News Around The World

Ai se eu te pego se baila a ritmo de inglés

2012-01-20T11:08:00.000-08:00

Ai se eu te pego no para de sonar. Luego del éxito rotundo que tuvo la canción interpretada por el brasileño Michel Teló y luego de ubicarse en el número uno de los top musicales del mundo, el cantautor sigue gozando de fama con la versión en inglés del pegajoso tema.

Ahora la letra de la canción toma un nuevo giro. Con el propósito de entrar al mercado musical anglosajón y luego de barrer en Latinoamérica y en algunos países de Europa, especialmente en España, Ai se eu te pego, invadirá con su sabor el exigente mercado anglo.

Ya el popular tema de Teló pasará a llamarse If I Catch You con la nueva versión, que además viene recargada con un video más veraniego que invita a la diversión cerca al mar.

Exitosa ha sido la canción del brasileño, tanto que recibió una ayudita indispensable, para que escalara las principales lista de música, de parte de Cristiano Ronaldo y Marcelo, ambos jugadores del Real Madrid, que hicieron popular el baile y por ende el tema en su idioma original, el portugués.

Así mismo, Neymar, la estrella naciente del fútbol brasileño, integrante del Santos de Brasil, popularizó en las redes sociales la canción de Teló que ahora tendrá que sortear el duro mercado inglés.

DEJAR DE FUMAR CON PNL (PROGRAMACIÓN NEURO LINGUISTICA)

2011-12-24T07:37:00.000-08:00

Losmillones de muertos por causa del tabaquismo superan todas las cifras demuertes por guerras, catástrofes, tráfico, terrorismo, sida y otras drogas,siendo considerado por los médicos el enemigo público nº 1. Sin embargo, al seruna droga legal, la gente no le da importancia y se transforma en hábito, conlo cual deja de luchar contra ella y la acepta como algo normal.

Pero, como diría Maslow, el hecho de quehaya mucha gente que lo haga no significa que eso sea lo normal, sino que muchagente lo está haciendo mal. El hecho de que una droga sea legal no implica quesea lícita, porque el ser humano sólo tiene derecho legítimo a aquello queconquista por su esfuerzo.

LaPNL, como ya se conoce, es una disciplina que ayuda a cambiar la experienciasubjetiva de la persona, su interpretación de la realidad y su mapa del mundo,el cual está configurado por nuestra programación, tanto de procedenciafamiliar como social, ante cuyos estímulos externos no todo el mundo esconsciente de los recursos internos de que dispone para no dejarse manipularpor el entorno.

Nuestraprogramación viene dada por las palabras que configuran nuestras experiencias.Así, los que se denominan fumadores, tienen etiquetado el tabaco como placer,mientras que los no fumadores lo tienen etiquetado como veneno, vicio,adicción, droga dura, enfermedad, muerte, etc. Nuestras etiquetas songratuitas, por lo que se trata tan solo de ser consciente de cómo tenemosetiquetados los estímulos a los que diariamente nos enfrentamos en nuestravida. Si las etiquetas son positivas, nuestra reacción también lo será, y locontrario si no lo son. La buena noticia es que a nuestro cerebro le da iguallas etiquetas que le hayamos programado, simplemente obedece órdenes, lascuales mediante la continua repetición, se convertirán en hábitos. Del mismomodo aprendimos a hablar, a andar, y a comportarnos de formas determinadas endistintos contextos.

Preguntemosa las personas adictas a la nicotina: fumas, ¿en lugar de qué? ¿qué cosas estássustituyendo con el tabaco? ¿qué recursos necesitarías tener para no necesitarrecurrir a tu autodestrucción? Muchas no podrían responder, porque alconvertirse en un hábito, la persona deja de ser consciente de lo que hace, yel automatismo le impele a ejercitar las mismas acciones una y otra vez, por loque la persona se convierte en víctima de sí misma, sujeta a un incontroladoautosabotaje.

Segúnmuchos expertos, para dejar de fumar, lo primero es querer dejar de fumar, aunqueen mi experiencia profesional han dejado de fumar personas que no habíanpensado dejarlo a priori, y que en el transcurso de una intervenciónprofesional por temas diferentes, se han dado cuenta de cómo se estabanperjudicando y de que aquel hábito que adquirieron en su juventud ya no les eranecesario en su etapa adulta porque la razón primigenia había desaparecidohacía mucho tiempo.

Larazón siempre suele darse ante una falta de personalidad y autoestima, propiasde jóvenes iniciando su periodo de socialización: pertenecer a un grupo,parecer “mayor” (copia de los adultos), tener algo en las manos para distraersu inseguridad, creer que fumar les da una apariencia de la que carecen, pensarque les relaja (lo cual es totalmente falso), y así un largo etcétera queresumiríamos bajo la nefasta norma social heredada de “ser como los demás”.

Sila razón por la que se empezó a fumar ha desaparecido, ¿por qué continúa elmismo comportamiento? Porque los hábitos funcionan así, se convierten enanclajes y actúan por sí solos, como andar, respirar, u otras actividades queal no tener que pensar al hacerlas nos ahorran energía consciente para atenderotras cosas al mismo tiempo. Solo que en este caso, el hábito es altamente destructivo.

Propongamospues a los adictos a la nicotina, unas sencillas técnicas, tareas para “andarpor casa”, de modo que aprendan lo rápidamente que su cerebro responde a lasinstrucciones que recibe.

1º) Dejar de autodefinirse como“soy fumador/a”, y en lugar de ello decir que “suelo fumar cuando me apetece”.La forma de etiquetarnos con el uso del verbo “ser” afecta directamente anuestro nivel de Identidad, uno de los más elevados entre nuestros nivelesneurológicos. Hay que tener un cuidado exquisito al usar ese verbo en primerapersona y poner solamente detrás adjetivos calificativos positivos yestimulantes. Eso formará parte de nuestra nueva programación. Ejemplo: soyperfecto, soy maravilloso, soy único e irrepetible, soy una gran persona, soyhijo de Dios, soy un ser consciente, y repetirlo constantemente a partir deahora. Lo único que un fumador no podránunca decir es “soy libre”. Es el másgrande de los placeres que el tabaco le impide saborear.

2ª) Desenmascarar alautosaboteador. Pensar y repetir lo anterior, tomando conciencia de losiguiente: “soy maravilloso y un ser humano diferente, aunque hay una parte demi que fuma… de momento.” “Soy único yfantástico, y a ese “yo” que fuma le queda poco tiempo de seguir esclavizándome”.¡La imaginación al poder! Y si lo que haces no funciona, haz cualquier otracosa (premisa básica de la PNL). Te aconsejo que elijas las frases máspoderosas y positivas que se te ocurran, ya que el cerebro reacciona mejor antelo nuevo y llamativo. Igualmente escríbelas en lugares visibles para ti(habitación, espejo, coche, agenda, pantalla ordenador, móvil, etc.)

3ª) Al asumir tu auténticaidentidad (nadie nace fumando), y empezar a tomar conciencia de que tú nonecesitas fumar ni someter tu libertad a nada externo a ti mismo, mientras repiteslas frases anteriores, respira “como si” estuvieses fumando, es decir, te dasmentalmente las nuevas instrucciones y tomas varias respiraciones muyprofundas, como saboreando el nuevo placer de empezar a reconectar con tuverdadero “yo”, que irá desplazando a ese falso “ego” social-externo que noeres tú mismo.

4º) Cuando lo hayas hecho durantevarios días, para convertirlo en un nuevo hábito, tómate unos minutos, siempreque no estés conduciendo, ni en actividad de riesgo, para crearte una imagen mentalacorde con tus nuevas afirmaciones de identidad. Ha de ser una imagen quecuando la proyectes mentalmente, esté situada enfrente de ti o a la derecha(izquierda si eres zurdo), en un plano algo más elevado que tu visión normal.Intenta hacerlo con los ojos cerrados al principio, para crearla con tododetalle.

Estaimagen no es dejando de fumar o pisando un cigarrillo… No, esta imagen es la detu ser interior, quien eres tu en realidad, la persona perfecta y maravillosaque nació sin ningún vicio ni adicción, una persona llena de recursos, fuerte,valiente, decidida, segura, sana y feliz, que ha sabido sobrevivir hasta ahora,a pesar de la educastración recibida y del entorno, que está haciendo ya lomejor que sabe, y que no necesita fumar porque se quiere y se respeta. Piensaque todos esos recursos nacieron contigo, los hayas o no desarrollado, porqueforman parte intrínseca del ser humano, aunque no te lo hayan enseñado así o nolo hayas podido comprobar todavía, pero tu espíritu sí que lo reconocerá.

Enesa imagen tienes que estar tú solo, de momento, de cuerpo entero, sonriente,alegre feliz y sano, y has de crear una imagen con mucho brillo, con coloresfantásticos, los que más te gusten, nítida, clara, estando tú como figuracentral. Puedes ponerle un entorno atractivo y un bonito marco, todo ello muyluminoso. Ha de ser la imagen de tu “yo” interior soñado, esa persona que sabesque debes llegar a ser. Verás como te sale fácilmente.

Puedesañadirle una música que te motive o unos sonidos que te gusten mucho. Al mismotiempo, elige una palabra que signifique para ti tu “yo puedo” , “yo soy yo”, “yo valgo”, “yo merezco”, “soy diferente”, “adelante”, o algo que entus etiquetas sabes que funciona para estimularte positivamente. Procura quesea una palabra corta y contundente, muy motivadora.

5º) Ya tenemos todos loselementos listos para pasar a la acción y empezar a dar órdenes nuevas a tucerebro, para crear otro nuevo hábito, el cual poco a poco, irá sustituyendo alanterior. Falta añadir la guinda: tu creencia de que va a funcionar, tucreencia en el poder de la mente, que es el mismo que te ha mantenido vivoinconscientemente hasta ahora: tu mente biológica. Vamos pues a hablar con ellaen su propio lenguaje: el analógico.

6º) Cierra los ojos, y recuerdacómo haces para iniciar el gesto de fumar. ¡Cuidado! No quiero que te “veas”fumando, sino lo primero que haces: buscar los cigarrillos, abrir el paquete,encender una cerilla… Detén esa imagen como una foto fija, tal como se da en larealidad, para que puedas darte cuenta de todos los detalles que ocurren justoantes de que tu mano logre llevar el cigarrillo a tus labios. Para ahí ycongela esa imagen.

Yahora, sobre esa imagen mental, clara y “real” de la parte que fuma, al iniciodel proceso, haz que la otra imagen seductora y motivadora que has creado, esaimagen fantástica de tu “yo” auténtico, aparezca delante, entre tú y la otraimagen, ocupando toda tu pantalla mental, mientras dices en voz alta la palabraelegida y respiras profundamente, todo a la vez. Haz ese proceso lo más rápidoque puedas, cada vez más rápido, pero siempre iniciando el proceso de la mismaforma: sobre la imagen del proceso deempezar a fumar, colocarás la imagen tuya motivadora que ocupará toda tupantalla mental, mientras dices tu palabra mágica y respiras muy profundamente.

Laimagen motivadora se quedará fija en tu mente, y verás cómo la otra imagen cadavez se va volviendo más pequeña y oscura hasta desaparecer. Recuerda: elproceso siempre ha de hacerse en ese mismo orden y nunca al revés.

Todolo aprendemos por repetición. La primera vez a nadie le gusta fumar, sólo quesu “razón” para hacerlo le incita a repetirlo hasta que se acostumbra. Lo mismocon ciertos sabores, comidas, actitudes, etc. Luego sabemos cómo hacemos paraaprender. Ahora estás usando ese mismo proceso para aprender otro hábito, peroéste no es destructivo sino saludable y beneficioso para tu salud y la de losdemás. Es el primer paso para recuperar tu libertad, el don más preciado delser humano: tu libre albedrío.

Repiteel proceso muchas veces, hasta que se convierta en algo automático que puedashacer con los ojos abiertos, es decir, se habrá convertido en un pensamiento,que por repetición se hará cada vez más fácil y automático, hasta pasar a tusistema de creencias, y ese es el proceso de la mente humana:pensamiento-palabra-acción. Si quieres,puedes. No hay nada ni nadie que te lo pueda impedir.

“Vigilatus Pensamientos; se convierten entus Palabras.

Vigila tusPalabras; se convierten en tus Acciones.

Vigila tusAcciones; se convierten en tus Hábitos.

Vigila tusHábitos; se convierten en tu Carácter.

Vigila tu Carácter;se convierte en tu Destino”.

Inma Capo - Directora

IINLP – www.instituto-pnl.com

info@instituto-pnl.com

Papa Noel existe y Google Earth lo demuestra

2011-12-21T11:42:00.000-08:00

Si alguna vez alguien ha dudado de tu palabra y no cree que Papa Noel existe, ha llegado el momento en que le demuestres lo contrario, pero esta vez con pruebas científicas…

Google, una vez más ha demostrado que cuando desea lograr algo, por más imposible que parezca lo hace, y esta vez gracias a su programa Google Earth se ha propuesto demostrar que Papa Noel existe…

Gracias a Google Earth, podrás seguir a nuestro amigo desde el 24 de Diciembre y en pseudo-tiempo real, solo debes entrar al sitio oficial de Santa operado por Google y el Comando de Defensa Aéreo Norteamericano (NORAD)

Para los más fanáticos, Papa Noel estará además comunicando sus quehaceres a través de Twitter en @noradsanta.

¿Qué te parece?

¿Y de que se trata todo eso de Papa Noel?

2011-12-21T11:40:00.000-08:00

Papá Noel, Santa Claus, San Nicolás, son algunos nombres del personaje legendario que según la cultura occidental trae regalos a los niños por Navidad. El personaje se inspira en un obispo cristiano llamado Nicolás. Era una de las personas más veneradas por los cristianos de la Edad Media, del que aún hoy se conservan sus reliquias en la basílica de San Nicolás, Bari, Italia.

La leyenda de Nicolás de Bari

Su relación con los niños nace en una de las historias que indica que alguien acuchilló a varios niños, entonces el santo rezó por ellos y obtuvo su curación casi inmediata.

La fama de repartidor de obsequios la gano cuando un empobrecido hombre padre de tres hijas, no podía casarlas por no tener dinero para pagar la dote necesaria, al carecer las muchachas de la dote parecían condenadas a prostituirse.
Enterado de esto, Nicolás le entregó, al obtener la edad de casarse, una bolsa llena de monedas de oro a cada una de ellas. Se cuenta que todo esto fue hecho en secreto por el sacerdote quien entraba por una ventana y ponía la bolsa de oro dentro de los calcetines de las niñas, que colgaban sobre la chimenea para secarlos.

Hijo de familia acomodada creció bajo los tirantes deseos de sus padres. Su padre deseaba que siguiera sus pasos comerciales en el Mar Adriático, su madre pretendía que fuera sacerdote.
Lamentablemente, la peste solucionó su dilema, al llevarse a sus padres, mientras trataban de ayudar a los enfermos de su ciudad. El muchacho, conmovido con la desgraciada situación de su gente ante semejante enfermedad, repartió sus bienes entre los necesitados y partió hacia Mira para vivir con su tío y ordenarse como sacerdote, cosa que logró a los 19 años. Más tarde, al morir su tío fue elegido para reemplazarlo.

Leyenda actual

Así, el mito actual cuenta que Santa Claus viviría en las proximidades del Polo Norte junto a la Señora Claus y una gran cantidad de Duendes navideños, que le ayudan en la fabricación de los juguetes y otros regalos que le piden los niños a través de cartas.
Para poder transportar los regalos, Papá Noel los guardaría en un saco mágico y los repartiría a las 00:00h del día 25 de diciembre, en un trineo mágico volador, tirado por «renos navideños», liderados por Rodolfo (Rudolph); un reno que ilumina el camino con su nariz roja y brillante, siendo el último en agregarse a la historia.

Santa Claus podría entrar a los hogares de los niños, al transformarse en una especie de humo mágico; y así entrar por la chimenea u otro orificio de las casas; si éstas no disponen de una.
Para saber qué niños merecen regalos, Santa Claus dispondría de un telescopio capaz de ver a todos los niños del mundo; además de la ayuda de otros seres mágicos que vigilarían el comportamiento de los niños. Así, si un niño se ha comportado mal, se dice que quien lo vendría a visitar sería la carbonilla, y no Santa Claus; y como castigo carbonilla le regalaría a los niños solo carbón.

El diario de Turingia destaca que el descubrimiento del largo pasado rojo de Papá Noel lo hizo Christl Hütten, una apasionada coleccionista de tarjetas postales.
Christl Hütten posee en su amplia colección varias tarjetas postales del moderno personaje navideño, la más antigua de ellas fechada el 18 de diciembre de 1897.
La imagen postal, presenta a Santa Claus vestido con su ya tradicional gran abrigo rojo con rebordes blancos y caminando por la nieve.
Hasta ahora se pensaba que Papá Noel adoptó su vestimenta roja en los años 20 del siglo XX, imagen que fue sistemáticamente utilizada para fines publicitarios por la empresa Coca Cola desde 1931.

Desde el ámbito cristiano y desde grupos nacionalistas, la figura actual de Santa Claus está rodeada de diferentes acusaciones. Se le acusa de ser un producto comercial al servicio del consumo y de destruir las tradiciones locales.

En España hay una campaña en contra de Santa Claus y a favor de los Reyes Magos. Bajo el lema yo soy de los Reyes Magos, que han realizado algunas manifestaciones.

