News, Media & Publications

Robert Hegyes, Welcome Back Kotter Star, Dies at 60

2012-01-28T04:15:00.000-08:00

Robert Hegyes, who played Jewish Puerto Rican wheeler-dealer Juan Luis Pedro Phillipo de Huevos Epstein on the 1970s classic show Welcome Back Kotter, has died.

An apparent heart attack was the cause. He was 60.

Hegyes, a New Jersey native who also co-starred on Cagney and Lacey and taught classes at his alma mater, Rowan University, was best known for his role on Kotter.

Alongside John Travolta, he played one of the remedial students known as the Sweathogs, who reunited in 2011 at the TV Land Awards for the show's 35th anniversary.

Robert Hegyes, top right, starred in Welcome Back Kotter, alongside John Travolta, left, Ron Palillo, second from left, Gabe Kaplan, center, and Lawrence-Hilton Jacobs.

Robert Hegyes wrote that he modeled swaggering, skirt-chasing Epstein after Chico Marx, whom he played in a national touring production of A Night With Groucho.

He was a big fan of the Marx Brothers: "They were immigrant Jews, I was an immigrant Italian. Groucho, Harpo, Chico, Gummo, and Zeppo were intellectuals."

"They all played the piano and took music lessons, and they were all juvenile delinquents; I could definitely relate," said Hegyes, whose health deteriorated of late.

Source : http://www.thehollywoodgossip.com/2012/01/robert-hegyes-welcome-back-kotter-star-dies-at-60/

Perempuan Misterius di Youtube Pembela Hak Pejalan Kaki

2012-01-26T05:06:00.000-08:00

Perempuan misterius yang berada dalam video 'Pembela Hak Pejalan Kaki' di Youtube sedang menjadi pembicaraan di media sosial. Perempuan misterius itu bisa menjadi contoh untuk menuntut hak pejalan kaki dengan cara simpatik.

Video yang diunggah sejak tahun 2009 itu di-share oleh pakar tata kota Marco Kusumawijaya dalam akun twitternya @mkusumawijaya dan gerakan Jalan Kaki, @jalankaki. Menurut salah satu pendiri gerakan Jalan Kaki, Glenn Marsalim, video itu sengaja di-share agar orang-orang terinspirasi.

Dia menambahkan, banyak faktor yang menyebabkan hak pejalan kaki diambil, mulai dari ketidaktahuan bahkan ketidakpedulian. Belum lagi di Jakarta, dihuni bermacam-macam orang dari berbagai macam latar belakang membutuhkan cara yang simpatik untuk mengingatkan para pelanggar hak pejalan kaki.

"Memang itu mesti dilawan, melawan nggak bisa kasar, ada caranya. Tidak dengan kekerasan, bentak-bentakan," kata Glenn.

Glenn sendiri mengaku belum tentu seberani sang perempuan misterius itu yang berani menegur dan memberitahu. Dia memilih diam di trotoar agar sang pemotor meminggirkan motornya.

"Kalau saya berdiri diam, kesal, dianya (pemotor) juga kesal. Kalau dia men-take over saya, dia turun dan maki-maki, cuekin saja. Masuk kuping kiri dan keluar kuping kanan. Belum berani. Mungkin kalau melihat ini (video) bisa terjadi, mari kita lakukan dengan cara simpatik, bukan menggunakan kekerasan," imbau pria yang merupakan salah satu administrator akun twitter @jalankaki ini.

Sebelumnya diberitakan, seorang perempuan misterius dalam sebuah video di Youtube yang diposting oleh Shantonio Siagian, pemilik akun 'wierki14' pada 3 September 2009. Video itu berjudul 'Pembela Hak Pejalan Kaki'. Sudah lama memang, tapi video itu menjadi perbincangan seiring dengan insiden Minggu Kelabu 22 Januari yang menewaskan 9 pedestrian.

Video berdurasi 2 menit 38 detik ini tampak diambil di bawah Jembatan Semanggi, jalan yang diperuntukkan untuk pemotor. Dalam video ini terlihat perempuan berjilbab yang berjalan di trotoar. Mirisnya, trotoar tempat perempuan itu berjalan diambil haknya oleh para pemotor.

Dengan hati-hati perempuan itu berjalan melawan arah di trotoar yang dipenuhi pemotor yang melaju ke arah sebaliknya. Tak cuma berjalan, perempuan itu tampak berbicara kepada para pemotor, lalu beberapa saat para pemotor menurunkan motornya melewati trotoar. Terus menerus perempuan itu melawan arus, sendirian, tampak menasihati pemotor yang tak tahu diri menaiki trotoar, mengambil jalan pintas.

"Tadi sore, kira-kira pukul lima sore, saya berhenti sejenak di bawah Jembatan Semanggi, karena macet luar biasa. Sembari menunggu lalu lintas berkurang, saya melihat-lihat keadaan. Jalanan yang padat membuat banyak pengendara motor yang mengambil jalan pintas, naik ke trotoar. Hal ini rupanya membuat berang seorang ibu muda, yang dengan gagahnya melabrak para pengendara motor yang naik ke trotoar. Semuanya dipaksa turun olehnya," demikian komentar sang pengunggah video dalam laman miliknya.

Silahkan lihat videonya dibawah ini :) monggooo...

Angels Blessed by Prince Fielder Signing

2012-01-25T04:45:00.000-08:00

Every time that Mitch Moreland hits a harmless fly ball to end an inning for the Texas Rangers in 2012, send Tigers owner Mike Ilitch and team GM Dave Dombrowski a little thanks. Faced with the loss of Victor Martinez to a knee injury, the Big Cat Braintrust called the Bat Line. Prince Fielder signs for 9 years @ $23 MIllion per.

Scott Boras proved patience pays as much as it saves seasons, and Detroit's was not the only season that got saved in this epic turnaround. The Angels benefitted as well... they get the pleasure of Fielder not being on the Rangers and hitting in their roidesque women's softball ballpark for 81 home games.

Oh sure, the Rangers were favored, they are the golden child and everything Nolan wants, Nolan gets and they had squeezed Boras, didn't you read about it, it had to be a fact, Boras was going to get Prince a one-year deal in the same offseason Albert Pujols got a quarter billion dollars, Rangers fans analyze the whole thing objectively, they have it all figured out, just turdstomp your away around their cogent methodology.

With the addition of Yu Darvish for $111 Million, it was looking like the Rangers had their sites on stealthfully adding a player this offseason who had actually played in the major leagues. Always one strike away those Arlington Glory Hogs seem to be. Meanwhile, Erick Aybar has a bunt waiting for the 1B - 3B tandem of Fielder / Miguel Cabrera enough to put a smile on Justin Verlander's face. We can worry about Team Lay Land in October. Team Dallas String Bean just got more than a little skinnier today.

Source : http://www.halosheaven.com/2012/1/24/2731840/angels-blessed-by-prince-fielder-signing

John Edwards Faces Life-Threatening Health Condition

2012-01-23T02:59:00.000-08:00

The former Senator was granted a delay in his criminal corruption trial, which was scheduled to begin this month.

John Edwards is facing his most difficult challenge yet -- a life-threatening heart condition.

The former presidential candidate appeared in court on Friday, Jan. 13 to seek a delay in his criminal corruption trial, scheduled to begin this month, according to CNN. A federal judge revealed that as a result of Edwards’ medical condition, his trial would be postponed until at least March 26 while the former North Carolina senator seeks medical treatment.

Judge Catherine Eagles has reportedly been in contact with Edwards’ cardiologist, who has scheduled him for surgery next month. According to court records, Edwards is required to provide a written medical update by Feb. 28.

Edwards is charged with six felony and misdemeanor counts in connection with donations to and payments from his ill-fated 2008 presidential campaign. He is accused of conspiracy, issuing false statements and violating campaign contribution laws, though he denies all charges.

In December of 2010, Edwards’ wife Elizabeth died of metastatic breast cancer. The couple had separated that year shortly after the media firestorm surrounding Edwards’ affair and illegitimate child with Rielle Hunter. With his wife, Edwards has four children aged 32, 29, 13 and 11.

Source : http://www.hollywoodreporter.com/news/john-edwards-life-threatening-health-condition-criminal-trial-281677

Joe Paterno In Serious Condition

2012-01-22T02:28:00.000-08:00

Joe Paterno, the legendary former coach at Penn State University, has suffered health complications and is in serious condition ... this according to a rep for the Paterno family.

The spokesperson released a statement, saying in part, "Over the last few days Joe Paterno has experienced further health complications. His doctors have now characterized his status as serious."

His son Jay tweeted, "I appreciate the support & prayers. Joe is continuing to fight."

Another son, Scott, responded to a report that JoePa had passed, tweeting, "Dad is alive but in serious condition. We continue to ask for your prayers and privacy during this time."

Onward State, a student-run newspaper on campus, reported Saturday he had been taken off his respirator. The Citizens Voice, a newspaper in nearby Wilkes-Barre, PA, reported Paterno's wife Sue summoned close friends and longtime staff members to State College hospital.

Paterno was the coach at Penn State for 46 years, until he was famously fired by the school last November following the sexual abuse allegations against his former assistant coach, Jerry Sandusky.

Source : http://www.tmz.com/2012/01/21/joe-paterno-near-death/#.TxvkCIHFHFw

Elizabeth Smart is Engaged!

2012-01-21T01:38:00.000-08:00

Elizabeth Smart is getting married!
The 24-year-old, who was abducted from her home at the age of 14, got engaged last weekend, a family spokesperson confirmed on Friday.

The family declined to reveal the identity of Smart’s fiance, saying she wishes to keep her personal life private, but wedding registries indicate the couple will marry on July 1.

Smart was kidnapped from her Utah home at knifepoint in 2002, and held in captivity for nine months by Brian David Mitchell and his wife Wanda Barzee.

Mitchell was sentenced to life in prison after being convicted of kidnapping and rape in May 2011, while Barzee is serving 15 years for kidnapping and unlawful transportation of a minor.
Smart began working as a contributor for ABC News last summer.
Congratulations!

The Next Bachelorette Is Emily Maynard: Love it or Leave It?

2012-01-19T04:54:00.000-08:00

Emily Maynard won Brad Womack's second Bachelor season, but their engagement ended shortly after cameras stopped rolling. It sounds like she got over that heartache, because Emily will be the next Bachelorette and will return to ABC to find a mate.

On The Bachelor, Maynard was memorable for being a single mom, which, incidentally, will dictate where her season will shoot — her hometown of Charlotte, NC — so that Maynard won't have to leave her daughter. I like Emily, and it'll be interesting to see what kind of guy she chooses, but I'm getting tired of producers always choosing a former contestant to be the next Bachelor or Bachelorette. I would have loved to see someone fresh and new, but what about you? Are you happy Emily is the next Bachelorette?

Video US Troops ( Marines) Caught Urinating on Dead Afghan taliban Insurgents

2012-01-17T04:06:00.000-08:00

Marine Urinating on dead Insurgents. The pentagon will conduct a full investigation.
Now US ( united states) Marines have been caught on video relieving themselves on dead Afghans. A short clip has managed to make its way to the internet and in it people can watch four US Marines on patrol in Afghanistan urinating on the corpses of dead Afghan men.

According to a note included with the video, the US servicemen were members of the Marine Scout Sniper Team 4 and the 3rd Battalion 2nd Marines from Camp Lejeune, North Carolina.

Wikipedia Will Go Dark On January 18 To Protest SOPA And PIPA

2012-01-17T03:52:00.000-08:00

Wikipedia’s Jimmy Wales wanted to send a “big message” to the U.S. government regarding the two heinous internet censorship bills currently being considered, and after a brief period of debate the world’s encyclopedia will soon do just that.

The Wikipedia founder announced on Twitter today that starting at midnight on Wednesday, January 18, the English language version of the world’s encyclopedia will go dark for 24 hours in protest of SOPA and PIPA. With their commitment confirmed, Wikipedia will be joining a slew of websites and companies that will suspend their operations for one day in an effort raise awareness around the two bills.

Meant to curb IP theft and piracy, the (imaginatively named) Stop Online Piracy Act and the PROTECT IP Act have raised eyebrows recently due to their decidedly scorched-earth approach to handling suspected offenders. Websites found to offer pirated content, along with the services that they use, could be hidden from US internet users by being delisted on search engines and potentially on DNS servers themselves.

Rather than let users access Wikipedia’s vast stores of English-language information on the 18th, Wales mentioned that the Wikipedia landing page will instead be populated with a letter of protest and a call to action that urges readers to get involved with the issue. It doesn’t appear as though the new landing page has been finalized, but one of the community’s prototypes can be seen above.

The news comes after a lengthy debate as to the particulars of such a grand gesture — whether or not the site should participate at all, which versions of the site would be affected, and how exactly the blackout would go down were all on the table for the community to discuss. Ultimately, the consensus pointed to a full blackout as a the proper way to make their collective displeasure known. There’s no official word on how other parts of the site will handle the event, although Wales has mentioned that the German language version of the site will be displaying a banner in support.

Meanwhile, some of SOPA’s supporters are already reacting to the very public backlash against the bill. Ars Technica reports that Congressman Lamar Smith (R-TX) would be pulling his DNS-blocking provisions from the bill after having consulted with “industry groups across the country.” What’s more, the White House has responded to two petitions about SOPA and PIPA on the official White House blog stating that they will not “support legislation that reduces freedom of expression, increases cybersecurity risk, or undermines the dynamic, innovative global Internet.”

Wales notes on Twitter that while SOPA has been “crippled,” buts its counterpart in the Senate is still very much alive and very dangerous. Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid recently popped up on Meet The Press claiming his continued support for PIPA even though it “could create some problems.”

2012 Golden Globe Winners List!

2012-01-16T00:56:00.000-08:00

Ricky Gervais hosts the Golden Globe Awards again live from the Beverly Hilton Hotel in Beverly Hills on Sunday.
Gossip Cop will have full coverage of the festivities!
RELATED – Golden Globe 2012 Presenters List
So who walked away with the statuettes?
Keep refreshing the full WINNERS LIST below for updates!
And the winners are…
BEST SUPPORTING ACTOR IN A MOTION PICTURE DRAMA

Christopher Plummer, Beginners
BEST ACTRESS IN A TV SERIES COMEDY OR MUSICAL
Laura Dern, ”Enlightened”
BEST MINI-SERIES OR TV MOVIE
“Downton Abbey”
BEST ACTRESS IN A MINI-SERIES OR TV MOVIE
Kate Winslet, Mildred Pierce
BEST ACTOR IN A TV DRAMA
Kelsey Grammer, ”Boss”
BEST TV SERIES DRAMA
“Homeland”
BEST ORIGINAL SCORE IN A MOTION PICTURE
Ludovic Bource, The Artist
BEST ORIGINAL SONG IN A MOTION PICTURE
“Masterpiece,” W.E.
BEST ACTOR IN A MINI-SERIES OR TV MOVIE
Idris Elba, Luther
BEST ACTRESS IN A MOTION PICTURE COMEDY OR MUSICAL
Michelle Williams, My Week with Marilyn
BEST SUPPORTING ACTOR IN A TV SERIES, MINI-SERIES OR TV MOVIE
Peter Dinklage, “Game of Thrones”
BEST ANIMATED FILM
The Adventures of Tintin
BEST SCREENPLAY MOTION PICTURE
Woody Allen, Midnight in Paris
BEST SUPPORTING ACTRESS IN A TV SERIES, MINI-SERIES OR TV MOVIE
Jessica Lange, “American Horror Story”
BEST FOREIGN LANGUAGE FILM
A Separation
BEST ACTRESS IN A TV DRAMA
Claire Danes, Homeland
BEST ACTOR IN TV SERIES COMEDY OR MUSICAL
Matt LeBlanc, “Episodes”
BEST SUPPORTING ACTRESS IN A MOTION PICTURE DRAMA

Octavia Spencer, The Help
CECIL B. DEMILLE AWARD
Morgan Freeman

BEST DIRECTOR
Martin Scorcese, Hugo
BEST TV SERIES COMEDY OR MUSICAL
“Modern Family”
BEST ACTOR IN A MOTION PICTURE COMEDY OR MUSICAL
Jean Dujardin, The Artist
BEST ACTRESS IN A MOTION PICTURE DRAMA
Meryl Streep, The Iron Lady
BEST MOTION PICTURE COMEDY OR MUSICAL
The Artist
BEST ACTOR IN A MOTION PICTURE DRAMA
George Clooney, The Descendants
BEST MOTION PICTURE DRAMA
The Descendants

John Edwards’ Heart Condition Delaying Trial

2012-01-14T00:40:00.000-08:00

District Judge Catherine Eagles has delayed the trail of John Edwards from January 20 to at least March 26.

Eagles said in court that she has received letters from two cardiologists, stating that they have scheduled a medical procedure for Edwards in February and that a trial would “reduce the chance for success.”

Edwards, a former U.S. senator from North Carolina, is on medication for the heart condition, the doctors said in the letters.

Defense lawyers also noted that they have had a hard time meeting with Edwards in recent weeks to prepare for trial because of his health.

Rumor Samsung Galaxy S3 of new Android Phones from Samsung

2012-01-11T08:33:00.001-08:00

After the success of Samsung Galaxy S which recently slid, now rumors have been circulating about Galaxy S3. A Samsung Galaxy S3 rumor of new Android phones from Samsung is rumored to be soon rolled in the near future. There is a lot of expectation from fans around the world that Samsung galaxy S3 is supported by Google’s Android OS Ice Cream Sandwich.

Samsung Galaxy s3 reportedly using quad-core 1.8GHz processor with a 50 percent performance to graphics and 30 percent reduced energy consumption than previous Samsung versions. That caused the galaxy s3 mention 5 times faster than Samsung’s previous versions. Will this Smartphone also features a multi-tasking, the Will allow and to run multiple applications at the same time. According to the news, all in support for galaxy S3 has 2GB of RAM. And it will from the make the first Smartphone that has 2GB of RAM and 32GB for external memory. To screen Samsung Galaxy S3 has a size of 4.6 inches with a resolution of 1280 x 720 is equipped with special glass with a flexible OLED technology.

Samsung Galaxy S3 Specifications :

- 4.6-inch Super AMOLED Plus screen at 1.280 × 720-pixel resolution
- 1.8GHz chip with 2GB of RAM for multitasking and games zippy
- Android 4.0 Ice Cream Sandwich with a refreshed TouchWiz skin
- 12 megapixels camera
- Styled like the Galaxy Nexus
- A flexible OLED screen
- TouchWiz mini apps
- Ultra-high ISO photography enabled
- May include an upgrade of the Galaxy S2 with a twelve-megapixel camera
- Physical buttons for Home as well as Back and Settings on the front may be removed to allow for virtual buttons on the screen
- A super-bright 4.5-inch screen
- 3D AMOLED screen with NFC

for the exact date when the Samsung Galaxy S3 will be launched and the price is not known. However, reliable sources said it would be ready to be released mid-2011 in the United States, Canada, Ireland, New Zealand and several other States.

Martin Luther King Jr. Day Events Set for Saturday and Monday

2012-01-09T05:03:00.000-08:00

Ocean City will celebrate the life of Martin Luther King Jr. at two events in the coming week: a program and dinner at Ocean City High School on Saturday, Jan. 14, and a citywide cleanup on Monday, Jan. 16.

The community is invited to celebrate the life of Martin Luther King Jr. at 1 p.m. Saturday at the Hughes Performing Arts Center located at Ocean City High School. A ceremony includes speakers, music and a recitation of King's "I Have a Dream" speech by the Rev. Gregory Johnson.

A free dinner (of fried chicken, macaroni-and-cheese, potato salad, greens, string beans, cornbread and candied sweet potatoes) will be served immediately following the ceremony in the high school cafeteria. Dinner is provided by Shiloh Baptist, Macedonia Methodist and St. James AME Churches. Donations will be accepted. For more information, call 609-525-9300.

Ocean City is also asking citizens to mark Dr. Martin Luther King Day by volunteering their time to improve their community.

The City of Ocean City and the Ocean City Clean Communities Program will hold the annual citywide cleanup 10 a.m. to noon Jan. 16. All families, individuals and groups are encouraged to volunteer.

Ocean City has participated in the Day of Service since 2008. Councilman Keith Hartzell started the annual citywide cleanup four years ago, and the event has grown each year. Among the 108 volunteers last year were representatives of Ocean City High School's National Honor Society, Ecology Club, Key Club and Student Council, along with families, individuals and other groups.

The city asks residents to meet and pick up supplies beginning at 9 a.m. at the Henry S. Knight Building at 115 12th St. Volunteers should wear appropriate clothing and footwear, and the city will provide gloves and trash bags.

The city will host all volunteers at the Howard S. Stainton Senior Center after the cleanup for food and warm beverages.

To register, call the Ocean City Public Works Department at 609-399-6111, ext. 9711 or 9702.

Schools also must teach healthy lifestyles

2012-01-05T20:19:00.000-08:00

The pendulum swings yet again. How disappointing to read the Dec. 30 Our View, "Culling the codebook," and to see someone advocating that although we have an obesity epidemic, that type of behavior is taught at home and thus 150 minutes of physical education classes could not compete with that.

Let’s examine why we have physical education classes in the first place. Can we not educate our children and show them a way to lead a healthier lifestyle? To see the results of exercise on the heart and to improve self-esteem and body image and to keep them off the couch? To show them an alternative lifestyle and an alternative to being obese? Instill a desire to do more physical exercise and to play games such as horseshoes, tennis, baseball, football, volleyball, track and field, etc.?

The writer acts as if there is no hope for children whose parents are not proactive in their children’s lives and thus, I suppose, just throw them to the dogs. That is such a fatalistic and elitist attitude, something that runs against the grain of what made this country great.

Obviously, we all know that the school is not a Gold’s Gym where our children will come out with similar results. The writer said that "school’s primary responsibility is to educate students." Is not the exposure to and teaching of physical education and health education, hence the moniker, "physical education"? Perhaps the writer does not realize that there is more to education than math and language, and that the ideal of the Renaissance man that used to be the goal for American education is to educate the citizen, not simply create workers like former communist countries did.

