be like a French sauce made out of flour and fat. So loup-garoux literally means “wolf gravy.”
No, I’m lying again. Loup-garoux means werewolf I guess in French, even though they live in Romania. We learn that Vivian likes to run. Occasionally, for no reason, she’ll jump at a wall and sorta leap off it. Not in any kind of spectacular She-Wolf kind of way, but obviously I’m supposed to gather from this pathetic wall bouncing that Vivian is different. Vivian is special. Vivian can do things. Vivian works in a chocolate store, no doubt an effort by the screenwriter to shed some light on the title.
Vivian belongs to a secretive clan of werewolves that live in Romania and hide their true nature from mankind to remain alive. Secrecy is paramount to these people, because throughout history man has hunted and killed them whenever they discovered their true nature. Vivian learned this lesson the hard way when her entire family was killed. So under no circumstances can anyone be told about their secret, but occasionally it seems okay to hunt and kill humans. Just keep the secret. Everything else is gravy. Wolf gravy.
So now Vivian lives in Romania making chocolate. The leader of the pack is Gabriel, and it is time to pick a new mate for himself. Vivian is most likely going to be chosen, but she doesn’t want this life. She doesn’t want to ride the wolf gravy train as the leader’s wife. She just wants to be left alone.
That’s when she meets Aiden, a human artist of graphic novels who is doing research for a new project about the loup-garoux legend. He doesn’t realize she’s a werewolf. She however, quickly realizes the danger Aiden is in for sniffing around (har!) and promptly starts dating him.
Then they actually have the dreaded date montage. Nothing in cinema makes my kidneys hurt more than the date montage. You know, a series of clips to music of them laughing, having fun, falling down, playing in fountains… sort of like a chewing gum commercial.
This spells trouble for the pack, and Gabriel orders Aiden run off or killed, and Vivian is forced to choose her loyalties. Man or Wolf.
The most interesting thing about the movie is that the loup-garoux are not portrayed as your typical werewolves. They turn into real wolves, instead of into those half-man, half wolf creatures we are used to seeing. The reason this is interesting is because when they change into a wolf (in a flash of glowing light), their clothes disappear. And when they change back to human form, they are naked.
The clothes don’t come back.
Where do they go?
Where are the clothes?
Research doesn’t tell us.
Let me give you some insight into how the title of this movie was chosen.
Marketing Guy#1: So, we’re thinking a movie called “Blood” will really get the male demographic interested.
Marketing Guy#2: Wait, what about the chicks? Girls don’t like blood.
Marketing Guy#1: What do girls like? Flowers? Backrubs?
Marketing Guy#2: Hmmm… “Blood and Foot Massages.”
Marketing Guy#1: No wait, I got it. “Blood and Chocolate.”
Marketing Guy#2: Yeah!
(high five)
That was a lie. Research tells us that this movie is based on the novel “Blood and Chocolate” by Annette Curtis Klause. She named the book after the 1986 Elvis Costello and the Attractions album.
No, that was another lie.
Research tells us the name “Blood and Chocolate” comes from a quote from a Hermann Hesse novel called “Steppenwolf.”
Research tells us that Steppenwolf was the band that sang “Born to be Wild.”
All of these facts are far more interesting than the actual movie, but this is a website called LameMovies.net, so you knew that already. Also you should know that everyone who works in my local video store thinks I have wretched taste in movies. This is the sacrifice I make for you (Lindsay Lohan’s I Know Who Killed Me coming soon).
The first indication that there’s going to be a problem with this movie is the dreaded “film by” credit. Anyone who fancies themself auteur enough to put “A Film by” credit in front of a Wolman movie called “Blood & Chocolate” is obviously incapable of delivering the goods. That’s just my opinion, and I am never wrong. Stanley Kubrick can put “A film by” on his flicks. Katja Von Garnier has not yet earned that privilege.
Research tells us that Garnier is a brand of hair products.
Anyway, the story concerns Vivian, a young girl who is not human. She is loup-garoux.
Research tells us that loup is the French word for wolf. And I think garoux might be like a French sauce made out of flour and fat. So loup-garoux literally means “wolf gravy.”
No, I’m lying again. Loup-garoux means werewolf I guess in French, even though they live in Romania. We learn that Vivian likes to run. Occasionally, for no reason, she’ll jump at a wall and sorta leap off it. Not in any kind of spectacular She-Wolf kind of way, but obviously I’m supposed to gather from this pathetic wall bouncing that Vivian is different. Vivian is special. Vivian can do things. Vivian works in a chocolate store, no doubt an effort by the screenwriter to shed some light on the title.
Vivian belongs to a secretive clan of werewolves that live in Romania and hide their true nature from mankind to remain alive. Secrecy is paramount to these people, because throughout history man has hunted and killed them whenever they discovered their true nature. Vivian learned this lesson the hard way when her entire family was killed. So under no circumstances can anyone be told about their secret, but occasionally it seems okay to hunt and kill humans. Just keep the secret. Everything else is gravy. Wolf gravy.
So now Vivian lives in Romania making chocolate. The leader of the pack is Gabriel, and it is time to pick a new mate for himself. Vivian is most likely going to be chosen, but she doesn’t want this life. She doesn’t want to ride the wolf gravy train as the leader’s wife. She just wants to be left alone.
That’s when she meets Aiden, a human artist of graphic novels who is doing research for a new project about the loup-garoux legend. He doesn’t realize she’s a werewolf. She however, quickly realizes the danger Aiden is in for sniffing around (har!) and promptly starts dating him.
Then they actually have the dreaded date montage. Nothing in cinema makes my kidneys hurt more than the date montage. You know, a series of clips to music of them laughing, having fun, falling down, playing in fountains… sort of like a chewing gum commercial.
This spells trouble for the pack, and Gabriel orders Aiden run off or killed, and Vivian is forced to choose her loyalties. Man or Wolf.
The most interesting thing about the movie is that the loup-garoux are not portrayed as your typical werewolves. They turn into real wolves, instead of into those half-man, half wolf creatures we are used to seeing. The reason this is interesting is because when they change into a wolf (in a flash of glowing light), their clothes disappear. And when they change back to human form, they are naked.
The clothes don’t come back.
Where do they go?
Where are the clothes?
Research doesn’t tell us.
Overnight delivery, the china syndrome, københavns universitet, fiona allen, lucy porter, macbook air ad song
Overnight Delivery is a 1998 American movie directed by Jason Bloom. It was written by Marc Sedaka and Steven Bloom, but famed indie director Kevin Smith was hired to rewrite the script (uncredited). Exterior scenes were filmed in Minneapolis, Minnesota.
It's a romantic comedy about a man (Paul Rudd) who suspects his girlfriend (who's attending college across the country) is cheating on him. He sends her a letter along with a photo of a girl posing topless with him, and a "faked" used condom. Then after he's already mailed the letter to his girlfriend, he finds out she didn't really cheat on him. He and his stripper friend Ivy (Reese Witherspoon) go on a cross country trip to stop the letter from arriving at his girlfriend's dorm. Along the way he unexpectedly finds himself falling in love with Ivy instead.
Cast
* Paul Rudd as Wyatt Trips
* Christine Taylor as Kimberly Jasney
* Reese Witherspoon as Ivy Miller
* Larry Drake as Hal Ipswich
* Sarah Silverman as Turran
* Stephen Yoakam as the SWAT Leader
Trivia
Joey Lauren Adams was originally going to skip out on her part in Chasing Amy to play Ivy in this movie, but she lost the part to Reese Witherspoon. Adams' boyfriend at the time, Kevin Smith, (though uncredited) wrote the final script used in the movie. Smith and Reese Witherspoon were never on the best of terms.
According to original reports, the original cut ran about 3 hours long
The 2000 film Road Trip has a similar plot.
During the end sequence where Ivy (Reese Witherspoon) and Trips (Paul Rudd) are talking to each other, you can't hear what they're saying because of the background music. But this is their conversation, according to writer Kevin Smith [1]:
REESE: Who wrote this shit?
PAUL: I think Kevin Smith.
REESE: Ugh! Didn't he write Mallrats?
PAUL: Yeah, but he also wrote Clerks.
REESE: Who cares? No wonder this dialogue sucked.
In the scene when Ivy Drove Paul Rudd's character, "Trips," to the airport, the building in which he was dropped dropped off at is actually the Minneapolis Convention Center and not MSP International Airport.
It's a romantic comedy about a man (Paul Rudd) who suspects his girlfriend (who's attending college across the country) is cheating on him. He sends her a letter along with a photo of a girl posing topless with him, and a "faked" used condom. Then after he's already mailed the letter to his girlfriend, he finds out she didn't really cheat on him. He and his stripper friend Ivy (Reese Witherspoon) go on a cross country trip to stop the letter from arriving at his girlfriend's dorm. Along the way he unexpectedly finds himself falling in love with Ivy instead.
Cast
* Paul Rudd as Wyatt Trips
* Christine Taylor as Kimberly Jasney
* Reese Witherspoon as Ivy Miller
* Larry Drake as Hal Ipswich
* Sarah Silverman as Turran
* Stephen Yoakam as the SWAT Leader
Trivia
Joey Lauren Adams was originally going to skip out on her part in Chasing Amy to play Ivy in this movie, but she lost the part to Reese Witherspoon. Adams' boyfriend at the time, Kevin Smith, (though uncredited) wrote the final script used in the movie. Smith and Reese Witherspoon were never on the best of terms.
According to original reports, the original cut ran about 3 hours long
The 2000 film Road Trip has a similar plot.
During the end sequence where Ivy (Reese Witherspoon) and Trips (Paul Rudd) are talking to each other, you can't hear what they're saying because of the background music. But this is their conversation, according to writer Kevin Smith [1]:
REESE: Who wrote this shit?
PAUL: I think Kevin Smith.
REESE: Ugh! Didn't he write Mallrats?
PAUL: Yeah, but he also wrote Clerks.
REESE: Who cares? No wonder this dialogue sucked.
In the scene when Ivy Drove Paul Rudd's character, "Trips," to the airport, the building in which he was dropped dropped off at is actually the Minneapolis Convention Center and not MSP International Airport.
Satellite watchers, john locker, john locker satellite, القنوات الفضائية, falling satellite, spr
WASHINGTON — The U.S. military is developing contingency plans to deal with the possibility that a large spy satellite expected to fall to Earth in late February or early March could hit North America.
Air Force Gen. Gene Renuart, who heads of U.S. Northern Command, told The Associated Press on Tuesday that the size of the satellite suggests that some number of pieces will not burn up as the orbiting vehicle re-enters the Earth's atmosphere and will hit the ground.
"We're aware that this satellite is out there," Renuart said. "We're aware it is a fairly substantial size. And we know there is at least some percentage that it could land on ground as opposed to in the water."
A U.S. official confirmed that the spy satellite is designated by the military as US 193. It was launched in December 2006 but almost immediately lost power and cannot be controlled. It carried a sophisticated and secret imaging sensor but the satellite's central computer failed shortly after launch. The official spoke on condition of anonymity because the information is classified as secret.
Renuart added that, "As it looks like it might re-enter into the North American area," then the U.S. military along with the Homeland Security Department and the Federal Emergency Management Agency will either have to deal with the impact or assist Canadian or Mexican authorities.
Military agencies, he said, are doing an analysis to determine which pieces most likely would survive re-entry. But he cautioned that officials won't have much detail on where or when it will crash until it begins to move through the atmosphere and break up.
Renuart added that there does not as yet appear to be much concern about sensitive technologies on the satellite falling into enemy hands.
"I'm not aware that we have a security issue," he said. "It's really just a big thing falling on the ground that we want to make sure we're prepared for."
The satellite includes some small engines that contain a toxic chemical called hydrazine _ which is rocket fuel. But Renuart said they are not large booster engines with substantial amounts of fuel.
Video images of the satellite captured by John Locker, a British amateur satellite watcher, show it to be about 13 feet to 16.5 feet across. He believes it weighs a maximum of 10,000 pounds. Locker calculated its size with data on its altitude and location provided by other amateur satellite watchers, using the International Space Station as a yardstick.
Satellite watchers _ a worldwide network of hobbyists who track satellites for fun _ have been plotting the satellite's degradation for a year. They estimate it is now at an altitude of about 173 miles, and Locker believes it is dropping about 1,640 feet a day.
Where it lands will be difficult to predict until the satellite falls to about 59 miles above the Earth and enters the atmosphere. It will then begin to burn up, with flares visible from the ground, said Ted Molczan, a Canadian satellite tracker. From that point on, he said, it will take about 30 minutes to fall.
In the past 50 years of monitoring space, 17,000 manmade objects have re-entered the Earth's atmosphere.
Air Force Gen. Gene Renuart, who heads of U.S. Northern Command, told The Associated Press on Tuesday that the size of the satellite suggests that some number of pieces will not burn up as the orbiting vehicle re-enters the Earth's atmosphere and will hit the ground.
"We're aware that this satellite is out there," Renuart said. "We're aware it is a fairly substantial size. And we know there is at least some percentage that it could land on ground as opposed to in the water."
A U.S. official confirmed that the spy satellite is designated by the military as US 193. It was launched in December 2006 but almost immediately lost power and cannot be controlled. It carried a sophisticated and secret imaging sensor but the satellite's central computer failed shortly after launch. The official spoke on condition of anonymity because the information is classified as secret.
Renuart added that, "As it looks like it might re-enter into the North American area," then the U.S. military along with the Homeland Security Department and the Federal Emergency Management Agency will either have to deal with the impact or assist Canadian or Mexican authorities.
Military agencies, he said, are doing an analysis to determine which pieces most likely would survive re-entry. But he cautioned that officials won't have much detail on where or when it will crash until it begins to move through the atmosphere and break up.
Renuart added that there does not as yet appear to be much concern about sensitive technologies on the satellite falling into enemy hands.
"I'm not aware that we have a security issue," he said. "It's really just a big thing falling on the ground that we want to make sure we're prepared for."
The satellite includes some small engines that contain a toxic chemical called hydrazine _ which is rocket fuel. But Renuart said they are not large booster engines with substantial amounts of fuel.
Video images of the satellite captured by John Locker, a British amateur satellite watcher, show it to be about 13 feet to 16.5 feet across. He believes it weighs a maximum of 10,000 pounds. Locker calculated its size with data on its altitude and location provided by other amateur satellite watchers, using the International Space Station as a yardstick.
Satellite watchers _ a worldwide network of hobbyists who track satellites for fun _ have been plotting the satellite's degradation for a year. They estimate it is now at an altitude of about 173 miles, and Locker believes it is dropping about 1,640 feet a day.
Where it lands will be difficult to predict until the satellite falls to about 59 miles above the Earth and enters the atmosphere. It will then begin to burn up, with flares visible from the ground, said Ted Molczan, a Canadian satellite tracker. From that point on, he said, it will take about 30 minutes to fall.
In the past 50 years of monitoring space, 17,000 manmade objects have re-entered the Earth's atmosphere.
Earjacking, miley cyrus underwear, myspace.com, understimulated, svusd, miley cyrus
Earjacking is simply eavesdropping in on a conversation that you have no business hearing.
Earjacking used in a sentence. “See that guy in the next booth? He is totally earjacking our conversation.”
Other forms of “earjacking.” Earjack, Earjacks, Earjacked, Earjacker, Earjackers.
In life I’m sure we’ve all met or seen earjacks or an earjacking happen. Hell maybe we’ve participated in earjacking ourselves.
Earjacking used in a sentence. “See that guy in the next booth? He is totally earjacking our conversation.”
Other forms of “earjacking.” Earjack, Earjacks, Earjacked, Earjacker, Earjackers.
In life I’m sure we’ve all met or seen earjacks or an earjacking happen. Hell maybe we’ve participated in earjacking ourselves.
Johan santana, mets, mets santana, johan santana mets, new york mets, santana mets
NEW YORK: Johan Santana is a contract extension and physical away from going to the New York Mets.
After months of deliberation, the Twins reached a tentative agreement Tuesday to part with the two-time Cy Young Award winner for outfielder Carlos Gomez, and pitchers Phil Humber, Deolis Guerra and Kevin Mulvey, two people familiar with the deal said, speaking on condition of anonymity because no announcement had been made.
''If it's true, obviously, you're getting arguably the best pitcher in the game,'' Mets third baseman David Wright said.
The next step is for the Mets to negotiate a contract extension with Santana, who is eligible for free agency after this season. The three-time All-Star is owed $13.25 million this year and likely will seek an extension of five-to-seven years worth at least $20 million annually.
New York and Santana have until 5 p.m. Friday to reach an agreement, a baseball official told the Associated Press, also on condition of anonymity. If the Mets and Santana strike a deal, the players would have to pass physicals and the pitcher would have to formally waive his no-trade clause.
The Mets emerged as the top candidate for a trade after the winter meetings, when the New York Yankees withdrew their offer, which included pitchers Phil Hughes and Ian Kennedy, and the Red Sox refused to improve their proposals, which would have sent pitcher Jon Lester or outfielder Jacoby Ellsbury to the Twins along with prospects.
Minnesota General Manager Bill Smith called teams last weekend and asked them to make their best offers. Smith informed the Mets on Tuesday that he was accepting their proposal, which included their Nos. 2, 3, 4 and 7 prospects, according to Baseball America's ranking. New York did not include its top farmhand, outfielder Fernando Martinez.
A left-hander who turns 29 in March, Santana gives the Mets a replacement for Tom Glavine, who left New York to return to the Atlanta Braves.
Santana is 93-44 with a 3.22 ERA in eight major-league seasons, winning the AL Cy Young Award in 2004 and 2006. He has been less successful in the playoffs, going 1-3 with a 3.97 ERA.
After months of deliberation, the Twins reached a tentative agreement Tuesday to part with the two-time Cy Young Award winner for outfielder Carlos Gomez, and pitchers Phil Humber, Deolis Guerra and Kevin Mulvey, two people familiar with the deal said, speaking on condition of anonymity because no announcement had been made.
''If it's true, obviously, you're getting arguably the best pitcher in the game,'' Mets third baseman David Wright said.
The next step is for the Mets to negotiate a contract extension with Santana, who is eligible for free agency after this season. The three-time All-Star is owed $13.25 million this year and likely will seek an extension of five-to-seven years worth at least $20 million annually.
New York and Santana have until 5 p.m. Friday to reach an agreement, a baseball official told the Associated Press, also on condition of anonymity. If the Mets and Santana strike a deal, the players would have to pass physicals and the pitcher would have to formally waive his no-trade clause.
The Mets emerged as the top candidate for a trade after the winter meetings, when the New York Yankees withdrew their offer, which included pitchers Phil Hughes and Ian Kennedy, and the Red Sox refused to improve their proposals, which would have sent pitcher Jon Lester or outfielder Jacoby Ellsbury to the Twins along with prospects.
Minnesota General Manager Bill Smith called teams last weekend and asked them to make their best offers. Smith informed the Mets on Tuesday that he was accepting their proposal, which included their Nos. 2, 3, 4 and 7 prospects, according to Baseball America's ranking. New York did not include its top farmhand, outfielder Fernando Martinez.
A left-hander who turns 29 in March, Santana gives the Mets a replacement for Tom Glavine, who left New York to return to the Atlanta Braves.
Santana is 93-44 with a 3.22 ERA in eight major-league seasons, winning the AL Cy Young Award in 2004 and 2006. He has been less successful in the playoffs, going 1-3 with a 3.97 ERA.
Jenny eisenman, drew eisenman
Caption: Jenny Eisenman (R) claims she killed her husband Drew (L) in self defense.
A SWEET, SOFT-SPOKEN WIFE AND TEACHER KILLS HER HUSBAND –
WAS IT SELF DEFENSE OR MURDER?
“48 HOURS MYSTERY” ON TUESDAY, JAN. 29, 2008
In May 2004, Jenny Eisenman shot her husband Drew six times, killing him instantly, an act she claimed was self-defense. Drew was handsome, athletic and fun, while Jenny was slender, pretty and sweet. Living in Houston, both shared an interest in children and education – Jenny was an elementary school teacher, while Drew was a high school basketball coach. But behind the scenes, their fairytale relationship was quickly deteriorating. Jenny discovered that Drew was having an affair while she was pregnant with their first child. Worse, when their son was born, Drew brought his mistress to Jenny’s hospital room to hold the baby. Jenny and Drew separated a few months later.
Both Drew and Jenny attempted to maintain a civil relationship for the sake of their son, but all that changed one night in May 2004 when police were summoned to Jenny’s apartment after a frantic 911 call in which she admitted to shooting Drew. Expecting to find a homicide scene, police were in for two surprises – a pristine apartment with no sign of struggle or blood and the discovery of Drew’s body outside on the curb stuffed into a storage tub, the same one used to store the family Christmas tree.
Jenny claimed the shooting was an act of self defense against a brutal beating, and told police that Drew had abused her repeatedly in the past. Despite numerous bruises on her legs, police were convinced otherwise. They discovered there was something Jenny didn’t tell them: about an hour after the shooting she had gone to Wal-Mart to pick up spackle and paint to hide the bullet holes. But it was a series of provocative and sexual emails that Jenny sent Drew during the time that he was allegedly abusing her that helped convince a jury that this was not an act of self defense.
Although it would seem that this would be the end of the story, it is far from it. Did Jenny kill Drew in self defense or was it a calculated murder? Jenny Eisenman speaks on camera for the first time and tells her story to 48 HOURS MYSTERY.
Richard Schlesinger reports 48 HOURS MYSTERY: “Trigger Point,” on Tuesday, Jan. 29 (10:00-11:00 PM, ET/PT) on the CBS Television Network. This broadcast is produced by Marcelena Spencer and Jenna Jackson. Judy Tygard is the senior producer and Al Briganti is the executive editor. Susan Zirinsky is the executive producer.
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Born March 24, 1979 (1979-03-24) (age 28)
New York City, New York, United States
Biography
Early life
Bell was born in New York City, the daughter of Robin Bell, a senior designer at a decorating firm,[1] and Harvey Siegel. Her father is Jewish and her mother is of W.A.S.P. background.[2] She has an older brother named Luke Siegel who owns a sliding wall and door company called Raydoor in New York City. She also has two half-sisters, Courtney and Mackenzie.
Bell attended Skidmore College in Saratoga Springs, New York before transferring to Rose Bruford College in London, England. There, she landed roles in several theatrical productions, including The Seagull and The Pentecost. She remained in London for a year after graduating, then relocated to Los Angeles, California.
Career
Bell landed her first big job with the lead female role in NBC's War Stories, also starring Jeff Goldblum. She made two guest appearances on ER in 2002, then went on to play Alicia Silverstone's wisecracking best friend, Victoria, in NBC's short-lived series Miss Match. In 2004, Bell made her debut as Sally Heep in The Practice, and her character was carried over into the series offshoot, Boston Legal, where she was made a regular cast member until she left the series in 2005. Bell went on to play the lead role in the sci-fi show Surface, which premiered September 19, 2005, and was cancelled in May 2006.
In the fall of 2006, Bell returned to Boston Legal for two episodes, reprising her role as Sally Heep as opposing counsel to Alan Shore (portrayed by James Spader). Her film work includes Chris Fisher's The Hillside Strangler (2004), Love Your Work (2003), Speakeasy (2002), and Slammed (2001). She recently wrapped on her latest film, Pride and Glory (2008), which also stars Edward Norton and Colin Farrell. She also has a leading role in the upcoming thriller Still Waters (2008), starring opposite Jason Clarke and Clifton Collins, Jr.
New York City, New York, United States
Biography
Early life
Bell was born in New York City, the daughter of Robin Bell, a senior designer at a decorating firm,[1] and Harvey Siegel. Her father is Jewish and her mother is of W.A.S.P. background.[2] She has an older brother named Luke Siegel who owns a sliding wall and door company called Raydoor in New York City. She also has two half-sisters, Courtney and Mackenzie.
Bell attended Skidmore College in Saratoga Springs, New York before transferring to Rose Bruford College in London, England. There, she landed roles in several theatrical productions, including The Seagull and The Pentecost. She remained in London for a year after graduating, then relocated to Los Angeles, California.
Career
Bell landed her first big job with the lead female role in NBC's War Stories, also starring Jeff Goldblum. She made two guest appearances on ER in 2002, then went on to play Alicia Silverstone's wisecracking best friend, Victoria, in NBC's short-lived series Miss Match. In 2004, Bell made her debut as Sally Heep in The Practice, and her character was carried over into the series offshoot, Boston Legal, where she was made a regular cast member until she left the series in 2005. Bell went on to play the lead role in the sci-fi show Surface, which premiered September 19, 2005, and was cancelled in May 2006.
In the fall of 2006, Bell returned to Boston Legal for two episodes, reprising her role as Sally Heep as opposing counsel to Alan Shore (portrayed by James Spader). Her film work includes Chris Fisher's The Hillside Strangler (2004), Love Your Work (2003), Speakeasy (2002), and Slammed (2001). She recently wrapped on her latest film, Pride and Glory (2008), which also stars Edward Norton and Colin Farrell. She also has a leading role in the upcoming thriller Still Waters (2008), starring opposite Jason Clarke and Clifton Collins, Jr.
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Just Between Friends is a 1986 drama film about two women whose friendship is tested by tragedy. The film was directed by Allan Burns, and stars Mary Tyler Moore, Ted Danson, and Christine Lahti.
Theatrical release poster
Directed by Allan Burns
Produced by Allan Burns
Written by Allan Burns
Starring Mary Tyler Moore
Ted Danson
Christine Lahti
Sam Waterston
Julie Payne
Music by Patrick Williams
Cinematography Jordan Cronenweth
Editing by Anne Goursaud
Distributed by Orion Pictures
Release date(s) March 21, 1986
Running time 110 min
Country United States
Language English
Vinson massif, rhonda byrne, byrne, food of the gods, shoscombe, silas marner
A 71-year-old Japanese man climbed Mount Vinson Massif, the highest mountain in Antarctica, becoming the oldest person to scale the tallest peaks in the world's seven continents, Kyodo News reported.
They may tear it down as well now.
On the other hand - more power to Tomiyasu Ishikawa! We may be old but there is hope still.
They may tear it down as well now.
On the other hand - more power to Tomiyasu Ishikawa! We may be old but there is hope still.
Monday, January 28, 2008
Nissan GT-R, 2009 nissan gt-r, nissan gt-r price, 2008 nissan gt-r, 2009 nissan gt r price, new nissan gt r, nissan gt r specs, nissan gt r concept, n
The Nissan GT-R is a high performance automobile created by Nissan, released in Japan on December 6th, 2007, and expected to be released internationally by the beginning of 2008. Nissan and the automotive press frequently refer to the GT-R as a supercar.Nissan GT-R
Manufacturer Nissan
Production 2007-present
Assembly Tochigi, Tochigi, Japan
Predecessor Nissan Skyline GT-R
Body style(s) 2-door coupé
Layout Front engine, four-wheel drive
Platform Premium Midship
Engine(s) 3.8L VR38DETT twin-turbo V6
Transmission(s) 6-speed dual clutch automated manual transaxle with triple cone synchros and 3 shift modes
Wheelbase 2780 mm (109.4 in)
Length 4655 mm (183.3 in)
Width 1895 mm (74.6 in)
Height 1370 mm (53.9 in)
Curb weight 1740 kg (3836 lb)
Designer Shiro Nakamura
History
Nissan Skyline GT-R
See also: Nissan Skyline GT-R
Between 1969 and 1974, and again between 1989 and 2002, Nissan produced a high performance version of its Skyline range, called the Nissan Skyline GT-R. This car proved to be iconic for Nissan and achieved much fame and success on road and track. The Nissan GT-R, although no longer carrying the "Skyline" badge has heritage in the Nissan Skyline GT-R. Like the Skyline GT-Rs R32 through R34, the Nissan GT-R is All-Wheel-Drive with a twin-turbo 6 cylinder engine; however, the evolutionary, incremental changes between Skyline models R32 through R34 have been done away with. The four-wheel-steering system has been done away with, plus the traditional straight-6 RB26DETT engine has been replaced with a new V6 VR38DETT.[6] Because of the GT-R's heritage the chassis code for the all-new version has been called CBA-R35,[7] or 'R35' for short, carrying on the naming trend from the R34 Skyline GT-R.
Nissan GT-R Proto at the 2005 Tokyo Motor Show
GT-R Concept
The Nissan GT-R Concept was initially unveiled at the Tokyo Motor Show in 2001 to preview what a 21st century GT-R would look like.
GT-R Proto
At the 2005 Tokyo Motor Show, Nissan unveiled a redesigned concept, the GT-R Proto, stating that the production GT-R would be 80-90% based on this concept.
Production
Production GT-RThe production version of the GT-R has debuted at the 2007 Tokyo Motor Show, with its launch in the Japanese market scheduled for 6 December 2007. The U.S. launch will follow in June 2008. Europe will be the third market, where it is expected to be launched late 2008. The large time distance between these releases is due to Nissan having to build GT-R performance centres where the car is built and serviced. Also the engine and rear-mounted dual-clutch gearbox are built by hand, limiting production to around 1000 cars a month.[8] Prices start at $66,675 for the base model, $68,580 for the Black Edition (with forged wheels and black/red leather) and $71,900 for the Premium edition (forged wheels, beige leather seats, Bose premium speakers and a Thatcham alarm as standard fit).[9]
It has already been driven by Autoweek in Germany in the new Nürburgring, in the autobahn and in small roads.[10] Also, photos of the production vehicle were published a week early[11] since Motor Trend broke the embargo.
Spec V
It has been confirmed that Nissan is planning to introduce a lighter and more powerful GT-R called the GT-R Spec V. Little else has been revealed about the GT-R Spec V except that it will be available in the United States in 2010.[12][13]
Performance and Specifications
The VR38DETT engine
Specifications
3.8 L twin-turbocharged DOHC V6 engine (VR38DETT)[14]
Induction: Two parallel Ishikawajima-Harima Heavy Industries (IHI) turbochargers with intercooler
Power: 480 PS (473 hp/353 kW) @ 6400 rpm[15]
Torque: 588 N·m (434 ft·lbf) @ 3200-5200 rpm[16]
Curb weight: 1740 kg (3836 lb)[17]
ATTESA E-TS all wheel drive with Vehicle Dynamics Control (VDC-R)
6-speed dual clutch automated manual transaxle with triple cone synchros and 3 shift modes[18]
Redline: 7000 rpm
Drag coefficient: Cd of 0.27
Environmental performance: California ULEV(Ultra Low Emission Vehicle) cleared.
Performance
Top speed: 310 km/h (193 mph)
Acceleration: 0-97 km/h (0-60 mph) in 3.5 seconds[19]
(measured Japanese production spec 0-60 mph (97 km/h), 3.3 seconds by Edmunds)[20]
Standing 1/4-mile: 11.6 s at 190 km/h (118 mph)
GT-R Test mules had been spotted on the Nürburgring, frequently alongside a 2006 Porsche 911 Turbo; speculated as being used by Nissan as a benchmark car. Sources had expressed that the car is capable of lapping the Nürburgring in the 7 minute range.[21][22][23] Nissan has confirmed a Nurburgring lap time of 7 minutes 38.54 seconds, and have released a video of the lap.[24][25] The standard Bridgestone POTENZA RE070R run flat tires were used for this.[26][27][28][29][30] Nissan is reportedly going after the previous lap record of the Porsche Carrera GT.[31]
The GT-R has undergone road testing around the southwest United States, with sightings in New Mexico[32] and California. As was the case in the Nurburgring, the car was followed by a 911 Turbo. The GT-R has also been sighted doing laps at Infineon Raceway and Laguna Seca. At Laguna Seca, the GT-R posted an unofficial lap time of 1 minute 39.62 seconds, a time marginally faster than the 911 Turbo following it which was timed at 1 minute 39.89 seconds.[33]
A test of the Japanese production spec GT-R by online auto-magazine Edmunds provided a 3.3-second 0-60-mph run, and 11.6 at 120.9 mph quarter mile with launch control. Edmunds speculated that faster times may be achievable on better road conditions than provided by the runway which they used for the test.[34] Dynamometer tests on early production versions have shown that the GT-R makes its advertised power at the wheels, which means actual engine output (before driveline losses) could be as high as 550-575 bhp SAE net.
Design
Nissan chief creative officer, Shiro Nakamura, has likened the new GT-R to the eponymous giant robots of the Gundam series. Nakamura states: "The GT-R is unique because it is not simply a copy of a European-designed supercar, it had to really reflect Japanese culture." Specifically, Nakamura noted that the GT-R's square lines and vents were influenced by Gundam. Designers from Japan, America, and Europe contributed to the final GT-R shape.[35][36]
Gran Turismo creators Polyphony Digital were themselves involved in the development of the GT-R, having been contracted to design the GT-R's multifunction display.[37]
Motorsport
Nismo GT-R for 2008 season of Super GTNismo, the motorsport arm of Nissan will be entering the Nissan GT-R in the Super GT race series in the GT500 class for the 2008 season, replacing the Nissan 350Z.[38] A prototype has recently been spotted testing around the Suzuka Circuit.[39][40]
The Nissan GT-R will make it's world motorsport début in Australia's Targa Tasmania tarmac rally. [41][42]
Awards
TopGear Awards 2007 - Supercar of the Year 2007 [43]
Aftermarket Tuning
The new GT-R has been reported by both the automotive press as well as sources within Nissan as being harder to modify than the previous Skyline GT-Rs, due to the supposedly 'untuneable' ECU, the drivetrain accesories and the design of the turbochargers (integrated into exhaust manifolds). Nissan has also gone through lengths to safeguard the car against modification with sensors alerting the dealer of any performance modifications and nullifying the warranty. However, it has been reported that Nissan has given access to the car to select tuners, already Japanese tuning houses Mine's, MCR and Top Secret have been seen testing modified GT-Rs with the former two having conducted tests at the Tsukuba Circuit.[44]
The Newest Fast Food Trend
I just got an email from my mom alerting me to the fact that Kornet Pizza has opened in Oak Park Mall in Overland Park, Kansas, not far from where I grew up.You don't know how much this hurts, ladies and gents.
You see, Kornet Pizza makes pizza cones (pictured). And I've been dying to try one of these things since I first heard about them in April of 2004, when Kono Pizza first surfaced in Italy. Since then, they also appeared as a short-lived street-food fad in South Korea.And now, my mom emails me, basically telling me that one of my white whales of pizza, one of my holy grails of food, had been just a 20-minute drive away at the mall—and likely was there the whole time I was in the KC metro area for Christmas.
Not only that, but the article that my mom referenced from the local paper said that this is the first U.S. branch of Kornet Pizza. Would you look at that—and in the very mall I used to rat around as a teen-ager.All any of us non–Kansas City people can do is wait till Kornet Pizza franchises open in our neck of the woods.
Lego fan marks 50th anniversary
A Teesside man who claims to have the biggest collection of Lego in the country has marked the iconic brick's 50th anniversary.Phil Traviss, from Yarm, has more than 500,000 coloured bricks and has been collecting the pieces for 25 years.
The 50-year-old said he has spent tens of thousands of pounds on his haul which takes up most of his home.
In January 1958, Lego's Danish founder Ole Kirk Christansen secured the patent for the modern day brick design.
The toy has gone onto to become one of the biggest sellers in history.
Phil TravissPhil Traviss has been collecting Lego for 25 years
Mr Traviss said: "Like most kids I was given a few sets of Lego but when I got to 25 I had the urge to build a collection.
"The posh room in our house is now stacked to the ceiling with boxes of Lego, and there are other rooms filled.
"My family don't quite have my enthusiasm but I think they enjoy it too.
"But it is not just the bricks I have, I've got models used in shop displays which have been glued together, egg cups, badges, glasses anything to do with Lego really."
50th Aniversary of the Lego Brick
More than child's play: Lego artist nets up to £10,000 for each creation
An artist has proven there is more to Lego than child's play - by selling his brick-based creations for a staggering £10,000 each. As the toy firm celebrates 50 years of the children's favourite, Nathan Sawaya has more interest in the bricks than most. His works, which include life-size "sculptures," can each use 150,000 of the familiar little bricks and are in demand by top art dealers. Scroll down for more...
Lego man: Artist Nathan Sawaya used up to 150,000 Lego bricks to create this striking work
Nathan Sawaya quit his jobs as a New York corporate lawyer in 2001 to build a new life for himself as an artist, now his works are shown in galleries around the world.
The 33-year-old even has his own touring exhibition, The Art of the Brick, which uses over 1,500,000 coloured bricks to create 30 works of art.
Key pieces in the show are his Red, Yellow, and Blue series which Nathan says explore the human emotions attached to birth, death and transformation.
He was recently offered £10,000 for a single piece.
Scroll down for more...
Nathan Sawaya works in a New York studio where he keeps 1.5m spare bricks
Buyers needn't worry about the artworks coming apart though, when Nathan is happy with a creation he rebuilds it, this time glueing the bricks together.
He spends full working days playing with LEGO bricks in his New York studio where he keeps over 1.5 million spare blocks.
Scroll down for more...
Man In The Mirror: One of Nathan's lifesize Lego creations
"Most of the time, I spend between eight to 12 hours each day creating with Lego, but it depends on what I'm working on.
"Sometimes when I get really into a sculpture, I can spend 18 hours at a time.
"I spend a lot of time sketching out my ideas on special graph paper that has the brick shapes printed on it. Then the rest of the day is spent building."
Tower blocks: When Lego was launched in the U.S. in 1961, youngsters quickly discovered the challenge of trying to construct a building as tall as themselves
From Wacko Jacko to Stonehenge, these amazing pictures which show why - on its 50th birthday - Lego remains one of our favourite toys...
The instantly recognisable colourful bricks have littered playroom floors for generations. And now this simple toy is celebrating its 50th anniversary.
The Lego company was founded in 1932 by Danish carpenter Ole Kirk Christiansen.
Not surprisingly, the first toys he created were wooden.
It was not until 1958 that his son, Godtfred, developed the iconic plastic brick with its stud and hole design.
The tiny blocks could be snapped together to create bright and imaginative structures, hence its name - an amalgamation of the Danish words leg godt, which mean "play well".
A vast array of bricks, gears and figures have been added over the decades. There are pirates, robots, dinosaurs and medieval castles, and some of the most popular playsets are based on Hollywood films, such as Star Wars, Jurassic Park and Harry Potter.
Despite all the technological advances of half a century, the classic brick retains its original 2x4 studs. In fact, all Lego pieces are compatible - a brick from 1958 will interlock with one made today.
Scroll down for more...
And another Man In The Mirror: Sawaya's 1989 model of Michael Jackson
Struggle: Ian Pemberton, seven, struggles to lift a Lego liner on display in London's Selfridges in 1962
Royalty: Legoland is in Windsor, so here's a polite nod to its royal neighbour
Two million Lego bricks are produced every hour of every day - there are 62 Lego pieces for every person on Earth.
They are sold in 130 countries, to be played with by more than 400 million children - and adults.
The company makes 306 million tyres a year to fit miniature cars and tractors - more than any tyre manufacturer in the world.
Why has this toy been so successful? Perhaps the clue lies in the company motto: "Only the best is good enough."
Ole Kirk's refusal to compromise on quality should mean Lego continues to build on its success for another 50 years.
Scroll down for more...
Brick-henge: A miniature model of the ancient stone circle
Just one more...children in bow-ties build a Lego town in the Fifties
Sunday, January 27, 2008
All american football league, all american football league draft, all american football, aafl, google trends, yahoo
Former UT Vol Andy Kelly is leading the new team for Tennessee in the upstart All American Football League (AAFL). Kelly was the Vols QB from 1988-91 before heading toward the Arena Football League where he still owns a large handful of passing records. Although he is retired from playing QB, Kelly begins his head coaching career with the Tennessee team for the AAFL based here out of Knoxville.
So what's the AAFL?
That's a good question. Even living here in Knoxville we don't know much about it. However, here's what we do know. The league is trying to build its fan base out of college football markets like Knoxville, Michigan, 'Bama, and Florida. The players initially are expected to have exhausted their college eligibility and have a degree from college to be able to participate. Essentially, it's like a pick-up league of old college players who didn't make the NFL.
The timing for the AAFL is good with the recent folding of the NFL Europe league. While we don't expect the AAFL to be a household name anytime soon it is a cool idea to keep the rabid college football fans busy during the offseason. The league has 6 teams based in the most fanatical college football cities. Along with Knoxville, TN, there are teams in Michigan, Texas, Arkansas, Florida, and Alabama.