Insólito: hombre gira su cabeza a 180 grados

2011-12-20T12:23:00.000-08:00

Se trata de un joven llamado Alexander, quien tiene la habilidad de girar la cabeza 180 grados.
Desde pequeño empezó a realizar este tipo de contorsiones. Además reveló que solo necesita “concentración” para realizar este tipo de contorsión; estar concentrado al 100% le da la agilidad para poder hacerlo.

2011-10-10T11:17:00.000-07:00

¿Bostezar es contagioso?

De acuerdo a un estudio dirigido por Andrew Gallup de la Universidad de Princeton, bostezar podría servir para enfriar la cabeza. Pero, ¿te preguntaste por qué el bostezo es contagioso?
De acuerdo a la revista BBC Focus, este comportamiento únicamente se ha visto en humanos, chimpancés y perros. O sea, cuando uno bosteza el otro también lo hace. No se trata sólo de una imitación o copia.
El contagio es más bien una respuesta automática que se produce cuando uno ve, escucha o hasta piensa en que alguien bosteza. Seguramente ya soltastes un bostezo.

¿Por qué ocurre?
Existe varias teorías, una es que sirve para mantener a las personas en un mismo estado y listas para trabajar juntas. Por eso, si uno tiene sueño, los demás también se sentirán así, y así se van coordinando sus rutinas.

Otros creen que el bostezo contagioso sirve para mantener al grupo alerta.
Un bostezo puede darse como respuesta a la ansiedad, por lo que otra teoría es que el contagio sirve como advertencia para otros de que hay peligro.
Esas teorías están parcialmente sustentadas por la evidencia de que existe una conexión entre la empatía y el bostezo contagioso, pero realmente no hay una explicación aceptada de manera unánime.

10 things every woman MUST know about ovarian cancer

2011-03-29T05:50:00.000-07:00

It's known as the 'silent killer' but now campaigners are trying to make a big noise about one of our most common cancers. Here we reveal the facts that could help you avoid it

FACT 1:This is the fifth most common cancer in women
Although ovarian cancer is technically classed as a rare cancer (the common ones are breast, bowel, lung and prostate) it still affects around 6,700 women each year in the UK.
Risk varies from woman to woman and depends on how old you are, your genes and your lifestyle.
A woman has a one in 50 chance of developing the disease over her lifetime, according to charity Target Ovarian Cancer. But the risk rises as you get older, with four in five cases occurring after the age of 50.
FACT 2: It’s a bigger threat than cervical cancer
We’ve all heard of cervical cancer, thanks to NHS screening using the smear test.
No wonder a survey by Target Ovarian Cancer found that nearly half of women think cervical cancer is more of a threat than ovarian cancer.
Sadly, this isn’t true. Ovarian cancer kills around 4,500 women a year compared to just under 1,000 cervical cancer deaths.
The reason cervical cancer deaths are so low is because most women go for regular smears – Cancer Research UK estimates the test saves 4,500 lives a year.
FACT 3: There ARE some early symptoms
It was thought that symptoms didn’t show themselves until the cancer had become advanced. But it’s now known this isn’t the case.
Research shows that women do get symptoms in the early stages of the disease but a lack of awareness along with the fact that symptoms are quite general means they’re often missed until it’s too late.
In 2008, the NHS National Awareness and Early Diagnosis Initiative identified the top three symptoms of ovarian cancer as:

Persistent pelvic or stomach pain.
Increased tummy size and persistent bloating as opposed to bloating that comes and goes.
Difficulty eating and feeling full quickly on most days.

Less common symptoms are:

The need to wee suddenly or more often.
Changes in bowel habit, for instance constipation or diarrhoea.
Feeling tired all the time.
Back pain.

But a survey by Ovarian Cancer Action revealed that 80% of women would not recognise any of these signs.
Consultant gynaecology oncologist Dr Khalil Razvi of Southend University Hospital advises: “See your GP if you have persistent symptoms for four weeks or longer. Chances are it’s not ovarian cancer but any symptoms, especially pain, that last this long needs to be investigated. And if it does turn out to be ovarian cancer, the sooner you’re diagnosed and treated, the better your survival chances.”
FACT 4: More than 70% survive – if it’s caught early
If it’s diagnosed in the early stages, the good news is that more than 70% of women will survive this disease. But at the moment we have the worst survival rate in Europe – two-thirds of women diagnosed with ovarian cancer won’t survive beyond five years.
Knowing the symptoms is crucial – if you’re worried, keep track of yours with Ovarian Cancer Action’s new online symptoms diary. Fill it in and take it along to your GP.
Visit www.ovarian.org.uk.
FACT 5: It may be mistaken for IBS
GPs have often been accused of not being sufficiently aware of ovarian cancer symptoms. Indeed, in 2009 the Pathfinder Study for Target Ovarian Cancer found that three-quarters of them were not familiar with Department of Health guidelines on symptoms and diagnosis.
“I think GPs are becoming more aware of early symptoms, but there’s a constant stream of new research coming out on so many conditions,” says Dr Razvi. “The average GP will only see one case of ovarian cancer every five years. Another problem is that the symptoms are also symptoms for a wide range of illnesses, so ovarian cancer may not be the first thing that comes to mind.”
It’s often confused with irritable bowel syndrome (IBS), which affects one in five women, as well as side effects of hormone replacement therapy.
Dr Razvi says: “Don’t be afraid to ask your GP if he or she has considered the possibility of cancer if your symptoms are similar to those established by the National Awareness and Early Diagnosis Initiative.” See FACT 3.
FACT 6: It doesn’t just affect older women
Although most women who develop ovarian cancer are over 50, certain types can affect women as young as 20.
“In this case, symptoms are more likely to be mistaken for other gynaecological problems, like fibroids or endometriosis,” says Dr Razvi. You’re more likely to develop it young if you have two or more close relatives who’ve had ovarian or breast cancer, which may be linked to specific genetic faults.
This is more common in women of Jewish, Polish, Icelandic and Pakistani descent and more significant the younger they were when they developed the cancers.
“If you’re concerned about your family history, tell your GP who can refer you to a genetics clinic for an assessment,” says Dr Razvi.
However, it’s important to note that nine out of 10 ovarian cancers have nothing to do with genes.
FACT 7: A clear smear does not rule it out
The smear test is designed solely to pick up cell changes that may lead to cervical cancer and has nothing to do with ovarian cancer. However, a 2007 survey by Target Ovarian Cancer suggested that up to half of all women wrongly believe that a clear smear test means they’re free from ovarian cancer, too.
FACT 8: The Pill lowers your risk
This is good news for women who’ve taken the combined oral contraceptive pill for five or more years.
“Research shows that after five years, it reduces risk by nearly 30%, with benefits lasting up to 30 years afterwards,” says Dr Razvi.
After 15 years of taking the Pill, risk is reduced by half, according to Cancer Research UK.
“This is thought to be because being on the Pill stops ovulation. We also know that the risk of ovarian cancer is lower in women who’ve had children than those who haven’t. The more children a woman has, and the longer she breastfeeds for, the lower her risk.
“One theory is that ovulation may damage the lining of the ovaries so the less often a woman ovulates, the less damage to her ovary lining. However it hasn’t been proven,” says Dr Razvi.
FACT 9: Fighting the flab will reduce your risk
Obese women who’ve passed the menopause are up to 80% more likely to get ovarian cancer, according to a study in the US.
Aim for a waist size below 32 inches and preferably below 30. This will also substantially reduce your risk of other conditions, such as heart disease and type 2 diabetes.
Some research suggests that regular exercise reduces risk of ovarian, breast and bowel cancers, though this could be partly because it helps keep your weight under control.
One large Scandinavian study showed women who exercised for at least four hours a week reduced their risk by more than two-thirds.
FACT 10: Scientists are working on a screening test
At the moment there’s no screening programme for ovarian cancer.
But a clinical trial into the potential benefits is now being carried out on 200,000 women
Keep an eye out for the results, which are due in 2014.
Source: Daily Mirror

French daredevil dubbed 'Spiderman' scales world's tallest tower in Dubai

2011-03-29T04:25:00.000-07:00

A French skyscraper climber who calls himself 'Spiderman' has begun to scramble his way to the top of the world's tallest tower in Dubai.
Alain Robert began his ascent of the 2,717-tall Burj Khalifa just before sunset and said before he began that he expected his climb to take six or seven hours.
As night fell, a row of powerful spotlights shone on the side of the tower to light the way.

Enlarge

Up in the air: French skyscraper Alain Robert who calls himself 'Spiderman' has begun to scramble his way to the top of the world's tallest tower in Dubai

Unlike his many previous climbs, the 48-year-old daredevil is using a rope and harness to comply with organizers' requirements in the Gulf sheikdom.
An ambulance, with a stretcher at the ready, was parked alongside other emergency vehicles at the Burj's base.

More...

Robert has climbed more than 70 skyscrapers, including the Empire State Building, Chicago's Willis Tower and the Petronas Towers in Kuala Lumpur, according to his website.
He conquered Taiwan's Taipei 101, which before the Burj was the world's tallest building, in 2004.

Long way up: Alain Robert began his ascent of the 2,717-tall Burj Khalifa just before sunset and said before he began that he expected his climb to take six or seven hours

The tower's owner, Emaar Properties, said the half-mile-high Burj Khalifa has 160 habitable storeys.
Strapped to a safety harness tethered more than 100 stories up, Robert began his climb up the silvery, glass-covered Burj at around 6pm.
He hoisted himself up along a central column, mostly free of decorative rows of pipes that could slow his ascent.

Daredevil: Unlike his many previous climbs, the 48-year-old is using a rope and harness to comply with organizers' requirements in the Gulf sheikdom

Enlarge

Time's getting on: Robert can just be made out near the centre of this picture as he climbs his way up the world's tallest tower in the Gulf Emirate of Dubai, United Arab Emirates

On the up: As night fell, a row of powerful spotlights shone on the side of the tower to light the way

He did not appear to use the rope to pull himself up, but instead gripped the glass and narrow metal ridges like a rock climber with his feet and bare hands.

Hundreds of spectators crowded plazas outside shopping centres and restaurants at the tower's sprawling base.
Robert stayed in a Dubai hotel before the climb, doing push-ups, pull-ups and stretches, and loading up on carb-filled foods such as pasta in a room overlooking the target of his latest adventure.
Emaar Properties have not commented on the climb which 'Spiderman' is due to complete this evening.

'Secret Life' And 'Make It Or Break It' Finally Return In Today's Tweet Dreams

2011-03-29T04:22:00.000-07:00

It's a big day in the ABC Family—er—family, as tonight marks the return of both "The Secret Life of the American Teenager" and "Make It or Break It"! After a hiatus, "Secret Life" is back and the cast, including Megan Park (pictured) couldn't contain their excitement. The actress tweeted, "Early morning on Secret Life set. Filming with the gang. Everyone is excited for you all to see the season PREMIERE tonight!!!! ABC Family!" But she wasn't the only one ready for the show's return, as "Pretty Little Liars" star Lucy Hale posted for her pal, "everyone be sure to tune into the season premiere of Secret Life tonight on abc family. @Megan_Park get it girrrrl."
In case you needed a reminder to stayed tuned for the new season of "Make It or Break It," which premieres right after "TSLOTAT," the stars hopped on their Twitter pages to do just that. Candace Cameron Bure wrote, "Tonight is the night!! #MIOBI is back!! Don't forget to set your DVR for 9pm on ABC Family!! Who's watching #MakeItOrBreakIt" while her co-star Cassie Scerbo threw in an extra incentive for followers, "TODAY'S THE DAY!!!! Make it or Break it premieres @ 9pm after Secret Life @ABCFamily!! Whoever tweets most I'm sending a signed photo to! Xo." She was even kind enough to drop some hash tag-reffic spoilers, "#MIOBI #MIOBI #9pm #ABCFAMILY #BETRAYALS #DEATH #LOVETRIANGLES #COMPETITION #REHAB #SEXYBRITISHBOYS (hadda rep my <3) #SEASON2BMIOBI!!!!"
Check out the rest of Monday's best celebrity tweets, including Justin Bieber's weekend win at the Juno Awards and Joseph Gordon-Levitt's plea for an MTV moon man! Follow us @hollywoodcrush to get even more celebrity and pop culture news around the clock!

@hitrecordjoe Alright I actually do wanna win this. #INCEPTION = Best Fight of 2010 and you know it. #MTVMovieAwards Vote here! http://t.co/tRrp7Ld
-Joseph Gordon-Levitt, Actor ("Inception," "(500) Days of Summer")
@sarahmclachlan Great time at Juno’s last night and still laughing - Drake and Justin Bieber covering me on "I Will Remember You" Skype you soon!
-Sarah McLachlan, Singer
@justinbieber WHAT?!?! 2 JUNOS!!! #bestmorning
-Justin Bieber, Singer
@msleamichele Rise and shine!! It's an early morning on the glee set:) Gonna do a little singing w/ @alittlelamb and then a scene w/ @chordoverstreet !!
-Lea Michele, Actress ("Glee")
@chloegmoretz On my wayy to set here we go first day on #Hick
-Chloe Moretz, Actress ("Hick," "Kick-Ass")
@danielcudmore Two days left on set of "To The Mat" let's get wrastlin!!!!
-Daniel Cudmore, Actor ("To The Mat," "Eclipse")
@minkakelly Last day of shooting today.. So sad! Gonna miss this crew and my angels.. #charliesangelsbaby!!!!
-Minka Kelly, Actress ("Charlie's Angels," "The Roommate")
@thejeremywong Missing my Hellcats Castmates @78violet @ashleytisdale @heatherhemmens @TheRobbieJones. Keeping my fingers crossed for season 2!
-Jeremy Wong, Actor ("Hellcats")
@tyrabanks @Rihanna @Voguemagazine cover is AMAZING!Luv her curves n bright red hair. I tried that hair on ANTM n looked insane but Rih is hot w/it!
-Tyra Banks, Model, TV Host ("Tyra," "America's Next Top Model")
@kimkardashian I am soooo loving @britneyspears performances this past weekend, on GMA & in Vegas! She looks amaze!!!!
-Kim Kardashian, Reality Star ("Kim & Kourtney Take New York," "Keeping Up With the Kardashians")
@jimmyfallon Off to @MarthaStewart @themarthashow should be fun. Haven't seen her since we spent 3 days partying @Bonnaroo.
-Jimmy Fallon, TV Host ("Late Night with Jimmy Fallon")

SOURCE: http://hollywoodcrush.mtv.com/2011/03/28/secret-life-return-tweet-dreams/

City State: Morning Roundup

2011-03-28T08:12:00.000-07:00

D.C. MAYOR VINCENT C. GRAY makes his State of the District address Monday night, a critical moment for the Democratic mayor in his effort to move public discourse from the problems of his young administration to what he will do to improve the city. However, achieving that goal will be made even more difficult Monday, considering that the D.C. Council's Committee on Government Operations and the Environment will hold a morning hearing on allegations that Mr. Gray gave city jobs to politically connected friends and family members.
In addition, Mr. Gray’s speech at 6:45 p.m. at Eastern High School is less than an hour before President Obama makes a nationally televised speech about U.S. involvement in Libya.
VIRGINIA COMMONWEALTH UNIVERSITY’S upset win Sunday over top-ranked Kansas in the NCAA basketball tournament sent crowds into the streets of Richmond and included some vandalism. “The wave of bodies steadily grew as people came out of nearby apartments and dorms to join in the victory procession. Some jumped up and down on cars — a group even attempted to flip a Nissan Sentra, but cooler heads prevailed — and some climbed light poles while others stood on rooftops. Some waved pompoms or flags in the air,” writes the Richmond Times-Dispatch. The paper reports about 950 students spilled from the campus into Broad Street.
VIRGINIA REDISTRICTING PLANS from House Republicans and Senate Democrats in the state’s General Assembly will be submitted Tuesday, the Washington Times reports. The respective plans redraw the lines of the state’s political districts, according to The Times.
Redistricting often is a source of partisan wrangling among state lawmakers trying to carve out districts most favorable to their party’s political chances, but in Virginia, leaders in each chamber said they intend to stay within that chamber’s jurisdiction. That means the Republican-controlled House will propose only House districts and the Democrat-controlled Senate, only Senate districts, legislators said.
GAS PRICES BRING MORE TO METRO during one of the transit agency’s busiest seasons. The millions expected to ride Metrorail during the National Cherry Blossom Festival or attend Washington Nationals home games will have to share space with another group this spring — commuters trying to escape high gas prices.
Peter Benjamin, chairman of Metro’s Finance and Administration Committee, said the agency expects “some increases in ridership” this spring as the result of the long-term effects of gas prices rising, but nothing “dramatic,” The Washington Times reports.
PUBLIC-EMPLOYEE UNIONS are anticipating a big win this year in Maryland, fighting back General Assembly efforts to make counties share nearly $1 billion in teacher pension costs with the state. House and Senate subcommittees in the Democrat-controlled Assembly have passed several reforms this session to rein in pension costs, according to The Washington Times. But leaders in both chambers have relented — at least for now — in their efforts to get counties to share the projected $928 million bill for teacher-pension benefits, which would have helped the state close a $200 million budget shortfall and sustain its increasingly underfunded pension system.

SOURCE: http://www.washingtontimes.com/news/2011/mar/28/city-state-morning-roundup/

Your request is being processed... Prop 19 Results: Marijuana Ballot Rejected In California

2010-11-02T23:31:00.000-07:00

LOS ANGELES — California voters said no thanks to a ballot initiative that would have made it the first state to legalize marijuana for recreational use and sales.
Proposition 19, rejected Tuesday, would have made it legal for adults 21 and over to possess up to an ounce of marijuana, smoke the drug in nonpublic places and grow it in private plots.
The proposed law also would have authorized local governments to permit commercial pot cultivation and sales.
Proponents pitched the measure as a source of tax revenue and a sensible experiment for reducing marijuana-related arrests and crime.