Traditionally, in American education, despite whatever upbringing a child may have had, be it good or bad, our school system would/could show him a way to lead a productive and well-adjusted lifestyle. The meant, not only P.E. classes, but art, music, woodshop and such. Are we going to follow what communist countries did, or do we want better citizens who can make well-adjusted decisions and lead productive, well-adjusted lives?

Is that too expensive? Well, for a wealthy country such as ours that throws money at foreign lands as if it grew on trees and spends billions of borrowed dollars on wars and other foreign policy issues, it does seem to boil down to a matter of priorities. As for me, I’ll choose our children when it comes to choices.

One thing is for sure, we do not need adults who are so obese they end up unable to work or suffer from a host of physical ailments due to obesity and low self-esteem. Obesity costs us far more in the long term, but as with the causes and proposed fixes of the financial crisis, who cares about the long run? We live in the short term and look for short-term fixes.

Perhaps Rep. Larry Metz can look for ways to curb our foreign spending rather than short our own children yet again of a quality education. I hope it does not take long for the pendulum to swing the other way. I hope our country can survive till it does.

Four simple ways to improve health in 2012

2012-01-05T05:15:00.000-08:00

A new year is viewed by millions as a time for new resolutions, new schedules and a clean start. These resolutions are often made impulsively, with little thought given to long-term goals which means they are usually short-lived. Examining a few health facts and implementing some simple lifestyle changes each day will make a difference to overall health.

Meditation minimizes disease
Meditation is a phenomenal way to instantly take control of your health. Studies indicate that a mere 20 minutes of quiet time a day can halve one's risk of heart attack or stroke, by reducing high blood pressure and cholesterol. In countries such as India and China, meditation has been used for centuries as a way to lower stress levels and improve concentration.

Scientists have found that transcendental meditation, which promotes deeper relaxation through mantras, is even more beneficial for the mind and body. Tests show that sufferers of atherosclerosis were able to reduce their risk of a fatal heart attack or stroke by 47%, compared to those who simply followed a healthy diet and exercise program.

Replace hazardous laundry detergents
Certain liquid laundry detergents contain cancer-causing chemicals. Research shows that these harmful cleaning aids contain around 25 volatile compounds, which may make people sick.

Fumes from washing machines and dryers release harmful chemicals, such as acetaldehyde, into the atmosphere, which may also find their way into the water supply. Shop for safer, less dangerous detergents which will help your health and the environment too.

Juice your own fruits and vegetables for better health
Buying a carton of juice from the store can be hazardous to your health. Just because the label says "100% pure" or "freshly squeezed" does not mean it is true. In processing orange juice, for example, most manufactures remove all the oxygen molecules from the liquid, which allows the juice to be stored for up to a year.

As this process strips the juices of their flavors, juice companies then add fragrance and flavor additives to the product. Avoid processed, stored products and take the time to juice your own fruits and vegetables as a great kick-start to better health.

Reduce beer consumption and drink alcohol in moderation
Heavy beer drinkers risk liver damage and a bigger beer belly. According to experts who studied the health of more than 500,000 people between the ages of 35 to 70, it was found that those who drank 30g of pure alcohol a day from beer had a massive 75% increased risk of developing stomach cancer.

Worse still, heavy beer drinkers with a particular gene variant in the cluster of three genes that metabolize alcohol have an even greater chance of getting stomach cancer, according to the American Association for Cancer Research. Ideally, all alcohol should be taken with food, such as a glass of wine with a meal, and spirits should be enjoyed in moderation.

Kisah Siomay Pinky

2012-01-04T05:00:00.000-08:00

Jalan hidup tak bisa ditebak. Sriyono, seorang mantan miliarder, kini berjualan siomay keliling. Namun, berkat penampilannya yang eksentrik, predikat miliarder itu tampaknya bakal kembali disandangnya.

Menjadi penjual siomay keliling dengan pakaian dan aksesori serba pink membuat Sriyono terkenal, terutama di dunia maya. Mantan miliarder itu juga pernah menjadi bintang tamu di sebuah stasiun televisi. Bahkan, ada yang menawari bermain sinetron. Semua itu dia lakukan demi bisa bertemu anaknya.

Minggu lalu (16/1) INDOPOS menelusuri rute jualan Sriyono di kawasan kelas menengah ke atas di Jalan Gandaria Tengah, Jakarta Selatan, tak ada orang yang tahu namanya. Tapi, ketika disebut nama Siomay Pink (barang dagangan Sriyono), kebanyakan warga yang ditemui mengenali. Mulai sopir bemo, satpam, tukang ojek, hingga anak-anak.

Siomay Pink juga menjadi identitas pria asal Klaten, Jawa Tengah, itu di dunia maya. Mesin pencari Google menyebut 83.500 hasil yang merujuk pada usaha siomay yang dijalankan Sriyono sambil berkeliling di atas sepeda pink.

Sriyono menjadi topik hangat di kalangan komunitas entrepreneur. Sebab, selain berjualan dengan kostum dan perlengkapan mencolok serbapink, kegigihannya dalam berwirausaha menjadi inspirasi tersendiri.

’’Mungkin karena saya dianggap nyentrik. Itu saja. Tapi, entahlah, saya nikmati saja momen-momen ini,’’ ujarnya sambil melayani pelanggan. Dia pun meracik bumbu siomay dari panci pink yang terikat di belakang sepeda pink yang telah dimodifikasi dengan sejumlah kotak kayu yang juga berwarna pink. Di depan sepeda itu terdapat dua keranjang pink dengan dua teddy bear pink terduduk di dalamnya.

Sriyono juga mengenakan kaus pink, bercelana pendek pink, topi pink, serta jam dan bahkan anting pink Namun, di balik penampilan nyentrik itu, tersimpan kisah perjuangan hidup yang cukup berliku.

Kisah sukses Sriyono dimulai pada 1969 ketika pria kelahiran Klaten, 21 Juli 1954, tersebut merantau ke Jakarta untuk menjadi sales mobil. Ketika itu, tiba-tiba saja dia sangat gemar pada siomay dan memutuskan untuk belajar cara membuat makanan itu. Dia lantas berguru pada seorang keturunan Tiongkok asal Pulau Bangka.

Dialah yang mengajari Sriyono membuat siomay. Setahun penuh Sriyono bekerja tanpa digaji untuk mendapatkan resep rahasia sang penjual siomay itu. Beberapa tahun kemudian, sang guru meninggal dan mewariskan usaha Siomay kepada Sriyono. Pada 1980-an, Sriyono memberanikan diri memulai usaha siomay keliling di Jakarta dengan modal patungan dengan beberapa teman.

Berbagai cara ditempuh untuk membesarkan usaha tersebut. Mulai membikin armada siomay sepeda keliling sampai mendirikan warung-warung kecil. Puncak sukses diraih pada 1996 ketika dirinya berhasil membuat outlet di salah satu mal elite di ibu kota, yakni Plaza Senayan.

Sriyono adalah pendiri dan pemilik outlet Siomay Senayan dengan beberapa cabang. Pendapatan bisnisnya ketika itu mencapai Rp 2 miliar per tahun. Dia menikmati sukses berjualan siomay dengan berstatus bujangan. Sriyono mengenang, tinggal di ibu kota dengan duit melimpah ketika itu bagai hidup di surga.

Bahkan, bisnisnya sangat kuat sehingga ketika krisis 1998 menerpa modalnya tidak berkurang. Tapi, dia justru masih bisa mendirikan outlet di beberapa tempat lain. April 1999, Sriyono memutuskan untuk mengakhiri masa lajang dan menikahi putri seorang polisi.

Pernikahan yang tidak direstui orang tua sang istri itu kemudian menjadi bom waktu bagi kehidupan Sriyono. Pertengkaran demi pertengkaran pun terus muncul sehingga konsentrasi Sriyono pada bisnisnya mulai berkurang.

Ketika itu, dia menjadi satu-satunya pengusaha siomay yang meneken kontrak dengan gerai waralaba Kentucky Fried Chicken (KFC). Dia menyuplai siomay di puluhan gerai KFC di Jakarta yang ketika itu memiliki menu khusus siomay.

Namun, persoalan rumah tangga yang tak kunjung selesai pelan-pelan membuat manajemen bisnisnya kolaps. Akhirnya, Sriyono terpaksa menjual hak paten Siomay Senayan dan usahanya pun gulung tikar. Awal 2004, setelah 4 tahun 7 bulan berumah tangga dan dikarunia dua anak, yakni Peksi Safira Miradalita (kini 11 tahun) dan Pramesti Dewi Angelita (kini 10 tahun), sang istri menggugat cerai Sriyono. ’’Saya ingat. (Saat itu) hanya baju yang melekat di badan yang saya miliki,’’ kenangnya sambil menerawang.

Setelah perceraian, sang istri kemudian mengasingkan diri dan membawa serta dua anak Sriyono. Sejak itu dia pun tidak pernah lagi bertemu dua buah hatinya. Dalam kondisi bangkrut, Sriyono sempat ditampung mantan rekan-rekan bisnisnya.

Dia pun sempat mendapat bantuan modal dan berusaha merintis lagi usaha siomay kelilingnya mulai nol dengan konsep awal, yakni belasan armada siomay keliling. Tapi, pada 2008, usaha itu lagi-lagi bangkrut. ’’Saya selalu ingat anak saya dan rindu yang tidak tertahan membuat saya sulit berkonsentrasi,’’ katanya. Kegagalan kali ini membuat Sriyono tertekan.
Dia pun memilih menjadi gelandangan dan tinggal di jalanan kotakota Jakarta. Tiap malam, dia tidur berpindah- pindah, dari halte bus ke kolong jembatan dan dari pinggir jalan ke masjidmasjid. Hingga 2009, Sriyono memilih menetap di Masjid Al Bina di kawasan Senayan.

Setelah beberapa minggu tinggal di sana, tiba-tiba dia mendapat bantuan modal dari seorang jamaah pengajian yang mengetahui latar belakang dirinya sebagai pengusaha siomay. ’’Waktu itu saya diberi modal Rp 1 juta untuk memulai bisnis lagi,’’ katanya.

Awal 2010, Sriyono pun sudah memiliki gerai siomay di mal Pasaraya Blok M yang bernama Siomay Maestro. Namun, lagi-lagi karena tinggal kesepian dan rindu kepada dua buah hatinya, konsentrasinya dalam berbisnis terganggu. Dia pun kembali bangkrut. Sampai saat ini, Sriyono masih berutang kepada manajemen Pasaraya Rp 13 juta.

Di ambang keputusasaan, sebulan menjelang bulan puasa 2010, dia memutar otak dan mendapat ide brilian. Yakni, kembali memulai usaha siomay keliling, tapi dengan tampilan yang eksentrik.

Diharapkan, ketika dia menjadi eksentrik, sang anak akan mengetahui dan dirinya dapat bersua dua buah hatinya setelah lima tahun berpisah tanpa kabar itu. Sriyono pun memutuskan mengenakan warna pink sebagai seragam berjualan. Pernak-pernik pink pun dikenakan untuk berdagang keliling.

Dia juga berusaha tampil di setiap momentum di mana publik Jakarta banyak yang berkumpul. Sriyono akhirnya dijuluki ’’maskot’’ dalam even Hari Bebas Kendaraan alias Car Free Day yang diberlakukan sebulan sekali di jalan protokol Jakarta. ’’Semakin banyak orang yang kenal saya, kesempatan untuk bertemu kembali dengan anak saya semakin besar,’’ katanya.

Tapi, usaha tampil nyeleneh itu tidak semudah yang dia bayangkan. Setiap hari, bahkan sampai sekarang, Sriyono harus rela menjadi bahan ejekan orang-orang yang lewat. Tak jarang perkataan mereka sangat pedas dan menusuk hati. Tak sedikit yang mengira Sriyono adalah seorang waria yang nyambi berjualan siomay saat siang dan ’’berpraktik’’ saat malam.

Tapi, demi menemukan sang anak, hinaan dan cacian itu ditanggapi dengan se-nyum dan hati ikhlas. Bahkan, kini dia sudah memiliki 34 kaus pink, 18 pasang sandal pink, 12 topi pink, 3 jam pink, 3 pasang kacamata pink, kalung pink braces, anting-anting pink, dan tiga pasang sepatu pink.

Upaya tampil eksentrik itu membuahkan hasil ketika dirinya muncul sebagai topik di Twitter dan BlackBerry Messenger. Popularitasnya menanjak ketika kisah usahanya dipublikasikan di salah satu situs Terbesar Indonesia.

Pertengahan Desember 2010, sebuah koran berbahasa Inggris di Jakarta memuat foto Sriyono dengan full aksesori pink. Hasilnya, pekan lalu, awal Januari 2010, sebuah televisi nasional berhasil mempertemukan Sriyono dengan sang anak.

’’Waktu itu, rasa senangnya tak terhingga. Saya bersyukur mereka mengakui saya sebagai bapak, walaupun mereka memiliki ayah tiri warga Inggris yang kaya,’’ ujarnya, kali ini sambil terisak.

Tampil di televisi mendatangkan keuntungan bagi usaha Sriyono. Dalam dua pekan terakhir, omzet berjualan keliling yang biasanya hanya Rp 200 ribu per hari naik lima kali lipat menjadi Rp 1 juta per hari. Banyak pesanan dalam jumlah besar sehingga pendapatan berjualan berkeliling terdongkrak. Sejak pekan lalu, seorang pengusaha getol menawari Sriyono untuk membuka franchise siomay Yo Pink di beberapa lokasi di Jakarta.

Dia juga mendapat tawaran untuk bermain sinetron. Rundown jadwal casting oleh sebuah rumah produksi juga sudah di tangannya. Lalu, apa yang akan dilakukan sekarang? Sriyono menyatakan, dirinya masih berencana meneruskan usaha berjualan dan akan membuka warung kecil di Jalan Otto Iskandar Muda, Jakarta. Dia fokus meraih sukses lagi dengan Siomay Yo Pink itu.
’’Saya ingin anak saya bangga dengan bapaknya si penjual siomay berkaus pink ini. Saya akan bangkit demi putri-putri saya,’’ ujarnya lantas tersenyum. (sumber: indopos.co.id).

Pesan Moral yg disampaikan dari Kisah ini adalah Jangan Pantang Menyerah terhadap kondisi Maju terus walau kesulitan mendera. Tuhan pasti akan membantu umatnya yang mau berusaha dan tentu berdoa.

Box Office: 'Mission: Impossible' sequel is No. 1 Christmas pick

2011-12-27T03:30:00.000-08:00

Moviegoers chose to accept Tom Cruise's "Mission" at the box office this weekend.

"Mission: Impossible -- Ghost Protocol," the fourth installment in the action franchise, grossed $46.2 million over the holiday period beginning Friday and ending Monday, according to an estimate from distributor Paramount Pictures. The movie -- budgeted at about $145 million -- debuted in limited release 11 days ago and has since racked up an impressive total of $78.6 million in ticket sales.

Warner Bros.' "Sherlock Holmes: A Game of Shadows," which opened last weekend, claimed the No. 2 spot. The $125-million production collected a soft $31.8 million over the long weekend, bringing its overall tally to $90.6 million. Twentieth Century Fox's $80-million "Alvin and the Chipmunks: Chipwrecked," which has also been in theaters for two weeks, came in with a disappointing $20 million. Both movies were expected to be big winners over the Christmas holiday, but each is so far lagging significantly behind their franchise predecessors in ticket sales.

David Fincher's highly anticipated "The Girl With the Dragon Tattoo" -- based on the first book in a trilogy of novels by Swedish author Stieg Larsson -- did decent business. The Sony Pictures movie opened Tuesday night, but grossed $19.4 million over the holiday weekend, raising its overall total to $27.7 million. The R-rated film had a budget of about $100 million, according to an individual close to the production, though a Sony spokesperson said the cost was $90 million.

Two new films directed by Steven Spielberg debuted to mixed results.

"The Adventures of Tintin," a 3-D animated family movie adapted from a popular Belgian comic book, did not prove exceptionally popular with American audiences. Although the film has been a hit overseas, so far collecting over $240 million abroad, it only grossed $16.1 million domestically this long weekend. Since opening on Wednesday, "Tintin," which cost Paramount and Sony between $150 million and $175 million to make, has sold $24.1 million worth of tickets. Paramount, which is releasing the film in the U.S. and Canada, is hopeful that the movie will follow in the footsteps of last Christmas' "Yogi Bear." That family flick ultimately grossed over $100 million domestically.

Meanwhile, Spielberg's epic "War Horse" fared better, debuting on Sunday and grossing $15 million in sales over two days. The film attracted an older audience, 31% of whom were over the age of 50. Those who saw the $70-million DreamWorks production liked it, assigning it an average grade of A-, according to market research firm CinemaScore.

Cameron Crowe's "We Bought a Zoo" earned an even better grade -- an A -- but moviegoers did not show up in as large numbers to see the family drama. The movie starring Matt Damon and Scarlett Johansson, which cost Fox about $50 million to produce, opened on Friday and grossed $15.6 million through Monday. The film also appealed to an older demographic, as 59% of the crowd was age 25 or above, while 58% overall was female.

Of all the movies that opened over Christmas, the horror film "The Darkest Hour" was the least expensive, costing co-financiers Summit Entertainment and New Regency about $30 million to produce. That's good news, because it only grossed a weak $5.5 million over Sunday and Monday, and received a dismal C+ CinemaScore.

Source : latimesblogs.latimes.com

Christmas Church Bombings Put Global Spotlight On 'Nigerian Taliban'

2011-12-26T10:08:00.000-08:00

Christmas bombing: Onlookers accumulate about a destroyed car at the armpit of a bomb bang at St. Theresa Catholic Abbey in Madalla, Nigeria, Christmas day. The access ripped through a Catholic abbey during Christmas Mass killing at atomic 40 people, admiral said.

Nigerian officials and apple leaders offered accusation on Monday for those amenable for a cord of Christmas day bombings beyond Nigeria that dead at atomic 40 bodies and afflicted dozens. The affliction advance occurred at a abbey abreast the nation’s basic of Abuja.

The attacks were affianced to Boko Haram, a Nigerian Islamic agitator alignment that additionally claimed albatross for baleful attacks in Nigeria during Christmas Eve aftermost year.

Coming aloof canicule afterwards 60 bodies died in a gun action amid the Islamic insurgents and government forces, the Christmas advance has shone acrid ablaze to ascent tensions in Nigeria and aloft apropos that added attacks could be anon to come.

Firefox for Android Tablets

2011-12-26T09:58:00.000-08:00

Firefox for Android introduces a absolutely redesigned acquaintance that is optimized for tablets and makes adaptable browsing added intuitive. New accoutrement in Firefox accredit developers to actualize alternate adaptable Web experiences.

Firefox for Android leverages ample book awning sizes and optimizes accepted appearance for tablets. The Awesome Awning integrates Firefox Sync and makes it accessible to admission your browsing history, accessible tabs, bookmarks and adored passwords beyond desktop and adaptable accessories so you can blazon beneath and browse more.

Tabs arise as thumbnails in the larboard console so you can bound about-face amid them while still examination abounding websites on the right. You can bash to the larboard to adumbrate tabs for a abounding awning view.

Firefox optimizes your Web acquaintance for both account and widescreen mode. In account mode, tabs are listed in a top larboard card and calmly adumbrate aback you don’t charge them, acceptance you to focus on the websites you visit.

With the new Action Bar card (next to the Awesome Bar), you can admission Firefox Preferences, Add-ons, downloads and more. The Action Bar adds the back, advanced and bookmark buttons for accessible access. One-touch bookmarks accredit you to add an figure to your Android home awning for your admired websites and Web apps, authoritative Web apps as accessible to use as built-in apps.

Developers will have a good timenew HTML5 accoutrement in Firefox that accomplish it easier to actualize fun and alternate adaptable Web adventures for phones and tablets. The HTML5 Input Tag for Camera Access enables developers to accomplish websites and Web apps added able and interactive. Developers can body adaptable websites and Web apps that acquiesce you to use the camera on an Android buzz or book to booty pictures, browse bar codes and added after abrogation Firefox. You can see a audience of the camera ascribe aspect in activity here.

Firefox for Android supports the HTML5 Form Validation API which automatically validates website anatomy fields like numbers, emails and URLs after developers defective to address a custom cipher or use a third-party library.

This Week at the Movies

2011-12-26T09:49:00.000-08:00

David Fincher's "The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo" is beneath of a accommodate of Niels Arden Oplev's 2009 Swedish blur than it is a darker reinterpretation of Stieg Larsson's novel.

This new adaptation of the adventure is visually attractive and portrays its characters as apparitional souls. I've enjoyed both blur versions, which may accept to do with the actuality that they are so altered in accent and style.

It is absurd that I could abundantly abridge the movie's artifice aural the borders of this review. In brief, "Dragon Tattoo" follows the adventure of ashamed announcer Mikael Blomkvist (Daniel Craig), who is fatigued in to the intricate web of the affluent Vanger family, which includes a few above Nazis and a abstruseness involving a adolescent babe alleged Harriet who went missing in 1966.

Blomkvist, whom Vanger ancestor Henrik (Christopher Plummer) admires for his analytic skills, is alleged aloft to boom up new clues in the case.

Larsson's leash of novels rotates not alone about Blomkvist, but additionally Lisbeth Salander, a surveillance abettor covered in tattoos and piercings who keeps a alarming accomplished aloof beneath her surface.In Fincher's film, Lisbeth is played by Rooney Mara as a force of nature.

In the book and film's best agonizing scene, Lisbeth, a area of the state, is physically and emotionally abused by her acknowledged guardian. She after turns the tables on him in an unflichingly agitated sequence.

Blomkvist and Lisbeth's sleuthing into the Vanger's missing bodies case leads them to a alternation of sex crimes and murders from the 1940s and 1950s. Fincher's account does a nice job of bamboozlement the story's assorted adventure curve and artifice twists.