Some interesting rules of the AAFL are:
1. Four-year degrees are required to play.
2. Teams will have 46-man rosters.
3. The season will run from April 12 to July 5.
4. Games will be played on Saturdays.
5. A college size football will be used.
6. The league will have NFL officials.
7. Some of the rules are based on the college game, such as receivers needing to have one foot in bounds and a live ball on PATs.
8. Overtimes will be played like the college game, but offenses will start on the 35-yard line.
So what's the AAFL?
That's a good question. Even living here in Knoxville we don't know much about it. However, here's what we do know. The league is trying to build its fan base out of college football markets like Knoxville, Michigan, 'Bama, and Florida. The players initially are expected to have exhausted their college eligibility and have a degree from college to be able to participate. Essentially, it's like a pick-up league of old college players who didn't make the NFL.
The timing for the AAFL is good with the recent folding of the NFL Europe league. While we don't expect the AAFL to be a household name anytime soon it is a cool idea to keep the rabid college football fans busy during the offseason. The league has 6 teams based in the most fanatical college football cities. Along with Knoxville, TN, there are teams in Michigan, Texas, Arkansas, Florida, and Alabama.
Some interesting rules of the AAFL are:
1. Four-year degrees are required to play.
2. Teams will have 46-man rosters.
3. The season will run from April 12 to July 5.
4. Games will be played on Saturdays.
5. A college size football will be used.
6. The league will have NFL officials.
7. Some of the rules are based on the college game, such as receivers needing to have one foot in bounds and a live ball on PATs.
8. Overtimes will be played like the college game, but offenses will start on the 35-yard line.
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The Phillips Magnovox 37mf337b is a marvel of technology at 37 inches this LCD HDTV is a bargain at under $1000.Here's what you get:
* 1200: 1 contrast ratio with a top resolution of 1366 x 768 pixels
* The ability to connect to your PC through a VGA input
* A viewing angle of 176 degrees
* Two HDMI, VGA inputs
This Magnavox 37 inch super bright LCD TV is the latest in high technology giving you a superb quality picture at high resolution. The design is stunning and will complement your interior design.
Get your Magnovox 37mf337b before they run out at this price, particularly given the user ratings for this TV are all 5 and 4 star.
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Miss Michigan, 19-year-old Kirsten Haglund was crowned the new Miss America 2008, the revamped makeover pageant was broadcast live on TLC with an audience of 7000 fans from the Planet Hollywood Resort & Casino.Photo cr: MAO
“(It’s) a dream come true … I can’t wait to get started. Im ready to flly to New York tomorrow … I’m thrilled … I’m ready for my year as Miss America … amazing! My grandmother competed years ago, (she) loved the new show … (there are) no inhibitions–(we can) be ourselves instead of what pageant queens are supposed to look (like) … (we can)strut our stuff and be sexy if we want to.”
Photo cr: TVT
Photo cr: TVT
Photo cr: TVT
Our local hometown favorite and UNLV student Caleche Manos was not selected by the judges as a semi-finalist. However, earlier in the preliminary competitions Miss Nevada won the Quality of Life award and a $6000 scholarship.
The show began with all 52 contestants on stage in a new casual look, instead of the traditional gowns. Just 20-minutes into the show the judges made the first cut and nominated the 15 semi-finalists: Michigan, Iowa, Florida, North Carolina, Tennessee, California, Indiana, South Carolina, Georgia, Washington, Arkansas, Virginia, Texas, Wisconsin, Mississippi. Then pageant host Mark Steines from Entertainment Tonight, revealed that Miss Utah was the contestant chosen as “America’s Choice” by television viewers via secret Internet balloting.
The 16 semi-finalists were instantly back on stage to model their fitness skills in the swimsuit category. After parading in 15 bikinis and 1–one-piece swimsuit the judges narrowed them down to the Top Ten. Unfortunately Miss Utah, who had been selected by viewers, was KO’d. Based on her military experience overseas, Miss Utah immediately dropped to the floor and led the girls in 20 impromptu pushups!
In addition to Miss Utah’s elimination, Arkansas, Florida, Tennessee, South Carolina and Mississippi were also axed! However, for the first time since the pageant began in 1921 the “losing” contestants–and their parents–stayed on stage in bleachers to watch the entire contest up close!
Next up the ten finalists donned gowns for the modeling segment where judges were looking for poise, personality and posture! Then it was time to move onto the talent section, with songs by Miss Michigan, Misss California, Miss Indiana, Miss Washington, and dances performed by Miss Virginia, North Carolina, and Miss Texas with Miss Wisconsin on violin. Miss Iowa and Miss Georgia were on stage ready to perform, but with the new–look TV reality show approach, were tossed off rather unceremoniously–being forced to “a walk of shame” across the stage from the winner’s area to the loser’s area. However, before the show went to commercial break Miss Iowa performed her amazing baton act, which won her a standing ovation from the cheering crowd.
Then the Q&A session with the eight finalists–but none of the ordinary grilling. This year questions focused on celebrity mishaps and missteps referencing Paris Hilton, Lindsay Lohan, Britney Spears her sister Jamie, Tom Cruise and Mel Gibson. But the opening question about Sexually Transmitted Diseases between marriage partners put the audience into “silent shock.” “Where was the class and elegance?” one member of the audience leaned over to ask me.
The judges then selected the final contestants: Miss Washington, Miss Virginia, and Miss North Carolina were awarded scholarships–and that left four on stage as they announced Miss America. Last year’s Miss America 2007 Lauren Nelson (who actually had sworn me to secrecy actually predicted to me during her last interview (click here) that she thought Kirsten would wind up the winner), crowned her successor.
We’ll have our full exclusive interview–her first–with Kirsten right here at Luxe Life on Monday.
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'' ING Miami Marathon and Half Marathon director Robert Pozo said. ``Last year for the start of the race it did just that. It rained for the first 15 minutes, and five minutes [later] it stopped.''
Nearly 13,000 had registered for both races, about 8,700 for the half and 3,600 for the 26.2-miler.
This year, participants come from all 50 states and 47 countries, with 52 percent men and 48 percent women.
The marathon's organizers say this year there are runners from all 50 states and 47 countries.
The winning male and female in the marathon each earn $5-thousand. Those who break course or state records will win additional prize money.
Nearly 13,000 had registered for both races, about 8,700 for the half and 3,600 for the 26.2-miler.
This year, participants come from all 50 states and 47 countries, with 52 percent men and 48 percent women.
The marathon's organizers say this year there are runners from all 50 states and 47 countries.
The winning male and female in the marathon each earn $5-thousand. Those who break course or state records will win additional prize money.
New kids on the block, danny wood, joe mcintyre, donnie wahlberg, new kids on the block reunion, jordan knight
The New Kids On The Block are in plans to reunite and tour again according to People magazine. NKOTB have their website NKOTB.com back up and running. Fans can sign up on the site to get updates of what’s to come.
Eighteen years later, they’re still “Hangin’ Tough.” The oldest “Kid,” Jonathan Knight, now a real estate developer, will turn 40 later this year. Since the band’s demise, former members Donnie Wahlberg, 38, and Joey McIntyre, 35, have seen acting success, while Danny Wood, 38, has worked as a music producer and Knight’s brother, Jordan, 37, has continued to record.
NKOTB rose to fame in the late 80’s and early 90’s with hits that included ‘Step By Step’, ‘Hanging Tough’, and ‘Please Don’t Go Girl’.
Donnie Wahlberg was the original Kevin Federline.
According to reports, New Kids On The Block is reuniting for the first time since call it quits in 1994. Sources say the former band’s website, nkotb.com, is running again in preparation for the official announcement.
The band formed in the early 90’s and sold more than 50 million albums. New Kids On The Block Band Members Jonathan Knight, Donnie Wahlberg, Joey McIntyer, Danny Wood and Jordan Knight became teen heartthrobs but went separate ways in 1994.
Johnathan is now a real estate developer while his brother Jordan has continued in his music career. Donnie Wahlberg and Joey McIntyer both went into acting. Danny became a music producer.
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Eighteen years later, they’re still “Hangin’ Tough.” The oldest “Kid,” Jonathan Knight, now a real estate developer, will turn 40 later this year. Since the band’s demise, former members Donnie Wahlberg, 38, and Joey McIntyre, 35, have seen acting success, while Danny Wood, 38, has worked as a music producer and Knight’s brother, Jordan, 37, has continued to record.
NKOTB rose to fame in the late 80’s and early 90’s with hits that included ‘Step By Step’, ‘Hanging Tough’, and ‘Please Don’t Go Girl’.
Donnie Wahlberg was the original Kevin Federline.
According to reports, New Kids On The Block is reuniting for the first time since call it quits in 1994. Sources say the former band’s website, nkotb.com, is running again in preparation for the official announcement.
The band formed in the early 90’s and sold more than 50 million albums. New Kids On The Block Band Members Jonathan Knight, Donnie Wahlberg, Joey McIntyer, Danny Wood and Jordan Knight became teen heartthrobs but went separate ways in 1994.
Johnathan is now a real estate developer while his brother Jordan has continued in his music career. Donnie Wahlberg and Joey McIntyer both went into acting. Danny became a music producer.
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Sag awards, 2008 sag awards, sag awards 2008, sag, sag award, screen actors guild awardSag awards, 2008 sag awards, sag awards 2008, sag, sag award, s
Seeing as he will be covering the SAG awards from his New Jersey basement, the Bagger could act like the annual ego-fest is a sideshow, but this year, it is the show, at least so far. In Hollywood, you need pomp for a little circumstance and the SAG awards have plenty: Real actual stars in full plumage in their natural habitat, which on a red carpet hunted at every turn by cameras. The fluff, the froth, the whole “actors choosing actors” conceit? Mad, jolly fun in a town that could use a little. In each of the last two years, the Bagger has ended up at the People party afterwards and it is a doozey. Last year, he spent part of the evening with the “Little Miss Sunshine” contingent. The directors, Valerie Faris and Jonathan Dayton, were having the time of their lives, partly because they won ensemble and partly because they were as surprised and happy as anyone else. Who will be doing the hugging and thanking and crying tonight? Will it be “Juno” that will hop in the LMS van and ride to glory or will the Coen’s continue their roll, which picked up a bit more heat last night from the DGA? Picks later. (Sasha Stone points out that a bit of a cloud hanging over the SAG Awards, but there still be plenty of wattage under the canopy.)We haven’t had much of an award season this year, so tonight’s Screen Actors Guild Awards, airing at 8pm on TBS, are especially exciting. The best from the movies, and more importantly TV, will be walking the red carpet tonight. I’m going to be LIVE blogging the awards starting a little bit before 8pm EST tonight. If you’re going to be watching, drop me a line in the comments and let me know. Awards shows are always so much more fun watching with others (even if it is online)
Maria bamford
Maria Bamford (born September 3, 1970) is an American stand-up comedian.
Maria Bamford
Born September 3, 1970 (1970-09-03) (age 37)
Port Hueneme, California
Medium Stand-up, Television, Film
Nationality American
Years active 1998 - Present
Genres Observational comedy, Feminist, Political, Personal Life
Subject(s) Pop culture, American culture
Biography
Bamford was born at the naval base in Port Hueneme, California (where her father Joe was serving as a Navy doctor), growing up there and in Duluth, Minnesota. She attended Chester Park Elementary and The Marshall School in Duluth and went on to attend Bates College, the University of Edinburgh, and the University of Minnesota, where she earned a degree in Creative Writing. Bamford started doing stand-up in Minneapolis, Minnesota, at the age of 19 at Stevie Ray's Comedy Cabaret and later joined Edinburgh's improvised comedy show The Improverts. She has been in a number of movies and television shows, including several voice appearances in cartoons. One of the best-known aspects of Bamford's act is the many different voices she uses. Her comedy often takes the form of vignettes rather than the standard setup/punchline format. Because her true voice has been described as child-like, her various impersonations (including her mother and her agent) contrast sharply and draw a reaction from the audience as they sound more adult.
Maria was recently featured on the documentary series The Comedians of Comedy on Comedy Central and Showtime, and now appears in short skits on the website Super Deluxe [1].
Maria has been quoted in her comedy act and on her appearance on the podcast Never Not Funny to have been diagnosed with, and treated for depression.
TV show appearances
* The Comedians of Comedy
* Comedy Central Presents
* Comic Remix
* Dharma & Greg
* CatDog
* Hey Arnold!
* Jimmy Kimmel Live
* Late Friday
* Mucha Lucha!
* Tenjho Tenge
* Mystery Science Theater 3000
* Premium Blend
* Cromartie High School
* Kirby: Right Back at Ya!
* Rove Live
* The Late Late Show with Craig Ferguson
* Tim and Eric Awesome Show, Great Job!
* Tom Goes to the Mayor
* The Tonight Show with Jay Leno
* The Trouble with Normal
* World Comedy Tour
* Coconut Fred's Fruit Salad Island
* Word Girl
Movie appearances
* Charlotte's Web 2: Wilbur's Great Adventure (2003)
* Stuart Little 2 (2002)
* The Comedians of Comedy (2005)
* Barnyard (2006)
Discography
* The Burning Bridges Tour (2003)
* The Comedians of Comedy: Live at the El Rey (2005)
* How to WIN! (2007)
* The Comedians of Comedy: Live at the Troubadour (2007)
Radio show appearances
* The Now Show (2006)
* The Sound of Young America (2007)
Podcast Appearances
* Never Not Funny Episode 208
* Never Not Funny Episode 234
Watch Video Online:
Maria Bamford
Born September 3, 1970 (1970-09-03) (age 37)
Port Hueneme, California
Medium Stand-up, Television, Film
Nationality American
Years active 1998 - Present
Genres Observational comedy, Feminist, Political, Personal Life
Subject(s) Pop culture, American culture
Biography
Bamford was born at the naval base in Port Hueneme, California (where her father Joe was serving as a Navy doctor), growing up there and in Duluth, Minnesota. She attended Chester Park Elementary and The Marshall School in Duluth and went on to attend Bates College, the University of Edinburgh, and the University of Minnesota, where she earned a degree in Creative Writing. Bamford started doing stand-up in Minneapolis, Minnesota, at the age of 19 at Stevie Ray's Comedy Cabaret and later joined Edinburgh's improvised comedy show The Improverts. She has been in a number of movies and television shows, including several voice appearances in cartoons. One of the best-known aspects of Bamford's act is the many different voices she uses. Her comedy often takes the form of vignettes rather than the standard setup/punchline format. Because her true voice has been described as child-like, her various impersonations (including her mother and her agent) contrast sharply and draw a reaction from the audience as they sound more adult.
Maria was recently featured on the documentary series The Comedians of Comedy on Comedy Central and Showtime, and now appears in short skits on the website Super Deluxe [1].
Maria has been quoted in her comedy act and on her appearance on the podcast Never Not Funny to have been diagnosed with, and treated for depression.
TV show appearances
* The Comedians of Comedy
* Comedy Central Presents
* Comic Remix
* Dharma & Greg
* CatDog
* Hey Arnold!
* Jimmy Kimmel Live
* Late Friday
* Mucha Lucha!
* Tenjho Tenge
* Mystery Science Theater 3000
* Premium Blend
* Cromartie High School
* Kirby: Right Back at Ya!
* Rove Live
* The Late Late Show with Craig Ferguson
* Tim and Eric Awesome Show, Great Job!
* Tom Goes to the Mayor
* The Tonight Show with Jay Leno
* The Trouble with Normal
* World Comedy Tour
* Coconut Fred's Fruit Salad Island
* Word Girl
Movie appearances
* Charlotte's Web 2: Wilbur's Great Adventure (2003)
* Stuart Little 2 (2002)
* The Comedians of Comedy (2005)
* Barnyard (2006)
Discography
* The Burning Bridges Tour (2003)
* The Comedians of Comedy: Live at the El Rey (2005)
* How to WIN! (2007)
* The Comedians of Comedy: Live at the Troubadour (2007)
Radio show appearances
* The Now Show (2006)
* The Sound of Young America (2007)
Podcast Appearances
* Never Not Funny Episode 208
* Never Not Funny Episode 234
Watch Video Online:
Maria Bamford
Posted Mar 12, 2007Maria Bamford faces off with her high school arch nemesis.
Liz cheney, mary cheney, michael gross, bertrand gille
Two significant political endorsements are breaking: Massachusetts Senator Ted Kennedy will endorse Senator Barack Obama for the Democratic Presidential nomination and Vice President Dick Cheney’s politically astute daughter Liz Cheney will endorse former Massachusetts Gov. Mitt Romney for the Republican nomination.
Both go against what some conventional wisdom has painted as their parties’ front runners. Senator Hillary Clinton has long been perceived as her party’s front-runner. And GOPer Senator John McCain seemed to edging back towards that status — but he has been a front runner mostly in polls that show him garnering lots of votes from independents and Democrats. McCain’s tiny problem with Republicans: many of them simply do not like or trust him and consider him a “RINO.”
The New York Time’s lively blog The Caucus reports:
Senator Edward M. Kennedy intends to endorse the presidential candidacy of Senator Barack Obama during a rally on Monday in Washington.
Mr. Kennedy, who is viewed in many circles as the lion of the Democratic Party, finalized his decision after the South Carolina primary results on Saturday, with Mr. Obama forging a coalition of black and white voters. Associates to both men said the senators have been in discussion for weeks, but Mr. Kennedy informed Mr. Obama today.
Of all the endorsements in the Democratic Party, Mr. Kennedy’s is viewed as the most weighty. He had vowed to stay out of the presidential nominating fight, but as the contest expands into a state-by-state fight – and given the tone of the race in the last week – associates said he was moved to announce his support for Mr. Obama.
And, in the Grand Old Party:
Vice President Dick Cheney’s daughter Elizabeth Cheney is joining Mitt Romney’s presidential bid, his campaign announced Sunday.
She previously stumped for former Sen. Fred Thompson of Tennessee who dropped out of the race last week.
In a statement released by Romney’s campaign, Cheney said the former Massachusetts governor “has distinguished himself as a leader who can guide our country with a clear vision for overcoming the threats we face today.”
She also called him “the only candidate who has outlined a comprehensive strategy for defeating the global Jihadist threat.”
Cheney, 41, once served as the principal deputy assistant secretary for Near Eastern Affairs at the State Department. She stepped down from the senior-level post in 2006.
She also worked in the State Department from 2002 to 2003, before leaving to work on her father’s re-election campaign.
Do endorsement’s matter?
Endorsements are loudy touted by partisans when their candidates are endorsed but pooh-poohed if someone endorses someone else. But these two endorsements are bound to carry some weight:
TED KENNEDY remains an icon to many Democratic liberals and to many Americans, despite his image on the right and role as a favorite of ridicule on radio and cable talk shows. JFK’s daughter Caroline has already endorsed Obama. The two endorsements suggest a kind of passing of the torch from the Kennedy wing to Obama — something that cannot hurt him with Democratic voters. It’ll also make it much more difficult for the “Billary” campaign (Bill Clinton working with Hillary Clinton) to double-team him with negative campaigning without serious intra-party consquences.
Be sure to read TMV co-blogger Robert Stein’s post on the Clinton-Kennedy Chasm HERE.
LIZ CHENEY deciding to endorse Romney is symptomatic of how many establishment GOPers simply cannot go with John McCain. It suggests — more than ever — that if McCain stumbles in Florida there’s a good chance Romney will wind up the GOP nominee. It’s hard to get a nomination if your own party base doesn’t like you.
The irony is that McCain spent several years trying to cozy up to his party’s base to the point where he was accused of pandering and lost independent vote support in polls. Now his independent voter support is up and polls show him as the strongest Republican Presidential candidate — but he may have wooed his 2000 Republican foes in vain.
Both go against what some conventional wisdom has painted as their parties’ front runners. Senator Hillary Clinton has long been perceived as her party’s front-runner. And GOPer Senator John McCain seemed to edging back towards that status — but he has been a front runner mostly in polls that show him garnering lots of votes from independents and Democrats. McCain’s tiny problem with Republicans: many of them simply do not like or trust him and consider him a “RINO.”
The New York Time’s lively blog The Caucus reports:
Senator Edward M. Kennedy intends to endorse the presidential candidacy of Senator Barack Obama during a rally on Monday in Washington.
Mr. Kennedy, who is viewed in many circles as the lion of the Democratic Party, finalized his decision after the South Carolina primary results on Saturday, with Mr. Obama forging a coalition of black and white voters. Associates to both men said the senators have been in discussion for weeks, but Mr. Kennedy informed Mr. Obama today.
Of all the endorsements in the Democratic Party, Mr. Kennedy’s is viewed as the most weighty. He had vowed to stay out of the presidential nominating fight, but as the contest expands into a state-by-state fight – and given the tone of the race in the last week – associates said he was moved to announce his support for Mr. Obama.
And, in the Grand Old Party:
Vice President Dick Cheney’s daughter Elizabeth Cheney is joining Mitt Romney’s presidential bid, his campaign announced Sunday.
She previously stumped for former Sen. Fred Thompson of Tennessee who dropped out of the race last week.
In a statement released by Romney’s campaign, Cheney said the former Massachusetts governor “has distinguished himself as a leader who can guide our country with a clear vision for overcoming the threats we face today.”
She also called him “the only candidate who has outlined a comprehensive strategy for defeating the global Jihadist threat.”
Cheney, 41, once served as the principal deputy assistant secretary for Near Eastern Affairs at the State Department. She stepped down from the senior-level post in 2006.
She also worked in the State Department from 2002 to 2003, before leaving to work on her father’s re-election campaign.
Do endorsement’s matter?
Endorsements are loudy touted by partisans when their candidates are endorsed but pooh-poohed if someone endorses someone else. But these two endorsements are bound to carry some weight:
TED KENNEDY remains an icon to many Democratic liberals and to many Americans, despite his image on the right and role as a favorite of ridicule on radio and cable talk shows. JFK’s daughter Caroline has already endorsed Obama. The two endorsements suggest a kind of passing of the torch from the Kennedy wing to Obama — something that cannot hurt him with Democratic voters. It’ll also make it much more difficult for the “Billary” campaign (Bill Clinton working with Hillary Clinton) to double-team him with negative campaigning without serious intra-party consquences.
Be sure to read TMV co-blogger Robert Stein’s post on the Clinton-Kennedy Chasm HERE.
LIZ CHENEY deciding to endorse Romney is symptomatic of how many establishment GOPers simply cannot go with John McCain. It suggests — more than ever — that if McCain stumbles in Florida there’s a good chance Romney will wind up the GOP nominee. It’s hard to get a nomination if your own party base doesn’t like you.
The irony is that McCain spent several years trying to cozy up to his party’s base to the point where he was accused of pandering and lost independent vote support in polls. Now his independent voter support is up and polls show him as the strongest Republican Presidential candidate — but he may have wooed his 2000 Republican foes in vain.
Ted kennedy, ted kennedy obama, ted kennedy endorsement, edward kennedy, robert kennedy, caroline kennedy
Rejecting a personal entreaty from President Bill Clinton, Sen. Edward M. Kennedy (D-Mass.) plans to endorse Sen. Barack Obama (D-Ill.) for president in a joint appearance on Monday, Democratic sources said.
The embrace provides a dramatic rocket for Obama to ride into the frantic, nationwide campaigning ahead of the space of huge Super Tuesday primaries on Feb. 5, the biggest day for nominating contests in U.S. history.
The announcement stunned Senate colleagues, who had expected Kennedy to remain neutral until the increasingly vitriolic nominating contest with Sen. Hillary Clinton (D-N.Y.) settled out.
“This is the biggest Democratic endorsement Obama could possibly get short of Bill Clinton,” said a high-level Democrat.
The Clinton campaign launched a last-ditch effort over the few days to stop Kennedy's move, orchestrating a flood of phone calls to Kennedy from sources ranging from union chiefs to his Massachusetts constituents.
The former president also called Kennedy in a vain attempt to keep him out of the race, a source familiar with the conversation said.
During his two terms in the White House, President Clinton made repeated overtures to the Kennedy family. So the senator’s rejection of his wife is at least as embarrassing as her 28-point loss in the South Carolina primary on Saturday.
Kennedy is to appear with Obama at “Stand for Change” rally the campaign is holding at American University in Washington, D.C., at lunchtime on Monday, the sources said.
Word of Kennedy’s planned endorsement leaked the same day that his niece, Caroline Kennedy, endorsed Obama with a New York Times Op-Ed headlined, “A President Like My Father: Obama will inspire a new generation of Americans.”
The Kennedy endorsement is likely to give Obama a lift among Hispanic voters because of Kennedy's passionate advocacy of immigration legislation. The Obama campaign, which lags far behind Clinton among Hispanic voters in national polls, is likely to prominently display the endorsements by both Kennedys in Latino communities.
The disclosure also comes the same weekend that the House's highest-ranking Latino, California Rep. Xavier Becerra, also announced that he is backing Obama.
Obama was coy about the upcoming endorsement when ABC’s George Stephanopoulos asked him about it on “This Week.”
“I'll let Ted Kennedy speak for himself,” Obama said. “And nobody does it better. But obviously, any of the Democratic candidates would love to have Ted Kennedy's support. And we have certainly actively sought it.”
The Republican National Committee piled on, issuing a statement saying: “Senator Kennedy’s rejection of his friend and colleague is a stunning blow to Clinton’s campaign.”
Politico’s Ben Smith Carrie Budoff Brown, John F. Harris Gebe Martinez and Martin Kady II contributed to this report.
The embrace provides a dramatic rocket for Obama to ride into the frantic, nationwide campaigning ahead of the space of huge Super Tuesday primaries on Feb. 5, the biggest day for nominating contests in U.S. history.
The announcement stunned Senate colleagues, who had expected Kennedy to remain neutral until the increasingly vitriolic nominating contest with Sen. Hillary Clinton (D-N.Y.) settled out.
“This is the biggest Democratic endorsement Obama could possibly get short of Bill Clinton,” said a high-level Democrat.
The Clinton campaign launched a last-ditch effort over the few days to stop Kennedy's move, orchestrating a flood of phone calls to Kennedy from sources ranging from union chiefs to his Massachusetts constituents.
The former president also called Kennedy in a vain attempt to keep him out of the race, a source familiar with the conversation said.
During his two terms in the White House, President Clinton made repeated overtures to the Kennedy family. So the senator’s rejection of his wife is at least as embarrassing as her 28-point loss in the South Carolina primary on Saturday.
Kennedy is to appear with Obama at “Stand for Change” rally the campaign is holding at American University in Washington, D.C., at lunchtime on Monday, the sources said.
Word of Kennedy’s planned endorsement leaked the same day that his niece, Caroline Kennedy, endorsed Obama with a New York Times Op-Ed headlined, “A President Like My Father: Obama will inspire a new generation of Americans.”
The Kennedy endorsement is likely to give Obama a lift among Hispanic voters because of Kennedy's passionate advocacy of immigration legislation. The Obama campaign, which lags far behind Clinton among Hispanic voters in national polls, is likely to prominently display the endorsements by both Kennedys in Latino communities.
The disclosure also comes the same weekend that the House's highest-ranking Latino, California Rep. Xavier Becerra, also announced that he is backing Obama.
Obama was coy about the upcoming endorsement when ABC’s George Stephanopoulos asked him about it on “This Week.”
“I'll let Ted Kennedy speak for himself,” Obama said. “And nobody does it better. But obviously, any of the Democratic candidates would love to have Ted Kennedy's support. And we have certainly actively sought it.”
The Republican National Committee piled on, issuing a statement saying: “Senator Kennedy’s rejection of his friend and colleague is a stunning blow to Clinton’s campaign.”
Politico’s Ben Smith Carrie Budoff Brown, John F. Harris Gebe Martinez and Martin Kady II contributed to this report.
Emily rose, anneliese michel, belial, exorcism, the exorcism of emily rose, exorcism of emily rose
The Exorcism of Emily Rose is a 2005 horror/thriller film directed by Scott Derrickson. The film is based on the true story of Anneliese Michel, a young Catholic woman from Germany who died in 1979 after unsuccessful attempts to cure her from the alleged state of demonic possession with the means of psychotropic drugs. Also, a church-approved exorcism was performed on her, according to her wish. According to the court, her death was caused by medical neglect of the priest watching over her. The story of her short life which consisted of strong faith and an exhausting struggle with what seemed to be supernatural powers served as the basis for this horror movie. The screenplay was written by Scott Derrickson and Paul Harris Boardman.As of July 18, 2006 it had made $144,166,820 worldwide.
Promotional poster for The Exorcism of Emily Rose
Directed by Scott Derrickson
Produced by Paul Harris Boardman
Written by Scott Derrickson
Paul Harris Boardman
Starring Laura Linney
Tom Wilkinson
Jennifer Carpenter
Campbell Scott
Music by Christopher Young
Cinematography Tom Stern
Editing by Jeff Betancourt
Distributed by Sony (through Screen Gems)
Release date(s) September 9, 2005
Running time 119 min
Language English
Assyrian Neo-Aramaic
German
Greek
Hebrew
Latin
Aramaic
Budget $19 million
Plot
In an extremely rare decision, the Catholic Church officially recognized the demonic possession of the 19 year-old college freshman. Told in flashbacks, The Exorcism of Emily Rose chronicles the haunting trial of the priest accused of negligence resulting in the death of the young girl who is believed to be possessed and the lawyer who takes on the task of defending him.
Lawyer Erin Bruner (Laura Linney) takes on the church and the state when she fights in defense of a priest, Father Richard Moore (Tom Wilkinson) who performed an exorcism on a young woman, Emily Rose (Jennifer Carpenter). Bruner must battle the state lawyer as well as her own loneliness, as she realizes that her career so far has not fulfilled her. She takes the case, albeit reluctantly, because she believes it will elevate her to senior partner at her law firm. The priest agrees to let her defend him only if he is allowed to tell Emily's story.
The trial begins with the calling of several medical experts by the prosecutor, Ethan Thomas (Campbell Scott). One expert testifies that Emily was suffering from both epilepsy and psychosis. The defense contests that she may have actually been possessed, though Bruner is careful never to say that in so many words intially. Indeed Bruner explains that Emily was suffering from something that neither medicine nor psychology could explain, and that Father Moore as well as her family realized this and tried to help in another way. Several flashbacks show how this began. Alone in her dorm room one night, at 3:00 AM, she smells a strange burning smell from the hallway. When she checks on it, she sees the door open and shut by itself several times. When she goes back to her room, she sees a jar of pencils and pens move by itself. Additionally, her covers roll themselves down, and a great weight seems to press down on her, a force which also proceeds to choke her and seemingly to possess her momentarily. Through these episodes she wonders if they are really happening or if it is just a hallucination she is experiencing. She suffers more "visions", is hospitalized, and diagnosed with epilepsy. She is given anti-seizure medications which she claims do not work. Her visions continue, as do her severe bodily contortions.
She leaves school and returns to live with her parents. She and her parents become convinced she is not epileptic or mentally ill but is possessed by demons. They ask for their local parish priest to be called in to perform an exorcism, and the Church agrees. The prosecution counters that all this could be explained by a combination of epilepsy (the contortions) and psychosis (the visions).
Meanwhile, Bruner begins to experience strange occurrences in her apartment at 3:00 AM, including strange smells and sounds. Father Moore warns her that she may be targeted by demons for possibly exposing them. Later in the film Father Moore explains that 3:00 AM is the "witching hour" which evil spirits use to mock the Holy Trinity. Significantly, it is the opposite of 3:00 PM, traditionally taken to be the hour at which Jesus died.
Seeing that the prosecution is putting up a seemingly solid medical case, Bruner decides to try to show that Emily may have actually been possessed. She calls in an anthropologist, Dr. Sadira Adani, to testify about various cultures' beliefs about spiritual possession.
A medical doctor present during the exorcism comes forward to reveal an audio tape made during the rite. The priest is then called to the stand to testify. The tape is played and the movie then flashes back to the exorcism. It is performed on Halloween night because Father Moore believes it might be easier to draw out the demons on that night. The priest, Emily's boyfriend, and her father are in the room. Emily is tied to the bed. The priest uses holy water and various words from the Rituale Romanum. She speaks in tongues, including Latin, German, Ancient Greek, Hebrew, and Aramaic. Several cats run into the room, jumping on the priest and knocking him down. Emily breaks her ties and jumps out the window, running into the barn. They follow her. Inside the barn, they are subjected to more supernatural phenomena such as unnatural gusts of wind and demonic screams and voices. The demon inside Emily refuses to name itself after repeated demands from the presiding Father but finally reveals contemptuously that there are not one but six demons. They go on to identify themselves in dramatic fashion, naming themselves one after another in dual voices from Emily. They identify themselves as the demons that possessed Cain, Nero, and Judas Iscariot and one of the Legion. Beyond that two demons name themselves directly as Belial, and "Lucifer, the devil in the flesh."
The film returns to the court room. The priest says that after this, Emily refused another exorcism but also refused to take her anti-psychotic medication, having accepted her fate. She died a few weeks later. The prosecutor contends that her speaking in tongues can be explained by her having gone through Catholic Catechism, in which she could have learned the ancient languages, and that she had studied German in high school. The priest admits that it might be possible that she could have learned these languages in school.
Bruner then wants to call the doctor as a witness, but he does not show. She walks outside and sees him on the street. He says he can no longer testify, but he does believe in demons. Before he can explain he is hit by a car and killed. Later that night Bruner's boss tells her she has ruined the whole trial and that if she recalls the priest to the stand she will be fired.
Nevertheless, Bruner calls the priest back to the stand the next day. He reads a letter that Emily wrote him before she died. In the letter Emily describes another vision she had, the morning after the exorcism. She walks out of the house and sees the Virgin Mary, who tells her that although the demons will not leave her, she can leave her body and end her suffering. However, the apparition goes on to say, if she returns to her body she will help to prove to the world that God and the Devil are real. She chooses to return. She concludes the letter by saying "People say that God is dead, but how can they think that if I show them the Devil?" She then receives stigmata, which the priest believes is a sign of God's love for her, but the prosecution counters that she could have received the stigmata wounds from a barbed wire fence on her property.
Father Moore is ultimately found guilty; however, on a recommendation from the jury, the judge agrees to a sentence of time served. In modern American legal practice, juries are only allowed to answer questions specifically directed to them, though sometimes they are asked separately to sentence defendants. The jury's recommendation in this fictional case does not follow American practice.
Bruner is offered a partnership at her firm for saving Father Moore from extended jail time, but she refuses and in fact quits. She goes with Father Moore to Emily's grave, where he has put a quote (which she recited to him the day before she died) from the second chapter twelfth verse of Philippians on her grave: "work out your own salvation with fear and trembling".
Cast
* Jennifer Carpenter as Emily Rose
* Laura Linney as Erin Christine Bruner
* Tom Wilkinson as Father Richard Moore
* Campbell Scott as Ethan Thomas
* Duncan Fraser as Dr. Cartwright
* Shohreh Aghdashloo as Dr. Sadira Adani
* Ken Welsh as Dr. Mueller
* Mary Black as Dr. Vogel
* Henry Czerny as Dr. Briggs
* J. R. Bourne as Ray
* Joshua Close as Jason
* Colm Feore as Karl Gunderson
* Mary Beth Hurt as Judge Brewster
* Andrew Wheeler as Nathaniel Rose
* Marilyn Norry as Maria Rose
* Katie Keating as Alice Rose
Notes
* The character of Emily Rose is based on the true story of Anneliese Michel, a young German Catholic woman who died in 1979 after unsuccessful attempts to cure her from the alleged state of demonic possession with the means of psychotropic drugs. The court accepted the version according to which she was epileptic, refusing to accept the idea of supernatural involvement in this case. Two priests involved in the exorcism on her, as well as her parents, were found guilty of manslaughter resulting from negligence and received sentences, generating controversy. The girl's grave is still a place of pilgrimage for many Christians.
* German director Hans-Christian Schmid launched his own treatment of Anneliese Michel's story, Requiem, around the same time in late 2006. His movie stayed very close (perhaps closer) to the real-world events and is a drama rather than a horror film.
Safecosmetics.org, cosmeticdatabase.com, safecosmetics.com, safe cosmetics
Dear Dr. Gott: I recently received an e-mail about lead in lipsticks. The e-mail apparently originated from a physician in the breast cancer unit at Mount Sinai Hospital in Toronto. This is how the e-mail read:
"Recently, a lipstick brand called `Red Earth' decreased prices from $67 to $9.90. It contained lead. Lead is a chemical that can cause cancer. The higher the lead content, the greater the chance of causing cancer. Some of the lipstick brands that contain lead are Christian Dior, Lanc"me, Clinique, Y.S.L., Estee Lauder, Shiseido, Red Earth (Lip Gloss), Chanel (Lip Conditioner) and Market America-Motnes Lipstick.
After doing a test on these lipsticks, it was found that Y.S.L. contained the highest amount of lead. Watch out for lipsticks that are supposed to stay longer. If your lipstick stays longer, it is because of the high content of lead. There is a simple test you can do at home. First put some lipstick on your hand. Then use a gold ring to scratch it. If the lipstick color changes to black, it contains lead.
Dear Reader: I have done some minimal research regarding this matter and have found that this information is misleading. It is true that the Campaign for Safe Cosmetics conducted a study in 2007 when it purchased 33 brands of lipsticks in four cities and tested them. They claim that more than half tested positive for lead.
Because the Food and Drug Administration does not set restrictions on lead content in lipstick, it
used the maximum allowable level for candy (0.1 percent) as a guideline.
Some lipsticks were found to have a level of two to six times higher (0.2 percent to 0.65 percent). There are several versions of this e-mail being circulated.
The most common version claims to be from Walter Reed Army Medical Center and mentions dioxin carcinogens (which was in a previous false e-mail regarding water and plastic bottles). There is no mention of this warning on the Walter Reed Web site.
The test that is mentioned in the e-mail is also false.
There are several materials that will turn black when a gold ring (and several other metals) are scratched through them, including plain wax.
This means a "positive" test result is ultimately unreliable because the main ingredient in lipstick is wax.
The most glaring mistake in the e-mail was the lack of attention to the potential hazards lead can cause. Long-term exposure to lead can cause cancer.
However, lead is dangerous in several other ways, including kidney disease, stroke and developmental issues in children. Short-term exposure can also have potentially dangerous consequences.
Had this e-mail been from a legitimate medical source, cancer would not have been the main focus.
Several of the lipstick manufacturers that responded to claims of lead in their lipsticks claim that lead is not a component and that the positive results are most likely due to the natural exposure to lead that occurs every day from a variety of sources.
I believe the only potential danger from this is the dual exposure from natural sources and the lipstick accumulating over time.
To learn about the study, visit Campaign for Safe Cosmetics at (www.safecosmetics.org). For more information on the falsehoods of the e-mail, visit New Zealand's Cosmetic Toiletry and Fragrances Association Web site (www.ctfa.org.nz).
"Recently, a lipstick brand called `Red Earth' decreased prices from $67 to $9.90. It contained lead. Lead is a chemical that can cause cancer. The higher the lead content, the greater the chance of causing cancer. Some of the lipstick brands that contain lead are Christian Dior, Lanc"me, Clinique, Y.S.L., Estee Lauder, Shiseido, Red Earth (Lip Gloss), Chanel (Lip Conditioner) and Market America-Motnes Lipstick.
After doing a test on these lipsticks, it was found that Y.S.L. contained the highest amount of lead. Watch out for lipsticks that are supposed to stay longer. If your lipstick stays longer, it is because of the high content of lead. There is a simple test you can do at home. First put some lipstick on your hand. Then use a gold ring to scratch it. If the lipstick color changes to black, it contains lead.
Dear Reader: I have done some minimal research regarding this matter and have found that this information is misleading. It is true that the Campaign for Safe Cosmetics conducted a study in 2007 when it purchased 33 brands of lipsticks in four cities and tested them. They claim that more than half tested positive for lead.
Because the Food and Drug Administration does not set restrictions on lead content in lipstick, it
used the maximum allowable level for candy (0.1 percent) as a guideline.
Some lipsticks were found to have a level of two to six times higher (0.2 percent to 0.65 percent). There are several versions of this e-mail being circulated.