SOURCE:www.huffingtonpost.com

SCVNGR Update: Access to Google’s Places API

2010-11-02T10:33:00.000-07:00

For gaming platform SCVNGR, good news has been announced today that it will be incorporating a new and improved database of venues with the help of Google Places API. The location-based site gives it’s users the opportunity to visit places, participate in challenges, earn points and unlock badges. Upgraded venues will consist of businesses, restaurants, bars and such like along with the benefit of international support within 70 countries.

According to Jennifer Van Grove at Mashable, in the past SCVNGR users have been able to access the gaming platform via downloadable Android and iPhone mobile apps. It was made difficult at times for subscribers as SCVNGR did not have a sturdy “Places” database therefore venues would have to be entered manually, Google Places API replaces this.
Although SCVNGR has been using Twitter owned GeoAPI they were limited to the U.S. Market only which meant no external support, but today’s news opens fresh avenues.

SOURCE: www.onlinesocialmedia.net

Find voting locations by zip code, polling locations in New York for Election Day

2010-11-02T08:49:00.000-07:00

Today is the big day, so here's some useful information about how, when and where to vote.
The city Board of Elections has a poll site locator that's easy to use: Click here for Poll Site Locator
Not sure if you're registered to vote in New York State? Check here.
If you'd like to know what kind of voting machine you'll be seeing at your poll site tomorrow, use this interactive map to find out.
You can learn more about the various kinds of voting machines here.
For general voting information, click here.
If you are not sure about the polling hours where you live, you can find county Board of Elections info here.
The NYC Campaign Finance Board has a thorough voter guide here.
FOR VOTING PROBLEMS OR QUESTIONS:
In NYC, call the Board of Elections at 866-VOTE-NYC begin_of_the_skype_highlighting              866-VOTE-NYC      end_of_the_skype_highlighting (that's 866-868-3692 begin_of_the_skype_highlighting              866-868-3692      end_of_the_skype_highlighting) or TTY 212-487-5496.
The state Board of Elections voter info service can be reached at 800-367-8683 begin_of_the_skype_highlighting              800-367-8683      end_of_the_skype_highlighting. For TDD/TTY call the New York State Relay 711.
You can also call 311 or tweet problems with the hashtag #NYCVOTES to participate in a voting-issues tracking program sponsored by the mayor's office.
The office of State Comptroller Tom DiNapoli, who recently put out reports on Primary Day voting issues inside and outside NYC, will be fielding complaints about privacy issues, technical difficulties, trouble reading ballots and late opening of polling sites at 888-OSC-4555 begin_of_the_skype_highlighting              888-OSC-4555      end_of_the_skype_highlighting (that's 888-672-4555 begin_of_the_skype_highlighting              888-672-4555      end_of_the_skype_highlighting).
You can access the United States Election Assistance Commission's website here.
Happy voting!

SOURCE:/www.nydailynews.com

Voting Locations By Zip Code: Polling Locator Guide

2010-11-02T08:38:00.000-07:00

There are a number of ways where you can find your voting locations by Zip Code, such as apps, websites and Google Maps. The most obvious choice to most would be with the latter, as this is accessible to all computers and smartphones, which we discussed in a recent post.
For those of you who would like an alternative to Google, then the Polling Locator from Polling Places is another great way to find these locations. All you need to do is enter your residence street address and Zip Code and the locator tool will do all the hard work for you.
Another option is the VoterHub app, which is free. Not only can you get details on where you can vote, but also information on each candidate. This app is not like some of those that will stop working later today, you can get details on future elections, as well as register to vote if you have not already done so.
These are just three ways where you can find the location of where you need to vote, which one will you use? If you know of any other, then please let us know?

SOURCE:www.product-reviews.net

Simpsons Mineros Chilenos - Un Mundo Perfecto

2010-10-19T12:51:00.000-07:00

California man wins Twin Cities marathon

2010-10-03T09:29:00.000-07:00

ST. PAUL, Minn. -- It was a picture perfect morning for running on Sunday as thousands hit the streets in downtown Minneapolis for the annual Twin Cities Marathon.

The sun was shining bright and temperatures were around 40 degrees for the start. The 26.2-mile course began at 8 a.m. near the Hubert H. Humphrey Metrodome in Minneapolis, and the finish line is at the State Capitol in St. Paul.

Sergio Reyes, 28 of Palmdale, Calif., won Sunday's marathon with a time of 2 hours, 14 minutes and 2 seconds. He was the first person to cross the finish line by seven seconds.

The course is flat to rolling, mostly asphalt and very scenic with mile after mile of parkways, lakes, rivers and tree-lined boulevards.

More than 250,000 spectators make the marathon an enjoyable experience for every runner that crosses the finish line.

SOURCE:www.kare11.com

Watch Commonwealth games (CWG) 2010 Opening ceremony on Doordarshan live streaming

2010-10-03T09:25:00.000-07:00

3 October, 2010 Watch Commonwealth games (CWG) 2010 Opening ceremony on Doordarshan live streaming. It is the biggest games show ever held in India

New Delhi: India is finally celebrating a new high with the great inaugural ceremony of Commonwealth Games being held in New Delhi. Beginning Sunday around seven thousand athletes from seventy one countries are gathering in New Delhi to vie for

After marathon showing of athletes from so many countries who showcased their nations’ faces here, Prime Minister Manmohan Singh welcomed the athletes and senior government officials who came from many nations.

Later Prince of Wales Prince Charles who delivered the words most awaited, “I declare the 19th commonwealth game open”, the 19th Commonwealth Games were pronounced open.

As Prince Charles announced the games open his wife cheered from the VVIP gallery of the stadium where more than sixty thousand people were in attendance.

Later Indian President Pratibha Patil with her small speech fulfilled the Indian dream when she said, “Let the games begin”

Her announcement was greeted with huge fireworks and people cheered endlessly.

Earlier the athletes were greeted with classical dancers, drummers and trumpers who used all their power to impress the visitors.

Another great attraction at the Games during the inaugural ceremony was the huge helium

SOURCE:www.ndchronicle.com

Zenyatta remains unbeaten with late surge at Hollywood Park

2010-10-02T17:59:00.000-07:00

By Tom Pedulla, USA TODAY

INGLEWOOD, Calif. — Nineteen-for-nineteen.

Zenyatta continued her run to racing immortality by staging her usual breathtaking rally to win the Lady's Secret Stakes by half a length against Switch on Saturday at Hollywood Park.

In narrowly winning the Lady's Secret for an unprecedented third time and bringing home the $150,000 first-place share of the $250,000 purse, the former $60,000 yearling purchase surpassed Ouija Board as the leader in female earnings with $6,404,580. Ouija Board retired late in 2006 with $6,312,552.

"She's got that ability to dig down. Her heart must be huge," exulted trainer John Shirreffs. "She never gives up."

There was a moment at the top of the stretch when it appeared that the 6-year-old daughter of Street Cry would finally fall short in what is expected to be her final appearance in California leading to her title defense in the $5 million Breeders' Cup Classic on Nov. 6 at Churchill Downs.

But her jockey, Mike Smith, never felt that way.

"The 3-year-old ran dynamite," he said, quickly adding, "I was just starting to hit a gear."

It did not appear that the "Queen of Thoroughbred racing" reached top speed until she neared the end of the 1 1/16-mile Lady's Secret. Shirreffs acknowledged that the distance might have represented a greater danger to his unrivaled mare than any of her four opponents.

"Obviously, as she's grown and developed with age she's better at longer distances," the trainer said.

To put Zenyatta's perfection in perspective, legendary Cigar and Citation each had winning streaks halted at 16 in a row. Personal Ensign, celebrated as one of the great fillies in the sport's history, called it an unblemished career after she won for the 13th time by defeating Kentucky Derby victor Winning Colors in the 1988 Breeders' Cup Distaff.

Racing's massive heroine, who stands more than 17 hands tall and weighs more than 1,200 pounds, can only hope the Lady's Secret, which marked her 13th Grade 1 score, serves her as well this autumn as it did in the past.

She used the contest as a prep before she swept the Breeders' Cup Ladies Classic in 2008. She took the same path last year when she emerged as the first female to beat the boys in the Classic in that race's 26-year history when she roared past Gio Ponti by one length last November.

Both of those Breeders' Cup successes occurred at Santa Anita in Arcadia, Calif., which raises the question of how she will fare against males when she faces them for the first time on the traditional dirt track at Churchill Downs.

All but two of Zenyatta's successes came on synthetic surfaces. She twice ventured to Oaklawn Park in Hot Springs, Ark., for the Grade 1 Apple Blossom. Each time it resulted in two of her most convincing scores.

She banged out the largest winning margin of her career when she rolled in the Apple Blossom by 4½ lengths on April 5, 2008. She made a sweeping move to cross the finish line first by 4¼ lengths at Oaklawn this past April.

Shirreffs is optimistic that Zenyatta is well-positioned to put the exclamation point on her career by prevailing in the Classic.

"She's better. She's stronger. She's more mature. She's very focused," he said.

SOURCE:www.usatoday.com

Ted Stevens plane crash also involving former NASA head Sean O'Keefe -- and some history

2010-08-10T10:12:00.000-07:00

Former Alaska Republican Sen. Ted Stevens and ex-NASA Administrator Sean O'Keefe were with seven others aboard a small aircraft that crashed Monday night in southwest Alaska.
Recovery operations were underway by the Alaska National Guard. Initial reports said five of the nine aboard had died. The identities of the dead and survivors have not been released yet.
The rugged wilds of Alaska can be a very dangerous place to fly over in small planes, which many do. Iconic social commentator and comedian Will Rogers died in a plane crash there in 1935, as did Louisiana Democrat Thomas Hale Boggs Sr., then the House Majority Leader.
The plane carrying Boggs, the father of longtime broadcast commentator Cokie Roberts, disappeared there in 1972 enroute from Anchorage to Juneau to a campaign fundraiser and was never found.
Boggs was declared legally dead in 1973, along with a fellow passenger Rep. Nick Begich. If that last name sounds familiar, it should. That deceased congressman was the father of Mark Begich, a Democratic former Anchorage mayor who now holds Stevens' Senate seat.
Boggs was succeeded by his wife, Lindy, and also by speculation that his death somehow involved a conspiracy over aborting the investigation into the assassination of President John F. Kennedy. Boggs was not a believer in the single bullet theory of the Warren Commission.
The Boggs crash lead to federal legislation mandating emergency locator beacons be installed in all civil airplanes
Here's a C-SPAN archive video showing both Stevens and O'Keefe during the latter's Senate confirmation hearings in 2001 during the early days of George W. Bush's presidency.

Fall of the Republic HQ full length version [ view ] Documents how an offshore corporate cartel is bankrupting the US economy by design.

2010-07-18T19:24:00.000-07:00

Fall of the Republic HQ full length version [ view ] Documents how an offshore corporate cartel is bankrupting the US economy by design.

www.youtube.com/watch?v=VebOTc-7shU&feature=channel
Click above to view fall of the Republic

ChangeDaChannel | October 23, 2009

Order the DVD at: infowars-shop.stores.yahoo.net...
Fall Of The Republic documents how an offshore corporate cartel is bankrupting the US economy by design. Leaders are now declaring that world government has arrived and that the dollar will be replaced by a new global currency.

President Obama has brazenly violated Article 1 Section 9 of the US Constitution by seating himself at the head of United Nations' Security Council, thus becoming the first US president to chair the world body.

A scientific dictatorship is in its final stages of completion, and laws protecting basic human rights are being abolished worldwide; an iron curtain of high-tech tyranny is now descending over the planet.

A worldwide regime controlled by an unelected corporate elite is implementing a planetary carbon tax system that will dominate all human activity and establish a system of neo-feudal slavery.

The image makers have carefully packaged Obama as the world's savior; he is the Trojan Horse manufactured to pacify the people just long enough for the globalists to complete their master plan.

This film reveals the architecture of the New World Order and what the power elite have in store for humanity. More importantly it communicates how We The People can retake control of our government, turn the criminal tide and bring the tyrants to justice.
A film by Alex jones

SOURCE: http://beforeitsnews.com

Dominican Republic’s most wanted arrested in Puerto Rico

2010-07-17T13:03:00.000-07:00

AGENTS MAKE ARREST AFTER A CHASE

Dominican Republic’s most wanted arrested in Puerto Rico

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SANTO DOMINGO.- The country’s most wanted fugitive, the Puerto Rican Jose Figueroa Agosto, was arrested in the street Loiza, Santurce, at 11 a.m. Saturday, San Juan media report.
Quoting sources, newspaper elnuevodia.com said Figueora, also known as Junior Capsula, was arrested after a chase by authorities.
In Santo Domingo, the Presidency’s Press director Rafael Nuñez confirmed Figueroa’s arrest by federal and local agents.
According to Puerto Rico´s online newspaper elnuevodia.com, Figueroa Agosto is credited the management of major drugtrafficking ring that included contacts in Colombia and Venezuela, with partners over the air carrying narcotics –specifically cocaine– to the Dominican Republic east region, where it was collected and finally taken to Puerto Rico in speedboats.
MORE INFORMATION AS AVAILABLE.

Figueroa Agosto Arrested; Wesley Snipes Loses Faces Three Years Jail Term

2010-07-17T13:01:00.000-07:00

Figueroa Agosto Arrested; Wesley Snipes Loses Faces Three Years Jail Term

[Saturday, July 17, 2010 | ]

Wesley Snipes: Federal panel supports 3-year prison sentence!

Have you paid your taxes recently? Well, don't get sneaky on them collectors now if you know what's good for you. Ask Wesley Snipes!

According to an opinion published Friday by the 11th Circuit Court of Appeals, a federal panel in Atlanta supported the three-year prison sentence for 'Blade' star Wesley Snipes for failure to file taxes.

The opinion read, "The distric court acted well within its considerable discretion in sentencing Snipes to thirty-six months in prison." Say goodbye to freedom, Wes.

Wesley Snipes

The sentence has been slapped on the actor after being proven guilty on threee misdemeanor counts of failing to file federal income tax returns. Snipes filed an appeal when a key witness against the star was also found guilty of fraud.

Dow Jones Newswires reports that Kenneth Starr, Snipes one time financial adviser is accused of being responsible for running a Ponzi-like fraud. Starr also pleaded not guilty to the fraud charges in June.

Let's see you use your vampire powers on this one, buddy. You've been a bad, bad boy!

Photo Gallery:


SOURCE:www.sassyqarla.com

"Dead Body" 911 Call Allowed in Casey Anthony Trial, Says Judge

2010-07-15T17:59:00.000-07:00

ORLANDO, Fla. (CBS/WKMG/AP) A 911 recording in which Cindy Anthony, Casey Anthony's mother, tells a dispatcher that her daughter's car smells like a dead body can be used during the first-degree murder trial.
PICTURES: Casey Anthony Personal Photos PICTURES: Caylee Anthony: A Life Cut Short
Casey Anthony's defense team sought to have Cindy Anthony's 911 calls dismissed, claiming they are hearsay, and so should be inadmissible at trial, reports CBS affiliate WKMG.
Prosecutors, however, argued that Cindy Anthony displayed raw emotion in the 911 calls, and so her comments should be allowed at trial under an exception to the hearsay rule called "excited utterance."
Judge Belvin Perry sided with prosecutors.
This means that jurors will be allowed to hear the 911 call where Cindy Anthony says that her daughter's car smells like a dead body. "There's something wrong," Cindy Anthony told the dispatcher. "I found my daughter's car today and it smells like there's been a dead body in the damn car."
Anthony's mother, Cindy, testified that when she called 911 on July 15, 2008 - exactly two years ago Thursday - she was trying to get the dispatcher's attention so officers would come to her house faster. She also had made two calls about an hour earlier.
"I just said whatever I was thinking at the time to get them to come out," she said. "I was in shock. I couldn't believe what I was hearing. I was hysterical at that point."
Casey Anthony, 24, has pleaded not guilty and has said that a babysitter kidnapped her daughter, Caylee. The toddler's remains were found about six months after her mother said she last saw her alive.
Before the hearing, Cindy Anthony's attorney said his client will tell the truth about her state of mind when she made the calls on July 15, 2008. The calls launched a months-long search for 2-year-old Caylee, which ended in December 2008 when her remains were found in a wooded area near the Anthony family's east Orange County home.
Complete Coverage of Casey Anthony on Crimesider.

Posted by Crimesider Staff

SOURCE:http://www.cbsnews.com

Lugares famosos en google earth

2010-03-11T19:04:00.000-08:00

Aquí presentamos algunas de las mejores imágenes captadas de los lugares más famosos y conocidos existentes en nuestro planeta. Para observar los sitios con mas detenimiento proporcionamos las coordenadas de cada uno; solo tiene que copiarlas y pegarlas dentro de Google Earth en la opción "volar a" y accederá al destino rápidamente.


	Torre Eiffel

Increíble vista de la Torre Eiffel, diseñada por el arquitecto francés Gustave Eiffel para la Exposición Universal de 1889 en la ciudad de Paris.

Al principio esta estructura de acero generó controversia por modificar notablemente el paisaje parisino. Hoy en día es el símbolo indiscutido de Francia y de la ciudad luz.
Tiene 300 metros de altura. En la torre existe un restaurant, un museo y tiendas. Su peso se calcula en 10.000 toneladas.