Those accustomed with Fincher's work, which includes "Seven," "Fight Club," "Zodiac" and "The Social Network," will apprehend that "Dragon Tattoo" is an accessible best for the filmmaker. Much like his antecedent films, his latest focuses on alienated characters whose obsessions advance them to aphotic places.

Moviegoers who enjoyed Larsson's atypical as able-bodied as the 2009 Swedish blur may be afraid to acquisition they are still able to be absorption by this story.

This weekend's cheerier alternative is Cameron Crowe's "We Bought a Zoo," which is actuality advertised as a Christmas ancestors cine with some caressible animals, but is hardly added substantive.

Matt Damon, consistently good, plays a announcer who specializes in "adventure writing" that involves demography on alarming assignments, such as aerial into hurricanes. But the ancestor of two is adversity from the contempo accident of his wife and, back the befalling arises, moves the ancestors into a new home that aloof so happens to accommodate a zoo in charge of rehabilitation.

Apparently based on a accurate story, "Zoo" is aboveboard sentimental. But it still resonates, best acceptable due to the actuality that it was helmed by Crowe, whose "Almost Famous" and "Say Anything" were hopeful belief about youths that included scenes of naked emotion.

"Zoo" is absolutely not amid the director's best work, but it is generally charming, funny and likable. Next week, analysis out reviews of the year's final movies - "War Horse," "Pina" and "Pariah" - and accumulate an eye out this anniversary for our column on 2011's best films.

10 The film, At Most Downloaded in 2011

2011-12-26T03:09:00.000-08:00

Although only available and can be seen in theaters, not a few films to be hunted for download on certain web sites. Activity over the internet movie piracy has long been underway. However, at this year's piracy rates decreased when compared to the year 2010.

Last year, most downloaded film Avatar, which is about 16 million times. In 2011, best selling pirated movies just downloaded by more than 9 million times.

Decreasing the number of downloading pirated movies is likely to be affected by the streaming service provided by sites like Netflix. With streaming, users no longer need a large space in their hardware so that only watch the movies they want for streaming through Netflix. The existence of tablets that provides a collection of digital movies and books like the iPad and Kindle Fire also allegedly reduce the number of downloaded movies.

Here's a list of 10 most pirated movies downloaded over the year 2011 based on data from BitTorrent:

1. Fast Five (downloaded 9.260.000 times)
2. The Hangover II (downloaded 8.840.000 times)
3. Thor (downloaded 8.330.000 times)
4. Source Code (downloaded 7.910.000 times)
5. I am Number Four (downloaded 7.670.000 times)
6. Sucker Punch (downloaded 7.200.000 times)
7. 127 Hours (downloaded 6.910.000 times)
8. Rango (downloaded 6.480.000 times)
9. The King's Speech (downloaded 6.250.000 times)
10. Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows Part 2 (downloaded 6.030.000 times)

Preview Game FIFA 2012 Full

2011-12-25T21:52:00.000-08:00

The award-winning Football Manager alternation has now awash in balance of 7 actor copies common and has topped the UK and abounding European PC archive for the aftermost seven years, with over 108 weeks at no.1 in the UK to date.

“We’re captivated to assuredly be able to alpha talking about Football Manager 2012” said Miles Jacobson, Studio Director at Sports Interactive. “It’s addition year of evolution, with some anarchy befuddled in for acceptable admeasurement so we’re appealing abiding our committed communities, and hopefully lots of new bodies too, get to comedy and have a good timethe bold back it’s appear after in the year.”

Counting over 800 new features, not including changes to the rules of the amateur 50+ leagues, Football Manager 2012 promises to be the best realistic, immersive and playable football administration simulation anytime for any fan who has anytime dreamed of authoritative the big decisions, both on and off the field.

System Requirements Football Manager 2012:

Operating System: Microsoft Windows XP SP3, Vista SP2, 7
Processor: Intel Pentium IV 2.4GHz or equivalent
Memory: 1 GB
Video Card: DirectX 9.0c compatible video card. Pixel shader 3.0 with 128 MB of RAM (NVIDIA GeForce 6600 or ATI Radeon x1300)

Magic trick goes wrong and magician dies

2011-12-25T08:03:00.000-08:00

Faces of death, when magic goes wrong

Top 10 UK Christmas walks

2011-12-25T07:10:00.000-08:00

Get some beginning air on a blithe airing this Christmas, from a airing afterwards a Boxing Day bathe in Tenby to a reindeer appointment in the Cairngorms or a guided Winter Walk about Kew Gardens.

1. Mistletoe meander, Worcestershire

2. Pine away, Kent

3. Walk to church, Lake District

4. Reindeer ramble, Scotland

5. See the lights, Derbyshire/Warwickshire/Cornwall

6. Robin recce, Northamptonshire

7. Holly hike, London

8. Woodland walk, Cornwall

9. Beach stroll, Wales

10. Coastal walk, Northern Ireland

2011 In Review

2011-12-25T03:29:00.000-08:00

Year 2011 will expire shortly. Such activities are often carried out the media at the end of the year, Google released a flashback trips throughout the year 2011. Important events are to be highlighted is based on information search conducted through the services provided by Google.

Watch and listen now:

Music: "Sooner or Later" by Mat Kearney
Produced by Whirled Creative with Director Scott Chan

A social Network Christmas

2011-12-25T01:53:00.000-08:00

A social Network Christmas
Here is the Christmas story in A social Network Christmas.

Watch now:

The Christmas Story Social Media Style

2011-12-25T01:34:00.000-08:00

We here at News, Media & Publications wish you a very Merry Christmas. Here is the Christmas story in a social media way.

Christmas is here again

2011-12-24T18:08:00.000-08:00

Christmas is about Jesus' birth.

One can feel it in the air! All kinds of shops are blithely lit and accessory with Christmas decorations. The handcarts in the active Teen Darwaza breadth are abounding with cardboard decorations, lanterns, stars, baubles (made in China of course!) and all added things that are bare to adorn one's home. Slum citizenry tap the aperture of your agent aggravating to advertise you a Santa Claus cap. Malls accept already assassin guys to abrasion a Santa Claus apparel to allure children. The account is endless!

No one has any agnosticism that Christmas is actuality and everybody is accomplishing their best to banknote in, on the festival. One can absolutely not affray with the actuality that Santa Clauses, decorations and amusing authoritative advice in announcement 'the spirit'. Unfortunately, for many, Christmas (by accommodation or by accident) seems to accept been relegated to aloof that!

Christmas is about about the bearing of Jesus who Christians accept is God advancing bottomward on apple as a man in adjustment to accompany us salvation. The bearing of Jesus heralds a new adjustment based on love, truth, amends and peace.

Christmas is a time aback one needs to transcend attenuated calm walls, egocentric interests and aloft all, the abhorrence and ageism which generally appropriate us. It is a time for deepening friendships, for accomplishment new relationships, for extensive out to the poor .... and abundant more.

Yes, Christmas is about the bearing of Jesus and the ethics which he stood for. Let's put Christ aback into Christmas by absorptive and active some of these ethics today!

Merry Christmas...

7 Hot Design Engagement Ring 2011

2011-12-23T22:45:00.000-08:00

Certainly be happy when the news of his beloved idol of the heart finally come to apply. Engagement rings become a symbol of the relationship towards marriage bond. What kind of model of engagement rings are popular throughout 2011?

Here are some models of engagement rings are very popular in the year 2011:

1. Solange Azagury-Patridge Offering
This ring comes with an additional diamond eyes are not too large. But unique, this ring was silver or gold as usual but black. And this diamond section is supported by two pieces on the left palm of his right hand and also on the inside engraved a name.

2. Harry Winston Classic Winston
The ring is very unique with the addition of a small emerald flanked by baguette add sparkle to the ring.

3. Neil Lane Classic Cushion Cut

The ring is designed with a touch of elegance and glamorous like celebrities with diamond eyes are quite large and rectangular with additional carving and a sprinkling of tiny diamonds on the side.

4. Bulgari
Bulgari designed the engagement ring to Venice Torcello. Incorporated in the design of this ring a touch of classic and modern. Bulgari's design focuses on a perfectly round shape diamonds and beautiful.

5. Anna Sheffield Hazeline Solitare
The design of this ring looks a bit sentimental because a stronger touch of classic with a thin ring and a large diamond eyes plus a unique carving on sides of the ring.

6. Ivanka Trump Signature Oval Band
Diamonds on this ring in the ring-shaped oval and its own is not plain, but has the shape of circles like bracelets.

7. Monique Pean Atelier dengan Interlocking Band
This ring is a ring designed by the method of recycling and adding platinum to the edge of the ring as jewelry.

Leona Lewis Performance on The X Factor Finale Stage

2011-12-23T06:16:00.000-08:00

Leona Lewis showed everyone how it’s done with her "X Factor" performance of Snow Patrol’s "Run."

Leona Lewis singing a beautiful version of her hit single, "Run." Watch and listen now:

Melanie Amaro the Winner X Factor ?

2011-12-22T20:19:00.000-08:00

The final X Factor–Melanie Amaro, Chris Rene and Josh Krajcik .

Josh Krajcik sang “At Last” Click here to watch the performance, Chris Rene performed his original rap song “Young Homies” Click here to watch the performance, and closing the show was Melanie Amaro belted out Beyonce’s “Listen,” Click here to watch the performance.

After Amaro’s performance, Simon Cowell said:

“I was nervous until that very last song by Melanie. If that doesn’t win the competition, I might as well give up… You know, my gut, my heart tells me that Melanie should win after tonight.”

Melanie Amaro - Finale Night 1 - THE X FACTOR USA 2011 Video

2011-12-22T20:10:00.000-08:00

Melanie Amaro performs "Listen" by Beyonce.

Chris Rene - Finale Night 1 - THE X FACTOR USA 2011 Video

2011-12-22T20:08:00.000-08:00

Chris Rene performs his original "Young Homie."

Josh Krajcik – At Last – The X Factor Finals Video

2011-12-22T20:06:00.000-08:00

Josh Krajcik performs "At Last" by Etta James.

Grammy Award for Steve Jobs

2011-12-22T03:10:00.000-08:00

LOS ANGELES: Apple co-founder Steve Jobs will be receive Grammy award for his contribution to music technology.

Jobs, who died Oct 5 of pancreatic cancer, will receive a Trustees Award for helping create products and technology.

Along with Jobs, bandleader and composer Dave Bartholomew, recording engineer Rudy Van Gelder will also receive the award.

German sound-technology firm Celemony and the late audio engineer Roger Nichols, who worked with artists including Ross, Placido Domingo, James Taylor and Stevie Wonder, were recognized with Grammy Technical Awards.

The event awards will take place at the Staples Center, Los Angeles 12 February 2012.

Mayan Calendar

2011-12-21T23:47:00.000-08:00

In just 366 days (leap year, you know) the world is coming to an end. The countdown clock begins today. 2012-the day the Mayan calendar-but it’s safe to say that it will be much hype about what could happen. Nobody knows exactly what will happen on December 21. According to the Mayans there are five such epochs totally some 130,000 years.

People who accept the validity of the dates in the Mayan calendar believe that the Mayans predicted a series of cataclysmic events that will culminate with the destruction of the world in 2012.

According to people who follow and accept the predictions of the Mayan calendar, today, December 21, 2011, is the beginning of the “Year of Doom.”

The Hobbit Trailer

2011-12-21T03:03:00.000-08:00

"The Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey" will be berserk advancing by the time of its release, and not aloof because it follows a allegorical trilogy. The film's assembly is a adventure in itself. It's a artefact of a cardinal of lawsuits and riffs amid New Line, Jackson and a cardinal of added parties who fought over profit, affairs and rights issues. Director Guillermo Del Toro was initially slated to captain the project, with Jackson producing, but he larboard in 2010 due to delays to the filming schedule.

Baggins, who is played by Martin Freeman ("The Office"), is abutting by Thorin Oakenshield (Richard Armitage), Oakenshield's bandage of Dwarf warriors, and Gandalf the Grey (Sir Ian McKellan). Andy Serkis allotment as Gollum. Orlando Bloom, Elijah Wood, and Cate Blanchett acknowledgment in baby genitalia to reprise their roles as Legolas, Frodo, and Galadriel, respectively. Evangeline Lilly will comedy Tauriel, while Luke Evans is on lath as Bard.

Peter Jackson allotment to Middle Earth for the aboriginal time back he won three Oscars for "The Lord of the Rings: The Acknowledgment of the King" to acquaint the chance of Bilbo Baggins and his chance to accost the Dwarf Kingdom of Erebor from the dragon Smaug.

Nearly ten years to the day that the aboriginal "The Lord of the Rings" blur hit theaters, the aboriginal bivouac for its prequel, "The Hobbit," has been revealed.

The film, out abutting December, is one of two "Hobbit" pictures Jackson will put out, with "The Hobbit: There and Back Again" slated for absolution in 2013.

North Korean Leader Kim Jong Il Dead at 69

2011-12-19T05:52:00.000-08:00

North Korea announced the death of supreme leader Kim Jong Il and urged its people to rally behind his young son and heir-apparent Monday, while the world watched warily for signs of instability in a nation pursuing nuclear weapons.

South Korea, anxious about the untested, 20-something Kim Jong Un after his father's 17-year rule, put its military on high alert against the North's 1.2 million-strong armed forces. President Barack Obama agreed by phone with South Korean President Lee Myung-bak to closely monitor developments.

People on the streets of the North Korean capital, Pyongyang, wailed in grief, some kneeling on the ground or bowing repeatedly as they learned the news that their "dear general" had died of heart failure Saturday at age 69 while carrying out official duties on a train trip.

"How could the heavens be so cruel? Please come back, general. We cannot believe you're gone," Hong Son Ok shouted in an interview with North Korea's official television, her body shaking wildly.

"He passed away too suddenly to our profound regret," said a statement carried by the North's official Korean Central News Agency. "The heart of Kim Jong Il stopped beating, but his noble and august name and benevolent image will always be remembered by our army and people."

While there was no immediate statement on official succession, indications were clear that Kim Jong Un, the third son of Kim Jong Il, would be in charge.

The North said in a dispatch that the people and the military "have pledged to uphold the leadership of comrade Kim Jong Un" and called him a "great successor" of the country's revolutionary philosophy of juche, or self reliance.

The death could set back efforts by the United States and others to get Pyongyang to abandon its nuclear weapons ambitions, because the untested successor may seek to avoid any perceived weakness as he moves to consolidate control.

"The situation could become extremely volatile. What the North Korean military does in the next 24-48 hours will be decisive," said Bill Richardson, a former U.S. ambassador to the United Nations who has made several high-profile visits to North Korea.

The death comes at a sensitive time for North Korea as it prepares for next year's 100th anniversary of the birth of founder Kim Il Sung — Kim Jong Il's father. The preparations include massive construction projects throughout the city as part of Kim Jong Il's unfulfilled promise to bring prosperity to his people.

Seoul and Washington will worry that Kim Jong Un "may feel it necessary in the future to precipitate a crisis to prove his mettle to other senior leaders," according to Bruce Klingner, an Asia analyst at The Heritage Foundation think tank in Washington.

In Seoul, parliamentary official Lee Kyu-yun said he was thinking of stocking up food in case of soaring military tensions.

Lee Byung-joon, 27, feared South Korea might have to fight a war against the North if high-ranking officials challenge the inexperienced Kim Jong Un and Pyongyang becomes unstable.
"I definitely think the chance of war breaking out between the South and the North is higher now than before," Lee said.

Some analysts, however, said Kim's death was unlikely to plunge the country into chaos because it already was preparing for a transition. Kim Jong Il indicated a year ago that Kim Jong Un would be his successor, putting him in high-ranking posts.

Source : wbal.com

His Three Sons: North Korea's Shifting Heir Apparent

2011-12-19T05:38:00.000-08:00

Although the age of Kim Jong Un is unknown, it is believed that he is 28 years old. His father revealed his third son would be the head of the Korean Worker's Party and de-facto head of state of North Korea in 2009, and had placed him in high-ranking posts. Kenji Fujimoto, Kim Jong Il's personal sushi chef, wrote in memoir that Kim Jong Un was the favorite because of his good looks and mannerisms that are similar to those of his late grandfather, Kim Il Song.

Kim Jong Il inherited power in 1994 when his father, North Korean founder Kim Il Sung, died and named him the dear leader.

"At the leadership of comrade Kim Jong Un, we have to change sadness to strength and courage and overcome today's difficulties," North Korea's official news agency said, adding that that the people and the military "have pledged to uphold the leadership of comrade Kim Jong Un," a "great successor."

Kim Jong Un is the second son that the leader had with Ko Young-hee, a Japanese-born Korean and dancer who played the role of North Korea's first lady until her death in 2004. Although little is known about her death, it is believed to have been from cancer.

Kim Jong Un is known to be a fan of NBA basketball, active, and competitive -- but reports say like his father, he is suffering from diabetes and high blood pressure.

Kim Jong Un, who was educated in Switzerland, had accompanied his father on trips around the country over the past year in the private armored train he was known to exclusively travel in. The North Korean dictator was reported to have died while on board the train, according to state media, who called it a result of "great mental and physical strain" during a "high intensity field inspection." It is unknown if Kim Jong Un was on board the train at the time of his father's death.

There hasn't been a statement yet on the country's official succession, and it is still unclear what is occurring inside the Korean People's Army regime, or if high ranking senior officials are actually backing him up.

Kim Jong Il had another son with Ko Young-hee. Kim Jong-chul was reportedly born in 1981, the middle son of Kim Jong Il. Briefly it was believed that he would become the heir apparent to his father but it was soon revealed that he was far from his father's favorite son.

Kenji Fujimoto, who was Kim Jong-Il's personal sushi chef, wrote in a memoir that Kim Jong Il thought Jong-chul was "no good because he is like a little girl," and that he thought Kim Jong Il preferred his younger son with Ko Young-hee.

The eldest son of Kim Jong Il, Kim Jong Nam, was also at one point assumed to be the heir to North Korea. Born to the leader's first mistress, Song Hye-rim, in 1971. As the nation's top actress, Song was a married woman with a daughter when Kim Jong Il fell in love with her in 1968. For that reason, she was disapproved by the party, and sought exile in 1996. She reportedly died later in Moscow.

Kim Jong Nam's favorite son status fell apart in 2001 when the then 30-year-old tried to enter Japan with a fake Dominican Republic passport to visit Tokyo's Disneyland. He was arrested when he arrived at New Tokyo International Airport. The incident received widespread publicity and strained relations with his father.

According to The Chosun Ilbo, a South Korean newspaper, Kim Jong Nam, who is also known to be outspoken and enjoys gambling, has two wives, one of which lives in Beijing and the other in Macau, a mistress, and a number of children.

Soource : http://abcnews.go.com

With Christmas on a Sunday, some Oklahoma churches alter worship plans

2011-12-17T20:27:00.000-08:00

Although metro-area churches remain committed to sharing the story of Christ's birth, several are not going to do so on the holiday that commemorates that event. Several churches have decided not to open on Christmas Day, which is on Sunday this year.

Instead, leaders at churches including North Church, People's Church and New Life Bible Church in Norman said they are offering multiple Christmas Eve services.

LifeChurch.tv, the Edmond-based megachurch with multiple satellites throughout the metro and in other states, also has numerous Christmas Eve services planned but will be closed Christmas Day.
The Rev. Alan Danielson, New Life's senior pastor, said he thinks most people will show up Christmas Eve rather than Christmas Day.

“Our elders, me included, are convinced that people who don't normally attend church just won't come on Christmas Day,” Danielson said.

Brian Rush, creative director at People's Church, said staff, volunteers and the congregation will be able to spend time with their families at home. He said church leaders believe they still are offering “the best of both worlds” to the community with several identical Christmas Eve-themed services Friday and Saturday and other holiday-themed events that began several weeks ago.

“We decided not to have service on Christmas Day so that people could be together with family, but we also wanted to give every opportunity possible for people to be in church,” Rush said.

Meanwhile, a majority of metro churches will have at least one worship service on Christmas Day.
And church leaders planning Christmas Day corporate worship aren't throwing stones at those who choose not to meet on the holy day.

“I grew up as a preacher's kid, so I get it,” said the Rev. Mark Foster, pastor of Acts II United Methodist Church, 4848 W Covell Road in Edmond.

Source : newsok.com

'I don't hate Muslims,' Bachmann says repeatedly in Iowa

2011-12-17T20:14:00.000-08:00

ALGONA, Iowa – A feud inside the GOP presidential field provoked Michele Bachmann to defend her hard line on Iran on Saturday while insisting that she doesn't "hate Muslims."

Bachmann repeated variations on that phrase in at least three cities during her 99 county bus tour of Iowa.
"I don't hate Muslims. I love the American people. And as president of the United States, my goal will be to keep America safe, free, and sovereign," Bachmann told reporters Saturday morning in Estherville.
The unusually personal self-defense is the latest element in a back-and-forth with U.S. Rep. Ron Paul, R-Texas, who criticized Bachmann on national television Friday night.

Appearing on NBC's "Tonight Show," Paul said Bachmann "doesn’t like" Muslims.
"She hates Muslims," Paul added. "She wants to go get 'em."

The origins of the feud go back to Thursday's Fox News debate, in Sioux City, where Paul and Bachmann locked horns over how to handle the prospect of a nuclear Iran.
"There's war propaganda going on," Paul said of pronouncements among the GOP about confronting the threat.

"To me, the greatest danger is that we will have a president that will overreact and we will soon bomb Iran," he added.

Asked to reply, Bachmann said: "I think I have never heard a more dangerous answer for American security than the one that we just heard from Ron Paul."

She later added that the idea of not confronting Iran amounts to "the greatest under-reaction in world history."

(Bachmann's plan on Iran, unveiled in November, does not call for an immediate strike, but recommends "crushing" sanctions and covert activity to destabilize the regime.)

On Saturday, Bachmann used Paul's charge that she "hates" Muslims to advance her own assertions about Iran's leaders.

"Where the true hatred is coming from is the president of Iran and the mullahs," Bachmann told reporters in Algona.