The most common version claims to be from Walter Reed Army Medical Center and mentions dioxin carcinogens (which was in a previous false e-mail regarding water and plastic bottles). There is no mention of this warning on the Walter Reed Web site.
The test that is mentioned in the e-mail is also false.
There are several materials that will turn black when a gold ring (and several other metals) are scratched through them, including plain wax.
This means a "positive" test result is ultimately unreliable because the main ingredient in lipstick is wax.
The most glaring mistake in the e-mail was the lack of attention to the potential hazards lead can cause. Long-term exposure to lead can cause cancer.
However, lead is dangerous in several other ways, including kidney disease, stroke and developmental issues in children. Short-term exposure can also have potentially dangerous consequences.
Had this e-mail been from a legitimate medical source, cancer would not have been the main focus.
Several of the lipstick manufacturers that responded to claims of lead in their lipsticks claim that lead is not a component and that the positive results are most likely due to the natural exposure to lead that occurs every day from a variety of sources.
I believe the only potential danger from this is the dual exposure from natural sources and the lipstick accumulating over time.
To learn about the study, visit Campaign for Safe Cosmetics at (www.safecosmetics.org). For more information on the falsehoods of the e-mail, visit New Zealand's Cosmetic Toiletry and Fragrances Association Web site (www.ctfa.org.nz).
Christopher allport, christopher allport photo, christopher allport photos, christopher allport picture, christopher allport pictures, chris allport
TV star Allport Victim by Storm:Christopher Allport killed by the snowstorms roaring towards Southern California.
Skiing enthusiast Mr Allport, 60, was reported missing after a trio of "freak" avalanches. His body was found near the Mountain High ski resort in Wrightwood.
The veteran character actor had appeared on US shows including ER, Felicity, and Matlock.
He wrote a story that appeared in the Los Angeles Times in 2004 about the pleasures of backcountry skiing.
"Any excursion into the mountains requires awareness," he wrote. "Have fun, but be careful."
Friday's avalanches also killed Michael McKay, 23, an off-duty member of the resort's ski patrol, and Darin Coffey, 31. Both were skiing out of the resort boundaries.
Avalanches are unusual in the San Gabriel Mountains, authorities said, but so was the 3ft or more of new snow that has hit the region in a matter of days this week.
Avalanches were "a freak occurrence" in the local mountains, said Pete Olson, president of Mt Baldy Ski Resorts. "We depend on snow-making, and snow-making doesn't lead to avalanches," he said. "It usually doesn't snow enough to make anything happen up here."
A missing snowboarder was found on Saturday after spending the night on the mountain. Oscar Gonzales, 24, said he got lost when he left the marked ski trails at the resort and sheltered in an old plane fuselage.
courtesy: The Press Association
Skiing enthusiast Mr Allport, 60, was reported missing after a trio of "freak" avalanches. His body was found near the Mountain High ski resort in Wrightwood.
The veteran character actor had appeared on US shows including ER, Felicity, and Matlock.
He wrote a story that appeared in the Los Angeles Times in 2004 about the pleasures of backcountry skiing.
"Any excursion into the mountains requires awareness," he wrote. "Have fun, but be careful."
Friday's avalanches also killed Michael McKay, 23, an off-duty member of the resort's ski patrol, and Darin Coffey, 31. Both were skiing out of the resort boundaries.
Avalanches are unusual in the San Gabriel Mountains, authorities said, but so was the 3ft or more of new snow that has hit the region in a matter of days this week.
Avalanches were "a freak occurrence" in the local mountains, said Pete Olson, president of Mt Baldy Ski Resorts. "We depend on snow-making, and snow-making doesn't lead to avalanches," he said. "It usually doesn't snow enough to make anything happen up here."
A missing snowboarder was found on Saturday after spending the night on the mountain. Oscar Gonzales, 24, said he got lost when he left the marked ski trails at the resort and sheltered in an old plane fuselage.
courtesy: The Press Association
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The Winner of Miss America 2008 Kirsten Haglund
Miss america 2008, miss america, kirsten haglund, miss michigan, miss michigan 2008, miss america 2008 winnerKirsten Haglund becomes the winner of 2008 Miss America beauty pageant. The winner of this prestigious contest was just now announced and the Miss America 2008 winner Kirsten Haglund, who is also Miss Michigan is happy and being congratulated as the most beautiful woman in America for the year 2008.
Kirsten Haglund Miss Michgan Wines Miss America
Biography of Kirsten Haglund
HOMETOWN:
Farmington Hills
AGE:
19
PLATFORM:
Raising Awareness of Eating Disorders
TALENT:
Operetta Vocal, “Adele’s Laughing Song”
EDUCATION:
University of Cincinnati, College-Conservatory of Music
LOCAL PAGEANT:
Miss Oakland County (Francesca Tuzzolino - ED)
SCHOLASTIC AMBITION:
Bachelor of Fine Arts in Musical Theater Performance
Pursue a career on Broadway
Kirsten Haglund (Miss Michigan 2007) was crowned Miss America 2008, by Miss America 2007, Lauren Nelson.
Platform Issue: Raising Awareness of Eating Disorders
Talent: Operatic Vocal
The 10 Finalists for Miss America 2008
* Miss Michigan, Kristen Haglund (Winner)
* Miss Iowa, Diana Reed
* Miss North Carolina, Jessica Marie Jacobs (Runner Up)
* Miss California, Melissa Chaty
* Miss Indiana, Nicole Elizabeth Rash (Runner Up)
* Miss Georgia, Leah Massee
* Miss Washington, Elyse Umemoto (Runner Up)
* Miss Virginia, Hannah Martine Kiefer (Runner Up)
* Miss Texas, Molly Leah Hazlett
* Miss Wisconsin, Christina Anna Thompson
Crowd favorite Miss Utah, Sgt. Jill Stevens (photos), an Army combat medic veteran from Afghanistan, finished in the Top 16 Finalists.
The judges for the pageant were Trace Ayala, Sarah Ivens, Jackie Joyner-Kersee, Jason La Padura, Kim Lyons, Robin Meade, James Arthur Ray.
Source: CNN
Miss america 2008, miss america, kirsten haglund, miss michigan, miss michigan 2008, miss america 2008 winnerKirsten Haglund becomes the winner of 2008 Miss America beauty pageant. The winner of this prestigious contest was just now announced and the Miss America 2008 winner Kirsten Haglund, who is also Miss Michigan is happy and being congratulated as the most beautiful woman in America for the year 2008.
Kirsten Haglund Miss Michgan Wines Miss America
Biography of Kirsten Haglund
HOMETOWN:
Farmington Hills
AGE:
19
PLATFORM:
Raising Awareness of Eating Disorders
TALENT:
Operetta Vocal, “Adele’s Laughing Song”
EDUCATION:
University of Cincinnati, College-Conservatory of Music
LOCAL PAGEANT:
Miss Oakland County (Francesca Tuzzolino - ED)
SCHOLASTIC AMBITION:
Bachelor of Fine Arts in Musical Theater Performance
Pursue a career on Broadway
Kirsten Haglund (Miss Michigan 2007) was crowned Miss America 2008, by Miss America 2007, Lauren Nelson.
Platform Issue: Raising Awareness of Eating Disorders
Talent: Operatic Vocal
The 10 Finalists for Miss America 2008
* Miss Michigan, Kristen Haglund (Winner)
* Miss Iowa, Diana Reed
* Miss North Carolina, Jessica Marie Jacobs (Runner Up)
* Miss California, Melissa Chaty
* Miss Indiana, Nicole Elizabeth Rash (Runner Up)
* Miss Georgia, Leah Massee
* Miss Washington, Elyse Umemoto (Runner Up)
* Miss Virginia, Hannah Martine Kiefer (Runner Up)
* Miss Texas, Molly Leah Hazlett
* Miss Wisconsin, Christina Anna Thompson
Crowd favorite Miss Utah, Sgt. Jill Stevens (photos), an Army combat medic veteran from Afghanistan, finished in the Top 16 Finalists.
The judges for the pageant were Trace Ayala, Sarah Ivens, Jackie Joyner-Kersee, Jason La Padura, Kim Lyons, Robin Meade, James Arthur Ray.
Source: CNN
Miss Michigan crowned Miss America
Miss Michigan crowned Miss AmericaMiss Michigan Kirsten Haglund, a 19-year-old aspiring Broadway star, was crowned Miss America 2008 on Saturday in a live show billed as the unveiling of the 87-year-old pageant's new, hipper look.
Haglund, of Farmington Hills, Mich., sang "Over the Rainbow" and walked a crowd-pleasing strut in a black and gold bikini to clinch the title. She beat Miss Indiana Nicole Elizabeth Rash, the first runner up, and Miss Washington Elyse Umemoto, the second runner up for the $50,000 scholarship and year of travel that comes with the crown.
Haglund, who studies music at the University of Cincinnati, grew up in a pageant family. Her mother is an active volunteer, and her grandmother Iora Hunt, competed for the crown as Miss Michigan 1944. Hunt joined Haglund at a news conference.
"The only words that come to my mind is that this is a dream come true, not just for me but for my family as well," Haglund said. "I'm not just standing up here alone."
Haglund, a cheery, classic blond, wore a revealing silver sequined dress and black bikini during the evening gown and swimsuit portions of the pageant. As her platform issue, she promised to advocate for awareness of eating disorders, an illness from which she has recovered.
The crowning at the Planet Hollywood Resort & Casino on the Las Vegas Strip was aired for the first time on TLC. It capped a four-week reality series, "Miss America: Reality Check," which followed the contestants as they were pushed to shed the dated look of Miss Americas past and adopt a more updated style.
The show was the latest in a series of attempts to find an audience with a younger demographic after more than a decade of declining ratings.
The 52 newly made-over aspiring beauty queens who sought the top tiara sported updated hairdos, sassy attitudes and red carpet-worthy fashion throughout the competition.
Usually tame by modern TV standards, the swimwear competition kicked it up a notch. Most contestants wore black bikinis, and some struck provocative poses and twirled as the audience howled. Contestants also wore blue jeans and added a bit of humor to the traditional opening number, the parade of states.
Haglund's moves won howls from the audience. "I think for the audience, the swimwear and evening wear was much more entertaining, am I right?" Haglund said when asked about the show's new look.
The changes included a chance for "Reality Check" viewers to text message votes for their favorite contestant. Miss Utah, Jill Stevens, an Army medic who served in Afghanistan, was named "America's Choice."
Stevens did not make to the final 10, but she took the disappointment with pluck. She dropped and gave the audience push ups before joining the other losers on a riser on the side.
Producers added a twist to the interview portion, as well. They asked people on the street to pose questions, and the results were edgier than usual. Contestents were asked about binge drinking, HIV and Britney Spears' pregnant younger sister, Jamie Lynn.
"No I don't think she should be fired," Miss Indiana Nicole Elizabeth Rash said. "They're still people, they're still human beings. We all deserve second chances."
The long-struggling pageant had promised a new look for this year's beauty battle. "Entertainment Tonight" reporter Mark Steines was the master of ceremonies of the show. Clinton Kelly of TLC's hit "What Not to Wear" also helped with the hosting duties. Kelly had instructed the girls on how to update their looks during the reality show.
The pageant sounded different, too. A deejay spun dance music from turntables set up on stage. Contestants danced and waved to the audience during commercials breaks. The losers were seated on risers on one side of the stage, while the parents of the finalists, in black tie, were seated on the other.
The show was the latest in a series of attempts to find a new audience after more than a decade of declining ratings. The fading institution was dropped from network television in 2004. It spent a two-year stint on Country Music Television before being picked up last summer by TLC, a cable channel reaching 93 million homes in the U.S.
TLC added the pageant to its reality-TV stable, and announced plans to reinvent the look of the show and find an "It girl" ready for modern celebrity.
In addition to the $50,000 scholarship, Haglund will embark on a year of promoting the pageant, her platform issue and the Children's Miracle Network, a pageant partner.
Haglund, of Farmington Hills, Mich., sang "Over the Rainbow" and walked a crowd-pleasing strut in a black and gold bikini to clinch the title. She beat Miss Indiana Nicole Elizabeth Rash, the first runner up, and Miss Washington Elyse Umemoto, the second runner up for the $50,000 scholarship and year of travel that comes with the crown.
Haglund, who studies music at the University of Cincinnati, grew up in a pageant family. Her mother is an active volunteer, and her grandmother Iora Hunt, competed for the crown as Miss Michigan 1944. Hunt joined Haglund at a news conference.
"The only words that come to my mind is that this is a dream come true, not just for me but for my family as well," Haglund said. "I'm not just standing up here alone."
Haglund, a cheery, classic blond, wore a revealing silver sequined dress and black bikini during the evening gown and swimsuit portions of the pageant. As her platform issue, she promised to advocate for awareness of eating disorders, an illness from which she has recovered.
The crowning at the Planet Hollywood Resort & Casino on the Las Vegas Strip was aired for the first time on TLC. It capped a four-week reality series, "Miss America: Reality Check," which followed the contestants as they were pushed to shed the dated look of Miss Americas past and adopt a more updated style.
The show was the latest in a series of attempts to find an audience with a younger demographic after more than a decade of declining ratings.
The 52 newly made-over aspiring beauty queens who sought the top tiara sported updated hairdos, sassy attitudes and red carpet-worthy fashion throughout the competition.
Usually tame by modern TV standards, the swimwear competition kicked it up a notch. Most contestants wore black bikinis, and some struck provocative poses and twirled as the audience howled. Contestants also wore blue jeans and added a bit of humor to the traditional opening number, the parade of states.
Haglund's moves won howls from the audience. "I think for the audience, the swimwear and evening wear was much more entertaining, am I right?" Haglund said when asked about the show's new look.
The changes included a chance for "Reality Check" viewers to text message votes for their favorite contestant. Miss Utah, Jill Stevens, an Army medic who served in Afghanistan, was named "America's Choice."
Stevens did not make to the final 10, but she took the disappointment with pluck. She dropped and gave the audience push ups before joining the other losers on a riser on the side.
Producers added a twist to the interview portion, as well. They asked people on the street to pose questions, and the results were edgier than usual. Contestents were asked about binge drinking, HIV and Britney Spears' pregnant younger sister, Jamie Lynn.
"No I don't think she should be fired," Miss Indiana Nicole Elizabeth Rash said. "They're still people, they're still human beings. We all deserve second chances."
The long-struggling pageant had promised a new look for this year's beauty battle. "Entertainment Tonight" reporter Mark Steines was the master of ceremonies of the show. Clinton Kelly of TLC's hit "What Not to Wear" also helped with the hosting duties. Kelly had instructed the girls on how to update their looks during the reality show.
The pageant sounded different, too. A deejay spun dance music from turntables set up on stage. Contestants danced and waved to the audience during commercials breaks. The losers were seated on risers on one side of the stage, while the parents of the finalists, in black tie, were seated on the other.
The show was the latest in a series of attempts to find a new audience after more than a decade of declining ratings. The fading institution was dropped from network television in 2004. It spent a two-year stint on Country Music Television before being picked up last summer by TLC, a cable channel reaching 93 million homes in the U.S.
TLC added the pageant to its reality-TV stable, and announced plans to reinvent the look of the show and find an "It girl" ready for modern celebrity.
In addition to the $50,000 scholarship, Haglund will embark on a year of promoting the pageant, her platform issue and the Children's Miracle Network, a pageant partner.
Music's Biggest Cash Kings
Amid the gloom and doom that enveloped the music business in 2007, a select number of recording artists managed to find a way to generate mad money.
Music’s Biggest Cash KingsForget the year's hot new acts. veterans like the Police and Celine Dion were among the biggest commercial forces of 2007. Others included younger established stars such as Josh Groban and the Disney Channel's Hannah Montana.
To compile our list of pop's biggest cash machines, Forbes looked at how much leading recording artists generated in U.S. music sales and North American concert grosses in 2007. Our estimates, which don't calculate how much income each artist pocketed, include concert revenue data from Pollstar, music sales tallies from Nielsen SoundScan and pricing information from NPD Group. The numbers are meant to provide a snapshot, not a complete picture -- revenue from licensing deals, merchandise sales, and mobile sales aren't included.
In Pictures: Music's Biggest Cash Kings 3
Playing live was a big cash generator for all the artists on our list. By far the biggest tour of the year was the Police reunion, as Sting, Andy Summers, and Stewart Copeland decided to bury the hatchet and hit the road for the first time since 1986. Financially, it was a no-brainer: The trio generated $133.2 million in concert receipts at an average ticket price of $112 -- and that's face value. In all, the band racked up an impressive $142.4 million in concert tickets and music sales.
The even unlikelier reunion of Van Halen with original frontman David Lee Roth also did well. This slightly revamped version of the band, with Eddie Van Halen's son Wolfgang replacing longtime bassist Michael Anthony, charged about the same average ticket price as the Police but played fewer and smaller venues. Still, $56.7 million in North American grosses is nothing to sniff at.
Other big live draws were country singer Kenny Chesney, who grossed $71.1 million on the road; Justin Timberlake, who sold $70.6 million in concert tickets; and Celine Dion, who generated $65.3 million during the final year of her "A New Day..." show at Caesar's Palace in Las Vegas.
For these artists, the cash generated from performing in front of their fans far outweighed the revenue they generated from sales of their music. For instance, Chesney's total album sales, including his new release "Just Who I Am: Poets And Pirates," reached 1.8 million units. Add to that 2.5 million song downloads and Chesney's recorded-music sales totaled around $25 million -- a strong performance but still far short of what he generated on tour.
But recorded-music sales accounted for a larger portion of the cash generated by other recording artists. Pop-country trio Rascal Flatts proved to be a big hit with both concertgoers and music buyers, grossing $41.5 million on tour and generating roughly that much in sales of albums and song downloads.
For the Disney Channel's Hannah Montana, or more specifically the show's star Miley Cyrus, recorded music sales accounted for the lion's share of the cash she generated, despite the headlines generated by scalpers who charged astronomical prices for tickets to her sold-out shows. Hannah/Miley grossed $36 million on tour but generated more than $50 million in album sales and downloads.
Meanwhile, pop-classical vocalist Josh Groban hit pay dirt with his Christmas album "Noel," which turned out to be the year's best-selling album, with 3.7 million units sold. The sales were especially impressive considering that, as a holiday album, it had only gone on sale in October.
His album sales and song downloads generated an estimated $60 million in sales. Groban also did well on tour, grossing $43.1 million in 2007.
The boffo sales of Noel provided a badly needed boost to Warner Music Group, which released the album. It didn't make up for the fact that Warner's share price lost three-quarters of its value in 2007. But the success of Groban and other top cash generators proved that even as the recording industry struggles, some consumers are willing to spend serious money on their favorite artists.
Music’s Biggest Cash KingsForget the year's hot new acts. veterans like the Police and Celine Dion were among the biggest commercial forces of 2007. Others included younger established stars such as Josh Groban and the Disney Channel's Hannah Montana.
To compile our list of pop's biggest cash machines, Forbes looked at how much leading recording artists generated in U.S. music sales and North American concert grosses in 2007. Our estimates, which don't calculate how much income each artist pocketed, include concert revenue data from Pollstar, music sales tallies from Nielsen SoundScan and pricing information from NPD Group. The numbers are meant to provide a snapshot, not a complete picture -- revenue from licensing deals, merchandise sales, and mobile sales aren't included.
In Pictures: Music's Biggest Cash Kings 3
Playing live was a big cash generator for all the artists on our list. By far the biggest tour of the year was the Police reunion, as Sting, Andy Summers, and Stewart Copeland decided to bury the hatchet and hit the road for the first time since 1986. Financially, it was a no-brainer: The trio generated $133.2 million in concert receipts at an average ticket price of $112 -- and that's face value. In all, the band racked up an impressive $142.4 million in concert tickets and music sales.
The even unlikelier reunion of Van Halen with original frontman David Lee Roth also did well. This slightly revamped version of the band, with Eddie Van Halen's son Wolfgang replacing longtime bassist Michael Anthony, charged about the same average ticket price as the Police but played fewer and smaller venues. Still, $56.7 million in North American grosses is nothing to sniff at.
Other big live draws were country singer Kenny Chesney, who grossed $71.1 million on the road; Justin Timberlake, who sold $70.6 million in concert tickets; and Celine Dion, who generated $65.3 million during the final year of her "A New Day..." show at Caesar's Palace in Las Vegas.
For these artists, the cash generated from performing in front of their fans far outweighed the revenue they generated from sales of their music. For instance, Chesney's total album sales, including his new release "Just Who I Am: Poets And Pirates," reached 1.8 million units. Add to that 2.5 million song downloads and Chesney's recorded-music sales totaled around $25 million -- a strong performance but still far short of what he generated on tour.
But recorded-music sales accounted for a larger portion of the cash generated by other recording artists. Pop-country trio Rascal Flatts proved to be a big hit with both concertgoers and music buyers, grossing $41.5 million on tour and generating roughly that much in sales of albums and song downloads.
For the Disney Channel's Hannah Montana, or more specifically the show's star Miley Cyrus, recorded music sales accounted for the lion's share of the cash she generated, despite the headlines generated by scalpers who charged astronomical prices for tickets to her sold-out shows. Hannah/Miley grossed $36 million on tour but generated more than $50 million in album sales and downloads.
Meanwhile, pop-classical vocalist Josh Groban hit pay dirt with his Christmas album "Noel," which turned out to be the year's best-selling album, with 3.7 million units sold. The sales were especially impressive considering that, as a holiday album, it had only gone on sale in October.
His album sales and song downloads generated an estimated $60 million in sales. Groban also did well on tour, grossing $43.1 million in 2007.
The boffo sales of Noel provided a badly needed boost to Warner Music Group, which released the album. It didn't make up for the fact that Warner's share price lost three-quarters of its value in 2007. But the success of Groban and other top cash generators proved that even as the recording industry struggles, some consumers are willing to spend serious money on their favorite artists.
Miss usa, miss america, miss usa 2007, miss teen usa, miss america 2006, tara conner
The Winner of Miss America 2008 Kirsten Haglund
Miss america 2008, miss america, kirsten haglund, miss michigan, miss michigan 2008, miss america 2008 winnerKirsten Haglund becomes the winner of 2008 Miss America beauty pageant. The winner of this prestigious contest was just now announced and the Miss America 2008 winner Kirsten Haglund, who is also Miss Michigan is happy and being congratulated as the most beautiful woman in America for the year 2008.
Kirsten Haglund Miss Michgan Wines Miss America
Biography of Kirsten Haglund
HOMETOWN:
Farmington Hills
AGE:
19
PLATFORM:
Raising Awareness of Eating Disorders
TALENT:
Operetta Vocal, “Adele’s Laughing Song”
EDUCATION:
University of Cincinnati, College-Conservatory of Music
LOCAL PAGEANT:
Miss Oakland County (Francesca Tuzzolino - ED)
SCHOLASTIC AMBITION:
Bachelor of Fine Arts in Musical Theater Performance
Pursue a career on Broadway
Kirsten Haglund (Miss Michigan 2007) was crowned Miss America 2008, by Miss America 2007, Lauren Nelson.
Platform Issue: Raising Awareness of Eating Disorders
Talent: Operatic Vocal
The 10 Finalists for Miss America 2008
* Miss Michigan, Kristen Haglund (Winner)
* Miss Iowa, Diana Reed
* Miss North Carolina, Jessica Marie Jacobs (Runner Up)
* Miss California, Melissa Chaty
* Miss Indiana, Nicole Elizabeth Rash (Runner Up)
* Miss Georgia, Leah Massee
* Miss Washington, Elyse Umemoto (Runner Up)
* Miss Virginia, Hannah Martine Kiefer (Runner Up)
* Miss Texas, Molly Leah Hazlett
* Miss Wisconsin, Christina Anna Thompson
Crowd favorite Miss Utah, Sgt. Jill Stevens (photos), an Army combat medic veteran from Afghanistan, finished in the Top 16 Finalists.
The judges for the pageant were Trace Ayala, Sarah Ivens, Jackie Joyner-Kersee, Jason La Padura, Kim Lyons, Robin Meade, James Arthur Ray.
Miss america 2008, miss america, kirsten haglund, miss michigan, miss michigan 2008, miss america 2008 winnerKirsten Haglund becomes the winner of 2008 Miss America beauty pageant. The winner of this prestigious contest was just now announced and the Miss America 2008 winner Kirsten Haglund, who is also Miss Michigan is happy and being congratulated as the most beautiful woman in America for the year 2008.
Kirsten Haglund Miss Michgan Wines Miss America
Biography of Kirsten Haglund
HOMETOWN:
Farmington Hills
AGE:
19
PLATFORM:
Raising Awareness of Eating Disorders
TALENT:
Operetta Vocal, “Adele’s Laughing Song”
EDUCATION:
University of Cincinnati, College-Conservatory of Music
LOCAL PAGEANT:
Miss Oakland County (Francesca Tuzzolino - ED)
SCHOLASTIC AMBITION:
Bachelor of Fine Arts in Musical Theater Performance
Pursue a career on Broadway
Kirsten Haglund (Miss Michigan 2007) was crowned Miss America 2008, by Miss America 2007, Lauren Nelson.
Platform Issue: Raising Awareness of Eating Disorders
Talent: Operatic Vocal
The 10 Finalists for Miss America 2008
* Miss Michigan, Kristen Haglund (Winner)
* Miss Iowa, Diana Reed
* Miss North Carolina, Jessica Marie Jacobs (Runner Up)
* Miss California, Melissa Chaty
* Miss Indiana, Nicole Elizabeth Rash (Runner Up)
* Miss Georgia, Leah Massee
* Miss Washington, Elyse Umemoto (Runner Up)
* Miss Virginia, Hannah Martine Kiefer (Runner Up)
* Miss Texas, Molly Leah Hazlett
* Miss Wisconsin, Christina Anna Thompson
Crowd favorite Miss Utah, Sgt. Jill Stevens (photos), an Army combat medic veteran from Afghanistan, finished in the Top 16 Finalists.
The judges for the pageant were Trace Ayala, Sarah Ivens, Jackie Joyner-Kersee, Jason La Padura, Kim Lyons, Robin Meade, James Arthur Ray.
Sunday, January 13, 2008
Anjelah johnson, bobby lee
Former Oakland Raiderette and current MADtv cast member Anjelah Johnson is interviewed by the San Jose Mercury News.
You might have seen this before. I saw this a while back, but with my recent kick with putting funny Youtube videos here to add a little spice to my “serious” posts, I found it last night & decided to post. It’s great…especially if you understand or have experienced this first hand. Cheers to my Vietnamese friends! You know I love you!
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Hard Drive Data Recovery St. Petersburg-Based Companies
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DTI Data Recovery
Probably you've known about DTI Data Recovery for this has long been considered as the industry's premier data recovery company. Well, DTI Data Recovery is the ideal destination for both physical and logical hard drive data recovery St. Petersburg. This hard drive data recovery St. Petersburg-based company offers the most competitive pricing in the data recovery industry, and it's nice to know that this hard drive data recovery St. Petersburg-based company provides a hundred percent satisfaction guarantee. Perhaps a concrete proof of this guarantee is that DTI hard drive data recovery St. Petersburg company do not require their customers to pay a cent until the data is recovered. Today, DTI Data Recovery is composed of engineers who work with all types of hard drive data recovery St. Petersburg services, as well as server and RAID crashes and failures.
ACS Data Recovery
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Micronix Data Recovery
Micronix offers a 24-hour hard drive data recovery St. Petersburg service for their customers online and offline. Also, they provide repair services with a 99% success rate depending on the problem incurred on the hard drive. Another nice thing to know about this hard drive data recovery St. Petersburg-based company is that Micronix offers an evaluation process once you contact them. This evaluation process is considered for you to gain more knowledge of your issue so to address the problem immediately. Today, this hard drive data recovery St. Petersburg-based company is composed of highly trained and experienced personnel who do the hard drive data recovery task for you.
Saturday, January 12, 2008
Jonas brothers tickets, jonas brothers concert tickets, livenation.com, j.o.n.a.s, camp rock, patitofeo.com
Jonas Brothers tickets will go on sale at noon today at all Ticketmaster outlets.
The first 20 rows will be available exclusively and in-person only at the Abraham Chavez Theatre, 1 Civic Center Plaza. Quantities are limited and subject to availability.
The line order at the box office will be determined by lottery beginning at 9:30 a.m. Numbered wristbands will be distributed, and a starting order number will be drawn. You must be at least 16 to get a wristband.
All other tickets in rows 21 and beyond will be sold at www.ticketmaster.com or 544-8444.
Tickets cost $38 to $48. The concert will be at 7 p.m. Feb. 11 at the Abraham Chavez Theatre.
Jonas Brothers fans can start lining up at 12:01 a.m. Saturday to buy the best tickets for the pop-punk trio's Jan. 31 Tucson Music Hall concert.
But here's the rub: The person first in line may not get first dibs at tickets in the front 20 rows. And you can only get tickets in the front 20 rows if you buy them in person, at the Tucson Convention Center Box Office.
TCC Box Office officials will begin distributing numbered wristbands at 7:30 a.m. Saturday. At 9 a.m., they will draw a number at random and that number becomes the starting place, said Marty Carey, the TCC's ticket office manager.
For example: If 99 is chosen, the next number is 100, 101, 102, etc. The person with No. 98 will be the last in line.
The idea was part TCC's, part Jonas Brothers', Carey said. The intent is to prevent ticket brokers from buying up the best tickets then selling them at prices often double or triple their $39.50 and $49.50 face value.
"It's a way for us to weed out the scalpers, but also to let our fans who are really the die-hards to get the first 20 rows," oldest Jo-Bro Kevin Jonas, 20, said in a phone interview Thursday from New York City. "Because that's what's important to us, for our fans to be there."
Jonas said he and his brothers learned a big lesson from the fiasco surrounding ticket sales for Disney superstar Miley Cyrus (aka Hannah Montana). The brothers toured with the teen pop star for several months.
Ticket brokers gobbled up the best seats, in some instances before they were released to the public. They then sold them for higher prices, prompting some parents to complain to state and federal lawmakers and threaten a class-action lawsuit.
"The ticket brokers who were buying the tickets and demanding such high prices for our tour with Miley would hire even the homeless … to camp out for days for the first 20 rows, and our fans still wouldn't get the tickets," Jonas said. "So we wanted to do a lottery system where you could be there three days in advance or you could be there an hour before they go up and you could be the first one to get a ticket."
Carey said fans won't be able to begin lining up until midnight. Security will be posted at the box office in front of the TCC. No tickets will be sold at the Music Hall Box Office.
Meanwhile, the remaining rows of tickets will be available online at www.ticketmaster.com beginning at 10 a.m. Saturday.
The Jonas Brothers kick off their "Look Me In The Eyes Tour" with the Tucson date. On Wednesday, they wrapped up a months-long arena outing with Cyrus.
This is the trio's first solo outing. Since they released their debut album in 2006, they have toured with several Disney acts including Ally & AJ and Jesse McCartney, and the pop super band Backstreet Boys.
The first 20 rows will be available exclusively and in-person only at the Abraham Chavez Theatre, 1 Civic Center Plaza. Quantities are limited and subject to availability.
The line order at the box office will be determined by lottery beginning at 9:30 a.m. Numbered wristbands will be distributed, and a starting order number will be drawn. You must be at least 16 to get a wristband.
All other tickets in rows 21 and beyond will be sold at www.ticketmaster.com or 544-8444.
Tickets cost $38 to $48. The concert will be at 7 p.m. Feb. 11 at the Abraham Chavez Theatre.
Jonas Brothers fans can start lining up at 12:01 a.m. Saturday to buy the best tickets for the pop-punk trio's Jan. 31 Tucson Music Hall concert.
But here's the rub: The person first in line may not get first dibs at tickets in the front 20 rows. And you can only get tickets in the front 20 rows if you buy them in person, at the Tucson Convention Center Box Office.
TCC Box Office officials will begin distributing numbered wristbands at 7:30 a.m. Saturday. At 9 a.m., they will draw a number at random and that number becomes the starting place, said Marty Carey, the TCC's ticket office manager.
For example: If 99 is chosen, the next number is 100, 101, 102, etc. The person with No. 98 will be the last in line.
The idea was part TCC's, part Jonas Brothers', Carey said. The intent is to prevent ticket brokers from buying up the best tickets then selling them at prices often double or triple their $39.50 and $49.50 face value.
"It's a way for us to weed out the scalpers, but also to let our fans who are really the die-hards to get the first 20 rows," oldest Jo-Bro Kevin Jonas, 20, said in a phone interview Thursday from New York City. "Because that's what's important to us, for our fans to be there."
Jonas said he and his brothers learned a big lesson from the fiasco surrounding ticket sales for Disney superstar Miley Cyrus (aka Hannah Montana). The brothers toured with the teen pop star for several months.
Ticket brokers gobbled up the best seats, in some instances before they were released to the public. They then sold them for higher prices, prompting some parents to complain to state and federal lawmakers and threaten a class-action lawsuit.
"The ticket brokers who were buying the tickets and demanding such high prices for our tour with Miley would hire even the homeless … to camp out for days for the first 20 rows, and our fans still wouldn't get the tickets," Jonas said. "So we wanted to do a lottery system where you could be there three days in advance or you could be there an hour before they go up and you could be the first one to get a ticket."
Carey said fans won't be able to begin lining up until midnight. Security will be posted at the box office in front of the TCC. No tickets will be sold at the Music Hall Box Office.
Meanwhile, the remaining rows of tickets will be available online at www.ticketmaster.com beginning at 10 a.m. Saturday.
The Jonas Brothers kick off their "Look Me In The Eyes Tour" with the Tucson date. On Wednesday, they wrapped up a months-long arena outing with Cyrus.
This is the trio's first solo outing. Since they released their debut album in 2006, they have toured with several Disney acts including Ally & AJ and Jesse McCartney, and the pop super band Backstreet Boys.
Abscess, Abscess of Malice
Brian McNamee told federal law enforcement officials that Roger Clemens developed an abscess on his buttocks around the time that McNamee said he was giving him steroid injections in 1998, a lawyer with knowledge of details of the case told The New York Times.
But three members of the Toronto Blue Jays organization that season, including two trainers, said they did not recall Clemens having an abscess in 1998, the newspaper reported. And Rusty Hardin, the attorney for Clemens, said McNamee made the same assertion to federal investigators -- and that the two trainers also told them they did not recall Clemens having an abscess.
Clemens, who was named in former Sen. George Mitchell’s report on performance-enhancing drugs in baseball as having been injected with steroids by McNamee, has said he did not take any performance enhancing drugs. The seven-time Cy Young Award winner has said that he received injections from McNamee, who was his strength trainer with the Blue Jays and New York Yankees but that they were vitamin B-12 or the pain killer lidocaine.
While any injection can lead to an abscess, an anti-doping expert said steroid injections are more likely to trigger abscesses, according to the Times.
"It is far less likely that any injection of vitamin B12 or lidocaine, which is usually not injected deep into the body, would have created an abscess," said Dr. Gary I. Wadler, a member of the World Anti-Doping Agency, according to the Times. "Steroid users tend to repetitively inject the drug deep into the muscle and this has been associated with the development of sterile abscess."
McNamee’s lead counsel, Earl Ward, told the Times that McNamee believes the treatment of the abscess was noted in Clemens’s medical or training records. He said that McNamee would be willing to testify under oath about the abscess when he is scheduled to appear before a congressional committee on Feb. 13.
Clemens and fellow Yankees pitcher Andy Pettitte have also been asked to testify on that day before the House Committee on Oversight and Government Reform. Pettitte, who also used McNamee as a strength trainer, was named in the Mitchell report and has admitted using human growth hormone to recover from an injury.
The Times reported that in interviews, former Blue Jays trainer Tom Craig, former team general manager Gord Ash and team physician Dr. Ron Taylor all said they did not remember Clemens being treated for an abscess. Taylor said he believed if Clemens had been treated, it would have been noted in Clemens' medical records.
Hardin said Craig and Scott Shannon, the other team trainer in 1998, told his investigators that they did not recall Clemens being treated for an abscess, according to the Times.
The abscess is not mentioned in the Mitchell report.
But three members of the Toronto Blue Jays organization that season, including two trainers, said they did not recall Clemens having an abscess in 1998, the newspaper reported. And Rusty Hardin, the attorney for Clemens, said McNamee made the same assertion to federal investigators -- and that the two trainers also told them they did not recall Clemens having an abscess.
Clemens, who was named in former Sen. George Mitchell’s report on performance-enhancing drugs in baseball as having been injected with steroids by McNamee, has said he did not take any performance enhancing drugs. The seven-time Cy Young Award winner has said that he received injections from McNamee, who was his strength trainer with the Blue Jays and New York Yankees but that they were vitamin B-12 or the pain killer lidocaine.
While any injection can lead to an abscess, an anti-doping expert said steroid injections are more likely to trigger abscesses, according to the Times.
"It is far less likely that any injection of vitamin B12 or lidocaine, which is usually not injected deep into the body, would have created an abscess," said Dr. Gary I. Wadler, a member of the World Anti-Doping Agency, according to the Times. "Steroid users tend to repetitively inject the drug deep into the muscle and this has been associated with the development of sterile abscess."
McNamee’s lead counsel, Earl Ward, told the Times that McNamee believes the treatment of the abscess was noted in Clemens’s medical or training records. He said that McNamee would be willing to testify under oath about the abscess when he is scheduled to appear before a congressional committee on Feb. 13.
Clemens and fellow Yankees pitcher Andy Pettitte have also been asked to testify on that day before the House Committee on Oversight and Government Reform. Pettitte, who also used McNamee as a strength trainer, was named in the Mitchell report and has admitted using human growth hormone to recover from an injury.
The Times reported that in interviews, former Blue Jays trainer Tom Craig, former team general manager Gord Ash and team physician Dr. Ron Taylor all said they did not remember Clemens being treated for an abscess. Taylor said he believed if Clemens had been treated, it would have been noted in Clemens' medical records.
Hardin said Craig and Scott Shannon, the other team trainer in 1998, told his investigators that they did not recall Clemens being treated for an abscess, according to the Times.
The abscess is not mentioned in the Mitchell report.
Odd girl out, the truth about jane, alexa vega, orange county, ellen muth
Meet an 'odd girl out'
Five-year-old Mikayla Nelson is one of the many Campbelltown youngsters who will front up to kindergarten for the first time when school starts on Monday, February 4.
Mikayla will go to St John's Primary School.
What makes her an odd girl out, in a sense, is that she's actually looking forward to homework.
"I'll love homework," Mikayla said.
"I'm looking forward to playing with friends because I already know some people who are going to the school.
"Some of the people are bigger than I am too."
Mikayla said she was preparing herself for kindergarten in two ways.
"I've helped people who got hurt and I've played with people," she said.
"I think school will be fun."
Phinemm Nelson, her mother, said: "This is the first introduction to what school is going to be like.
"It's an important time for children to learn, because they are built like sponges at this age.
"I think Mikayla will be fine.
"She'll probably be an assistant teacher."
Mrs Nelson said her husband Michael had had tears in his eyes when Mikayla was trying on her uniform.
"I'll miss not having her around though, because I won't have a `coffee buddy' to keep me company in my day any more," she said.
Five-year-old Mikayla Nelson is one of the many Campbelltown youngsters who will front up to kindergarten for the first time when school starts on Monday, February 4.
Mikayla will go to St John's Primary School.
What makes her an odd girl out, in a sense, is that she's actually looking forward to homework.
"I'll love homework," Mikayla said.
"I'm looking forward to playing with friends because I already know some people who are going to the school.
"Some of the people are bigger than I am too."
Mikayla said she was preparing herself for kindergarten in two ways.
"I've helped people who got hurt and I've played with people," she said.
"I think school will be fun."
Phinemm Nelson, her mother, said: "This is the first introduction to what school is going to be like.
"It's an important time for children to learn, because they are built like sponges at this age.
"I think Mikayla will be fine.
"She'll probably be an assistant teacher."
Mrs Nelson said her husband Michael had had tears in his eyes when Mikayla was trying on her uniform.
"I'll miss not having her around though, because I won't have a `coffee buddy' to keep me company in my day any more," she said.
Hula bowl, east west shrine game, hula bowl 2008, cactus bowl, raycom, 2008 hula bowl
Two-time consensus first team All-American center Brennen Carvalho will get his chance to bask in the national media spotlight this afternoon when he takes part in the 2008 Hula Bowl in Hawaii.
