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Obama Nobel Peace Prize- TEXT of OBAMAS SPEECH

2009-12-10T05:11:00.000-08:00

President Obama recieves the Nobel Peace Prize. He accepts the Nobel Peace Prize in Oslo, Norway, on Thursday, by asking "difficult questions about the relationship between war and peace," and acknowledging he is a first-year president who is sending more troops to Afghanistan.

"I would be remiss if I did not acknowledge the considerable controversy that your generous decision has generated," Obama said during his acceptance speech in Oslo, Norway. "In part, this is because I am at the beginning, and not the end, of my labors on the world stage."

The president forwarded a defense of the Afghanistan war in his speech, calling it a necessary action to prevent the spread of terrorism. He also mentioned his goals for a nuclear weapons-free world that takes on challenges of climate change, disease, and poverty.

Expressing "deep gratitude and great humility," Obama said the Nobel Peace Prize "speaks to out highest aspiration ... For all the cruelty and hardship of our world, we are not mere prisoners of fate. Our actions matter, and can bend history in the direction of justice."

The president sprinkled his remarks with tributes to past Nobel Peace Prize winners, including American civil rights leader Martin Luther King, Jr., and General-turned-Secretary of State George C. Marshall, as well as humanitarian Albert Schweitzer and South African anti-apartheid leader Nelson Mandela.

"The most profound issue," Obama said, is that he is commander-in-chief of a military still at war in Iraq and Afghanistan, giving him "an acute sense of the costs of conflict."

In discussing the history of warfare through the ages, Obama said there have been such things as "just wars." And he defended U.S. efforts "to underwrite" global security for the six decades since the end of World War II.

"Make no mistake, evil does exist in the world," Obama, citing the Nazis and al Qaeda terrorists as example. That holds true today in a worldÂ "buckling under the weight of new threats," including terrorists seeking nuclear weapons.

Yet though it may be necessary, Obama said, "war itself is never glorious, and we must never trumpet it as such."

"So part of our challenge is reconciling these two seemingly irreconcilable truths -- that war is sometimes necessary, and war is at some level an expression of human feelings," the president said.

Obama is the fourth U.S. president to win the Nobel Peace Prize. He cited one of his predecessors, Woodrow Wilson, honored in 1919 for creating the League of Nations even though the Senate rejected membership in it.

TEXT of OBAMAS SPEECH
The text of President Obama's Nobel Peace Prize acceptance speech, delivered Thursday in Oslo, Norway, as provided by the White House:
Your Majesties, Your Royal Highnesses, Distinguished Members of the Norwegian Nobel Committee, citizens of America, and citizens of the world:
I receive this honor with deep gratitude and great humility. It is an award that speaks to our highest aspirations — that for all the cruelty and hardship of our world, we are not mere prisoners of fate. Our actions matter, and can bend history in the direction of justice.
And yet I would be remiss if I did not acknowledge the considerable controversy that your generous decision has generated. In part, this is because I am at the beginning, and not the end, of my labors on the world stage. Compared to some of the giants of history who have received this prize — Schweitzer and King; Marshall and Mandela — my accomplishments are slight. And then there are the men and women around the world who have been jailed and beaten in the pursuit of justice; those who toil in humanitarian organizations to relieve suffering; the unrecognized millions whose quiet acts of courage and compassion inspire even the most hardened of cynics. I cannot argue with those who find these men and women — some known, some obscure to all but those they help — to be far more deserving of this honor than I.
But perhaps the most profound issue surrounding my receipt of this prize is the fact that I am the Commander-in-Chief of a nation in the midst of two wars. One of these wars is winding down. The other is a conflict that America did not seek; one in which we are joined by 43 other countries — including Norway — in an effort to defend ourselves and all nations from further attacks.
Still, we are at war, and I am responsible for the deployment of thousands of young Americans to battle in a distant land. Some will kill. Some will be killed. And so I come here with an acute sense of the cost of armed conflict — filled with difficult questions about the relationship between war and peace, and our effort to replace one with the other.
These questions are not new. War, in one form or another, appeared with the first man. At the dawn of history, its morality was not questioned; it was simply a fact, like drought or disease — the manner in which tribes and then civilizations sought power and settled their differences.
Over time, as codes of law sought to control violence within groups, so did philosophers, clerics and statesmen seek to regulate the destructive power of war. The concept of a "just war" emerged, suggesting that war is justified only when it meets certain preconditions: if it is waged as a last resort or in self-defense; if the forced used is proportional; and if, whenever possible, civilians are spared from violence.
For most of history, this concept of just war was rarely observed. The capacity of human beings to think up new ways to kill one another proved inexhaustible, as did our capacity to exempt from mercy those who look different or pray to a different God. Wars between armies gave way to wars between nations — total wars in which the distinction between combatant and civilian became blurred. In the span of 30 years, such carnage would twice engulf this continent. And while it is hard to conceive of a cause more just than the defeat of the Third Reich and the Axis powers, World War II was a conflict in which the total number of civilians who died exceeded the number of soldiers who perished.
In the wake of such destruction, and with the advent of the nuclear age, it became clear to victor and vanquished alike that the world needed institutions to prevent another World War. And so, a quarter century after the United States Senate rejected the League of Nations — an idea for which Woodrow Wilson received this Prize — America led the world in constructing an architecture to keep the peace: a Marshall Plan and a United Nations, mechanisms to govern the waging of war, treaties to protect human rights, prevent genocide and restrict the most dangerous weapons.
In many ways, these efforts succeeded. Yes, terrible wars have been fought, and atrocities committed. But there has been no Third World War. The Cold War ended with jubilant crowds dismantling a wall. Commerce has stitched much of the world together. Billions have been lifted from poverty. The ideals of liberty, self-determination, equality and the rule of law have haltingly advanced. We are the heirs of the fortitude and foresight of generations past, and it is a legacy for which my own country is rightfully proud.
A decade into a new century, this old architecture is buckling under the weight of new threats. The world may no longer shudder at the prospect of war between two nuclear superpowers, but proliferation may increase the risk of catastrophe. Terrorism has long been a tactic, but modern technology allows a few small men with outsized rage to murder innocents on a horrific scale.
Moreover, wars between nations have increasingly given way to wars within nations. The resurgence of ethnic or sectarian conflicts, the growth of secessionist movements, insurgencies and failed states have increasingly trapped civilians in unending chaos. In todays wars, many more civilians are killed than soldiers; the seeds of future conflict are sown, economies are wrecked, civil societies torn asunder, refugees amassed and children scarred.
I do not bring with me today a definitive solution to the problems of war. What I do know is that meeting these challenges will require the same vision, hard work and persistence of those men and women who acted so boldly decades ago. And it will require us to think in new ways about the notions of just war and the imperatives of a just peace.
We must begin by acknowledging the hard truth that we will not eradicate violent conflict in our lifetimes. There will be times when nations — acting individually or in concert — will find the use of force not only necessary but morally justified.
I make this statement mindful of what Martin Luther King said in this same ceremony years ago: "Violence never brings permanent peace. It solves no social problem: It merely creates new and more complicated ones." As someone who stands here as a direct consequence of Dr. Kings lifes work, I am living testimony to the moral force of non-violence. I know there is nothing weak, nothing passive, nothing naive in the creed and lives of Gandhi and King.
But as a head of state sworn to protect and defend my nation, I cannot be guided by their examples alone. I face the world as it is, and cannot stand idle in the face of threats to the American people. For make no mistake: Evil does exist in the world. A nonviolent movement could not have halted Hitlers armies. Negotiations cannot convince al-Qaidas leaders to lay down their arms. To say that force is sometimes necessary is not a call to cynicism — it is a recognition of history, the imperfections of man and the limits of reason.
I raise this point because in many countries there is a deep ambivalence about military action today, no matter the cause. At times, this is joined by a reflexive suspicion of America, the worlds sole military superpower.
Yet the world must remember that it was not simply international institutions — not just treaties and declarations — that brought stability to a post-World War II world. Whatever mistakes we have made, the plain fact is this: The United States of America has helped underwrite global security for more than six decades with the blood of our citizens and the strength of our arms. The service and sacrifice of our men and women in uniform has promoted peace and prosperity from Germany to Korea, and enabled democracy to take hold in places like the Balkans. We have borne this burden not because we seek to impose our will. We have done so out of enlightened self-interest — because we seek a better future for our children and grandchildren, and we believe that their lives will be better if other people's children and grandchildren can live in freedom and prosperity.
So yes, the instruments of war do have a role to play in preserving the peace. And yet this truth must coexist with another — that no matter how justified, war promises human tragedy. The soldiers courage and sacrifice is full of glory, expressing devotion to country, to cause and to comrades in arms. But war itself is never glorious, and we must never trumpet it as such.
So part of our challenge is reconciling these two seemingly irreconcilable truths — that war is sometimes necessary, and war is at some level an expression of human feelings. Concretely, we must direct our effort to the task that President Kennedy called for long ago. "Let us focus," he said, "on a more practical, more attainable peace, based not on a sudden revolution in human nature but on a gradual evolution in human institutions."
What might this evolution look like? What might these practical steps be?
To begin with, I believe that all nations — strong and weak alike — must adhere to standards that govern the use of force. I — like any head of state — reserve the right to act unilaterally if necessary to defend my nation. Nevertheless, I am convinced that adhering to standards strengthens those who do, and isolates — and weakens — those who dont.
The world rallied around America after the 9/11 attacks, and continues to support our efforts in Afghanistan, because of the horror of those senseless attacks and the recognized principle of self-defense. Likewise, the world recognized the need to confront Saddam Hussein when he invaded Kuwait — a consensus that sent a clear message to all about the cost of aggression.
Furthermore, America cannot insist that others follow the rules of the road if we refuse to follow them ourselves. For when we dont, our action can appear arbitrary, and undercut the legitimacy of future intervention — no matter how justified.
This becomes particularly important when the purpose of military action extends beyond self-defense or the defense of one nation against an aggressor. More and more, we all confront difficult questions about how to prevent the slaughter of civilians by their own government, or to stop a civil war whose violence and suffering can engulf an entire region.
I believe that force can be justified on humanitarian grounds, as it was in the Balkans, or in other places that have been scarred by war. Inaction tears at our conscience and can lead to more costly intervention later. That is why all responsible nations must embrace the role that militaries with a clear mandate can play to keep the peace.
Americas commitment to global security will never waver. But in a world in which threats are more diffuse, and missions more complex, America cannot act alone. This is true in Afghanistan. This is true in failed states like Somalia, where terrorism and piracy is joined by famine and human suffering. And sadly, it will continue to be true in unstable regions for years to come.
The leaders and soldiers of NATO countries — and other friends and allies — demonstrate this truth through the capacity and courage they have shown in Afghanistan. But in many countries, there is a disconnect between the efforts of those who serve and the ambivalence of the broader public. I understand why war is not popular. But I also know this: The belief that peace is desirable is rarely enough to achieve it. Peace requires responsibility. Peace entails sacrifice. That is why NATO continues to be indispensable. That is why we must strengthen U.N. and regional peacekeeping, and not leave the task to a few countries. That is why we honor those who return home from peacekeeping and training abroad to Oslo and Rome; to Ottawa and Sydney; to Dhaka and Kigali — we honor them not as makers of war, but as wagers of peace.
Let me make one final point about the use of force. Even as we make difficult decisions about going to war, we must also think clearly about how we fight it. The Nobel Committee recognized this truth in awarding its first prize for peace to Henry Dunant — the founder of the Red Cross, and a driving force behind the Geneva Conventions.
Where force is necessary, we have a moral and strategic interest in binding ourselves to certain rules of conduct. And even as we confront a vicious adversary that abides by no rules, I believe that the United States of America must remain a standard bearer in the conduct of war. That is what makes us different from those whom we fight. That is a source of our strength. That is why I prohibited torture. That is why I ordered the prison at Guantanamo Bay closed. And that is why I have reaffirmed Americas commitment to abide by the Geneva Conventions. We lose ourselves when we compromise the very ideals that we fight to defend. And we honor those ideals by upholding them not just when it is easy, but when it is hard.
I have spoken to the questions that must weigh on our minds and our hearts as we choose to wage war. But let me turn now to our effort to avoid such tragic choices, and speak of three ways that we can build a just and lasting peace.
First, in dealing with those nations that break rules and laws, I believe that we must develop alternatives to violence that are tough enough to change behavior — for if we want a lasting peace, then the words of the international community must mean something. Those regimes that break the rules must be held accountable. Sanctions must exact a real price. Intransigence must be met with increased pressure — and such pressure exists only when the world stands together as one.
One urgent example is the effort to prevent the spread of nuclear weapons, and to seek a world without them. In the middle of the last century, nations agreed to be bound by a treaty whose bargain is clear: All will have access to peaceful nuclear power; those without nuclear weapons will forsake them; and those with nuclear weapons will work toward disarmament. I am committed to upholding this treaty. It is a centerpiece of my foreign policy. And I am working with President Medvedev to reduce America and Russias nuclear stockpiles.
But it is also incumbent upon all of us to insist that nations like Iran and North Korea do not game the system. Those who claim to respect international law cannot avert their eyes when those laws are flouted. Those who care for their own security cannot ignore the danger of an arms race in the Middle East or East Asia. Those who seek peace cannot stand idly by as nations arm themselves for nuclear war.
The same principle applies to those who violate international law by brutalizing their own people. When there is genocide in Darfur, systematic rape in Congo or repression in Burma — there must be consequences. And the closer we stand together, the less likely we will be faced with the choice between armed intervention and complicity in oppression.
This brings me to a second point — the nature of the peace that we seek. For peace is not merely the absence of visible conflict. Only a just peace based upon the inherent rights and dignity of every individual can truly be lasting.
It was this insight that drove drafters of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights after the Second World War. In the wake of devastation, they recognized that if human rights are not protected, peace is a hollow promise.
And yet all too often, these words are ignored. In some countries, the failure to uphold human rights is excused by the false suggestion that these are Western principles, foreign to local cultures or stages of a nations development. And within America, there has long been a tension between those who describe themselves as realists or idealists — a tension that suggests a stark choice between the narrow pursuit of interests or an endless campaign to impose our values.
I reject this choice. I believe that peace is unstable where citizens are denied the right to speak freely or worship as they please, choose their own leaders or assemble without fear. Pent up grievances fester, and the suppression of tribal and religious identity can lead to violence. We also know that the opposite is true. Only when Europe became free did it finally find peace. America has never fought a war against a democracy, and our closest friends are governments that protect the rights of their citizens. No matter how callously defined, neither Americas interests — nor the worlds — are served by the denial of human aspirations.
So even as we respect the unique culture and traditions of different countries, America will always be a voice for those aspirations that are universal. We will bear witness to the quiet dignity of reformers like Aung Sang Suu Kyi; to the bravery of Zimbabweans who cast their ballots in the face of beatings; to the hundreds of thousands who have marched silently through the streets of Iran. It is telling that the leaders of these governments fear the aspirations of their own people more than the power of any other nation. And it is the responsibility of all free people and free nations to make clear to these movements that hope and history are on their side.
Let me also say this: The promotion of human rights cannot be about exhortation alone. At times, it must be coupled with painstaking diplomacy. I know that engagement with repressive regimes lacks the satisfying purity of indignation. But I also know that sanctions without outreach — and condemnation without discussion — can carry forward a crippling status quo. No repressive regime can move down a new path unless it has the choice of an open door.
In light of the Cultural Revolutions horrors, Nixons meeting with Mao appeared inexcusable — and yet it surely helped set China on a path where millions of its citizens have been lifted from poverty, and connected to open societies. Pope John Pauls engagement with Poland created space not just for the Catholic Church, but for labor leaders like Lech Walesa. Ronald Reagans efforts on arms control and embrace of perestroika not only improved relations with the Soviet Union, but empowered dissidents throughout Eastern Europe. There is no simple formula here. But we must try as best we can to balance isolation and engagement, pressure and incentives, so that human rights and dignity are advanced over time.
Third, a just peace includes not only civil and political rights — it must encompass economic security and opportunity. For true peace is not just freedom from fear, but freedom from want.
It is undoubtedly true that development rarely takes root without security; it is also true that security does not exist where human beings do not have access to enough food, or clean water, or the medicine they need to survive. It does not exist where children cannot aspire to a decent education or a job that supports a family. The absence of hope can rot a society from within.
And that is why helping farmers feed their own people — or nations educate their children and care for the sick — is not mere charity. It is also why the world must come together to confront climate change. There is little scientific dispute that if we do nothing, we will face more drought, famine and mass displacement that will fuel more conflict for decades. For this reason, it is not merely scientists and activists who call for swift and forceful action — it is military leaders in my country and others who understand that our common security hangs in the balance.
Agreements among nations. Strong institutions. Support for human rights. Investments in development. All of these are vital ingredients in bringing about the evolution that President Kennedy spoke about. And yet, I do not believe that we will have the will, or the staying power, to complete this work without something more — and that is the continued expansion of our moral imagination, an insistence that there is something irreducible that we all share.
As the world grows smaller, you might think it would be easier for human beings to recognize how similar we are, to understand that we all basically want the same things, that we all hope for the chance to live out our lives with some measure of happiness and fulfillment for ourselves and our families.
And yet, given the dizzying pace of globalization, and the cultural leveling of modernity, it should come as no surprise that people fear the loss of what they cherish about their particular identities — their race, their tribe and, perhaps most powerfully, their religion. In some places, this fear has led to conflict. At times, it even feels like we are moving backwards. We see it in the Middle East, as the conflict between Arabs and Jews seems to harden. We see it in nations that are torn asunder by tribal lines.
Most dangerously, we see it in the way that religion is used to justify the murder of innocents by those who have distorted and defiled the great religion of Islam, and who attacked my country from Afghanistan. These extremists are not the first to kill in the name of God; the cruelties of the Crusades are amply recorded. But they remind us that no Holy War can ever be a just war. For if you truly believe that you are carrying out divine will, then there is no need for restraint — no need to spare the pregnant mother, or the medic, or even a person of ones own faith. Such a warped view of religion is not just incompatible with the concept of peace, but the purpose of faith — for the one rule that lies at the heart of every major religion is that we do unto others as we would have them do unto us.
Adhering to this law of love has always been the core struggle of human nature. We are fallible. We make mistakes, and fall victim to the temptations of pride, and power, and sometimes evil. Even those of us with the best intentions will at times fail to right the wrongs before us.
But we do not have to think that human nature is perfect for us to still believe that the human condition can be perfected. We do not have to live in an idealized world to still reach for those ideals that will make it a better place. The nonviolence practiced by men like Gandhi and King may not have been practical or possible in every circumstance, but the love that they preached — their faith in human progress — must always be the North Star that guides us on our journey.
For if we lose that faith — if we dismiss it as silly or naive, if we divorce it from the decisions that we make on issues of war and peace — then we lose what is best about humanity. We lose our sense of possibility. We lose our moral compass.
Like generations have before us, we must reject that future. As Dr. King said at this occasion so many years ago: "I refuse to accept despair as the final response to the ambiguities of history. I refuse to accept the idea that the 'isness' of mans present nature makes him morally incapable of reaching up for the eternal 'oughtness' that forever confronts him."
So let us reach for the world that ought to be — that spark of the divine that still stirs within each of our souls. Somewhere today, in the here and now, a soldier sees hes outgunned but stands firm to keep the peace. Somewhere today, in this world, a young protestor awaits the brutality of her government, but has the courage to march on. Somewhere today, a mother facing punishing poverty still takes the time to teach her child, who believes that a cruel world still has a place for his dreams.
Let us live by their example. We can acknowledge that oppression will always be with us, and still strive for justice. We can admit the intractability of deprivation, and still strive for dignity. We can understand that there will be war, and still strive for peace. We can do that — for that is the story of human progress; that is the hope of all the world; and at this moment of challenge, that must be our work here on Earth.