"They’ve said unequivocally that they want to obtain a nuclear weapon for the express purpose of using it against our ally, Israel, to kill the Jews," she said, adding: "They also want to use it against the United States and kill Americans."

Source : http://firstread.msnbc.msn.com/_news/2011/12/17/9524899-i-dont-hate-muslims-bachmann-says-repeatedly-in-iowa

Related story: Pickets swarm Lowe's in Arab-American Michigan community for pulling ads from Muslim TV show

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2011-12-16T23:41:00.000-08:00

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Kobe Bryant Funny Picture gif

2011-12-16T22:50:00.000-08:00

Kobe Bryant's Wife Files For Divorce He Cheated Too Much

2011-12-16T22:41:00.000-08:00

Kobe Bryant's wife has filed for divorce ... TMZ has learned.

Vanessa Bryant filed legal docs Friday afternoon, citing "irreconcilable differences."

Sources connected with the couple tell TMZ ... Vanessa -- who stuck by Kobe after he was charged with sexually assaulting a Colorado woman in 2003 -- decided to end the marriage because she believes Kobe has been unfaithful ... again.

As one source puts it, "She's been dealing with these incidents for a long time and has been a faithful wife, but she's finally had enough," adding, "This one is the straw that broke the camel's back."

And our sources say ... Kobe "desperately" wants to win Vanessa back and will do "whatever it takes" to save their 10 1/2 year marriage.

According to the legal docs, Vanessa is asking for joint custody of their 2 daughters -- 8-year-old Natalia and 5-year-old Gianna -- but Vanessa is asking that Kobe get visitation rights, which means she wants the kids in her care most of the time.

We've learned the couple has NO PRENUP, so 29-year-old Vanessa is entitled to half of the empire Kobe built over the last decade.

She's also requesting spousal support ... which is typical in divorce cases. Kobe, who filed his response to the divorce minutes after Vanessa filed her petition, says he will pay her spousal support.

According to the docs, Vanessa is being repped by disso-queen Laura Wasser and attorney Samantha Klein. Wasser reps oodles of celebs, including Britney Spears, Angelina Jolie, Maria Shriver and Kim Kardashian.

Kobe went to the Jay-Z concert Tuesday night in L.A. without Vanessa, and people who saw him there say he looked miserable.

Vanessa signed the divorce petition on December 1. Kobe signed his response on December 7.

Oh yeah, that $4 million ring Kobe gave Vanessa after the 2003 scandal .... It's all hers. A gift is a gift.

The Bryants released a joint statement ... saying they have "resolved all issues" privately, with the assistance of counsel.

Source : tmz.com

Golden Globe Nominations 2012: Movies & Television Awards Nominees Announced

2011-12-16T02:54:00.000-08:00

Awards season kicked off in earnest on Thursday morning with the announcement of the 2012 Golden Globe nominations.

There were a lot of big names, but few sure things, amongst this year's contenders for the Hollywood Foreign Press Association's television and movie awards. Ryan Gosling scored big, with nominations for Best Actor in both comedy and drama ("Crazy, Stupid, Love." and "The Ides of March") while his "Ides" director/co-star/writer scored nominations for four those categories: directing, writing and Best Picture for "Ides," and acting for "The Descendants."

"The Girl With The Dragon Tattoo" star Rooney Mara scored a Best Actress, Drama nomination, as did Meryl Streep for "The Iron Lady" and Viola Davis for "The Help." Jessica Chastain and Octavia Spencer also received nominations for "The Help," which itself was nominated for Best Picture, Drama.
"The Artist" was nominated for comedy/music acting, for both Jean Dujardin and Berenice Bejo.
As for TV, surprise picks abound: NBC's "Parks and Recreation" did not get a look for Best Comedy, though star Amy Poehler got nominated. Defending Emmy winner Jim Parsons got overlooked for "The Big Bang Theory."

Here's the full list of nominees; the 69th annual Golden Globes set for January 15th will be hosted by Ricky Gervais, his third straight year MC'ing the show. Follow below as the nominations are announced.

BEST PICTURE, DRAMA
"War Horse"
"The Ides of March"
"The Help"
"Moneyball"
"Hugo"
"The Descendants"

BEST PICTURE, COMEDY
"The Artist"
"50/50"
"Bridesmaids"
"My Week With Marilyn"
"Midnight in Paris"

BEST ACTOR, DRAMA
George Clooney, "The Descendants"
Brad Pitt, ''Moneyball''
Leonardo DiCaprio, ''J.Edgar''
Ryan Gosling, ''The Ides of March''
Michael Fassbender, ''Shame''

BEST ACTRESS, DRAMA
Viola Davis, "'The Help''
Meryl Streep, ''The Iron Lady''
Tilda Swinton, ''We Need to Talk About Kevin''
Rooney Mara, "The Girl With the Dragon Tattoo''
Glenn Close, ''Albert Nobbs''

BEST ACTOR, COMEDY
Jean Dujardin, "The Artist''
Brendan Gleeson, ''The Guard''
Owen Wilson, ''Midnight in Paris''
Joseph Gordon-Levitt, ''50/50''
Ryan Gosling, ''Crazy, Stupid, Love''

BEST ACTRESS, COMEDY
Michelle Williams, ''My Week With Marilyn''
Jodie Foster, ''Carnage''
Kristen Wiig, ''Bridesmaids''
Charlize Theron, ''Young Adult''
Kate Winslet, ''Carnage''

BEST SUPPORTING ACTOR
Albert Brooks, ''Drive''
Christopher Plummer, ''Beginners''
Kenneth Branagh, ''My Week With Marilyn''
Jonah Hill, ''Moneyball''
Viggo Mortensen, ''A Dangerous Method''

BEST SUPPORTING ACTRESS
Berenice Bejo, ''The Artist''
Octavia Spencer, ''The Help''
Jessica Chastain, ''The Help''
Janet McTeer, ''Albert Nobbs''
Shailene Woodley, "The Descendants"

BEST DIRECTOR
Martin Scorsese, ''Hugo''
George Clooney, ''The Ides of March''
Michel Hazanavicius, ''The Artist''
Alexander Payne, ''The Descendants''
Woody Allen, ''Midnight in Paris''

BEST TV SERIES, DRAMA
"American Horror Story"
"Boardwalk Empire"
"Boss"
"Game of Thrones"
"Homeland"

BEST COMEDY SERIES
"New Girl"
"Enlightened"
"Episodes"
"Glee"
"Modern Family"

BEST ACTOR, DRAMA
Steve Buscemi, "Boardwalk Empire"
Bryan Cranston, "Breaking Bad"
Kelsey Grammer, "Boss"
Jeremy Irons, "The Borgias"
Damian Lewis, "Homeland"

BEST ACTRESS, DRAMA
Claire Danes, "Homeland"
Mireille Enos, "The Killing"
Julianna Margulies, "The Good Wife"
Madeleine Stowe, "Revenge"
Callie Thorne, "Necessary Roughness"

BEST ACTOR, COMEDY
Alec Baldwin, "30 Rock"
David Duchovny, "Californication"
Johnny Galecki, "The Big Bang Theory"
Thomas Jane, "Hung"
Matt LeBlanc, "Episodes"

BEST ACTRESS, COMEDY
Tina Fey, "30 Rock"
Amy Poehler, "Parks and Recreation"
Laura Dern, "Enlightened"
Zooey Deschanel, "New Girl"
Laura Linney, "The Big C"

BEST TV-MOVIE OR MINISERIES
"Mildred Pierce"
"Too Big To Fail"
"Cinema Verite"
"Downton Abbey"
"The Hour"

BEST ACTOR, TV-MOVIE OR MINISERIES
William Hurt, "Too Big To Fail"
Hugh Bonneville, "Downton Abbey"
Idris Elba, "Luther"
Bill Nighy, "Page Eight"
Dominic West, "The Hour"

SUPPORTING ACTOR, TV-MOVIE OR MINISERIES
Peter Dinklage, "Game of Thrones"
Paul Giamatti, "To Big To Fail"
Guy Pearce, "Mildred Pierce"
Tim Robbins, "Cinema Verite"
Eric Stonestreet, "Modern Family"

BEST SUPPORTING ACTRESS, TV-MOVIE OR MINISERIES
Jessica Lange, "American Horror Story"
Kelly Macdonald, "Boardwalk Empire"
Maggie Smith, "Downton Abbey"
Sofia Vergara, "Modern Family"
Evan Rachel Wood, "Mildred Pierce"

BEST SCREENPLAY
''Midnight in Paris''
''The Ides of March''
''The Artist''
''The Descendants''
''Moneyball''

BEST ANIMATED FEATURE
''Rango''
''The Adventures of Tintin''
''Puss in Boots''
''Arthur Christmas''
''Cars 2''

BEST FOREIGN FILM
''In the Land of Blood and Honey''
''Flowers of War''
''The Skin I Live In''
''The Kid With a Bike''
''A Separation''

BEST ORIGINAL SONG
''W.E.''
''The Help''
''Albert Nobbs''
''Machine Gun Preacher''
''Gnomeo and Juliet''

BEST SCORE
''The Girl With the Dragon Tattoo''
''War Horse''
''The Artist''
''W.E.''

Source : huffingtonpost.com

'The Protester' is the Time's 2011 Person of the Year

2011-12-15T03:35:00.000-08:00

From Yoshita Singh New York, Dec 14 (PTI) 'The Protester' is the Time's 2011 Person of the Year, as the magazine honoured those who stood up for common people, from India's anti-graft crusader Anna Hazare to Tunisia's street vendor Mohammed Bouazizi, who set himself on fire sparking the Arab Spring.

The US magazine said the revolution began in Tunisia, "where the dictator's power grabbing and high living crossed a line of shamelessness, and a commonplace bit of government callousness against an ordinary citizen a 26-year-old street vendor named Mohamed Bouazizi became the final straw."

Last year, the Time picked Facebook founder Mark Zuckerberg, whose competitors included another 21st century communications guru, WikiLeaks maestro Julian Assange. Accompanying the Time report is a photo essay of profiles of over 30 ordinary citizens who did not give up in the face of death and torture and continued to fight tyrannical regimes, corruption, inequality and injustice all over the world.

Among the pictures is a close-up profile of a smiling and Gandhi-cap wearing Hazare and one in which he is sitting cross-legged. Its caption reads "anti-corruption crusader in India." "When God wants to bring in change, he needs a vehicle of change, and I became that vehicle," Hazare is quoted as saying.

Among the other photos is that of Ahmed Harara, a Cairo dentist who was blinded by rubber bullets during clashes in January, protesters from the Occupy Wall Street movement, Egyptian protesters, leading Tunisian feminist Professor Dalenda Largueche, Greek protest dog Loukanikos as well as that of a clenched fist.

Geminid Meteor Shower 2011

2011-12-14T02:24:00.000-08:00

The Geminids peak the nights of December 13th and 14th this year, one of the better meteor showers of the year. Unfortunately for 2011, most of the Geminids will be nearly invisible due to the very bright Moon that dominates the late night and early morning sky, when the Geminids are at their best.

The effect of a bright Moon on a meteor shower was vividly illustrated to me during the Total Lunar Eclipse a few days ago. I was at Ocean Beach on the west coast of San Francisco for the eclipse in the early morning hours. Facing west, Gemini was directly in front of us, dominating the western sky.

As the brightness of the Moon faded, we began to notice meteors -- we were seeing some very early Geminid meteors, facing the radiant directly. I was very surprised at the stark contrast in meteor visibility from Full Moon before the eclipse started, to an ever-increasing amount of meteors over a very short period of time as the Moon, in effect, when through all of its phases in about 60 minutes. It reaffirms for me the huge difference a moonlit night makes when watching a meteor shower.

Although the meteors will be diminished for the Geminid Meteor Shower in 2011, I'll still take a look, since a big shower like this has plenty of bright meteors that pierce the night despite moonlight. If you want to read more about the Geminids, check out this interesting article about the Geminids radiant, from Earth Sky, from the LA Times, or this one from NASA Science News.

Image courtesy EarthSky

Chris Paul Trade: Clippers Deal Dead Again

2011-12-13T02:58:00.000-08:00

For the second time in less than a week, the Hornets' negotiations with the Clippers have been put on hold. This time, of course, the proposed trade progressed much further.

Still it's unclear exactly what pieces were involved. We don't know if Gordon was in the trade at all, and while Minnesota's unprotected pick was part of the package according to more sources, it's clear the NBA and the Clippers were haggling over other parts as well.

Until we know exactly what the proposed deal was, it would be wise to lay off the David Stern critiques for the time being. It's still the Hornets that hold onto the important asset here, and with the league's artificially imposed leverage on the situation, to think that further deals will materialize in the future is not unreasonable.

The league's original veto has definitely hurt the Hornets' initial position, but until this fully plays out, I'd stay clear of both staunch defenses and incensed tirades against Stern. There's still a ways to go here.

Novara targeting Andik Vermansyah

2011-12-12T02:47:00.000-08:00

The news about the special abilities of Andik Vermansyah turns up to the team's Serie A, Novara. Reported by Italy Sport Press, Sunday (12/11/2011) Novara is targeting Indonesia U-23 national team star, Andik Vermansyah. Good performance when face with the LA Galaxy seems to be the main reason Novara to land him in Italy.

Captivating performance when joined Indonesia Selection and confronted with the LA Galaxy a while ago seems to be the main reason Novara want to get Andik services. Previously, not just this once Andik rumored to be expanding its feet to Europe.

Previously, the sticking issue of youth born in Jember, East Java 20 years ago it would strengthen the Portuguese giants Benfica. Novara see, Andik nicknamed Lionel Messi from Indonesia, it has the right talent and potential to compete in the elite European leagues. Moreover, age Andik itself is still very young.

"In this perspective, Mauritius Pederzoli as Director of Sport has been monitoring Andik Vermansyah and he's also U-23 national team players of Indonesia," the statement on the site.

On the site is also written, Novara hoping to get Andik services at a price not too high from the club today.

Afghanistan Suicide bomber attacks Kabul shrine killing 60+ Ashura Iran

2011-12-11T01:45:00.000-08:00

Two Afghanistan bombings aimed at Shiites kill at least 60+ people
A suicide bomber killed at least 55 people outside a Kabul shrine and injured 134, and a bicycle bomb detonated near a Shiite gathering in Mazar-i-Sharif, killing at least four and hurting 16.

Reporting from Kabul, Afghanistan, and Islamabad,—
Bomb blasts targeting Shiite Muslim gatherings Tuesday in two Afghan cities killed at least 59 people and injured 150, a rare outbreak of sectarian violence in a country racked by 10 years of war with Taliban insurgents.

A noontime blast in Kabul, the capital, involved a suicide bomber hidden among a throng of Shiite worshipers outside the Abul Fazal Abbas shrine, said Gen. Mohammed Zahir, head of criminal investigations for the Kabul police. That attack killed at least 55 people and injured 134, the Interior Ministry said.

At about the same time in the northern city of Mazar-i-Sharif, a bomb on a bicycle detonated near a gathering of Shiites, killing at least four people and injuring 16, provincial and Interior Ministry officials said.

The bomb exploded as a Shiite procession was heading toward a city shrine, said Gen. Abdul Taj, a top police official in Balkh province, where Mazar-i-Sharif is located. Another nearby bomb probably meant for the procession was found and defused, Taj said.

The attacks occurred on the Shiite holy day of Ashura, which commemorates the anniversary of the 7th century martyrdom of Imam Hussein, a grandson of the prophet Muhammad.

Speaking at a news conference in Berlin, Afghan President Hamid Karzai said the attacks marked "the first time that on such an important religious day in Afghanistan, terrorism of that horrible nature is taking place."

Marine Corps Gen. John Allen, commander of U.S.-led coalition forces in Afghanistan, condemned the violence and blamed Afghan insurgents for the attacks. "This insurgency, which wraps itself in a false veil of Islam, must know that killing innocent pilgrims will spell their own demise," Allen said in a prepared statement.

The Afghan Interior Ministry also accused Afghan Taliban insurgents of being behind the attacks.

Taliban spokesman Zabiullah Mujahid denied that the Afghan insurgent group was involved and instead accused U.S.-led forces of carrying out such violence "to provide grounds for their presence in Afghanistan, and to pit [Afghans] against each other."

Witnesses outside the shrine in Kabul said corpses \and severed limbs were strewn all over the street. A steady stream of ambulances and police cars rushed the injured to nearby hospitals. Many of the victims were women and children. Gen. Mohammad Ayub Salangi, Kabul's police chief, said the bomber entered the city with a procession of pilgrims from the nearby province of Lowgar.

It was Kabul's deadliest attack since a suicide car bomber killed more than 60 people outside the Indian Embassy in July 2008.

"I was about to go to the shrine, but then I heard a big explosion about 10 meters away," said Allah Mohammad, 25. "As people rushed, I fell down, and after a few minutes stood up again to look for two of my friends who were with me. I saw more than 25 dead bodies on the ground. Some children were also killed and wounded. It was a very bad situation."

Afghanistan's Muslim population is majority Sunni, but sectarian violence is rare. Such attacks are much more common in neighboring Pakistan, where Sunni extremist organizations routinely carry out terror strikes against Shiites, whom they regard as heretics.

Shiites make up about 15% of Afghanistan's population.

Source : http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UJNclOUwUAQ

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2011-12-10T19:32:00.000-08:00

List of Champions League Round of 16

2011-12-10T08:22:00.000-08:00

Participants Champions League Round of 16
1. Bayern Munich
2. Napoli
3. Inter Milan
4. CSKA Moskow
5. Benfica
6. FC Basel
7. Real Madrid
8. Olympique Lyon
9. Chelsea
10. Bayer Leverkusen
11. Arsenal
12. Olympique Marseille
13. APOEL FC
14. Zenit St Petersburg
15. Barcelona
16. AC Milan

Championship final round of the Champions League group
(Team-difference Goal-Points)

Group A
1. Bayern Munich: +5 13
2. Napoli: +4 11
3. Manchester City: +3 10
4. Villarreal: -12 0

Group B
1. Inter Milan: +1 10
2. CSKA Moskow: +1 8
3. Trabzonspor: -2 7
4. Lille: 0 6

Group C
1. Benfica: +4 12
2. Basel: +1 11
3. Manchester United: +3 9
4. Otelul Galati: -8 0

Group D
1. Real Madrid: +17 18
2. Olympique Lyon: +2 8
3. Ajax Amsterdam: 0 8
4. Dinamo Zagreb: -19 0

Group E
1. Chelsea: +9 11
2. Bayer Leverkusen: 0 10
3. Valencia: +5 8
4. RC Genk: -14 3

Group F
1. Arsenal: +1 11
2. Olympique Marseille: +3 10
3. Olympiakos: +2 9
4. Borussia Dortmund: -6 4

Group G
1. APOEL: 0 9
2. Zenit St Petersburg: +2 9
3. FC Porto: 0 8
4. Shakhtar Donetsk: -2 5

Group H
1. Barcelona: +16 16
2. AC Milan: +3 9
3. Viktoria Plzen: -7 5
4. BATE Borisov: -12 2

Russian boxer dies after knockout

2011-12-10T07:46:00.000-08:00

Light heavyweight Roman Simakov, who was carried from the ring on a stretcher after being knocked out in a WBC Asian Boxing Council title fight on Monday, has died, the Russian federation (RBF) said.

The 27-year-old had brain surgery after being rushed to hospital in the Ural city of Yekaterinburg but never regained consciousness and died on Thursday.

"I can only say that the investigation into his death is taking place," RBF official Igor Maruzov was quoted as saying by local media.

Simakov was knocked down in the sixth round by Russian compatriot Sergei Kovalev but got up and was able to continue before receiving numerous blows to the head in the seventh when he was knocked out.

It was Simakov's first knockout defeat and only his second loss in 21 fights during his professional career.

50 killed in fire in India

2011-12-09T03:34:00.000-08:00

Fifty people were killed after a fire scorched a hospital in eastern India Friday, authorities said. Dozens were also injured in the blaze at the five-story hospital in the city of Kolkata, said D.P. Biswas, the additional director-general of the fire department in the area.

The victims died of smoke inhalation Biswas said. The blaze started at about 4 a.m. in the basement of the hospital. Authorities were trying to determine what caused the fire. But a preliminary investigation showed that the hospital had safety violations in the basement said Javed Ahmed Khan, the state fire and emergency services minister.

Authorities found that the basement was being used to park cars, house medical supplies and also as an oncology department, Khan said. "This was a violation (of the safety norms)," he said. Khan said the hospitals license was revoked.

American Country Awards 12.05.11

2011-12-06T06:00:00.000-08:00

Musician Scotty McCreery poses with the New Artist of the Year Award in the press room at the American Country Awards 2011 at the MGM Grand Garden Arena on December 5, 2011 in Las Vegas, Nevada.

Source images : charlotteobserver.com

Radiation found in Japanese baby formula sparks recall

2011-12-06T05:54:00.000-08:00

TOKYO—Traces of radiation spilled from Japan's hobbled nuclear plant were detected in baby formula Tuesday in the latest case of contaminated food in the nation.
Major food and candy maker Meiji Co. said it was recalling canned powdered milk for infants, with expiration dates of October 2012, as a precaution.

The levels of radioactive cesium were well below government-set safety limits, and the company said the amounts were low enough not to have any affect on babies' health even if they drank the formula every day.
Experts say children are more at risk than are adults of getting cancer and other illnesses from radiation exposure.

"There is no problem because the levels are within the government limit," Kazuhiko Tsurumi, a Health Ministry official in charge of food safety, said of the radiation in Meiji milk.
The March 11 earthquake and tsunami in northeastern Japan sent three reactors into meltdown at Fukushima Dai-ichi plant, which have been spewing radiation into the air and ocean.
Some of that radiation has crept into food, such as rice, fish and beef. But this was the first time radiation was reported in baby formula.

Kyodo News said the milk got contaminated by airborne radioactive cesium while it was being dried, citing the company. The company was not immediately available for comment late Tuesday.
The levels of cesium-134 and cesium-137 in the milk were up to 31 becquerels per kilogram, which is below the government limit of 200 becquerels per kilogram set for milk.
The government has been reviewing its food safety and other radiation standards because some of them were not clearly defined before the nuclear crisis.