The Hula Bowl is an annual game for the nation's top seniors to showcase their games in front of pro scouts.
Carvalho, a 6-1, 310-pound center, is a three-time first-team All-Big Sky Conference selection and earned first team honors from the Associated Press and Walter Camp.
At 21 years, one month, Carvalho figures to be one of the youngest prospects in Hawaii but his relative youth didn't stop him from making 39 consecutive starts for the Portland State Vikings.
A native of Hawaii, Carvalho is the first Viking to be selected for the game since Tony Curtis was after the 2004 season. Curtis now plays for the Dallas Cowboys.
The game will be televised on the Versus network at 3 p.m. PST.
The Hula Bowl is an annual game for the nation's top seniors to showcase their games in front of pro scouts.
Carvalho, a 6-1, 310-pound center, is a three-time first-team All-Big Sky Conference selection and earned first team honors from the Associated Press and Walter Camp.
At 21 years, one month, Carvalho figures to be one of the youngest prospects in Hawaii but his relative youth didn't stop him from making 39 consecutive starts for the Portland State Vikings.
A native of Hawaii, Carvalho is the first Viking to be selected for the game since Tony Curtis was after the 2004 season. Curtis now plays for the Dallas Cowboys.
The game will be televised on the Versus network at 3 p.m. PST.
Chili bowl, chili bowl 2008, chili bowl racing, chili bowl results, chilibowl, www.chilibowl.com
It has become one of the hottest tickets in auto racing.
The Chili Bowl, an annual indoor midget-car race entering its third decade in Tulsa, Okla., pits some of racing’s biggest stars against the up-and-comers.
On Thursday night, Tony Stewart from NASCAR’s top circuit, didn’t get out of his qualifying heat to automatically qualify for tonight’s Main Event. He’ll have to advance from the lower feature events.
“It’s the biggest race of the year,” said Stewart, the overall champion in 2007 of the five-night racing event. “You look at all forms of racing. You don’t get guys from Formula One and Champ Car and IRL to all come together at one race and race against each other and have 60 or 70 cars.
“But you come here where they’ve got more than 200 cars entered, and they’ve got the best guys from different regions of the entire country.”
Among the Chili Bowl-record 286 entries this year are Stewart and fellow NASCAR drivers Kasey Kahne and J.J. Yeley and Jason Leffler, drag racers Gary Scelzi and Cruz Pedregon, a who’s who of dirt-track racers, and 70 rookies seeking to make a name for themselves.
The Chili Bowl has sold out each of the last three years, and organizer Donna Harris said there could be as many as 25,000 people for the grand finale tonight. Many will pile in without the chance at getting a seat.
The Chili Bowl, an annual indoor midget-car race entering its third decade in Tulsa, Okla., pits some of racing’s biggest stars against the up-and-comers.
On Thursday night, Tony Stewart from NASCAR’s top circuit, didn’t get out of his qualifying heat to automatically qualify for tonight’s Main Event. He’ll have to advance from the lower feature events.
“It’s the biggest race of the year,” said Stewart, the overall champion in 2007 of the five-night racing event. “You look at all forms of racing. You don’t get guys from Formula One and Champ Car and IRL to all come together at one race and race against each other and have 60 or 70 cars.
“But you come here where they’ve got more than 200 cars entered, and they’ve got the best guys from different regions of the entire country.”
Among the Chili Bowl-record 286 entries this year are Stewart and fellow NASCAR drivers Kasey Kahne and J.J. Yeley and Jason Leffler, drag racers Gary Scelzi and Cruz Pedregon, a who’s who of dirt-track racers, and 70 rookies seeking to make a name for themselves.
The Chili Bowl has sold out each of the last three years, and organizer Donna Harris said there could be as many as 25,000 people for the grand finale tonight. Many will pile in without the chance at getting a seat.
Myspace.com/maverickssurf, www.myspace.com/maverickssurf, mavericks surf, maverickssurf, mavericks surf contest, mavericks live
What a great day. The sun is shining for about the first time in January, Maverick's is going off just over the hill, and the divisional round will kick off at Lambeau Field in just a few hours.
A side note - why are they charging $25 a head to watch Maverick's on the big screen at AT&T Park when they are desperately trying to discourage people from showing up - for free, mind you - at the beach and kicking the whole cliff into the ocean?
I'm taking it all in from home wearing my Packers shirt and looking at the ridiculous "G Force: How Many False Starts Will You Be Responsible for Today?" handkerchief that they gave us at Lambeau on December 9. Was that specially prepared for Sims and Gallery?
1985 Dan would never forgive 2008 Dan for saying that I really don't mind the Seahawks anymore. (Remember the "Raider Busters?") As a Packer fan, Hasselbeck's coin-flip comment didn't bother me. The bottom line on this one is that Lambeau with a bit of snow is a great home field, and the Seahawks are dreadful on the road. I think we'll see today that the Packers are very good and the Seahawks aren't. Packers, 31-17.
I would not want to be setting the line for the Patriots-Jaguars game. 13 1/2 is probably reasonable. The Patriots could blow this one out. They are a really good team. They will have a chip on their shoulder, they'll be focused, yadda yadda yadda. I don't like the Patriots. They are a dynasty built on fraud with a phony squeaky-clean reputation. There is a lot of film out there showing how to slow them down (Philly, Baltimore, NYG), and the Jaguars are much better than those teams. Do they match up well? Maybe not, but what the hell. I'm picking Jacksonville to end New England's run 34-30. It will take the game of their lives, but like I said, it's a great day, so why not.
Indianapolis is indeed going to blow out the Chargers. Tomorrow I'm sure I'll have that catchy/annoying "San Diego Superchargers" song in my head all day. But for whatever reason people have forgotten how good Indy is. San Diego has made a nice comeback with Norv, but it will come to a crushing end with Gates on the sideline. As much as I'd like to see LT (he's an MVP, he can call himself whatever he wants) mocking some Patriot's signature move at Gillette Stadium next week, Indy will win 35-20.
The Giants-Cowboys game will be fun to watch, but I think it will be a little sloppy. Dallas has looked awful in recent weeks and it may take some time to remember how to play. I think Romo needed that Mexico trip to reset. The Giants are another team like Seattle. Sometimes you think they are really good, but they just aren't. So it will be a TO-led comeback that puts Dallas over the top, 24-21. Say what you will about TO, he was a stud with that broken ankle in the Super Bowl so a sprain should be worth 150 yds, 2 TDs or so.
A side note - why are they charging $25 a head to watch Maverick's on the big screen at AT&T Park when they are desperately trying to discourage people from showing up - for free, mind you - at the beach and kicking the whole cliff into the ocean?
I'm taking it all in from home wearing my Packers shirt and looking at the ridiculous "G Force: How Many False Starts Will You Be Responsible for Today?" handkerchief that they gave us at Lambeau on December 9. Was that specially prepared for Sims and Gallery?
1985 Dan would never forgive 2008 Dan for saying that I really don't mind the Seahawks anymore. (Remember the "Raider Busters?") As a Packer fan, Hasselbeck's coin-flip comment didn't bother me. The bottom line on this one is that Lambeau with a bit of snow is a great home field, and the Seahawks are dreadful on the road. I think we'll see today that the Packers are very good and the Seahawks aren't. Packers, 31-17.
I would not want to be setting the line for the Patriots-Jaguars game. 13 1/2 is probably reasonable. The Patriots could blow this one out. They are a really good team. They will have a chip on their shoulder, they'll be focused, yadda yadda yadda. I don't like the Patriots. They are a dynasty built on fraud with a phony squeaky-clean reputation. There is a lot of film out there showing how to slow them down (Philly, Baltimore, NYG), and the Jaguars are much better than those teams. Do they match up well? Maybe not, but what the hell. I'm picking Jacksonville to end New England's run 34-30. It will take the game of their lives, but like I said, it's a great day, so why not.
Indianapolis is indeed going to blow out the Chargers. Tomorrow I'm sure I'll have that catchy/annoying "San Diego Superchargers" song in my head all day. But for whatever reason people have forgotten how good Indy is. San Diego has made a nice comeback with Norv, but it will come to a crushing end with Gates on the sideline. As much as I'd like to see LT (he's an MVP, he can call himself whatever he wants) mocking some Patriot's signature move at Gillette Stadium next week, Indy will win 35-20.
The Giants-Cowboys game will be fun to watch, but I think it will be a little sloppy. Dallas has looked awful in recent weeks and it may take some time to remember how to play. I think Romo needed that Mexico trip to reset. The Giants are another team like Seattle. Sometimes you think they are really good, but they just aren't. So it will be a TO-led comeback that puts Dallas over the top, 24-21. Say what you will about TO, he was a stud with that broken ankle in the Super Bowl so a sprain should be worth 150 yds, 2 TDs or so.
Mavericks surf contest, mavericks surf, mavsurfer, mavericks, mavericks surf contest 2008, mavericks 2008
It’s official. The Maverick’s surf contest has been given the green light.
Now 24 of the world’s best big wave surfers have approximately 24 hours to make it to the legendary break in Half Moon Bay by early Saturday morning, when the event’s opening heat is scheduled to run.
“We have a really good swell coming at us with great weather,” contest director and Maverick’s pioneer Jeff Clark said Thursday. “All the Santa Cruz guys are around, the South Africans are here, a lot of guys are still on their way, and we’re stoked.”
Clark said that, based on the current buoy readings, he is expecting to see waves of 30 feet on the face for the contest.
Click here for a slide show of the 2006 event!!!
“Not the biggest Maverick’s,” he said, “but 30-foot Mav’s is no pushover either. I think we’re going to see some really high-performance big-wave surfing out there.”
The decision to hold the contest this weekend was a delicate one because another big wave contest, the Nelscott Reef Tow-in Classic, was scheduled to run Friday, taking advantage of the same big swell. Eleven of the 24 invitees to the Maverick’s contest are also invited to compete in the Nelscott event.
Anthony Tashnick of Santa Cruz, the 2005 Mavericks champion, is one of those 11 surfers. Tashnick had already made a 17-hour drive up to Oregon when he heard that the Mavericks Contest had been given the green light. He elected to hop a Thursday night flight back home in order to be ready for Mav’s.
“It’s gonna be way better at Mav’s,” Tashnick said while waiting for his flight in the Portland airport Thursday night. “This swell is a straight west. Mav’s is going to be big and gnarly with perfect conditions.”
Contest organizers are urging big-wave surf fans to steer clear of the break off Pillar Point Harbor on contest day in an effort to reduce the impact of massive crowds on the sensitive coastal environment.
Clark said that spectators will have a better viewing experience by taking advantage of the numerous live broadcasts planned for Saturday, instead of squinting to see the action out at the break a half mile offshore.
Clark plans to have a live feed of the contest broadcasting at the Mavericks Surf Shop in Princeton. Fans can also head to AT&T Park in San Francisco, where a live feed will be shown via the jumbotron. A live webcast is also available online at www.maverickssurf.com.
Opening heats are slated for 8 a.m. with four six-man rounds of 40 minutes each. The semifinals will follow, with the finals loosely scheduled for 1:30 p.m.
This is the sixth running of the event. Santa Cruz surfers have won four of the first five titles, with the Westside’s Darryl “Flea” Virostko taking the first three, followed by Tashnick in 2005.
South African surfer Grant Baker is the defending champion, after coming out of nowhere to top the field in February 2007 in the best conditions the event has seen.
This year’s event boasts a $75,000 prize purse, with $30,000 for first place, $12,000 for second place, $7,500 for third place, $3,500 for fourth, $2,500 for fifth and $1,500 for sixth place.
Now 24 of the world’s best big wave surfers have approximately 24 hours to make it to the legendary break in Half Moon Bay by early Saturday morning, when the event’s opening heat is scheduled to run.
“We have a really good swell coming at us with great weather,” contest director and Maverick’s pioneer Jeff Clark said Thursday. “All the Santa Cruz guys are around, the South Africans are here, a lot of guys are still on their way, and we’re stoked.”
Clark said that, based on the current buoy readings, he is expecting to see waves of 30 feet on the face for the contest.
Click here for a slide show of the 2006 event!!!
“Not the biggest Maverick’s,” he said, “but 30-foot Mav’s is no pushover either. I think we’re going to see some really high-performance big-wave surfing out there.”
The decision to hold the contest this weekend was a delicate one because another big wave contest, the Nelscott Reef Tow-in Classic, was scheduled to run Friday, taking advantage of the same big swell. Eleven of the 24 invitees to the Maverick’s contest are also invited to compete in the Nelscott event.
Anthony Tashnick of Santa Cruz, the 2005 Mavericks champion, is one of those 11 surfers. Tashnick had already made a 17-hour drive up to Oregon when he heard that the Mavericks Contest had been given the green light. He elected to hop a Thursday night flight back home in order to be ready for Mav’s.
“It’s gonna be way better at Mav’s,” Tashnick said while waiting for his flight in the Portland airport Thursday night. “This swell is a straight west. Mav’s is going to be big and gnarly with perfect conditions.”
Contest organizers are urging big-wave surf fans to steer clear of the break off Pillar Point Harbor on contest day in an effort to reduce the impact of massive crowds on the sensitive coastal environment.
Clark said that spectators will have a better viewing experience by taking advantage of the numerous live broadcasts planned for Saturday, instead of squinting to see the action out at the break a half mile offshore.
Clark plans to have a live feed of the contest broadcasting at the Mavericks Surf Shop in Princeton. Fans can also head to AT&T Park in San Francisco, where a live feed will be shown via the jumbotron. A live webcast is also available online at www.maverickssurf.com.
Opening heats are slated for 8 a.m. with four six-man rounds of 40 minutes each. The semifinals will follow, with the finals loosely scheduled for 1:30 p.m.
This is the sixth running of the event. Santa Cruz surfers have won four of the first five titles, with the Westside’s Darryl “Flea” Virostko taking the first three, followed by Tashnick in 2005.
South African surfer Grant Baker is the defending champion, after coming out of nowhere to top the field in February 2007 in the best conditions the event has seen.
This year’s event boasts a $75,000 prize purse, with $30,000 for first place, $12,000 for second place, $7,500 for third place, $3,500 for fourth, $2,500 for fifth and $1,500 for sixth place.
Taiwan news, taiwan, taiwan election 2008, taiwan election, google taiwan, taiwan yahoo
Taiwan nationalists declare election victory
Taiwan’s opposition nationalist Kuomintang (KMT), which favours closer ties with China, has declared a landslide victory in the island’s parliamentary election.
The Kuomintang and its allies have secured a total of 86 seats in the 113-seat legislature, KMT chairman Wu Poh-hsiung told a press conference.
“We give our deepest appreciation for today’s election result,” Mr Wu said.
“We understand that you have put your faith in us, but our joy should last for only one night. Starting tomorrow, we will have more responsibilities to undertake.”
The election commission has not yet released its official results. An announcement was
China, Taiwan and US relations will improve in 2008
Wired has an analysis of what would happen in a war between the United States and China in space.
I think the analysis is meaningless because I do not believe that the United States and China would go to war. Both countries are prospering under the current world system and world order. The Wired analysis speculates about the trigger for a war being Taiwan. However, if the KMT and Ma Ying-jeou win the election January 12 and March 22, then relations with China will improve and the risk of war over Taiwan will become virtually non-existent. I predict that the KMT and Ma will both win their elections. I could only imagine their loss if there was massive vote rigging or if enough Taiwanese voters were tricked by another DPP stunt.
There is a legislative election going on right now in Taiwan (Jan 12, 2008)
Some expect the KMT to win 70 seats [out of 113 seats] in a landslide.
Taiwan’s presidential election is set for March 22, 2008
The opposition Kuomintang, which favors closer mainland links, aims to retain control of parliament as a springboard to winning the presidency in March from the independence-leaning Democratic Progressive Party. Ma Ying-jeou, the opposition’s presidential candidate, has pledged to raise growth and cut unemployment by easing trade and investment restrictions with the mainland.
`Most Taiwanese want better ties with China, and Saturday’s vote, if the KMT takes more seats as expected, could indicate a rejection of confrontational policies,’ said Yang Tai-shuenn, a political professor at the Chinese Culture University in Taipei.
By the end of 2008, China’s economy (plus Macua and Hong Kong) will over ten times larger than the Taiwan economy. Similar to the ratio of China’s economy to Hong Kong back in 1997 and the current ratio of Canada’s economy relative to the United States.
I would predict that China’s yuan to be between 6.4 and 6.7 at the end of 2008. China’s economy would be about 26.2 trillion yuan at the end of 2008. China+Hong Kong + Macau combined GDP would be about 4.2 to 4.3 trillion US dollars vs 400 to 410 billion for Taiwan. With Chinese currency appreciation in the 9-12% per year range by 2014-2017 chinese per capita income could be in the range of half of Taiwan’s. China’s economy at that time would be very near the size of the US economy on an exchange rate basis.
There is no reason for China to go to war to fight for what they can soon buy.
Voters will also decide on two referenda: whether the KMT should give back assets gained in the more than five decades it governed Taiwan, and an opposition-proposed vote on wiping out official corruption.
The campaign has been marked by corruption charges and trials affecting both parties. Chen’s wife, Wu Shu-chen, is on trial for embezzlement, forgery and misuse of funds, and prosecutors said they have enough evidence to charge the president on similar grounds if not for his presidential immunity. Both have denied the charges.
Chen’s son-in-law, Chao Chien-ming, is on trial for insider trading after the Supreme Court last month revoked a conviction and asked the High Court to reconsider the case.
`President Chen has vowed to strive for Taiwan’s economy, but in fact he has been striving only for his family’s economy,’ Ma told supporters at a rally in southern Taiwan on Jan. 6.
Ma himself also faces corruption charges, with prosecutors on Jan. 9 appealing his Dec. 28 acquittal on charges he misused government funds while mayor of Taipei.
China’s currency is appreciating and as of Jan 11, 2008 it is 7.25 yuan to 1 US dollar.
The US subprime problems and possible recession in 2008 will not slow China’s economic growth by much.
This is because China’s economy is not as dependent upon exports as many believe it to be.
From the Economist magazine:
The value added share of exports is less than 10% of manufactured exports. China’s economy is driven not by exports but by investment, which accounts for over 40% of GDP.
This raises an additional concern: that weaker exports could lead to a sharp drop in investment because exporters would need to add less capacity. But Arthur Kroeber at Dragonomics, a Beijing-based research firm, argues that investment is not as closely tied to exports as is often assumed: over half of all investment is in infrastructure and property. Mr Kroeber estimates that only 7% of total investment is directly linked to export production. Adding in the capital spending of local firms that produce inputs sold to exporters, he reckons that a still-modest 14% of investment is dependent on exports. Total investment is unlikely to collapse while investment in infrastructure and residential construction remains firm.
Dragonomics forecasts that in 2008 the contribution of net exports to China’s growth will shrink by half. If the impact on investment is also included, GDP growth will slow to about 10% from 11.5% in 2007. This is hardly catastrophic. Indeed, given Beijing’s worries about the economy overheating, it would be welcome.
FURTHER READING
Public trust in Chen fell to 29 percent in December, according to data by the Taipei-based Global Views Survey Research Center. Support for his DPP was 29.5 percent, compared with 48.6 percent for the KMT, Global Views said. The KMT wants to win over 60 seats while the DPP says it aims to get 50.
Apparently resigned to an election loss today, Democratic Progressive Party standard-bearer Frank Hsieh holds President Chen Shui-bian responsible and wants him to quit calling the shots in the 2008 campaign.
Hsieh did not openly call on President Chen to resign as chairman of the ruling party, but noted Wu Po-hsiung has vowed to step down as Kuomintang chairman, if the DPP wins 50 seats in the new Legislative Yuan.
“Wu wants to take responsibility for a Kuomintang loss,” Hsieh said, suggesting that Chen should follow suit if he fails to achieve the 50-seat target he has set for the ruling party going into the elections.
Taiwan election, taiwan news, taiwan election 2008, taiwan, taiwan newspaper, yahoo taiwan
Taiwan nationalists declare election victory
Taiwan's opposition nationalist Kuomintang (KMT), which favours closer ties with China, has declared a landslide victory in the island's parliamentary election.
The Kuomintang and its allies have secured a total of 86 seats in the 113-seat legislature, KMT chairman Wu Poh-hsiung told a press conference.
"We give our deepest appreciation for today's election result," Mr Wu said.
"We understand that you have put your faith in us, but our joy should last for only one night. Starting tomorrow, we will have more responsibilities to undertake."
The election commission has not yet released its official results. An announcement was
China, Taiwan and US relations will improve in 2008
Wired has an analysis of what would happen in a war between the United States and China in space.
I think the analysis is meaningless because I do not believe that the United States and China would go to war. Both countries are prospering under the current world system and world order. The Wired analysis speculates about the trigger for a war being Taiwan. However, if the KMT and Ma Ying-jeou win the election January 12 and March 22, then relations with China will improve and the risk of war over Taiwan will become virtually non-existent. I predict that the KMT and Ma will both win their elections. I could only imagine their loss if there was massive vote rigging or if enough Taiwanese voters were tricked by another DPP stunt.
There is a legislative election going on right now in Taiwan (Jan 12, 2008)
Some expect the KMT to win 70 seats [out of 113 seats] in a landslide.
Taiwan's presidential election is set for March 22, 2008
The opposition Kuomintang, which favors closer mainland links, aims to retain control of parliament as a springboard to winning the presidency in March from the independence-leaning Democratic Progressive Party. Ma Ying-jeou, the opposition's presidential candidate, has pledged to raise growth and cut unemployment by easing trade and investment restrictions with the mainland.
`Most Taiwanese want better ties with China, and Saturday's vote, if the KMT takes more seats as expected, could indicate a rejection of confrontational policies,' said Yang Tai-shuenn, a political professor at the Chinese Culture University in Taipei.
By the end of 2008, China's economy (plus Macua and Hong Kong) will over ten times larger than the Taiwan economy. Similar to the ratio of China's economy to Hong Kong back in 1997 and the current ratio of Canada's economy relative to the United States.
I would predict that China's yuan to be between 6.4 and 6.7 at the end of 2008. China's economy would be about 26.2 trillion yuan at the end of 2008. China+Hong Kong + Macau combined GDP would be about 4.2 to 4.3 trillion US dollars vs 400 to 410 billion for Taiwan. With Chinese currency appreciation in the 9-12% per year range by 2014-2017 chinese per capita income could be in the range of half of Taiwan's. China's economy at that time would be very near the size of the US economy on an exchange rate basis.
There is no reason for China to go to war to fight for what they can soon buy.
Voters will also decide on two referenda: whether the KMT should give back assets gained in the more than five decades it governed Taiwan, and an opposition-proposed vote on wiping out official corruption.
The campaign has been marked by corruption charges and trials affecting both parties. Chen's wife, Wu Shu-chen, is on trial for embezzlement, forgery and misuse of funds, and prosecutors said they have enough evidence to charge the president on similar grounds if not for his presidential immunity. Both have denied the charges.
Chen's son-in-law, Chao Chien-ming, is on trial for insider trading after the Supreme Court last month revoked a conviction and asked the High Court to reconsider the case.
`President Chen has vowed to strive for Taiwan's economy, but in fact he has been striving only for his family's economy,' Ma told supporters at a rally in southern Taiwan on Jan. 6.
Ma himself also faces corruption charges, with prosecutors on Jan. 9 appealing his Dec. 28 acquittal on charges he misused government funds while mayor of Taipei.
China's currency is appreciating and as of Jan 11, 2008 it is 7.25 yuan to 1 US dollar.
The US subprime problems and possible recession in 2008 will not slow China's economic growth by much.
This is because China's economy is not as dependent upon exports as many believe it to be.
From the Economist magazine:
The value added share of exports is less than 10% of manufactured exports. China's economy is driven not by exports but by investment, which accounts for over 40% of GDP.
This raises an additional concern: that weaker exports could lead to a sharp drop in investment because exporters would need to add less capacity. But Arthur Kroeber at Dragonomics, a Beijing-based research firm, argues that investment is not as closely tied to exports as is often assumed: over half of all investment is in infrastructure and property. Mr Kroeber estimates that only 7% of total investment is directly linked to export production. Adding in the capital spending of local firms that produce inputs sold to exporters, he reckons that a still-modest 14% of investment is dependent on exports. Total investment is unlikely to collapse while investment in infrastructure and residential construction remains firm.
Dragonomics forecasts that in 2008 the contribution of net exports to China's growth will shrink by half. If the impact on investment is also included, GDP growth will slow to about 10% from 11.5% in 2007. This is hardly catastrophic. Indeed, given Beijing's worries about the economy overheating, it would be welcome.
FURTHER READING
Public trust in Chen fell to 29 percent in December, according to data by the Taipei-based Global Views Survey Research Center. Support for his DPP was 29.5 percent, compared with 48.6 percent for the KMT, Global Views said. The KMT wants to win over 60 seats while the DPP says it aims to get 50.
Apparently resigned to an election loss today, Democratic Progressive Party standard-bearer Frank Hsieh holds President Chen Shui-bian responsible and wants him to quit calling the shots in the 2008 campaign.
Hsieh did not openly call on President Chen to resign as chairman of the ruling party, but noted Wu Po-hsiung has vowed to step down as Kuomintang chairman, if the DPP wins 50 seats in the new Legislative Yuan.
"Wu wants to take responsibility for a Kuomintang loss," Hsieh said, suggesting that Chen should follow suit if he fails to achieve the 50-seat target he has set for the ruling party going into the elections.
Taiwan's opposition nationalist Kuomintang (KMT), which favours closer ties with China, has declared a landslide victory in the island's parliamentary election.
The Kuomintang and its allies have secured a total of 86 seats in the 113-seat legislature, KMT chairman Wu Poh-hsiung told a press conference.
"We give our deepest appreciation for today's election result," Mr Wu said.
"We understand that you have put your faith in us, but our joy should last for only one night. Starting tomorrow, we will have more responsibilities to undertake."
The election commission has not yet released its official results. An announcement was
China, Taiwan and US relations will improve in 2008
Wired has an analysis of what would happen in a war between the United States and China in space.
I think the analysis is meaningless because I do not believe that the United States and China would go to war. Both countries are prospering under the current world system and world order. The Wired analysis speculates about the trigger for a war being Taiwan. However, if the KMT and Ma Ying-jeou win the election January 12 and March 22, then relations with China will improve and the risk of war over Taiwan will become virtually non-existent. I predict that the KMT and Ma will both win their elections. I could only imagine their loss if there was massive vote rigging or if enough Taiwanese voters were tricked by another DPP stunt.
There is a legislative election going on right now in Taiwan (Jan 12, 2008)
Some expect the KMT to win 70 seats [out of 113 seats] in a landslide.
Taiwan's presidential election is set for March 22, 2008
The opposition Kuomintang, which favors closer mainland links, aims to retain control of parliament as a springboard to winning the presidency in March from the independence-leaning Democratic Progressive Party. Ma Ying-jeou, the opposition's presidential candidate, has pledged to raise growth and cut unemployment by easing trade and investment restrictions with the mainland.
`Most Taiwanese want better ties with China, and Saturday's vote, if the KMT takes more seats as expected, could indicate a rejection of confrontational policies,' said Yang Tai-shuenn, a political professor at the Chinese Culture University in Taipei.
By the end of 2008, China's economy (plus Macua and Hong Kong) will over ten times larger than the Taiwan economy. Similar to the ratio of China's economy to Hong Kong back in 1997 and the current ratio of Canada's economy relative to the United States.
I would predict that China's yuan to be between 6.4 and 6.7 at the end of 2008. China's economy would be about 26.2 trillion yuan at the end of 2008. China+Hong Kong + Macau combined GDP would be about 4.2 to 4.3 trillion US dollars vs 400 to 410 billion for Taiwan. With Chinese currency appreciation in the 9-12% per year range by 2014-2017 chinese per capita income could be in the range of half of Taiwan's. China's economy at that time would be very near the size of the US economy on an exchange rate basis.
There is no reason for China to go to war to fight for what they can soon buy.
Voters will also decide on two referenda: whether the KMT should give back assets gained in the more than five decades it governed Taiwan, and an opposition-proposed vote on wiping out official corruption.
The campaign has been marked by corruption charges and trials affecting both parties. Chen's wife, Wu Shu-chen, is on trial for embezzlement, forgery and misuse of funds, and prosecutors said they have enough evidence to charge the president on similar grounds if not for his presidential immunity. Both have denied the charges.
Chen's son-in-law, Chao Chien-ming, is on trial for insider trading after the Supreme Court last month revoked a conviction and asked the High Court to reconsider the case.
`President Chen has vowed to strive for Taiwan's economy, but in fact he has been striving only for his family's economy,' Ma told supporters at a rally in southern Taiwan on Jan. 6.
Ma himself also faces corruption charges, with prosecutors on Jan. 9 appealing his Dec. 28 acquittal on charges he misused government funds while mayor of Taipei.
China's currency is appreciating and as of Jan 11, 2008 it is 7.25 yuan to 1 US dollar.
The US subprime problems and possible recession in 2008 will not slow China's economic growth by much.
This is because China's economy is not as dependent upon exports as many believe it to be.
From the Economist magazine:
The value added share of exports is less than 10% of manufactured exports. China's economy is driven not by exports but by investment, which accounts for over 40% of GDP.
This raises an additional concern: that weaker exports could lead to a sharp drop in investment because exporters would need to add less capacity. But Arthur Kroeber at Dragonomics, a Beijing-based research firm, argues that investment is not as closely tied to exports as is often assumed: over half of all investment is in infrastructure and property. Mr Kroeber estimates that only 7% of total investment is directly linked to export production. Adding in the capital spending of local firms that produce inputs sold to exporters, he reckons that a still-modest 14% of investment is dependent on exports. Total investment is unlikely to collapse while investment in infrastructure and residential construction remains firm.
Dragonomics forecasts that in 2008 the contribution of net exports to China's growth will shrink by half. If the impact on investment is also included, GDP growth will slow to about 10% from 11.5% in 2007. This is hardly catastrophic. Indeed, given Beijing's worries about the economy overheating, it would be welcome.
FURTHER READING
Public trust in Chen fell to 29 percent in December, according to data by the Taipei-based Global Views Survey Research Center. Support for his DPP was 29.5 percent, compared with 48.6 percent for the KMT, Global Views said. The KMT wants to win over 60 seats while the DPP says it aims to get 50.
Apparently resigned to an election loss today, Democratic Progressive Party standard-bearer Frank Hsieh holds President Chen Shui-bian responsible and wants him to quit calling the shots in the 2008 campaign.
Hsieh did not openly call on President Chen to resign as chairman of the ruling party, but noted Wu Po-hsiung has vowed to step down as Kuomintang chairman, if the DPP wins 50 seats in the new Legislative Yuan.
"Wu wants to take responsibility for a Kuomintang loss," Hsieh said, suggesting that Chen should follow suit if he fails to achieve the 50-seat target he has set for the ruling party going into the elections.
Stonewall jackson, andrew stonewall jackson, billy bush, general stonewall jackson, old hickory, jodhaa akbar songs
Inscription. This marks the terminal of the Stonewall Jackson Memorial Highway. Erected by Dixie Chapter United Daughters of the Confederacy, St. Petersburg, Fla. Jan. 22, 1939.
Erected 1939 by Dixie Chapter United Daughters of the Confederacy.
Location. 27° 46′ 16.36″ N, 82° 37′ 55.56″ W. Marker is in St. Petersburg, Florida, in Pinellas County. Marker is at the intersection of Bayshore Drive SE and Central Avenue, on the left when traveling north on Bayshore Drive SE. Click for map. Marker is in this post office area: Saint Petersburg FL 33701, United States of America.
Other nearby markers. At least 4 other markers are within 18 miles of this marker, as the crow flies. Magnolia Drive Dock (approx. 16.6 miles away); Tampa Union Station (approx. 16.7 miles away); The Seminole Bridge (approx. 17.5 miles away); Roland M. Manteiga (approx. 17.5 miles away).
Also see . . . Map of US Highway 19. Was the Stonewall Jackson Memorial Highway part of U.S. Route 19? Read Additional Comment No. 1 below. (Submitted on January 11, 2008.)
Stonewall Jackson Memorial Highway Terminus Marker Photo, Click for full size
By Julie Szabo, January 5, 2008
2. Stonewall Jackson Memorial Highway Terminus Marker
Credits. This page originally submitted on January 10, 2008, by Julie Szabo of Oldsmar, Florida. This page has been viewed 5 times since then. Photos: 1, 2. Submitted on January 10, 2008, by Julie Szabo of Oldsmar, Florida. • J. J. Prats was the editor who published this page.
Erected 1939 by Dixie Chapter United Daughters of the Confederacy.
Location. 27° 46′ 16.36″ N, 82° 37′ 55.56″ W. Marker is in St. Petersburg, Florida, in Pinellas County. Marker is at the intersection of Bayshore Drive SE and Central Avenue, on the left when traveling north on Bayshore Drive SE. Click for map. Marker is in this post office area: Saint Petersburg FL 33701, United States of America.
Other nearby markers. At least 4 other markers are within 18 miles of this marker, as the crow flies. Magnolia Drive Dock (approx. 16.6 miles away); Tampa Union Station (approx. 16.7 miles away); The Seminole Bridge (approx. 17.5 miles away); Roland M. Manteiga (approx. 17.5 miles away).
Also see . . . Map of US Highway 19. Was the Stonewall Jackson Memorial Highway part of U.S. Route 19? Read Additional Comment No. 1 below. (Submitted on January 11, 2008.)
Stonewall Jackson Memorial Highway Terminus Marker Photo, Click for full size
By Julie Szabo, January 5, 2008
2. Stonewall Jackson Memorial Highway Terminus Marker
Credits. This page originally submitted on January 10, 2008, by Julie Szabo of Oldsmar, Florida. This page has been viewed 5 times since then. Photos: 1, 2. Submitted on January 10, 2008, by Julie Szabo of Oldsmar, Florida. • J. J. Prats was the editor who published this page.
Dubrillion, nonillion, sextillion, nomillion, nonmillion, dubillion
Dubrillion was a formerly lush green planet with beautiful oceans and lush-green continents, framed with fluffy white clouds. It was the sister world of Destrillion. It was located in the Outer Rim near Dantooine and Muunilinst. There was an asteroid field near the planet. Dubrillion was Lando Calrissian's main base for his asteroid operation and housed many luxury suites and grand cities. During the Yuuzhan Vong War, the planet was terraformed, destroying its forests and cities.
The superlaser facility during the Battle of Dubrillion in 3 ABY.
During the Galactic Civil War, the Dubrillion system hosted a factory and testing facility for new weapons. In the midst of a Dubrillion ocean was a huge superlaser, which was a prototype laser for the second Death Star. It was destroyed by Rogue Squadron with the help of newly defected Imperial General Crix Madine after several Rebel Alliance ships passing the planet were destroyed by a beam coming from Dubrillion.
In the Yuuzhan Vong War, Dubrillion was one of the first worlds to fall to the Yuuzhan Vong. The Vong set up a base camp in the nearby asteroid field, and for two months attacked ships traveling to and from Dubrillion. When the New Republic arrived to help evacuate the planet, the Yuuzhan Vong burst out from the asteroid field, destroying countless ships carrying refugees.
After the New Republic forces had retreated, the Yuuzhan Vong invaded the planet. Using their biotechnology, they terraformed the planet, breaking down buildings and swallowing roads. Shedao Shai oversaw the terraforming of Dubrillion, and chose the planet as the main base for the Yuuzhan Vong in the Outer Rim. The remaining citizens that had been unable to flee attempted to hide, but were eventually found and tortured or killed.
Within days, only minimal trace of the original Dubrillion remained. However, the Dubrillion Aquarium was left alone by the invaders because of its vast collection of galactic marine life, which appealed to the Yuuzhan Vong's reverence of life.
The superlaser facility during the Battle of Dubrillion in 3 ABY.
During the Galactic Civil War, the Dubrillion system hosted a factory and testing facility for new weapons. In the midst of a Dubrillion ocean was a huge superlaser, which was a prototype laser for the second Death Star. It was destroyed by Rogue Squadron with the help of newly defected Imperial General Crix Madine after several Rebel Alliance ships passing the planet were destroyed by a beam coming from Dubrillion.
In the Yuuzhan Vong War, Dubrillion was one of the first worlds to fall to the Yuuzhan Vong. The Vong set up a base camp in the nearby asteroid field, and for two months attacked ships traveling to and from Dubrillion. When the New Republic arrived to help evacuate the planet, the Yuuzhan Vong burst out from the asteroid field, destroying countless ships carrying refugees.
After the New Republic forces had retreated, the Yuuzhan Vong invaded the planet. Using their biotechnology, they terraformed the planet, breaking down buildings and swallowing roads. Shedao Shai oversaw the terraforming of Dubrillion, and chose the planet as the main base for the Yuuzhan Vong in the Outer Rim. The remaining citizens that had been unable to flee attempted to hide, but were eventually found and tortured or killed.
Within days, only minimal trace of the original Dubrillion remained. However, the Dubrillion Aquarium was left alone by the invaders because of its vast collection of galactic marine life, which appealed to the Yuuzhan Vong's reverence of life.
Sextillion, nonillion, dubrillion, nomillion, nonmillion, dubrillion number
Sextillion Dubrillion Number, what do they mean? Sextillion is equal to 10 to the 21 power. Nonillion is equal to 10 to the 30 power.
Many of us know what a million is and what a billion is but these numbers are higher. We usually don’t hear sextillion or nonillion. These names of numbers higher then trillion are hardly ever used in the average day. One time you may have heard these names is when people are referring to how many stars there are in the galaxy.
Other interesting numbers other than sextillion are decillion and duodecillion. Stay tuned for more breaking news on interesting words and numbers.
Do you ACTUALLY know how many stars are there in the sky? According to a study done by Australian astronomers and scientists, there are approximately 70,000 million million million stars are there up in the sky. The figure, seven (7) followed by 22 zeroes or 70 sextillion, was calculated by team based at the Australian National University five years ago.
What it means, 70 sextillion stars are about 10 times as many stars as grains of sand on all the world’s beaches and deserts, says one report from CNN.
Well, on a lighter note, anti outsourcing lobby may use this term on thier behest. And propogate accordigly in the media. For example: Due to outsourcing America has lost sextillion jobs, and then there will be shows on TV where analysts will analyze its social, political, psychological, economical and what not effect . Sextillion-definition
There are some who believe that the actual number of stars in the universe could be many times more than 70 sextillion figure, but remember this number more or less is visible by the modern telescopes.
In France, the 1948 General Conference on Weights and Measures deprecated the 109-system senses of the words billion through sextillion in favor of the 1012 system and this suggestion became official in 1961 throughout the French-speaking world (septillion and the higher number names were never part of the French language). France had finally2 switched back to the original version of the number names she had created. But the influence of the 109 system, primarily from the United States, was so great that by 1974, the Prime Minister of the U.K. announced that the 109 system was to be used for all official communications, effectively completing a transition that had long been taking place among the general speaking population.
Many of us know what a million is and what a billion is but these numbers are higher. We usually don’t hear sextillion or nonillion. These names of numbers higher then trillion are hardly ever used in the average day. One time you may have heard these names is when people are referring to how many stars there are in the galaxy.
Other interesting numbers other than sextillion are decillion and duodecillion. Stay tuned for more breaking news on interesting words and numbers.
Do you ACTUALLY know how many stars are there in the sky? According to a study done by Australian astronomers and scientists, there are approximately 70,000 million million million stars are there up in the sky. The figure, seven (7) followed by 22 zeroes or 70 sextillion, was calculated by team based at the Australian National University five years ago.
What it means, 70 sextillion stars are about 10 times as many stars as grains of sand on all the world’s beaches and deserts, says one report from CNN.
Well, on a lighter note, anti outsourcing lobby may use this term on thier behest. And propogate accordigly in the media. For example: Due to outsourcing America has lost sextillion jobs, and then there will be shows on TV where analysts will analyze its social, political, psychological, economical and what not effect . Sextillion-definition
There are some who believe that the actual number of stars in the universe could be many times more than 70 sextillion figure, but remember this number more or less is visible by the modern telescopes.