top chef finale winner- Michael Voltaggio

2009-12-10T04:32:00.000-08:00

Top Chef’s season 6 2009 finale ! Winner- Michael Voltaggio! Michael Voltaggio is The new Top Chef!

In the end, Michael won it all,Michael Voltaggio is the winner of Top Chef, season 6. He beat out his brother, the subtle Bryan Voltaggio, and fan favorite Southern charmer Bearded Kevin as Kevin and Bryan being eliminated. Next week, the chefs return for the reunion show with Andy Cohen.

Michael, 30, is from Pasadena, California and originally from Frederick, Maryland.

In Wednesday’s part 2 finale, the remaining three cooks Kevin and Bryan and Michael V, the last Top Chefs returned to Napa Valley. And the competition heated up.

The challenge was to make four dishes. The first derived from their childhood, the second from a box of secret ingredients, the third their choice, and finally a desert.

In the Top Chef Season 6 Finale, judges Padma Lakshmi and Tom Colicchio were accompanied by a number of guest judges. They tasted every dish and reacted accordingly.

The Top Chef competition began in Las Vegas with 17 chefs. Every Wednesday, the cheftestants went different places and cooked delicious dishes to stay back for next one week. It was an emotional moment, when Jennifer was eliminated for her salty goat cheese, last week.

Kevin and Bryan and Michael V were the last Top Chefs standing in season 6.

Michael Voltaggio, 30, of Angeles, California, is Chef de Cuisine at The Dining Room, at the Langham Huntington Hotel & Spa. He got his education at The Greenbrier Hotel Culinary Apprenticeship Program.

Kevin Gillespie, 26 of Atlanta, Georgia, is Executive Chef at Woodfire Grill in Atlanta. He got his culinary education at the Art Institute of Atlanta, and various restaurants.

Bryan Voltaggio, 33, of Frederick, Maryland, is Chef and Partner at the VOLT Restaurant. He received his education from A.O.S Culinary Arts, C.I.A.

Michael Voltaggio was named Top Chef this evening after serving judges an impressive four-course menu in California wine country that showed his creativity and technical prowess.

After winning the Top chef title, Michael broke into tears, as he wished he and his brother Bryan could win the title together.

Michael Voltaggio wins $225,000 in cash and merchandise, a spread in Food & Wine magazine and a showcase at the annual Food & Wine Classic in Aspen, Colorado.

Kevin Gillespie was fan favorite but luck did not favoured in the finale. He had to cook with unfamiliar matsutake mushrooms, which didn’t satisfy the judges.

Waiter's 20 secrets - they hide from you

2009-11-30T08:56:00.000-08:00

Waiter's 20 secrets - they hide from you

What your waiter isn’t telling you

Editors at Reader’s Digest asked two dozen waiters from across the country to spill the beans on what really goes on behind the scenes at restaurants. Reader’s Digest’s has the results.

What would two dozen servers from across the country tell you if they could get away with it? Well, for starters, when to go out, what not to order, what really happens inside the kitchen’s swinging doors, and what they think of you and your tips. Here, from a group that clears a median $8.01 an hour in wages and tips, a few revelations that aren’t on any menu.

What we lie about
1. We’re not allowed to tell our customers we don’t like a dish. So if you ask your server how something is and she says, “It’s one of our most popular dishes,” chances are she doesn’t like it.
—Waitress at a well-known pizza chain

2. On Christmas Day, when people ask why I’m there, I might say, “My sister’s been in the hospital,” or, “My brother’s off to war, so we’re celebrating when he gets back.” Then I rake in the tips.
—Chris, a New York City waiter and the founder of bitterwaitress.com

3. If you’re looking for your waiter and another waiter tells you he’s getting something out of the stockroom, you can bet he’s out back having a quick smoke.
—Charlie Kondek, former waiter at a Denny’s in Central Michigan

4. If someone orders a frozen drink that’s annoying to make, I’ll say, “Oh, we’re out. Sorry!” when really I just don’t want to make it. But if you order water instead of another drink, suddenly we do have what you originally wanted because I don’t want to lose your drink on the bill.
—Waitress at a casual Mexican restaurant in Manhattan

What you don’t want to know
5. When I was at one bakery restaurant, they used to make this really yummy peach cobbler in a big tray. A lot of times, servers don’t have time to eat. So we all kept a fork in our aprons, and as we cruised through the kitchen, we’d stick our fork in the cobbler and take a bite. We’d use the same fork each time.
—Kathy Kniss

6. If you make a big fuss about sending your soup back because it’s not hot enough, we like to take your spoon and run it under really hot water, so when you put the hot spoon in your mouth, you’re going to get the impression — often the very painful impression — that your soup is indeed hot.
—Chris

7. I’ve seen some horrible things done to people’s food: steaks dropped on the floor, butter dipped in the dishwater.
—Waiter at a casual restaurant in the Chicago area

What you’re really swallowing
8. If your dessert says “homemade,” it probably is. But it might be homemade at a bakery three miles away.
—Charity Ohlund

9. I knew one guy — he was a real jerk — he’d go to Costco and buy this gigantic carrot cake for $10 and tell us to say it’s homemade. Then he sold it for $10 a slice.
—Steve Dublanica, veteran New York waiter and author of "Waiter Rant: Thanks for the Tip — Confessions of a Cynical Waiter"

What drives us crazy
10. Oh, you needed more water so badly, you had to snap or tap or whistle? I’ll be right back … in ten minutes.
—Charity Ohlund

11. We want you to enjoy yourself while you’re there eating, but when it’s over, you should go. Do you stay in the movie theater after the credits? No.
—Waiter at a casual restaurant in the Chicago area

12. My biggest pet peeve? When I walk up to a table of six or seven people and one person decides everyone needs water. I’m making a trip to deliver seven waters, and four or five of them never get touched.
—Judi Santana, a server for ten years

What we want you to know
13. Sometimes, if you’ve been especially nice to me, I’ll tell the bartender, “Give me a frozen margarita, and don’t put it in.” That totally gyps the company, but it helps me because you’ll give it back to me in tips, and the management won’t know the difference.
—Waitress at a casual Mexican restaurant in Manhattan

14. If you’re having a disagreement over dinner and all of a sudden other servers come by to refill your water or clear your plates, or you notice a server slowly refilling the salt and pepper shakers at the table next to yours, assume that we’re listening.
—Charity Ohlund

What tells us you’re trouble
15. I get this call all the time: “Is the chef there? This is so-and-so. I’m a good friend of his.” If you’re his good friend, you’d have his cell.
—Chris

16. The strangest thing I’ve seen lately? A man with a prosthetic arm asked me to coat check it because the table was a little bit crowded. He just removed his arm and handed it to me: “Can you take this?”
—Christopher Fehlinger

17. We always check the reservation book, scan the names, and hope for someone recognizable. I’m happy if the notes say something like “Previous number of reservations: 92.” If they say something like “First-time guest, celebrating Grandma’s 80th birthday, need two high chairs, split checks, gluten allergy,” then I start rummaging through my pockets for a crisp bill for the hostess and I make sure to tell her how much I love her hair fixed like that.
—Charity Ohlund

How to be a good customer
18. Use your waiter’s name. When I say, “Hi, my name is JR, and I’ll be taking care of you,” it’s great when you say, “Hi, JR. How are you doing tonight?” Then, the next time you go in, ask for that waiter. He may not remember you, but if you requested him, he’s going to give you really special service.
—JR, waiter at a fine-dining restaurant and author of the blog servernotslave.wordpress.com

19. Trust your waitress. Say something like “Hey, it’s our first time in. We want you to create an experience for us. Here’s our budget.” Your server will go crazy for you.
— Charity Ohlund

What you need to know about tipping
20. If you walk out with the slip you wrote the tip on and leave behind the blank one, the server gets nothing. It happens all the time, especially with people who’ve had a few bottles of wine.
—Judi Santana

Extrabux

2009-11-30T08:35:00.000-08:00

Net is buzzing with the search of Extrabux,its a site which surf the web and stay on top of trends, fashion and sales to bring you all the stuff that’s fit to buy & avoids like searching a hundred different websites for Cyber Monday deals? Simple solution. one website do the work.

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Tiger Woods statement on Crash Rumors

2009-11-30T08:12:00.000-08:00

Ultimately Tiger Woods has finally released a statement regarding his car accident over the weekend. The golfing champion takes “sole responsibility” for the crash and decries rumors that his wife, former Swedish model Elin Nordegren, played a role in the accident.

“As you all know, I had a single-car accident earlier this week…This situation is my fault, and it’s obviously embarrassing to my family and me. I’m human and I’m not perfect. I will certainly make sure this doesn’t happen again,” Tiger mentioned in a statement on his website on Sunday, contradicting reports that he fought with Elin over an alleged affair with party hostess Rachel Uchitel. “Although I understand there is curiosity, the many false, unfounded and malicious rumors that are currently circulating about my family and me are irresponsible. The only person responsible for the accident is me.”

