tuberaider video

Do you know what happens to people who don't turn their clocks back when daylight savings time hits? Bad thing, bad things happen. So when I ask, did you remember to turn your clock back, you better have the right answer.

Once a man in Idaho forgot to turn his clock back, and the next day he was late for church, and got struck by a bolt of lightning. A woman in Cleveland forgot to turn her clock back, missed a hot date the next day and went on to live out her years alone, talking to her house full of cats. Don't let this happen to you. Turn your clock back, now!

Did You Remember to Turn Your Clock Back?
wikipedia

Daylight saving time is the practice of advancing clocks so that afternoons have more daylight and mornings have less. Typically clocks are adjusted forward one hour near the start of spring and are adjusted backward in autumn. Modern DST was first proposed in 1895 by George Vernon Hudson, a New Zealand entomologist. Many countries have used it since then; details vary by location and change occasionally.

Did You Remember to Turn Your Clock Back?

A week after being kidnapped by Somali pirates, a Briton is reporting back to her family that the pirates are "hospitable, and that she and her husband are okay and friends need not worry.

Talks are being held with the Somali pirates, but Britain's foreign office is refusing to comment on whether any rescue plans are being readied for the couple, who were kidnapped last week from their yacht. There is speculation that the British government refuse to pay ransom, but others say the kidnapppers have not even made their ransom demand yet.

Briton: Pirates 'Hospitable'
independent

A tearful Rachel Chandler told her family not to worry about her as she made contact for the first time since being taken captive by Somali pirates a week ago. The Briton said the pirates are hospitable and added: "Please do not worry about us. We are managing..." Gunmen boarded the couple's yacht as they sailed from the Seychelles towards Tanzania.

Briton: Pirates 'Hospitable'

Hillary Clinton took heat from Pakistan this week over America's use of Predator drone aircraft missions that launch guided missiles in Pakistani territory, but Clinton held her ground against the crititiques.

Hillary Clinton as Secretary of State has fallen nicely into the role of bad cop in the good cop-bad cop team with President Obama, and was more than willing to face up to beef in Pakistan about the drones. At a press conference she was asked whether America's droone attacks, which allegedly have killed civilians, should be considered terrorism, and faced charges that the US presence is bad for the region Clinton steadfastly refused to discuss specifics on the drone attacks, but sternly reminded her Pakistani audience that "we have been fighting your war."

Hillary Clinton & Drones in Pakistan
dawn

US Secretary of State Hillary Rodham Clinton came face-to-face Friday with Pakistani anger over US aerial drone attacks in tribal areas along the Afghan border, a strategy that US officials say has succeeded in killing key terrorist leaders...

Hillary CLinton & Drones in Pakistan

A rapper who was a childhood friend of his has released a video directed by Heath Ledger, filmed just a bit before Ledger died. You can see the video below, along with more info on how it came about.

The rapper, N'fa Forster-Jones grew up with the famed actor in Australia, and benefitted from Heath Ledger's passion for directing videos by lesser known artists he wanted to support. Now as N'fa released the video he is also telling the story of how hsi friend Heath Ledger came to be working with him on this special memory:

Rapper Releases Video Directed by Heath Ledger
msnbc

An Australian rapper who was a boyhood friend of Heath Ledger has released a music video the star directed shortly before his death. N'fa Forster-Jones posted the 3 minute, 31 second-clip for his song "Cause An Effect" on his YouTube and MySpace pages on Thursday...

Rapper Releases Video Directed by Heath Ledger

How many holidays can you name that were inspired by a comic strip? Wellm one you might know is Sadie Hawkins Day, which was invented in the Andy Capp strip in Life Magazine.

Andy Capp's Lil Abner comic strip first mentioned Sadie Hawkins day in 1937, and only a few years later it had swept the country as a favorite holiday, inviting women too chase men down and ask them on dates, which back then was never done. Nowadays those gender roles are a little looser, but some people still celebrate Sadie Hawkins day almost 75 years after Andy Capp birthed it in Life Magazine...

Sadie Hawkins Day, Capp & Life Magazine
wikipedia

In 1939, only two years after its inauguration, a double-page spread in Life magazine proclaimed, "On Sadie Hawkins Day, Girls Chase Boys in 201 Colleges" ...by the early 1940s the comic strip event had swept the nation and acquired a life of its own. By 1952, Sadie Hawkins Day was reportedly celebrated at 40,000 known venues.

Sadie Hawkins Day, Capp & Life Magazine

It's November, which means we're working up to Black Friday, busiest Saturday of the year for holiday shopping.

Stores and business are hoping for an extra busy Black Friday this year, with shoppers taking advantage of sales and deals for Christmas presents, and helpin get the economy going again. Many stores will start Black Friday off with midnight sales, and hope to see shoppers rushing in like the bulls of Pamplona once again. Although hopefully nobody will get trampled, as has happened in the past. Craven consumerism is okay in moderation but let's not go too crazy!

Black Friday: Busiest Saturday for Shopping!
npr

Today is "Black Friday," a term used by merchants who've been in the "red" most of the year to describe their hopeful outlook for the holiday shopping season. NPR's Tony Cox gets a holiday retail outlook from Brett Pulley, senior editor at Forbes magazine and a specialist on entertainment finance and electronic retail...

Black Friday: Busiest Saturday for Shopping!

The King family tradition carried on this weekm as MLK's daughter Bernice was elected to head the historic civil rights group from her father's era, the SCLC

The Southern Christian Leadership Conference elected Bernice King as their leader decades after her father became their original head. A member of the SCLC said: "She seems to have renewed her commitment to the ideas and legacy of her father ... There was a time that she was not as interested in the movement, but she talked to us about going back and reading her father's books and studying her father's message."

MLK's Daughter to Head Civil Rights Group
telegraph

Bernice King has been chosen as the first woman to head the civil rights organisation that her father, Rev. Martin Luther King Jr, co-founded. The Southern Christian Leadership Conference announced the election of Miss King as its eighth president on Friday morning.

MLK's Daughter to Head Civil Rights Group

A father who recently lost his son found a unique way to remember him: by using his ashes in a tattoo.

The British man lost his son to a rare disease at the age of two, but found that a local tattoo parlor in Greater Manchester was willing to help him work through the tragedy with a special tribute, getting a tattoo of his son drawn on his chest, with his late son's ashes mixed in with the ink. For the full story and photos see below.

Father Uses Son's Ashes in Tattoo
BBC

A father from Herefordshire is to have a portrait of his dead son tattooed on his chest using the child's ashes. Mark Richmond, 39, and his wife Lisa, 31, said they wanted to do something as a lasting tribute to their son Ayden...

Father Uses Son's Ashes in Tattoo

Scandal at the Tower of London, as some of their famous beefeaters are accused of harassment of their first female member.

Moira Cameron, the first woman chosen to join the legendary beefeaters or yeoman warders at this historic landmark and British tourist attraction, reports that she was severely harassed and bullied by her male co-workers, who resented a woman joining the team. Such predictable behavior from my fellow males, sorry to say, it seems like we just can't help but show our stupidity in situations like this. And it seems especially absurd for so much ugly male ego to manifest around what is basically a tour guide job. Get over yourselves, guys!

Tower of London Beefeaters Harassment!
ap

If charges made Monday are true, the Tower of London - a popular tourist attraction and home to Britain's Crown Jewels - will add bullying and harassment to the list of foul deeds committed there. The victim: the first woman selected to join the all-male ranks of the Tower's yeoman warders, popularly known as "Beefeaters."

Tower of London Beefeaters Harassment!

Sad news for Yankees pitcher Joba Chamberlain, as the news comes in that his mother, Jackie Standley, is facing up to 20 years in prison for drug charges.

Jackie Standley was arrested last year in Nebraska for trying to sell methamphetamine to an undercover cop, who had come to see her at her apartment. Terrible news for baseball star Joba Chamberlain just as his Yankee team tries to close out the World Series. Since it seems like his mother has a liflong history of her own drug addiction and abuse problems, maybe the right thing to do is for her to be palced in drug rehab, and get treatment at a drug addiction treatment center, instead of going to prison for these drug charges.

Joba Chamberlain & Jackie Standley
honolulu advertiser

The mother of New York Yankees pitcher Joba Chamberlain faces up to 20 years in prison on a felony drug-sale charge. The Lincoln Journal Star reported today that Jackie Standley pleaded no contest yesterday to delivery of a controlled substance in Lincoln, Nebraska...

Joba Chamberlain & Jackie Standley

As several key states hold elections for their Governor posts today, watchers of politics wonder what the results will show for the future of Obama's Democrats?

In two key races, Virginia and New York, an incumbent Democrat is facing a possible loss just a year after the Dems huge wins in the Obama election. Corzine in New Jersey is bacrely breaking even against his Republican challenger Christie, and in Virginia, Deeds is expected to lose in a landslide to his GOP foe.

So the question is, does this show that the country is disillusioned with the change they voted in last year? Or is this simply a case of two races that had their own particular history and reasons for turning out how they did. Either way, issues like the economey, jobs and uneployment, and the impact of the financial bailout clearly continue to be on people's minds, and the Democrats will need to restore confidence in their handling of the economy if they hope to stay on top, as well as moving decisively but wisely on Afghanistan.

Democrats & Governor Posts: Trouble for Obama?
bloomberg

Governor's races today in Virginia and New Jersey are anticipated as barometers of next year's midterm congressional elections...The New Jersey campaign has been a referendum on Democratic Governor Jon Corzine, 62, and his record on property taxes, roads and jobs. In Virginia the race has turned on traditional concerns of taxes and transportation...

Democrats & Governor Posts: Trouble for Obama?

The nation's biggest banks are facing a Feb. 1st deadline, on letting the Federal Reserves in on their plans for employee compensation so that the Feds can assure they are in line with government policies aimed at curbing excessive risk.

The Federal reserve is trying to change the infrastructure of the financial industry, and needs cooperation from the major banks to bring stability to our economy again, making sure their financial advice and investment strategies do not creat excessive risk for banks and their customers. but some say the federal reserve is being excessive in their regulations of major banks, and bankers will not be able to function under these expectations...

Banks Face Feb. 1 Deadline on Compensation
msnbc

Banks face a February deadline for submitting employee compensation plans to the Federal Reserve, sources say...Under the Fed proposal, banks including Goldman Sachs, JPMorgan Chase, Citigroup Inc., Bank of America Corp. and Wells Fargo & Co. would develop plans to make sure compensation for executives, traders, loan officers and others doesn't spur undue risk taking....see more Fed Reserve analysis in the video here.

Banks Face Feb. 1 Deadline on Compensation

More drama in hip-hop's high profile divorce, as rapper Nas seeks to block spousal support to his wife Kelis, who is seeking large sums of money as well as sole custody of their newborn child.

Kelis and Nas made big news with their start studded marriage, then even bigger news when they went into divorce court with their divorce lawyers right as their child was being born. Kelis came out with a judge's order for Nas to give over $40,000 a month in spousal support, and she is seeking an even higher total figure over $70,000. But Nas is trying to avoid this fate, and his attorneys are seeking to block her from taking the support, and he's also vying for joint custody of the kid. One hopes that in the long run they can resolve this marriage/divorce drama, if only for the sake of the kid.

Nas Blocks Spousal Support To Kelis (VIDEO)
xxlmag

Nas is fighting back. The recently divorced father is trying to block his ex-wife Kelis from receiving any spousal support. The "Milkshake"singer is asking for $72,728 a month, reports tmz.com, a number that has forced The N to file legal papers to the judge in their divorce case...

Nas Blocks Spousal Support To Kelis (VIDEO)

Bad news from Johnson & Johnson as they take drastic measures to deal with the economic downturn. The latest measure from J&J: 7,000 jobs being cut to offset the losses caused by decreasing consumer spending. Even though, ironically, that decreased consumer spending is due largely to people's jobs being cut.

J&J produces a vast array of over-the-counter drugs, health products, make-up, cosmetics & skin care products, but is now forced to resort to layoffs and add to the unemployment rate as their profits shrink in this economy. A spokesman said: "We want to make sure we can fully capitalize on investments to drive new products, getting to a more normalized spend level."

J&J: 7,000 Jobs Cut
bloomberg

Johnson & Johnson, the world's largest health-products company, will fire more than 7,000 workers as consumers cut spending on items ranging from drugs to skin care amid the global recession. J&J will shrink its 117,000-member workforce by 6 percent to 7 percent..

J&J: 7,000 Jobs Cut

Best Buy will take a shot at competing with Netflix, as a partnership between Best Buy & CinemaNow allows the chain to offer movie downloads to their customers.

The Best Buy/Cinema Now partnership will allow consumers to watch movies on many devices: computers, DVD or Blu Ray players, smartphone devices similar to the iPhone and portable MP3 players.

Up until now Best Buy has failed to do well with digital delivery of media, and they will have lots of competition as others already offer this service, including Netflix, Blockbuster and Apple, not to mention perhaps the biggest competitor: illegal downloads from places like bittorrent.

Best Buy, CinemaNow Deal
nytimes

Best Buy sells a lot of DVDs, but it is taking another step to get ready for the day when that business shifts online. The giant electronics retailer on Tuesday is announcing a partnership with Sonic Solutions' Roxio CinemaNow service to deliver first-run DVDs streamed online directly to consumers...