In France, the 1948 General Conference on Weights and Measures deprecated the 109-system senses of the words billion through sextillion in favor of the 1012 system and this suggestion became official in 1961 throughout the French-speaking world (septillion and the higher number names were never part of the French language). France had finally2 switched back to the original version of the number names she had created. But the influence of the 109 system, primarily from the United States, was so great that by 1974, the Prime Minister of the U.K. announced that the 109 system was to be used for all official communications, effectively completing a transition that had long been taking place among the general speaking population.
Nonillion, nomillion, dubrillion, sextillion, nonmillion, dubillion
DETROIT -- A 7-year-old-girl is being hailed as an "angel from heaven" and a hero for jumping in front of an enraged gunman, who pumped six bullets into the child as she used her body as a shield to save her mother's life.
Alexis Goggins, a first-grader at Campbell Elementary School, is in stable condition at Children's Hospital in Detroit recovering from gunshot wounds to the eye, left temple, chin, cheek, chest and right arm.
This story makes me cry, and I don't cry often. There are so many things about this story that tugs on the heartstrings. Keith Olbermann reported that Alexis suffered a stroke as an infant that left her disabled. There had apparently been some who wondered if Alexis was completely aware of what was going on around her, he said. No doubt about that now, I guess.
The man who did this kidnapped Selietha Parker, Alexis's mother, Alexis and a long-time family friend, Aisha Ford at gunpoint. He ordered Ms. Ford to drive them to Six Mile Road. Ms. Ford had wits enough to say she didn't have enough gas and to go to a convenience store. She called 911 on her way in to pay for the gas.
"The first operator clicked off and I dialed again and told that operator a guy with a gun was holding me hostage with a mother and baby and threatening to kill us. I told her the name of the gas station and then she said they didn't have a unit to send."
Excuse me but WTF? The 911 operator hung up on her? Then refused to send help? What? Oh, but worry not! "The attendant, Mohammad Alghazali, 30, said he noticed Ford was crying and she told him what was happening. He called 911 as he heard shots coming from the vehicle."
Here's the most sickening part:
Alghazali said a police car on a street nearby arrived in less than a minute after his call.
Isn't that just special? The police arrived quickly when finally notified. They did the very best they could. I really hope there is an investigation into the 911 operators, however. The police arrived to this scene:
Officers said they found Alexis huddled on the floor under the steering wheel, covered in blood, surrounded by spent cartridge casings, a spent bullet on the floor and teeth on the seat. There were bullet holes in the windshield and blood inside.
"But, Christina," you ask, "Where's the misogyny? Where's the victim blaming?" (I mean, if a guy kidnapping three females, shooting two of them and the 911 folks not really giving a shit isn't misogyny enough...) Well, did I tell you Fox news did a story about 1/4 as long as the Detroit News story and in it, they mention that the kidnapper was Ms. Parker's ex-boyfriend? Twice.
Alexis Goggins, 7, was hit protecting her mother Selietha Parker, 30, after Parker's ex-boyfriend Calvin Tillie, 29, forced the pair and family friend Aisha Ford to drive to Six Mile Road under threat of death, the Detroit News reported.
Tillie, who was armed with a handgun, shot Parker in the side of the head and in the arm after Ford stopped for gas, but before he could fire a third shot, Goggins jumped over the seat between her mother and Tillie, begging him to stop, the Detroit News reported. Without hesitation, Tillie reportedly pumped six shots into the child.
The first grader is in stable condition at Children’s Hospital in Detroit with gunshot wounds to the eye, left temple, chin, cheek, chest and right arm, the Detroit News reported. Parker was admitted to the hospital, but later released.
Tillie was arrested at the scene. He had dated Parker for six months, the Detroit News reported. (emphasis mine)
They chose to start and finish the story with that little piece of information. No mention, though, that she'd already left him, had a restraining order out on him and he had been stalking her ever since. Nope, none of that now.
So, here's a question. How many posts does it take to reach the center of the average person's capacity for victim blaming?
Alexis Goggins, a first-grader at Campbell Elementary School, is in stable condition at Children's Hospital in Detroit recovering from gunshot wounds to the eye, left temple, chin, cheek, chest and right arm.
This story makes me cry, and I don't cry often. There are so many things about this story that tugs on the heartstrings. Keith Olbermann reported that Alexis suffered a stroke as an infant that left her disabled. There had apparently been some who wondered if Alexis was completely aware of what was going on around her, he said. No doubt about that now, I guess.
The man who did this kidnapped Selietha Parker, Alexis's mother, Alexis and a long-time family friend, Aisha Ford at gunpoint. He ordered Ms. Ford to drive them to Six Mile Road. Ms. Ford had wits enough to say she didn't have enough gas and to go to a convenience store. She called 911 on her way in to pay for the gas.
"The first operator clicked off and I dialed again and told that operator a guy with a gun was holding me hostage with a mother and baby and threatening to kill us. I told her the name of the gas station and then she said they didn't have a unit to send."
Excuse me but WTF? The 911 operator hung up on her? Then refused to send help? What? Oh, but worry not! "The attendant, Mohammad Alghazali, 30, said he noticed Ford was crying and she told him what was happening. He called 911 as he heard shots coming from the vehicle."
Here's the most sickening part:
Alghazali said a police car on a street nearby arrived in less than a minute after his call.
Isn't that just special? The police arrived quickly when finally notified. They did the very best they could. I really hope there is an investigation into the 911 operators, however. The police arrived to this scene:
Officers said they found Alexis huddled on the floor under the steering wheel, covered in blood, surrounded by spent cartridge casings, a spent bullet on the floor and teeth on the seat. There were bullet holes in the windshield and blood inside.
"But, Christina," you ask, "Where's the misogyny? Where's the victim blaming?" (I mean, if a guy kidnapping three females, shooting two of them and the 911 folks not really giving a shit isn't misogyny enough...) Well, did I tell you Fox news did a story about 1/4 as long as the Detroit News story and in it, they mention that the kidnapper was Ms. Parker's ex-boyfriend? Twice.
Alexis Goggins, 7, was hit protecting her mother Selietha Parker, 30, after Parker's ex-boyfriend Calvin Tillie, 29, forced the pair and family friend Aisha Ford to drive to Six Mile Road under threat of death, the Detroit News reported.
Tillie, who was armed with a handgun, shot Parker in the side of the head and in the arm after Ford stopped for gas, but before he could fire a third shot, Goggins jumped over the seat between her mother and Tillie, begging him to stop, the Detroit News reported. Without hesitation, Tillie reportedly pumped six shots into the child.
The first grader is in stable condition at Children’s Hospital in Detroit with gunshot wounds to the eye, left temple, chin, cheek, chest and right arm, the Detroit News reported. Parker was admitted to the hospital, but later released.
Tillie was arrested at the scene. He had dated Parker for six months, the Detroit News reported. (emphasis mine)
They chose to start and finish the story with that little piece of information. No mention, though, that she'd already left him, had a restraining order out on him and he had been stalking her ever since. Nope, none of that now.
So, here's a question. How many posts does it take to reach the center of the average person's capacity for victim blaming?
Friday, January 11, 2008
Missing marine, missing pregnant marine, maria lauterbach, missing female marine, maria frances lauterbach, jacksonville daily news
A missing 20-year-old Marine due to give birth any day is dead and a senior officer accused of raping her is a suspect, a North Carolina sheriff said Friday.The body of Maria Lauterbach, who vanished last month before she was to testify in a military probe, was located in a shallow grave Friday morning, said Onslow County Sheriff Ed Brown at a press conference.
Lauterbach alleged that she was sexually assaulted by a senior officer but that the investigation had gone sour, according to court documents.
A witness came forward to tell authorities where Lauterbach’s body was buried, Brown said. Brown wouldn’t comment on cause of death.
Lauterbach, a lance corporal, made the allegation to her stepmother, who also told investigators that her stepdaughter was bipolar and had a history of compulsive lying, according to the documents filed this week.
Lauterbach’s roommate, Marine Sgt. Daniel Durham, isn’t a suspect in the case. But authorities believe Durham to be the last person to speak with the missing woman, who may have been monitoring the case while on a training mission in California.
The documents state Naval investigators had struggled to investigate Lauterbach’s allegations because of inconsistencies in her account. Still, the court papers said the anticipated birth of the baby “might provide evidentiary credence to charges she lodged with military authorities that she was sexually assaulted by a senior military person.”
Lauterbach was reported missing Dec. 19 by her mother, believed to be one of the last people speak with her on Dec. 13.
Authorities said Thursday they planned to question the superior officer at Camp Lejeune. Her stepmother said the officer threatened the missing woman’s career, and search warrants filed this week state the woman was facing a possible discharge from the Marine Corps. No reason was provided.
Lauterbach, originally from Dayton, Ohio, was reported missing Dec. 19 by her stepmother, who last spoke with her five days earlier, authorities said. The Marine’s cell phone was found Dec. 20 near the main gate at Camp Lejeune, and she missed a Dec. 26 prenatal care appointment.
Lauterbach’s blue 2006 Hyundai Sonata was found at the Jacksonville Bus Station Monday night. She had purchased a bus ticket to El Paso, Texas, the day after she spoke with her stepmother, but the ticket has not been used, according to the sheriff.
Durham told authorities during an initial interview that he didn’t report his roommate as missing because some of her personal items were gone from the residence.
According to court documents, state authorities searched Durham’s laptop because they believe the woman may have used it to search for directions on the Internet, as well as her cell phone records and the residence she shared with Durham.
The warrants said a white male tried to use the missing woman’s ATM card on Christmas Eve and attempted to cover the ATM’s security camera with a rag. Brown declined to say where the card was used.
Brown has declined to comment on the rape allegations, as have officials at Camp Lejeune. Wayne Mixon, a Naval Criminal Investigative Service special agent at Camp Lejeune, declined to discuss specifics of the case, other than to say the agency is assisting the sheriff’s department with investigative leads in the Marine Corps.
Camp Lejeune officials said the missing woman, who is assigned to the 2nd Marine Logistics Group of the II Marine Expeditionary Force, joined the Marine Corps in June 2006, trained as a personnel clerk and had not deployed to Iraq or Afghanistan.
Lauterbach is due to give birth any day, and was expected to testify about an incident on the Camp Lejeune, N.C., base.
Documents show that her stepmother told investigators about the assault, and that her career was threatened.
Mary Lauterbach, the pregnant Marine’s mother, said it’s not like her daughter not to contact her.
“It’s extremely out of character for her not to call home like this,” Lauterbach told FOX News. “I’m deeply concerned that something’s wrong.”
A pregnant Marine missing from Camp Lejeune, North Carolina, is dead, a local law enforcement official announced today. A fellow Marine whom Marine Lance Cpl. Maria Lauterbach had accused of assault is the suspect in the case, Sheriff Ed Brown said. developing story
* Sheriff: ‘I just wanted to cry’ over news
Pregnant marine, maria lauterbach, lauterbach, maria frances lauterbach, man throws kids off bridge, pregnant marine dead
A missing 20-year-old Marine due to give birth any day is dead and a senior officer accused of raping her is a suspect, a North Carolina sheriff said Friday.The body of Maria Lauterbach, who vanished last month before she was to testify in a military probe, was located in a shallow grave Friday morning, said Onslow County Sheriff Ed Brown at a press conference.
Lauterbach alleged that she was sexually assaulted by a senior officer but that the investigation had gone sour, according to court documents.
A witness came forward to tell authorities where Lauterbach’s body was buried, Brown said. Brown wouldn’t comment on cause of death.
Lauterbach, a lance corporal, made the allegation to her stepmother, who also told investigators that her stepdaughter was bipolar and had a history of compulsive lying, according to the documents filed this week.
Lauterbach’s roommate, Marine Sgt. Daniel Durham, isn’t a suspect in the case. But authorities believe Durham to be the last person to speak with the missing woman, who may have been monitoring the case while on a training mission in California.
The documents state Naval investigators had struggled to investigate Lauterbach’s allegations because of inconsistencies in her account. Still, the court papers said the anticipated birth of the baby “might provide evidentiary credence to charges she lodged with military authorities that she was sexually assaulted by a senior military person.”
Lauterbach was reported missing Dec. 19 by her mother, believed to be one of the last people speak with her on Dec. 13.
Authorities said Thursday they planned to question the superior officer at Camp Lejeune. Her stepmother said the officer threatened the missing woman’s career, and search warrants filed this week state the woman was facing a possible discharge from the Marine Corps. No reason was provided.
Lauterbach, originally from Dayton, Ohio, was reported missing Dec. 19 by her stepmother, who last spoke with her five days earlier, authorities said. The Marine’s cell phone was found Dec. 20 near the main gate at Camp Lejeune, and she missed a Dec. 26 prenatal care appointment.
Lauterbach’s blue 2006 Hyundai Sonata was found at the Jacksonville Bus Station Monday night. She had purchased a bus ticket to El Paso, Texas, the day after she spoke with her stepmother, but the ticket has not been used, according to the sheriff.
Durham told authorities during an initial interview that he didn’t report his roommate as missing because some of her personal items were gone from the residence.
According to court documents, state authorities searched Durham’s laptop because they believe the woman may have used it to search for directions on the Internet, as well as her cell phone records and the residence she shared with Durham.
The warrants said a white male tried to use the missing woman’s ATM card on Christmas Eve and attempted to cover the ATM’s security camera with a rag. Brown declined to say where the card was used.
Brown has declined to comment on the rape allegations, as have officials at Camp Lejeune. Wayne Mixon, a Naval Criminal Investigative Service special agent at Camp Lejeune, declined to discuss specifics of the case, other than to say the agency is assisting the sheriff’s department with investigative leads in the Marine Corps.
Camp Lejeune officials said the missing woman, who is assigned to the 2nd Marine Logistics Group of the II Marine Expeditionary Force, joined the Marine Corps in June 2006, trained as a personnel clerk and had not deployed to Iraq or Afghanistan.
Lauterbach is due to give birth any day, and was expected to testify about an incident on the Camp Lejeune, N.C., base.
Documents show that her stepmother told investigators about the assault, and that her career was threatened.
Mary Lauterbach, the pregnant Marine’s mother, said it’s not like her daughter not to contact her.
“It’s extremely out of character for her not to call home like this,” Lauterbach told FOX News. “I’m deeply concerned that something’s wrong.”
A pregnant Marine missing from Camp Lejeune, North Carolina, is dead, a local law enforcement official announced today. A fellow Marine whom Marine Lance Cpl. Maria Lauterbach had accused of assault is the suspect in the case, Sheriff Ed Brown said. developing story
* Sheriff: ‘I just wanted to cry’ over news
All that david copperfield kind of crap, all that david copperfield crap, a room of one s own, a room of ones own, j.d. salinger, omero unipi
Forty years of teaching and traveling have provided a number of wonderful to weird encounters with people, places, and things. Here's the first to get us started...
My grandfather retired from managing a corrugated paper mill in the spring of 1950. His employees gave him a brand-new Studebaker pick-up truck that they fixed up with what had to be one of the very first camper shells in the world. It was fashioned from angle iron and masonite, and covered with oilcloth. Outfitted with four school bus bench seats -- two on each side facing each other, it was designed to be the beast of burden which took my grandfather, my aunt, and his nine grandchildren on a six-week trip the length of Route 66 to see the ocean...and along the way, at 12 years old, I shook hands with Jesse James at the bottom of Meramac Caverns.
We saw the Painted Desert, Meteor Crater, Grand Canyon, Hollywood, Pacific Ocean, Yosemite, Grand Tetons, Yellowstone, Mt. Rushmore, the Badlands, and the Dells of Wisconsin, but the highlight for me was that handshake in a cave in Missouri. Two years later in 1952, our local newspaper ran a notice of Jesse's death on the front page. It was like losing a friend.
What about you folks? Any Gumping on your part? Please share. Thanks for reading...
“All that David Copperfield kind of crap”
In Nick Hornby’s first installment of his monthly essay “What I’ve Been Reading” for The Believer magazine, where he talks and differentiates between the “books bought” and the “books read” each month, he purchased all of Salinger’s works, and read them all. He had this to say:
The realization that you could polish off a major author’s entire oeuvre in less than a week was definitely part of the appeal—you won’t catch Dickens being pushed around like that—but it was still tougher work than I thought. Just about every one of Nine Stories is perfect. . .
I guess that Salinger’s limited published works is part of the appeal, and also, I would add, part of the legend. We started talking about Salinger’s life in my class by looking at his transformation from a somewhat prolific, published writer into a reclusive individual who, for the last forty years, has not submitted a single work for publication.Time magazine Cover
Time magazine completed an interesting feature article on Salinger in 1961, focusing on the recent publication of Franny and Zooey and also looking at his life and influences.
Also check out Sarah Morrill’s “Brief Biography of J.D. Salinger,” which is organized into Frequently Asked Salinger Questions (FASQ’s), where she answers inquiries such as how Salinger writes his fiction (on a typewriter with the two finger method, apparently), whether he is a Scientologist or not, and if he continues to write. She also does a good job of addressing and dispelling some of the rumors that are always present around Salinger’s life and works. Spoiler alert: both articles ruin parts of “A Perfect Day for Bananafish,” so read the story (reading log due on Monday, by the way) before you follow these links.
The New Yorker MagazineLastly, when I was reviewing some of Salinger’s publishing history with my classes, I mentioned one early work that Salinger finally got published in The New Yorker after World War II, titled “Slight Rebellion off Madison” (which, if I’m not mistaken, was the first story of his to be published by the magazine). Check it out if you want to see how bad it would be to read an entire book about Holden written in the third person.
My grandfather retired from managing a corrugated paper mill in the spring of 1950. His employees gave him a brand-new Studebaker pick-up truck that they fixed up with what had to be one of the very first camper shells in the world. It was fashioned from angle iron and masonite, and covered with oilcloth. Outfitted with four school bus bench seats -- two on each side facing each other, it was designed to be the beast of burden which took my grandfather, my aunt, and his nine grandchildren on a six-week trip the length of Route 66 to see the ocean...and along the way, at 12 years old, I shook hands with Jesse James at the bottom of Meramac Caverns.
We saw the Painted Desert, Meteor Crater, Grand Canyon, Hollywood, Pacific Ocean, Yosemite, Grand Tetons, Yellowstone, Mt. Rushmore, the Badlands, and the Dells of Wisconsin, but the highlight for me was that handshake in a cave in Missouri. Two years later in 1952, our local newspaper ran a notice of Jesse's death on the front page. It was like losing a friend.
What about you folks? Any Gumping on your part? Please share. Thanks for reading...
“All that David Copperfield kind of crap”
In Nick Hornby’s first installment of his monthly essay “What I’ve Been Reading” for The Believer magazine, where he talks and differentiates between the “books bought” and the “books read” each month, he purchased all of Salinger’s works, and read them all. He had this to say:
The realization that you could polish off a major author’s entire oeuvre in less than a week was definitely part of the appeal—you won’t catch Dickens being pushed around like that—but it was still tougher work than I thought. Just about every one of Nine Stories is perfect. . .
I guess that Salinger’s limited published works is part of the appeal, and also, I would add, part of the legend. We started talking about Salinger’s life in my class by looking at his transformation from a somewhat prolific, published writer into a reclusive individual who, for the last forty years, has not submitted a single work for publication.Time magazine Cover
Time magazine completed an interesting feature article on Salinger in 1961, focusing on the recent publication of Franny and Zooey and also looking at his life and influences.
Also check out Sarah Morrill’s “Brief Biography of J.D. Salinger,” which is organized into Frequently Asked Salinger Questions (FASQ’s), where she answers inquiries such as how Salinger writes his fiction (on a typewriter with the two finger method, apparently), whether he is a Scientologist or not, and if he continues to write. She also does a good job of addressing and dispelling some of the rumors that are always present around Salinger’s life and works. Spoiler alert: both articles ruin parts of “A Perfect Day for Bananafish,” so read the story (reading log due on Monday, by the way) before you follow these links.
The New Yorker MagazineLastly, when I was reviewing some of Salinger’s publishing history with my classes, I mentioned one early work that Salinger finally got published in The New Yorker after World War II, titled “Slight Rebellion off Madison” (which, if I’m not mistaken, was the first story of his to be published by the magazine). Check it out if you want to see how bad it would be to read an entire book about Holden written in the third person.
Black halo, salon de l étudiant bordeaux, french cities, french culture, salon de l étudiant, barcelona turismo
Huge black hole tips the scales
Schematic of OJ287 system (Turku University)
Astronomers have weighed the biggest known black hole in the Universe.
The monster celestial object is 18 billion times more massive than our own Sun, says a team from Finland - six times larger than the previous record.
The object, called OJ287, is orbited by a smaller black hole, which allowed its mass to be measured very accurately.
The finding also enabled the researchers to test Einstein's theory of gravity for the first time in a strong gravitational field.
Details of the finding were presented at the 211th meeting of the American Astronomical Society (AAS) in Austin, Texas.
The binary black hole system powers a quasar - a compact halo of matter which radiates enormous amounts of energy.
It is relatively close for a quasar - about 3.5 billion light-years away from us in the constellation of Cancer - making it one of the most studied objects of its type.
It emits a pulsing light signal, with two major pulses every 12 years. From this, astronomers were able to construct models to predict the arrival of the pulses.
Beating disc
The team, led by Mauri Valtonen of Turku University in Finland, set up their observations for a predicted pulse on 13 September 2007.
Its detection on cue confirmed the model, suggesting that OJ287 was a black hole binary.
The researchers think that, as the smaller black hole orbits the larger one, it hits the disc of matter surrounding it twice. That impact releases hot gas from the disc which comes out from both sides. This is the source of the optical pulse which can be seen from Earth.
Ascertaining the binary nature of the system also allowed the astronomers to make their accurate measurement of the bigger black hole's mass. It had previously been suggested that black holes up to this mass might exist in quasars, but this is the first direct confirmation.
The gravitational field between the two black holes was so strong that it had never been possible to test Albert Einstein's theory of General Relativity in such an extreme situation.
The team managed to show that Einstein's theory could give the correct orbital behaviour of the binary orbit. They measured this at a 10% level of accuracy, though the researchers said this could be improved with future observations.
Schematic of OJ287 system (Turku University)Astronomers have weighed the biggest known black hole in the Universe.
The monster celestial object is 18 billion times more massive than our own Sun, says a team from Finland - six times larger than the previous record.
The object, called OJ287, is orbited by a smaller black hole, which allowed its mass to be measured very accurately.
The finding also enabled the researchers to test Einstein's theory of gravity for the first time in a strong gravitational field.
Details of the finding were presented at the 211th meeting of the American Astronomical Society (AAS) in Austin, Texas.
The binary black hole system powers a quasar - a compact halo of matter which radiates enormous amounts of energy.
It is relatively close for a quasar - about 3.5 billion light-years away from us in the constellation of Cancer - making it one of the most studied objects of its type.
It emits a pulsing light signal, with two major pulses every 12 years. From this, astronomers were able to construct models to predict the arrival of the pulses.
Beating disc
The team, led by Mauri Valtonen of Turku University in Finland, set up their observations for a predicted pulse on 13 September 2007.
Its detection on cue confirmed the model, suggesting that OJ287 was a black hole binary.
The researchers think that, as the smaller black hole orbits the larger one, it hits the disc of matter surrounding it twice. That impact releases hot gas from the disc which comes out from both sides. This is the source of the optical pulse which can be seen from Earth.
Ascertaining the binary nature of the system also allowed the astronomers to make their accurate measurement of the bigger black hole's mass. It had previously been suggested that black holes up to this mass might exist in quasars, but this is the first direct confirmation.
The gravitational field between the two black holes was so strong that it had never been possible to test Albert Einstein's theory of General Relativity in such an extreme situation.
The team managed to show that Einstein's theory could give the correct orbital behaviour of the binary orbit. They measured this at a 10% level of accuracy, though the researchers said this could be improved with future observations.
Blackberry 9000, Blackberry 9000 Specifications, Blackberry 9000 Leaked, Blackberry 9000 Faster Than iPhone in More Ways than One
Boy Genius Report may have gotten their hands on early specs of the upcoming touch-interface BlackBerry 9000. And according to their sources, the (iPhonesque?) 9000 has two hardware advantages over the iPhone. First, it features a 624MHz Intel XScale PXA270 processor that just edges out the iPhone's 620MHz ARM 1173 processor (on paper). Second, the 9000 will introduce speedy HSDPA to the line (a welcomed 3G first for the BlackBerrys). Here are the rest of the specs:
- 480 x 320 resolution screen
- 1GB onboard memory
- GPS, WiFi, HSDPA
- Maybe a 3.2MP camera
- Maybe dropping in Q1 or Q2 of 2008
Looking good, but can anyone get over a loss of button-driven QWERTY?
Samsung Debuts Slimmed-Down Combo HD Player
Samsung Debuts Slimmed-Down Combo HD PlayerSamsung Debuts Slimmed-Down Combo HD Player, Samsung, Debuts, Slimmed-Down, Combo, HD Player
Samsung has just announced its second-generation Blu-ray/HD DVD combo player, and it definitely has an edge on its predecessor in the style department. But here's a bigger question: How much will it cost?
The glossy, piano-black, and just 2.3 inch-high BD-UP5500 comes with most of the older UP-BD5000's features, including full support for Blu-ray and HD DVD interactive features, playback of Dolby Digital Plus, Dolby TrueHD, and DTS-HD soundtracks, as well as the ability to upconvert standard DVDs to full-on 1080p. Also included is out-of-the-box support for Blu-ray profile 1.1 (which allows for picture-in-picture commentaries on newer Blu-ray discs), an Ethernet port for downloading new firmware and accessing online content, and HQV processing for enhancing HD and SD video.
Overall, not bad, but here's the spec we really want to know: how much? Unfortunately, Samsung isn't releasing pricing info just yet, but hopefully it'll be lower than the $799 sticker price for the BD-UP5000—especially given that the demand for combo HD decks may dwindle now that HD DVD appears to be on the ropes.
Look for the BD-UP5500 to arrive in stores in the second half of the year.
Update: Reports are coming in that the deck will retail for $599—still pricey, but a veritable bargain compared to the $799 BD-UP5000.
Samsung has just announced its second-generation Blu-ray/HD DVD combo player, and it definitely has an edge on its predecessor in the style department. But here's a bigger question: How much will it cost?
The glossy, piano-black, and just 2.3 inch-high BD-UP5500 comes with most of the older UP-BD5000's features, including full support for Blu-ray and HD DVD interactive features, playback of Dolby Digital Plus, Dolby TrueHD, and DTS-HD soundtracks, as well as the ability to upconvert standard DVDs to full-on 1080p. Also included is out-of-the-box support for Blu-ray profile 1.1 (which allows for picture-in-picture commentaries on newer Blu-ray discs), an Ethernet port for downloading new firmware and accessing online content, and HQV processing for enhancing HD and SD video.
Overall, not bad, but here's the spec we really want to know: how much? Unfortunately, Samsung isn't releasing pricing info just yet, but hopefully it'll be lower than the $799 sticker price for the BD-UP5000—especially given that the demand for combo HD decks may dwindle now that HD DVD appears to be on the ropes.
Look for the BD-UP5500 to arrive in stores in the second half of the year.
Update: Reports are coming in that the deck will retail for $599—still pricey, but a veritable bargain compared to the $799 BD-UP5000.
Serena williams blog, serena williams, jackie long, jackie long., us actor jackie long, jackie long actor
Serena williams blog, serena williams, jackie long, jackie long., us actor jackie long, jackie long actor
Serena Williams has poured out her heart on the break up of her relationship in
an emotional 600-word account on her official website. Serena reveals how she fell in love only to have her heart broken when her boyfriend (Common or Jackie Long?) stopped calling and finally told her he ‘needed space.’
In a blog headlined ‘Stand In These Shoes (I’m sure u have before)’, Serena wrote:
“You can’t stand being without each other”, she wrote. “You start to feel like you have never felt before, and you do things for him you have never done before.”
“He tells you he adores you. He tells you u guys were meant for each other. You care for him. You are falling for him.”
“You take things slow. You don’t want to make any mistakes. You are feeling this and you feel this could mean forever.”
You ask him "are we moving too fast"? He replies "We are just following our hearts." You start to trust him. Something you have not done since your first heart break. How long ago was that? You wonder. Trust is something you vowed you would never do again. But slowly your heart comes out of its steel enclosure. You feel like you can trust him. You feel as if everything you went though was for a reason. And the reason was to meet him. Days turns into weeks. And he tells you about the connection you guys have in each others hearts.
Weeks turns into months and you slowly start to wean the other guys in your life out. And than it happens. No not the "L" word. But what you have been most afraid of. What deep in your heart you have been afraid to confront. What you always suspected would happen one day sooner or later. HE STOPS CALLING. You panic. But you try to stay calm. He did this before when you first started talking, but u tried to forget it. You knew u should have not forgotten. But u tried to ignore it. He disappears for a week with no phone call. No answer to yours no nothing. Finally you hear from him. You want to rage you want to scream you want to cry. But you can't help you heart from feeling a tad bit happy.
As you begin to ask him what happened he stops you. He says "I need space". You cringe at these words. This is the very reason you begin to think why your heart was in that steel enclosure. The reason you don't put your emotions your feelings, your heart into it. Because one day it always turns in to this day. But you are already too far out you are at the point of no return, you can't come back. You can't believe, although a piece of you does believe it. Space. How many time have you heard this before? Space? Wasn't you giving him enough? Space. Hummm you laugh because its so ridiculous. You laugh because again u knew this day would come. Why did you not listen to that little voice inside your hear telling you to "watch out". "Be careful". You laugh only because tears won't come.
You know its not you, but u cant help but look at that man in the mirror. You can't help but pick yourself apart. Why? Why? Why? Why? Why? And again and again you can't come up with the answer. Slowly as you try to focus on other things and think of other people you put you heart back into that steel case.
Tears finally come and they make you feel a little better, but the pain is piercing through your soul. The pain never hurts as bad as the first time. . But all the same you can't help but feel hopeless, foolish. Your great chance to be with your soul mate has again somehow slipped and failed.
But eventually you know you will pick yourself up. Eventually you know you will try again. And eventually you know you will find the keys to you heart, but also in the back of your mind you think.... Will it happen again.
Serena Williams has poured out her heart on the break up of her relationship in
an emotional 600-word account on her official website. Serena reveals how she fell in love only to have her heart broken when her boyfriend (Common or Jackie Long?) stopped calling and finally told her he ‘needed space.’
In a blog headlined ‘Stand In These Shoes (I’m sure u have before)’, Serena wrote:
“You can’t stand being without each other”, she wrote. “You start to feel like you have never felt before, and you do things for him you have never done before.”
“He tells you he adores you. He tells you u guys were meant for each other. You care for him. You are falling for him.”
“You take things slow. You don’t want to make any mistakes. You are feeling this and you feel this could mean forever.”
You ask him "are we moving too fast"? He replies "We are just following our hearts." You start to trust him. Something you have not done since your first heart break. How long ago was that? You wonder. Trust is something you vowed you would never do again. But slowly your heart comes out of its steel enclosure. You feel like you can trust him. You feel as if everything you went though was for a reason. And the reason was to meet him. Days turns into weeks. And he tells you about the connection you guys have in each others hearts.
Weeks turns into months and you slowly start to wean the other guys in your life out. And than it happens. No not the "L" word. But what you have been most afraid of. What deep in your heart you have been afraid to confront. What you always suspected would happen one day sooner or later. HE STOPS CALLING. You panic. But you try to stay calm. He did this before when you first started talking, but u tried to forget it. You knew u should have not forgotten. But u tried to ignore it. He disappears for a week with no phone call. No answer to yours no nothing. Finally you hear from him. You want to rage you want to scream you want to cry. But you can't help you heart from feeling a tad bit happy.
As you begin to ask him what happened he stops you. He says "I need space". You cringe at these words. This is the very reason you begin to think why your heart was in that steel enclosure. The reason you don't put your emotions your feelings, your heart into it. Because one day it always turns in to this day. But you are already too far out you are at the point of no return, you can't come back. You can't believe, although a piece of you does believe it. Space. How many time have you heard this before? Space? Wasn't you giving him enough? Space. Hummm you laugh because its so ridiculous. You laugh because again u knew this day would come. Why did you not listen to that little voice inside your hear telling you to "watch out". "Be careful". You laugh only because tears won't come.
You know its not you, but u cant help but look at that man in the mirror. You can't help but pick yourself apart. Why? Why? Why? Why? Why? And again and again you can't come up with the answer. Slowly as you try to focus on other things and think of other people you put you heart back into that steel case.
Tears finally come and they make you feel a little better, but the pain is piercing through your soul. The pain never hurts as bad as the first time. . But all the same you can't help but feel hopeless, foolish. Your great chance to be with your soul mate has again somehow slipped and failed.
But eventually you know you will pick yourself up. Eventually you know you will try again. And eventually you know you will find the keys to you heart, but also in the back of your mind you think.... Will it happen again.
Cruzin cooler, liquid image, alienware monitor, bill gates ces, ces 2009, echostar tr 50
My birthday is about a month away and now I know what I want: A Cruzin' Cooler. Keith and I found these guys over at the Sands Convention center here at CES. The high-end cooler can tow 600 pounds total and get up to 13mph. And, it's electric so it's good for the environment. If you tailgate or stay near the beach in the summer, this is the perfect accessory. Heck, I want one for the office.
Snow in baghdad, snow in iraq, baghdad weather, iraq weather, baghdad snow, tehran weatherSnow in baghdad, snow in iraq, baghdad weather, iraq weather
BAGHDAD - After weathering nearly five years of war, Baghdad residents thought they'd pretty much seen it all. But Friday morning, as muezzins were calling the faithful to prayer, the people here awoke to something certifiably new.For the first time in memory, snow fell across Baghdad.
Although the white flakes quickly dissolved into gray puddles, they brought an emotion rarely expressed in this desert capital snarled by army checkpoints, divided by concrete walls and ravaged by sectarian killings — delight.
"For the first time in my life I saw a snow-rain like this falling in Baghdad," said Mohammed Abdul-Hussein, a 63-year-old retiree from the New Baghdad area.
"When I was young, I heard from my father that such rain had fallen in the early '40s on the outskirts of northern Baghdad," Abdul-Hussein said, referring to snow as a type of rain. "But snow falling in Baghdad in such a magnificent scene was beyond my imagination."
Morning temperatures uncharacteristically hovered around freezing, and the Baghdad airport was closed because of poor visibility. Snow is common in the mountainous Kurdish areas of northern Iraq, but residents of the capital and surrounding areas could remember just hail.
"I asked my mother, who is 80, whether she'd ever seen snow in Iraq before, and her answer was no," said Fawzi Karim, a 40-year-old father of five who runs a small restaurant in Hawr Rajab, a village six miles southeast of Baghdad.
"This is so unusual, and I don't know whether or not it's a lesson from God," Karim said.
Some said they'd seen snow only in movies.
Talib Haider, a 19-year-old college student, said "a friend of mine called me at 8 a.m. to wake me up and tell me that the sky is raining snow."
"I rushed quickly to the balcony to see a very beautiful scene," he said. "I tried to film it with my cell phone camera. This scene has really brought me joy. I called my other friends and the morning turned to be a very happy one in my life."
An Iraqi who works for The Associated Press said he woke his wife and children shortly after 7 a.m. to "have a look at this strange thing." He then called his brother and sister and found them awake, also watching the "cotton-like snow drops covering the trees."
For a couple of hours anyway, a city where mortar shells routinely zoom across to the Green Zone became united as one big White Zone. As of late afternoon, there were no reports of violence. The snow showed no favoritism as it fell faintly on neighborhoods Shiite and Sunni alike, and (with apologies to James Joyce) upon all the living and the dead.
Bank of america buys countrywide, bank of america to buy countrywide, countrywide bank of america, bank of america buying countrywide, countrywide
Bank of America Buys Countrywide Financial for $4.0 Billion
08:01 01/11 (CEP News) Montreal – In a deal worth approximately $4.0 billion, Bank of America announced on Friday morning that it would purchase U.S. mortgage lender Countrywide Financial.
Both sides have approved the deal and Bank of America said it was prepared to pay $7.16 per share of Countrywide. Meanwhile, Countrywide shareholders will received a 0.8122 share of Bank of America.
The deal is roughly 7.6% below Countrywide's close at the NYSE on Thursday.
Shares of Countrywide have melted 82% over the last 12 months as the firm was battered by losses from the subprime crisis in the United States.
Bank of America to buy struggling Countrywide
Bank of America said Friday it was buying struggling Countrywide Financial in a four-billion-dollar deal that rescues the nation's largest mortgage lender amid a housing crisis.
The deal eased fears of collapse of the largest player in the troubled US mortgage market that could have sent shock waves through the world's biggest economy.
Bank of America offered 0.1822 of its own shares for each Countrywide share, according to a statement from the number-one US bank by stock market share value.
Analysts said that would put Countrywide's share value at 7.16 US dollars, a 7.6 percent discount to its closing price Thursday of 7.75 US dollars.
Countrywide's woes had reflected the troubles of the overall US housing market as the big lender had been hit by the meltdown in real estate, especially the subprime market to borrowers with weak credit histories.
In October the company posted its first quarterly loss in 25 years amid surging mortgage defaults.
In August, when US mortgage-related woes started to roil financial markets in the United States and other industrialized countries, Bank of America bought a 16 percent stake in Countrywide in a deal worth two billion US dollars.
Countrywide, which has been the subject of bankruptcy rumours for several months, "will benefit from the stability of being part of the largest and one of the most financially strong financial institutions in the United States," Bank of America said in a statement.
Both companies' boards of directors have backed the deal, which is subject to approval by Countrywide's shareholders and regulators, it said.
The Calabasas, California-based Countrywide had 408 billion US dollars in mortgage originations in 2007 and has a servicing portfolio of about 1.5 trillion US dollars with nine million loans, Bank of America said.
The bank expects the transaction will be finalized in the third quarter and forecast after-tax synergy savings of 670 million US dollars.
The Charlotte, North Carolina-based bank said the deal would have a neutral effect on its 2008 results and be a positive factor in 2009, excluding merger and restructuring costs.
Investors appeared concerned about potential further hefty losses at Countrywide amid uncertainty about the extent and duration of the sharp housing slump, which has helped spark mounting concerns that the US economy could be falling into a recession.
Bank of America shares were down 1.17 percent at 38.84 US dollars in morning New York trade and Countrywide plunged 13.68 percent to 6.69.
"The acquisition should be good news for the overall market as it reduces the potential for more bad news out of Countrywide and implies that Bank of America is in reasonably good shape in terms of credit issues if it is comfortable taking on Countrywide," said Dick Green at Briefing.com.
"The deal is being viewed with understandable skepticism, however," he added.
Analysts have been cutting estimates for Countrywide's fourth quarter. The company has projected a profit, but some began to doubt that possibility and began forecasting losses amid Countrywide's rising delinquencies.
"The low purchase price suggests to us that Bank of America is being paid for taking risk in a deteriorating mortgage environment and that losses in Countrywide's mortgage book may be greater than we estimated," investment bank Morgan Stanley said.
08:01 01/11 (CEP News) Montreal – In a deal worth approximately $4.0 billion, Bank of America announced on Friday morning that it would purchase U.S. mortgage lender Countrywide Financial.
Both sides have approved the deal and Bank of America said it was prepared to pay $7.16 per share of Countrywide. Meanwhile, Countrywide shareholders will received a 0.8122 share of Bank of America.
The deal is roughly 7.6% below Countrywide's close at the NYSE on Thursday.
Shares of Countrywide have melted 82% over the last 12 months as the firm was battered by losses from the subprime crisis in the United States.
Bank of America to buy struggling Countrywide
Bank of America said Friday it was buying struggling Countrywide Financial in a four-billion-dollar deal that rescues the nation's largest mortgage lender amid a housing crisis.
The deal eased fears of collapse of the largest player in the troubled US mortgage market that could have sent shock waves through the world's biggest economy.
Bank of America offered 0.1822 of its own shares for each Countrywide share, according to a statement from the number-one US bank by stock market share value.
Analysts said that would put Countrywide's share value at 7.16 US dollars, a 7.6 percent discount to its closing price Thursday of 7.75 US dollars.
Countrywide's woes had reflected the troubles of the overall US housing market as the big lender had been hit by the meltdown in real estate, especially the subprime market to borrowers with weak credit histories.