Not all food samples are monitored for radiation, and readings have been voluntarily reported by the manufacturers, including the latest by Tokyo-based Meiji.

Many consumers are worried. Some stores are labeling where the food was grown or caught, allowing shoppers to opt for imports or products from parts of the country deemed safe.

Source : thestar.com

Apple may build data center in Oregon

2011-12-05T04:03:00.000-08:00

Apple is reportedly considering beefing up its data center muscle by building a new facility in central Oregon.

The tech giant is exploring the possibility of constructing a 31-megawatt data center on 160 acres near Prineville, Ore., people familiar with the matter tell The Oregonian.

The company, which is negotiating with the city under the code name "Maverick," is expected to make a decision this month on whether to purchase the property, the newspaper reports. The property is owned by Crook County and is about a quarter mile south of where Facebook opened a server farm last year, the newspaper reports.

Apple representatives did not immediately respond to a request for comment, but the Oregonian reports that the company had a team looking at Facebook's operation last summer.

"Apple would be the latest in a quick succession of big-name tech companies to build a data center in Oregon," Oregonian reporter Mike Rogoway wrote. "The state is a hot destination for server farms, which attract huge investment but employ relatively few."

In addition to Facebook, Google and Amazon also have data farms in the town, which has a population of 7,356, according to the 2010 census. Google and Amazon also have facilities in the region. The state's mild climate, low power costs, and tax breaks make the area very attractive for tech companies' server needs.

The decision is being held up by the question of whether there would be adequate electricity to meet the company's needs, the newspaper's sources said. Local utility Bonneville Power Administration has been working to upgrade a substation in the area by 2013--a year ahead of schedule.

If constructed, a Prineville facility would join Apple's 500,000-square-foot behemoth of a data center in Maiden, N.C. Apple has reportedly spent $1 billion on the facility, which the company is using to power the cloud services it is working on, according to numerous sources.

Source : news.cnet.com

Socrates has died at 57

2011-12-04T09:25:00.000-08:00

SAO PAULO (AP) - On and off the field, former Brazil star Socrates stood out above the rest.

His elegant style and his deep involvement with politics made him a unique figure in Brazilian soccer, setting him apart from the players of his time and even of today.

He was mostly known for captaining Brazil at the 1982 World Cup, regarded by many as the best team ever not to win football's showcase tournament.

But he was also widely known for his heavy drinking, which he publicly admitted caused the health problems which eventually helped lead to his death on Sunday.

The Albert Einstein hospital said in a statement that Socrates died of septic shock at 4:30 a.m. Brazilian time (0630 GMT). He was 57.

Socrates had been rushed to the hospital on Saturday - the third time in four months - and had been in critical condition in an intensive care unit with an intestinal infection. He was breathing with the help of a ventilator.

Socrates was twice hospitalized and placed in intensive care in the last few months, most recently in September. Both times he was admitted for a hemorrhage caused by high pressure in the vein that carries blood from the digestive system to the liver.

Socrates never denied his fondness for drinking from the time he was a player in the 1980s, but said he stopped drinking earlier this year after his stints in the hospital.

"Socrates seemed like a player from another era,'' former Italy forward Paolo Rossi told the ANSA news agency. "You couldn't place him in any category - on the pitch and even more so off it. Everyone knew about his degree in medicine and he had a lot of cultural and social interests as well. He was unique from every point of view.''

Indeed, Socrates was like no other on and off the field. He became a doctor after retiring from football and later became a popular TV commentator and columnist, always with unique and controversial opinions.

Since his playing days, Socrates never kept his political ideas to himself and often wrote about the subject in his columns. Known as Dr. Socrates because of his practice of medicine, he was constantly in demand from local media for interviews on varied subjects.

While with Brazilian club Corinthians, Socrates spearheaded a movement called the Corinthians Democracy, in which players protested against the long periods of confinement required by the club before matches. It quickly became a broader protest that coincided with Brazil's fight to overturn a military regime in the 1980s.

The clever, tall full-bearded playmaker also was a member of the Brazilian squad in 1986 in Mexico, but it was in 1982 in Spain that he made history with Brazil, which is known to have had one of the greatest teams in World Cup history but failed to win the trophy. With players like Zico and Falcao, it fell to Italy 3-2 in the second round despite needing only a draw to advance to the semifinals.

"He was a very dynamic player with a sublime foot but most of all great intelligence,'' added Rossi, who scored a memorable hat trick against Brazil in that match. "Along with Zico and Falcao he was the symbol of that Brazil squad.

Dozens of Brazilian footballers expressed their sadness on Twitter moments after Socrates' death was announced.

"Sad start to the day,'' retired Brazil striker Ronaldo wrote. "Rest in peace Dr. Socrates.''

Former Brazil and Barcelona playmaker Rivaldo added on his Twitter page: "Sad to wake up and find out that Socrates has died.''

Reaction came from those outside of football, too, including three-time French Open champion Gustavo Kuerten and three-time Indy 500 winner Helio Castroneves.

"Great guy,'' Castroneves tweeted. "A Brazilian who will be greatly missed.''

The Brazilian football federation said the final round of the Brazilian league on Sunday will be played in Socrates' honor. All matches will be preceded by a minute of silence. Corinthians, the team that featured Socrates at the height of his career, needs a draw against rival Palmeiras to win the title. Corinthians' main fan group said it will honor its former star throughout the day.

Fiorentina, another of Socrates' former clubs, held a minute of silence and players wore black armbands in his honor in Sunday's Italian league match with Roma.

Socrates wrote a series of columns for The Associated Press during the 2011 Copa America in Argentina, expressing his views on all aspects of the tournament, including economic and political issues in Latin America.

"It's not just about the game itself,'' Socrates said before the competition began. "Before anything, (football) is a psychological battle, the human aspect plays a significant role.''

Socrates, whose full name is Socrates Brasileiro Sampaio de Souza Vieira de Oliveira, starred for Corinthians in the early 1980s, but he also played for Flamengo and Santos, as well as Fiorentina in Italy.

Socrates was included in FIFA's list of the best 125 living soccer players in the world, a list compiled by countryman Pele. Socrates played 63 matches with the national team, scoring 25 goals.

He was known for his great vision on the field. Always clever with the ball at his feet, his trademark move was the back-heel pass, and he set up and scored many goals with it throughout his career.

Socrates briefly coached and played for Garforth Town in England in 2004.

Socrates' younger brother Rai was another great Brazilian midfielder, and he helped Brazil win the 1994 World Cup in the United States.

Funeral services will take place in his home town of Ribeirao Preto, in the interior of Sao Paulo state.
He is survived by his wife and six children.

Source : http://m.si.com/news/sp/to_soccer_sports/detail/4535058/full

Kourtney Kardashian Pregnant With Second Child

2011-12-03T21:39:00.000-08:00

Reality TV star Kourtney Kardashian is pregnant with her second child.

The Kourtney and Kim Take New York star and her partner Scott Disick are already proud parents to Mason, who turns two on December 14th - and the tot is set to become a big brother.

Announcing the news in the latest edition of Us Weekly magazine, Kardashian says, "I'm nine weeks along. You're supposed to wait 12 weeks to tell people, but I feel confident."

Disick adds, "It wasn't like we weren't trying. We kind of just said, 'If it's meant to be, it'll be.'"

And in a statement to E! News, the brunette beauty gushes, "We are expecting our second child and are thrilled to be expanding the love in our family."

Source : starpulse.com

Christians take aim at Depp for Christmas song

2011-12-03T09:24:00.000-08:00

Johnny Depp has come under fire from religious activists for a new Christmas-themed track they've branded "filth."

The Pirates of the Caribbean star teamed up with British rockers Babybird to record The Jesus Stag Night Club, which tells a story of a boozing Christ-like figure in a strip club.

But the track has caused uproar amongst religious groups including the Focus on Family campaign.

A spokesperson says, "We are sickened by Mr. Depp's behaviour. Why did he need to record this song? It is a slap in the face to Christians all over the world."

Lee Douglas of The Christian Coalition adds, "I'm sure he thinks he's being very funny but he's simply a disgrace. One day, Johnny Depp and his cronies will face the judgment of our Lord and they will burn in hell for this filth."

Babybird frontman Stephen Jones has brushed off the controversy, insisting, "Some people have no sense of humour."

Diet Secret

2011-12-03T04:00:00.000-08:00

Keeping your weight loss plan a secret could be the key to successful accomplishment of your goal, reveals study.

A study from New York University revealed that those who shared details of their regimes with family and friends were less likely to meet their goals.

According to the researchers, positive recognition people get when they discuss their diet can be interpreted as accomplishment, as a result of which dieters are less likely to stick to their plan as strictly as before.

"The danger is that you feel that you have already reached the goal and because of that you don't have to act on it any more," the Daily Mail quoted Professor of psychology Dr Peter Gollwitzer, who lead the study, as telling CNN.

He gave tips to dieters, which could help them in following their weight loss regime successfully.

"One is simple - you can keep your mouth shut."

"Another one is to form different kinds of intentions, not only say what you want to do but also when, where and how you want to do it."

He said that by describing our objective, we mentally map out our future, so are more likely to follow through.

The third solution, he continued, was to only share your weight-loss plan with a trusted few, who can help you keep on course.

Tara Harwood, a registered dietician echoed his advice.

"You have to be very particular on who you choose. Make sure they are people who are going to encourage you and not hinder you and your success," she told Fox News.

"So, you do want to tell some people, however, for the most part keep it to yourself and let other people gradually notice these changes in you," she added.

Source-ANI

Lady Gaga’s "Marry The Night" Video

2011-12-02T03:59:00.000-08:00

Lady Gaga’s “Marry The Night” video officially premieres tonight on E!, but this being the Internet age and all, it’s here early! And it’s equal parts Black Swan, Girl Interrupted, All That Jazz, Fame, Stayin’ Alive and a psychotic Honey Nut Cheerios commercial. Watch all 13 minutes and 48 seconds (jeez) of the Grammy nominee’s latest opus — which she directed herself — below. (Be forewarned, a nude Gaga appears throughout, though her parts are mostly censored. Still, even if it’s Safe For Work, it may not be safe for your sanity.)

“And…my video is now leaking like an old tampon,” tweeted Gaga upon seeing her little monsters’ reactions to her new video, hours earlier than planned. “Although I do appreciate that really sneaky monsters are flipping out :)”

Well, at least she’s got a sense of humor about her art leaking to the public! Anyway, here it is — and for you impatient monsters, skip eight minutes in for the actual song to begin playing.

Lady Gaga – “Marry The Night”

Lady Gaga spoke to Vanity Fair about her video, which she calls “autobiographical”. The bedroom scene in particular is based off of “the worst day” of her life — when she was dropped by her record label early in her career.

As for the reenactment, Gaga says, “It’s chaotic and sad. But I don’t want it to be safe. It has to be humiliating.”

Source : http://idolator.com

Smuggling tunnels used by drug

2011-12-01T03:35:00.000-08:00

By : Sandy Huffaker/Getty Images.

How to Implement Healthy Internet?

2011-11-30T07:22:00.000-08:00

How nice to know that you have a passion for building a healthy Internet in Indonesia. In general, the Internet Health is a joint effort that we will all be able to optimize the positive aspects of the Internet and minimize its negative impact.

One approach is the core of the Internet by promoting the healthy growth of local content in a positive and beneficial as well as through various educational programs / advocacy.

I am sure will be many things you can sumbangsihkan so the reverberations of this movement more broadly bias. The Ministry of Communications and Information Technology is one of strategic partners in Healthy Internet activities in the homeland.

How Duke Basketball Brings Fans into Win 903

2011-11-30T05:33:00.000-08:00

It's a huge number, especially when you are talking about games won. It's kind of hard to fathom, when you're talking about a sport where you tend to play 25-30 games a year. That's the beauty and the challenge here -- how can you connect people with an idea that's so hard to put into context?

With a victory over Michigan State last week, Coach K became the NCAA's All-Time Winningest Coach -- 903 wins. But how do you take the fact that your coach just set the standard for winning games and turn it into a fun consumer contest? By having fun with it, of course.

Duke Basketball launched their campaign and site, 903 and Counting (linked here). The call to action is simple yet not simple: "How do you 903?"

But they wanted to give fans more clarity on what they were looking for... and released this amazing video that shows everything from fans waking up at 9:03 to body paint and ridiculous piles of food. This video is worth two minutes of your attention (don't worry, I'll wait).

It's fun, right?

So after setting the bar of what to do, Duke gives you the other two things you need: How to enter and What you can win. And both are done very simply, as you'll see here.

The process is very simple. Just show how you 903 via video, image, drawing, or whatever and submit it according to the process below...

And you can win prizes that the University has access to as the source (Tickets, Autographs, and Duke Gear).

I love this idea. It's simple, it's fun, and you can win prizes that are amazing if you are a huge Duke fan but not so amazing if you're not -- the best kind of contest to run as a school!

And, I for one am anxious to see the winners. Too bad I'm not on that expert panel to judge!

Cyber Monday deals: Is Amazon saving best for last?

2011-11-27T03:40:00.000-08:00

Black Friday lured in shoppers, doled out discounts, and rang up big sales for many retailers. But the great buys aren't over. Cyber Monday deals still lie ahead – and that's the day that major retailer Amazon.com expects to shine.

The Seattle-based company, which has been featuring big but limited-time holiday deals for the past week, could be poised to pull out all the stops to attract online shoppers for Cyber Monday.

"Keep an eye out, because they will price match almost everything but clothes," says Dan de Grandpre, chief executive officer of dealnews.com, a website that tracks sales at large retailers across the country.

Last year, Amazon says it sold more items on Cyber Monday – a record-breaking 158 items per second – than on any other day of the year. This year, the company has leaked some of its Cyber Monday deals via a press release. They include an XBox 360 250-gigabyte game console and holiday bundle of games for $199, a sale price that no other retailer seems to be matching. Walmart offers the same bundle for $299, Best Buy offers the console alone, refurbished, for $249.

Another Amazon deal: a Mercer Cutlery Genesis 6-Piece Knife Set in a tempered glass block for $99, at least $20 less than competing retailers. Amazon is sure to offer more.

"In terms of ordering online, Amazon is more refined [than other retailers] because it’s their core product," says Michael Brim, founder of BFAds.net, a website that tracks Black Friday deals. "Walmart sometimes offers in-store pickup that isn't necessarily guaranteed, even if you order it online. Amazon is usually more likely on the ball, less likely to have online items out of stock.”

Case in point: At some point during Cyber Monday, Amazon will be offering a Sony Cybershot DSC-HX5V 10.2-megapixel digital camera for $199, $20 less than the lowest price from any retailer on a Google product search. Walmart actually sells it for $10 cheaper online, but it's not available currently.

And if you're in the market for certain items, Amazon is definitely worth watching on Monday.

“Definitely the books and videos and computer games and all that stuff, Amazon is the leader," says Max Levitte at Cheapism.com, an online deal site. "In electronics generally, Amazon is better, because they have a larger selection.”

A bushel of worries: Congress, debt, another recession

2011-11-27T03:04:00.000-08:00

I was all set to rip Congress up one side and down the other for the supercommittee's inability to even come close to agreeing on a deficit-cutting plan. (Loved USA TODAY's inch-high SUPER FAIL headline.)

But then I talked to Jack Bauer on Friday and came away more worried about what the next few months might hold than angry about what the past few months failed to accomplish.

Bauer is managing director of the fixed income group at Manning & Napier Inc. in Perinton, and he not only expects a recession to hit Europe in 2012 but also has concerns about the U.S.

He had very low expectations -- actually, no expectations at all -- for the Joint Select Committee on Deficit Reduction, a panel of six Democrats and six Republicans that took three months to go nowhere on one of the most serious long-term problems facing our country: how to close the gap between what the federal government takes in and what it spends.

"We didn't anticipate that the supercommittee would reach any kind of agreement," Bauer said. "It's just another example of putting off the tough decisions."

He said deficit reduction isn't realistic without some give by both parties, the Democrats on programs such as Social Security and Medicare, and the Republicans on what he called "revenue enhancers" -- not necessarily tax increases but at the very least the closing of loopholes that too many people and corporations use to dodge taxes.

"You have to raise revenues in some form," he said, adding that both sides need to be willing to accept restraints on defense spending, too.

The immediate concern is what Congress will or won't do about extending both the Social Security payroll tax cut and longterm unemployment benefits. They're set to expire at the end of the year, and Bauer said this is precisely the wrong time for either to be allowed to lapse.

The two measures combined are valued at between $100 billion and $150 billion, so their expiration would mean taking that much out of consumers' pockets. U.S. output would lose between 0.5 percent and 1 percent, Bauer said, and when the economy is currently expanding at a rate of only 2 percent, it's clear the nation can't take a hit like that.

"It's like a sick patient. You don't want to tell them to go out and run a 5K," Bauer said.

If the U.S. economy is nursing its wounds and unable to run a 5K, then Europe is in intensive care. When even Germany has trouble selling new debt, as it did last week, you know the Old World is very ill.

And don't even talk about Italy, which practically had to bribe investors to buy its debt and may have to do more than that at a bond auction on Tuesday, when this European house of cards might start tumbling down.

Small Business Saturday efforts put focus on the 'little guy'

2011-11-26T06:48:00.000-08:00

Note: This is part of a weekly series about businesses, jobs and the local economy.

For Mary Callagan, the concept of shopping locally takes on a whole new meaning.

As owner of Something-4-U, 3976 George Road, Wisconsin Rapids, Callagan not only relies on shoppers in the south Wood County area, she also makes sure all the products she sells out of her home-based business have local origins.

"Absolutely everything in my shop is American made; plus, I make it," she said.

Callagan's store is one of four small businesses in the Wisconsin Rapids area -- Dream Catchers Gallery, 1750 W. Grand Ave., Stake's Christmas Tree Farm, 3943 George Road, and Katie-Did Ceramics, 1011 Seneca Road -- that collectively market themselves under the slogan "Follow the Stars on George Road." They are among hundreds of small businesses to take part in a nationwide initiative today to kick off the holiday shopping season.

Small Business Saturday, created by American Express OPEN -- the company's small-business unit -- is in its second year and is designed to promote the importance of supporting small businesses to local economies on the Saturday after Thanksgiving, according to the initiative's Facebook page, which had garnered more than 2.5 million followers by noon Friday.

Among the more than 200 businesses and organizations involved in the initiative is ZAXX Technology Specialists, 240 W. Grand Ave., which participated in the initiative last year, as well as national companies such as FedEx, Google, Facebook and ClearChannel.

Whenever someone spends money at a local business, the money from that purchase supports more than just the business where the sale took place, said Melissa Loken, president of the Heart of Wisconsin Chamber of Commerce.

Providing not only local products but also a unique customer experience is what sets small businesses apart from others in their respective communities, Callagan said, noting the Follow the Stars concept allows shoppers to take advantage of high-quality handmade items while still getting relatively low prices.

"Because I have my shop in my home, I don't have to worry about a rent payment ... so I don't have to jack my prices up," she said.

In addition, working together is essential when it comes to the success of small businesses, Callagan said.

"It's like we got each others' back, and it's a lot of fun," she said. "We know we're not going it alone.

"We're kind of off the beaten path, but when they find us ... they really like it," Callagan said. "It's getting people to understand that we've got to support the little guy."

Occupy Movements Celebrate Thanksgiving

2011-11-25T03:34:00.000-08:00

Anti-Wall Street demonstrators in encampments around the country spent Thanksgiving serving turkey, donating time in solidarity with the protest movement and, in some cases, confronting police.

In San Francisco, 400 occupiers at a plaza in the financial district were served traditional Thanksgiving fixings sent by the renowned Glide Memorial Church to volunteers and supporters of the movement fighting social and economic inequality.

"We are thankful that we are, first and foremost, in a country where we can protest," said the Rev. Cecil Williams, the founder of Glide and a fixture in the city's activist community. "And we are thankful that we believe that there are things that could be worked out and that we have a sense of hope. But we know that hope only comes when you make a stand."

While thing were peaceful in San Francisco, the situation became heated in Oakland when police say a truck driver tried to deliver portable rest room to protesters at Frank Ogawa Plaza.

When officers ordered the driver to leave because he had no permit, police and about 150 protesters squared off, according to police spokeswoman Johnna Watson.

One person was arrested, Watson said.

In New York, a squabble erupted when police ordered a halt to drumming by protesters at an otherwise traditional holiday meal.
PHOTO: Occupy Wall Street protestors host Thanksgiving dinner in Zuccotti park, Thursday, Nov. 24, 2011, in New York.
John Minchillo/AP Photo
Occupy Wall Street protestors host... View Full Size
PHOTO: Occupy Wall Street protestors host Thanksgiving dinner in Zuccotti park, Thursday, Nov. 24, 2011, in New York.
John Minchillo/AP Photo
Occupy Wall Street protestors host Thanksgiving dinner in Zuccotti park, Thursday, Nov. 24, 2011, in New York. Protestors used the holiday to give thanks alongside strangers at outdoor Occupy encampments nationwide, serving turkey or donating their time in solidarity with the anti-Wall Street movement.

About 500 protesters were digging into donated turkey and trimmings at lower Manhattan's Zuccotti Park when police told a drummer to drop playing.

About 200 protesters surrounded a group of about 30 officers and began shouting in the park where the Occupy movement was launched Sept. 17.

"Why don't you arrest the drummers in the Thanksgiving parade?" a protester hollered.

A van rolled up with more officers, but they stayed back as protesters eventually decided to call off the drumming and return to their food. Tensions have run high at the park since campers were evicted Nov. 15.

In San Diego, four Occupy protesters were arrested between midnight and 2 a.m. Thursday at an encampment at the City's Civic Center Plaza, said Officer David Stafford. Three were taken into custody for sleeping overnight in public, while the fourth was arrested for spitting on an officer, Stafford said.