Best Buy, CinemaNow Deal

Dallas Cowboys cheerleader Whitney Isleib was perhaps only trying to have some harmless fun dressing up like a favorite rapper Lil Wayne, but her darkened-skin Halloween costume is bringing lots of controversy over its similarity to the age-old racist tradition of wearing blackface.

It seems clear the young cheerleader just didn't know any better when she dressed up this way, even it's hard to imagine not realizing the historical baggage behind this sort of makeup. I hope that she can just own up to her mistake and apologize, and then be allowed to learn from it and move on.

Dallas Cowboys Cheerleader, Lil Wayne & Blackface..! (VIDEO)
cbsnews

Dallas Cowboys Cheerleader Whitney Isleib has inadvertently stepped into a Halloween controversy by reportedly dressing up as soon-to-be incarcerated rapper Lil' Wayne in black-face. Photos of the cheerleader turned hip-hop impresario were posted to Facebook and eventually made their way to sports blog Deadspin.com...

Dallas Cowboys Cheerleader, Lil Wayne & Blackface..! (VIDEO)

One of Obama's first actions as President, that continues to have a major impact that is hotly debated, was when Obama signed the $787 Billion stimulus into law.

It was an emergency measure designed to halt the global economic crisis that began abruptly during 2008's campaign season (though some financial experts had predicted it for quite a while before that). Much debate was held over the best approach, and arguments continue today over whether it was too money, not enough, and whether the money went to the right places and with the proper regulations and strings attached. It may well be years before we can really tell how successful the stimulus package was, but hopefully the initial signs that the worst is already behind us will prove accurate.

Obama Signs $787 Billion Stimulus Into Law
msnbc

Obama focused on the $787 billion stimulus plan, an ambitious package of federal spending and tax cuts designed to revive the economy and save millions of jobs. Most wage-earners will soon see the first paycheck evidence of tax breaks that will total $400 for individuals and $800 for couples...

Obama Signs $787 Billion Stimulus Into Law

Another of the most pivotal moments in Obama's term so far was the moment when Obama introduced health care reform in the 2010 budget.

This move to emphasize health care reform was doubted by some, who felt it was premature with such economic hardship still left to be dealt with, but the issue of health care has been many politico's passion for decades, including of course the late Sen. Ted Kennedy, so it may have been inevitable that the season of Ted's passing would be when a President finally makes a strong push to bring proper health care to all Americans. It remains to be seen how well it will work out, but I believe that once Obama gets something (anything) passed, it will be remembered as a victory for him despite all the turmoil that has led up to the final vote.

Obama Introduces Health Care Reform in 2010 Budget
cnn

The budget for fiscal year 2010 includes substantial investments in health care reform, renewable energy and education. The budget also includes big cuts for some programs, setting the stage for major political battles as political patrons fight to save budget items in the months ahead...

Obama Introduces Health Care Reform in 2010 Budget

Two of the most loved and hated Presidents will square off against each other for the first time, as Bill Clinton and George W. Bush meet for a once-in-a-lifetime debate on Feb. 25th at Radio City Music Hall.

The debate, billed as the biggest debate event in history, will be a moderated question and answer session that is sure to draw massive attention. Many haters of Bush saw Clinton as his polar opposite, bringing a fierce intellectual rigor to his arguments on every issue that came his way, and able to speak extemporaneously on anything you threw at him. Whereas bush was seen as clumsy when having to speak off the cuff, and known for his many malaprops and verbal flubs. But George W. Bush is quicker than people give him credit for, and actually came out even in most of his debates, so seeing him square off against Bill Clinton at Radio City Music Hall should be a fascinating show to say the least..I hope this will also be televised or video taped?

Bush and Clinton to Debate, Radio City
newsday

Former Presidents Bill Clinton and George W. Bush won't be joining the Rockettes' kickline, but they will bring their traveling road show to Radio City Music Hall in February. Clinton and Bush plan to debate each other on key political issues on Feb. 25 at the venue better-known for high-kicking dancers and Christmas pageants...

Bush and Clinton to debate, Radio City

Mayor Mike Bloomberg was re-elected yesterday for a third term as Mayor of New York, but the big news may be how small his margin of victory was, after Bloomberg spent more then $100 million in the most expensive self-financed campaign in American history.

Bloomberg, after a controversial move to remove his city's term limits, spent the massive sums of his own money to defeat the rather nondescript Democratic contender Bill Thompson, and as a New Yorker I can attest to the constant barrage of election mailers that clogged our mailboxes every single day, as well as radio/TV ads, robocalls and volunteers ringing doorbells.

But even after that huge expenditure of over $100 million against a much lesser known opponent, Bloomberg still only eked out a victory by a few percentage points. Estimates are that Bloomberg spent over $150 per vote, where Thompson spent about $13. Hard to say Bloomberg has much of a mandate with these results, and it has to raise questions about the role of big money in our electoral system, but in the end I suppose a win is still a win.

Bloomberg Spent More Than $100 Million Most Expensive Self-Financed Campaign
nytimes

Michael R. Bloomberg, the Wall Street mogul whose fortune catapulted him into New York's City Hall, has set another staggering financial record: He has now spent more of his own money than any other individual in United States history in the pursuit of public office...

Bloomberg Spent More Than $100 Million Most Expensive Self-Financed Campaign

The town of Breckenridge Colorado has the Nation buzzing, no pun intended, after confirmation that Breckenridge votes to legalize marijuana in this yesterday's election day.

Breckenridge citizens passed Measure 2F by a wide margin, getting rid of criminal penalties for possessing a small amount of marijuana, and the laws against bongs and other pot-smoking accessories.

Heartwarming news for the many Americans who believe that marijuana, though it should be regulated, ought not be treated the same as harder drugs like cocaine or heroin, and especially that the many uses of medicinal marijuana should be recognized, as it is known to be helpful as an alternative medicine treament for nausea, glaucoa, high stress and anxiety and many other ailments. Personally I do not partake of the drug, but I see no reason why it should be treated worse than cigarettes, which have a much clearer track record of damaging people's health.

Breckenridge Votes to Legalize Marijuana
denver channel

Breckenridge is drawing national buzz after voters by a nearly 3-to-1 margin legalized the adult possession of marijuana Tuesday night. Breckenridge voters passed Measure 2F, which removes criminal penalties from the town code for the private possession of up to one ounce of marijuana by adults 21 and older. The ordinance also removes criminal penalties for the possession of bongs, pipes and other drug paraphernalia...

Breckenridge Votes to Legalize Marijuana

Horrible breaking news from Texas this afternoon, as a shooting at Fort Hood has reportedly left 7 dead and over 20 wounded.

There are not many details available yet but an Army spokesman said ""There's a lockdown in place on the base. Whatever this is started at Howze Movie Theatre, in one of the 'family readiness areas' on base - meaning places families go for entertainment, etc." but another representative reported that the shooting started elsewhere on the base and then a second incident was at the hteater.

Apparently two people were involved with the Fort Hood shooting, one of whom is was captured at the army base and is now in custody. See the link below for details, and likely updates as new details emerge on this terrible story. Condolences to all who were affected by this tragedy.

Shooting, Fort Hood Army Base, 7 Dead
cbsnews

Seven people are reported dead and at least 20 wounded in a shooting at the Ft. Hood Army post in Killeen, Texas, the Army has confirmed. A public information officer said that there were two shooters and one was in custody. The army post is on lockdown...

Shooting, Fort Hood Army Base, 7 Dead

In heartwarming news that we could all use today, given the other big story of the afternoon, after being missing for 5 days, a baby was found under a bed in Florida, at the home of her babysitter.

Police say they were stunned to find the baby in a box under the woman's bed, where she as apparently trying to hide it. Officers were reportedly crying on the scene, saying they'd never seen anything like it and feeling full of relief that the baby was found alive...

Baby Found Under Bed
NPR

Investigators spent five days searching dense vines and marshes for a missing infant, only to find her lying quietly in a 2-foot by 3-foot cedar box that had been shoved under her baby sitter's bed.

Baby Found Under Bed

Details keep coming in on the horrific shooting today at Fort Hood, where a suspected gunman as been identified by authorities as Major Malik Nadal Hasan.

Major Malik Nadal Hasan was killed at the scene where two other shooters were apprehended after a terrifying shooting spree at the Army Base, that has left many people dead and wounded. apparently Hasan was due to go overseas into combat and was distressed about it. More details and photos are sure to emerge, so check the links below that has resources for more info.

Fort Hood Suspected Gunman: Major Malik Nadal Hasan
business insider

The suspected gunman in the Fort Hood shooting has been identified as Major Malik Nadal Hasan. According to Army Spokesman Lt. General Robert W. Cone. A defense official speaking on condition of anonymity to the AP says Hasan was a mental health professional -- an Army psychologist or psychiatrist....

Fort Hood Suspected Gunman: Major Malik Nadal Hasan

More arrests in the high profile Galleon case came today, with 14 charged in the insider trading sting.

The case, that centers around famous hedge fund manager and financial analyst Raj Rajaratnam, now has over 20 people facing charges or being investigated for connections to this insider trading operation that brought huge profits in the financial sector for its alleged members. An informant from inside the alleged Wall St creime ring gave information that led to these arrests, for securities fraud and other related crimes based on using inside info illegally as financial advice that gives an unfair advantage in playing the stock market.

14 Charged in Insider Trading
fox

Criminal charges have been filed against 14 people, including attorneys and Wall Street professionals, in a widening $53 million insider trading case that has already snared one of the richest men in America, federal prosecutors said Thursday...Rajaratnam has denied through his lawyer participating in the scheme to use inside information to trade stocks at a profit ahead of public announcements....

14 Charged in Insider Trading

If you are a homeowner who faces foreclosure, new changes in the rules will now allow you to consider renting your home from Fannie Mae instead of losing it outright.

The new plan for dealing with the aftermath of the real estate crisis, called the "Deed for Lease" plan (since "this for that" themed plans apparently work really well for fixing the economy) So if you can't qualify for a home loan under the new regulations, but want to try and keep your home, you will now get a one year rental period from Fannie Mae, that gives additional time and opportunity to work towards keeping your home that you've invested so much in.

Freddie Mac has had a similar deal in place for some time as well, with somewhat different regulations on how the home can be rented after it is fully foreclosed. Hopefully more such compromises can be found, so that the many hard working families caught up in this crisis will not have their lives turned upside down.

Fannie Mae Rental Program
st louis hotel room

housands of borrowers on the verge of foreclosure will soon have the option of renting their homes from Fannie Mae, under a policy announced Thursday. The government-controlled company, through its new "Deed for Lease" program, will allow borrowers to transfer ownership to Fannie Mae and sign a one-year lease, with month-to-month extensions after that...

Fannie Mae Rental Program

The son of slain NFL legend Steve McNair is now set to carry on his father's tradition, as the McNair son prepares to attend Southern Miss on a football scholarship. Steve McNair Jr. mulled over many offers from big name colleges but decided to stay close to home at Southern Miss and bring his promising skills as a wide receiver to the Golden Eagles.

McNair Jr's father was a top quarterback for the Houston Oilers in the NFL, but his son has gone a different route, choosing to catch passes instead. And coming from a royal football family he got to play catch with many great players in his life, including catching passes from Brett Favre in recent years.

After all the tragedy and turmoil around Steve McNair's death, it's good to see some positive news as his son moves on to such good things.

McNair Son: Southern Miss Bound!
nbcsports

Steve McNair Jr. has decided to accept a football scholarship from Southern Miss, according to Rivals.com.

"I'm going to Southern Miss," McNair said. "It's close to home, and my family and my coaches can all come and see me play every week." The son of the late Titans quarterback had offers from many big programs from around the country, including Minnesota, Mississippi, and West Virginia.

McNair Son: Southern Miss Bound!

George Lopez & Wanda Sykes are set to invade the late-night TV talk world thie month, as they each debut new shows. Whatare their chances of succeeding?

Wanda Sykes is debuting a Fox show on Saturday nights, while George Lopez (whom I especially loved in his Reno 911 cameos.) is planting his flag on TBS. I agree with the blog post below, that success for these new shows hosted by people of color lies in resonating with today's cultural landscape, which is a post-Obama-victory landscape specifically in TV terms a post-Chappelle landscape. David Alan Grier and D.L. Hughley felte like they were trying to pick up a10-15 year old conversations, that just didn't fit in 2009.

I'll be watching both shows and rooting for George and Wanda to win! Always thought they were smart, funny performers.

George Lopez & Wanda Sykes (VIDEO)

With the (apparent) success of The Mo'Nique Show, will Wanda Sykes and George Lopez similarly excel in late night, or will they go the way of other recent shows by comedians of color, like David Alan Grier's short-lived Chocolate News and CNN's dull DL Hughley Breaks the News? They'll have to be edgy and interesting: the problem with Grier and Hughley was they were too soft for a post-Chappelle age...

George Lopez & Wanda Sykes (VIDEO)

San Francisco Giants pitcher Tim Lincecum was cited for Marijuana charges this week, after being pulled over at a traffic stop in Washington.