In October the company posted its first quarterly loss in 25 years amid surging mortgage defaults.
In August, when US mortgage-related woes started to roil financial markets in the United States and other industrialized countries, Bank of America bought a 16 percent stake in Countrywide in a deal worth two billion US dollars.
Countrywide, which has been the subject of bankruptcy rumours for several months, "will benefit from the stability of being part of the largest and one of the most financially strong financial institutions in the United States," Bank of America said in a statement.
Both companies' boards of directors have backed the deal, which is subject to approval by Countrywide's shareholders and regulators, it said.
The Calabasas, California-based Countrywide had 408 billion US dollars in mortgage originations in 2007 and has a servicing portfolio of about 1.5 trillion US dollars with nine million loans, Bank of America said.
The bank expects the transaction will be finalized in the third quarter and forecast after-tax synergy savings of 670 million US dollars.
The Charlotte, North Carolina-based bank said the deal would have a neutral effect on its 2008 results and be a positive factor in 2009, excluding merger and restructuring costs.
Investors appeared concerned about potential further hefty losses at Countrywide amid uncertainty about the extent and duration of the sharp housing slump, which has helped spark mounting concerns that the US economy could be falling into a recession.
Bank of America shares were down 1.17 percent at 38.84 US dollars in morning New York trade and Countrywide plunged 13.68 percent to 6.69.
"The acquisition should be good news for the overall market as it reduces the potential for more bad news out of Countrywide and implies that Bank of America is in reasonably good shape in terms of credit issues if it is comfortable taking on Countrywide," said Dick Green at Briefing.com.
"The deal is being viewed with understandable skepticism, however," he added.
Analysts have been cutting estimates for Countrywide's fourth quarter. The company has projected a profit, but some began to doubt that possibility and began forecasting losses amid Countrywide's rising delinquencies.
"The low purchase price suggests to us that Bank of America is being paid for taking risk in a deteriorating mortgage environment and that losses in Countrywide's mortgage book may be greater than we estimated," investment bank Morgan Stanley said.
Operation boot camp
Operation Boot Camp’s unique 30 day program improves people’s lives by increasing fitness, confidence and building healthy eating habits. Operation Boot Camp has the largest fitness boot camp program in the Southeast and is the fastest ...
The only exercise you've been getting lately?
Watching stout sugarplums dance in your head.
After the holidays, give those extra pounds the boot, with the help of a former search-and-rescue instructor for the U.S. Navy.
A new boot camp, Operation Fitness Inc., is a six-week outdoor program designed to jumpstart and to maintain your fitness routine. It's kicking off today at Bayview Park, in East Hill in Pensacola.
Participants will sprint up a hill, dash around cones, do situps, pushups and lunge their way across the park. Camp is four days a week for one hour per day. It's led by Pensacola native Josh Presnell, a certified personal trainer who served in the Navy for seven years.
Registration cost is $350. Included in that price is a water bottle, a boot-camp-survivor T-shirt and a camp manual that includes fitness tips, nutritional information and workouts that you can do at home.
Morning and afternoon camps are available. Subsequent six-week sessions begin Feb. 18, April 7, May 19, Sept. 2, Oct. 13 and Dec. 1.
Bayview Park is located at 20th Avenue and Mallory Street.
The only exercise you've been getting lately?
Watching stout sugarplums dance in your head.
After the holidays, give those extra pounds the boot, with the help of a former search-and-rescue instructor for the U.S. Navy.
A new boot camp, Operation Fitness Inc., is a six-week outdoor program designed to jumpstart and to maintain your fitness routine. It's kicking off today at Bayview Park, in East Hill in Pensacola.
Participants will sprint up a hill, dash around cones, do situps, pushups and lunge their way across the park. Camp is four days a week for one hour per day. It's led by Pensacola native Josh Presnell, a certified personal trainer who served in the Navy for seven years.
Registration cost is $350. Included in that price is a water bottle, a boot-camp-survivor T-shirt and a camp manual that includes fitness tips, nutritional information and workouts that you can do at home.
Morning and afternoon camps are available. Subsequent six-week sessions begin Feb. 18, April 7, May 19, Sept. 2, Oct. 13 and Dec. 1.
Bayview Park is located at 20th Avenue and Mallory Street.
New hampshire recount, recount, kucinich recount, ron paul recount, metsblog, ron paul newsletter
Kucinich is calling for a recount of New Hampshire.
CONCORD, New Hampshire (AP) — Democrat Dennis Kucinich, who won less than 2 percent of the vote in the New Hampshire primary, said Thursday he wants a recount to ensure that all ballots in his party's contest were counted.
The Ohio congressman cited "serious and credible reports, allegations and rumors" about the integrity of Tuesday results.
Deputy Secretary of State David Scanlan said Kucinich is entitled to a statewide recount. But, under New Hampshire law, Kucinich will have to pay for it. Scanlan said he had "every confidence" the results are accurate.
In a letter dated Thursday, Kucinich said he does not expect significant changes in his vote total, but wants assurance that "100 percent of the voters had 100 percent of their votes counted."
Kucinich alluded to online reports alleging disparities around the state between hand-counted ballots, which tended to favor Sen. Barack Obama, and machine-counted ones that tended to favor Sen. Hillary Rodham Clinton. He also noted the difference between pre-election polls, which indicated Obama would win, and Clinton's triumph by a 39 percent to 37 percent margin.
Candidates who lose by 3 percentage or less are entitled to a recount for a $2,000 fee. Candidates who lose by more must pay for the full cost. Kucinich's campaign said it was sending the $2,000 fee to start the recount.
Scanlon said his office had received several phone calls since Tuesday, mostly from outside the state, questioning the results. New Hampshire's voting machines are not linked in any way, which
Scanlon says reduce the likelihood of tampering with results on a statewide level. Also, the results can be checked against paper ballots.
"I think people from out of state don't completely understand how our process works and they compare it to the system that might exist in Florida or Ohio, where they have had serious problems," he said. "Perhaps the best thing that could happen for us is to have a recount to show the people that … the votes that were cast on election day were accurately reflected in the results. And I have every confidence that will be the case."
CONCORD, New Hampshire (AP) — Democrat Dennis Kucinich, who won less than 2 percent of the vote in the New Hampshire primary, said Thursday he wants a recount to ensure that all ballots in his party's contest were counted.
The Ohio congressman cited "serious and credible reports, allegations and rumors" about the integrity of Tuesday results.
Deputy Secretary of State David Scanlan said Kucinich is entitled to a statewide recount. But, under New Hampshire law, Kucinich will have to pay for it. Scanlan said he had "every confidence" the results are accurate.
In a letter dated Thursday, Kucinich said he does not expect significant changes in his vote total, but wants assurance that "100 percent of the voters had 100 percent of their votes counted."
Kucinich alluded to online reports alleging disparities around the state between hand-counted ballots, which tended to favor Sen. Barack Obama, and machine-counted ones that tended to favor Sen. Hillary Rodham Clinton. He also noted the difference between pre-election polls, which indicated Obama would win, and Clinton's triumph by a 39 percent to 37 percent margin.
Candidates who lose by 3 percentage or less are entitled to a recount for a $2,000 fee. Candidates who lose by more must pay for the full cost. Kucinich's campaign said it was sending the $2,000 fee to start the recount.
Scanlon said his office had received several phone calls since Tuesday, mostly from outside the state, questioning the results. New Hampshire's voting machines are not linked in any way, which
Scanlon says reduce the likelihood of tampering with results on a statewide level. Also, the results can be checked against paper ballots.
"I think people from out of state don't completely understand how our process works and they compare it to the system that might exist in Florida or Ohio, where they have had serious problems," he said. "Perhaps the best thing that could happen for us is to have a recount to show the people that … the votes that were cast on election day were accurately reflected in the results. And I have every confidence that will be the case."
Bec cartwright, chris guccione, guccione, sydney tennis, tennis australian open, australian open
Technology updates from around the world Front Page. Crew set to perform one most difficult. Iraqi sectarian death toll hits rare low. Bono talks on his fight against HIV. Citigroup CEO reportedly set to step down. TV writers call for strike beginning Monday.
All eyes seem to be on Hillary and Rudy.
p>Noel set to rain on East Coast. What to make of dip in Iraq violence.
Upgrade your airline seat on the cheap.
Did Britney Spears run over another foot. Is Britney caught in a parenting trap. Drowsy driving is big killer in U. See these spots before they sink or scorch. Braxton heat toni?
Iowa Central kylee for hits in the nightcap behind a two. With a kylee and three RBIs and Sarah Korth and Keeley Mennie added two. Leslie greene!
And the good girls such as Princess Mary and Bec Cartwright kylee. Line speech crafted for an international audience. Spouses talk of stresses of presidential campaign. Bracket and beat Forest Hills in two final. More results from Bracket and beat Forest Hills in two final. When his own loss must Cartwright kylee be so raw. Deutsche Bahn says strike disrupts commuter traffic across Germany. The mother in me wants to get out the soap and the hippie in me is jealous. It looks to have the best shot at survival this side of ABC. More results from Fed cardizem See Widening Threat in Housing. Nurse administered propofol sedation!
Bain and Cartwright kylee Company to Acquire Com. Sent out a spokesman today to say that the Georgian had. Time running out for the making of a black President. Mahmoud Abbas assuming alarming proportions this week. You need to upgrade your browser to personalize your. Iowa Central kylee for hits in the nightcap. More results from Iowa Central kylee for hits in the nightcap. Ny cartwright innovations cartwright inset medicine cabinets cartwright international van line cartwright jamie tanning cartwright jennifer cartwright jim cartwright jim road cartwright keith cartwright kep cartwright kylee. Sign in to get Cartwright kylee stories by using search history.
Pakistan police seek Bhutto aide over murder case. The selection and placement of stories on this page were determined automatically by a computer program. Emily is a buxom diva who wants nothing more than to strip down and do away at herself. Watch as this plump and delectable lady unleashes her. Alesse birth book control effects guest side. Giselle victorias secret?
Stay up to date on these results. Add a blog search gadget for Cartwright kylee to your Google homepage. Bracket and beat Forest Hills in two final matches to claim the straight. And the good girls such as Princess Mary and Bec Cartwright kylee still blissfully happy with their. Line speech crafted for an international audience. Spouses talk of stresses of presidential campaign. The Iraqi government on Tuesday vowed to crack down on Kurdish rebels in. Fresh off yet another dramatic ALCS c. Fell in German trading after it forecast profit that may miss some analysts.
Said that being the spouse of a presidential candidate sometimes means putting your foot down. Whipped walls of flame from wildfires that have scorched more than acres and forced hundreds of thousands of people to flee their homes. President Bush will make it clear in a speech Wednesday that he won. Latest audio missive reveals that the US strategy of appealing to Sunni tribesmen may be working against Al Qaeda.
BY JERRY BOSSERT Street Sense is listed as the co. Today announced a partnership with games company Oberon Media to in hopes of making a collection of casual games. Setting off on the most challenging space station construction mission yet that will pave the way for the arrival of two. International versions of Google News available in. More than meets the eye when it comes to broccoli sprouts. Orlando vacation rental home?
FLYNN The phone company said yesterday that its third. Arnold Schwarzenegger of California asked President Bush to declare an emergency because of the wildfires raging in his state. Half a million flee Southern California fires. And the good girls such as Princess Mary and Bec Cartwright still blissfully happy with their.
Who served as attorney general under Presidents Ronald Reagan and George HW Bush. Head of Iraqi Kurdish security speaks to Al Jazeera. On Tuesday after fainting the night before during an appearance on the ABC television show. You need to upgrade your browser to personalize your Google News page. New York is one of more than a dozen states. You cannot add any more stories to this section. Pakistan police seek Bhutto aide over murder case. Preparing to sue the Bush administration for holding up efforts to regulate emissions from cars and trucks. Landen pig?
Are Fans Still Under the Potter Spell. Nokia?
Campaign wives swap tales at annual Women. Bush Stands by Plan for Missile Defenses in Europe. New Bin Laden Tape Urges Iraqi Insurgents to Unite. When JK Rowling announced at Carnegie Hall that Albus Dumbdledore. Firefighters in Southern California are facing wind. Abigail abbott staffing.
All eyes seem to be on Hillary and Rudy.
p>Noel set to rain on East Coast. What to make of dip in Iraq violence.
Upgrade your airline seat on the cheap.
Did Britney Spears run over another foot. Is Britney caught in a parenting trap. Drowsy driving is big killer in U. See these spots before they sink or scorch. Braxton heat toni?
Iowa Central kylee for hits in the nightcap behind a two. With a kylee and three RBIs and Sarah Korth and Keeley Mennie added two. Leslie greene!
And the good girls such as Princess Mary and Bec Cartwright kylee. Line speech crafted for an international audience. Spouses talk of stresses of presidential campaign. Bracket and beat Forest Hills in two final. More results from Bracket and beat Forest Hills in two final. When his own loss must Cartwright kylee be so raw. Deutsche Bahn says strike disrupts commuter traffic across Germany. The mother in me wants to get out the soap and the hippie in me is jealous. It looks to have the best shot at survival this side of ABC. More results from Fed cardizem See Widening Threat in Housing. Nurse administered propofol sedation!
Bain and Cartwright kylee Company to Acquire Com. Sent out a spokesman today to say that the Georgian had. Time running out for the making of a black President. Mahmoud Abbas assuming alarming proportions this week. You need to upgrade your browser to personalize your. Iowa Central kylee for hits in the nightcap. More results from Iowa Central kylee for hits in the nightcap. Ny cartwright innovations cartwright inset medicine cabinets cartwright international van line cartwright jamie tanning cartwright jennifer cartwright jim cartwright jim road cartwright keith cartwright kep cartwright kylee. Sign in to get Cartwright kylee stories by using search history.
Pakistan police seek Bhutto aide over murder case. The selection and placement of stories on this page were determined automatically by a computer program. Emily is a buxom diva who wants nothing more than to strip down and do away at herself. Watch as this plump and delectable lady unleashes her. Alesse birth book control effects guest side. Giselle victorias secret?
Stay up to date on these results. Add a blog search gadget for Cartwright kylee to your Google homepage. Bracket and beat Forest Hills in two final matches to claim the straight. And the good girls such as Princess Mary and Bec Cartwright kylee still blissfully happy with their. Line speech crafted for an international audience. Spouses talk of stresses of presidential campaign. The Iraqi government on Tuesday vowed to crack down on Kurdish rebels in. Fresh off yet another dramatic ALCS c. Fell in German trading after it forecast profit that may miss some analysts.
Said that being the spouse of a presidential candidate sometimes means putting your foot down. Whipped walls of flame from wildfires that have scorched more than acres and forced hundreds of thousands of people to flee their homes. President Bush will make it clear in a speech Wednesday that he won. Latest audio missive reveals that the US strategy of appealing to Sunni tribesmen may be working against Al Qaeda.
BY JERRY BOSSERT Street Sense is listed as the co. Today announced a partnership with games company Oberon Media to in hopes of making a collection of casual games. Setting off on the most challenging space station construction mission yet that will pave the way for the arrival of two. International versions of Google News available in. More than meets the eye when it comes to broccoli sprouts. Orlando vacation rental home?
FLYNN The phone company said yesterday that its third. Arnold Schwarzenegger of California asked President Bush to declare an emergency because of the wildfires raging in his state. Half a million flee Southern California fires. And the good girls such as Princess Mary and Bec Cartwright still blissfully happy with their.
Who served as attorney general under Presidents Ronald Reagan and George HW Bush. Head of Iraqi Kurdish security speaks to Al Jazeera. On Tuesday after fainting the night before during an appearance on the ABC television show. You need to upgrade your browser to personalize your Google News page. New York is one of more than a dozen states. You cannot add any more stories to this section. Pakistan police seek Bhutto aide over murder case. Preparing to sue the Bush administration for holding up efforts to regulate emissions from cars and trucks. Landen pig?
Are Fans Still Under the Potter Spell. Nokia?
Campaign wives swap tales at annual Women. Bush Stands by Plan for Missile Defenses in Europe. New Bin Laden Tape Urges Iraqi Insurgents to Unite. When JK Rowling announced at Carnegie Hall that Albus Dumbdledore. Firefighters in Southern California are facing wind. Abigail abbott staffing.
Kiva loans, kiva, kiva.org, keva, kiba, micro loans
A topic to get our minds off the infestation of Bishops we are currently experiencing.
I heard about Kiva a month or so ago, and just saw a piece on it on the morning news. It's a microloan organization - the sort of loan that Muhammad Yunus won his Nobel prize for - with this difference: anybody, you and I, for instance, can make a small loan to somebody else, anywhere in the world, who applies for it. Here's a page at PBS that discusses microloans, and mentions Kiva. Here's an excerpt:
Microcredit is not new. It's been around in one form or another for hundreds of years. But in the Information Age, a San Francisco company has taken the idea of microfinance and upgraded it for the Web. Radio reporter Clark Boyd first reported about Kiva.org for Public Radio International's news program The World. He now travels to Uganda for FRONTLINE/World, where the first recipients of money collected through Kiva's Web site are building and expanding businesses.
Kiva, which means "agreement" or "unity" in Swahili, would allow people with a little bit of extra cash to use their credit card or the online money transfer company, PayPal, to lend directly to African entrepreneurs. Kiva got its start a little more than a year ago in Uganda, where it forged partnerships with local microfinance institutes so that each business would be vetted and approved before being posted on the site.
Boyd travels to Uganda to find out more about the real-world impact of these micro loans, He arranges to meet Grace Ayaa, whose peanut butter business received a micro loan through Kiva. When she fled a brutal war between government and rebel forces in the north, she took refuge in the capital. She takes Boyd to the Acholi Quarter, a poor neighborhood on the outskirts of Kampala, where many people displaced by Uganda's decades-long conflict scrape together a living.
Most people living here work all day in the local rock quarry breaking rocks used to build houses. The pay is around $1 a day. Ayaa helps people in the quarter out of the quarry work and into a position where they can start viable businesses with the help of a loan. Traditionally, micro credit is offered through banks that charge as much as 35 percent interest or moneylenders who charge as much as 300 percent. Kiva provides loans from individuals at a fraction of the cost.
Back in San Francisco, we see the other side of the operation, meeting some of the people who found Kiva's site and decided to make a loan. Nathan Folkert is a software engineer who lives in the city's Mission District. He read Grace Ayaa's story online and decided to help fund her peanut butter business. Ayaa is one of 70 businesses Folkert has loaned money to. He pulls up Grace's journal page where a message is waiting for him. "Thanks so much Nathan," Grace has written. "I purchased the fridge and bought the packing materials, and this has really enabled me to produce more."
Other lenders in the United States talk about their experiences. "My husband's hobby is rebuilding old motorcycles," says Donna Slote, who loaned to a small motorcycle workshop she saw on the site. "It's incredibly personal in the sense that you get to choose the specific businesses that you want to loan to. You have a real connection with where your money's going and what it's being used for," adds Slote.
Kiva has been connecting lenders with would-be entrepreneurs for a year now, but it is a small operation, relying on donations and a staff of seven in San Francisco to keep things running. Premal Shah, who used to work for PayPal, is Kiva's president, and he explains the role Kiva is trying to carve out in the microfinance world.
"Banks don't value emotional returns," says Shah, "so they will charge a high interest rate to these microfinance institutions. But people are a little more forgiving. Today, your average person can't actually invest in small businesses in the developing world." By creating Kiva, Shah says, "we're tapping into this new source of capital," which is ordinary people.
There's a 15-minute video on that page, also. It's really true that "a little goes a long way" in many parts of the world; last year I donated only $120 for the benefit of a schoolchild in India, which took care of his/her needs for an entire year. That, more than anything, for me, really puts things in perspective.
Here's Kiva's FAQ page. (Here, just for a less positive view of microloans, is an article by Andrew Cockburn. He's got a point, but I'm still going to do it.)
Kiva: Loans That Change Lives
I finally did something last night that I’ve been meaning to do for some time: I became a microbanker.
You may have heard of Kiva or a similar online, microbanking enterprise. Kiva has been promoted widely by Oprah Winfrey and Bill Clinton but the best-known advocate of microbanking is Nobel laureate Muhammad Yunus.
Microbanking (microcredit) involves making small loans to poor entrepreneurs and others who may not be considered “bankable” by commercial banks in developing countries. Most of the time, these individuals lack steady employment, collateral or a credit history and this makes it almost impossible for them to acquire traditional credit.
The beauty of online microcredit through organizations like Kiva is that all you have to do is provide the capital ($25 minimum) and then select a borrower in a developing country. Terms of the loan and conditions for repayment are arranged by Kiva through a local co-op. During the length of the loan (usually 6-12 months), you can receive email journal updates from the business you’ve sponsored.
As loans are repaid, you get your loan money back and then start lending it again.
I’m going to encourage my Politics of Less Developed Countries (PolS 410) class to open a Kiva account this semester. I think it will be interesting to see how our collective investment in the life a citizen of a developing country works over the course of a semester or an academic year.
But I thought that I would get a jump on the process and invest in a Kiva microloan myself before we develop a class project.
My first Kiva project is with José Dante Sánchez Ramírez of Nuevo Laredo, Mexico. He needed $700.00 to upgrade his grocery store and I made a small contribution to his loan.
I’ll let you know later how it goes with my Less Developed Countries class.
I heard about Kiva a month or so ago, and just saw a piece on it on the morning news. It's a microloan organization - the sort of loan that Muhammad Yunus won his Nobel prize for - with this difference: anybody, you and I, for instance, can make a small loan to somebody else, anywhere in the world, who applies for it. Here's a page at PBS that discusses microloans, and mentions Kiva. Here's an excerpt:
Microcredit is not new. It's been around in one form or another for hundreds of years. But in the Information Age, a San Francisco company has taken the idea of microfinance and upgraded it for the Web. Radio reporter Clark Boyd first reported about Kiva.org for Public Radio International's news program The World. He now travels to Uganda for FRONTLINE/World, where the first recipients of money collected through Kiva's Web site are building and expanding businesses.
Kiva, which means "agreement" or "unity" in Swahili, would allow people with a little bit of extra cash to use their credit card or the online money transfer company, PayPal, to lend directly to African entrepreneurs. Kiva got its start a little more than a year ago in Uganda, where it forged partnerships with local microfinance institutes so that each business would be vetted and approved before being posted on the site.
Boyd travels to Uganda to find out more about the real-world impact of these micro loans, He arranges to meet Grace Ayaa, whose peanut butter business received a micro loan through Kiva. When she fled a brutal war between government and rebel forces in the north, she took refuge in the capital. She takes Boyd to the Acholi Quarter, a poor neighborhood on the outskirts of Kampala, where many people displaced by Uganda's decades-long conflict scrape together a living.
Most people living here work all day in the local rock quarry breaking rocks used to build houses. The pay is around $1 a day. Ayaa helps people in the quarter out of the quarry work and into a position where they can start viable businesses with the help of a loan. Traditionally, micro credit is offered through banks that charge as much as 35 percent interest or moneylenders who charge as much as 300 percent. Kiva provides loans from individuals at a fraction of the cost.
Back in San Francisco, we see the other side of the operation, meeting some of the people who found Kiva's site and decided to make a loan. Nathan Folkert is a software engineer who lives in the city's Mission District. He read Grace Ayaa's story online and decided to help fund her peanut butter business. Ayaa is one of 70 businesses Folkert has loaned money to. He pulls up Grace's journal page where a message is waiting for him. "Thanks so much Nathan," Grace has written. "I purchased the fridge and bought the packing materials, and this has really enabled me to produce more."
Other lenders in the United States talk about their experiences. "My husband's hobby is rebuilding old motorcycles," says Donna Slote, who loaned to a small motorcycle workshop she saw on the site. "It's incredibly personal in the sense that you get to choose the specific businesses that you want to loan to. You have a real connection with where your money's going and what it's being used for," adds Slote.
Kiva has been connecting lenders with would-be entrepreneurs for a year now, but it is a small operation, relying on donations and a staff of seven in San Francisco to keep things running. Premal Shah, who used to work for PayPal, is Kiva's president, and he explains the role Kiva is trying to carve out in the microfinance world.
"Banks don't value emotional returns," says Shah, "so they will charge a high interest rate to these microfinance institutions. But people are a little more forgiving. Today, your average person can't actually invest in small businesses in the developing world." By creating Kiva, Shah says, "we're tapping into this new source of capital," which is ordinary people.
There's a 15-minute video on that page, also. It's really true that "a little goes a long way" in many parts of the world; last year I donated only $120 for the benefit of a schoolchild in India, which took care of his/her needs for an entire year. That, more than anything, for me, really puts things in perspective.
Here's Kiva's FAQ page. (Here, just for a less positive view of microloans, is an article by Andrew Cockburn. He's got a point, but I'm still going to do it.)
Kiva: Loans That Change Lives
I finally did something last night that I’ve been meaning to do for some time: I became a microbanker.
You may have heard of Kiva or a similar online, microbanking enterprise. Kiva has been promoted widely by Oprah Winfrey and Bill Clinton but the best-known advocate of microbanking is Nobel laureate Muhammad Yunus.
Microbanking (microcredit) involves making small loans to poor entrepreneurs and others who may not be considered “bankable” by commercial banks in developing countries. Most of the time, these individuals lack steady employment, collateral or a credit history and this makes it almost impossible for them to acquire traditional credit.
The beauty of online microcredit through organizations like Kiva is that all you have to do is provide the capital ($25 minimum) and then select a borrower in a developing country. Terms of the loan and conditions for repayment are arranged by Kiva through a local co-op. During the length of the loan (usually 6-12 months), you can receive email journal updates from the business you’ve sponsored.
As loans are repaid, you get your loan money back and then start lending it again.
I’m going to encourage my Politics of Less Developed Countries (PolS 410) class to open a Kiva account this semester. I think it will be interesting to see how our collective investment in the life a citizen of a developing country works over the course of a semester or an academic year.
But I thought that I would get a jump on the process and invest in a Kiva microloan myself before we develop a class project.
My first Kiva project is with José Dante Sánchez Ramírez of Nuevo Laredo, Mexico. He needed $700.00 to upgrade his grocery store and I made a small contribution to his loan.
I’ll let you know later how it goes with my Less Developed Countries class.
Legends field, aberdeen box office, aecc, chris rock uk tour, tampa bay devil rays, corcoran gallery of art
I'm really sorry to those few people out there who enjoyed reading my Yankees blog last summer for going AWOL on you.
I had some family health issues as well as being extremely busy with work and school.
I'm trying to finish up my masters degree and if all goes well and I get all my work done --- I should be wrapping that up by April or May of this year.
Anyway, I'm back again and hopefully can get a few of my readers back.
I'll write more soon and in the weeks between now and the first Spring Training game I'll give you my thoughts and ideas about the end of the last season and what's been going on this off season so far.
In the meantime --- New York Yankees Spring Training 2008 tickets will be going on sale on Friday, January 11 at 10:00 AM EST.
Stsched I have added the Yankees 2008 Spring Training Home Schedule for the games that the 'Bombers will be playing at Legends Field in Tampa here.
If you've never been to Spring Training before, I highly recommend the trip if you can spare the time this Spring.
I had always wanted to go and went for the first time last Spring and really did have a blast.
If you have any questions about going to Spring Training for the first time (or if you think you might be going to Tampa around the middle of March and might like to meet up at the Stadium and chat with your erstwhile MLBlog host about the Yankees or baseball in general) then feel free to leave me a comment or shoot me an e-mail.
I'll write a blog confirming my Spring Training 2008 plans sometime in the coming days, but at the moment it's looking as if I will be in Tampa around the 10th or the 11th and will go to three Yankees home games in Tampa and take in one Tigers game in Lakeland.
Last year I went to three Yankees home games in Legends field in Tampa, one Tigers home game in Lakeland, and one Phillies home game in Clearwater.
One good thing about Spring Training is that so many clubs have home parks so close to each other and it's easy to go back and forth between them.
Anyway, I'll catch up more later and I'm sorry it's been so long with no blog.
Until next time ....
P.S.
I just read on the Yankees website that the Yankees might now be out of the running for Johan Santana (again).
Hank Steinbrenner had this to say on the subject:
Hank_1
"What it comes down to right now is giving up a lot [in a trade] and then having to do the big contract, as well. If [Santana] was just a free agent, we could just go ahead and do it. There's a big difference this way. We have to sign him as if he's a free agent, plus you have to give up major talent. That's a tall order."
Now, this is going to be a separate blog for a later time but I think that this is probably for the best. We would have to part with Melky Cabrera (and either Phil Hughes or Ian Kennedy) along with two other strong prospects to get Santana and then be prepared to extend his deal for 7 years at 140 million dollars as soon as the pact is consummated.
Anyway, Like I said, I'll blog more of my thoughts on the Santana situation in the coming days ...
I had some family health issues as well as being extremely busy with work and school.
I'm trying to finish up my masters degree and if all goes well and I get all my work done --- I should be wrapping that up by April or May of this year.
Anyway, I'm back again and hopefully can get a few of my readers back.
I'll write more soon and in the weeks between now and the first Spring Training game I'll give you my thoughts and ideas about the end of the last season and what's been going on this off season so far.
In the meantime --- New York Yankees Spring Training 2008 tickets will be going on sale on Friday, January 11 at 10:00 AM EST.
Stsched I have added the Yankees 2008 Spring Training Home Schedule for the games that the 'Bombers will be playing at Legends Field in Tampa here.
If you've never been to Spring Training before, I highly recommend the trip if you can spare the time this Spring.
I had always wanted to go and went for the first time last Spring and really did have a blast.
If you have any questions about going to Spring Training for the first time (or if you think you might be going to Tampa around the middle of March and might like to meet up at the Stadium and chat with your erstwhile MLBlog host about the Yankees or baseball in general) then feel free to leave me a comment or shoot me an e-mail.
I'll write a blog confirming my Spring Training 2008 plans sometime in the coming days, but at the moment it's looking as if I will be in Tampa around the 10th or the 11th and will go to three Yankees home games in Tampa and take in one Tigers game in Lakeland.
Last year I went to three Yankees home games in Legends field in Tampa, one Tigers home game in Lakeland, and one Phillies home game in Clearwater.
One good thing about Spring Training is that so many clubs have home parks so close to each other and it's easy to go back and forth between them.
Anyway, I'll catch up more later and I'm sorry it's been so long with no blog.
Until next time ....
P.S.
I just read on the Yankees website that the Yankees might now be out of the running for Johan Santana (again).
Hank Steinbrenner had this to say on the subject:
Hank_1
"What it comes down to right now is giving up a lot [in a trade] and then having to do the big contract, as well. If [Santana] was just a free agent, we could just go ahead and do it. There's a big difference this way. We have to sign him as if he's a free agent, plus you have to give up major talent. That's a tall order."
Now, this is going to be a separate blog for a later time but I think that this is probably for the best. We would have to part with Melky Cabrera (and either Phil Hughes or Ian Kennedy) along with two other strong prospects to get Santana and then be prepared to extend his deal for 7 years at 140 million dollars as soon as the pact is consummated.
Anyway, Like I said, I'll blog more of my thoughts on the Santana situation in the coming days ...
Susan mcginnis, cbs morning news
Duplication or deletion of genes in a "hot spot of genetic instability" accounts for 1% of early autism cases, researchers find.
The genes are located on an arm of the human chromosome that's still young in terms of evolution. This means it carries highly similar stretches of genetic code that cross over in the earliest stages of embryo development. This crossover means that genes in the segment can be cut out (deleted) or copied too many times (duplicated).
Deletion or duplication of genes in this region "carries substantial susceptibility to autism and appear to account for approximately 1% of cases," report Massachusetts General Hospital researchers Lauren A. Weiss, PhD, Mark J. Daly, PhD, and colleagues.
This is at least as large a subset of autism cases as any other single factor is known to cause, the researchers note. A duplicated gene in another chromosome causes the Prader-Willi and Angelman autism syndromes, which account for about 1% of autism cases.
So far, researchers believe about 10% of autism cases have genetic causes. Many of these genetic abnormalities cause other profound disabilities in addition to autism.
The newly discovered abnormality, at a chromosomal site called 16p11.2, appears to cause early-onset autism. Developmental regression - in which apparently normal, usually 14- to 24-month old children seem to backslide into autism - was not seen in children with the 16p11.2 abnormality.
Weiss and colleagues found the 16p11.2 abnormality using sophisticated genetic techniques to search the genomes of 751 families with two or more cases of autism. The abnormality was seen only in people with autism.
Because it is caused by a misreading of the genetic code, the genetic abnormality is not directly inherited from parents. Many cases of autism may result from various rare genetic deletions or duplications. This could be why it's been so hard to identify specific "autism genes."
On the other hand, researchers now see autism as a collection of many different syndromes - and even within these syndromes there may be very different autistic symptoms . As we learn more and more about autism, it's like peeling back the layers of an onion, suggest Evan E. Eichler, PhD, and Andrew W. Zimmerman, MD, in an editorial accompanying the Weiss report.
They suggest that larger studies, using the new techniques pioneered by Weiss and colleagues, "may be needed to peel away the remaining layers of the onion."
The Weiss study, and the Eichler/Zimmerman editorial, appear ahead of print in the Jan. 9 Online First issue of The New England Journal of Medicine.
The genes are located on an arm of the human chromosome that's still young in terms of evolution. This means it carries highly similar stretches of genetic code that cross over in the earliest stages of embryo development. This crossover means that genes in the segment can be cut out (deleted) or copied too many times (duplicated).
Deletion or duplication of genes in this region "carries substantial susceptibility to autism and appear to account for approximately 1% of cases," report Massachusetts General Hospital researchers Lauren A. Weiss, PhD, Mark J. Daly, PhD, and colleagues.
This is at least as large a subset of autism cases as any other single factor is known to cause, the researchers note. A duplicated gene in another chromosome causes the Prader-Willi and Angelman autism syndromes, which account for about 1% of autism cases.
So far, researchers believe about 10% of autism cases have genetic causes. Many of these genetic abnormalities cause other profound disabilities in addition to autism.
The newly discovered abnormality, at a chromosomal site called 16p11.2, appears to cause early-onset autism. Developmental regression - in which apparently normal, usually 14- to 24-month old children seem to backslide into autism - was not seen in children with the 16p11.2 abnormality.
Weiss and colleagues found the 16p11.2 abnormality using sophisticated genetic techniques to search the genomes of 751 families with two or more cases of autism. The abnormality was seen only in people with autism.
Because it is caused by a misreading of the genetic code, the genetic abnormality is not directly inherited from parents. Many cases of autism may result from various rare genetic deletions or duplications. This could be why it's been so hard to identify specific "autism genes."
On the other hand, researchers now see autism as a collection of many different syndromes - and even within these syndromes there may be very different autistic symptoms . As we learn more and more about autism, it's like peeling back the layers of an onion, suggest Evan E. Eichler, PhD, and Andrew W. Zimmerman, MD, in an editorial accompanying the Weiss report.
They suggest that larger studies, using the new techniques pioneered by Weiss and colleagues, "may be needed to peel away the remaining layers of the onion."
The Weiss study, and the Eichler/Zimmerman editorial, appear ahead of print in the Jan. 9 Online First issue of The New England Journal of Medicine.
Alpine access, staffcentrix, convergys, west corp, liveops, arise
A Virtual Call Center Finds Success with the New Way of Working
Alpine Access logoWhat does the new way of working look like? Maybe something like Alpine Access, a Denver-based virtual call center. I spoke with Chris Carrington, Alpine Access CEO, about how he’s growing this business — #17 on Deloitte’s Fast 50 for Colorado — using experienced home-based workers, web-style computing, and online social networking tools.
Here’s how Alpine Access uses the new way of working to succeed:
Offer home-based employment. Alpine Access hires U.S.-based call center representatives who work from their own homes. Agents earn between $8 and $13 an hour, receive health insurance and other employee benefits, and can climb a career ladder into team leader and account manager positions. In contrast to some other virtual call centers who mainly hire contractors who don’t get paid for training and don’t receive employee benefits, Alpine Access chooses to hire employees in order to attract the very best candidates.
Hire for passion, skills, and experience, not geography. Because Alpine Access offers desirable home-based employment, they get their pick of people. While traditional brick-and-mortar call centers typically hire people in their early twenties with just high school education, many of whom take the job temporarily while looking for something better, Alpine Access attracts agents with an average age of 41 years old, 80% of whom have a college education, and most of whom are looking for a long-term commitment.
Alpine Access receives huge numbers of applications — over 200,000 last year — so they can hand pick each new agent to match their clients’ needs. They’re not limited to just the people in commute distance from a call center facility. For example, they only hire people with travel industry experience to serve their ExpressJet airline client.
Stay in touch electronically. Agents chat with their coaches and supervisors using instant messaging throughout the day any time they have a question about how to handle a particular call. Alpine Access’ call center technology allows agents and their managers to listen in on a call together.
Use web-style thin-client computing. Since employees are working from home, it’s not feasible for Alpine Access to install, configure, and maintain software on each employee computer. So they use a thin-client model where most of the processing happens on servers. Employees don’t download customer data; they just connect into a central facility that gives access to all the applications and data they need.
Create a virtual water cooler for employees. Alpine Access has deployed social networking tool HiveLive to provide a virtual water cooler to employees. This allows employees to get to know each other in a personal way even though they don’t work physically together. HiveLive is used to share photos, post birth announcements, swap recipes, and more. Some teams even use it to host virtual happy hours each week.
Interesting profile of a work at home virtual
call center company, Alpine Access, at the Web Worker Daily Blog. This model could probably work well for a large political campaign.
Here's how Alpine Access uses the new way of working to succeed:
Offer home-based employment. Alpine Access hires U.S.-based call center representatives who work from their own homes. Agents earn between $8 and $13 an hour, receive health insurance and other employee benefits, and can climb a career ladder into team leader and account manager positions. In contrast to some other virtual call centers who mainly hire contractors who don't get paid for training and don't receive employee benefits, Alpine Access chooses to hire employees in order to attract the very best candidates.
Hire for passion, skills, and experience, not geography. Because Alpine Access offers desirable home-based employment, they get their pick of people. While traditional brick-and-mortar call centers typically hire people in their early twenties with just high school education, many of whom take the job temporarily while looking for something better, Alpine Access attracts agents with an average age of 41 years old, 80% of whom have a college education, and most of whom are looking for a long-term commitment.
Alpine Access receives huge numbers of applications — over 200,000 last year — so they can hand pick each new agent to match their clients' needs. They're not limited to just the people in commute distance from a call center facility. For example, they only hire people with travel industry experience to serve their ExpressJet airline client.
Stay in touch electronically. Agents chat with their coaches and supervisors using instant messaging throughout the day any time they have a question about how to handle a particular call. Alpine Access' call center technology allows agents and their managers to listen in on a call together.
Use web-style thin-client computing. Since employees are working from home, it's not feasible for Alpine Access to install, configure, and maintain software on each employee computer. So they use a thin-client model where most of the processing happens on servers. Employees don't download customer data; they just connect into a central facility that gives access to all the applications and data they need.
Create a virtual water cooler for employees. Alpine Access has deployed social networking tool HiveLive to provide a virtual water cooler to employees. This allows employees to get to know each other in a personal way even though they don't work physically together. HiveLive is used to share photos, post birth announcements, swap recipes, and more. Some teams even use it to host virtual happy hours each week.
Alpine Access logoWhat does the new way of working look like? Maybe something like Alpine Access, a Denver-based virtual call center. I spoke with Chris Carrington, Alpine Access CEO, about how he’s growing this business — #17 on Deloitte’s Fast 50 for Colorado — using experienced home-based workers, web-style computing, and online social networking tools.
Here’s how Alpine Access uses the new way of working to succeed:
Offer home-based employment. Alpine Access hires U.S.-based call center representatives who work from their own homes. Agents earn between $8 and $13 an hour, receive health insurance and other employee benefits, and can climb a career ladder into team leader and account manager positions. In contrast to some other virtual call centers who mainly hire contractors who don’t get paid for training and don’t receive employee benefits, Alpine Access chooses to hire employees in order to attract the very best candidates.