Demonstrators nationwide say they are protesting corporate greed and the concentration of wealth in the upper 1 percent of the American population.

The movement was triggered by the high rate of unemployment and foreclosures, as well as the growing perception that big banks and corporations are not paying their fair share of taxes, yet are taking in huge bonuses while most Americans have seen their incomes drop.

In upstate New York, Danny Cashman, 25, an Afghanistan war veteran who works for a company that resells cellphones, said he sleeps at least three nights a week at an encampment in Rochester to show his solidarity with the movement.

"For today, this is my family," Cashman said as he dug into a chicken dinner at the 35-tent encampment in tiny Washington Square Park. "We have a great brotherhood, great friends, a great community."

In Los Angeles, where more than 480 tents have been erected on the lawns of City Hall, activist Teri Adaju, 46, said she typically serves dinner to homeless people on Thanksgiving and knows that many at the Los Angeles encampment were just that.

Still, she added, "Everybody's in good cheer."

1 Dead in Shooting at Chicago Hospital Complex

2011-11-25T03:26:00.000-08:00

A Chicago hospital has resumed normal operations after police were unable to locate a gunman suspected of fatally shooting his ex-girlfriend inside a parking garage of the complex.

A message posted on the University of Illinois at Chicago's website early Friday says police conducted multiple searches of the hospital and there is no sign of the gunman. A police spokeswoman confirms that the man is still at large.

The Cook County Medical Examiner's Office says the woman who was shot later died.

The shooting happened late Thursday on the second floor of a parking lot at the medical center.

The hospital had been on lockdown for several hours while police searched for the gunman. Around 5 a.m. CT, the university said the hospital resumed normal operations.

List of 10 Most Expensive Cars (2)

2011-11-24T03:28:00.000-08:00

6. Lamborghini Murcielago LP670-4 SV

7. Ferrari Italia 458

8. Mercedes-Benz AMG SLS

9. Lexus LFA

10. Porsche 911 GT2 RS

List of 10 Most Expensive Cars (1)

List of 10 Most Expensive Cars (1)

2011-11-24T03:20:00.000-08:00

1. Super Sport Bugatti Veyron

2. Pagani Zonda F

3. Ferrari 599 GTO

4. Aston Martin One 77

5. Koenigsegg CCXR

List of 10 Most Expensive Cars (2)

Kawasaki Versys 1000 here in December

2011-11-23T03:21:00.000-08:00

SINCE actors Ewan McGregor and Charley Boorman rode around the world in Long Way Round, motorcycle companies have been cashing in.

The pair rode large-capacity BMW adventure bikes and, at the time, the only alternative came from KTM. Since then, Ducati, Moto-Guzzi, Yamaha, Suzuki, Honda and now Triumph have released big-bore adventure bikes with engine capacities of more than one litre.

These are tough bikes that can take two people and a load of luggage across almost any terrain with few maintenance issues and massive dollops of grunt. The latest to throw a leg over the adventure riding craze is Kawasaki with the Versys 1000.

It adapts the layout of its 650cc Versys adventure bike but shoehorns in the 1043cc engine from the Z1000 street bike. It's the first adventure bike with an across-the-frame in-line four-cylinder engine. Kawasaki Motors Australia spokesman Rudi Baker says they hope to launch the bike here next month, but does not have pricing yet.

However, Kawasaki is one of the market leaders on price, so it is bound to undercut the others. As a guide, the Z1000 costs $16,490 and the Versys 650 is $10,990. The Versys 1000 produces 86.8kW at 9000rpm and 102Nm of torque at 7700rpm with more punch dialed in at lower revs, but sacrificing some of the top-end power from the Z1000 engine.

The fuel tank is 21 litres which, together with a miserly fuel-injected engine, makes it a serious contender for long-range touring. Surprisingly for a bargain bike, the Kwaka has a range of adjustment at the front and back to account for terrain, load and a pillion, as well as electronic rider aids such as three engine power modes, traction control and ABS.

It also has a comprehensive LCD information screen with speedo, fuel gauge, odo, clock, dual trip meters, current and average fuel consumption, remaining fuel range and ambient temperature. However, the Kwaka is not without its drawbacks.
It will come with chain drive while most of these new adventure tourers have low-maintenance shaft drive.

Another drawback is the 17-inch front wheel. Except for the Ducati Multistrada, the competitors come with 19 or 21-inch front tyres which are much more stable on the gravel. It's also no lightweight at 239kg, but it's 6kg lighter than the new Triumph Explorer.

And the seat height of 845mm may put off some customers. It's 10mm more than the Triumph but not as high as the BMW or KTM.

KAWASAKI VERSYS 1000

Price: from $17,000
Engine: 1043cc 4-cylinder, 86.8kW/96Nm
Tyres: 120/70 ZR17; 180/55ZR17
Transmission: 6-speed, wet clutch, chain drive
Suspension: 43mm inverted forks, adjustable rebound damping and spring preload; rear gas shock, adjustable rebound damping and spring preload
Brakes: semi-floating 300mm petal discs (front), 250mm petal disc (rear)
Dimensions: 2235mm (L), 900mm (W), 1430mm (H), 1520 (WB), 155 (Clearance), 845mm (seat)
Weight: 239kg.

Over 5,000 Students Strike at UC Davis

2011-11-23T03:04:00.000-08:00

Over 5,000 people took back the quad at UC Davis on Monday, in response to a police pepper-spray attack against students who had amassed in the quad last Friday as well as against fee increases in the UC system.

Tens of thousands of have called for the UC Davis Chancellor to resign, although Linda Katehi has refused. We find the liberal discourse of either "Katehi has failed and must resign" or "allow Katehi to lead in this moment of crisis" to miss the point. People like Katehi aren't 'leaders,' they simply manage the university to function as an essential part in the reproduction of capitalist society. They exist to keep the opposing forces and class interests within the university from tearing themselves apart. We are not against this, we want to hasten it.

To push, as some friends said, "The university struggle to it's limits." For us, this is not a struggle for cheaper or even free education, but instead another battle ground in the war against capital. When Katehi sent the police to clear the grass of protesters camping in the UC Davis Quad, it wasn't a poorly thought out decision to attack "free speech," but an attempt to stop people from blocking (or attempting to block) the university from functioning as such. Police violence is nothing new and neither is police violence directed at students, even white middle class ones (Kent State anyone?) Anyone who comes into to take Katehi's place will do the same because that is the role of bureaucrats like her the world over.

A new Chancellor will make new promises and perhaps a cop or two will even be fired but the system will remain the same and students that continue to struggle will continue to be attacked until we get rid of the police. It is simple as that.

It is interesting that during her two minutes in front of the GA of thousands at UC Davis, Katehi mentions how she remembers in her home country of Greece the brutal massacre of students in 1973. This attack forced the Greek state to make the university police free-zones. Many within the current student occupation movement have also pushed for police off of campus (at least, at the UCs). At the last Davis general assembly a resolution for a cop-free campus was defeated. But of course, if some students wish to see such a thing happen they're going to have to do it.

Creating cop free zones will not come out of thin air, but the negation of what exists currently and the taking and holding of space. Just as Occupy Oakland was able to create a cop-free zone through their occupation, so must students through theirs. We do not support calls for Katehi to resign because that implies that we ever believed that she or her ilk should have been their in the first place. She should not step down, she should be overthrown. The administration should not change, it should be destroyed. The campus should not pass to "new management," but the facilities, the buildings, and the entire university should be taken over and used by the workers, the students, and those in the surrounding community as they see fit.

But we do not wish to see the university to be run 'democratically' or be 'self-managed.' We are not looking for a more 'student controlled' version of a school in capitalist society, we are looking to take and use what the university has to offer for ourselves and those we care about. We want the apparatus of the school to be taken over and used by those that are there in that area, so that those subjects within it (workers, students, teachers), destroy the separations between themselves and begin to hold, use, and occupy the space in common; meeting their needs directly.

UC Davis is an artery of capitalism; creating future technocrats and managers of all facets of social life. Just think of everything that exists at the university now, from housing to green-houses. Do we really think that it should just sit there only for a select few with the funds or the desire to take on massive debt? We should refuse to recreate the human labor that gives life to it, to occupy the space, and to begin to destroy what is not needed and takeover all the rest.

The students at UC Davis have power now - but it is only because they have taken that power and refused to budge on the wishes of those that they struggle against. We must also state that we invite everyone to come and occupy the university in Davis as well.

After all, since universities are places which are built, at least in part through all of our stolen wages (i.e. taxes) and they exist to produce the future social managers and bosses which will lord over us and help develop the next cancer causing chemicals or chemical weapons, why shouldn't we force the university to bend to our will? Set up communal kitchens, open up the quad for mass meetings, enjoy the heated pool - make the space yours for those that you associate and care about. Break down the walls of this ivory tower. But don't wait for a 'police investigation' or for someone to resign. We already know where that democratic deception will lead. The only power is the one that we create and the only freedom is the one we take.

Source : www.indybay.org

Android 4 Security Better, But Still Lacking

2011-11-23T02:59:00.000-08:00

Security in the latest version of Android 4, dubbed Ice Cream Sandwich, lacks many features for protecting corporate data, but is much better than the previous version of Google's smartphone operating system, security VARs say.

Google released the source code for ICS, officially called Android 4, last week, giving developers a close look at the inner workings of the OS, which runs on more than half of the smartphones in use today, according to market researcher Gartner. Two VARs that made CRN's 2011 list of leaders in the security space shared their opinions of Android 4.

Among the standout features listed was on-device data encryption and implementation of a technique called address space layout randomization, which shuffles memory location for various application components. The technique rattles hackers by making it difficult for them to predict the memory location of a component they want to exploit.

Another strong security feature is the ability to store certification authority in Android's keychain. This feature adds another layer of security in identifying a smartphone user entering a corporate network.

Android 4 also has a VPN application programming interface that vendors can use to provide an encrypted tunnel from the phone to corporate applications behind the firewall. Before ICS, everything had to be built and managed by the vendor, Joey Peloquin, director of mobile security for FishNet Security, said. To Peloquin, the VPN feature and ASLR were the top standouts. "These two features are actually huge," he said.

While praising the added security, Peloquin was not ready to give Android his blessing. "In its current state, Android is not anywhere near enterprise ready," he said.

His biggest area of concern was the Android Market and its lack of rigorous inspection to ensure that published apps do not contain malware that could steal personal or corporate data from an Android phone. "It's horribly broken," Peloquin says of the Market.

In March, more than 50 malicious applications were discovered in the Android Market. The apps mimicked legitimate applications to trick users into downloading them. Google pulled down the apps and remotely removed the malicious software from affected devices. The company also added safeguards to the market.

Peoloquin is not convinced the remedy was enough, saying anti-malware will be required on every Android device connected to a corporate network. "We've got to get the market under control," he said.

Other areas of concern included the near field communication technology, called Android Beam, in ICS. Peloquin wasn't convinced that the feature would provide adequate encryption for corporate use. He had the same concerns with the ability of ICS phones to communicate over a Wi-Fi network.

A features that Peloquin would like to see added to Android is a mobile device management API that would give IT developers the option of turning off any application or component on the phone.

Scott Christie, security solutions engineer of ChipherTechs, echoed Peloquin's call for more control. He wants Google to create a native remote administration server, similar to Research In Motion's Enterprise Server for the BlackBerry. Such technology would enable greater control by giving corporate IT the ability to remove and add software, enforce policies and wipe the device clean. Such features are available from third-party security vendors today, but Christie said such add-ons are not always enough.

"Sometimes the add-ons are not as interwoven into the operating system as a native solution would be," he said.

That kind of tight integration between Android smartphones and security is a must, he said, as the number employees and executives using the devices grows.

U.N. and Turkey Increase Pressure on Syria's Assad

2011-11-23T02:47:00.000-08:00

Syria's violent repression of political dissent was blasted by the United Nations General Assembly in a resolution condemning "continued grave and systematic human rights violations by the Syrian authorities."

The vote came amid rising pressure on Damascus, as Turkey's prime minister for the first time called for Syrian President Bashar al Assad to step down -- warning of a fate like that of Libya's Muammar Qaddafi, who was captured and killed last month.

The U.N. resolution calls on Syria to immediately end all human-rights violations and to implement an Arab League plan to end the violence, two days before an emergency Arab League session on Thursday.

"The international community can no longer remain silent," said Lyall Grant, the British ambassador to the U.N.

The non-binding resolution, which was adopted by the Assembly's human-rights committee with 122 votes in favor, 13 against and 41 abstentions, accused Damascus of offenses including engaging in "arbitrary executions, excessive use of force and the persecution and killing of protesters and human-rights defenders."

The Assembly also condemned Syrian authorities for "arbitrary detention, enforced disappearances, torture and ill treatment of detainees, including children."

Russia and China earlier this year used vetoes to block a similar condemnation of Syria by the Security Council. This time, they both abstained, in a sign they might be hardening their stances toward Damascus.

Russia told the General Assembly after the vote that it had abstained because "human-rights situations can be a source of concern for the international community but can't be a pretext for interference in a country's internal affairs."

Bashar Ja'afari, the Syrian ambassador to the U.N., accused the resolution's co-sponsors of encouraging armed groups seeking to overthrow the Syrian regime. He claimed the 24 co-sponsors, which included the U.S., U.K., Saudi Arabia, Kuwait and Qatar, were interfering in Syrian's internal affairs, inciting civil war, "supporting armed terrorist actions" and harming Syrian civilians with sanctions while claiming to protect them.

Also on Tuesday, Turkish Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan warned that if Assad doesn't step down he could share the fates of other dictators who fought to stay on.

Automotive legend Sergio Scaglietti passes away

2011-11-22T18:10:00.000-08:00

Sergio Scaglietti, the legendary Ferrari designer and coach builder passed away at the age of 91 at his home in Modena, Italy on the 20th of November, 2011. The name Scaglietti, has been permanently stitched as a part of Ferrari's design DNA, with the birth of some of the most valuable collector's cars in the world, such as the Ferrari 250 GTO, the 250 GT California, the 250 Monza and the 250 Testa Rossa. He is even honored with a few cars named after him, such as the 612 Scaglietti and the 456 GT Scaglietti.

He was most notably famous for making cars using his hands and eyes, instead of relying on pencil and paper- sculpting and fashioning magnificent designs from aluminum. In an official statement, Ferrari Chairman Luca di Montezeolo said, "Today is a sad day for Ferrari. We lost a friend, a travel companion, a man who had his name forever connected to the Prancing Horse. Sergio Scaglietti leaves behind the legacy of an artist who, with his talent, created some of the most beautiful cars of our history. Those who the luck to know him, like I did will also remember him as a straightforward and honest man, completely dedicated to his work. We will miss him."

The Italian designer founded, Carrozzeria Scaglietti- an automobile design and coach building company in 1951 along with his elder brother and another employee. Here, he worked on repairing a number of race cars for Ferrari's clientele as well as Enzo. Soon after that, Enzo Ferrari took note of the talented designer and hired Scaglietti to build a new chassis. And from then on, began the legendary Scaglietti-Ferrari relationship.

Malaysia Winners SEA Games 26th

2011-11-21T07:30:00.000-08:00

Indonesia had to bury another long dream to win the title. Playing at home, the team "Garuda Muda" lost on penalties from Malaysia and had to settle with the SEA Games silver medal XXVI.

Very dramatic defeat of Indonesia is because Egi Megiansyah cs. Had led first through Gunawan Dwi Cahyo quick goals in the fifth minute. But the advantage was broken after the Malaysian evened the score by Omar Mohd. Asrarudin in 33 minutes.

The fight to 90 minutes never gave birth to the winners, as well as additional time of 2 X 15 minutes, so that penalties should be held. Here Malaysia had more luck and winning 4-3.

Indonesian fans torch ticket booths at Senayan

2011-11-21T05:01:00.000-08:00

JAKARTA: Thousands of fans still turned up at the Gelora Bung Karno Main Stadium as early as 7am on Monday despite tickets for the SEA Games football final between hosts Indonesia and Malaysia being sold out by Sunday.

They turned violent and torched at least two ticket booths, when told there were no tickets available.

The police moved in to restore order and control the rowdy fans. A few fans were arrested and security was tightened further at the stadium.

The Indonesia vs Malaysia match is scheduled for 8.30pm.

Fans also turned violent at the stadium on Sunday after being told tickets for the much-awaited final had already been sold out much earlier. The vandalised a ticket booth before police moved in.

Meanwhile, traffic was virtually at a standstill at all roads leading to the Bung Karno Main Stadium from early afternoon.

Those who had managed to get tickets for the final were already parading into the stadium hours before the match and the atmosphere was electric, to say the least.

The Malaysian media has been told to occupy the VIP area for security reasons, with the organisers fearing that the local fans might turn hostile should their team lose to Malaysia.

The situation has been tense the past few days and the Malaysian players have been confined to their hotel for the last few days. They also could not train outdoors because of heckling and disturbance from the local fans.

Video: Sea Games 26th Jakarta (Football) - Indonesia vs Malaysia

2011-11-21T04:52:00.000-08:00

Sea Games 26th Jakarta, Indonesia (Football Group A)

Health Leaders Prepare For Round Two Of Cuts

2011-11-21T04:23:00.000-08:00

Washington, DC, United States (KaiserHealth) – Regardless of whether Congress’ super committee meets its deadline for finding ways to reduce the federal deficit, budget and policy experts are braced for Washington soon to face the painful task of finding more savings – and they anticipate that health spending will be at the top of the list.

Some health care leaders are already laying the groundwork to redirect the debate, to insure that effort doesn’t just shift spending from one part of the health care system to another.

Jack Lewin, CEO of the American College of Cardiology, argues that proposals to address the root causes of high costs have been largely ignored in Washington. “We talk about them all the time but there’s nothing that we’re doing in any of these proposals to get that done. What we would like to get on the table that’s not there is a paradigm shift in thinking about how you control costs.”

“There’s going to be a Round Two, but after the election” because of the economic pressures exerted by the debt, said Thomas Scully, senior counsel at Alston and Bird, and a former Medicare administrator under President George W. Bush.

The super committee has examined a variety of ideas to save money in Medicare, the federal program that provides coverage to about 48 million elderly and disabled people, which eats 15 percent of the federal budget. The proposals include cutting payments to medical providers, asking beneficiaries to pay more for their coverage, and increasing the eligibility age.

The health care interests who stand to take another hit in 2013 want to begin planning now. The current efforts are still informal and very low-key. But several pivotal health care leaders, most of whom have been through previous national health debates and cost-cutting campaigns together, say some of the recent efforts to reduce spending too often just transfer costs off the federal budget and instead slap them on individuals, insurers, doctors or hospitals.

These concerns have caused “people from dramatically different quarters to start thinking about what to do to get their hands around this” and redirect the future conversation, said Karen Ignagni, president of America’s Health Insurance Plans, the industry trade group. “I’ve been talking to a range of stakeholders about how to work together … to urge policymakers to look at what’s already out there now and build on it.”

Some ideas advance existing concepts, such as pushing broad changes in the way that Medicare and Medicaid pay doctors and hospitals, or stepping up efforts to better coordinate care for people who get both Medicare and Medicaid, known as dual eligibles.

America’s Health Insurance Plans already is advocating for rapidly expanding that kind of coordinated care.

Some of the experts are promoting plans to protect doctors and hospitals from medical malpractice lawsuits when they follow best practices and the establishment of specialized health care courts to hear malpractice cases. Although there is general consensus that changes are needed to the existing liability system, Republicans and Democrats have been unable to work out their differences; Republicans have long sought caps on court awards for non-economic damages (pain and suffering), but Democrats have been adamantly opposed.

Others want to crack down on fraud and avoid unnecessary care at the end of life.

The impact of the 2010 health law is part of this debate. Administration officials and other proponents of the law say it will help drive down costs through a variety of initiatives designed to rely more heavily on primary care, increase the emphasis on preventive medicine, study treatments to evaluate their effectiveness and rate hospitals and other providers on quality. But health care experts across the political spectrum argue that the law will not have a strong impact on costs because the reforms it sets in motion are still small and will take years to mature.

The law found savings by cutting Medicare payments to hospitals and other medical providers, and placing what some insurers argue are damaging restrictions on health plans. Under the law, insurers cannot reject people with preexisting conditions, must justify rate increases of 10 percent or more, and send rebates to consumers if the companies don’t spend at least 80 percent of premiums on medical care.

One of the biggest challenges for those pushing structural changes in the country’s health system is trying to estimate the savings such transitions would generate. Currently, the Congressional Budget Office does not count savings from new alternatives unless hard proof exists. Various parts of the health care industry already are testing new approaches, and Ignagni wants CBO to use those results so that it can attach savings to proposals.

“We are seeing results,” she said.

“I don’t think this should be framed as Round Two of deficit reduction, but as Round One of cost containment,” she said. “We haven’t as a country addressed that in terms of sustainability of the health care system and the ability of employers and consumers to pay for it.”

“It’s up to us to get really serious with the agenda so that, when the time comes after the election, we are prepared to offer serious proposals that deal with costs, and that do not impair the quality of care,” said Ron Pollack, executive director of the consumer group Families USA.

Looking to 2013, early discussion is essential, said John Rother, who recently left the seniors group AARP to head up the National Coalition on Health Care, a broad, nonprofit coalition seeking comprehensive health system change. “Unless there’s a positive program to offer, we could be looking at some very negative actions after the next election.”

Cosmetic surgery ban for YG Entertainment's new K-pop girl group

2011-11-21T04:10:00.000-08:00

SEOUL: Some entertainment companies have contractual clauses that bar their artistes from dating.

But Korean entertainment company, YG Entertainment, the company behind popular K-pop acts 2NE1 and Big Bang, has taken the unusual step of introducing a contractual clause to bar members of its upcoming girl group from going under the knife, reported Korean media.

"We are focusing on forming a group that emphasizes natural beauty.

"The new girl group consists of members who have not had cosmetic surgery and have agreed to a clause which bars them from undergoing cosmetic procedures, in their contract with YG Entertainment CEO Yang Hyun Suk," said a YG Entertainment spokesperson.