Lincecum, the ace pitcher for the Giants squad, was cited for a misdemeanor marijuana possession charge. An officer approached his car ad claimed to smell marijuana smoke, leading to a search and the discovery of about 3 grams of marijuana which is a very small amount, far less than would be necessary to file serious charges.

Critics of current drug policy would cite this as an example of perfectly harmless marijuana usage that shouldn't lead to such drama, but defenders of the system will say the law is the law and he should be accountable for breaking it. But with new legalization bills passing in this last election once again, perhaps after a while these stringent drug laws won't be around anymore in the same form.

Tim Lincecum Cited: Marijuana
espn

San Francisco Giants star pitcher Tim Lincecum is facing misdemeanor marijuana charges following a traffic stop in his home state. Washington State Patrol spokesman Steve Schatzel said Thursday that the 2008 Cy Young Award winner and former star at the University of Washington was

Tim Lincecum Cited: Marijuana

Bluefin tuna have been on the endangered species list for some time now, but new studies show that the people in charge of protecting the species of fish have actually been the ones who put the tuna on the brink of extinction.

International Commission for the Conservation of Atlantic Tunas, who was placed in charge of preserving Bluefin Tuna, is accused by scientists of setting yearly quotas for tuna fishing that were far too high than was acceptable to preserve the species, going against the advice of experts each year.

Here are the lyrics from a song recently released on the topic, by a local band from Portland named the Fishmonger Crew:

Bluefin Tuna Extinction Agenda
nat geo

Established to protect Atlantic tuna, an international fisheries group has actually driven the bluefin tuna to the brink of extinction, environmentalists announced Thursday.

The night before a meeting in Brazil of the International Commission for the Conservation of Atlantic Tunas (ICCAT), an accusation was made by environmentalists saying that the group brazenly ignored the advice of its own scientists...

Bluefin tuna they be going extinct
Bluefin tuna they be going extinct
Bluefin tuna they be going extinct
Bluefin tuna they be going extinct
Bluefin tuna put your dishes in the sink

I eat tuna, I heat pumas, I seek schooners
I reap rugers, I keep coopers.
Fish be gettin caught in nets ridiculous
We mistreat the environment, conspicuous
I tell listeners don't be so mischevous
respect ecology, reflect the pottery
we wear the wallabees, be scared? you gotta be
cuz these tuna they deserve an apology

Bluefin tuna they be going extinct
Bluefin tuna they be going extinct
Bluefin tuna they be going extinct
Bluefin tuna they be going extinct
Bluefin tuna put your dishes in the sink

Bluefin Tuna Extinction Agenda

Joe Jackson, the father of the late Michael Jackson, is seeking to get a stipend or monthly allowance from his dead son's estate, to cover his life expenses.

Joe Jackson was well known for having been abusive of Michael, as Mike discussed in various interviews. He seems to be less than popular among other members of the family, including the mother who no longer lives with him. but his lawyers contend he still justly deserves to benefit from his late son's riches, as Michael's estate continues to generate millions on a monthly basis, as it perhaps will for all eternity given how beloved Michael Jackson's music is. So does Joe Jackson deserve a stipend? What is your take? See the link below for more details.

Joe Jackson Stipend?
ksdk

Michael Jackson's father seeks an allowance from Michael's estate to cover expenses that exceed $15,000 a month, according to court documents. The request seeking an unspecified amount for Joe Jackson was filed by lawyer Brian Oxman, who said there was no apparent reason for the administrators of the estate to not seek an allowance for the Jackson family patriarch...

Joe Jackson Stipend?

Fla. Coach Meyer fell victim to a new SEC rule barring criticism of officials, as he received a hefty fine for speaking to reporters about what he felt was a blown call in the last Florida game.

Coach Meyer believed a call against Tim Tebow was a boner of a mistake, and decided to pursue it be sending tapes to be reviewed by the SEC, but then he took it further by complaining to reporters about the bum call, which placed him in violation of the league's new "no snitching rules" in a manner of speaking. Meyers has said he respects the ruling and will abide by it.

Fla. Coach Meyer: Fine
wn.com

Urban Meyer of Florida became the first coach to be disciplined under the Southeastern Conference's new policy regarding criticizing officials. The league fined Meyer $30,000 on Friday, two days after he said referees missed a late hit against quarterback Tim Tebow in No. 1 Florida's 41-17 win against Georgia...

Fla. Coach Meyer: Fine

Gold prices, which have bucked other trends and remained on an uptick as the economy waned in many other ways, hit a new high of $1,000 this week, spurring hopes that it would be a bellwether for better economic times to come.

As the global recession continues to have long lasting impact, many have looked to gold prices as a measure of whether recovery is approaching, so this rising price is interpreted by some financial experts as a positive sign. But many other indicators continue to be stagnant, at best, so the economic prognosis continues to be unclear.

Gold Prices: $1,100
ft

Gold hit a fresh peak above $1,100 an ounce yesterday but crude oil prices fell as a disappointing rise in US unemployment fueled concerns about prospects for a recovery in the world's largest energy consumer. Gold hit $1,100.90 a troy ounce before easing back to $1,095, up 4.8 per cent this week and gaining 24.7 per cent this year amid hopes for a new round of buying by central banks in emerging economies...

Gold Prices: $1,100

A miraculous story from France, where doctors for the first time pulled off a new gene therapy, and found it halts 2 boys' rare brain disease.

The boys suffered from adrenoleukodystrophy, also known as ALD, a serious brain disease made famous in the movie "Lorenzo's Oil." Normally the disease is untreatable, but these doctors in France figured out how to use the HIV virus, change it so it does not transmit AIDS but instead simply carries this new gene into the boys bodies so it will fight the brain disease!

Here's hoping research will continue to succeed in realm of medical science, and politics annd such won't keep this work from getting funded.

New Gene Therapy Halts 2 Boys' Rare Brain Disease
abcnews

French scientists mixed gene therapy and bone marrow transplants in two boys to seemingly halt a brain disease that can kill by adolescence. The surprise ingredient: They disabled the HIV virus so it couldn't cause AIDS, and then used it to carry in the healthy new gene...

New Gene Therapy Halts 2 Boys' Rare Brain Disease

Now that he has turned 13, America is talking about the world's tallest teen, Brenden Adams. As seen below, he was even on Oprah recently!

Brenden Adams is the newest addition to the Guinness Book of World Records after reaching a height over 7'4" at the age of 13. Brenden has an unusual condition of a 12th chromosomal split, that causes much more rapid growth than most young people have.

Doctors are using hormones to force an early start of puberty, hoping to slow down the world's tallest of teens' growth so he can be healthy. But in the meantime Brenden Adams says he's happy, and "person, just like everybody else."

I only have three words for the world's tallest teen: best of luck! Oh and also three other words: New York Knicks!

World's Tallest Teen Brenden Adams

A 13-year-old Washington State boy was recently named the World's Tallest Teen by the Guinness Book of World Records. Brenden Adams, of Ellensburg, Wash., is already 7 feet 4.6 inches tall, and still growing, according to a story on CNN. The teen's super-tall stature is all due to his 12th chromosome, which split in half.

World's Tallest Teen Brenden Adams

In Mongolia, horse meat is being used to fight H1N1 as the country seeks folk remedies to combat the swine flu that is hitting their country harder than perhaps anywhere else in the world.

The illness has claimed over 600 lives in Mongolia, and as traditional medicine and doctors fail to stop the spread of the contagious disease, Mongolians are hoping the horse meat folk remedy will save them, causing prices to rise exponentially. Vaccines have not been made available quickly enough in the country, allowing its spread to reach epidemic proportions.

Mongolia Horse Meat H1N1
reuters

The price of horse meat has risen in Mongolia, as a surge in H1N1 cases and dearth of vaccines has people turning to folk remedies. Seven people died and 630 cases have been treated in the two weeks since the H1N1 strain of influenza first appeared in Mongolia, forcing the government to close kindergartens...

Mongolia Horse Meat H1N1

Sad story from the National Zoo in rock Creek Park, after video was posted where a deer jumps into the lion exhibit and is chased down by the lions.

The baby deer was caught on video getting lost in the lion's area of the zoo, and grabbed by a couple of lions before it managed to escape into the moat. The crowd at the zoo can be heard cheering for the deer as it escaped the lion exhibit, after which zoo staff finally arrived and took the deer to be treated. Sadly though, latest reports say the deer's injuries were too severe, and it had to be put to sleep :( At least it will go down in history as a hero, though! I'll give my little animal and extra hug in his memory.

Deer Jumps into Lion Exhibit
msnbc

The last place a wild baby deer wants to find itself in is a lion exhibit at the National Zoo. Unfortunately, that's exactly where one ended up Sunday afternoon after it wandered out of Rock Creek Park and jumped in...Two female lions went after the deer and severely injured it, but the deer got away from its predators and made a mad dash for the moat...

Deer Jumps into Lion Exhibit

This week the Supreme Court will hear a crucial case about whether the sentence of life without parole juvenile suspects face is an excessive punishment.

The legal case being reviewed involves two convicted criminals in Florida, who are serving life without parole for crimes they committed as children. Many believe this is excessive, and anyone who was a child when they committed their crimes should have some chance to be rehabilitated, no matter how bad the crime they committed. Ta Nehisi Coates says: ... In the juvenile death penalty case Judge Kennedy said that even the most heinous crime isn't evidence of a child that cannot be rehabilitated....

But others say justice must be served no matter what, and defense attorneys shouldn't be able to get someone off the hook just because of their age. This juvenile life without parole case will be a crucial test of the new Supreme Court, and a measure of where they stand on social issues in our legal system.

Life Without Parole, Juvenile (VIDEO)
miami herald

Lawyers for two Florida men who were sentenced to life without parole as juveniles will argue to the U.S. Supreme Court Monday that the penalty is cruel and unusual...On Monday, the lawyers for two Florida men who, as juveniles, were sentenced to life without parole for nonhomicides will ask the nation's highest court to declare the practice of incarcerating juveniles for the rest of their lives cruel and unusual, as well...

Life Without Parole, Juvenile (VIDEO)

Anh 'Joseph' Cao has suddenly become famous as the lone Republican to vote for the Democrats health care bill, but long before this Anh Cao and his family showed even more courage, embarking on a mission to America as Vietnamese refugees.

Anh Joseph Cao, who defeated the notoriously corrupt William Jefferson to become a congressman from Louisiana, came to America when he was a young child, as his family sought to escape the turmoil coming as Saigon fell back home in Vietnam. Then another life changing experiencec came when Cao worked with poor people in Mexico. Cao says "I worked in extreme poverty and had a faith struggle, with the situation of human suffering: Why did a loving and powerful God create a world with so much human suffering?"

Here's hoping there is more history to come for this Vietnamese refugee who is now showing his fellow Republicans the way back home.

Anh 'Joseph' Cao, Vietnamese Refugee
huffpo

On Tuesday, more than 30 years after therefugee child escaped aboard a U.S. military transport plane with his uncle, brother and sister, leaving their parents behind, Joseph Cao was sworn in as the first Vietnamese-American to serve in Congress...

Anh 'Joseph' Cao, Vietnamese Refugee

The bodies found in Anthony Sowell have now left the Ohio suspect indicted on 5 counts of murder and numerous other charges. And as Sowell's lawyers scramble to find a defense against all this damning evidence, police and prosecutors continue to seek new leads in other cities where Sowell lived in the past.

Anthony Sowell, the Ohio suspect indicted in this case, also lived in other towns as an active miltary member, including California, Japan and the North and South Carolina. So authorities are now looking into whether he may be tied to unsolved murders in those cities as well.

A hideous story, but hopefully more investigation can at least bring a tiny amount of peace to families who never saw their cases solved.

Ohio Suspect Indicted
chicago tribune

Authorities are investigating whether an Ohio murder suspect whose home and yard harbored the remains of at least 11 people is connected to any killings in places he lived while in the military, including California, Japan and the Carolinas...He was indicted Monday on one count of attempted murder, two counts of rape, two counts of kidnapping and two counts of felonious assault...

Ohio Suspect Indicted

Years after his attacks terrorized Washington DC and the nation, the state of Virginia has the D.C. sniper set for execution by lethal injection tonight, for the random killing sprees that scarred the beginning of this decade.

the D.C. sniper's attorney Jon Sheldon is still holding out hope for a stay of execution by the Governor, TIm Kaine, but says if this final measure fails he will attend the execution to see off the man he's worked so hard for these years, whom he still sees as a human being who was mentally ill and not a monster, despite the horrible things done by John Allen Muhammad.

But for most who are there, tonight Greensville Correctional Center will be a time of closure and justice, with the execution set for the D.C. sniper who took many innocent lives.

D.C. Sniper Set for Execution
wxia

Unless Virginia Gov. Tim Kaine steps in, the D.C. sniper set for execution, John Allen Muhammad will be executed for the sniper attacks that terrorized the nation's capital region for three weeks in October 2002...

D.C. Sniper Set for Execution

At the height of the D.C. sniper case, a threat rang out against the children of the D.C area, but schools and parents had mixed feelings about how to address the threat and whether to close schools or let life continue on.