Hire for passion, skills, and experience, not geography. Because Alpine Access offers desirable home-based employment, they get their pick of people. While traditional brick-and-mortar call centers typically hire people in their early twenties with just high school education, many of whom take the job temporarily while looking for something better, Alpine Access attracts agents with an average age of 41 years old, 80% of whom have a college education, and most of whom are looking for a long-term commitment.
Alpine Access receives huge numbers of applications — over 200,000 last year — so they can hand pick each new agent to match their clients’ needs. They’re not limited to just the people in commute distance from a call center facility. For example, they only hire people with travel industry experience to serve their ExpressJet airline client.
Stay in touch electronically. Agents chat with their coaches and supervisors using instant messaging throughout the day any time they have a question about how to handle a particular call. Alpine Access’ call center technology allows agents and their managers to listen in on a call together.
Use web-style thin-client computing. Since employees are working from home, it’s not feasible for Alpine Access to install, configure, and maintain software on each employee computer. So they use a thin-client model where most of the processing happens on servers. Employees don’t download customer data; they just connect into a central facility that gives access to all the applications and data they need.
Create a virtual water cooler for employees. Alpine Access has deployed social networking tool HiveLive to provide a virtual water cooler to employees. This allows employees to get to know each other in a personal way even though they don’t work physically together. HiveLive is used to share photos, post birth announcements, swap recipes, and more. Some teams even use it to host virtual happy hours each week.
Interesting profile of a work at home virtual
call center company, Alpine Access, at the Web Worker Daily Blog. This model could probably work well for a large political campaign.
Here's how Alpine Access uses the new way of working to succeed:
Offer home-based employment. Alpine Access hires U.S.-based call center representatives who work from their own homes. Agents earn between $8 and $13 an hour, receive health insurance and other employee benefits, and can climb a career ladder into team leader and account manager positions. In contrast to some other virtual call centers who mainly hire contractors who don't get paid for training and don't receive employee benefits, Alpine Access chooses to hire employees in order to attract the very best candidates.
Hire for passion, skills, and experience, not geography. Because Alpine Access offers desirable home-based employment, they get their pick of people. While traditional brick-and-mortar call centers typically hire people in their early twenties with just high school education, many of whom take the job temporarily while looking for something better, Alpine Access attracts agents with an average age of 41 years old, 80% of whom have a college education, and most of whom are looking for a long-term commitment.
Alpine Access receives huge numbers of applications — over 200,000 last year — so they can hand pick each new agent to match their clients' needs. They're not limited to just the people in commute distance from a call center facility. For example, they only hire people with travel industry experience to serve their ExpressJet airline client.
Stay in touch electronically. Agents chat with their coaches and supervisors using instant messaging throughout the day any time they have a question about how to handle a particular call. Alpine Access' call center technology allows agents and their managers to listen in on a call together.
Use web-style thin-client computing. Since employees are working from home, it's not feasible for Alpine Access to install, configure, and maintain software on each employee computer. So they use a thin-client model where most of the processing happens on servers. Employees don't download customer data; they just connect into a central facility that gives access to all the applications and data they need.
Create a virtual water cooler for employees. Alpine Access has deployed social networking tool HiveLive to provide a virtual water cooler to employees. This allows employees to get to know each other in a personal way even though they don't work physically together. HiveLive is used to share photos, post birth announcements, swap recipes, and more. Some teams even use it to host virtual happy hours each week.
Global grind, globalgrind, www.globalgrind.com, globalgrind.com, global grind.com, globeground
What is Global Grind?
The Global Grind is a new start page offering that is specifically for the world of hip-hop. The site is currently in private beta.
The layout and design of Global Grind is very much like Pageflakes or Netvibes, though instead of one default tab offered to give you a running start with the service, there are several.
Each tab further filters web content to give you separate sections for gossip, music, news, sports, rap beef, etc. There is the ability to create your own tab as well.
Most of the content comes from feeds, which you can choose from those the Global Grind has already chosen, or add your own. There are also “grinds” which are widgets, and include things like Google Maps, Flickr photo search and Yahoo music search.
There doesn’t yet seem to be the ability to add your own “grind” widget, so that’s one thing I’m hoping to see in the future. One helpful thing the Global Grind has done is offer the option for the content to be viewed in an iFrame so you don’t have to leave the service or open links in new windows.
A slight trend towards the niche start pages with sites like Symbaloo or SportSnipe can be noticed, and what Global Grind has done is essentially taken a branded or customized Pageflakes Pagecast and made it its business.
Whether or not this particular model will work is yet to be determined; there may need to be the ability to incorporate more personalized content as well as the ability to share public tabs with others in order for this type of niche start page to take off.
The Global Grind is a new start page offering that is specifically for the world of hip-hop. The site is currently in private beta.
The layout and design of Global Grind is very much like Pageflakes or Netvibes, though instead of one default tab offered to give you a running start with the service, there are several.
Each tab further filters web content to give you separate sections for gossip, music, news, sports, rap beef, etc. There is the ability to create your own tab as well.
Most of the content comes from feeds, which you can choose from those the Global Grind has already chosen, or add your own. There are also “grinds” which are widgets, and include things like Google Maps, Flickr photo search and Yahoo music search.
There doesn’t yet seem to be the ability to add your own “grind” widget, so that’s one thing I’m hoping to see in the future. One helpful thing the Global Grind has done is offer the option for the content to be viewed in an iFrame so you don’t have to leave the service or open links in new windows.
A slight trend towards the niche start pages with sites like Symbaloo or SportSnipe can be noticed, and what Global Grind has done is essentially taken a branded or customized Pageflakes Pagecast and made it its business.
Whether or not this particular model will work is yet to be determined; there may need to be the ability to incorporate more personalized content as well as the ability to share public tabs with others in order for this type of niche start page to take off.
Staffcentrix, alpine access, convergys, west corp, liveops, arise
• Staffcentrix: Finds virtual assistants who perform a variety of administrative and other business tasks from their home for CEOs and other clients.
More and more entrepreneurs and businessmen/businesswomen are turning to hire virtual assistants who manage their professional affairs, from travel plans, technical writing to bookkeeping and translation. There are several reasons for this trend, firstly there are no overhead costs as you pay an hourly rate and don’t have to take care of medical and health insurance, etc. Next a virtual assistant is ideal for most businessmen who work while they are on the move and are constantly in touch with their office and clients through their online office.
Christine Durst, founder of the Virtual Assistance industry, is co-founder and CEO of Staffcentrix, a leading training and development firm providing virtual-careers training and resources to the US Department of State and the Armed Forces.
Before founding Staffcentrix, Chris was the CEO of the Internet's first denominated “Virtual Assistant” practice, MyStaff, which was launched in 1995 from the basement of her home in rural Connecticut. The result of Chris’s earlier role (1993-94) as Virtual Assistant to a Priority Management franchisee, MyStaff grew quickly to international dimensions, with clients drawn from the first wave of businesses in North America, Europe, and Australia migrating to the Web.
Chris’s experience also includes independent management consulting in the Boston region, advising such Fortune 100 companies as Data General Corp., Kraft Foods, and 3M.
Chris has also consulted extensively on corporate training programs, and has advised and mentored thousands of successful "eEntrepreneurs" internationally. At ease at the “macro” level as well, she has negotiated strong relationships with such companies and organizations as Microsoft, Ernst & Young, and the United Nations Development Programme.
With Staffcentrix president Michael Haaren, Chris developed groundbreaking virtual-career training programs for the US Armed Forces and the US Department of State: the Portable Career & Virtual Assistant Training Program for Military Spouses™, and the e-Entrepreneur Training Program for Foreign Service Spouses™. These popular programs, in which participants are trained to leverage their existing expertise (administrative, customer service, foreign languages, etc.) to develop their own client base, have been instrumental in helping their graduates generate collectively over $30M in revenues.
More and more entrepreneurs and businessmen/businesswomen are turning to hire virtual assistants who manage their professional affairs, from travel plans, technical writing to bookkeeping and translation. There are several reasons for this trend, firstly there are no overhead costs as you pay an hourly rate and don’t have to take care of medical and health insurance, etc. Next a virtual assistant is ideal for most businessmen who work while they are on the move and are constantly in touch with their office and clients through their online office.
Christine Durst, founder of the Virtual Assistance industry, is co-founder and CEO of Staffcentrix, a leading training and development firm providing virtual-careers training and resources to the US Department of State and the Armed Forces.
Before founding Staffcentrix, Chris was the CEO of the Internet's first denominated “Virtual Assistant” practice, MyStaff, which was launched in 1995 from the basement of her home in rural Connecticut. The result of Chris’s earlier role (1993-94) as Virtual Assistant to a Priority Management franchisee, MyStaff grew quickly to international dimensions, with clients drawn from the first wave of businesses in North America, Europe, and Australia migrating to the Web.
Chris’s experience also includes independent management consulting in the Boston region, advising such Fortune 100 companies as Data General Corp., Kraft Foods, and 3M.
Chris has also consulted extensively on corporate training programs, and has advised and mentored thousands of successful "eEntrepreneurs" internationally. At ease at the “macro” level as well, she has negotiated strong relationships with such companies and organizations as Microsoft, Ernst & Young, and the United Nations Development Programme.
With Staffcentrix president Michael Haaren, Chris developed groundbreaking virtual-career training programs for the US Armed Forces and the US Department of State: the Portable Career & Virtual Assistant Training Program for Military Spouses™, and the e-Entrepreneur Training Program for Foreign Service Spouses™. These popular programs, in which participants are trained to leverage their existing expertise (administrative, customer service, foreign languages, etc.) to develop their own client base, have been instrumental in helping their graduates generate collectively over $30M in revenues.
Deborah lin, james gandolfini, lora somoza, west corp, liveops, alpine access
Deborah Lin And James Gandolfini Engaged.
Deborah LinSopranos alum James Gandolfini and his girlfriend of a couple of years, former model Deborah Lin, are engaged.
“James popped the question while in the Bahamas over the holidays,” an insider tells us. “They’re thrilled.”
Congratulations!
Deborah Lin is a former model who reportedly became engaged to ‘Sopranos’ actor James Gandolfini while vacationing over the holidays in the Bahamas. Gandolfini was previously married in 1999 to wife Marcella before divorcing in 2002. The couple had one son together. Soon after his divorce, James began filming the movie ‘The Mexican’ with Brad Pitt and Julia Roberts. On set, he met crewmember Lora Samoza and proposed. They were engaged in January of 2004 but the relationship ended shortly after. Hopefully, the third time is a charm for James with Deborah Lin. Although, it sounds like if it’s not, he’ll keep trying.
Deborah LinSopranos alum James Gandolfini and his girlfriend of a couple of years, former model Deborah Lin, are engaged.
“James popped the question while in the Bahamas over the holidays,” an insider tells us. “They’re thrilled.”
Congratulations!
Deborah Lin is a former model who reportedly became engaged to ‘Sopranos’ actor James Gandolfini while vacationing over the holidays in the Bahamas. Gandolfini was previously married in 1999 to wife Marcella before divorcing in 2002. The couple had one son together. Soon after his divorce, James began filming the movie ‘The Mexican’ with Brad Pitt and Julia Roberts. On set, he met crewmember Lora Samoza and proposed. They were engaged in January of 2004 but the relationship ended shortly after. Hopefully, the third time is a charm for James with Deborah Lin. Although, it sounds like if it’s not, he’ll keep trying.
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It's called the REAL ID Act, and supporters claim it's a law designed to make it harder and more frustrating for terrorists and con artists to get government-issued ID. The Feds have spent the past couple of years working on all the deets, and now they've got 'em some rules which apparently they'll be looking to unveil today. As we'd expect, the ACLU's got some issues with it, declaring "REAL ID amounts to the "first-ever national identity card system," which "would irreparably damage the fabric of American life..." But yesterday DHS Secretary Michael Chertoff strangely responded to reporters:"We worked very closely with the states in terms of developing a plan that I think will be inexpensive, reasonable to implement and produce the results," he said. "This is a win-win. As long as people use driver's licenses to identify themselves for whatever reason there's no reason for those licenses to be easily counterfeited or tampered with."
Yeah, well some people don't use driver's licenses to just identify themselves -- sometimes they use them to identify themselves as other people for nefarious purposes -- isn't that why the Feds were proposing a new ID system? We're big fans of civil liberties and state's rights 'round these here parts in case you haven't noticed -- and a couple of the provisions stick in our craw a bit. The details of how DHS wants to stop pretending and start getting REAL are below the jump.
The traditional driver's license photograph would be taken at the beginning of the application instead of the end so that should someone be rejected for failure to prove identity and citizenship, the applicant's photo would be kept on file and checked in the future if that person attempted to con the system again.
The cards will have three layers of security measures but will not contain microchips as some had expected. States will be able to choose from a menu which security measures they will put in their cards.
Real ID Gets Delayed Again
The Bush Administration and Congress' Real ID plan (code word for national identity card) got another delay yesterday. States will have five more years to put it into effect.
The AP has more here.
Why?
DHS revised its ID plan after states and civil libertarians criticized draft regulations, issued last March and setting a 2013 deadline, as unworkable and threatening to Americans' privacy by creating a de facto national ID for 245 million U.S. drivers. Seventeen states have passed legislation opposing or opting out of the program.
America is supposed to be a country where police don't get to ask, "Where's Your Papers?" For driver's now older than 50, that will change by 2018. For those born after 1964, it may change by 2011.
Maybe we can get a Congress elected by then to repeal this ill-advised law, which the ACLU and others aptly call a "real nightmare."
The REAL ID Act of 2005 is Division B of an act of the United States Congress titled Emergency Supplemental Appropriations Act for Defense, the Global War on Terror, and Tsunami Relief, 2005. It implements the following:
* Establishing national standards for state-issued driver's licenses and non-driver's identification cards;
* Waiving laws that interfere with construction of physical barriers at the borders;
* Updating and tightening the laws on application for asylum and deportation of aliens for terrorist activity;
* Introducing rules covering "delivery bonds" (rather like bail bonds but for aliens who have been released pending hearings);
* Funding some reports and pilot projects related to border security; and
* Changing visa limits for temporary workers, nurses, and Australian citizens.
Legislative history
The Real ID Act started off as H.R. 418, which passed the House[1] and went stagnant. Representative James Sensenbrenner (R) of Wisconsin, the author of the original Real ID Act, then attached it as a rider on a military spending bill (H.R. 1268). The House of Representatives passed that spending bill with the Real ID rider 368-58,[2] and the Senate passed the joint House-Senate conference report on that bill 100-0.[3] There was no debate whatsoever on this piece of legislation. President Bush signed it into law on May 11, 2005.[4]
On March 2, 2007, it was announced that enforcement of the Act would be postponed for two years.[5] The provisions of the bill will be delayed from going into effect until December 2009.
[edit] Minimum nationwide standards for state driver's licenses or ID cards, employment, and banking
In the United States, driver's licenses are issued by the states, not by the federal government. States also issue voluntary identification cards for non-drivers, and set the rules for what data is on the card and what documents must be provided to obtain one. States also maintain databases of licensed drivers and ID cardholders.
Driver's license implications
* The REAL ID Act's implications for driver's licenses and ID cards is detailed in Title II of the Act. Title II of REAL ID — “Improved Security for Driver’s License’ and Personal Identification Cards” — repeals the provisions of a December 2004 law that established a cooperative state-federal process to create federal standards for driver’s licenses and instead directly imposes prescriptive federal driver’s license standards.
The REAL ID Act Driver's License Summary[6] details the following provisions of the Act's driver's license title:
* Repeal of 9/11 Commission Implementation Act DL/ID Provisions
* Minimum Standards for Federal Use
* DL/ID Document Standards
* Minimum DL/ID Issuance Standards
* Verification of Documents
* Immigration Requirements
* Security and Fraud Prevention Standards
* Data Retention and Storage
* Linking of Databases
* Grants to States
* Authority
After December 31, 2009, "a Federal agency may not accept, for any official purpose, a driver's license or identification card issued by a state to any person unless the state is meeting the requirements" specified in the Real ID Act. States remain free to also issue non-complying licenses and IDs, so long as these have a unique design and a clear statement that they cannot be accepted for any Federal identification purpose. The federal Transportation Security Administration is responsible for security check-in at airports, so bearers of non-compliant documents would no longer be able to travel on common carrier aircraft without additional screening[7].
Employers would no longer be able to accept, or ultimately hire, bearers of non-compliant documents for employment[citation needed].
Financial institutions would require compliant documents from all customers[citation needed]. Bearers of non-compliant documents would be denied financial or banking services[citation needed].
The national license/ID standards cover:
* What data must be included on the card;
* What documentation must be presented before a card can be issued; and
* How the states must share their databases.
Strictly speaking, many of these requirements are not new. They replace similar language in Section 7212 of the Intelligence Reform and Terrorism Prevention Act of 2004 (Pub.L. 108-458), which had not yet gone into effect before being repealed by the Real ID Act.
[edit] Data requirements
Each card must include, at a minimum, the person's full legal name, signature, date of birth, sex, driver's license or identification card number. It also includes a photograph of the person's face and the address of principal residence. It is required to have physical security features designed to prevent tampering, counterfeiting, or duplication of the document for fraudulent purposes. These new security features include a hologram of a map of the entire North American Continent. North Carolina has already implemented this feature as of Dec. 2006 and all other states are expected to also implement the placement of this North American Continent on their drivers license.[8]
It will use common machine-readable technology, with defined minimum data elements (the details of which are not spelled out, but left to the Secretary of Homeland Security, in consultation with the Secretary of Transportation and the states, to regulate).
[edit] Documentation required before issuing a license or ID card
Before a card can be issued, the applicant must provide the following documentation[9]:
* A photo ID, or a non-photo ID that includes full legal name and birthdate.
* Documentation of birthdate.
* Documentation of legal status and Social Security number
* Documentation showing name and principal residence address.
Digital images of each identity document will be stored in each state DMV database.
[edit] Linking of license and ID card databases
Each state must agree to share its motor vehicle database with all other states. This database must include, at a minimum, all the data printed on the state drivers' licenses and ID cards, plus drivers' histories (including motor vehicle violations, suspensions, and points on licenses). Any state that does not link its database, containing records on all drivers and ID holders, to the database of the other states loses its federal funding.
Original legislation contained one of the most controversial elements which did not make it into the final legislation that was signed into law. It would have required states to sign a new compact known as the Driver License Agreement (DLA) as written by the Joint Driver's License Compact/ Non-Resident Violators Compact Executive Board with the support of AAMVA which would have required states to give reciprocity to those provinces and territories in Canada and those states in Mexico that joined the DLA and complied with its provisions. As a part of the DLA, states would be required to network their databases with these provinces, territories and Mexican states. The databases that are accessible would include sensitive information such as Social Security numbers, home addresses and other information. The foreign states and provinces are not required to abide with the Drivers Privacy Protection Act (DPPA) and are free to access and use the sensitive information as they see fit.
Traffic violations would be required to be sent to the licensing jurisdiction and be recorded. The licensing jurisdiction would be required to act on the violation according to its own laws such as assigning points and insurance surcharges to the driver not only for violations reported from DLA members but also from non-DLA members as well. The DLA requires member states to treat non-DLA states as if they are DLA members concerning their drivers.
Since foreign countries are included, there are no procedures to deal with due process issues such as a U.S. driver getting cited for a violation in a foreign country. Although not discussed, other countries could sign on to the DLA at a later time, such as the European Union countries.
[edit] Controversy and opposition
Arguments for and against identity cards are covered in detail under Identity document.
There is disagreement about whether the Real ID Act institutes a "national identification card" system.[10] The new law only sets forth national standards, but leaves the issuance of cards and the maintenance of databases in state hands; therefore, the Department of Homeland Security claims it is not a true "national ID" system. [1] Organizations such as no2realid.org, unrealid.com, and realnightmare.org argue that this is a trivial distinction, and that the new cards are in fact national ID cards, thanks to the uniform national standards created by the AAMVA and (especially) the linked databases.
[edit] State non-compliance
See also: National identification number
Portions of the Real ID Act pertaining to states were scheduled to take effect on May 11, 2008, three years after the law passed, but the deadline has been extended to December 31, 2009.[11]
On January 25, 2007, a Resolution passed overwhelmingly in the Maine Legislature that refuses implementation of the Real ID Act in that state, and demands Congress repeal the law. Many Maine lawmakers believe the law does more harm than good, that it would be a bureaucratic nightmare to enforce, is threatening to individual privacy, makes citizens increasingly vulnerable to ID theft, and would cost Maine taxpayers at least $185 million in five years because of the massive unfunded federal mandates on all the states. The Resolution vote in the Maine House was 137-4 and in the Maine Senate unanimously, 34-0.[12]
On February 16, 2007, Utah unanimously passed a resolution which opposes the REAL ID Act.[13] The resolution states that REAL ID is "in opposition to the Jeffersonian principles of individual liberty, free markets, and limited government." It further states that "the use of identification-based security cannot be justified as part of a 'layered' security system if the costs of the identification 'layer'--in dollars, lost privacy, and lost liberty--are greater than the security identification provides."
Arkansas, Colorado, Georgia, Hawaii, Idaho, Illinois, Michigan, Missouri, Montana, Nebraska, Nevada, New Hampshire, North Dakota, Oklahoma, South Carolina, Tennessee, and Washington have joined Maine in passing legislation opposing Real ID.[14][15][16][17][18]
Similar bills are pending in Alaska, Arizona, Kentucky, Louisiana, Maryland, Massachusetts, Minnesota, New Mexico, New York, Ohio, Oregon, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, Texas, Utah, Vermont, Washington, D.C., West Virginia, Wisconsin and Wyoming.[19]
Other states have moved aggressively to upgrade their IDs since 9/11, and still others have staked decidedly pro-Real ID positions, such as California,[20] North Carolina,[21] and New York. In announcing the new regulations, Secretary of Homeland Security Michael Chertoff cited California, Alabama and North Dakota[22] as examples of states that had made progress in complying with Real ID.
New York's new policy of issuing driver's licenses to undocumented residents upon presentation of a valid foreign passport goes against the requirements for documentation of legal status and a valid Social Security Number.
Immigration
This article or section is missing citations or needs footnotes.
Using inline citations helps guard against copyright violations and factual inaccuracies. (April 2007)
As of May 11, 2005, several portions of the Real ID Act have imposed higher burdens and stricter standards of proof for individuals applying for asylum and other related forms of relief. For the first time, immigration judges can require an applicant to produce corroborating evidence (8 U.S.C. § 1229a(c)(4)(B). Additionally, the government may also require that an applicant produce corroborating evidence, a requirement that may only be overcome if the judge is convinced that such evidence is unavailable (8 U.S.C. § 1252(b)(4).
Restricting illegal immigrants or legal immigrants who can't prove their legal status, or are without social security numbers, from obtaining driver's licenses may keep them from obtaining liability insurance. But, the new law does allow states to offer "not for federal ID" licenses in these cases. In fact, several states (e.g., Utah and Tennessee) have already started issuing such "driving privileges certificates/cards" in lieu of regular drivers licenses, allowing such applicants to be tested and licensed to drive and obtain liability insurance. On October 27, 2007 governor Eliot Spitzer of New York announced that the state will be adopting a similar "multi-tiered" licensing scheme in which the state will issue three different kinds of driver licenses, two of which comply with the Real ID security requirements and one which will be marked as not for "not for federal ID" purposes. The new licenses will be available as early as mid-2008.[23] However, following a political outcry, Spitzer withdrew his proposal to issue licences those unable to prove legal residence. Confessore, Nicholas (2007), “Spitzer Drops Bid to Offer Licences More Widely”, The New York Times, 14 November
[edit] Waiving laws that interfere with construction of border barriers
An earlier law (Section 102 of Pub.L. 104-208, which is now part of 8 U.S.C. § 1103) provided for improvements to physical barriers at the borders of the United States.
Subsection (a) of this law reads as follows: "The Attorney General, in consultation with the Commissioner of Immigration and Naturalization, shall take such actions as may be necessary to install additional physical barriers and roads (including the removal of obstacles to detection of illegal entrants) in the vicinity of the United States border to deter illegal crossings in areas of high illegal entry into the United States."
Subsection (b) orders the Attorney General to commence work on specified improvements to a 14-mile section of the existing border fence near San Diego, and allocates funds for the project.
Subsection (c) provides for waivers of laws that interfere with the work described in subsections (a) and (b). Prior to the Real ID Act, this subsection allowed waivers of only two specific federal environmental laws.
The Real ID Act amends the language of subsection (c) to make the following changes:
* Allows waivers of any and all laws "necessary to ensure expeditious construction of the barriers and roads under this section."
* Gives this waiver authority to the Secretary of Homeland Security (rather than the Attorney General). Waivers are made at his sole discretion.
* Restricts court review of waiver decisions: "The district courts of the United States shall have exclusive jurisdiction to hear all causes or claims arising from any action undertaken, or any decision made, by the Secretary of Homeland Security pursuant to paragraph (1). A cause of action or claim may only be brought alleging a violation of the Constitution of the United States. The court shall not have jurisdiction to hear any claim not specified in this subparagraph." Claims are barred unless filed within 60 days, and cases may be appealed "only upon petition for a writ of certiorari to the Supreme Court".
These waivers apply to barrier construction anywhere on the United States border (not just at San Diego, as some sources have erroneously reported).
[edit] Judicial review controversy
A previous version of the Real ID Act (H.R. 418) would have prohibited any judicial review of Homeland Security law waivers for barrier construction. Critics maintained that this would elevate the Secretary of Homeland Security above the law, and this language was changed in the final version (H.R. 1268).
But even the limited restrictions on judicial review remain controversial. Supporters of the Real ID Act see a need to restrain so-called "judicial activism" so needed barriers can be built. Opponents feel that the restrictions on judicial review may exceed the authority Congress has to regulate the courts (as spelled out in Article Three of the United States Constitution), and violate the principle of separation of powers.
[edit] Application for asylum; deportation of aliens for terrorist activity
The Real ID Act introduces stricter laws governing applications for asylum and deportation of aliens for terrorist activity. However, at the same time, it makes two minor changes to U.S. immigration law:
* Elimination of the 10,000 annual limit for previously-approved asylees to adjust to permanent legal residence. This had been urged for years because the average asylee had a 17-year wait before he would be able to achieve legal resident status. As a result, in fiscal years 2005 and 2006, the backlog was greatly reduced as 147,131 asylees won legal permanent residence.
* Usage of 50,000 unused employment-based visas from 2003. This was a compromise between proponents who had earlier tried to include all employment visas which went unused between 2001 and 2004, and immigration restrictionists. They were used, mostly in fiscal year 2006, for Schedule A workers newly arrived mainly from the Philippines and India, rather than for adjustments of status cases like the American Competitiveness in the 21st Act.
The deportation of aliens for terrorist activities is governed by the following provisions.
Section 212(a)(3)(B): Terrorist activities
The INA (Immigration & Nationality Act) defines "terrorist activity" to mean any activity which is unlawful under the laws of the place where it is committed (or which, if committed in the United States, would be unlawful under the laws of the United States or any State) and which involves any of the following:
* (I) The hijacking or sabotage of any conveyance (including an aircraft, vessel, or vehicle).
* (II) The seizing or detaining, and threatening to kill, injure, or continue to detain, another individual in order to compel a third person (including a governmental organization) to do or abstain from doing any act as an explicit or implicit condition for the release of the individual seized or detained.
* (III) A violent attack upon an internationally protected person (as defined in Section 1116(b)(4) of Title 18, United States Code) or upon the liberty of such a person.
* (IV) An assassination.
* (V) The use of any:
o (a) biological agent, chemical agent, or nuclear weapon or device.
o (b) explosive, firearm, or other weapon or dangerous device (other than for mere personal monetary gain), with intent to endanger, directly or indirectly, the safety of one or more individuals or to cause substantial damage to property.
* (VI) A threat, attempt, or conspiracy to do any of the foregoing.
Other pertinent portions of Section 212(a)(3)(B) are set forth below:
"Engage in terrorist activity" defined
As used in this chapter (Chapter 8 of the INA), the term, "engage in terrorist activity" means in an individual capacity or as a member of an organization:
* to commit or to incite to commit, under circumstances indicating an intention to cause death or serious bodily injury, a terrorist activity;
* to prepare or plan a terrorist activity;
* to gather information on potential targets for terrorist activity;
* to solicit funds or other things of value for:
o (aa) a terrorist activity;
o (bb) a terrorist organization described in Clause (vi)(I) or (vi)(II);
o (cc) a terrorist organization described in Clause (vi)(III), unless the solicitor can demonstrate that he did not know, and should not reasonably have known, that the solicitation would further the organization’s terrorist activity;
* to solicit any individual:
o (aa) to engage in conduce otherwise described in this clause;
o (bb) for membership in terrorist organization described in Clause (vi)(I) or (vi)(II); or
o (cc) for membership in a terrorist organization described in Clause (vi)(III), unless the solicitor can demonstrate that he did not know, and should not reasonably have known, that the solicitation would further the organization’s terrorist activity; or
* to commit an act that the actor knows, or reasonably should know, affords material support, including a safe house, transportation, communications, funds, transfer of funds or other material financial benefit, false documentation or identification, weapons (including chemical, biological, or radiological weapons), explosives, or training:
o (aa) for the commission of a terrorist activity;
o (bb) to any individual who the actor knows, or reasonably should know, has committed or plans to commit a terrorist activity;
o (cc) to a terrorist organization described in Clause (vi)(I) or (vi)(II); or
o (dd) to a terrorist organization described in Clause (vi)(III), unless the actor can demonstrate that he did not know, and should not reasonably have known, that the act would further the organization’s terrorist activity.
This clause shall not apply to any material support the alien afforded to an organization or individual that has committed terrorist activity, if the Secretary of State, after consultation with the Attorney General, or the Attorney General, after consultation with the Secretary of State, concludes in his sole unreviewable discretion, that that this clause should not apply."
"Representative" defined
As used in this paragraph, the term, "representative" includes an officer, official, or spokesman of an organization, and any person who directs, counsels, commands, or induces an organization or its members to engage in terrorist activity.
"Terrorist organization" defined
As used in Clause (i)(VI) and Clause (iv), the term ‘terrorist organization’ means an organization:
* designated under Section 219 (8 U.S.C. § 1189);
* otherwise designated, upon publication in the Federal Register, by the Secretary of State in consultation with or upon the request of the Attorney General, as a terrorist organization, after finding that the organization engages in the activities described in Subclause (I), (II), or (III) of Clause (iv), or that the organization provides material support to further terrorist activity; or
* that is a group of two or more individuals, whether organized or not, which engages in the activities described in Subclause (I), (II), or (III) of Clause (iv).
Section 140(d)(2) of the "Foreign Relations Authorization Act", Fiscal Years 1988 and 1989 defines "terrorism" as "premeditated, politically motivated violence, perpetrated against noncombatant targets by subnational groups or clandestine agents."
Chris bowman, bowman, chris bowman skater, christopher bowman, scott bowman, christopher bowman skater
U.S. Skating Champion Christopher Bowman, 40, was found dead in a hotel room. The cause of death is presumed to be due to a drug overdose.
The former skating champion, known as Bowman the Showman, was found dead at a Budget Inn in a suburb of Los Angeles by a friend. An autopsy has been scheduled.
Chris won the Men’s U.S. Figure Skating title in 1989 and 1992 and was runner-up in 1987 and 1991. Fellow skater Brian Boitano, the 1988 Olympic champion told a Chicago reporter that he believes Bowman was one of the top three men’s skaters of all time.
Bowman had reportedly been on a downward spiral because of personal problems and his reckless use of drugs and alcohol. He was arrested on a fire arms violation in 2004.
Bowman did one season of Little House on the Prairie in 1969 and appeared in dozens of commercials during that time period. Bowman was doing some acting recently. He had a role small role in an upcoming Brian De Palma movie Down and Distance starring Gary Busey.
The former skating champion, known as Bowman the Showman, was found dead at a Budget Inn in a suburb of Los Angeles by a friend. An autopsy has been scheduled.
Chris won the Men’s U.S. Figure Skating title in 1989 and 1992 and was runner-up in 1987 and 1991. Fellow skater Brian Boitano, the 1988 Olympic champion told a Chicago reporter that he believes Bowman was one of the top three men’s skaters of all time.
Bowman had reportedly been on a downward spiral because of personal problems and his reckless use of drugs and alcohol. He was arrested on a fire arms violation in 2004.
Bowman did one season of Little House on the Prairie in 1969 and appeared in dozens of commercials during that time period. Bowman was doing some acting recently. He had a role small role in an upcoming Brian De Palma movie Down and Distance starring Gary Busey.
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The former U.S. figure skating champion Christopher Bowman, died Thursday of a drug overdose. He was found dead in a Los Angeles area motel. See a picture,video and read more below!
christopher bowman dies in hotel
Christopher Bowman Dies Of Drug Overdose
Christopher Bowman was born March 1967 in Hollywood, California. He was a two-time U.S. national champion and two-time World medalist at the World Figure Skating Championships. He appeared in the TV series “Little House on the Prairie” for one season and was in dozens of TV commercials. Bowman, who coached figure skating at several Detroit area clubs, moved back to California in February 2007. Bowman and his ex-wife, Annette Bowman, have a daughter.
Bowman was pronounced dead at 12:06 p.m., said Coroner’s Lt. Joe Bale, who wasn’t immediately able to provide more details about the possible drug overdose. Bowman’s body was found at a motel in the North Hills section of Los Angeles, and an autopsy was planned for this weekend, Bale said.
Bowman was indeed troubled. He admitted to having a cocaine habit during his career, and he checked into the Betty Ford Center before the 1988 Olympic Games. Recently he had returned to acting and had a role as an assistant coach in the upcoming movie “Down and Distance” .
christopher bowman dies in hotel
Christopher Bowman Dies Of Drug Overdose
Christopher Bowman was born March 1967 in Hollywood, California. He was a two-time U.S. national champion and two-time World medalist at the World Figure Skating Championships. He appeared in the TV series “Little House on the Prairie” for one season and was in dozens of TV commercials. Bowman, who coached figure skating at several Detroit area clubs, moved back to California in February 2007. Bowman and his ex-wife, Annette Bowman, have a daughter.
Bowman was pronounced dead at 12:06 p.m., said Coroner’s Lt. Joe Bale, who wasn’t immediately able to provide more details about the possible drug overdose. Bowman’s body was found at a motel in the North Hills section of Los Angeles, and an autopsy was planned for this weekend, Bale said.
Bowman was indeed troubled. He admitted to having a cocaine habit during his career, and he checked into the Betty Ford Center before the 1988 Olympic Games. Recently he had returned to acting and had a role as an assistant coach in the upcoming movie “Down and Distance” .
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Former figure skating star Christopher Bowman dies at 40
Former U.S. figure skating champion Christopher Bowman has died tragically at the age of 40. Christopher Bowman was a crowd pleaser with his flair on the ice, but he was also known for his off-the-ice struggles with drugs and alcohol and other personal problems.
The former child actor who appeared in Little House on the Prairie and Archie Bunker’s Place, died of a suspected drug overdose in a Los Angeles motel on Thursday. Los Angeles Police Department spokesman Jason Lee said Bowman was found in his room by a friend at the Budget Inn in the suburb of North Hills. Police then responded to a call about midday. Lee said the case had been forwarded to the Los Angeles County Coroner’s office because there were no signs of foul play.
“He just passed away in his sleep,” Bowman’s mother, Joyce, told the Detroit Free Press. “His friend told me that he was fine. He just went to bed and didn’t wake up.”
Bowman, who was known as Bowman the Showman, won the U.S. title in 1989 and 1992, finished second at the 1989 world championships and third in 1990. He also skated in the 1988 and 1992 Winter Olympics, finishing seventh in 1988 and fourth in 1992.
Former U.S. figure skating champion Christopher Bowman has died tragically at the age of 40. Christopher Bowman was a crowd pleaser with his flair on the ice, but he was also known for his off-the-ice struggles with drugs and alcohol and other personal problems.
The former child actor who appeared in Little House on the Prairie and Archie Bunker’s Place, died of a suspected drug overdose in a Los Angeles motel on Thursday. Los Angeles Police Department spokesman Jason Lee said Bowman was found in his room by a friend at the Budget Inn in the suburb of North Hills. Police then responded to a call about midday. Lee said the case had been forwarded to the Los Angeles County Coroner’s office because there were no signs of foul play.
“He just passed away in his sleep,” Bowman’s mother, Joyce, told the Detroit Free Press. “His friend told me that he was fine. He just went to bed and didn’t wake up.”
Bowman, who was known as Bowman the Showman, won the U.S. title in 1989 and 1992, finished second at the 1989 world championships and third in 1990. He also skated in the 1988 and 1992 Winter Olympics, finishing seventh in 1988 and fourth in 1992.
Christopher bowman, little house on the prairie, christopher bowman little house on the prairie, christopher bowman skater, little house on the prairi
The former U.S. figure skating champion Christopher Bowman, died Thursday of a drug overdose. He was found dead in a Los Angeles area motel. See a picture,video and read more below!
christopher bowman dies in hotel
Christopher Bowman Dies Of Drug Overdose
Christopher Bowman was born March 1967 in Hollywood, California. He was a two-time U.S. national champion and two-time World medalist at the World Figure Skating Championships. He appeared in the TV series “Little House on the Prairie” for one season and was in dozens of TV commercials. Bowman, who coached figure skating at several Detroit area clubs, moved back to California in February 2007. Bowman and his ex-wife, Annette Bowman, have a daughter.
Bowman was pronounced dead at 12:06 p.m., said Coroner’s Lt. Joe Bale, who wasn’t immediately able to provide more details about the possible drug overdose. Bowman’s body was found at a motel in the North Hills section of Los Angeles, and an autopsy was planned for this weekend, Bale said.
Bowman was indeed troubled. He admitted to having a cocaine habit during his career, and he checked into the Betty Ford Center before the 1988 Olympic Games. Recently he had returned to acting and had a role as an assistant coach in the upcoming movie “Down and Distance” .
christopher bowman dies in hotel
Christopher Bowman Dies Of Drug Overdose
Christopher Bowman was born March 1967 in Hollywood, California. He was a two-time U.S. national champion and two-time World medalist at the World Figure Skating Championships. He appeared in the TV series “Little House on the Prairie” for one season and was in dozens of TV commercials. Bowman, who coached figure skating at several Detroit area clubs, moved back to California in February 2007. Bowman and his ex-wife, Annette Bowman, have a daughter.
Bowman was pronounced dead at 12:06 p.m., said Coroner’s Lt. Joe Bale, who wasn’t immediately able to provide more details about the possible drug overdose. Bowman’s body was found at a motel in the North Hills section of Los Angeles, and an autopsy was planned for this weekend, Bale said.
Bowman was indeed troubled. He admitted to having a cocaine habit during his career, and he checked into the Betty Ford Center before the 1988 Olympic Games. Recently he had returned to acting and had a role as an assistant coach in the upcoming movie “Down and Distance” .
Wednesday, January 9, 2008
Diablo cody, diablo cody blog, candy girl, juneau, game tap, denali national park
A Closer Look at Diablo Cody's 'Body'
It's no secret that screenwriter (and probable Oscar nominee) Diablo Cody is a horror nut -- she told me last month that her career ambition is to become a horror movie director -- and we'll know soon enough if she has the chops for that. A source for Latino Review has sent in a detailed script review of Jennifer's Body, the next Diablo project that's ramping up for a March start. Megan Fox of Transformers fame will be the star, and it was recently announced that Girlfight director Karyn Kusama is helming. (I'm surprised Cody didn't take advantage of her huge exposure to demand the director's chair -- if Tarantino could force that transition, she certainly can.) Anyway, for those of you who prefer not to know anything about a movie before it's even filmed, consider the rest of this post a spoiler warning and avert your eyes from what lies beneath!
According to the scooper, the film will largely focus on the relationship between the titular Jennifer, a high-school sex bomb and all around homecoming queen type who is also possessed by satanic forces -- there's a real 80s vibe, apparently -- and her best friend, called Needy. Needy slowly starts to realize that something is seriously wrong with Jennifer, since the boys she goes out with don't come back. But enough about the story -- what's the critique? According to the source, the script is an "oddly-paced, slightly incoherent horror comedy. This is trying too hard to be some genre-smashing cult hit like Donnie Darko..." The reviewer mentions that there is plenty of R-rated gore, but says the whole thing plays more like "an ambitious writing sample than an actual roadmap to a decent film. While Juno had the heart and wide appeal to meet a mass audience, Jennifer's Body does not -- and on top of that, it lacks a well-paced plot and consistent tone." I guess we'll see.