Tiger Woods, was hurt in a single car accident in Florida on Friday and later released from the hospital in good condition after treatment. A local police chief said the Tiger Woods wife used a golf club to smash a window of his SUV to get him out. Woods, 33, who made a triumphant return to professional golf this year after missing much of last season following reconstructive knee surgery, suffered “serious” injuries, the Florida Highway Patrol said. But the golfer’s office called the accident “minor.”

The PGA winner champions his wife a hero by acting “courageously” in helping him after the crash.

“My wife, Elin, acted courageously when she saw I was hurt and in trouble. She was the first person to help me. Any other assertion is absolutely false…this incident has been stressful and very difficult for Elin, our family and me. I appreciate all the concern and well wishes that we have received. But, I would also ask for some understanding that my family and I deserve some privacy no matter how intrusive some people can be.”

Best Cyber Monday 2009 deals

2009-11-30T00:44:00.000-08:00

The Cyber Monday 2009 deals are on Enjoy Online Shopping.

Amazon.Com with a range of very nice tech deals. Cyber Monday 2009 deals at Amazon include the-
Garmin nuvi 260W for $119.99,
the Archos 5 Internet Media Tablet for $199.99,
Sennheiser RS 130 Wireless Surround Headphones for $59.95

In computers-
Toshiba Satellite L505-S5993 TruBrite 15.6-Inch Grey/Black Laptop for $549.99, Toshiba Satellite T135-S1307 TruBrite 13.3-Inch Ultrathin Black Laptop for $549.99 Samsung NP-NC10-KB02US 10.1 inch Netbook Computer for $309.99.

In cameras-
Flip Ultra Camcorder 2nd Generation, 120 Minutes (White) for $119,
the Fujifilm FinePix J28 10.2MP Digital Camera with 3x Optical Zoom for $99.95,
the Nikon Coolpix S620 12.2MP Digital Camera for $149.95.

In TV’s-
Viore LED24VF60 24-Inch LED 1080p HDTV for $299.99,
Viore LCD19VH65 19-Inch LCD HDTV with Built-in DVD Player for $216.56,
Panasonic VIERA S1 Series TC-P42S1 42-Inch 1080p Plasma HDTV for $999.95.

Maurice Clemmons

2009-11-30T00:05:00.000-08:00

Police have identified Maurice Clemmons, a Parkland man with extensive criminal history, as a person of interest,who had been granted clemency to Clemmons nine years ago, By governor of Arkansas as Four uniformed police officers were shot and killed in a Pierce County coffee shop Sunday morning as they worked on their laptop computers, authorities said.
Clemmons, the 37-year-old man wanted for questioning in the killing of four Lakewood police officers Sunday morning, has a long criminal record punctuated by violence, erratic behavior and concerns about his mental health.

Maurice Clemmon criminal history includes at least five felony convictions in Arkansas and at least eight felony charges in Washington. His record also stands out for the number of times Clemmons has been released from custody despite questions about the danger he posed.

Mike Huckabee, when he was governor of Arkansas, granted clemency to Clemmons nine years ago, commuting his lengthy prison sentence over the protests of prosecutors.

"This is the day I've been dreading for a long time," Larry Jegley, prosecuting attorney for Arkansas' Pulaski County, said Sunday night when informed that Clemmons was being sought in connection with the killings.

tal wilkenfeld-VIDEO

2009-11-29T23:45:00.000-08:00

Widely called as "the rising star of the bass guitar," Tal Wilkenfeld first picked up guitar at the age of 14, in her native Sydney, Australia. She soon realized her passion and finally decided to pursue music professionally in the United States. She studied guitar for one year in Los Angeles,then Tal found her true calling, and switched to the bass. It didn't take long for the 17-year-old prodigy to get noticed; after playing bass for only a few months, famed luthier Roger Sadowsky heard her play and immediately offered her an endorsement with Sadowsky Guitars.
TAL wilkenfeld WITH JEFF BECK AND JIMMY PAGE AT THE 2009 ROCK AND ROLL HALL OF FAME INDUCTION CEREMONY

michaele salahi couple crashed White House Party

2009-11-28T11:19:00.000-08:00

The White House ultimately admitted the security breach late Friday that Michaele and Tareq Salahi, the Virginia couple auditioning for a reality show, not only got past executive-branch security but actually shook the hands with the president in the Blue Room of the White House.

The White House also released a photo of Michaele Salahi's audience with the president.

Secret Service apologised for security breach that has caused embarrassment inside the White House.

Director Mark Sullivan told that the agency was "deeply concerned and embarrassed by the circumstances surrounding the State Dinner" and added that "the preliminary findings of our internal investigation have determined established protocols were not followed at an initial checkpoint, verifying that two individuals were on the guest list."

Elin Woods nude pics

2009-11-28T06:08:00.000-08:00

Elin Nordegren Woods (a former Swedish model) is the wife of Tiger Woods, a professional golfer. She was born on January 1, 1980 in Stockholm, Sweden. Her father Thomas is ‘radio journalist’

Crib Recall

2009-11-23T07:33:00.000-08:00

The Consumer Product Safety Commission is going to announce what is thought to be one of the largest crib recalls. The cribs with dropdown sides, will be affected by the expected recall.
The specific models are not yet known. Its not be the first time that cribs with dropdown sides have been recalled. In the previous two years, five million cribs have been recalled and the CPSC are now considering a complete ban on cribs with the dropsown sides.
The most recent recall was last year when Delta Enterprises had to recall 1.6 million of their older cribs with the drop-down sides, this was because two infants lost their lives. The problem was due to safety pegs either dropping out or becoming worn.
The reason why infants’ lives are put at risk is because their heads can get stuck in the dropdown side, this would then cause the child to choke. This is just want happened to 10-month old Tyler Jonathan.

GlobalPost

2009-11-23T07:18:00.000-08:00

GlobalPost, is an online, for-profit news outlet, relies on a network of 70 part-time contributors in scattered in 50 countries.

"We think there's a void there and a real opening ... for a news organization that has an American voice for international news. Not a voice that is nationalistic or jingoistic, but a voice that understands [that] Americans want to know about the world [and] need to know about the world.
- Exclaimed Charles Sennott, executive editor of GlobalPost

It is a site Global post.com

Adam Lambert AMA performance

2009-11-23T05:03:00.000-08:00

qqq The The performance of Adam Lambert at the AMA (American Music Awards) was censored as it was not fit for West Coast consumption.

toni braxton and trey songz kisses

2009-11-07T00:27:00.000-08:00

Singers Toni Braxton 43,and Trey Songz 25, performed during the taping of the 2009 Soul Train Awards in Atlanta, Georgia, November 3, 2009. While doing so, they took it to the next level and swapped spit, lip kissed in front of everyone. We all know how freaky Trey songz can get but really Toni?

Now its reported that Grammy Award winner Toni Braxton and her husband, Keri Lewis, formerly of Mint Condition, have decided to separate after eight years of marriage. The couple has two sons.

Nothing told about what prompted the split, but we do know that Ms. Braxton, 43, had tongues waggin’ over the, er, “tonguing” that she and singer Trey Songz, 25, gave each other on stage in front the whole world including her husband at the recent Soul Train Awards. (See photo)

Portland Blazers to Wear Rip City Jersey

2009-11-06T23:49:00.000-08:00

COMMEMORATIVE JERSEYS PAY NOD TO FOUR DECADES OF SUPPORT

Trail Blazers to make first of two regular-season appearances in "Rip City" gear

in the open view of a sold out crowd and a international television audience, the Portland Trail Blazers will wear commemorative "Rip City" jerseys,this is to pay homage to the enduring 40-year bond between the team and its fans.

The jersey, dezined in celeberation with the team's 40th anniversary season, unofficially debuted during the October 14 preseason game vs. Phoenix.These jerseys will be worn twice during the regular season—Friday night vs. San Antonio and on Fan Appreciation Night, April 14 vs. Golden State.

"Since the day that Bill Schonely first uttered the words in 1971, ‘Rip City' has become synonymous with Portland and Blazermania," Chief Marketing Officer Sarah Mensah told. "These jerseys were our way of using the 40th anniversary platform to celebrate and recognize the role our fans have played in the success the Trail Blazers franchise."

On February 18, 1971, Schonely yelled the first ‘Rip City!' cry in reaction to a long-distance field goal by Trail Blazer Jim Barnett. The rest, as they say, is history.

The most famous of many terms coined by the former Trail Blazers voice, Rip City grew to become synonymous with the basketball fervor that enveloped the city when the team won the 1977 NBA Championship and make 26 playoff appearances in a 27-year stretch from 1977-2003.

The return of Rip City, marked by 74 consecutive sellouts and last spring's Rip City Uprise rally for an estimated 15,000 fans, has been evident throughout the team's resurgence.

As a result, Rip City merchandise - including jerseys and T-shirts - has been some of the hottest selling merchandise in the Trail Blazers Fan Shop, accounting for more than 20 percent of the store's sales this season.

As a response to the unprecedented demand for Trail Blazers merchandise, the team opened a retail kiosk at Washington Square to aid holiday shoppers through the end of December.
Now,the Fan Shop is open for public from 11-3 every weekday.

Full Interview of Rihanna On 20/20 ABC- Video

2009-11-06T23:04:00.000-08:00

Big Bird

2009-11-04T03:14:00.000-08:00

Big Bird ("Sesame Street's 40th Anniversary") will be a featured guest will be welcomed on ABC's Jimmy Kimmel Live! this coming Wednesday November, 4, 2009. The giant yellow bird is scheduled to appear as a guest on Kimmel's late night talk show this Wednesday along with Joshua Jackson("Fringe") and musical guest Slayer. Jimmy Kimmel Live! airs weeknights on ABC at 12:06am.

Lou Filippo died

2009-11-03T10:53:00.000-08:00

Lou Filippo,83 years, a California referee and judge for more than 30 years and member of the World Boxing Hall of Fame, died Monday in Los Angeles.

Filippo boxed professionally as a lightweight from 1947 to 1957, exclusively in Southern California after that became one of the top ring officials and refereeing and judging dozens of world championship bouts. The World War II veteran compiled a professional record of 23-9-3 with 8 KOs.

He gave his Boxing career with a pair of fights against Hall of Famer and former lightweight champion Carlos Ortiz, a nine-round no-decision followed by a seventh-round knockout loss.

Filippo's presence in the ring led to numerous television and film appearances, including parts as a referee in the second, third, fourth and fifth installments of the "Rocky" films.

Filippo started refereeing and judging in the mid-1970s, working primarily in Southern California. But he was also associated with the WBC, which held a moment of silence and a 10-bell count in Filippo's honor during its annual convention, taking place this week in Jeju, South Korea.

Perhaps Filippo's most famous judging assignment came in 1987, when he served on the panel for the controversial Sugar Ray Leonard-"Marvelous" Marvin Hagler middleweight championship fight in Las Vegas.

Boxing fans still argue to this day about who deserved to win the fight, although Leonard was awarded a split-decision victory. It was Filippo who scored the fight for Hagler 115-113.

Aisha Tyler husband Jeff Tietjens photos

2009-11-03T10:40:00.000-08:00

aisha tyler And her husband jeff tietjens pics,The lovely interracial couple.
Aisha Tyler is reported going to the movies in Hollywood.

NICOLAS CAGE cancels screening

2009-11-03T10:22:00.000-08:00

Actor NICOLAS CAGE has cancelled his presence at a New York screening of his new film BAD LIEUTENANT: PORT OF CALL NEW ORLEANS as he grieves the death of his father, AUGUST COPPOLA who died recently.

AUGUST COPPOLA, the retired college dean, and brother of filmmaker Francis Ford Coppola, died of a fatal heart attack on Tuesday (27Oct09), aged 75.

Cage laid his dad to rest on Thursday (29Oct09), alongside family and friends at the Christ the King Church in Hollywood, California.

NICOLAS CAGE was set to walk the red carpet alongside co-stars Val Kilmer and Eva Mendes days later, at the 8 November (09) event - but has now bowed out of the screening, reports the New York Post.

The spokesperson for Cage had not responded to requests for comment as WENN went to press.

Nicolas Cage bankruptcy

2009-11-03T10:17:00.000-08:00

- Oscar-winning actor Nicolas Cage is suing his former business manager for the financial losses & leaving him on the brink of financial ruin.

The 45-year-old is claiming more than $19 million damages, claiming he suffered catastrophic losses because of Samuel Levin’s dud investment decisions, reported thesun.co.uk.

Cage has filed a lawsuit in Los Angeles accusing Levin of gross mismanagement and lining his pockets at the actor’s expense.

Cage has to pay more than $5 million in tax and is being sued over a $2 million credit deal.

Air Traffic Controllers: top paying job in America,minimum education

2009-11-03T09:53:00.000-08:00

Air Traffic Control School Demand Grows With Jobs

According to a recent survey, conducted by Investopedia, the Air Traffic Controller position was named the top paying job in America that required the minimum education. The details came from the Bureau of Labor Statistics. This, caught many young people's attention to Air Traffic Control School enquiring where they can get that education.

Universities normally have no Air Traffic Schools or programs. It is managed by FAA. The specialised job of the Air Traffic Controller requires a special type of FAA schooling and on the job training.

Air Traffic Controllers may receive up to $117,200 dollars yearly. The median salary is between $86,860-142,210. Apart from this good benefits are available..

However, the job is stressful that,s why Air Traffic Controllers retires at 50 years. The watch the lives of hundreds or thousands of air passengers and it indeed ban be stressful.

Warren Buffett Buys A RAILROAD- Berkshire Northern for $34 billion

2009-11-03T08:58:00.000-08:00

on Tuesday Buffett's Berkshire Hathaway Inc. agreed to purchase Burlington Northern Santa Fe Corp., for $34 billion betting on the future of the U.S. economy

Burlington Northern, USA's second-largest railroad, is the biggest hauler of food products like corn and coal for electricity, its a clear indicator of the country's economic health. The railroad also ships a large amount of goods from Western ports including everyday items such as refrigerators, clothing and TVs.
Analysts say Buffett is putting both feet in an industry that is expected to grow as the economy gets back on solid ground. If approved, it would be the biggest acquisition ever for Berkshire Hathaway Inc.history.
Berkshire Hathaway already owns about 22 percent of Burlington Northern, and said it will pay $100 a share in cash and stock for the rest of the company, a 31.5 percent premium on Burlington Northern's Monday closing price. Shareholders have the option to convert their stock for a cash payment of $100 per share or receive Berkshire Class A or Class B common stock. Up to 60 percent of the deal is cash and 40 percent is in stock.
"Berkshire's $34 billion investment in BNSF is a huge bet on that company, CEO Matt Rose and his team, and the railroad industry," Buffett said in a statement.