Many parents wondered if it was best to protect their children by closing schools as the sniper case continued on, but ultimately it was decided that letting the kids' day to day life continue so they could have a sense of normalcy and sanity. Said one principal at the time, in the NY Times, ''There is a lot of pressure in the atmosphere, but I think the students can find refuge in having a routine.''

Parents Fear Closing Schools: Sniper

As the police in Montgomery County, Md., confirmed the sniper's threat, first reported in The Richmond Times-Dispatch and The Los Angeles Times, school officials in the Washington area decided against shutting schools or taking even more drastic steps than they have since the sniper first began killing strangers. And most parents seemed to agree with the decision.

Parents Fear Closing Schools: Sniper

In the aftermath of the D.C. sniper case, the younger of the two killers shocked the world, as sniper suspect Lee Boyd Malvo's confession transcript revealed stunning details of the twisted world these murderers created inside their minds.

in the transcript of the confessions, sniper Lee Boyd Malvo is found bragging, boasting and laughing as he recounts victims being shot in the head, and he described their partnership in the killing spreee as a military-style operation where either man could do the shootings or oversee the plan and call the attack off. Lee Boyd Malvo is now serving life in prison, as his fellow convicted sniper suspect John Muhammad is set to be executed tonight. Malvo's confession transcript will be left behind as the document of their twisted evil.

Sniper Suspect Lee Boyd Malvo's Confession Transcript
CNN

It is coming out of the sniper case, Lee Boyd Malvo, the man who is now 18 but who was the 17-year-old suspect in that case. The defendant was in a special hearing last week. A judge has made a decision concerning a confession that he allegedly made...

Sniper Suspect Lee Boyd Malvo's Confession Transcript

Joe Cada became the youngest World Series of Poker winner ever last night, beating out a competitor twice his age to take home the $8 million first place prize.

The young Joe Cada, whose mother is a pro poker dealer, and who plays dozens of games online every day, broke the record for youngest winner ever in the WSOP, once held by the legendary (or should I say infamous) Phil Hellmuth, who was on hand and took pictures with the new champion.

Cada one the final hand when his pocket 9s saw an all-in from his opponent who held two suited overcards, and Cada's pair survived through the river. That's poker action at its best! Always fun to watch this display of card-playing strategy every year.

Youngest World Series of Poker Winner
daily news

A 21-year-old Michigan poker professional who chose cards over college won the World Series of Poker main event in Las Vegas early Tuesday, winning $8.55 million and becoming the youngest player to win the tournament in its 40-year history...

Youngest World Series of Poker Winner

The victim of the chimp attack in which a woman's pet primate brutally assaulted her friend before being killed by police is appearing in public for the first time, as she speaks to Oprah Winfrey about her ordeal.

Since the day of the attack, the chimp victim has understandably pursued a million dollar lawsuit, for restitution on the horrible life altering injuries she suffered as the chimp brutalized her face and hands. It may be an act of God's mercy that she does not recall the attack, but the effects of it will still live with her forever, and she certainly ought to be provided for as well as is possible.

Oprah Winfrey: Chimp Victim "Doesn't Recall Attack"
msnbc

A Connecticut woman who was mauled and blinded after a 200-pound chimpanzee attacked her in February is set to appear on "The Oprah Winfrey Show." Chicago-based Harpo Productions said in a Monday statement that Charla Nash will appear on Wednesday's episode of Winfrey's talk show...

Oprah Winfrey: Chimp Victim "Doesn't Recall Attack"

Restaurants across the country offer free meals today on Veteran's day, for any soldiers or military people who visit their restaurant. Many major restaurant chains were offering this special deal, including Applebee's, Outback Steakhouse and Krispy Kreme. For a complete list see the article linked below.

Veterans Day Free Meals
fox news

FREE ARBY'S: Current and former members of the military can present a valid military ID at any local Richmond Arby's to receive the free Regular Roast Beef Sandwich.

FREE APPLEBEES: Applebees restaurants across the country are offering free meals to Veterans and active Military on November 11th. Just show proof of military service.

FREE KRISPY KREME: Veterans and active military personnel who visit any participating U.S. Krispy Kreme store on Veterans Day will receive one free doughnut of any variety.

Veterans Day Free Meals

Good news from Rome for Catholics who believe in UFOs, as word comes that according to the Vatican, alien life is possible, or at least believing it's possible does not contradict Catholic beliefs.

Belief in alien life has long been considered contradictory to Catholic teachings, but a new statement from the Vatican says life on Mars, for example, could have been created by God and offer no contradiction to current Catholic religious lessons. The Vatican's official astronomer (who knew they had one of those?) says it's even possible these alien beigns could be born free of sin. The headline of the article was "Aliens Are My Brother'.

Vatican: Alien Life Possible!
bbc news

The Pope's chief astronomer says that life on Mars cannot be ruled out. Writing in the Vatican newspaper, the astronomer, Father Gabriel Funes, said intelligent beings created by God could exist in outer space...

Vatican: Alien Life Possible!

Demi Moore says no matter how much younger her boyfriend is, you shouldn't call gher a "cougar." The official new title for Demi Moore: Puma

In an interview with W magazine, Demi said of her relationship with Ashton Kutcher "I'm certainly not the first person to be in a relationship with a younger man, but somehow I was plucked out as a bit of a poster girl I don't know why that is. But I just kind of step back sometimes and say, 'There is some reason, and what is it that I have to share in a positive way? ... I'd prefer to be called a puma."

More power to her! If a guy does it he's just a plain old successful guy, but if a woman does we have to make up names for her? Might as well let the woman pick her own animal.

Demi Moore: Puma, not Cougar
azcentral

Demi Moore, 47, knows that when people picture her with husband Ashton Kutcher, they imagine the 31-year-old actor nestled comfortably between the velvety pads of Moore's cougar paws. But the actress has a message for the social taxonomists behind the "Field Guide to Mature Hollywood Females." She's no cougar. She's a puma...

Demi Moore: Puma, not Cougar

A charity auction took us one step closer to justice in the Bernie Madoff case this week, with some valuable Madoff items auctioned to raise money for the victims of his financial schemes.

Bernie Madoff's financial investment scams victimized hundreds of people hoping to make money on Wall Street, before he was finally exposed. Now some of his victims hope to gain a bit of their money back as Madoff's belongings are auctioned off. Madoff's 3 yachts will be auctioned, along with one that belonged to an associate in his financial dealings.

Madoff Items Auctioned for Victims
usa today

In the continuing effort to raise money for victims of Madoff's Ponzi scheme, an auction of jewelry and other items formerly owned by the disgraced financier or his relatives is scheduled to be held in New York City on Saturday.Three former Madoff yachts are to be sold in a separate auction next week in Florida.

Madoff Items Auctioned for Victims

The new disaster movie 2012 shows yet another Hollywood vision of the world coming to an end, but could these 2012 movie apocalypse predictions be a truthful prediction of things to come?

December 12th, 2012, has long been known as the end of the Mayan calendar, when according to some interpretations, global disasters are predicted to take place. Many conspiracy theorists have latched onto this as the end date for the world as we know it, while others believe it will be a transformative moment that ushers in a new and better world.

Scholars of Mayan culture, though, say these amateur apocalypse theories are misinterpreting the Mayan's beliefs, and scientists say there is no scientific basis for the doomsday theories either. But as John Cusack says in the film, when they tell you not to panic, that's when you run! So it's up to you to decide what to believe. If you are planning to hide in an underground bunker forever or something like that, starting on 12/12/2012, I'd be glad to hold all your money and car keys for you starting on December 11th. You know, just to make things easier for you.

2012 Movie Apocalypse Predictions
wikipedia

The 2012 phenomenon is a range of beliefs that cataclysmic events will occur in 2012. The forecast is based primarily on the supposed end-date of the Mayan Long Count calendar, according to a mix of amateur archaeoastronomy, alternative interpretations of mythology, numerological constructions, and alleged prophecies from extraterrestrial beings... [in other words a bunch of hogwash.]

2012 Movie Apocalypse Predictions

Three Tennessee football blayers were arrested this week, as the three college freshman were accused of attempted armed robbery, of all things.

According to arrest reports, the three freshman football players walked up to a car in front of a convenience store, and attempted to rob the three men inside at gunpoint. But when the men showed their empty wallets and claimed to have no money, the robbers ran off and drove away, and when police went after the car they found the three football palyers in it, along with one other woman. Perhaps it's possible they found the wrong car, but if not, what a massively boneheaded move by these young men, wasting an opportunity millions of kids would love to have. They will need some serious legal help to salvage their future after this.

Three Tennessee Football Players Arrested
seattle PI

Three Tennessee football players were arrested Thursday morning in Knoxville on charges of attempted armed robbery. Janzen Jackson, Mike Edwards and Nu'Keese Richardson -- all freshmen -- were charged Thursday after an early-morning incident.

Three Tennessee Football Players Arrested

In the new book "Fall to PIeces" Mary Forsberg Weiland tells the riveting story of her life as a survivor of bipolar disorder and drug addiction, in her marriage to equally an troubled husband, rock star Scott Weiland.

She talks frankly and vividly about alcohol and drug addiction, being diagnosed with mental illness that is often misunderstood, and the story of her life-long relationship with Scott Weiland, who met Mary when they were 16 years old, and proposed to her soon after her 7th stay in drug rehab.

Mary Forsberg Weiland told CNN about the book, "After my bipolar diagnosis, I read countless books on the subject. I had a difficult time connecting to them because my story often lacked the intense mania that so many people struggle with. I'm hoping that someone who may be wrestling with similar demons to mine can find even an ounce of hope in 'Fall To Pieces'."

"Fall to Pieces" - Mary Forsberg Weiland Tells All!
blabbermouth

In "Fall To Pieces", which was written with Larkin Warren, mother, model, bipolar disorder survivor and recovering drug addict Mary Forsberg Weiland tells the story of her life with STONE TEMPLE PILOTS/former VELVET REVOLVER frontman Scott Weiland. Mary reveals the extreme highs and lows of her life with refreshing candor and unflinching detail.

"Fall to Pieces" - Mary Forsberg Weiland Tells All!

Parents are wondering Mattel was thinking, as the toy company prepares to offer kids a new version of their Ken doll, suggestively named "Sugar's Daddy Ken." And as many are sure to notice, this is suspiciously similar to "Sugar Daddy Ken." And in photos of the new doll, Ken certainly looks like a "sugar daddy" too.

As seen in the link here, Sugar's Daddy Ken is a new companion for Barbie in the latest "Malibu Beach" line of Barbie dolls, seemingly patterned after the hoity-toity Paris Hilton socialite world. And Sugar's Daddy Ken comes complete with one of those little dogs everyone like that always has, hence his name since the dog is named sugar. But it's easy to suspect Mattel set up that little wordplay on purpose, and really mean it as a reference to wealthy sugar daddies. Is this a bad message to give to kids who will want these new toys for a christmas present? That'll be for each parent to decide. Surely can't be any worse than the sugar daddies they'll meet in those Grand Theft Auto games.

Sugar Daddy Ken (PHOTO)
abc

This year is Barbie's 50th anniversary, but lately, it's been the iconic doll's companion, Ken, that's been getting all the attention: A new Ken doll called "Sugar's Daddy Ken" is prompting snickers for its suggestive-sounding name...In fact, several Web sites refer to the doll, which is due to make its official debut next year, by a slightly different name -- "Sugar Daddy Ken."

Sugar Daddy Ken (PHOTO)

Mean Joe Greene will finally receive an award for his classic coke commercial, awarded to him before the Steelers game this Sunday.

Joe Greene will receive a Clio award, the award given each year to the best commercials and advertisements, for his role in one of the most famous TV ads ever, his legendary Coca-Cola ad where a young boy gives him a bottle of Coke, and then he tosses the kid his football jersey (whichc would now be a pretty sweet throwback jersey). The Clio was actually awarded 30 years ago when the ad first hit TV sets, but somehow Joe Greene never got his award, so the Clios are taking this opportunity to make things right on the thirtieth anniversary.

Joe Greene to Receive Award (VIDEO)
nfltouchdown

Prior to the Bengals-Steelers game this Sunday, Hall of Fame defensive tackle "Mean" Joe Greene will be on hand to accept his Clio award (thirty years after the fact!) for his work in the legendary 1979 Coca-Cola commercial that featured nine-year-old boy Tommy Okon offering Greene his Coke, and Mean Joe tossing his Steelers jersey to Okon as a gesture of thanks...

Joe Greene to Receive Award (VIDEO)

There are many words you are not supposed to say in school, but I bet you didn't know "meep" was one of them! But that's just the situation at a New England high School where a Principal bans meep, after students apparently made a plan to disrupt the school with this magical nonsense word.

The word "meep", best known as the entire vocabulary of Beeker from the Muppet Show, was allegedly spread around Facebook in a plan to disrupt the school assembly. And when students continued wielding their "meep" weapon over the principal's protestation, the principal saw no choice but to leave a message on all the parents' answering machines, warning against future usage of "meep." One would have to imagine that getting the principal to do that was the greatest victory of all for the students. Game, set and match!

Principal Bans Meep
boston.com

The word "meep" has been banned at Danvers High School in Massachusetts after students said it to repeatedly interrupt school. Principal Thomas Murray says the word was part of a disruption planned using Facebook...