"The trainees for this girl group are teens aged between 15 and 19 ... that's why we introduced the 'no cosmetic surgery' clause in their contract."

The spokesperson added that "cosmetic surgery has its good points" but may obscure the artiste's "natural charms".

YG Entertainment had previously introduced such a clause in its employment contract with Korean singing quartet Big Mama.

However, this is the first time members of a K-pop idol girl group will have such a clause in theirs.

YG Entertainment's new girl group will have between five to seven members and are expected to debut early next year.

Paul Smith to be honoured at British Fashion Awards

2011-11-21T04:01:00.000-08:00

Paul Smith was 15 when he left school, got on his bike, and pedalled off to his first job at a clothes warehouse in Nottingham.

Now, some 50 years later, Sir Paul has been awarded British fashion's highest honour, the Sunday Telegraph has learned.

The Outstanding Achievement in Fashion Design prize - given posthumously last year to Alexander McQueen - will be presented to Sir Paul at the British Fashion Awards later this month.

Other previous winners include Dame Vivienne Westwood, Stephen Jones and John Galliano (before his shameful anti-Semitic outburts in La Perle).

Bestowed by the British Fashion Council, the award is given only to those who have made an exceptional contribution to the nation's fashion industry over many years.

Sir Paul's 35 year-old fashion label - which began life as a menswear-only brand cherished for its classic suiting with kooky details, and now has collections encompassing everything from women's clothes to pens - indubitably counts as that.

Speaking to The Sunday Telegraph this week, Sir Paul, who was knighted in 2000, ascribed his success to two qualities all-too-often often overlooked in the fly-by-night world of fashion: "organisation, and being down to earth".

He said: "The thing I'm most proud of out of anything is continuity - the fact that I've always done OK. I've never been number one or today's flavour.

"But I'm reliable, polite, and I deliver clothes on time that are well made at the right price."

This salt-of-the-earth act, albeit sincerely held, is just a mite over-salted: for Paul Smith has his edgy moments too.

In 2002 there was a minor sensation when it emerged that Tony Blair, then Prime Minister, was attending to the business of Government wearing a Paul Smith shirt whose cuff was decorated with the naked, kneeling figure of a racy pin-up girl.

His shops - there are 14 in the UK, and many more in 35 countries across the globe - are deliberately decorated with with everything from Star Wars characters to life portraits by Royal College of Art students, a canny ploy to encourage customers to linger.

His very first shop, opened in 1970, was a 12ft square windowless room at the back of a Nottingham moneylenders.

He manned it at weekends while holding down paid jobs during the week - "anything I could get" - to support his young family.

He said: "I learned the trade doing some crummy jobs. That's why I get a bit fed up with people who come to me now and they want to have a fashion show and be on the front cover of ITALS Vogue CLOSE.

"But they haven't done the groundwork, and it just seems kind of sad."

Sir Paul employs more than 1,000 people, and retains a 60 per cent share of his company.

The remaining 40 per cent is held by a partner from Japan, by far Sir Paul's largest international market.

He said: "We are a very serious company.

"We have always made profit, sell in over fifty countries, have never borrowed money and sit in shops next to Prada, Gucci, and Louis Vuitton. It's great to receive this award, amazing, because we do lots of hard work."

Which, rather unfortunately, is precisely why Sir Paul, 65, is unable to collect the prize in person at the Savoy later this month: for the British Fashion Awards clash with a long-planned work trip, and work comes first.

Spaniards vote to find way out of crisis

2011-11-20T04:26:00.000-08:00

MADRID (Reuters) - Spaniards voted in a parliamentary election on Sunday that was expected to throw out the ruling Socialists and bring in a new center-right government to tackle the country's dire economic situation.

A mood of gloom and resignation dominated as people went to the polls against a background of soaring unemployment, cuts in public spending and a debt crisis that has put Spain in the front line of the euro zone's fight for survival.

"Being a civil servant I'm not optimistic about it as we're already seeing the cuts coming through," said Jose Vasquez, 45, who was among the early voters in the capital Madrid.

"We can choose the sauce they will cook us in, but we're still going to be cooked."

Pre-election opinion polls gave the conservative People's Party (PP), led by Mariano Rajoy, an unassailable lead over the ruling Socialists, who have ledSpain from boom to bust in seven years in power.

Voters are angry with the Socialists for failing to act swiftly to prevent the slide in the euro zone's fourth-largest economy and then for bringing in austerity measures that have cut wages, benefits and jobs.

People now seem resigned to further slashes in spending on health and education in the midst of aEuropean debt crisis that has toppled the governments of Ireland, Portugal, Greece and Italy and pushed Spain's borrowing costs ever higher.

"At least we'll see a change in stance. They (the PP) seem more technical to me, it seems they understand the situation better and are more serious than the guys we have now," said Juan Costas, a 73-year-old retiree.

He said he was voting for the PP although in the past he had sometimes voted Socialist.

Spain's grim economic outlook hung over the election campaign. The country is home to nearly one third of the euro zone's unemployed, with one in five Spanish workers without a job, and its economy is threatening to slip into recession next year for the second time in three years.

"Today the nightmare is over," the right-wing Gaceta newspaper said in an optimistic front-page headline.

The Vanguardia newspaper alluded to Spain's precarious position in the wider euro zone crisis. "Europe is watching us," read its banner headline.

Rajoy, who led his party in two previous failed parliamentary election campaigns, is likely to win an absolute majority giving him a clear mandate to enforce the deep cuts seen as necessary to balance Spain's books.

The 56-year-old will not be sworn in until December. But he will be eager to lay out plans during the handover period to reassure fraught markets that have lost faith in the euro zone project.

Spain's borrowing costs touched euro-era highs in the week running up to the election and came perilously close to the 7 percent level at which other euro zone nations like Ireland and Greece sought international bail-outs.

Police, protesters clash for 2nd day in Egypt

2011-11-20T04:20:00.000-08:00

CAIRO, Egypt — Firing tear gas and rubber bullets, Egyptian riot police on Sunday clashed for a second day with thousands of rock-throwing protesters demanding that the ruling military quickly announce a date to hand over power to an elected government.

The police battled an estimated 5,000 protesters in and around central Cairo's Tahrir Square, birthplace of the 18-day uprising that toppled authoritarian leader Hosni Mubarak in February. Tear gas filled the air as protesters, many chanting "freedom, freedom," pelted the police with rocks.

Sunday's clashes, which come a day after two people were killed and hundreds wounded in similar violence in the capital and other cities, are stoking tensions eight days before the start of the country's first post-Mubarak parliamentary elections. Public anger has risen over the slow pace of reforms and apparent attempts by Egypt's ruling generals to retain power over a future civilian government.

"We have a single demand: The marshal must step down and be replaced by a civilian council," said protester Ahmed Hani, referring Field Marshal Hussein Tantawi, Egypt's military ruler and Mubarak's longtime defence minister.

"The violence yesterday showed us that Mubarak is still in power," said Hani, who was wounded in the forehead by a rubber bullet. He spoke over chants of "freedom, freedom" by hundreds of protesters around him.

Rocks, shattered glass and trash covered most of the ground in and around Tahrir early Sunday, while a cloud of white smoke caused by the use of dozens of tear gas shells hung in the air. Several hundred protesters were camping out on the lawn of the square's traffic island, and protesters manning barricades into the square checked the IDs of anyone entering the plaza.

The windows of the main campus of the American University in Cairo, which overlooks the square, were shattered and stores were shuttered. "The marshal is Mubarak's dog," said one of a fresh crop of graffiti in the square.

Yahya el-Sawi, a 21-year-old university student, said he was enraged by the sight of riot police beating up protesters already hurt in an earlier attack by the security forces. "I did not support the sit-in at the beginning, but when I saw this brutality I had to come back to be with my brothers," he said.

Many of the protesters had red eyes and coughed incessantly. Some wore surgical masks to fend off against the tear gas. A few fainted, overwhelmed by the gas.

Sunday's clashes, which were mostly on a road leading from Tahrir to the Interior Ministry, appeared likely to grow.

Protesters were using social networking sites on the Internet to call on Egyptians to join them, and there were reports of several demonstrations headed to the square, including one from Cairo University.

The military, which took over from Mubarak, has repeatedly pledged to hand over power to an elected government but it has yet to set a specific date. According to one timetable floated by the military, the handover will take place after presidential elections are held late next year or early in 2013. The protesters say this is too late and accuse the military of dragging its feet. They want a handover to take place immediately after the end of parliamentary elections in March.

On Saturday, police fired rubber bullets, tear gas and beat protesters with batons, clearing the square at one point and pushing the fighting into surrounding side streets of downtown Cairo.

A 23-year-old protester died from a gunshot, said Health Ministry official Mohammed el-Sherbeni. At least 676 people were injured, he said. Another protester was killed in Alexandria, where clashes also took place, said a security official, speaking on condition of anonymity because he was not authorized to talk to journalists.

After nightfall, protesters swarmed back into Tahrir in the thousands, and running battles with the police in the streets took place throughout the night. Acrid smoke of tires set ablaze mixed with the stinging white smoke of tear gas.

The government urged protesters to clear the square.

A member of the military council, Maj. Gen. Mohsen el-Fangari, said protesters' calls for change ahead of the election were a threat to the state.

"What is the point of being in Tahrir?" he asked, speaking by phone to a private TV channel. "What is the point of this strike, of the million marches? Aren't there legal channels to pursue demands in a way that won't impact Egypt ... internationally?"

"The aim of what is going on is to shake the backbone of the state, which is the armed forces."

In a warning, he said, "If security is not applied, we will implement the rule of law. Anyone who does wrong will pay for it."

Saturday's confrontation was one of the few since the uprising to involve the police, which have largely stayed in the background while the military took charge of security. There was no military presence in and around the square on Saturday or on Sunday. The black-clad police were a hated symbol of Mubarak's regime.

Some of the wounded had blood streaming down their faces and many had to be carried out of the square by fellow protesters to waiting ambulances. Human rights activists accused police of using excessive force.

Police arrested 18 people, state TV reported, describing the protesters as rioters.

GOP debate in Iowa gets weepy

2011-11-19T20:40:00.000-08:00

DES MOINES, Iowa - There was plenty of good will and a few tears as six Republican presidential rivals gathered here Saturday afternoon for a forum in which they agreed more than they debated the role of government and religion in society before an audience of evangelical activists.

The atmosphere turned emotional in the second hour as candidates recalled personal challenges and failures, prompting at least two - businessman Herman Cain and former Pennsylvania Sen. Rick Santorum - to cry.

The "Thanksgiving table forum" was hosted by the Family Leader, a Christian organization that encourages its members to consider their religious views in political decisions. Neither Mitt Romney nor Jon Huntsman, the two Mormons in the race, attended.

The first hour featured questions about hot-button conservative issues, and prompted a discussion among candidates about whether more religious citizens in the country have been marginalized.

"Those of us that are people of faith and strong faith have allowed the non-faith element to intimidate us into not fighting back," Cain told the audience of about 2,500 in a West Des Moines church. Texas Gov. Rick Perry bemoaned a law that limits political speech from the pulpit, saying pastors needed to be talking about conservative values in church. "And let me tell you: it needs to be our values," the he said. Agreed Rep. Michele Bachmann, R-Minn.: "That's not the American way."

That prompted the candidates to make a collective argument for getting the federal government out of education and allowing discussion of religion in schools. Leading that discussion was former House Speaker Newt Gingrich, who captured the first rounds of applause of the night and was a consistent favorite with the crowd.

Asked about what value he would most like to re-instill in America, Gingrich said, "I think it would be that every American understood that we were endowed by our creator with certain inalienable rights, and I wouldn't have anybody teaching who felt uncomfortable explaining what the Founding Fathers meant."

Despite the candidates' devotion to the 10th Amendment, upholding states' rights, nearly all came out in favor of federal laws or constitutional amendments outlawing abortion and defining marriage as the union of one man and one woman.

"When you look at issues like traditional marriage, when you look at issues like the human life amendment, the president of the United States can lead on those issues, can publicly proclaim support and go campaign across the country to get states to support those positions," Perry said. "That is the virtuous direction that the next president of the United States needs to powerfully go down."

The notable exception was Texas Rep. Ron Paul, who said he would leave the definition of marriage to the states in accordance with the Constitution. He went one step further, though, suggesting the entire institution would be best left to the church.

"I think the reason we fight and feud over this is because we have too much government everywhere," Paul said. "I would say the church should make this decision."

The talk about states' rights turned to civil rights at one point when forum moderator Frank Luntz, a conservative pollster, asked Cain whether states had the right to say 'no' to Washington's attempts to legislate on moral issues - such as segregation in the South in the earlier part of the 20th century.

The Founding Fathers, "set the bar high," Cain said. "They didn't set it where they were, they set the bar high hoping that this nation would aspire up to that level and that's the journey we have been on since the beginning of this nation," he said. Cain acknowledged that the federal government had the right to interfere with state law on that occasion because his state was "wrong."

"I saw the separate water fountains. It wasn't right, it didn't feel right," Cain said.

Although the candidates were in agreement for much of the night - and the tone was that of a group of friendly colleagues - Santorum at times angled for votes from the evangelical audience by saying he had done more to fight for the issues that were so important to them.

"That's the difference between me and everybody else out here," he said during a discussion of what the candidates would do to protect life. "You make the assumption that the Supreme Court's going to overturn Roe v. Wade. I'm not going to wait," Santorum said. He touted his efforts last year in the campaign to oust three Iowa Supreme Court justices who had ruled in favor of same-sex marriage.

The second part of the night featured Luntz asking candidates to share personal stories and challenges. Cain choked up and almost couldn't finish a story about being diagnosed with cancer and having his wife tell him, "we can do this." Santorum got misty-eyed when he talked about the struggles facing his young daughter, Isabella, who was born with Trisomy 18.

There was compassion among the rivals. Perry reached out to comfort both men, who flanked him, as they told their stories.

"I feel like Dr. Phil," said Luntz, referring to the TV psychologist.

Before the event, Family Leader CEO Bob Vander Plaats stressed that the goal of the forum was not just to elicit the candidates' positions on certain issues, but to also elucidate why the believe what they do.

That goal was shared by moderator Luntz, who told crowd he wanted them to "understand [the candidates'] worldview."

"There's a reason Iowa goes first," Luntz said, "and it's because of you."

Source : By Rebecca Kaplan
http://www.cbsnews.com/8301-503544_162-57328247-503544/gop-debate-in-iowa-gets-weepy/

Occupy Oakland marches, attempts to tears down fence

2011-11-19T20:18:00.000-08:00

OAKLAND -- Occupy Oakland has set up a new home -- again.

Following an afternoon of peaceful rallies at Frank Ogawa Plaza and a march of more than 1,000 people through the streets of downtown Oakland, Occupy protesters pushed down a chain-link fence surrounding a vacant city-owned lot at 19th Street and Telegraph Avenue, pitching about a dozen tents and declaring they have established a new encampment.

"More tents! More tents!" one protest organizer shouted over a sound system which was rolled onto the dirt lot at about 6 p.m., asking people to solicit tent and blanket donations via phone and tweets. Many tents and belongings were confiscated by police when Occupy Oakland campers were removed from Frank Ogawa
Plaza on Monday morning during a pre-dawn raid.

Uptown district residents had spent recent days discouraging protesters from occupying the lot near the Fox Theater and an arts school, while city officials announced Friday that overnight lodging at the property would not be allowed.

Police presence was low-key Saturday night as the rain began pouring down, thinning the crow, with clusters of officers standing along sidewalks surrounding the lot. People continued to dance and mill around, and pop-up tents were set up to serve food.

The rally and march, organized by Occupy Oakland, began about 2 p.m. in Frank Ogawa Plaza. Some members planting small vegetable and flower gardens in planter boxes they built at the edge of the plaza as sprinklers watered the dirt where grass had been trampled by the month-long occupation.

A drum and music group called Samba Funk led the crowd with a steady beat. Signs were held by members of various unions, as speakers took to a microphone, including Betty Olson-Jones, president of the Oakland Education Association.

"We're going to march past the banks, and then over to Lakeview Elementary, which is one of five schools slated for closure next year," she told the crowd. "We want to highlight the connection between what the banks and corporations are doing and what's happening with our schools and our healthcare and social organizations."

Marchers took to the streets about 2:45 p.m., led by a truck with huge speakers and a banner reading "The Oakland Commune lives!" Marchers, boisterous but peaceful, chanted "We got sold out! Banks got bailed out!" They paused at major bank branches such as Wells Fargo and Chase along the way, placing blue tape over the ATM machines. Some also posted "past-due bills" on the bank windows.

While a small minority of marchers carried gas masks, wore bandanas or masks from the movie "V for Vendetta" over their faces, no vandalism was reported along the march route. Volunteers from various groups such as the Alameda County Central Labor Council wore green vests and acted as traffic monitors, guiding the marchers and trying to keep anyone from harming buildings.

"Stay on the street!" one volunteer shouted as a handful of people ran over to the Bank of America windows.

The group stopped at Lakeview Elementary at Grand and Lake Park Avenue, where several speakers called for a recall of Oakland school board members. The marchers headed back downtown, passing and mostly ignoring a small group of people protesting the proposed occupation of the Telegraph lot.

"A lot of people in the movement are not interested in social change," said Martin Meeker, 41, a UC Berkeley historian who studies social movements and who lives in a condo about a block from the vacant lot. He was at the site earlier in the day, engaging in a few heated discussions with proponents of the encampment.

"I'm really saddened to see them coming to this part of town," he said. "This is a mixed residential-commercial neighborhood with two schools in the vicinity. And I can guarantee you none of the people around here are in the 1 percent."

Meeker said he supported the original goals of the movement, but has become quite opposed to the tactics. "The camping is not going to further the movement," he said.

Michaela Peters, 47, of Oakland, has an 11-year-old daughter in the dance program at the Oakland Arts school.

"I'm really opposed to the occupation of this lot, out of concern for the safety of our students," she said. "The kids are going to get caught in the crossfire."

Others argued that the NIMBY principle -- "not in my backyard" -- was in play for the residents surrounding the lot.

Dan Schoenfeld, 58, a developer from Marin, supported the new camp.

"I think it's just horrible that people are getting kicked out of their houses," he said. "So they need a place to stay. This country is run by a few wealthy people."

Marylou Beba, 70, of Oakland had marched in the protest, holding a sign that read, "No agenda? What don't they get?" She said she had been in education for many years, but now works in psychiatry and can't retire because her retirement funds were decimated in the economic slump. While she supports the Occupy movement, she is opposed to the occupation of the Telegraph lot, "only because it's in a residential neighborhood," she said. "I think we should all occupy our homes, and the Occupy movement should occupy banks, civic centers, places like that."

As events unfolded in Oakland, crews from San Francisco's Department of Public Works removed some OccupySF tents on the grassy areas along the Embarcadero and in front of the Federal Reserve Building. A large encampment remains at Justin Herman Plaza.

Source : http://www.mercurynews.com/top-stories/ci_19375055

Video shows pepper spraying of UC Davis protesters

2011-11-19T10:58:00.000-08:00

U.C. Davis police pepper-sprayed numerous sitting protesters and arrested 10 of them as they cleared an Occupy Davis encampment Friday, an incident captured on video and visible on YouTube and other social media sites.

Police then left after ordering the remaining protesters to take down tents that had been put up Thursday, reported the Sacramento Bee newspaper.

The city of Davis has had an Occupy encampment for more than a month, but the movement this week moved to the UC campus, with a rally on Tuesday, students sleeping in a university building Wednesday, then tents erected on Thursday, the Bee reported.

University officials told the newspaper that protesters were told Friday morning to remove the tents, but not all did.

Friday afternoon, some 35 UC officers from Davis and other campuses arrived with protective gear, the newspaper quoted UC Davis Police Chief Annette Spicuzza as saying

Remaining protesters initially numbered about 50, but then swelled to some 200 during a confrontation with police, the newspaper quoted Spicuzza as saying.

Spicuzza told the newspaper that officers were forced to use pepper spray when students surrounded them. The students were informed repeatedly ahead of time that if they didn't move, force would be used, she said.

"There was no way out of that circle," Spicuzza told the Bee. "They were cutting the officers off from their support. It's a very volatile situation."

UN atomic watchdog slams Iran's nuclear activities

2011-11-18T10:43:00.000-08:00

VIENNA — The United Nations atomic watchdog's board Friday passed a resolution of "deep and increasing concern" about Iran's nuclear activities after a damning new report from the Vienna-based body.

But the text, proposed at the International Atomic Energy Agency by the five permanent members of the UN Security Council, Germany and 12 others, stops short of reporting Iran to New York or setting Iran a deadline to comply.

The resolution said it was "essential for Iran and the Agency to intensify their dialogue" and calls on Iran "to comply fully and without delay with its obligations under relevant resolutions of the UN Security Council."

A total of 32 countries on the 35-nation IAEA board of governors voted in favor, with Indonesia abstaining, and Cuba and Ecuador voting against, diplomats said.

But to assuage Chinese and Russian misgivings, the resolution has no timeframe for Iran to comply, calling instead for IAEA head Yukiya Amano to report to the board in March on Tehran's "implementation of this resolution."

Last week, the IAEA came the closest yet to accusing Iran outright of seeking to develop nuclear weapons, in a report immediately rejected by the Islamic republic as "baseless."

The U.S. envoy to the IAEA, Glyn Davies, told the board Friday that the "watershed report. leaves little doubt that Iran, at the very least, wants to position itself for a nuclear weapons capacity."

The U.K., France and Germany said in a joint statement they were "gravely concerned" by the report, saying it "paints a very disturbing picture. The international community cannot simply return to business as usual."

But Iran's envoy Ali Soltanieh said it was "unprofessional, unbalanced, illegal and politicized" and has "deeply ruined the worldwide reputation of the Agency as a technical competent authority."

He told reporters that Iran wouldn't suspend its uranium enrichment activities and that the resolution would only serve to strengthen its resolve.

"It will be business as usual . . . We will continue our work as before," he said, accusing Amano of making a "historical mistake."