Election Day USA

2009-11-03T08:34:00.000-08:00

Election Day USA November 2009

Election Day of USA is approaching on Tuesday after the first Monday in November. The earliest possible date is November 2 and the latest November 8. After every four years, on Election Day, registered voters in the United States cast their votes for presidential electors. Collectively, all these electors form the Electoral College. The number of electors per state is equal to the number in its Congressional delegation.

Each state has at least three electors. Kansas with six electors and Missouri has eleven. These electors meet on the first Tuesday after the second Wednesday in December to elect the President and Vice-President.

Elections to the United States House of Representatives and the United States Senate are held every two years.

In 1845, Congress established Election Day abolishing the previous controversial system of electing the President and Vice-President. Under the old system, states could appoint electors at any time within 34 days prior to the selection of electors in December.

Election Day in the United States is the day set by law for the election of public officials.

The early voting for the Utah election had concluded on 30th October 2009. People unable to cast their vote in the early elections would come to vote on 3rd November 2009.

SEPTA strike-Help Guide

2009-11-03T05:53:00.000-08:00

Excerpts from Septa site to help during strike-

What SEPTA Service Will Run?

Regional Rail
Train service will be the best choice for travel in and around Philadelphia

Suburban Transit
Bus, Trolley, and Norristown High Speed Lines will not be affected, except Route 116, which will be temporarily discontinued. Route service will change for those buses that normally travel into the City. Contract routes 204, 205, 306, and 314 will continue to operate

LUCY (Loop through University City)
Green and Gold Loop service will operate regular routing from 30th Street Station to selected University City destinations

CCT Connect
Regular service will operate for registered ADA and Shared Ride customers. There may be some delays due to increased demand and local street traffic

- What SEPTA Service Will Not Run?

Market-Frankford Line
No service between 69th Street Terminal and Frankford Transportation Center

Broad Street Line/Broad Ridge Spur
No service between Fern Rock Transportation Center and Pattison Avenue, Chinatown or 8th & Market

All City Transit Bus, Trolley, and Trackless Trolley Routes
No service on bus routes 1 through 89, all lettered bus routes, Owl Service, and trolley routes 10, 11, 13, 15, 34, and 36

Frontier Bus Routes
No service on bus routes 90 through 99, 124, 127-132, 134, 139, 150, 201, 206, and 304

Update - Governor Rendell was successful to delay the SEPTA strike while the World Series was in town by ordering SEPTA management and union officials to discuss at the bargaining table. But Unfortunately, Rendell wasn't able to hold the strike off entirely. As of on 3 a.m. this morning, members of Transport Workers Union Local 234 started the strike and have walked off the job.

SUBURBAN TRANSIT

TEMPORARY CHANGES

Route 105 - 69th Street Terminal to Ardmore and Paoli
Operate current schedule
All trips will bypass Overbrook Park using Victory Ave, West Chester Pike, Lynn Blvd, Township Line Rd, City Ave
Service to 63rd & Malvern discontinued
Route 106 - 69th Street Terminal to Ardmore
Operate current schedule
All trips will bypass Overbrook Park using Victory Ave, West Chester Pike, Lynn Blvd, Township Line Rd, City Ave
Route 108 - 69th Street Terminal to PHL or UPS
Operate current route between 69th St and Yeadon
All service to Paschall, Elmwood, and Eastwick discontinued
Express routing to serve Airport Business Center, PHL and UPS via Darby
Bus will stop at the Route 102 – Sharon Hill Trolley Station
Route 115 – Ardmore to PHL or Airport Business Center
Customers traveling to PHL or Airport Business Center should take Route 115 and transfer at Sharon Hill Trolley Station for Route 108
All southbound service will end at Folcroft East Industrial Park
Northbound service will not serve PHL or Airport Business Center
Route 125 - Villanova Station to King of Prussia & Valley Forge
Service to Center City, 30th St Station and Wissahickon Transportation Center discontinued
All service will begin/end at Villanova Station – Paoli/Thorndale (R5) Line
Route 310 - Horsham Breeze
All service will begin/end at Jenkintown Station
30 minute service AM/PM peaks to meet connecting Lansdale/Doylestown (R5) trains; 60 minute service midday and evenings

Factory Five ‘33 Ford

2009-11-02T03:17:00.000-08:00

The electric car, Based on the award-winning Factory Five ‘33 Hot Rod…the battery electric vehicle (EV) is powered by UQM technologies electric drive and A123 Systems high-power lithium-ion batteries. It produces 300+ HP and over 660ft/lbs of torque in a 2400lb car and delivers a range of 100+ miles and 0-60 acceleration in an approximate 4 seconds!

The vehicle was dezined by Factory Five Racing using SolidWorks CAD software in partnership with HP. The electric drive system and batteries were custom installed by the team of experts at Amp=D.

It will be making its electric debut at the 2009 SEMA Show.

Factory Five : Supercar

2009-11-02T02:45:00.000-08:00

The new Factory Five GTM. This vehicle is an instant icon… a Supercar in its purest and most elemental form. Every part, each curve and angle work together to fulfill a single target of absolute performance.

The GTM is an all-new American V-8 powered, mid-engined, original design with a stunningly beautiful hand-crafted composite body shell and a computer designed steel tube frame chassis. It is a fantasy Supercar engineered to be affordable and bring the dream of owning such a car to people whose talents and craftsmanship outrun their bank accounts.

While Factory Five engineering claims world-beating performance, the design of the car made its instant icon status among the world’s finest Supercars. Single look proves that while beauty is impossible to define, it is immediately recognizable.

Lil' Wayne's -no ceilings official

2009-11-02T02:24:00.000-08:00

Lil' Wayne has againon the headlines, and not because rapper is headed to jail in 2010. Lil' Wayne's official mixtape, "No Ceilings," has become a massive hit online.

The success of "No Ceilings" is at a better time for Wayne. The rapper recently held guilty for attempted possession of a weapon in the second degree. While the guilty plea spared him a possible 3 1/2-to-7-year prison sentence, Wayne is expected to serve one-year in jail.

Wayne will be sentenced by the court in February.

The "No Ceilings" mixtape, which contains over twenty tracks including skits and interludes, can be downloaded heredownloaded here.

Dallas Cowboys vs. Seattle Seahawks: result

2009-11-02T02:14:00.000-08:00

It appeared to be a bit of a one-sided game.

All yesterday’s game was dominated by the talent of Tony Romo and the Dallas Cowboys offense, with their 38-17 victory. Romo, who threw 21 of 36 with 256 yards and 3 touchdowns.

The Seahawks took a 3-0 early lead in the first quarter, it didn’tsustain it and in the second quarter, they were trailing 14-0. Romo then connected with Roy Williams, to give the Cowboys their 11 point lead.

India versus Australia at Mohali- Cricket

2009-11-02T01:53:00.000-08:00

Shane watson out at 49 by Harbhajan Singh, Australia 88/2 in 18 overs.

Australia won the toss, and choose to bat first.

Australia started cautious slow. indian Bowlers Nehra & praveen kumar bowled tight line & length.

Australia loosed Opener Marsh

My dog skip- Movie video

2009-11-01T21:40:00.000-08:00

A shy boy (fantastic act by Frankie Muniz of “Malcolm in the Middle”) finds his only friend in a dog, and the two set out on great adventures. This movie also has strong performances from Kevin Bacon and Diane Lane

My dog skip- Last scene

Meb Keflezighi the first U.S. men's winner of NYC Marathon since 1982

2009-11-01T21:06:00.000-08:00

Meb Keflezighi the first U.S. men's winner of NYC Marathon since 1982

Meb Keflezighi became the first U.S. man to win NYC Marathon since 1982: American Meb Keflezighi was wiping away tears after Sunday's New York City Marathon — for his victory and for his recovery from a 2007 hip injury he feared might end his career. And also for his friend Ryan Shay, who collapsed and died at the U.S. Olympic trials in New York two years ago

Keflezighi, 34, is a resident of Mammoth Lakes, California, became the first U.S. man since Alberto Salazar in 1982 to win the NYC Marathon. Keflezighi covered 26.2 miles in 2 hours, 9 minutes, 15 seconds.

He was born in the African nation of Eritrea, growing up in a hut with no electricity. Soldiers would surround his village, looking for males 12 and older to take to war

A Kenian Robert Kipkoech Cheruiyot was second in 2:09:56.

Mike Sayenko, a former Washington Huskies and Sammamish High School runner, finished 14th in 2:16:38.

Brett Winegar of Shoreline was 24th in 2:23:11.

Among U.S. men, Sayenko was eighth and Winegar was 14th. The race served as this year's national championship.

Derartu Tulu, 37, of Ethiopia was the women's winner in 2:28:52; she is the oldest women's champion since 42-year-old Priscilla Welch in 1987. Two-time defending champion Paula Radcliffe of Britain was fourth, hobbled by tendinitis behind her left knee.

Asked about the significance of the victory, Tulu said she plans to compete at the London Olympics in 2012 when she is 40.

"I hope to be able to bring another victory for my country," she said, "So I hope you will be there to ask me the same question."

Russian Ludmila Petrova, 41, was the runner-up for the second consecutive year.

Eleven years ago, Keflezighi wrote a letter to Salazar, who was working with Nike. Keflezighi told him that for U.S. distance running to thrive, athletes needed the funding to allow them to train full time.

That same year, Keflezighi became an American citizen. He was born in the African nation of Eritrea, growing up in a hut with no electricity. Soldiers would surround his village, looking for males 12 and older to take to war.

When Meb was 10, his family moved to Italy; two years later, the family came to the United States. Keflezighi began running in junior high in San Diego and proceeded to be a standout at UCLA.

"Definitely today wearing that USA jersey got the crowd going," he said. "Definitely wore it with big honor and pride.

the Parabot

2009-10-31T00:19:00.000-07:00

Richmonder Robert Bess has built a ghost catching machine called the Parabot -- short for paranormal containment chamber. And now the only thing he has to do is test it by catching the ghost. On live national television.

To be precise on,The Travel Channel's live Halloween broadcast.

We got a sneak peek before Bess heads to the Trans-Allegheny Lunatic Asylum in West Virginia to test the Parabot on national TV. With the help of hosts from "Ghost Adventues LIVE," he'll try to catch a ghost during a seven-hour paranormal investigation on Oct. 30, 2009.

London Girl : The Invisible

2009-10-31T00:06:00.000-07:00

Invisible: Alexa Ray Joel

2009-10-31T00:03:00.000-07:00

Alexa Ray Joel she's been learning the ropes as a singer-songwriter from past few years, now she is ready to be a superstar.

Her new single, "Invisible," though, seems ready to step her into the spotlight. The piano-driven ballad, which she recently debuted on "The Wendy Williams Show," about a bad breakup, gives her a chance to proove her powerful, distinctive voice as well as her songwriting abilities.

To make the most of it, Joel teamed up with Tommy Byrnes, Billy Joel's longtime guitarist, to produce "Invisible," which will likely be on her upcoming album. The song, which she is giving away on her Web site, alexarayjoel.com, is so strong and moves in such a pop-leaning direction that Joel may find herself in the midst of the major-label frenzy that she has tried to avoid so far.

Amazing Johnathan

2009-10-30T23:53:00.000-07:00

The Amazing Johnathan is an Famous comic magician whose bizarre humor and unscripted antics have earned him widespread recognition as one of the most original and unique stage performers today. His DVD Wrong On Every Level is the latest example to prove this point.

The Las Vegas Review-Journal has given Amazing Johnathan much praise, by including him on the coveted "Best of Las Vegas" list in the "Best Show" category, and he also won "Best Comedian of the Year" for 2002 and got nominated in 2003. Most recently, Amazing Johnathan was recognized as "Best Local Villain" by the Las Vegas Weekly Reader's Choice Awards in 2004 and 2005. He is also a two-time winner of the International Magic Award for "Best Comedy Magician."

weezer snuggie

2009-10-30T23:37:00.000-07:00

"Wuggie," as it's affectionately being referred to Weezer Snuggie ie weezer+snuggie = wuggie

With the Nov. 3 release of Raditude looming, Weezer have declared a handful of tour dates scheduled for this December, in addition to the New York City and Los Angeles shows previously announced for the end of this month.Schedule with All dates are below.

In addition, the band have also announced that they will be the musical guest on The Late Show With David Letterman on Oct. 29 and 30; but most importantly, Nov. 3 will also serve as the release date for the long-anticipated Weezer Snuggie, or "Wuggie," as it's affectionately being referred to. There's still no word on what exactly will make the Snuggie a Wuggie, but we'll keep you posted.

10/24/2009 - Los Angeles, CA - Palladium

10/31/2009 - New York, NY - Hammerstein Ballroom

12/1/2009 - Chicago, IL - Aragon Ballroom

12/3/2009 - Milwaukee, WI - Eagles Ballroom

12/5/2009 - Toronto, ON - Air Canada Center

12/7/2009 - Boston, MA - Agganis Arena

12/9/2009 - Baltimore, MD - UMBC Fieldhouse

12/10/2009 - Philadelphia, PA - Susquehanna Center

SEPTA strike-update

2009-10-30T23:11:00.000-07:00

Update-03.11.2009 Excerpts from Septa site to help during strike-

What SEPTA Service Will Run?

Regional Rail
Train service will be the best choice for travel in and around Philadelphia

Suburban Transit
Bus, Trolley, and Norristown High Speed Lines will not be affected, except Route 116, which will be temporarily discontinued. Route service will change for those buses that normally travel into the City. Contract routes 204, 205, 306, and 314 will continue to operate

LUCY (Loop through University City)
Green and Gold Loop service will operate regular routing from 30th Street Station to selected University City destinations

CCT Connect
Regular service will operate for registered ADA and Shared Ride customers. There may be some delays due to increased demand and local street traffic

- What SEPTA Service Will Not Run?

Market-Frankford Line
No service between 69th Street Terminal and Frankford Transportation Center

Broad Street Line/Broad Ridge Spur
No service between Fern Rock Transportation Center and Pattison Avenue, Chinatown or 8th & Market

All City Transit Bus, Trolley, and Trackless Trolley Routes
No service on bus routes 1 through 89, all lettered bus routes, Owl Service, and trolley routes 10, 11, 13, 15, 34, and 36

Frontier Bus Routes
No service on bus routes 90 through 99, 124, 127-132, 134, 139, 150, 201, 206, and 304

Update - Governor Rendell was successful to delay the SEPTA strike while the World Series was in town by ordering SEPTA management and union officials to discuss at the bargaining table. But Unfortunately, Rendell wasn't able to hold the strike off entirely. As of on 3 a.m. this morning, members of Transport Workers Union Local 234 started the strike and have walked off the job.