Principal Bans Meep

The University of Virginia, as part of their ongoing study of American Comedy (and Tragedy), is planning to record an oral history of the Bush Presidency, as their Presidential Oral History Program has done for various previous Presidencies.

Bush himself was on hand to help announce the plans for an oral history of his Presidency, which it is explained will include interviews with dozens of the most important figures in Bush's 8 long, long years in office. No word yet on whether it will be narrated by Will Ferrell.

Oral History of Bush Presidency (VIDEO)
msnbc

The University of Virginia's Miller Center of Public Affairs will record an oral history of President George W. Bush's presidency. The center and the George W. Bush Foundation announced the project Thursday. About 100 interviews are planned, including key figures of the Bush White House and Cabinet...

Oral History of Bush Presidency (VIDEO)

By now everyone has heard about the heroism of Sergeant Kimberly Munley in facing down the Fort Hood killer, but now new witnesses are giving credit to her partner Mark Todd as well, saying Sergeant Mark Todd shot fort Hood suspect Malik Hasan, after he had shot down his partner Munley and was fumbling with his pistol.

The original report by the authorities had Munley returning fire herself, after being wounded by Hasan, but now a witness has reported seeing Todd as the one who neutralized Hasan as he was attempting to reload his gun, saving his partner as well as the many others still alive on the base. No word yet on why, if true, this was not reflected in the initial reports. But I see no need to quibble too much, certainly there's enough room to call them both heroes.

Mark Todd Shot Fort Hood Suspect
nytimes

A witness, who asked not to be identified, said Major Hasan wheeled on Sergeant Munley as she rounded the corner of a building and shot her, putting her on the ground. And then Senior Sgt. Mark Todd, a veteran police officer, rounded another corner of the building, found Major Hasan fumbling with his weapon and shot him...

Mark Todd Shot Fort Hood Suspect

Suzanne Somers' latest book knockout gives some very controversial advice about cancer treatment, claiming that cancer patients should avoid getting chemotherapy even when their doctors recommend it. But Suzanne Somers' Book concerns American Cancer Society representatives, who say her unqualified amateur advice could be harmful to anyone who reads it.

Says Dr. Otis Brawley: "I am not critical of the concept of alternative and complementary medicine. When used wisely, it can be useful. Indeed, open-mindedness to other ideas is how we advance conventional medicine...My problem is with some and not all of the advocates of alternative and complementary medicine. My problem is with those who reject the scientific method...While conventional medicine is by no means perfect... the wise use of proven conventional therapy is responsible for a tremendous decrease in the mortality rate over the past century."

Hopefully a balanced discussion will continue to be aired, and cancer patients will hear all sides before deciding how to care for themselves. Personally I find Dr. Brawley more persuasive, but that's just me.

Suzanne Somers' Book Concerns American Cancer Society
examiner

Suzanne Somers released her 19th book last week. Entitled Knockout , the book takes on the emotionally charged issue of cancer treatments. Somers believes that traditional medicine uses too much chemotherapy. [But Dr. Brawley of the American Cancer Society] says that his biggest fear is that people who know Ms. Somers as a celebrity may take her advice over the recommendations of their medical doctors. This could mean risking there very lives...

Suzanne Somers' Book Concerns American Cancer Society

One of the most embarrassing episodes of Oprah's career came just recently, when she had Suzanne Somers as a guest on her show, and seemed to endorse Somers' rather dubious advice on how women should treat menopause. A scathing critique appeared later in Newsweek, and the Newsweek Oprah menopause article was perhaps the harshest and most damaging criticism Oprah has faced, with the magazine claiming her faulty women's health advice was putting her viewers in danger.

Countless doctors and medical experts expressed outrage and shock and Oprah's biased and distorted, in their view, coverage of this issue, on which she and Somers promoted giving women hormone therapy in much higher doses than doctor would recommend, to counteract menopause and help women stay youthful. You can see the link below for much more detail in newsweek, and video of the controversial Oprah episode.

Newsweek Oprah Menopause Article
news week

The resulting spectacle disappointed many doctors who thought Winfrey had higher standards for the quality of medical information she dispersed--or, at least, more of a commitment to balance. Some said they were particularly upset because doctors had complained to Winfrey's production company about what they saw as misinformation disseminated during the show she did on hormone therapy two weeks before that featured Dr. Phil McGraw's wife, Robin...

Newsweek Oprah Menopause Article

Black Friday shoppers for this holiday season are in for some serious savings, as news leaks of the $3 appliances Target will offer in this year's big holiday sale!

If you want to buy kitchenware like toasters and coffeemakers you'll only have to shell out $3 to bag one, and clothing will be 50% off along with many toys that are perect for Christmas. And best of all for my personal needs, there are expected to be major deals for low price HD television sales. Just in time for me as I've ben planning to get an HDTV, probably a 36 inch LCD or thereabouts. Hope they have a good sale for me! A little Blue Ray action would be nice too.

$3 Appliances: Target Sale!
cnn

Target is hoping to lure this year's Black Friday shoppers with $3 toasters and coffeemakers, deep deals on high-definition televisions, and discounts of 50% on clothes and toys, according to a Web site that says it has received a leaked copy of the retailer's circular...a Web site that markets itself as one of many "official" Black Friday deal sites, said Wednesday that he received a copy of the discount retailer's ad...

$3 Appliances: Target Sale!

A sad story played out this week in the National Zoo at Rock Creek Park, where a video was captured in which a deer jumps into lion's cage and barely escapes being chased down by lions.

The baby deer was caught on videotape after getting lost in the lion's cage at the zoo, and then was grabbed and attacked by lions before the deer managed to escape and jump into the moat. The crowd at the zoo is cheering for the deer as it escaped the lion exhibit, after which zoo staff arrive and take the deer to be treated. Sadly though, latest reports say the deer's injuries were too severe, and it had to be put to sleep :( At least it will go down in history as a hero, though! I'll give my little animal an extra hug tonight in that brave deer's memory.

Deer Jumps Into Lion's Cage
weekly world news (but the story is true)

A wild deer was attacked after jumping into a lion enclosure! The young female deer jumped into the lion area on Sunday. It landed in the moat, but was attacked by two lions after it swam ashore! Onlookers began rooting the deer on as it fought to get free. "Everyone was cheering, 'Go, go, go' " to encourage the deer, witness Josh Shpayher said. "Everyone was rooting for the deer."

Deer Jumps Into Lion's Cage

A campaign is picking up steam in the NBA to give up #23, in honor of their greatest player Michael Jordan.

The movement is being led by none other than current NBA all-star Lebron James, who says he believes the NBA should have every team retire the number 23 out of respect for the best player who ever lived, Michael Jordan. Many other top players have expressed agreement with this notion, and say they wonder why the NBA didn't retire the number outright before this. Seems like a worthy tribute to me, and a great excuse for the NBA to make new money off of promoting sales on throwback jerseys and such, so should be a win win for everybody!

NBA: Give up 23 for Jordan! (VIDEO)
star tribune

LeBron James wants NBA players to give up their No. 23s to honor Michael Jordan. The Cavaliers superstar, who has worn 23 since he was a high school sophomore, believes players should pay tribute to Jordan for the Hall of Famer's impact on the game...

NBA: Give up 23 for Jordan! (VIDEO)

A chilling report has come from the BBC in Pakistan, about a 14 year old boy who agreed to become a suicide bomber for the Taliban.

The report, based on interviews with the boy himself, has not been verified, but paints a harrowing picture of a 14 year old boy being threatened with death if he didn't join their terrorist cause and agree to become a fellow suicide bomber. According to the boy they told him directly 'You have two choices. We will behead you, or you will become a suicide bomber.'

At first the boy refused, but after 5 days of beating and abuse he finally gave in and said he would do it. He finally escaped though, and lived to tell the tale, thank goodness! The full story can be seen in this article:

14-Year-Old-Boy Agreed To Become A Suicide Bomber??
bbc

A 14-year-old boy in the tribal region of Bajaur, in north-west Pakistan, says he was detained by Taliban forces who tried to turn him into a suicide bomber. The boy is now in army hands. He provided a detailed account to BBC correspondent Orla Guerin. His story cannot be independently verified...

14-Year-Old-Boy Agreed To Become A Suicide Bomber??

Russia has always been known as the widest country in the world, that covers the most time zones. but now they have a plan that calls for Russia's President Dmitry Medvedev reducing time tones so that business and trade in the country can run more efficiently.

The country of Russia stretches from Moscow on one end of the world to Vladivostok on the other, with 7 time zones in between. But under Medvedev's new plan, that would be reduced to only 4 time zones. In related news, New York City is trying to get another time zone added to America for themselves, so they can see Tv shows before everybody else.

Russia's President Dmitry Medvedev Reducing Time Zones
boston.com

President Dmitry Medvedev is proposing reducing the number of time zones in Russia to increase economic efficiency. Russia is the world's largest country and has 11 time zones, stretching from the Western exclave of Kaliningrad to its eastern tip in Chukotka. Medvedev stressed Thursday in his state-of the-nation address that first it is necessary to objectively assess the economic advantages of such a move...

Russia's President Dmitry Medvedev Reducing Time Zones

After years of complaints that the current method of lethal injection is too cruel, there are now plans in Ohio to switch to single drug lethal injection execution, rather than the three steps with three drugs in the current standard death penalty procedure.

The current system, in which one drug knocks the person out, the next one paralyzes them and then the next one kills them, is intended to be humane. But critics, especially death penalty opponents, say this procedure too often causes excruciating pain in the inmate's last moments, as they are paralyzed and thus unable to let people know they're still conscious, and then suffer terribly when the third injection is given.

So now Ohio will try a new, untested method with only a single dose given, similar to giving someone an overdose of anesthetic. Hopefully this will be one step closer to a humane justice system.

Ohio to Switch To Single Drug Lethal Injection Execution
wtop

Ohio waded into uncharted territory Friday when it announced plans to switch from the usual three-drug cocktail used to execute inmates to a one-drug method that death penalty opponents praised as a step forward _ albeit one that has apparently never been tried on prisoners...

Ohio to Switch To Single Drug Lethal Injection Execution

After a life devoted to charity work, Paul Newman was remembered by his many friends with a Paul Newman posthumous fundraiser soon after he passed.

The celebrity studded charity affair raised money for a children's camp founded by Paul Newman, dedicated to helping kids who suffer from life-threatening illnesses. Newman was famous throughout his career for giving tremendously to charity, especially through his wide range of "Newman's Own" foods on sale pretty much everywhere.

Said Danny Glover ""We expected Paul to be with us and so this kind of turned into kind of a tribute. This is the first time we are doing this without Paul--there is a void there, without a doubt." But there is no doubt Newman will always be present in the world, both through his artistic work and his humanitarian work.

Paul Newman Posthumous Fundraiser
atpictures

A host of stars including Tom Hanks, Jack Nicholson, JULIA ROBERTS and Sean Penn turned out for an annual fundraiser for late actor Paul Newman's children's charity. Newman died after a battle with cancer on September 26, at the age of 83. The gala was held on Monday night in San Francisco to benefit The Painted Turtle, a camp for children...

Paul Newman Posthumous Fundraiser

Celebrities are known both for their huge egos and sometimes their tireless charity work, but when it comes to celebrity charity work, who does the most of all?

According to a Parade magazine report, the #1 most charitable celebrity is Oprah Winfrey, who through here Oprah's Angel Network gives tons of money to help education programs and other efforts to help children in need. Other names topping the list include Brad and Angelina of course, Barbara Streisand and Mel Gibson, who all give millions as well. For the complete list, see below:

Celebrity Charity Work: Biggest Givers
socialvibe

It's no surprise, Oprah Winfrey came in first with a whopping $52 million donated to charity last year...Winfrey gave to various charities, including her own Oprah's Angel Network, which provides education, health care and advocacy for women and children worldwide. Parade's list was compiled by The Giving Back Fund from public records of donations given during 2007...

Celebrity Charity Work: Biggest Givers

Mel Gibson has been in the news for many reasons, some more flattering than others. But he is sure to be popular among supporters of a certain Catholic Church in California, as Mel Gibson and the Holy Family Catholic Church in Agoura Hills have developed a relationship that brought the church over $5 million from Gibson.

The church offers an alternative version of Catholicism for those who like Gibson and his father do not believe in the modern day Vatican. Mel Gibson and his father have been very controversial with some of their religioous and poplitical beliefs, including the father's reported denials that the Holocaust happened. Gibson has tried to distance himself from this but controversy remains, especially since his own bizarre statement about Jews after his drunken arrest a few years ago.

Mel Gibson and Holy Family Catholic Church, Agoura Hills
foxnews

Mel Gibson made so much money from "The Passion of the Christ" that he's now putting it where his mouth is, so to speak. He's continuing to build a religious compound in Malibu for Catholics who reject Vatican II, and is implicitly endorsing his controversial father's beliefs by helping him launch a similar church in Pennsylvania...

Mel Gibson and Holy Family Catholic Church, Agoura Hills

Right on the heels of Demi Moore announcing she's "not a cougar" comes this pronouncement from sex symbol Megan Fox: "Not a Tigress."