Coordenadas: 48 51 29.84N,2 17 39.34E


	Estatua de la Libertad

Se trata de uno de los símbolos más difundidos de la cultura de Estados Unidos. Es un regalo que el pueblo de Francia dio a la ciudad de Nueva York en 1886 (a 100 años de la independencia norteamericana).

Fué construída en París y diseñada por Gustave Eiffel, se desmontó y transportó en barco hasta la isla de la Libertad, a orillas del río Hudson, en Nueva York. Mide unos 46 metros y su peso se calcula en 225 toneladas.

Coordenadas: 40 41 23.30N, 74 2 40.14W


	Taj Mahal

Sorprendente vista desde el cielo de este edificio levantado en la ciudad india de Agra, a orillas del río Yamuna. Fué construído durante los años 1631 y 1654 en honor a la esposa preferida del emperador musulmán Sha Jahan de la dinastía mogol, quien murío a dar a luz a su hijo número 14.

Este bello edificio convina elementos de la cultura india, persa e islámica. Se calcula que unos 20.000 obreros trabajaron en su construcción.

Coordenadas: 27.17461, 78.0447


	Venecia (San Marco)

Hermosa imágen de la plaza San Marcos, en la ciudad italiana de Venecia, en la región del Véneto. La ciudad de los canales está situada sobre un conjunto de islas en una laguna pantanosa en el mar Adriático.

Se calculan que existen unos 800 puentes en total que unen las 120 pequeñas islas que conforman esta bella ciudad. Actualmente debido a las inundaciones que sufre periódicamente está considerada en grave riesgo.

Coordenadas: 45 26 00N, 12 20 23E


	Coliseo Romano

En el centro de la ciudad de Roma se encuentra este espléndido monumento llamado Coliseo (su nombre en realidad es Anfiteatro Flavio). Poseía una capacidad 50.000 espectadores y allí tenían lugar los espectáculos públicos como las luchas de gladiadores, las ejecuciones y recreaciones de batallas así como obras de teatro.

Su construcción comenzó en el año 70 dc. bajo las órdenes de Vespasiano y se completó en el 80 dc. por el emperador Tito.

Coordenadas: 41 53 24N, 12 29 31E


	La Meca

La Meca es la ciudad natal del profeta Mahoma. Está situada en la peninsula arábiga, en Arabia Saudita, y es la mas importante ciudad santa de la religión islámica.

Cada año la visitan gran cantidad de peregrinos que desean visitar el lugar religioso más importante que es la Kaaba (casa de Dios). Según la tradición se afirma que fué levantada por Abraham e Ismael. La visita a La Meca es un uno de los pilares en la religión islámica.

Coordenadas: 21.4225222672, 39.8261238221


	Pirámides de Egipto

Son los más magníficos y emblemáticos monumentos que nos brindó la cultura egipcia. Las pirámides de Egipto, ubicadas en Giza, son tumbas de reyes, reinas y grandes personajes de esta antigua civilización.

La pirámide de Keops es la más importante de las tres pirámides de Giza, y es una de las sitete maravillas del mundo antiguo. No se sabe exactamente cómo fueron construídas y existen numerosas teorías para explicar su existencia.

Coordenadas: 29.975939,31.130404


	Kremlin

El Kremlin está ubicado en la ciudad de Moscú y alberga al gobierno ruso. Con este nombre se denomina a un conjunto de edificaciones situadas frente al río Moscova.

Incluye cuatro palacios y cuatro catedrales. dentro del recinto demarcado por las murallas del Kremlin. En la construcción de las murallas y las torres del Kremlin participaron maestros italianos durante los años 1485 y 1495.

Coordenadas: 55.751982,37.616007


	Cuidad del Vaticano

La ciudad del vaticano es una ciudad-estado que se encuentra dentro de Roma. Su población se calcula en menos de 1.000 habitantes y su extensión en 0.439 Km2.

Allí se ubica la santa sede de la Iglesia Católica, máxima autoridad y gobierno con el papa a la cabeza. La santa sede posee personalidad jurídica propia y mantiene relaciones diplomáticas con los demás estados. En el interior del Vaticano encontramos la basílica de San Pedro, la tumba de San Pedro y el museo Vaticano.

Coordenadas: 41 54 07N, 12 27 25E


	Museo de Louvre

Ubicado a orillas del Sena, en la ciudad de París, el museo de Louvre es uno de los mas grandes y completos del mundo. Recorrerlo entero tomaría meses.

Con 8 millones y medio de visitantes por año, sin lugar a dudas es el museo de arte más visitado del mundo. Las colecciones del Louvre provienen de diferentes culturas, civilizaciones, artistas y épocas. Sus obras más famosas son la Gioconda, la Venus de Milo y la Victoria de Samotracia.

Coordenadas: 48.861022222222,2.335825

Imagenes curiosas en Google Earth II

2010-03-11T19:02:00.000-08:00

Aquí presentamos algunas de las mejores imágenes captadas de fenómenos de la naturaleza existentes en nuestro planeta..

..


	Glaciar Perito Moreno

Increíble vista del la gran masa de hielo que desciende lentamente de la montaña hacia el lago. Ubicado en Argentina, el Glaciar Perito Moreno es uno de los glaciares más imponentes del mundo, y ha sido considerado la octava maravilla por las espectaculares vistas que ofrece.
Situado en una inmejorable zona, rodeado de hermosos bosques y montañas, queda dentro del Parque Nacional "Los Glaciares", creado en 1937 en la Provincia de Santa Cruz. Este parque, de 724.000 ha, tiene en total 356 glaciares.

Coordenadas: 50°28'13.70"S 73° 4'5.96"W

Monte Fuji (Japón)

Extraordinario contraste de colores donde apreciamos el rojo interior del monte en contraposición con el verde de la vegetación que lo rodea. Con 3.776 metros de altitud, el monte Fuji es el pico más alto de la isla de Honshu y de todo Japón. El Fuji es un volcán compuesto y se lo clasifica como un volcán activo, pero con poco riesgo de erupción. La última erupción registrada data de 1707. En castellano se ha popularizado mucho la palabra Fujiyama para mencionarlo, a pesar de ser una expresión incorrecta en japonés.

Coordenadas: 35°22'49.40"N, 138°44'15.11"E


	El ojo de Africa

Sorprendente formación en el continente Africano, dentro del desierto de Mauritania en el Sahara. Esta estructura circular, conocida como la estructura de Richat, posee casi 50 kilómetro de ancho.
Fue observada por primera vez desde el espacio por los astronautas McDivitt y White de Gemini el 4 en junio de 1965. Al principio fue confundida con un cráter producido por algún meteorito. Hoy en día se piensa que puede ser generada por una erosión de rocas sedimentarias. Su origen continúa siendo un misterio.

Coordenadas: 20.989825,-11.252160


	Cataratas del Iguazú

Asombrosa vista de estos saltos de aguas rodeados de una vegetación increíble. Se originó hace unos 200 mil años en el sitio que hoy conocemos como “Hito de las Tres Fronteras”, donde confluyen el río Iguazú y el Paraná. Una falla geológica producida en el cauce el río Paraná hizo que la desembocadura del río Iguazú quedara convertida una abrupta cascada de 80 metros de altura.
La violencia de la caída produce una niebla permanentey los rayos solares conforman múltiples arco iris de insuperable belleza.

Coordenadas: -25.690327,-54.438629


	Antártida

Alejándonos del Polo sur podemos observar el contorno y la forma del continente blanco en todo su esplendor. Tiene una forma casi circular de 4.500 km. de diámetro y presenta dos pronunciadas entrantes que forman una angosta península en forma de "S", proyectada sobre el extremo austral de Sudamérica. El espesor promedio del hielo que cubre el continente es de 2.500 m, siendo el máximo espesor registrado de 4.776 m. En pleno verano los días en la Antártida tienen luz casi las 24 hs. del día, y en invierno, los días permanecen en una prolongada penumbra.

Coordenadas: 89 59 53.00s, 68 09 02.62w


	Gran Cañon del Colorado

Vista aérea de uno de las maravillas del mundo natural. Tiene casi 200 millas de largo y entre 10 y 15 millas de ancho. Sus partes más profundas están en el canal del Río Colorado y miden más de 1.6 km. Las capas rocosas se crearon en el fondo de un vasto mar hace millones de años, al acumularse gran cantidad de depósitos sedimentarios. El Parque Nacional del Gran Cañón está ubicado en el norte de Arizona a 75 millas (125 Km) al norte de Flagstaff, Arizona, USA.

Coordenadas: 36 06 02.97N, 112 11 19.40W


	Stonehenge (G. Bretaña)

Si bien fue construído por el hombre, merece estar en esta lista como uno de los sitios a visitar con Google Earth. Se trata de un monumento megalítico de la Edad de Bronce ubicado cerca de Wiltshire, en Gran Bretaña. Está formado por cuatro círculos concéntricos de piedras de arenisca. Todo el conjunto está rodeado por un foso circular que mide 104 m. de diámetro. Se desconoce la finalidad que tuvo la construcción de este gran monumento, pero se supone que se utilizaba como templo religioso

Coordenadas: 51.176599,-1.826048


	Isla Tortuga (Ecuador)

Extraña isla con una forma inusual digna de ser vista. Ubicada cerca de las Islas galápagos, esta formación pertenece a Ecuador y es consideada una verdadera curiosidad debido a su extraña fisonomía. Coordenadas: 1° 0'56.95"S, 90°52'23.94"W


	Crater Wolf Creek

Dentro del Parque nacional Wolf Creek existe un gigantesco cráter formado por un meteorito que cayó ahí hace más de 300 mil años. La piedra de 50.000 toneladas impactó a una velocidad de 15 km. por segundo creando de esta forma el segundo cráter mas grande del mundo, con una longitud de 880 metros. Coordenadas: 19 10 28.70S, 127 47 39.58E


	Monte Everest

Es la montaña mas alta de la tierra (8.848 m.) y gracias a la tecnología de Google Earth es posible ver esta maravilla del mundo en 3D.
Está ubicada en el Himalaya, en el continente asiático y marca las fronteras entre Nepal y Tibet.
La mayoría de los intentos por escalarlo es durante abril y mayo cuando hay una época de reducción del viento en la montaña.

Coordenadas: 27 59 16 N 86 56 40 E

Imagenes curiosas en Google Earth

2010-03-11T18:55:00.000-08:00

Google Earth es un programa gratuito que hace posible visitar todo el planea. Con él podemos navegar o viajar de un lugar a otro acercándonos a cualquier punto de la tierra hasta llegar a percibir detalles impresionantes.

Todo esto sucede gracias a las imágenes satelitales que son combinadas con mapas. Si aún Ud. no cuenta con esta potente herramienta puede descargar el programa desde aquí.

Debemos aclarar que algunas áreas del globo no están cubiertas totalmente, pero sí las ciudades y sitios más importantes. Estados Unidos es el país que más cubierto está y en un futuro la idea es ir agrandando la base de datos fotográfica para que todo el planeta se vea a gran resolución. Debido a que el programa utiliza tecnología streaming es necesario estar conectado a internet para utilizarlo.

Se han descubierto muchas imágenes curiosas y raras con Google Earth. Dentro de la vasta colección de fotos asombrosas realizamos esta selección con las más impresionantes. Para observar los lugares con mas detenimiento proporcionamos las coordenadas de cada uno (solo tiene que copiarlas y pegarlas dentro de Google Earth en la opción "volar a" y accederá al destino rápidamente).
Elefantes e Hipopótamos en Africa
En esta imágen asombrosamente de gran definición divisamos un grupo de elefantes corriendo libremente por el Africa.
Las coordenadas para ubicar la imagen en Google Earth son 10 54 13.02N, 19 55 59.30E

También en Africa encontramos esta gran cantidad de hipopótamos tomando sol y refrescándose en el agua. La foto es sumamente clara y se observan muchos detalles interesantes.
Las coordenadas para ubicar la imagen en Google Earth son 6 37 44.05S, 31 08 09.49E

Animal print de un caballo sobre una montaña

En esta curiosa fotografía vemos lo que parece ser una especie de cuadrúpedo dibujado sobre la cima de una montaña. Probablemente se trate de excavaciones de alguna mina.
Las coordenadas para ver la imagen en Google Earth son 31 39 45.70N, 106 35 16.31W

Mujer tomando sol en la Haya
Desprevenida y desconociendo que un satélite estaba tomando una fotografía, esta mujer se dedicó a tomar sol en bikini (¿o en topless?) y quedó para siempre inmortalizada en Google Earth.
Las coordenadas para ubicar la imagen en Google Earth son 52 04 43.23N 4 19 58.26E

Mensajes en un campo ingles
Parece que un granjero de Inglaterra quería enviar un mensaje al mundo entero y decidió escribirlo sobre su campo...
Las coordenadas para ubicar la imagen son 53.5387878616, -1.34678606976

Cerca del campo de la fotografía de arriba, podemos observar este diseño con cículos sin significado aparente.
Las coordenadas para ubicar la imagen son 53°31'57.17"N, 1°21'21.39"W

Indigena con auriculares

En esta foto vemos la curiosa formación rocosa que se asemeja al perfil de un indígena con auriculares en sus oidos.
Las coordenadas para ver la imagen en Google Earth son 50° 0'38.20"N 110° 6'48.32"W

Troncos en Africa
Esta imagen asombra por su gran resolución pudiendo apreciar los detalles de este curioso paisaje de un aserradero en Africa.

Las coordenadas para ver la imagen en Google Earth son 11 20 14.40S, 40 21 37.73E

Hombre haciendo nudismo a escondidas

Seguramente este hombre creyó que alejándose ese dia a la playa y ocultándose entre unos arbustos nadie lo podría ver tomando sol desnudo...pero se equivocó.
Las coordenadas para ubicar la imagen en Google Earth son 51.997659,4.126874

¿La tierra está rayada?

Evidentemente algún error hubo aquí con el satélite que obtuvo la fotografía dentro del territorio de China, ya que esta raya sobre la superficie terrestre no es nada normal.
Las coordenadas para ubicar la imagen en Google Earth son 46 18 19N, 119 58 31E

¿Explosión bajo el agua?

Lo mas probable es que se trate de una explosión bajo el agua en esta laguna de Acapulco. Sin embargo este efecto en las olas puede deberse a diferentes motivos que aun no están claros.
Las coordenadas para ubicar la imagen en Google Earth son 16 54 09.21N, 99 58 15.34W

Avión en pleno vuelo

Esta imagen que parece salida de un videojuego fué captada sobre el territorio de Inglaterra y suponemos que se trata de un avión de la Segunda Guerra Mundial.
Las coordenadas para ubicar la foto en Google Earth son 52°20'10.16"N 0°11'42.62"W

Mickey Mouse tiene su propio lago
Lago muy especial con una forma inconfundible ya que es igual al logo de Disney. No sabemos si se trata de una casualidad o si fué un efecto buscado al crear el lago.
Las coordenadas para ubicar la imagen en Google Earth son 28.396403,-81.578271

Arrugas en el fondo del mar
Extraños zurcos parecidos a arrugas en el fondo del mar que rodean estas bellas islas cerca de Michelson, Exuma, en las Bahamas.
Las coordenadas para ubicar la foto en Google Earth son 23°28'11.84"N 75°51'57.68"W

Leah Ignagni Identified as Steve McNair's Other Lover in Police Report (Pictures)

2009-10-20T08:16:00.000-07:00

Facebook Photo: Leah Ignagni.

NEW YORK (CBS) Monday night Nashville police released the name of Leah Ignagni, slain former NFL great Steve McNair's possible second girlfriend.

McNair's Lover: Exclusive Photos

Sahel Kazemi, a woman who had been having a relationship with McNair, allegedly shot and killed the retired quarterback and then herself on July 4, 2009.

McNair was married.

In an updated police case summary released Monday, Oct. 19, Ignagni told police that a woman in the same model car that Kazemi owned had been following her a few weeks prior to McNair's murder.

Ignagni said that when leaving McNair's Lea Avenue condo, she "observed a female inside a black Cadillac escalade parked outside the building. Ignagni said she noticed the Escalade follow her as she drove to her apartment," the summary states.

Kazemi's former roommate Emily Andrews confirmed that Kazemi knew about McNair's other lover, police say. "Andrews said that Kazemi told her that she (Kazemi) found a tampon in the bathroom wastebasket in the Lea Avenue condo, and on another occasion, saw a female leaving the condo," the report states.

Was jealously at play in Steve McNair's death? The new police report does not specifically speculate on what role, if any, Ignagni might have played in Kazemi's mind, but they have previously stated they believed Kazemi killed McNair and herself because of stress, money worries, and jealousy.

SOURCE:
http://www.cbsnews.com/blogs

Hedge-Funder Raj Rajaratnam Got Cranky When People Refused to Partake in His Insider-Trading Scheme

2009-10-16T12:20:00.000-07:00

Hedge-Funder Raj Rajaratnam Got Cranky When People Refused to Partake in His Insider-Trading Scheme

10/16/09 at 1:00 PM
Comment 11Comment 11Comments

Photo: Patrick McMullan

This morning, 51-year-old Raj Rajaratnam, the billionaire founder of the Galleon Group, a major New York hedge fund, and No. 551 on Forbes’ 2009 list of the world’s richest people, was charged with insider trading in the stocks of several companies, including Hilton, Clearwire, and Google. Transcripts of conversations between a confidential witness for the FBI and Rajaratnam going back to 2007 reveal not only a wide-ranging, long-running scheme but that Rajaratnam could get a little crabby when things did not go his way.