SUBURBAN TRANSIT

TEMPORARY CHANGES

Route 105 - 69th Street Terminal to Ardmore and Paoli

Operate current schedule
All trips will bypass Overbrook Park using Victory Ave, West Chester Pike, Lynn Blvd, Township Line Rd, City Ave
Service to 63rd & Malvern discontinued

Route 106 - 69th Street Terminal to Ardmore

Operate current schedule
All trips will bypass Overbrook Park using Victory Ave, West Chester Pike, Lynn Blvd, Township Line Rd, City Ave

Route 108 - 69th Street Terminal to PHL or UPS

Operate current route between 69th St and Yeadon
All service to Paschall, Elmwood, and Eastwick discontinued
Express routing to serve Airport Business Center, PHL and UPS via Darby
Bus will stop at the Route 102 – Sharon Hill Trolley Station

Route 115 – Ardmore to PHL or Airport Business Center

Customers traveling to PHL or Airport Business Center should take Route 115 and transfer at Sharon Hill Trolley Station for Route 108
All southbound service will end at Folcroft East Industrial Park
Northbound service will not serve PHL or Airport Business Center

Route 125 - Villanova Station to King of Prussia & Valley Forge

Service to Center City, 30th St Station and Wissahickon Transportation Center discontinued
All service will begin/end at Villanova Station – Paoli/Thorndale (R5) Line

Route 310 - Horsham Breeze

All service will begin/end at Jenkintown Station
30 minute service AM/PM peaks to meet connecting Lansdale/Doylestown (R5) trains; 60 minute service midday and evenings

A 12:01 a.m. strike deadline has gone.

SEPTA and its largest union, negotiations are continued early this morning.

Gov. Rendell and Mayor Nutter reached at the Holiday Inn in Center City just before 1 a.m. hoping to reach a settlement overnight.

A strike - which Mayor Nutter had said "was pretty unimaginable" and which the union leadership had presented as very possible - can still be called at any time by Local 234 of the Transport Workers Union.

SEPTA employees have been working without a contract since March. After several months of negotiations with management, SEPTA's largest union, Transport Workers Union Local 234, voted earlier today to authorize a strike if a contract cannot be reached by the end of the week - meaning that the strike would begin just as the Phillies start playing home World Series games. Yikes.

Kathy Gloddy unsolved murder

2009-10-30T22:25:00.000-07:00

Kathy Gloddy- She was just thirteen-year-old girl when she was raped, beaten, and brutally killed in 1971. The case is still unsolved after all these years later. Now 20/20 is set to do a show spotlighting the murder.

The ABC News magazine 20/20 is going to highlight the late November 1971 unsolved murder of Kathy Lynn Gloddy, the 13-year-old girl who was beaten, raped, hit over the head, and run over by a car at least four times and left dead on a logging road.

On the last night of Kathy Lynn's life, the young athlete, poet, and conservationist took her German Shepherd out for a walk and stopped on a variety store for ice cream and a can of potato sticks —those were her favorites. She never came back to her home. Only her dog returned.

After the Gloddys sister spent months testifying in both the state Senate and the N.H. House of Representatives, Gov. John D. Lynch signed the New Hampshire Cold Case unit into law in the Governor and Council's room with the family invited as special guests.

The murder investigation has gone through a number of twists and turns recently, when elderly Florida resident Ernest Dukette went into a police department and said he believed he was with Kathy Lynn when she died but could not remember if he had raped her.

Although Dukette later recanted his statements, saying he was ill and confused from various medications he was taking,

Dukette died in August at Old Town, Fla., and never spoke another public word about Kathy Lynn and what he may have known about her murder

Kathy Gloddys murder devastated her family. Her mother, Lucille, committed suicide 20 years after her death, mentioning in a suicide note that she wanted "to be with Kathy."

"20/20" is anchored by Elizabeth Vargas. David Sloan is executive producer.

Ghost Adventures

2009-10-30T21:54:00.000-07:00

Ghost Adventures Live runs until 3 a.m. Saturday morning. If you would like to see what is going on inside the trans allegheny lunatic asylum hospital click on the link below.

Related Links:
- Travel Channel's Ghost Adventures Live

switchback railway

2009-10-30T11:42:00.000-07:00

switchback railway

One can think the roots of the American roller coaster would have sprouted in New York City, perhaps Coney Island. Or maybe Lakemont Park in Altoona Pennsylvania. its wrong Although, PA is the right state.

The first "gravityride" was built in the small Eastern Pennsylvania town of Mauch Chunk in the heart of the Pocono mountains. Mauch Chunk is not on the map, the town was later renamed as Jim Thorpe.

More of a mine train ride, for good reason, than today's thrill rides the Mauch Chunk Switchback Railway was a short railroad line built to haul coal from the top of Mount Pisgah to a canal below. Empty cars were pulled up the mountain by mules, the coal was loaded and then the train and the mules coasted downhill to the canal. This operation lasted until the mine closed in the early
1870s.

While it's not known if the mules enjoyed the ride, some folks thought that people might. So, the old mine train reopened as a Pleasure Railroad with new passenger friendly cars. The mules were replaced with steam engines and the new railway used the same tracks as the mine train route. The cars were equipped with low booster wheels to assist in pushing them up some of the steep slopes.

There were plenty of sites along the route like a mine that had been burning since 1832. Riders were also attracted by lots of beautiful scenic views.

The Mauch Chunk Railway was a huge success, in 1873 35,000 visitors paid a nickel each for the experience. The railway ran until 1938, when the Central Railroad cancelled all further runs.

Surprising remains of the Switchback Railway can still be found in the woods near Jim Thorpe today.

Britney Spears' "3" Video: Watch it

2009-10-30T10:59:00.001-07:00

Halloween Quotes

2009-10-30T07:08:00.001-07:00

A. On Hallowe'en the thing
you must do
Is pretend that nothing
can frighten you
An' if somethin' scares you
and you want to run
Jus' let on like
it's Hallowe'en fun.
- - - from an old Nineteenth Century Halloween Postcard

B. One need not be a chamber to be haunted;
One need not be a house;
The brain has corridors surpassing
Material place.
- - - by Emily Dickinson

C. 'Tis the night - the night
Of the grave's delight,
And the warlocks are at their play;
Ye think that without
The wild winds shout,
But no, it is they - it is they.
- - - by Arthur Cleveland Coxe

D. If a man harbors any sort of fear, it makes him landlord to a ghost.
- - - by Lloyd Douglas

E. Shadows of a thousand years rise again unseen,
Voices whisper in the trees, "Tonight is Halloween!"
- - - by Dexter Kozen

F. Fear is nature's warning signal to get busy.
- - - by Henry C. Link

G. The oldest and strongest emotion of mankind is fear, and the oldest and strongest kind of fear is fear of the unknown.
- - -by H. P. Lovecraft

H. Be wary then; best safety lies in fear.
- - - by Shakespeare "Hamlet"

I. Double, double toil and trouble; fire burn and cauldron bubble.
- - -by Shakespeare "Macbeth"

J. Hark! Hark to the wind! 'Tis the night, they say,
When all souls come back from the far away-
The dead, forgotten this many a day!
- - -by Virna Sheard

K. From ghoulies and ghosties and long leggety beasties and things that go bump in the night, Good Lord, deliver us!
- - -by Scottish saying

L. Men say that in this midnight hour,
The disembodièd have power
To wander as it liketh them,
By wizard oak and fairy stream.
- - -by William Motherwell

M. At first cock-crow the ghosts must go
Back to their quiet graves below.
- - -by Theodosia Garrison

N. 'Tis now the very witching time of night, When churchyards yawn and hell itself breathes out
Contagion to this world.
- - -by William Shakespeare

O. Men fear death as children fear to go in the dark; and as that natural fear in children is
increased with tales, so is the other.
- - -by Sir Francis Bacon, Essays [1625], "Of Death"

P. To suffering there is a limit; to fearing, none.
- - -by Sir Francis Bacon, Essays [1625], "Of Seditions and Troubles

Q. Ghosts, like ladies, never speak till spoke to.
- - -byRichard Harris Barham

R. For as children tremble and fear everything in the blind darkness, so we in the light
sometimes fear what is no more to be feared than the things children in the dark hold in
terror and imagine will come true.
- - -by Titus Lucretius Carus [99-55 B.C.], De Rerum Natura, bk. III, l. 87

S. Where there is no imagination there is no horror.
- - -by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle

T. There is a sacred HORROR about everything grand. It is easy to admire mediocrity and hills;
but whatever is too lofty, a genius as well as a mountain, an assembly as well as a
masterpiece, seen too near, is appalling.
- - -by Victor Hugo

U. The dream reveals the reality which conception lags behind. That is the horror of life—the
terror of art.
- - -by One of the best quotes by Franz Kafka

V. From ghoulish and ghosties and long leggety beasties and things that go bump in the night,
Good Lord, deliver us!
- - -by Scottish saying

W. Eye of newt, and toe of frog, Wool of bat, and tongue of dog, Adder's fork, and blind-worm's
sting, Lizard's leg, and owlet's wing, For a charm of powerful trouble, Like a hell-broth
boil and bubble.
- - -by William Shakespeare (a quote from "Macbeth")

X What fearful shapes and shadows beset his path, amidst the dim and ghastly glare of a snowy
night! With what wistful look did he eye every trembling ray of light streaming across the
waste fields from some distant window! How often was he appalled by some shrub covered with
snow, which, like a sheeted specter, beset his very path! How often did he shrink with
curdling awe at the sound of his own steps on the frosty crust beneath his feet; and dread
to look over his shoulder, lest he should behold some uncouth being tramping close behind
him! and how often was he thrown into complete dismay by some rushing blast, howling among
the trees, in the idea that it was the Galloping Hessian on one of his nightly scouring!
- - -by Washington Irving (a quote from "The Legend of Sleep Hollow")

Y. Bring forth the raisins and the nuts- Tonight All-Hallows' Specter struts Along the moonlit
way.
- - -by John Kendrick Bangs

THIS IS IT grosses $7.4 million on first day

2009-10-30T04:44:00.000-07:00

Sony's much-hyped Michael Jackson last released documentary THIS IS IT moonwalked to an upbeat $7.4 million in estimated first-day boxoffice on Wednesday.Pre-release forecasts had projected that the pic would open upward of $40 million through Sunday

"This Is It" bowed simultaneously in 97 foreign territories, which outperformed U.S. and Canadian grosses by ringing up $12.7 million on Wednesday. That made for a first-day worldwide boxoffice of $20.1 million.

"This Is It" at 9 p.m. PDT Tuesday, but the studio included those grosses -- totaling $2.2 million -- in its Wednesday tally. Sony acquired worldwide distribution rights to the pic for a reported $60 million.

Dress for Success

2009-10-30T03:46:00.000-07:00

The Hasson Co. Realtors' through their five metro-area offices will collect professional clothing next week, starting Monday, for Dress for Success, a nonprofit organization that provides interview-appropriate attire to low-income women seeking employment.

The Suit Week drive seeks new or gently used suits, skirts, slacks, blouses and jackets. The items should be clean and ready to wear to a professional job interview.

Other than suits, donations of winter coats, umbrellas and accessories like shoes, belts, handbags, scarves, jewelry and unused pantyhose also would be appreciated.

Hasson's Portland office is at 2173 N.E. Broadway. For other locations, go to www.hasson.com.

Donors will receive a tax deduction receipt.

The Vampire Diaries Season 1 Episode 7 S01E07 "Haunted : video

2009-10-30T03:24:00.000-07:00

New Book 'Nine Dragons' Similar to Ani Ashekian's case

2009-10-29T12:38:00.000-07:00

New Book 'Nine Dragons' Similar to Ani Ashekian's case

Michael Connelly's authored new book Nine Dragons is a crime fiction, but now it's becoming more real than ever. The author was promoting the novel last year when he came across a true story that bears eerie similarities to the one he penned: the case of a missing woman named Ani Ashekian.

In an article for CNN, Connelly explains the premise of his made-up story. A detective is working on a murder case in LA when he hears that his daughter has gone missing in Hong Kong. He flies across the globe, determined to find her. According to the website FindAni.com, 31-year-old Ashekian actually disappeared in Hong Kong about a year ago. The details of her story are different, but the premise is the same.

New Book 'Nine Dragons' Similar to Ani Ashekian's case

And as it turns out, Connelly and Ashekian were both in the city just days before she went missing. He was researching for his novel while she was traveling on her own, and no one has seen or heard from her since November 10, 2008.

Career Builder: Scary Bosses for Halloween Characters

2009-10-29T11:34:00.000-07:00

Scary Bosses for Halloween Characters

According to the CareerBuilder’s Halloween survey conducted on more than 4,000 workers, nearly one-in-five (18 percent) workers describe their workplace as scary.

Some workers told that their workplace is scary because their bosses bear a strong resemblance to famous Halloween characters. When asked which popular characters best reflect their boss’s behavior, workers said the following:

* Glenda the Good Witch, liked and respected by all - 20 percent

* The Wolf Man, is fine one minute, howling the next - 11 percent

* The Invisible Man, never around - 10 percent

* Casper the Friendly Ghost, eager to help, but often misunderstood - 9 percent

* Dracula, constantly sucking the life right out of you - 6 percent

* Wicked Witch of the West, always acting conniving and sending out minions to do his/her dirty work - 5 percent

* The Mummy, slow-moving and has an ancient thought process - 4 percent

* Grim Reaper, constantly delivers bad news and inspires fear among workers - 3 percent

* Frankenstein, green with envy - 1 percent

In addition to spooky bosses, when asked what the scariest part of their job was, workers reported the following fear-inducing activities:

* Workload - 18 percent

* Performance reviews - 9 percent

* Tight deadlines - 9 percent

* Hours worked - 8 percent

* Their boss or supervisor - 7 percent

* Sitting through meetings - 6 percent

Princess Diana Death Photos

2009-10-29T11:22:00.000-07:00

The latest version of death photos of Princess Diana presented in a new style. ‘Female Force: Princess Diana’ is the new comic book consisting photos of Princess of Wales Diana as well as other Royal Family members. The book publisher is Bluewater Comics and writer is Chris Arrant.