Megan Fox was talking about her much talked about similarities to another sex symbol actress, Angelina Jolie. Many people make much of their similar look, sexiness and sass, but Megan Fox believes the two are quite different. Megan says she is more lighthearted and fun where Angelina often shows her serious side. She also talked about her feud with Michael Bay and the negative rumors he allegedly spread about her. For more of her latest quotes, and photos of Megan Fox, see the article below:

Megan Fox "Not A Tigress"
msnbc

Megan Fox may be an action star, a brunette beauty with striking blue eyes and an actress that the men's magazines go ga-ga over, but she doesn't think she has much in common with another actress with a strikingly similar past pedigree. "People compare me to Angelina Jolie, and she's so serious and stoic," Megan told the New York Times Magazine. "I'm the opposite...

Megan Fox "Not A Tigress"

As he continues to be prosecuted for his horrific crimes against Jaycee Dugar, we keep hearing one word from Phillip Garrido: sorry.

Garrido released another wriitten apology this week, but it was not entirely clear what he thought he should be sorry for. He continues to be an all around creepy and evil sonuvabitch, who doesn;'t seem to realize whenever he talks, he digs his hole that much deeper. Hopefully it won't belong before Phillip Garrido's sorry self is locked somewhere we won't hear him yap ever again, and then Jaycee Dugard can get on with the rest of her life in peace. Thank goodness she still has so much of her life ahead of her.

Phillip Garrido Sorry
nbc

Convicted rapist and accused kidnapper Phillip Garrido is apologizing again but it's unclear what he's sorry about. "First off I would like to apologize to every human being for what has taken place." Those are the words Garrido wrote in a third handwritten letter to Sacramento TV station KCRA. Garrido is accused of kidnapping Jaycee Dugard...

Phillip Garrido Sorry

Tough times these days for the mighty and fearsome Church of Scientology, as a French fraud case and Paul Haggis defection are bringing unheralded turmoil to the hyper protective religion.

One of their most prominent devotees, Paul Haggis, announced his plans to leave the church, reportedly because he was offended by some of the church's policies, especially around gay members. And then they lost a court case in France relating to fraud. For details see below, and then log off the internet before the Scientology secret police see you were reading about them. They will come for you, in the night! Wait, who's that knocking at my door...

Scientology, French Fraud Case & Paul Haggis Defection
catholic.org

Tuesday was a bad day for Scientology. One of their Hollywood faithful renounced his affiliation and they were found guilty of fraud in France. Director Paul Haggis announced his desire to leave the church, and also on Tuesday, the French branch of the Church of Scientology was convicted in a Paris court of fraud and fined close to $900,000. There are approximately 45,000 adherents of the controversial group in the country.

Scientology, French Fraud Case & Paul Haggis Defection

Losing a billion dollars might not sound like good news, but financial experts are hailing the good tidings today from General Motors, with the third quarter earnigns report from GM. $1.2 Billion is their reported loss, which might sound bad but is actually a sharp improvement from their previous financial woes, and is taken as a sign that the car manufacturer is beginning to turn around.

General Motors says the boost came largely from cars such as the Chevrolet Camaro and the Chevrolet Silverado pickup truck, that have done well at new car dealerships around the country. GM says they are ready to start paying off money loaned by the government as their business continues to improve5

GM: $1.2 Billion Loss (VIDEO)

GM said its improved performance was fueled by new products including the Chevrolet Camaro muscle car, and the Chevrolet Equinox and GMC Terrain midsize crossover vehicles. The company's top sellers through October were the Chevrolet Silverado pickup truck and Impala full-size car...

GM: $1.2 Billion Loss (VIDEO)

Everyone's talking about Scientology's latest troubles, and wondering if some of their celebrity acolytes will soon be leaving the religion. But which famous Scientologist might be the one to go? An Irish bookmaker regarded as a top prognosticator is laying odds on top stars including John Travolta choosing to leave the controversial faith.

Paddy Power puts the odds quite high on Travolta leaving, after well-publicized controversy around the tragic death of his son, and also sees Katie Holmes and Lisa Marie Presley as among the more likely escapees from Scientology island. For more see the article here:

Paddy Power: Most Likely Celebrity to Leave Scientology
telegraph

John Travolta is the most likely celebrity to leave the Church of Scientology, according to the bookmakers Paddy Power, who are taking odds on stars abandoning the troubled religious organisation founded by L Ron Hubbard. There have been rumours of tensions between Travolta and the Church since the tragic death of his son, Jet...

Paddy Power: Most Likely Celebrity to Leave Scientology

France struck a blow against the fearsome Church of Scientology this month, as they were fined $900,000 In French fraud case.

Scientology has long been frowned upon by French authorities, and prosecutors were hoping for the religion to be banned outright, but the French court backed away from going that far. Other European countries such as Germany and Belgium have explicitly labeled Scientology a cult, and there remain hopes the religion might be prohibited entirely in one of these European countries...

Church of Scientology Fined $900,000 In French Fraud Case
wjz

A Paris court convicted the Church of Scientology of fraud and fined it more than $900,000 on Tuesday but stopped short of banning the group as prosecutors had demanded. The group's French branch immediately announced it would appeal the verdict...

Church of Scientology Fined $900,000 In French Fraud Case

Strange and confusing news for millions of American women, as governments experts are calling for new mammogram advice, and a radical shift in how we think about breast cancer.

It has long been taken for granted that women in their 40s and beyond should do regular self-checks for lumps in their breasts, to prevent breast cancer. But this new government study says that these self checks are useless, and are not necessary before the age of 50. And they say going in to the doctor for a mammography is also not necessary before 50, and should only be done every two years after a woman turns 50. The government task force says the cost and health risk associated with the testing far outweighs the benefit.

But the American Cancer Society still recommends annual mammograms starting at age 40, and has no plans to change that recommendation. So what are women to do? I'm sure this will continue to be debated on days and weeks to come.

New Mammogram Advice (VIDEO)
newsday

A government task force said Monday that most women don't need mammograms in their 40s and should get one every two years starting at 50 -- a stunning reversal and a break with the American Cancer Society's long-standing position. What's more, the panel said breast self-exams do no good, and women shouldn't be taught to do them...

New Mammogram Advice (VIDEO)

The SEC is cracking down on Wall Street investment schemers who pretended to offer eco-friendly investment opportunities in a "Green Ponzi Scheme."

Two financial investment firms are involved in the sting, which accuses the financial advisers of tricking elderly people into putting their retirement money into supposed green initiatives in Pennsylvania, and convincing the investors of huge returns due on their investments. The crooks' assets are now being frozen, and they are likely to face steep punishments for their crimes, as well they should!

'Green' Ponzi Scheme
cleantechbrief

A group of alleged fraudsters has been using "green" to make themselves some "green." The Securities and Exchange Commission yesterday charged four individuals and two companies involved in perpetrating a $30 million Ponzi scheme in which they persuaded more than 300 investors nationwide to participate in purported environmentally-friendly investment opportunities...

'Green' Ponzi Scheme

Going Rogue appears to be going platinum, as it were, with sales projections that foresee the Sarah Palin book best seller bound.

Even before the book officially went on sale today, Sarah Palin's autobiography immediately hit the top of the best seller list charts through advance sales online at outlets such as Amazon and Barnes & Noble. Reviews have been mixed so far, with many questioning the accuracy of some claims in the book, but surely that won't matter much to her many fans who simply want to get to know her better, with a book that focuses more on the personal than wonky political details. I may not buy one myselfm but I will at least spend some time in the bookstore thumbing through it. Sarah Palin is many things, but never boring.

Sarah Palin Book: Best Seller List Topper!
hello

Going Rogue: An American Life - the autobiography by Sarah Palin - has taken the number one spots on Amazon and Barnes & Nobles' websites thanks to advanced sales. The memoir from the former Republican vice-presidential candidate is already the best selling book despite the fact it does not go on sale for a month and a half - on November 17....

Sarah Palin Book: Best Seller List Winner!

A teacher in Clayton county is being charged for allegedly threatening to put a "hit" on a student and threatening him with physical harm, a day after asking the boy questions about his sexuality.

The high school teacher based in the Atlanta area, Randolph Forde, allegedly pulled dthe 15 year old out of class and asked him whether he was gay, and then the next day got into an altercation with the boy that led to physical threats. Authorities are planning a hearing to decide whether he will continue to teach, and he will be appearing in court under charges of making terroristic threats.

Clayton Teacher Charged for "Hit" (VIDEO)

Clayton County schools are investigating charges a teacher threatened a student after questioning the teen's sexuality...Randolph Forde, a teacher at Mundy's Mill High School, remains on administrative leave with pay, schools spokesman Charles White said Monday...Jail records show Forde was arrested last month of charges of terrorist threats and released on a $10,000 bond...for a video report on the story see here, from the local news station.

Clayton Teacher Charged for "Hit" (VIDEO)

Cocaine dealers in Pittsburgh found a clever way to combine drug addiction with gambling and sports addiction, as their cocaine ring used sports codes to identify the various drugs they were selling to the addicts they served.

The dealers woiuld have their customers call a quarter ounce (7 grams) of cocaine a "Michael Vick" or a "Ben Roethlisberger jersey" because both players wear the number 7. Thirteen people were charged n the drug ring and their attorneys are trying to find a way out of some serious jail time. Maybe now the addicts who made them rich can join the "Old Timer's League" aka drug rehab, and these dealers can tell themselves prison is the "Hall of Fame"...

Cocaine Ring Used Sports Codes
wkbn

Attorney General Tom Corbett says his office busted a $2.2 million Pittsburgh-area cocaine ring whose customers used coded references to prominent football players. Corbett says customers would order a quarter-ounce of cocaine -- roughly seven grams -- by asking for a "Ben Roethlisberger jersey" or a "Michael Vick." Roethlisberger, the Pittsburgh Steelers quarterback, and Vick, who plays for the Philadelphia Eagles, both wear uniform number 7...

Cocaine Ring Used Sports Codes

Most of New York's major newspapers were raided for corruption this week, as part of an ongoing investigation into union corruption in the newspaper business.

The circulation offices of the NY Times, the Daily News, spanish language paper El Diario and others were all the targets of raids set off by the Manhattan District Attorney's office, as they investigate possible corruption in the Newspaper and Mail Deliverers Union, who are responsible for distributing newspapers around the country. That union works underneath their parent union the Teamsters, who are known for doing important work on behalf of their members but have also had their share of controversy over the years. None of the papers raided for corruption seem to be directly linked to the alleged dirty dealings, which was limited to the distribution aspect of the business, not the editorial.

Newspapers Raided for Corruption
msnbc

Investigators in New York City raided circulation offices at some of the nation's largest newspapers Tuesday as part of a union corruption probe, a law enforcement official said. Police officers working with the Manhattan district attorney's office searched circulation offices of The New York Times in Queens, the New York Post and the Daily News in Manhattan, and El Diario in Brooklyn...

Newspapers Raided for Corruption

Atlanta rapper Gucci Mane has become one of the hottest stars and one of the most controversial, how many of you know who "Gucci Mane" really is?

Those who are in the know will tell you Gucci Mane's real name Is Radric Davis. Radric was born in Alabama but spent most of his life in Atlanta, and is now one of the city's foremost ambassadors in the hip-hop world. his debut album Trap House (a reference to his former place of business as a drug dealer) dropped in 2005, and since then he has risen to the top of the charts, recently featured as one of MTV's top ten hottest emcees.

Radric Davis has also run into legal trouble though, after his connection to a shooting in 2005 led to an assult conviction, and more recently he was sent to prison or a year after a parole violation. Radric is hoping to be released after 6 months, and resume his career on the straight and narrow from there.

Gucci Mane's Real Name Is Radric Davis
mtv

A day before his debut album, Trap House, is slated to hit stores, Atlanta rapper Gucci Mane is in a Georgia jail facing a murder rap. Mane (whose real name is Radric Davis) turned himself in to DeKalb County police on Thursday night after a warrant was issued for his arrest in connection with a May 10 shooting at a local residence that left a 27-year-old man dead, according to his lawyer.

Gucci Mane's Real Name Is Radric Davis

As top rapper T.I. continues to serve out his sentence for weapons charges, big news is coming about about his plans for after he gets released.

In addition to jumping back into his acting and musical careers, now T.I. is planning to finally get married to his longtime girlfriend, Tameka "Tiny" Cottle. Tameka is also famous in her own right as a former member of the singing group Xscape, and now as co-star of the reality show, "Tiny and Toya." So after he is released from this sentence on weapons charges, hopefully this news means T.I. will stick to wielding cupid's bow form now on.

T.I. Released? Weapons Charges News

In addition to getting his career back on track, T.I. apparently has one more thing to look forward to when he's released from prison on his weapons charges bid next summer, with news of a wedding. Tip's longtime girlfriend, former Xscape singer Tameka "Tiny" Cottle, with whom he has two children, recently told XXL magazine that she is planning a "fairy-tale" wedding to the King of the South when he gets sprung....

T.I. Released? Weapons Charges News

Lil Wayne may be the hottest rapper in the world, but that won't help him escape the long arm of the law. In fact it may have brought that long arm towards him even more quickly, as he is the latest of many rappers pursuit by authorities. After being busted on gun charges, Lil Wayne expects a one-year sentence to be handed down any day now.