For instance:

On or about January 14, 2008, during a phone call between R and the CW that was consensually recorded by the CW, Rajaratnaram asked the CW if he had heard anything about Google. "I told you that lady won't speak to me," the CW said. Ratnaram replied: "Idiot."

Well, who's an idiot now? Apparently Rajaratnam, who had been tipped off that one of his contacts was wearing a wire, had a ticket to Switzerland for October 22. We guess he won't be making his flight.

Insider Trading Charges Against Galleon Group Founder [DealBook/NYT]

SOURCE:

http://nymag.com

Dr Siegal’s Cookie Diet Details!

2009-10-16T08:24:00.000-07:00

Dr Siegal’s Cookie Diet Details!

Here are details about Dr Siegal’s Cookie Diet covered on Good Morning America today. Josie Raper’s use of Dr Siegal’s Cookie Diet got her weight loss success storyon the front cover of People. The Cookie Diet has been used by Denise Richards, Kelly Clarkson and Jennifer Hudson, reports GMA.

Critics tell GMA that the Cookie Diet lacks good nutrition. Advocates say its an effective way to take weight off fast.

Dr Siegal’s website says the following of the diet:

“Let’s face it: hunger wrecks diets™. No matter how motivated you are, it’s nearly impossible to stick to a diet when you’re hungry. …. Since 1975, more than 500,000 people have used Dr. Siegal’s COOKIE DIET® cookies and shake mixes to help them reach their goals.

“When you hear “cookie” and “diet” together you might think they describe another diet fad. But after 34 years, 500,000 users, and millions of lost pounds, Dr. Siegal’s COOKIE DIET® is no fad. It was created in 1975 by renowned physician, author, and weight-loss expert Sanford Siegal, D.O., M.D., and has been used by more than 200 doctors in the U.S., Canada, and Latin America to help their own patients lose weight—safely, quickly, and without hunger.”

The cookie diet focuses on calorie consumption.

“Dr. Siegal’s COOKIE DIET® sounds simple and it is. Eat six special cookies to control hunger during the day and a reasonable dinner in the evening. Consume 1,000 to 1,200 calories a day (ask your family doctor to recommend the right amount for you) and lose an average of ten pounds per month.”

The food comes as both cookies and shake:

“Available in assorted flavors, Dr. Siegal’s COOKIE DIET® foods are made in Dr. Siegal’s private Miami bakery where he personally mixes every batch of his secret protein formula with his own hands. Since 1975, more than a half million people have used Dr. Siegal’s COOKIE DIET® shakes and cookies to help them reach their goals. Now it’s your turn.”

Check it out online here

source:

http://news.lalate.com

Virgin Maria Auxiliatrix PICTURE!

2009-10-14T08:35:00.000-07:00

PHOTO! What do Virgin Maria Auxiliatrix and T.O. have in common this week? Twitter-hype. Virgin Maria Auxiliatrix (picture above) covered here at 5 am PST Wednesday was already for hours swirling to tweet-sensation for hours before that.

But why?

And if the Virgin Maria Auxiliatrix sensation Wednesday sounds familiar, look no further that T.O. Bears trade rumors just yesterday. On Tuesday morning, a short one line entry on RumorCentral on the ESPN network prompted the rumor question if Terrell Owens could be heading from the Bills to the Bears. Owens, normally twittering daily, wasn’t on Twitter to respond. From there, the T.O. story got an equal twitter sensation behind it, then covered on LALATE here first by early morning, to the LA Times by 11:30 am.

In the case of the Virgin Maria Auxiliatrix, the word Auxilium meaning “help”, the Feast for her Sanctuary is not coming up; rather its May 24 each year.

But while the feast has passed for thi year, you can watch Maria Auxiliatrix 24/7 courtesy of webcams installed in the Grotto of the Apparitions. It’s maybe there, if you look really closely, she will answer all your League trade rumors.

The first is found on the right hand side of the Gave opposite the Grotto of the Apparitions. It records the surrounds of the Grotto every 15 minutes throughout the day. It also provides other events such as Masses (everyday at 6.07am, 8.07am and 11.07pm), the Rosary on the radio each day at 3.38pm, the Blessed Sacrament Procession at 5.08pm, the Torchlight Marian Procession at 9.30pm and the Grotto at night about 12.15am. The second webcam is found beside the Crowned Statue on the Rosary Square. It offers 4 programmes: the Rosary Basilica from a distance and from close up, the Crowned Statue and the Rosary Square.
For the webcam, CLICK HERE
SOURCE:
http://news.lalate.com

Jaycee Dugard Captive No More

2009-10-14T08:27:00.000-07:00

Jaycee Dugard Captive No More

By Alex Tresniowski

Loved Ones Had All but Given Up Hope That Jaycee Dugard, Kidnapped 18 Years Ago, Was Alive. Only by Chance Did Police Find Her and Her Daughters, Setting Them Free from a Man Cops Claim Is a Monster

From PEOPLE Magazine Click to enlarge

The two girls, white as ghosts, walked shyly into the birthday party at 7 p.m. Starlit, 15, and Angel, 11, wore blue sundresses and sandals, mingled with other girls and listened to rap music. "They fit right in," says Cheyvonne Molino, 35, who invited the sisters to her daughter's 16th-birthday party in early August. "When their dad picked them up around 9:30, I walked them to the car and I asked them if they had fun. And they both squealed, 'Oh, yes!'"

On that night, perhaps, everything seemed innocent—but Molino soon learned the two girls were trapped in a horrific living nightmare. On Aug. 26, police in Concord, Calif., discovered that 29-year-old Jaycee Dugard—kidnapped in 1991 when she was just 11—was still alive and living with her alleged abductor, Phillip Garrido, 58. Angel and Starlit are Jaycee's daughters, apparently fathered by Garrido, a registered sex offender who police say raped her repeatedly over the years. Jaycee and her daughters—who had never been to school or seen a doctor—seemed to have spent much of their lives in a cluster of filthy tents and windowless shacks hidden by trees and tarps in the backyard of Garrido's home outside Antioch, Calif., where he lived with his wife, Nancy, 54, and his ailing mother. "I'm not aware of any other stranger-abduction case where a child has been recovered after 18 years," says Ernie Allen, president of the National Center for Missing & Exploited Children. "It's amazing and it's horrendous, but the most important thing is that Jaycee is alive."

There have been other cases of kids rescued after long abductions, most notably Elizabeth Smart and Shawn Hornbeck, who was also 11 when he was taken in 2002 and spent more than four years in captivity (see box). But Jaycee's case is exceptional, and not only because she was missing for nearly two decades. How did Garrido keep the children so well hidden from neighbors, many of whom had no idea they lived on his property? How is it that police summoned to his house failed to notice them? And what about Jaycee—why didn't she ever try to escape? "I know she bonded with this guy, and now she has hard feelings about it," says her stepfather, Carl Probyn, 61, a wallpapering contractor, who in 1991 watched helplessly from a few hundred yards away as two people in a car snatched Jaycee while she walked to her school bus stop in South Lake Tahoe, Calif. "The truth is, I had given up hope. To get her back after 18 years? I bawled for 10 minutes when I found out."

Since being recovered, Jaycee and her daughters have been living with Jaycee's mother, Terry Probyn, 50, a middle school secretary; they have stayed in undisclosed locations while the girls undergo medical and psychological evaluations. All three are extremely pale, and Jaycee is said to look uncommonly young for a 29-year-old. Angel and Starlit apparently had no idea their mother had been kidnapped, nor do they fully understand why Garrido—who was finally caught only after he took the girls with him to nearby UC Berkeley—is now under arrest and charged, along with his wife, on 29 counts, including kidnapping, rape and false imprisonment (they have both pleaded not guilty). The girls "always just called him Dad," says Cheyvonne, who often saw them at her auto-dismantling yard in Pittsburg, Calif. "Their clothes were always so clean, and one time I heard them talking about Hannah Montana and Miley Cyrus. I never saw any red flags."

That in itself is shocking. Garrido has a long history of violence and troubling behavior. Raised in Brentwood, Calif., he became obsessed with LSD in high school; his father, Manuel Garrido, told reporters the drug "killed my son," changing him forever. In 1976 Garrido kidnapped Reno casino worker Katherine Callaway Hall, locked her in a warehouse unit and raped her. "He said, 'Don't fight and you won't get hurt,'" recalls Hall. "He had a far-off empty look in his eyes, like I was a thing." A police officer saw Garrido's car outside the warehouse at 2:30 a.m. and banged on the door; Hall heard him and shouted. Garrido was convicted on federal kidnapping charges and sentenced to 50 years in jail.

But he served only 11 before being released. Three years later young Jaycee Dugard, wearing a pink windbreaker and white sneakers, was dragged into a gray sedan as her stepfather watched. "I heard Jaycee scream, and she was gone," he told PEOPLE in 1991 (see box). In fact, she apparently had been taken to a scruffy, semirural neighborhood 35 miles northeast of Oakland that is rarely patrolled by local police. Garrido and his wife, Nancy, whom he met while he was in prison, lived in a three-bedroom, 1,457-sq.-ft. home owned by his mother. Remarkably, many of his neighbors claim they did not know children were on the property. "I was always mowing and working back there, and I never heard anything except cats," says a man who rents a cottage next door. In November 2006 another neighbor called police to report that people were living in tents behind Garrido's home. But the officer who came never entered the house or the yard. "We are beating ourselves up over this," Contra Costa County sheriff Warren Rupf said. "There are absolutely no excuses."

Others in the area knew Garrido lived with children but thought nothing of it. One friend often spoke with Jaycee, who Garrido called Allissa, about Printing 4 Less, the business she helped him run from the house. The friend also heard Garrido talking to the younger children and "drilling it into their heads every day that, 'You love it here. You love me. You don't want to go away.'" But with even limited freedom, why didn't Jaycee ever tell anyone until now that she'd been kidnapped? "Many kidnap victims of any age bond with the people who abduct them," says Ernie Allen of the NCMEC. "It's very difficult for any human being to be angry and desperate year after year. Jaycee figured out how to survive."

Others who encountered Jaycee and her daughters say something seemed off about them. Garrido would bring the younger girls with him to the local Kmart. When shopping alone, "he'd buy sex things like vibrator cream," says cashier Survitrius Honeycutt. "The older girl was very clingy with him, and neither one would say anything. They didn't have any expression."

It was this strange demeanor that, in part, led to their rescue. Garrido apparently believed himself to be a powerful messenger of God and even set up a church in his basement. "How many people are in your church?" Cheyvonne Molino remembers asking the girls. "There are five of us," one of them replied. "Our dad is the minister." Garrido also invented a machine he told others allowed people to hear his thoughts. On Aug. 25 he turned up on the campus of UC Berkeley with Starlit and Angel to get a permit for an event in which he planned to spread his message. Lisa Campbell, 40, UCPD's manager of special events, saw the group and noticed the girls "were nonresponsive; they didn't have the energy that children of their age generate," she later explained. Campbell called in Ally Jacobs, a security officer, who said the girls spoke in "a monotone. It was almost like Little House on the Prairie meets robots."

Jacobs ran a background check on Garrido, turning up his record. She called his parole officer, and on Aug. 26 Garrido was summoned to a parole office in Concord; inexplicably he arrived with his wife, Jaycee and the girls. "They took Jaycee in another room and she told them the whole story," says her stepgrandmother Wilma Probyn. Not much later, police called Jaycee's mother, Terry, with the news and put her daughter on the phone to speak with her. "Jaycee told her she remembers everything," says Carl Probyn, who split with Terry 10 years ago and hadn't spoken with his stepdaughter. "Then Jaycee told her, 'I have babies.' 'You have babies? How many?' And Jaycee said, 'Two.'"

Probyn says Jaycee's reunion with her mother has not gone entirely smoothly. "They are just trying to bond," he says. "It will take years to straighten this out." While reconnecting with her mother and her sister Shana, who's now in college, Jaycee will also have to deal with feelings towards Garrido "that are probably mixed," says Juliet Francis, a psychologist who consults with the NCMEC. "She's still going to miss being in a situation that's familiar. She will need therapy and lots and lots of support. She will need time to adjust to being back in her own skin." For now, Jaycee's children remain in her care; no one can say for sure what will happen to them down the road.

The full horror of what she went through is not yet clear. Police are investigating Garrido in the disappearance of other area children—and in the murders of several prostitutes killed within miles of Garrido's home, including one woman found outside Cheyvonne Molino's auto yard in 1998. But for now those who lost Jaycee 18 years ago are focused solely on her and her children and on the miracle of having her back. "As long as Jaycee is alive, there's hope," Terry Probyn said back in 1991. That much is still true today.

Contributors:
Howard Breuer/Los Angeles,
Susan Young/Antioch,
Johnny Dodd/Antioch,
Nicole Weisensee Egan/Philadelphia.

FTC Wants Your Input On How To Improve AnnualCreditReport.com

2009-10-14T08:16:00.000-07:00

By Chris Walters, 2:39 PM on Mon Oct 12 2009, 4,665 views

The problem with annualcreditreport.com—other than its name—is that getting your reports from the site is a little like dealing with GoDaddy: you have to deal with upsells and side-sells at every step. You can indeed get your free credit reports from the site, but you'll also have to keep turning down other offers from the three participating bureaus. Hell, there are even ads (sorry, "sponsor" links) on the home page, the one place where you'd hope for the least consumer confusion.

Michelle Singletary at the Washington Post notes that the FTC is attempting to correct this oversight. They're also asking the general public for input on what would make the service less confusing to use.

In an effort to help keep people from ending up on impostor sites or falling for promotions for free credit reports that aren't really free, the FTC is seeking public comment on proposed amendments to the free-report rule. The credit card legislation passed this spring requires the agency to create amendments to the law by Feb. 22, 2010, to prevent deceptive marketing of these reports.

Over the next two months, you'll have a chance to weigh in on the FTC's rulemaking effort. Do take the time to comment, especially if you feel you've been deceived. This isn't a trivial matter. These rules will dictate how you get your credit reports. Most of what the FTC is proposing will make things better, but the agency needs to be tougher.

"We are encouraging consumers and anybody else to comment," said Katherine Armstrong, an FTC lawyer. "We want to know if we got it right."

Here are three rule changes they're proposing:

1. All credit bureau advertising and upsells would be removed from the process until after you have received your free credit report(s).

2. The "sponsored" links from the credit bureaus would be removed.

3. Other companies (like our much-hated "freecreditreport.com") would have to send customers to a landing page that reads, "This is not the free credit report provided for by federal law."

What do you think? Whether you agree or disagree, or have other suggestions, you should send them in to the FTC:

To read the text of the Federal Register notice with all the proposed changes, go to http://www.ftc.gov. Comments must be received by Nov. 30.

To submit your comments electronically, go to http://public.commentworks.com/ftc/FreeCreditReportNPRM. Comments on paper should be mailed or delivered to Federal Trade Commission, Office of the Secretary, Room H-135 (Annex T), 600 Pennsylvania Ave. NW, Washington, D.C. 20580.

"Underlining 'Free' in 'Free Credit Report'" [Washington Post]

SOURCE:

http://consumerist.com

Rachel Campos-Duffy: Obama's abortion stand disqualifies him for Nobel prize

2009-10-12T15:58:00.001-07:00

Whoopi Goldberg brings up the Nobel Peace Prize on today's "The View."

And Elisabeth Hasselbeck's sub, Rachel Campos-Duffy -- a former reality TV star turned blogger for Anderson Cooper's AC 360 show, says she was shocked by Obama's win.

Campos-Duffy brings up Mother Teresa's statement that there will not be world peace until we end abortion. "I think personally, for me, that it's Obama's radical abortion position that makes him the least qualified for the prize."

Joy Behar adds: "We were starting wars. Now we're not anymore. I don't know what's going to happen in Afghanistan. It is a little ironic that he is involved in two wars and he would be considered the peace person. But he didn't start them, and he is trying to end them, and he is trying to bring diplomacy around the world and start a new conversation."

Campos Duffy asks, "So basically, he just gets a prize for not being George Bush?"

And Behar laughs, adding, "That's true. He does get a prize for not being George Bush."

What do you think?

Source:

http://latimesblogs.latimes.com

view the video in these site

Zachary Christie: Zachary Christie Cub Scout utensil weapon?

2009-10-12T15:45:00.000-07:00

Zachary Christie brought a Cub Scout utensil to school and got himself suspended. The school has a zero tolerance policy for weapons. The Cub Scout utensil has a spoon, fork and maybe a sharp cutting edge.

Zachary Christie was suspended from school and may have to attend 45 days of reform school. The story of Zachary Christie, with his photo, are here.

SOURCE:

http://celebgalz.com

Nasa LCROSS impact mission on moon successful

2009-10-09T07:00:00.000-07:00

Moffett Field, Oct 9 (THAINDIAN NEWS) In a scientific mission to solve the mystery whether the presence of lunar water is true or not, NASA had launched a special moon-specific mission called Lunar CRater Observing and Sensing Satellite (LCROSS) that sent a rocket which crashed into the southern surface of the moon. The lunar impact produced such a cloud of debris through which scientists and analysts back on Earth could derive whether or not water actually exists in some form on the moon.

The primary goal of LCROSS was to measure the concentration of water ice (ice to dust ratio) in the lunar regolith.

LCROSS passed through the plumes of debris, collecting and relaying important data back to Earth before itself making an impact on the crater. The LCROSS payload has a visible camera and radiometer as well as two near-infrared spectrometers, a visible light spectrometer, two mid-infrared cameras and two near-infrared cameras.