A legend in her own Diana Frances Spencer, the Princess of Wales who died in an extremely controversial manner at the age of just 36 years and left behind many unfolded stories that may remain mysteries forever now, has encouraged famous author Chris Arrant to adapt her life in his new comic book entitled as Female Force: Princess Diana.

There are a countless illustrated images made available in the book, of the first wife of Wales’ Prince Charles along with the Queen, Prince William, Prince Harry as well as of Camilla Parker and many more. The main focus of the book remains around some unforgettable moments and highly memorable proceedings and events that occurred during the short but lively life of Diana.

The events include the announcement of her engagement to Charles, their wedding in 1981, a prestigious meeting between Dian and the US President Ronald Regan, Diana’s happy moments while at dance with legendary John Travolta, etc. The author hasn’t missed the boyfriend Dodi Al-Fayed and then the series of subsequent unforgettable moments up to the ultimate; the tunnel, the accident and the dead Princess.

Darren Davis of Bluewater considered it appropriate to mention that the book is not all about the small kids’ interests rather contains a lot for the young females in particular as well to learn a lot about Lady Diana. According to Davis, it’s a must read book for everyone as it’s about a person that influenced the world outside Britain too.

Another significant feature about the book is the inclusion of the famous ‘Camillagate’ tapes in shape of reports alongside the illustrations of the Duchess of Cornwall comprising of her ‘x-rated’ considered chat with the heir. Diana Frances Spencer has been honored with the title of ‘modern British icon’ in the Female Force series book. So much in the little book still it costs mere $3.99.

Michael Jackson autopsy photo holder gave Princess’ Diana’s accident pics earlier

2009-10-29T11:08:00.000-07:00

Rumors are circulating that someone has illegally clicked Michael Jackson autopsy photos while his body was at the L.A. Coroner’s Office. The person supposedly holding information about the alleged photos previously also once helped a journalist to track down Princess Diana death scene photos after she died in a horrific car crash.

According to Gerald Posner at the Daily Beast, he received a phone call last week from someone claiming to have knowledge of an illegally obtained Michael Jackson autopsy photo. This is, allegedly, the same person that once helped Posner track down rumored photos from Princess’ Diana’s fatal car accident. Those photos turned out to be real.

As for the alleged Michael Jackson autopsy photos, its not clear whether they exist or not. Posner attempted to track them down, but ran into a wall when the restaurant owner who supposedly has them broke off contact with him.

If such a photo does exist, it would likely garner $1 million or more for publishing rights.

“Smart on Crime: A Career Prosecutor’s Plan to Make Us Safe," by Kamala Harris

2009-10-29T07:22:00.000-07:00

How rehabilitation of prisoners can be done successfully? Can law enforcement agencies better use technology to solve crimes? A new book “Smart on Crime: A Career Prosecutor’s Plan to Make Us Safe," by San Francisco’s District Attorney Kamala Harris — who has been called “the female Barack Obama” — explores new, unconvential ideas on how our society can recorrect our broken criminal justice system. Read an excerpt:

Getting back on track
Responding to violent crimes and supporting victims is the everyday work of a district attorney. Like our colleagues in a wide array of emergency services, we are primed for a twenty-four-hour-a-day, seven-day-a-week response to the threats against our community and the questfor justice for victims. But there is another dimension to the way I have come to view my responsibility that is also important. Twice a year there is an event that I and many others in my office attend after the courts close. As the clock ticks on through the day, we all cross our fingers that the fates spare us an emergency call for at least a few hours. Because if the essential and sometimes grim business of prosecuting offenders and defending the rights of crime victims is what occupies the bulk of our days, this event is a unique chance to hope. It’s evidence that we have found a new way to get tough on the underlying dynamics of a huge category of crime that is bursting the seams of our system.

college board sat scores

2009-10-29T07:02:00.000-07:00

You now can get your October College Board (CollegeBoard) SAT Scores online! Yep, the College Board had released the SAT scores on collegeboard.com this week for October 2009.

Armuchee High School has been declared the 7-AA Region champion in the Governor’s Cup Challenge, which is based on gains in SAT scores. Armuchee also got third position in the state among AA schools for the state championship and had the highest score in AA, according to Floyd County Schools officials.

Armuchee High’s 2009 total score for math and reading was 1588. The school’s average increase for the past three years was 27 points.

“We’re excited to be recognized for something like that,” said Armuchee High Principal J.C. Burris.

He said the school has been putting a lot of attention on preparing students for the Scholastic Aptitude Test with advanced placement classes and online preparation courses. He said many students have been benifitted by the online programs even outside of the classroom.

The Governor’s Cup Challenge calculates average three-year gains made by schools on their most recent SAT in reading and math. Three years’ worth of scores are used to promote ongoing improvement in student performance on the SAT.

Armuchee High will be given a $1,000 grant to continue SAT improvement, a trophy for being named the region champion and a plaque recognizing AHS as the highest scoring school in Class AA.

“We stress to our students the importance of challenging themselves for success in life or a test like the SAT,” told Burris. “Our students have accepted the challenge by taking more demanding courses from advanced placement to our honors prep track.”

Michael Jackson autopsy photos Leaked

2009-10-29T06:10:00.000-07:00

The hot Report of the day that a Michael Jackson autopsy death picture has been leaked. The Michael Jackson autopsy death photo was leaked leaked by a “high ranking police friend” to a Los Angeles Famous restaurant owner who has now stored it in his BlackBerry, is the allegation.
Why a restaurant owner has the purported photo, and who he is, is unclear. Moreover how a “police friend” got access to the photo remains , mystery surrounds all over.
The details are mentioned in a report this week that an online writer received a telephone tip about the photo’s owner. What does the photo show?
First, the claim is the photo was taken professionally, Its not a cellphone pic. “[It's] not a cellphone picture …. [they] quality was far too good.”
Second, the allegation is that photo shows Jackson, shaven head, eyes open, eyebrows tattooed, skin ashen in color, lips flat without makeup, showing a scar on left cheek, makeup removed, lying on his back.
Third, the angle the alleged position of the cameraman is 30 degrees to the left. Beyond the telephone tip, a British tabloid editor says the photo estimated to demand at least a $1 million sale price.

Capt. Paul Watson, The Sea Shepherd

2009-10-29T03:48:00.000-07:00

Knight of the high seas

Sea Shepherd Capt. Paul Watson saving whales and the world.

The Sea Shepard Conservation Society IS a nonprofit conservation organization that focuses on ending the destruction and slaughter of marine wildlife,VERY recently they unveiled a new vessel that will be utilised to combat Japanese whalers in Antarctica.

In December, the new ship—the Ady Gil—will accompany the society’s flagship, Steve Irwin, from Australia to the Southern Ocean Whale Sanctuary, where the ships and volunteers will intervene on illegal whaling.

Capt. Paul Watson, the society’s president and founder, will utilise the new vessel, which have the maximum speed of up to 50 knots, to physically block harpoon ships from illegally slaughtering whales.

“We are very optimistic that with these two ships, and some other surprises, we will shut down whaling in the Antarctic whale sanctuary,” Watson said in a recent statement.

Keni Thomas

2009-10-29T00:50:00.000-07:00

The latest honor to make it to Keni Thomas’s career portfolio was getting to sing the American national anthem, God Bless America, for the fifth time in the last five years at the Yankees Stadium during course of the regular season.

In an eleventh hour announcement, Keni Thomas made his way to the stage. According to sources, the initial plan was to have the Jay-Z and Alicia Keys duo to perform the act. However they were rescheduled to present the national anthem at a later night.

A former US Army Ranger, he served in the military through the 90s.

MOONCALF

2009-10-29T00:35:00.000-07:00

moon·calf (mōōn'kāf', -käf') defined as

A fool.

A freak.

moon⋅calf

(second meaning)

–noun, plural -calves.

a.	a congenitally grossly deformed and mentally defective person.

b.	a foolish person.

c.	a person who spends time idly daydreaming.

Whaling War! Sea Shepherd Captain Shot by Japanese?

2009-10-29T00:11:00.000-07:00

Whale Wars

2009-10-29T00:00:00.000-07:00

Famous Animal Planet TV show Whale Wars

watchers and followers will be ecstatic to hear that the Sea Shepherd crew are not alone now, finally they have another ally accompaning them in their war against commercial whaling on the high seas. This past week, it was announced that New Zealand’s Earthrace crew will be joining the fight, making their combined effort quite the ominous force to be reckoned with.

Lion Food Sweet Deal for Haloween

2009-10-28T12:00:00.000-07:00

Lion Food Sweet Deal for Haloween

Some of the sweet deals at the lionfood grocery store this Halloween week.

Deals will expire Tuesday except those at Aldi, which expire Monday:

A. Buy one package of six cupcakes, get one free at Food Lion and Lowes Foods.

B.Lowes foods is also doubling manufacturers’ coupons up to 99 cents.

C.Brach’s candy is 99 cents at Compare Foods.

D.Party goods including pumpkin lights and Halloween paper are $2 at Harris Teeter, which is also doubling manufacturers’ coupons up to 99 cents.

E.Buy two Hershey’s bags of candy, get one free at Food Lion.

F.12-ounce bags of semi-sweet chocolate baking chips are $1.49 at Aldi.

G.Hershey’s snakc-size candy is $2.99 at Compare Foods.

H.Trick or Treat buckets are 99 cents at Food Lion.

I.A “scary cat” cake is $6.99 at Harris Teeter.

Susannah Feldman To Divorce Corey Feldman

2009-10-28T11:38:00.000-07:00

Susannah Feldman is going to divorce Corey Feldman,as reported by the Associated Press. They’re reporting that divorce has been recently filed by Susannah Feldman for divorce from the former child star, Corey Feldman because of irreconcilable differences.

Their marriage is seven years old,and they have a 5 year old son. Corey’s claim to fame rose mostly in the 80’s when he starred in “The Goonies,” “Stand By Me,” and “The Lost Boys.”

Susannah will be seeking sole custody of their son, with visitation rights for Corey. She’s also looking to get an unknown amount of child support. Corey Feldman’s representative have yet to make a statement on the matter.

Jeanne Merrill and Mike Merrill died

2009-10-28T11:15:00.000-07:00

Death of Jeanne Merrill 42(Booz Allen Hamilton) and Mike Merrill47. Jeanne Merrill and Mike (Michael) Merrill died on Saturday reported the local press today; the couple’s three children, ages 13, 3, and 1 have survived in the accident and been released from a local area hospital.
There was a fatal accident on Saturday at the Fairfax County Parkway in Springfield.

As per the Investigators, a 2005 Toyota Corolla lost control while heading northbound at 5 pm on the Parkway toward Rolling Road. The vehicle collided with the Merrill’s 2004 Honda Pilot heading the same direction. Both vehicles afterwards crossed the median and hit two vehicles heading south, one a Toyota Tacoma.
Police say weather may be the cause. Friends say the Merrills were on back from dinner at Bertucci’s.
Funeral arrangements are yet to be announced.

Larry Johnson Twitter Slur

2009-10-28T10:48:00.000-07:00

Larry Johnson Twitter Slur, its waving throughout the internet.

What does it mean. Larry Johnson Twitter Slur? Whats wrong in his statement which

got him in trouble from the internet, his team as well as the NFL?

Larry Johnson after losing another game to Chiefs lost, he started to criticize and bash his head coach. Below are the Larry Johnson Tweets:

“my father got more creditentials than most of these pro coaches. … google my father!!!!!!!”

“My father played for the coach from “rememeber the titans”. Our coach played golf. My father played for redskins briefley. Our coach. Nuthn”

Those are the exact Tweets from LJ. Then it looked like he had a reply and then LJ started going into his slurs.

“think bout a clever diss then that wit ur [expletive] pic. Christopher street boy. Is what us east coast cats call u.”

Surely he used a homophobic slur and the reference to “Christopher street” is a well-known gay-pride movement in NY.

That’s what Larry Johnson said.

Anthony Toth, simulated old Pan Am 747 cabin, in his garage

2009-10-28T09:20:00.000-07:00

Anthony Toth has spent twenty years $50,000 in creating a simulation of first class cabin of an old Pan Am 747 in his garage.He finds, the first class cabin of an old Pan Am 747 as the very quintessence of luxury. So he has spent the

Anthony got obsessed with Pan Am as a child, when he along with his parents frequently flew to Europe to visit family.For Anthony, Pan Am was the epitome of class and style.

Pan Am was once synonymous with international jet-setting, with upper-deck dining rooms and flight attendants dressed out in crisp blue uniforms, high heels and white gloves. First-class travelers were served out of silver-plated martini pitchers. A parade of linen-covered food carts made its way down the aisle at dinnertime.

Anthony saved things like the cardboard linings on food trays and recorded his trips in his camera and extensive tape recordings of the radio selection on board. "This consumed my world," said Tosh. As an adult, he works for United Airlines, and two years ago bought a home with an oversized garage in which he could build a faithful replica of Pan Am's first-class cabin. The project has taken him, in total, 20 years.

Anthony visited to a spot in Death Valley various times, where airplane carcasses are dumped, but the details of his project are unnervingly precise: The replica isn't open to the public, but if you visit (Tosh hosts executive meetings sometimes, appropriately enough), you'll be offered drink service and given a perfectly-crafted souvenir boarding pass prepared to match those used by the airline in the late '70s and early '80s. He's collected authentic Pan Am swizzle sticks and glasses. The overhead compartments are original Pan Am construction. Hell, he's even saved sealed packages of salted almonds (we have no evidence regarding the taste of 30-year-old almonds, but they're probably not for eating anyway).

The one concession he's made to the modern era? A flat-screen TV instead of the old-school projection Pan Am used. Everything else (save the stewardesses) is either original Pan Am or a custom-made replica. He's thinking to open his obsessive ode to Pan Am as a museum, but he seems perfectly content to just hang out in first class.

US Helicopter Crash in Afghanistan

2009-10-26T10:40:00.000-07:00

Its reported that more than a dozen marines killed in a helicopter crash in Afghanistan. The count of marines killed in the helicopter crash is 14. Beside this on Monday morning, two military helicopters collided in Afghanistan, killing four US soldiers in the accident, according to reports. In the collision of the helicopters, two US soldiers also got injured.

The actual reason behind the collision is not clear, according to the US troops, the crash was being investigated. No further details about the accident was released yet. In Kabul, Colonel Wayne Shanks, a spokesman for the US military said that the soldiers that got injured had been shifted to hospital.

In western Afghanistan, another helicopter crash had taken place. The United States military was busy in an operation against militants while the other helicopter crash occurred.