The bust came in 2007 in Manhattan, when police "just happened" to pull over his tour bus, and found unlicensed weapons on board. Wayne originally faced 3.5 years, but his defense attorneys helped him reach a new deal where he pled guilty and got a chance at a shorter sentence. Many suspect Wayne was the latest of many rappers who have been specifically targeted by NY's "hip-hop cops", who go out of the way to bust artists for what are really minor offenses.

Lil Wayne Expects One-Year Sentence
mercury news

The Grammy-winning rapper Lil Wayne pleaded guilty to attempted weapon possession on Thursday, and expects to receive a one-year jail sentence. He previously had pleaded not guilty to illegal gun possession charges that carried at least 3.5 years in prison upon conviction. Police said a gun was found on his tour bus in Manhattan in 2007...

Lil Wayne Expects One-Year Sentence

One of the great hip-hop moments of this year was the classic Lil Wayne & Katie Couric interview, that brought new heights of awkwardness to the realm of celebrity interviewing.

The interview segment aired shortly before the Grammys, and featured Kaute Couric pressing Lil Wayne on a variety of issues, and nodding her head politely as she pretended she understood where he was coming from, as the intelligent but sometimes evasive (and often mood-altered) Lil Wayne dropped such gems as "I'm a gangsta, Miss Katie, and gangstas don't ask questions." Words really can't do it justice though, so you should watch the video for yoruself.

Lil Wayne, Katie Couric Interview (VIDEO)
prefix

Katie Couric's full interview with Lil Wayne in promotion of the Grammy's aired last night, and surprisingly, the thing was pretty entertaining--Katie didn't let Wayne off the hook for sipping syrup or smoking weed, and he actually came off as intelligent and thoughtful. She also hit every talking point when it comes to Wayne, so now maybe your grandma "gets" him...

Lil Wayne, Katie Couric Interview (VIDEO)

Quit possibly. If you are a T-Mobile customer, there's a pretty good chance that T-Mobile sold data and information about you to third party companies without your consent.

T-Mobile has now confirmed, in fact, that their staff gave information about thousands of customers to thrd parties interested in using the data for market research and the like. This data about cell-phone and mobile app customers could have great value for other companies hoping to sell cell-phone service and other such portable devices and wifi connectivity hookups.

Apparently the action was taken by individual t-mobile staff members for their own personal gain, and the company was unaware of it until now. They insist this selling of customer data goes against their policies and they will make sure it does not continue. Has to make you wonder how safe your information is with any of these companies, though...

T-Mobile Sold Data
bbc

Staff at mobile phone company T-Mobile passed on millions of records from thousands of customers to third party brokers, the firm has confirmed. Details emerged after the firm alerted the information commissioner, who said his office was preparing a prosecution...

T-Mobile Sold Data

According to a new report, more than 49 million Americans regularly go hungry, in one of the most sobering revelations yet about the state of our economy.

The federal report says that about one in 4 children is regularly at risk of going hungry, and nearly 50 million Americans in all often struggle to have enoguh to eat. These numbers mean that over 15% of Americans are not fully able to get proper nutrition, and may often straight-up go hungry.

According to the Agriculture Secretary, Tom Vilsack, "these numbers are a wake-up call . . . for us to get very serious about food security and hunger, about nutrition and food safety in this country."

49 Million Americans Hungry
washington post

The nation's economic crisis has catapulted the number of Americans who lack enough food to the highest level since the government has been keeping track, according to a new federal report, which shows that nearly 50 million people -- including almost one child in four -- struggled last year to get enough to eat...

49 Million Americans Hungry

The Great American Smokeout has been around since the 70s, but exactly How The Great American Smokeout began depends on who you ask!

Many place the birth as being in 1977, which is when the American Cancer Society held their first officiak version of the event, dedicated to encouraging all Americans to quite smoking and avoid all the many health problems that come with it. But it could also be traced back to 1971, when a local event in a small town in Massachusetts gave birth to the idea. It is also sometimes pegged at 1976, when the Cancer Socety held a precursor to the national event, except this one was only in California. But wherever started, I hope it keeps going strong..until the day comes when everyone has wised up and stopped smoking already, but that day seems pretty far off still. Wake up, people!

How The Great American Smokeout Began wikipedia

The Great American Smokeout is an annual event in the United States to encourage Americans (of whom 45.8 million smoke) to quit tobacco smoking. The American Cancer Society held its first Smokeout in 1977. The event challenges people not to smoke cigarettes for 24 hours, hoping their decision to quit will last forever. It is held annually on the third Thursday in November.

How The Great American Smokeout Began

The Buffalo Bills have finally decided enough is enough, and fired head coach Dick Jauron after a dreadful half season that sees the once promising football squad now at a woeful 3-6, in a season that is pretty much over already despite a team packed wth high-priced talent.

The firing is expected not to be the last, as several other teams have performed far worse than expected in 2009. If the Broncos lose a few more I might start getting nervous, if I were out there...

Dick Jauron Fired (VIDEO)
boston globe

The Buffalo Bills fired coach Dick Jauron yesterday and named defensive coordinator Perry Fewell interim coach...Fewell was given the job hours after Bills owner Ralph Wilson fired Jauron after the team's 3-6 start. In his 12th NFL season, and fourth with Buffalo, Fewell becomes the team's first black coach. The shakeup came two days after a 41-17 loss at Tennessee...

Dick Jauron Fired (VIDEO)

According to the CDC, the percentage of Americans who smoke has dropped to unprecedented lows recently, but is still far too high for the nation's overall good health.

Their latest reports place the percentage Americans smoke at about 20%, the lowest total ever so far. But this still places one in five Americans at risk of lung cancer, emphysema adn the many other ailments that come with smoking cigarettes..hopefully everyone will keep getting the message, bit by bit, so at least I can go out without coming home to find my clothes all smell like nasty cigarette smoke, because of you people!

Percentage Americans Smoke
webmd

The percentage of Americans who smoke cigarettes has fallen below 20% for the first time since at least the mid-1960s, according to a new report. The CDC says the prevalence of smoking fell in 2007 to 19.8%, nearly a full percentage point from 20.8% in 2006. "This is good news," Matthew McKenna, MD, MPH, director of the CDC's Office on Smoking and Health, tells WebMD. "But deaths related to cigarette smoking are still increasing. Almost one in five adult Americans smoke..."

Percentage Americans Smoke

Merry vaccines to all, and to all a flu shot, is what America's Santa Clauses are hoping for this year, as the Santas lobby for H1N1 vaccines to be delivered early for them, so they can stave off the many germs that come with all the young kids soon to inhabit their laps.

The Santas are hoping parents will keep sick kids at home, but in the meantime they are stocking up on hand sanitizer, taking lots of vitamins and doing anything else they can to keep their health up as the little kid germ invasion gets set to launch. Hopefully they won't be bringing home any swine flu back with the reindeer. Ok I'm all out of bad puns now.

Santas Lobby: H1N1 Vaccine For Christmas!
msnbc

Forget cookies and milk. Santa wants the swine flu vaccine. Many of the nation's Santas want to be given priority for the vaccine and not just because of those runny-nosed kids. There's also the not-so-little matter of that round belly. Research has suggested obesity could be a risk factor...

Santas Lobby: H1N1 Vaccine For Christmas!

Are the makers of the original horror classic the exorcist about to reteam for a new Exorcist miniseries? Interviews with the movie's creators seem to indicate yes:

William Peter Blatty, mastermind of the original exorcist movie (that you should immediately buy on DVD if you haven't seen it) said the following: "...I've written an Exorcist miniseries script that not only faithfully includes all the main elements of the novel, but also some rather spooky new material and scenes, as well as a totally new (and perhaps much more satisfying) ending. I've also updated it. Billy Friedkin has agreed to direct."

Here's hoping it comes together! I'm gonna program my DVR to start looking for it now..hopefully this won't attract Satan into the Tivo.

Exorcist Miniseries

William Peter Blatty and director William Friedkin might be re-teaming for another take on The Exorcist...word is that Blatty has been working on a (spec?) script for a new Exorcist project for some time now, and that Friedkin may be on board to helm it for a TV miniseries...

Exorcist Miniseries

A happy birthday for the original cartoon movie star, as Walt Disney's Mickey Mouse turns 81.

The world's first superstar mouse, originally known as Steamboat Willie, was born in 1928, and went on to star in movies and TV specials that continue to sell tons of Walt Disney DVDs, as well as myriad other Disney toys and merchandise, and of course countless tickets to Disney Land and Disney World on family vacations. Perhaps Mickey Mouse's finest moment was when he reached the level of High Art in his "Night on Bald Mountain" segment in Fantasia. Here's to 81 more, Mickey!

Mickey Mouse Turns 81
gather

Mickey Mouse birthday celebrations are today as this famous cartoon mouse turns 81. The Mickey Mouse birthday marks when he was created in 1928. Mickey Mouse is an icon for the Walt Disney Company and the head of the Mickey Mouse Club with famous alumni such as Annette Funicello and Britney Spears. Mickey celebrates his birth on November 18, 1928 with the release of Steamboat Willie...

Mickey Mouse Turns 81

Despite recent controversy around the H1N1 flu vaccine, vaccines in general are bigger business than ever, with new ones reportedly in the works for many of the most common illnesses including shots for Alzheimer's and shots for AIDS!

Increased interest in and demand for vaccines are becoming a major boon to the drug industry, and funding new research into various diseases and health issues. Reports are also coming in that the next generation of vaccines are more likely to come in convenient forms like patches, pills or nasal sprays instead of the good old shot in the arm we're used to, or rather, never get used to.

There still remains distrust for these big pharma companies, and in some cases with good reason, but hopefully the profit-driven instinct and the push to improve everyone's health can go hand-in-hand instead of working against each other, as new vaccines including possible shots for AIDS make their way to the public.

Shots for AIDS
daily news

The government's list of recommended vaccines for children since has more than doubled since 1985 to 17, with half-dozen vaccines for everyone over 18. The last decade brought breakthrough vaccines against pneumococcal disease and rotavirus -- two of the world's top killers -- meningitis, cervical cancer and more., like MRSA and C. difficile, even ending addiction to cocaine and nicotine. Success on some vaccines in development, particularly for Alzheimer's and AIDS, likely would bring billions a year in sales...

Shots for AIDS

The Democrat's health care bill is here, and you may need your heart pills before you see the price tag. The projected cost of Harry Reid's Health Care Bill: $849 Billion!

But believe it or not this is actually considered a low estimate, by many, and a good sign for the bill. In fact Dems were pleased to announce this plan would cut down the Federal deficit instead of adding to it as many health care critics claim. The controversial bill's goal is to bring wider access to proper health care for as many Americans as possible, while reducing cost and improving efficiency.

Among cost-cutting measures in the $849 Billion health care bill would be a Medicare payroll tax hike for people who earn over $200,000 a year, and increases enforced on high priced health care coverage plans known as "Cadillac plans..."

Health Care Bill & $849 Billion
CNN

Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid unveiled a sweeping health care bill Wednesday that would expand health insurance coverage to 30 million more Americans at an estimated cost of $849 billion over 10 years. Reid and other Senate Democrats cited an analysis by the nonpartisan Congressional Budget Office for the coverage and cost figures...

Health Care Bill & $849 Billion

A stunning, horrifying story from Missouri, as the state struggles over the question of what to do with a 15-year-old-girl indicted for the murder of her 9-year-old neighbor.

Though she did well in school Alyssa Bustamante had been a troubled child with mental health issues, reportedly attempting suicide at 13 and compulsively cutting herself. But nobody saw it coming what she was arrested for this week: strangling and stabbing to death her next-door-neighbor who was only 9 years old. Now the state, lawyers and child psychiatrists are grappling whether to try her as an adult for the murder charges or treat her as a minor, what sort of facility to house her in and other questions. And families are left to piece together the wreckage left behind by this unthinkable act...our hearts go out to them as they deal with this and find the way to live on.

15-Year-Old Girl Indicted
fox news

Alyssa Bustamante strangled 9-year-old neighbor Elizabeth Olten without provocation, cut the girl's throat and stabbed her, prosecutors said. Why? "Ultimately, she stated she wanted to know what it felt like," Missouri State Highway Patrol Sgt. David Rice testified Wednesday during a court hearing over the slaying...

15-Year-Old Girl Indicted

Americans are in a panic with the news that a waffle shortage is imminent. Kellogg's has officially announced that their Eggo Waffles will be scarce until next summer, due to problems with their waffle bakeries and factories.

The breakfast treat made famous by its "Leggo my Eggo" ads have long been a family breakfast favorite, but many homes may have to do without them for many months now.

Honestly though, we could also take this as an opportunity to seek out affordable and healthy breakfast tips, and consider that Eggo Waffles are a pretty unhealthy breakfast and our families might be better off without them. Plus there are many other brands that are better and a bit healthier, including the Kashi brand of waffles and other breakfasts which I'm a big fan of personally.. and I wasn't paid to say that (but I'm open to offers!).