“As the ejecta rises above the target crater’s rim and is exposed to sunlight, any water-ice, hydrocarbons or organics will vaporize and break down into their basic components. These components primarily will be monitored by the visible and infrared spectrometers. The near-infrared and mid-infrared cameras will determine the total amount and distribution of water in the debris plume. The spacecraft’s visible camera will track the impact location and the behavior of the debris plume while the visible radiometer will measure the flash created by the Centaur impact,” NASA explains in the mission overview.

Nasa TV had an Icross live feed for its viewers of the whole mission today. Eager viewers could see the NASA moon crash live. The various Icross images of the moon strike are available on the internet. People were under the impression that NASA was blowing up the moon, but in reality it wasn’t any terrorism or vandalism attack, but rather a scientific exploration mission through a lunar crash.

The NASA moon bombing video was a huge hit on the internet, with anxious people looking at it to see the moon crash and the lunar impact. The moon blast caused a sensation on the NASA channel.

For further updates, the official NASA site is www.nasa.gov

SOURCE:

www.thaindian.com

President Barack Obama Awarded Nobel Peace Prize

2009-10-09T06:55:00.000-07:00

President Barack Obama was awarded the Nobel Peace Prize Friday for his initiatives to reduce nuclear arms and strengthen international diplomacy, according to The Associated Press.

Obama's win was a surprise, as his presidency began only two weeks before the nomination deadline and many of his proposed initiatives have yet to bear fruit. The Norwegian Nobel Committee, however, commended the president's calls for peace and cooperation and the impact they have made on the global mood.

SNL sketch: Obama has done nothing

"Only very rarely has a person to the same extent as Obama captured the world's attention and given its people hope for a better future," said committee chairman Thorbjoern Jagland. "We are not awarding the prize for what may happen in the future but for what he has done in the previous year. We would hope this will enhance what he is trying to do."

In his nearly 10 months in office, Obama has called for reductions in nuclear arms and is seeking to restart peace talks between Israelis and Palestinians. He has taken on challenges in Iraq, Afghanistan and Iran, which is feared to be exploring the building of a nuclear weapon.

Obama on Letterman: I was black before the election

Former Peace Prize winner Mohamed ElBaradei said Obama has already provided outstanding leadership in preventing nuclear proliferation. "In less than a year in office, he has transformed the way we look at ourselves and the world we live in and rekindled hope for a world at peace with itself," ElBaradei said. "He has shown an unshakeable commitment to diplomacy, mutual respect and dialogue as the best means of resolving conflicts."

Obama is the third sitting U.S. president to win the award, following Theodore Roosevelt in 1906 and Woodrow Wilson in 1919.

The White House has not yet released an statement, but said the president is humbled by the honor.

SOURCE:

www.seattlepi.com

New York state NYS unemployment NYS dept of labor

2009-10-04T07:02:00.000-07:00

Albany, October 4, 2009: New York state unemployment NYS unemployment NYS dept of labor. Governor Paterson announced today that New York State will receive approximately $4.5 million in federal grant funds for 2009 under the national Reemployment and Eligibility Assessment (REA) initiative of the US Department of Labor. The REA initiative is designed to help people receiving unemployment insurance get back to work faster by providing them with individualized job search and training services. The money comes from federal funds that support the administration of unemployment insurance. “Because of the economic turmoil New York has faced during the past 18 months, I have made it a priority that we do everything within our power to protect the most vulnerable New Yorkers, including the unemployed. These grants demonstrate that the federal government has recognized and rewarded those efforts,” said Governor Paterson. “New York was one of the first states to try this individualized approach to helping the unemployed get back to work faster, and we are thrilled to have an opportunity to expand this promising program. I want to thank President Obama and Secretary Solis for providing funding that will allow us to serve more workers through this program.”

REA grant funds support additional One-Stop Career Center staff who work one-on-one with individuals receiving unemployment insurance. Staff will help workers determine what job hunting and training services they need, and then develop a job search plan customized to each person’s needs. Additionally, information on the local labor market is used to help focus the individual’s job search. Staff will continue to follow-up with each worker throughout the job search process, until the worker gets a job or exhausts his or her unemployment benefits.

Early results from the REA initiative are promising. For 2008, participants found jobs approximately two weeks faster than those in a control group. Putting New Yorkers back to work more quickly not only benefits participants, but also saves the State money. In 2009, New York could save approximately $10.4 million per year in payments from its Unemployment Insurance Trust fund (based on the current average weekly unemployment insurance benefit rate of almost $316) if program participants find a job one week faster than those who do not participate.

State Labor Commissioner M. Patricia Smith said, “As this recession continues to drag on, we are doing everything we can to help unemployed workers get back to work and support themselves and their families. These grant funds will help us do that.”

Twenty-five states received awards that totaled $26.5 million under the REA initiative. New York is one of nine states receiving grant funds that have previously participated in the program. In 2008, New York received $647,000, which funded a model REA program in one Local Workforce Investment Area. For 2009, New York received more than $4.5 million to continue the model REA program and expand it to eight additional Local Workforce Investment Areas throughout the state.

U.S. Senator Charles E. Schumer said: “For years, New York has been a leader in improving the lives of its citizens. This federal funding recognizes our success, and allows us to provide even more support to unemployed New Yorkers during these difficult economic times. I am extremely proud to have worked so hard on behalf of New Yorkers to secure this funding and will continue to fight to ensure New Yorkers are well taken care of.”

U.S. Senator Kirsten Gillibrand said: “This is the right investment for New York. These federal dollars will help workers and families who have been hit the hardest by this economic downturn get back on track. I will continue working with Governor Paterson, Senator Schumer and the entire Congressional Delegation to make sure New York gets its fair share from the federal government to rebuild our economy.”

Congresswoman Yvette Clarke said: “Today, I am pleased to join Governor Paterson in announcing the Re-employment and Eligibility Assessment (REA) initiative. This program provides the citizens of New York access to key federal resources, helping to combat the increase in unemployment that our nation faces. I strongly encourage our local leaders to apply for these grants, providing economic empowerment and job training for Brooklyn residents. I commend the hard work of Secretary Solis and the Obama administration in joining me to specifically address the employment needs of the citizens of Brooklyn, New York.”

Congressman Eric Massa said: “Helping families get back on their feet during this recession is one of my top priorities. We all need to work together to help lower the unemployment rate and that's exactly what these funds are designed to do. Helping retrain workers is critical in this process and that's why I'm so proud to help make this announcement today.”

Congressman Paul Tonko said: “This federal grant money is supporting an innovative program that will help improve the employment outcome for New Yorkers. I congratulate Governor Paterson and the New York State Department of Labor for doing everything in their power to help the unemployed get back on their feet.”

Congressman Edolphus “Ed” Towns said: “Reducing our unemployment rate is critical to rebuilding our economy. This grant will provide those most severely affected by the recession personalized access to the tools and guidance necessary to find a job.”

SOURCE:
www.khabrein.info

Hurricane Danny - Will It Affect Your Weekend Plans?

2009-08-26T14:46:00.000-07:00

Hurricane Danny - Will It Affect Your Weekend Plans?

Hurricane Danny is brewing down near the Dominican Republic currently and is threatening to ruin any beach plans this upcoming weekend (guess I won't be working on my tan!). Currently it's a Category 1 hurricane (winds exceeding 75 mph) and appears to be arriving east of North Carolina's Outer Banks early Saturday. However, according the NOAA, National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, don't go changing your weekend plans just yet. Relying on a 5-day forecast is still a bit shady (pardon the pun) and we all know how reliable predicted weather can be!

I personally love hurricanes. I'm the girl sitting on her side porch watching the thunder and lightening above her. Of course not the kind like Katrina. I do realize how much damage they can cause. But in the NE we don't see many of that level so when one hits I enjoy watching its smaller wrath. How about you? Do you enjoy the smaller hurricanes or does any level make you nervous?

SOURCE:

www.gather.com

Google Venezuela

2009-07-21T19:56:00.000-07:00

Matt Cutter - 19.07.2009 15:05

I predicted long ago that Google Venezuela News would lower scholastic standards.

Please forgive me, but I told you so. I predicted long ago that Google Venezuela News would lower scholastic standards. Now that it has, I'd like to express my thoughts on the matter. When writing this letter, I had originally intended to segregate the pure errors of fact in its comments from the assertions of questionable judgment where there could be room for dispute. I eventually decided against that approach because we must honestly cast a ray of light on Google Venezuela News's contemptible scribblings. Does that sound extremist? Is it too lubricious for you? I'm sorry if it seems that way but that's life.
News

I've heard of insecure things like exclusivism and racialism. But I've also heard of things like nonviolence, higher moralities, and treating all beings as ends in and of themselves—ideas which Google Venezuela News's ignorant, unthinking, testy brain is too small to understand. If Google Venezuela News can't be reasoned out of its prejudices, it must be laughed out of them. If Google Venezuela News can't be argued out of its selfishness, it must be shamed out of it. It is clear from what I have already written that I believe in "live and let live". Google Venezuela News, in contrast, demands not only tolerance and acceptance of its ruses but endorsement of them. It's because of such ill-bred demands that I claim that it's undoubtedly a tragedy that its goal in life is apparently to encourage individuals to disregard other people, to become fully self-absorbed. Here, I use the word "tragedy" as the philosopher Whitehead used it. Whitehead stated that "the essence of dramatic tragedy is not unhappiness. It resides in the solemnity of the remorseless working of things," which I interpret as saying that the tone of Google Venezuela News's musings is eerily reminiscent of that of rabid pothouse drunks of the late 1940s in the sense that Google Venezuela News's goal is to make a fetish of the virtues of Pecksniffian, resentful McCarthyism. This is abject moral relativism!

News

Despite what Google Venezuela News says, it has had some success in giving rise to the most truculent gits I've ever seen. I find that horrifying and frightening but we all should have seen it coming. We all knew that Google Venezuela News has found a way to avoid compliance with government regulations, circumvent any further litigation, and reap a harvest of death—all by trumping up a phony emergency. Is Google Venezuela News a pious organization? Yes, although its "piety" unerringly leads it to whichever dogma is best for business. Speaking of which, if this letter did nothing else but serve as a beacon of truth, it would be worthy of reading by all right-thinking people. However, this letter's role is much greater than just to compile readers' remarks and suggestions and use them to appeal not to the contented and satisfied, but embrace those tormented by suffering, those without peace, the unhappy and the discontented.
News

Let us now join hands, hearts, and minds to take the mechanisms, language, ideology, and phraseology for determining what is right and what is wrong out of the hands of Google Venezuela News and its satraps and put them back in the hands of ordinary people. Would Google Venezuela News like it if I were yellow-bellied and combative, too? I don't think so. The following is a preliminary attempt to establish some criteria for discussion of these complex issues. To begin with, Google Venezuela News has a talent for inventing fantasy worlds in which it is a martyr for freedom and a victim of sensationalism. Then again, just because Google Venezuela News is a prolific fantasist doesn't mean that its obiter dicta are Right with a capital R. This is not the same as saying that the vast majority of Google Venezuela News's thralls spend most of their lives in one of two places—the pub or jail—although that, too, is true.

Source:
http://venezuela.indymedia.org

Emma Watson headed to Brown University

2009-07-21T19:52:00.000-07:00

Emma Watson headed to Brown University

by Vicki Hyman/The Star-Ledger
Monday July 20, 2009, 10:39 PM

WARNER BROTHERSEmma Watson has confirmed that she plans to attend Brown University in the fall.

Emma Watson, our Hermione Granger, has decided to attend Brown University this fall, where she hopes to be known as "the student from the U.K.," as opposed to "Emma Watson, who starred in those Harry Potter films." Good luck with that, Em.

WARNER BROTHERSWatson is a smarty-pants on and off screen.

Watson confirmed her choice to Paste magazine. She had looked at a number of schools in the U.S., including Harvard, Yale and Columbia. No word on why she settled on Brown, but she does plan on studying literature at the Providence, R.I., Ivy, the alma mater of
John Krasinksi, Laura Linney, JoBeth Williams, John Kennedy Jr., and a number of young royals

See more in Gossip

source:
www.nj.com

APOLLO 11 HOAX PHOTOS: 8 Moon-Landing Myths -- Busted

2009-07-20T15:11:00.000-07:00

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News
Photos

Republished July 20, 2009--Forty years after U.S. astronaut Neil Armstrong became the first human to set foot on the moon, many conspiracy theorists still insist the Apollo 11 moon landing was an elaborate hoax. Examine the photographic evidence, and find out why experts say some of the most common claims simply don't hold water.

You can tell Apollo 11 was faked because ... the American flag appears to be flapping as if "in a breeze" in videos and photographs supposedly taken from the airless lunar surface.

The fact of the matter is ... "the video you see where the flag's moving is because the astronaut just placed it there, and the inertia from when they let go kept it moving," said spaceflight historian Roger Launius, of the Smithsonian's National Air and Space Museum in Washington D.C.

The astronauts also accidentally bent the horizontal rods holding the flag in place several times, creating the appearance of a rippling flag in photographs (Apollo 11 moon-landing pictures).

--Ker Than

— Apollo 11 photograph courtesy NASA

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News
Photos

Neil Armstrong and Apollo 11's Eagle lunar lander are reflected in Buzz Aldrin's visor in one of the most famous images taken during the July 1969 Apollo 11 moon landing.

You can tell Apollo 11 was faked because ... only two astronauts walked on the moon at a time, yet in photographs such as this one where both are visible, there is no sign of a camera. So who took the picture?

The fact of the matter is ... the cameras were mounted to the astronauts' chests, said astronomer Phil Plait, author of the award-winning blog Bad Astronomy and president of the James Randi Educational Foundation.

In the picture above, Plait notes, "you can see [Neil's] arms are sort of at his chest. That's where the camera is. He wasn't holding it up to his visor."

(Also see restored 1960s moon pictures from unmanned orbiters.)

— Apollo 11 photograph courtesy NASA

SOURCE:

http://news.nationalgeographic.com

Gymnasts Liukin, Johnson Earn ESPY Awards

2009-07-19T21:06:00.000-07:00

Olympic champion gymnasts Nastia Liukin and Shawn Johnson (U.S.) picked up more hardware Wednesday night at the annual ESPY Awards in Los Angeles.

Nastia Liukin (U.S.) shows off her ESPY award for Best Female Athlete 2009.

Liukin, the 2008 Olympic all-around champion, won Best Female Athlete. The 19 year old defeated tennis star Serena Williams, professional basketball player Candace Parker, Olympic swimmer Natalie Coughlin and Connecticut basketball player Maya Moore. Eight-time Olympic swimming gold medalist Michael Phelps won Best Male Athlete.

"It's still a little surreal," Liukin said backstage at the Nokia Center after accepting the trophy. "It's definitely going to add a little bit of weight to my purse on the way home."

Johnson, the 2008 Olympic balance beam gold medalist and recent "Dancing with the Stars" champion, won the award for Best Female Olympian.

2004 Olympian Courtney Kupets was nominated for Best Female College Athlete, which went to Moore.

Liukin, who is training for the 2012 Olympic Games, will return to competition this month at the CoverGirl U.S. Classic on July 25 in Des Moines, Iowa. Liukin plans to compete on balance beam at the event, and then contribute to the live TV and online coverage on Universal Sports.

The 2009 ESPY Awards, hosted by actor Samuel L. Jackson, will be broadcast on ESPN at 9 p.m. EST on Sunday.

SOURCE:
www.intlgymnast.com

TRUE BLOOD "Never Let Me Go" Season 2 Episode 5

2009-07-19T20:57:00.000-07:00

Watch a sneak peek at TRUE BLOOD "Never Let Me Go" Season 2 Episode 5 airing this Sunday July 19 (9:00-10:00 PM ET/PT) on HBO.

Episode Synopsis: TRUE BLOOD "Never Let Me Go" Season 2 Episode 5 - In Dallas, Sookie connects with one of her own, then joins Bill and Eric for a strategic summit at the lair of the missing vampire, Godric, attended by his lieutenants, Stan and Isabel. Meanwhile, Jason shows his mettle at a Light of Day boot camp, and is rewarded for his hard work with a gift from Sarah. Rebuffed by Tara in her relocation efforts, Maryann decides to cast her spell on the Merlotte's staff, softening Tara up towards her new "family." Eric shares a little-known secret about his past with Bill, and Sookie makes a decision that might solve the Godric mystery--or get herself killed.

Read all our True Blood coverage here.

(Photo: John P Johnson/HBO)

SOURCE:

www.daemonstv.com

Fab Five Texas Cheerleader Scandal

2009-07-19T20:43:00.000-07:00

Fab Five: The Texas Cheerleader Scandal is a Lifetime Television drama film starring Tatum O’Neal and directed by Tom McLoughlin. The movie premiered on August 2, 2008. It is based on a true story, which occurred at McKinney North High School in McKinney, Texas in 2006. The movie is based on a scandal in which five teenage cheerleaders terrorized their school and played by their own rules because the principal was one of the girls’ mother.

Official Website

IMDB link

fav five texas photos

Source
http://bawaal.com

The thin line between funny and distasteful

2009-07-17T13:47:00.000-07:00

One of the funniest comedy skits I've ever seen is Dave Chappelle's "racial draft," in which the cutting-edge comedian makes brilliant use of racial stereotypes to point out the absurdity of those who become overzealous about racial identity.

Chappelle, Richard Pryor, Chris Rock, George Carlin and George Lopez all have taught us that, when it's done correctly and intelligently, racial humor can be extremely funny.