According to the military officials, in the operation more than a dozen suspected Taliban were killed. According to a statement released by military“The US forces were returning after completing the operation when one of the helicopters went down in the area. The reasons were still unconfirmed,”

Day Light Savings Time 2009

2009-10-26T10:12:00.000-07:00

Day Light Savings Time 2009

Its the time to adjust the clocks for daylight savings time. The first Sunday in November is always the time to "fall back", and gain an extra hour of sleep on Sunday morning. This tradition started as a way to increase the number of hours of daylight so that farmers could successfully harvest their crops in the Fall. However, it has turned into an excuse to get a little more sleep, and hopefully have a some minutes of sunlight left in the day after getting out of work.

Most of the United States start Daylight Saving Time at 2:00 a.m. on the second Sunday in March and reverts to standard time on the first Sunday in November. In the U.S., each time zone switches at a different time.

In the European Union, Summer Time begins and ends at 1:00 a.m. Universal Time (Greenwich Mean Time). It begins the last Sunday in March and ends the last Sunday in October. In the EU, all time zones change at the same moment.

But people in Hawaii and most of Arizona—along with the U.S. territories of Puerto Rico, American Samoa, and the Virgin Islands—will do nothing. Those locales never deviate from standard time within their particular time zones.

Dean cage, innocent jailed for 12years

2009-10-26T09:47:00.000-07:00

Dean Cage once said "if you believe in something, fight for it."

Those hard-earned words rang out hours after the

Dean cage 41-year-old was released from jail more than a year ago after serving more than 12 years for the rape he didn't commit.

Dean cage was convicted in 1996 and sentenced to 40 years in prison for the rape of a 15-year-old girl, who, at the time, identified him as her attacker. But Cage always claimed his innocence and requested for DNA tests to prove it. He said his family had even tried to pay for it themselves.

But all those efforts fell on deaf ears until he wrote to the Innocence Project, which took his case in 2004.

The New York-based Innocence Project specializes in utilising DNA to exonerate the falsely convicted.

"The single greatest cause of wrongful convictions is victim misidentification," told attorney Peter Neufeld, a co-founder of the organization.

Cage, who worked at a Chicago supermarket, said he was home at the time the teenager said she was attacked while walking to school in November 1994.

The teenager gave a composite drawing description to authorities and after it was circulated, police brought Cage in as a suspect. The girl identified him as her attacker. Cage was also accused in the rape of a 29-year-old woman, but acquitted of those charges. Evidence at the time discounted Cage as the attacker, Neufeld said.

Finally after years of legal work and a long sought after DNA test, Cage's conviction was overturned.

The Innocence Project said nationally Cage is now the 217th person exonerated by post-conviction DNA evidence. He is the 29th Illinoisan to be exonerated by DNA evidence. Only Texas, with 31, has more DNA exoneration cases than Illinois.

The conviction was dismissed at the request of the Cook County state's attorney's office.

ge, who said he has no money or material possessions, said he will try to look for work.

dean cage cries innocense

2009-10-26T06:10:00.000-07:00

Dean Cage, had been sentenced to 40 years in prison for an aggravated sexual assault, that he said he didn't commit. Jewel was his alibi. At the time of the attack, she said, he was asleep next to her.

A young girl described Dean Cage as the man who brutally attacked her as she walked to her bus stop on a dark November morning. She was just 15.

Jewel was his alibi. At the time of the attack, she said, he was asleep next to her. The day they'd planned to marry had come and gone with Dean in the Cook County Jail, unable to get him released as they could not afford the bond set at half a million dollars.

On the day of the verdict, family and co-workers packed the courtroom to support a man who'd never been arrested before in his life. Jewel wore her best navy pantsuit and told her older brother:Today, my fiancé is coming home.

Dean Cage was sentenced to prison for 40 years for a crime he said he didn't commit
His fiance, Jewel Mitchell, faced single motherhood and financial insecurity
Dean began writing the Innocence Project for help
"It was almost like he was dead," Jewel says. "That's how bad it hurt."

baby fae

2009-10-26T05:48:00.000-07:00

25 years ago, Stephanie Fae Traphagan, well known as a “Baby Fae” was born on October 14, 1984 and died on November 15, 1984. who became the first infant who received a heart of baboon, this American infant also called , Baby Fae, was suffering from “hypoplactic left heart’s syndrome. She went through xenotransplant procedure and thus became the first infant who received a heart of baboon. The Operation was performed at “Loma Linda University’s Medical Centre” in South California by Leonard L Bailey. The procedure seemed very successful initially but Baby Fae died of a kidney infection 21 days later. The procedure was attracted by a wide range of legal and ethical debate.

This month marks the 25-year anniversary of the first cross-species heart transplant in history. “ Much of what we learned from ‘Baby Fae’s’ operation we were able to apply to the first successful infant-to-infant heart transplant just over a year later in November 1985,” said Dr. Bailey. “’Baby Moses’ is now nearly 24-years-old and doing quite well.”

Since “Baby Fae’s” transplant in 1984, Loma Linda surgeons have done heart transplants on 312 infants under 1-year of age. The medical center’s 500th pediatric heart transplant was performed in July.

Tamarind Margaritas

2009-10-26T04:57:00.001-07:00

It is quite possible to get tired of Margaritas. Mexico's signature cocktail – white or silver tequila, a splash of orange-flavoured triple sec, fresh lime and cool of ice served in a glass rimmed with salt – is a simple and refreshing enjoyable drink. The problem is with the lime juice,as far too many resort bartenders use pre-mixed lime juice.

Freshly squeezed stuff is rare. A far more interesting way to sip tequila is to have the local custom of enjoying a leisurely glass of briefly aged tequila, called Reposado, with alternate sips of ice-cold sangrita (not to be confused with the red wine and fruit-based Spanish drink called sangria) made from tomato juice or mashed tomatoes, fresh orange and lime juices, finely chopped onion, salt and minced chili peppers.

Hankering for a tequila cocktail before dinner during a Mexican adventure last week, and the old standby Margarita, with apologies to the señora, wasn't going to cut it.

The bartender said he had just the thing: "Tamarind."

Tamarind is 3easily available on South Asian and Thai menus in Toronto, but the sour and slightly salty brick red-coloured fruit surrounding large seeds is also very popular in Latin America, especially Mexico. Instead of using lime, the Tamarind Margarita gets its acidic kick from the tamarind, which mellows nicely with a hefty shot of simple syrup and triple sec.

The tequila seems subtler in this cocktail than the traditional Margarita, but it makes its presence known quickly.

You'll need a blender for this cocktail.

INGREDIENTS

Few dashes salt and sweet (not hot) paprika in a saucer

Fresh ice

1 tbsp tamarind paste

1 or 2 oz simple syrup (boil equal parts sugar and water; let cool) to taste

1-1/2 oz white or silver tequila

1/2 oz triple sec

DIRECTIONS

lime slice for garnish – optionally required

Prepare the glass by moistening the rim and dipping into the salt/paprika mixture.

Add all ingredients to a blender, except lime slice, and blend until frothy. Taste for sweetness and adjust.

Pour into prepared glass and garnish with lime. ItMakes one drink.

My Antonio winner Brooke Barlow(photos)

2009-10-26T03:36:00.000-07:00

‘My Antonio’ romantic finale is won by 30-year-old Brooke Barlow.The quest of true love by 37-year-old Antonio Sabàto Jr. through ‘My Antonio’ is over and a Jackson (MS) nurse Brooke Barlow is bieng crowned as the winner of VH1 reality series. New Yorker Miranda Reinfeldt was her last competetor.

The American actor and male model Antonio Sabàto, Jr. clicked the idea of hosting his own reality show for VH1 very recently in August 2009 and offered a dating opportunity for all by launching ‘My Antonio.’ The show gained popularity right from the start and alongside other female contestants, Alicia Tully Jensen (Antonio’s ex-wife) also got interested to participate in the show. Alicia and Antonio had a very short-term marriage before it was all over (May 1992 to October 1993).

The theme of the show ‘My Antonio’ is very much self-explanatory as the Calvin Klein Italian model Antonio Sabato, announced it the quest of true love and his efforts proved worth when finally he got what he wanted. The name of his choice is Brooke Barlow , a thirty-year-old is a nurse by profession that hails from Jackson.

Initially there were 14 women in the competition including Alicia Tully Jensen. One after another, the dropouts continued and finally it was left to three contestants, Alicia Tully, Miranda Reinfeldt, a New York makeup artist and Brooke Barlow. Alicia ended up third while by ousting Miranda, the Jackson beauty won ‘My Antonio’s season 1 in Hawaii.

Antonio’s mother Yvonne extended her full cooperation to help her son decide the winner and although Miranda and Brooke had long competed to win Antonio’s heart, Brooke was considered worthy among the two. Her chances of winning, however, were a bit predictable towards closing moments. The winner hasn’t seen her ‘new-found-love’ for over three months since the finale.

Brooke Hundley myspace Pictures

2009-10-26T03:20:00.000-07:00

Brooke Hundley myspace Pictures

Brooke Hundley had written a letter to her lover's wife bragging about nailing him, stalk his teenage son on Facebook, and crash her car into his house.

Steve Phillips is fired from ESPN.

Beneath that awkward smile lies psycho Brooke Hundley.

Steve Phillips Fired By ESPN

2009-10-26T03:09:00.000-07:00

Steve Phillips Fired By ESPN

Ultimately Steve is being outed for having an affair with a younger co-worker,shown in above picture.

Baseball Tonight analyst and former-Met GM Steve Phillips has been fired by ESPN.

Of course, the announcement came late on Sunday night and the front page of ESPN.com announced the dismissal in very understated tones.

"Steve Phillips is no longer working for ESPN," network spokesman Josh Krulewitz said in a statement. "His ability to be an effective representative for ESPN has been significantly and irreparably damaged, and it became evident it was time to part ways."

Funny: The Jeff Dunham Show

2009-10-26T02:52:00.000-07:00

Jeff Dunham is a comic during Christmas 2008 special, Comedy Central witnessed a record audience of 6.6 million viewers!

Tonight again Comedy Central will enjoy the comic, Dunham with his own variety show which is an extension of his stand-up act. The Jeff Dunham Show premieres tonight at 9 p.m. eastern/8 p.m. central.

The Jeff Dunham Show stars Dunham and his puppet characters performing live before a studio audience as well as interact on location with people in and around Los Angeles.

Jeff Dunham is very popular with fans and he is one of the hottest stand-up comedians in America. But Dunham is generally criticised because his act is NOT politically correct. One critic calls Dunham’s new show “laugh free comedy” and he’s not alone. One of the most popular puppets in the act isAchmed the Dead Terrorist. Achmed is an animated skeleton that likes to shout, “Silence! I kill you!” at the audience.

Dunham says Achmed the Dead Terrorist’s clips are very popular with fans and that one of the clips onYouTube is right at 100 million views. Love him or hate him, Jeff Dunham is very popular with many fans, so it will be very interesting to see how his show is received.

Halloween on Ice

2009-10-26T02:44:00.000-07:00

The cooler Halloween!

The Hallmark Channel will celeberate Halloween with a new fantasy through Halloween on Ice. This icy Halloween show will air Friday at 8 p.m. on Hallmark. October 30th, a musical on the Hallmark Channel. On this musical participants are great skaters like Olympic medalists Nancy Kerrigan, Todd Elderedge and Elvis Stojko. The music will be played by the musical legend Chip Davis with his band. Don't miss this special, it will be a fresh way of celebrating Halloween.

Salt and Light in Extreme Makeover Edition (video)

2009-10-26T01:48:00.000-07:00

Salt and Light received a much needed makeover from Extreme makeover Home Edition. Salt and Light Ministry is 6 years old and since its origin its first renovation. Salt and Light is based in Champaign, Illinois.

Extreme Makeover Home Edition donated Salt and Light new lights, a coat of paint, new freezers, refurbishing the Ministry’s office, lobby and multi-purpose room.

Extreme Makeover not only did the physical structures but also increased the outreach of the Salt and Light Ministry. The donations for the projects have been boosted. Salt and Light used to distribute food weekly to 240 families. After the publicity from Extreme Makeover, Salt and Light can able to get more food supplies and they can now increase their distribution food to 330 families, which is an increment of 90 families. This number is still increasing from time to time.

If you are able to volunteer, donate or need their help, please visit their website here. There is an awesome video on their food, clothing and other donations storerooms. The needy can collect their desired items.

A special thank you goes out to Salt and Light and Extreme Makeover Home Edition, for helping our people in Champaign, Illinois.

Salt & Light
1512 W. Anthony Drive
Champaign, IL 61821
Phone Number: 217-355-5654
Fax Number: 217-355-

George Steinbrenner attending Series opener

2009-10-25T23:57:00.000-07:00

As told by Hal Steinbrenner last nigh, Steinbrenner will "absolutely" be present at Yankee Stadium for Game 1 of the World Series on Wednesday night.

Hal was saying"I think all these players are doing this for him," . "We want to win this whole thing for him. I think we feel like he's here being a big part of it."

George Steinbrenner, 79years old, has not been in good health in recent years and has not attended a game in the Bronx since the home opener in April.

"I can tell you he'll be excited to be here Wednesday night," Hal confirmed. "That's for sure. It means a lot to him. It's been a lot of years. A lot of years. It's been six, and [Joe] Girardi has done a great job and we're all proud. The whole organization is proud of this team."

George Steinbrenner officially handed over the control of the Yankees to Hal last November.

Tarek Mehanna

2009-10-21T11:17:00.000-07:00

man planned terror attacks on malls

BOSTON (AP) - A 27-year-old Massachusetts man namely Tarek Mehanna has been charged with conspiring with others to carry out terror attacks against shoppers in U.S. malls and against U.S. military in Iraq. Authorities in Boston say Tarek Mehanna of Sudbury sought training in terrorist training camps and worked with others from 2001 to May 2008 on the conspiracy "kill, kidnap, maim or injure" people in foreign countries and to kill prominent U.S. politicians.

If convicted on the material support charge, Mehanna faces up to 15 years in prison, to be followed by three years of supervised release and a $250,000 fine. The earlier charge carries a penalty of up to eight years in prison.

Jerome Rodale death video

2009-10-21T10:50:00.000-07:00

Jerome Rodale death video -- elusive

Jerome Rodale longevity guru who was 72 years old died. But his death was one of the amazing deaths in history. Jerome Irving Rodale died while he was a guest on a talk show,in front of camera about three decades ago.