Waffle Shortage!
boston.com

Kellogg Co. says there will be a nationwide shortage of its popular Eggo frozen waffles until next summer because of interruptions in production at two of the four plants that make them. The company's Atlanta plant was shut down for an undisclosed period by a September storm and several production lines at its largest bakery in Rossville, Tenn., are closed indefinitely for repairs...

Waffle Shortage!

Jennifer Hudson is set to star in a new Winnie Mandela biopic, telling the story of Nelson Mandela's famous and controversial longtime wife.

Winnie Mandela became an important symbol and activist in her own right, as her husband spent 27 years in prison for his anti-apartheid activism. But in later years she faced major controversy over alleged connections to the death of another activist, and corruption charges, and their marriage ended soon after Nelson was released.

But the Oscar-winning actress and singerJennifer Hudson hopes to show Winnie's complexity and her heroic and human side as well, as she takes the lead making a movie out of this complex and important story.

Winnie Mandela Biopic
telegraph

Oscar-winning actress Jennifer Hudson is to play Winnie Mandela in a biopic of the controversial ex-wife of South Africa's first black president. "Winnie Mandela is a complex and extraordinary woman and I'm honoured to be the actress to portray her. This is a powerful part of history that should be told." ...News of the film comes as Hollywood prepares to release "Invictus" a Clint Eastwood-directed drama about Nelson Mandela...

Winnie Mandela Biopic

Two of the Biggest Losers are hoping to be winners together now, as a Biggest Loser romance leads to a marriage between top contestants Matt Hoover and Suzy Preston.

Hoover and Preston, who won both money and a new lease on life with their success on the weight loss reality show Biggest Loser, became close during the competition and now plan to spend their lives together. Both had amazing success with their exercise and diet plans on the show, and their newly fit bodies should look great at the wedding! Best of luck to them at keeping the weight off and the romance on.

'Biggest Loser' Romance
msnbc

They competed against each other during this season of NBC's "The Biggest Loser." But now, it looks like Matt and Suzy are a team. "Biggest Loser" winner Matt Hoover and third-place finisher Suzy Preston, who together lost a combined 248 pounds on the show, are a couple, according to People magazine...

'Biggest Loser' Romance

Fantasia Barrino: American Idol Winner, Singing Star...and Home Wrecker? That's the accusation as reports abound of Fantasia with a married man.

Fantasia met the manm Antwaun Cook, at the always romantic local T-Mobile cell phone outlet, and they hit it off so well that Antwaun allegedly left his wife and two kids (ages 4 and 1!) behind so that he could move into Fantasia's million-dollar mansion down there in Charlotte. Not the most flattering picture of a relationship, and Fantasia's reportedly getting his name tattooed on her posterior doesn't paint a picture of good judgment either.

But at the end of the day, it's hardly ever possible for us to know the real story of people's relationships by watching them through the media..so although this certainly sounds bad, I think it makes more sense for us to mind our business instead of jumping in and passing judgment on them.. but of course if we choose to do that, lots of people in the media gossip business can't earn a living, so maybe we should keep being nosy in the name of preserving the economy.

Fantasia Married Man
tv.com

Former American Idol winner Fantasia Barrino is reportedly dating a married man! Fantasia reportedly met Antwaun Cook, a married father of two, at a T-mobile store in August. Not long after, Cook reportedly ditched his wife and kids to shack up with Barrino...

Fantasia Married Man

After controversial comments from Lebron James, Cleveland Browns fans are hoping he'll suit up and others are telling King James to stay on the sidelines, after his boasts that he thinks he could play in the NFL.

After watching the admittedly woeful Cleveland Browns disgrace his current hometown on Monday Night football, Lebron James (who was a star wide receiver in high school) said he'd be "really good" in the NFL and joked about joining the Browns to help out with this disastrous season. The Browns coah actually welcomed the offer and played along with the joke, asking him to please join in.

But others, especially the ever outspoken (to put it kindly, perhaps) Jeremy Shockey, felt Lebron James and the Browns were making a mockery of the sport, and King James should put a sock in it. For Shockey's full quotes and more detail, see the link below. Seems to me this was all in good fun, and though Lebron's such a natural athlete I wouldn't bet against him, he surely knows he's better off staying on the NBA hardwood.

Lebron James: Cleveland Browns Bound? (VIDEO)
heraldtribune

LeBron James, NFL player. Just a fantasy, says New Orleans Saints tight end Jeremy Shockey. The Cavaliers' All-Star forward caused a stir this week by saying he could be "really good" if he committed himself to playing football. The remarks set off debate about James' football talents and prompted Browns coach Eric Mangini to joke that James should "come on down" and help his 1-8 team. Cleveland nose tackle Shaun Rogers initially sacked James' belief. Now Shockey has piled on....

Lebron James: Cleveland Browns Bound? (VIDEO)

Despite endless protestations that they are just friends, more and more sources are indicating the New Moon romance rumors are true, and the Twilight stars Robert Pattinson and Kristen Stewart are a couple.

Reports are coming in from many Hollywood move industry and celebrity gossip sources, including Ted Casablanca from E!, that the co-statrs of the huge Twilight movie smash, now out on DVD with the sequel hitting theaters (not to mention all the Twilight books still flying out of book stores), are hooking up romantically. Rumors also abound about other cast members, but frankly I'm too old to figure out who's who and blog about it. Kristen and Robert do seem like a cute couple though!

New Moon Romance Rumors
celebritycafe

Despite their repeated attempts to convince tabloids that they are just friends and costars, New Moon leads Robert Pattinson and Kristen Stewart continue to be romantically linked, MSN Wonderwall reported. E!'s Ted Casablanca insists that there is "something smoldering" between the leading man and leading lady.

New Moon Romance Rumors

Kristen Stewart, actress and star of the Twilight movies, has a rep for being somewhat media shy and uncomfortable in interviews. But she was quite direct and to the point on her stance about gossip mongers that ask about her personal life, especially her possible relationship with Twilight movie co-star Robert Pattinson.

Stewart has seen how excessive the demands of the tabloid gossip machine can be, and knew right away she didn't want to feed it, even though normally she might be okay with discussing her relationships. She said " I'm not going to give the fiending an answer. I know that people are really funny about 'Well, you chose to be an actor, why don't you just f--ing give your whole life away?! "

I think (despite the slightly Palinesque phrasing) this is an pretty respectabe response from Kristen Stewart, as she learns to deal with all the gossip and media scrutiny that comes with her Twilight movie superstardom.

Kristen Stewart Said "I'm Not Going to Give the Fiending an Answer"
ew

Asked about the endless rumors of her supposed off-screen romance with Pattinson, for instance, Stewart got nicely fired up. "I probably would've answered it if people hadn't made such a big deal about it," she said. "But I'm not going to give the fiending an answer. I know that people are really funny about 'Well, you chose to be an actor, why don't you just f--ing give your whole life away?! Can I have your firstborn child?'"

Kristen Stewart Said "I'm Not Going to Give the Fiending an Answer"

From looking at her you'd think Stephenie Meyer is barely older than the zillions of teens who read her Twlight novels. But this young writing phenom has already sold more than 85 millions books with her record setting vampire love stories.

For someone who's achieved such success so quickly at the age of 35, Stephenie still seems quite well grounded, and lives in a small town in Arizona, which I guess makes sense for an author who needs to block out the world and focus on creating her own worlds for us to jump into. She rarely does press but seems quite down to earth when she does, and I hope we'll see lots more success for her as she keeps cranking out that vampire lovin'. Much more detail about Stephenie at the link below:

Stephenie Meyer Has Sold More Than 85 Million Books!
dailymail

For a woman who has sold more than 85 million books and has been hailed as the new J. K. Rowling, it is a remarkably modest home...Last year Meyer sold an astonishing 27million books in 37 countries - eclipsing even the Harry Potter series - and when a film version of Twilight was released it grossed over $200 Million, which is expected to be matched by the sequel "New Moon."

Stephenie Meyer Has Sold More Than 85 Million Books!

First Eggo Waffles disappear, now they're taking pumpkin pie away? That's the news from Nestle, who is alerting America that this year's bad weather will lead to a major pumpkin pie shortage.

Nestle reported that this year's pumpkin crop was too damaged by a heavy rain season, and they had to call off picking any more pumpkins for this year. So Nestle's "Libby" pumpkin pie products, including their filling that is used in most pumpkin pie recipes, will not be available until next year's crop comes through. See what happens when we don't listen to Al Gore? Mother Nature takes thanksgiving away!!

Pumpkin Pie Shortage
newsday

The holidays may not be so sweet this year. Nestle -- which sells nearly all the canned pumpkin in the U.S. -- says poor weather hurt its harvest, creating a potential shortage of its Libby's pumpkin pie products through the holidays. The company announced this week that it would not pack any more pumpkins for the season -- which means it may be hard to find its canned pumpkin and pumpkin pie filling product until next year's harvest...

Pumpkin Pie Shortage

To the average American, they may not sound so serious. But worldwide, Pneumonia and Diarrhea are child killers more deadly than any other disease. How can we help stop this?

ACcording to UNICEF these common diseases don't get enough attention form charities and aid workers, who are caught up in preventing higher profile diseases like AIDS. SO many in the international medical community are calling for a change in priorities, so the vaccines that could greatly reduce these deaths are distributed where they are most needed. Here's hoping that message is heard! Click below for more info.

Pneumonia and Diarrhea: Child Killers

Diarrhea doesn't make headlines. Nor does pneumonia. AIDS and malaria tend to get most of the attention. Yet even though cheap tools could prevent and cure both diseases, they kill an estimated 3.5 million kids under 5 each a year globally -- more than HIV and malaria combined...

Pneumonia and Diarrhea: Child Killers

Huge protests in California, where college students are outraged over a threatened 32% tuition hike.

More than 50 students were arrested, in widespread protests that saw numerous campus areas taken over. The college students are protesting a huge increase in tuition across the board at all University of California schools. Numerous professors and campus workers also joined in the protests. Certainly it is understood that there is a financial crunch right now, especially in California, but such a severe blow to educational opportunities ought to be done only as the last possible resort, I would have to agree with the protestors. For more info see below.

32% Tuition Hike: Unfair
cnn

Students were occupying buildings Friday on several campuses of the University of California system in protest of a 32 percent tuition hike. Students had take over portions of buildings on campuses in Los Angeles, Berkeley, Santa Cruz and Davis late Thursday, and at least some were still occupied Friday morning...

32% Tuition Hike: Unfair

A terrible accident befell the Miley Cyrus tour, as the teen pop star Miley Cyrus' tour bus crashed and overturned on the highway, in a high speed wreck that left one passenger dead and several others injured.

Miley Cyrus herself was not on board when the bus apparently hit an embankment and skidded on its side for hundreds of feet before winding up in a ditch. There is no word yet on whether Miley will continue with her upcoming concert tour dates, but our heart goes out to everyone affected by the tragedy.

Miley Cyrus Tour Bus Accident

One person was killed Friday when a tour bus belonging to entertainer Miley Cyrus overturned, but the 16-year-old "Hannah Montana" star wasn't on board...The accident occurred around 8:15 a.m. in Dinwiddie County, about 40 miles south of Richmond. Speed and weather weren't considered factors...

Miley Cyrus Tour Bus Accident

Quarterbacks and running backs may get most of the hype, but for those who really know football it's another position that really matters most,. Do you know which one it is?

The most important position of all, to many football experts, is the left tackle on the offensive line, because left tackles protect a right handed quarterback in an area he can't see. Since a right handed QB has his back turned to linebackers from the left side, he needs the best blocking possible on that "blind side," making left tackles among the highest paid NFL players even though most casual fans might never know their names. The new movie "Blind Side" about Michael Oher is a reference to this crucial role played by left tackles.

Left Tackles Protect A Right-Handed Quarterback In an Area He Can't See
nflrush

When a right-handed quarterback draws his arm back to throw a pass, he has a blind spot behind his back where he can't see if the other team's defender is coming for him. The left tackle has to protect the quarterback's blind spot and keep the defense away from him...

Left Tackles Protect A Right-Handed Quarterback In an Area He Can't See

Michael Oher has become one of the most inspiring stories in sports, with his rise from homeless youth to NFL star that is documented in the new movie "The Blind Side." But his biological parents, sadly, doesn't get to share in this newfound happiness, as Michael Oher doesn't speak to his biological mother Denise, and his father was murdered years ago.

Michael Oher was homeless and had nothing going for him in life when he was adopted by the Tuohy family, and gt a chance to turn his life around. But his mother, a crack cocaine addict for most of her life, remained on the opposite path, and now the two never speak anymore. A tragic side to this story, but sometimes you have to accept that everyone cannot be saved, and focus on saving the ones you can. Which is usually the ones who are ready to save themselves, and just need you to help give them that shot.

Michael Oher Doesn't Speak to Biological Mother Denise Oher, & His Father Was Murdered
usatoday

Michael Oher is the subject of a best-selling book --The Blind Side: Evolution of a Game, which is being turned into a movie -- but until a few years ago was legally Michael Williams. Among 13 siblings from the poorest part of Memphis, he never knew his father, whose murder he learned of months after the fact in high school. His mother, Denise Oher, was addicted to crack cocaine. The kids were scattered about...

Michael Oher Doesn't Speak to Biological Mother Denise Oher, & His Father Was Murdered