But that wasn't the case with Dallas Cowboys tight end Martellus Bennett, who has shown how racial comedy done the wrong way quickly turns into a complete disaster.

Bennett posted a video recently on his YouTube television show "Marty B TV" that he called the "Black Olympics," which featured Bennett and his brother, Michael, a rookie defensive end with the Seahawks, "competing" at eating fried chicken and watermelon and drinking Kool-Aid.

[+] Enlarge

David Stluka/Getty ImagesMartellus Bennett is plenty outspoken for a backup tight end -- and he's certainly no Dave Chappelle when it comes to humor.

Had he been alive to see it, Martin Luther King Jr. would have slapped Bennett with a copy of his "I Have A Dream" speech.

After Bennett was fined $22,000 by the Cowboys for posting another video that was derogatory toward African-Americans and gays, you would think he would focus solely on football and stop trying to be the next Martin Lawrence.

"There's white comedians that do stuff like that all the time," Bennett said on Michael Irvin's radio show. "I think it's funny to attack stereotypes. It's funny how people just put people in a certain light and say that's what all the people do of a certain race or particular person, so it's fun to attack those stereotypes."

Nothing Bennett did in the video made me want to call the NAACP, but he wasn't attacking stereotypes as much as he was feeding them. Before posting his video, Bennett should have looked at the scene from the satirical film "I'm Gonna Git You Sucka" in which inner-city hoodlums compete in criminal-themed Olympics. Now that was funny. Bennett wasn't.

The bigger issue here is that Bennett is embarrassing himself and the Cowboys with these videos and showing he has little respect for his position as a member of arguably the most popular professional sports team in America. Bennett isn't mature enough to understand the only thing these videos are doing is making him look like a clown.

The racial comedy should be left to professionals. There have just been too many instances when people in the wrong position stupidly try to channel their inner Chappelle.

Recently, Republican National Committee chairman Michael Steele met with a group of bloggers, and when he was asked about the party's efforts to attract more minorities, someone blurted out, "I'll bring the collard greens." Steele quickly responded, "I got the fried chicken and potato salad."

Steele was trying too hard to blend in with a group of college students, and like Bennett, he didn't understand that he and a comedian hold a different microphone and reach a different audience.

Bennett's case also shows that unfiltered access to athletes through social networking can be both good and bad. The positive for fans and media is that they have an insider's view and more direct access to athletes. But the downside is that athletes don't always know how to edit themselves and sometimes aren't the best judge of what's appropriate.

And as we've seen, not having a personal firewall can cause serious problems. Former University of Texas lineman Buck Burnette was kicked off the Longhorns team for a racist Facebook status post about Barack Obama after the November election. And point guard phenom Brandon Jennings' NBA career is off to a rough start because Jennings trashed his teammates and dropped the N-word more than Gucci Mane during a live Web interview with rapper Joe Budden. Though there has been some debate about whether Jennings knew his conversation with Budden was being broadcast live, he has apologized for his off-color comments. Still, that probably wasn't the first impression Jennings wanted to make.

If I were making decisions for the Cowboys, I would force Bennett to end "Marty B TV" and fine him $50,000 for broadcasting "Black Olympics." I believe the only reason Bennett hasn't been subject to severe punishment is that he's black, and spewing unfunny stereotypes about his own race is wrongly regarded as harmless. If Bennett were white, he would have faced far more serious consequences, and by doing nothing, the Cowboys are encouraging not only a double standard, but also Bennett's bad comedy.

SOURCE:

http://sports.espn.go.com

Echo Chamber: Girls

2009-07-17T13:42:00.000-07:00

"Some of the things the cult did were so fucked up. There was this thing called 'flirty fishing', where the women met men for money. The cult basically convinced them it was fine to be hookers. It was like mind control - the women believed it was a good thing to do because they were physically showing these men they met the love of God. My mom had a lot of terrible experiences from that. I was there. We'd be hitchhiking our way around Japan or somewhere crazy and I'd have to wait in hotel lobbies for her. Sometimes we'd have to run away from violent people and she'd be crying, saying she didn't like her life."

-- Girls frontman Christopher Owens on the Children of God, the cult in which he was raised. (via The Guardian)

SOURCE:

http://pitchfork.com

2009 British Open Championship: Leaderboard America is dead

2009-07-17T13:35:00.000-07:00

Greg Norman made a name for himself playing golf and then used it to parlay into a business career. Norman has been involved in many different ventures, including once upon a time having a stake in Cobra Golf before it was sold to Fortune Brands (FO: NYSE). Until last year at Royal Birkdale when he turned temporarily back the hands of time, his playing career was essentially dormant as most of his time was devoted to his various business interests. But his experience playing golf has taught him many things that he has used in the board room towards directing the companies he oversees.
“My business is like any business. You have to make adjustments,” Norman explained. “If you become reactionary to a situation you're probably in a bad state. If you're proactive to it and you know you've prepared yourself for moments like this -- nobody can really pick when a recession is going to hit, nobody really knows to the magnitude of what it is, but if you have a good business model and you have the flexibility and adaptability to work with that you can get yourself through it,” he continued.
“I've had to make changes. I've unfortunately had to lay off people, which is not a good feeling,” he revealed. “It's the first time in my entire life, in my short business life of nearly 20 years that I've had to do that, because of the golf course design business. America is absolutely dead, and it doesn't look like it's going to come back for quite a while, to tell you the truth. This is in golf course design I'm talking about.
“We see, in our business, the rest of the world leading the come back from the recession before the United States. I think the United States has got a lot of understanding of regulations that are being put in place by President Obama. Those regulations are different than what we had before. It's kind of like the free market enterprise that it used to be. Entrepreneurs had a great way in the United States, and now there's a few more encumbrances on us to really go. So we have to understand those as we go forward. And some of them are still being written. And it will probably take ten years to really understand them once they get into maturity and then try to figure out what's going on. It's not good out there, especially in the United States. But in our world and the world of sport I think we're very lucky to be in the position we are in. I feel for everybody in this world with the recession, where every one of us has been affected to some degree. It's one of those things, we have to suck it up and go forward with it. ”

SOURCE:
www.examiner.com

Terence Koh’s Dash Snow Tribute

2009-07-14T13:56:00.000-07:00

In Memoriam | Terence Koh’s Dash Snow Tribute

By Maura Egan

The artist Terence Koh has been performing every night at the Whitworth Gallery in Manchester, England, as part of Marina Abramovic’s performance showcase during this month’s Manchester Festival (through July 19). For his four-hour piece, Koh lies on the floor in a shirt made from crushed pearls, his face and feet covered in powder. Curled up in the fetal position, he plays Nat King Cole’s “Mona Lisa” over and over on his iPod. But tonight Koh is honoring the artist Dash Snow, who died today in an apparent drug overdose. Koh will change his tune to “Cheree” by the synth-punk band Suicide. As Koh explained in an e-mail message, “It is for one of my best friend’s Dash and that is our favorite song together and we used to dance to it together.” Strangely, the song was used in the closing scene of “Downtown 81,” which was about Jean-Michel Basquiat, another artist who died way too soon.

UFC 100 Postmortem

2009-07-13T13:01:00.000-07:00

A prizefight ring offers up a lot of truths, not all of them pretty.

UFC 1, airing to a mostly nauseated pay-per-view audience of 80,000 homes in November 1993, used a lot of cringe-worthy brutality to prove that fighting wasn't what Bruce Lee had led us to believe.

UFC 100, which played to unprecedented media coverage and perhaps more than a million households on Saturday, used a lot of cringe-worthy brutality to prove that fighting wasn't even what Royce Gracie had led us to believe.

Brock Lesnar silenced nearly 18 months of derisive talk about his submission loss to Frank Mir by working Mir's face like he was kneading pizza dough, his monstrous arms battering like pistons.

Lesnar, who is a massive man in a sport that almost humors size, is keeping a promise made by Mark Coleman back in 1996 -- that if you're athletic and you can wrestle, you've got a career for the taking.

Lesnar's growing mystique is a little less subtle than Gracie's: most of us are built like Royce, not Brock, and it's easier to project ourselves in the place of a guy who weighs 170 pounds than someone who looks like a Neanderthal with cantaloupes for biceps. But there is very little doubt that he has positioned himself as the UFC's headlining attraction.

If his destruction of Mir indicates he's getting comfortable in the Octagon, expect the UFC to hire a staff reconstructive facial surgeon. Considering that tickets for Lesnar's appearances sell faster than they can be printed, they can certainly afford it.

What's next

Martin McNeil for ESPN.com

Bring it: It's hard to imagine anyone giving Brock Lesnar a run for his money at this point.

Next for Lesnar: The appeal of seeing Lesnar against the winner of Randy Couture-Antonio Rodrigo Nogueira on Aug. 29 just deflated considerably -- both men are not as fresh as Mir and would probably be fitted for a toe tag during their prefight physical. Shane Carwin has the horsepower to make it interesting; fans will scream for a bout with Fedor Emelianenko -- and they should get it, just for history's sake -- but a demure and Russian-speaking opponent is not going to pull the attention the gleefully arrogant Mir did, cult following or not.

Next for Mir: One or two weeks of basement dwelling until the swelling goes down; the loser of the rumored Carwin-Cain Velasquez bout.

Next for Georges St. Pierre: A year off to build the requisite amount of muscle to challenge Anderson Silva -- and wait for a contender to emerge. (I like Mike Swick, but his chances against St. Pierre could not be any worse if he were blindfolded.)

Next for Dan Henderson: Yoshihiro Akiyama if he's lucky, Anderson Silva if he's not -- along with a UFC Hall of Fame slot.

Awards

Martin McNeil for ESPN.com

Ninety UFC events removed from his Octagon debut and Mark Coleman still knows a thing or two about dropping the hammer.

Awkward Sponsorship Collapse of the Night Award: Brock Lesnar, for dunking UFC execs in boiling water over his jab at event sponsor Bud Light for not paying him directly. (Lesnar, looming over a giant Bud Light logo in the cage, said he'd enjoy a Coors Light instead.) Dana White enjoys his anti-corporate renegade image, but you'd better believe he'd wear a tie to that make-up meeting.

Questionable Sportsmanship of the Night Award: Lesnar, for yelling into what was left of Mir's face after caving it in.

Fan Relations of the Night Award: Lesnar, for measuring his response to the crowd's boos after facing off with Mir, realizing that syllables are more trouble than they're worth and flipping them off.

GIF of the Night Award: Lesnar, for addressing the camera with a mouthful of postfight froth and fury that makes Conan the Barbarian look like a Mouseketeer.

Contrition of the Night Award: Lesnar, for showing up to a postfight news conference apologizing for his manic episode -- all while a Bud Light was positioned near his microphone.

Old Soldier of the Night Award: Mark Coleman did the die-hard fans in attendance proud by gutting out a unanimous decision win over a tough Stephan Bonnar in a preliminary fight. The Hammer looked worlds removed from his last, lethargic performance against Mauricio Rua, scooping Bonnar's legs at will and staying out of some aggressive submission attempts. The punches weren't as hard and the intensity wasn't as pitched as they were in Coleman's heyday, but any veteran of UFC 10 that can keep a fight competitive at UFC 100 is worth anyone's respect.

New questions

Jon Kopaloff/Getty Images

Only time will tell if Michael Bisping will ever fully recover -- both physically and psychologically -- from his KO loss to Dan Henderson.

Q: Is St. Pierre big enough to challenge Anderson Silva?

A: St. Pierre's fight shape is typically 185 pounds: Silva's is probably closer to 200. GSP needs a muscle masonry expert to help him add a solid 10 pounds of mass -- he would be well-advised to consult with Mackie Shilstone, who added enough quality beef to both Roy Jones and Michael Spinks that they won boxing titles in heavier weight classes.

If St. Pierre can take down Rashad Evans in training, I like his chances against Anderson. It's a big fight, but the UFC has to cannibalize one of its champions in the process.

Q: Will we see Brock Lesnar versus Fedor Emelianenko?

A: Only if White backpedals on earlier demands that Emelianenko abandon Sambo competition and erases the "championship clause" that would bind the Russian to the promotion until he loses his (theoretical) title. The former should be easily dismissed: Emelianenko lost in Sambo last year. No one really cared. The latter could be more of a problem. Both Jens Pulver and Murilo Bustamante bolted to better-paying gigs overseas in 2002 even though they hadn't dropped their respective belts inside the Octagon. It's a bit embarrassing.

Q: Do Lesnar's circus antics validate fans of professional wrestling?

A: Big mouths sell in sports. It's not endemic to wrestling, even though it started there. Muhammad Ali played the same game in the '70s, Tyson in the '90s. White plays it now. All of these men know exactly what they're doing. The polite Anderson Silva might be the most talented man in the UFC: his last headlining bout sold less than 325,000 buys. It takes all kinds.

Q: Will Bisping's brutal knockout via the right hand of Dan Henderson affect his chances of being knocked out in the future?

A: I'm not often mistaken for a neurologist, but here it is: there's only anecdotal evidence that suffering a knockout increases the odds of having it happen more easily in the future. But studies done on concussion victims have taken note of a drop off in their timing, balance and reaction. Can a fighter be changed by a severe blow? Yes, he can.

Etc.

Jon Kopaloff/Getty Images

Dan Henderson, right, took heat for the manner in which he disposed of Michael Bisping.

UFC 100's estimated $5.1 million live gate is the second-biggest in company history, behind Chuck Liddell-Tito Ortiz 2 in 2006. But, as you know, Ortiz isn't worth discussing in White's history books.

Dan Henderson took a little heat for claiming his follow-up blow to an already unconscious Michael Bisping was personal, but he later recanted, telling journalists that he was "joking." As with Lesnar, nothing an athlete says immediately following a fight should be taken seriously. There is a mass release of all kinds of brain chemicals following a win that fuels some stupid and regrettable actions.

The UFC estimated that between 30,000 and 50,000 people showed up for the Fan Expo on July 10 and 11. Considering that ground zero for young-demo pop culture gatherings is the 20-year-old San Diego Comic Convention and its 100,000 attendees, that number is staggering.

Las Vegan Natasha Wicks won the right to be ogled by thousands during a Maxim/UFC Octagon Girl contest on Saturday.

Tom Lawlor, Yoshihiro Akiyama, Alan Belcher, and Dan Henderson each earned performance-incentive bonuses of $100,000.

First reported by the Wrestling Observer, a new rule went into effect Saturday that gives a fouled fighter the option of choosing to restart the fight in the same position on the ground or standing. Dong Hyun Kim took advantage of the revision when he suffered an illegal up-kick from T.J. Grant on Saturday: The fight was broken and then resumed on the feet.

Jon Gosselin's New Girlfriend Has a Criminal Record

2009-07-13T12:48:00.000-07:00

Looks like Jon Gosselin and his new girlfriend, Hailey Glassman, have a shared penchant for flouting the law.

Us Magazine reports that Glassman, 22—who was spotted with Gosselin in St. Tropez over the weekend—has a criminal record, stemming from a 2005 marijuana arrest at her alma mater, Indiana University.

According to Jerry Minger, the communications officer at the IU Police Department, Glassman and a few of her buddies were stopped by a cop in a parking lot at 3:18 a.m. on October 2, 2005, after the officer observed the group "passing a pipe back and forth, which is consistent with marijuana."

A subsequent search turned up two plastic baggies in Glassman's handbag, which contained a total of three grams of marijuana. Glassman paid fines and court costs, and was put on probation, when the case was settled out of court.

Perhaps Glassman's taste for judgment-clouding substances explains her willingness to date Gosselin.

Dr. Regina Benjamin: Family Doctor Is Obama's Pick for Surgeon General

2009-07-13T12:44:00.000-07:00

President Obama has made a second nomination for the next surgeon general, after CNN's Dr. Sanjay Gupta's short-lived -- but much publicized -- nomination fell through earlier this year. Dr. Regina Benjamin, the new nominee, practices medicine in Alabama and came to national attention in 2005 when she mobilized volunteers to rebuild her clinic after it was destroyed in Hurricane Katrina, only to have to rebuild again the next year after a fire. The thing I'm most excited about, though, is her specialty. Dr. Benjamin is a primary care physician -- a family doctor -- and practices medicine in a small, rural community, a demographic fewer and fewer medical school graduates are willing to serve.

There's a national shortage of primary care doctors -- which is only expected to get worse in the next decade. The American Academy of Family Physicians has predicted that within ten years, we'll fall short by at least 40,000 primary care doctors. So why so few family doctors? As medicine goes further and further into hyper-specialization, many doctors are finding it easier to focus on just one aspect of medicine.

And then, of course, there's the money. Medical students routinely take out huge loans to finance their education. A common complaint is that -- even if they want to become primary care doctors or focus on small communities -- if they're going to pay back those loans, then being a specialist is the best way to do it. (Benjamin, by the way, paid for her medical education by participating in the National Health Service Corps, which offers tuition assistance in exchange for practicing in under-served communities.)

The quality of specialized health care in America is exceptional. What we're not doing a very good job on, though, is providing routine care, preventative care and finding a way for people to afford health care. Benjamin's background and experience put her in a great position to tackle those problems.

Source: www.politicsdaily.com

Amanda Rodrigues Pictures

2009-07-13T12:37:00.000-07:00

The wife of Boxer Arturo Gatti, Amanda Rodrigues was detained this weekend after her husband was found dead in their vacation home in Rio De Janiero, Brazil. Authorities say that Rodrigues is the main suspect in Gatti’s death. According to reports by the Associated Press, Roridgues strangled Gatti with her purse strap.