After saying that he would "live to 100, unless I’m run down by a a sugar-crazy taxi driver", Rodale died of a heart attack while being interviewed on the Dick Cavett Show in 1971. Thinking he is fast asleep, Dick Cavett joked "Are we boring you, Mr. Rodale?" before discovering that his 72-year-old guest had indeed died. The show was never aired.

Jerome Rodale was founder of Prevention magazine and a pioneering figure in the organic food movement.

Steve Phillips admits affair with Brooke Hundley

2009-10-21T10:25:00.000-07:00

Steve Phillips admits affair with Brooke Hundley

ESPN baseball analyst Steve Phillips have admitted of having affair with an assistant at the cable network who taunted his wife with phone calls and a letter graphically describing their relationship, as per the reports of New York Post Wednesday.

After 22-year-old production assistant Brooke Hundley was dropped by Phillips,in anguish she made repeated phone calls to his wife, Marni, saying “We both can’t have him,” the newspaper reported, citing a Wilton, Conn., police report.

“I have extreme concerns about the health and safety of my kids and myself,” Phillips said in a statement to police.

ESPN spokesman Josh Krulewitz told: “We were aware of this and have already taken appropriate action. We have no further comment.”

The 46-year-old Phillips is a former general manager of the New York Mets. Previously also Phillips admitted having sex with a team employee, who sued for sexual harassment. That case was settled out of court.

In this latest incident, according to the cited police report, Phillips told police and his wife about the affair, which he said occurred this past summer. The newspaper also reported that Marni Phillips told police she had received “harassing phone calls and text messages” from a woman who claimed to have information about her husband.

Phillips is being sued for divorce by his wife, the mother of their four sons, the Post reported.

PATH train accident,13 injured

2009-10-21T10:11:00.000-07:00

PATH train accident,13 injured

A PATH train while entering the 33rd Street station struck the end-of-the-line bumping block barricade Wednesday morning, 13 passengers were injured and seven sent to hospitals, fire and officials said.

All the injuries were minor, a Port Authority spokesman said. The passengers who needed medical attention complained of neck and back pain, officials said. Five were taken to Bellevue Hospital Center, while two were admitted to St. Vincent's Hospital Manhattan.

The Hoboken, N.J., train to 33rd, which left at 7:59 a.m., crashed about 8:14 a.m., according to an FDNY spokesman.

A Port Authority spokeswoman said service was not suspended. The so-called "bumping block" is a barrier marking the end of a rail line.

PATH officials could not immediately say how fast the train was traveling. It is unclear if the train was damaged.

Officials said the cause of the crash is under investigation.

About 600 passengers were aboard the train.

Sixty firefighters and 30 EMTs responded to the scene. West 33rd Street between Sixth and Seventh avenues was closed while emergency workers responded.

BROOKE HUNDLEY pictures

2009-10-21T09:00:00.000-07:00

Letter written by BROOKE HUNDLEY to Phillips' wife Marni, a letter describing their relationship — and a birthmark Phillips has on his crotch — after Phillips ended their relationship.

BROOKE HUNDLEY STEVE PHILIPS pictures

Steve Phillips in the center of the latest media sex scandal!

ESPN analyst and former New York Mets General Manager Steve Phillips is on the verge of divorce because of an affair with 22-year-old production assistant Brooke Hundley, who sent Phillips' wife Marni a letter describing their relationship — and a birthmark Phillips has on his crotch, right above his penis — after Phillips ended their relationship.

The Post story is full of scandalous details: Hundley crashed her car into Phillips' home after dropping off the letter; she may have impersonated a 16-year-old to chat with Phillips' son online;
Marni Phillips has since filed for divorce.
The Post also reports that ESPN has suspended Phillips for one week over the scandal.

San Diego I-5 jammed by 8 1/2-hour jumpingn drama

2009-10-20T12:11:00.000-07:00

San Diego I-5 jammed by 8 1/2-hour jumpingn drama

SAN DIEGO — A woman who was planning a jumping from a San Diego bridge has surrendered, after 8 1/2 hours excercise done by police negotiators thus closed a major downtown freeway and caused traffic to back up for miles.
Police say negotiators were sent to talk to the 47-year-old woman on a bridge over Interstate 5 shortly after 1:40 a.m. Tuesday.
Highway Patrol Officer Ray Scheidnes (SHIGHD'-ness) told that the woman climbed on top of a chain-link cage covering the sides of the bridge. He says she considered jumping and remained there, some 60 feet above the freeway, until finally coming down and surrendering to police around 10 a.m.
All southbound lanes and all but two northbound lanes were closed during the negotiations. Scheidnes says tens of thousands of cars were affected.

Man gets death penalty for killing wife and son

2009-10-20T11:48:00.000-07:00

Man gets death penalty for killing wife, son

A St. Tammany Parish jury has sentenced James Magee to death for the 2007 killings of his estranged wife and 5-year-old son.

Magee shook and collapsed then put his face in his hands on Monday when the verdict was read.

The same jury Saturday convicted the 32-year-old Magee of first-degree murder the shooting deaths of his 28-year-old wife, Adrienne, and their 5-year-old son, Zach, on April 18, 2007, in the Tall Timbers subdivision north of Mandeville.

He also was convicted of attempting to kill their other children, daughters Ashleigh, then 8, and Aleisha, then 7.

Assistant District Attorney Scott Gardner, who spearheaded the prosecution, said the verdict "gives voice to the victims."

Adam Jasinski 'Big Brother' winner caught as a drug dealer

2009-10-20T11:33:00.001-07:00

'Big Brother' winner caught as a drug dealer Adam Jasinski

$500,000 prize winner, Former 'Big Brother' contestant and winner Adam Jasinski was arrested on Saturday in Massachusetts by the Drug Enforcement Agency for possession of prescription painkillers with the intent to distribute. Jasinski was caught with 2,000 oxycodone pills in his possession and is suspected of running a drug dealing business.

Jasinski's Drug dealing was busted with the aid of a government witness who was wearing a wire. Jasinski was trying to sell the pills to the witness when he was arrested. He is being jailed without bond until a hearing on Thursday. Police suspects that Jasinski has been using his $500,000 for funding his druge dealing business. Jasinski was a special education prior to being on 'Big Brother,' but was fired after he won because of his tendency to call his students "retarded" on the live feeds of 'Big Brother' and then saying it was ok because he worked with them.

As of now, Jasinski faces 20 years in prison and a $1,000,000 fine.

vic mizzy

2009-10-20T04:51:00.000-07:00

Brooklyn-born sitcom songwriter Vic Mizzy dead at 93

Brooklyn-born songwriter Vic Mizzy, who had a series of No. 1 pop hits and writed the memorable theme songs for the 1960s sitcoms "Green Acres" and "The Addams Family," died Saturday at 93.

Vic Mizzy's popular hits included "Pretty Kitty Blue Eyes" and "The Whole World Is Singing My Song," as well as novelty hits like "With a Hey and a Hi and a Ho-Ho-Ho."

Mizzy said he didn't mind if people remember him only for the finger snaps at the start of the "The Addams Family" theme song, as the statement given by his publicist, he said, "Two snaps got me a mansion in Bel Air."

modern era's first mass shooter, URUH died

2009-10-20T04:30:00.000-07:00

Howard Unruh died on Monday -- 60 years after the phsycic gunman killed 13 Camden residents and shocked a nation with the modern era's first mass shooting.

"He didn't deserve living that long.""I'm glad," said James Hamilton, 64, of Bellmawr whose 2-year-old brother, Tommy, was among those slain as Unruh targeted perceived enemies and random targets during a "Walk of Death" in a Cramer Hill neighborhood.

Unruh, 88, died at 3:35 p.m. at a Trenton nursing facility after a long illness, said Camden County Prosecutor Warren Faulk. Diagnosed as a paranoid schizophrenic, Unruh had been held in a state psychiatric hospital since the massacre.

Unruh was a 28-year-old loner and jobless veteran when he launched a Sunday-morning shooting spree near River Road and North 32nd Street on Sept. 6, 1949.

within 10 to 20 minutes, he killed five men, five women and three children.

"I would have killed a thousand, if I'd had bullets enough" Unruh told authorities later.

Unruh also wounded three people and shot at 13 others, before returning to his home. The gunman, who'd been shot in the hip by a neighbor, surrendered to police after a brief exchange of gunfire and a barrage of tear gas.

Unruh later was judged mentally competent but never tried for the slayings.

Unruh, who lived with his mother in an apartment in the 3200 block of River Road, kept a six-page list of grudges against his neighbors. He was angry at alleged slights and tormented by homosexual feelings, authorities said.

The shootings followed a dispute over a backyard gate with three of his victims -- Maurice Cohen, 42; his wife, Rose, 38; and Maurice' mother, Minnie, 67. All three were killed at the family's drugstore near Unruh's home, while the couple's 6-year-old son, Charles, hid in a closet in an upstairs apartment.

jasper howard girlfriend

2009-10-20T03:10:00.000-07:00

Campus comes togrther

News still pouring in about the passing of UConn Huskies cornerback Jasper Howard as head coach Randy Edsall stated that Howard was about to become a father. His girlfriend from Miami was pregnant with their first child

leah ignagni pictures

2009-10-20T02:58:00.000-07:00

Nashville police mentioned Ignagni in the case summary, released on Monday, Oct. 19, 2009, regarding the murder of NFL star McNair, who they believe was killed by his lover Sahel Kazemi, who then turned the gun on and killed herself.

The Police report states that on the basis of police interviews with Ignagni and Kazemi's former roommate, Emily Andrews, Kazemi was aware that McNair was involved with another woman.

Ignagni also told police that a car similar that of Kazemi's black Escalade followed her home and that a woman was inside.

Leah Ignagni photos:Here are pictures of Leah Ignagni of Nashville who claimed that she was dating Steve McNair, a second girlfriend,at the same time McNair was dating Sahel Kazemi. Leah Ignagni’s myspace and facebook profile picture use to be face pictures, are not exhibited now. She had a LinkedIn profile that lists her as the senior editor of a start-up magazine called 61Five. That LikedIn profile is now removed. And her Twitter account is private.

vito and nicks pizza

2009-10-19T21:56:00.000-07:00

Th specialist of Pizza eNick Barraco from Vito & Nick’s II® has been serving Chicago delicious “Cracker Thin” crust pizza for generations!
Try “The Best Pizza Anywhere” at any of our Chicago and Nationwide restaurant locations…

Today, as our ever-growing world enters the 21st Century, Vito & Nick II® will connect your kitchen with theirs, so that you can taste the best pizzeria pizza in the world … Wherever you call home!with a new variety of Pizza.

Giving Vito & Nick’s II® frozen pizza as a gift? A free gift card with your order is also avalable on Email request! Or goto the Special Order Page and fill out the instant mail form!

Dante Wesley Hit On Clifton Smith

2009-10-19T12:38:00.000-07:00

Dante Wesley Hit On Clifton Smith:Carolina’s Dante Wesley delivered a devastating hit on Tampa Bay’s Clifton Smith Sunday, resulting in the Panthers safety and special teams standout being ejected from the game.
The hit took place late in the second quarter as Wesley delivered the crushing blow as Smith was awaiting a punt. The Bucs returner was knocked unconscious for nearly a minute and never returned back to the game after the hit.
A video replay shows Wesley driving his shoulder and elbow into Smith’s head.
“I was just trying to make a play,” Wesley told reporters after the Panthers escaped with a 28-21 win. “You can check my record. …. I’ve never really tried to hurt anybody. I’ve never tried to take a cheap shot on anybody.

lord monckton speech video

2009-10-19T11:44:00.000-07:00

daddy s little girls

2009-10-18T23:47:00.000-07:00

An Education is the story of Jenny, played by Carey Mulligan, as she changes from a girl of 16 into a woman of 17. A chance meeting with David, played by Peter Sarsgaard, speeds up that change and entangles Jenny in a love affair she may not be ready for. Seducing her parents as successfully as he seduces her, David pulls Jenny away from her schoolbooks into a grown up world.

“The crew started treating me like a 12 year-old,” says An Education star Carey Mulligan, who as a 22-year-old had to return to wearing a school uniform and filming in a classroom. “I felt horrid in the school uniform. During a scene in the classroom, I started to think ‘God, this is SO boring!’ I realized just in time that I’d fallen back into schoolgirl mode and I needed to snap out of it. When you’re younger, you don’t realize that you can hurt people by what you say.”

$16 billion unclaimed bonds date to World War II

2009-10-18T23:21:00.000-07:00

— The US federal government is facing a lawsuit over billions in unclaimed bonds that were collected as patriotic fundraising efforts of World War II, leading to a showdown between states who say states should be given the money and a Treasury Department that claims ownership.

World War II sparked an unprecedented bond buying campaign, spurred on by one of the largest advertising campaigns ever seen — a drive wrapped in dutiful pleas from celebrities, politicians and cartoon characters alike.

Most American families bought at least one bond at the time and many never cashed them in — thanks in part to a 40-year maturity in the bonds. And those same "Series E" war bonds continued to be sold by the federal government until 1980.
More than $16 billion worth of the bonds are unclaimed, either lost or forgotten about with the death of the original purchasers.

The state attorneys general suing the Treasury Department charge that the federal government made no effort to find those people. They want the money given to the states, who have a legal system in place for finding the owners of unclaimed funds.
"It's better for the millions of American who are the rightful owners to have it returned to the states, because the states will make a real effort to find them," said David Bishop, a partner at Kirby McInerney who is representing the states in the suit. "And if after searching for them they can't find them, the money can go to work in the communities where the bonds were purchased."

The Treasury Department counters that it indeed tries to find owners of the unclaimed bonds, and says it has a Web site where people cam simply type in their Social Security number to see if they have one. And it points out that the money is not just laying around somewhere.

Clifton S Cafeteria

2009-10-18T23:06:00.000-07:00

Clinton family had ultimately decided to sell-off the building that has housed Clifton's Cafeteria, known as Clifton's Brookdale due to its whimsical forest themed decor, since 1935. Although few people admit to finding the food offered at the last of the Clifton's Cafeterias a gastronomic revelation, the news brought the immediate fear that this would bring about the end altogether of a decades-long institution in Los Angeles.
While the Clinton family hopes to just unload the property but continue to operate the cafeteria (they actually only bought the building at 648 S Broadway in Downtown outright in 2006) now seems like a fitting time to fill in the gaps of local history when it comes to the Clintons and their Clifton's Cafeterias...and maybe, if you're hungry, prompt a trip with a tray down the lanes of the eatery--the last of a dying breed.