It's no secret that screenwriter (and probable Oscar nominee) Diablo Cody is a horror nut -- she told me last month that her career ambition is to become a horror movie director -- and we'll know soon enough if she has the chops for that. A source for Latino Review has sent in a detailed script review of Jennifer's Body, the next Diablo project that's ramping up for a March start. Megan Fox of Transformers fame will be the star, and it was recently announced that Girlfight director Karyn Kusama is helming. (I'm surprised Cody didn't take advantage of her huge exposure to demand the director's chair -- if Tarantino could force that transition, she certainly can.) Anyway, for those of you who prefer not to know anything about a movie before it's even filmed, consider the rest of this post a spoiler warning and avert your eyes from what lies beneath!
According to the scooper, the film will largely focus on the relationship between the titular Jennifer, a high-school sex bomb and all around homecoming queen type who is also possessed by satanic forces -- there's a real 80s vibe, apparently -- and her best friend, called Needy. Needy slowly starts to realize that something is seriously wrong with Jennifer, since the boys she goes out with don't come back. But enough about the story -- what's the critique? According to the source, the script is an "oddly-paced, slightly incoherent horror comedy. This is trying too hard to be some genre-smashing cult hit like Donnie Darko..." The reviewer mentions that there is plenty of R-rated gore, but says the whole thing plays more like "an ambitious writing sample than an actual roadmap to a decent film. While Juno had the heart and wide appeal to meet a mass audience, Jennifer's Body does not -- and on top of that, it lacks a well-paced plot and consistent tone." I guess we'll see.
National telecommunications and information administration, compact refrigerators, snap on, wrt310n, lacie lacinema, tv converter box
Frontline Closes Its Doors
It’s a sad day in wireless today. Frontline, a company that was expected to build a new network open to all mobile applications and devices, has announced, in a statement to reporters, that it’s “closed for business. We have no further comments.” Analysts believe that the company simply failed to secure enough funding to bid in an upcoming Federal Communications Commission auction of wireless airwaves, needed for such a network.
With Frontline out of the running, this further narrows down the number of new companies that could potentially enter the wireless services market as a direct result of the auction. There’s Google, of course — but not much else. In a way, that’s not surprising: Few investors would be mad enough — and wealthy enough — to want to compete with the likes of Google and incumbents such as Verizon. And this means that it could take longer for wireless networks to open up, the way Frontline envisioned.
Frontline's exit could also spell trouble for the FCC auction. Frontline was instrumental in shaping rules governing the so-called D block of the spectrum that will be auctioned off. That spectrum is expected to be used by public safety agencies as well as commercial entities. Now, with Frontline out of the running, it's unclear whether there will be any bidders interested in the block -- and having the expertise to make the complex public-private network a reality.
The reason why so many people believed in Frontline is that the company's assembled some tremendous talent. Vice Chairman Reed Hundt is a former chairman of the FCC. Chairman Janice Obuchowski served as assistant secretary for Communications and Information at the Department of Commerce, leading the National Telecommunications and Information Administration under President George H.W. Bush. If these people can't make it in the wireless market, who can?
01/08: Media Briefing for Tuesday, January 8, 2008
Democrats in the U.S. House of Representatives are investigating whether consumers are being misled by TV and print advertisements for Lipitor that feature the world-renowned inventor of an artificial heart. In the ads, Dr. Robert Jarvik talks about the benefits of Pfizer’s cholesterol-lowering drug, the world’s best-selling medication. Associated Press reports.
In 1994, radio in Rwanda was all about hate and violence. The government used it to incite people to kill, and the killers were often seen with a gun in one hand and a receiver in the other as they tried to locate enemies. Today, Rwandan radio is a voice of hope and reconciliation. One of its most popular programs, the soap opera Musekeweya, or New Dawn, is about a country divided, much like Rwanda 13 years ago, but one in which the stars find a way around the conflict. The International Herald Tribune reports.
Saturday night’s ABC debates were a hit in the ratings, reaching over 9 million viewers, reports Associated Press.
A candidacy by Michael Bloomberg would be tricky for Bloomberg News, says Newsday.
The top executive at ABC’s Good Morning America said it was “cheesy” of CBS to run an old interview with Barack Obama on The Early Show yesterday at the same time as Diane Sawyer’s sit-down with the Democratic presidential contender on ABC. CBS’s message to its rival: We decide when to air our interviews. Associated Press reports.
Even conservative media are praising Barack Obama, says the Washington Post.
The Chicago Tribune received dozens of complaints about the cover story in Parade magazine featuring an interview with Benazir Bhutto that was run with no reference to her assassination.
Comedy Central hosts Jon Stewart and Stephen Colbert returned to TV last night without writers, says the New York Times. Their shows are reviewed by the Baltimore Sun.
Phyllis Diller, who is now 90, is featured on the PBS series Pioneers Of Television Wednesday evening at 8 on Thirteen/WNET. It will be repeated Sunday at 12 noon. The Hartford Courant reports. The Ed Sullivan Show is also feted on the documentary, says Associated Press.
Television at the gasoline pump is getting news reports from ABC, reports Media Daily News.
Adweek is relaunching - everything. Media Daily News reports.
The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency is seeking a new life for old cellphones, reports the New York Times.
Alycia Lane, the news anchor at KYW-TV channel 3 in Philadelphia who was arrested after allegedly punching a New York City police officer and calling her a “dyke,” has been fired by the station, and the anchor says she may sue, according to the Philadelphia Inquirer and Associated Press.
Billboards and outdoor advertising are using digital and video technologies, says Media Post.com.
Is even higher-definition TV the next big thing for television? The Wall Street Journal reports.
Mobile phone operators Sprint Nextel and T-Mobile have sided against tech giants including Microsoft and Google in an argument before the Federal Communications Commission over access to under-utilized “white spaces” spectrum. Market Watch.com reports.
The United Kingdom will allow placement of products in TV shows, reports Variety.
Ovation TV, an all-arts cable channel, says it has acquired International Music Feed, a music video channel operated by Universal Music Group. Associated Press reports.
David Letterman has lost his beard, after he says he was pressured to do so, reports Associated Press and the New York Daily News.
Some critics are booing Wikipedia’s new search engine, Wikia.com, reports the San Jose Mercury News.
With the writers strike continuing, NBC has announced plans for coverage of the Golden Globes press conference, reports the Los Angeles Times. This is an attempt to save the Golden Globes with a new format, says Associated Press.
The Seattle Opera Channel, operated by all-classical FM station KING-FM 98.1 Seattle, is streaming online, reports the Seattle Times.
In one California town, four out of five dentists agree that soft rock FM station KYMX 96.1 Sacramento is the station to have on in their waiting rooms, reports the Sacramento Bee.
Cubby Bryant replaces Whoopi Goldberg in the morning drive period on WKTU 103.5 New York, says the New York Daily News. Whoopi’s show can still be heard in eight markets, including Las Vegas and two upstate New York markets.
With the changing economy, there is now doubt that the Clear Channel Communications buyout will take place, reports the Financial Times (subscription required). The deal is described as another broken leveraged buyout deal by 24/7 Wall Street.com.
Rupert Murdoch has returned to the German TV market, buying a 15 percent stake in Germany’s largest pay-TV service, Premiere, reports Reuters.
Strong spending is ahead for email marketing, says the E-Marketer.com.
Absolute Zero, an episode of PBS’s Nova that examines the upside of bitter cold, airs tonight at 8 on Thirteen/WNET and is reviewed by Bloomberg News.
The Desert Lions, part of Thirteen’s Nature series, is reviewed by the Denver Post.
Telemarketers are the top consumer complaint in the state of Florida, says the Fort Lauderdale Sun Sentinel.
The Consumer Electronics Show (CES) in Las Vegas, Nevada continues through Thursday:
- A consumer electronics industry group, the Consumer Electronics Association, says people will by more technology and electronics products this year despite the economy, according to Associated Press.
- The surprising news at the CES: television is making a comeback, says Media Daily News.
- Comcast cable TV without a cable box is on the way, says the Philadelphia Daily News.
- Comcast is showing off more than just cable TV, with ultra-high-speed Internet service, more high-definition content and gadgets that link video, phone and broadband services. Associated Press reports.
- Comcast plans to offer a huge menu of films, report the New York Times and Hollywood Reporter. Comcast will flood you with video, says the San Francisco Chronicle.
- The titan of Comcast, the nation’s largest cable TV company, is getting playful, says the Philadelphia Inquirer.
- Microsoft is forging its ties to the studios, says the New York Times.
- Microsoft chief Bill Gates focused upon the human touch of technology, says the San Francisco Chronicle.
- There are no new things from Microsoft at this year’s show, says the New York Times.
- TiVo will be featuring Web video, reports Associated Press.
- USAToday.com, in an agreement with Samsung, will be delivering news and local weather information direct to your TV, says Lost Remote.
- Panasonic is offering a TV set with a 12-and-a-half foot wide screen, says the Washington Post.
- Sony is getting help from celebrities in its push into digital TV, reports the Hollywood Reporter.
- The National Telecommunications & Information Administration told a 2008 CES audience that it has certified 250 retailers, including QVC, and 19 digital-TV-to-analog converter boxes. Broadcasting & Cable reports.
- It looks like the price of a digital-TV-to-analog converter box just went down to essentially nothing for those with government-subsidized coupons, thanks to a new device being offered by EchoStar, reports Broadcasting & Cable.
- Panasonic, Sharp, and Toshiba have launched a tech recycling company. Three of the biggest makers of TVs have formed a company to help manage the wave of electronic waste including old TV sets set to swell with the onset of digital television. The three have launched the Manufacturers Recycling Management Company in Minnesota. CNet reports.
- HDTV manufacturers are trying to make the task of buying an HDTV set much more difficult than just choosing between LCD and plasma, 42 inches or 46 inches. Associated Press reports.
- Mitsubishi is offering a laser TV, reports the San Francisco Chronicle.
- Intel, the world’s largest computer chip manufacturer, is getting personal, says the San Jose Mercury News.
- Motorola is launching a rebuilding initiative, says the Chicago Tribune.
- The Los Angeles Times is “plugged” into the CES.
It’s a sad day in wireless today. Frontline, a company that was expected to build a new network open to all mobile applications and devices, has announced, in a statement to reporters, that it’s “closed for business. We have no further comments.” Analysts believe that the company simply failed to secure enough funding to bid in an upcoming Federal Communications Commission auction of wireless airwaves, needed for such a network.
With Frontline out of the running, this further narrows down the number of new companies that could potentially enter the wireless services market as a direct result of the auction. There’s Google, of course — but not much else. In a way, that’s not surprising: Few investors would be mad enough — and wealthy enough — to want to compete with the likes of Google and incumbents such as Verizon. And this means that it could take longer for wireless networks to open up, the way Frontline envisioned.
Frontline's exit could also spell trouble for the FCC auction. Frontline was instrumental in shaping rules governing the so-called D block of the spectrum that will be auctioned off. That spectrum is expected to be used by public safety agencies as well as commercial entities. Now, with Frontline out of the running, it's unclear whether there will be any bidders interested in the block -- and having the expertise to make the complex public-private network a reality.
The reason why so many people believed in Frontline is that the company's assembled some tremendous talent. Vice Chairman Reed Hundt is a former chairman of the FCC. Chairman Janice Obuchowski served as assistant secretary for Communications and Information at the Department of Commerce, leading the National Telecommunications and Information Administration under President George H.W. Bush. If these people can't make it in the wireless market, who can?
01/08: Media Briefing for Tuesday, January 8, 2008
Democrats in the U.S. House of Representatives are investigating whether consumers are being misled by TV and print advertisements for Lipitor that feature the world-renowned inventor of an artificial heart. In the ads, Dr. Robert Jarvik talks about the benefits of Pfizer’s cholesterol-lowering drug, the world’s best-selling medication. Associated Press reports.
In 1994, radio in Rwanda was all about hate and violence. The government used it to incite people to kill, and the killers were often seen with a gun in one hand and a receiver in the other as they tried to locate enemies. Today, Rwandan radio is a voice of hope and reconciliation. One of its most popular programs, the soap opera Musekeweya, or New Dawn, is about a country divided, much like Rwanda 13 years ago, but one in which the stars find a way around the conflict. The International Herald Tribune reports.
Saturday night’s ABC debates were a hit in the ratings, reaching over 9 million viewers, reports Associated Press.
A candidacy by Michael Bloomberg would be tricky for Bloomberg News, says Newsday.
The top executive at ABC’s Good Morning America said it was “cheesy” of CBS to run an old interview with Barack Obama on The Early Show yesterday at the same time as Diane Sawyer’s sit-down with the Democratic presidential contender on ABC. CBS’s message to its rival: We decide when to air our interviews. Associated Press reports.
Even conservative media are praising Barack Obama, says the Washington Post.
The Chicago Tribune received dozens of complaints about the cover story in Parade magazine featuring an interview with Benazir Bhutto that was run with no reference to her assassination.
Comedy Central hosts Jon Stewart and Stephen Colbert returned to TV last night without writers, says the New York Times. Their shows are reviewed by the Baltimore Sun.
Phyllis Diller, who is now 90, is featured on the PBS series Pioneers Of Television Wednesday evening at 8 on Thirteen/WNET. It will be repeated Sunday at 12 noon. The Hartford Courant reports. The Ed Sullivan Show is also feted on the documentary, says Associated Press.
Television at the gasoline pump is getting news reports from ABC, reports Media Daily News.
Adweek is relaunching - everything. Media Daily News reports.
The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency is seeking a new life for old cellphones, reports the New York Times.
Alycia Lane, the news anchor at KYW-TV channel 3 in Philadelphia who was arrested after allegedly punching a New York City police officer and calling her a “dyke,” has been fired by the station, and the anchor says she may sue, according to the Philadelphia Inquirer and Associated Press.
Billboards and outdoor advertising are using digital and video technologies, says Media Post.com.
Is even higher-definition TV the next big thing for television? The Wall Street Journal reports.
Mobile phone operators Sprint Nextel and T-Mobile have sided against tech giants including Microsoft and Google in an argument before the Federal Communications Commission over access to under-utilized “white spaces” spectrum. Market Watch.com reports.
The United Kingdom will allow placement of products in TV shows, reports Variety.
Ovation TV, an all-arts cable channel, says it has acquired International Music Feed, a music video channel operated by Universal Music Group. Associated Press reports.
David Letterman has lost his beard, after he says he was pressured to do so, reports Associated Press and the New York Daily News.
Some critics are booing Wikipedia’s new search engine, Wikia.com, reports the San Jose Mercury News.
With the writers strike continuing, NBC has announced plans for coverage of the Golden Globes press conference, reports the Los Angeles Times. This is an attempt to save the Golden Globes with a new format, says Associated Press.
The Seattle Opera Channel, operated by all-classical FM station KING-FM 98.1 Seattle, is streaming online, reports the Seattle Times.
In one California town, four out of five dentists agree that soft rock FM station KYMX 96.1 Sacramento is the station to have on in their waiting rooms, reports the Sacramento Bee.
Cubby Bryant replaces Whoopi Goldberg in the morning drive period on WKTU 103.5 New York, says the New York Daily News. Whoopi’s show can still be heard in eight markets, including Las Vegas and two upstate New York markets.
With the changing economy, there is now doubt that the Clear Channel Communications buyout will take place, reports the Financial Times (subscription required). The deal is described as another broken leveraged buyout deal by 24/7 Wall Street.com.
Rupert Murdoch has returned to the German TV market, buying a 15 percent stake in Germany’s largest pay-TV service, Premiere, reports Reuters.
Strong spending is ahead for email marketing, says the E-Marketer.com.
Absolute Zero, an episode of PBS’s Nova that examines the upside of bitter cold, airs tonight at 8 on Thirteen/WNET and is reviewed by Bloomberg News.
The Desert Lions, part of Thirteen’s Nature series, is reviewed by the Denver Post.
Telemarketers are the top consumer complaint in the state of Florida, says the Fort Lauderdale Sun Sentinel.
The Consumer Electronics Show (CES) in Las Vegas, Nevada continues through Thursday:
- A consumer electronics industry group, the Consumer Electronics Association, says people will by more technology and electronics products this year despite the economy, according to Associated Press.
- The surprising news at the CES: television is making a comeback, says Media Daily News.
- Comcast cable TV without a cable box is on the way, says the Philadelphia Daily News.
- Comcast is showing off more than just cable TV, with ultra-high-speed Internet service, more high-definition content and gadgets that link video, phone and broadband services. Associated Press reports.
- Comcast plans to offer a huge menu of films, report the New York Times and Hollywood Reporter. Comcast will flood you with video, says the San Francisco Chronicle.
- The titan of Comcast, the nation’s largest cable TV company, is getting playful, says the Philadelphia Inquirer.
- Microsoft is forging its ties to the studios, says the New York Times.
- Microsoft chief Bill Gates focused upon the human touch of technology, says the San Francisco Chronicle.
- There are no new things from Microsoft at this year’s show, says the New York Times.
- TiVo will be featuring Web video, reports Associated Press.
- USAToday.com, in an agreement with Samsung, will be delivering news and local weather information direct to your TV, says Lost Remote.
- Panasonic is offering a TV set with a 12-and-a-half foot wide screen, says the Washington Post.
- Sony is getting help from celebrities in its push into digital TV, reports the Hollywood Reporter.
- The National Telecommunications & Information Administration told a 2008 CES audience that it has certified 250 retailers, including QVC, and 19 digital-TV-to-analog converter boxes. Broadcasting & Cable reports.
- It looks like the price of a digital-TV-to-analog converter box just went down to essentially nothing for those with government-subsidized coupons, thanks to a new device being offered by EchoStar, reports Broadcasting & Cable.
- Panasonic, Sharp, and Toshiba have launched a tech recycling company. Three of the biggest makers of TVs have formed a company to help manage the wave of electronic waste including old TV sets set to swell with the onset of digital television. The three have launched the Manufacturers Recycling Management Company in Minnesota. CNet reports.
- HDTV manufacturers are trying to make the task of buying an HDTV set much more difficult than just choosing between LCD and plasma, 42 inches or 46 inches. Associated Press reports.
- Mitsubishi is offering a laser TV, reports the San Francisco Chronicle.
- Intel, the world’s largest computer chip manufacturer, is getting personal, says the San Jose Mercury News.
- Motorola is launching a rebuilding initiative, says the Chicago Tribune.
- The Los Angeles Times is “plugged” into the CES.
Mini goldendoodle, miniature goldendoodle, goldendoodle, goldendoodle puppies, golden doodle, goldendoodles
With Perez Hilton’s mini Goldendoodle being named one of Animal Fair’s Most Eligible Pets in America, it has many people scratching their heads wondering what the heck a mini Goldendoodle is.
Perez’s pooch, Teddy, is a cross between a Golden Retriever and a Toy Poodle.
Wait…what?!? I know, right?
Taking the top honor were Miley Cyrus’s dogs, Roadie, a Yorkie, to which I am partial because my Emmy is a Yorkie, and Loco, a Shih Tzu.
“All the time we hear about the sexiest men alive, the best- and worst-dressed celebrities or the most beautiful people,” editor Wendy Diamond said. “What about the pets?”
The list boasts a diverse group of pets hailing from owners who lead their fields in design, law, comedy, medicine and music, according to the magazine for animal lovers.
Cyrus’ pooches triumphed because “they’re the only ones who can get tickets to the sold-out Hannah Montana tour,” Diamond said.
View photos of Perez and his mini Goldendoodle, Teddy, and Miley with her Yorkie, Roadie, below.
Mini Goldendoodles are in the news today, almost exclusively because one is owned by the Uber Celebrityblogger Perez Hilton. To get an idea of what a mini goldendoodle is, look at this video:
As Perez says, not is all it seems here:
The love of our life, our mini Goldendoodle, Teddy, has just been named one of the Most Eligible Pets in America by Animal Fair magazine. Miley Cyrus' dogs, Roadie (a Yorkie) and Loco (a Shih Tzu), topped the list. That shit was rigged!!!
As you'll note from the video, not all mini goldendoodles are in fact that mini. This is because they are a cross breed god and the breeders are never quite sure which size such things will be:
The Miniature Goldendoodle is not a purebred dog. It is a cross between the Golden Retriever and the Poodle; a Toy, Miniature or a small Standard Poodle. Some Miniature Goldendoodles are being bred as a first cross between a Golden Retriever and a Miniature Poodle. Some have Toy Goldendoodles. These two smaller sizes of Goldendoodles are achieved sometimes by surgical insemination or artificial insemination, but not all breeders perform this method of breeding. The resulting puppies may or may not be miniature in size. The theory is that they will be somewhere in-between the miniature poodle's size and the Golden Retriever's size. ..... Ask the breeder you contact which method of breeding they used to produce the Mini Goldendoodle. Not all of these designer hybrid dogs being bred are 50% purebred to 50% purebred. It is very common for breeders to breed multi-generation crosses.
The winners of the competition though were not Perez's mini goldenddodle, rather the two dogs of Miley Cyrus:
Miley Cyrus' pets, Roadie and Loco, have been named top dogs by Animal Fair magazine. Roadie, a Yorkie, and Loco, a Shih Tzu, clawed their way to the top of the magazine's Most Eligible Pets list. Readers' votes were announced Tuesday, and the list appears in the magazine's winter issue, on newsstands now.....Cyrus' pooches triumphed because "they're the only ones who can get tickets to the sold-out Hannah Montana tour," Diamond said.....Also on Animal Fair's list are Jake and Bill, terriers that help actress Glenn Close with her dog-friendly blog, Lively Licks, and Teddy, the mini goldendoodle belonging to celebrity blogger Perez Hilton.
Perez’s pooch, Teddy, is a cross between a Golden Retriever and a Toy Poodle.
Wait…what?!? I know, right?
Taking the top honor were Miley Cyrus’s dogs, Roadie, a Yorkie, to which I am partial because my Emmy is a Yorkie, and Loco, a Shih Tzu.
“All the time we hear about the sexiest men alive, the best- and worst-dressed celebrities or the most beautiful people,” editor Wendy Diamond said. “What about the pets?”
The list boasts a diverse group of pets hailing from owners who lead their fields in design, law, comedy, medicine and music, according to the magazine for animal lovers.
Cyrus’ pooches triumphed because “they’re the only ones who can get tickets to the sold-out Hannah Montana tour,” Diamond said.
View photos of Perez and his mini Goldendoodle, Teddy, and Miley with her Yorkie, Roadie, below.
Mini Goldendoodles are in the news today, almost exclusively because one is owned by the Uber Celebrityblogger Perez Hilton. To get an idea of what a mini goldendoodle is, look at this video:
As Perez says, not is all it seems here:
The love of our life, our mini Goldendoodle, Teddy, has just been named one of the Most Eligible Pets in America by Animal Fair magazine. Miley Cyrus' dogs, Roadie (a Yorkie) and Loco (a Shih Tzu), topped the list. That shit was rigged!!!
As you'll note from the video, not all mini goldendoodles are in fact that mini. This is because they are a cross breed god and the breeders are never quite sure which size such things will be:
The Miniature Goldendoodle is not a purebred dog. It is a cross between the Golden Retriever and the Poodle; a Toy, Miniature or a small Standard Poodle. Some Miniature Goldendoodles are being bred as a first cross between a Golden Retriever and a Miniature Poodle. Some have Toy Goldendoodles. These two smaller sizes of Goldendoodles are achieved sometimes by surgical insemination or artificial insemination, but not all breeders perform this method of breeding. The resulting puppies may or may not be miniature in size. The theory is that they will be somewhere in-between the miniature poodle's size and the Golden Retriever's size. ..... Ask the breeder you contact which method of breeding they used to produce the Mini Goldendoodle. Not all of these designer hybrid dogs being bred are 50% purebred to 50% purebred. It is very common for breeders to breed multi-generation crosses.
The winners of the competition though were not Perez's mini goldenddodle, rather the two dogs of Miley Cyrus:
Miley Cyrus' pets, Roadie and Loco, have been named top dogs by Animal Fair magazine. Roadie, a Yorkie, and Loco, a Shih Tzu, clawed their way to the top of the magazine's Most Eligible Pets list. Readers' votes were announced Tuesday, and the list appears in the magazine's winter issue, on newsstands now.....Cyrus' pooches triumphed because "they're the only ones who can get tickets to the sold-out Hannah Montana tour," Diamond said.....Also on Animal Fair's list are Jake and Bill, terriers that help actress Glenn Close with her dog-friendly blog, Lively Licks, and Teddy, the mini goldendoodle belonging to celebrity blogger Perez Hilton.
Tony harris, barbican library, wikia, encyclopidia, energia eoliana, fertile days
The Last Days Of Tony Harris
Wright Thompson: The city outside the window of Room 1507 at the Carlton Hotel is a most unlikely place to go insane. Designed as living modern art, Brasilia is defined by its order. But Tony Harris doesn't see order. He sees danger. He knows how this must sound, to the locals he's confiding in, to the friends and family he's e-mailing and calling back in Seattle. He knows he sounds out of his mind. But something is after him. A familiar idea is forming deep in his subconscious: run.
While the city outside is light, the hallway is darker than the bottom of a river. The halogens only come alive when a motion sensor detects life. The room itself is worn, a step or two down from the place he stayed the last time he played basketball here, more than two years ago. But then again, at 36, he's worn, too, so worn he'd never planned on playing again. There are two narrow beds and tan bedspreads and brown carpet. The bedside table is cracked, the original wood grain visible beneath the varnish. A single page in the thick phonebook is creased: the page for funeral homes.
Wireless Internet is his best friend, the connection making him feel safe. He needs it. The e-mails coming to the United States from Tony Harris are scary. Just the other day, he wrote his mother-in-law: I know that I can be paranoid at times but I know when I hear things. And when people stop talking when I come into the area, I just pray that I am wrong Connie I want to see my family again and I LOVE MY WIFE SO MUCH I WANT TO SEE OUR CHILD THAT LORI AND I ARE HAVING. I DIDN'T COME BACK HERE FOR THEM TO SET ME UP AND KILL ME.
Wright Thompson: The city outside the window of Room 1507 at the Carlton Hotel is a most unlikely place to go insane. Designed as living modern art, Brasilia is defined by its order. But Tony Harris doesn't see order. He sees danger. He knows how this must sound, to the locals he's confiding in, to the friends and family he's e-mailing and calling back in Seattle. He knows he sounds out of his mind. But something is after him. A familiar idea is forming deep in his subconscious: run.
While the city outside is light, the hallway is darker than the bottom of a river. The halogens only come alive when a motion sensor detects life. The room itself is worn, a step or two down from the place he stayed the last time he played basketball here, more than two years ago. But then again, at 36, he's worn, too, so worn he'd never planned on playing again. There are two narrow beds and tan bedspreads and brown carpet. The bedside table is cracked, the original wood grain visible beneath the varnish. A single page in the thick phonebook is creased: the page for funeral homes.
Wireless Internet is his best friend, the connection making him feel safe. He needs it. The e-mails coming to the United States from Tony Harris are scary. Just the other day, he wrote his mother-in-law: I know that I can be paranoid at times but I know when I hear things. And when people stop talking when I come into the area, I just pray that I am wrong Connie I want to see my family again and I LOVE MY WIFE SO MUCH I WANT TO SEE OUR CHILD THAT LORI AND I ARE HAVING. I DIDN'T COME BACK HERE FOR THEM TO SET ME UP AND KILL ME.
Constitution day, zealand island, the doors of perception, doors of perception, leghorn, copenhaga
Constitution Day 2007
What is the most important date in American history? Most of us would swiftly answer the Fourth of July. But think about today, September 17th. On this date in 1787 the convention in Philadelphia completed work on one of the greatest acts of creative leadership of all time, "this Constitution of The United States." Their work rescued America from what Madison later described as "gloomy chaos" and set the world marching toward what we can now see as the Age of Democracy.
Yet there will be no parades today, no picnics or fireworks. Perhaps a library somewhere is sponsoring a talk. Constitution Day will pass largely unnoticed. It is not surprising. Americans have over the last 40 years drifted away from a connection to our Constitution, the document that invented the United States as we now understand it and helped America to become the longest enduring democracy in history (Athens lasted 170 years as a democracy).
We revere the framers. We gobble up books about them and love snippets of their wisdom. They have become our secular gods. Yet we have little sense of what it was they actually invented. We know that the Declaration of Independence proclaimed our liberty. But liberty alone, as it turned out, was not the answer to the question of how to create a successful nation. As the framers learned in the eleven years following 1776, liberty unleashed the ambitions, the self-interests of individuals, factions and states. Selfish behavior was so rampant that the army nearly starved in the field of battle. Farmers took up arms. States threatened border war with other states. The country, if it even was a country, was falling apart. This was the "gloomy chaos" Madison confronted when he entered Philadelphia.
He and his fellow delegates saved America by recognizing that the pursuit of self-interest, which lay behind all the chaos, was fundamental to human nature. Before 1787 self-interest was something that had to be transcended to preserve Democracy. But the Constitution turned "vice into a virtue," harnessing ambition and channeling it into a system of representative government that pit interest against interest to find the greater good. Power was separated and balanced. The system was driven by "conflict within consensus" as historian Michael Kammen summed it up. There had never been a government like it before. This was their great invention: a government that let people be free by recognizing what people were really like.
The power of their invention is inarguable. Out of that sweltering hall in Philadelphia, out of that crisis of the early American nation, emerged a blueprint for government that was designed to let the people govern themselves despite their imperfections. It did not count on people to be selfless or bigger than themselves. "If men were angels, no government would be necessary,' wrote Madison. This new idea for government presumed people would pursue their own interests. Indeed it counted on them to do just that.
And it created paths for others to disagree, and resist them, or argue for something different. Their invention was a government designed to channel these struggles. To impede change until enough people supported it. To force people to the middle To encourage compromise. To spread power around so, in Hamilton's succinct vision, the few could not oppress the many and the many could not oppress the few. A lot could get done if people worked together in this system. But, if they fought each other, it could all grind to a halt.
In other words what they sent out from Philadelphia 220 years ago today was not just a piece of parchment. They created a new set of ideas about government and democracy. They had no idea how effective those ideas would be
The American "experiment" has worked better and lasted longer than any alternative.
But we do not recall all this for a history lesson. Because today, despite all our success, many Americans are feeling deeply frustrated and disillusioned with the functioning of their country. "Our conviction about American greatness and purpose is not as strong today," William J Bennett writes on the very first page of his History of The Untied States.
We are searching for a renewal.
The Constitution itself is a good place to start this day. It is after all what makes us Americans. We are not a country defined, in the words of journalist Ray Suarez, "by blood, or clan, or land origins, or religious belief." Rather, we are held together by the strength of our shared beliefs in our Constitution and its principles -- such as a respect for process, a willingness to compromise, a tolerance for dissent. We call this our Constitutional Conscience
But we have been drifting away from these principles and our modern politics has become brittle, confrontational and uncompromising. Our common bond has been unraveling. Recent experience reminds us that we make mistakes as a country when we move away from how our system was built to work. When people say now they wish The Congress and the media had done more to question the march to war in Iraq they are saying, too, that they wish the leaders of congress and the press had done more to assert their authority, and fulfill their responsibilities, under The Constitution. Even many proponents of the war concede now that the checks and balances did not work well. We believe that is precisely because of a weakening of our sense of our Constitutional roles, our constitutional conscience. Voters do not reward elected officials for executing their constitutional responsibility so it is little wonder that most elected officials don't pay much heed to those responsibilities. "People revere the constitution yet know so little about," Senator Robert Byrd said, "and that goes for some of my fellow senators."
Ronald Reagan, one of our most important 20th century presidents saw this problem coming as he left office. He warned of what he saw as a growing failure to appreciate our own history. Ultimately, he said, this would eradicate "the American memory" and threaten the American spirit. Some years later, Derek Bok the former president of Harvard worried that no one any longer bothers to prepare people to be citizens. Civics has nearly vanished from our curriculums, squeezed out in many cases by the understandable drive to teach science and math. We do that to assure our competitiveness in the world economy. But we should be just as concerned about our moral authority in the world. Moral authority comes from the strength of our principles. We are the inheritors of one of the greatest statements of democratic principles ever written. One piece of rehabilitating our moral authority in the world and our confidence in our selves is to reconnect with our own statement of best principles, "this Constitution of the United States." Franklin Roosevelt, our other great 20th Century president, said we should read The Constitution "again and again" like the bible. Or maybe we should all go to that Library talk.
The National Archives celebrates the 220th anniversary of the signing of the United States Constitution throughout September with exciting public programs including a special family day on Sunday, September 16, and a panel discussion on racial equality on Constitution Day, September 17. These events are free and open to the public.
The National Archives has the original Constitution on permanent display in the Rotunda for the Charters of Freedom of the National Archives Building, located on Constitution Avenue between 7th and 9th Streets, NW, Washington, DC. See our Building Entrance Map.Open PDF file
Constitution Day Family Celebration
Sunday, September 16, 12 noon – 3 p.m., Presidential Conference Center
Happy Birthday U.S. Constitution!
* Explore historical documents that demonstrate the Constitution in action. Take on the role of a “Presidential researcher” and match original documents to sections of the Constitution (Boeing Learning Center, noon–3 p.m.)
* Sign the Constitution (Presidential Conference Room Lobby, 12:00 - 3:00 p.m.)
* View the film The Making of the Constitution, 1997, 25 minutes (Jefferson Room, noon and 1 p.m.)
* Have a piece of birthday cake and meet President James Madison, Father of the Constitution, and First Lady Dolley Madison (Washington Room, 12:30–2 p.m.)
* Meet Syl Sobel, author of The U.S. Constitution and You (Washington Room, 1–2 p.m.)
* Join Mrs. Madison as she describes White House entertainment in the early 19th century (Jefferson Room, 1:45–2:30 p.m.)
Unfinish
What is the most important date in American history? Most of us would swiftly answer the Fourth of July. But think about today, September 17th. On this date in 1787 the convention in Philadelphia completed work on one of the greatest acts of creative leadership of all time, "this Constitution of The United States." Their work rescued America from what Madison later described as "gloomy chaos" and set the world marching toward what we can now see as the Age of Democracy.
Yet there will be no parades today, no picnics or fireworks. Perhaps a library somewhere is sponsoring a talk. Constitution Day will pass largely unnoticed. It is not surprising. Americans have over the last 40 years drifted away from a connection to our Constitution, the document that invented the United States as we now understand it and helped America to become the longest enduring democracy in history (Athens lasted 170 years as a democracy).
We revere the framers. We gobble up books about them and love snippets of their wisdom. They have become our secular gods. Yet we have little sense of what it was they actually invented. We know that the Declaration of Independence proclaimed our liberty. But liberty alone, as it turned out, was not the answer to the question of how to create a successful nation. As the framers learned in the eleven years following 1776, liberty unleashed the ambitions, the self-interests of individuals, factions and states. Selfish behavior was so rampant that the army nearly starved in the field of battle. Farmers took up arms. States threatened border war with other states. The country, if it even was a country, was falling apart. This was the "gloomy chaos" Madison confronted when he entered Philadelphia.
He and his fellow delegates saved America by recognizing that the pursuit of self-interest, which lay behind all the chaos, was fundamental to human nature. Before 1787 self-interest was something that had to be transcended to preserve Democracy. But the Constitution turned "vice into a virtue," harnessing ambition and channeling it into a system of representative government that pit interest against interest to find the greater good. Power was separated and balanced. The system was driven by "conflict within consensus" as historian Michael Kammen summed it up. There had never been a government like it before. This was their great invention: a government that let people be free by recognizing what people were really like.
The power of their invention is inarguable. Out of that sweltering hall in Philadelphia, out of that crisis of the early American nation, emerged a blueprint for government that was designed to let the people govern themselves despite their imperfections. It did not count on people to be selfless or bigger than themselves. "If men were angels, no government would be necessary,' wrote Madison. This new idea for government presumed people would pursue their own interests. Indeed it counted on them to do just that.
And it created paths for others to disagree, and resist them, or argue for something different. Their invention was a government designed to channel these struggles. To impede change until enough people supported it. To force people to the middle To encourage compromise. To spread power around so, in Hamilton's succinct vision, the few could not oppress the many and the many could not oppress the few. A lot could get done if people worked together in this system. But, if they fought each other, it could all grind to a halt.
In other words what they sent out from Philadelphia 220 years ago today was not just a piece of parchment. They created a new set of ideas about government and democracy. They had no idea how effective those ideas would be
The American "experiment" has worked better and lasted longer than any alternative.
But we do not recall all this for a history lesson. Because today, despite all our success, many Americans are feeling deeply frustrated and disillusioned with the functioning of their country. "Our conviction about American greatness and purpose is not as strong today," William J Bennett writes on the very first page of his History of The Untied States.
We are searching for a renewal.
The Constitution itself is a good place to start this day. It is after all what makes us Americans. We are not a country defined, in the words of journalist Ray Suarez, "by blood, or clan, or land origins, or religious belief." Rather, we are held together by the strength of our shared beliefs in our Constitution and its principles -- such as a respect for process, a willingness to compromise, a tolerance for dissent. We call this our Constitutional Conscience
But we have been drifting away from these principles and our modern politics has become brittle, confrontational and uncompromising. Our common bond has been unraveling. Recent experience reminds us that we make mistakes as a country when we move away from how our system was built to work. When people say now they wish The Congress and the media had done more to question the march to war in Iraq they are saying, too, that they wish the leaders of congress and the press had done more to assert their authority, and fulfill their responsibilities, under The Constitution. Even many proponents of the war concede now that the checks and balances did not work well. We believe that is precisely because of a weakening of our sense of our Constitutional roles, our constitutional conscience. Voters do not reward elected officials for executing their constitutional responsibility so it is little wonder that most elected officials don't pay much heed to those responsibilities. "People revere the constitution yet know so little about," Senator Robert Byrd said, "and that goes for some of my fellow senators."
Ronald Reagan, one of our most important 20th century presidents saw this problem coming as he left office. He warned of what he saw as a growing failure to appreciate our own history. Ultimately, he said, this would eradicate "the American memory" and threaten the American spirit. Some years later, Derek Bok the former president of Harvard worried that no one any longer bothers to prepare people to be citizens. Civics has nearly vanished from our curriculums, squeezed out in many cases by the understandable drive to teach science and math. We do that to assure our competitiveness in the world economy. But we should be just as concerned about our moral authority in the world. Moral authority comes from the strength of our principles. We are the inheritors of one of the greatest statements of democratic principles ever written. One piece of rehabilitating our moral authority in the world and our confidence in our selves is to reconnect with our own statement of best principles, "this Constitution of the United States." Franklin Roosevelt, our other great 20th Century president, said we should read The Constitution "again and again" like the bible. Or maybe we should all go to that Library talk.
The National Archives celebrates the 220th anniversary of the signing of the United States Constitution throughout September with exciting public programs including a special family day on Sunday, September 16, and a panel discussion on racial equality on Constitution Day, September 17. These events are free and open to the public.
The National Archives has the original Constitution on permanent display in the Rotunda for the Charters of Freedom of the National Archives Building, located on Constitution Avenue between 7th and 9th Streets, NW, Washington, DC. See our Building Entrance Map.Open PDF file
Constitution Day Family Celebration
Sunday, September 16, 12 noon – 3 p.m., Presidential Conference Center
Happy Birthday U.S. Constitution!
* Explore historical documents that demonstrate the Constitution in action. Take on the role of a “Presidential researcher” and match original documents to sections of the Constitution (Boeing Learning Center, noon–3 p.m.)
* Sign the Constitution (Presidential Conference Room Lobby, 12:00 - 3:00 p.m.)
* View the film The Making of the Constitution, 1997, 25 minutes (Jefferson Room, noon and 1 p.m.)
* Have a piece of birthday cake and meet President James Madison, Father of the Constitution, and First Lady Dolley Madison (Washington Room, 12:30–2 p.m.)
* Meet Syl Sobel, author of The U.S. Constitution and You (Washington Room, 1–2 p.m.)
* Join Mrs. Madison as she describes White House entertainment in the early 19th century (Jefferson Room, 1:45–2:30 p.m.)
Unfinish