Police suspect Rodrigues because she was the only person around after his death and made inconsistent statements during her interrogation. No motive has been mentioned by authorities as to why Rodrigues would want to kill her husband, thus the case is still developing.

It’s hard to believe that Rodrigues, 23 had the ability to kill her husband, who was the former feather weight champion of the world throughout the mid 90’s. As unfortunate as this story is, it amazes me that it’s the second one in which a pro sports athlete is killed by a younger woman (see Steve Mcnair).

SOURCE: www.manolith.com

Gaia Online Introduces zOMG!fest with Celebrity Gaming Composer Jeremy Soule

2009-07-11T20:49:00.000-07:00

Gaia Online's zOMG!fest Celebrates the Music Behind the Game

Online hangout brings composer Jeremy Soule to MMO for in-game discussion, releases original game soundtrack

San Jose, Calif. June 25, 2009 -- What do you get when you mix epic quests with killer music? Find out this week during zOMG!fest, the ultimate summer event for gaming fanatics and music lovers hosted by Gaia Online, the world's most active online community of more than eight million users. Starting today, Gaians can experience zOMG!, Gaia's free-to-play MMO like never before, with a live in-world forum discussion with the game's music composer, Jeremy Soule, an opportunity to purchase the zOMG! soundtrack and an exclusive virtual item.

To kick off zOMG!fest, Gaia users will have an all-access, behind the scenes music pass. Today at 3:00 pm PT, music lovers will have the opportunity to chat directly with the man behind the music, zOMG! composer Jeremy Soule, during a live forum discussion. In addition to zOMG!, Jeremy has also composed tracks for the games Star Wars: Knights of the Old Republic, Company of Heroes, Guild Wars, Elder Scrolls, and Neverwinter Nights. Joining Jeremy during the chat is music producer and songwriter Jeff Miyahara, who has composed music for past Gaia Online events, including the recent Promageddon and is best known for his work with J-pop artists.

"Gaia's members have been speculating about zOMG!fest for several weeks now, so we are psyched to engage them in a whole new zOMG! experience," said Dave Georgeson, senior producer/creative director of zOMG!. "Thanks to Jeremy Soule, zOMG! has an incredibly strong music component, which the users rave about. We are thrilled to be working with a brilliant composer who has an outstanding resume of in-game tracks."

"The coolest thing about zOMG! as a flash-based MMO is that anyone can login, play and share experiences from any computer, without being hindered by the format or the technology," said zOMG! composer Jeremy Soule. "With a line-up of tracks inspired by the classical masters, the music featured in zOMG! really creates a more lively experience for the player."

In response to popular demand by Gaians, members can now purchase a soundtrack of the music heard throughout zOMG!. Participants that purchase the soundtrack on directsong.com during zOMG!fest will receive a free pair of virtual earphones for their avatar.

The complete package of gaming, social interaction and entertainment, zOMG! is a free-to- play browser-based online massively multiplayer game. Hours of endless fun for everyone are found at zOMG! with customizable profiles, chats, quests, mini-games, monsters and more.

To learn more about zOMG!fest or to get in on the action, visit http://www.gaiaonline.com/zomgfest.

About Gaia Online
Founded in 2003, Gaia Online is the leading online hangout for teens and young adults. More than seven million visitors come to Gaia Online every month to make friends, play games, watch movies in Gaia Cinemas, Gaia Online's virtual theaters, and participate in the world's most active online community. Gaia Online provides a fun, social environment that inspires individuality and creativity. With everything from art contests to discussion forums on poetry, politics, celebrities and more, to fully customizable profiles, digital characters and cars, Gaia Online is a place where teens can create their own space and express their individual style. For more information, visit www.gaiaonline.com.

SOURCE:
www.animenewsnetwork.com

Video: Watch UFC 100 Online, Free Live Streaming Of Fight Card

2009-07-11T20:43:00.000-07:00

Video: Watch UFC 100 Online, Free Live Streaming Of Fight Card
by Jim Brogan

Watch UFC 100 Online, Free Live Streaming Of UFC 100 - Tonight is one of the most highly anticipated MMA events in recent history. UFC 100 will come to you from the Mandalay Bay Events Center in Las Vegas Nevada.

For U.K. fans, there is free live streaming of this PPV from the UFC.com website or you can watch it live on Sky TV channel 433.

To watch online you will need to install Microsoft Silverlight.

The main event fight is between UFC Heavyweight Champion, Brock Lesnar and UFC Interim Heavyweight Champion, Frank Mir. Also, another exciting fight to watch will be between Georges St-Pierre and Thiago Alves in a welterweight bout.

Rounding out the main card of the UFC 100 fight card:

- Dan Henderson vs. Michael Bisping (Middleweight)
- Yoshihiro Akiyama vs. Alan Belcher (Middleweight)
- Jon Fitch vs. Paulo Thiago (Welterweight)

The preliminary matches on the UFC 100 fight card:
- Mark Coleman vs. Stephan Bonnar (Light Heavyweight)
- Mac Danzig vs. Jim Miller (Lightweight)
- Jon Jones vs. Jake O'Brien (Light Heavyweight)
- Dong Hyun Kim vs. TJ Gran (Welterweight)
- C.B. Dollaway vs. Tom Lawlor (Middleweight)
- Matt Grice vs. Shannon Gugerty (Lightweight)

There will also be a profile of the 100 greatest fights in UFC history as well as the live event.

Note, if you are outside the U.K. but still need to watch online for free you can try here, here & here. You can also check here.

Yahoo sports has the event for $44.95.

If you're in NYC, they are simulcasting UFC 100 at Radio City Music Hall with two to three thousand fans expected to attend.

Replays will be found here when made available.

SOURCE:

http://www.postchronicle.com

Millions stream Michael Jackson memorial service

2009-07-07T19:14:00.000-07:00

The world was watching, but did the Internet weather the crush of viewers during Michael Jackson's memorial tribute?

For the most part, yes.

THE SERVICE: 'The best father,' tearful daughter says

A huge online audience, many watching from PCs at work where TV wasn't available, streamed the event live. That taxed the Internet's overall performance and slowed some sites, according to Keynote Systems, a website monitoring firm.

The ripples were felt nationwide. It took Talia Andrews, a public relations representative in New York, up to a minute to change Web pages. "It shows how an event can really reshape the way we use the Internet."

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Millions of streams burdened the Internet as the four major TV networks, cable news outlets and social-networking services provided live coverage.

Like other major news operations, CNN.com added live-video streaming capacity. It drew 781,000 concurrent live streams at its peak, based on internal data. During the presidential inauguration, CNN set a single-day record as the Internet's largest live-video event, with 1.3 million concurrent live streams.

MSNBC.com on Tuesday drew 510,000 concurrent live streams at its peak.

While comments about Jackson seemed to dominate Twitter, Facebook users posted 800,000 status updates on the event. (By comparison, there were 1.8 million updates with "Obama" during the inauguration.)

The social network, which teamed with ABC News, CNN, E Online and MTV to offer live streams, says its Michael Jackson page hit nearly 7 million fans, possibly making it the largest following of anyone on the Web.

Digital technology let 47 movie theaters in 24 states present the tribute for local audiences.

AEG Live on Sunday tapped Cinedigm Digital Cinema to broadcast the event live via satellite to theaters equipped with digital projectors. The company and the theaters showed the tribute for free, using Twitter and other social networks to get the word out that tickets would be on a first-come, first-serve basis.

Cinedigm CEO Bud Mayo says the modest cost was far outweighed by the public relations boost it provides his effort to build a network of theaters that sells tickets for concerts, sports and other events. "Our mission is transformative," he says. "It's to change the way a movie theater is used and fill seats that are empty 90% of the time. This is about complementing the movie industry, not replacing it."

SOURCE:

www.usatoday.com

By Jon Swartz and David Lieberman, USA TODAY

Mechelle McNair & Sahel Kazemi (Photos) Murder-Suicide, McNair & Kazemi?

2009-07-06T12:39:00.000-07:00

Sahel Kazemi and Steve McNair appeared to have been carrying on a torrid love affair for months - Former NFL quarterback and 2003 league MVP Steve McNair has been shot and killed along with a 20-year-old woman named Sahel Kazemi.

Now people are searching for Steve McNair's wife photos as well.

When news broke yesterday of Steve McNair's death, initial reports had called it a double homicide, but then subsequent reports suggested a homicide-suicide.

Mechelle McNair was misidentified in the beginning as the woman victim. Now Mechelle (commonly misspelled "Michelle") has made a statement confirming that she was not the victim - but a young woman was.

The bodies of former Tennessee Titans quarterback Steve McNair and Sahel Kazemi, a woman he had been dating were found Saturday in a Nashville condominium, police said.

Investigators appear to now be treating the deaths as a murder-suicide, The Tennessean reported. McNair's body was on the couch with Sahel Kazemi, 20, next to him. McNair, 36, had been shot several times, police said, while Kazemi was shot only once in the head and a gun lay close to her body.

Investigators said the bodies were discovered by Wayne Neely, a McNair friend, in a condominium McNair rented.

Source:
http://www.postchronicle.com

4th of July 2009: North Korean defiance amid American celebration

2009-07-04T12:40:00.000-07:00

Every year on July 4th, firework displays across the United States celebrate the country's independence, with major cities such as Chicago hosting extravagant shows annually at the iconic landmark of Navy Pier. In 2009, however, while Americans watch their colorful "bombs bursting in air," North Korea has decided to launch multiple military missiles as part of a test it symbolically scheduled for this particular day.

The Democratic People's Republic of Korea, as North Korea is officially named, has been hostile to the U.S. throughout its existence, and its dictator Kim Jong-Il's decision to test-fire their short-range missiles on the 4th of July is a blatant act of defiance and mockery of the Western superpower that backs the democratic government of South Korea.

The state of war between Pyongyang and Seoul has never ended, and the De-Militarized Zone (DMZ) diving the peninsula into North and South has become notorious as the world's most dangerous border. For 50 years, the larger North Korean army has been poised to attack their South Korean counterparts who are bolstered by American troops.

All that keeps the frozen Korean War from going hot again is a cease-fire deal signed in 1953 that created the DMZ and solidified the partition, but this agreement has lately become increasingly volatile in the face of bold moves by North Korea to seek and share nuclear weapons material and redouble its efforts to improve its missile range.

In addition to mocking the U.S., the cloistered totalitarian North Korean regime has bucked the world community by defying multiple United Nations resolutions, and even longtime ally China has been irritated by its increasingly vigilante neighbor. China hopes to avoid war in Korea because the trickle of refugees that manage to escape the draconian North might then turn into a flood, and no outcome would be favorable for Beijing. Should the North win, the fanatical militarists in Pyongyang would be strengthened and emboldened to swat away China's restraining hand; a victory by the South, however, would put a U.S. ally at China's doorstep, which is just as unacceptable.

South Korea has called the launches an provocative move by the North, and both Seoul and Washington are watching closely for any further actions and intentions behind them. There appear to be no ground troop exercises or movements in sync with the volley of Scud-like missiles sent towards the Sea of Japan that would indicate preparations for any greater military operations. However, these actions are not conducive to the restoration of the diplomatic talks, officials say, and only serve to increase the stakes in a dangerous game of brinksmanship that makes the U.S. and its allies nervous and obscures any pragmatists in North Korea.

SOURCE:

http://www.examiner.com

Braciole Harvesting Ideas

2009-07-02T16:04:00.000-07:00

Sometimes an idea infiltrates your consciousness. Starting like an inconspicuous tuft of green in a stone wall it begins to climb spreading shoots and runners until one day you notice it as though it sprang overnight to cover the entire collection of stones. This is how braciole grew in my mind.

I first heard of it on a cooking show but, involved with something else, I wasn't really watching. I heard the name, noticed a couple of the ingredients, and looked up at the end to catch a glimpse of the finished dish. That was around nine months ago and during the time the idea of braciole had grown until it was something I had to fix.

I suspected the rolling, which would in effect change it from a steak to a roast, would improve results. I was right.

Braciole is not a particularly complicated or elegant dish. It's simply a piece of meat — most often beef or veal and sometimes pork — wrapped around a stuffing and then braised. Sometimes it's made using scaloppini in individual portions and sometimes it's prepared as a large roast. I had guests coming for dinner last weekend and decided it was time to harvest.

I looked up a dozen or more recipes in books I had and on the Web. I began my search with a couple of prejudices that had already formed in my mind. First, I wanted to do a roast and not individual rolls. Second, the sauce should be based on fresh tomatoes (that's one reason I hadn't already made it). Eventually I put together a recipe.

For the meat I decided on round steak. This isn't a cut I use often. It has a good flavor — nice and beefy — but as a working muscle it's tough. Furthermore, it has little fat to lubricate and ameliorate the tough fibers and because it's a steak and not a roast, slow cooking typically just wrings what juice it does have out of it. But I suspected the rolling, which would in effect change it from a steak to a roast, would improve results. I was right.

The meal and the braciole were a success. The meat was reasonably tender and richly flavored with a luscious broth (serve with plenty of bread for sopping).

SOURCE:

http://seriouslygood.kdweeks.com/

Michael Jackson Death Photo Published

2009-06-27T10:55:00.000-07:00

Is "Viewing" the Body in the Michael Jackson Death Photo a Modern Continuance of Tradition?

A Michael Jackson death photo has been posted online and many wonder why. What could possibly be gained by publishing Michael Jackson's death photo on the internet? Is it just for financial gain? More important, what does one gain by viewing a Michael Jackson death photo from the viewer's
June 26, 2009Los Angeles, CA
United States of America perspective? There seems to be an inordinate amount of curiosity regarding death photos these days, those of Michael Jackson simply being the latest in a long and sad line of expository death photography. But there it is: "Entertainment Tonight" has published a Michael Jackson death photo and the internet has been inundated with searches for the image of the pop singer's death.

But why? Why is there such an interest in a Michael Jackson death photo? Or, for that matter, a David Carradine death photo? Is it simply morbid curiosity?

Morbid curiosity can explain why many attempt to find evidence of a person's death and look at a person who has died. Psychologists explain morbid curiosity various ways, among them a coping mechanism while mourning, a means to come to terms with one's own inevitable death, or an instinctive reaction to loss.

Some consider morbid curiosity a sick obsession with death and the processes of dying. And although this could explain a few individual's seemingly perverse addiction to observing something like a Michael Jackson death photo, a shocking car accident, or even images of the Metrorail crash in Washington this past week, most do not obsess. They simply observe, mentally assimilate and codify the experience, and literally move on with their lives.

Morbid curiosity incorporates confirmation of death. Seeing a Michael Jackson death photo confirms that the "King of Pop" is actually dead (unless the photo is a hoax, but that is a different topic altogether). People touched by the life of Michael Jackson and his music felt a sense of loss at his passing. Some even went through a phase of denial. A death photo helps many reach an acceptance phase.

The Michael Jackson death photo released by "Entertainment Tonight" showed the "King of Pop" being worked on by paramedics to keep the singer alive. Michael Jackson had collapsed in his home in Holmby Hills (Los Angeles) of an apparent cardiac arrest. Subsequent attempts to resuscitate June 26, 2009Los Angeles, CA
United States of America his heart by a resident physician led to a 911 call. Jackson was rushed to UCLA Medical Center where he was later pronounced dead.

The exact circumstances surrounding the "King of Pop's" death are still relatively uncertain. The results of a three-hour autopsy conducted Friday was deferred until toxicology tests can determine if traces of drugs found in the late pop star's system contributed to his death. The doctor, Conrad Murray, who was at Michael Jackson's home when he collapsed was nowhere to be found after the 911 call. His sudden disappearance has caused authorities to seek him out for questioning. CNN announced that officials have been in touch with Conrad Murray and that an interview had been set up.

The curiosity over the death of Michael Jackson and the seemingly morbid searches for his death photo can also be explained in a traditional way as well. As part of the confirmation of death, it is within the traditions of many cultures that they participate in a "viewing" of the deceased during mourning. Searching for Michael Jackson's death photo (or David Carradine's, or Anna Nicole Smith's, or Heath Ledger's, etc.) can be seen as a modern method of "viewing" and paying one's last respects to the dead.

******

Michael Jackson death photo exclusive to "Entertainment Tonight."

******

Sources:

CNN Television
ETOnline.com

Newspaper Publishes Sanford Emails To Mistress

2009-06-24T20:01:00.000-07:00

Earlier today, we reported that La Socialista (a.k.a. The State newspaper) had documentation of S.C. Gov. Mark Sanford’s affair with another woman.

Boy did they ever.

This evening, the newspaper released some of that documentation, which included some fairly hot and heavy exchanges between the governor and his paramour.

For example, here is an excerpt published by the newspaper of an email sent by the governor to the mysterious “Maria” just after midnight on Thursday, July 10 2008 …

(Gov. Sanford -) You have a particular grace and calm that I adore. You have a level of sophistication that so fitting with your beauty. I could digress and say that you have the ability to give magnificent gentle kisses, or that I love your tan lines or that I love the curve of your hips, the erotic beauty of you holding yourself (or two magnificent parts of yourself) in the faded glow of the night’s light - but hey, that would be going into sexual details …

… please sleep soundly knowing that despite the best efforts of my head my heart cries out for you, your voice, your body, the touch of your lips, the touch of your finger tips and an even deeper connection to your soul.”

Wowzers …

Interestingly enough, the paper had the emails for several months but did not bother to verify their authenticity until this week.

Fuente:

http://www.fitsnews.com/2009/06/24/newspaper-publishes-sanford-emails-to-mistress/

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