The report laid bare deep differences within the so-called P5+1 bloc dealing with the Iran question, the five permanent members of the UN Security Council—the United States, China, Russia, Britain, France — and Germany.

Washington, Paris and London jumped on the IAEA report as justification to increase pressure on Iran, already under four rounds of Security Council sanctions and additional U.S. and European Union restrictions.

But China, which relies heavily on Iranian oil imports, and Russia, which also has close commercial ties and built Iran's only nuclear power plant, have been more cautious.

Source : timescolonist.com

Bogus Craigslist ads lured men to Ohio to be killed, police say

2011-11-18T10:25:00.000-08:00

A man and teen have been taken into custody after police discovered a grisly alleged scheme to lure people to Ohio with the promise of work only to rob and kill them.

Police say they discovered the scheme after one of the intended victims managed to escape death by hiding in the woods for seven hours, his elbow shattered by a bullet.

Local media report that a South Carolina man told police he was lured to Marietta, Ohio, by a Craigslist ad seeking a worker to help out on a cattle ranch. He told police he met with two men in Marietta for a meal on Nov. 6 before driving with them to Stock Township, the Akron Beacon Journal reports.

At one point, the men told the South Carolina man the road was closed and they'd have to continue by foot.

As they walked through a wooded area, the South Carolina man heard a gun being cocked -- then saw it pointed at his head.

He told police he managed to deflect the weapon and run through the woods while the assailants shot at him, the Beacon Journal reported. He was shot in the arm and hid in the woods until he felt it was safe to find a nearby home and call for help.

Five days after the man's ordeal, a woman called police in Ohio looking for her twin brother. The Florida man had last been seen in West Virginia on Oct. 22, and she believed he'd answered the same Craigslist ad for a ranch worker.

Officers went to the same area the South Carolina man directed them to and on Monday found evidence of the shooting he described. The next day, cadaver dogs found the body of the Florida man in a shallow grave, the Beacon Journal reported.

In a statement, police said they believe the attempted murder and likely murder are connected.

A 16-year-old boy and 52-year-old man have been taken into custody.

The FBI, Ohio Bureau of Criminal Investigation and local sheriff's office are involved in the investigation.

Oklahoma State women's basketball coach, assistant killed in plane crash

2011-11-18T10:22:00.000-08:00

Oklahoma State University's women's basketball coach Kurt Budke and assistant coach Miranda Serna died Thursday night in a plane crash in Arkansas, the university said in a statement on its website on Friday.

The pilot and one other person, who were not affiliated with the university, also were killed, leaving no survivors, the school said.

The coaches were on a recruiting trip when the plane crashed in Perry County in central Arkansas.

"The Oklahoma State family is devastated by this tragedy," said OSU President Burns Hargis. "Our hearts and prayers go out to the families of Kurt Budke, Miranda Serna and the other victims."

The university said the women's team would not play games scheduled for Saturday and Sunday.

Budke, 50, was in his seventh season as coach at Oklahoma State, where he posted an all-time record of 112-83 and his team made postseason appearances each of the past five seasons, the school said.

Serna also was in her seventh season as an assistant coach at Oklahoma State and had previously held the same role at Louisiana Tech under Budke, the university said.

Mike Holder, OSU vice president for athletics, said associate head coach Jim Littell would take over as the interim head coach.

"We are shocked by this terrible loss," Holder said. "Kurt Budke was an incredibly positive influence on his players and was a tremendous coach. He quickly turned our program around and put Cowgirl basketball on the map."

"Miranda was a tireless worker and great recruiter," he said.

Syria to allow Arab League observers ‘in principle’

2011-11-18T10:19:00.000-08:00

Syria has accepted in principle an Arab League plan to send observers to help end the bloodshed, according to British media reports on Friday.

Several newspapers quoted Syrian diplomats as saying that they had accepted a deal with conditions: Damascus wants further clarification of the observers’ legal status.

The United Nations say more than 3,500 people have died in the eight-month uprising against President Bashar Assad’s rule.

Protests were held again on Friday. Activists said at least eleven people were killed.

The news of the Arab League deal came shortly after France urged the UN Security Council to slap sanctions on Damascus. French Foreign Minister Alain Juppé said the international community “must continue to exert pressure” on Syria.

“I also think it would be good if the Security Council acted,” France’s chief diplomat said.

“It is not normal during a crisis like this – already 3,500 dead, 20,000 prisoners in Syrian prisons, being treated in an extremely brutal manner, tortured – for the Security Council not to act.”

Juppé was speaking at a joint press conference with his Turkish counterpart Ahmet Davutoglu in Ankara.

Meanwhile, protesters gathered outside the Syrian embassy in Istanbul to demonstrate against the Assad regime.

Turkey once enjoyed close ties with Syria but it has adopted a harsher stance on its former ally’s crackdown on anti-government demonstrations.

Plea to mobile firms on data costs

2011-11-18T01:49:00.000-08:00

Mobile phone companies have been urged to do more to stop consumers facing large bills when they download music and video to smartphones.

Communications chief ombudsman Lewis Shand Smith said the problem had become worse as more people accessed data on their phones.

He told BBC Radio 5 Live: "Most of the operators are playing by the rules, so that then begs the question - the rules, what they ought to be.

"I think there are three things operators need to do: first of all, be very clear what they mean by 'unlimited' in advertisements; secondly, give advice to consumers so they know when they are actually reaching their limit; and thirdly, give people advice on the amount of data that's being downloaded."

Concerns have risen recently about people being hit with unexpectedly large bills after going online.

It is becoming more common for people to download bigger files, including songs, videos and emails with large attachments.

The ombudsman's office said some mobile phone packages offer "unlimited" downloads and consumers may believe their mobile phone bill will not go above a certain amount.

"Consumers may fail to realise that there is a small asterisk next to the word 'unlimited' which refers to small print stating that there is in fact a limit which, if exceeded, will incur further charges," it said.

The Advertising Standards Authority has looked into the matter and decided it is acceptable to use the term "unlimited", as long as the customer is made aware of the limits and that it does not affect the typical user, it added.

"As our technology develops, the 'typical user' is downloading and streaming more and more information. This is an emerging problem which we think could cause real consumer detriment - we want mobile phone companies to take action before it becomes more prevalent," the ombudsman's office said.

Skype adds Facebook video chatting to software

2011-11-18T01:35:00.000-08:00

SAN FRANCISCO: Internet phone service Skype that it will let users of its software make video calls to their Facebook friends and receive them, too.

The free feature, released Thursday in a "beta" test version of Skype's software for Macs and PCs, expands on an existing partnership between the companies.

Since July, Facebook has allowed users with webcams on their computers to make Skype-powered video calls on the social-networking site. And it had already been possible to chat with your Facebook friends through Skype's instant-messaging feature, though there wasn't yet a video component.

Skype lets users make calls, conduct video chats and send instant messages over the Internet. Its basic services are free, while users pay for services such as calling regular phones from a computer.

Jonathan Rosenberg, Skype's chief technology strategist, said the company wants to help a billion people communicate, particularly with video. Working with Facebook "is really taking us a big step closer to that goal," he said.

Facebook, which is based in Palo Alto, California, has more than 800 million users worldwide. Skype, which is located in Luxembourg, has more than 170 million.

Skype was bought by Microsoft Corp for $8.5 billion earlier this year. Microsoft owns a small stake in Facebook.

Christmas: shoppers are celebrating saying: ‘Crisis? What crisis?’

2011-11-18T00:57:00.000-08:00

If there is a global financial crisis it appears someone forgot to tell Christmas shoppers across the UK. A fierce price war on the high street brought out consumers in their droves throughout October, figures showed yesterday. Figures from the Office of National Statistics showed that retail volumes grew by 0.6% compared to the previous month, giving retailers an unexpected boost.

The statistics defied the predictions of experts in the City who had been expecting a 0.2% fall. The nation’s shopping spree benefited food stores who saw their first year-on-year rise in sales volumes in April. And small, local shops benefited at the expense of larger out-of-town stores in what experts said was evidence that high petrol prices were encouraging shoppers to buy more locally.

Sales of clothes were also higher than in September thanks to high levels of promotions and consumers purchasing winter clothing. However, it was a mixed picture for sellers of household goods, with volumes of furniture and lighting, DIY and music and video recordings lower than a year ago as consumers continued to shun non-essential items. Consumer expert Henry Enos said the figures showed that the shoppers were not going to be stopped buying Christmas presents by the economic crisis.

He said people were taking advantage of promotions put on by retailers in an effort to drum up trade as they buckle under pressure from the spending squeeze. He said: “Christmas only happens once a year and although people realise we are in a time of austerity they also realise it is a time of celebration.

“As times are tough retail organisations are coming up with ways of encouraging people to spend and people are willing to do so, but in guarded ways. “Offers such as buy one, get one free and buy two, get the third free, are becoming standard and people are using them in their pre-stocking for Christmas.

“The public know about recessions but they also know that they work to live, not live to work, so they spend a little bit more at a time. It’s only a little rise as people are cautious, but it means they will be spending on the retailers they can trust to give the best value.”

Despite shoppers being tempted out onto the high street early, many retailers are still expecting an influx of shoppers in the run-up to Christmas. The better than expected performance comes on top of a similar rise the previous month and will help ease some of the fears surrounding the retail sector.

However it was clear that shoppers were being choosy and that not all chains were benefiting. Mothercare yesterday reported half year losses of £80m and put the entire UK business up for review. French Connection also reported losses.

Howard Archer, chief economist at IHS Global Insight, said: “A robust 0.6% increase in retail sales volumes in October indicates that consumer spending started off the fourth quarter much better than expected, thereby providing a significant boost to hopes that the economy can keep growing.

“It is evident though that retail sales were lifted in October by increased discounting and promotions as retailers strived to get pressurised and worried consumers to part with their cash.

“While the rise in retail sales in October is welcome news, it does not fundamentally alter the view that consumers are likely to be very cautious in their spending for some considerable time to come.”

Nida Ali, economic adviser at the Ernst & Young ITEM Club, also questioned whether retailers could continue to afford such high levels of discounting. He said: “It is highly questionable whether this level of discounting can be sustained beyond the very short-term and, with the fundamentals still very weak, this strength in retail sales is unlikely to be sustained.

“However, there is some light at the end of the tunnel, with inflation likely to slow sharply over the coming year.” David Hughes-Lewis,spokesman for Cardiff Retail Partnership, said: “Retailers are in that period at the moment where it is the calm before the storm.

“Instead of having the big January sale, many retailers have started having promotions early. If one starts to do this, then others will follow suit. “The rush of the January sales seem to have gone as retailers now do promotions through the year. It has now become the norm to have a sales drive before Christmas.

“Cardiff is trading pretty well at the moment, with St Davids shopping centre, John Lewis and the completion of St Mary Street. Weather permitting, I think December will be pretty hectic for traders here. The two weeks before Christmas we are expecting to be very busy as people get their Christmas bonuses and get time off to go shopping.”

However, the British Retail Consortium said the figures did not resonate with what they had been hearing from their members. British Retail Consortium Director General, Stephen Robertson, said: “Most retailers won’t recognise the overly positive picture being painted by these ONS results. The reality is disposable incomes are down on a year ago and customers are cutting back.

“Even food sales are suffering as people cut back or switch to cheaper brands in an effort to balance their household budgets. Stores are competing hard for what customer spending is available but consumers are overwhelmingly gloomy. Sales come at the cost of reduced margins as retailers cut prices while facing higher business costs.”

Decide.com Expands Gadget Pricing Service, Goes Mobile

2011-11-18T00:45:00.000-08:00

Since the shopping service Decide.com launched in beta test mode last June, promising to bring price prediction to electronics gadgets, it claims to have been 77% accurate in predicting when you should buy or wait for a price drop or new model. Shoppers could search in four categories–televisions, laptop computers, cameras, and phones–and get a thumbs-up Buy or a thumbs-down Wait judgment from the site as well as a sense of how prices have fluctuated and where they’re likely headed next.

On Thursday, the Seattle-based company is expanding to all major consumer electronics categories except accessories–33 in all, including tablet computers, MP3 players, and video games. It’s also releasing a mobile app for the iPhone and iPod Touch (only–no Android yet and no timing on that) that lets consumers scan a barcode in a store to see if prices are lower anywhere else–either online or at another store nearby.

Decide was founded by CEO Mike Fridgen and Chief Technology Officer Oren Etzioni, onetime founders of Farecast, a company that similarly offered price predictions for airline tickets. Microsoft bought it in 2008. They’re using similar technologies to examine past prices, reports of new products, how long people customarily are willing to wait for a particular product, and much more. One interesting set of data: Decide is starting to figure out which Web sites are most accurate at predicting upcoming products.

Not surprisingly, Decide.com makes money by providing leads to retailers for consumers who obviously are primed to buy. Lead generation can be a shady brand of advertising, with consumers sometimes seduced into giving up personal information in return for a deal or the chance to get a free iPod. But in this case, it seems likely that consumers in the market for electronics may be more amenable to hearing from the stores they’re already going to browse anyway.

Decide also runs some almost-can’t-tell-they’re-ads that appear in a yellow box at the top of price searches. Retailers such as Amazon.com and Best Buy appear as links that lead to searches for televisions or other products on those sites.

In the future, Fridgen says, the company plans to look at ways to make money beyond advertising, perhaps something analogous to Farecast’s Fare Guard, which let airline ticket buyers lock down the lowest price listed by Farecast for a week.

Although Fridgen and the Farecast crew at Decide are adept at selling off their companies, Fridgen says they’re “swinging for the fences” in an attempt to “change the face of consumer electronics”–and eventually “the way people shop online.” The 25-person company has raised $8.5 million from Maveron, Madrona Venture Group, and angel investors such as former Amazon.com executive Ram Shriram and Rich Barton, founder or cofounder of Expedia, Glassdoor.com, and Zillow.

Source : Forbes.com

Surge in Android gadget viruses

2011-11-18T00:34:00.000-08:00

San Francisco - The arsenal of malicious code aimed at Android-powered gadgets has grown exponentially, with criminals hiding viruses in applications people download to devices, according to Juniper Networks.

The computer systems specialty firm's Global Threat Centre found "staggering growth" in mobile "malware" targeting the Google-backed Android platform, according to findings available online on Wednesday.

Juniper researchers reported seeing a 472% surge in the number of new viruses crafted to attack Android devices since July.

Slightly more than half of the malicious applications uncovered were "spyware" designed to steal messages, location, identity or other personal information from devices, according to California-based Juniper.

Most of the remaining viruses were designed to bilk money from smartphone users by sending text messages to premium rate numbers without device owners knowing.

Android devices are prime targets because the online marketplace for third-party applications such as games does nothing to check software for hidden threats, according to Juniper.

"The main reason for the malware epidemic on Android is because of different approaches that Apple and Google take to police their application stores," Juniper researchers said in a blog post.

"Android's open applications store model, which lacks code signing and an application review process that Apple requires, makes it easy for attackers to distribute their malware," they said.

Apple, on the other hand, is known for stringently screening applications before making them available at the App Store for download to iPhones, iPads or iPod Touch devices.

"There is still no upfront review process in the official Android Market that offers even the hint of a challenge to malware writers that their investment in coding malware will be for naught," Juniper said.

Sexiest Man Alive 2011 by People magazine (2)

2011-11-17T07:59:00.000-08:00

7. JOSH CHARLES
"I'm not interested in playing a character and having him be called 'likable,'" Charles, who plays enigmatic lawyer Will Gardner on The Good Wife, tells EW. It's precisely that mystique that has made the 39-year-old actor so irresistible to Julianna Margulies's character, Alicia – and to audiences who tune in Sundays to the hit CBS drama.

8. JOEL MCHALE
"I made it because there were a lot of people who were out of town," McHale, 40, says of his inclusion on PEOPLE's Sexiest Man Alive list. Clearly The Community star's humor earned him a sexy badge of honor – and a sizable social network of fans. His PEOPLE.com Funny Is the New Sexy video has already earned him over 500,000 likes – just for watching the comic brew a mean cup of Joel.

9. JASON MOMOA
Aloha, abs! The Honolulu-born Game of Thrones actor endured six-hour workouts – and bulked up his 6-foot-4-inch frame from 210 to 230 lbs. – to play Conan the Barbarian in the remake of the '80s film. So how did the 32-year-old actor celebrate the movie's wrap? "I flew straight to Rome and just [ate] pasta," Lisa Bonet's offscreen leading man said.

10. RYAN GOSLING
He's a real-life good Samaritan, he loves dogs and he finally showed off his funny bone (and hot abs!) in the summer hit Crazy, Stupid, Love. Even his costars aren't immune to the Canadian actor's boyish charms. "He's a good-looking guy. I did notice that," Gosling's Crazy, Stupid, Love costar Steve Carell tells PEOPLE.

11. ALEC BALDWIN
His scene-stealing turn as 30 Rock's Jack Donaghy for the past six seasons has rebranded the '90s box-office leading man into one of TV's funniest stars. "Everybody thinks I'm funny. I'm fooling everybody," the 53-year-old actor said recently. Now he gets to share the laughs with a new love in his life: yoga instructor Hilaria Thomas. "My girlfriend is very important to me," Baldwin said of his one-year relationship.

12. DYLAN MCDERMOTT
McDermott put the fear factor back in prime time with his new FX series American Horror Story, but thrillers and chillers weren't exactly the shows he tuned into while growing up. "I used to watch I Dream of Jeannie after school," the 50-year-old star tells PEOPLE. "I was fascinated by her in that outfit, and I wanted to live in that bottle with her."

Sexiest Man Alive 2011 by People magazine (1)

Sexiest Man Alive 2011 by People magazine (1)

2011-11-17T05:46:00.000-08:00

1. BRADLEY COOPER
"I'm waiting for Dax Shepard to come out, and that it's an episode of Punk'd," Cooper says of being named PEOPLE's Sexiest Man Alive of 2011. But what really earned the modest 36-year-old actor this year's honor? A combination of box office appeal (who hasn't seen The Hangover movies?), undeniable good looks and the lengths he'll go to for romance. Asked the sexiest thing he's done to woo a woman, Cooper tells PEOPLE, "Getting on a plane to go get them."

2. LIAM HEMSWORTH
American fans can thank Hemsworth's big brother Chris for luring the 21-year-old Aussie to Hollywood. "I saw my brother doing it and thought I could do it better," Hemsworth told Interview magazine of following his sibling into acting. While Hemsworth ultimately lost the lead in Thor to Chris, his buff physique landed him an even more sought-after role – that of Gale in the much-anticipated The Hunger Games franchise.

3. IDRIS ELBA
He's made a lasting impression on fans of The Wire, earned an Emmy nomination for his devilish turn in the BBC's Luther and showed off his 6-foot-3-inch form to very good advantage in Thor. So what's the British-born actor's weakness? "A woman who has really nice, looked-after skin is such a turn-on for me," Elba, 39, told Essence. "It's always sexy."

4. JUSTIN THEROUX
"I'm extremely lucky, and I'm extremely happy," Jennifer Aniston said a month after she and Theroux began dating in May. So how did the 40-year-old motorcycle-riding, leather-loving, screenwriter-actor nab Hollywood's most lovable Friend? The Bennington grad "is not Mr. Hollywood; he's quirky and hip and kind of like Jen that way," says a pal in Theroux's circle of friends.

5. CHRIS EVANS
Though Evans jokes that he looked pretty scrawny for most of his life, the 30-year-old lead of the summer blockbuster Captain America made star-spangled Spandex a uniform women could get behind. Even more endearing: He's a mama's boy. "We're incredibly tight," Evans tells PEOPLE of his mother, Lisa. "Mom can hang – she's on the level."

6. TIM MCGRAW
How does the 44-year-old singer-actor stay Country Strong in real life? Two hundred push-ups and crunches each day – and he credits his 15-year marriage to fellow country superstar Faith Hill and being dad to three daughters (Gracie, 14, Maggie, 13, and Audrey, 9) with keeping him grounded. "I'm inspired by watching him as a father and husband," Hill tells PEOPLE.

Sexiest Man Alive 2011 by People magazine (2)

"No More Kardashian" Boycott: Say Good-bye to Kim Kardashian & Sister Khloe & Kourtney?

2011-11-17T05:05:00.000-08:00

A boycotting of "Keeping Up with the Kardashians" has taken a life of its own. The petition to boycott E!'s reality TV show about the Kardashian family has already hit a whopping 10,000 signatures on the first day of its signing. People are sick and tired of being raked over the coals with E!'s staged reality television show. And these people are not going to take it anymore.

On November 15, the "No More Kardashian" petition began, which is a grassroots campaign to rid America from all of the Kardashians on television. But will it work? Even though the petition has already received thousands of signatures, Kim Kardashian and her family have thousands of supporters as well. Right?

Undoubtedly, E! will not listen to the haters of Kim, Khloe, Kourtney, and Kris Jenner. Instead the television production company is going to continue to produce what their fans like. It's all about the money folks! The more drama that the Kardashian clan musters the more money "Keeping Up with the Kardahians" and E! makes.

There is some speculation that Kim Kardashian's quick hook up with Kris Humphries was a set up by E!. Is it true? Well, herein lies the debate. Some say that Kim fell in love with Kris, but wanted to back out on the wedding right before it happened. However, she was afraid to disappoint her fans. So she continued on with the E! wedding. Stupid!

Other camps complain that Kim Kardashian never loved Kris Humphries and never intended on staying married long. It has also been speculated that the entire wedding was a publicity stunt from the start. This scheme sounds as if Kris Jenner (Kim's momager) was behind a publicity stunt with E! Kris is always looking for ways to thrust her daughters into the spotlights.

Kris Jenner is money hungry wench of a woman. Remember the Kardashian family got famous from Kim Kardashian's sex tape. Kim's mom is not a nice woman. She is greedy and selfish. She is looking out for her own good. The only seemingly decent apple in the bunch is Khloe, who appears to have a slightly healthy head on her shoulders.

Do you think E! will listen to those petitioning them with various boycotts of the Kardashians?